1 00:00:02,700 --> 00:00:05,367 - female narrator: In 2016, "snapped" featured 2 00:00:06,500 --> 00:00:09,066 the troubling story of Sabrina zunich, 3 00:00:09,100 --> 00:00:13,400 who had been taken in by foster parents Lisa and Kevin knoefel. 4 00:00:13,433 --> 00:00:16,467 - Being placed with the knoefels was a dream come true for her. 5 00:00:16,500 --> 00:00:18,266 - Narrator: But in little more than a year, 6 00:00:18,300 --> 00:00:21,400 Sabrina's dream would end in a nightmare. 7 00:00:26,000 --> 00:00:27,367 - It was a slaughterhouse. 8 00:00:27,400 --> 00:00:30,166 - An unstable foster child snapped. 9 00:00:31,367 --> 00:00:34,100 - Narrator: Now serving 30 years to life at Ohio's 10 00:00:34,133 --> 00:00:38,033 Dayton correctional institute, Sabrina is finally ready 11 00:00:38,066 --> 00:00:42,166 to reveal on camera the intimate details of her story. 12 00:00:42,200 --> 00:00:45,100 - We're the picture-perfect family on the outside, 13 00:00:45,133 --> 00:00:48,266 but on the inside, it was completely different. 14 00:00:48,300 --> 00:00:51,033 - She was right at the age where 15 00:00:51,066 --> 00:00:53,600 you're looking for intimate relationships. 16 00:00:53,633 --> 00:00:56,500 - I was in a very delicate state. 17 00:00:56,533 --> 00:01:00,533 I was in love with this man. What I thought was love. 18 00:01:00,567 --> 00:01:04,300 - He's 43 years old and Sabrina's foster father. 19 00:01:04,333 --> 00:01:06,133 He is manipulating her, 20 00:01:06,166 --> 00:01:08,633 saying they can lead this blissful life together. 21 00:01:08,667 --> 00:01:11,367 - This fantasy of living happily ever after 22 00:01:11,400 --> 00:01:13,533 pushed her over the edge. 23 00:01:13,567 --> 00:01:16,300 - If you want love, you're gonna do anything to get it. 24 00:01:18,033 --> 00:01:21,567 - Narrator: But how did love turn into rage? 25 00:01:21,600 --> 00:01:24,633 - I was convinced that I was gonna lose everything 26 00:01:24,667 --> 00:01:28,633 that I've ever dreamed of if this didn't happen. 27 00:01:28,667 --> 00:01:32,100 - This story is not as simple as a young woman 28 00:01:32,133 --> 00:01:34,300 snapping and killing someone. 29 00:01:34,333 --> 00:01:36,467 - And I can't undo what's already been done. 30 00:01:36,500 --> 00:01:39,300 I was selfish and I'm sorry. 31 00:01:39,333 --> 00:01:42,567 - The situation is a perfect storm. 32 00:01:42,600 --> 00:01:44,567 Textbook predator move. 33 00:01:44,600 --> 00:01:47,066 - He said, "you could stab her." 34 00:01:49,367 --> 00:01:57,367 - ♪ 35 00:02:00,333 --> 00:02:08,200 - ♪ 36 00:02:08,233 --> 00:02:11,200 - Sabrina: I'm Sabrina Ann zunich. 37 00:02:11,233 --> 00:02:14,100 I chose to do this interview because I wanted 38 00:02:14,133 --> 00:02:16,734 my side of the story to be told in depth. 39 00:02:16,767 --> 00:02:21,600 This is eight years after the initial, um, incident, 40 00:02:21,633 --> 00:02:26,166 and I believe I have a different perspective now. 41 00:02:26,200 --> 00:02:27,600 I'm not a monster. 42 00:02:27,633 --> 00:02:29,600 I'm an individual who made a mistake 43 00:02:29,633 --> 00:02:31,433 that affected a lot of lives. 44 00:02:34,500 --> 00:02:37,300 - Bob: This story has a lot of tentacles to it. 45 00:02:37,333 --> 00:02:40,367 The depth of the story, and all the different people 46 00:02:40,400 --> 00:02:43,467 that have been affected by this, it's a bit staggering. 47 00:02:43,500 --> 00:02:45,333 So this... this story goes very deep. 48 00:02:48,400 --> 00:02:51,734 - Narrator: On the night of November 16, 2012, 49 00:02:51,767 --> 00:02:54,367 the Willoughby hills, Ohio police department 50 00:02:54,400 --> 00:02:57,133 received a terrifying 911 call. 51 00:03:18,200 --> 00:03:21,533 - You can hear on the 911 call where she's screaming. 52 00:03:26,433 --> 00:03:28,667 - I've been doing this about 20 years, it is by far 53 00:03:28,700 --> 00:03:30,700 the worst 911 call I have heard. 54 00:03:34,233 --> 00:03:36,567 - Narrator: The dispatcher routed all available units 55 00:03:36,600 --> 00:03:37,667 to the scene. 56 00:03:41,233 --> 00:03:43,266 - Narrator: When the first patrol car arrived, 57 00:03:43,300 --> 00:03:46,667 a 13-year-old girl burst from the house, terrified. 58 00:03:48,467 --> 00:03:50,443 - Debra: She's saying, you know, "she's stabbing my mother, 59 00:03:50,467 --> 00:03:52,500 there's blood all over." 60 00:03:52,533 --> 00:03:54,509 - Gary: The officers did not know what they were getting into 61 00:03:54,533 --> 00:03:56,467 when they came on the scene. 62 00:03:56,500 --> 00:03:59,233 Uh, all they knew is something very terrible was happening. 63 00:03:59,266 --> 00:04:00,643 - Narrator: The officer could see someone 64 00:04:00,667 --> 00:04:03,333 inside the master bedroom. 65 00:04:03,367 --> 00:04:07,233 - He voiced the command to come out, um, more than once, 66 00:04:07,266 --> 00:04:08,667 with her hands up. 67 00:04:08,700 --> 00:04:12,467 - Narrator: Finally, someone emerged: Sabrina zunich, 68 00:04:12,500 --> 00:04:16,333 who had turned 18 just three weeks before. 69 00:04:16,367 --> 00:04:18,009 - Gary: The officer does see that she has a knife 70 00:04:18,033 --> 00:04:21,033 in her hand and she is covered in blood from head to toe, 71 00:04:21,066 --> 00:04:23,333 and you know, at that point in time she's probably lucky 72 00:04:23,367 --> 00:04:26,700 that the officer didn't kill her right there. 73 00:04:26,734 --> 00:04:31,300 - What was most shocking and most interesting to me was 74 00:04:31,333 --> 00:04:34,700 that she was young, 75 00:04:34,734 --> 00:04:39,200 and everyone would ask: What would have an 18-year-old 76 00:04:39,233 --> 00:04:42,000 in a quiet suburb do something like that? 77 00:04:46,333 --> 00:04:50,233 - I had a very troubling childhood. 78 00:04:50,266 --> 00:04:52,643 Because I always wanted love and I wanted love from my parents 79 00:04:52,667 --> 00:04:56,633 and when I didn't... Wasn't able to get that, 80 00:04:56,667 --> 00:05:00,033 I looked for it in any place that I could. 81 00:05:00,066 --> 00:05:02,667 - Sabrina was born into a family that, uh, she had alcoholic 82 00:05:02,700 --> 00:05:05,033 and drug-addicted parents. 83 00:05:05,066 --> 00:05:08,333 She struggled very early in life. 84 00:05:08,367 --> 00:05:11,033 She had related a story to me that at one point when she was 85 00:05:11,066 --> 00:05:14,333 still being bottle fed, to get her to go to sleep, 86 00:05:14,367 --> 00:05:17,467 they would put vodka in her bottle to get her to pass out 87 00:05:17,500 --> 00:05:20,333 so they could go about their lives. 88 00:05:20,367 --> 00:05:22,667 She had lots of challenges. 89 00:05:22,700 --> 00:05:26,734 - I was diagnosed when I was, uh, four years old with adhd. 90 00:05:26,767 --> 00:05:30,533 And, uh, growing up, throughout my life, 91 00:05:30,567 --> 00:05:35,300 I was diagnosed with, uh, odd, adhd, 92 00:05:35,333 --> 00:05:39,367 bipolar, anxiety, depression. 93 00:05:39,400 --> 00:05:41,066 - Bob: The state came in and... 94 00:05:41,100 --> 00:05:43,467 She was taken out of the... Out of her home. 95 00:05:46,100 --> 00:05:49,667 - Sabrina: When I was 14, that's when I got into 96 00:05:49,700 --> 00:05:54,033 the actual system and was placed into group homes and... 97 00:05:54,066 --> 00:05:56,500 It was traumatic, to be honest with you. 98 00:05:56,533 --> 00:05:59,533 Because it was like the realization that I was never 99 00:05:59,567 --> 00:06:01,033 gonna live with my parents, 100 00:06:01,066 --> 00:06:03,033 like they were never gonna change. 101 00:06:03,066 --> 00:06:07,567 And it was me having to get a... a reality check 102 00:06:07,600 --> 00:06:09,767 early on in life. 103 00:06:10,000 --> 00:06:13,066 - Narrator: The trauma of being removed from her family home 104 00:06:13,100 --> 00:06:15,667 was only heightened by the unstable life 105 00:06:15,700 --> 00:06:18,367 of the foster care system. 106 00:06:18,400 --> 00:06:21,333 - There's so many years there of bouncing back and forth 107 00:06:21,367 --> 00:06:23,400 through the different places that she lived, 108 00:06:23,433 --> 00:06:26,700 the different people that were in her life. 109 00:06:28,100 --> 00:06:31,500 - Narrator: In July 2011, after 2 years of being 110 00:06:31,533 --> 00:06:33,700 shuffled around the foster system, 111 00:06:33,734 --> 00:06:37,500 social services placed then-16-year-old Sabrina 112 00:06:37,533 --> 00:06:41,033 with a new family: The knoefels. 113 00:06:41,066 --> 00:06:43,533 - Tracey: Lisa and Kevin knoefel appeared to have it all. 114 00:06:43,567 --> 00:06:46,533 They had a beautiful house, um, in Willoughby hills. 115 00:06:46,567 --> 00:06:49,500 They had, uh, lovely children. 116 00:06:49,533 --> 00:06:52,667 - There's two daughters, it... One from Lisa's first marriage, 117 00:06:52,700 --> 00:06:57,333 and one from Lisa and Kevin's marriage, who is younger. 118 00:06:57,367 --> 00:07:00,400 - Narrator: Kevin drove a truck for a food service company, 119 00:07:00,433 --> 00:07:04,600 and Lisa had made a career out of helping troubled kids. 120 00:07:04,633 --> 00:07:07,700 - Lisa knoefel was a social worker for cuyahoga county. 121 00:07:07,734 --> 00:07:12,734 - Lisa's job was to, uh, provide ongoing services 122 00:07:12,767 --> 00:07:16,166 for children who are in counseling and treatment. 123 00:07:16,200 --> 00:07:19,667 - She was really good with kids put in bad situations. 124 00:07:19,700 --> 00:07:23,433 - Lisa loved children and she loved to help people. 125 00:07:23,467 --> 00:07:27,166 - Lisa was a very caring individual. 126 00:07:27,200 --> 00:07:30,066 She... she always put others before herself. 127 00:07:30,100 --> 00:07:34,033 When she had foster children, she treated them like her own. 128 00:07:34,066 --> 00:07:37,467 She made sure she went the extra mile 129 00:07:37,500 --> 00:07:40,033 to... to be a good parent. 130 00:07:40,066 --> 00:07:41,700 - My first impressions of Lisa and Kevin 131 00:07:41,734 --> 00:07:44,467 were that they were loving, they were caring. 132 00:07:44,500 --> 00:07:47,100 That they were into doing foster care 133 00:07:47,133 --> 00:07:50,467 for the betterment of the child. 134 00:07:50,500 --> 00:07:53,066 - Sidney: After everything that Sabrina had gone through 135 00:07:53,100 --> 00:07:58,033 up to that point, their home felt like a dream, 136 00:07:58,066 --> 00:08:01,500 with stability, love, and with siblings. 137 00:08:01,533 --> 00:08:03,467 - Narrator: Sabrina immediately connected 138 00:08:03,500 --> 00:08:06,367 with the knoefels' two girls. 139 00:08:06,400 --> 00:08:10,433 - We started off as friends, and then, uh, 140 00:08:10,467 --> 00:08:14,100 we moved into... Sisters. 141 00:08:14,133 --> 00:08:16,066 We'd do each other's hair, 142 00:08:16,100 --> 00:08:18,633 we'd get dressed and we'd take pictures. 143 00:08:18,667 --> 00:08:21,033 We all, like, connected. 144 00:08:21,066 --> 00:08:26,200 Me and Lisa's relationship was good at first, 145 00:08:26,233 --> 00:08:30,533 and me and Kevin had a very close relationship. 146 00:08:30,567 --> 00:08:34,000 I could be open with him and it was a very, um, 147 00:08:34,033 --> 00:08:36,433 easy relationship. 148 00:08:36,467 --> 00:08:40,500 - She was a teenager who hadn't had that type of love before. 149 00:08:45,533 --> 00:08:46,643 - Sabrina: In the beginning, 150 00:08:46,667 --> 00:08:48,567 I felt like I finally had a family, 151 00:08:48,600 --> 00:08:52,100 one that I could go to school, come home, 152 00:08:52,133 --> 00:08:53,767 get help with homework and, you know, 153 00:08:54,000 --> 00:08:58,600 have dinner on the table and just have a family, 154 00:08:58,633 --> 00:09:01,133 like that bond that I've never had 155 00:09:01,166 --> 00:09:03,200 and I never knew existed. 156 00:09:03,233 --> 00:09:05,233 It was everything that I've ever wanted. 157 00:09:06,667 --> 00:09:10,500 - Her grades improved and she was just doing great. 158 00:09:10,533 --> 00:09:12,266 - She fits in fine. 159 00:09:12,300 --> 00:09:14,667 She gets in no problems, she doesn't skip school. 160 00:09:14,700 --> 00:09:18,266 - Narrator: Sabrina also started making friends in the area. 161 00:09:18,300 --> 00:09:20,767 - We had two classes together. 162 00:09:21,000 --> 00:09:26,533 Sabrina was outgoing and very friendly and just kind of cocky. 163 00:09:26,567 --> 00:09:30,533 "Nobody can really hold me back" type of attitude. 164 00:09:30,567 --> 00:09:32,467 - Tracey: She had dreams, she had goals, 165 00:09:32,500 --> 00:09:36,133 and she wanted to be a massage therapist. 166 00:09:36,166 --> 00:09:39,567 - Narrator: In October 2012, after living with the knoefels 167 00:09:39,600 --> 00:09:44,033 for over a year, Sabrina turned 18. 168 00:09:44,066 --> 00:09:47,233 Normally, 18-year-olds leave foster care, 169 00:09:47,266 --> 00:09:49,033 unless they're still in high school 170 00:09:49,066 --> 00:09:52,166 and want to remain in the system. 171 00:09:52,200 --> 00:09:54,567 - School was going great, she was in a family 172 00:09:54,600 --> 00:09:57,700 that was doing things and would go on vacations together. 173 00:09:57,734 --> 00:10:01,233 So, she was wanting to stay with the family. 174 00:10:01,266 --> 00:10:03,734 - Narrator: Sabrina petitioned to be allowed to remain 175 00:10:03,767 --> 00:10:06,000 in the knoefel home. 176 00:10:06,033 --> 00:10:08,209 - Sabrina: I was doing two grades at once at high school. 177 00:10:08,233 --> 00:10:11,033 They had gotten me there 178 00:10:11,066 --> 00:10:13,266 with the structure that they provided, 179 00:10:13,300 --> 00:10:18,633 and to uproot and be by myself and alone, 180 00:10:18,667 --> 00:10:20,767 that was a big risk that I was taking. 181 00:10:23,166 --> 00:10:26,000 - Narrator: But just three weeks after Sabrina petitioned 182 00:10:26,033 --> 00:10:30,200 to stay, the seemingly perfect image of the family shattered 183 00:10:30,233 --> 00:10:32,500 with a chilling 911 call. 184 00:10:39,133 --> 00:10:42,200 - Sabrina is probably alive today because when the officer 185 00:10:42,233 --> 00:10:45,567 ordered her to drop that bloody knife, she did, 186 00:10:45,600 --> 00:10:48,100 and was safely taken into custody. 187 00:10:48,133 --> 00:10:50,667 - I didn't realize I came out calm. 188 00:10:50,700 --> 00:10:54,033 Like, that was a part where I guess I just... 189 00:10:54,066 --> 00:10:56,734 I was not mentally there. 190 00:10:56,767 --> 00:10:59,033 I was in and out the whole time. 191 00:11:00,233 --> 00:11:01,567 - Narrator: Coming up, 192 00:11:01,600 --> 00:11:05,200 details of a horrific attack emerge. 193 00:11:05,233 --> 00:11:08,633 - There were 178 knife wounds. 194 00:11:08,667 --> 00:11:12,233 That is definitely a long, sustained attack. 195 00:11:12,266 --> 00:11:14,767 Where'd she get all that rage from? 196 00:11:15,000 --> 00:11:18,734 - Narrator: And police discover unintended victims. 197 00:11:18,767 --> 00:11:20,633 - I can only imagine what she went through. 198 00:11:22,266 --> 00:11:25,266 - ♪ 199 00:11:30,333 --> 00:11:33,233 - ♪ 200 00:11:35,333 --> 00:11:36,333 - ♪ 201 00:11:45,367 --> 00:11:48,567 - Narrator: On November 16, 2012, police 202 00:11:48,600 --> 00:11:53,000 in Willoughby hills, Ohio, had 18-year-old Sabrina zunich 203 00:11:53,033 --> 00:11:57,033 in custody for ruthlessly attacking her foster mother. 204 00:11:58,500 --> 00:12:01,400 - At the time... 205 00:12:01,433 --> 00:12:04,467 I didn't register it. I... i couldn't. 206 00:12:04,500 --> 00:12:08,100 I was blacking in and out. 207 00:12:08,133 --> 00:12:10,467 I wasn't coherent for everything. 208 00:12:12,767 --> 00:12:14,367 - Narrator: With Sabrina secured, 209 00:12:14,400 --> 00:12:17,200 police entered the master bedroom, 210 00:12:17,233 --> 00:12:22,066 where they found 41-year-old Lisa knoefel. 211 00:12:22,100 --> 00:12:27,000 - They tried to do, uh, cpr. And she was just gone. 212 00:12:28,400 --> 00:12:30,533 - Narrator: In the closet, police made another 213 00:12:30,567 --> 00:12:32,367 shocking discovery: 214 00:12:32,400 --> 00:12:35,266 Lisa and Kevin's three-year-old daughter. 215 00:12:36,500 --> 00:12:40,500 - I don't even want to know how much she heard. 216 00:12:40,533 --> 00:12:43,200 - Doug g: Sabrina was in no state to answer any questions, 217 00:12:43,233 --> 00:12:45,433 or at least acting that way. 218 00:12:45,467 --> 00:12:49,200 And during the attack, she had suffered some cuts as well 219 00:12:49,233 --> 00:12:50,533 as Lisa fought back. 220 00:12:50,567 --> 00:12:53,233 So they had to take her to the hospital. 221 00:12:53,266 --> 00:12:56,500 Kevin, Lisa's husband, isn't there. 222 00:12:56,533 --> 00:13:00,100 The only other people in the house were the girls. 223 00:13:00,133 --> 00:13:01,509 And the three-year-old wasn't gonna be able 224 00:13:01,533 --> 00:13:04,100 to give the police any details. 225 00:13:04,133 --> 00:13:05,533 She's just too young. 226 00:13:05,567 --> 00:13:08,600 So it all falls on the 13-year-old. 227 00:13:08,633 --> 00:13:11,400 - Sidney: This is a teenage girl whose been awakened 228 00:13:11,433 --> 00:13:14,133 in the middle of the night by screaming, 229 00:13:14,166 --> 00:13:19,567 who just witnessed her foster sister stabbing her mother. 230 00:13:19,600 --> 00:13:22,567 - I have a lot of regret 231 00:13:22,600 --> 00:13:27,333 and sorrow because I can only imagine what she went through. 232 00:13:27,367 --> 00:13:29,209 And she shouldn't have had to gone through that, 233 00:13:29,233 --> 00:13:31,600 nobody did in that situation. [Sniffling] 234 00:13:35,066 --> 00:13:36,142 - Sidney: But kids are more resilient 235 00:13:36,166 --> 00:13:38,066 than we give them credit for, 236 00:13:38,100 --> 00:13:42,233 and she was able to tell police what happened. 237 00:13:42,266 --> 00:13:45,100 - Narrator: Megan found the strength to tell investigators 238 00:13:45,133 --> 00:13:48,166 the harrowing details of that evening. 239 00:13:48,200 --> 00:13:50,567 - Gary: She walks into her mother's bedroom, 240 00:13:50,600 --> 00:13:55,533 probably being awoken from the screams, uh, of... of Lisa. 241 00:13:55,567 --> 00:13:58,433 What she's seeing is the very gruesome, 242 00:13:58,467 --> 00:14:01,133 graphic murder of her own mother. 243 00:14:01,166 --> 00:14:04,433 - She is begging Sabrina to spare her mother's life, 244 00:14:04,467 --> 00:14:07,400 to stop what... "you're killing my mother," 245 00:14:07,433 --> 00:14:10,266 and she just doesn't stop. 246 00:14:10,300 --> 00:14:12,100 - Gary: She's just repeatedly stabbing her, 247 00:14:12,133 --> 00:14:14,533 one stab after another stab. 248 00:14:14,567 --> 00:14:17,133 - The assault was so violent that the knife was bent 249 00:14:17,166 --> 00:14:18,567 at some degree of an angle. 250 00:14:18,600 --> 00:14:21,266 - Debra it appeared that Lisa fought for her life, 251 00:14:21,300 --> 00:14:25,233 there was things knocked over, there was blood everywhere. 252 00:14:27,266 --> 00:14:30,233 - Michael: She ultimately sustained 178 stab 253 00:14:30,266 --> 00:14:31,600 and slashing wounds. 254 00:14:33,100 --> 00:14:34,633 There were serious defensive wounds. 255 00:14:37,367 --> 00:14:39,533 - Narrator: Lisa's frightened daughter explained why 256 00:14:39,567 --> 00:14:44,300 her stepfather, 43-year-old Kevin knoefel, wasn't there. 257 00:14:44,333 --> 00:14:47,500 - Carol: Kevin was a truck driver and he was on the road, 258 00:14:47,533 --> 00:14:49,333 he worked third shift. 259 00:14:49,367 --> 00:14:51,500 - Detectives tell Kevin to rush home. 260 00:14:51,533 --> 00:14:53,109 They would have someone stay with the girls 261 00:14:53,133 --> 00:14:54,133 until he gets there. 262 00:14:56,633 --> 00:14:59,200 At the hospital, they tried to interview Sabrina, 263 00:14:59,233 --> 00:15:02,333 but she wasn't able to give them much at the time. 264 00:15:02,367 --> 00:15:04,600 - Sabrina: I guess the reality just... it... it hit 265 00:15:04,633 --> 00:15:06,400 when I started crying. 266 00:15:06,433 --> 00:15:11,600 I... i didn't... i didn't grasp what happened, 267 00:15:11,633 --> 00:15:15,166 and when I did, I just couldn't do anything but cry. 268 00:15:16,667 --> 00:15:19,266 - Narrator: When Kevin finally arrived home, 269 00:15:19,300 --> 00:15:22,734 he appeared more curious than grief-stricken. 270 00:15:22,767 --> 00:15:24,443 - Tracey: He wanted to see the bedroom for himself, 271 00:15:24,467 --> 00:15:25,633 after she was killed, 272 00:15:25,667 --> 00:15:29,166 the police thought that was strange. 273 00:15:29,200 --> 00:15:31,266 - Narrator: The next day, when loved ones gathered 274 00:15:31,300 --> 00:15:33,500 to console Kevin and the girls, 275 00:15:33,533 --> 00:15:37,600 they also noticed he was acting strange. 276 00:15:37,633 --> 00:15:41,500 - His demeanor was so... I don't know. 277 00:15:41,533 --> 00:15:44,233 I can't say how a person should appear when their wife's 278 00:15:44,266 --> 00:15:45,533 been brutally murdered, 279 00:15:45,567 --> 00:15:48,633 but he just didn't appear to be fazed by it. 280 00:15:48,667 --> 00:15:51,500 - Carol: He was greeting people and shaking their hand. 281 00:15:51,533 --> 00:15:54,467 There was not really that emotion that you would see 282 00:15:54,500 --> 00:15:59,233 from someone that just lost their... their wife tragically. 283 00:15:59,266 --> 00:16:02,667 - People said Kevin wasn't displaying emotions we think 284 00:16:02,700 --> 00:16:04,633 somebody should display. 285 00:16:04,667 --> 00:16:08,600 Regardless of their claims about that, 286 00:16:08,633 --> 00:16:12,300 there's no... no question who did that horrific crime. 287 00:16:15,300 --> 00:16:16,667 - Narrator: But the question was: 288 00:16:16,700 --> 00:16:19,734 Why would Sabrina attack Lisa? 289 00:16:19,767 --> 00:16:22,400 As police began their investigation, 290 00:16:22,433 --> 00:16:24,166 they asked Lisa's loved ones 291 00:16:24,200 --> 00:16:26,667 about the dynamics of the family. 292 00:16:26,700 --> 00:16:28,667 - Carol: At first, Lisa had only positive things 293 00:16:28,700 --> 00:16:30,633 to say about Sabrina. 294 00:16:30,667 --> 00:16:34,266 That she was getting great grades in school 295 00:16:34,300 --> 00:16:36,266 and that therapy was working really well, 296 00:16:36,300 --> 00:16:38,700 and she was such a sweetheart. 297 00:16:38,734 --> 00:16:41,433 - Narrator: But six months into Sabrina's stay, 298 00:16:41,467 --> 00:16:43,700 things began to change. 299 00:16:43,734 --> 00:16:48,233 - We're the picture-perfect family on the outside. 300 00:16:48,266 --> 00:16:51,433 On the inside, it was completely different. 301 00:16:51,467 --> 00:16:54,734 - The development of the relationship between 302 00:16:54,767 --> 00:16:59,467 Lisa and Sabrina had some typical features 303 00:16:59,500 --> 00:17:02,767 of a parent-child relationship, like arguments, 304 00:17:03,000 --> 00:17:07,233 and Sabrina thinking that another child may have 305 00:17:07,266 --> 00:17:11,567 more attention from Lisa than she did. 306 00:17:11,600 --> 00:17:15,300 - There wasn't attention provided for all the children. 307 00:17:15,333 --> 00:17:16,767 It was always focused. 308 00:17:17,000 --> 00:17:19,600 I didn't... I didn't see it as fair, 309 00:17:19,633 --> 00:17:23,533 and they got so much more freedom than I did. 310 00:17:23,567 --> 00:17:26,734 I felt like I wasn't really a part of the family. 311 00:17:26,767 --> 00:17:28,734 - I think the problem is that Sabrina didn't quite 312 00:17:28,767 --> 00:17:32,333 understand the dynamics of a family household. 313 00:17:32,367 --> 00:17:35,734 She'd never been in one, so she interpreted the issues 314 00:17:35,767 --> 00:17:37,767 she would have with Lisa as... 315 00:17:38,000 --> 00:17:39,734 A bigger deal than it really was. 316 00:17:41,500 --> 00:17:44,367 - Sabrina: It definitely put a gap in between me and Lisa 317 00:17:44,400 --> 00:17:47,467 because of the abandonment that I had to deal with, 318 00:17:47,500 --> 00:17:49,533 because of the rejection I've dealt with. 319 00:17:49,567 --> 00:17:52,700 And so, even if it's not intentional, 320 00:17:52,734 --> 00:17:58,500 i... i picked up on what I perceived as... Closing me out. 321 00:18:00,233 --> 00:18:03,533 - Narrator: Sabrina began to argue more and more with Lisa, 322 00:18:03,567 --> 00:18:05,600 and soon lost her initial feeling 323 00:18:05,633 --> 00:18:08,400 of safety and acceptance. 324 00:18:08,433 --> 00:18:10,533 - It wasn't what I always hoped for. 325 00:18:10,567 --> 00:18:14,567 It wasn't the dream family that I've always wanted. 326 00:18:14,600 --> 00:18:19,367 That mother-daughter relationship changed immensely. 327 00:18:19,400 --> 00:18:24,367 - However, Kevin and Sabrina began to get closer and closer 328 00:18:24,400 --> 00:18:27,500 the longer that Sabrina was in the home. 329 00:18:27,533 --> 00:18:30,433 - I told Kevin that I was feeling like an outsider, 330 00:18:30,467 --> 00:18:33,700 that I don't believe she treated me the same way. 331 00:18:33,734 --> 00:18:37,333 I didn't necessarily had to hide anything and I could be real, 332 00:18:37,367 --> 00:18:40,567 and so it made it easy to talk to him. 333 00:18:40,600 --> 00:18:46,667 He was open and he was... He was my friend and my father. 334 00:18:46,700 --> 00:18:52,333 Kevin was there to catch me because he never judged me 335 00:18:52,367 --> 00:18:54,033 and he always made me feel wanted. 336 00:18:55,700 --> 00:18:58,333 And he was always everything that I needed. 337 00:19:01,300 --> 00:19:03,500 - Narrator: But as police questioned friends and family 338 00:19:03,533 --> 00:19:05,667 of the knoefels, they soon learned 339 00:19:05,700 --> 00:19:11,000 that as Kevin comforted Sabrina, Lisa sensed trouble. 340 00:19:11,033 --> 00:19:14,066 - Sidney: Lisa may have been feeling some of the same things 341 00:19:14,100 --> 00:19:16,667 that Sabrina had felt at some point, 342 00:19:16,700 --> 00:19:20,700 and that would be feeling abandoned, feeling unloved, 343 00:19:20,734 --> 00:19:24,333 feeling unwanted or neglected by his developing 344 00:19:24,367 --> 00:19:26,567 relationship with Sabrina. 345 00:19:28,066 --> 00:19:30,066 - Narrator: Friends told authorities that Lisa 346 00:19:30,100 --> 00:19:33,033 wasn't the only one who became suspicious 347 00:19:33,066 --> 00:19:36,533 of Sabrina's relationship with her foster father. 348 00:19:36,567 --> 00:19:38,767 - Sabrina would always tell me that whenever she needed 349 00:19:39,000 --> 00:19:41,100 something, she would just go to Kevin for it. 350 00:19:41,133 --> 00:19:43,100 - People called the relationship kind of creepy. 351 00:19:43,133 --> 00:19:47,133 - They were too friendly, they were too close. 352 00:19:47,166 --> 00:19:51,433 They would make sexual jokes towards each other. 353 00:19:51,467 --> 00:19:54,066 - Narrator: Investigators also learned that, recently, 354 00:19:54,100 --> 00:19:57,433 Lisa had reached her breaking point. 355 00:19:57,467 --> 00:20:02,500 - Lisa did call me and express she wanted her out of the house. 356 00:20:02,533 --> 00:20:04,476 - Michael: She was told flat out that sh... you know, 357 00:20:04,500 --> 00:20:07,667 "as of January 1, you're no longer welcome here." 358 00:20:07,700 --> 00:20:12,000 - Narrator: This ultimatum came three weeks before the murder. 359 00:20:12,033 --> 00:20:14,767 - Lisa stormed out and said, "if you think you're gonna turn 360 00:20:15,000 --> 00:20:17,367 my husband against me, you have another thing coming." 361 00:20:17,400 --> 00:20:21,433 And I started crying and, uh, 'cause I knew from there 362 00:20:21,467 --> 00:20:23,467 that that was the beginning of the end. 363 00:20:23,500 --> 00:20:25,533 But I'm not gonna... I'm not gonna say 364 00:20:25,567 --> 00:20:27,100 that she's the villain in this story, 365 00:20:27,133 --> 00:20:29,400 I'm not gonna say that. 366 00:20:29,433 --> 00:20:32,100 - Sidney: Lisa's reaction was totally justified. 367 00:20:32,133 --> 00:20:35,200 She sees her husband getting close to her 368 00:20:35,233 --> 00:20:37,433 in an inappropriate way. 369 00:20:37,467 --> 00:20:41,567 Remember he's 43 years old and Sabrina's foster father. 370 00:20:43,000 --> 00:20:44,133 - Narrator: Coming up, 371 00:20:44,166 --> 00:20:48,033 Sabrina admits to a twisted relationship. 372 00:20:48,066 --> 00:20:53,200 - It started with massages. And it gradually went to more. 373 00:20:53,233 --> 00:20:56,500 - Narrator: And describes a troubling psychology. 374 00:20:56,533 --> 00:20:58,443 - Sabrina: If you want love, if you wanna feel that 375 00:20:58,467 --> 00:21:01,467 you're not just a throwaway, 376 00:21:01,500 --> 00:21:03,400 you're gonna do anything to get it, right? 377 00:21:05,166 --> 00:21:08,166 - ♪ 378 00:21:13,000 --> 00:21:15,734 - ♪ 379 00:21:19,166 --> 00:21:21,142 - Narrator: Investigating the murder of Lisa knoefel, 380 00:21:21,166 --> 00:21:24,633 Ohio police began to focus on the relationship between 381 00:21:24,667 --> 00:21:26,600 Lisa's husband, Kevin, 382 00:21:26,633 --> 00:21:29,700 and the couple's foster daughter, Sabrina zunich, 383 00:21:29,734 --> 00:21:33,033 who stabbed Lisa to death. 384 00:21:33,066 --> 00:21:35,200 - Autumn: The vibe that I got from Kevin and Sabrina's 385 00:21:35,233 --> 00:21:38,600 relationship was that they were more boyfriend and girlfriend 386 00:21:38,633 --> 00:21:41,300 than they were father and daughter. 387 00:21:41,333 --> 00:21:45,000 I believe Sabrina was attracted to Kevin because 388 00:21:45,033 --> 00:21:49,166 she had daddy issues and a lot of abandonment issues. 389 00:21:49,200 --> 00:21:51,233 - Narrator: Investigators needed to determine: 390 00:21:51,266 --> 00:21:54,233 Had Sabrina acted alone? 391 00:21:54,266 --> 00:21:56,734 As detectives interviewed more people, 392 00:21:56,767 --> 00:22:00,166 they learned Sabrina had actually tried to find help 393 00:22:00,200 --> 00:22:03,300 in carrying out the attack on her foster mother. 394 00:22:03,333 --> 00:22:06,200 - She came to me and said she wanted to know 395 00:22:06,233 --> 00:22:08,400 if I knew any hitmen. 396 00:22:08,433 --> 00:22:10,076 And I think she might have actually thought 397 00:22:10,100 --> 00:22:12,767 I could help her, but I couldn't. 398 00:22:14,367 --> 00:22:16,667 - Narrator: And during investigators' conversation 399 00:22:16,700 --> 00:22:20,700 with Autumn, she made a startling accusation. 400 00:22:20,734 --> 00:22:24,033 - Autumn: I knew Kevin was involved because when Sabrina 401 00:22:24,066 --> 00:22:26,066 would talk about needing help, 402 00:22:26,100 --> 00:22:28,667 she would refer to the both of them, 403 00:22:28,700 --> 00:22:31,367 you know, "me and Kevin need to get rid of Lisa." 404 00:22:33,200 --> 00:22:35,767 - Narrator: But when authorities initially pressed Sabrina 405 00:22:36,000 --> 00:22:39,367 about Kevin's involvement, she denied it. 406 00:22:39,400 --> 00:22:42,000 - Bob: Sabrina was gonna take the fall for it, 407 00:22:42,033 --> 00:22:44,333 she kept her mouth shut for six months because Kevin 408 00:22:44,367 --> 00:22:48,166 had promised that he was gonna take care of her. 409 00:22:48,200 --> 00:22:49,343 After several months went by, 410 00:22:49,367 --> 00:22:52,433 she realized that she had been had, 411 00:22:52,467 --> 00:22:56,066 and that was when she decided that she's gonna tell the truth. 412 00:22:57,700 --> 00:22:59,433 - Narrator: Once she decided to talk, 413 00:22:59,467 --> 00:23:02,433 Sabrina confirmed to police that she had begun 414 00:23:02,467 --> 00:23:05,100 an inappropriate relationship with Kevin 415 00:23:05,133 --> 00:23:08,367 ten months after moving in with the family. 416 00:23:08,400 --> 00:23:09,800 - Sabrina: It started with massages. 417 00:23:10,000 --> 00:23:12,367 I wanted to be a massotherapist. 418 00:23:12,400 --> 00:23:17,700 I wanted to, um, help people all my life and so, 419 00:23:17,734 --> 00:23:20,734 he said, "you can practice on me." 420 00:23:20,767 --> 00:23:25,100 And it w... started on the legs, because he was a truck driver 421 00:23:25,133 --> 00:23:27,033 and, you know, had cramps in his legs. 422 00:23:27,066 --> 00:23:31,433 And, uh, it gradually went to more... 423 00:23:31,467 --> 00:23:35,433 From father-daughter to significant others. 424 00:23:35,467 --> 00:23:40,300 Me and Kevin ended up being in a sexual relationship. 425 00:23:40,333 --> 00:23:44,400 - Sidney: The situation is a perfect storm because 426 00:23:44,433 --> 00:23:50,133 Sabrina feels like she is getting 427 00:23:50,166 --> 00:23:53,734 the dream family that she wants, 428 00:23:53,767 --> 00:23:57,734 but then he is manipulating her. 429 00:23:57,767 --> 00:24:00,700 - I realize today that it was unhealthy, 430 00:24:00,734 --> 00:24:04,300 that I should have never entered into that relationship. 431 00:24:04,333 --> 00:24:09,300 I also know that I was in a very, um, delicate state 432 00:24:09,333 --> 00:24:12,400 because of everything that I've lacked growing up. 433 00:24:12,433 --> 00:24:15,100 - She was so young; She was a teenager. 434 00:24:15,133 --> 00:24:20,166 And sexual predators tend to slowly convince the person 435 00:24:20,200 --> 00:24:21,333 that they love them, 436 00:24:21,367 --> 00:24:24,166 and that only they love them, 437 00:24:24,200 --> 00:24:26,066 and that they can take care of them. 438 00:24:29,100 --> 00:24:31,567 - Narrator: Investigators ask Sabrina about what led 439 00:24:31,600 --> 00:24:33,500 to Lisa's killing. 440 00:24:33,533 --> 00:24:36,033 - Sabrina: Kevin shared the problems in the marriage 441 00:24:36,066 --> 00:24:38,200 that they were having. 442 00:24:38,233 --> 00:24:42,200 He told me that he really didn't wanna be married to her anymore, 443 00:24:42,233 --> 00:24:44,300 that he was not in love with her anymore, 444 00:24:44,333 --> 00:24:49,166 and that, um... He just is in the marriage 445 00:24:49,200 --> 00:24:51,266 because of the children. 446 00:24:51,300 --> 00:24:54,734 He said, "I want her gone." 447 00:24:54,767 --> 00:24:58,066 And I said, "why not just divorce her?" 448 00:24:58,100 --> 00:25:01,333 And he said, "because I can't do it. 449 00:25:01,367 --> 00:25:03,367 The girls would end up going to her." 450 00:25:05,233 --> 00:25:09,467 - Narrator: Sabrina told police Kevin lured her into helping. 451 00:25:09,500 --> 00:25:11,509 - Sabrina: It was about the promises that he made me 452 00:25:11,533 --> 00:25:16,200 that I was gonna have a life that I wanted to live. 453 00:25:16,233 --> 00:25:20,266 A future that I never thought I could have. 454 00:25:20,300 --> 00:25:23,066 - Bob: Some of the things that Kevin had discussed 455 00:25:23,100 --> 00:25:26,500 with Sabrina and dangled in front of her were things 456 00:25:26,533 --> 00:25:30,400 like going to modeling school, having their own home together, 457 00:25:30,433 --> 00:25:33,767 maybe in Florida where they could spend time at the beach. 458 00:25:34,000 --> 00:25:36,367 - He laid the foundation that he is the answer 459 00:25:36,400 --> 00:25:39,200 to all of Sabrina's prayers. 460 00:25:39,233 --> 00:25:41,367 They can lead this blissful life together... 461 00:25:41,400 --> 00:25:44,533 A life that she's craved forever. 462 00:25:44,567 --> 00:25:47,300 - What I keep thinking about as I listen to this story 463 00:25:47,333 --> 00:25:51,300 is that... It is a story. 464 00:25:51,333 --> 00:25:52,533 Her story. 465 00:25:52,567 --> 00:25:55,367 She's claiming he wanted Lisa dead. 466 00:25:55,400 --> 00:25:57,400 Pretty convenient from someone found holding 467 00:25:57,433 --> 00:26:00,333 the bloody murder weapon. 468 00:26:00,367 --> 00:26:02,233 - Sabrina: He started breaking down crying. 469 00:26:02,266 --> 00:26:04,333 He said that, "I can't do this anymore. 470 00:26:04,367 --> 00:26:07,166 I'm going to kill myself if she's not gone." 471 00:26:07,200 --> 00:26:09,500 - Sidney: Another textbook predator move. 472 00:26:09,533 --> 00:26:11,567 He's going to kill himself, 473 00:26:11,600 --> 00:26:15,467 preying on her sense of loss and abandonment. 474 00:26:15,500 --> 00:26:18,000 And now Sabrina has to contend with that 475 00:26:18,033 --> 00:26:20,433 she might lose him too. 476 00:26:20,467 --> 00:26:22,667 - Sabrina: I said, "well, what do you want me to do?" 477 00:26:22,700 --> 00:26:25,433 And he said, "you could stab her." 478 00:26:28,133 --> 00:26:31,500 I was in love with this man. What I thought was love. 479 00:26:31,533 --> 00:26:35,367 And so I was gonna do anything for the man that I loved. 480 00:26:35,400 --> 00:26:38,100 That's when the planning started and he picked out the knife, 481 00:26:38,133 --> 00:26:39,667 he told me how to do it, 482 00:26:39,700 --> 00:26:43,667 what position if she was sleeping, to go and stab her 483 00:26:43,700 --> 00:26:47,333 and to make it look like a burglary, 484 00:26:47,367 --> 00:26:51,333 to knock everything down, and to take all her jewelry. 485 00:26:51,367 --> 00:26:54,300 - Narrator: Sabrina told police that Kevin convinced her 486 00:26:54,333 --> 00:26:57,266 it was the only way they could be together. 487 00:26:57,300 --> 00:27:00,400 So on November 16, 2012, 488 00:27:00,433 --> 00:27:03,300 while Kevin was safely out of town, 489 00:27:03,333 --> 00:27:08,667 she picked up the knife he chose and crept into Lisa's bedroom. 490 00:27:08,700 --> 00:27:10,633 - Sabrina: My heart was pumping out of my chest, 491 00:27:10,667 --> 00:27:12,700 I could see it through my clothing. 492 00:27:12,734 --> 00:27:14,600 Like, I was going to do it and then I was like, 493 00:27:14,633 --> 00:27:17,166 "no, you can't do it. Do it, don't do it." 494 00:27:17,200 --> 00:27:22,066 It was a constant... Fight. 495 00:27:22,100 --> 00:27:26,400 And when she woke up, I had no choice. 496 00:27:27,567 --> 00:27:30,500 She called out, "Bree, stop." 497 00:27:34,066 --> 00:27:36,367 She was on top of me at one time. 498 00:27:36,400 --> 00:27:38,333 She had the knife at one time. 499 00:27:41,166 --> 00:27:42,367 She fought for her life. 500 00:27:44,400 --> 00:27:47,300 When Megan made the 911 call, 501 00:27:47,333 --> 00:27:50,100 that's when I knew that this wasn't gonna be 502 00:27:50,133 --> 00:27:52,500 how he told me it was going to, 503 00:27:52,533 --> 00:27:55,734 that, uh, the plan fell apart. 504 00:27:55,767 --> 00:27:59,200 Megan put her hand on me, I remember that, um, 505 00:27:59,233 --> 00:28:03,266 she said, "Bree, stop," and I just sh... shrugged her off. 506 00:28:05,367 --> 00:28:08,567 I didn't know Hailey was in the closet. 507 00:28:08,600 --> 00:28:11,266 When I found out, I broke down and cried. 508 00:28:15,667 --> 00:28:18,533 - Doug g: According to Sabrina's story now, 509 00:28:18,567 --> 00:28:21,600 when she was taken into custody, she knew exactly what to say 510 00:28:21,633 --> 00:28:23,367 because Kevin had coached her. 511 00:28:26,233 --> 00:28:27,643 - Doug b: Kevin told Sabrina to tell the authorities 512 00:28:27,667 --> 00:28:30,233 that she had no clue what ha... she didn't remember 513 00:28:30,266 --> 00:28:31,667 what happened, she blacked out. 514 00:28:31,700 --> 00:28:35,567 - Sabrina would be declared mentally ill and serve some time 515 00:28:35,600 --> 00:28:38,500 in a mental health facility and... and get out, 516 00:28:38,533 --> 00:28:41,400 do no hard time; That's what he told her. 517 00:28:41,433 --> 00:28:44,400 - Sabrina believed that they would be together. 518 00:28:44,433 --> 00:28:46,376 - Sabrina: If you want love, if you wanna feel that 519 00:28:46,400 --> 00:28:48,667 you're not just a throwaway... 520 00:28:52,266 --> 00:28:55,200 You're gonna do anything to get it. 521 00:28:55,233 --> 00:28:57,433 I just kept on thinking that everything is gonna be okay 522 00:28:57,467 --> 00:28:59,233 like he said. 523 00:28:59,266 --> 00:29:00,266 That, um... 524 00:29:03,567 --> 00:29:07,233 That, "no matter what, he's gonna be there for you." 525 00:29:07,266 --> 00:29:09,166 - Sidney: If her story is true, 526 00:29:09,200 --> 00:29:12,266 she is still a victim in this case, 527 00:29:12,300 --> 00:29:14,500 because she was manipulated into 528 00:29:14,533 --> 00:29:17,233 taking the actions that she did. 529 00:29:17,266 --> 00:29:21,200 - My first thought was someone not owning up to what they did. 530 00:29:21,233 --> 00:29:24,000 Trying to shift the investigation and the blame 531 00:29:24,033 --> 00:29:25,667 to someone else. 532 00:29:25,700 --> 00:29:27,633 - She did it and it was horrible, 533 00:29:27,667 --> 00:29:30,300 but I believe in my soul that she was a 100% 534 00:29:30,333 --> 00:29:33,300 manipulated into doing it. 535 00:29:33,333 --> 00:29:35,000 - Narrator: Based on Sabrina's statement, 536 00:29:35,033 --> 00:29:37,533 and on the witness statements about an inappropriate 537 00:29:37,567 --> 00:29:41,600 relationship, authorities decided to arrest Kevin knoefel 538 00:29:41,633 --> 00:29:44,433 for conspiracy to murder. 539 00:29:44,467 --> 00:29:46,400 - Carol: When I heard that Kevin was arrested, 540 00:29:46,433 --> 00:29:49,000 I thought to myself, "I knew it. 541 00:29:49,033 --> 00:29:52,700 I... i knew that he had something to do with this." 542 00:29:52,734 --> 00:29:55,633 - Narrator: Kevin denied having an illicit relationship 543 00:29:55,667 --> 00:29:59,600 with Sabrina or any involvement in his wife's murder, 544 00:29:59,633 --> 00:30:03,033 and his defense team was confident Sabrina's statement 545 00:30:03,066 --> 00:30:05,233 was nothing but lies. 546 00:30:05,266 --> 00:30:07,367 - There's no evidence that Kevin had ever done 547 00:30:07,400 --> 00:30:09,600 anything inappropriate with Sabrina. 548 00:30:09,633 --> 00:30:13,200 No DNA, no videotapes, nothing. 549 00:30:14,633 --> 00:30:16,033 - Narrator: Coming up... 550 00:30:16,066 --> 00:30:18,633 Sabrina's riveting testimony. 551 00:30:18,667 --> 00:30:20,734 - He just needed me to do his dirty work. 552 00:30:20,767 --> 00:30:24,233 - Narrator: And a brand-new motive emerges. 553 00:30:24,266 --> 00:30:26,333 - He said, "she's worth more dead than alive." 554 00:30:27,700 --> 00:30:30,633 - ♪ 555 00:30:36,033 --> 00:30:38,400 - ♪ 556 00:30:41,367 --> 00:30:43,076 - Narrator: After confessing to the aggravated murder 557 00:30:43,100 --> 00:30:45,734 of her foster mother Lisa knoefel, 558 00:30:45,767 --> 00:30:49,033 Sabrina zunich agreed to be the star witness 559 00:30:49,066 --> 00:30:52,633 against the man she claimed orchestrated the slaying: 560 00:30:52,667 --> 00:30:56,000 Her foster father, Kevin knoefel. 561 00:30:56,033 --> 00:30:59,166 - Tracey: Sabrina agrees to testify against Kevin 562 00:30:59,200 --> 00:31:01,333 in exchange for the prosecutors' deal 563 00:31:01,367 --> 00:31:07,033 of life with parole eligibility in 30 years. 564 00:31:07,066 --> 00:31:12,166 - Narrator: On may 29, 2014, Kevin knoefel's trial began. 565 00:31:13,367 --> 00:31:15,300 - I had never seen a case like this before; 566 00:31:15,333 --> 00:31:18,133 foster daughter kills foster mother 567 00:31:18,166 --> 00:31:20,066 at the foster father's wishes. 568 00:31:29,300 --> 00:31:30,767 - Kevin pretty much played her. 569 00:31:40,266 --> 00:31:43,133 - He told her they could finally be together if Lisa was gone. 570 00:31:52,266 --> 00:31:53,546 - Narrator: Kevin's defense team 571 00:31:54,467 --> 00:31:57,000 argued that the case against him was weak. 572 00:31:57,033 --> 00:31:58,667 - The only evidence they had was Sabrina. 573 00:32:03,600 --> 00:32:06,266 - Gary: It was completely Sabrina's story... 574 00:32:06,300 --> 00:32:09,200 This whole fairy-tale fantasy. 575 00:32:15,033 --> 00:32:17,567 - Narrator: The defense also argued that the murder 576 00:32:17,600 --> 00:32:21,567 and Sabrina's claim of an affair with Kevin were both connected 577 00:32:21,600 --> 00:32:25,066 to the mental illness she was diagnosed with as a child. 578 00:32:35,200 --> 00:32:39,100 - Sabrina's upbringing definitely plays a part 579 00:32:39,133 --> 00:32:42,033 in her mental health. 580 00:32:42,066 --> 00:32:46,100 Being removed from family is a traumatic event 581 00:32:46,133 --> 00:32:47,700 in and of itself, 582 00:32:47,734 --> 00:32:51,400 and being placed in foster care increases the vulnerability 583 00:32:51,433 --> 00:32:55,633 that a child has, their attachment to people, 584 00:32:55,667 --> 00:33:00,333 and often results in behavioral issues. 585 00:33:00,367 --> 00:33:04,400 - I'm sure it was a rough life, but a lot of people who had 586 00:33:04,433 --> 00:33:08,300 rough lives don't end up stabbing someone to death. 587 00:33:08,333 --> 00:33:12,000 The prosecution leaned into what they argued 588 00:33:12,033 --> 00:33:14,266 was Kevin's motivation for wanting Sabrina 589 00:33:14,300 --> 00:33:18,333 to kill Lisa: Life insurance money. 590 00:33:18,367 --> 00:33:20,633 - Well, it was all financial. If he got a divorce, 591 00:33:20,667 --> 00:33:24,633 he was going to have to pay child support and share custody. 592 00:33:24,667 --> 00:33:29,100 If she was murdered, he stood to get a lot of money. 593 00:33:29,133 --> 00:33:31,667 - Sabrina: He said, "she's worth more dead than alive," 594 00:33:31,700 --> 00:33:33,266 and he brought out two policies: 595 00:33:33,300 --> 00:33:36,700 One for $500,000, one for $250,000, 596 00:33:36,734 --> 00:33:41,266 and I said, "oh, that's what you mean." 597 00:33:41,300 --> 00:33:47,133 - Bob: That was the dream that Kevin was dangling to Sabrina, 598 00:33:47,166 --> 00:33:50,433 that, "once we get out of this, this is our future, 599 00:33:50,467 --> 00:33:52,333 we're gonna have our own home together." 600 00:33:52,367 --> 00:33:56,066 - It was like that devil/angel on your shoulders, 601 00:33:56,100 --> 00:34:00,467 and, uh, I said, "if... 602 00:34:00,500 --> 00:34:02,734 "if I want this love, then I have to do this, 603 00:34:02,767 --> 00:34:05,233 because he's gonna kill himself if not," 604 00:34:05,266 --> 00:34:09,266 and I wasn't gonna risk losing him. 605 00:34:09,300 --> 00:34:12,233 - Narrator: The defense called Autumn pavlik to the stand, 606 00:34:12,266 --> 00:34:17,300 who testified about Sabrina wanting to hire a hitman. 607 00:34:17,333 --> 00:34:21,467 - On cross-examination, she was forced to acknowledge that Kevin 608 00:34:21,500 --> 00:34:24,233 had never been a part of any of those conversations. 609 00:34:24,266 --> 00:34:27,734 - Narrator: Under oath, Autumn also made a surprising admission 610 00:34:27,767 --> 00:34:31,700 about the alleged affair between Sabrina and Kevin. 611 00:34:31,734 --> 00:34:34,767 - Sabrina never told me they were sexual. 612 00:34:35,000 --> 00:34:37,300 - There was no evidence whatsoever that Kevin had 613 00:34:37,333 --> 00:34:40,200 any type of sexual relationship with her. 614 00:34:40,233 --> 00:34:42,133 - Narrator: As for the night of the murder, 615 00:34:42,166 --> 00:34:44,467 prosecutors argued that Kevin and Sabrina 616 00:34:44,500 --> 00:34:48,133 made their final plans via text message. 617 00:34:48,166 --> 00:34:50,242 - The night before Lisa was killed, Sabrina and Kevin 618 00:34:50,266 --> 00:34:52,200 had been texting a lot. 619 00:34:52,233 --> 00:34:55,100 They had been in constant contact through the whole night. 620 00:34:55,133 --> 00:34:57,400 - Michael: The content of the text messages is unknown, 621 00:34:57,433 --> 00:34:59,767 and the FBI were unable to retrieve 622 00:35:00,000 --> 00:35:03,200 any of the text messages off of Sabrina's phone. 623 00:35:03,233 --> 00:35:07,266 - Narrator: However, Sabrina was ready to testify about the texts 624 00:35:07,300 --> 00:35:09,200 and everything else, 625 00:35:09,233 --> 00:35:12,467 in her own words and under oath. 626 00:35:12,500 --> 00:35:15,333 - The state was hanging its hat on Sabrina. 627 00:35:15,367 --> 00:35:18,200 - Narrator: Sabrina testified about the sordid details 628 00:35:18,233 --> 00:35:22,100 of the insidious relationship from the first massage... 629 00:35:30,333 --> 00:35:32,176 - Narrator: To how he asked her to pleasure him 630 00:35:32,200 --> 00:35:34,734 as he drove her to school each day. 631 00:35:39,533 --> 00:35:42,367 - Erika: I was appalled, and I still am. 632 00:35:42,400 --> 00:35:45,734 He was working in the capacity of a foster parent, you know? 633 00:35:45,767 --> 00:35:49,200 That makes it even more, um, unacceptable. 634 00:35:49,233 --> 00:35:52,400 - Narrator: She explained how, once Kevin groomed her, 635 00:35:52,433 --> 00:35:55,066 he dangled a fantasy life with him 636 00:35:55,100 --> 00:35:57,000 in front of the troubled teen. 637 00:36:05,367 --> 00:36:08,000 - Narrator: At one point, the prosecutor directly 638 00:36:08,033 --> 00:36:10,567 asked Sabrina why she killed Lisa. 639 00:36:21,467 --> 00:36:23,200 - Narrator: As for what Sabrina claimed 640 00:36:23,233 --> 00:36:26,066 was in the 70 unrecovered text messages 641 00:36:26,100 --> 00:36:28,400 sent between them that day... 642 00:36:28,433 --> 00:36:32,467 - What we were discussing in the text messages was, um, 643 00:36:32,500 --> 00:36:37,066 what I should wear, um, if she had gone to sleep. 644 00:36:37,100 --> 00:36:39,200 I... i was giving him a play-by-play, 645 00:36:39,233 --> 00:36:42,200 when did she lay Hailey down to rest, 646 00:36:42,233 --> 00:36:44,233 wh... if Megan went to sleep. 647 00:36:44,266 --> 00:36:48,633 - There were some details involved about the knife again, 648 00:36:48,667 --> 00:36:50,433 how to use it. 649 00:36:50,467 --> 00:36:53,467 - Narrator: And the last text Sabrina sent Kevin? 650 00:36:53,500 --> 00:36:58,600 - "I'm about to do it. I love you, I'll see you soon." 651 00:36:58,633 --> 00:37:02,233 I didn't want Lisa dead. 652 00:37:02,266 --> 00:37:04,600 I did it because he told me that he was gonna kill himself. 653 00:37:06,233 --> 00:37:11,233 Why didn't I stop? Because... I was convinced 654 00:37:11,266 --> 00:37:13,633 that I was gonna lose everything that I've ever dreamed of 655 00:37:13,667 --> 00:37:17,033 if this didn't happen. 656 00:37:17,066 --> 00:37:19,166 - Narrator: Kevin and his defense team disputed 657 00:37:19,200 --> 00:37:21,533 Sabrina's description of the text messages, 658 00:37:21,567 --> 00:37:25,266 and denied Kevin ever threatened suicide. 659 00:37:25,300 --> 00:37:28,100 - Whether or not he told her to do it, 660 00:37:28,133 --> 00:37:30,633 Sabrina is the one that did it. 661 00:37:30,667 --> 00:37:33,433 Sabrina walked into the bedroom where the woman 662 00:37:33,467 --> 00:37:36,667 who had taken her into her home was sleeping... 663 00:37:36,700 --> 00:37:41,333 The mother of the two girls that Sabrina called sisters... 664 00:37:41,367 --> 00:37:46,667 And stabbed her over and over and over again. 665 00:37:46,700 --> 00:37:51,533 - I realize today that it was a plan and that he wanted me 666 00:37:51,567 --> 00:37:54,600 to get caught and he wanted to live the life 667 00:37:54,633 --> 00:37:57,633 that he couldn't live without Lisa, 668 00:37:57,667 --> 00:37:59,567 and he just needed me to do his dirty work. 669 00:38:01,467 --> 00:38:05,367 - Under cross-examination, the defense team attempted to... 670 00:38:05,400 --> 00:38:10,500 Discredit Sabrina as a... Unstable, evil, psychotic woman. 671 00:38:10,533 --> 00:38:14,633 - I think Sabrina zunich is a seriously flawed human being. 672 00:38:14,667 --> 00:38:17,133 The number of medical evaluations she had, 673 00:38:17,166 --> 00:38:20,700 she testified she had heard voices for about a month, 674 00:38:20,734 --> 00:38:22,467 which she blamed on a medication. 675 00:38:22,500 --> 00:38:24,567 - Not only was she hearing voices, 676 00:38:24,600 --> 00:38:27,500 but the voices were telling her to harm other people. 677 00:38:27,533 --> 00:38:29,433 - Tracey: There was no real physical evidence 678 00:38:29,467 --> 00:38:31,233 against Kevin knoefel, 679 00:38:31,266 --> 00:38:34,467 it really wasn't a slam dunk for prosecutors. 680 00:38:34,500 --> 00:38:37,166 The whole thing kind of hinged on Sabrina zunich and whether 681 00:38:37,200 --> 00:38:39,133 a jury would believe her statement. 682 00:38:40,467 --> 00:38:43,100 - Narrator: Coming up, the jury must decide 683 00:38:43,133 --> 00:38:46,100 whether or not to trust a killer. 684 00:38:46,133 --> 00:38:48,100 - Maybe she was a manipulated victim. 685 00:38:48,133 --> 00:38:50,633 But what if she's a psychopath? 686 00:38:50,667 --> 00:38:52,734 - Narrator: And Sabrina faces her demons 687 00:38:52,767 --> 00:38:55,633 after eight years behind bars. 688 00:38:55,667 --> 00:38:58,600 - I know no matter what I say, I can't bring her back. 689 00:39:01,166 --> 00:39:04,200 - ♪ 690 00:39:09,033 --> 00:39:11,533 - ♪ 691 00:39:15,233 --> 00:39:16,710 - Narrator: After two days of deliberations, 692 00:39:16,734 --> 00:39:19,500 the jury in Kevin knoefel's murder trial 693 00:39:19,533 --> 00:39:22,567 announced that it had reached a verdict. 694 00:39:22,600 --> 00:39:25,233 The tension in the courtroom was thick. 695 00:39:25,266 --> 00:39:28,066 Had the jury believed Sabrina zunich 696 00:39:28,100 --> 00:39:30,734 that Kevin made her do it? 697 00:39:30,767 --> 00:39:35,500 - I did not see how any person could find her credible, 698 00:39:35,533 --> 00:39:38,700 let alone credible enough beyond a reasonable doubt 699 00:39:38,734 --> 00:39:41,033 to convict Kevin knoefel. 700 00:39:41,066 --> 00:39:43,266 - Narrator: Debra gutowski had led the jury 701 00:39:43,300 --> 00:39:45,033 through deliberations. 702 00:39:45,066 --> 00:39:46,976 - We were aware that she had some issues and that 703 00:39:47,000 --> 00:39:48,633 she had some problems, 704 00:39:48,667 --> 00:39:50,600 but she was a very credible witness. 705 00:39:52,333 --> 00:39:56,266 - The verdict was guilty on all eleven counts. 706 00:39:56,300 --> 00:39:59,066 - When the verdict was read, I was elated. 707 00:39:59,100 --> 00:40:03,400 - We were very emotional, and we cried, and we hugged. 708 00:40:03,433 --> 00:40:05,367 - Tracey: Kevin was sentenced to life in prison 709 00:40:05,400 --> 00:40:08,100 with parole eligibility in 42 years. 710 00:40:08,133 --> 00:40:11,100 - It'll be in his 80s before he's eligible. 711 00:40:11,133 --> 00:40:14,500 - The judge told me that, um, 712 00:40:14,533 --> 00:40:17,400 if it weren't for my testimony, 713 00:40:17,433 --> 00:40:20,367 that Kevin would have not been convicted. 714 00:40:20,400 --> 00:40:24,467 I just pray that whatever help he needs, he gets. 715 00:40:24,500 --> 00:40:29,000 'Cause I know I'm broken, but he's gotta be broken as well. 716 00:40:29,033 --> 00:40:32,367 - Narrator: Sabrina pled guilty to murder and was sentenced 717 00:40:32,400 --> 00:40:37,033 to life with the possibility of parole after 30 years. 718 00:40:38,600 --> 00:40:40,667 - Sabrina: I believe that the responsibility 719 00:40:40,700 --> 00:40:45,633 for this crime is divided between two people, 720 00:40:45,667 --> 00:40:47,000 and that's me and Kevin. 721 00:40:47,033 --> 00:40:49,467 I... i committed the crime. 722 00:40:49,500 --> 00:40:52,734 And I won't... never deflect from that because... 723 00:40:52,767 --> 00:40:55,333 I did it, and I was wrong. 724 00:40:55,367 --> 00:40:58,133 I believe that I should do time, 725 00:40:58,166 --> 00:41:00,533 because I know they deserve justice, 726 00:41:00,567 --> 00:41:04,367 and the only justice they can get is me behind bars. 727 00:41:04,400 --> 00:41:08,033 - Sabrina is very aware of the damage she's done, 728 00:41:08,066 --> 00:41:10,500 and she couldn't be more remorseful. 729 00:41:10,533 --> 00:41:13,400 She's horrified by her acts. 730 00:41:13,433 --> 00:41:19,033 She knows that these girls have no mom to move forward with. 731 00:41:19,066 --> 00:41:20,710 - Sabrina: And I realize that there's more than one victim 732 00:41:20,734 --> 00:41:22,667 in this story. 733 00:41:22,700 --> 00:41:28,000 If it means anything, I truly do apologize. 734 00:41:30,033 --> 00:41:32,700 If I had a chance, I would tell them 735 00:41:32,734 --> 00:41:36,767 that I was selfish, and that I'm sorry, 736 00:41:37,000 --> 00:41:39,567 and that I never meant to hurt them, 737 00:41:39,600 --> 00:41:42,367 and I know, how can I say that 738 00:41:42,400 --> 00:41:46,433 when I w... When I killed their mother? 739 00:41:46,467 --> 00:41:48,367 I was in a place that... 740 00:41:51,066 --> 00:41:53,734 I wasn't thinking about anybody but myself, 741 00:41:53,767 --> 00:41:57,066 and that was wrong, and it doesn't make it right. 742 00:41:57,100 --> 00:42:00,033 I know no matter what I say, I can't bring her back. 743 00:42:00,066 --> 00:42:02,133 [Crying] 744 00:42:02,166 --> 00:42:03,743 And I can't undo what's already been done, 745 00:42:03,767 --> 00:42:05,367 and what they've saw. 746 00:42:08,533 --> 00:42:11,433 Am I remorseful? Absolutely. 747 00:42:11,467 --> 00:42:14,066 If I could go back, I would have left the home. 748 00:42:14,100 --> 00:42:15,467 I would have... 749 00:42:16,734 --> 00:42:20,367 I would have told Lisa what Kevin was doing. 750 00:42:20,400 --> 00:42:24,500 - Bob: Might not be a popular opinion, but I believe Sabrina. 751 00:42:24,533 --> 00:42:26,567 As sure as I am sitting here, 752 00:42:26,600 --> 00:42:30,767 he was the 100% mastermind of this plan. 753 00:42:31,000 --> 00:42:32,767 - Narrator: However, not everyone 754 00:42:33,000 --> 00:42:35,667 believes Sabrina's story. 755 00:42:35,700 --> 00:42:38,533 - Doug g: Sabrina may have had an ulterior motive 756 00:42:38,567 --> 00:42:43,066 for faking remorse to get her sentence lessened, 757 00:42:43,100 --> 00:42:47,100 to get the sympathy of the courts to... i don't know... 758 00:42:47,133 --> 00:42:49,133 Reduce her time. 759 00:42:49,166 --> 00:42:51,100 Maybe she was a manipulated victim, 760 00:42:51,133 --> 00:42:56,066 but what if... What if... She's a psychopath? 761 00:42:57,433 --> 00:42:59,166 - Sabrina: I'm more than a murderer. 762 00:42:59,200 --> 00:43:02,133 I'm somebody that has learned from their mistakes. 763 00:43:02,166 --> 00:43:05,567 I want a chance to do right. 764 00:43:05,600 --> 00:43:09,233 I want a chance to live a life. 765 00:43:10,700 --> 00:43:13,133 And I'm not saying that I deserve it, 766 00:43:13,166 --> 00:43:15,567 but I'm saying everybody should get a second chance. 767 00:43:17,700 --> 00:43:20,567 I've changed and I've worked on myself, 768 00:43:20,600 --> 00:43:25,533 so I believe one day, hopefully, I'll get free. 769 00:43:29,734 --> 00:43:37,734 - ♪