NEW ORLEANS HAS ALWAYS BEEN
A CITY OF SAINTS AND SINNERS.
HERE, THE PIOUS AND THE PARTIERS
HAVE ALWAYS CO-EXISTED.
BUT WHEN SOMEONE GETS MURDERED
IN A FRENCH QUARTER HOTEL, THE CITY TAKES NOTICE.
WE OPENED THE DOOR AND SAW ALL THE BLOOD.
WE HAVE NO VIABLE SUSPECT.
THERE IS TAROT-CARD READERS,
SORCERERS, WITCHES, WIZARDS, AND VAMPIRES.
WE ALL KNOW HIM AS THE JOKER.
HE SAID HE'S DOING GOD'S WORK.
HE CALLS HIMSELF THE ANGEL OF DEATH.
A DEAD MAN IN THE FRENCH QUARTER
INSIDE A NICE HOTEL,
IT AS HIGH-PROFILE AS YOU CAN GET IN NEW ORLEANS.
-- Captions by VITAC -- www.vitac.com
CAPTIONS PAID FOR BY DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS
NEW ORLEANS, THE ENTIRE FRENCH QUARTER
WAS BUILT AROUND ST. LOUIS CATHEDRAL.
IF THAT DOESN'T TELL YOU HOW CATHOLIC IT IS,
THE CITY IS ENMESHED IN CATHOLICISM.
BUT AT NIGHT,
THE CATHEDRAL HOSTS OTHER DARKER FORCES AROUND IT.
NEW ORLEANS HAS A DARK UNDERCURRENT.
THERE'S THIS SUBCULTURE OF STREET PEOPLE.
LOCALLY, THEY'RE REFERRED TO AS "GUTTER PUNKS."
THEY'RE JUST TRANSIENT KIDS.
AND AT NIGHT,
THEY'RE TAROT-CARD READING, STEALING, OR HUSTLING.
FAR AWAY FROM NEW ORLEANS' DARK SIDE,
THE FRENCH QUARTER'S CHATEAU LEMOYNE,
NAMED FOR A NEW ORLEANS FOUNDER,
IS BOOKED SOLID DURING MARDI GRAS.
BUT ON MARCH 25, 1998, JUST TWO WEEKS LATER,
THE HOTEL MAKES HISTORY IN A MORE HORRIFIC WAY.
HELLO, HOUSEKEEPING!
HOUSEKEEPING!
WHEN DETECTIVES ARRIVE,
THEY HAVE NO IDEA WHAT OR WHO THEY'RE DEALING WITH.
WHAT THEY DO KNOW IS THAT A BRUTAL KILLER IS ON THE LOOSE.
IT'S ONE OF THE BLOODIEST SCENES
I'VE EVER BEEN ON WHEN YOU HAVE ONE VICTIM.
THERE WAS BLOOD EVERYWHERE -- ON THE WALLS...
...ON THE FURNITURE, ON THE BEDS THEMSELVES.
AND THERE ON THE FLOOR,
I THEN VIEWED THE BODY OF A MALE DRESSED ONLY IN SOCKS.
WE DON'T KNOW EXACTLY WHAT WENT DOWN,
WE JUST KNOW THAT IT WAS A BLOODY STRUGGLE
AND HE WAS STABBED MULTIPLE TIMES.
IN THE YEARS OF HANDLING HOMICIDES,
STABBING AS A FORM OF KILLING IS USUALLY PERSONAL,
AS OPPOSED TO HAVING A GUN.
AND IN THIS CASE, THE NUMBER OF STAB WOUNDS
WAS INDICATIVE OF SOME PERSONAL RAGE,
THAT THE PERSON PROBABLY KNEW THE VICTIM.
AND THEN I SEE CONDOM PACKETS.
AND EMPTY CONDOM PACKETS.
THEN WE FIND ACTUAL USED CONDOMS THERE ON THE SCENE.
AT THIS POINT, WE'RE THINKING SOME TYPE OF SEXUAL RENDEZVOUS,
AND THAT THE PERSON HE HAD THE RENDEZVOUS WITH
IS THE PERPETRATOR.
WE DON'T KNOW WHETHER IT'S MAN OR WOMAN.
THERE'S NO WAY TO TELL AT THIS POINT.
POLICE RECOVER THE VICTIM'S CLOTHES,
INCLUDING A NEW YORK BASEBALL CAP,
BUT THEY FIND NO WALLET OR I.D. ANYWHERE IN THE ROOM.
DETECTIVE.
AFTER FINDING A KEY, I GO DOWNSTAIRS,
TALK TO THE MANAGER OF THE HOTEL,
TRYING TO FIND OUT WHAT WE COULD FIND OUT
ABOUT THIS PERSON IN THE ROOM
SINCE WE DON'T HAVE IDENTIFICATION.
IT WAS A RAMON MARTINEZ.
A SINGLE MAN AT 10:30 P.M. FOR ONE NIGHT.
HOW ABOUT A VEHICLE?
IT SAYS HE WAS DRIVING A MITSUBISHI.
THAT'S ALL IT SAYS.
YEAH. THIS IS DETECTIVE WAGUESPACK.
I NEED A POLICE ASSIST TO LOOK FOR A PARKED VEHICLE.
I KNEW IT WAS A MITSUBISHI.
I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT KIND OF COLOR OR ANYTHING ELSE.
SO TWO GUYS WENT TO THE PARKING LOT,
I STARTED WALKING THE STREET.
DETECTIVES HOPE FINDING THE CAR
WILL HELP SHED LIGHT ON WHO RAMON MARTINEZ WAS
AND WHY HE DIED.
THERE IS A SCIENCE THAT STUDIES BLOOD SPATTER,
SO WE KNEW WE WERE GONNA NEED A BLOOD-SPATTER EXPERT
WHO COULD PROBABLY TELL US
WHAT WAS HAPPENING IN THAT ROOM AT THE TIME.
WHAT YOU GOT?
WE HAVE A MALE, HISPANIC, MID-30s,
MULTIPLE STAB WOUNDS, NO MURDER WEAPON.
I WAS PRETTY MUCH THE ONLY EXPERT IN THE STATE.
THERE'S NOT VERY MANY WOMEN THAT WORK IN FORENSICS,
AND CERTAINLY NOT A LOT OF WOMEN THAT DO BLOOD-SPATTER ANALYSIS.
I HAVE NO IDEA WHO WE'RE LOOKING FOR.
I'M HOPING MAYBE YOU GUYS CAN TELL US SOMETHING.
BY EXAMINING THE BLOOD STAINS AND THE SPATTER,
WE WOULD BE ABLE TO COME TO A REASONABLE CONCLUSION
ON WHERE THE CRIME OCCURRED INITIALLY, WHERE IT STARTED,
HOW IT PROCEEDED, AND THEN, OF COURSE,
WHERE IT FINALLY ENDED UP, WHERE IT CULMINATED.
WHEN WE OPENED THE DOOR
AND I LOOKED IN AND I SAW ALL THE BLOOD...
...I KNEW THAT THIS WAS GOING TO BE VERY COMPLICATED.
JUST GLANCING AT IT...
IT SPOKE TO THE VICIOUSNESS OF THIS CRIME.
I COULD PICTURE IMMEDIATELY IN MY MIND
HOW THE VICTIM WAS TRYING TO ESCAPE HIS ATTACKER,
BUT THERE WAS NOWHERE TO GO.
WHEN IT COMES TO WORKING A CRIME SCENE,
THE PHYSICAL EVIDENCE OF IT'S GONNA TELL THE STORY,
AND IT'S GOING TO GUIDE YOU IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.
IT'S JUST GONNA BE UP TO THE INDIVIDUAL EXAMINER
AND CRIME-SCENE INVESTIGATOR TO BE ABLE TO INTERPRET
AND READ THE STORY THAT'S BEING TOLD.
WHAT BILLY AND I NEEDED TO DO
WAS TO BE ABLE TO PUT THAT ON PAPER AND PROVE IT.
WE FIRST LOOKED AT THE ROOM AS A WHOLE.
I DIDN'T THINK IT WAS A WOMAN
BECAUSE OF THE STRENGTH THAT WAS NEEDED...
...AND BECAUSE OF THE SIZE OF THE SHOE IMPRESSION THAT WE HAD.
NONE OF IT LOOKED LIKE A WOMAN.
IT WAS A MAN WHO HAD BEEN KILLED BY ANOTHER MAN.
IS THERE ANYTHING YOU CAN TELL ME ABOUT MR. MARTINEZ?
HIS DEMEANOR, WHAT WAS HE WEARING, LUGGAGE?
UM...
I REMEMBER THAT HE WAS CARRYING A SMALL BAG.
GOOD EVENING, SIR. HOW CAN I HELP YOU?
DID YOU HAVE A ROOM FOR TONIGHT?
HE WAS WEARING A DARK NEW YORK BASEBALL CAP.
IT'LL BE 520.
DO YOU NEED ANY ADDITIONAL KEY CARDS THIS EVENING?
NO, BUT THANK YOU FOR ASKING.
HE WAS VERY NICE, POLITE.
YOU START THERE, I'M GONNA CHECK OUT THE BATHROOM.
ALL RIGHT.
WHEN YOU'RE LOOKING AT A CRIME SCENE,
THE IDEA IS THAT WE FIRST HAD TO FIND THE STARTING POINT.
WHERE DID IT START, AND THEN WHAT HAPPENED?
WHERE DO WE SEE A MAJORITY OF THE BLOOD,
AND THEN WERE DO WE SEE THE LEAST AMOUNT OF BLOOD?
BECAUSE THE LEAST AMOUNT OF BLOOD
IS GOING TO BE WHERE THE ORIGINAL INJURIES HAPPENED.
AND THEY HAPPENED IN THE BATHROOM.
WE FOUND THAT BLOOD ON THE TOILET BOWL,
ON THE BOTTOM, AT THE FLOOR.
THIS WAS A SMALL PATTERN, AND WE KNEW THAT THE VICTIM --
FROM ALL THE OTHER PATTERNS IN THERE --
COULD HAVE ONLY BEEN IN THERE AT THE INITIAL ATTACK.
THERE WAS A GOOD CHANCE BECAUSE OF THE ANGLE OF THE STAINS
THAT HE WAS ON THE FLOOR.
NOW, I DON'T KNOW WHICH PART OF HIS BODY WAS INJURED,
BUT HE WAS NOT STANDING.
SO WE KNOW FROM THE BATHROOM, TRY TO GET OUT THE DOOR.
AND THEN THERE'S A FRENZIED ATTACK THERE.
AND WE SEE PARTS OF HIS BODY,
LIKE HIS FOREARM THAT PRESSES AGAINST THE DOOR.
YOU CAN SEE A HAND PRINT
WHERE HE REACHES UP TO UNLOCK THE CHAIN ON THE DOOR.
AND IT'S PUSHED FORWARD AND THEN DOWN TO THE SIDE OF THE WALL.
THE PERPETRATOR IS PUSHING HIM INTO THE CORNER.
THE VICTIM REACHES OUT, AND HE SLAMS HIS HAND DOWN.
IT WAS PUT DOWN WITH FORCE.
BUT HE'S TRYING TO GET AWAY.
AND THEN, GUESS WHAT, BLOODY SHOE PRINTS STAND UP ON THE BED
AND WALK ACROSS THE BED.
AND HE DIES RIGHT THERE.
THE REPORT SAYS HE WAS STABBED 50 TIMES,
AND HE WAS STABBED EVEN POSTMORTEM, AFTER DEATH.
SUCH OVERKILL INDICATES A CRIME OF PASSION.
WHO WAS SO DETERMINED TO KILL RAMON MARTINEZ AND WHY?
WE COULD NOT FATHOM THAT IT WAS GONNA BE AS HIGH-PROFILE
AS IT TURNED OUT TO BE.
WELL, DO YOU KNOW IF HE HAD ANY CONTACT WITH ANYONE ELSE
IN THE HOTEL THAT NIGHT?
LET ME SEE, EHM...
AS FAR AS I CAN TELL, THE LAST PERSON
WHO SPOKE WITH ROOM 520 WAS THE NIGHT SECURITY GUARD.
AFTER 11:00 P.M., OUR NIGHT SECURITY HANDLES ALL THE CALLS,
SO HE ARRIVED AT THE ROOM MAYBE AROUND MIDNIGHT.
YOUR TOWELS.
I WAS IN THE SHOWER.
JUST LEAVE THEM ON THE GROUND.
THE MAN BEHIND THE DOOR
DID NOT HAVE A SPANISH ACCENT.
DID THE SECURITY GUARD UNKNOWINGLY HELP THE KILLER
COVER HIS TRACKS?
A LOT OF THE PATTERN WAS DISTORTED AND DESTROYED
BECAUSE HE PERPETRATOR WENT BACK INTO THE BATHROOM
AND CLEANED UP.
AND SO THERE IS BLOODY WATER ALL OVER THE PLACE.
BUT NOT EVERYTHING WAS DESTROYED.
INVESTIGATORS RECOVER A SINGLE STRAND OF DYED RED HAIR
AND BELIEVE IT BELONGS TO THE MURDERER.
THEY ALSO DISCOVER OTHER BLOOD, TYPE "O,"
THAT IS DIFFERENT FROM THE VICTIM'S.
THAT TELLS THEM THE PERP
WAS LIKELY ALSO INJURED IN THE ATTACK.
IF WE DETERMINE THAT THERE'S A POSSIBILITY
THAT THE PERPETRATOR, THE KILLER, WAS INJURED,
WE'LL ALWAYS NOTIFY THE HOSPITALS
TO LET US KNOW IF ANYBODY COMES IN WITH STAB WOUNDS,
SEVERE CUTS.
DETECTIVES ALSO FIND TYPE "O" BLOOD IN THE STAIRWELL,
TRACING THE KILLER'S STEPS FROM THE FIFTH FLOOR
DOWN A BACK STAIRWELL
TO THE BUSY STREETS OF THE FRENCH QUARTER,
WHERE HE'S SWALLOWED UP BY THE THRONGS OF TOURISTS.
WE CHECKED TO FIND OUT
IF THEY HAD SURVEILLANCE VIDEO FOR THE HOTEL.
THE SURVEILLANCE SYSTEM THAT THE HOTEL HAD AT THE TIME
WAS NOT ONE THAT MAINTAINED EVERY ANGLE ALL THE TIME,
AND SO IT HAD GAPS IN THIS TAPE.
WE VIEWED IT.
THERE WAS NOTHING THAT WOULD EVEN IDENTIFY MARTINEZ
AS COMING INTO THE HOTEL OR LEAVING,
AND THEN NO ONE ELSE THAT SEEMED SUSPICIOUS
WAS ON THAT HOTEL VIDEO.
THEY NOW KNOW HOW MARTINEZ DIED,
BUT WHY HE WAS KILLED AND WHO HE WAS ARE STILL MYSTERIES.
POLICE HAVE YET TO LOCATE A MITSUBISHI
THAT MATCHES THE KEYS FOUND IN MARTINEZ'S ROOM.
SO DETECTIVE WAGUESPACK WIDENS HIS SEARCH.
SO I JUST STARTED WALKING UP AND DOWN THE STREET
FROM THE HOTEL IN DAUPHINE.
EXCUSE ME, MA'AM.
I'M DETECTIVE DEAL.
I WAS WONDERING IF, BY CHANCE,
YOU HEARD OR SAW SOMETHING UNUSUAL LAST NIGHT
COMING FROM THE ROOM NEXT DOOR?
YEAH, WE HEARD SOME NOISE JUST AROUND 1:00 A.M.
THERE WAS A LOT OF, YOU KNOW, BANGING AND RUCKUS AND FIGHTING.
IT'S NEW ORLEANS.
LIKE, WE THOUGHT PEOPLE WERE JUST PARTYING, YOU KNOW?
HEAR ANY VOICES OR ANYTHING SAID, BY CHANCE?
IT WAS REALLY MUFFLED.
YOU KNOW, NOTHING SPECIFIC, NOTHING I COULD REALLY TELL YOU.
THEY ACTUALLY SAID THAT THEY HEARD NOISE
AROUND THE TIME THAT THIS INCIDENT WOULD HAVE OCCURRED
AND HEARD NOISE THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN CONSISTENT
WITH WHAT WE FOUND IN THAT ROOM.
THE FIRST ROAD I CAME TO, BIENVILLE.
I KNOW IT WAS A MITSUBISHI.
AND LUCKILY, WITHIN THE FIRST BLOCK,
THE 900 BLOCK, I JUST FOUND A MITSUBISHI AND THE KEY WORKED.
HE IS COMPLETELY SHOCKED
TO SEE THAT IT SAYS "FATHER RAMON MARTINEZ."
I GOT A POSITIVE I.D. ON THE CAR.
IT'S REGISTERED TO A FATHER RAMON MARTINEZ.
REPEAT, THE VICTIM IS A PRIEST.
ONCE WE FOUND OUT THAT HE WAS A CATHOLIC PRIEST, THIS...
THIS BLEW ALL OF OUR MINDS.
FROM THE DETECTIVES' POINT OF VIEW,
THEY'RE LOOKING AT A DEAD MAN IN THE FRENCH QUARTER
INSIDE A NICE HOTEL.
THEY HAVE THE SEX ANGLE.
THEN THEY FIND OUT THE VICTIM IS A CATHOLIC PRIEST,
WELL, THAT PUTS THE CASE UP TO HERE.
I MEAN, IT IS AS HIGH PROFILE AS YOU CAN GET IN NEW ORLEANS.
NEW ORLEANS IS A VERY CATHOLIC TOWN.
EVERYTHING IN THIS CITY
ALMOST EVOLVES AROUND THE CATHOLIC RELIGION.
SO DEALING WITH A CATHOLIC PRIEST
FOUND DEAD IN A HOTEL UNDER THESE CIRCUMSTANCES,
WE KNOW THAT IT'S GONNA RAISE SOME EYEBROWS.
FATHER MARTINEZ'S CAR
IS REGISTERED IN PORT SULPHUR PARISH --
50 MILES SOUTHEAST OF NEW ORLEANS.
SO WE WENT TO PORT SULPHUR
TO THE CHURCH THAT HE MINISTERED.
APPEARS THAT HE WAS WELL-LIKED BY ALL HIS PARISHIONERS
AND HE PERFORMED A LOT OF MARRIAGES.
FATHER MARTINEZ ALSO COUNSELED
TROUBLED MARRIED COUPLES
AND TAUGHT AT A JESUIT HIGH SCHOOL,
AS WELL AS PRESTIGIOUS LOYOLA UNIVERSITY.
BOTH OF YOU MUST BE WILLING
TO GO FORTH ON THIS JOURNEY TOGETHER.
DETECTIVES ALSO LEARN THAT RAMON MARTINEZ
HAD DREAMED OF BECOMING A CATHOLIC PRIEST
FROM THE TIME HE WAS A CHILD.
RAMON MARTINEZ WAS BORN IN 1961 IN CUBA --
TWO YEARS AFTER THE CUBAN REVOLUTION
WHEN CUBA BASICALLY BECAME AN OFFICIALLY ATHEIST STATE,
SO A VERY RELIGIOUS BOY LIKE RAMON MARTINEZ
FROM A VERY CATHOLIC FAMILY, HE FOUND IT HARD LIVING IN CUBA.
BY THE TIME RAMON IS SIX OR SEVEN,
HIS FAMILY WAS ABLE TO EMIGRATE TO NEW ORLEANS,
WHERE HE ULTIMATELY FULFILLED HIS DREAM OF BECOMING A PRIEST.
10 YEARS AFTER BEING ORDAINED
AND JUST TWO MONTHS BEFORE HE WAS MURDERED,
FATHER RAMON MARTINEZ IS GRANTED THE HIGHEST CATHOLIC HONOR.
HE'S CHOSEN TO ACCOMPANY POPE JOHN PAUL II
ON AN OFFICIAL PAPAL VISIT TO CUBA.
IN NEW ORLEANS, THAT WAS A BIG DEAL
BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, ONE OF OUR OWN PRIESTS
WAS GOING WITH THE POPE.
THEY WERE OPENING UP CUBA FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER
TO AN OFFICIAL PAPAL VISIT.
FATHER RAMON'S PART OF THE TRIP GOT A LOT OF PRESS,
ESPECIALLY IN NEW ORLEANS.
HE'S LAUDED ON THE LOCAL NEWS.
THEY CAN COME TO CHURCH,
BUT NO OUTSIDE PROCESSIONS.
PRIESTS ARE NOT ALLOWED TO HAVE OUTSIDE PROCESSIONS
WITH THE STATUES.
BUT AWAY FROM HIS OFFICIAL DUTIES,
MARTINEZ KEPT ANOTHER PART OF HIS LIFE HIDDEN.
HE MAINTAINED A RECTORY WHERE HE LIVED IN LAPLACE,
AND HE ALSO HAD A RECTORY THAT WAS LOCATED IN PORT SULPHUR
IN PLAQUEMINE'S PARISH.
AND FOR THOSE WHO AREN'T FAMILIAR
AT LEAST WITH CATHOLICISM,
THE RECTORY IS WHERE THE PRIEST LIVES,
SO THESE ARE ESSENTIALLY BOTH OF HIS RESIDENCES.
AT BOTH RECTORIES, WHAT THEY FOUND
WAS THAT FATHER MARTINEZ
HAD A COLLECTION OF HOMOSEXUAL PORNOGRAPHY.
SEX TOYS AND DIFFERENT THINGS LIKE THAT,
HOMOSEXUAL LITERATURE.
GAY PORNOGRAPHIC VIDEOTAPES AND GAY MAGAZINES.
THE CAT WAS OUT OF THE BAG.
THE POLICE KNEW THAT THIS WAS A GAY SEX CRIME.
THAT POINT, THE POLICE NEEDED TO FIND OUT
MORE ABOUT FATHER MARTINEZ'S SECRET LIFE.
SO THEY STARTED SCOURING THE FRENCH QUARTER
TO FIND OUT WHO HE HAD BEEN WITH,
WHO HE HUNG AROUND WITH, WHO KNEW HIM.
THEY WENT TO THE, YOU KNOW, GAY BARS,
THEY WENT TO STREET PEOPLE,
SHOWING A PHOTOGRAPH AROUND OF FATHER RAMON,
AND ASKING IF ANYBODY KNEW HIM.
THEY NEEDED TO FIND OUT WHO HE SPENT TIME WITH
IN ORDER TO NARROW DOWN THE SUSPECT LIST.
OUT IN EVERGREEN,
WE LEARNED HE WOULD ALWAYS GO AND STAY AT LA QUINTA.
- HI. - GOOD EVENING, SIR.
I'M DETECTIVE WAGUESPACK.
I'M INVESTIGATING A HOMICIDE.
HAVE YOU EVER SEEN THIS MAN?
YEAH, SURE, SURE!
THAT'S MIKE FROM IBM.
HE'S IN HERE ABOUT EVERY OTHER WEEK.
EMPLOYEES AND THE DESK CLERK KNEW HIM AS MIKE,
AND HE WAS A FREQUENT GUEST AT THEIR MOTEL.
- YOU EVER SEEN ANYBODY COME IN WITH HIM? - NO, I HAVEN'T.
HE'S -- HE'S ALWAYS ALONE.
A SEARCH OF POLICE RECORDS
ALSO REVEALS THAT FATHER MARTINEZ
HAD BEEN IN TROUBLE WITH THE LAW A DECADE EARLIER.
DURING THE PROCESS, WE FOUND OUT
THAT HE HAD BEEN ARRESTED OUT IN NEW ORLEANS IN AN ADULT BOOK STORE
FOR SOLICITING TO PERFORM ORAL SEX ON TWO VICE SQUAD GUYS.
YOU HEAR THAT? HEY, COME HERE.
LET ME GET YOUR HANDS.
- PUT THEM UP. - NO!
COME ON. PUT THEM UP, BUDDY.
HE'S GOT A PRIOR ARREST RECORD.
DOESN'T MATTER WHETHER HE'S A PRIEST OR NOT, HE BROKE THE LAW.
HE WAS RELEASED WITH JUST A FINE.
BUT POLICE ARE STILL NO CLOSER TO FINDING MARTINEZ'S KILLER.
NO ONE REMEMBERS SEEING HIM WITH ANYONE
ON THE DAYS LEADING UP TO THE MURDER.
THE FIRST 24 TO 48 HOURS AFTER A MURDER CASE
ARE THE MOST IMPORTANT,
AND THE POLICE IN THIS CASE JUST DIDN'T GET ENOUGH LEADS.
WE HAVE NO VIABLE SUSPECT.
NO MORE INFORMATION
THAT WOULD TELL US WHAT HAPPENED IN THE ROOM.
WE PRETTY MUCH RAN INTO A BRICK WALL.
DESPERATE FOR A LEAD, AUTHORITIES OFFER A REWARD
FOR ANY INFORMATION LEADING TO THE ARREST AND CONVICTION
OF THE KILLER.
AS NEWS SPREADS THAT THE PRIEST WAS GAY
AND LED A SECRET DOUBLE LIFE,
THE HIGH-PROFILE CASE WITH A REWARD ATTACHED
TAKES ON A LIFE OF ITS OWN.
EVERYBODY IN THIS CITY KNEW ABOUT IT,
EVEN THOSE WHO AREN'T WITH A REGULAR FAMILY
OR RECEIVED THE NEWSPAPER.
THE PEOPLE IN THE FRENCH QUARTER WERE TALKING AMONGST THEMSELVES
ABOUT THIS MURDER.
IT WAS JUST THAT UNUSUAL.
THEN, IN SEPTEMBER OF 1998,
SIX MONTHS TO THE DAY
AFTER THE BODY OF FATHER MARTINEZ WAS FOUND,
DETECTIVES GET A POSSIBLE LEAD.
THE POLICE OFFICER IN THE EIGHTH DISTRICT,
WHICH ENCOMPASSES THE FRENCH QUARTER,
HE CALLS HOMICIDE AND SAID HE HAD SOME INFORMATION
ABOUT A FEMALE WHO LIKELY KNOWS SOMETHING
ABOUT A PERSON WHO MAY HAVE MURDERED A PRIEST.
SHE CLAIMS TO MAKE A LIVING AS A TAROT-CARD READER
IN THE FRENCH QUARTER'S JACKSON SQUARE.
JACKSON SQUARE IS A BIG, OPEN AREA
IN FRONT OF ST. LOUIS CATHEDRAL IN THE FRENCH QUARTER.
AND IT'S FILLED WITH MUSICIANS, FORTUNE TELLERS,
TAROT-CARD READERS --
EVERY KIND OF STREET PERFORMER YOU COULD IMAGINE
HANGING OUT THERE JUST ABOUT 24 HOURS A DAY.
IT SEEMS LIKE THERE IS A CULTURE FOR EVERYTHING IN HERE,
INCLUDING TAROT-CARD READERS, PALM READERS, MYSTICS, PSYCHICS.
A LOT OF THEM ARE ON SKATEBOARDS.
THEY'RE HOMELESS.
THEY BASICALLY JUST HANG AROUND THE FRENCH QUARTER
AND TRY AND BUM MONEY OFF OF PEOPLE.
IT'S A GROUP OF PEOPLE
THAT COMMONLY ARE REFERRED TO IN THIS CITY AS "GUTTER PUNKS."
MOST OF THEM ARE TROUBLED YOUTH.
HEY, JENN!
HEY!
WORKING ON JACKSON SQUARE ON A DAY-TO-DAY BASIS IS A BIG STRUGGLE.
HOW'S BIZ?
SLOW TONIGHT 'CAUSE IT'S SO COLD.
LIKE, OFTEN AS A READER,
WE DON'T KNOW IF WE'RE GOING TO EAT OR NOT.
SHIMMER AND I WOULD OFTEN MEET ON JACKSON SQUARE
AND SET UP NEXT TO EACH OTHER.
SHIMMER WAS AN ITTY-BITTY, LITTLE GIRL WITH SHORT HAIR.
SHE REMINDED ME OF A PIXIE OR A FAIRY.
SHIMMER IS ACTUALLY A RUNAWAY FROM CHICAGO,
AND SHE CAME DOWN HERE AND BECAME A TAROT-CARD READER.
WE HAVE A LOT OF RUNAWAYS
THAT TEND TO SOCIALIZE AMONGST THEMSELVES.
THEY TEND TO SOMETIMES GET VERY AGGRESSIVE
WITH REGARDS TO PANHANDLING.
NOT WILLING TO WAIT FOR HER MEAL TICKET,
SHIMMER PURSUES ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY.
SHE BELIEVES SHE HAS INFORMATION
TO HELP POLICE CATCH THE PRIEST'S KILLER
AND MAYBE HELP HERSELF TO THE REWARD.
BUT CAN THE POLICE TRUST HER?
SHIMMER WAS AFRAID TO SPEAK TO ANY UNIFORMED POLICE OFFICER,
SO SHE ASKED SPECIFICALLY FOR A PLAIN-CLOTHES COP
TO MEET HER AT THE FRENCH QUARTER AT HER TAROT-CARD TABLE.
GOOD EVENING.
CARE TO HAVE YOUR CARDS READ?
I WAS HOPING YOU COULD PROVIDE ME
SOME INFORMATION... ABOUT MY FUTURE WITH A PRIEST.
GO AHEAD AND ASK THE DECK A QUESTION.
IT'S THAT EASY,
WHO KILLED THE PRIEST?
SHE SAID THAT SHE WAS INVOLVED WITH A YOUNG MAN
WHO WAS BRAGGING ABOUT HAVING KILLED A PRIEST
SEVERAL MONTHS BEFORE.
I THINK MY BOYFRIEND IS THE KILLER.
WITHIN A FEW MINUTES,
HE KNEW THAT THIS WAS A HOT LEAD ON THE FATHER RAMON CASE.
I'M LISTENING.
WHAT'S HIS NAME?
HIS NAME IS ROBERT.
BUT WE ALL KNOW HIM AS THE JOKER.
SO ANSWER REPRESENTS WHERE YOU ARE ON YOUR CAREER RIGHT NOW.
- HEY. - HEY!
HOW'S BUSINESS?
IT'S GOOD. HOW ARE YOU?
GREAT. MWAH!
HEY, JOKER.
I JUST ASSUMED THAT ROBERT'S STREET NAME WAS JOKER
'CAUSE HE WAS KIND OF GOOFY-LOOKING.
ROBERT WAS ONE OF THE FIRST PEOPLE THAT WAS NICE TO ME
IN THIS CITY, AND WE WERE FRIENDS.
HEY, MAN, YOU SHOULD REALLY LISTEN TO HER.
SHE KNOWS WHAT SHE'S TALKING ABOUT.
HE WAS JUST ALWAYS HANGING AROUND THE SQUARE,
TALKING TO SHIMMER.
EVERYBODY KNEW THEY WERE DATING.
SINCE I WAS RIGHT NEXT TO HER ALL THE TIME,
HE WAS JUST ALWAYS THERE.
WHAT'S HE DO FOR A LIVING?
HE HUSTLES FOR JOHNS.
SHIMMER EXPLAINED THAT THE PRIEST AND HE
HAD SOME ROMANTIC TRYST GOING ON
AND THAT THEY HAD GOTTEN TOGETHER ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS.
HOW MUCH CAN YOU SPEND?
$20.
GET IN.
HE ADMITTED THAT HE HAD HAD SEX FOR CASH WITH MARTINEZ
PRIOR TO THE MURDER
AND THAT WHEN HE WAS PICKED UP AGAIN
AND WENT TO THE HOTEL, HE DID SO WILLINGLY.
AT SOME POINT,
WHILE FATHER MARTINEZ WAS PERFORMING ORAL SEX ON HIM,
HE TOLD SHIMMER THAT HE WAS DISGUSTED
BY THIS BEHAVIOR OF A MAN OF THE CLOTH, A PRIEST,
AND FELT THAT THIS WAS SOMETHING THAT HE NEEDED TO TAKE CARE OF,
BECAME ENRAGED, AND BEGAN STABBING FATHER MARTINEZ.
HE TOLD HER THAT HE HAD STABBED HIM IN HIS NECK.
AND THEN AS THE STRUGGLE ENSUED, HE STABBED HIM,
AND HE CONTINUED TO STAB HIM UNTIL HE WAS MOTIONLESS.
AFTER STABBING HIM, HE WENT INTO THE BATHROOM,
TOOK A SHOWER TO GET THE BLOOD OFF OF HIM, THEN LEFT THE ROOM.
HE'S TELLING HER THAT HE BASICALLY DID GOD'S WORK
AND GOD WILL FORGIVE HIM FOR KILLING THE PRIEST
BECAUSE HE BASICALLY WAS EVIL.
AND HE WAS THE ANGEL OF DEATH.
SO HE WAS BRAGGING TO SHIMMER
AND ALSO TRYING TO JUSTIFY HIS ACTIONS.
HI!
HAVE YOU EVER MET THIS PRIEST?
NO.
WHAT SHE SAID LINED UP
WITH WHAT THE PEOPLE ON EITHER SIDE OF THE ROOM HAD SAID
ABOUT STRUGGLE AND NOISES ON THE NIGHT IN QUESTION
AND WHAT THE BLOOD-SPATTER EXPERT TOLD US
LIKELY HAPPENED IN THE ROOM JUDGING FROM THE EVIDENCE.
ALL RIGHT, SO IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE YOU WANT TO TELL ME?
SHE WAS ACTING REALLY WEIRD AND PARANOID.
ALL RIGHT.
IN ALL HONESTY, I HAVE NO IDEA
WHETHER SHE TURNED HIM IN FOR THE MONEY OR OUT OF FEAR.
SHE'S LIVING ON THE STREET, AND, YOU KNOW,
IF THERE'S A REWARD OF, YOU KNOW,
EVEN A FEW HUNDRED DOLLARS OR A THOUSAND DOLLARS,
I MEAN, THAT'S GONNA BE SIGNIFICANT TO HER.
HE TOOK THE PRIEST'S WALLET.
HOW DO YOU KNOW THIS?
HE TOLD ME. HE SHOWED IT TO ME.
COULD SHIMMER BE MAKING IT ALL UP
JUST FOR A PAYDAY?
YOU GOT A LAST NAME?
NOT THAT I KNOW OF.
SHIMMER OLD THE POLICE THAT SHE ONLY KNEW THE MAN
AS ROBERT OR JOKER.
HE ALSO HAD ANOTHER ALIAS -- HE WENT BY MAN-O-WAR.
SHE COULDN'T GIVE THEM A FULL NAME.
BUT SHE DOES GIVE POLICE HIS BIRTH DATE
AND THE PHONE NUMBER OF HIS EX-GIRLFRIEND OUT OF STATE.
504...
...SINCE ROBERT FLED TO HIS HOME STATE OF KENTUCKY.
...525.
THAT'S ALL I GOT.
ALL RIGHT, OKAY.
A SEARCH OF COUNTY JAIL RECORDS FOR A WHITE MALE NAMED ROBERT
WITH A DATE BIRTH OF 6/19/78 REVEALS ROBERT ALLEN.
A DETECTIVE CALLED THE NUMBER SHIMMER GAVE THE POLICE.
HELLO, CAN I SPEAK TO ROBERT ALLEN?
THE WOMAN THERE SAID THAT THERE WAS NO ROBERT ALLEN THERE.
HOMICIDE.
IT'S ROBERT.
ROBERT CALLED THE POLICE
TO CONFIRM THAT HE WASN'T ROBERT ALLEN,
BUT HE DID PROVIDE HIS REAL NAME,
WHICH WAS ROBERT CHIDESTER.
CHIDESTER AGREES TO TALK TO DETECTIVES LATER
IN PERSON
AND PROVIDES CONTACT INFORMATION IN NEW ORLEANS.
BUT THE PHONE NUMBER AND ADDRESS ARE PHONY.
ON SEPTEMBER 23, 1998, WITH A MUG SHOT OF ROBERT NOW IN HAND,
HOMICIDE DETECTIVES MAKE A HOME VISIT TO THEIR TAROT-CARD READER
AND INFORMER, SHIMMER,
TO SEE IF SHE CAN CONFIRM IT'S THE ROBERT THAT SHE KNOWS.
ARE YOU SHIMMER?
YEAH.
WE'RE FROM NEW ORLEANS P.D.
WE HAVE SOMETHING WE WANT TO SHOW YOU.
MAY WE COME IN?
SURE.
THIS ROBERT ALLEN, YOUR BOYFRIEND?
THAT'S NOT MY BOYFRIEND.
I DON'T KNOW WHO THAT IS.
ROBERT CHIDESTER?
UM...
JOKER?
NO.
SHE HAD SEEN HIM IN DIFFERENT HAIRSTYLES
AND DIFFERENT-COLOR HAIR.
AT FIRST, SHE MAY HAVE JUST NOT RECOGNIZED HIM.
TAKE ANOTHER LOOK AT THAT.
OR SHE HESITATED BRIEFLY OUT OF FEAR.
IT'S NOT UNCOMMON FOR A WITNESS TO BE A BIT HESITANT, YOU KNOW,
'CAUSE "DO I WANT TO DO THIS, DO I WANT TO GET INVOLVED,
AM I MORE AFRAID OF HIM BEING ON THE STREET,
OR AM I MORE AFRAID OF SENDING HIM TO JAIL?"
I DON'T RECOGNIZE HIM.
WHAT'S THIS?
WHAT DO WE HAVE HERE?
IN THE APARTMENT,
WE FIND FOUR-INCH DOUBLE-EDGED KNIFE THAT HAD BLOOD ON IT.
IS THAT YOURS?
YEAH.
BUT WHEN THE CRIME-LAB REPORT COMES BACK,
SHIMMER IS CLEARED.
THE BLOOD ON THE BLADE TURNED OUT TO BE SHIMMER'S BLOOD.
IT WAS NOT RELATED TO THE MURDER.
THAT WAS RELATED TO SHIMMER, WHO HAD SORT OF A CUTTING FETISH.
SHE WOULD USE THE KNIFE TO MAKE SMALL CUTS IN HERSELF.
WITH ROBERT CHIDESTER STILL AT LARGE,
SHIMMER FEARS WHAT HE'LL DO TO HER
IF HE FINDS OUT SHE TALKED TO POLICE.
THE JOKER MADE THREATS TO SHIMMER,
SAYING, "IF YOU TELL ANYONE, I'LL KILL YOU."
A FEW DAYS LATER, POLICE CAN'T LOCATE SHIMMER.
FEARING THE WORST, THEY CANVASS JACKSON SQUARE.
I HEARD YOU'RE A FRIEND OF SHIMMER'S.
DEPENDS WHO'S ASKING.
DETECTIVE WAGUESPACK.
HAVE YOU SEEN HER AROUND? WE CAN'T FIND HER.
I REALLY HAVEN'T SEEN HER IN A WHILE.
IS IT POSSIBLE THAT CHIDESTER HAS CLAIMED A SECOND VICTIM?
SHIMMER?
HEY, JOKER.
WHERE YOU BEEN?
NOWHERE.
I'VE BEEN HERE, READING TAROT.
SHIMMER, AS SWEET AS SHE WAS, SHE STARTED ACTING
REALLY PARANOID EVERY TIME JOKER WAS AROUND.
SHE TOLD ME ONE DAY THAT HE WAS STALKING HER,
AND I BELIEVE THAT SHIMMER THOUGHT
THAT ROBERT WAS GONNA HURT HER.
MYSTICAL JENN DOESN'T KNOW WHERE SHIMMER IS,
BUT SHE HAS SEEN ROBERT CHIDESTER.
HE'S BACK IN NEW ORLEANS.
THE MURDER SUSPECT IS WORKING AT A LOCAL RESTAURANT
IN THE FRENCH QUARTER AS A DISHWASHER.
SHE HAD TOLD US THAT HE PUT AN APPLICATION
AT LA PENICHE AT TOURA AND DAUPHINE.
SO ALL OF US JUST KIND OF SPREAD OUT, WENT DIFFERENT PLACES.
YEAH, HE WORKED HERE FOR ABOUT A WEEK.
HE WAS A DISHWASHER. HE WAS TERRIBLE. I HAD TO FIRE HIM.
AND WE DID LEARN THAT HE WORKED AT LA PENICHE FOR A WEEK.
AND I SPOKE TO THE MANAGER, AND SHE WAS ABLE TO SUPPLY US
WITH A COMPLETE FILE AND A PHOTOGRAPH.
YEAH, HERE.
YOU CAN HAVE IT -- HE'S NOT COMING BACK.
THE APPLICATION LISTED AN ADDRESS
AT AN APARTMENT IN UPTOWN NEW ORLEANS,
WHERE HE WAS STAYING.
SO, ROBERT CHIDESTER STILL LIVE AT THIS ADDRESS?
NO. HE MOVED OUT A SHORT WHILE AGO.
HE LIVES AT 2100 JANUS STREET.
NEED BACKUP AT 2100 JANUS STREET
FOR THE ARREST OF WANTED SUSPECT ROBERT CHIDESTER.
WE WERE EXPECTING AFTER THE HORRIFIC SCENE, THE BLOOD,
THE AMOUNT OF CARNAGE TO THE BODY, THE LONG CHASE --
SIX MONTHS --
WE WERE EXPECTING A HORRIFIC ENDING.
On my count.
You ready?
One, two, three.
FREEZE!
POLICE, DON'T MOVE!
KEEP YOUR HANDS WHERE WE CAN SEE THEM.
WHEN I WENT THROUGH THE DOOR,
HE HAD LIKE A 10-INCH, 12-INCH PARATROOPER KNIFE
NEXT TO THE BED.
AND HE WENT FOR IT, AND I TOLD HIM, "DON'T DO IT.
I'D HAVE TO KILL YOU."
OFFICER, CUFF HIM.
BACK AT HEADQUARTERS,
POLICE INTERROGATE ROBERT CHIDESTER.
HE CLAIMS HE NEVER TOUCHED SHIMMER,
AND POLICE CONFIRM SHE'S SAFE AND SOUND AT HOME IN CHICAGO.
SO WHAT HAPPENED IN THE ROOM?
I'M JUST DOING A JOB.
MADE SOME MONEY.
BUT IT DOESN'T TAKE LONG
FOR HIM TO CONFESS TO KILLING FATHER RAMON MARTINEZ.
I DID WHAT THE DEMON TOLD ME TO DO.
WHAT HE TOLD SHIMMER WAS MORE BRAGGING
ABOUT HAVING MURDERED A PRIEST WHO HE CONSIDERED DIRTY.
HE SAID HE WAS AN AVENGING ANGEL SENT DOWN FROM HEAVEN.
BUT TO POLICE, CHIDESTER CHANGES HIS STORY.
HE NOW ADMITS THAT HE ONLY KNEW HIS CUSTOMER AS MIKE.
HE DIDN'T DISCOVER THAT MIKE WAS REALLY FATHER MARTINEZ
UNTIL AFTER HE KILLED HIM.
HE LIED TO ME.
HE SAID HIS NAME WAS MIKE.
IN THE STATEMENT, HE DID SAY
THAT HE WOULD PAY $20 TO LET MIKE PERFORM ORAL SEX ON HIM.
FATHER MARTINEZ INVITES CHIDESTER UP TO HIS ROOM
AT THE CHATEAU LEMOYNE.
AND THAT NIGHT, HE WANTED HIM TO DO OTHER THINGS
THAT CHIDESTER DIDN'T WANT TO DO.
THEN WHAT HAPPENED?
HE EXPLAINED THAT FATHER MARTINEZ WANTED HIM
TO TAKE SEVERAL BATHS AND TO PUT ON SEVERAL CONDOMS
BECAUSE HE WAS INSINUATING OR INFERRING
THAT CHIDESTER WAS NOT CLEAN.
HE STATED THAT FATHER MARTINEZ
HAD PERFORMED ORAL SEX ON HIM BUT HE WANTED TO DO MORE.
FATHER MARTINEZ SUPPOSEDLY TOOK A SWING AT HIM
AND STARTED TO ATTACK MR. CHIDESTER.
AND MR. CHIDESTER SAID AT THAT POINT,
HE JUST CONTINUED TO STAB HIM, ABOUT 20 TO 30 TIMES.
BUT SHERRY FIESTER AND HER TEAM
INSIST THE EVIDENCE DISPROVES CHIDESTER'S SELF-DEFENSE STORY.
THEY CONCLUDED THAT THE PRIEST NEVER ASSAULTED CHIDESTER.
THIS IS SCIENCE,
AND IT IS NOT SOMETHING THAT CAN BE INTERPRETED BUT ONE WAY.
THE PRIEST WAS TRYING TO ESCAPE HIS ATTACKER.
AND THE PERPETRATOR
WAS CONTINUOUSLY INFLICTING PAIN ON HIM.
THE PHYSICAL EVIDENCE OF A CRIME SCENE NEVER LIES.
WHEN HE GOT IN FRONT OF THE POLICE,
HIS STORY CHANGED, AND IT BECAME MORE OF A SELF-DEFENSE EXCUSE
FOR KILLING FATHER RAMON.
THE TWO STORIES DON'T MATCH UP.
HE'S STARTING TO PLOT HIS DEFENSE.
SO HE'S NOT BEING BRAGGADOCIO,
HE'S NOT BRAGGING ABOUT, YOU KNOW, DOING GOD'S WORK.
NOW HE'S JUST TRYING TO DEFEND HIMSELF WHY HE KILLED THE PRIEST.
HE SAID THAT AFTER KILLING FATHER MARTINEZ,
HE SHOWERED AND CHANGED CLOTHES.
HE ACTUALLY TOOK A PAIR OF FATHER MARTINEZ'S PANTS,
AND THOSE PAIR OF PANTS HAD FATHER MARTINEZ'S WALLET.
AT THAT POINT, HE FINALLY OPENED UP THE WALLET
AND REALIZED THAT THE MAN THAT HE HAD JUST STABBED TO DEATH
WAS A PRIEST.
LOOK.
PART OF HIS STATEMENT
WAS THAT THE PRIEST WAS EVIL AND THAT GOD WOULD UNDERSTAND
THAT CHIDESTER DID WHAT HE HAD TO DO.
HE ACTUALLY CONSIDERED HIMSELF THE ANGEL OF DEATH
FOR KILLING THE PRIEST.
I THINK MR. CHIDESTER, IN HIS OWN MIND,
SAW HIMSELF TO BE SOMETHING THAT IN LIFE, HE WASN'T.
HE WAS TRYING TO CULTIVATE SOME KIND OF IMAGE OF HIMSELF
OTHER THAN JUST A POOR KID LIVING ON THE STREETS.
I ALSO BELIEVE THAT MR. CHIDESTER IS A SOCIOPATH.
I DON'T THINK HE HAS ONE REGRET.
I BELIEVE THAT HE GOT A THRILL OUT OF KILLING THIS PERSON.
I THINK HE DID THIS JUST TO DO IT.
ARMED WITH HIS TWISTED CONFESSION,
THE NEW ORLEANS DISTRICT ATTORNEY
CHARGES ROBERT CHIDESTER WITH FIRST-DEGREE MURDER
IN THE DEATH OF FATHER MARTINEZ.
HE SEEKS THE DEATH PENALTY.
THEY HAD TWO COMPETENCY HEARINGS FOR MR. CHIDESTER
WITHIN ONE YEAR.
BOTH TIMES, HE WAS FOUND NOT COMPETENT TO STAND TRIAL.
FINALLY, TWO YEARS LATER IN 2001,
DOCTORS DEEMED CHIDESTER COMPETENT.
BUT JUST BEFORE THE TRIAL BEGINS,
THE NOW-22-YEAR-OLD FORMER STREET HUSTLER
WITHDRAWS HIS PLEA OF NOT GUILTY TO FIRST-DEGREE MURDER
AND PLEADS GUILTY TO MANSLAUGHTER.
HE IS SENTENCED TO 25 YEARS TO LIFE.
WE UNDERSTAND WHY HE GOT THE PLEA DEAL
BECAUSE, OF COURSE, A TRIAL WOULD BE SENSATIONAL.
THE PRIEST'S HOMOSEXUALITY, FRENCH QUARTER, NEW ORLEANS --
THE WHOLE NINE YARDS.
SO IT WAS IN THE BEST INTEREST OF ALL PARTIES
THAT A PLEA DEAL WAS STRUCK.
I BELIEVE THAT THE MARTINEZ FAMILY
IS AT PEACE WITH THE DECISION THAT WE REACHED
AND THE PLEA AND THE SENTENCE THAT WAS HANDED DOWN.
NEW ORLEANS IS ALSO AT PEACE,
AS EACH SPRING, THE ANNUAL CELEBRATION OF MARDI GRAS,
WITH ITS BRILLIANT MASKS AND DANCING SPIRITS,
WINDS ITS WAY THROUGH THE NARROW,
CROWDED STREETS OF THE FRENCH QUARTER.
THE CELEBRATION MARKS THE BEGINNING OF LENT,
THE MOST DEVOUT AND PIOUS SEASON OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH.
IT ALSO MARKS THE ANNIVERSARY
OF THE GRISLY MURDER OF FATHER RAMON MARTINEZ,
WHO IS REMEMBERED FONDLY FOR HIS SERVICE.
THE PARISHIONERS JUST ADORED HIM.
HE WAS A PERSON THAT WAS COMMITTED
TO HIS JOB OF TEACHING.
BUT WHOSE MEMORY IS TAINTED
BY ONE FATEFUL NIGHT
WHEN HIS LIGHT WAS BRUTALLY EXTINGUISHED
BEHIND CLOSED DOORS IN THE CHATEAU LEMOYNE.