1
00:00:04,104 --> 00:00:06,372
[Gavin] We think that
this is a robbery,
2
00:00:06,374 --> 00:00:09,174
but there's also what appears
to be rage.
3
00:00:09,176 --> 00:00:10,876
- He shot nine times.
- [gunshots firing]
4
00:00:10,878 --> 00:00:12,478
This seems more personal.
5
00:00:17,517 --> 00:00:20,152
He was well revered within
the Hispanic community.
6
00:00:20,154 --> 00:00:21,954
He was someone
that people looked up to.
7
00:00:25,558 --> 00:00:28,027
She's sending the victim
a text message
8
00:00:28,029 --> 00:00:30,362
after she knows that he's dead.
9
00:00:30,364 --> 00:00:33,232
We see a vehicle that matches
10
00:00:33,234 --> 00:00:35,234
the description
from our tipster.
11
00:00:35,236 --> 00:00:37,002
We're on to something here.
12
00:00:37,004 --> 00:00:39,371
[Kyle] He was upset
with Rafael because
13
00:00:39,373 --> 00:00:42,207
he found out that
he was hitting on his wife.
14
00:00:42,209 --> 00:00:46,512
Jealousy as a motive for murder,
drives people into a blind rage
15
00:00:46,514 --> 00:00:49,148
that can only be satisfied
through murder.
16
00:00:51,584 --> 00:00:54,853
This is the only number that
we didn't have identified.
17
00:00:54,855 --> 00:00:57,156
This is the person
that called Rafael
18
00:00:57,158 --> 00:00:58,824
who called him to another place,
19
00:00:58,826 --> 00:01:01,460
which ended up being the place
that he was murdered.
20
00:01:03,696 --> 00:01:05,564
[Tish]
Every day in North America,
21
00:01:05,566 --> 00:01:07,800
dozens of people are murdered.
22
00:01:07,802 --> 00:01:10,669
The key to solving the
toughest of these homicides
23
00:01:10,671 --> 00:01:14,006
lies in the final 24 hours
of the victim's life.
24
00:01:14,741 --> 00:01:16,408
To crack the case,
25
00:01:16,410 --> 00:01:19,945
detectives must reconstruct
that critical timeline.
26
00:01:19,947 --> 00:01:22,781
The minutes and hours
containing evidence
27
00:01:22,783 --> 00:01:24,416
that can help
unlock the mystery...
28
00:01:24,418 --> 00:01:26,318
- [woman screaming]
- and catch the killer.
29
00:01:34,194 --> 00:01:35,794
Tulsa, Oklahoma,
30
00:01:35,796 --> 00:01:38,564
once dubbed the oil capital
of the world,
31
00:01:38,566 --> 00:01:40,299
now a bustling and vibrant
32
00:01:40,301 --> 00:01:43,135
multicultural city
in America's south.
33
00:01:43,137 --> 00:01:45,437
Tulsa is not a really
large metropolis
34
00:01:45,439 --> 00:01:46,972
like some of the major
cities in America,
35
00:01:46,974 --> 00:01:49,975
but it is a pretty large city,
especially for Oklahoma.
36
00:01:49,977 --> 00:01:52,144
As far as demographics of Tulsa,
37
00:01:52,146 --> 00:01:55,114
the Hispanic population
is about 15 percent.
38
00:01:56,616 --> 00:01:59,651
The area around 21st Garnett,
the Santa Cecilia Plaza
39
00:01:59,653 --> 00:02:02,888
is a pretty big hub
for the Hispanic community.
40
00:02:04,023 --> 00:02:05,724
It is the heart of the community
41
00:02:05,726 --> 00:02:09,261
because everything that they
need and want is in that area.
42
00:02:12,432 --> 00:02:15,400
[Tish] At first light,
on a warm spring morning,
43
00:02:15,402 --> 00:02:17,136
a 911 call is made
44
00:02:17,138 --> 00:02:19,171
to the Rogers
County Sheriff's Office.
45
00:02:20,106 --> 00:02:22,508
On the morning of May 1st, 2015,
46
00:02:22,510 --> 00:02:25,077
a dump truck driver
who was actually
47
00:02:25,079 --> 00:02:26,778
driving across the river bridge
48
00:02:26,780 --> 00:02:30,082
and looked down
and noticed a silver car.
49
00:02:30,084 --> 00:02:33,352
That truck driver called
Rogers County 911.
50
00:02:33,354 --> 00:02:35,053
[siren wailing]
51
00:02:35,055 --> 00:02:36,889
A deputy arrived on scene
52
00:02:36,891 --> 00:02:39,391
and the trooper began operations
53
00:02:39,393 --> 00:02:41,827
to recover the vehicle
from the river.
54
00:02:41,829 --> 00:02:44,229
As the vehicle was being
pulled up the embankment,
55
00:02:44,231 --> 00:02:45,731
the trunk pops open
56
00:02:45,733 --> 00:02:48,200
and when it gets to the top,
the deputy is able to see
57
00:02:48,202 --> 00:02:49,501
that there is a body
in the trunk.
58
00:02:54,440 --> 00:02:57,009
[Tish] Homicide detectives
Gavin Catrell
59
00:02:57,011 --> 00:03:00,579
and Kyle Baker of Rogers
County Sheriff's Office
60
00:03:00,581 --> 00:03:01,980
are called to the scene.
61
00:03:03,816 --> 00:03:05,517
When I received the call,
62
00:03:05,519 --> 00:03:07,719
I was driving into work
that morning
63
00:03:07,721 --> 00:03:10,222
and I proceeded to the location
64
00:03:10,224 --> 00:03:12,958
of where the body was found.
65
00:03:15,461 --> 00:03:17,863
The Oklahoma State
Highway Patrol trooper
66
00:03:17,865 --> 00:03:21,233
and the Rogers County sheriff's
deputy directed me to the trunk
67
00:03:21,235 --> 00:03:24,703
where I can see that
there is a Hispanic male,
68
00:03:24,705 --> 00:03:29,241
approximately mid-40s, that
is in the back of the trunk.
69
00:03:29,243 --> 00:03:32,978
The body appeared to have
multiple gunshots to his torso.
70
00:03:32,980 --> 00:03:35,747
It appeared that
the victim was robbed
71
00:03:35,749 --> 00:03:38,450
and then murdered or vice versa.
72
00:03:38,452 --> 00:03:40,352
And we know that because
73
00:03:40,354 --> 00:03:42,254
his pockets were
turned inside out,
74
00:03:42,256 --> 00:03:44,122
somebody rifled
through his pockets.
75
00:03:44,124 --> 00:03:47,259
A normal person wouldn't leave
their pocket turned inside out.
76
00:03:49,062 --> 00:03:51,763
[Tish] As investigators
survey the crime scene,
77
00:03:51,765 --> 00:03:55,467
a narrative of the crime
starts to come into focus.
78
00:03:55,469 --> 00:03:57,336
As we do some
further investigation,
79
00:03:57,338 --> 00:03:58,737
we can see on the ground
80
00:03:58,739 --> 00:04:01,440
that there are
multiple tire tracks.
81
00:04:01,442 --> 00:04:05,344
So we know that not only did
we have multiple people there,
82
00:04:05,346 --> 00:04:06,812
but we also had another vehicle.
83
00:04:08,514 --> 00:04:11,149
There were nine millimeter
shell casings located there.
84
00:04:11,151 --> 00:04:13,852
There were other
calibers that we identified,
85
00:04:13,854 --> 00:04:16,855
but the bullet entry points
to the body
86
00:04:16,857 --> 00:04:20,359
appear to be consistent with
a .380 or a nine millimeter.
87
00:04:22,528 --> 00:04:24,630
We also find several beer cans
88
00:04:24,632 --> 00:04:26,231
in the immediate vicinity
89
00:04:26,233 --> 00:04:27,799
of where we found
the tire tracks.
90
00:04:29,335 --> 00:04:32,204
We also discovered
some blood on the ground,
91
00:04:32,206 --> 00:04:34,473
which led us to be
fairly certain
92
00:04:34,475 --> 00:04:37,976
that he was actually killed
at that scene.
93
00:04:37,978 --> 00:04:40,479
So that gave us a little
bit more confidence
94
00:04:40,481 --> 00:04:43,582
that we're going to get some sort
of physical evidence from our killers.
95
00:04:45,218 --> 00:04:47,953
My initial thought to this
crime was a true whodunnit.
96
00:04:47,955 --> 00:04:49,688
We don't have any leads
at this time.
97
00:04:49,690 --> 00:04:51,456
We don't have any witnesses
98
00:04:51,458 --> 00:04:54,326
that say they saw somebody
99
00:04:54,328 --> 00:04:56,428
kill this person or saw somebody
100
00:04:56,430 --> 00:04:57,996
push this vehicle off
into the river.
101
00:04:59,666 --> 00:05:02,267
[Tish] For the investigation
to move forward,
102
00:05:02,269 --> 00:05:05,270
detectives will first need
to identify the victim.
103
00:05:06,406 --> 00:05:09,541
The vehicle has a name
of "El Corre Caminos",
104
00:05:09,543 --> 00:05:11,443
which translates to Road Runner.
105
00:05:11,445 --> 00:05:15,814
And we quickly figured out
that he is a taxi cab driver.
106
00:05:15,816 --> 00:05:17,182
During the search
of the vehicle,
107
00:05:17,249 --> 00:05:20,185
we located a couple of
different cell phones in the cab.
108
00:05:20,187 --> 00:05:23,188
One of them was
the victim's cell phone.
109
00:05:23,190 --> 00:05:25,991
As we're conducting our
investigation on the scene,
110
00:05:25,993 --> 00:05:29,328
someone pulls up
and they're pretty hysterical,
111
00:05:29,330 --> 00:05:30,962
they're, you know, crying,
they're upset.
112
00:05:32,131 --> 00:05:34,566
We discovered that that
individual's name is Oscar
113
00:05:34,568 --> 00:05:38,003
and he was actually
the victim's brother.
114
00:05:38,005 --> 00:05:41,940
While speaking to Oscar. He told
me that his brother's name is Rafael
115
00:05:41,942 --> 00:05:44,976
and that he was a local
taxi cab driver.
116
00:05:46,412 --> 00:05:49,681
[Tish] The victim is
38-year-old Rafael Hernandez,
117
00:05:49,683 --> 00:05:52,184
originally from Guanajuato,
Mexico,
118
00:05:52,186 --> 00:05:55,420
who has been living in Tulsa
for 20 years.
119
00:05:55,422 --> 00:05:58,090
Oscar gives us a lot
of information about Rafael.
120
00:05:58,624 --> 00:06:00,492
Rafael pretty much
121
00:06:00,494 --> 00:06:03,929
specifically gave Hispanic
individuals rides to court,
122
00:06:03,931 --> 00:06:05,697
any appointments
that they needed.
123
00:06:08,801 --> 00:06:10,802
Rafael spoke
Spanish and English,
124
00:06:10,804 --> 00:06:14,940
so he could provide both
translation services and the ride there.
125
00:06:14,942 --> 00:06:19,111
According to Oscar, he was well
revered within the Hispanic community.
126
00:06:19,113 --> 00:06:20,645
He was someone that
people looked up to
127
00:06:20,647 --> 00:06:22,781
and people really required,
you know,
128
00:06:22,783 --> 00:06:24,583
to get through
their daily lives.
129
00:06:24,585 --> 00:06:28,587
Someone that would drop whatever
he's doing to try to help somebody.
130
00:06:28,589 --> 00:06:31,957
[Tish] To find out
who killed Rafael Hernandez,
131
00:06:31,959 --> 00:06:36,261
investigators will need to
piece together his final 24 hours.
132
00:06:37,530 --> 00:06:40,665
Oscar said Rafael didn't
really have a lot of enemies,
133
00:06:40,667 --> 00:06:44,069
that he did not know anybody
that wanted to harm him.
134
00:06:44,071 --> 00:06:48,707
He told us that Rafael was a
business owner and dealt a lot in cash.
135
00:06:50,810 --> 00:06:52,377
That quite frequently
136
00:06:52,379 --> 00:06:56,948
Rafael would carry around
$2,000 on his person daily,
137
00:06:56,950 --> 00:07:01,153
and that was no secret to, to
anyone, you know, in the community.
138
00:07:01,155 --> 00:07:02,788
[horn honking]
139
00:07:02,790 --> 00:07:05,624
Driving a taxi or operating
a ride share service,
140
00:07:05,626 --> 00:07:08,860
these are inherently
dangerous occupations.
141
00:07:08,862 --> 00:07:11,897
You're letting strangers
into your vehicle
142
00:07:11,899 --> 00:07:15,901
and you're in a position
of great vulnerability.
143
00:07:15,903 --> 00:07:18,203
The difference with
a traditional taxi cab is,
144
00:07:18,205 --> 00:07:19,871
of course,
fares being paid by cash,
145
00:07:19,873 --> 00:07:23,375
which then also makes you a
susceptible target for robbery.
146
00:07:23,377 --> 00:07:25,043
[tapping sound]
147
00:07:27,046 --> 00:07:28,680
As we're looking at this...
148
00:07:30,049 --> 00:07:32,350
we think that, you know,
this is a robbery,
149
00:07:32,352 --> 00:07:35,220
but there's also what appears
to be rage
150
00:07:35,222 --> 00:07:38,824
and overkill in killing him.
He's shot nine times.
151
00:07:39,892 --> 00:07:42,160
This is something that
seems more personal,
152
00:07:42,162 --> 00:07:45,330
like the victim
knows the killer.
153
00:07:45,332 --> 00:07:48,366
Oscar tells us that he had
talked to his brother on the phone
154
00:07:48,368 --> 00:07:51,303
at approximately 11:30
on April 30th.
155
00:07:51,305 --> 00:07:53,672
Rafael tells Oscar that
he's picking up a client,
156
00:07:53,674 --> 00:07:57,175
an individual by the name
of Ernesto at 9:00 p.m.
157
00:07:57,177 --> 00:08:00,078
and is going to be
driving him to Houston.
158
00:08:00,080 --> 00:08:02,581
He doesn't expect that
he'll be back until May 1st
159
00:08:02,583 --> 00:08:05,116
at approximately 10:00-10:30.
160
00:08:07,119 --> 00:08:09,855
[Tish] Investigators now have
their first person of interest
161
00:08:09,857 --> 00:08:15,093
in the brutal murder of Rafael
Hernandez: Ernesto Lores.
162
00:08:15,095 --> 00:08:17,796
The crime occurred
in Rogers County,
163
00:08:17,798 --> 00:08:19,698
but the people
we are investigating
164
00:08:19,700 --> 00:08:21,933
and need to speak with lived
in Tulsa County.
165
00:08:21,935 --> 00:08:23,802
We collaborated with them,
166
00:08:23,804 --> 00:08:25,403
digging up information
on the people
167
00:08:25,405 --> 00:08:27,272
that we knew we're looking into.
168
00:08:28,307 --> 00:08:30,742
We tracked down Ernesto Lores
169
00:08:30,744 --> 00:08:34,379
and I interviewed him.
He was very cooperative.
170
00:08:34,381 --> 00:08:38,283
He seemed to be open
to what our questioning was,
171
00:08:38,285 --> 00:08:40,218
that he didn't have anything
to do with this
172
00:08:40,220 --> 00:08:42,020
and that he was
telling us the truth.
173
00:08:43,089 --> 00:08:45,023
Ernesto told me that
he was supposed to meet
174
00:08:45,025 --> 00:08:47,726
with Rafael at 9 p.m.
at the gas station
175
00:08:47,728 --> 00:08:49,961
and they were going to
make the trip to Texas.
176
00:08:49,963 --> 00:08:52,130
[car engine working]
177
00:08:52,132 --> 00:08:55,767
Ernesto then sends
a text to Rafael at 9:00 p.m.
178
00:08:55,769 --> 00:08:57,736
when he arrives
at the gas station.
179
00:09:00,540 --> 00:09:03,575
So at 9:22 p.m.,
Rafael calls Ernesto
180
00:09:03,577 --> 00:09:06,111
and indicates to him
that he is going to be late.
181
00:09:06,113 --> 00:09:08,747
He got a phone call from
an individual that he knows
182
00:09:08,749 --> 00:09:09,948
and that he has to help him,
183
00:09:09,950 --> 00:09:12,450
that he was having some
car trouble on the highway
184
00:09:12,452 --> 00:09:15,787
and then that he would be back to
get Ernesto and that they would leave.
185
00:09:18,724 --> 00:09:21,593
Ernesto told me that
he attempted to call Rafael
186
00:09:21,595 --> 00:09:26,097
multiple times at 10 p.m.
and didn't get any answer.
187
00:09:26,099 --> 00:09:29,801
Ernesto then tells us he went
ahead and drove to Texas himself.
188
00:09:31,537 --> 00:09:33,872
We began digging into
Ernesto's phone records
189
00:09:33,874 --> 00:09:36,775
to see if he's telling us the
truth and reviewing those records,
190
00:09:36,777 --> 00:09:40,745
we did see that he did, in
fact, drive to Texas like he said.
191
00:09:41,747 --> 00:09:43,348
Based on those
call detail records,
192
00:09:43,350 --> 00:09:44,983
we can be fairly certain
193
00:09:44,985 --> 00:09:48,353
that Rafael was not killed
by Ernesto.
194
00:09:50,356 --> 00:09:52,791
[Tish] But the information
Ernesto provides
195
00:09:52,793 --> 00:09:56,795
allows detectives to start building
a timeline for Rafael's murder.
196
00:09:58,064 --> 00:10:00,131
We know that Ernesto
197
00:10:00,133 --> 00:10:05,036
spoke with Rafael at 9:22 p.m.
on April 30th,
198
00:10:05,038 --> 00:10:09,007
and then at 10:24 p.m.
on April 30th,
199
00:10:09,009 --> 00:10:12,911
Ernesto was no longer
able to get a hold of Rafael.
200
00:10:12,913 --> 00:10:14,879
So we're able
to presume at this point
201
00:10:14,881 --> 00:10:17,649
that Rafael is not answering his
phone because he's already dead.
202
00:10:17,651 --> 00:10:22,954
So we use those times of 9:22
to roughly 10:24
203
00:10:22,956 --> 00:10:27,125
to establish that he was
killed in that window of time.
204
00:10:27,127 --> 00:10:31,863
We needed to figure out who this
mystery person was who called Rafael,
205
00:10:31,865 --> 00:10:33,465
saying that they had
a broken down vehicle
206
00:10:33,467 --> 00:10:35,800
and that they needed
help translating.
207
00:10:35,802 --> 00:10:39,971
This is the person that called
Rafael to pull him to another place
208
00:10:39,973 --> 00:10:42,173
which ended up being the place
that he was murdered.
209
00:10:42,175 --> 00:10:44,242
[gunshot fires]
210
00:10:48,247 --> 00:10:52,450
[Tish] In the murder of well-loved
local taxi driver Rafael Hernandez...
211
00:10:53,319 --> 00:10:55,320
investigators are working
the theory
212
00:10:55,322 --> 00:10:57,789
that they're dealing
with a robbery gone wrong.
213
00:10:58,724 --> 00:11:00,158
Looking for leads,
214
00:11:00,160 --> 00:11:02,327
investigators reach out
to the media.
215
00:11:03,562 --> 00:11:05,764
We received information
off our tip line that
216
00:11:05,766 --> 00:11:09,334
some passerby's
had seen a black truck,
217
00:11:09,336 --> 00:11:11,636
a black SUV and a silver car
218
00:11:11,638 --> 00:11:12,937
on the side of the road
219
00:11:12,939 --> 00:11:16,341
on the Carney River Bridge
between 9:30 and 10:00.
220
00:11:16,343 --> 00:11:19,644
So this was a good lead for us in
what kind of vehicles were there.
221
00:11:21,147 --> 00:11:23,114
So as we're thinking
about possible theories
222
00:11:23,116 --> 00:11:25,116
on what had happened
at the scene,
223
00:11:25,118 --> 00:11:27,252
we know that there's
at least two people.
224
00:11:27,254 --> 00:11:30,822
There's two cars involved and
there's multiple sets of footprints.
225
00:11:35,361 --> 00:11:38,763
[Tish] With this new evidence that
they're likely looking for two killers,
226
00:11:38,765 --> 00:11:42,834
detectives are hoping Rafael's
brother, Oscar Hernandez,
227
00:11:42,836 --> 00:11:47,038
can shed more light on who
might have wanted Rafael dead.
228
00:11:47,040 --> 00:11:50,375
Oscar tells us that Rafael
is kind of a ladies man.
229
00:11:51,077 --> 00:11:52,477
He's not married,
230
00:11:52,479 --> 00:11:56,414
but he's got a girl that he's kind
of trying to pursue romantically.
231
00:11:57,683 --> 00:12:00,552
The individual's name
is Laura Contreras,
232
00:12:00,554 --> 00:12:03,755
and she is very friendly
with Rafael,
233
00:12:03,757 --> 00:12:07,358
but she lives with a man
who she has a child with.
234
00:12:07,360 --> 00:12:09,894
They're kind of
common law married.
235
00:12:09,896 --> 00:12:12,063
So this was very interesting
to figure out
236
00:12:12,065 --> 00:12:14,699
that she was in a relationship
with Rafael
237
00:12:14,701 --> 00:12:16,468
and with a different person.
238
00:12:17,703 --> 00:12:19,804
It starts to build
into this theory
239
00:12:19,806 --> 00:12:22,440
that there is a revenge
motive to this death,
240
00:12:22,442 --> 00:12:26,711
that Rafael was possibly
killed because of a relationship
241
00:12:26,713 --> 00:12:28,880
he was pursuing
with a married woman.
242
00:12:28,882 --> 00:12:30,749
[car engine working]
243
00:12:30,751 --> 00:12:32,417
[Tish] Looking for answers,
244
00:12:32,419 --> 00:12:34,686
investigators bring
Laura Contreras
245
00:12:34,688 --> 00:12:36,888
into the station
for questioning.
246
00:12:36,890 --> 00:12:40,592
During the interview,
Laura was very guarded,
247
00:12:40,594 --> 00:12:43,862
trying to be as vague
as possible with us.
248
00:12:43,864 --> 00:12:45,697
We knew that she was
hiding something from us.
249
00:12:45,699 --> 00:12:47,031
We just didn't know what it was.
250
00:12:48,467 --> 00:12:50,201
So while we're
interviewing Laura,
251
00:12:50,203 --> 00:12:55,073
she tells us that she is friendly
with Rafael and they talk frequently
252
00:12:55,075 --> 00:12:57,408
and that Rafael will come up
and see her
253
00:12:57,410 --> 00:13:00,545
at her place of employment and
bring her flowers and things like that.
254
00:13:14,994 --> 00:13:17,729
Laura told us that her lover,
Pablo,
255
00:13:17,731 --> 00:13:19,931
knew about Rafael,
but he was okay with it
256
00:13:19,933 --> 00:13:21,933
because it wasn't
something serious.
257
00:13:31,744 --> 00:13:33,344
We realize it does not match up
258
00:13:33,346 --> 00:13:35,947
for what Oscar had told us
previously.
259
00:13:35,949 --> 00:13:38,049
Somebody wasn't telling us
the truth.
260
00:13:39,685 --> 00:13:42,720
Laura tells us that
she had actually seen
261
00:13:42,722 --> 00:13:45,223
Rafael multiple times
on April 30th.
262
00:13:45,225 --> 00:13:47,091
But the last time she says
263
00:13:47,093 --> 00:13:49,828
Rafael had actually
came into her work
264
00:13:49,830 --> 00:13:52,030
at 11 p.m. on April 30th.
265
00:13:53,332 --> 00:13:56,401
That didn't match up with
the information that we had.
266
00:13:56,403 --> 00:13:58,536
We had called detail
records indicating
267
00:13:58,538 --> 00:14:01,806
that Rafael was already dead
at that point.
268
00:14:01,808 --> 00:14:05,176
It just increased
the suspicion we had for her
269
00:14:05,178 --> 00:14:06,845
from that entire interview.
270
00:14:08,180 --> 00:14:11,316
She indicates to us that she
left a little after 11 p.m.
271
00:14:11,318 --> 00:14:13,818
and that she went straight home.
272
00:14:13,820 --> 00:14:15,753
Pablo and the daughter
already asleep.
273
00:14:17,923 --> 00:14:20,558
So, Laura tells us that
at approximately 7:00 a.m.
274
00:14:20,560 --> 00:14:21,960
on May 1st
275
00:14:21,962 --> 00:14:25,330
that she saw on Facebook
that Rafael had been murdered.
276
00:14:26,665 --> 00:14:29,033
Based on the fact that,
you know, she's given us
277
00:14:29,035 --> 00:14:32,704
times that aren't matching up
with what we know to be true,
278
00:14:32,706 --> 00:14:35,373
we think that Laura could
absolutely be involved.
279
00:14:35,375 --> 00:14:38,209
And because of that,
we have to dig deeper into her
280
00:14:38,211 --> 00:14:41,045
to determine if she is
or is not involved.
281
00:14:42,715 --> 00:14:45,984
[Tish] As detectives work
to verify Laura's alibi,
282
00:14:45,986 --> 00:14:48,720
Rafael's cell phone records
come in.
283
00:14:49,822 --> 00:14:51,789
In order for cell phones
to work,
284
00:14:51,791 --> 00:14:53,391
they have to make a connection,
285
00:14:53,393 --> 00:14:56,561
which is commonly called
a handshake with a tower.
286
00:14:56,563 --> 00:14:59,297
And as you're traveling down
the highway, as, as you're moving,
287
00:14:59,299 --> 00:15:04,903
your cell phone constantly updates
and pings to the closest tower.
288
00:15:04,905 --> 00:15:07,071
We received Rafael's
phone records
289
00:15:07,073 --> 00:15:11,442
and we were able to corroborate
Ernesto's story that at 9:22,
290
00:15:11,444 --> 00:15:16,080
when Rafael texted, that he was
actually traveling northbound on 169,
291
00:15:16,082 --> 00:15:19,584
headed towards the area where
he was ultimately killed.
292
00:15:20,819 --> 00:15:23,521
We know Rafael's location
by triangulating
293
00:15:23,523 --> 00:15:25,757
the signal of his cell phone
294
00:15:25,759 --> 00:15:27,358
as it's moving down the highway.
295
00:15:29,094 --> 00:15:32,931
So as we're examining
these call detail records...
296
00:15:32,933 --> 00:15:35,166
[car engine working]
297
00:15:35,168 --> 00:15:38,102
We find one number that
kind of stands out to us.
298
00:15:38,104 --> 00:15:40,738
This number made the
phone call to Rafael's phone
299
00:15:40,740 --> 00:15:43,241
approximately 9:15 p.m.,
300
00:15:43,243 --> 00:15:45,476
before Rafael tells Ernesto
301
00:15:45,478 --> 00:15:48,246
that he is diverting to go
help someone.
302
00:15:48,248 --> 00:15:51,582
We found out that
it was a burner phone.
303
00:15:51,584 --> 00:15:53,184
This number is very suspicious
304
00:15:53,186 --> 00:15:55,620
because people who don't want
to be found
305
00:15:55,622 --> 00:15:57,622
or don't want us
knowing who they are,
306
00:15:57,624 --> 00:16:00,191
will use a burner phone
to conceal their identity.
307
00:16:02,294 --> 00:16:05,596
This is the only number
that we didn't have identified
308
00:16:05,598 --> 00:16:07,598
as to who was behind
that number.
309
00:16:07,600 --> 00:16:11,703
It was crucial for us to determine
who was using that phone.
310
00:16:13,138 --> 00:16:17,141
At 9:48 p.m., Rafael
called this mystery number,
311
00:16:17,143 --> 00:16:20,712
and it was the last time Rafael
had communicated with anybody.
312
00:16:22,881 --> 00:16:27,518
We know that Ernesto tried
to call Rafael at 10:24 p.m...
313
00:16:27,520 --> 00:16:30,321
- [gunshot firing]
- and Rafael doesn't answer.
314
00:16:30,323 --> 00:16:32,290
But now we also know that Rafael
315
00:16:32,292 --> 00:16:35,526
has called this
burner phone at 9:48.
316
00:16:35,528 --> 00:16:38,096
So the window gets narrower
and narrower
317
00:16:38,098 --> 00:16:39,664
with every piece
of information we get.
318
00:16:39,666 --> 00:16:40,965
[gunshot firing]
319
00:16:43,202 --> 00:16:45,870
[Tish] Having narrowed down
Rafael's window of death
320
00:16:45,872 --> 00:16:50,608
to between 9:48 p.m.
and 10:24 p.m.,
321
00:16:50,610 --> 00:16:54,879
investigators dig into his cell
phone records looking for new leads.
322
00:16:55,981 --> 00:16:58,082
While we're examining
call detail records,
323
00:16:58,084 --> 00:17:02,020
we learn that
Laura has actually called
324
00:17:02,022 --> 00:17:07,759
or communicated with Rafael's
phone at 8:39 a.m. on May 1st,
325
00:17:07,761 --> 00:17:11,496
which struck us again as odd
and very suspicious,
326
00:17:11,498 --> 00:17:13,531
because Laura has indicated
to us
327
00:17:13,533 --> 00:17:18,436
that she was aware of Rafael's
death at 7:00 a.m. on May 1st.
328
00:17:18,438 --> 00:17:21,239
We also knew Laura was lying,
unquestionably,
329
00:17:21,241 --> 00:17:25,209
because she says she saw him
at 11 p.m. on April 30th.
330
00:17:25,211 --> 00:17:27,879
We know that he was
on the highway at 9:30.
331
00:17:27,881 --> 00:17:29,680
[car engine working]
332
00:17:29,682 --> 00:17:31,249
Her lies exposed
333
00:17:31,251 --> 00:17:35,887
because the phone records show
that the phone was traveling at the time
334
00:17:35,889 --> 00:17:39,057
when she claims
that she was meeting him.
335
00:17:39,059 --> 00:17:42,360
It certainly gives
the investigators
336
00:17:42,362 --> 00:17:46,731
cause to consider why she's
lying and who she's protecting.
337
00:17:49,201 --> 00:17:53,071
We already began to think that
Laura was a potential suspect
338
00:17:53,073 --> 00:17:55,173
because of her deceitfulness.
339
00:17:55,175 --> 00:17:58,142
And now we're wondering
if she really was involved
340
00:17:58,144 --> 00:18:03,481
because she's sending the victim a text
message after she knows that he's dead.
341
00:18:07,953 --> 00:18:10,254
[bell ringing]
342
00:18:10,256 --> 00:18:12,590
[Tish] In the brutal shooting
of local taxi driver
343
00:18:12,592 --> 00:18:15,726
and businessman
Rafael Hernandez...
344
00:18:15,728 --> 00:18:20,098
detectives are zeroing in on
his girlfriend, Laura Contreras.
345
00:18:21,400 --> 00:18:23,101
During the course the interview,
346
00:18:23,103 --> 00:18:26,437
Laura actually gives us
the wrong address.
347
00:18:26,439 --> 00:18:29,507
So it was suspicious to us
that she would provide us
348
00:18:29,509 --> 00:18:31,375
with an address
that wasn't accurate.
349
00:18:32,277 --> 00:18:34,545
Through multiple
different sources,
350
00:18:34,547 --> 00:18:37,081
we were able to locate
her residence.
351
00:18:38,383 --> 00:18:41,352
We decide to go over and
we want to put eyes on her.
352
00:18:41,354 --> 00:18:46,657
While we're there, we see a
vehicle that matches the description
353
00:18:46,659 --> 00:18:50,061
of one of the vehicles
that we got from our tipster.
354
00:18:50,063 --> 00:18:53,131
It was a black pickup truck.
355
00:18:53,133 --> 00:18:55,333
We also noticed a black SUV,
356
00:18:55,335 --> 00:18:58,569
and that's when we made the
conclusion that the trucks and this SUV
357
00:18:58,571 --> 00:19:02,340
were more than likely the ones that
the tipster saw at the scene of the crime.
358
00:19:03,675 --> 00:19:05,610
We're on to something here,
359
00:19:05,612 --> 00:19:08,412
and we need to dig
a lot deeper into Laura
360
00:19:08,414 --> 00:19:11,082
and the people that live
at her house.
361
00:19:11,084 --> 00:19:16,721
Then we observed Laura getting into her
black SUV and she leaves her residence.
362
00:19:16,723 --> 00:19:20,324
We contacted Tulsa police and
they made a traffic stop on her.
363
00:19:20,326 --> 00:19:21,759
She ended up
having some warrants
364
00:19:21,761 --> 00:19:23,594
and she was subsequently
arrested on those.
365
00:19:23,596 --> 00:19:24,762
[siren wailing]
366
00:19:24,764 --> 00:19:27,131
That allowed us to be able
to get her into custody
367
00:19:27,133 --> 00:19:29,333
and really put some pressure
on her,
368
00:19:29,335 --> 00:19:32,170
because at this point we
really feel like she's involved.
369
00:19:34,306 --> 00:19:35,973
[Tish]
Back at Laura's residence,
370
00:19:35,975 --> 00:19:39,944
Detectives Catrell and Baker
observed two males exit the house
371
00:19:39,946 --> 00:19:41,879
and approach
the black pickup truck.
372
00:19:43,615 --> 00:19:47,752
They're identified as Pablo
Lopez, Laura's common law partner,
373
00:19:47,754 --> 00:19:51,155
and Roberto Rincon, a
friend who was living with them
374
00:19:51,157 --> 00:19:53,057
and the owner of the truck.
375
00:19:53,059 --> 00:19:54,959
The truck that we locate there,
376
00:19:54,961 --> 00:19:57,461
we end up kind of
walking around looking at it
377
00:19:57,463 --> 00:19:58,963
and it has a paper tag on it
378
00:19:58,965 --> 00:20:02,800
which indicates that it's been
purchased within the last month.
379
00:20:02,802 --> 00:20:04,835
We see blood on the tag.
380
00:20:04,837 --> 00:20:08,372
It's a bloody fingerprint
and it shocks us.
381
00:20:09,608 --> 00:20:11,976
We talked to Roberto about
the vehicle he was driving
382
00:20:11,978 --> 00:20:15,246
and why there was
blood on the paper tag.
383
00:20:15,248 --> 00:20:17,315
Roberto said he didn't know
anything about the blood
384
00:20:17,317 --> 00:20:20,618
and that he had just purchased
the vehicle on May 2nd.
385
00:20:21,787 --> 00:20:23,120
So while searching the truck,
386
00:20:23,122 --> 00:20:25,623
we did locate
two cellular devices.
387
00:20:25,625 --> 00:20:28,226
Roberto told us that the one
in the glove box was not his
388
00:20:28,228 --> 00:20:30,094
and that he had found it
the day before
389
00:20:30,096 --> 00:20:31,329
and was going to hold on to it
390
00:20:31,331 --> 00:20:33,998
until the person who lost it
was going to call.
391
00:20:35,467 --> 00:20:38,169
He's got this other phone
that he's keeping around
392
00:20:38,171 --> 00:20:41,505
that potentially could
be a burner phone.
393
00:20:41,507 --> 00:20:44,108
We asked, "Are there any
firearms inside the house?"
394
00:20:44,110 --> 00:20:46,477
Pablo told us that
he did own a firearm
395
00:20:46,479 --> 00:20:49,714
and that was a .380
and it was inside the house.
396
00:20:49,716 --> 00:20:53,517
A .380 pistol is
extremely similar in size
397
00:20:53,519 --> 00:20:56,454
as far as projectile goes
to a nine millimeter.
398
00:20:56,456 --> 00:21:00,791
That interests us because the
holes that are in Rafael's body
399
00:21:00,793 --> 00:21:03,661
could, could very well
have come from a .380.
400
00:21:05,697 --> 00:21:08,366
[Kyle] It all started to add up
that there's blood at the scene.
401
00:21:08,368 --> 00:21:11,802
We have a cell phone that no
one wants to claim ownership of,
402
00:21:11,804 --> 00:21:13,871
but the vehicles match
the same descriptions
403
00:21:13,873 --> 00:21:17,375
of the people who saw them
at the homicide scene.
404
00:21:20,312 --> 00:21:23,214
We're excited at this point. We
think that we've solved the case.
405
00:21:24,650 --> 00:21:27,018
[Tish] Knowing that they
are looking for two killers
406
00:21:27,020 --> 00:21:30,521
and with the evidence stacking
up against Roberto and Pablo,
407
00:21:30,523 --> 00:21:34,458
investigators haul them into
the station for questioning.
408
00:21:34,460 --> 00:21:37,194
The question gets brought up
about the relationship
409
00:21:37,196 --> 00:21:39,964
between Laura and Rafael.
410
00:21:39,966 --> 00:21:43,801
Pablo is not really concerned
with the idea of a relationship.
411
00:21:43,803 --> 00:21:46,637
He describes them
as just being friends.
412
00:21:46,639 --> 00:21:50,441
I do not believe that Pablo
is not jealous.
413
00:21:50,443 --> 00:21:53,611
I believe that there
has to be some jealousy
414
00:21:53,613 --> 00:21:58,849
with his lover talking
to another man all the time.
415
00:21:59,985 --> 00:22:04,622
Jealousy is among
the top motives for murder.
416
00:22:04,624 --> 00:22:06,857
Especially in cases
where males perceive
417
00:22:06,859 --> 00:22:10,261
that they're in part
of a romantic love triangle.
418
00:22:10,263 --> 00:22:12,697
They want to get back
at the person
419
00:22:12,699 --> 00:22:15,566
that they're thinking is
involved with their partner.
420
00:22:15,568 --> 00:22:19,270
It drives people into a blind
rage, if you will,
421
00:22:19,272 --> 00:22:23,708
and they ultimately become
blinded by this impulse,
422
00:22:23,710 --> 00:22:26,911
that can only be satisfied
through murder.
423
00:22:28,313 --> 00:22:30,548
[Tish] Detectives dig
into Pablo's timeline
424
00:22:30,550 --> 00:22:32,483
for the night
of Rafael's murder.
425
00:22:33,485 --> 00:22:35,886
The night of April 30th,
Pablo was telling us
426
00:22:35,888 --> 00:22:38,089
he was helping get the kids
to sleep.
427
00:22:38,091 --> 00:22:41,625
He wasn't sure where Roberto
was and hadn't seen him.
428
00:22:41,627 --> 00:22:44,762
Pablo tells investigators
that when Laura got home,
429
00:22:44,764 --> 00:22:46,464
he was already asleep.
430
00:22:47,666 --> 00:22:50,634
[Tish] Then detectives
shift from Pablo to Roberto
431
00:22:50,636 --> 00:22:53,337
to see if their stories
match up.
432
00:22:53,339 --> 00:22:57,942
Roberto tells me that he gets
home around 5:00 p.m. on April 30th
433
00:22:57,944 --> 00:23:00,311
and that he hung out
with Pablo all night.
434
00:23:00,313 --> 00:23:05,850
They cooked dinner and that
Laura arrived home around 11:00.
435
00:23:05,852 --> 00:23:09,453
It is very interesting when Pablo
and Roberto give us their accounts
436
00:23:09,455 --> 00:23:12,857
of what happened that night,
because none of it makes sense.
437
00:23:12,859 --> 00:23:15,426
We were really unsure
438
00:23:15,428 --> 00:23:17,495
what is going on
and what the truth was.
439
00:23:19,231 --> 00:23:23,134
[Tish] Detectives turn their
attention back to Pablo's partner Laura
440
00:23:23,136 --> 00:23:27,938
in hopes she'll reveal what really
happened the night of Rafael's murder.
441
00:23:27,940 --> 00:23:30,474
We're talking to Laura and trying
to put some more pressure on her
442
00:23:30,476 --> 00:23:34,745
to try to figure out why there are
so many inconsistencies in her story.
443
00:23:34,747 --> 00:23:35,813
And as we're asking her,
444
00:23:35,815 --> 00:23:39,283
she indicates that the time
that she saw Rafael
445
00:23:39,285 --> 00:23:44,121
was actually earlier, a lot closer
to 8:00 p.m. than 11:00 p.m.
446
00:23:44,123 --> 00:23:46,123
We're able to track down
her employer
447
00:23:46,125 --> 00:23:49,093
who confirmed that she was
at work at 11:00
448
00:23:49,095 --> 00:23:53,931
and that she was there during
the time that Rafael was killed.
449
00:23:53,933 --> 00:23:57,268
At this point, we know now
that her alibi has been confirmed
450
00:23:57,270 --> 00:24:01,405
and she was not at the scene
where Rafael was killed.
451
00:24:02,641 --> 00:24:06,010
[Tish] Despite Laura
being ruled out as a suspect,
452
00:24:06,012 --> 00:24:12,516
investigators still believe that Pablo and
Roberto were involved in Rafael's murder.
453
00:24:12,518 --> 00:24:16,921
We began questioning Roberto more
about the blood on the tag of his vehicle.
454
00:24:16,923 --> 00:24:19,890
He did confirm again that he
didn't know anything about the blood
455
00:24:19,892 --> 00:24:22,159
and that he purchased
the vehicle on May 2nd.
456
00:24:22,961 --> 00:24:24,061
We went to the dealership
457
00:24:24,063 --> 00:24:26,530
and found out that
the vehicle was, in fact,
458
00:24:26,532 --> 00:24:30,000
inside the lot at the time
of the murder on May 1st.
459
00:24:30,002 --> 00:24:35,506
So that vehicle was not
involved in this case whatsoever.
460
00:24:35,508 --> 00:24:40,077
And then we get the information back
on the burner phone that Roberto has
461
00:24:40,079 --> 00:24:43,481
and we're expecting that
we're going to see the number
462
00:24:43,483 --> 00:24:47,184
is our suspect number
that communicated with Rafael.
463
00:24:47,186 --> 00:24:49,053
And it comes back
that it's not the number.
464
00:24:49,055 --> 00:24:50,821
[gunshot firing]
465
00:24:50,823 --> 00:24:54,425
That was just something
that just deflated us.
466
00:24:54,427 --> 00:24:57,428
Although the things that they're
telling us may not be truthful,
467
00:24:57,430 --> 00:25:00,364
they are really not involved
in Rafael's death.
468
00:25:02,200 --> 00:25:05,069
[Tish] With Pablo and Roberto
eliminated as suspects
469
00:25:05,071 --> 00:25:07,471
in the murder
of Rafael Hernandez,
470
00:25:07,473 --> 00:25:09,840
the investigation grinds
to a halt.
471
00:25:10,742 --> 00:25:14,612
This was a true whodunnit
homicide.
472
00:25:14,614 --> 00:25:18,115
We have a lot of pressure on us
to try to figure out what happened.
473
00:25:18,117 --> 00:25:21,952
At this point we have no idea
who could have murdered Rafael.
474
00:25:21,954 --> 00:25:24,989
We have to start at square one
looking for who owns
475
00:25:24,991 --> 00:25:28,826
that mystery number
that we can't identify.
476
00:25:28,828 --> 00:25:32,563
It was the last number that
Rafael had made contact with.
477
00:25:32,565 --> 00:25:34,698
And he's lured to his demise.
478
00:25:35,467 --> 00:25:37,568
So we believe that person
479
00:25:37,570 --> 00:25:40,638
is either our killer
or a witness to the murder.
480
00:25:44,976 --> 00:25:47,945
[Tish] In the cold-blooded
murder of Rafael Hernandez,
481
00:25:47,947 --> 00:25:51,415
investigators turned
to state of the art technology
482
00:25:51,417 --> 00:25:54,552
to uncover who called Rafael
from the burner phone
483
00:25:54,554 --> 00:25:56,353
that lured him to his death.
484
00:25:58,523 --> 00:26:01,992
We obtained the records
for the burner phone...
485
00:26:01,994 --> 00:26:05,329
and as we tracked that phone,
we noticed that it left Tulsa
486
00:26:05,331 --> 00:26:08,499
and eventually began pinging
on a cell phone tower
487
00:26:08,501 --> 00:26:12,269
near the Kaney River Bridge
at approximately 9:30 p.m.
488
00:26:12,271 --> 00:26:14,038
on the night
that Rafael was murdered.
489
00:26:15,674 --> 00:26:18,442
This is very significant
because it puts
490
00:26:18,444 --> 00:26:21,979
the burner phone and Rafael's
phone in the same vicinity
491
00:26:21,981 --> 00:26:25,382
on the night of April 30th
at 9:30 p.m.
492
00:26:25,384 --> 00:26:28,819
At 9:48, Rafael contacts
the burner phone.
493
00:26:28,821 --> 00:26:32,323
At 10:17, the burner phone
leaves the area
494
00:26:32,325 --> 00:26:34,558
and Rafael's phone
does not leave.
495
00:26:34,560 --> 00:26:36,126
It stays at the same location.
496
00:26:36,962 --> 00:26:38,395
At 10:24 p.m.
497
00:26:38,397 --> 00:26:42,232
Ernesto calls Rafael
in which he does not answer.
498
00:26:42,234 --> 00:26:45,769
This is telling us that there's a 29
minute period where Rafael was murdered.
499
00:26:45,771 --> 00:26:47,938
His phone never leaves
the vicinity.
500
00:26:49,941 --> 00:26:53,043
We conducted cell phone
search records on the burner phone
501
00:26:53,045 --> 00:26:57,014
and learned that the phone was
purchased five days prior to the homicide
502
00:26:57,016 --> 00:26:59,516
under the name of Arnulfo Mora.
503
00:26:59,518 --> 00:27:04,021
We later learned that that was a fake
name. No one existed by that name.
504
00:27:06,358 --> 00:27:08,826
This is where
it gets really crazy.
505
00:27:08,828 --> 00:27:11,061
So digging more into
the cell phone records,
506
00:27:11,063 --> 00:27:12,463
we learned that
this phone number
507
00:27:12,465 --> 00:27:14,531
had communicated
with some other phone numbers.
508
00:27:14,533 --> 00:27:17,635
So we began calling and trying
to identify those people
509
00:27:17,637 --> 00:27:19,770
that this burner phone
was connected to.
510
00:27:21,406 --> 00:27:23,173
[Tish] Investigators zero in
511
00:27:23,175 --> 00:27:27,177
on a number that a Arnulfo Mora's
burner phone called numerous times
512
00:27:27,179 --> 00:27:31,715
between April 25th and April
30th, the day Rafael was killed.
513
00:27:33,184 --> 00:27:34,718
We come across a number
514
00:27:34,720 --> 00:27:38,222
that communicates very
frequently with the burner phone,
515
00:27:38,224 --> 00:27:42,059
and that person
is named Marco Martinez.
516
00:27:43,194 --> 00:27:44,662
We do some research into him
517
00:27:44,664 --> 00:27:47,131
and we find out that
he has a felony warrant.
518
00:27:47,133 --> 00:27:48,899
So we arrest Marco.
519
00:27:50,669 --> 00:27:54,738
While Marco is in custody,
we interview him.
520
00:27:54,740 --> 00:27:56,940
And Marco says, "Well,
I don't know who that is."
521
00:27:56,942 --> 00:27:59,143
He's never seen that number
before.
522
00:27:59,145 --> 00:28:01,578
But typing the phone number
into his phone,
523
00:28:01,580 --> 00:28:04,882
it did pop up a name
of Periquin.
524
00:28:04,884 --> 00:28:07,851
Marco tells us that he does
not know Periquin's real name
525
00:28:07,853 --> 00:28:11,255
and that everyone goes
by nicknames in that area.
526
00:28:11,257 --> 00:28:13,757
Even though Marco doesn't
know Periquins's real name...
527
00:28:15,560 --> 00:28:19,530
He was able provide us the
location of where Periquin lives.
528
00:28:19,532 --> 00:28:23,267
And he describes Periquin's
car as being a black Nissan Cube,
529
00:28:23,269 --> 00:28:25,969
which is an SUV
style of vehicle.
530
00:28:27,105 --> 00:28:29,907
So, Periquin, he's attached
to the burner phone
531
00:28:29,909 --> 00:28:31,975
and now he drives a vehicle
532
00:28:31,977 --> 00:28:35,379
that is very consistent with
the type of vehicle that was seen
533
00:28:35,381 --> 00:28:37,915
in the area of the homicide.
534
00:28:37,917 --> 00:28:43,053
Marco, elaborated even more about how
Periquin did have some money problems.
535
00:28:43,055 --> 00:28:44,722
He had a lot of debt to people
536
00:28:44,724 --> 00:28:48,826
and that he needed money
to pay all these debts off.
537
00:28:49,961 --> 00:28:52,696
And Marco overheard
a conversation with Periquin
538
00:28:52,698 --> 00:28:55,532
talking to some friends
that he was upset with Rafael
539
00:28:55,534 --> 00:28:58,836
because he found out that
he was hitting on his wife.
540
00:29:21,392 --> 00:29:24,027
Well, at this point,
we're putting together
541
00:29:24,029 --> 00:29:27,664
that there is a motive
for jealousy
542
00:29:27,666 --> 00:29:30,033
and a motive for money
543
00:29:30,035 --> 00:29:32,436
- because it was known to people...
- [gunshot fires]
544
00:29:32,438 --> 00:29:34,972
that Rafael carried, you
know, around $2,000 in cash.
545
00:29:37,809 --> 00:29:40,577
[Tish] Thinking Periquin
could be their killer,
546
00:29:40,579 --> 00:29:44,581
investigators descend on his
apartment in hopes of tracking him down.
547
00:29:45,650 --> 00:29:48,018
We've basically staked
the apartment complex out.
548
00:29:48,820 --> 00:29:50,921
And it wasn't very long at all.
549
00:29:50,923 --> 00:29:52,189
We're sitting in the parking lot
550
00:29:52,191 --> 00:29:55,092
and this little guy comes out
from the apartment
551
00:29:55,094 --> 00:29:57,161
exactly like Marco described,
552
00:29:57,163 --> 00:30:00,063
and he comes out
to a black Cube.
553
00:30:01,032 --> 00:30:03,667
So we end up running
the tag of the vehicle
554
00:30:03,669 --> 00:30:07,471
and determine that this
belongs to Roman Medrano.
555
00:30:11,376 --> 00:30:13,677
[Tish] With the mounting
evidence against Roman,
556
00:30:13,679 --> 00:30:16,547
detectives secure
a search warrant for his home.
557
00:30:16,549 --> 00:30:18,515
We located a ledger
558
00:30:18,517 --> 00:30:21,318
which had all the people
that he owed money to,
559
00:30:21,320 --> 00:30:25,422
which is significant because now
we corroborated that he did have debt.
560
00:30:25,424 --> 00:30:27,124
During the process
of the search,
561
00:30:27,126 --> 00:30:31,461
we were able to find eight different
phones in the house of Roman and his wife.
562
00:30:32,664 --> 00:30:35,265
We did not find
an actual cell phone
563
00:30:35,267 --> 00:30:40,037
that was associated with the burner
phone number that we were looking for.
564
00:30:40,039 --> 00:30:42,573
However, one of the cell
phones we discovered
565
00:30:42,575 --> 00:30:48,111
was a number that the burner phone
had communication with over 160 times.
566
00:30:48,113 --> 00:30:52,816
We determined that cell phone
belongs to Blanca who is Roman's wife.
567
00:30:54,252 --> 00:30:57,487
This is very significant at
the point of this investigation,
568
00:30:57,489 --> 00:31:02,726
because it's only relevant and probable
that that phone actually belongs to Roman
569
00:31:02,728 --> 00:31:04,595
and that they were
communicating together.
570
00:31:04,597 --> 00:31:05,896
[car engine working]
571
00:31:05,898 --> 00:31:08,232
[Tish] Having connected
Roman to the burner phone
572
00:31:08,234 --> 00:31:10,767
that called Rafael
the night he was killed,
573
00:31:10,769 --> 00:31:14,171
they haul him down to
the station for questioning.
574
00:31:14,173 --> 00:31:18,709
During that conversation,
Roman was very standoffish
575
00:31:18,711 --> 00:31:20,844
and he's very short
with his answers.
576
00:31:20,846 --> 00:31:23,547
And it was very clear
that he was being deceitful.
577
00:31:24,315 --> 00:31:26,183
Roman ended up stating
578
00:31:26,185 --> 00:31:28,252
that he did know of Rafael
579
00:31:28,254 --> 00:31:32,923
and he did know that Blanca had
gotten a ride from him in the past.
580
00:31:32,925 --> 00:31:37,160
We asked Roman about his
alibi that night and where he was.
581
00:31:37,162 --> 00:31:39,363
He told us that he was
at home the entire night
582
00:31:39,365 --> 00:31:43,467
and that his wife does not let him
leave the house after 7:00, 8:00 at night.
583
00:31:44,702 --> 00:31:48,005
In confronting Roman
about the burner phone number,
584
00:31:48,007 --> 00:31:51,208
Roman began to tell us that
he does not know that number.
585
00:32:06,424 --> 00:32:08,425
Roman's wife, Blanca,
586
00:32:08,427 --> 00:32:14,164
has been in communication
with this phone over 100 times.
587
00:32:14,166 --> 00:32:18,869
So I'm asking, "Roman, if it's not you
calling your wife 100 times, who is?"
588
00:32:18,871 --> 00:32:21,638
And he can't provide me
with a good answer for that.
589
00:32:21,640 --> 00:32:26,109
Eventually he has to just kind
of concede that, yes, that's me,
590
00:32:26,111 --> 00:32:28,278
and that at the time
of the homicide
591
00:32:28,280 --> 00:32:30,814
that he had actually loaned
the phone to someone else.
592
00:32:31,883 --> 00:32:36,687
I think Roman is the killer.
I think Roman's lying.
593
00:32:38,289 --> 00:32:42,092
We can prove that a vehicle
like his is in the area.
594
00:32:42,094 --> 00:32:45,896
We can prove that this burner
phone was in the area at the scene
595
00:32:45,898 --> 00:32:47,564
communicating with his wife.
596
00:32:47,566 --> 00:32:49,199
[gunshot firing]
597
00:33:10,121 --> 00:33:15,058
We are convinced that Roman is
actually the person that has lured Rafael
598
00:33:15,060 --> 00:33:16,827
to the scene of the crime.
599
00:33:16,829 --> 00:33:19,029
[gunshot firing]
600
00:33:19,031 --> 00:33:20,697
Based on the evidence
that we had at that point,
601
00:33:20,699 --> 00:33:22,666
we felt very confident
602
00:33:22,668 --> 00:33:27,804
that we could arrest Roman for the
crime of murder in the first degree.
603
00:33:27,806 --> 00:33:29,740
[Tish]
Roman is taken into custody,
604
00:33:29,742 --> 00:33:31,375
but there is still the question
605
00:33:31,377 --> 00:33:35,045
of Roman's accomplice,
the second killer.
606
00:33:35,047 --> 00:33:38,915
We know from the scene that
there was two people involved
607
00:33:38,917 --> 00:33:42,619
and that one person could not
have committed this crime alone.
608
00:33:42,621 --> 00:33:44,521
We were very worried because
609
00:33:44,523 --> 00:33:46,857
- you have a person who had killed somebody...
- [gunshot firing]
610
00:33:46,859 --> 00:33:48,258
running loose
in the community,
611
00:33:48,260 --> 00:33:50,293
- who could potentially kill another.
- [gunshot firing]
612
00:33:50,295 --> 00:33:51,628
So it is important for us
613
00:33:51,630 --> 00:33:53,230
- to try to track this person down...
- [gunshot firing]
614
00:33:53,232 --> 00:33:55,732
to get him into custody
so he didn't harm anyone else.
615
00:34:01,539 --> 00:34:04,041
[Tish] In the brutal murder
of Rafael Hernandez,
616
00:34:04,043 --> 00:34:09,012
investigators have Roman Medrano
in custody for first degree murder,
617
00:34:09,014 --> 00:34:14,117
but they believe he had an
accomplice and this person is at large.
618
00:34:14,119 --> 00:34:19,256
It was clear that Roman was probably
involved and that he wasn't cooperating...
619
00:34:20,525 --> 00:34:22,993
but we got a break when
the lab results come in
620
00:34:22,995 --> 00:34:26,096
from the evidence that
we sent off to be analyzed.
621
00:34:27,365 --> 00:34:31,334
We find that one of the beer
cans we recovered from the scene
622
00:34:31,336 --> 00:34:34,304
had Roman Medrano's DNA on it.
623
00:34:34,306 --> 00:34:38,708
So that gave us a physical tie to
the scene with Roman Medrano.
624
00:34:38,710 --> 00:34:41,244
But also there was
a fingerprint pulled off
625
00:34:41,246 --> 00:34:44,848
that belonged to a man
by the name of Adon Mora.
626
00:34:47,885 --> 00:34:49,419
[Tish]
Armed with physical evidence
627
00:34:49,421 --> 00:34:54,424
tying Roman Medrano and
Adon Mora to the crime scene...
628
00:34:54,426 --> 00:34:58,295
investigators confront Roman
about his association with Adon.
629
00:34:59,831 --> 00:35:03,900
He told us that he was there
at the scene
630
00:35:03,902 --> 00:35:05,936
because Adon had called him
631
00:35:05,938 --> 00:35:08,805
because he was thirsty
and brought him some beer.
632
00:35:08,807 --> 00:35:13,877
They hung out for a period
of time and then he left.
633
00:35:13,879 --> 00:35:16,780
Which is just
one of about four versions
634
00:35:16,782 --> 00:35:18,782
of the story that Roman
gave to us
635
00:35:18,784 --> 00:35:20,584
during the course
of this investigation.
636
00:35:21,385 --> 00:35:23,086
He's now admitting
that he's there,
637
00:35:23,088 --> 00:35:26,790
but it doesn't make sense that they
were just down there drinking beer
638
00:35:26,792 --> 00:35:28,191
and didn't see anything
639
00:35:28,193 --> 00:35:32,529
because we know that Rafael
was there at the time they were.
640
00:35:32,531 --> 00:35:37,100
[Tish] Having established that Roman
and Adon conspired to murder Rafael,
641
00:35:37,102 --> 00:35:40,737
a first degree murder warrant
is issued for Adon.
642
00:35:40,739 --> 00:35:42,639
It was very difficult
to locate Adon.
643
00:35:43,674 --> 00:35:45,876
We know that he left the state.
644
00:35:45,878 --> 00:35:51,181
It took us just over one year
to track down and locate Adon.
645
00:35:51,183 --> 00:35:55,452
We were ultimately able
to find Adon on social media
646
00:35:55,454 --> 00:35:58,688
and locate him in Detroit,
Michigan.
647
00:35:58,690 --> 00:36:01,591
We contacted the U.S. Marshals
648
00:36:01,593 --> 00:36:05,595
and within a day
they had Adon in custody
649
00:36:05,597 --> 00:36:08,465
and he was en route
back to Oklahoma.
650
00:36:08,467 --> 00:36:11,835
When interviewing Adon, we asked
them about him and Roman's relationship.
651
00:36:11,837 --> 00:36:16,339
And Adon was telling us that Roman
was constantly asking him for money.
652
00:36:16,341 --> 00:36:17,607
He was always broke.
653
00:36:17,609 --> 00:36:19,943
Adon gives Roman $500
654
00:36:19,945 --> 00:36:23,113
and Roman promises to give it
back, but he doesn't.
655
00:36:23,115 --> 00:36:26,349
We talked to Adon about the
night the Rafael was killed,
656
00:36:26,351 --> 00:36:28,218
and Adon began telling us
that...
657
00:36:29,554 --> 00:36:31,955
he wanted his $500 from Roman.
658
00:36:31,957 --> 00:36:35,592
And Roman told him, "I don't have
it, but a friend is going to pay it."
659
00:36:35,594 --> 00:36:41,198
He said, "Meet us over here at the Kaney
River Bridge and we'll get your money."
660
00:36:42,300 --> 00:36:45,702
So Adon goes out there
and meets Roman.
661
00:36:46,971 --> 00:36:49,673
Roman makes several phone calls.
662
00:36:49,675 --> 00:36:52,676
Eventually, ultimately,
Rafael does show up.
663
00:36:52,678 --> 00:36:54,878
Roman begins
talking to Rafael about,
664
00:36:54,880 --> 00:36:56,746
"Hey, I need a job.
Can you help me?"
665
00:36:56,748 --> 00:37:01,518
So Adon then goes in front
of the vehicle to lift the hood up
666
00:37:01,520 --> 00:37:03,687
and starts looking
at the battery.
667
00:37:03,689 --> 00:37:05,155
And then hears two gunshots.
668
00:37:05,157 --> 00:37:07,057
[gunshot fires]
669
00:37:07,059 --> 00:37:11,228
Adon then sees that Roman
had shot and killed Rafael.
670
00:37:13,764 --> 00:37:16,700
Adon says he was very confused
about it all,
671
00:37:16,702 --> 00:37:18,735
he says that he had
no part in it
672
00:37:18,737 --> 00:37:22,872
and that he didn't help plan it and
that he was completely shocked.
673
00:37:22,874 --> 00:37:25,842
I don't believe that
Adon was telling the truth.
674
00:37:25,844 --> 00:37:28,945
I believe that Adon
wanted his money
675
00:37:28,947 --> 00:37:34,484
and that Roman had a plan and
he carried out that plan with Roman.
676
00:37:34,486 --> 00:37:36,753
[gunshot fires]
677
00:37:36,755 --> 00:37:38,688
It does seem that Adon and Roman
678
00:37:38,690 --> 00:37:41,491
are trying to pin
the homicide on each other...
679
00:37:41,493 --> 00:37:42,993
[gunshot fires]
680
00:37:42,995 --> 00:37:44,527
both pointing the fingers
at one another.
681
00:37:46,130 --> 00:37:47,998
- When two or more offenders...
- [gunshot fires]
682
00:37:48,000 --> 00:37:49,499
commit at least one murder,
683
00:37:49,501 --> 00:37:53,136
there can be advantages
such as getting one to crack.
684
00:37:53,138 --> 00:37:57,907
But if they've established a
consistent and believable alibi
685
00:37:57,909 --> 00:38:02,045
and are loyal to each other, getting one
to crack or betray the other or break ranks
686
00:38:02,047 --> 00:38:05,115
can be very difficult. And what
you have is essentially a stalemate.
687
00:38:07,251 --> 00:38:11,755
Roman lawyered up and then part of
his plea deal was to tell us what happened.
688
00:38:13,491 --> 00:38:16,626
Roman eventually implicated
himself during this homicide
689
00:38:16,628 --> 00:38:19,562
and admitted that he was there.
690
00:38:19,564 --> 00:38:25,735
The motive of Adon and Roman
for this case is jealousy and money.
691
00:38:25,737 --> 00:38:28,738
They both wanted money
because they're both broke.
692
00:38:28,740 --> 00:38:34,811
And that Roman had an additional
motive for Rafael hitting on his wife.
693
00:38:37,515 --> 00:38:43,286
[Tish] Detectives are now able to unravel the
final 24 hours of Rafael Hernandez's life.
694
00:38:44,689 --> 00:38:48,525
The plan was Roman and Adon
agree to kill Rafael
695
00:38:48,527 --> 00:38:51,528
and then split the money
that they take from him.
696
00:38:51,530 --> 00:38:56,366
On April 25th, Roman Medrano
purchases the burner phone
697
00:38:56,368 --> 00:38:58,134
using a fake identity.
698
00:38:58,136 --> 00:38:59,736
[car engine working]
699
00:38:59,738 --> 00:39:03,707
Approximately 8:30
in the evening on April 30th,
700
00:39:03,709 --> 00:39:06,042
Roman and Adon drive to the area
701
00:39:06,044 --> 00:39:09,813
of the King River Bridge
at Highway 169.
702
00:39:09,815 --> 00:39:14,551
At 9:15, they make
contact with Rafael.
703
00:39:14,553 --> 00:39:20,557
Roman and Adon used the ruse that they are
going to get Rafael to drive them somewhere
704
00:39:20,559 --> 00:39:23,360
because they're having car
problems and they need help.
705
00:39:24,195 --> 00:39:27,163
Rafael calls Ernesto
at 9:22 p.m.
706
00:39:27,165 --> 00:39:31,601
and lets him know that he has to go
help a friend before he takes him to Texas.
707
00:39:32,737 --> 00:39:35,505
Rafael's phone begins
making contact with the tower,
708
00:39:35,507 --> 00:39:40,610
putting him in the location of the
homicide at approximately 9:30 p.m.
709
00:39:40,612 --> 00:39:43,546
At 9:48,
Rafael makes a phone call
710
00:39:43,548 --> 00:39:46,549
back to the burner phone,
which was his last call.
711
00:39:48,352 --> 00:39:50,553
We believe that Rafael
712
00:39:50,555 --> 00:39:55,225
was lured down below the bridge once
he got to the area by Roman and Adon.
713
00:39:56,660 --> 00:39:58,561
And once Rafael is down there,
714
00:39:58,563 --> 00:40:01,197
I think that he probably
starts to realize
715
00:40:01,199 --> 00:40:03,600
that there's something
going on that's not right.
716
00:40:04,368 --> 00:40:05,735
And I think at that point,
717
00:40:05,737 --> 00:40:08,705
I think that's when Roman
pulls out the gun and shoots him.
718
00:40:08,707 --> 00:40:10,273
[gunshot fires]
719
00:40:11,742 --> 00:40:13,176
Rafael gets shot
720
00:40:13,178 --> 00:40:17,313
and then Roman and Adon take
the money from his pants' pockets.
721
00:40:17,315 --> 00:40:22,519
Adon and a Roman then loaded
Rafael's body into the trunk of the car.
722
00:40:22,521 --> 00:40:23,787
[water dripping]
723
00:40:23,789 --> 00:40:28,124
They drive the car right
up to the edge of the river
724
00:40:28,126 --> 00:40:30,760
and then pushed it over
the edge into the river.
725
00:40:33,431 --> 00:40:35,698
Roman's cell phone was
making communication
726
00:40:35,700 --> 00:40:39,769
with the tower at the scene
of the homicide at 10:17,
727
00:40:39,771 --> 00:40:43,206
and then records indicate
that he's back in Tulsa
728
00:40:43,208 --> 00:40:47,110
at 10:33 p.m.
on the night of homicide.
729
00:40:47,112 --> 00:40:48,545
[car engine working]
730
00:40:48,547 --> 00:40:52,081
Without the cellular device and
without the recent phone numbers,
731
00:40:52,083 --> 00:40:53,783
this case would not
have been made.
732
00:40:55,953 --> 00:40:57,854
[Tish] In April 2017,
733
00:40:57,856 --> 00:41:01,024
Roman Medrano waives
his right to a jury trial
734
00:41:01,026 --> 00:41:05,128
and enters a plea of no contest
to murder in the first degree.
735
00:41:05,130 --> 00:41:10,600
The judge ended up sentencing
him to life with the possibility of parole.
736
00:41:11,602 --> 00:41:14,070
Roman is also
ordered to pay $7,000
737
00:41:14,072 --> 00:41:16,539
of restitution
to Rafael's family.
738
00:41:16,541 --> 00:41:21,110
[Tish] Adon Mora Ramos is charged
with accessory to first degree murder
739
00:41:21,112 --> 00:41:24,347
and sentenced
to 15 years in jail.
740
00:41:24,349 --> 00:41:28,117
This is the most complex homicide
I've been involved in to date.
741
00:41:29,653 --> 00:41:33,256
With all the phone numbers,
the nicknames,
742
00:41:33,258 --> 00:41:36,593
the Hispanic Latino community
with a language barrier.
743
00:41:36,595 --> 00:41:40,830
All we wanted was information that
we could use that was true and accurate
744
00:41:40,832 --> 00:41:43,132
to find out who did this
and to solve it.
745
00:41:44,502 --> 00:41:45,735
It was a lot of hard work.
746
00:41:45,737 --> 00:41:48,538
You know,
it was a lot of frustration,
747
00:41:48,540 --> 00:41:53,276
it was a lot of hours, you know, away
from my family and all of our families.
748
00:41:53,278 --> 00:41:56,746
But, you know,
the end justifies it.
749
00:42:00,518 --> 00:42:04,187
[Tish] Today, Rafael Hernandez
is remembered by his family
750
00:42:04,189 --> 00:42:06,623
and community as a caring man,
751
00:42:06,625 --> 00:42:10,026
always ready to help
a friend in need.
752
00:42:10,028 --> 00:42:13,162
It was heartbreaking to learn
that he was killed over money
753
00:42:13,164 --> 00:42:15,231
and a possible relationship...
754
00:42:16,400 --> 00:42:18,635
and that his family
had to go through all that.
755
00:42:18,637 --> 00:42:23,139
It is very saddening because he
was a breadwinner for the family.
756
00:42:23,141 --> 00:42:25,942
You know, that big heart is
ultimately what lured him out there
757
00:42:25,944 --> 00:42:27,210
and got him murdered.