Daughter Finds Mother's Decapitated Body In Backyard

Aer, please just come outside. How you doing? Is Martha here? >> No, she's probably in her boyfriend's. house. >> 30 days ago, 53-year-old David Callahan. killed his girlfriend Martha and buried. her body in his own backyard. David. thinks he's gotten away with his. horrific crime. Martha was mentally ill, had few friends, and no one was supposed. to come looking for her. Martha's.

daughter Kim was the only person. concerned about her mother's. whereabouts. >> If I come up missing or dead, it is no. accident. And he has told her before, if. I I'm going to get your ass and nobody's. ever going to find you. >> What's your concern? >> That he killed her. >> Kim thinks David had something to do. with her mother's disappearance. But. with no proof of a crime, officers don't. believe her. >> Would you have been surprised at all if. she's laying dead in there or shoved in. a tunnel? Nothing surprises you.

>> That's like a horror movie. >> However, in the weeks that follow, Kim. will do everything in her power to find. Martha, force police to act, and lead. them to one of the most gruesome. discoveries of their lives. >> Seems like a body part. In the early hours of a Monday morning, police in Akran receive a call from a. woman asking for a restraining order.

against her boyfriend. The caller is. 53-year-old Martha Robin Freightag. She's already known to officers for her. history of schizophrenia and the. frequent domestic disputes involving her. boyfriend, David Callahan. Their. relationship was unstable, constantly. breaking up and getting back together, leaving officers unsure whether each new. call was a real emergency or just. another one of their fights. But this.

time would be different because when. officers arrive at the couple's house, they have no idea that a murder will. take place just minutes from now. And. this will be the last time Martha is. ever seen alive. to go. Really? >> No, I don't like that. >> I know. I really don't like it. >> Hi. Hi. >> Hi. What's going on? >> Us. >> Huh? >> Did you call us? >> Yes, I did.

>> What's going on? >> I'm looking to reinstate some 14 months. ago. I think 10 years, right? >> So, you want to restate something you. already. and they're already investigating it and. you're just telling us about it again. Is that correct? >> Well, I don't know if they're. investigating or not. All I know is I. cry training order them and then I give. a way for her to get some mental help. because he's supposed to go went down. first path. First of all, it's wasn't. supposed to be exploited at all. As. Martha speaks, her words are scattered. and she makes little sense to officers. Her behavior just seems erratic, like.

another episode of confusion or. paranoia. But in reality, Martha is. masking genuine fear that officers don't. pick up on. Because what they don't know. is that her boyfriend David is standing. inside the house waiting for the moment. officers drive off so he can make sure. this is the last time she ever calls. them. Can you come out and do that with a. madman? Right. >> Uh I got a restraining order against him.

and then uh I don't know what what are. you doing over there? >> I'm talking to you. Why are you over. there like that? >> Cuz I want to be. Okay. Walk off to the. guy downtown. >> Okay. >> Okay. >> As strange as it looks, officers don't. think much of the interaction. They walk. away, dismissing Martha as unstable, unaware they've just left her alone with. the very man who's about to kill her. In the hours after police left, David.

snapped. Inside, he was furious that. Martha called the police on him again. He grabbed a wooden axe handle and. struck her in a fit of rage. When she. collapsed, he wrapped a rope around her. neck and pulled until she stopped. moving. Once Martha was dead, David. sealed her body inside a plastic bag and. waited for nightfall. Then, under the. cover of darkness, he carried her. outside, burned her body, and buried it.

in a shallow pit behind the house. To David, it was over. a woman with. schizophrenia, few friends, and a. history of false alarms. No one would. ever come looking for her. What he. completely overlooked is that Martha's. daughter, Kim, will soon be on to him, slowly solving her own mother's brutal. murder. Over the next few days, Martha stops. responding to everyone, including her.

daughter, Kim. And after several days of. silence and no sign of her mother, Kim. contacts police, explaining that. something bad may have happened to. Martha. Officers arranged to meet her at. the house later that day to check on her. mother's welfare. But when Kim and her. husband arrived to meet the officers, it. quickly seems that their concerns won't. be taken seriously at all. >> Neither is a cousin of ours that she. calls all the time. Her brother that she. calls all the time. Nobody's heard from. her. >> She lives here. >> Yeah. You been in?

>> No, I came earlier and knocked and. banged on the door and she was having a. lot of problems with her boyfriend. >> Yeah. >> At some point there was some kind of a. protection order and I don't know. against him. She's paranoid. schizophrenic. So I went around to. different hospitals. I went everywhere. to see if she was like in a psychiatric. unit. I can't. Everybody says no. She's. not here. >> And I know that there's been a lot going. on between her and her boyfriend. Yeah. >> Okay. >> He has made death threats to her. So.

>> that's okay. >> He has made threats to her that he was. going to make sure nobody ever found. her. >> Yeah. >> According to Kim, Martha's boyfriend, David, was the most likely suspect in. her disappearance. In addition to the. death threats, police also knew David. had a lengthy criminal history and. outstanding warrants for drug abuse, theft, and trespassing, making him. someone officers needed to question. right away. But before the officers. could get a full story from Kim, a.

sudden noise from inside the house put. them instantly on high alert. >> You don't have a key to her place? >> What was that? >> Did you hear that? >> Yeah. Earlier the air conditioner was on. but now it's not. [Music]. >> Agro police. >> Unbeknownst to the officer, the sound. wasn't just his imagination. It was. David hiding in silence and waiting for.

the police to leave. But this is when. the officers would make their first. critical mistake. Despite the very real. possibility that Martha was in active. danger, they would give Kim the worst. piece of advice. >> And what happens with like a missing. person's report or whatever, >> but she but she is a grown woman. However, she has these, you know, the. paranoid schizophrenia issues. If for. whatever reason she has gone into this. state where she doesn't want anybody to. contact her, even family, the hospital. is legally not allowed to tell anybody.

anything, even her kin. I just don't. think we're quite at the heightened. alert level that we need to force entry. or do anything like that yet. You know. what I mean? >> The way that she calls us constantly. kind of gives me a false. >> she calls I mean she's always every day. calls her mother. >> When did it stop? >> Uh well her brother said she stopped. about a month ago. My cousin said two. weeks but I don't know if I'm thinking. about a month ago forever. >> She still called my phone every day. leaving voicemails.

>> Yeah. While the officer's explanation is. factually accurate, the suggestion not. to file a missing person's report will. prove to be a serious oversight, and it. won't take long before Kim realizes. she's been inadvertently coerced into. making a grave mistake. For now, though, officers leave the scene, letting Kim. carry on her own investigation. For the next few days, she keeps calling. Martha and David, but with neither of. them answering their phones. Growing.

increasingly worried, Kim begins. gathering information on her own. She. learns that David has recently been seen. at a place where he worked on and off, so she contacts police once again, urging them to check it out. Following. up on Kim's tip, a group of officers are. dispatched to investigate. But they hear. about David will finally start to give. her suspicions some credibility. How you. doing? >> You guys know David? >> Uh probably in his 50s.

>> What's the girl's name? >> Caligan or something? >> I think his last name. >> Have you seen Martha or Robin? >> Martha or Robin? >> I don't even know those names. >> Do you know who those are? >> No. Not much. >> You just saw David move in over his. girlfriend was in jail or something, but. she was. >> But he's in like his 50s. >> Yeah, >> I think it's not the new guy that lived. in here.

I think what about Jai? >> Dave. kind of guy. >> He's older. >> Yeah, probably. >> His name Hey, what is that dude's name? Dis. the other night. Yeah, his name is. David, too. >> We got a whole bunch of Daves around. here. >> We could pull up a picture and see if. you guys. >> I think we're going to try to find one. >> That's not that Dave. >> That's how David stays here. Does he.

come around here? >> This guy? >> Yeah, he's been around. So, >> he's not the one that lives here. >> When was the last time you saw him? >> Need to get it out. [Music]. this week. Last week, >> something like that. >> 3 4 days. >> 3 days. >> He say 3 or 4 days ago, maybe. >> According to the workers, they've seen. David in recent days, meaning he's still. in the area. Now, police just need to.

locate him and ask him where Martha. might be. Despite this lead, officers. still sound convinced Martha will. eventually turn up on her own and David. is just another name in a domestic. dispute. Unbeknownst to them, this is. giving David exactly what he wants, time. Because as the case stalls, he's. keeping a low profile, only leaving. Martha's house at night and using the. lack of scrutiny to cover his tracks and. refine his story. And over the next.

several weeks, what began as one. oversight will snowball into a series of. missteps that will [ __ ] the. investigation and ultimately pave the. way to a discovery far more tragic than. anyone imagined. The following week, after repeated calls. and pressure from Kim, police finally. agreed to conduct another welfare check. This time, however, they make another.

critical error. They send a new pair of. officers unfamiliar with the full. context of the case. This is where the. mistake of not filing a missing person's. report catches up with the police and. causes David to slip off the hook again. It doesn't Yeah, they didn't add any. notes. It just said that they were here. >> Well, it was actually it came in as a. missing person because. >> Okay, that's probably the daughter then. >> Yeah, but then it said she checked okay. and there was no report made. So they. must have had contact.

>> If it came in as a missing person, they. cleared it without a report number. That. means they determined where she was at. >> Exactly. >> That was what I was. >> Yeah. After only a few unanswered. knocks, officers decide to leave the. scene, assuming that since no missing. person report was filed, someone must. have already made contact with Martha. This is exactly why dissuading Kim from.

filing a report had been such a. catastrophic blunder. So, with no sign. of Martha or David and police convinced. nothing is wrong, the investigation. quietly stalls. Days pass with no. progress until eventually the case goes. gold. A week passes and it seems Martha might. never be found as police have completely. written off her disappearance. But then. something strange starts to happen. Kim.

begins receiving response messages from. her mother. The texts are brief and. unsettling. I'm busy. I'm with my. friends. I'm fine. It doesn't sound like. her mother. And something about the way. she's texting feels off to Kim. Growing. suspicious, Kim asks police to meet with. her again. This time demanding that they. break in and check the house or she'll. do it herself.

>> Make an official missing person here. I've talked to so many officers. Everybody she knows, her friends, family, none of them has seen her face. or talked to her in over a month. So, I. was sending her messages from her. mother's phone. Say, "This is your. daughter. I want to know where you're. at." "Oh, I'm at the Kingdom Hall in. Kent with friends." I said, "Okay, stay. there. I'm coming right now." "Oh, I'm. not there. You don't know where I am.". "Well, you just said you were there. Where are you?" "Oh, I'm eating now.". The way she types is completely. different. She says she's angry at the.

family. >> But the issue is we were we were. pounding on the door earlier and no one. answered and we didn't have enough to. kick the door in and go look for her. >> She owns this property. If I need to. break in here with you guys here and if. she's going to if you think she'll press. charges on me, that's fine. I want to. know what happened to her. She's not. going to press charges on me. That's not. a problem. >> She has mental illness. >> Yes, she does. >> Do you know if she's taking her meds? >> No, I don't know. But I do know that she. does not do this kind of thing. She my. the last time her mother talked to her,

she was walking through this field over. here and told my grandmother, "If I come. up missing or dead, it is no accident.". And she said it to me. This has been. said to us several times and he has told. her before if I I'm going to get your. ass and nobody's ever going to find you. >> What's your concern? >> That he killed her. >> Kim appears confident that she has. solved her mother's disappearance, accusing her lover, David, of both. murder and impersonation. While officers. still doubt Kim's story, they agree to. break into the house, if only to put her.

mind at ease. But what awaits them. inside will leave Kim even more furious. with police, making her question whether. they are truly on her side. >> Anybody in here? >> Come outside. >> It's day one in the shirt. Day two. >> You're not going to get another day out. >> Supposed to be a big black dog that. might not be friendly. >> You'll put me back on the call on the.

phone. for that dirty one. >> Good already. >> Police. Anybody in here? >> The police? Nobody's been here cuz the. bells are taken in. I mean, >> oh, he's good here. The question is what. he did to her. >> Not a single pair of her shoes anywhere. around here. >> If I were you, I mean, I'm not telling. you how to feel, but this will be a. relief. You know, she's not here, but it. doesn't look like there's any sign of. distress or, you know, all her stuff's.

not. >> thrown around. First sign of distress. really is the fact that there's no Pepsi. in that refrigerator. >> So that means she hasn't been staying. here. >> No, she has not been here. I'm telling. you, he has done something to her. >> Inside the house, police find no sign of. Martha or her belongings. Something Kim. finds deeply suspicious. Still, the. officer reassures her that everything is. fine and there are no obvious signs of. foul play. However, as police exit the. house, an officer makes an off-hand.

remark that reveals what they really. think happened to Martha. >> Would you have been surprised at all if. she's laying dead in there or shoved in. a tuition? >> Yes, I would have been surprised. >> Yeah, >> nothing surprises. >> That would have surprised me. >> Although officers briefly consider the. worst case scenario for Martha, their. tone makes it clear they don't really. believe it. Even with Kim insisting that. something is wrong, their doubt remains.

And when Kim insists on filing a missing. person report, something that should. have been done weeks ago, officers still. seem convinced there is no real cause. for alarm. >> I need to make an official report. >> Yeah, that can happen. That's not a. problem. But it's going to be very. vague. >> I don't know what to think about none of. her stuff being in her house. Shoes. She. always had shoes all over right there. with this, too. All right. This is the. report and I can go get a hard copy. And. what do I do? I mean, just keep if I. hear any more texts.

>> I mean, it's pretty much pointless. unless it's pointless talking to him. anymore at this point. >> I guess this is what happens. But I. mean, [Applause]. >> just let us know if you think she's. somewhere and we can go check for her. Okay. >> Okay. >> By now, you can hear the hopelessness in. Kim's voice. It seems like her. investigation has hit a dead end as she. watches officers leave once again, advising her to call if new information. comes up. But a few hours later, one.

officer decides to return and speak with. the neighbors, hoping to learn where. David or Martha might be. It's a small. decision, but one that quietly marks the. first step in turning things around for. police because one of the neighbors he. talks to is unknowingly holding a piece. of information about David that will. finally confirm Kim's claims. >> Do you know anything about this house. next door? >> There's some woman that used to live in. there. She asked me a couple times for. some money or some cigarettes. I told.

her I didn't smoke. What's going on? >> Well, someone sent us out here to check. on her and she's not answering the door. She have a car or anything, you know? >> I don't think so. But she seen a car. She was walking the first time I started. cutting the granite. >> How you doing? You've been living in the. garage here. >> I call her living. >> Where do you sleep at? >> Do you know who lives here? >> Robin Fly Talk, I think. >> When did you see her last? >> About four weeks ago.

>> And you haven't seen her in four weeks? >> No. Last night. >> Have you seen him over there? Oh, yeah. >> Does he uh does he drive a car? >> No. >> Is he home now? >> I have no idea. >> Okay. >> The neighbor's statement finally. confirms what Kim's been suspecting all. along. David hasn't disappeared. He's. been coming and going from the house. while police and Kim struggled to reach. him. With that information, police begin. coordinating surveillance around the. property, assigning patrol units to.

quietly monitor the area and wait for. the moment David shows up again. 2 days. later, the opportunity finally comes. when officers spot a car parked beside. the house. The first sign of activity in. days. They approach carefully, hoping to. finally make contact with Martha and put. Kim's fears to rest. However, the person. they're about to find is the very. suspect they've been unknowingly helping. all along. But before we get to that,

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and feel the difference in just a few. weeks. With that said, let's get back to. the scene where officers are about to. come face to face with the man they've. been searching for all this time. Aer, please just come outside. How you doing? Is Martha here? No, >> she's probably at her boyfriend's house. >> What's your name, bud? >> David. >> David. David Callahan. All right, come on down. here for me. Why do you think she's at. her boyfriend's house? >> Oh, that's where she stays most of the.

time. >> Where's that at? >> I don't know. I don't even know who it. is, really. >> Are you the only one here? >> Hi, She's here maybe a couple times a. week anymore. We've actually been split. up for a year. >> She's schizophrenic. She's been off her. medic on and off her medication I don't. know how many times. >> This is David Callahan, the man Kim had. been desperately trying to warn the. police about. According to him, Martha. was not at the house, but at her new.

boyfriend's. But now, David is about to. surprise the officers, explaining why. they shouldn't necessarily take Martha's. family's word at face value. Guess her. daughter's fighting again. >> 604 computer. Well, that's part of the. reason we're out here cuz no one in her. family's talked to her since July. >> I don't know how. I know. I know. She. just texted her. >> When's the last time you talked to her? >> I don't know. Probably five, six days. ago, maybe. >> Where was that at? >> It was here. >> And Martha's not in the house right now.

>> No, I mean a month. >> Obviously, we're we're concerned about. Martha, like you said, if she's off her. meds and everything, right? We'd like to. find her right now. She's missing. person. So, we'd like to uh. >> I didn't know it was all that cuz I mean. they've. >> you didn't know it was all that missing. person because her and the family. they've fallen out numerous times. You. know, the family is just gone as far as. changing their phone numbers and not. giving them. They treated her horribly. over the years. >> and her not talking to him right now.

doesn't surprise me. >> David claims Kim is not a trustworthy. person and has never gotten along with. Martha. With David tarnishing Kim's. character and Kim doing the same to. David, the officers weren't sure whose. story to believe. But this is when the. officer would get a brilliant idea. They. knew David had outstanding warrants, something they could use as reasonable. grounds to detain him. Their next move. would catch David offg guard and prove. to be the police's smartest decision. yet. >> Did you get your warrants taken care of?

>> No, I need to go down there and take. care of them. I got a couple misses. through actor. >> All right. Well, we're going to help you. out with that today. >> You still have those warrants. We'll. send you down to court. You can get them. taken care of today. >> All right. Here's what we're going to. do. We're going to, if it's all right. with you, we're going to walk through. We'll let you get some clothes and then. you're going to go down to court and get. taken get these warrants taken care of. >> Hey, I got a big dog in here. >> No problem. >> Do you get the whole thing? >> Yeah. Nothing but the thing. >> Do you do the returns or do I do that.

later? animal do it or whoever's up one. of those. >> Following his arrest, David is. transported to the station and placed in. jail, but not for murder. The only thing. holding him there are his unrelated. warrants. For investigators, this is a. temporary win that will quickly turn. into a problem. Because despite finally. having David in custody, they know their. case against him is painfully weak. There's no body, no confession, not even. physical evidence proving Martha is.

dead. Weeks of police inaction and. hesitation have left detectives with. little more than suspicion, and time is. running out. So, to make up for it, they. decide to hold David as long as legally. possible under the existing warrants, hoping they could buy themselves time to. rebuild the case and find something. concrete. Detectives don't know it yet, but the clue they so desperately need to. solve the case won't come from their. investigation, but from Martha's own. family.

Several days later, while David remains. in custody, Martha's family receives a. mysterious message. The anonymous note. reads, "If he was going to get rid of. someone, he would bury them in the. backyard." At first, no one knew what to. make of it. It could be a cruel prank or. maybe a genuine tip. Either way, Martha's cousin Angela and a few. relatives contact police and ask them to. meet at the property. For the first time.

in the investigation, the police and. Martha's family finally joined forces. >> Who's the caller? >> You are. >> What made you uh come to think it was. >> they came and arrested him? I believe it. was Thursday or Friday they arrested. him. other charges contempt and they're. holding for like 30 days. >> So they they questioned him about this. two or two times. I think I got a text. message here. I've been putting these. flyers up on all the polls and I get a.

text message. >> a sergeant and a couple other units. coming here. >> Um if he was ever to get rid of someone. bury them across the very backyard. >> I know I know her role. You came over. with her and what did you. >> come over to get because she suspected. some stuff going on back there and. >> I hope it's not her. >> There's something there. >> Yeah. >> With police now briefed on the. situation, officers begin coordinating a. search of the property, focusing on the. backyard mentioned in the message while. others canvas the neighborhood looking.

for anyone who might have seen something. suspicious. As the search gets underway, word of the. mysterious message quickly makes its way. back to the station. Detectives realize. this could be their only real lead and. decide to seize the opportunity to. question David again. However, David. isn't stupid. He's already denied any. involvement in Martha's disappearance, and he knows that acting clueless won't. convince detectives he has nothing to.

hide. He also knows that as long as he. keeps denying everything and doubles. down on blaming Martha's family, there's. nothing detectives can pin on him. Clearly, the stakes couldn't be higher. on both sides. And if David plays his. cards right, he'll walk free. >> Hey, sit right here, D. >> So, when was the last time you actually. talked to her? >> Beginning of last month. >> So, I didn't see she had a restraining. order against you. A TPO or a CPO?

>> So temporary one. >> Lasted like six months, I think. >> Did you get arrested? Cuz you. >> No. And here's here's the thing. >> Yeah. She's, you know, she's called the. cops on me a half a dozen times. And. I've never raised a hand to her. She's. never had a scratch on her. Any any. report you you would read will tell you. the same thing. She gets mad and I. leave. She thinks I'm out humping. everything with a pulse out there that's. female. you know that that's just what.

you know why she originally got mad at. me. You know, she just want to argue all. the time and I just you know I just felt. you know leaving day or two at a time. you know would just calm everything down. and it normally did. I mean we've always. worked things out. I don't understand. why she's not back. I I really don't. I. mean we've we've had problems over the. years. Like I said we've been together. since 2002. >> Sure. You know, every everybody has a. problem. >> Yeah, everyone's got problems. That's.

for damn sure. So then I guess your. theory is David, she's staying with. whoever she's dating, this new person, not and not at the house. Is that what. you're saying? >> As expected, David sticks to his story, insisting Martha is with her new. boyfriend in Florida. But David knows. exactly what he's doing. Realizing. detectives have little evidence to work. with, he decides to take control of the. conversation and tarnish Martha's. character, paint her as unstable, and.

dismiss her disappearance as the result. of her own mental state. Detectives. can't push back without proof or a body. And every minute they let him talk, he. builds a stronger defense for himself, one that might just help him walk free. in court. I believe she's relapsed on, you know, back to smoke crack again cuz, you know, I found a paraphernellia at. the house. >> I mean, tomorrow is her birthday. >> I tried, I don't know, three or four.

times over the last couple years to get. her the 3-day evaluation or whatever. they call it. >> Yeah. >> You know, the police had come out, the. paramedics. She'd be standing on this. porch, you know, screaming at them, screaming at me. They tell me she don't. fit the criteria for the evaluation. Well, what does. >> got to be homicidal? >> Does she have to stab me in my sleep or. do something, you know, really crazy? Yeah. >> And they say, "Well, she's an adult. We. can't take her medication, so why don't. you leave?". >> So, it didn't sound like her and Kim had.

some problems, too. >> Absolutely. I mean, they would go months. on end without speaking to each other. It was at one point, you know, Robin. didn't even have phone number to talk to. her mom and dad or her for periods of. time. >> Yeah. No, I you're you're absolutely. true. I I I sensed they had some hard. times now and then and it sounded like. she communicated her with her a lot. through her Facebook Messenger. >> She. >> The mention of Martha's Facebook. messages clearly catches David off. guard. He's surprised that detectives.

even know about them, unaware that Kim. already accused him of impersonating her. mother weeks earlier. But that isn't the. only surprise waiting for him. Detectives have been holding something. back. Evidence they saved for this exact. moment. When David was first arrested, police recovered Martha's phone from. inside the house along with several of. her security checks that he'd allegedly. withdrawn. So, with David already on. edge, detectives decide to push their.

advantage and confront him with what. they claim is hard evidence. It's a. risky gamble. If they push too hard, David could demand a lawyer and shut. down the interview entirely. But if the. pressure works, he might finally slip, contradict himself, or even confess. >> Yeah. I mean, you know, obviously her. family is real worried about her and. loves her a lot, and I can see that you. love her a lot, right? >> Yeah, absolutely. I mean, >> well, Dave, I think there's some little. piece missing here, bud. That's what I.

think. And I I I think you'd feel better. if you just told us what it is. >> I don't I don't know. I mean, I don't. know what to say. >> Well, I I think there's a little bit. more to the story, Dave. You're not. giving us. >> There's nothing else I can tell you. I. mean, I've told you everything I know. >> I don't think you told us everything, man. >> Okay. Well, I have. >> Don't you think you'd feel better if you. told us the truth, Dave? I mean, let it. go. And. >> you're not going to be able to celebrate. her birthday tomorrow, Dave. There. there's some pieces missing in your. story, Dave. And as you know, that is. your girlfriend, the love of your life,

Robin's handwriting. That is September. where you paid the rent so we can keep. up this farce that Robin is still. around. Tell us the part about being on. her phone pretending that you're her. >> Oh god. >> Tell us about that. >> Have her phone. >> Where's her phone? >> I did. I don't know. >> You know where her phone is? >> No, I don't. >> You put it. We found it where you put. it. Why don't you just tell us the. truth? What happened? You'll feel. better. >> Did you guys feel better? >> I don't have. >> Did you guys share a bedroom? >> My time now.

>> Needless to say, David is starting to. visibly get worked up over the. accusations. He's defensive, irritated, but still talking. Luckily for. detectives, he doesn't seem close to. shutting down or asking for a lawyer, but they can tell they've pushed the. limit for now. If they press any harder, the interview could end before they get. anything useful. So, detectives decide. to take a break, let David step outside. for a smoke, hoping it will calm him. down and make him more willing to. cooperate when he returns.

In the meantime, back at Martha's. residence, officers continue. coordinating the backyard search and. canvasing the neighborhood for anyone. who might have seen or heard something. useful. That's when a familiar face. approaches one of the officers. The same. neighbor from days earlier who'd. reported seeing David coming and going. from the house. This time he shares a. chilling detail about the days following.

Martha's disappearance. >> A fire pit back there of some sort. >> Right. >> But you know, I didn't even know she was. missing until a few days ago. >> I mean, had you noticed any activity by. anybody back there in the backyard. recently? Uh just the guy who lived. there. >> What was he doing. >> in the middle of the night? Was burning. the things and I could smell it. The. horrible statue coming from everywhere. >> And I thought that's even trash day. So. the. >> woman there is the cousin of the woman. who's missing. >> Okay. >> She's been missing about 30 days.

>> Somebody sent her a message saying check. the backyard for your cousin. >> You're kidding. >> According to David's neighbor, every. night he could see flames rising from. David's backyard. accompanied by a. horrendous smell. Acting on this. information, officers request. firefighters, EMS, and forensic teams to. assist at the scene. Treating the. backyard as a potential crime scene in. case human remains are found. And as the. teams prepare to begin the search no one.

could have expected, they were only feet. away from confirming the horrific. nightmare Kim had feared all along. pretty positive it's a body buried under. their fire pit. They dug it up. You. could see what looks like to be about a. knee or or an elbow. And you touch it, you can tell it's something. We didn't. really dig anymore. Gentlemen, >> you tell me. >> Well, here's the deal. Highly.

suspicious. >> Seems like a body part, but we didn't. want to dig it out anymore till you guys. got here. >> Yeah. I think you know all of us would. want it dug out a little bit more before. you guys can say. >> check. >> Was it dug out when you guys got here? >> That guy. >> What made him did he say what made him. start digging? >> Yeah, he gave the whole story of the. other officer and us. But uh she got. anonymous text saying if this guy who. you guys have arrested recently that if. he wanted to get rid of somebody who. would bury it back here by the fence.

Oh, >> so she came back and saw this loose dirt. ash. >> that guy to come over and help her. >> And they say this gentleman is already. arrested. >> Yeah, that's what both of those two. people are telling. >> This is the wife. >> person that they think it is. >> Come and guy's arrested. It was a. suspect in. >> Was this her husband did? >> I don't know if they were her husband. wife. >> cuz I know she had a protection order. against me. >> Well, he was he was staying here. >> She went missing. you was staying here. >> They they've been on and off. I've been.

out here a couple times where she had a. protection order, but it goes back and. forth cuz then she invites her back over. and stuff like that. So, uh let me go. talk to these guys real quick and then. we'll let you know what. he. >> following their initial observations of. what appear to be human remains. One of. the officers steps away from the dig. site to speak with the family. Because. they arrived without a search warrant, they must explain what's been found so. far and request formal consent to.

continue the excavation. At the same. time, Martha's daughter, Kim, and her. husband finally arrive at the scene. anxious, it isn't what they think it is. Though officers avoid making any. premature statements, Kim can already. sense the truth. This would be the worst. day of her life. >> She doesn't know her. >> Did you find a person? Well, we don't know yet. Okay. So, we're. we're not we're not saying yes and we're. not saying no. Okay. We we don't know. Okay.

>> Have you been on scenes like this. before? How do you not know? >> I mean, I can't wait to know. >> Listen. >> Well, we don't want to we don't want to. What we're saying is we don't want to. contaminate anything. >> Will I be told as soon as they know. whether or not there's a body back there. of a person? Well, they they have whole. process they have to go through. >> to tell me if they found a person back. there. >> Yeah, >> they would know. I mean, wouldn't they? >> No, not necessarily. >> Kimmy, look. There's about a piece of. this that was uncovered. No, I'm just.

saying a piece of some plastic or. something. >> Chloe, I'm going to have to leave real quick. Okay, I'll just give you, you know, the. confirmation. I'll be back. >> We'll have them tell if it's her. >> Uh, not not now. No. >> I don't even think we're They don't even. have the person back there that's going. to be digging it up yet. Might might be. a little bit better to talk to somebody. like that. Okay. >> I don't think I want to talk to anybody.

>> I don't think that I want to right now. >> It doesn't help to talk to strangers. >> I have to ask you. Um, I'm not positive. that you're the one I should ask, but. I'm going to ask you since you say you. have power of attorney. if you allow us. to go back in the yard, check that out. >> Yes. >> Okay. I have to ask. Okay. >> Um, so you're giving me consent and the. officers and we're going to have medical. examiner come out as well. Okay. >> After receiving permission from the. family, officers resume the excavation.

Inside the shallow fire pit, they find. the remains of Martha. Her body is. wrapped in bedding, sealed by a plastic. bag, burnt and showing a clear blunt. force injury with a rope still tied. around her neck. Everyone at the scene is shaken by the. discovery. After weeks of uncertainty, Martha's disappearance is finally. resolved, but the reality offers little. comfort.

On the other side of town, news of the. gruesome discovery quickly travels to. the detectives at the station. So, with. this new information at hand, they bring. David back into the room and cut. straight to the point, directly accusing. him of murder. >> Dave, let me ask you a question. Are you. a heartless bastard? >> A heartless cold bastard? >> No. >> No. people who would look at this look. at this event and say that you Dave are. a heartless no- good bastard who put the.

love of your life in the ground and that. has to be an evil bad person who has to. go away for every last day of their. life. Every last day. So Dave, are you. that person or are you the person that. has struggled with someone who's, as you. said, for 16 years, you love her, but. she's schizophrenic and she goes here. and she goes there. Cuz there's no. reasonable person, Dave, in the world. that wouldn't believe that you harmed.

Robin. We all know that. Three of us. sitting in this room. You should just. get it off your chest, man. >> I've told you everything I know. >> No, you haven't told everything. the. heat of the moment. >> Yeah. >> Did you plan it out? >> Tomorrow was her [ __ ] birthday. >> Tomorrow was her birthday. For them to. sit there and reflect the agony they've. been going through for the last month. >> Heartlessly killed the woman you love. more than anything in the world. >> It's it's it's it's mindboggling to.

think about it. Something that you said. you were going to do. >> Yeah. And if you said you ever going to. kill anybody and bury him in the fire. pit, it seems kind of convenient. I. never told anybody. >> You never told anybody that, >> Dave, we're not [ __ ] stupid, dude. You think we're going to make that up? I'm not making anything up. You think I. made this up? We know everything. We. know the answers to the questions we. asked, man. I'm trying to get you to say. that you're not an evil, no good. bastard. And that was some extenduating.

circumstances. that you killed the woman you love, pretended that she was alive for over a. month. If you look at it, you're like, "That has to be a heartless, cold. bastard that wrapped this woman up like. that and put her in this fire pit.". So, >> despite a few half-hearted denials as. detectives describe what they believe. happened to Martha, David sits in. silence, staring blankly as if the. weight of his actions has finally hit. him. Clearly, the interrogation has.

reached its breaking point, and David. seems on the verge of something. Judging. by his earlier denials and the way he. now sits, he's either about to ask for a. lawyer and end the interview alto. together or finally confess. >> Do you want to see a picture, Dave? >> No. >> You know what you did? >> All right, go ahead, Dave. >> You want me to go ahead? I need a. cigarette. >> Tell us what you're going to tell us. Then you can have a cigarette. >> I'll give you a cigarette.

>> You tell us what's going on, Dave, so we. know you're not a heartless bastard. And. I promise you can smoke all you want. All right. >> Not all you want. >> Not all you want. >> Well, the reason. >> get it off your chest, Dave. You feel. better. >> You guys feel a little bit better. already. Just knowing that you're going. to make that decision. >> I didn't mean to [ __ ] do it. I. didn't. >> Not a very respectful way for a person. >> I know it's not. I got [ __ ] scared, man. I just snap, man. [ __ ] snap.

Meth. love Rob. >> You just got scared. That's why you put. her in the fire pit. >> I I dug it out half an axe handle or. something beside the bed. She had it. there on a long time. Just. >> after you struck her. >> I ch I choked her. >> What happened after Robin was dead? >> I took her out back and I dug it out. >> God [ __ ] sore. I believe.

>> She's just so relentless. >> Leave me alone, man. She knew I had. nowhere to go. Just kept arging. I give. her every dollar I have or whatever she. wanted. I never had nothing in my. pocket, man. Nothing. It's never good. enough. I didn't I didn't plan on this happen. I. working out so bad with her. I really. did, man. >> Spur of the moment. After hours of. questioning, David finally breaks and.

admits to murdering Martha. In a fit of. rage, he struck her in the head, strangled her, then carried her outside, burned the body, and buried her in the. backyard. As David sits in the interview. room crying and claiming to regret what. he did, detectives can't help but think. about how easily this could have been. prevented, how many warnings were. missed, and how many chances they had to. save Martha before it was too late. With.

his confession secured, David is taken. into custody where he's formally charged. and set to spend a very long time behind. bars. Hey, just to let you know, uh, they. talked to the prosecutor. Uh, for right. now, you're going to be charged with. murder, abuse of a corpse, and and. tampering with evidence. [Music].