1 00:00:12,279 --> 00:00:13,479 - I'm craig melvin 2 00:00:13,481 --> 00:00:17,016 And this is "dateline: Secrets uncovered". 3 00:00:17,018 --> 00:00:20,786 A doctor's wife dies after a minor fender bender. 4 00:00:20,788 --> 00:00:24,590 So, why do her brothers believe this was no accident? 5 00:00:24,592 --> 00:00:26,858 - Then I pulled my brother out and I told him you-- 6 00:00:26,860 --> 00:00:28,995 You are not going to believe what I just heard. 7 00:00:28,997 --> 00:00:31,864 - The startling news came from their sister's friend. 8 00:00:31,866 --> 00:00:33,065 - And she just kept insisting, 9 00:00:33,067 --> 00:00:35,334 Promise me you'll get a full autopsy. 10 00:00:35,336 --> 00:00:37,536 - The brothers kept it a secret. 11 00:00:37,538 --> 00:00:38,804 - We wouldn't tell our parents, 12 00:00:38,806 --> 00:00:40,806 We wouldn't tell my sister deanna, 13 00:00:40,808 --> 00:00:42,407 We wouldn't tell anybody. 14 00:00:42,409 --> 00:00:45,712 - It was information about a family member they loved. 15 00:00:45,714 --> 00:00:47,914 Would they point the guilty finger? 16 00:00:47,916 --> 00:00:50,416 - There was no way we were going to accuse him. 17 00:00:50,418 --> 00:00:58,290 ♪♪ 18 00:00:58,292 --> 00:01:01,961 - Hello, and welcome to "dateline: Secrets uncovered". 19 00:01:01,963 --> 00:01:06,498 Rosie and yazeed essa seemed to have an ideal life, 20 00:01:06,500 --> 00:01:09,568 Two beautiful children, no financial worries, 21 00:01:09,570 --> 00:01:12,437 And a loving extended family. 22 00:01:12,439 --> 00:01:16,441 Then a fatal fender bender shattered it all. 23 00:01:16,443 --> 00:01:19,177 Rosie's death would leave her loved ones 24 00:01:19,179 --> 00:01:20,846 Desperate for answers. 25 00:01:20,848 --> 00:01:25,250 Soon, they would discover her marriage was full of secrets 26 00:01:25,252 --> 00:01:27,587 And it would take an investigation worthy 27 00:01:27,589 --> 00:01:31,456 Of a spy novel to unlock them. 28 00:01:31,458 --> 00:01:34,726 Here's dennis murphy with "bitter pill". 29 00:01:34,728 --> 00:01:38,730 ♪♪ 30 00:01:38,732 --> 00:01:41,566 - So ironic that rosie essa was just idling away 31 00:01:41,568 --> 00:01:42,734 A few hours that afternoon 32 00:01:42,736 --> 00:01:47,305 When she had only a few precious minutes remaining. 33 00:01:47,307 --> 00:01:50,376 But we never know, do we? 34 00:01:50,378 --> 00:01:52,812 It was February 2005. 35 00:01:52,814 --> 00:01:54,412 She was dashing to the movies 36 00:01:54,414 --> 00:01:56,815 To meet her sister deanna at a matinee. 37 00:01:56,817 --> 00:01:57,849 - At the last minute, 38 00:01:57,851 --> 00:02:00,085 I mean I was already in the movie theater, 39 00:02:00,087 --> 00:02:02,220 She had called and she said, all right, I'm on my way. 40 00:02:02,222 --> 00:02:03,488 She said, I'm leaving now. 41 00:02:03,490 --> 00:02:06,692 - No one knew it then, but rosie's nothing special trip 42 00:02:06,694 --> 00:02:08,760 To the movies that day from her nice home 43 00:02:08,762 --> 00:02:11,596 In suburban cleveland would set in motion 44 00:02:11,598 --> 00:02:13,832 An international manhunt. 45 00:02:13,834 --> 00:02:17,702 Something that became an excruciating five-year ordeal 46 00:02:17,704 --> 00:02:20,173 That would expose mistresses, secret bedrooms, 47 00:02:20,175 --> 00:02:24,176 And new identities, and would involve the fbi, 48 00:02:24,178 --> 00:02:27,914 The middle east, and murder. 49 00:02:28,583 --> 00:02:32,217 And all the injury and the lifetime of sorrow 50 00:02:32,219 --> 00:02:36,456 For so many began on the streets of a perfectly pleasant moms, 51 00:02:36,458 --> 00:02:39,190 Dads, kids, and dogs kind of neighborhood, 52 00:02:39,192 --> 00:02:41,527 Gates millis, ohio. 53 00:02:41,529 --> 00:02:44,197 Rosie and her handsome doctor husband yazeed, 54 00:02:44,199 --> 00:02:47,566 Or yaz, as he was known to one and all, lived here. 55 00:02:47,568 --> 00:02:49,034 She was a nurse. 56 00:02:49,036 --> 00:02:51,270 They met while working at the same hospital. 57 00:02:51,272 --> 00:02:55,006 At 36, he was proud that he, a man of humble roots, 58 00:02:55,008 --> 00:02:58,543 Was able to provide his family with so much. 59 00:02:58,545 --> 00:03:02,715 The big house, the backyard pool, 60 00:03:02,717 --> 00:03:05,450 Money for whatever they needed. 61 00:03:05,452 --> 00:03:07,552 - Once upon a time... 62 00:03:07,554 --> 00:03:09,754 - The kind of son-in-law rosie's parents rocco 63 00:03:09,756 --> 00:03:13,058 And gigi dipuccio could regard as heaven sent. 64 00:03:13,060 --> 00:03:15,760 - She'd send him for two jars of baby food, 65 00:03:15,762 --> 00:03:17,495 He'd come home with 36. 66 00:03:17,497 --> 00:03:21,366 I mean, everything he did had to be big and lots. 67 00:03:21,368 --> 00:03:23,302 - Was it in a showoff kind of way or was he-- 68 00:03:23,304 --> 00:03:24,569 Was he being generous? - No! He-- 69 00:03:24,571 --> 00:03:27,706 No, he was just-- you know, I used to say to him, 70 00:03:27,708 --> 00:03:31,910 I think god is so good to you in everything you do 71 00:03:31,912 --> 00:03:34,413 Because you're so giving to people. 72 00:03:36,651 --> 00:03:38,417 - Now, rosie, her family would say, 73 00:03:38,419 --> 00:03:40,385 Could not have cared less about the house, 74 00:03:40,387 --> 00:03:42,053 The cars, the status. 75 00:03:42,055 --> 00:03:44,856 She was down to earth and content with what 76 00:03:44,858 --> 00:03:47,459 She'd always had, not the least of it 77 00:03:47,461 --> 00:03:50,129 Her close italian american family. 78 00:03:50,131 --> 00:03:54,733 Her Sunday dinner at her parent's was a don't miss. 79 00:03:54,735 --> 00:03:56,201 - Silly. 80 00:03:56,203 --> 00:03:57,469 Where's your teeth, silly? 81 00:03:57,471 --> 00:03:59,304 - And, of course, the sun and moon of her life, 82 00:03:59,306 --> 00:04:02,775 2-year-old daughter lena and 4-year-old son arvin. 83 00:04:05,245 --> 00:04:06,678 - Was she happy to be a mother? 84 00:04:06,680 --> 00:04:08,681 - Oh, my god, are you kidding? 85 00:04:08,683 --> 00:04:11,149 She would just pinch their cheek and say, 86 00:04:11,151 --> 00:04:13,285 I can't believe I got these beautiful kids. 87 00:04:13,287 --> 00:04:14,353 I just love 'em. 88 00:04:14,355 --> 00:04:17,490 Her eyes lit up when she looked at her babies. 89 00:04:17,492 --> 00:04:19,691 They were her life. 90 00:04:19,693 --> 00:04:21,527 - Happy birthday! Say happy birthday! 91 00:04:21,529 --> 00:04:23,262 - Sorry we're missing your party. 92 00:04:23,264 --> 00:04:25,865 - In fact, rosie and yaz, married for almost six years, 93 00:04:25,867 --> 00:04:28,300 Were hoping for another child. 94 00:04:28,302 --> 00:04:30,369 She was taking prenatal vitamins. 95 00:04:30,371 --> 00:04:34,172 But she would never get to have another baby 96 00:04:34,174 --> 00:04:36,709 Because rosie's 10-minute drive to the movies 97 00:04:36,711 --> 00:04:40,046 In her black volvo suv was going poorly. 98 00:04:40,048 --> 00:04:43,181 Her waiting sister had no idea what had gone wrong. 99 00:04:43,183 --> 00:04:46,117 - I wondered where is she? How come she's not calling? 100 00:04:46,119 --> 00:04:49,321 I held my phone the whole time just waiting for it to ring. 101 00:04:49,323 --> 00:04:51,890 - As it turned out, for a few minutes anyway, 102 00:04:51,892 --> 00:04:54,893 Rosie was on her cell with her friend of many years, 103 00:04:54,895 --> 00:04:56,861 A woman named eva. 104 00:04:56,863 --> 00:04:59,931 She drove on interstate 271 for just one exit 105 00:04:59,933 --> 00:05:02,667 To wilson mills road. 106 00:05:02,669 --> 00:05:05,971 That's when rosie's suv started veering erratically. 107 00:05:05,973 --> 00:05:07,672 Another driver noticed it. 108 00:05:07,674 --> 00:05:11,609 - I saw a black car cross over center 109 00:05:11,611 --> 00:05:14,612 And go back into the lane and hit a car. 110 00:05:14,614 --> 00:05:17,615 And the car just kept going. 111 00:05:17,617 --> 00:05:19,351 And I'm thinking to myself, what is going on here? 112 00:05:19,353 --> 00:05:20,819 What is this woman doing? 113 00:05:20,821 --> 00:05:23,221 - The volvo eventually stopped. 114 00:05:23,223 --> 00:05:25,624 That's when tara tamsin, a medical technician, 115 00:05:25,626 --> 00:05:27,960 Pulled over and ran to see if she could help 116 00:05:27,962 --> 00:05:29,494 The woman in the car. 117 00:05:29,496 --> 00:05:31,963 She found a person in desperate shape. 118 00:05:31,965 --> 00:05:34,299 - When I got into the car, the woman was limp. 119 00:05:34,301 --> 00:05:37,303 And the next thing you know, she started vomiting. 120 00:05:37,305 --> 00:05:40,171 - Meanwhile, patrol officer david skiciano 121 00:05:40,173 --> 00:05:41,906 Of the highland heights police department 122 00:05:41,908 --> 00:05:43,174 Had happened by. 123 00:05:43,176 --> 00:05:45,710 His dashboard camera recorded the accident. 124 00:05:45,712 --> 00:05:48,379 - The female driver was sitting back 125 00:05:48,381 --> 00:05:50,849 And she's just gasping for air. 126 00:05:50,851 --> 00:05:53,418 - Rosie was rushed to the hospital. 127 00:05:53,420 --> 00:05:55,120 When word reached her family, they, too, 128 00:05:55,122 --> 00:05:58,123 Raced to the emergency room worried about her condition. 129 00:05:58,125 --> 00:06:01,259 - I just prayed, you know, please, you know, let her live. 130 00:06:01,261 --> 00:06:04,596 If she's-- no matter how bad she's, you know, broken up, 131 00:06:04,598 --> 00:06:05,797 We'll take care of her. 132 00:06:05,799 --> 00:06:09,235 You know? So just please let her live, god. 133 00:06:09,237 --> 00:06:12,437 - In the er, the doctors working frantically on rosie 134 00:06:12,439 --> 00:06:15,441 Almost an hour now, allowed her husband yaz, 135 00:06:15,443 --> 00:06:18,276 An emergency room doctor himself, to observe. 136 00:06:23,750 --> 00:06:25,618 Rosie's brother would be the one to deliver 137 00:06:25,620 --> 00:06:28,620 The bad news to his parents. 138 00:06:28,622 --> 00:06:30,555 - He looked at me, he was crying, 139 00:06:30,557 --> 00:06:32,291 And he went like this to me. 140 00:06:32,293 --> 00:06:37,028 And I just went down. 141 00:06:37,030 --> 00:06:43,101 - It was sadly over for rosie essa at the age of 38. 142 00:06:43,103 --> 00:06:46,037 The family was brought to a private room for a viewing. 143 00:06:46,039 --> 00:06:47,505 - When I saw her, 144 00:06:47,507 --> 00:06:50,441 I'm thinking she looked like she was sleeping. 145 00:06:50,443 --> 00:06:53,845 I mean, there was not a mark on her. 146 00:06:53,847 --> 00:06:55,980 - And as the stunned family began to prepare 147 00:06:55,982 --> 00:06:58,049 For unspeakably sad arrangements, 148 00:06:58,051 --> 00:07:00,451 Just hours after she'd passed away, 149 00:07:00,453 --> 00:07:02,654 That friend named eva, who had been on the phone 150 00:07:02,656 --> 00:07:04,190 With rosie right before her car crashed, 151 00:07:04,192 --> 00:07:06,991 Got ahold of dominic, rosie's brother. 152 00:07:06,993 --> 00:07:11,596 She repeated what were very probably rosie's last words. 153 00:07:11,598 --> 00:07:13,666 It was literally unbelievable what eva 154 00:07:13,668 --> 00:07:15,133 Was suggesting. 155 00:07:15,135 --> 00:07:16,202 - The first thing I did was I went in the house 156 00:07:16,204 --> 00:07:18,437 And I pulled my brother out and I told him you-- 157 00:07:18,439 --> 00:07:20,872 You are not going to believe what I just heard. 158 00:07:20,874 --> 00:07:22,475 I repeated the story to him. 159 00:07:22,477 --> 00:07:24,877 We looked at each other like now what the hell do we do? 160 00:07:24,879 --> 00:07:27,846 What eva said would nearly rip dominic 161 00:07:27,848 --> 00:07:29,914 And his brother rocky apart. 162 00:07:29,916 --> 00:07:33,552 How could they keep such a monstrous thing a secret? 163 00:07:33,554 --> 00:07:34,620 - We wouldn't tell our parents. 164 00:07:34,622 --> 00:07:36,487 We wouldn't tell my sister deanna. 165 00:07:36,489 --> 00:07:38,023 We wouldn't tell anybody. 166 00:07:40,393 --> 00:07:41,693 - And she just kept insisting, 167 00:07:41,695 --> 00:07:44,262 Promise me you'll get a full autopsy. 168 00:07:44,363 --> 00:07:52,570 - When "dateline: Secrets uncovered" continues. 169 00:07:52,571 --> 00:08:00,778 ♪♪ 170 00:08:00,780 --> 00:08:03,315 - The dipuccio family turned to their church for strength 171 00:08:03,317 --> 00:08:06,050 In dealing with the loss of their rosie. 172 00:08:06,052 --> 00:08:08,720 At just 38, snatched away far too soon 173 00:08:08,722 --> 00:08:13,258 In a slow-motion car accident no one could comprehend. 174 00:08:14,928 --> 00:08:16,662 Their beloved daughter and sister, 175 00:08:16,664 --> 00:08:19,331 Mother of two and wife of yaz. 176 00:08:19,333 --> 00:08:20,599 - Where's their lucky mama? 177 00:08:20,601 --> 00:08:21,600 Look at mama. 178 00:08:21,602 --> 00:08:22,934 Look at mama! 179 00:08:22,936 --> 00:08:25,603 - Yaz, yazeed had been born in detroit, 180 00:08:25,605 --> 00:08:28,006 A first-generation palestinian-american, 181 00:08:28,008 --> 00:08:30,275 Son of a ford autoworker. 182 00:08:30,277 --> 00:08:31,409 After medical school, 183 00:08:31,411 --> 00:08:33,479 He'd become an emergency room doctor. 184 00:08:33,481 --> 00:08:36,314 But one with an entrepreneurial itch. 185 00:08:36,316 --> 00:08:38,683 He and his brother had become wealthy as partners 186 00:08:38,685 --> 00:08:44,122 In a satellite dish installation company. 187 00:08:44,124 --> 00:08:46,491 And back in 1999 when they married, 188 00:08:46,493 --> 00:08:49,027 Rosie's parents felt it was a dream come true 189 00:08:49,029 --> 00:08:50,429 For their daughter. 190 00:08:50,431 --> 00:08:54,699 - And I just, uh, think we got a beautiful future together. 191 00:08:54,701 --> 00:08:56,434 - In the years they were married, 192 00:08:56,436 --> 00:08:59,838 Rosie's mom and dad saw only a solid relationship. 193 00:08:59,840 --> 00:09:02,174 - When she got married, it was like a fairytale. 194 00:09:02,176 --> 00:09:04,643 We'd loved them and we cared for him 195 00:09:04,645 --> 00:09:09,514 Because there was nothing we could say we disliked. 196 00:09:09,516 --> 00:09:12,517 - But now, after rosie's death, there was trouble brewing 197 00:09:12,519 --> 00:09:16,288 In the dipuccio family and it brought rosie's two siblings, 198 00:09:16,290 --> 00:09:20,324 Dominic and his younger brother rocky, nearly to blows. 199 00:09:20,326 --> 00:09:22,393 It all started after a conversation 200 00:09:22,395 --> 00:09:23,995 Just hours after rosie's death 201 00:09:23,997 --> 00:09:27,665 That dominic had with his sister's friend eva. 202 00:09:27,667 --> 00:09:29,601 - And I said rosie died, rosie died. 203 00:09:29,603 --> 00:09:31,135 She was hysterical. 204 00:09:31,137 --> 00:09:34,539 She proceeded to tell me that rosie was talking to her 205 00:09:34,541 --> 00:09:37,141 On her way to the movie and she said yaz 206 00:09:37,143 --> 00:09:40,545 Had given her a calcium pill before she left the house 207 00:09:40,547 --> 00:09:42,814 And she started to feel queasy. 208 00:09:42,816 --> 00:09:45,017 Rosie told her, "well, I'm going to call yaz to see 209 00:09:45,019 --> 00:09:48,553 "if maybe this calcium pill is making me sick." 210 00:09:48,555 --> 00:09:50,388 - I'm hearing about some kind of a pill. 211 00:09:50,390 --> 00:09:53,224 He gave it to her, she is being made sick by it 212 00:09:53,226 --> 00:09:54,894 As eva is talking to her over the phone. 213 00:09:54,896 --> 00:09:55,860 - Right. 214 00:09:55,862 --> 00:09:57,028 - And within an hour she's dead. 215 00:09:57,030 --> 00:09:59,297 - Right. 216 00:09:59,299 --> 00:10:02,900 - After the eva conversation, dominic called a family council 217 00:10:02,902 --> 00:10:05,637 Of just the two brothers and their wives. 218 00:10:05,639 --> 00:10:08,840 They needed someplace private, so they got into one car 219 00:10:08,842 --> 00:10:12,110 And drove to their church's parking lot. 220 00:10:12,112 --> 00:10:14,445 Eva's story seemed incomprehensible. 221 00:10:14,447 --> 00:10:16,114 Could there have been something wrong 222 00:10:16,116 --> 00:10:19,117 With the calcium capsule yaz had given rosie? 223 00:10:19,119 --> 00:10:21,319 - And we talked about it and we called eva again. 224 00:10:21,321 --> 00:10:22,388 And she just kept insisting, 225 00:10:22,390 --> 00:10:24,589 "promise me you'll get a full autopsy. 226 00:10:24,591 --> 00:10:27,059 "promise me you'll get a toxicology report. 227 00:10:27,061 --> 00:10:30,061 "promise me, promise me, promise me." 228 00:10:30,063 --> 00:10:32,330 - Dominic's wife julie was dumbfounded. 229 00:10:32,332 --> 00:10:33,398 - How do you have this information 230 00:10:33,400 --> 00:10:36,000 Come to you about somebody that is family? 231 00:10:36,002 --> 00:10:39,070 And there was no way we were going to accuse him. 232 00:10:39,072 --> 00:10:42,140 - Let alone a guy that we knew that was in our family, 233 00:10:42,142 --> 00:10:44,675 That we loved. - And we trusted. 234 00:10:44,677 --> 00:10:47,412 - The brothers found themselves in opposite camps 235 00:10:47,414 --> 00:10:51,716 As far as strategy, dominic, the lawyer wanting to go slow. 236 00:10:51,718 --> 00:10:53,685 First let the coroner do his report 237 00:10:53,687 --> 00:10:55,621 Then see where they stood. 238 00:10:55,623 --> 00:10:58,756 Rocky and his wife rachel were eager to take eva's story 239 00:10:58,758 --> 00:11:00,159 To the cops. 240 00:11:00,161 --> 00:11:03,161 Everyone, though, hoped that yaz was blameless. 241 00:11:03,163 --> 00:11:06,031 - I remember thinking, feeling suspicious 242 00:11:06,033 --> 00:11:07,832 After that phone call, 243 00:11:07,834 --> 00:11:10,501 Feeling like we need to do something 244 00:11:10,503 --> 00:11:11,904 With this information. 245 00:11:11,906 --> 00:11:13,905 - In the dark of the parking lot, 246 00:11:13,907 --> 00:11:15,840 They made a compromise. 247 00:11:15,842 --> 00:11:18,243 Rocky would call the coroner the next day 248 00:11:18,245 --> 00:11:20,845 And ask for a thorough and full examination 249 00:11:20,847 --> 00:11:22,513 Of rosie's body. 250 00:11:22,515 --> 00:11:25,249 There wouldn't be any mention of eva's suspicions. 251 00:11:25,251 --> 00:11:27,385 - The coroner is going to find out how she died. 252 00:11:27,387 --> 00:11:29,587 I mean, this was a matter of two days, three days, 253 00:11:29,589 --> 00:11:32,256 Four days the coroner would come back 254 00:11:32,258 --> 00:11:34,525 And say this is what happened. 255 00:11:34,527 --> 00:11:35,993 - And that's what everyone wanted. 256 00:11:35,995 --> 00:11:39,497 They were desperate to know what had happened to rosie. 257 00:11:39,499 --> 00:11:41,733 The two-car accident she'd been involved in 258 00:11:41,735 --> 00:11:44,803 Had been a minor fender bender and there appeared to be 259 00:11:44,805 --> 00:11:48,873 No serious trauma to rosie's body. 260 00:11:48,875 --> 00:11:52,410 The next day, the coroner performed an autopsy. 261 00:11:52,412 --> 00:11:55,247 Unwelcome news reached the dipuccios quickly. 262 00:11:55,249 --> 00:11:58,950 Cause of death unknown; more tests would be needed. 263 00:11:58,952 --> 00:12:01,819 The wait would only add more stress 264 00:12:01,821 --> 00:12:03,688 To an already stressful situation 265 00:12:03,690 --> 00:12:05,556 Between rosie's two brothers. 266 00:12:05,558 --> 00:12:08,159 Their parents felt the tension. 267 00:12:08,161 --> 00:12:10,295 - They were going at each other 268 00:12:10,297 --> 00:12:12,097 And I couldn't understand this. 269 00:12:12,099 --> 00:12:13,030 - You could see it? 270 00:12:13,032 --> 00:12:13,898 - I could see it. 271 00:12:13,900 --> 00:12:15,834 They were arguing and arguing. 272 00:12:15,836 --> 00:12:17,235 And I'm telling rocco, oh, my gosh, 273 00:12:17,237 --> 00:12:18,504 Talk to dominic and rocky. 274 00:12:18,506 --> 00:12:20,839 I don't know what's going on with them. 275 00:12:20,841 --> 00:12:23,107 - But how long could the brothers keep their secret 276 00:12:23,109 --> 00:12:24,876 From the rest of the family? 277 00:12:29,316 --> 00:12:33,918 - Especially when someone else was also growing suspicious. 278 00:12:33,920 --> 00:12:35,119 - As soon as I got off the phone, 279 00:12:35,121 --> 00:12:36,521 I said I think he killed her. 280 00:12:36,523 --> 00:12:38,389 - Gut instinct? - Immediately. Mm-hmm. 281 00:12:38,391 --> 00:12:40,791 - I didn't know if she had an axe to grind with him. 282 00:12:40,793 --> 00:12:40,859 - When "dateline: Secrets uncovered" continues. 283 00:12:40,927 --> 00:12:53,004 ♪♪ 284 00:12:53,006 --> 00:12:56,474 - Rosie essa died in a low-impact car accident. 285 00:12:56,476 --> 00:12:59,143 And almost two weeks later, her family was still awaiting 286 00:12:59,145 --> 00:13:02,681 The coroner's final report on the exact cause of her death. 287 00:13:02,683 --> 00:13:04,682 That's when this woman, on her own, 288 00:13:04,684 --> 00:13:07,285 Decided to get involved. 289 00:13:07,287 --> 00:13:09,487 And it's that involvement that would later prove 290 00:13:09,489 --> 00:13:11,356 Invaluable to the police. 291 00:13:11,358 --> 00:13:12,757 - I didn't want to be the nosy neighbor 292 00:13:12,759 --> 00:13:13,625 In "bewitched", 293 00:13:13,627 --> 00:13:15,359 The gladys kravitz of the neighborhood, 294 00:13:15,361 --> 00:13:18,796 Coming up with these wild convoluted ideas. 295 00:13:18,798 --> 00:13:20,064 - Christine dicillo is a nurse 296 00:13:20,066 --> 00:13:21,633 Who'd once worked with both rosie 297 00:13:21,635 --> 00:13:24,168 And her doctor husband yaz at a hospital. 298 00:13:24,170 --> 00:13:25,970 She hadn't seen much of either of them 299 00:13:25,972 --> 00:13:27,972 In the previous five years. 300 00:13:27,974 --> 00:13:30,808 By coincidence, christine lived right next door 301 00:13:30,810 --> 00:13:32,444 To rosie's friend eva. 302 00:13:32,446 --> 00:13:34,846 And eva told her about that last phone call 303 00:13:34,848 --> 00:13:38,249 With rosie about yaz giving her a calcium capsule. 304 00:13:38,251 --> 00:13:41,085 - It was odd to me that just prior to leaving 305 00:13:41,087 --> 00:13:43,788 For a movie in the middle of the afternoon, 306 00:13:43,790 --> 00:13:46,123 In a hurry, that that was so necessary 307 00:13:46,125 --> 00:13:47,592 That he give her the pill. 308 00:13:47,594 --> 00:13:49,327 As soon as I got off the phone with eva, 309 00:13:49,329 --> 00:13:51,662 I looked at my husband and said I think he killed her. 310 00:13:51,664 --> 00:13:55,066 - Gut instinct? - Immediately. Mm-hmm. 311 00:13:55,068 --> 00:13:57,136 - So, going simply on her gut instinct 312 00:13:57,138 --> 00:14:00,472 That something wasn't right, and unknown to rosie's brothers, 313 00:14:00,474 --> 00:14:03,207 Christine called the authorities. 314 00:14:03,209 --> 00:14:05,076 - But if you were wrong, christine? 315 00:14:05,078 --> 00:14:06,877 - Well, where could they take it if I was wrong? 316 00:14:06,879 --> 00:14:09,213 There was no harm, no foul and they could politely tell me 317 00:14:09,215 --> 00:14:11,349 That I was wrong and thank you for my help. 318 00:14:11,351 --> 00:14:13,351 And I would go away. 319 00:14:13,353 --> 00:14:15,753 - Christine's urgent request to check yaz out 320 00:14:15,755 --> 00:14:18,156 Made it to the desk of gary mckee, 321 00:14:18,158 --> 00:14:21,893 Then a detective with the highland heights, ohio police department. 322 00:14:21,895 --> 00:14:24,762 He was already investigating rosie's car accident. 323 00:14:24,764 --> 00:14:26,430 - I never had met christine dicillo. 324 00:14:26,432 --> 00:14:28,899 And I didn't know if she had an axe to grind with them. 325 00:14:28,901 --> 00:14:31,369 For whatever reason, she didn't care for him 326 00:14:31,371 --> 00:14:33,704 May not have been a valid reason. 327 00:14:33,706 --> 00:14:37,309 So, I wasn't approaching him as a suspect or even thinking 328 00:14:37,311 --> 00:14:39,577 That, you know, this guy is a murderer. 329 00:14:39,579 --> 00:14:42,648 - Still, the detective had some facts that didn't add up. 330 00:14:42,650 --> 00:14:46,083 A 38-year-old woman in good health suddenly dead 331 00:14:46,085 --> 00:14:47,518 In a fender bender. 332 00:14:47,520 --> 00:14:49,787 What's more, the coroner couldn't give him 333 00:14:49,789 --> 00:14:51,656 A cause of death. 334 00:14:51,658 --> 00:14:53,257 At minimum he had to find out more 335 00:14:53,259 --> 00:14:54,927 About those calcium capsules 336 00:14:54,929 --> 00:14:57,462 Christine dicillo had told him about. 337 00:14:57,464 --> 00:14:59,530 The detective called rosie's husband 338 00:14:59,532 --> 00:15:02,066 And he agreed to come down to the police station. 339 00:15:02,068 --> 00:15:05,336 That interview was recorded on an audio tape. 340 00:15:05,338 --> 00:15:06,939 The detective questioned the doctor 341 00:15:06,941 --> 00:15:08,973 About the calcium capsules. 342 00:15:41,841 --> 00:15:43,507 - So, what's your impression of this doctor? 343 00:15:43,509 --> 00:15:44,977 The guy everyone calls yaz? 344 00:15:44,979 --> 00:15:48,646 - Well, he-- he's clearly a smart individual. 345 00:15:48,648 --> 00:15:50,382 Very low key. 346 00:16:01,829 --> 00:16:04,863 - Remember, rosie and yaz were trying to have another child 347 00:16:04,865 --> 00:16:07,732 And she was prescribed prenatal vitamins. 348 00:16:07,734 --> 00:16:10,469 Detective mckee wanted all the pills rosie was taking 349 00:16:10,471 --> 00:16:13,871 Gathered up for testing, including the calcium capsules 350 00:16:13,873 --> 00:16:16,208 That yaz said he bought for his wife. 351 00:16:16,210 --> 00:16:20,111 The interview over, the detective followed yaz home. 352 00:16:20,113 --> 00:16:21,546 - We entered the home. 353 00:16:21,548 --> 00:16:25,083 There was a female seated at the kitchen counter on a stool. 354 00:16:25,085 --> 00:16:27,418 She was margarita montanez. 355 00:16:27,420 --> 00:16:29,754 - Margarita was the daytime nanny. 356 00:16:29,756 --> 00:16:31,823 Yaz had hired her to care for his kids 357 00:16:31,825 --> 00:16:33,290 After rosie died. 358 00:16:33,292 --> 00:16:37,628 He also hired another woman to be the nighttime nanny. 359 00:16:37,630 --> 00:16:39,163 At the time, the detective thought nothing 360 00:16:39,165 --> 00:16:41,165 Of margarita the nanny, 361 00:16:41,167 --> 00:16:43,035 Though that would eventually change. 362 00:16:43,037 --> 00:16:46,504 For now, he was there only to get the pills from yaz. 363 00:16:46,506 --> 00:16:48,373 - Before he retrieved the pills, 364 00:16:48,375 --> 00:16:52,443 He asked me, have you found the cause of death for my wife. 365 00:16:52,445 --> 00:16:54,178 And I said no, we haven't. 366 00:16:54,180 --> 00:16:55,646 So, then he reached up in the cabinet 367 00:16:55,648 --> 00:16:57,049 And retrieved the pills. 368 00:16:57,051 --> 00:16:58,516 But before he handed them to me, 369 00:16:58,518 --> 00:17:00,985 He said why do you want these? 370 00:17:00,987 --> 00:17:02,386 And my response was, you know, 371 00:17:02,388 --> 00:17:05,589 I just want to cover all the bases. 372 00:17:05,591 --> 00:17:08,059 - The next day, yaz asked rosie's sister 373 00:17:08,061 --> 00:17:10,128 To watch his kids overnight. 374 00:17:10,130 --> 00:17:12,196 Then, in the middle of that night, 375 00:17:12,198 --> 00:17:14,332 She got an urgent call from him. 376 00:17:14,334 --> 00:17:16,067 - At four in the morning he left me a voicemail 377 00:17:16,069 --> 00:17:19,503 Saying that his friend's brother was in a bad car accident 378 00:17:19,505 --> 00:17:21,672 And they didn't think he was going to make it 379 00:17:21,674 --> 00:17:24,810 So he was going to go to north carolina. 380 00:17:24,812 --> 00:17:27,479 - The friend's brother was apparently in bad shape. 381 00:17:27,481 --> 00:17:30,347 Yaz asked the dipuccio family to watch his children 382 00:17:30,349 --> 00:17:31,816 Through the weekend. 383 00:17:31,818 --> 00:17:34,752 But on Monday, when the doctor was to return, 384 00:17:34,754 --> 00:17:36,821 Came a bombshell none of the dipuccios 385 00:17:36,823 --> 00:17:38,690 Could ever have imagined. 386 00:17:38,692 --> 00:17:41,293 Rosie's brother got a call from his wife. 387 00:17:41,295 --> 00:17:43,627 - Julie called and said nobody can find yaz. 388 00:17:43,629 --> 00:17:44,495 And I said, what do you mean? 389 00:17:44,497 --> 00:17:46,364 She said nobody can find him. 390 00:17:46,366 --> 00:17:47,965 I found his friend, I found his number, 391 00:17:47,967 --> 00:17:48,966 I called him. 392 00:17:48,968 --> 00:17:50,569 And I said, how's your brother? 393 00:17:50,571 --> 00:17:52,303 And he said, what are you talking about? 394 00:17:52,305 --> 00:17:54,171 And I said, well, yaz told us he was down with you 395 00:17:54,173 --> 00:17:56,041 Because your brother had been in a really bad car accident. 396 00:17:56,043 --> 00:17:58,175 And he said I haven't seen yaz-- 397 00:17:58,177 --> 00:17:59,945 Yaz hasn't been here all weekend. 398 00:18:01,081 --> 00:18:03,347 - Dominic went to rosie and yaz's house 399 00:18:03,349 --> 00:18:05,650 And discovered something on the kitchen counter. 400 00:18:05,652 --> 00:18:09,587 - It was an envelope that had obviously recently been opened. 401 00:18:09,589 --> 00:18:11,455 The postage stamp was just a couple of days before. 402 00:18:11,457 --> 00:18:14,058 And it was in an envelope that a passport would come in. 403 00:18:14,060 --> 00:18:16,728 I said, he's gone. He's gone. 404 00:18:16,730 --> 00:18:19,730 - But could this father really have left behind 405 00:18:19,732 --> 00:18:20,999 His two children? 406 00:18:21,001 --> 00:18:25,269 Children who'd just lost their mother three weeks before. 407 00:18:25,271 --> 00:18:27,404 The dipuccios did have questions. 408 00:18:27,406 --> 00:18:31,743 What killed rosie? And why did yaz disappear? 409 00:18:34,147 --> 00:18:38,149 - The autopsy comes in along with a stunning revelation 410 00:18:38,151 --> 00:18:40,752 About those calcium pills. 411 00:18:40,754 --> 00:18:43,187 - What were they filled with? 412 00:18:43,289 --> 00:18:49,393 - When "dateline: Secrets uncovered" continues. 413 00:18:49,394 --> 00:18:55,498 ♪♪ 414 00:18:55,501 --> 00:18:58,302 - Welcome back to "dateline: Secrets uncovered. 415 00:18:58,304 --> 00:18:59,704 I'm craig melvin. 416 00:18:59,706 --> 00:19:02,306 Rosie essa died after a fender bender 417 00:19:02,308 --> 00:19:07,578 And taking what her husband yaz said was a calcium pill. 418 00:19:07,580 --> 00:19:10,581 The young doctor gave police the remaining pills for testing 419 00:19:10,583 --> 00:19:13,384 Then suddenly disappeared. 420 00:19:13,386 --> 00:19:16,454 Now, investigators were about to discover 421 00:19:16,456 --> 00:19:18,856 What was in those capsules, 422 00:19:18,858 --> 00:19:22,993 A secret ingredient that would transform the investigation 423 00:19:22,995 --> 00:19:27,932 And launch an international manhunt for yaz. 424 00:19:27,934 --> 00:19:31,669 Once again, here's dennis murphy with "bitter pill". 425 00:19:31,671 --> 00:19:34,738 [laughing] 426 00:19:34,740 --> 00:19:38,108 - Dr. Yazeed essa was gone. 427 00:19:38,110 --> 00:19:41,612 Three weeks after his wife rosie had died a puzzling death, 428 00:19:41,614 --> 00:19:44,415 He'd up and abandoned their two young children, 429 00:19:44,417 --> 00:19:48,419 His job as an er doctor, just flat vanished. 430 00:19:48,421 --> 00:19:51,021 Rosie's brother dominic filed a missing person report 431 00:19:51,023 --> 00:19:52,356 With the police, 432 00:19:52,358 --> 00:19:54,091 Then headed down to yaz's house 433 00:19:54,093 --> 00:19:56,493 And started his own investigation. 434 00:19:56,495 --> 00:19:58,562 - My entire family spent the week at that house 435 00:19:58,564 --> 00:20:00,699 And we were playing detectives, 436 00:20:00,701 --> 00:20:02,900 Trying to figure out what happened. 437 00:20:02,902 --> 00:20:04,302 - What is the puzzle piece telling you? 438 00:20:04,304 --> 00:20:07,571 - Rosie died on a Thursday, less than 24 hours later 439 00:20:07,573 --> 00:20:10,508 He sends a-- a blast email to all his friends 440 00:20:10,510 --> 00:20:12,510 That says just wanted to let you know 441 00:20:12,512 --> 00:20:14,980 That rosie died yesterday in a minor car accident. 442 00:20:14,982 --> 00:20:17,381 She will be missed. 443 00:20:17,383 --> 00:20:18,449 - That's it? - Mm-hmm. 444 00:20:18,451 --> 00:20:19,984 - That was the email. - She will be missed. 445 00:20:19,986 --> 00:20:20,918 - His wife? The mother of his two children? 446 00:20:20,920 --> 00:20:22,920 - That was his blast email. 447 00:20:22,922 --> 00:20:24,455 - Through credit card transactions, 448 00:20:24,457 --> 00:20:27,758 Dominic eventually learned that yaz had bought a plane ticket. 449 00:20:27,760 --> 00:20:29,227 Final destination? 450 00:20:29,229 --> 00:20:32,997 Cyprus, the island in the mediterranean. 451 00:20:32,999 --> 00:20:35,400 Dominic knew it was time to tell the entire family 452 00:20:35,402 --> 00:20:38,602 Everything he and his brother rocky had been keeping back, 453 00:20:38,604 --> 00:20:41,138 About the conversation their sister had with eva 454 00:20:41,140 --> 00:20:43,874 Just before she died, her story about rosie 455 00:20:43,876 --> 00:20:46,343 Feeling sick after taking a calcium capsule 456 00:20:46,345 --> 00:20:48,346 Given to her by yaz. 457 00:20:48,348 --> 00:20:51,816 - Are you, the family, saying out loud in one voice 458 00:20:51,818 --> 00:20:53,484 Yaz killed rosie? 459 00:20:53,486 --> 00:20:54,486 - Some of us are. 460 00:20:54,488 --> 00:20:56,020 It took me a while. 461 00:20:56,022 --> 00:20:57,421 It really took me a while. 462 00:20:57,423 --> 00:20:59,890 - Suddenly, dominic and his wife's family had grown, 463 00:20:59,892 --> 00:21:02,293 Caring not only for their own four children, 464 00:21:02,295 --> 00:21:05,029 But now rosie's two children as well. 465 00:21:05,031 --> 00:21:06,898 - They've not a mother, not a father. 466 00:21:06,900 --> 00:21:09,833 We don't even know where to tell them where he went, 467 00:21:09,835 --> 00:21:11,902 What happened to him. Where did daddy go? 468 00:21:11,904 --> 00:21:14,272 How do you answer that question? 469 00:21:14,274 --> 00:21:16,674 - Then came even more devastating news. 470 00:21:16,676 --> 00:21:19,077 About four weeks after rosie's death, 471 00:21:19,079 --> 00:21:21,345 Test results were in for the calcium pills 472 00:21:21,347 --> 00:21:23,647 That police took from yaz's home. 473 00:21:23,649 --> 00:21:27,384 - We had suspicions about that, of course, 474 00:21:27,386 --> 00:21:29,053 And that nailed it. 475 00:21:29,055 --> 00:21:30,655 - And what were they filled with? 476 00:21:30,657 --> 00:21:33,058 - Potassium cyanide. 477 00:21:33,060 --> 00:21:35,526 - Cyanide, a lethal poison. 478 00:21:35,528 --> 00:21:37,795 Nine pills were in the bottle that yaz 479 00:21:37,797 --> 00:21:39,663 Had turned over to police. 480 00:21:39,665 --> 00:21:43,401 It's from that same bottle that he gave rosie a capsule. 481 00:21:43,403 --> 00:21:46,470 And sure enough, there was enough cyanide in each pill 482 00:21:46,472 --> 00:21:48,540 To kill a person within minutes. 483 00:21:48,542 --> 00:21:51,208 Rosie's death was a homicide. 484 00:21:51,210 --> 00:21:53,811 But how could the man the dipuccios loved so much, 485 00:21:53,813 --> 00:21:56,613 The son-in-law they thought had a near perfect marriage 486 00:21:56,615 --> 00:21:59,283 With their rosie, ever have killed her? 487 00:21:59,285 --> 00:22:03,020 Nonetheless, dr. Yazeed essa was now a murder suspect 488 00:22:03,022 --> 00:22:05,689 And international fugitive. 489 00:22:05,691 --> 00:22:08,293 The local police called in the fbi. 490 00:22:08,295 --> 00:22:11,628 - Initially, he fled from cleveland to cyprus 491 00:22:11,630 --> 00:22:14,031 And then eventually we also obtained information 492 00:22:14,033 --> 00:22:17,301 Through various sources that he had traveled 493 00:22:17,303 --> 00:22:19,169 To beirut, lebanon. 494 00:22:19,171 --> 00:22:22,539 - Phil torsne was a seasoned fbi manhunter. 495 00:22:22,541 --> 00:22:25,042 The agent immediately knew he had a major problem. 496 00:22:27,847 --> 00:22:30,982 Yaz was virtually untouchable in lebanon 497 00:22:30,984 --> 00:22:33,317 Because that country doesn't have an extradition treaty 498 00:22:33,319 --> 00:22:34,718 With the u.S. 499 00:22:34,720 --> 00:22:37,855 So, rosie's husband was living freely in beirut. 500 00:22:37,857 --> 00:22:39,056 The fbi knew it 501 00:22:39,058 --> 00:22:41,325 And there was nothing they could do about it. 502 00:22:41,327 --> 00:22:42,793 - Even if we have eyes on the ground, 503 00:22:42,795 --> 00:22:43,927 You've got an agent say, "I just saw him 504 00:22:43,929 --> 00:22:45,863 "leave his apartment and go down to the bistro, 505 00:22:45,865 --> 00:22:47,197 "he read the paper and he went home." 506 00:22:47,199 --> 00:22:49,199 You can't move in and serve papers on him? 507 00:22:49,201 --> 00:22:50,335 - Right. 508 00:22:50,337 --> 00:22:51,469 - Back in the u.S. 509 00:22:51,471 --> 00:22:54,004 Rosie's family desperately tried to get yaz 510 00:22:54,006 --> 00:22:55,873 To turn himself in. 511 00:22:55,875 --> 00:22:57,274 They held news conferences. 512 00:22:57,276 --> 00:22:59,676 - What we're doing today is making a plea to yazeed, 513 00:22:59,678 --> 00:23:01,078 Um, if he is watching, 514 00:23:01,080 --> 00:23:03,347 To come back to cleveland 515 00:23:03,349 --> 00:23:05,749 And answer to the charges before him. 516 00:23:05,751 --> 00:23:08,085 - By then, the doctor had officially been charged 517 00:23:08,087 --> 00:23:11,088 With aggravated murder in the death of his wife. 518 00:23:11,090 --> 00:23:14,158 But it appeared he had no intention of coming back. 519 00:23:14,160 --> 00:23:18,028 Officials would later learn that yaz took on a new identity, 520 00:23:18,030 --> 00:23:19,464 Maurice khalife. 521 00:23:21,401 --> 00:23:23,034 He was a single, good-looking guy 522 00:23:23,036 --> 00:23:26,303 Always up for a party. Here he's seen at a wedding. 523 00:23:26,305 --> 00:23:28,839 Months went by, then a year. 524 00:23:28,841 --> 00:23:30,708 - Did you ever get the feeling he was thumbing his nose at you 525 00:23:30,710 --> 00:23:33,110 And all the other people looking for him? 526 00:23:33,112 --> 00:23:34,111 - Yeah, I think so. 527 00:23:34,113 --> 00:23:35,447 - And what you have to do is-- 528 00:23:35,449 --> 00:23:38,048 Is lure him off the security of his home base 529 00:23:38,050 --> 00:23:39,516 Where he's safe in beirut? 530 00:23:39,518 --> 00:23:42,319 - We hope, at some point, he leaves the country. 531 00:23:42,321 --> 00:23:44,188 - In October 2006, 532 00:23:44,190 --> 00:23:46,658 A year and a half after rosie's death, 533 00:23:46,660 --> 00:23:48,325 Her mom and dad got a phone call 534 00:23:48,327 --> 00:23:50,461 From their local police chief. 535 00:23:50,463 --> 00:23:53,464 - And he said, are you sitting down? 536 00:23:53,466 --> 00:23:56,467 He says I have good news for you. 537 00:23:56,469 --> 00:23:57,868 He said, we got him. 538 00:23:57,870 --> 00:24:00,270 - Yaz had finally slipped up. 539 00:24:00,272 --> 00:24:02,573 He'd left the security of lebanon. 540 00:24:02,575 --> 00:24:04,875 The fbi was aware he was going to be on a flight 541 00:24:04,877 --> 00:24:07,010 Into cyprus' larnaka airport. 542 00:24:07,012 --> 00:24:08,813 How they knew, they won't say. 543 00:24:08,815 --> 00:24:10,948 But cypriot police were waiting for the doctor 544 00:24:10,950 --> 00:24:12,883 When he got off the plane. 545 00:24:12,885 --> 00:24:14,852 And in cyprus, unlike lebanon, 546 00:24:14,854 --> 00:24:17,955 A person can be extradited to the u.S. 547 00:24:17,957 --> 00:24:20,090 But yaz would fight every inch of the way 548 00:24:20,092 --> 00:24:23,361 To avoid facing aggravated murder charges in ohio. 549 00:24:23,363 --> 00:24:24,761 - That's our guy! 550 00:24:24,763 --> 00:24:28,966 - It wasn't until January of 2009 that yazeed essa, 551 00:24:28,968 --> 00:24:30,767 The man in this grainy footage, 552 00:24:30,769 --> 00:24:33,772 Was finally brought back to the united states. 553 00:24:33,774 --> 00:24:35,907 - 50, go ahead. - And detective mckee, 554 00:24:35,909 --> 00:24:38,041 The highland heights, ohio officer 555 00:24:38,043 --> 00:24:40,244 Who first started investigating rosie's death 556 00:24:40,246 --> 00:24:42,980 Four years before, was waiting for him. 557 00:24:42,982 --> 00:24:44,648 - We put him in the backseat of a car 558 00:24:44,650 --> 00:24:46,517 And I didn't say a word to him. 559 00:24:46,519 --> 00:24:48,051 - You didn't say, remember me? 560 00:24:48,053 --> 00:24:49,453 - I think he did. 561 00:24:49,455 --> 00:24:51,455 I don't think I had to say that. 562 00:24:51,457 --> 00:24:54,325 - One question no one had yet answered, 563 00:24:54,327 --> 00:24:57,594 Why would the doctor want his wife dead? 564 00:24:57,596 --> 00:24:59,429 Coming up... 565 00:24:59,431 --> 00:25:01,064 - Are you asserting that there's a little love nest? 566 00:25:01,066 --> 00:25:02,399 A little pad? 567 00:25:02,401 --> 00:25:04,602 - Oh, yeah, there was a-- I thought it was a playhouse. 568 00:25:04,604 --> 00:25:05,937 - A love shack. 569 00:25:05,939 --> 00:25:07,371 - A love shack. And that was it. 570 00:25:07,373 --> 00:25:07,437 - When "dateline: Secrets uncovered" continues. 571 00:25:07,640 --> 00:25:19,416 ♪♪ 572 00:25:19,418 --> 00:25:20,684 - For nearly five years, 573 00:25:20,686 --> 00:25:24,488 The dipuccio family had been waiting for this day. 574 00:25:24,490 --> 00:25:27,091 Dr. Yazeed essa would finally face a jury 575 00:25:27,093 --> 00:25:30,627 For allegedly poisoning his wife rosie with cyanide. 576 00:25:30,629 --> 00:25:32,497 Steve dever and anna feralia 577 00:25:32,499 --> 00:25:35,832 Would prosecute the aggravated murder case for ohio. 578 00:25:35,834 --> 00:25:36,634 - What's the mission? 579 00:25:36,636 --> 00:25:37,734 How are you going to go about it? 580 00:25:37,736 --> 00:25:39,102 - The mission is to define his character 581 00:25:39,104 --> 00:25:41,638 And let the jury get another glimpse of who he is 582 00:25:41,640 --> 00:25:44,775 As opposed to how he appears there in the courtroom. 583 00:25:44,777 --> 00:25:47,444 - As the trial started the prosecution's challenge 584 00:25:47,446 --> 00:25:49,780 Was to convince the jury that yazeed essa 585 00:25:49,782 --> 00:25:51,715 Was a jekyll and hyde, 586 00:25:51,717 --> 00:25:54,051 One face showing the emergency room doctor 587 00:25:54,053 --> 00:25:57,254 Who saved lives and seemed the ideal husband. 588 00:25:57,256 --> 00:25:59,323 The other an evil poisoner 589 00:25:59,325 --> 00:26:01,292 Who planned the murder of his wife, 590 00:26:01,294 --> 00:26:03,927 The mother of his two children. 591 00:26:03,929 --> 00:26:05,730 Rosie's sister-in-law may have seen 592 00:26:05,732 --> 00:26:09,199 One of those masks slip right after rosie had died. 593 00:26:09,201 --> 00:26:11,868 She testified as to how cold and disrespectful 594 00:26:11,870 --> 00:26:14,671 Yaz had seemed in the way he treated his wife's body 595 00:26:14,673 --> 00:26:16,607 Lying on the hospital bed. 596 00:26:16,609 --> 00:26:21,011 - Yaz walked over to rosie... 597 00:26:21,013 --> 00:26:24,815 And abrupt-- very abruptly lifted her up 598 00:26:24,817 --> 00:26:27,351 And pulled the sheet down. 599 00:26:27,353 --> 00:26:32,489 And she was naked underneath and he exposed her breasts. 600 00:26:32,491 --> 00:26:33,957 And he tried to get the necklace off 601 00:26:33,959 --> 00:26:36,026 And he just kind of got it off 602 00:26:36,028 --> 00:26:41,031 And he just treated her very disrespectfully. 603 00:26:41,033 --> 00:26:43,367 And I remember thinking, why is he doing that? 604 00:26:43,369 --> 00:26:45,703 Why is he treating her like that? 605 00:26:45,705 --> 00:26:47,337 That's his wife. 606 00:26:49,842 --> 00:26:52,776 - The state calls eva mcgregor. 607 00:26:52,778 --> 00:26:55,645 - If the prosecution had an indispensable star witness, 608 00:26:55,647 --> 00:26:58,248 It would be this woman taking the stand. 609 00:26:58,250 --> 00:27:01,051 Eva mcgregor had been the friend on the phone with rosie 610 00:27:01,053 --> 00:27:04,121 Just moments before her car accident and death. 611 00:27:04,123 --> 00:27:06,190 Only eva could point to yaz as the source 612 00:27:06,192 --> 00:27:08,325 Of that cyanide-laced calcium capsule 613 00:27:08,327 --> 00:27:09,793 Rosie had taken. 614 00:27:09,795 --> 00:27:12,730 - She had taken a-- a calcium pill 615 00:27:12,732 --> 00:27:15,599 Right before she left the-- her house. 616 00:27:15,601 --> 00:27:17,201 She didn't really want to take it. 617 00:27:17,203 --> 00:27:19,270 And she said as she was in-- 618 00:27:19,272 --> 00:27:21,338 You know, rushing out the door, 619 00:27:21,340 --> 00:27:24,074 He said here, take it. Take your calcium. 620 00:27:24,076 --> 00:27:27,010 Now, I don't know if that's what's making me sick. 621 00:27:27,012 --> 00:27:29,713 - The jury would get a lesson in poisoning. 622 00:27:29,715 --> 00:27:31,281 The court was told that cyanide 623 00:27:31,283 --> 00:27:33,750 Isn't something you can just buy over the counter, 624 00:27:33,752 --> 00:27:36,353 But the lethal stuff, according to this poison expert, 625 00:27:36,355 --> 00:27:40,091 Is available only a mouse click away online. 626 00:27:40,093 --> 00:27:41,559 - There was a study done 627 00:27:41,561 --> 00:27:43,427 Where they actually looked at ebay. 628 00:27:43,429 --> 00:27:44,896 There was two times when it came up 629 00:27:44,898 --> 00:27:47,832 That you could buy, on ebay, cyanide. 630 00:27:47,834 --> 00:27:49,366 - And it turned out to be a snap 631 00:27:49,368 --> 00:27:51,335 To shake out the calcium in the capsule 632 00:27:51,337 --> 00:27:53,838 And replace it with cyanide. 633 00:27:53,840 --> 00:27:57,307 - You can literally just take, you know, a pen, uh, cap 634 00:27:57,309 --> 00:27:59,877 And you can scoop it with that and pour it right in. 635 00:27:59,879 --> 00:28:02,113 - That may have been the killer's methodology, 636 00:28:02,115 --> 00:28:03,246 But in the big picture, 637 00:28:03,248 --> 00:28:05,048 The most damning fact against yaz 638 00:28:05,050 --> 00:28:07,384 Was his decision to flee. 639 00:28:07,386 --> 00:28:10,254 Would an innocent father have left his two children behind 640 00:28:10,256 --> 00:28:13,123 Just weeks after their mother had died? 641 00:28:13,125 --> 00:28:15,860 For the story, the courtroom was taken to the middle east 642 00:28:15,862 --> 00:28:19,262 To account for yaz's missing months in lebanon. 643 00:28:19,264 --> 00:28:21,998 - Good morning, sir. - This man, jamal khalife, 644 00:28:22,000 --> 00:28:24,801 A kind of godfather mr. Fix it character 645 00:28:24,803 --> 00:28:27,671 Testified about how he helped yaz live on the lam 646 00:28:27,673 --> 00:28:30,273 With virtually a new life and identity. 647 00:28:30,275 --> 00:28:32,576 - I got the phone call from my brother 648 00:28:32,578 --> 00:28:35,345 That there is somebody coming over 649 00:28:35,347 --> 00:28:37,547 And to take care of him. 650 00:28:37,549 --> 00:28:39,217 - The brother of jamal, the fixer, 651 00:28:39,219 --> 00:28:42,419 Had known yaz's family back in the united states. 652 00:28:42,421 --> 00:28:45,490 Jamal testified he put yaz up in a beirut apartment, 653 00:28:45,492 --> 00:28:48,091 Got him a new passport and a new name, 654 00:28:48,093 --> 00:28:49,559 Maurice khalife. 655 00:28:49,561 --> 00:28:52,563 - We have support in lebanon. 656 00:28:52,565 --> 00:28:54,966 - As he got to know the american doctor better, 657 00:28:54,968 --> 00:28:57,901 A stunning story about rosie spilled out. 658 00:28:57,903 --> 00:28:59,102 - He told me the whole story 659 00:28:59,104 --> 00:29:02,173 That his wife was leaving the home 660 00:29:02,175 --> 00:29:04,709 Going, I think, to a movie. 661 00:29:04,711 --> 00:29:08,311 He told me he grounded the cyanide, 662 00:29:08,313 --> 00:29:11,448 Refilled the pills, and he gave her two pills. 663 00:29:11,450 --> 00:29:14,651 Down the street, she had a car accident and she died. 664 00:29:14,653 --> 00:29:16,988 - A severe blow for the accused-- 665 00:29:16,990 --> 00:29:20,257 A second-hand account of a confession from yaz. 666 00:29:20,259 --> 00:29:22,125 And another witness was about to deliver 667 00:29:22,127 --> 00:29:24,795 An even more dramatic roundhouse punch. 668 00:29:24,797 --> 00:29:26,731 - Good afternoon, mr. Essa. 669 00:29:26,733 --> 00:29:28,332 - For ross essa, none other than 670 00:29:28,334 --> 00:29:31,001 The defendant's own brother and business partner, 671 00:29:31,003 --> 00:29:33,671 Took the stand as a prosecution witness. 672 00:29:33,673 --> 00:29:36,074 - I asked him if he was responsible for her death 673 00:29:36,076 --> 00:29:38,542 And he said yes. 674 00:29:38,544 --> 00:29:39,811 - When you found out that information, 675 00:29:39,813 --> 00:29:41,411 What did you say to your brother? 676 00:29:41,413 --> 00:29:43,548 - I told him he was a [indistinct expletives]. 677 00:29:43,550 --> 00:29:46,550 - And why did you say that? 678 00:29:46,552 --> 00:29:50,354 - Because he took rosie's life and I loved her. 679 00:29:52,024 --> 00:29:54,825 He just ruined his whole family. 680 00:29:54,827 --> 00:29:56,494 - It was crippling testimony. 681 00:29:56,496 --> 00:29:57,627 The brother, 682 00:29:57,629 --> 00:29:59,296 Once an inseparable blood friend, 683 00:29:59,298 --> 00:30:03,234 Had given yaz an evidentiary kill shot. 684 00:30:03,236 --> 00:30:05,135 Nonetheless, there were still core problems 685 00:30:05,137 --> 00:30:07,705 In the prosecution's overall case. 686 00:30:07,707 --> 00:30:09,639 It was entirely circumstantial 687 00:30:09,641 --> 00:30:11,841 And seemed to beg for a motive. 688 00:30:11,843 --> 00:30:14,378 Why would the doctor do it? 689 00:30:14,380 --> 00:30:16,112 Prosecutors answered by arguing 690 00:30:16,114 --> 00:30:18,782 That yaz the family man, wasn't really, 691 00:30:18,784 --> 00:30:20,651 When you took a closer look. 692 00:30:20,653 --> 00:30:24,454 It turned out he had scads of women on the side. 693 00:30:24,456 --> 00:30:27,391 He was a doctor with a first-degree cheating heart. 694 00:30:27,393 --> 00:30:28,658 - Every Wednesday night, 695 00:30:28,660 --> 00:30:30,661 He would spend with his girlfriend, 696 00:30:30,663 --> 00:30:32,596 With his mistress at her apartment. 697 00:30:32,598 --> 00:30:35,766 - Girlfriends, mistresses, sex partners, lots of them. 698 00:30:37,403 --> 00:30:38,869 The jurors were even shown photos 699 00:30:38,871 --> 00:30:40,571 Of a hidden-away bedroom in the building 700 00:30:40,573 --> 00:30:43,340 Where he and his brother had their business. 701 00:30:43,342 --> 00:30:44,741 - Are you asserting that there's a little love nest, 702 00:30:44,743 --> 00:30:45,742 A little pad? 703 00:30:45,744 --> 00:30:47,210 - I thought it was a playhouse that he had. 704 00:30:47,212 --> 00:30:49,347 - A love shack. - A love shack, that was it. 705 00:30:49,349 --> 00:30:51,748 Um, yeah, that was the place that-- he would use 706 00:30:51,750 --> 00:30:54,150 The apartment over there from time to time to-- 707 00:30:54,152 --> 00:30:56,486 To bring his lady friends. - Good afternoon. 708 00:30:56,488 --> 00:30:59,156 - And one of those lovers had been margarita, 709 00:30:59,158 --> 00:31:00,824 The daytime nanny. 710 00:31:00,826 --> 00:31:02,693 She was the woman the detective saw sitting 711 00:31:02,695 --> 00:31:03,827 In yaz's kitchen 712 00:31:03,829 --> 00:31:06,630 When he first went to collect the calcium caps. 713 00:31:06,632 --> 00:31:08,365 Margarita, it turned out, 714 00:31:08,367 --> 00:31:11,969 Had had a long-term sexual affair with yaz, 715 00:31:11,971 --> 00:31:15,106 An affair rosie evidently knew nothing about. 716 00:31:15,108 --> 00:31:20,110 - In 2001, we began our sexual relationship. 717 00:31:20,112 --> 00:31:22,112 - Why did you become involved in a relationship 718 00:31:22,114 --> 00:31:24,048 With the defendant while you were married? 719 00:31:24,050 --> 00:31:25,849 - Me and my husband were having problems 720 00:31:25,851 --> 00:31:28,853 And I thought I was going to get a divorce. 721 00:31:28,855 --> 00:31:32,122 - So, did this begin an affair with the defendant? 722 00:31:32,124 --> 00:31:33,390 - On occasion. 723 00:31:33,392 --> 00:31:36,793 It wasn't a love affair or anything. 724 00:31:36,795 --> 00:31:39,530 - Margarita described it as a friends with benefits 725 00:31:39,532 --> 00:31:42,933 Type of relationship with yaz, purely sex. 726 00:31:42,935 --> 00:31:45,402 - But the prosecution asserted yaz had a deeper, 727 00:31:45,404 --> 00:31:48,206 More complicated relationship with another woman, 728 00:31:48,208 --> 00:31:50,006 Michelle madeline. 729 00:31:50,008 --> 00:31:52,008 Now, she was the so-called nighttime nanny 730 00:31:52,010 --> 00:31:53,411 For his children. 731 00:31:53,413 --> 00:31:55,813 Michelle was also someone prosecutors say 732 00:31:55,815 --> 00:31:57,747 Who fell in love with the doctor, 733 00:31:57,749 --> 00:31:59,216 And he with her. 734 00:31:59,218 --> 00:32:01,218 - State's exhibit 125. 735 00:32:01,220 --> 00:32:03,753 - To make the point, jurors were shown a camisole 736 00:32:03,755 --> 00:32:07,024 Like this one, an intimate valentine's day gift 737 00:32:07,026 --> 00:32:08,226 From yaz to michelle, 738 00:32:08,228 --> 00:32:11,095 Just two weeks before rosie's death. 739 00:32:11,097 --> 00:32:12,363 A representative of the company 740 00:32:12,365 --> 00:32:13,564 That shipped the nightie 741 00:32:13,566 --> 00:32:15,699 Read the card that was enclosed. 742 00:32:15,701 --> 00:32:17,835 - "next valentine's day will be all ours. 743 00:32:17,837 --> 00:32:20,170 "I love you with all my being, yaz." 744 00:32:20,172 --> 00:32:22,106 - He's indicating to this paramour 745 00:32:22,108 --> 00:32:25,977 That next year is going to be all ours. 746 00:32:25,979 --> 00:32:27,911 It's kind of a foreshadowing 747 00:32:27,913 --> 00:32:30,847 Of she won't be around next year. 748 00:32:30,849 --> 00:32:32,650 - The mistress, the nighttime nanny, 749 00:32:32,652 --> 00:32:33,983 Was called to the stand. 750 00:32:33,985 --> 00:32:36,254 - I had a romantic relationship with him. 751 00:32:36,256 --> 00:32:38,121 - Michelle testified that she was a nurse 752 00:32:38,123 --> 00:32:40,056 Who had met yaz on the job. 753 00:32:40,058 --> 00:32:42,059 She asked for and received a court order 754 00:32:42,061 --> 00:32:44,395 To obscure her image while testifying. 755 00:32:44,397 --> 00:32:47,330 - He was telling me that he was so unhappy 756 00:32:47,332 --> 00:32:50,067 In his marriage and I was the love of his life. 757 00:32:50,069 --> 00:32:57,073 And I was his dream come true and he was going to leave her, 758 00:32:57,075 --> 00:32:59,676 So that our relationship could continue. 759 00:32:59,678 --> 00:33:01,678 - She's pushing back saying no, 760 00:33:01,680 --> 00:33:03,880 I can't be with a married man. 761 00:33:03,882 --> 00:33:05,483 And he can't take no for an answer. 762 00:33:05,485 --> 00:33:07,084 And that's his motivation. 763 00:33:07,086 --> 00:33:09,486 That's what puts him on this path. 764 00:33:09,488 --> 00:33:11,288 - A path the prosecution argued 765 00:33:11,290 --> 00:33:13,156 That led directly to murder. 766 00:33:13,158 --> 00:33:15,158 The one-time mistress shared with the court 767 00:33:15,160 --> 00:33:18,361 Yaz's supposed true feelings for his wife, rosie. 768 00:33:18,363 --> 00:33:21,431 - He wasn't in love with her, according to what he told me. 769 00:33:21,433 --> 00:33:22,632 - Okay. 770 00:33:22,634 --> 00:33:23,900 - And that he was in love with me. 771 00:33:23,902 --> 00:33:26,369 He would say she was a good person but she was cold. 772 00:33:26,371 --> 00:33:28,304 He would call her amana. - Amana? 773 00:33:28,306 --> 00:33:30,507 What does that mean? - The refrigerator brand. 774 00:33:30,509 --> 00:33:32,909 - Rosie's family, taking in the testimony, 775 00:33:32,911 --> 00:33:35,912 Were devastated by the mistress's recollections. 776 00:33:35,914 --> 00:33:38,314 - The way he humiliated her. 777 00:33:38,316 --> 00:33:42,519 And on top of everything that he had done to her, 778 00:33:42,521 --> 00:33:44,588 To belittle her or to make fun 779 00:33:44,590 --> 00:33:46,958 Or to mock her with his mistress 780 00:33:46,960 --> 00:33:51,061 Is, you know, sick. 781 00:33:51,063 --> 00:33:52,862 - Your honor, at this time the state of ohio 782 00:33:52,864 --> 00:33:53,931 Would rest its case. 783 00:33:53,933 --> 00:33:55,666 - The defense was about to rise and offer 784 00:33:55,668 --> 00:33:58,869 A completely different theory of the crime. 785 00:33:58,871 --> 00:34:03,139 In fact, the jury had already met the true killer in court. 786 00:34:03,141 --> 00:34:05,075 And it wasn't yaz essa. 787 00:34:07,246 --> 00:34:08,679 - Coming up... 788 00:34:08,681 --> 00:34:12,749 Questions about those cyanide-filled pills. 789 00:34:12,751 --> 00:34:14,485 - If he has successfully killed his wife with them, 790 00:34:14,487 --> 00:34:17,454 Why hold onto the stuff? - Precisely. 791 00:34:17,456 --> 00:34:17,520 - When "dateline: Secrets uncovered" continues. 792 00:34:17,722 --> 00:34:29,365 ♪♪ 793 00:34:29,367 --> 00:34:30,633 - Welcome back. 794 00:34:30,635 --> 00:34:34,437 Yaz essa was on trial for the murder of his wife rosie. 795 00:34:34,439 --> 00:34:38,109 Prosecutors portrayed the doctor as a serial cheater 796 00:34:38,111 --> 00:34:41,579 Saying he poisoned her so he could be with his lover. 797 00:34:41,581 --> 00:34:45,316 Now, it was the defense's turn and they were about to suggest 798 00:34:45,318 --> 00:34:48,519 Their own startling theory of the crime. 799 00:34:48,521 --> 00:34:52,989 Had yaz been the victim of a secret obsession? 800 00:34:52,991 --> 00:34:55,391 Here's dennis murphy with the conclusion 801 00:34:55,393 --> 00:34:57,494 Of "bitter pill". 802 00:34:57,496 --> 00:35:03,734 - What a good marriage rosie had with yaz. 803 00:35:03,736 --> 00:35:07,270 - Our mandate is to do the best job that we can 804 00:35:07,272 --> 00:35:12,141 And to bring home that w-- bring home that not guilty. 805 00:35:12,143 --> 00:35:14,744 - The defense for yaz essa came down to this. 806 00:35:14,746 --> 00:35:17,147 Sure, he had lots of women on the side 807 00:35:17,149 --> 00:35:18,481 And he got away with it. 808 00:35:18,483 --> 00:35:21,218 So, why did he need to kill his wife? 809 00:35:21,220 --> 00:35:24,287 His two defense lawyers, mark marine and steve bradley 810 00:35:24,289 --> 00:35:25,489 Told the jury straight out 811 00:35:25,491 --> 00:35:27,157 The defendant was never going to be 812 00:35:27,159 --> 00:35:28,691 A husband of the year. 813 00:35:28,693 --> 00:35:33,697 - Yazeed essa regularly, always, maintained 814 00:35:33,699 --> 00:35:38,635 Numerous sexual relationships with other women. 815 00:35:38,637 --> 00:35:39,904 - But, they insisted, 816 00:35:39,906 --> 00:35:42,972 A cheater doesn't necessarily make a murderer. 817 00:35:42,974 --> 00:35:45,910 Especially a doctor who was planning a bigger family. 818 00:35:45,912 --> 00:35:50,446 - Yazeed essa did not commit this crime. 819 00:35:50,448 --> 00:35:54,251 He did not intentionally poison 820 00:35:54,253 --> 00:35:57,120 The mother of his two young children, 821 00:35:57,122 --> 00:36:01,925 The woman with whom he was actively trying to conceive 822 00:36:01,927 --> 00:36:04,328 A third child and add to their family-- 823 00:36:04,330 --> 00:36:06,930 Something they both wanted. 824 00:36:06,932 --> 00:36:09,199 - If he were the heartless philanderer portrayed 825 00:36:09,201 --> 00:36:10,667 By the prosecution, 826 00:36:10,669 --> 00:36:13,771 Then how come rosie's family liked him so much? 827 00:36:13,773 --> 00:36:16,539 - Did she have a good life? - Yes. 828 00:36:16,541 --> 00:36:21,344 - It appeared that they had a pretty sound marriage, 829 00:36:21,346 --> 00:36:23,280 Yes? - Yes. 830 00:36:23,282 --> 00:36:26,349 - The marriage, to their friends and to her family, 831 00:36:26,351 --> 00:36:28,418 Is a loving, good, viable marriage. 832 00:36:28,420 --> 00:36:31,754 - By all accounts, they had a great marriage. 833 00:36:31,756 --> 00:36:34,157 - The prosecution theorized that he killed rosie 834 00:36:34,159 --> 00:36:36,426 To be with his mistress named michelle. 835 00:36:36,428 --> 00:36:38,695 The defense's response was that michelle 836 00:36:38,697 --> 00:36:41,030 Was just another "take-a-number" girlfriend. 837 00:36:41,032 --> 00:36:43,767 - Michelle meant nothing. 838 00:36:43,769 --> 00:36:45,368 - Add it up, argued the defense, 839 00:36:45,370 --> 00:36:46,703 And you had a respected doctor 840 00:36:46,705 --> 00:36:49,239 With no money worries, nice family, 841 00:36:49,241 --> 00:36:50,974 And as many girlfriends on the side 842 00:36:50,976 --> 00:36:52,376 As he could juggle. 843 00:36:52,378 --> 00:36:53,509 Bottom line, 844 00:36:53,511 --> 00:36:55,578 He had no reason to kill rosie. 845 00:36:55,580 --> 00:37:01,518 - There's no reason for him to have separated his children 846 00:37:01,520 --> 00:37:05,722 From their mother and their father. 847 00:37:05,724 --> 00:37:08,124 - To do something as dramatic and extreme 848 00:37:08,126 --> 00:37:11,195 As poisoning your wife 849 00:37:11,197 --> 00:37:15,198 Requires some strong motive and it wasn't present here. 850 00:37:15,200 --> 00:37:17,968 - And then there was the way he behaved early on. 851 00:37:17,970 --> 00:37:20,069 Would a guilty man have turned over to the police 852 00:37:20,071 --> 00:37:22,205 That bottle of calcium capsules 853 00:37:22,207 --> 00:37:24,674 If he knew full well the lab would find cyanide 854 00:37:24,676 --> 00:37:25,942 In nine of them? 855 00:37:25,944 --> 00:37:28,111 - Maybe the biggest puzzler. - Right. 856 00:37:28,113 --> 00:37:30,548 - If he has contaminated these caplets 857 00:37:30,550 --> 00:37:33,349 And he has successfully killed his wife with them, 858 00:37:33,351 --> 00:37:35,952 Why in the name of all things we know from television shows 859 00:37:35,954 --> 00:37:37,353 Would you hold onto this stuff? 860 00:37:37,355 --> 00:37:38,556 - Precisely. 861 00:37:38,558 --> 00:37:39,956 - The defense went after the police 862 00:37:39,958 --> 00:37:42,026 For sloppy handling of evidence, 863 00:37:42,028 --> 00:37:43,826 The detective who'd poured the capsules 864 00:37:43,828 --> 00:37:46,030 Into his bare hand after collecting them. 865 00:37:46,032 --> 00:37:49,432 - Are you telling us that you made a mistake? 866 00:37:49,434 --> 00:37:51,368 - In hindsight? Yes. - Yes. 867 00:37:51,370 --> 00:37:54,037 - The forensic expert who didn't check for prints. 868 00:37:54,039 --> 00:37:57,107 - The pill bottle itself would have been conducive 869 00:37:57,109 --> 00:37:59,042 To leaving ridge detail. 870 00:37:59,044 --> 00:38:00,410 Correct? - Yes. 871 00:38:00,412 --> 00:38:03,214 - To be clear then, nobody ever made that request? 872 00:38:03,216 --> 00:38:04,547 - No, sir. 873 00:38:04,549 --> 00:38:09,419 - There was a catastrophe in terms of forensics here. 874 00:38:09,421 --> 00:38:11,655 - And even though the court had learned how easy it was 875 00:38:11,657 --> 00:38:13,256 To obtain cyanide, 876 00:38:13,258 --> 00:38:14,457 There was no evidence presented 877 00:38:14,459 --> 00:38:16,659 That yaz had actually done that. 878 00:38:16,661 --> 00:38:18,928 Still, the stark fact at the epicenter of the case 879 00:38:18,930 --> 00:38:20,196 Against yaz essa 880 00:38:20,198 --> 00:38:22,566 Was his decision to flee the country. 881 00:38:22,568 --> 00:38:25,101 How could that be anything other than the action 882 00:38:25,103 --> 00:38:26,803 Of a guilty man? 883 00:38:26,805 --> 00:38:28,805 The defense spun it this way. 884 00:38:28,807 --> 00:38:31,741 Yaz, early on, had talked to a lawyer who advised him 885 00:38:31,743 --> 00:38:33,476 He might be facing the death penalty 886 00:38:33,478 --> 00:38:34,944 If charged with the murder. 887 00:38:34,946 --> 00:38:37,814 - Yaz was led to believe 888 00:38:37,816 --> 00:38:40,751 That he could be charged with capital murder, 889 00:38:40,753 --> 00:38:42,685 And he just freaked out. 890 00:38:42,687 --> 00:38:44,687 - Then, of course, his lawyers had to defuse 891 00:38:44,689 --> 00:38:47,223 Those explosive allegations from the lebanese fixer 892 00:38:47,225 --> 00:38:48,391 And his own brother 893 00:38:48,393 --> 00:38:50,494 That he'd admitted to poisoning rosie. 894 00:38:50,496 --> 00:38:52,962 - I asked him if he was responsible for her death, 895 00:38:52,964 --> 00:38:54,632 And he said yes. 896 00:38:54,634 --> 00:38:56,632 - Both witnesses had lied on the stand, 897 00:38:56,634 --> 00:38:57,934 According to the defense, 898 00:38:57,936 --> 00:39:00,237 Because each had cut a deal with the prosecution 899 00:39:00,239 --> 00:39:02,839 For leniency on charges they were facing. 900 00:39:02,841 --> 00:39:05,976 - It was the proverbial "get out of jail" card. 901 00:39:05,978 --> 00:39:08,245 - You are free to step down. 902 00:39:08,247 --> 00:39:09,380 - The brother, for instance, 903 00:39:09,382 --> 00:39:11,315 Was looking at almost 12 years in prison 904 00:39:11,317 --> 00:39:13,416 For helping yaz on the lam. 905 00:39:13,418 --> 00:39:14,917 He took a deal. 906 00:39:14,919 --> 00:39:20,056 - He's got five kids, all under the age of 12 years. 907 00:39:20,058 --> 00:39:22,525 He employs a hundred people. 908 00:39:22,527 --> 00:39:24,994 He's got a lovely wife, a beautiful home, 909 00:39:24,996 --> 00:39:27,997 And his world is about to collapse on him. 910 00:39:27,999 --> 00:39:29,199 - So, was foraz well-advised, 911 00:39:29,201 --> 00:39:30,800 In terms of his own survival strategy, 912 00:39:30,802 --> 00:39:31,935 To sing for his supper? 913 00:39:31,937 --> 00:39:33,803 - That's what we believe. 914 00:39:33,805 --> 00:39:35,472 - Jamal, the fixer, had been a fugitive 915 00:39:35,474 --> 00:39:37,741 Wanted by the united states. 916 00:39:37,743 --> 00:39:40,610 - Were you indicted in a 29-count indictment. 917 00:39:40,612 --> 00:39:42,678 - I wasn't-- - just listen to my question. 918 00:39:42,680 --> 00:39:43,880 - Don't scream in my face. 919 00:39:43,882 --> 00:39:47,216 - Listen-- sir, listen to my question! 920 00:39:47,218 --> 00:39:49,085 - The more he talked, 921 00:39:49,087 --> 00:39:51,821 The better off we felt we were. 922 00:39:51,823 --> 00:39:53,223 - Bad guy who's trying to cut a deal? 923 00:39:53,225 --> 00:39:54,557 - Precisely. 924 00:39:54,559 --> 00:39:58,027 - So, if yaz essa didn't do it, who did? 925 00:39:58,029 --> 00:40:01,098 The jury had already met her, argued the defense. 926 00:40:01,100 --> 00:40:03,766 It offered up margarita, the daytime nanny, 927 00:40:03,768 --> 00:40:05,235 As the true killer. 928 00:40:05,237 --> 00:40:06,903 - She is one of the women 929 00:40:06,905 --> 00:40:10,573 That yazeed maintained a long-term, 930 00:40:10,575 --> 00:40:14,344 Ongoing sexual relationship. 931 00:40:14,346 --> 00:40:16,379 - Margarita had a motive for wanting rosie 932 00:40:16,381 --> 00:40:18,915 Out of the picture, argued the defense. 933 00:40:18,917 --> 00:40:21,784 She and yaz had kept their sexual relationship going 934 00:40:21,786 --> 00:40:23,853 Even after both had married. 935 00:40:23,855 --> 00:40:25,221 And don't believe this portrait 936 00:40:25,223 --> 00:40:27,991 Of her as a casual friends with benefits lover, 937 00:40:27,993 --> 00:40:29,259 Claimed the defense. 938 00:40:29,261 --> 00:40:34,864 - Margarita very much wanted to marry yazeed. 939 00:40:34,866 --> 00:40:35,999 - And, they claimed, 940 00:40:36,001 --> 00:40:37,600 Margarita was so obsessed with yaz 941 00:40:37,602 --> 00:40:40,104 That she scheduled her own wedding for the same day 942 00:40:40,106 --> 00:40:42,071 As yaz's marriage to rosie. 943 00:40:42,073 --> 00:40:46,142 - Are you telling us that it is an absolute coincidence 944 00:40:46,144 --> 00:40:50,547 That you selected the same wedding day as yazeed? 945 00:40:50,549 --> 00:40:51,614 Is that what you're telling us? 946 00:40:51,616 --> 00:40:53,417 - Absolutely. 947 00:40:53,419 --> 00:40:55,152 - Margarita worked for yaz's brother 948 00:40:55,154 --> 00:40:57,620 And had access to yaz's house. 949 00:40:57,622 --> 00:41:00,491 The theory, did she sneak over there once, 950 00:41:00,493 --> 00:41:02,491 Place the cyanide in the capsules, 951 00:41:02,493 --> 00:41:04,762 So she'd have yaz for herself? 952 00:41:04,764 --> 00:41:07,763 - The police themselves did very, very little 953 00:41:07,765 --> 00:41:10,234 To eliminate her as a suspect. 954 00:41:10,236 --> 00:41:11,435 - Despite that assertion, 955 00:41:11,437 --> 00:41:13,636 The authorities had investigated margarita 956 00:41:13,638 --> 00:41:15,771 And dismissed her as a suspect. 957 00:41:15,773 --> 00:41:18,040 She emphatically denied having anything to do 958 00:41:18,042 --> 00:41:19,842 With rosie's death. 959 00:41:19,844 --> 00:41:22,378 But by introducing the girlfriend theory, 960 00:41:22,380 --> 00:41:25,849 Had the defense raised enough reasonable doubt? 961 00:41:25,851 --> 00:41:28,251 - The defense would respectfully rest. 962 00:41:28,253 --> 00:41:31,120 - After a seven-week trial and over 60 witnesses, 963 00:41:31,122 --> 00:41:32,923 The case was concluded. 964 00:41:32,925 --> 00:41:34,924 Now, it was up to the jurors. 965 00:41:34,926 --> 00:41:36,794 They deliberated for three days 966 00:41:36,796 --> 00:41:39,395 And announced they had reached a verdict. 967 00:41:39,397 --> 00:41:40,798 - Breathe. That's the most important. 968 00:41:40,800 --> 00:41:42,933 Nice, deep breath. 969 00:41:42,935 --> 00:41:44,533 - I couldn't stop shaking. 970 00:41:44,535 --> 00:41:48,871 I got exactly the same way I did the day rosie died. 971 00:41:48,873 --> 00:41:50,274 - Please rise. 972 00:41:50,276 --> 00:41:52,541 - The lawyers, the families on both sides 973 00:41:52,543 --> 00:41:53,810 Were summoned to the courtroom 974 00:41:53,812 --> 00:41:54,812 For the reading of the verdict 975 00:41:54,814 --> 00:41:57,213 By judge deena calabrese. 976 00:41:57,215 --> 00:42:00,684 - We, the jury in this case, being duly empanelled and sworn, 977 00:42:00,686 --> 00:42:03,152 Do find the defendant, yazeed essa, 978 00:42:03,154 --> 00:42:06,489 Guilty of aggravated murder in violation of... 979 00:42:06,491 --> 00:42:09,292 - Guilty. It was almost over. 980 00:42:09,294 --> 00:42:11,093 At sentencing a few days later, 981 00:42:11,095 --> 00:42:13,830 Rosie's family confronted the man they'd once loved 982 00:42:13,832 --> 00:42:15,898 As a son and brother. 983 00:42:15,900 --> 00:42:20,704 - We lost our rosie for no reason. 984 00:42:20,706 --> 00:42:25,041 The only thing I'm hoping is that from now on 985 00:42:25,043 --> 00:42:26,710 Maybe there will be less nights 986 00:42:26,712 --> 00:42:31,314 That my wife cries herself to sleep. 987 00:42:31,316 --> 00:42:33,182 - I challenge him to find the courage today 988 00:42:33,184 --> 00:42:35,985 To admit what he did, 989 00:42:35,987 --> 00:42:38,455 To provide the apology to my mother, 990 00:42:38,457 --> 00:42:41,324 My father, my sister, 991 00:42:41,326 --> 00:42:44,260 My wife, my brother, rachel deserved. 992 00:42:44,262 --> 00:42:47,397 Are you man enough? Are you? 993 00:42:47,399 --> 00:42:49,999 It's your last chance to save your soul. 994 00:42:50,001 --> 00:42:52,069 Right here, right now. 995 00:42:52,071 --> 00:42:54,703 - Yaz kept his silence. 996 00:42:54,705 --> 00:42:57,139 - I sentence you to life in prison. 997 00:42:57,141 --> 00:43:00,676 - The judge had sentenced the doctor to the maximum. 998 00:43:00,678 --> 00:43:02,144 All along, the detectives, 999 00:43:02,146 --> 00:43:05,081 The prosecutors had wondered about the ifs. 1000 00:43:05,083 --> 00:43:08,217 If rosie hadn't called eva on the way to the movies, 1001 00:43:08,219 --> 00:43:11,553 If rosie had lost control of her suv on the freeway 1002 00:43:11,555 --> 00:43:13,156 And not a local street. 1003 00:43:13,158 --> 00:43:15,625 - Had it been a high-speed impact on the-- 1004 00:43:15,627 --> 00:43:18,094 On the highway, the coroner and the pathologist 1005 00:43:18,096 --> 00:43:20,097 Probably wouldn't have looked any further 1006 00:43:20,099 --> 00:43:21,898 Than for some blunt force trauma 1007 00:43:21,900 --> 00:43:23,834 From the automobile accident. 1008 00:43:23,836 --> 00:43:26,836 In a way, it could have been a perfect crime. 1009 00:43:26,838 --> 00:43:29,105 - But yaz hadn't plotted the perfect crime, 1010 00:43:29,107 --> 00:43:30,707 As the jury saw. 1011 00:43:30,709 --> 00:43:32,341 He killed, he ran, 1012 00:43:32,343 --> 00:43:35,679 He was caught by tenacious lawmen. 1013 00:43:35,681 --> 00:43:38,548 Yazeed essa will be eligible for parole 1014 00:43:38,550 --> 00:43:41,384 After serving 20 years. 1015 00:43:41,386 --> 00:43:42,653 - Now, that's all for this edition 1016 00:43:42,655 --> 00:43:44,987 Of "dateline: Secrets uncovered". 1017 00:43:44,989 --> 00:43:47,324 I'm craig melvin. Thank you for watching.