When Guilty Suspects Get Tricked Into Confession

criminals have one objective when sat in. the interrogation room do not confess. but sometimes the detectives are so. skilled that they are able to trick the. suspect into giving everything up and. confessing on the spot it was a lot. going through my mind at that point like. I'm thinking I'm about to die I'm near. death and I just shot starting with the. one in a million interrogation of Kelsey. McMan on the 26th of July 2017 two. bodies were found in a car in Virginia. the bodies belonged to Gregory Davis and.

Ryan cross and as the investigation. began police were immediately starved. for suspects there was very little. evidence and the cops couldn't link the. deaths to any wider incidents however. Kelsey had been arrested less than a. month earlier for robbing a man at. gunpoint for his cell phone he was well. known to the police so when they found. his Prince at the scene of the crime. they knew they had to bring him in where. were you Wednesday last week Wednesday. morning Wednesday morning mhm. 26 can you even mind.

Double H oh um oh I did hear I saw about. that on Twitter though I was at Cole's. house matter of fact I was at his house. all night all night you never left no so. you got you spend the night over there. yeah did you guys ever go out and hang. out with anybody or anything like that. what time did you leave his house. probably like 6 6:00 a.m. or like maybe. like 4: maybe 4: 5 or 6 Kelsey gives a. very common Alibi here saying he was at. his friend's house all night and he. never left criminals give this Alibi a. lot at it places them away from the.

crime and also allows their friends to. cover up for them if Cole tells the cops. Kelsey was indeed there all night then. that problem is solved and he couldn't. possibly have been the murderer but of. course it's never that simple do you. walk by the police no I walk straight. down Rich were you with any but by. myself I went home so you were at CO's. till about 4:00 what time did you get to. calls M we hooped earlier that day so I. was with him probably like around I. don't know exactly the time but I know I.

was we like for I'm say all day. basically did you walk there or did you. take a car we walked so you walk where. was your girl at there you out the gr. the first part of the interrogation is. often the most important it gives the. suspect a chance to explain their side. of the story but it also gives the. detective a chance to trap them in a lie. as you may be able to tell the detective. is bombarding Kelsey with questions and. barely giving him a chance to think in. between each of them this is done in. hopes that if Kelsey is guilty he'll.

make a mistake somewhere in his story. that the detective can exploit later the. detective continues this for another 5. minutes before deciding to talk about. the murders when did you hear about the. murder I heard about it on the news the. next morning my dad had called me cuz. when I went back home I went to sleep my. dad called me like around 8 something he. was like did you hear about that I was. like nah you know what I'm saying did. you see who got killed I didn't they. didn't they didn't say no names or no. faces or nothing um did you find out who. go kill um all I know is was that one of.

them was 19 and 20 I've seen that on the. um the news did you know the victims no. never seen it before in Life or anything. like that I still don't know who it is I. didn't Ryan cross you know that name how. about Greg Den I don't know they don't. sound familiar so what's the word on the. street whate I don't know too much. except for what they said on the news I. it notice how as soon as the names are. mentioned and he's asked whether he. knows them Kelsey's posture becomes much.

more closed off he tightens up and. starts to move his hands around a whole. lot more than he was before something is. off and the detectives pick up on this. instantly so obviously the reason why. we're talking to you two is cuz we want. to find out information we want to tell. see if you're telling the truth okay so. this is your opportunity to tell the. truth detective go and kind of talk to. you you know there's pieces of puzzles. and when you look at them our job solely. is to gather EVS talk to people and put. it all together okay right now you're.

not telling the truth about what about. where you were that night oh I am you're. giving us partial the truth but there's. also text messages between you and Jay. me and jco yeah talking about what you. weren't there if he's texting you you. remember saying you I'm in the cut and. just went by that's when I was walking. home why why would you HDE in the cut no. I'm saying I'm walking through the cut. there's cuts that I take to get home. Kelsey nods his head here to reassure. himself that what he's saying is. truthful and believable but all this. does is confirm to the police how.

nervous he really is he's texting you're. texting back and forth he's trying to. call you the murder he's trying to call. me he doesn't he doesn't have a phone. number so I can't call me he's texting. you though right FaceTime and text him. that's when I get home he text me face. Tommy but he didn't say anything about. that you know we're talking to you for a. reason right we're not here talking by. chance yeah I mean you're talking to. let's talk about the bag that found in. the back of the [ __ ] it's got your. prints on it it's got your DNA the brag. the bag.

mhm I. [Music]. mean let's talk about why would it have. that why would it have your DNA on what. bag there's a bag found in the back. Black. Backpack all right I'm listen if Kelsey. had a good way to refute this evidence. you'd have to imagine that he'd be. rushing to tell the cops about it. instead he says I'm listening a sign. that he's got nothing and is actively. searching for an excuse in what the cop. says I me I had I mean I have his bag.

sometimes did you have his bag that. night no why would he say he gave it to. you for what I don't know that's my. masking I don't know why he would give. me his bag like we was hooping that day. I probably could have had his bag and. put my stuff in it but that was about it. I didn't have it know after that so what. happened that night did something go. wrong like said you seem like a good guy. make mistakes but we need know what. happened that night I don't I honestly. don't know you weren't sleeping there. that whole time no we wasn't sleeping. the whole time I said I didn't go to.

sleep till probably like 12 or something. 12 or1 so you don't know Ryan cross no. do you know Greg Dennis I don't know I. don't you know what I'm saying you. saying those names I don't I'm asking if. you know no no no I don't know them if. you ever run around them hung out with. them I mean you saying the names you're. saying I don't I don't know anybody by. that name if you could show me a picture. or anything have you watch the news you. know that area no they didn't show they. didn't show pictures that's what I'm. saying I never seen them show any. pictures or nothing have you ever been. in their car or anything no is there any. reason why you're Prince with on that.

car it depends on who you're talking. about Kelsey's body language is. consistently extremely telling. throughout this whole interrogation. before that last question he was. speaking pretty confidently but when the. detective asks if he's ever been in the. car it's like he's been stunned and he. quietly mutters no it's almost as if he. knows exactly what question is coming. next but he definitely wasn't prepared. for the cop's next remark you know you. had your cell phone on you that night. right I my cell phone on yeah what we. going to do it's going to track your.

whole movement that night it's going to. put you in the area of the murder I mean. should that's that's that's an answer. you saying that it shouldn't what if it. does scenario based cuz because I'm just. say like I said I've done this a little. bit and I try to be a judge of the. character all right do you understand. that um I told you I was a I was a. robbery detective for seven eight years. but I'm a homicide detective now spent. my whole career looking people in the. eyes a going that dude he's straight he.

just in bad situation or that dude's. [ __ ] whack that dude that you need to. be put in jail it's [ __ ] Maniac you. I'm not seeing that so we're not here. talking to you like you're the dude who. pulled the trigger you're the dude or. whatever the detectives employ another. classic strategy by claiming that they. don't believe he was actually the. murderer he was just involved a suspect. is much more likely to admit to a less. serious charge than they are the actual. crime so the plan is to get something.

out of them and then work their way up. to a full confession okay before I even. start saying this I'm telling you I. didn't do that all. right but so I didn't know them by that. name honestly but you know what I'm. saying I I done done business with these. guys before so I know they were legit. people right those other two guys that. was at his crib CO's crib I don't I. don't know them they know him but I. don't we're not cool like that so I. don't do any dealings with so we talking. about Dread Boy yeah he had called me up.

I mean I had called him up he was like. yeah I'm saying I was asking can I get. some some stuff off of him you know what. I'm saying long story short they pull up. I didn't want none of that around Co. crib okay you know what I'm saying it. was just me me and the other two guys. was throwing bread together to get some. [ __ ] gotta but I was going to get what I. what I my I threw you feel what I'm. saying was nothing big or nothing like. that Kelsey does a pretty bad job of. explaining the next part but in essence. he heads out to buy some drugs from his. regular guy but instead somebody else. shows up the two guys who end up getting.

shot he decides to go along with it and. we pick up his story as the deal starts. to go down so I'm in the car you know. what I'm saying I'm counting out my. money that I have from everybody and. those two the two guys matter of fact. was still was standing back there okay. he was just with me did they see them. who you think the two you two guys who. got killed did they see him back there. your boy uh probably did I they didn't. say anything matter of fact the one guy. I think asked him for a cigarette or. something saying he was walking up with.

me typee [ __ ] so that's probably why he. pulled off you know what I'm saying but. other than that after I call him and let. him know like yeah is everything good. you feel what I'm saying I'm just trying. to get my stuff and leave for real I. don't want you know what I'm saying I. don't I don't know who this guy is I. don't really trust him like that car you. pull up in my car I don't know and then. hop in the joint we pull off and then. next thing I know some guys come open in. that jump and then yeah all right was. the two guys same two guys that was at. the house I don't know that's what I'm.

saying they had it was all blacked up. everything I don't I don't know who. those who those guys was they opened the. door took some of the stuff out of them. you know what I'm saying that's what. happened for where was that at that was. like near the front so long story short. Kelsey had gone out to buy some drugs. got into a car with two people he didn't. know and all of a sudden two guys came. out of nowhere and murdered the dealers. obviously Kelsey got out and fled the. scene texting Cole along the way to let. him know he's safe it took Kelsey about. 7 minutes to explain this entire thing.

over embellishing every element along. the way okay they both came to one side. which side the driver side and then they. opened the door and started doing that. when I got out of the car I I started. running like soon they still shooting. yes I dropped everything I had and I. started running and when they open the. car door they just start shooting yeah I. didn't text nobody saying I didn't call. nobody nothing the last people I talked. to was them okay and did you ever see. them go to the P side or nothing like. that nope okay what did you touch in.

that car um the. door the bag you know what I'm saying I. had the bag did you ever touch a. driver's side door no did you ever open. the driver's door no did you ever open. the passenger door no were you ever in. the front part of the car N I had I. tried to open the back door you know. what I'm saying but that's about it. that's it but surprise surprise this. story doesn't line up with the evidence. the last part is extremely important for. the detectives Kelsey has explicitly.

told them that he didn't touch anything. in front of the car not the doors not. the seats nothing it turns out this. would be his biggest mistake and the. detectives are about to tell him why you. told us earlier he never touched the. driver's side door pass side door you. know we took fingerprints off everything. what would I touch the door for that's. our question I didn't know I don't I. don't I don't remember touching no door. we haven't finished processing but I'm. giving you opportunity now cuz when we. do process and you sit here and tell me.

my hand my fingerprints won't be on. their doors and I get that hit you know. 3 days later that your fingerprints are. on that door and you had that. opportunity to tell me the truth you. know how's that going to look cuz here. here's the btel all right if you shot. those people it's going to look one more. two ways you're going to sit here lie. and we can think that you know Kelsey's. Cold Blood he just shot them just left. them there he didn't care or maybe. something happened that caught maybe. something they try to rob you you know. something that explains why it happen. okay if you if you're not honest with us.

we're not going to know that and the. thing is everything you tell us we're. going back up with evidence and if. you're telling us one thing it doesn't. add up and the science doesn't add up. what do you think someone's going to. believe the science or your word the. detectives are once again confronting. Kelsey with a less serious option in. hopes that he might finally realize he's. not getting out of this completely. unscathed and at least confess to. something luckily they're about to get. exactly what they're looking for he do. you want to talk to us.

tell us what you got to say well I was. just over what he was saying resona my. mind that I don't I don't want to be. looked at as somebody that you know what. I'm saying out of any aggressive Mo. motives like don't want to be looked at. as some some killer or some guy that. just did that for no reason cuz it. honestly wasn't like that so I got one. to the car so I'm counting out the money. this down the third the next thing I. know I got two guns at my face I don't. know if they were real I don't know if. they were BB guns who ping the G both of.

those guys that's in the car no nobody. else on the outside had anything so I. had I had mine you know what I'm saying. but it was for just for protection. purposes only I didn't have any intent. on doing anything I just wanted to get. my stuff and go so they had this they. had they turned around it was like you. already know what time it is you feel. what I'm saying I'm just like at that. point I'm thinking like these [ __ ]. about to kill me you feel what I'm. saying and I was hesitant on giving them. the money like it's not that serious. it's $800 like you don't have to do this. you feel what I'm saying we didn't we. never had any problems like that so he.

you know what I'm saying he's like I'm. not playing you feel me saying start. pointing it more in my face you saying I. had it actually on my head had bu in my. head and went to my chest so then I. acted out of self-defense after that. those two guys r two guys outside they. they took off and then I'm trying to. open the door and I couldn't even open. the door from the inside I don't know if. the child lock was on or whatever you. know what I'm saying to me the whole. thing was planned out already that they. were going to tell and rob me all right. so how'd you get out I climbed through. the uh the passenger side you climb pass. I to open the passenger front door no I.

didn't I I never opened the door the. door was open after after that and then. I climbed out and I started running. honestly so I'm I'm honestly sorry that. that happened there you know what I'm. saying I it didn't it wasn't I didn't I. didn't do that out of just me wanting to. do that out of me being a coldhearted. person I'm not that person you know what. I'm saying I probably guess the times I. deal with them they thought you know. what I'm saying from how they go about. it he was sweet I don't I don't come off. I don't I don't come off like I'm just. some hardcore gangster none of that I. acted out of self-defense where where's. the gun now I don't have it I know where.

is I don't know I gave it to I gave it. to jcole he did he did something with it. I don't know I don't know where he took. it I don't know who he gave it to when. did you buy the gun from the pawn shop I. don't remember exactly how long would be. had it I probably say a few months. where'd you buy the ammo at uh Walmart. Walmart yeah when did you buy the ammo. from Walmart the same day I got the gun. did you pay crack car or cash I pay with. cash cash and that's pretty much all the. cops needed to take Kelsey down but just.

for good measure they made him repeat. his version of events once more so let's. break down what happened that night a. little bit all right so you get in the. car when they drive up to the co set how. many people were in the car me up yeah. when they pick you up there was only two. people in the car I go up to the window. I was like like what's up like I'm here. okay so you like n bro just get in the. car so I'm just like all right bro I. guess he didn't want his dude out the. open or something like that you feel. what I'm saying like and then two other. guys come out of nowhere and they're. just blocking in my door I'm just like. and I'm just in the back just stuck like.

this you know what I'm saying then they. turned around put the guns in my face. like yeah you already know what time it. is I'm trying to ride me basically and. then I just shot with that Kelsey has. completely admitted to the murders of. Gregory and Ryan the detectives did an. incredible job of making Kelsey feel. comfortable and then backing him into a. corner by asking exactly the right. questions they knew what evidence they. had and tricked Kelsey into telling what. they knew to be lies. however they were never able to prove.

that there was any form of premeditation. involved in this case so Kelsey was hit. with two charges of second deegree. murder and sentenced to 38 years behind. bars Cade Lish however was faced with. such a smart detective he couldn't help. but confess to everything and was sent. to prison at just 22 years old did you. stab him yes Kade had been faced with. anger issues throughout most of his. adolescent life but he never expected it. would lead him here him and a man named. Jeremiah had gotten into an argument.

outside of a restaurant and at first it. was just a normal disagreement but it. quickly escalated into a full-on fight. where Kade drew a pocket knife and. stabbed Jeremiah three times Jeremiah. died of his injuries but at this point. Kade doesn't know that giving the. detective a massive opening to get to. the bottom of why this happened I would. like to know what happened tonight um. can I ask you a question sure is this. guy okay is he um you know I haven't. heard the latest on him yet okay but. obviously he was involved in a fight as.

well so I'm just trying to piece it. together what happened you know once I. get some more information I'll let you. know sure um but uh yeah I i' just like. to know kind of your point of view as to. what happened tonight how this started. sure the detective needs to make sure. Kade doesn't figure out Jeremiah is dead. in his head he's just facing an assault. charge Cade might be more likely to. confess if he's unaware of the severity. of the situation so the detective. continues under this this guys my. buddies were going to a movie and I.

think it started at 30 and and when you. say buddies who who the um Kade B which. that's where they picked me up. from yeah and his good friend Brent. helard I think his dad's actually the. chief belas what happened there there I. went in sat down few other guys I work. with were there had some drinks talked. and eventually everybody you know. decided to go home we both had to work. today so we decided to go home. Kade then spends the next 5 minutes.

detailing the rest of the night before. getting into the argument with Jeremiah. he says the two had their differences. before apparently he'd been making some. derogatory comments towards one of. Cade's gay friends and he wasn't happy. about that and after a few drinks that. all came to a head when they met again. outside the bar that night but at some. point you did get physical with this guy. yeah was it just one guy I I think so I. just remember getting hit and telling. you you guys going to get off me and I'm. going to stick you stick you guys get.

off me all CAD seemed to remember is. being assaulted by one or more people. managing to escape and then calling 911. but we know that there's an important. element of this story missing so the. detective tries to ask a few questions. that might shed a little light on Cade's. involvement in this fight now you said. you got a scuffle with this guy and were. you guys exchanging punches uh you know. I don't I don't know that I punched him. at all I know that he punched me you. said that that you're going to stick him.

what did you mean by that I had my. pocket knife I said you need to get off. me I'm going to I'm going to stab you. stick you you know at this point I. didn't know how many freaking guys were. hitting me I was kind of scared you know. those was days that person had about. knocked me out do you remember stabbing. this guy at. all I can't remember what position we. were in when it happened I can't. remember if if we were on the ground if. if we were standing up I can't I can't. remember the exact exact position. but but did you stab him yes yeah I did.

do you know how many times you stab him. I I don't more than once I think I think. so I couldn't tell the exact amount well. that was a lot easier than anyone was. expecting the detective has done a very. good job of putting Kade at ease he's. leaning in towards him and maintaining. eye contact so as to show Cade that he. is interested in the conversation and. that he's someone he can trust this in. combination with Kade not knowing the. severity or what he did made it much. easier for him to confess to stabbing. him so now the detective just has to.

iron out all the details something. that's much easier said than done when. the suspect was drunk and full of. adrenaline but you don't recall maybe. how many times you stabed it I don't I. don't times where you stabbed him I want. to say in the back maybe. like I know that we were we were wrapped. up I think face to face well you know. kind of like in a clinch I don't know if. you had a hold of me I had a hold of him. but I'm pretty sure it was were.

you I I don't remember if I was on my. knees or if we were standing up that's. the part that I don't remember but I. know it's either in the side or in in. the lower back area okay I think it was. more than once but you're not yes they. then both decide to take a break before. getting right back into it 30 minutes. later I think you told me before that. that uh he threw the first punch yes. okay and that's how you remember it is. him M yeah. and then it just becomes a fight after.

that was there any point that that you. were able to like be able to break away. from him get away from him. move I don't think did you did you try. to get away from him yeah I didn't want. you engage him were you mad at him I was. mad after I got hit but I didn't want to. fight and I remember telling him I don't. want to fight I don't want to fight as. I'm getting hit you were just trying to. get away from him at that point after. you got hit yeah but you couldn't. exactly okay so at what point during.

this struggle I mean did you feel like. your only choice to get away from this. guy was to stab him after I after I told. him that I didn't want to fight and I. told him to stop stop stop stop and I. told him I'm going to stab you if you. don't if you don't stop why stab him. though why not well because nothing cuz. nothing else is working did you try so. what else did you try I tried to get. away know physically and you know. through tell you but this is a.

surprisingly important piece in this. case Cade says he tried everything he. could do to get away before stabbing. Jeremiah but nothing else was working. however at the same time he claims never. to have punched or kicked him from the. detective's point of view it seems that. Kade just tried to crawl away and then. immediately resorted to possibly lethal. force in the pocket knife this could. have been a split-second decision Kade. made when realizing he was in danger but. it could equally have have been a. conscious decision made because he.

wanted Jeremiah dead it's a difficult. call to make and the detective has to. get to the bottom of it how long did it. take after you started stabbing for this. to kind of for you guys to break apart. was it immediate was it a couple minutes. yeah was. it I know I I know I stabbed him a. couple times you know I more than once. once started happening did you continue. to stab him after he let go of you or. what I don't think no what at what point. did you stop stabbing him I guess I.

should add when I when I felt that he. was he had let go of me basically but. you didn't go after me more I I don't. think so no you don't know how many. times you stabed do you have any idea. multiple multiple okay I couldn't give. you a even a close number I know more. than once and and that's kind of my. issue with this incident that happened. is because of the number of times this. guy was you know I don't have an exact. count because the everything that's. going on but it's I mean we're looking.

at 13 14 times okay which is a lot okay. you know a couple times I can see you. know once twice three times but when you. start getting 10 11 12 13 I mean that's. a lot of times to stab somebody okay. okay and I and understand I mean you. told me what happened why you did and. everything like that but I got to look. at everything involved here so that the. number of times this guy was stabbed is. is is a concern to me okay the second. thing here and and this is probably.

going to be the hardest part to deal. with okay is is this guy's. died. okay that's that's the tough. part you know it doesn't leave me with a. lot of choice here as to what as to what. to do with you okay you can probably. understand that. right okay so so you're going to go to. jail today and that's exactly what. happened to Cade he was sent to jail and. subsequently stood trial for the killing. of Jeremiah paays the jury was met with.

a similar conundrum as the detective was. it seems as though he's telling the. truth about the fight and all the. evidence corroborates that story but he. still stabbed Jeremiah 13 times the. final verdict was one of voluntary. manslaughter a crime separate to first. or second degree murder it's given to. suspects who intended to kill somebody. but aren't guilty of murder due to. provocation to circumstances that would. cause a reasonable person to act in the. same way way in Cade's case this makes. perfect sense and the head juror of this.

case put it best he didn't doubt Cade. was afraid but he wasn't acting entirely. out of fear for this reason Cade was. sentenced to 22 years in prison and will. be eligible for parole after just 10. years the detective did an incredibly. good job of extracting the full truth. from Cade especially under these complex. circumstances but in the case of Lee. radarte they were faced with a much more. formidable opponent Lee thought he was. smarter than the cops and was ready to. try and outsmart them but the cops were.

ready to use their years of experience. and put them to the test to get a. confession from him where is she I don't. know where she is where is it no no. where did you go with her I know you're. not that cruel inside I'm begging you. Lee just tell us I don't know where she. is this is Lee radarte a man taken into. custody for being suspected of. kidnapping and killing his coworker. Savannah Gold with no ideas of where. Savannah could be the cops knew getting. this interrogation wrong could mean they.

might never catch the killer what's even. worse is that Lee had a foolproof story. that was going to make sure Savannah was. never to be found Lee however is under. the impression that he is smarter than. the detectives little did he know this. would be a massive mistake for him on. the 2nd of August 2017 sav's family. received text messages stating she was. running away and quitting her job the. messages were WR riddled with errors. causing her family to panic and Report.

her as missing immediately throughout. the investigation the police were. grasping its straws until they were. suddenly sent the CCTV footage from The. Bonefish Grill where Savannah worked the. video shows her getting into a silver. car in the parking lot before it began. to shake violently with the door being. thrust open and pulled shut three times. the car then drove out of the parking. lot and Savannah was never seen again. after a series of interviews they. discovered the car was identical to Lee.

radares a manager at the grill and. boyfriend to Savannah for around 2. months Lee was immediately arrested on. suspicion of murder and brought into the. interrogation room however he was told. by police it was for an unimportant. traffic warrant and that's when the. following happened I'll say right here. something you can go have have a seat. for me real quick I'll be right back. okay yes sir being told the detective. will be right back obviously implies to. Lee that he won't have to wait long to. be seen But it actually be 90 minutes.

before anyone enters the room again only. a few days ago Lee was interviewed about. The Disappearance of a girl he kidnapped. and now he's been handcuffed and taken. into a police interrogation room Lee. will be feeling incredibly anxious now. but remember he's confident that there's. no way the cops have enough evidence to. take him down but unfortunately for him. the facade the detectives put up is all. about to be ripped away hey man how you. doing good good you remember me from the. other day detective Rees um this my.

partner detective s the detective that. enters isn't the same one that brought. him in it's the one who interviewed him. about Savannah 3 days prior any comfort. he found in thinking this was all. unrelated has now been completely taken. away and replaced with pure panic but. Lee's plan Remains the Same so he tries. to keep himself composed as he prepares. for the onslaught of questions he's. about to be hit with so um Savannah you. said that you knew her and you got guys. had um you knew her from work I mean. just kind of fill me in with that how.

long have you known her um like I said. I've known her obviously since she. worked since we started working there um. I would say probably about 8 months ago. we started hanging out outside of work. and at the time I had a girlfriend but I. kind of you know we kind of connected me. and Savannah so we hung out a little bit. here and there got pretty close uh we. come from I guess somewhat similar. backgrounds I guess you should say the. question Lee was given was how long have.

you known Savannah a question that. surely merits a fairly simple answer. when hit with a question like this. people who have nothing to hide keep. their responses short taking the. questions at face value but people who. feel pressured will usually extend their. answers to questions in an effort to. seem as though they know what they're. talking about something Lee will fall. victim to uh so we kind of connect in. hung out for a little while uh probably. say a period of two 3 months okay um and.

then she started using uh drugs okay a. lot I did them with her a couple times. and then she started to get heavy into. them and oh gotcha okay um so I kind of. just uh try to take a step back and you. know put things off and then. probably a month or so ago I saw. Savannah at work and she looked healthy. again you know she gained a little bit. of weight uh we kind of were talking you.

know here and there we hung out a couple. times um she came over to the house and. you know we just kick back drink a. couple beers watch movies stuff like. that in total Lee spoke for over 5. minutes in response to a single simple. question going so far as to detail. specific encounters between the pair now. that the detectives have even more. reason to suspect that he may be hiding. something they decide to call him out on. something small to gauge his reaction in. the first interview Lee had told. investigators he hadn't seen Savannah in. a while but if the CCTV footage is to be.

believed this is a bold-faced liee and. then as we hung out you know after a. couple times she brought drugs over and. I told her I was like you know you're. doing really good you can't you know you. shouldn't be doing it again I think we. mve too fast split Mutual ways yeah and. that was the last time that we text okay. when was that was that uh it was. probably a couple two 3 weeks ago okay. some in July right right yeah and I. think that's one of the things you said.

was that was the last time that you had. contact with her as far as I don't want. to put words in your mouth so I mean you. you correct me those the last time that. I text her yeah text or a phone call or. messenger anything like that two to. three weeks ago yeah okay and um and. then the last time when was the last. time you saw her this is what I was a B. I didn't tell you the truth when we. talked at B fish okay last time I saw. her was Wednesday afternoon okay I heard.

that she has been basically telling a. lot of people at work that we hooked up. a bunch like couple days before that so. I met her in the parking lot uh at. Bonefish when is this Wednesday. afternoon okay well that you know what. time or about um it was about 5:30 okay. without realizing it Lee has provided us. with enough evidence to assume he's. guilty we know he knew Savannah he had.

the same vehicle seen in the footage and. he was present at the scene of the crime. when it happened remember Lee has no. idea the cops have footage of the event. if he knew about it he would have tried. to provide an alibi that put him. somewhere completely different. unfortunately though this isn't quite. enough evidence for the cops to get a. guaranteed conviction instead they need. to push further to try and extract a. full confession something that will not. come easy at all I parked uh and I said.

hey uh can I talk to you for a second. and she said yeah what's up and I was. like I heard you've been saying some. things about me and you continuing to. hang out and you know that we're. boyfriend and. girlfriend and she asked me she said can. I come sit in the car because I just did. some heroin and I'm a little paranoid it. was never confirmed Med that Savannah. did do heroin nobody in her life.

mentioned seeing or suspecting she used. it and even if she did she was headed to. a shift at her job as this conversation. was taking place if she was able to do. that without getting paranoid it seems. strange she couldn't simply have a chat. in the parking lot so she came inside in. the car and I explained to her the. situation I told her that servers uh at. bone fish were coming to me and telling. me that you're telling people when. you're out that boyfriend and girlfriend. and I said I need you to stop because.

for one it's jeopardizing my job we. agreed to you know split stop talking. mutually and just move on um but it was. nothing more than that and she said I'm. going to do what I want I didn't tell. anybody anything at that point I got out. and I pun shed the whole on tire and I. said now stop and I said don't do it. again or next time it's going to be. worse it's going to be your windows at. that point she had her phone in her hand. she got out of the car and walked.

towards the main entrance from San Jose. obviously this entire explanation was. crafted to try and create an alibi as. close as possible to what actually. happened but the few small inaccuracies. are actually glaring Windows directly. into the truth we know that Savannah. never left the vehicle in the parking. lot and that she drove away with him. just minutes after getting in Lee is. unwittingly constructing a mountain of. evidence against him in the form of of. lies that he thinks he's getting away. with and he's not finished yet and it.

looked like she was either texting or. calling somebody okay um because as you. started walking towards the there's an. entrance to Bone to the plaza she was. walking maybe towards this way MH and I. would say an older. model Ford pickup M green okay uh drove. past me and around and she got in okay. how long do you think it was between the.

time that she got out and started using. her phone till that green truck pulled. up um maybe 5 minutes okay so wow so if. she called somebody they got there in. five minutes to pick her up well I mean. like I said she she it looked like she. was going to call somebody and that's. when the green truck came around and she. got in so she gets in the truck what. what happened at that point um they. drove back around kind of looped around. a little bit which which way they drive. so I guess they exited that way and at.

that point I left Lee doubles down on. the LIE again thinking that this puts. him completely in the clear as he. wouldn't have been the last person to. see savan but his decisions continued to. work against him had he decided to stick. closer to the truth he might have been. able to argue that he took Savannah. somewhere else and then parted ways with. her but without the knowledge of what. police have against him Leah left simply. guessing and forced to make up stories. on the Fly this is why it's so important.

to call a lawyer innocent or not in an. interrogation detectives are allowed to. both lie and withhold evidence from you. putting you in a very difficult. situation where you're at the mercy of. their tactics and Gaines however the. second you bring an attorney into the. mix things get exponentially easier as. police are forced to turn over all of. the evidence in their possession so they. can put together a fair and sound. defense for you calling a lawyer isn't. just having a wingman at the. interrogation room it's an unlocked door.

that bypasses almost all of the police's. tricks it goes from them interrogating. you to a legal battle but needless to. say Lee hasn't called the lawyer and has. been left at a disadvantage from the. beginning if Lee was as smart as he. thinks he is he wouldn't have waved this. right and likely would be in a much. better position what happened to your. neck that was self-inflicted actually. why I just have been having kind of a.

hard. time to your NE I couldn't yeah I did. and what did you. use a. knife when did you do that. um some time in July you did that in. July and it's still yeah bloody well. it's I kind of peel the scab here and. there at work hitting it all stuff like. that I peel it last night. working um and it was coming off a.

little bit today so I feel b a little. bit all right let me see but this and. this was the same night this one was. just a lot worse yeah than this one was. okay um and that was in. July yeah um like a few weeks back yeah. okay it doesn't take a genius to realize. how Brazen of a lie this is aside from. his incredibly unconvincing delivery of. his excuses Lee has no history with self. harm and was reported to have been in.

good spirits in the weeks leading up to. this event furthermore Lee becomes. visibly anxious here most people have a. tell that shows when they're lying or. feeling uncomfortable for many this is. crossing their arms or slouching in. their chair but Lee keeps his posture. and position fairly consistent. throughout the interview instead Lee is. prone to subconscious jittery movements. in his limbs earlier in the interview. while being caught in his first lie he. bounced his leg repeatedly L the entire. time while here he moves his hand and. fingers unnaturally every time he tells.

a lie in fact it's almost comical how. perfectly It lines up with the false. statements I met her in the parking lot. uh at Bonefish when is this Wednesday. afternoon what happened to your neck. that was self-inflicted actually what. did you. use a knife it's also interesting to. note that the detectives almost. certainly noticed these marks just. seconds into the interview the decision. to mention it now was a conscious one. done to try and build pressure Lee would.

likely have anxiety regarding his last. big lie about Savannah exiting his. vehicle catching him so suddenly in a. second lie right after will likely. amplify these feelings and cause him to. feel even more paranoia as the. detectives continue this is also likely. why they immediately flip back to. talking about the truck right after. could you see who the person in the. truck was um the truck had tint fairly. tinted windows I saw um a baseball cap. yeah you see a guy girl white black I.

couldn't really tell if it was a guy or. a girl okay um I just remember seeing. the truck drive and her get in yeah um. and all the I'm sitting in front and. truck drives right past me yeah and I. saw a baseball cap through the passenger. window okay um but so it seem like she. knew the person I mean she got right in. Lee why didn't you mention this before. since we've been looking for this girl I. mean don't you think that information. def it definitely does um and I regret.

obviously not saying anything before um. so I when I come up and talked to you. yesterday I'm not threatening I'm just. I'm talking to everybody up there what. why I just you know I freaked out to be. honest with you I mean that this girl is. Missing yes okay but you know she's been. missing you have know I mean obviously. you know I was the last one to see her. so I was a little bit scared at that and. how do you know you're you you just said. said you weren't the last one to see her. you just said somebody in a truck well I. mean the last one to see her at Bonefish.

that the last one she's heard from right. I had contact with that anybody knows of. sure the detective knows he's starting. to catch Lee on the back foot so decides. to keep the pressure up so where is. Savannah right now I don't know where. would I find her I don't know that's my. my Prime objective is to find her. definitely and here's a couple reasons I. need to find her one is um I'm hoping. that that she's still alive um and and. that's really I I really do I'm holding. out for that um and if she's not alive.

then I think she and her family are are. due that knowledge I think they need. some closure so where is she I don't. know where she is where is Savannah I. don't know I need to know where Savannah. is so I can let her where she is you. don't know because you had something. done with her and you weren't involved. in that part I don't know tell me. something what can I work with told you. the last song I Saw that's not true. because we have proof we have we have.

proof and that's why we're sitting here. Lee at this point we need this for her I. mean I look at that little girl and I. think of my little girl my little girl. who's her age that's who I think about. that was my little girl I couldn't. imagine I don't care what she said about. you or whatever but my little girl is. that age maybe and you're not telling. the truth maybe something gets out of. hand in the car I didn't do anything. okay you didn't do anything she was in. your car she never got out of your car. she never got out of your car Lee this.

is where the true genius of these. detectives start to shine the initially. quiet female detective suddenly starts. to speak up the male detective had a. very deadpan professional demeanor. throughout the interrogation so having. that suddenly contrasted by a vulnerable. emotional looking person being thrust in. front of him will likely come as even. more of a shock to him especially as she. starts to become more emotive and even. starts to beg him she never gets out of.

that car and you drive off she never. gets out of that car there is no green. truck and that's not right to her we're. FF finders Lee I don't have anything. personal against you no no not at all I. mean it's it's fact finders doing our. job no no no where did you go with her. where did you go with her Lee be human. you're a human you're a man where did. you go with her I know you're not that. cruel inside maybe you maybe you don't.

know where she is now where did you go. with her please I'm begging you Lee I. know you're not an evil person I don't. see that in. you I don't see that in your history I. don't hear those things about you at. work is she still at your house no okay. is she still in your car no okay well. where is she what was going on in the. back seat for the doors to be kicked. open she kicked open that door three.

times Lee she kicked it we saw it and. you and you know I'm not making it up. because I wouldn't know this cuz I. wasn't there unless we had video of it. correct yes correct I'm not trying to. trick you I'm just a FactFinder I mean. she was upset she tried to slap me I. slapped her she went to get out I. grabbed it around her waist and said. said where are you going why are you. hitting me she calmed down and we left.

why would she leave with you after that. why would I mean we've gotten arguments. plenty of times where she says she. doesn't care what happens or anything. like that all right sometimes people do. wrong things right some people make. mistakes it's what you do afterwards I. got a family that needs closure they are. now coming to the reality that she's no. long longer with us do you want people. to remember you as a guy who said okay.

look I'm going to do the right thing or. do you want your family and everybody. else to think that you're some evil. heartless person who won't tell us where. she is I don't think you're that kind of. guy I don't think you're evil just tell. us where she is closure for her. family she was hitting me she wouldn't. stop and I squeeze back just. squeezed you squeezed her around her. neck or around her neck.

she I did go where is she now please. tell person all I want to. do pond on the west side of the club du. clay Club du clay yeah okay and long tip. yeah yeah yeah okay just a few days. later a dive team recovered the remains. of Savannah gold burned and almost. unrecognizable so much so that her cause.

of death couldn't even be determined Lee. Rodarte pleaded guilty to the second. degree murder of Savannah and in March. of 2021 was sentenced to 40 years behind. bars.