6 Mind Blowing Interrogation Confessions

So I panicked and I stabbed her. I tried. to shut her up. >> Interrogation confessions. >> I shot him right here. He wanted. >> the shocking moments that sometimes can. only come when a criminal is face to. face with law enforcement in a small. room. >> I think I went a little too far cuz like. like I was blacking out while I was. doing it, right? >> I know you're looking directly at me, aren't you? The information I gave is. not worth six bucks. It's worth a lot uh.

more. >> We're breaking down some of the most. memorable interrogation confessions. caught on tape. Welcome to Sidebar, presented by Law and Crime. I'm Jesse. Weber. >> Everybody loves a self-made success. story, but John Morgan says that is not. how real life works. The great John. Morgan. Everybody, in his new book, Life. is Luck, the founder of Morgan and. Morgan gets real about the role that.

luck plays in success and how to. recognize opportunity when it shows up. >> And that seed was just lucky. >> From delivering newspapers as a kid to. building America's largest injury law. firm, Morgan shares the moments that. change everything. >> It's a howto book to approach life, luck, and ultimately success. This isn't. another billionaire memoir full of. cheesy advice. It's honest, blunt, and. packed with lessons on turning good luck. and bad luck into something bigger. I.

hope people read it. I hope people. appreciate it. By Life is Luck now on. Amazon at forthepeople.com/lifeisluck. The interrogation room. It's a place. where really anything can happen when. you think about it. We've seen it time. and time again. And that is what I want. to get into right now. We've seen the. confessions. We've seen the admissions. Moments that have radically changed the. case for a criminal defendant. So, with. that in mind, we're going to explore.

some of those moments. >> I pushed my way in. I I handcuffed her. I tied I didn't hand I tied her up and. then we just drove them up. >> We begin with Richard Cunningham. That's. who you see. A serial killer now almost. 80 years old, serving three life. sentences for five murders. This is a. guy who is claimed to be responsible for. dozens and dozens and dozens of. killings. Known as the torso killer, operating officially in New York and New.

Jersey for years, maybe other states as. well. He was arrested back in 1980. And. what you're watching, okay, is really. just a shocking confession from 2014. It's a lot of years running around. a lot of states still. >> Yeah. Do you have any Do you have a number in. your head that you think? Do you ever Did you ever sit back and. think about it? It's sad to say I couldn't count that.

they start to get jumbled. I would say there's well over 80. You. think that many? >> Well over. I had done some in Florida, Connecticut, New York. >> Mhm. >> Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Baltimore. Right. Any place within driving distance. that was not connected to me, I would.

try. My whole thing was not to make a. pattern, which I never did. not and. never to try to kill him the exact same. way or to you know leave a signature. I was I wasn't stupid you know and. other than that one time in Hackinack. where just luck I would have been caught. there. >> right. >> I was never even even close to getting. caught other than that one time. >> I mean he was caught in 1980 apparently.

he checked into a motel in New Jersey. with a sex worker that he was sexually. abusing and torturing ing her. The staff. heard call police. He was arrested and. that's when they started investigating. and connected him to all of these other. killings. But I just want you to listen. to this part because he doesn't think. he's a serial killer. >> That was the thing with me. I I wasn't. I wasn't a serial killer. It No, >> you just told me think you killed over. 80.

>> That that fits the definition pretty. well. >> No, it doesn't. But I know what you said. cuz you've told me in the past there's. been many more that you let go. >> Hundreds. Yeah. You know, it's I didn't. go out to kill somebody. Mo most anyone. I killed was when I would been somehow. connected to them and I didn't want to. get caught. It was more thing just not. getting caught. >> Oh, I see. Okay. Got it. Got it. But. just to be clear, this isn't a vicious. serial killer. >> You mentioned you stabbed her. Do you. know for sure how many times you stabbed.

her? I think. >> one time. Okay. Right in the face. Oh, it was definitely in the face because. you were screaming that I used to panic. Do you remember specifically with her? >> No. >> Okay. So, you're just kind of guessing. cuz you going I'm saying averages. >> Yeah. I mean, she I know she wasn't shot. and I didn't shoot, you know. >> Yeah. No, I know that. >> You know, things like that, you know. Well, like the the girl up here, like. the girl up here, you stabbed, which is. not, you know, not your. >> That was very unique. And that's only. because I panicked. I I didn't intend.

it. And and it was a steak knife. That. it was a steak knife. And the knife. broke. That's another fact. If you find. it the incident, you'll see. Okay. Then. it wasn't even it wasn't a a regular. knife like a a guy with a state knife in. one of the places we stopped at. And the. way he describes the victims, it's like. hard to process. My gosh, >> you love dark hair. >> Not, you know, the funny thing is most.

of my victims are dark, but I like. blonde, don't it was the game to get. most times we went out drinking. I' I'd. get them drinking, get them drunk, get. them in a room, have all the sex and. what never paid him. And that's that was. the majority of the thing that to beat. them out of their money. because they were going to try to beat. me out of it. >> I mean, I had cases I had a case right. here, right on Route 46. I had a girl in. there. She was so greedy.

She took my she she was naked from the. from the waist up. She grabbed my pants and ran out of room. with my pants and left her her shirt. behind. And she runs right into to a guy. next door. He opens the door. You heard. the noise. Thought she was stealing your. wallet. >> She was. Yeah. She grabbed it. I She got. about $1,100 from me. So the only one. that ever got away got my money out of. all of them. >> Chilling to say the least. But I want to.

move on. Okay, we go from Richard. Codingham to now. Let's talk Shaina. Hubers. >> I shot him right here. >> Yep. So, not a serial killer, but that. is her admitting to authorities that she. shot and killed 29-year-old Ryan Poston. back in October of 2012 at his home out. in Ohio. Shot six times by Hubers, his. on-again off-again love interest. And it. turns out the same night that he was. shot and killed, he was supposed to go.

on a date with Miss Ohio, Audrey Balty. And from the initial 911 phone call by. Hubers to what she said in her. interrogation, she was adamant that yes, she shot him, but she claimed she had no. choice. >> And I shot him in self-defense because. he's done stuff before where I've hit my. head on the headboard. >> Okay. >> And could die. >> Okay. >> He was physically violent with me and. threat me around the room from the. living room. I mean, from the bedroom. all the way into the dining room, all.

the way into the living room, back into. the dining room. He's a lot bigger than me. And I was. reaching up and grabbing at his shirt. I. think I had a ripped his shirt. And. it got to a point where we were. screaming at each other and I was. crying. He was standing on the other side of the. table screaming at me, reaching over to. like hit me instead. And I backed up,

you know, and he was screaming the most. hateful things at me that were just. evil, evil. And he had this look out of. his eyes that was evil and he was fucked. up on pills. And he had guns laying on the table and. he has ingested before when we've gotten. into fights. He's into guns. He keeps. loaded guns in the house. Has picked up. a gun, pointed at my face as a joke. What would you do if I. you know? And.

he had. thrown me around the room and hurt me. and was screaming at me. And I knew he. was going to hit me again or throw me or. something again. And I wanted I knew I. was leaving. I had already packed my. things and I was asking him, "Can I pack. the rest of my things and go? let me. pack my things. And he wouldn't let me. into the bedroom to pack my things. And. I got the door, the lock above the door, and got in there and unlocked it while. he was laying in the bed, probably just.

laying there doing nothing, lazy. And I. went in there and got my stuff, came out, and we got into a huge fight. That was. that was before all this happened. And. he got upset cuz I had unlocked the door. cuz he had locked it. And he was. screaming at me, telling me I was I told. Ellie that he hates me, that he hates my. speaking voice. I hate everything about. you. This is what he was screaming at me. as he was trying to hit me across the. kitchen table and it was about as broad. as this. And there was a gun laying.

right there. I think there was also one. laying on the other side of the table. closer to him. And I knew what the next thing might. have been. And I knew he was I knew he. was violent. I knew he was crazy. And I. picked up the gun and it was it was. loaded. I didn't think it would be. loaded and there was a the trigger the. the safety release, you know, and he. taught me how to shoot guns or else I. would have missed, you know, and I just.

picked up the gun. and in the middle of him. doing something with his arm or saying. something crazy, shot him. I killed him. in a mechanism of self-defense or shot. him in a mechanism of self-defense and. then knew he was going to die. So, put him out of the. misery. >> And she was very keen on discussing what. was going on in her mind and the. different factors to consider for why.

lethal force was necessary, that he was. an immediate threat to her safety. But. he's so much bigger than me. that him hitting me versus me hitting. him is not really. can even fight. One blow and he could. kill me. >> Yeah. >> The worst came the worst. I'm I'm rather. he's dead than I'm hurt cuz I could have. been really badly hurt. He's pulled guns. on me as jokes before and I think that. was in mine tonight cuz I never had a. fight that was this big. He's pulled it.

out, whipped it and been like, "What. would you What would you do if I saw you. right now? What would you do if I. I was afraid? >> You talk about shocking admissions. I. mean, she even described the details of. him being shot. When I. shot him in the face, he had put his arm. across the table and there's a lamp. and he had put his arm across the table. and had it in my face and was screaming.

at me at the top of his lungs after he. had thrown me around the room. and was saying emotionally to me. You're hillbilly. I. hate you. I hate your. eastern Kentucky accent. I hate your. mother. I hate you, son. I hate everything about you for what you.

are and my family. He was screaming and he was he had his. head on the table and he wasn't. completely standing up. He was like this. and he was laying with his face on the. table like twitching. And so. I knew he was going to die a very slow. and painful death. I knew he was already. dead. You know, it within the next 20. seconds, within the next 2 minutes, I.

knew he was going to be dead. And he was. in a lot of pain. He was twitching. He. was moaning. But he was ultimately dead. And so I shot him. enough times to kill him so that he. wouldn't suffer at that point, which was. a few more times. And I shot him. I. think I shot him twice. Thought he was. completely dead and he was laying there. still. twitching and making noises.

And I shot him in the head. I shot it. once. and didn't shoot again for a while. But. I was watching him die. It was so painful. to watch him die and to know that I had. done that. >> Mhm. >> That I just walked around the table and. shot him where I knew he would die. immediately. I shot him probably six. times. >> Here was the first problem. Despite.

describing this violent episode, >> it wasn't killing him because I was. spiteful. It wasn't killing him because. I'm done with the relationship. I'm done. with you for you. It was you're evil and. you've been thrown around the room like. a ragd doll. You can't throw somebody. into the ground. I probably have rug burns. I was. thinking about that. >> Okay. >> I probably have rug burns. I feel like. if someone else was in the room and they.

watched it go down, they would have been. like, "Good for her. She was beaten up or. thrown around the room." Like, I don't. have any marks. But I was thrown around. the room. I probably do on my legs. Actually, I was thinking about that. I. probably do have some bruises. My. shoulder hurts. Think. he grabbed me by his shoulder.

Yeah. Like it feels like sore. You can. see from the living room that's not how. it happens if you walk in there. >> Yeah. >> Being thrown. It doesn't look right. >> You know, it's a disarray. It's a mess. >> Yeah. >> Clothes are thrown. Bad linens are thrown. And that's something, you know, they'll. look at. >> There was apparently no evidence of. Shaina suffering physical injuries or.

that this crime scene was in some state. of disarray. And it wasn't just the. confession about the shooting, but her. thought process that raised questions. about her self-defense claim and fear. for her life. >> I picked up the phone. and called my mother and said, "Mama, what did I do?" Ryan and I got into a. physical fight and I killed him. I saw. it, mama. And she said, "You call the cops, Shaya. You got to.

call the cops and you got to tell them. exactly what happened. Tell them the. truth. I don't want to go to prison. I don't think I deserve to, you know. I didn't. go over there and plot to murder him, you know. I didn't go over there and. say, "I want to kill one," Ryan. I went. over there with the best of intentions. I love you. Let's work this relationship. out. I can only imagine what's going.

through these people's heads. You know, like. like why did she kill him? What happened? cuz I feel like everyone. knows me well enough to know that like I. didn't just like plot and kill a dude, you know. >> But it's the really odd behavior that is. what separates a self-defense case from. someone seemingly wanting to kill. She. actually started dancing in the. interrogation room. Or how about her.

singing and seemingly praising her own. actions. How sweet. that.

I'll be right back. Thank you. I did. >> Yeah, I did. I cannot believe I did. that. >> Yeah, that was the problem for the then. 21-year-old. >> I don't know if anyone will ever want to. marry me if they know that I killed a. boyfriend and. it's not funny, but I can't even imagine. like what people are going to say about. me.

It's about the worst part. Oh, that's scary. It's scary to think. about. I'm going to have a lot of enemies. Now, here's a good question. If I had to go to jail, can you shower. there. or do you just get really dirty? >> I think they let you shower there.

>> Really? >> Yeah, pretty sure. I have to shower in. front of people. Oh, >> oh my god. Idea. >> But it's how she processed the shooting. in that interrogation room. This kind of. stream of thought seemingly justifying. her actions that was really important. for her case. >> I'm not your typical murderer. No, not. someone that you see on. He said,

"You're just the hillbilly from. Kentucky." And I am. I guess I guess the. hillbilly came out of me. I feel really. bad about it because I really loved him, but he was so abusive to me today. And. in the recent past, it's like I feel. like this evil of me in my heart. cuz I was raised really, really. Christian. And. murder is a sin, you know? And however. it happened, I'd consider it murder, even if it wasn't something, you know,

like that could be sitting here like, "Oh, I hope Ryan's family doesn't hate. me." And their son, their son beat a girl who weighs 85 lbs. less than him and drugg her around his. house, pulled me by the ponytail of my. hair. He deserved it. I deserved it. He He deserved it. Part of me doesn't. feel bad about it.

That part of me does. You know what I. mean? Like part of me is like, he hit me. He threw me. You just don't treat a woman like that. And I was like begging him to to stay in. the relationship and be with me because. I knew that we weren't really love each. other, you know, right? It told me that. he loved me and wanted to be with me. I.

guess somewhere along the way that grew. to hate. He was screaming how much he. hated. But you get to the point where. you've had enough, you know, and I think. I was there. I was there when that I was. I was at that point where I had had. enough of the abuse. I had had enough of. the torment. I had enough. And I. can't believe I did it. I. I'm really not a bad person.

Yeah, I don't think you are. I don't think anybody who knows me knows. that. I mean, look at me like. I'm motivated. I'm educated. I I love. people. My degree is in counseling and. psychology, you know, like. >> I want to help people. I don't want to. hurt people. And I always was really good to him. and.

to be treated like that, pushed around, literally picked up and thrown and and. treated and like pretty much beaten. I. couldn't take it anymore. I didn't do. anything out of like malicious intent, you know, like I didn't do anything that. would cause. I feel like if someone else was in the. room and they watched it go down, they.

would have been like, "Good for her.". >> So, what happens? She gets charged with. murder 2015. She goes on trial, argues. self-defense, toxic relationship, he was. abusive, that he was violent with her. that night. That was the defense's. argument. Prosecution claimed, "No, this. was a cold-blooded killing. She did it. out of anger. Didn't like the idea of. Ryan moving on. The jury finds her. guilty of murder. Sentenced to 40 years. in prison with the possibility of parole.

in 20 years." It's not the end of the. story. What happens? Her conviction gets. overturned the following year because a. juror apparently failed to disclose they. had a felony conviction on their record. That's a big no no. Meaning that juror. legally couldn't serve on the jury. So, she gets a new trial. Retrial 2018. Now, the defense switches it up. They're not. really arguing self-defense anymore so. much as extreme emotional disturbance as. a result of the alleged abuse by Ryan. Hubers even took the stand this time.

around. But in the end, once again, she. was convicted of murder and now she was. sentenced instead of 40 years to life in. prison with the possibility of parole in. 2032. Now I go to one of the most. disturbing and graphic confessions in an. interrogation room that I can recall in. recent history. That of Taylor Shabus. Back in 2022 out in Wisconsin, this. young woman was arrested and put in an. interrogation room. Why? because she was. suspected of not only strangling.

24-year-old Shad Theorion with a metal. chain, and I'm sorry that I have to say. this, but I have to. She was also. accused of sexually abusing his body and. then dismembering him. His own mother. came home to find her own son's blood. drenched head in a bucket in the family. basement. I wish this wasn't real, but. it was. Now, we go to the interrogation. Did she deny this? Did she wave her arms. and say, "What's going on? and I'm. completely innocent of being framed. No, she basically says, "We had kinky sex.

Things maybe went a little too far in an. apparent meth infused stuper. >> Was that he was going to though? Was. that part of the. >> I thought that was the thing. >> I'm just like I think I went a little. too far. was like like I was blacking. out while I was doing it, right? And. then like and then like I look at him,

he's already purple. I'm like I don't. know if he's fucking is he good? Is he. good? But then like when I woke up like. no during the black I'm like. like he was coughing up blood like. I don't know. I just. >> And then she says she cut up his body. and was sexually abusing it at the same. time. When did he start, you know, cutting up his body? >> Wow. Like almost right away. I was.

cutting at the same time. >> Okay. Then what about the rest of his. body parts? Did that take all day to do? >> I was getting pissed off at the disemb. >> Yeah, because like I was nodding out. I. was nodding out. >> I guess you're kind of scooting kind of. nodding in and out. Have you taken any. other drugs? >> I should have. I should have took drugs, which probably would have helped, but I. didn't. >> So, you dismembered the body, too? >> Yeah.

>> What did you do with the body parts? >> Oh, they're um they're in the house. >> somewhere. >> They're like um Yeah. Yeah. >> Basement upstairs. >> In the basement. And then um I know I forgot the head. I. wanted the head. >> Did you bring anything? >> Yeah, it's in the van. in a van. It's um. >> What is it? What is it? A foot. Maybe. >> a what? >> I think it's a foot.

>> A foot in the van. >> A maybe. I just I'm like I'm going to. bring it all and then I'm like, man, this is messy. So then I just left it. I. got lazy. >> Okay. >> I got lazy and that's what I did. So I'm. like, >> okay. Yes. >> So, there's going to be maybe a foot or. a leg in the band. and then um. >> what did you do with the head? >> I forgot that that was in the van. So, uh. >> what did you do with the head? >> The head I put in that bucket. That.

black bucket. >> Black bucket. >> with the blanket on top. >> Okay. >> And then where do you leave it? >> Leave the head's still in the bucket. is. right by the stairs. >> I'm sorry, but this is what we're. dealing with. Again, just admitting to. killing him, abusing his dead body, dismembering him. That is something. else. And this interview, which. apparently lasted hours, continues on. with Shabbus then in a different. jumpsuit. >> You know, what do you think should.

happen if someone puts something like. this to somebody else? >> They obviously get prison time. I don't. know. >> You know what business also asked? I. mean process this one. She asked police. if they found all the body parts. >> Did you guys find all the parts? >> So yeah, they're going through the. process of looking. So did you remove. any other? He needs to have the heart. and lungs. Did you remove all that from the chest.

cavity. or you leave them in there or. >> it could be in there? Do you remember or. >> they're all in plastic bags? >> Separate bags or one big bag? >> They're all in separate bags of Walmart. bags. >> They're fine. >> They're fine. >> Well, it should be a little. >> First of all, going to say this. I've. said it before, I'll say it again. The. investigators are amazing here. Staying. cool, calm, collected, able to process.

and retrieve this information. Well, guess what happened? She was convicted. She pleaded not guilty by reason of. insanity. And under Wisconsin law, insanity means you're not legally. responsible if due to a mental. condition. You couldn't appreciate the. wrongfulness of what you did or conform. your behavior to the law. And despite. this interview, right, despite how. seemingly insane this crime was, crazy. this crime was, a Wisconsin jury didn't. buy it. Only took about an hour for them. to find her guilty of intentional.

homicide, abuse of a corpse, and. thirdderee sexual assault. They also. determined she wasn't insane when she. committed this crime and a judge. sentenced Shabbis to life in prison. without the possibility of parole. Next. up, going to Medford, Oregon. >> For all the evidence that I gave you. guys, right there on a silver platter, right there, down to the last detail.

down to the last detail. Not one thing. missing. Here's the thing. A whole list. step by step by step. Even a third grader could read how easy. that was. >> Okay, so the guy in this interrogation. room is Russell Jones. As you can see,

let's just say unique individual at. best. >> So, we can do this the nice way and we. negotiate. or we can do it the hard way and I can. release my bipolar. I'm sorry, buddy, but I eat high school bullies for. breakfast. Yeah, he's having this whole. conversation alone in the interrogation.

room, seemingly trying to communicate. with police who he believes are looking. in. By the way, yes, they were. >> I'm not demanding. I'm asking nicely. as a kind civilian. that also knows how to manipulate cops. And I know everything that I'm saying is. being recorded and I'm doing it on. purpose. So,

I can easily turn the speaker off. and rant and then you guys will come in. thinking I'm a loony because you don't. hear me. So, we can do this the nice way. and we negotiate. or we can do it the hard way and I can. release my bipolar. which actually you don't really want. that.

Make a deal. or I let out my bipolar. Your choice. >> So, why is he there? Well, someone's. missing. Aaron Frier, the father of then. 15-year-old Ellie Frier. >> Ellie Frier. is my client, my protectee. You are to release her. to me. All I say no more.

>> You see, Aaron Frier disappeared from. his home and police responded to a. welfare check. Neither Aaron nor Ellie. are there. They would find blood in the. house, so evidence of a crime. They end. up finding his car. Again, no sign of. Aaron. But then a short time later, Ellie, Russell Jones, the guy we're. talking about, and Ellie's boyfriend, Gavin McFarland, are all seen walking. down the street together. So, authorities pick them up, and this is. why Jones finds himself in the. interrogation room. >> You want the whole story?

Cuz I did miss a few parts. You want the whole story? Ellie and Gavin are to be put in this. room. And I'll give you a total of uh h. let's uh set our clock, shall we?

Uh. two hours. Now, despite his ramblings. like, "Oh, I don't know this.". >> Here's the thing, I'm not the one with the donut fetish. With coffee to go with it. Give a cop a. donut and he'll want a coffee to go with. it. Give a mouse a cookie and he'll want. a glass of milk. Give a moose a muffin.

and he'll want something else. But here's my favorite one. What is it when a cop car is towed. by a tow truck? Pulled port. When investigators speak to him, that's. when the confession comes in about what.

happened to Aaron. Now, I think what you. originally told us that his body was. still twitching when you got there. >> Yeah, cuz all the uh gases and stuff of. um Yeah. Like not he was dead. Gavin. checked his pulse and everything. >> What we're learning is something that. Ellie has been wanting to happen for a. while and that the three of you guys. have been having those conversations. >> I was not in the planning of killing. him. That was not my idea. So he ends up.

telling detectives that he was part of. this plan to rescue Ellie from her. father, that there was this belief, according to him, that Aaron was. sexually abusing Ellie. Although to be. clear, there was no definitive evidence. of that in the end. >> We've been talking about like moving her. out several weeks, like she said, and um. so we got all the stuff backpack by. backpack. um.

and whatever we could carry in small. bags. And then the big uh finale was to. um make it look like he kidnapped her. um. and put him in a car. in the passenger seat. Gavin would um. like tied to the seat and then Gavin. would drive over state line.

to California. Killing was not my idea. at all. We were supposed to try and find. chloroform and knock them out. and then probably put him in the trunk, but we couldn't find any chloroform. because it's not online anymore. He said. that uh he didn't like it and he was not. happy with the text either. And. >> what text? >> The text that Ellie sent that he took a.

screenshot of that said that her father. tried to sexually. >> Okay. Was he upset about that? >> Yes. >> Were you upset about that. >> being a protector of vimos? Yes. >> Okay. And if anyone tried to do that to my. daughter, I'd probably grab a shotgun, too. >> Okay. >> He claims they go to the house in the. middle of the night and that is when. things go sideways. >> So, we headed over. We waited across the. street down the alley. We were waiting.

there till she texted saying that he's. asleep or whatever. I don't know. And I. don't know what she texted him. And so I. started wanting to head over and right. when I wanted to head over she texts. So. it's almost like she read my mind and um. so we headed over. He went through the. gate cuz we were going to go through. >> talk about he again. >> Gavin. >> Okay.

>> And uh he went through the gate went. through her window. I followed shortly. after. I stayed at the window. We were. loading bags out and stuff. Um, and we. got all the bags loaded out and she said. that she's going to grab the keys and. pull the car around. Um, while Gavin, I say, talks to the guy, but that's far. from. And then, um, she made sure that.

her sisters were in their room. That way. they cuz they're still young, so it. would scar them. Did you ever come. through the window? >> No. Okay. >> No, I only went through the front door. >> afterwards. After the beating. >> Okay. >> So, earlier at this point, >> what you told us was this whole gun. thing. >> Yeah. >> Did that happen? >> No. >> No. >> I just wanted to make it look like he. was a good guy. And he is a good guy.

Trust me. >> How did you know to come in afterwards? because she told me that she's going to. pull the car around and then while he's. taking care of business and then um. I hear the loud thuds and she told me, "Okay, time to go in the front door.". >> Did you ever actively agree with um. Ellie and Gavin to cause any harm to. >> um actively agree? Uh.

>> knowingly. knowingly angry. >> Um, to harm, yes. To kill, no. >> Police end up finding Aaron Frier's body. near where his car was recovered. Blunt. force trauma injuries. Beaten to death. And they find a bat in the tree. >> You showed me the baseball bat in the. tree. >> And did Ellie throw that? >> Yes. >> Okay. And. >> that was a pretty good throw. >> I was going to say that's that's a long. ways. >> Yeah. So, in the end, they were all.

charged in connection with Aaron's. murder. This idea seemingly to have. Ellie run off with Gavin. Lots of. speculation about whether she was in. fact the mastermind behind all of this. In the end, Ellie Frier, she pleads. guilty to conspiracy to commit murder, sentenced to 25 years in prison. Gavin. McFarland pleads guilty and is sentenced. to 25 years to life for murder and. conspiracy. And Russell Jones pleads no. contest to conspiracy to commit murder, sentenced to 15 years in prison. Okay,

over now to the story of babysitter. Lindseay Parton out of Butler County, Ohio. So, she found herself in an. interrogation room after 3-year-old. Hannah Weshi collapsed at her home back. in 2018. Now, there are a few different. conversations with police, including. this incredibly difficult moment to. hear. >> Okay. Um, whatever happened to her. happened this morning. >> Oh my god. >> It's not from the fall from yesterday. She has a severe severe bra.

>> Oh my god. >> So, what we need is the truth from you. >> Yeah. >> We need to know how this happened. That. way we can treat her. >> I'm absolutely telling you the truth. Oh. my god. >> The way it's looking right now is that. this has happened at your warehouse. because we need we need to find out. I swear to God, I'm telling you the. exact truth. We walked in the house. saying she did not walk. She did not. talk with this kind of injury. None of. that.

>> Yeah. I promise you she did. We were We. walked right in the house cuz we me and. her. Me and her. She walked in herself. Walked in herself. They're saying that's not possible. >> Oh my god. >> Yeah. >> He watched her walk in. with the injury. There's no way that she could have. walked. >> So, like you said, we're going to be. straight up with you. >> I'm straight up with you. I'm dead. serious. >> This is No, she walked right in my. house. >> Okay. And within.

30 seconds, I swear I'm not lying. I. would never hit him in my life. My kids. don't even get spanked. >> Okay. So, you wouldn't. Who would? >> I don't know. >> Okay. I believe you're not being honest. with us and you need to come clean with. it because you're going to be a part of. this. Do you understand me? >> Yeah. >> Okay. As one mother to another, you. can't get it. You can't joke around. about this. You can't hide behind it. You need to come ahead of us and tell us. what's going on and what you know. >> Hannah ended up dying.

>> When you have doctors telling you this. child was beat, this is abuse. They just pulled a plug on this child. This child is dead. Oh my god. >> So, we can't get any more serious than. where we're at, Lindsay? >> No, we can't. >> That's what I'm saying. >> So, investigators are trying to figure. out if Lindsay Parton did something to. her. And at first, she's adamant that. she doesn't spank, that she's not. physical with Hannah. She tries to.

explain away all of this little girl's. injuries by saying, "Oh, she fell.". Raise questions about whether Hannah's. father, Jason Wesy, was somehow. responsible. Turns out none of that was. adding up. >> So this is her left cheek. >> Yeah. I feel like she was So when she. walked in the front, not front door, when she walked in at the back door, the. garage door into the back of the house. >> When is this? >> Thursday. >> Thursday. >> I don't I've never seen that before, so.

I don't know. But I feel like cuz the. way she when she looked up at me and. said, "Buddy, can I have dinner and. couch?" And went to take her jacket off. and she fell. She fell on that side, the. other side, and it was there was like um. a pink cart laying there, and I think. she scraped her face on that, but I'm. not sure. >> This is bruised on both sides. >> Yeah. >> Um there's a piece of cartilage in the. ear. So, um.

you know, this isn't one continuous. bruise basically. You know, it's two. bruises. It isn't bru through. It's it's. something on the front and the back. Looks like. >> No, I've never. >> never seen that. >> Never straight ears. >> What about that little scratch there? >> So, when people fall, um, you're going to have bruising on the. sharp points. Okay. It's going to be. this point, none here, and then some. here. Or if you were over here, you're. going to have some here. >> And she could have. I don't know. I.

honestly I was just coming out of the. door. And. >> you fall straight forward. You're not. going to have bruising over here and. over here and none in the middle. >> Yeah. >> And bruising would have been here and up. underneath there. There would have been. no bruising. >> That's a soft spot that your natural. your body naturally protects. >> The way your body's. tucked in. >> Um and that's what that's where we're. getting that's why we wanted you to come. down and fill in some of these holes. >> Yeah. >> Um because I mean honestly been pretty. honest with you this morning. A lot of.

these aren't adding up to the fall in. the gravel. >> Yeah. >> With with it being over here. >> Mhm. >> And down here and then these I mean she. would have had to fallen like in some. perfectly aligned gravel. >> and then we get to this moment in the. interrogation. I slipped on her blanket. when I opened the door and we both went. down and she hit that conference.

>> on her face cuz I was. holding her on the left side when I. slipped her side. >> Why would you mind that? >> I didn't want to be in trouble. I mean, >> I don't know. Cuz I have baby kids at. home. I don't want my husband being. sued. I don't know. like who isn't kids. anymore. >> Then we get to the admissions. The. admissions that change everything. because Lindsay Parton goes from I. wouldn't touch Hannah to this. >> How does this happen? >> I slapped her upside.

>> with what? >> My hand. >> Open. >> Open. >> What? What caused that? >> She took all of the. >> I don't know why she was in trouble. She. took all the ketchup out and squirted it. into the toilet while I wasn't working. >> That's frustrating. >> And I'm like, >> yeah. >> Yeah. What else has she done that day? Is this like a culmination of things. building up? >> What day was that?

>> This week? This week? Early this week? >> Yeah. >> Okay. >> And I didn't think that her. I mean, kids are tough. They're not, you. know, trust me, you know, >> as well as anybody else does. You're. very resilient and and you're not and. you're not going to know. >> that on the chin. >> I did. I don't I really did not hit her. on the chin. I mean, >> does she talk back to you? >> No, >> she doesn't. >> Not one bit. >> Does she not listen to you? Like, is she. >> She actually does listen.

>> If she's watching a show and you tell. her to do something, >> does she not listen? How do you get her. attention when she doesn't listen? Hannah, you got to listen to Buddy. >> Does she not eat well? >> She eats great. She eats all day at. home. >> Tell us what happened here. >> Tell us about that. >> This was not a fall in the driveway. >> It's not. >> We know what this is consistent with. >> Yeah. >> Look at me. We did this for a living. >> No, I know. >> This is not the first three-year-old. that we're saying pictures about. Okay.

We know exactly. what caused this. Okay. Exactly. It's not a fault and you know what. caused this. Just like you know what. caused this. Okay. So what caused this? >> I smacked your leg for doing it. It was. the same thing. >> Okay. So this is the same incident. >> Tell us about this. How did because this. is not a smack. I just want to tell you. right now this is not a debone contusion. from an open-handed smack. Okay. Knowing.

that listen, listen. Listen, knowing. that we know that what happened here? >> The same thing. It was the same in. >> Tell us though what happened this these. specific bruises. >> when she I caught her doing the ketchup. You know, I took it away and I put her. on the body because I think she had to. go pee anyway. I said, "Hannah, you. can't do the ketchup.

I was just slapped around the head. He. went like that. >> Closed? >> Yeah, like that. >> How many times? >> Don't say once. >> Bruised. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> Okay. Um, does he give you permission to to. discipline? I mean, spank stuff. Okay. >> I don't really spank. I don't even know. why I was mine that So these were closed. fist like uppercuts.

>> Yeah. >> And this was an open-handed smack. Was. it really open? >> Yeah. Yes. >> She didn't want him to go to work and. he's like, "I got to go. I got to go.". So he rushed out and I was like, "Hannah, you can't do that. Daddy, you. got to go to work.". >> You shook her. >> Yeah. >> And she fell unconscious. >> Yeah. Well, not necessarily. She didn't. walk unconscious. She just. I don't know how that's She kind of. >> Was she crying after her dad?

>> Yeah. No, not crying. Just kind of like. >> Yeah. Yeah. Um. I kind of I shook her and I remember. picking her up and squeezing her and we. did fall but she. and she did ask me for dinner and couch. before I. >> How hard did you shake her? Like what. was she? >> What was she? >> She was in trouble. >> Yeah, they were angry. >> Yeah, cuz she cuz he asks her every. morning to not do that. He asks her.

>> how many times. >> in a hurry. >> How many times? >> It's like you're looking at a 12-hour. day ahead of you. You're already. >> Stop doing this already. >> Did she cry? >> No. >> Didn't make her cry. No. >> Okay, then what happened? >> I picked her up. with the blanket and that's when we fell. and then all that happened. >> So So you take her from dad, set her.

down. >> He set her down first. >> She's flying after dad. You pick her up. Correct. >> Close the door. Dad goes, >> "Yes.". >> And is that when you shook her? How do. you How do you hold her when you shook. her? >> Outside or not? >> Was she standing up? >> Okay. >> In front of her, you guys face to face. >> Okay. You're Were you angry? >> Not. No, not necessarily. Just. frustrated because she knows that is. late and needs to go and when he says. that. >> and it happens every morning.

>> Not every morning, but quite. >> not to be frustrating. >> Yeah, at this point because she know she. knows. >> Always so difficult to listen to. Now, Parton testified in her own defense at. trial. You didn't know that admitting to. shaking Hannah would get you in trouble? >> No, I didn't think it would. >> But she was ultimately convicted of. murder, manslaughter, and child. endangerment charges after an 8-day. trial in 2019, and she was sentenced to.

life in prison with the possibility of. parole after 18 years. How do I do an. episode on shocking interrogation. confessions without talking about Chris. Watts? I don't like talking about Chris. Watts, but this is one of the most. haunting examples. In August of 2018, there were the brutal murders that took. place in Frederick, Colorado of a. pregnant mother named Shannan Watts, her. two daughters, four-year-old Bella, three-year-old Celeste. Police sit down.

with the husband, the father, Chris. Watts. You see, Shannan had returned. home late from a business trip. Her. friend got worried when Shannan didn't. respond to any messages or phone calls. Chris said he had seen his wife at the. house around 5 in the morning, been at. work at an oil company all day. He was. adamant he didn't know where his wife or. children were, and he ends up failing a. polygraph test. It was completely clear. that you were not honest during the. testing, and I think you already know. that. Um, he did not pass the polygraph. test. >> Okay. >> Okay. So, now we need to talk about what.

actually happened. I feel like you're. probably ready to do that. >> I didn't I didn't lie to you on that. polygraph. I promise. >> Chris, I'm I know. Stop. It's time. I. just stop for a minute. Take a deep. breath. I I want you to take a deep breath right. now. >> There's a reason you feel sick to your. stomach. And Watts continued to deny.

that he was deceptive, that he was. hiding something. But then at one point, he asks to speak to his father. And I. talk confessions, right? That's the. episode. According to Watts, he claims, this is what he tells his father, he had. been having an affair, talked with. Shannan about a possible separation. Says she became enraged, told his father. he went downstairs, and when he came. back up, Shannan had allegedly. suffocated the two little girls. And. Watts says he then strangled her and. took all the bodies to a remote oil.

storage site being used by his employer. That Shannan was buried in a shallow. grave. Bella and Celeste bodies were. found in crude oil tanks nearby. And the. audio of Watt's confession to his father. is hard to hear because Watts seems to. be whispering and trailing off at times. But here you go. Oh, you guys.

I didn't bet anything. That was the top that came back up and. they're gone.

I'm like talk to her about that. talk talking her about separation and. everything about. I don't know like what else to say but. I freaked out. I heard like a little commotion. upstairs, but I didn't think anything of. it.

And then you went back upstairs and she. was dead. I can see my. choking. she. took from the I forgot the machine.

>> Now, here's the thing. Watts was charged not just with. Shannan's killing but other counts. Charged with three counts of firstdegree. murder, termination, and three counts of tampering. He ended up pleading guilty to nine. charges, sentenced to five life. sentences without the possibility of. parole in exchange for the death penalty. being taken off the tape. After he was. sent to prison, Watts finally revealed. to authorities what seemingly really.

happened that night. Or at least this. could be the real story. Very different. than what he told his father. He says. after the argument about divorce, he. claims he then strangled Shannan to. death. And when four-year-old Bella. walked into the room, he told her, "Mommy, you don't feel good." wrapped. Shannan's body in a sheet, put the body. in his truck, drove it and the two girls. to the oil. He smothered the children back.

Every time I see pictures, I don't know. how this could have happened. Being a dad was the best part of my. life. I took it all away. >> I think that's the hardest part for us, Chris, is we see those videos. We see. that love that you had for your girls, like it's obvious to us and even to us,

we it's hard for us to understand how. a dad who's given piggyback rides and, you know, making snacks and watching. princess movies and those kinds of. things. um. how you get to that point, you know? >> Like I said, it was just like something. else was controlling me that day. I had. no control over what I was like to fight. back. >> Yeah. >> Incredibly hard to listen to and. especially chilling considering we may. never really know what happened. It's. all we have for you right now here on. Sidebar. Thank you so much for joining.

us and as always, please subscribe on. YouTube, Apple Podcast, Spotify, wherever you should get your podcasts. You can also check us out on NBC's. Peacock. And if you want to follow me, X. Instagram, my NewsNation show, Jesse. Weber Live, Monday through Friday, 11. p.m. Eastern. See you next time, everybody.