Mom Shocked After Learning Teen Sons Are Wanted Killers

This is Tiffany, mother of Tyler and Eli. Chaffen. Just hours earlier, her two. sons brutally killed a man and left his. body by the side of the road. >> I felt I had to shoot wheels to make. sure my brother didn't get hurt. This. police are always trying to protect the. children. >> As Tiffany listens in horror, the. brothers insist they were only. protecting each other. But the truth is. far darker.

>> Over the next 24 hours, Tiffany will. face the worst day of her life as she. slowly pieces together the horrifying. truth that she's raised two terrifying. killers. >> And your brother, your brother murdered. somebody. >> I love you very much. >> Some people have a [ __ ] up way of. looking at things. >> But the killer is a killer is a killer, right?

The Chaffen Brothers Sunday begins like. any other morning in their parents'. remote home near Aztec, New Mexico. They're sitting in the living room. watching gun YouTubers and playing video. games. A young woman is with them. She. turns to the brothers and asks if they. would kill for her. But just then, her. phone buzzes and in that moment, something in her snaps. She stands up, looks at the brothers, and tells them. they're going for a ride and to bring.

guns. Two hours later, in a quiet trailer. park, residents hear four sharp gunshots. echo through the area. When they rush to. their windows, they see a man lying. motionless in a puddle of blood and a. car speeding away from the scene. Seconds later, 911 calls begin pouring. in from terrified witnesses, marking the. start of a multi-hour manhunt unlike. anything this town has ever experienced. >> Uh there's just a shootout. Somebody got. shot over here and I think somebody's.

either dead or bleeding across the. street. One of the two he was walking. out of the house and they just started. to open fire on him. It's like a white. SUV. >> Uh I'm the neighbor. I do not want my. name. used gunshots. Less than 5 minutes. ago, he hopped into a white looked to be. like a Ford Escape. >> Within minutes, multiple officers rushed. to the scene with no idea what they're. up against or if the shooter is still. somewhere nearby. The following footage. has never been seen before until now.

Viewer discretion is advised. >> You guys can leave. Go ahead and leave. Good. >> He's uh obviously 107. Officers find the victim lying face down. in the grass while nearby residents. begin gathering outside, oblivious to. the danger still nearby. And before.

officers can secure the scene, something. catches their attention. A white SUV. parked just 100 yards away, matching the. description of the suspect's vehicle. With guns drawn, they move in. cautiously, fully expecting to confront. the gunman. >> Out of the vehicle. >> Get out of the car. >> Get out of the vehicle. >> Is there anyone else in your car? >> Just your dog? >> Yes. >> Okay, just keep walking to me. >> You have any weapons on you?

>> No, sir. No weapons in the car. No. weapons on a friend. >> Put your hands on top of your head for. me, please. >> Sure. I I I went to the dollar store and. got bought cigarettes. I came to see if. my buddy was one. He turns around right. there and you guys were right there. >> The driver appears unarmed and at first. glance seems like more of a witness than. a suspect. Officers clear him, then move. on to search his vehicle, but they find. no guns or anything that connects him to. the shooting. That leaves police with. almost nothing to go on, and they still. don't even know the victim's identity. But that's about to change because the.

driver is about to give officers their. first rail lead of the day. When I. pulled in there, there was a blazer. almost like this. Only a bigger one. We. got on the highway, he turned towards. the Aztec highway. You. >> pull my open air real quick. >> No, go ahead. >> Okay. Just to make sure. >> Yeah. >> Witness said he saw a white uh Chevy. Blazer and then eastbound on 38. >> He said he saw it turning going really. quick on the back road and then turning. to. more than likely probably.

With the help from witnesses, police now. have a clearer picture of what they're. looking for. Specifically, a white Chevy. blazer with gold trim that sped away. immediately after the gunshots. After. the scene is secured, officers return to. the body to examine it closely and. determine the victim's identity. What. they document here will become critical. evidence detectives later use to secure. a conviction. >> He's got a blood spot on his head. He. may have one in his He may have one in. his head right there.

Unless then one shoulder here. Unless. this is that part, you know, when like. when. >> something caused him to fall forward, though. >> That's that's the thing. If this was the. first shot and he was forward, you know, >> that can't be the first shot though cuz. that's on the back of his leg. He was. standing up facing this way and the car. was out here. >> He turned around to take off running. Maybe. >> he was walking out. He. >> fired the rounds from the road. >> Oh, okay. >> He was walking this way. >> What if he was down? Somebody walked. over, got to the edge and popped him in.

the head. As officers study the wounds, something. troubling starts to stand out. This. doesn't look like a chaotic shooting, but it's more in line with a calculated. execution. The shot pattern is brutal, hinting at a violent, twisted killer on. the loose. The victim appears to be in. his early 40s with at least four gunshot. wounds. And with no gun in sight, it's. likely he was unarmed. At this point, the officers still don't know his.

identity or what would drive someone to. kill him so brutally. But that's when. they notice something crucial. A trail. of fresh footprints leading straight to. a nearby house. With guns drawn, officers move in cautiously. After searching the home, officers find. no one inside, but they do notice. women's clothing and drug paraphernalia. tucked inside the cupboards along with. family photos of a man who resembles the. deceased victim, leading them to believe. this is his residence. With the house.

cleared, officers step back outside to. regroup and figure out their next move. They still don't know the victim's name, and they're no closer to identifying who. shot him. So, they split up to gather. information from nearby residents, where. they'll learn the victim's name and hear. some concerning details about his life. >> Hi. >> Hey, by chance, do you hear anything? >> Yes. Three shots. >> Who lives in this this last trailer over. here? >> Johnson. >> William Johnson.

>> Yeah. He's 6 months ago, Mr. >> Earlier. Sir, did you hear anything over. here? Yes, sir. I heard three shots. How. many people come and go from that house. that you're aware of? >> Quite a few. >> Do they ever have any issues over there? >> Oh, fighting. Who? Who fights? >> Steel and William. >> After speaking with several more. neighbors, officers finally confirm the. victim's identity. 37-year-old William. Johnson, a father of two daughters known. around the area as Bubba. They also.

learn about a 23-year-old girl named. Sierra who'd been living with William. and often was seen arguing with him, but. no one seems to know her last name, something police now need to track down. Coincidentally, one of the officers. canvasing the area encounters a driver. parked along the roadside who claims to. be Sierra's friend and knows exactly how. to find her. >> How's it going? >> Good. Did you know her because you. worked with her? >> I know her because I worked with her. She was also a friend of my daughter. Is. he are him and Sierra still together?

>> For some dumb reason after I told him do. not give back and it's not going to work. out for him. He got you know if Will had. bad blood with anybody. >> I'm sure he had bad blood or just the. whole missed. How do you know he was Dylan? >> I see I witnessed it to to sell the who. >> Sierra's friend would go on to provide. officers with her full name and phone. number. 23-year-old Sierra Collins, Williams ex-girlfriend. When detectives.

arrived to begin their homicide. investigation, they quickly realized. they're already familiar with Sierra. Her record includes several drugrelated. offenses and even a restraining order. she filed against William himself. She. had recently completed a rehab program, was trying to regain custody of her son, and was working towards becoming a. teacher. With her name confirmed, the. investigator decides to call her. At. this point, all the detective knows. about Sierra is that she's William's. ex-girlfriend. He simply wants to ask. her about William and has no reason to. believe she's involved in anything. But.

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That's zoocc.com/drinsanity. or click the link in the description to. find and instantly book a top rated inet. network doctor today. With that said, let's get back to the investigation. where the detective is about to call. Sierra and discover she may know exactly. how William ended up dead. >> I'm sorry. Is this Sierra? >> Yeah. Who's this? >> This is Detective Dr. Sheriff's Office. I was trying to get a hold of you. Are. you available right now? >> Um, for what?

>> I just have some questions. I'd like. >> I I really would like to speak with you. It involves William. >> Oh, [ __ ]. >> Um, >> like it's very very important. You can't meet with me for like. literally like 20 minutes cuz I really. need your help. >> right now. >> Yeah, if you can. >> Um, can I call you back? >> Yeah. How long do you think roughly? >> I'll call you back in like 10 minutes. >> Sierra hangs up but calls back shortly. after, ultimately agreeing to come to. the station. Unknowingly, the upcoming.

interview with Sierra will blow the case. wide open, but the Chaffen brothers on. the run as armed fugitives and trigger a. dangerous multi-hour manhunt. keep your right hand up with your left. hand only. Open the door and get out. >> So, >> I don't think I could help you not today. anyway. >> Okay. And as her um do you know he who.

he dealt with on the on that drug whole. drug side of things? Like who kind of. his person was? That was like his queen. >> The reason I asked you is that's a. motive. That's a great motive. >> I mean, he bought dirt from a lot of. [ __ ] people. You know what I mean? >> Did he owe any of them? >> Yes. >> Okay. Who did he owe? >> He owed the landlord money. >> Well, I know he owed the landlord. I. talked to him this morning. I mean, anybody to the point where you think. they would want to kill him? Like, why. would someone want to murder him? Like, we're not here to play games. We're not.

here like maybe he's dead, maybe he's. not. He was murdered this morning and. I'm calling you trying to so that you. can help me. Okay? I'm not here to get. you in trouble. I obviously he's not in. trouble. He can't be in trouble because. regardless of whether you agree with. what he was doing or not or trying to. help him or whatever. >> Why did you guys break up? Cuz he was. anger. >> Was he abusive to you? >> No, but it was good. It was good. Sierra.

starts crying almost immediately, but. the detective can quickly tell it isn't. genuine grief, more like someone afraid. of getting into trouble. Seeing this, he. shifts the conversation to William's. phone. Officers had found it at the. crime scene earlier, believing it might. contain crucial evidence. The detective. brings it up to see whether Sierra is. willing to help unlock it, something she. would do without hesitation if she truly. cared about William. >> What's the passcode for William's phone? Don't tell me you don't know cuz I know. that you do. >> I know that you do.

>> And I I know that you know. And listen, I'm going to tell you something right. now. The the chain of events that took. place, if I can access that phone, that. will help me huge. >> Honestly, he didn't even have one. >> No, he does. There's a code on it. What. is it? >> I haven't been on his phone a long time. >> You're not in trouble. You're here to. help me. >> In trouble. >> You are here to help me. That's why I. called you. >> Yeah, I know. But then I'm going to get. in trouble. >> How? For what? >> I don't know. Probably the [ __ ] on his. phone. Why would you be in trouble for. what I see on his phone? >> I probably said anything.

>> I brought you here because I know that. in your relationship I know you love. him. >> 11128. >> Like how do you know that? Cuz. >> that's the thing that we met. >> Sierra's reaction here is concerning to. say the least. Outright refusing to help. unlock the phone because she's worried. it might contain something incriminating. is a major red flag for the detective. and her lack of cooperation is doing. nothing to help her case. But things. don't stop there. As the interview. continues, Sierra soon reveals the real.

reason she won't talk. >> I just feel like I'm going to get in. trouble if I say something wrong and I. don't. >> like for what? I mean, I guess what do. you what do you think? I mean, did you. shoot him? >> So, what do you I mean, what do you. think? >> I can't go to jail. I'm trying to study. to get a teacher, you know? Like, I just. drama. You're not going to jail for. anything. >> I just wish we could go for a walk and. make you didn't have to use. >> Well, let's go. I'll leave my [ __ ] in. here right now. We'll go walk down the. street right now. >> Fancy pins with the [ __ ] microphone.

Probably. I don't know. >> This is a regular This isn't the [ __ ]. FBI on TV. >> Okay. So, I just paranoid. >> I This camera right here, this is the. only camera. My phone's right. I will. leave all my [ __ ] right here. We going. for a walk right here. >> Even though Sierra admits she knows who. killed William, she refuses to say it. inside the interrogation room. So, the. two agree to go for a walk, and the. detective leaves his body camera behind. as he escorts her outside, hoping she'll. finally talk. Outside, Sierra explains that her friend.

Tyler Chaffen, whom she met in rehab, and his brother Eli were the killers, and insists she had no part in the. murder, claiming the brothers were. unstable and the younger one simply. wanted to murder someone. This, however, is only Sierra's version of events, a. version that conveniently leaves out the. week-long plan she set in motion to get. William killed while letting someone. else take the blame. For now, the. detectives take her statements at face. value, though he does confiscate her.

phone to search for any incriminating. evidence. Following this, investigators. begin digging into the Chaffen brothers. and discover that the older brother, Tyler, is a convicted felon with a prior. arrest for assaulting a peace officer. To make matters worse, they find several. firearm purchases, including rifles and. pistols registered to the Chaffen. household. With this information in. mind, the brothers are officially. considered armed and extremely. dangerous, prompting SWAT to join the. multi-county manhunt. At the same time,

across town, the brothers are already. pecking their guns and getting ready to. flee. Convinced that Sierra has already. betrayed them, SWAT teams move toward. the Chaffen's residence, planning to. ambush the brothers at their parents'. home. The goal is clear. Apprehend the. suspects with no casualties. However, nothing about what happens next will go. according to plan. >> Nice and easy. THE VEHICLE JUST LEFT, SO. SEND YEAH, we're just going to be.

cutting along. >> Armed and ready, SWAT races to the. address. They set up surveillance on the. road surrounding the residence, waiting. for the suspects to either arrive or. make a run for it. Once officers arrive, they immediately surround the home and. begin attempts to draw the brothers out. Ready. Got it. >> Open and empty. Do it now. >> All of the share office with your hands.

open and empty. Do it now. >> After several unsuccessful attempts to. get the brothers to surrender, SWAT. begins preparing to breach the. residence. >> Yeah, this door should be easy to. breach. >> It wiggles a lot. If you just [ __ ]. boot it, go ahead and got the two steps. here. >> Lovado command successful breach. >> Looks like a den goes into a dining.

room. Possibly kitchen. one. One. >> shotgun. >> Yeah. Yep. >> This is weird. Yeah. Let's move. shed to the right and then there's the. barn to the left through and through. plywood here. >> Yeah, you're good to right here. Come. here.

Good. After searching the entire home, no. Chaffen brother is found, but whoever. lives here has left half a dozen guns. behind, meaning they could return at any. moment. Just then, a white SUV matching. the exact description of the suspect's. car is spotted approaching the house. Officers draw their guns immediately, closing in on the vehicle as they brace.

for a shootout. 41 is not stopping. Okay, >> keep your right hand up with your left. hand only. Open the door and get out. >> Put your hands up. >> Turn around and face away from me. On. your knees. >> Go top of your head. Hands on top of. your head. Keep coming back. Keep coming. back. Hands on your face. >> On your face. On your face. On your.

face. On your face. >> All clear. We've got two in custody. 6633. Officers successfully arrest the. brothers and find an AR-15 rifle in. their car, a reminder of just how deadly. this confrontation could have been. They're then placed together in the same. police vehicle to be taken to the. station. This is a deliberate move. The. car is equipped with a microphone that. might capture the suspects coordinating. a cover up. The smartest move for the. brothers would be to stay silent, but. the police aren't dealing with the. brightest. What they're about to say.

will give investigators all the. ammunition they need for the upcoming. interrogations. and a chilling glimpse. into the twisted minds of these killers. >> Stop, man. >> Okay, so I got to reach down here. >> Yes, sir. >> Don't kick me, please. >> Did you say hi to mom? >> Huh? >> Did you see mom? >> Yeah. Coming with me. >> All righty, guys. Hang tight. All right. >> Yes, sir. >> When you get to the jail, don't tell. them that you want to commit or anything. like that. All right. >> Okay.

>> Me and you are going to go to the same. cell block. >> Okay. >> We'll be together and I'll show you how. to do the jail [ __ ]. I don't have my gun anyways. Just be. just be cool. Okay. >> Pretty dead. >> Yeah. Pretty good. >> Watch the video on YouTube. This guy. hitting a pistol in his crotch or. something stupid like that. So whenever. they had gotten to the place to take him. out, >> he had pulled that [ __ ] out of him. Like. >> on the way to the station, Tyler being. the older brother immediately takes. charge, telling Eli not to cry or bring.

up self harm and to stick to their. story. From this conversation alone, the. detectives can already tell the brothers. won't be easy to break, especially if. they stay together. So once they arrive. at the station, the brothers are. immediately separated. From this point. on, neither will know where the other is. or what they've said. The detective. assigned to interview the brothers is. Detective Decker, who served with. distinction and was recently promoted to. sergeant. Decker's goal is to provoke. one of the brothers into slipping up and.

contradicting the other. A strategy. aimed at uncovering what really. happened. Eli, the teenage brother who. allegedly pulled the trigger, is the. first to be interviewed. But once they. sit down, Eli instantly starts. bargaining and asks for something the. detective could have never seen coming. >> How you doing? >> Good. How's it going, man? >> Not too bad. >> How old are you? >> I'm 19. >> 19. I would like to have my parents in. for the questioning cuz anytime I've. been told if they're going to do any. questioning for you is to have them in.

during the questioning. >> But you're at this point you're 19. The. parent part generally applies to. juveniles. >> I know, but it I still like it. >> Detective Decker is baffled. Eli is 19, legally an adult, yet he still insists. on having his mother present. Decker. already senses how messy this could get. Any parent with even basic instincts. would tell their kid to ask for a lawyer. immediately. But with no other choice, he escorts Eli back to his cell, still. weighing the pros and cons of calling. the mother. In the meantime, the.

detective moves on to interview Tyler, who will prove to have a very different. strategy, one the detective won't catch. on to right away. So, here. So, I got to ask you before we get. going, man. Do you have any idea why you. might be here today? >> Um, not really. >> Not really at all. And the reason that I. tell you that is because I know we all. we all screw up. We all do stupid. things. But the reason that you're here.

today is in reference to William. Johnson. Do you know who that is? >> I do. >> Okay. How do you know him? I met this. girl. He was like her ex-boyfriend or. something like that. >> What girl did you meet? >> Her name was Sierra. >> How long have you known Sierra? >> 3 weeks. >> Just recently. >> Yeah, just recently. Me and her are in. the IOP together. >> What is that? >> Yeah. Intense outpatient treatment. >> for alcohol and drug use. >> Are you using today?

>> No, sir. >> No. Sober? >> Yes, sir. >> You know of William because of her? because of her. She um talked about him. here and there. >> Have you ever met William? >> I haven't. >> Never. >> Never. >> Tyler shows no real reaction to what. Detective Decker just said. Instead, playing completely oblivious, as if he. has no idea why he's even sitting in an. interview room. But underneath that act, the pressure is already cracking. through. Because Tyler already suspects.

Sierra has sold them out. He just. doesn't know how much investigators have. against him and his brother. Seeing. this, the detective decides it's time to. plainly lay it out and make sure Tyler. understands that he's here for murder. A. revelation that immediately sends Tyler. scrambling to improvise. >> So, like I told you, I'm here to talk to. you about William Johnson. >> So, what happened? >> So, William Johnson was murdered. >> Dead. >> Yeah. Dead. >> So, I'm going to be straight with you, man. I uh I'm afraid to get you on the.

bus. She was hanging out with us and we. went to the storage place over there. kind of by where he lives and went to. the storage place and she said, "Hey, it's um there's a clue over here. I want. to check out my car." So, we went over. drove next to this house and this dude. came out and started approaching the. vehicle. I then grabbed a 22 pistol and. pointed at him and told him to stop. He. got up in my face. Guess I hit him with.

the pistol. Uh, as soon as I hit him. with the pistol, he had something in his. hand. I don't know what it was, but he. got me in the got me in the head. Uh, we. went to the ground. Soon as I went to. the ground, he went for my pistol. And. as soon as he went for my pistol, my. brother shot. >> Where were you at in the vehicle? >> I was in the passenger side. And it was. when the tussle happened. And whenever. he went for the pistol, whenever he. didn't drop a shot on the ground getting. my ass beat, god damn near got the. pistol taken away from me. got down.

here, got shot with my own gun. He sees. Sierra and I don't know what his. intentions were from what I've heard of. abuse it or whatever. >> I didn't know we were going to his. house. I thought we were going to go. look at her car. >> Right away, Tyler doesn't stick to the. plan he rehearsed with his brother and. instead confesses to the shooting, trying to frame it as self-defense, believing it will protect both of them. However, in doing so, he ends up fully. implicating his brother, Eli. Whether.

intentionally or not remains to be seen. And while his explanation may sound. reasonable for now, the brothers have no. idea that the gunshot pattern on. William's body tells a very different. story, one that's not consistent with. self-defense, but execution. >> Do you know what the hole in the back in. his back tells me? You know what's not. >> in in looking at the way that that that. bullet hit his back is that he was. already laying face down when that round. was fired.

>> See, I don't I was I whenever I heard. the first round, I took off. >> So that hole in his back, you think that. was the first round that hit or what do. you. >> I don't know. I don't know. I know my. brother uses hollow points and I know. there's many holes. >> Yeah. What was he saying? >> He wasn't saying anything. Is this girl? This is baby. The guy really loves me. You didn't want. me to get hurt. >> Even though Tyler doubles down on the.

self-defense claim and seems regretful, the evidence gathered so far points to a. far more cold, deliberate violence. rather than two frightened kids. defending themselves. Detective Decker. knows this, and Tyler's tearful. explanations aren't convincing him. otherwise. But instead of being. confrontational, Decker decides to. simply let Tyler keep talking, allowing. him to dig the hole deeper for himself. and his brother. >> It's [ __ ] scary, man. To see it, just. to to [ __ ] see it. I would have never.

imagined. >> What do you think should happen to you? >> I didn't want any of that to happen. I. didn't I never had intentions to shoot. him. I I never tried to [ __ ] the pistol. back and shoot him with the pistol. And. I don't want to feel like I'm telling. him about it. But I don't know how he. how he [ __ ] did it. He's always had. an interest in guns and [ __ ] And we. always worried about him. And I guess I. think today was his day for him to use. his gun. I don't want that to happen. I. don't want that to happen at all.

>> How did Eli seem after the whole ordeal? >> He he seemed really [ __ ] up. Um he. kept crying. He kept telling me that he. thought it was me. He didn't want to. hurt me. Tyler is a complete mess now. No longer. acting, but genuinely horrified by his. brother's actions this morning. After. exhausting everything Tyler can say. about the murder, the detective shifts. the conversation to the third person.

that was present during the shooting, Sierra Collins. Earlier, Sierra placed. all the blame on the brothers, insisting. she had nothing to do with the murder. But that narrative is about to change. What was her take on seeing her, I. guess, boyfriend or ex-boyfriend? >> She shot dead had zero emotion. It was. shocking. I didn't. >> So, no emotion at all. Not laughing, not. crying. She didn't. >> I know that it was that was her plan. And I don't know if she was cuz she was.

outside whenever we pulled up cuz she. had asked Eli, "If you'd shoot him. before all this happened, jokingly like, uh-uh, that's a nice gun. Would you. shoot my ex-boyfriend? Was all a joke. until today. I have a little bit of. history with her and in different cases. And she's she can be a pretty persuasive. girl. I mean, if she straight up asked. you to go over there to shoot William, then you need to be straight with me if. that's what she said.

>> He she told us about how he her and did. all these bad things to her. I just. thought I was tricked. >> By who? Tiara. Oh, she [ __ ] tricked. us. >> Tyler outright accuses Sierra of. tricking him and his brother into. murdering William. There's a chance he's. saying this to protect himself and Eli, but the detective knows Sierra is more. than capable of manipulation. If Eli's. story aligns with Tyler's, they may be. able to implicate her and lessen their. own sentences. Now it's the brother's.

word against Sierra's and soon their. mother Tiffany will enter the mix, stepping into what will become the worst. day of her life. For now though, the. detective wraps up his interview with. Tyler. But instead of calling the. brother's mother right away, he reaches. out to someone he's already spoken with, Sierra. What she doesn't know is that. the investigators have already spent. hours reviewing messages on her phone. and they've uncovered far more. involvement than she ever admitted. When. Sierra arrives, she seems to sense it.

and immediately asks Detective Decker to. turn off his body cam, apparently. forgetting about the camera in the. interview room. What neither of them. realizes is that this will become the. last known recording of Sierra alive. >> Did you know what happened? I know what. [ __ ] happened. >> I know you know what happened. But why. do you think that happened? >> Don't worry. I've been blaming myself. all [ __ ] night. You don't have to do. it, too. >> I didn't know Tyler hadn't gone in the.

front seat. >> Have those Have they ever been to a W's. house before? >> No. No. >> How do they know how to get there? So, you know, none of this looks very good, right? Whenever you send text messages like. that to Will and then proceed to go over. to his house with your homies who are. strapped. >> They didn't know what I was text. messages to. >> and William ends up dead because they. shot him. It kind of seems like an. orchestrated plan to me. >> Was that was.

these guys these guys didn't know Will. before they met you. Any info they got. about Will came directly from you. >> I didn't want Will. >> So scary. Here's here's what I think. I. think that that day that you had. orchestrated a plan to go over there, but you went over there for a purpose. Those boys had no idea where that place. was. >> But I didn't go over there to die. >> All the evidence that I have says that. there was something planned to go down. there to do something. >> Look, I'm a piece of [ __ ] okay?

[ __ ] boy wanted to kill somebody. >> Why didn't you help him? Sierra continues to insist that Eli. simply wanted to kill someone and that. she had nothing to do with it. But at. this point, none of what she says. matters. Her phone is filled with. incriminating messages she can't explain. away. And now, not only is Sierra not. getting her phone back, she's about to. learn she's not walking out of this.

interview room either. Her life, as she. knows it, is over. So, Eli killed your. best friend, gunned him down, and shot. him dead in front of you. But you don't. know what you think should happen. Eli, I just. >> Do you feel like you're to blame for any. of him? I feel like it's all my fault if. that's what you're asking. >> Right now, I'm in the process of. applying for your arrest for Will's. murder.

Sierra, I'm not saying that you are the. one that went on there and pulled the. trigger, but some of your actions. directly impacted the way all that. turned out. >> Will Will's dead. >> We can't bring Will back. >> So, Sierra, if if it's my choice, you're. going to go to jail and you're going to. be charged. >> Unfortunately for Sierra, nothing can. save her. Now the interview is concluded. and Sierra is placed under arrest for.

murder. Her breakdown at the end of the. interview, however, hints at a much. darker twist awaiting her, one no one. could have predicted. By now, Detective. Decker decides it's time to speak with. the person who allegedly pulled the. trigger, Eli. So, he finally calls Eli's. mother, Tiffany, asking her to come down. to the station without explaining. exactly why. Shocked to receive a call. from the police at such an hour, Tiffany. arrives within minutes. When Decker goes. outside to notify her of the horrifying.

crime her sons are accused of, her. reaction is strange to say the least. So, I'm Detective Decker. I spoke with. you on the phone. When I went to talk to. Eli, he wanted you present while I spoke. with him. He didn't really explain why. I mean, he's an adult, so normally we. don't get that from from adults. >> He is severely disconnected to the. phone. He is reminding you. >> I guess our sergeant came over and. talked with you and let you know that. your boys have been in a shooting.

>> Yeah, I wish I don't understand like. when where how. >> clearly Tiffany's reaction isn't what. the officers expected from a mother. whose sons are accused of murder. The. detective is taking a big risk by. allowing Tiffany to be present during. questioning. While her presence could. encourage Eli to open up, it could just. as easily shut him down or prompt him to. ask for a lawyer. For Detective Decker, the goal is to see how closely Eli's. account aligns with Tyler's and to. assess Sierra's true level of.

involvement. But for Tiffany, she's here. to find out whether her teenage sons are. truly heartless, cold-blooded killers. >> Hey, can I get a little hug? Absolutely. >> So, you feel comfortable talking to me. now? >> Mhm. >> Cool. So, just to be straight with you, the reason that we're here today is uh. in reference to William Johnson. >> Okay.

>> Do you know that name? >> I have no clue who that is. >> No idea. >> No, sir. >> Clearly, Eli is sticking to the story he. and his brother concocted, completely. unaware that just hours earlier, Tyler. had already given him up. Tiffany did. mention that Eli is severely dyslexic. and considered disabled. So, there's a. chance he isn't lying, but genuinely. unable to recall names, but Decker is. about to find out whether that's true or. if it's all an act. >> So, and you're you've graduated high. school? >> Yes, sir.

>> Was that easy? >> Uh, yeah, it it was pretty difficult, especially with how uh co was and then. the computer. I was better learning in. class than over a laptop. >> You said you didn't know that. >> I have no clue. Have you ever heard the name before? >> Um, heard of Will. >> Okay. So, have you heard of Will. Johnson? >> No. >> No. >> No sir. >> Just Will. >> Just Will. >> And who have you heard that name from? >> Um, probably I don't know how to exactly. say your name, but it's like Sea. Um, I. just barely like recently met her. through my brother and they've been just.

like hanging out and stuff, but that. that's is all I know them. >> What about the name Sierra Ring about? Just just the fact that I know her with. my brother. >> What did you all do today? >> Oh, we just like hanged out and watched. TV and played video games and stuff. >> Didn't really do too much. >> I was actually there today if I might. add. Yes, ma'am. >> I was there today and I can even tell. you the times that I was there and they. were also there. >> What time did you leave? >> Um, so Serena Serena, I don't know how.

to say her name exactly. She had gotten. a call and um she told us that it was a. detective or something and we were like, "Okay, Sierra talk about her car." She. had mentioned it being um possibly. strapped down or taken apart and then. scrapped or something. >> Mhm. >> But besides that, I I don't know. >> Where did she say where her car? >> No, I I clue where it is. It turns out. Eli does know about Sierra, but he.

doubles down on playing dumb, just as he. and Tyler planned. At least for now, he's holding out longer than his. brother. Tiffany also seems to be. backing up her son, reinforcing the very. risk the detective anticipated when. allowing her into the room. This is when. the detective decides to ask Eli about. his fascination with guns. Something. that will lead to an unexpected outcome, causing Eli to slip. Do you have a. driver's license? >> Uh, no I do not, but I've done some. driving on my Xbox.

>> Do you own any guns? >> I do, but I have it as a hobby. I am not. aggressive. Do you want to know what I. own? I own the first gun that I did get. was a 22. It was a um PCR. And then. after that, I got a uh 12 gauge. Winchester. It's the It's like a cyst. pump. I have my sink, which is an AR-15. I I got um kind of pretty decked out. I'm really proud of it. And I just do it. for hobby and also for um self-defense.

and home defense. >> Do you own any uh handguns? >> I do. I Well, it's not my handgun. It's. my parents handgun. Uh why. >> what kind is it? >> Uh why are you asking? >> I'm just I'm just curious. >> Okay. Um it's a Ruben. Does the 22 even. have the um what's the thing that you. put the. >> bullets in? No, it's like a round thing. where you put the bullets in. >> Oh, the one that you had is a revolver. >> Yes, sir. >> Does it have the cylinder in it?

>> Um, as far as I'm seeing, no, it. doesn't. It's actually It's put away in. their closet. >> Maybe it hasn't had the cylinder in it. for years. >> Yes, sir. >> Okay. Do you have any that are broken? >> I do. I have a little bit on the bottom. of it is broken. >> Oh, yeah. Yeah. The trigger guard. >> Yep. Yeah. What did that get? >> How did that get broke? >> Um I had dropped it getting out of the. car or something. >> The detective notices how quickly Eli. insists he isn't aggressive. A strange. thing to emphasize unless you know.

you're being accused of something. serious. So he plans to press Eli on. that point, prompting Eli's mother to. jump in and defend him. You said. something kind of struck me weird a. minute ago. would be like you when I. asked you about guns, you said you had. them, but that you're not aggressive. >> I'm not. >> Why did you feel like that was important. to tell me? >> Um, it's just something throw out there. You know, >> he's a very timid guy. Um, he's actually. been abused and bullied all of his life.

Um, so he's always like wanted to have a. gun for protection all of his life. >> I try to prevent a fight than it to. provoke a fight. You know what I mean? I. got zero tolerance for bully. So, I. completely understand what you're doing. for a long time. Like, I don't tolerate. any. >> been seriously bullied. >> The detective believes Tyler and Sierra. likely put Eli in this position and knew. he was going to shoot William despite. their claims to the contrary. But just. as Decker builds some rapport with Eli, he shifts gears completely and confronts.

him with his brother's confession. >> Was Tyler in any fights today? So, I. already know. I already know. Yes. >> Listen, I I already Eli, I already know. that means Yes. Who was Who is he in a. fight with? >> Do Can I tell the full story? >> I would love the full story because I. feel like I'm trying to private out of. you. No, >> I'm sorry. >> And I and I know, Eli, I know that you. know why you're here and why I'm talking. to you. >> Protect yourself. >> And and tell the truth. >> It seems the pressure is working and Eli.

decides to tell the truth. And though. his mother encourages him to cooperate, she has no idea that what she's about to. hear will change their lives forever. >> Will kept on calling and she had a fear. him uh either pulling up on her because. she had mentioned him about beating her. up and a number of different things. We. had went over is to get his phone. I. told her like, "Let him know that we're. going to come and get the phone is to.

get the personal items off of it." And. as soon as we had pulled up, he had. stuck his head out the door and was. already just screaming things and he had. come out in the front yard and what's he. going to do? Is he going to break the. windshield? Like what's his next move? So I got out of my car with my rifle and. told him just to stop. Quit approaching. Stay where you are. Stop moving. My. brother got out of the car and Will hit. my brother and somehow my brother got. this gash on the side of his head. They.

both fell over and cuz my brother, he he. had had a he had gotten out a revolver. The revolver that we were talking about, I don't know why he had it, but I. noticed that he had dropped it. Will was. going for the revolver, so I shot Will. and. we were super shooken about it. So, but. in my defense, I didn't want Will to. kill my brother. I didn't want Will to. get the gun. So, I shot Will.

I didn't have intentions of killing him. I just wanted to get the gun and leave. But it turned physical and I felt I had. to shoot Wills and make sure my brother. didn't get hurt. Those boys are always. trying to protect each other. >> Is he all right? >> No. >> No, he's dead. >> Oh my god, Eli. I'm sorry. I mean, I didn't want to kill. him.

>> Eli breaks down and begins recounting. what happened. With each sentence, Tiffany struggles to listen as her son. describes how he committed murder, something no mother ever wants to hear. But even as this tragedy unfolds before. her eyes, she clings to the hope that. her sons acted only in self-defense. That's a belief the detective is about. to challenge. >> I already talked to Tyler. He told me he. never lost possession of the handgun. He. maintained it in his grip the entire. time he was there.

>> Okay. He never dropped the gun or. anything. >> No. >> Well, I assume then at that point Will. was going to pry the gun out of his. hands cuz they're both on the ground. One of them's got a gun that's like. freaking. one of those easily accidental guns. Besides like a Glock. So, look, Eli, here's here's the problem that we're. going to run into. Okay? So, you and Tyler went over there, but he. went over there with guns for selfp.

protection, for protection of myself. because she didn't even already know. mentioned that he was he had kidnapped. her and he had her he had beat her. So, I wasn't looking forward to getting. beat. >> So, you went over there to teach Will a. lesson? >> No, I didn't want to go over there and. kill Will. But you wanted to teach him a. lesson. >> Why would I wanted to teach him a. lesson? I just wanted to take Sierra and. he beat her. He had nude photos of her. >> That's her personal business. I don't. like girls. >> And obviously she gave him the address. cuz neither of them taken us directly.

there. If somebody's attacking me, doing. physical harm to me or my loved ones, then I may do something about it. He had. pulled out a phone as if he was going to. pull out a gun, but I had actually. waited for him to see what he was going. to pull out before doing anything crazy. or irrational. >> Where did he pull it out from? >> He had Can I get up to do an example of. how he did this? >> Absolutely. >> So, he come out and went like this and. then went and pulled out his phone all.

crazy and was like acting all stupid. with it. And that's whenever Tyler ended. up on the ground, hit he hit him in the. side of the head with a phone and Tyler. pistol whipped him. >> Have you taken any uh any handgun. courses, any like self-p protection. courses, any firearms? >> I do a lot of training on my own time. >> What does that look like? >> I'll watch YouTube videos on my um and. just learn from the YouTube. There's a. number of different gun tickers that. I've learned from out there. Eli only.

digs himself deeper when he admits he. learned gun handling from YouTube and. Tik Tok. And this is exactly where the. risk of allowing his mother into the. room starts to show. >> Given what you said, do you really think. you should keep talking or do you want. to wait and get an attorney? >> I'll do what you want. >> No, I'm just telling you given what you. said, um I don't know that you should. keep talking without giving the advice. of an attorney. So, Eli, at this point, all the only thing that I'm after at. this point is I'm trying to figure out.

of like when you can and when you cannot. shoot. >> I've watched I've watched a lot of um. body cam videos on YouTube, police. officers and stuff. Some of them you. should stop. >> All right, I'm going to stop. >> What do you mean you're going to stop? >> I think given this situation, he should. probably have an attorney present. >> And that's completely up to him. >> I'm I'm with whatever she wants. So, what do you want? >> Is dad an attorney? >> Cool. We're done. >> I love you, son. I love you, too, mom.

>> I can't believe. >> you let that girl take you there. >> With an attorney requested and the. interview shut down, Tiffany hugs her. son once more, likely realizing this may. be the last time she gets to do so. Having now interviewed both brothers, the detective has made up his mind about. them. He steps outside and tells Tiffany. what he really thinks about Eli. I. guarantee you he's the one with the. agenda. >> When I talk to Tyler, Tyler is a mess.

Eli has he's got a different attitude. It's almost like he doesn't care. >> I've watched these two protect each. other. Tyler used to watch Eli get. bullied and watch him get beaten with a. school computer. Can I ask you another. thing? Is Tyler here? >> Yes. >> Can I see him? >> Give me just a minute. I just want to. give him a hug and tell him goodbye. I'm. sorry. I'm here. >> We love you the best tonight. I came in.

here to give you a hug. >> I tell you, if you get a cup with your. finger, I love you very much. No matter where. you are, no matter what, I will always. love you. >> It's okay. >> I love you, Mom. >> I love you. >> Bye. After giving her sons one final goodbye, Tiffany leaves the police station, still. believing they were nothing more than. pawns in a sadistic scheme, insisting. Sierra alone should be held responsible.

The next morning, a judge approves the. murder charges against Sierra while the. brother's charges remain pending. At the. same time, Tyler asks to speak with the. detective again, wanting to know what. charges he and his brother might face. For Tyler, this is his last chance to. shift the narrative in both his and. Eli's favor and influence how police. view their roles in the killing. But for. Detective Decker, it's an opportunity to. strengthen the case against all three. suspects. However, when he sits down.

with Tyler for one last time, he begins. to wonder whether Tiffany might have. been right. That maybe her sons aren't. the monsters everyone assumed. >> You all right? >> What? What did you want to talk about. today? At this point in time that we. were set up that we didn't know where we. were going that we were just going to go. see your car and that's as far as my. understanding was. >> What do you mean you were set up?

>> I feel like I was set up. I feel like I. was driving to that house. I feel like I. was used from begin with. She had told. me she wanted him dead and I said, "Oh, I'm not the guy for you." I never. offered. I never said, "Hey, I'm going. to kill this [ __ ] guy for you.". >> I don't know what the [ __ ] going on. >> So, I don't I'll tell you right now. >> I tell you right now, I don't disagree. that you may have been set up. >> Tyler maintains his self-defense story.

However, this time, he's far more. adamant about Sierra's role in. everything that happened. But there's. something else Tyler wanted to speak to. detectives for that he didn't mention up. front. Earlier, Tyler was allowed a. brief moment with his brother, Eli, giving the two just enough time to. compare what they told police. Now, Tyler has figured out the one major. inconsistency between their stories. Something he believes will help their. case. >> I just want to talk to you guys. Um, I.

didn't have full control over that. weapon. Over which weapon? That's funny, too. I I do believe I dropped it. So, I asked you yesterday. >> if I had full control over the weapon. and you said yes, I did. >> And then I even double checked again. I. asked you. >> Yes, sir. You did. >> I asked you. I said, "So, it stayed in. your hand the whole time?" And you were. absolutely sure it was in your hand the. whole time? >> And that was our pride. That was my. pride. >> So, how did you get the gun back in your.

hand? >> I [ __ ] went back and found it. Picked. it up. >> What do you mean you went back and found. it? Well, like whenever I was going to. go get the car, I turned around and. said, "Where the [ __ ] the gun and I. went back, grabbed it, and put it back. in the car?". >> So, you understand that there's. independent witnesses that saw what. happened, right? >> Yes, sir. >> Tyler, I'm going to be honest with you. Um, it it seems like at this point. you've had some time to think about.

>> what happened. not only what happened, but maybe some things you could tell us. to try to preserve yourself. >> This was Tyler's last desperate attempt. to pull himself and his brother out of. trouble. Detective Decker quickly. realizes what Tyler really wants from. this interview, to protect Eli and. salvage whatever future they have left. So, he decides to give Tyler the hard. truth he's been avoiding. >> What you're having a really hard time. with right now. >> is that brother bond. I've got two. brothers. I've got an older one and I've.

got a younger one. I'm in the middle. Okay. And that's what that's what's really. troubling you right now is it's your. brother. And your brother your brother. murdered somebody and you helped and you. helped do that. And I think that is your. biggest problem. Your biggest your. biggest fear right now is that you have. you've made things pretty rough for your. brother. I know I know what brother love. is, man. I' I've got them.

>> There's really I thought I was going to. get. >> There's a lot of things There's a lot of. things that I would do for my brothers. in in a snap of a finger. You do got a. long road ahead of you, though. So, you. can hear the empathy in Detective. Decker's voice. He knows Sierra. manipulated the brothers, but that. doesn't change the fact that the. Chaffens went to Williams' house on. their own accord. Following this, Detective Decker wraps. up the interview with Tyler and proceeds. with murder charges against all three. As the case moves forward, Tiffany never.

stops supporting her sons. She stays in. contact with both boys, hoping the truth. will help them find a way out of this. Jail calls capture a brief glimpse into. a mother caught between the children. she's raised and the reality of what. they've done. >> Yeah, I've been trying to video Eli for. the last 30 minutes, but nobody will. give me the tablet. >> Oh, for real? Hey, Mom. >> Hey. >> What you doing? >> Oh, not much. We only have a few. minutes. I bet they'll cut us off at. 9:00. But you're doing all right. Did I.

wake you up? >> No, I'm doing pretty good. Uh, I'm just. hanging out. It's fun in here sometimes. But like, honestly, I don't think I've. laughed as hard as I have in here just. listening to some of the [ __ ]. >> That's good. I like to hear that. I like. to hear that. I really love you guys and. I really love all the um the support and. I really appreciate all the help. I. think it's awesome. >> I wouldn't do it if I didn't know what a. good boy you were. >> Oh, I know. Oh, I know. I really love.

you. >> Sleep good. Have a good night. >> I'll see you tomorrow. >> I'll see you tomorrow, too. >> Bye-bye. >> Bye, mama. >> Tiffany would go on to support her sons. until the very end. But as the trial. date approached, one of the trio's lives. came to an abrupt end. In September. 2024, while being held at the San Juan. County Detention Center, Sierra suffered. a severe medical emergency. The. detention center could not provide the. level of care required to sustain her.

life, and she was transferred to the. regional medical center with limited. brain function where she died shortly. afterwards. In July 2024, both Chaffen. brothers entered plea agreements. Eli. pleaded guilty to voluntary. manslaughter, while Tyler pleaded no. contest to seconddegree murder and felon. in possession of a firearm. Eli was. sentenced to 6 years in prison, followed. by 2 years of parole, while his older. brother Tyler received 15 years in. prison, also followed by 2 years of. parole.