A MILLIONAIRE ENTREPRENEUR...
...IS BRUTALLY GUNNED DOWN...
IT WAS EASY TO ASCERTAIN THAT WE HAD A HOMICIDE.
...HIS LOVING FAMILY RIPPED APART.
IMMEDIATELY, YOU'RE JUST BROKEN.
WITH THE INVESTIGATION GOING NOWHERE...
WE HAD A LOT OF QUESTIONS AND VIRTUALLY NO ANSWERS
AT THAT POINT.
...DETECTIVES TURN TO THEIR MOST RELIABLE WITNESS.
AND WE HAD NOTHING ELSE.
ALL HOPES OF CATCHING THE KILLER
REST ON WHAT'S BEEN CAUGHT ON CAMERA.
AT 1:00 P.M., A HOTEL HOUSEKEEPER
NOTICES SOMETHING UNUSUAL,
A GUEST HAS LEFT THEIR DOOR OPEN.
HELLO?
AAH!
HOMICIDE DETECTIVE TOM MAGAZZENI RESPONDS.
I WAS ONE OF THE FIRST DETECTIVES ON SCENE,
AND PATROL HAD ALREADY ARRIVED
AND SECURED THE MOTEL AS WELL AS THE ENTIRE THIRD FLOOR.
THERE WAS A POOL OF BLOOD...
...AROUND HIS HEAD
AND AROUND HIS CHEST AREA ON THE CARPETING.
THERE WAS A SPENT SHELL CASING,
A 9mm SHELL CASING,
THAT WAS FOUND INSIDE ON THE FLOOR.
AND THAT GAVE US THE REASON
TO BELIEVE THAT A FIREARM WAS INVOLVED.
IT WAS EASY TO ASCERTAIN THAT WE HAD A HOMICIDE
THAT WE WERE INVESTIGATING.
BUT WHO IS THE VICTIM?
MEANWHILE, 10 MILES ACROSS TOWN, A TELEVISION CREW
WAITS TO FILM A COMMERCIAL FOR EMPIRE AUTO GLASS.
THE PLAN WAS TO MEET AT THE OFFICE AT 8:00.
AND EVERYBODY WAS THERE EXCEPT RICK.
CRACKED WINDSHIELD?
DON'T CHANCE IT -- RICK CHANCE IT.
SO WHEN YOU THINK GLASS, THINK EMPIRE.
SOME RESTRICTIONS APPLY.
RICK CHANCE IS THE OWNER OF EMPIRE AUTO GLASS,
A LOCAL CELEBRITY FROM HIS CAMPY COMMERCIALS.
EVERYBODY FELT LIKE THEY KNEW RICK.
THESE WOMEN WOULD WALK UP TO HIM AND SAY,
"HI, RICK, FROM EMPIRE GLASS," AND HAND HIM THEIR PHONE NUMBER.
BUT RIGHT NOW, RICK CHANCE IS M.I.A.
AND EVERYBODY REALIZED, "THIS GUY'S PUNCTUAL.
IF HE'S NOT HERE, THERE'S PROBLEMS."
- ANYTHING? - NOTHING.
HE WAS ALWAYS THERE BEFORE EVERYBODY.
SO BY 8:30, I WAS IN A STATE OF PANIC.
WHERE, LIKE, WHERE COULD HE BE?
HE WOULD CALL. HE WOULD CALL IF THERE WAS...
CANDICE CALLS RICK'S OFFICE,
HIS HOUSE, EVERYWHERE SHE CAN THINK OF...
NO. IT'S GOING TO VOICEMAIL.
...BUT RICK IS NOWHERE TO BE FOUND.
AND, LIKE, THAT'S CRAZY THIS HOUR OF THE DAY, TOO.
THERE'S NO WAY.
I THINK WE WAITED NO MORE THAN 15 OR 20 MINUTES
TO CALL THE POLICE.
STEPHANIE?
CLEARLY SOMETHING BAD WAS GOING ON.
AND IT WAS IMPORTANT TO MAKE SURE
THAT THE KIDS WERE GONNA BE SAFE.
HAVE YOU HEARD FROM YOUR FATHER?
NO.
I DIDN'T THINK A LOT OF IT AT THE TIME.
W- WHAT'S THE BIG DEAL?
YOUR FATHER'S BEEN REPORTED MISSING.
MY MOM GOT CONCERNED THAT MAYBE HE HAD BEEN KIDNAPPED
OR SOMETHING, 'CAUSE HE WAS A LOCAL CELEBRITY, I SUPPOSE.
I TALKED TO YOUR MOM. SHE WANTS YOU OVER AT HER HOUSE NOW.
SO GO UPSTAIRS AND GRAB A BAG.
AND I'M GONNA GET YOU GOING. COME ON.
I FIGURED MAYBE SOMETHING BAD,
BUT, YOU KNOW, NOTHING -- NOTHING TERRIBLE.
COME ON. LET'S GO, STEPHANIE.
- COMING. - OKAY.
LET'S GO. COME ON. OUT.
BACK AT THE HOTEL, DETECTIVE JOHN FERRIN
AND A CSI TEAM ARRIVE ON THE SCENE.
- DETECTIVE FERRIN. - HI, GOOD TO MEET YOU.
WHAT I SAW WAS A WELL-DRESSED MAN
IN AN AVERAGE HOTEL ROOM,
WHO WAS LYING DEAD ON THE FLOOR.
HE HAD A -- A SINGLE GUNSHOT WOUND.
AT THAT TIME, I WAS ABLE TO OBTAIN A WALLET
FROM THE DECEASED SUBJECT'S RIGHT-FRONT POCKET.
THANK YOU.
AND THEN THAT'S WHEN I RECOGNIZED THE INDIVIDUAL
AS BEING RICK CHANCE
FROM LOCAL TELEVISION COMMERCIALS.
SO WHEN YOU THINK OF GLASS, THINK OF EMPIRE.
SOME RESTRICTIONS APPLY.
I REMEMBER THINKING,
"THIS IS GOING TO GARNER MEDIA ATTENTION.
THERE'S GONNA BE A LOT OF SCRUTINY
AND A LOT OF PRESSURE
TO MAKE SURE THAT THIS IS SOLVED."
CAN YOU TURN THE BODY, PLEASE?
HE HAD, UM, A VERY EXPENSIVE RING ON HIS FINGER
AND, I BELIEVE, SOME CASH IN HIS POCKET.
SO ROBBERY AT THAT POINT
DIDN'T REALLY APPEAR TO BE A MOTIVE.
WELL, YOU START TO THINK, "WHY DID THIS OCCUR?
WAS IT FOR BUSINESS REASONS?
WAS IT A LOVE ISSUE?
WAS IT DOMESTIC VIOLENCE IN NATURE?"
AT THAT TIME, WE DID NOT KNOW.
AS THE INVESTIGATION BEGINS,
CHANCE'S 16-YEAR-OLD DAUGHTER HEARS THE HORRIBLE NEWS.
THEY JUST LOOKED AT ME.
AND I JUST SAID, "NO. HE ISN'T."
AND THEY JUST SAID, "YES."
AND I JUST -- I JUST SCREAMED.
IMMEDIATELY, YOU'RE JUST BROKEN.
AND...YOU JUST WANT TO WAKE UP FROM THIS DREAM...
...BECAUSE IT JUST DOESN'T SEEM LIKE IT COULD POSSIBLY BE REAL.
RICK'S DEATH
LEAVES HIS FRIENDS AND FAMILY HEARTBROKEN.
RICK CHANCE WAS KIND OF LARGER THAN LIFE.
AND HE WAS BIG IN STATURE
BUT BIG IN PERSONALITY.
HE HAD CHARISMA A MILE WIDE.
HE HAD STARTED AS A POOR BOY
FROM A REAL SMALL TOWN IN RURAL ARIZONA.
AND HE DECIDED TO COME TO PHOENIX
AND -- AND REALLY HIT IT BIG.
HE WAS A REALLY GOOD DAD,
VERY FUN, VERY CARING,
UM, VERY INTERESTED IN WHAT WE'RE DOING,
WHAT'S GOING ON IN OUR LIVES
AND HOW WE ARE.
BACK AT THE HOTEL,
DETECTIVES QUESTION POTENTIAL EYEWITNESSES.
OUR CRIME SCENE WAS THE WHOLE HOTEL.
THEY INTERVIEW THE MAID AND HOTEL GUESTS.
WE WERE LOOKING FOR ANY EVIDENCE FROM THIS HOMICIDE.
AND THAT'S THIS...
NO ONE RECALLS ANYTHING OR ANYONE SUSPICIOUS.
DETECTIVES HAVE NO MOTIVE, NO MURDER WEAPON,
AND NO SUSPECTS.
BUT THEN THEY GET A BIG BREAK...
...SURVEILLANCE CAMERAS...
MOUNTED ALL OVER THE HOTEL.
FINDING OUT THAT THE MOTEL HAD SURVEILLANCE VIDEO
WAS A GREAT ASSET TO OUR INVESTIGATION.
CAN ONE OF THESE CAMERAS HELP CATCH A KILLER?
MILLIONAIRE ENTREPRENEUR RICK CHANCE
HAS BEEN GUNNED DOWN IN HIS HOTEL ROOM.
ABC15 NEWS HAS LEARNED THAT RICK CHANCE,
FOUNDER OF EMPIRE GLASS...
...WAS FOUND DEAD FROM A GUNSHOT WOUND
INSIDE A BEST WESTERN HOTEL ROOM IN TEMPE.
INVESTIGATORS HOPE HOTEL SECURITY CAMERAS
WILL GIVE THEM THEIR FIRST BIG LEAD IN THE CASE.
WE WERE ESSENTIALLY LOOKING
FOR THE SURVEILLANCE FOOTAGE FROM THE VIDEO CAMERAS
TO SEE WHEN RICK HAD CHECKED IN TO THE HOTEL,
AND WHO, IF ANYBODY, WAS WITH HIM WHEN HE HAD DONE SO.
THAT WOULD REALLY BE INSTRUMENTAL
IN DETERMINING OUR NEXT STEP
AND WHICH DIRECTION WE NEEDED TO GO.
INVESTIGATORS TAKE THE VIDEO FROM THE BEST WESTERN
TO POLICE HEADQUARTERS.
WE IMMEDIATELY MAKE A COPY OF IT
BECAUSE WHEN YOU VIEW VHS TAPES,
IT DEGRADES EVERY TIME YOU VIEW IT.
AND BECAUSE WE ARE LOOKING AT JUST NOT SECONDS
OR MINUTES,
WE'RE LOOKING AT HOURS. WE'RE LOOKING AT DAYS.
AS THE TAPES ARE BEING COPIED,
DETECTIVES DO A BACKGROUND CHECK ON THEIR VICTIM.
WE LEARNED, AT THAT TIME,
THAT HE HAD BEEN REPORTED AS A MISSING PERSON
OUT OF THE PARADISE VALLEY POLICE DEPARTMENT,
WHICH WAS 20, 30 MILES AWAY FROM TEMPE.
THEY INTERVIEW HIS CLOSEST FRIENDS
AND BUSINESS PARTNERS.
WHEN LOOKING AT A WHODUNIT HOMICIDE,
WE HAVE TO LOOK AT EVERYTHING.
WE HAVE TO LOOK AT BUSINESS.
WE HAVE TO LOOK AT LOVE INTEREST.
WE HAVE TO LOOK AT CRIMES OF OPPORTUNITY.
DID THE VICTIM PUT HIMSELF IN A BAD SITUATION?
HONESTLY, FROM A BUSINESS SIDE, HE --
HE WAS SO WELL-LIKED.
DID THE VICTIM HAVE AN AFFAIR?
HE WAS -- HE WAS A GREAT GUY.
HE'S THE KIND OF GUY THAT LOVED LIFE.
DID THE VICTIM CHEAT SOMEBODY OR DO SOMEBODY WRONG
IN WHICH VENGEANCE WAS THE MOTIVE OF THE MURDER?
I DON'T KNOW WHAT WOULD HAVE CAUSED THIS TO HAPPEN.
THIS IS...
I MEAN, DO YOU KNOW THE FAMILY WELL?
YES. YEAH.
I WANTED TO GIVE THEM AS MUCH INFORMATION AS I POSSIBLY COULD.
SO I THOUGHT IF I GAVE THEM THE LIST OF ANYBODY I KNEW OF
THAT COULD POSSIBLY HAVE AN INTEREST IN HARMING RICK...
AND MY LIST INCLUDED ONE OF HIS EX-WIVES, JILL.
JILL. LAST NAME?
SCOTT.
THEIR RELATIONSHIP WAS NOT, GOOD.
THE DIVORCE WAS VERY MESSY.
JILL SCOTT IS A GLAMOROUS FORMER WINNER
OF MRS. AMERICA.
SHE BECAME RICK'S THIRD WIFE
AND ONE-TIME PARTNER IN HIS WINDSHIELD BUSINESS.
JILL WAS SPECTACULAR.
YOU KNOW, SHE WAS A BEAUTIFUL, BEAUTIFUL GIRL.
AND -- AND HE -- HE FELL FOR HER HARD.
BUT AFTER ONLY FOUR MONTHS,
RICK WANTED OUT OF THE MARRIAGE.
NOW I'M THE DIVORCED WIFE.
WHEN THAT MARRIAGE DISSOLVED
AND THE BUSINESS PARTNERSHIP DISSOLVED,
IT WAS A REALLY NASTY, UGLY DIVORCE
WITH LOTS OF ACCUSATIONS BACK AND FORTH.
SIGN.
DURING THE BITTER DIVORCE PROCEEDINGS,
JILL PRESENTED RICK WITH SOME LEGAL DOCUMENTS
SHE WANTED HIM TO SIGN.
NOT HAPPENING.
AND WE WENT THROUGH THE STACK OF TRUSTS,
AND BY THE TIME WE GOT TO THE END OF 'EM, THE PLAN
WAS THAT HE WOULD NO LONGER HAVE CONTROL OF EMPIRE GLASS
AND THAT JILL WOULD OWN EVERYTHING.
BUT RICK, A SAVVY BUSINESSMAN,
NEVER SIGNED THE DOCUMENTS, FOILING JILL'S PLAN.
NO!
NOT NOW, NOT A WEEK FROM NOW,
NOT A YEAR FROM NOW! NOT HAPPENING!
A BACKGROUND CHECK ON JILL SCOTT
REVEALS SHE'S FACED CRIMINAL CHARGES BEFORE,
FOR FRAUD AND FOR THE UNLAWFUL IMPRISONMENT
OF ANOTHER EX-HUSBAND.
WITH AN ACRIMONIOUS RELATIONSHIP
AND A COLORFUL PAST, POLICE NEED TO RULE JILL OUT.
BUT JILL NOW LIVES MILES AWAY IN ANOTHER CITY
AND HASN'T SEEN RICK IN THREE YEARS.
WITNESSES CORROBORATE HER STORY.
BUT ULTIMATELY, SHE PLAYED NO ROLE IN THIS AND --
AND HAD NO PART OF IT.
AND WE HAD NOTHING ELSE...
UNTIL THAT VIDEO CAME FORWARD.
THE SURVEILLANCE VIDEO
HELPED JUMP-START THE INVESTIGATION.
IT POTENTIALLY WOULD SHOW US RICK CHECKING IN TO THE HOTEL.
THERE WAS HOPE THAT MAYBE IT'D LEAD US TOWARDS A SUSPECT.
BUT IT'S NOT GOING TO BE THAT EASY.
BACK THEN, UM, THE MAJORITY OF SURVEILLANCE VIDEOS
WERE, VHS.
IT'S TAPES.
THEY'RE GRAINY, BLACK AND WHITE, MOST OF 'EM.
AND THAT'S NOT THE ONLY PROBLEM
POLICE HAVE TO SOLVE.
THERE WERE 12 INDIVIDUAL CAMERAS
BUT RATHER THAN RECORDING EACH CAMERA IN REAL TIME,
THE SYSTEM ROTATED THROUGH EACH CAMERA VIEW.
THE SURVEILLANCE SYSTEM ONLY RECORDS VIDEO
FROM ONE CAMERA AT A TIME.
EVERY FIVE SECONDS, THE CAMERA VIEW CHANGES.
IT CAN BE AS MUCH AS A MINUTE WOULD GO BY
BEFORE IT WOULD ROTATE BACK TO THAT FIRST CAMERA.
THIS MEANS THERE ARE BLACK HOLES.
INVESTIGATORS WADE THROUGH HOURS OF SURVEILLANCE FOOTAGE.
THEN, ON THE AUGUST 8th TAPE,
THE DAY BEFORE RICK CHANCE WAS FOUND DEAD...
...DETECTIVES HIT THE JACKPOT.
AT ABOUT 9:30 P.M.,
WE VIEW A MALE SUBJECT IN THE LOBBY
THAT WE RECOGNIZE AS RICK CHANCE.
IT'S INVESTIGATORS' FIRST REAL LEAD.
OBTAINING SURVEILLANCE VIDEO
THAT ACTUALLY HAS OUR VICTIM IN IT WAS ABSOLUTELY GREAT.
IS THIS VIDEO THE KEY TO SOLVING THE HEINOUS CRIME?
RICK WAS VERY CLEARLY SEEN,
EVEN IN THE SAME CLOTHING
THAT WE HAD FOUND HIM IN, IN THE BEDROOM,
AT THE HOTEL GOING THROUGH THE NORMAL MOTIONS OF --
OF RENTING A HOTEL ROOM.
THE VIDEO SHOWS CHANCE CHECKING IN ALONE.
WHAT IT CAN'T SHOW IS WHY HE'S THERE.
WHY IS RICK CHANCE IN THIS BEST WESTERN HOTEL?
IT'S A NICE ENOUGH HOTEL.
BUT IT'S NOT THE KIND OF HOTEL
THAT SOMEBODY LIKE RICK CHANCE WOULD BE FREQUENTING.
STRANGER STILL, RICK LIVES JUST 8 MILES
FROM THE HOTEL IN PARADISE VALLEY.
SO FOR HIM TO BE THERE WAS SUSPICIOUS AND INTRIGUING.
RICK CHANCE LOITERS AT THE FRONT DESK.
BUT THEN THE RECORDING MOVES ON TO ANOTHER CAMERA.
THE RECORDING CYCLES THROUGH ALL 12 CAMERAS.
WHEN IT FINALLY RETURNS TO THE HOTEL RECEPTION,
THE DETECTIVES SEE SOMETHING
THAT TURNS THE CASE ON ITS HEAD.
MILLIONAIRE BUSINESSMAN RICK CHANCE
IS GUNNED DOWN IN HIS HOTEL ROOM.
POLICE ARE LOOKING FOR A CASE-BREAKING CLUE
ON HOTEL SURVEILLANCE VIDEO.
AT 9:32 P.M., DETECTIVES SPOT
RICK CHANCE CHECKING IN TO THE HOTEL ALONE.
BUT AT 9:34 P.M., EVERYTHING CHANGES.
WE NOTICED THAT THERE WAS A FEMALE,
AND SHE APPEARED TO BE ASIAN.
WHO AT TIMES WAS STANDING NEXT TO RICK,
VERY CLOSE, CLEARLY WITH HIM.
AND AT OTHER TIMES,
JUST STEP BACK AND LOOK AROUND AND --
AND THEN STEP BACK UP TO RICK.
SHE APPEARED TO BE YOUNGER THAN RICK CHANCE
WITH LONG HAIR, POSSIBLY IN HER 20s.
AND THEY APPEARED TO BE TOGETHER AT THE TIME OF CHECK-IN.
THEY STUDY THE VIDEO TO SEE
IF THE COUPLE APPEARS ON ANY OF THE OTHER 11 CAMERAS.
AT 9:29 P.M., THEY SPOT SOMETHING
FROM ONE OF THE CAMERAS MOUNTED OUTSIDE THE HOTEL.
WE CAN SEE RICK AND THIS FEMALE COMING IN TO THE HOTEL.
SEVERAL MINUTES LATER, THEY WALK TOGETHER BACK OUT
TO THE PARKING AREA.
AND THEN THEY APPEAR A THIRD TIME
WALKING BACK IN TO THE HOTEL.
WE NOTICE FROM THE SURVEILLANCE VIDEO
THAT HE HAD WHAT APPEARED TO BE SOMETHING SMALL,
LIKE A SMALL BAG, IN HIS HAND.
POLICE DON'T RECOGNIZE THE BAG.
DURING THE SEARCH OF THE HOTEL,
THAT DUFFEL BAG WAS NOT EVER LOCATED.
SO WHAT WAS IN THE BAG?
THAT'S A GOOD QUESTION.
WHY DID RICK AND HIS FRIEND
RETURN TO THE CAR TO RETRIEVE IT?
AND WHAT HAPPENED AFTER THEY RE-ENTERED THE HOTEL
WITH THE BAG AT 9:34 P.M.?
THEY SCOUR THE FOOTAGE FOR CLUES.
THE VIDEO STEPS THROUGH CAMERA AFTER CAMERA.
BUT RICK CHANCE IS NOWHERE TO BE SEEN.
UNTIL AT 10:03 P.M., DETECTIVES SPOT SOMETHING.
WE WERE ABLE TO SEE THAT SAME ASIAN FEMALE
ON THE THIRD FLOOR BY HERSELF
STANDING INSIDE THAT SODA-MACHINE ROOM.
THE ROOM THAT RICK CHANCE'S BODY
WAS FOUND IN WAS ON THE THIRD FLOOR
AND THE VENDING ROOM WAS 20 OR 30 FEET
DOWN THE HALLWAY FROM THAT ROOM.
THE QUESTION WAS, WHY ARE THEY THERE?
AND THE ONLY ANSWER
THAT WE REALLY COULD COME UP WITH AT THAT POINT WAS FOR SEX.
DIDN'T KNOW IF SHE WAS A PROSTITUTE,
DIDN'T KNOW IF SHE WAS A FRIEND,
DIDN'T KNOW WHO SHE WAS.
BUT THAT WAS THE ONLY LOGICAL EXPLANATION
THAT WOULD PUT SOMEBODY OF RICK CHANCE'S STATUS
AT THIS PARTICULAR HOTEL.
CCTV HAS GIVEN THE INVESTIGATION A KICK-START.
BUT THERE'S A 15-HOUR BLACK HOLE
BETWEEN 9:34 P.M., WHEN RICK CHECKED IN,
AND 1:00 P.M. THE FOLLOWING DAY,
WHEN HE WAS FOUND DEAD.
AT THIS POINT, WE HAD WAY MORE QUESTIONS THAN WE HAD ANSWERS.
ALL RIGHT. WE DIDN'T SEE HER LEAVE.
WE HAD TO IDENTIFY HER, MAKE CONTACT WITH HER
AND FIND OUT WHAT WENT ON.
DESPITE WATCHING EVERY FRAME OF VIDEO,
NEITHER RICK NOR HIS GUEST
ARE EVER SEEN AGAIN ON CAMERA.
WHO IS THE MYSTERY WOMAN AND WHERE IS SHE NOW?
SHE IS THE PERSON
THAT WOULD PROBABLY BE ABLE TO TELL US THE MOST
ABOUT WHAT LEAD UP TO RICK CHANCE'S DEATH.
BUT THERE'S SOMETHING EVEN MORE PUZZLING --
WHEN AND HOW DID RICK'S FEMALE GUEST EXIT
THE HOTEL UNDETECTED BY SECURITY VIDEO?
WE COULD SEE THEM ENTERING
BUT NEVER HAD ANY FOOTAGE OF THEM LEAVING.
IN SEARCH OF ANSWERS, DETECTIVES RETURN TO THE HOTEL.
HI. I'M DETECTIVE MAGAZZENI.
THIS IS DETECTIVE FERRIN.
THEY QUESTION THE RECEPTIONIST AND THE MANAGER.
WE PULLED THESE FROM THE CLOSED-CIRCUIT SYSTEM
YOU HAVE COVERING YOUR LOBBY,
AND WE HAVE NO RECORD OF HER LEAVING.
I DON'T RECOGNIZE HER AT ALL.
- IS THERE ANOTHER EXIT? - THERE IS.
THERE'S A BACK STAIRWAY.
ON THE THIRD FLOOR, JUST FEET FROM RICK'S ROOM,
THEY MAKE A TELLING DISCOVERY.
THE STAIRWELL DOOR OF THE THIRD FLOOR
WASN'T EVEN COVERED BY A VIDEO CAMERA.
SO A PERSON NOT WANTING TO BE SEEN ON VIDEO
WOULD BE ABLE TO GET IN TO THE MOTEL
WITHOUT BEING SEEN AND BE ABLE TO EXIT WITHOUT BEING SEEN.
NOW INVESTIGATORS FOCUS
ON IDENTIFYING THE MYSTERY WOMAN.
WE REACHED OUT TO MR. YAVITZ
TO LEARN MORE INFORMATION FROM HIM.
IF RICK HAD A LOVER,
THEN HIS CLOSE FRIEND AND LAWYER, RANDY YAVITZ, WILL KNOW.
MR. YAVITZ WAS PRETTY INSTRUMENTAL
IN PROVIDING THE DETAILS OF RICK'S PERSONAL LIFE.
THAT'S HOW WE LEARNED HE WAS SINGLE.
YEAH. YOU HAVE THE...
SINGLE, BUT AS AN ELIGIBLE BACHELOR,
RICK WAS NO STRANGER TO ONLINE DATING.
HE WAS VERY SUCCESSFUL ON THE DATING WEBSITE.
I MEAN, WHAT WOMAN WOULDN'T WANT TO DATE RICK CHANCE?
MR. YAVITZ WAS ABLE TO PROVIDE US
WITH RICK'S LOGIN CREDENTIALS TO THESE WEBSITES.
AND WHEN THEY TAKE A CLOSER LOOK
AT RICK'S INTERNET PROFILE,
THEY FIND A VERY INTERESTING ONLINE CONTACT.
WAIT.
RICK HAD BEEN CONVERSING WITH AN ASIAN FEMALE
THROUGH ONE OF HIS MATCHMAKING WEBSITES
THAT HE WAS A MEMBER OF.
WE THOUGHT IT MIGHT BE POSSIBLE THAT THE TWO WERE RELATED.
ALL THE DETECTIVES HAVE TO GO ON
IS HER SCREEN NAME, ISLAND GIRL.
THEY IMMEDIATELY CONTACT THE MATCHMAKING WEBSITE
TO FIND OUT HER REAL IDENTITY
AND GET HER ADDRESS.
THAT IS A STRONG LEAD.
AND IT WAS FOLLOWED UP ON, RIGHT AWAY.
SARAH HOWARD, A.K.A. ISLAND GIRL,
LIVES IN CHANDLER, JUST 14 MILES FROM THE HOTEL
WHERE RICK CHANCE WAS FOUND DEAD.
YOU'RE KNOWN AS ISLAND GIRL, ARE YOU NOT?
WELL, MY USERNAME IS ISLAND GIRL.
NOW DETECTIVES MUST ESTABLISH THE NATURE
OF THEIR RELATIONSHIP.
HIM AND I,
WE'VE JUST BEEN TALKING FOR 2, 3 WEEKS
OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
BUT THEN SHE DROPS A BOMBSHELL.
AS IT TURNED OUT, THE PERSON BEHIND THE SCREEN NAME
HAD A DATE SCHEDULED WITH RICK.
A DATE FOR THE SAME DAY RICK CHANCE WAS MURDERED.
IT SEEMS CLEAR INVESTIGATORS
HAVE FOUND THE MYSTERY WOMAN SEEN ON VIDEO AT THE HOTEL.
JUST ONE PROBLEM -- SHE DENIES IT.
WE NEVER SAW EACH OTHER.
WE JUST SENT MESSAGES BACK AND FORTH.
HOWARD CLAIMS SHE'S NEVER MET RICK CHANCE.
THE NIGHT THEY WERE SUPPOSED TO MEET, HE STOOD HER UP.
SHE HAD ACTUALLY GONE TO THE RESTAURANT TO MEET HIM.
AND AFTER WAITING FOR HIM
AND HIM NOT ARRIVING, SHE'D GONE BACK HOME.
OF COURSE, RICK DIDN'T SHOW UP
BECAUSE HE'D ALREADY BEEN MURDERED BY THAT POINT IN TIME.
SO THAT'S NOT YOU?
NO. THIS ISN'T ME.
THROUGH THAT INTERVIEW, IT WAS PRETTY OBVIOUS
THAT SHE REALLY HAD NO INVOLVEMENT
IN THIS WHATSOEVER.
ANOTHER GOOD LEAD GOES COLD.
CRACKED WINDSHIELD?
DON'T CHANCE IT -- RICK CHANCE IT.
COME DOWN TO EMPIRE AUTO GLASS...
MEANWHILE, STEPHANIE STRUGGLES TO COME TO TERMS
WITH HER FATHER'S MURDER.
IT'S JUST STILL UNBELIEVABLE
THAT YOU CAN LOSE SOMEONE THAT'S SUCH A PART OF YOU.
IT JUST FEELS LIKE YOU'RE NOT THE SAME PERSON,
LIKE YOU'RE JUST WATCHING A VIDEO
OF SOMETHING THAT HAPPENED A LONG TIME AGO.
WHEN YOU THINK GLASS...
I WANTED TO GO HOME.
AND I WANTED TO JUST BE IN MY BED.
AND -- AND I JUST WANTED TO WAKE UP
AND MY DAD WOULD COME BACK.
SORRY.
AND WITH THE CLOCK TICKING,
INVESTIGATORS CAN'T AFFORD TO WASTE ANOTHER SECOND.
ALL RIGHT. SO LISTEN UP,
THIS IS WHO WE'RE LOOKING FOR.
WE NEED THE PUBLIC'S HELP.
WE RELEASED THE STILL IMAGE OF THE ASIAN FEMALE
TO THE TV MEDIA, THE NEWS MEDIA.
WELL, THOSE ARE THE MARCHING ORDERS, GUYS.
LET'S FIND HER.
TEMPE POLICE ARE ASKING FOR THE PUBLIC'S HELP
IN TRACKING DOWN THE MYSTERY WOMAN
PICTURED NEXT TO CHANCE AT THE CHECK-IN COUNTER.
SHORTLY AFTER THAT STORY RAN,
WE STARTED RECEIVING A LOT OF PHONE TIPS
AS TO WHO THIS PERSON MIGHT BE.
THEY'RE ALL DEAD ENDS EXCEPT ONE.
SURVEILLANCE FOOTAGE HAS GIVEN DETECTIVES
A PROMISING LEAD IN THE HUNT
FOR RICK CHANCE'S KILLER -- A POTENTIAL WITNESS.
TO TRY AND IDENTIFY HER, INVESTIGATORS
RELEASE CCTV IMAGES TO THE PUBLIC.
TEMPE POLICE ARE ASKING FOR THE PUBLIC'S HELP
IN TRACKING DOWN THE MYSTERY WOMAN
PICTURED NEXT TO CHANCE AT THE CHECK-IN COUNTER.
THEN WITH THE CASE 72 HOURS OLD,
THEY GET A BREAKTHROUGH.
A WOMAN CAME IN TO THE POLICE STATION
AND SAID THAT SHE BELIEVES SHE KNEW
WHO THE PERSON WAS IN THE VIDEO.
THE WOMAN, NAMED SUSAN HUNGERFORD,
SAW THE NEWS STORIES ABOUT THE MURDER.
WHAT GAVE THIS PERSON THE CREDIBILITY
WAS THE FACT THE PERSON
THAT CAME IN WAS, IN FACT, HER MOTHER.
HER NAME IS -- IS BRANDI, BRANDI HUNGERFORD.
BRANDI IS KOREAN BY BIRTH AND,
MR. AND MRS. HUNGERFORD HAD ADOPTED HER AT AN EARLY AGE
AND RAISED HER AS THEIR OWN CHILD.
SO I -- I DID BRING IN,
A COUPLE OF PICTURES OF HER
BECAUSE I THOUGHT YOU MIGHT WANT TO SEE THE SIMILARITY.
AND SUSAN SAYS HER DAUGHTER, BRANDI,
HAS BEEN MISSING FOR TWO WEEKS.
IN SPEAKING WITH MRS. HUNGERFORD,
OBVIOUSLY WE WANTED TO FIND OUT WHERE BRANDI WAS AND --
AND WHO SHE HAD BEEN ASSOCIATING WITH.
AFTER LEAVING HOME,
BRANDI HAS FALLEN ON TOUGH TIMES.
WELL, TO -- TO BE TRUTHFUL,
SHE -- SHE DOES WORK IN A --
A STRIP CLUB.
THERE WAS SOME CONCERN AS TO THE WELFARE OF BRANDI
BECAUSE WE DIDN'T KNOW WHAT HER ROLE WAS IN THIS.
SHE COULD'VE BEEN A SUSPECT.
AND SHE COULD'VE BEEN A VICTIM.
DETECTIVES MUST FIND HER FAST.
SEVERAL DETECTIVES WENT TO THE CLUBS
THAT BRANDI WORKED AT IN AN ATTEMPT TO LOCATE HER.
THE MANAGER CONFIRMS
THAT BRANDI IS ONE OF HIS DANCERS.
BUT SHE HASN'T SHOWN UP FOR WORK FOR TWO WEEKS.
NO? OKAY.
WE HAD TALKED TO SOME OF HER CO-WORKERS
AND FRIENDS TO FIND OUT WHERE SHE WAS,
WHO SHE WAS WITH
AND IF THEY KNEW ANYTHING ABOUT THIS.
JUST WANTED TO ASK YOU A COUPLE QUESTIONS.
NO ONE KNOWS WHERE BRANDI IS.
BUT THEY GIVE POLICE THE NAME OF SOMEONE SHE MIGHT BE WITH.
ROBERT, ROBERT LEMKE.
WE WERE ABLE TO IDENTIFY BRANDI'S BOYFRIEND
AS BEING A SUBJECT BY THE NAME OF ROBERT LEMKE.
ROBERT WAS A VERY LARGE AND MUSCULAR PERSON
AND A MALE STRIPPER HIMSELF.
HE USED A -- A STAGE NAME OF DAKOTA.
BACK AT THE POLICE STATION,
DETECTIVES RUN A CHECK ON DAKOTA, A.K.A. ROBERT LEMKE.
WE LEARNED THAT HE HAD FELONY WARRANTS
OUT OF WASHINGTON STATE
AND THAT HE HAD A VIOLENT CRIMINAL BACKGROUND.
SOME WEAPONS CHARGES AND ASSAULT CHARGES.
EXACTLY. REST OF 'EM ARE FROM WASHINGTON.
KNOWING ROBERT'S VIOLENT BACKGROUND,
KNOWING THAT RICK CHANCE WAS DEAD
MADE US VERY CONCERNED FOR BRANDI'S WELFARE
AND -- AND HER LOCATION.
INVESTIGATORS HAVE NOTHING CONCRETE LINKING LEMKE
TO THIS HOMICIDE.
BUT POLICE CAN'T HELP BUT WORRY.
THIS IS ROBERT'S GIRLFRIEND
WHO IS CHECKING INTO A HOTEL WITH SOMEBODY ELSE.
AND GIVEN ROBERT'S PROPENSITY FOR VIOLENCE,
PERHAPS HE LEARNED OF IT AND, ARRIVED AT THE HOTEL
TO TAKE MATTERS INTO HIS OWN HANDS.
POLICE NOW HAVE A NEW FACE
TO SEARCH FOR ON THE HOTEL SECURITY VIDEO.
DETECTIVES METICULOUSLY ANALYZE EVERY FRAME OF VIDEO
AFTER RICK CHECKED IN AT 9:32 P.M.
IN SEARCH OF ROBERT LEMKE.
AT 9:38 P.M., A MIDDLE-AGED GUEST CROSSES THE LOBBY.
AT 9:55 P.M., A LIGHT-HAIRED LADY
CHECKS IN TO THE HOTEL.
IN THE BACKGROUND,
A YOUNG, HEAVYSET MALE WAITS FOR THE ELEVATOR.
NOTHING SUSPICIOUS ABOUT THAT...YET.
IN REVIEWING THE FOOTAGE,
WE COULD SEE THE INSIDE OF THE VENDING ROOM.
BUT THE CAMERA WAS ALSO DIRECTED OUT TOWARDS THE HALLWAY.
SO ANYBODY WALKING DOWN THE HALLWAY,
PASSING THROUGH THE OPENING OF THE DOORWAY
INTO THE VENDING ROOM,
WOULD'VE BEEN CAPTURED ON THAT VIDEO CAMERA.
THAT MEANS ANYBODY WALKING TOWARDS ROOM 317,
RICK CHANCE'S ROOM, WOULD BE CAUGHT ON CAMERA.
BUT THERE'S NOTHING TO SEE...
UNTIL AT 9:55 P.M.
IT WAS APPROXIMATELY 20 TO 30 MINUTES
AFTER RICK CHANCE CHECKS IN TO THE MOTEL
THAT THE VIDEO SHOWS A WHITE MALE INDIVIDUAL
WALKING BY THE THIRD-FLOOR PEPSI AND ICE MACHINE.
IT'S THE SAME INDIVIDUAL SEEN WAITING FOR THE ELEVATOR
IN THE HOTEL LOBBY NEARLY 40 SECONDS EARLIER.
AND NOW DETECTIVES CAN SEE HE'S WHITE, TALL AND MUSCULAR,
JUST LIKE ROBERT LEMKE.
THE TIME STAMP ON THE FOOTAGE OF THE SUBJECT
PASSING BY THE DOORWAY OF THE VENDING ROOM
WAS CONSISTENT WITH THE TIMING OF THE HOMICIDE.
IT APPEARED THAT HE WAS ALONE.
IT APPEARED THAT HE HAD SOMETHING IN HIS HAND.
IT LOOKS LIKE A SMALL BAG.
AND THE MAN DEFINITELY LOOKS LIKE ROBERT LEMKE.
DETECTIVES IMMEDIATELY OBTAIN A WARRANT
TO SEARCH LEMKE'S PHOENIX APARTMENT.
NOBODY WAS HOME AT THE APARTMENT.
SOMEBODY LEFT IN A HURRY.
BUT DETECTIVES DO FIND SOMETHING OF INTEREST --
THE CLASSIFIED SECTION OF A NEWSPAPER
FROM BEFORE THE MURDER.
THERE WERE ADS IN THAT SECTION
THAT RICK CHANCE HAD SPECIFICALLY PLACED HIMSELF
FOR JEWELRY, IN PARTICULAR, ROLEX WATCHES.
THIS WAS SOMETHING THAT RICK WAS VERY MUCH INTO.
HE DESIGNED HIS OWN JEWELRY
AND BECAUSE IT WAS RICK, NOTHING HE DID WAS SMALL.
HE CAME UP WITH THE -- THE LARGEST PIECES
WITH THE MOST GOLD, THE MOST EXPENSIVE.
WE FOUND SOME JEWELRY TAGS IN THE GARBAGE.
THE TAGS WE WERE ABLE TO CONCLUSIVELY LINK BACK
TO RICK CHANCE'S PERSONAL JEWELRY
THAT HE HAD FOR SALE.
JEWELRY WORTH HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS.
SO NOW WE HAD A CLEAR LINK
BETWEEN ROBERT LEMKE AND BRANDI HUNGERFORD
TO RICK CHANCE AND HIS JEWELRY.
BUT WHERE IS LEMKE NOW
AND WHAT HAS HE DONE WITH BRANDI?
SURVEILLANCE VIDEO MAY HAVE JUST PROVIDED
THE CRUCIAL BREAKTHROUGH
IN THE HUNT FOR RICK CHANCE'S KILLER.
BRANDI HUNGERFORD HAS AN ACTIVE BOYFRIEND
AT THAT TIME BY THE NAME OF ROBERT LEMKE.
AND HIS DESCRIPTION IS VERY CLOSE TO THE DESCRIPTION
OF THAT PERSON SEEN ON THE SURVEILLANCE VIDEO.
DURING THE EARLY STAGES OF THE INVESTIGATION,
WE HAD LEARNED THE IDENTITY OF SOME OF ROBERT'S FRIENDS.
HIS ROOMMATE, GINA MALCOLM, IS INTERVIEWED.
SHE WAS ABLE TO PROVIDE SOME GOOD INFORMATION TO US
REGARDING ROBERT AND HIS POSSIBLE WHEREABOUTS.
AND THAT'S HOW WE DETERMINED
THAT HE WAS IN TACOMA, WASHINGTON.
WE DIDN'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT BRANDI'S WHEREABOUTS.
DID ROBERT SEE HER AS A LOOSE END
AND SOMEWHERE BETWEEN PHOENIX AND TACOMA KILL HER, TOO?
WE JUST DIDN'T KNOW.
ROBERT LEMKE IS QUICKLY LOCATED BY TACOMA PD.
- OUT OF THE CAR. - WHAT?
WHAT'S THE PROBLEM? - HANDS ON YOUR HEAD.
- WHAT'S THE PROBLEM? - ON THE GROUND.
WHEN WE WERE NOTIFIED BY THE TACOMA POLICE
THAT ROBERT WAS IN CUSTODY,
MY NEXT QUESTION WAS, "WELL, WHERE'S BRANDI?"
POLICE SEARCH THE TACOMA APARTMENT
WHERE LEMKE WAS STAYING.
INSIDE, DETECTIVES MAKE A SHOCKING DISCOVERY --
ANOTHER BODY.
BUT THIS ONE IS VERY MUCH ALIVE.
BRANDI'S NO VICTIM.
SHE'S LEMKE'S PARTNER IN CRIME.
THEY ALSO FIND $20,000 IN CASH, A WATCH,
AND THE SAME BAG RICK CHANCE
WAS SEEN CARRYING ON THE HOTEL SURVEILLANCE VIDEO.
ROBERT LEMKE WON'T TALK.
BUT THE COPS DON'T NEED HIM TO.
HIS ACCOMPLICE CONFESSES EVERYTHING.
BRANDI AND ROBERT HAD CONSPIRED TOGETHER
TO ROB RICK OF HIS JEWELRY.
ROBERT LEMKE HAD SEEN
RICK CHANCE'S NEWSPAPER ADVERTISEMENTS
OFFERING EXPENSIVE JEWELRY FOR SALE AND SAW AN OPPORTUNITY --
A CRIMINAL ONE.
LEMKE PERSUADED BRANDI TO CALL RICK
AND POSE AS A POTENTIAL JEWELRY BUYER
WITH POTENTIAL FOR MORE THAN JUST BUSINESS.
SHE WENT ON SEVERAL DATES WITH RICK.
WELL, I TOLD HIM IF WE MET AT A HOTEL, YOU KNOW,
I'D SPEND THE NIGHT WITH HIM.
- COME ON IN. - YEAH.
MAKE YOURSELF COMFORTABLE.
SHE TOLD CHANCE SHE WAS A COLLEGE STUDENT
LOOKING FOR A SPECIAL GIFT FOR HER FATHER.
SHE TOLD RICK THAT SHE HAD SOME FRIENDS
WHO WERE INTERESTED IN BUYING SOME JEWELRY.
AND THAT IF THEY MET THEM AT THIS HOTEL,
THAT AFTER THEY SHOWED THE JEWELRY,
SHE'D STAY THE NIGHT AT THE HOTEL WITH HIM.
AND THEY WOULD ENJOY EACH OTHER'S COMPANY.
CHANCE WAS CAPTIVATED BY BRANDI'S LOOKS
AND HAD NO IDEA HE WAS BEING SET UP.
RICK BELIEVED THE STORY, HAD NO REASON NOT TO, I GUESS.
SO NOW THE NIGHT IS OURS?
YES.
SHE EXCUSED HERSELF UNDER THE PRETENSES
OF GOING TO GET A -- A SODA FROM THE VENDING ROOM.
AND SHE CALLED ROBERT
AND TOLD HIM WHAT ROOM NUMBER
THEY WERE IN.
YEAH. HE'S -- HE'S ALREADY IN THE ROOM.
YEAH, 317.
BUT BRANDI SAYS SHE WAS JUST IN IT FOR THE MONEY.
I BELIEVE THAT ROBERT LEMKE BROUGHT A FIREARM INTO THAT ROOM
TO OBTAIN THE JEWELRY.
ROBERT WAS JUST TRYING TO SCARE HIM.
AND WHILE IN THAT ROOM...
THINGS JUST ESCALATED SO QUICKLY.
...HE DECIDED TO PULL THE TRIGGER
AND END RICK CHANCE'S LIFE.
WE WERE NOT SUPPOSED TO KILL ANYONE.
NO ONE WAS SUPPOSED TO GET HURT.
THE COUPLE THEN EXIT THE HOTEL UNDETECTED BY CCTV
VIA THE THIRD-FLOOR STAIRWELL.
WE TOOK THE BAG. WE TOOK THE JEWELRY.
AND WE RAN -- WE RAN AWAY AND, WELL...
BRANDI HUNGERFORD AND ROBERT LEMKE
ARE CHARGED WITH THE MURDER OF RICK CHANCE.
COUNT ONE -- MURDER IN THE FIRST DEGREE,
A CLASS-ONE DANGEROUS FELONY.
COUNT TWO -- ARMED ROBBERY, A CLASS-TWO DANGEROUS FELONY.
LEMKE IS SENTENCED TO LIFE IN PRISON.
BRANDI GETS 14 YEARS.
BRANDI, WHO PULLED THE TRIGGER?
WAS IT YOU OR ROB LEMKE?
IT'S BECAUSE OF THAT SURVEILLANCE VIDEO
THAT WE WERE ABLE TO ASCERTAIN
WHAT HAD HAPPENED AT THAT MOTEL ROOM
THAT CAUSED THE DEATH OF RICK CHANCE.
WITHOUT THE FOOTAGE, I DON'T KNOW
THAT WE EVER WOULD'VE IDENTIFIED BRANDI.
AND WITHOUT IDENTIFYING BRANDI,
WE WOULD NOT HAVE IDENTIFIED ROBERT.
AND WITHOUT IDENTIFYING ROBERT,
WE WOULDN'T HAVE SOLVED THIS MURDER.
HOW CAN YOU MAKE SENSE OUT OF A SENSELESS CRIME LIKE THIS?
I MEAN, TO TAKE AWAY FROM HIS FAMILY,
HIS FRIENDS, THE COMMUNITY,
A MAGNIFICENT GUY LIKE THIS,
FOR WHAT, FOR A SATCHEL FULL OF JEWELRY?
HE WAS PROBABLY THE MOST LOVING PERSON
I -- I EVER KNEW.
AND I WOULD WANT PEOPLE TO REMEMBER THAT OF HIM
AND HOW GENEROUS HE WAS.