Cops Find Missing Teen's Body In Soldier's Bedroom

Hey, how you doing? >> good, boss, and yourself? This is US Marine veteran Eric Banks. Moments after this body cam footage, officers would find his horrifying. secret stuffed inside his bedroom wall. And I did my own. What's up? 95 95 We went in there and. saw the boy laying there. I'm just. trying to drug him out where he is now. We did what we could. All right. Are you. good? All right. I was supposed to call. you now.

Eric, who is also an active officer for. Baltimore PD, thinks he can use his. experience to cover up his vile murder. What follows is amongst the most. disturbing collections of criminal case. files ever uploaded to YouTube. Stop. I'm buckling. What are. >> You are risking my life right now. I. don't care. Stop. What are you doing? Who is this person? Dad. And then he also told me that Daddy made. him interested in going in the bathroom. and cover their eyes. Strangled? I don't. know.

On July 7th in Millersville, Maryland, two officers arrive at the home of Eric. Banks Jr. After his wife reported that. their 15-year-old son, Dayson, was. potentially missing. The report was. relatively standard for them, but the. reality awaiting them is more horrifying. than they could have imagined. Son not moving. He's laying in the. hallway.

>> [music]. >> Officers report hearing loud bangs from. the upstairs of the home. However, nobody comes to answer the door. After. multiple minutes of waiting, an. out-of-breath Eric finally greets the. officers. Hey, how you doing? >> I'm doing good, boss, and yourself? I'm. doing good. Uh. I had a court warning. I'm out with him. What's going on today, man? He's. supposed to be serving a peace of order. Supposed to be serving it on you or on. Both of us. Okay. The judge just ordered.

us. to stay away from [music] each other. Okay. Sit down, buddy. Sit down. >> Do you all have some sort of like court. order agreement on custody or something? My oldest, I know he ran out. the back door. Somewhere. All his stuff out the back. door. He ran out? >> What's going on, boss? I know you get. >> DJ. I know you get tired of seeing us. Where's DJ? She called him and he went out the back. door. >> here. No. You want to come in? Just let us know if you're being. audited. Oh, hey, I know. I see y'all. got the body cam. Yeah. She said he was. like Does he have a phone? Huh? I took.

my I took my phones back. Okay. Yeah. So, all the phones are on my plan. I'm. separating everything. And you have no. idea where you just let a 15-year-old. walk out of your house with all his bags. packed. No. His bags out the back door. I would I literally told him wait for. your mom to get here. She's supposed the. police supposed to come here to serve. her a piece of protective order. The. judge told her to call you guys before. she comes to I'm not trying to get in. trouble. I understand. Eric and his. wife, Latrice, had both individually. filed a protective order against each. other, making it illegal to speak to one. another without a police escort.

However, since Eric is not the. biological father of Dayson, Latrice had. custodial rights to him, which is why he. was packing his belongings as he and. Latrice were preparing to leave the. residence. Dayson's disappearance on the. very day he and his mom were supposed to. move out makes the situation even more. unusual. So, officers continue speaking. with Eric hoping to understand the. family dynamic and gather any clues that. might point to where Dayson is. But, what Eric says next only raises their.

suspicions even further. So, she's. supposed to called you to come meet You. all have no idea where DJ is. Honestly, bro, no. I I I like With no phone or. anything. You can check the ADT. It. shows where he ran out the door. >> you, but I mean. I'm not like I'm not going to fight. I'm. not going to do anything. >> listen, it's a 15-year-old boy having a. phone probably would have been if he's. walking out of the house probably would. have been a good idea to leave him where. they are. Then you can work out those. kinks later. Cuz see this is the thing, this is getting messy, man. >> Yeah, I tried to tell him. I said I I. said sit here, wait for your mom to get. here. I went upstairs. Before I can come.

downstairs, he's already going out the. back door. So, she I guess she. coordinated cuz she's somewhere in the. area, I'm presuming. Okay. So, she. pretty much coordinated with him to come. out there. Okay. All right, hang tight. >> All right. >> All right. Sitting beside Eric are his. two sons, 5-year-old Evan Banks and. 3-year-old Tristan Banks. Officers. didn't know it at the time, but these. two would play a pivotal role in. uncovering the horrifying scene that. just happened inside their home. But for. now, Officer Sutton goes back to his.

patrol vehicle to run a registration. He. identifies the suspect as 34-year-old. Eric Banks Jr., an officer for the. Baltimore Police Department. He's been. an active officer since 2018 and also. carries 10 years of service in the. United States Marine Corps. After. speaking with neighbors of Eric, who. provided minimal additional information, officers would confront Eric once again, this time sternly, to figure out what. was going on. It's here that Eric would. explain his alibi, one he had come up.

with just minutes ago. found out about. the whole situation. His mom That's that's that's that's. neither here nor there. It's not. >> is it This is what I'm trying to tell. you. He was Me and him sat at the table, he. cried to me yesterday. He said he don't. want to He don't want the separation. He. like he know we separated before. >> he talking about? He said he's tired of. it. He's tired of feeling like he has to. choose sides. He's 50 He's a teeny. He. knows where he He don't want to be He's. like, "I don't want to be in separate. homes." like that. And we sat there. talking I said, "DJ, it's it's nothing. really we could do. I'm not going to. change the way I love you, care for. you." We We had a whole deep.

heart-to-heart conversation. Today, we. went to court. The judge awarded him and I called him. I said, "DJ, I guess. >> [music]. >> your mom told you the judge you wanted. to go with her and you're going to go. there." He's like, "What? I don't" I was. like, "Well, start packing your bags cuz. you're going with her. You're going with. your mom. It's unfortunately I guess. you're not coming back here." And that's. that was just that. She called him. They. had a conversation. I said, "What did. your mom say?" She on her way to come. pick you up. He said, "Yeah, but she's. supposed to come here." I said, "Well, we're going to wait cuz before she come. here there's some type of altercation, there needs to be police here. They can. escort her, grab whatever she needs to.

grab, and we go about this peacefully.". [music] Next thing you know, I went. upstairs. I come down. So, do you think. he he leave here. because he didn't want to go with his. mom, either? Uh. That could be He could be like hiding. out at a friend's house? I mean, yes, or. no? >> Yeah, that's that's that's what I'm. saying. Yeah, in my opinion, I think. that's That's probably is the best. because if he told her he's somewhere. he's not, he's not here. >> messages from her. I have food for you, okay. So, it sound. like he wanted to go be with his mom. >> Yeah. So, that's what I'm saying. All right. All right, just put the bags inside for. now and we'll we'll try to figure this. thing out.

>> All right, brother. Yeah. Officers would spend another 15 minutes. canvassing the area in hopes of finding. Dayson, but would again come up. clueless. So, they decide to try calling. Dayson's mother, Latrice, but are unable. to get a hold of her either. So, in a. desperate attempt relevant lead, they. decide to ask Eric if he'd voluntarily. consent to a search inside the home. hoping Dayson may be hiding inside. No. one expected that this simple request. would soon alter both their and Eric's.

lives forever. I just want to make sure. he's not in the house. >> That's fine. I'll do it with you then. since we're here. Hey Buck, I just want. to make sure he's not hiding. All right. All right. The two of them The one with the bunk. bed over there? Yeah. This is the kids'. room. DJ! This is my room, right?

In Officer Adams' report of the. incident, he notes that at this point in. their home search, Eric's demeanor had. changed. He advised Eric to relax and. let them freely search the home. They. proceed to make their way to the third. floor of the home, the floor which. stores Eric's chilling secret. Before we. get to that, if you want to start eating.

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by plan. All right, Dustin. I'll see you inside. Is this always down? No, this is where. my This is where my cousin You think I'm. going to touch that? Come on, man. >> [clears throat]. >> So, this is where my cousin Okay. You got your little light on your phone? >> Yes, I do. You got a light? Back back. up. Okay. Can I dim on you? You need to back it. up. What's up? All right, bye. I'm going. to go. All right. What's up, bro? All right, bye.

Inside the hole in Eric's bedroom lies. Dason's deceased body, already cold to. the touch, Eric forgot to fully close. the hole [music] before meeting with the. officers. The gruesome discovery would. leave the two officers in shock. They. try to keep their composure while. transporting Eric to a patrol vehicle. What's up? They came right now. All right, where we. starting at again?

I have one sock now. All right. DJ. DJ He's got one sock on right now. DJ. What's up? What happened? Let's go to the car, all right? Yeah, let's go to the car. You want to. in the front of the car. All right, yes. Oh, in the front of the car. No, 20. Here, let me move one thing out. of your way. All right, great. All right, just let's see if I can move. it. All right. While Eric is being detained, Officer. Vaz attempts life-saving measures on. Dayson, noting that his condition. appeared consistent with an unresponsive.

individual. He also notes that Dayson. was shirtless and that his jeans were. heavily soaked with moisture from an. unknown source. Outside the home, Eric. is temporarily placed in the patrol. vehicle, but within moments, the. situation begins to spiral out of the. officers' control. As well. Stay seated. Yeah, one sock. here. All right, yeah. I need you to. stay seated, okay? >> Okay, I'm going to mark the uh All. right, go ahead. I don't want to go to. Can I can I just kiss my boys real. quick? No, no, no, no, no, no, stay.

seated now. I need you to stay in the. car, all right? Just let me kiss my. boys. Look, listen. Yeah, I got you, bro. Just let me kiss my boys. >> Stay in the car. Look, just let me kiss. Stay in the car. Just I'm just saying. like can some kid Just let me kiss my. boys real quick, bro. All right, I'm. going to tell him. I'm going to tell. him. All right, go ahead. I'm going to. tell him. Shut up. Bastard. I'm going to. tell him. I'm going to tell him. I think you just. Here, I'm going to sit here. I'm going. to listen. Just let me All right, stand. up, turn around. Don't Don't do. anything. Stay in the car. Stay in the. car. Stay up against the.

All right, good. Okay. All right, now get back in. Hey! Bro, I'm not doing it. Stop. running. What are you doing? I just want to kiss my boy, bro. My boy. Just let me kiss my boy. Get back in the. car. All right, come on. Come on. Come on. Hey Eric, stop. The car. >> [music]. >> is. parked at the corner of Hilltop. Stay in there. You're not coming out no. matter what. >> All right, bro. Without additional units on scene,

Officer Sutton struggles to keep Eric. restrained. Sutton attempts to secure. Eric's handcuffs using a double lock, a. mechanism that prevents cuffs from. tightening or being manipulated. However, Eric uses his police experience. to exploit this, and while his previous. attempts at evasion have failed, he'd. make one more, final, far more violent. attempt to get away. Hey, boy. Try to grab a gun. Hey, boy. TRY TO GRAB A GUN.

STOP! Get in the car, [ __ ]. Get in the car. I'm in here. Turn him out. Turn him out. Turn him. out. Turn him out. Want to try him out? I'll try him. 38. 10-28. 352 on that one. Stop. Stop. Stop.

Can't stop. Yes, you can. >> My wrist. And my hand's going numb. Put. your hands behind your Yeah. I can't. My. hand's going numb. All right, turn them. over. Stop. Hey, hold on. >> you broke it. It's numb. All right. Stay where you are. Stay here. I am staying here, but I told. you it's broke. All right, I'm moving. your legs. All right. Take a deep. breath. I am. You might listen. If we're. going around like this, it's going to. make it worse. I know. All right. Well, I want you We're done. Just get up. We're not done here. I want you to We're. not done. All right, see. We're going to. take you to the hospital. All right. All. right. Uh-huh. Well, this is not. wrestling anymore. This is kind of [ __ ]. that I like.

You're sweating and I'm sweating. Can we be done? I want to be. All right. Well, let's go to the. hospital. I don't need to wrestle on the ground. Is that helping anything? No, it's not. All right. All right. Okay. Okay. Eric attempts to unholster Officer. Sutton's service weapon, eventually. managing to loosen it and nearly. knocking [music] it to the ground. Fortunately, Eric's handcuffs prevented. him from causing any further harm. As. the chaotic scene finally settles, officers briefly discuss the frantic. [music] events that just unfolded. I go. up to Subway to meet her. I wanted to.

make sure he didn't go to Subway in this. location. Come back here. I said, "Let. me just check the house.". He started getting real weird. I'm like, "Will you just stay back?" He was going. to go up and sit down. He started getting real weird. I'm like, "No, I can check the house. You stay. back. You stay back. Stay back. Stay. back." I go up and wait off because he. wouldn't be up here. There's an attic thing. I'm going to screw in it. Looked in. there and saw the boy laying there. I. was probably going to drag him out where. he is now and deal with him. I I knew where he used to live when I. was little boy living there. I mean, 5. minutes. 15 and a half year. I mean, asked for.

more units to start to see if he was. drug or not and start to see if he. Okay. All right. Are you good? >> I almost fell you out. You're good. You're not hurt. No, I'm. Should have done that If I had known If. I had just did that first. Almost. I'm going to take the whole block off. Fix you. Hey. Hey. My app. Steve, heck yeah. Come on. I was going I. was going to do do still CPR.

Sorry, partner. You know that. It's a What's the 10-7? Uh 1448 [music]. inside. Yeah, like Apparently, well, he. went upstairs to check the house. >> in the attic. I was already in the. attic. So, apparently, yeah. What's up? There's like a kind of steep area and my. partner went by. My partner looked in. there. He was a 95. I don't know if he was going to line up. with me and took him to my car. He. unbuckled. I I [music] gave him an opportunity. because I needed to double lock his and. then. he he unbuckled himself went out of it. Crap. EMS attempted [music] to perform CPR on. Dayson, but it was too late. Dayson was.

declared deceased shortly after by EMS. What officers uncovered with Dayson was. only the beginning. As [music] the. investigation deepens, Eric's children. would reveal further secrets painting an. even darker picture of the reality. behind closed doors. For now, the decision is made to take. Eric, his children, and his ex-wife. Latrice to the police station. Everyone. would eventually make it to the station. Each separated into their own individual. rooms awaiting intense interrogation.

Eric would be left alone to hopefully. calm down and collect his thoughts. Meanwhile, detectives speak with both. Latrice and her child Evan hoping to. collect more information that can be. used when speaking with their main. suspect. They start with Latrice asking. her what kind of person Dayson was. At. this point, detectives are considering. the possibility that he and Eric may. have gotten into a fight that somehow. escalated into tragedy. But what Latrice. describes denies that theory completely.

and makes Dayson's case even more. heartbreaking. Can you sit a little bit. closer over here with me? >> Yeah. There's a lot of specific questions that. I wanted to talk to you about. Can you. describe DJ? Was he an argumentative. person? Was he a quiet person? So, Dayson. was more of a quiet person. Mhm. Um until he got to know you, but he was. always mannered. [music] He talked to a.

lot of adults. He but he's never was disrespectful or. any of that. I had teachers from his. elementary, the principal, middle. school, they all showed up for my son. He was that type of child. You know when. teachers come. Would you say he was a sweet boy? He was. very sweet and always willing to help. That was one of the things across the. board. Always willing to help. In the. loft? In the crawl [music] space in the loft? What was normally kept in there?

Nothing. Uh safes? Nothing. Was that ever left open? >> No. It was always [music] screwed It was. always closed. Okay. >> Cuz I don't like it. Like it it freaked. me out. There is a light switch in. there? Okay. So I was like, where's that. light coming from? And I turned [music]. the light switch off. But I don't know, maybe it was him. So let's talk about. that. You called me and you said that. you saw him, you viewed him at the. funeral home. Are you okay? Yeah. [music] Okay. And it was before he was. embalmed because I wanted to see him. Right. And you saw new bruises?

>> Yes. Where did you see new bruises? On. his nose. Like that circular dark mark. on his upper nose. His lip lip busted also. Mhm. Like that. wasn't there. And then his eyes were. like purple. I don't like They were. puffy and purple. >> Yeah. It it looked to me like he was in. a fight. And my son doesn't fight. Dayson's autopsy report ruled his cause.

of death as asphyxiation, which in. combination with the bruises and marks. on his face implied he was likely. strangled [music] to death. I knew it. And he was my baby. So I knew it. >> [music]. >> I I still have. those feelings that No, I'm not happy. with cuz to me it [music] doesn't say I. did it, but it says there's enough. evidence to say I did it. So, you know, let's just say you did it then. Latrice. [music] makes it clear she believes Eric. is responsible, even though she didn't.

witness the incident [music] herself. But her son Evan, seated just three. doors down in his own interview room, has information that could take the. investigation even further. How are you? Good. Good. You said your. name is Evan, is that correct? And do. you know how to spell your name? You can go ahead and write it down. Evan, okay. Nice handwriting. And how. old are you? Seven. Seven? You want to. write seven for me? Okay. So I I don't.

forget. Sometimes I forget. Notice the. harsh contrast between interview rooms. Evan is sitting in the department's. safety room, a space created to provide. comfort and reduce stress for victims. and young children involved in sensitive. cases. His interviewer, Miwa, is a. forensic interviewer for Maryland, trained specifically to speak with. children and family members connected to. a criminal investigation. And because. Evan is only 7 years old, you'll notice. a drastic difference in how his. interview is conducted.

>> My job is to talk to kids and families. all the time, and today I get to talk to. you. Mhm. And I, you know, we talk about. a lot of different things in this room, and this is called the safe room because. um anything we talk about is always. safe, and you're not in any trouble. You're just I'm just here to listen to. you and talk to you. Okay. Miwa explains. to Evan that everything is being. recorded and that he is not in trouble, but rather just there to help him out. She spends 15 minutes talking about. movies and more of Evan's interests to.

help him get more comfortable before. discussing the day of Dayson's murder. And Evan, who do you live with? Mhm, my. mom. Your mom? And Tristan. Mhm. Anyone else? Mhm, I live with Tristan. Mhm. And then my dad. Okay. Okay. And do you know what you're here to talk. about today? Mhm. >> [clears throat]. >> No? So, um tell me a little bit about. your family. Mhm, Tristan. Tristan he likes to fight.

and plays and steal toys from others. I. like the color and then I also like kids. pop interesting. And you said you also. live with the DJ, is that right? Mhm, and then mom and Tristan. So, DJ, how. old is DJ? Uh 15. 15? Um tell me about. DJ. DJ like going in the water, giggling.

And he. can't really remember all the stuff he. needs to do. But he love playing Roblox games. Tell. me about the last time you saw DJ. Mhm. My mom wasn't at the house. Tell me who. was at the house. Dad and then DJ. Mhm. And then me. DJ was going in his. room with mommy. And then daddy was waiting at the door.

with DJ. [music]. DJ put his bags in the basement and then. I don't remember what happened next. That's all I remember. Okay. Miwah would. tell Evan to draw the last time he saw. Dayson and he'd draw the staircase. leading to the home's loft. The same. staircase Eric has dragged Dayson's body. up. And so, who is this person? That was DJ. That was DJ? Where was dad? Right here. Oh, okay. So, dad was up.

here and then DJ was right there? Okay. Where did they go after? And they. never went anywhere. They were just. waiting up the steps. Oh, they were. waiting up the steps? Who was he waiting. for or what was he waiting for? >> And he was waiting till mom came. Oh. Like DJ. Did that happen? Mhm, not yet. Not yet? Was there anything that you worried. about on that day? Mhm, no. I wonder if there's anything that you. were scared about that day.

Mhm, I wasn't scared. Evan struggles to. reveal the details of the events he saw. that day, likely due [music] to the. discomfort of speaking with a stranger. in a police station, but the information. he gave his mother on the day of the. incident provides far clearer insight. into the disturbing events he saw. >> You said that one of your children said. something to you? Evan. Evan, and what. did Evan say? That he saw Daddy bring DJ. upstairs. And I said, "Where were you?" And he. said he was in the living room.

I just didn't want to pry too much, but. then I said, "Oh, was DJ sleeping?" He. said, "No, he wasn't snoring.". And then I said, "Was he moving?". And he was just like, "No.". And then he also told me that Daddy made. him and Tristan go in the bathroom. and cover their eyes. Okay. >> But this was before. This was when the. police first knocked at the door. Okay. Evan didn't say anything about the knock. because he told them to go in the. bathroom first. So, I'm a little.

confused of like the order, so I don't. know if that's maybe when he was going. to let [clears throat] the police in, but Evan did say he saw that. Um and he he was in the living room cuz. he told me he was watching Loki. In. addition to these grim details, Latrice. would go on to explain how Eric's life. had begun to collapse all in synchrony. Due to the protective peace order. Latrice had filed, Eric was suspended. from the Baltimore Police Department the. very same day of Jason's death. He had.

just separated from his wife, was about. to lose his children, and was now left. without a job. Latrice also explained. that the peace order she filed was not. her first attempt [music] to separate. herself from Eric. Months prior, Latrice. filed her first peace protective order. writing, [music] "I am in fear for my. life and well-being because Eric Banks. keeps trying to control, follow, and. emotionally abuse myself and my sons.". The order was denied, however, and it. wasn't until months later that her.

second attempt was granted. It was clear. Eric's life was falling apart leading up. to Dayson's death. Eric had hidden his. body, lied to officers regarding his. whereabouts, and had a violent outburst. once the body was discovered. It'd be. hard to assume that he wasn't directly. implicated in Dayson's death. But, evidence alone wouldn't be nearly enough. to get him to confess. After all, he was. a police officer of 10 years and knew. how the criminal justice system worked. just as well as any interrogator working.

against him. But, unfortunately for. Eric, the interrogation he was about to. undergo would crack even the most. well-trained of suspects. Eric is placed into an Anne Arundel. County interview room 2B. This room was. designed for priority matters, exclusive. to high-profile cases. Because Eric had. attempted to attack an officer earlier. in the day, he's been handcuffed to the. table to restrict movement. Eric is left. alone for multiple hours as the. detectives prepare for his.

interrogation. While waiting, he can be. seen glancing around the room multiple. times, likely searching for a camera. What Eric didn't know is interview room. 2B. has a small camera placed in an unusual. location, which Eric never managed to. spot. The primary investigator assigned. to this case is [music] Detective Lewis. Adrian. His prior service in the United. States military likely factored into the. department's strategic choice to have. him conduct the interview. This shared. background enables Adrian to establish.

rapport with Eric, a key component in. the upcoming interaction. So, um. you know why we're here. We want to talk. about what happened. Mhm. Um why it. happened, and anything surrounding that. whole situation. But, you know as well. as all of us that we have to go through. Miranda with you. Um so, what I'm going. to do is we're just going to go through. Miranda first of all and then I'll start. getting all the other information, okay? After reading Eric his rights, the. detectives would spend nearly an hour.

[music] connecting with Eric and bonding. over their shared military experience. He's like, "No, you come in. You're in. front." Okay, we go back in the We're. about to go in the building like, "You're in front." She's like, "But I. thought you said you were like, uh-uh. There's some people who were made to do. you know to do certain things." And then. I said, "I'm not made to be a front. person.". >> [laughter]. >> Yeah, but so I'm running a block and and. I remember it. So, I was like, "Hey, whoever that officer is right there. running, just keep going. Keep going cuz. you're about to run right to him." And. out of nowhere these two guys just come. out, pop out and I'm like, "Okay, I got. him.".

And he just fell over and he was like, he was like, he was like, "Yeah, whoever. that was running, he was moving and you. just ran." And I was like, he was like, "Don't." Cuz I was slowing down like. trying to look. He was like, "No, keep. going." And I'm running like, "Okay, you're going to tell me when?" This. friendly conversation appeared to take. Eric out of the intense mental [music]. state. It appeared that Eric sharing his. favorite moments from the military gave. him a sense of importance, like he had. an identity he was proud of or at least. used to be. But that moment is. short-lived as he's quickly brought back. to the reality of why he's sitting.

inside a police interrogation room. So, you you spent 3 years and you at you're. still active in the Baltimore City. Police Department. Yes, sir. Has So, from what I hear, you're suspended. >> No, I'm not suspended now. I'm going to. be suspended, yes. Okay. Why? Can you. tell me what's what's going on with. that? May 8th, I got a peace and protect. order against my wife. Okay. Um And. you've got one against her? Yeah, I got. one against her. Uh same day, she took the firearms out. the house. She took the safe out of our. home. You know, Anne Arundel County did. press charges. Um was it a They pressed.

charges against you guys or Her for. taking. the safe with the firearms. The. firearms. Yes, sir. And were they your. duty firearms? >> Duty firearm. My whole full duty belt. was in there. Okay. Um firearm, taser, magazine pouches, everything was in. there. She turned around and went and. got a peace order on me Okay. saying. that I was following her. But when she. got it, that's when pretty much after. she got the peace order, her mom sent my. mom something talking about I was. following her, this and that. I'm like, "How? I'm here at work. How are you.

saying that I was following?" I was. like, "There's no way." That's when we. both ended up at the courthouse and I. was and I was like, cuz I have like, "I'm going to put a stop to this." So I. let the clerk know and I'm like, "I. don't know what's going on, but every. time that. um my wife trying to leave or something. or something's trying to happen. secretly, there's a peace order for me. to get kicked out the house." And I was. like, "That's your people." And that's. when they brought us both in. So we both. got seen by the judge and he granted us. a peace order for both of us to stay. away from each other. >> Okay. Yeah. You know what I'm saying?

That was just was it 2 days ago? Okay. >> Or was it No. Monday? No, no, yesterday. It was just yesterday. Yesterday. >> Tuesday, yeah. So y'all met with the. judge Tuesday. And you're still. suspended up until this point? >> Yeah, I'm still suspended. So when maybe. I I maybe it's the way Baltimore works. and also the way our stuff is. So you. have the peace order, she gets one on. you and then it gets denied. denied. And. then I I have to do that for parole. Yeah, they said I. >> you're still suspended even though it's. been cleared up. >> Yes. Got you. Okay. At this point, the. detectives had no reason to assume Eric.

was lying. He'd been open and honest. with them the entire time and seemed. rather friendly. It isn't until they. begin discussing the day of the incident. that investigators realize Eric's. perceived honesty had all been a. calculated act. So yesterday we go. Yesterday we go to court, get the peace. and protective orders. They grant the. whole motion, I mean, for us to stay. away from each other. Two youngest boys. both stay with me. The oldest, he's. going to Arizona with his mother. And. she's like she tells the judge like. that's what he want to do but something. So right after that, you know, call him.

and say, "Hey, start packing your bags. You know, you're going to be going with. your mom." He's like, "Why? Why?" I'm. like, "Your mom said you wanted this. This is what you're supposed to do you. know, I guess I I know. I didn't have. that conversation." Previously to that, me and him had literally just sat down. at the table cuz I could tell that my. son was like depressed and he was going. through some like that's really what our. trip to on the first was like just to. try to get him away, get him out. We sat. down at the table and I'm like, "What's. going on with you? How do How are you. feeling about this? Where are you at. with this?" And he's like, "Um honestly.

I don't know." He's like, "I hate it. I. don't feel like I I don't want to feel. like I'm choosing sides. Um I just want to be left alone by. everybody cuz then it's like they're. calling me telling me this and this and. this and that and it's like I got to um. keep certain things from you so like I. don't. want to keep I don't want to be a part. of this. Um he's like, "I'm tired." So I. said, "You just go and start packing. your bags." And he's like, "Okay." We. wait, I get my paperwork. I come home and. on my way home it's like I just feel. like I was done. Like, you know what? Today's going to be the day I'm going to. do it. Two two.

Okay. Yeah. Um I feel like my family was falling. apart. I'm suspended from work. Um possibly going to leave my job. So it. was like Just building. Keep Keep Just. keep going. So he goes like vendetta. I. even sent a text to say I don't know why. we we feel like we have to be at war. Like we shouldn't have to be at war. I. was like, "If you I would [music] lying. to these guys so like you got to get you. What are you like What are you trying to. move in with them? You know, telling. them that you're living in hotels when. you're not, you're staying with your. mom. Like what are you doing?" So at. this point he's like, "You know what?

I'm just tired." Yeah, and tired of it. It's It's It's a way out to get peace, I. guess. Yeah, a lot of people go through. that, man. And it was just was like. nothing. I felt like everything was just. coming to an end. And I feel like that. now. Like honestly I'm everything's. coming to an end. I was like, "You know. what? You're just going to do it." He is. He is um So when you got home yesterday, Mhm. um was there anyone in the house? Yes, it was um the son was in the house. Okay. Everyone was in the house and. Tristan was in the house. >> So you go in there and you're doing all. this stuff, right? I go in there and I. go Yeah, I go in there um I see him.

upstairs like he got his bags packed. I. had to go and take your stuff downstairs. when your mom's come. And she called. him. He's like, "Mom's calling." He was. like, "What do I say to her?" I say, "You know, tell her what do you know, just talk to her like you know what she. told you whatever." And he answers the. phone and they have a conversation. I. was like, "Okay, what she say?" She said. she said she said she's going to be in. the area just bring my stuff downstairs. I said, "Okay, cool." I said, "So the. police should be coming and when they. come. everything will go smoothly." This is. the moment where Eric's act begins. Notice how he begins looking blankly.

into the ceiling as he recounts critical. moments. For the last hour, Eric hardly. looked up to the ceiling once. >> I go downstairs and I'm in the kitchen. I just made a [music] big bowl of uh. Who was it? Gatorade. Not a big bowl but a big. pitcher of Gatorade. It's blue. It's. probably still I believe it's still on. the counter. >> Mhm. But I like I said, you said you. never went to the hospital. Um the bag. of crushed up pills that I had was right. there. The son came downstairs. He He asked me something. He was like um.

What is it he say? [music]. He came downstairs before he came. downstairs he asked me something. And I. can't remember what he said exactly but. he was like asked me uh what was it? About uh. I think it was believe it was something. like that. I said, "The son just wait. just we're not going to like cuz he was. like I don't want to go he was just. telling me that he didn't want to go and. [ __ ] like that. I said, "Look, just. wait. We're not going to talk about [ __ ]. cuz I like I'll take your brothers to. your mom's house and I'll be coming. back." I said, "If your mom gets here. with the police you probably get back. and force you got to go with her. That's.

just the way it is." He's upstairs. I'm. on the mattress. I told Tristan I said, "Tristan, go get your shoes." Tristan. said, "Okay." So Tristan goes he goes. upstairs he gets his shoes. >> [music]. >> He comes he's like, "Daddy, what's wrong. with DJ?". I'm like, "Huh?". So then I go upstairs and DJ's in the. He's in the bath He's in the bathroom. He's in the tub. That's when. I seen him. I was like, "What the fuck?". I That's when I pulled him out the tub. and as I'm pulling him out the tub I. laid him flat on his back on the floor.

Mhm. And then. What is it uh uh. at that time, then I was not sure, I think it was El. Atrisco. He was like, "There's somebody. at the door.". And I'm just looking at my feet and I'm. like, "What the [ __ ] is this?". I'm like, "What the [ __ ] is this?". Eric makes [music] his story clear. He. had planned to end his life, but. coincidentally, Jason had the same plan. and did it first. That's an extremely. complex alibi and only becomes more.

unlikely after Eric explains why Jason's. body ended up hidden inside his bedroom. So, I go downstairs, go to the front. door. The officer said, Okay. And I panicked. I was like, "I don't. know what the [ __ ] to say." So, he asked. me, he was like, "Hey, um what's going. on?" I start talking to him, telling him. what's going on. He was it. What did he say? He said, "So, what's the situation?" And. I tell him on the situation. I was like, "Uh you know, my wife, she's.

we were waiting on y'all to come, you. know, y'all were supposed to be serving. her with a piece of protective order.". And when I He's like, "She was Yeah, she. was supposed She was supposed to be. like, "Yeah, she was supposed to be. picking up outside." And he was like, "Uh is she here?" And at the time, he. was still [music] He was upstairs on the. floor. Okay. In the bathroom. When he said, "Was she here?" My mind I. was like, "No.". Okay. >> Yeah. You panicked. [music] Yeah. Um cuz. it already looked bad. I already moved. him. And I was like, "What are you going to. do about it?" Yeah. >> Um was it And when [music].

was it uh. when I got out of the bathtub, I asked. the officer and some other officer came. and joined and you could see I asked him. like, "Can I go in the house, you know, use the bathroom real quick?" I remember. I was asking that and he was like, he. was like, "No, no, just wait. Just wait. Just wait. Okay." Then the other officer. showed up. And then when he showed up, he's asking, he's like, "So, um is the. son here?" Still the same thing. I told. him, "No." I I should have said, "Yes.". You know, sh. Yeah, I mean, in a perfect world, I knew. my state of mind. My state of mind was to kill Eric. Okay. And now let me ask you this, is that why.

um cuz I did watch some of the footage. when they went to loosen your handcuffs, you kind of got a little silly on them. Do you remember that? Yeah. What was. your I mean, you went for the officer's. gun. What was up with that? Well, when I first before we get to that, when. I first went back in the house, when the. officer told me I had to tall officer, he told me um he said uh go get the. son's phone. >> Mhm. I ran upstairs. His phone was in. the in the bathroom on the counter. Okay. So I run upstairs. and I get the phone. Cuz he wait wait. let me back up before I did that. I. asked him, I said, "Can I go upstairs?

Can I use the Can I go and use the. bathroom?" So that means he wanted to. shut the door. He said he said, "No, no, just wait." And then the other officer. he was like, "Well, go um I need you to. go grab the son's phone." I ran up grab. it. And I'm still and I shut the. bathroom door. And I'm still nervous. >> Which bathroom was it? Was it the one in. the master or the small? >> No, the small one. The small one in the. hallway. And I'm still shaking up. Um. and then when. uh come back downstairs, I go I was. I go out the door. I give him the phone. And I'm still shaking my hand like and. everything's in my head saying like, all.

right, just. just say what you saw. But then. then my other part of me is like, my son. just did this. Right. Objectively, Eric's story hits all the. points. He has an excuse for almost. every suspicious detail, even finding a. way to explain why blood was found all. over his house. The issue is that these. details are simply too coincidental to. ever. And even Eric knows this. I don't know. why I just was like, I got to move him.

I did the picked him up, did the fireman. carry. Took him out of the bathroom. into the master bedroom up the stairs. And I was like, [music]. cuz I know they're going to want to come. back in the house and search it. I was like, "I'm going to be cool. I'm. fine with that." I'm I was going to let. them search it. And I talked him in. >> [music]. >> shoo. I talked him in the. the area. And then and. I left the thing over it. So when you. sitting there and you talking like the. little. >> pros crawl space. All right. Yeah. All. right. [music] But getting back to that. when he came in, they searched the. house. They went upstairs. And he seen the thing open up from the. officer. When he asked, I panicked and I.

was like, >> [music]. >> "Yeah, this is where I keep my safe.". Well, whatever. But just something was. in there. >> Just something was in there. And. >> [music]. >> they put the handcuffs on me. I went back downstairs. When they. brought me downstairs, I was like, "My life is over." Because it looks. different. It's [music] no matter what I. say from this point, it looks like I'm. lying. I was like, "I lied because I. already lied twice." You asked me to. sign anything else. I said, "No.". You asked me did I know where he went. I. said, "No, I think he he probably went. back there or something." And you know, so it always looked bad because I'm.

already done told you a lie. Even though in my head it's like, "You. probably should have just said the. truth. You probably only should have. just left him where he was at.". >> [music]. >> Call the Call Call police or done fire. fire or whatever. Yeah, call the police. or. But the times we But I was already in I. was I mean I. I wasn't even I was already in the. master bedroom. Eric's going to die. today. Okay. The detectives decide to take a. break and discuss what their next plans. would be. At this point, they both know. Eric is lying to their faces. So, the. goal for the rest of the interrogation.

will be to get Eric to admit to his lies. and ultimately confess to the murder. To. do this, they decide on Detective Adrian. conducting the rest of the interrogation. alone since one-on-one confrontation is. generally considered to be more. effective. Adrian would return with a. clearly [music] different demeanor from. earlier. He's stern and wastes no time. in asserting that his [music] nice cop. act is over. Are you good? You need anything before. we get started again? >> No, I'm good. Are you sure? All right. So, Detective uh Detective Pizarro had.

to step aside just for a second. Um but what I wanted to do, like I told. you, I wanted to come back and go back. over some things with you. I actually. wanted wanted to go back and in detail. just go through [music]. some of these steps. Um Eric would. recount his story exactly the same as. before, claiming he simply found Jason. dead and had nothing to do with it. And. it seemed as though Detective Adrian had. nothing concrete to combat Eric's lies. That was until he brought out Jason's. autopsy report. [music].

>> I'm going to tell you this. I know that. you spent 10 years in the military. >> Mhm. And [clears throat]. you you were in the Marines, weren't. you? >> Yes. What's their whole thing in the. Marines? Like [music]. What what do they always teach? Honor, integrity. Honor, courage, commitment. >> Yeah. And to be honest with you, I don't see. that from you right now based on what. you're telling me. I think you're. telling me something different. Okay. >> But I know you're a Marine. Okay. I know. a lot of people that's Marines, man. And and that's one thing that they would.

like integrity, honor. No, you don't. mess with that if you're a Marine. >> Yes. I know you want to tell me the. truth and and you're sitting here like. giving me a story. You're giving me. you're giving me what I want to hear. just to sound good, but it's not it. That's not it. Trust me, I'm not trying. to sound good to you. And then I'm going. to tell you the I'm going to tell you. the other thing. And I'm going to be straight up with. you. >> Yeah. You keep talking about the autopsy. >> [music]. >> The autopsy said he was strangled. Hell, no.

The autopsy said he was strangled. Hell, no. Hell to the no, no, no. Hell to the no, DJ was not strangled. Hell to the no. I'm going to just let it sink in and and. let you you decide what you're going to. do. Explain that to. His No, DJ wasn't strangled. Well, then what happened? Tell me what. happened. >> There's no No. DJ was not strangled. DJ, like I told you, DJ went downstairs, he. came back upstairs,

and DJ was he was in that tub. I like I said, when I came in that room, he was in the tub. When I when I grabbed. him out, I grabbed him like this. Like. he was put him in the fireman's carry. When they left, I could drag him up to. my room. If. If that's the case, I would have. left him in there and I would have said. or had them come in there to be like, "But DJ wasn't no strangle.". There was no way No, there was no way he. was DJ wasn't no strangle. Mhm. That's your boy. You had pride in him.

>> Yeah. But you had You had pride in him. You were trying to help him out with his. grades. You were getting him in his STEM. classes and then. this happened. >> But you're saying DJ was strangled? No. Well, then tell me what happened. >> [music]. >> This didn't happen. I'm going to tell. you that right now. This didn't happen. You're saying he wasn't a So No, no, I'm. not saying that. >> [music]. >> I'm not saying that. I believe that. part. But I believe something else happened. Note Eric's lack of emotion when hearing. this information. No tears are shed, but. rather an array of defensive rage. This,

alongside the other countless red flags. Eric is portraying, is a telltale sign. for detectives that a suspect is lying. You need to tell me the whole story. Like I said, DJ when I When we came When. I came in there, DJ was DJ was literally. in that tub. There was no way I'm going. to sit there and strangle DJ. Not in my. home, Tristan. Why would I I don't even. have no I'm I'm going to want to. strangle this boy. I have no nothing against him to want to. strangle him.

Nothing. Okay. No anger in my heart, no. nothing. Cuz then like I said, if I was. going to do that, why would I leave my. other two boys? If I was going to do that, I would have. took all of us out. DJ was not no strangle. So then what happened? Tell me the story. You need to start. You start from scratch. Tell me the. story. DJ was not no strangle. >> Well, then tell me what happened. You're not telling me the truth. Tell me. what happened. Bro, I'm telling you. >> here standing right now. Giving you a. chance right now. You tell You asked me. to tell you that I strangled myself. No,

I didn't. Eric understands the legal system well, well enough to avoid offering a direct. confession when confronted. From. investigators perspective, he knows that. admitting involvement is the worst thing. he can possibly do. Well, besides not. asking for an attorney. Regardless, it's. going to take more than just a heated. confrontation to make Eric crack. So, Detective Adrian resorts to a completely. different approach, empathy. I'm going. to tell you right now the the way.

This is going to be something you have. to live with for the rest of your life. >> Yes, sir. This is something you are going to have. to think about every night before you. close your eyes. And when you close your eyes, you're going to think about what you did. to him. That's what you're going to think about. That's what you're going to think about. what you did to him. And it's going to haunt you for the rest. [music] of your life. Or what you can do. is you can talk to me. You can You can. tell You can tell me what really. happened, and at least that load will be.

off your chest. >> See, you're I'm telling you right now. there's no like [music] you're telling. me to say I strangled my son. I did not strangle my son. That's what. you're asking me. I understand you're. trying to lie with me and you know and. show the compassion trying to like give. me But there's no. There's [music] no There's no me and. strangling DJ at all. >> Okay, so let's take strangle out. There's no me strangling DJ. >> We're taking strangle out of the. equation now. Okay. What [music]. happened? I told you what happened. We're taking strangle out. What. happened? He was upstairs in that tub.

DJ was literally in that tub. >> You didn't put him there. I did not put. him there. No. DJ was physically in that. tub already. When I came to that. bathroom, DJ was in there. Did you assist him [music] at all? No. >> With anything? No, I didn't assist him. at all with nothing. Nothing. I did not. assist him to get in that bathroom. Did. not assist him going in that bathroom. He was upstairs already. Like I said, when I When he went downstairs, he was. downstairs for a good period of time. He. was upstairs in the what's his name? I. was down. Tristan was down. Tristan was. trying to go what's his name with his.

shoe. I was I told him and that's what I. heard said out of his mouth, "Daddy, what's wrong with DJ?" Tristan literally. said that out of his mouth. And I went. up there to check on I didn't see I. don't recall seeing him. don't recall him removing a belt. I. don't recall removing anything that. could have been around his neck. I don't recall removing a. So So here's the thing and and I hate to. frustrate you and I hate to but I also. have a job to do and I also and also. have to get down to the bottom of this. And when I walk through the door Mhm.

and when I hear everything that happened. things don't add up. Things don't make. sense. [music] Okay. They don't make. sense at all. If you would have done. things different, if you would have been. like yes, my son I just found my son in. the tub. I helped him out and told the. officer you know this. Mhm. If you would. have done it that way it would have been. different. But the fact that you didn't, now you're sitting here trying to. explain yourself. Well, I'm sitting here cuz. the whole situation I'm sitting here. because I lied and said he wasn't in the. house. I'm sitting here because I didn't.

tell the officer like you said it's. straight forward what was going on. That's two lies right there. How how. Like you said earlier, how are we. supposed to believe you now? Yeah, and. like I said So you tell you telling me. how am I supposed to strangle How how. did I not assist him [music]. in getting in the tub and I don't know. possibly drowning him? I don't know. No. I don't know. >> [music]. >> But all. >> Cuz even if he even if I drowned him but. here's the thing All I know is that you. keep lying. No, bro. >> You lied initially twice. How do I know. you're not lying right now? Because like. I told you straight forward. I said And.

I And I told you straight forward Bro, because that's why I said in the. beginning I said straight forward I. there's nothing I can say. I said I. already know y'all have done y'all. homework. Laid it all out on the table. I said because there's nothing I can say. that's because I already lied to you. twice. I said he wasn't in the home. I. identified that. I messed that up. because then I see my son is dead. Okay. All right. Do you um. I'm going to I'm going to leave you. alone for a little bit.

um to think about things, but do you. want anything else to drink or anything. to eat? Um I'm good with the water and the. chips. Okay, give me just a second. All. right. All right. You need anything else? Um no, sir. All. right. As the detective leaves, Eric. scans the room thoroughly and finally. notices the camera hidden inside room. 2B. Moments after making eye contact. with the camera, he lets out one last. desperate act. >> [music].

>> Strangled? I don't know. Unfortunately, it'd be too late to act. his way out of the murder. Eric's. testimony was flimsy at best and. Detective Adrian decided he'd gotten. enough to wrap the nearly 5-hour. interview up. Shortly thereafter, Eric. was booked into the Anne Arundel County. Detention Center under charges of. first-degree murder, second-degree. murder, and child abuse resulting in. death. >> [music]. >> At trial, Eric would quickly accept a. plea deal to second-degree murder as.

well as attempting to disarm a police. officer. And on October 4th, 2022, he. was sentenced to 42 years in prison. If. Eric serves his full sentence, he'll be. released in 2064.