The 1980s: The Deadliest Decade (2016–2017): Season 1, Episode 2 - The Preppy Murder - full transcript

IT WAS A SWELTERING
AUGUST MORNING.

THE BODY WAS DISCOVERED
AT 6:00 A. M.

I CAN'T REMEMBER ANY CASE

IN MY 30 YEARS
AS A PROSECUTOR

THAT HAD THE ATTENTION
THAT THIS CASE HAD.

IT WAS OBVIOUSLY NOT

THE KIND OF HOMICIDE
THAT WE WERE USED TO.

ATTRACTIVE, POPULAR, SHE HAD
SO MUCH GOING FOR HER.

HOW COULD SOMEBODY
LIKE ROBERT CHAMBERS

POSSIBLY HAVE DONE SOMETHING?

SHE MUST HAVE PROVOKED IT.



A HEADLINE-GRABBING MIX
OF SEX AND HIGH SOCIETY.

IT BECAME A MONSTROUSLY
HUGE STORY.

IT NEVER SHOULD HAVE
HAPPENED, AND IT DID.

JUST SAY NO.

WHAT'S UP?
WE'RE RUN-D. M. C.

IN THE MID-'80s,

THERE'S ONLY ONE THING
BETTER THAN BEING YOUNG.

BEING YOUNG
IN NEW YORK CITY.

NEW YORK IN 1986
WAS ABSOLUTELY FUN,

A TIME OF IRRESPONSIBILITY,

FREEDOM, BEING ABLE
TO EXPRESS YOURSELF.

IT'S EXPLODING
IN EVERY NIGHTCLUB

AND ON EVERY SCREEN
AND BOOK.

NEW YORK IS THE EPICENTER
OF YOUTH CULTURE.



BUT IT'S ALSO ONE OF THE MOST
DANGEROUS CITIES IN AMERICA.

IN THOSE DAYS,
NEW YORK CITY

WAS A LOT DIFFERENT
THAN IT IS NOW.

NEW YORK WAS STILL
VERY ROUGH AND TOUGH.

42nd STREET WAS A PLACE
WITH PORN THEATERS

AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

NEW YORK HAD THOUSANDS
OF HOMICIDES A YEAR.

AND NEW YORK CITY
AFTER HOURS,

THERE'S NO PLACE MORE
DANGEROUS THAN CENTRAL PARK.

THERE WAS SORT OF
THIS FEAR LIKE,

DON'T GO INTO CENTRAL PARK,
DON'T LET YOUR KIDS OUT.

IT WAS A SORT OF
ATMOSPHERE WHERE,

YOU REALLY HAD
TO WATCH YOURSELF.

I'M NOT WORRIED.
MAYBE I SHOULD BE.

THERE WAS A WOMAN
ON A BICYCLE

WHO TAKES AN EARLY-MORNING RIDE,

AND SHE NOTICED WHAT
SHE THOUGHT WAS A BODY.

OR A PERSON LYING
ON THE GRASS.

SHE GOT CLOSER,
SHE REALIZED IT WAS A GIRL.

SHE WAS HORRIFIED.

AND SHE WENT TO THE NEAREST
PHONE AND CALLED THE POLICE.

THE BODY WAS FOUND
IN A STATE OF UNDRESS.

WITHIN MINUTES, THE SIGHT
OF THE CHANCE DISCOVERY

IS A BUSTLING CRIME SCENE --

LEAD BY DETECTIVE MIKE SHEEHAN.

I EXAMINED HER.

SHE WAS, YOU KNOW,
PRETTY SWOLLEN, PRETTY BEAT UP.

SHE HAD MARKS ON HER NECK,
LEGS SPREAD.

SHEEHAN IS A VETERAN
WITH 18 YEARS ON THE FORCE.

HE KNOWS HOW TO READ
A CRIME SCENE.

THIS ONE OFFERS
A CLUE STRAIGHTAWAY.

THE CONTENTS
OF HER PURSE WERE STREWN,

SO WE HAD IDENTIFICATION
ON HER.

HER NAME
IS JENNIFER LEVIN.

SHE WAS JUST 18 YEARS OLD.

LISA MOIR KNEW JENNIFER
FROM HIGH SCHOOL.

JENNIFER WAS A GO-GETTER.

SHE WAS BALLSY,
BUT SHE WAS HILARIOUSLY FUNNY.

SHE DIDN'T TAKE HERSELF
TOO SERIOUSLY AT ALL.

JENNIFER GREW UP
IN PORT WASHINGTON, LONG ISLAND.

HER PARENTS WERE STEVE LEVIN
AND ELLEN LEVIN.

BOTH SEEMED LIKE
VERY COOL PEOPLE.

BUT HER PARENTS WERE
DIVORCED WHEN SHE WAS 5.

BEFORE SHE STARTED HIGH SCHOOL,
JENNIFER MOVED IN

WITH HER FATHER
IN A LOFT IN SOHO.

SHE WANTED TO GO
TO HIGH SCHOOL IN MANHATTAN.

THE LEVINS DECIDE
TO SEND JENNIFER

TO THE EXCLUSIVE BALDWIN SCHOOL.

BALDWIN WAS WHERE WE MET.

JENNIFER FIT INTO THAT SCHOOL
LIKE SHE WAS THERE

SINCE THE DAY
THAT SCHOOL OPENED.

IT WAS LIKE SHE
OWNED THAT SCHOOL.

EVERYONE SEEMED
TO FLOCK AROUND HER.

YOU KNOW, SHE JUST
HAD THIS GREAT WAY OF

WHEN YOU WERE IN, LIKE,
THE WORST OF MOODS.

SHE WOULD ALWAYS COME IN
WITH A BIG SMILE.

SHE WAS VERY MUCH
INTO FASHION.

SHE ALWAYS WORE A SET
OF PEARLS TIED IN A KNOT.

SHE ALWAYS PUT HERSELF
TOGETHER SO WELL.

SHE LIKED MUSIC, CONCERTS,
BOYS, LIKE ALL OF US.

WE WERE TEENAGERS.

JENNIFER BECOMES PART
OF A RICH SOCIAL SCENE,

AN EXCLUSIVE GROUP
OF PRIVILEGED KIDS

KNOWN AS PREPPIES.

BUT HOW DO YOU KNOW
YOU GOT A REAL PREPPIE?

I MEAN, THEY HAVE TO HAVE
PAPERS OR SOMETHING?

WELL, OFFICIALLY,
A PREPPIE

IS SOMEBODY WHO HAS GONE
TO A PREP SCHOOL.

UNOFFICIALLY, THERE IS A KIND
OF A STATE OF MIND.

THEY WERE PEOPLE
WHO WENT TO PRIVATE SCHOOLS

WHO WERE BEING GROOMED
TO GO TO YALE, TO HARVARD,

TO THE-IVY LEAGUE SCHOOLS.

THERE WAS THIS FASCINATION
WITH PREPPIES,

THE WAY THEY DRESSED.

TO THOSE OF US
OUTSIDE OF IT,

THEY SEEMED IN ANOTHER WORLD.

ALTHOUGH
HER DOWNTOWN ADDRESS

AND HIP CLOTHING DON'T FIT
THE TYPICAL PREPPIE MOLD,

SHE AND HER FRIENDS ARE PART
OF THAT RARIFIED WORLD.

SHE HUNG OUT
WITH A GROUP OF KIDS

FROM VARIOUS NEW YORK
PREP SCHOOLS.

JENNIFER STARTED GETTING
INTO THAT CROWD,

PROBABLY BECAUSE OF PARTIES
SHE WAS INVITED TO

SEPARATELY FROM PEOPLE
IN OUR SCHOOL.

SHE WAS MORE
THE PREPPIE GIRL

THAN THE REST OF US
FROM BALDWIN.

THE CENTER
OF THE SOCIAL SCENE FOR JENNIFER

AND HER PREPPIE FRIENDS
IS ON EAST 84th STREET,

JUST BLOCKS FROM CENTRAL PARK.

THEY HANG OUT. THEIR CLUBHOUSE
WAS DORRIAN'S RED HAND.

IT WAS A BAR
ON THE UPPER EAST SIDE.

THE OWNER OF THE BAR
HAD, I BELIEVE, NINE KIDS.

THEY WERE ALL PRIVATE
SCHOOL KIDS

ON THE UPPER EAST SIDE,

AND SO IT WAS NATURALLY
A PLACE

WHERE THEIR FRIENDS
CAME TO DRINK UNDERAGE.

IT WAS ALMOST A KIND OF FAMILY
FEELING ABOUT THE PLACE

BECAUSE IT WAS SUCH
A REGULAR HANGOUT

FOR SO MANY OF THEM.

AT DORRIAN'S, JENNIFER
IS THE LIFE OF THE PARTY.

SHE WAS OUTGOING.
SHE FLIRTED.

SHE HAD CRUSHES.

AND IT'S AT DORRIAN'S
ONE FATEFUL AUTUMN NIGHT

THAT A NEW CRUSH
CATCHES HER EYE.

AND SHE ASKED HER FRIEND
WHO'S THAT,

AND THE FRIEND SAID, "HIM,
HE'S ROBERT CHAMBERS."

AND JENNIFER SAID,
"HE'S GORGEOUS."

ROBERT WAS A COUNTRY
CLUB KIND OF PREP.

HE DEFINITELY HAD
THAT WAY ABOUT HIM.

HE WAS PRETTY
NICELY DRESSED,

TALL IN STATURE, NICE BUILD.

JENNIFER AND ROBERT ONLY
EXCHANGED GLANCES THAT NIGHT.

IT WILL BE A YEAR
BEFORE THEY FINALLY MEET.

WHILE ON A BREAK
FROM AN ON-AGAIN,

OFF-AGAIN BOYFRIEND,

JENNIFER AND HER FRIEND
BETSY GO OUT --

WHERE ELSE --
TO DORRIAN'S.

TO JENNIFER'S DELIGHT,
ROBERT IS THERE.

BETSY WENT OVER
AND TALKED TO HIM,

AND HE ASKED HER,

"WHO'S THAT GIRL YOU'RE WITH?"

AND BETSY CAME BACK
FROM THAT CONVERSATION

AND TOLD JENNIFER,

"HE SAYS YOU'RE THE BEST-LOOKING
GIRL HE'S EVER SEEN."

SO, JENNIFER WAS MOTIVATED

TO GO AND SIT DOWN WITH HIM.

ROBERT AND JENNIFER
FIND THEY HAVE A LOT IN COMMON.

THEY WERE BOTH
BEAUTIFUL KIDS,

AND THEY CAME FROM
THIS PROTECTED WORLD

WITH THE PRIVATE SCHOOLS.

THEY DID NOT GO
TO SCHOOL TOGETHER,

BUT THEY HAD MANY MUTUAL FRIENDS

AND TRAVELED
IN THE SAME LARGER CIRCLE.

AFTER THAT NIGHT,
ROBERT AND JENNIFER

CAN'T GET THEIR MINDS
OFF EACH OTHER.

SHE HAD A CRUSH ON HIM,
FOR SURE.

THEY WERE CLEARLY
INTO EACH OTHER.

IN JULY,
JENNIFER LEVIN

AND ROBERT CHAMBERS
HAVE THEIR FIRST DATE.

THEY JUST GOT TOGETHER

AND WENT OVER
TO ROBERT'S HOUSE

WHERE HE KNEW
HIS MOTHER WAS OUT,

AND THEY HAD SEX.

I THINK IT'S COMMON SENSE

THAT ANYONE WHO'S A TEENAGER
HAS A SEX DRIVE.

TEENAGERS EXPERIMENT.
IT'S NOT OUT OF THE NORM.

WHEN SHE CAME BACK,
THERE WERE QUITE A FEW MESSAGES

FROM ROBERT
ON HER PHONE SAYING,

"LET'S GET TOGETHER
AGAIN SOON,"

AND SHE WAS THRILLED.

THEY WERE PROBABLY SEEING
EACH OTHER FOR A FEW MONTHS.

WHAT I'D KNOWN
OF THEIR RELATIONSHIP

WAS TO BE MORE
A CASUAL RELATIONSHIP.

SUMMER ROMANCE, YOU KNOW.

JENNIFER IS HEADING
TO BOSTON SOON

TO START CHAMBERLAYNE
JUNIOR COLLEGE.

ON AUGUST 25th, THE TWO MEET
BY CHANCE AT DORRIAN'S.

LITTLE DOES SHE KNOW,

IT WILL BE THE LAST TIME
SHE SEES HER SUMMER LOVE --

OR ANYONE ELSE.

I MEAN, SHE'S 18,
FOR GOD'S SAKE.

SHE'S 18.
IT KNOCKED THE HELL OUT OF ME.

MY DAUGHTER WAS A YEAR OLD.

IT JUST WAS HORRIFYING.

INVESTIGATORS
TRY AND PIECE TOGETHER

A WORKING NARRATIVE
FOR THE CRIME.

GUYS WERE SAYING,
MAYBE SHE WAS A PROSTITUTE,

WAS PICKED UP, YOU KNOW.

I WAS LIKE, "A PROSTITUTE?"

SHE WAS VERY WELL-GROOMED.

EVERYTHING ABOUT HER
WAS VERY -- A CLASSY KID.

IT WAS OBVIOUSLY NOT
THE KIND OF HOMICIDE

THAT WE WERE USED TO.

HE'S LEFT WITH MORE
QUESTIONS THAN CLUES.

HERE'S THIS WOMAN
IN THE PARK,

AND YOU DON'T KNOW WHY --
HOW SHE'D GOT HERE.

WHAT BROUGHT HER
TO CENTRAL PARK,

WHY IS SHE HERE?

THE ANSWERS MAY BE
STARING SHEEHAN IN THE FACE.

HE HAD, LIKE,
SCRATCHES ON HIS FACE.

IT LOOKED LIKE HE WAS
IN SOME KIND OF AN ACCIDENT.

HE WAS THERE WATCHING
THE WHOLE SCENE.

CRIME IN NEW YORK CITY

HAS REACHED
EPIDEMIC PROPORTIONS.

JENNIFER LEVIN'S CORPSE WAS
FOUND JUST AN HOUR AGO.

THE BODY WAS DISCOVERED
AT 6:00 A. M.

SHE IS ONE OF OVER
1,000 MURDERS AND COUNTING,

BUT FEW VICTIMS THAT YEAR
WOULD GET THE SAME ATTENTION.

THERE WAS A HUGE, HUGE,

HUGE PRESSURE ON THE COPS
TO SOLVE THIS

BECAUSE THIS WAS
A VERY RICH GIRL

FROM A VERY,
VERY GOOD FAMILY,

AND YOU CAN'T HAVE
A MANIAC RUNNING AROUND

AND GETTING AWAY WITH IT.

TO THE UNTRAINED OBSERVER,
YOU WOULD LOOK AT THIS,

AND YOU'D SAY,
"MY GOD, THIS POOR GIRL

WAS RAPED AND KILLED
IN CENTRAL PARK."

THAT'S WHAT THE KILLER
WANTED YOU TO THINK.

THIS IS WHAT IT APPEARED TO BE.

BUT SOMETHING ABOUT
THE CRIME SCENE SEEMS OFF.

HER BODY LOOKS
TOO PERFECTLY POSED.

HER BODY WAS FOUND
WITHOUT UNDERWEAR.

SHE HAD A SHORT DENIM
SKIRT ON THAT WAS PUSHED UP.

THE BRA AND SHIRT
WERE PUSHED UP.

DETECTIVE MIKE SHEEHAN
CAN'T SHAKE A GNAWING SUSPICION.

I THINK, IN REALITY,
THERE WAS NO SEX AT ALL.

IT DID APPEAR THAT
THE CRIME SCENE

HAD BEEN STAGED TO LOOK

AS THOUGH A SEXUAL ASSAULT
HAD HAPPENED.

FOR SHEEHAN,
THE PRESSURE

TO FIND THE KILLER
IS LOOMING LARGE.

THE PRESS WAS EVERYWHERE.

THEY WERE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT,
BEING IN THE PRESS,

WHAT THE BEST VENUE WAS
FOR THEM TO GET A SHOT.

IT WAS A MESS,
A TOTAL MESS.

THE CRIME SCENE
HAS TURNED INTO A MEDIA CIRCUS.

A BODY FOUND IN CENTRAL PARK
PUTS THE CITY ON EDGE.

I DON'T UNDERSTAND
WHY THE POLICE

CAN'T KEEP CENTRAL PARK SAFE.

THE BODY OF THE YOUNG WOMAN

WAS FOUND IN THE PARK
EARLY THIS MORNING.

I WAS WITH THE POST.
IT WAS A BALMY, WARM DAY,

AND THIS BEAUTIFUL
YOUNG WOMAN,

THIS TEENAGER HAS JUST BEEN
FOUND MURDERED IN CENTRAL PARK.

AND AT THAT POINT,
NO ONE KNEW WHO WAS INVOLVED.

WE WERE IN TOUCH WITH THE COPS
TO FIND OUT WHAT THEY KNEW.

WITHIN HOURS,
THE EARLIEST REPORTS

AND THEORIES TRICKLE
INTO THE PAPERS.

SHE WAS RAPED.
THE BODY WAS DUMPED.

A MYSTERIOUS CAR WAS INVOLVED.

MEANWHILE, SHEEHAN MANAGES
TO KEEP JENNIFER'S NAME

SECRET LONG ENOUGH
FOR HIS FIRST WRENCHING TASK --

INFORMING HER PARENTS.

THEY WERE TOLD
THE TRAGIC NEWS,

THAT SHE WAS NO LONGER ALIVE.

I CAN'T THINK OF ANYTHING
MORE PAINFUL.

IT WAS A NIGHTMARE.

IT WAS VERY,
VERY DIFFICULT FOR THEM.

I CAN ONLY IMAGINE
WHAT THEY WERE GOING THROUGH.

IT JUST WAS HORRIFYING.

JENNIFER'S MOTHER,
ELLEN, RUSHES TO CENTRAL PARK.

SHE'S FACED WITH
A TERRIFYING SCENE.

I WAS THROWN INTO, OF COURSE,
THE WORST MOMENT OF MY LIFE.

BUT IT WAS MADE TWICE
AND THREE TIMES AS BAD

BY THE MEDIA CIRCUS
THAT SURROUNDED IT.

MY THROAT CLOSED.
I COULDN'T TALK.

I COULDN'T REACT
TO ANYTHING EXCEPT FEAR.

IT WAS ONE OF THE MOST
HORRIFYING MOMENTS OF MY LIFE.

JENNIFER'S FATHER, STEVE,

REACHES OUT TO HER FRIENDS.

HER FATHER TOLD ME
THAT SHE WAS MURDERED

IN CENTRAL PARK
THE NIGHT BEFORE, AND --

I'M SORRY.

I JUST LOST IT.

WE WERE ALL IN SUCH
A STATE OF SHOCK,

AND I REMEMBER CRYING
TO HIM ON THE PHONE,

AND HE WAS CRYING, AS WELL.

AND, LIKE,
ALMOST HYPERVENTILATING.

SHEEHAN HAS A DIFFICULT TASK --

PRESSING JENNIFER'S FATHER
FOR ANY INFORMATION

THAT MIGHT HELP POLICE FIGURE
OUT WHAT HAPPENED TO HER.

WHERE WAS SHE LAST NIGHT?

LET'S RETRACE
THE LAST STEPS.

WE BEGAN A SYSTEMATIC
INVESTIGATION.

AND HE TOLD
THE POLICE JENNIFER

HAD MADE A PLAN TO GO OUT
WITH TWO OF HER GIRLFRIENDS.

THEY WERE CELEBRATING
SORT OF END OF SUMMER.

SHE HAD PLANNED TO SPEND

THE NIGHT AWAY FROM HOME
AT A GIRLFRIEND'S HOUSE.

HE HAS SOMETHING
THAT MAY BE HELPFUL.

HE SAID, "I HAVE A DATE BOOK
OF MY DAUGHTER'S."

IT'S LIKE AN ORDINARY BOOK
LIKE MANY PEOPLE HAD

BEFORE THEY HAD iPAD CALENDARS.

STEVE LEVIN GAVE THE BOOK
TO THE POLICE

AND SAID,
"IF THIS HELPS YOU,

IT'S GOT THE ADDRESS SECTION
IN THE BACK."

SO THE POLICE STARTED
WITH GIRLFRIENDS

WHO'D BEEN WITH HER.

THOUGH DISTRAUGHT,
THE YOUNG WOMEN

MANAGED TO HELP
SHEEHAN RECONSTRUCT

WHAT THEY KNOW ABOUT
JENNIFER'S LAST NIGHT.

THEY WENT TO
A MEXICAN RESTAURANT,

THEY HAD A COUPLE OF DRINKS,

THEY REACHED DORRIAN'S SOME
TIME AFTER MIDNIGHT, ROUGHLY.

THIS WAS BEFORE CELLPHONE
AND TEXT AND TWEETS,

BUT FRIENDS HAD ARRANGED
TO MEET THERE.

THEY SAID AT 3:30,
SHE WAS WITH X, Y, AND Z.

AND THEN YOU GO,
AND YOU GET X,

AND THEY GO, WELL,
AT A QUARTER TO 4:00,

SHE WAS WITH Y AND Z.

AND THEN YOU GET Z, WHO SAYS,

"I LEFT HER
WITH ROBERT CHAMBERS."

"WELL, HE'S A FRIEND.
HE'S PART OF OUR GROUP."

ROBERT CHAMBERS
SHOWED UP AT THE BAR.

JENNIFER WAS DELIGHTED
TO SEE HIM.

SHE APPROACHED HIM,

AND THEY WERE HANGING OUT
WITH GROUPS OF PEOPLE.

IT SEEMS THE LAST
OF JENNIFER'S FRIENDS

TO SEE HER ALIVE
WAS ROBERT CHAMBERS.

OBVIOUSLY, HE WAS A PERSON
THAT WE WANTED TO TALK TO.

WE WENT TO THE APARTMENT

ON 90th STREET
WHERE HE LIVED.

DETECTIVES BRING
ROBERT DOWN

TO THE CENTRAL PARK
POLICE STATION TO MEET SHEEHAN.

HE SAID, "I'M HERE TO HELP."
THE FIRST THING THAT HIT ME

WAS THAT THE KID
HAD TREMENDOUS PRESENCE.

HE WAS A HANDSOME KID
AND CHARMING.

BUT SHEEHAN
IS DISTRACTED BY SOMETHING --

SCRATCHES ON CHAMBERS' FACE.

CHAMBERS HAD TOLD DETECTIVES

THAT HIS CAT SCRATCHED HIM.

HE SAID,
"I HAD HIM IN MY ARMS,

AND I THREW HIM IN THE AIR,
AND HE FREAKED OUT,

AND WE CAME DOWN,
THAT'S WHAT HAPPENED."

AND THEN WE BEGAN
TO TALK TO HIM,

AND IT WAS AT THAT POINT
I TOLD HIM THAT SHE WAS DEAD.

HE WAS, LIKE, "MY GOD,
SHE'S DEAD, MY GOD."

SHEEHAN FIRES UP
A VIDEO CAMERA AND ASKS ROBERT,

WHAT HAPPENED
ON THAT LAST NIGHT?

ROBERT SAYS HE SAW
JENNIFER AROUND 2:00 A. M.

AND THEY DISCUSSED HER
LEAVING FOR COLLEGE.

THE BAR EMPTIED
OUT AROUND 2:00,

3:00 IN THE MORNING,

AND ROBERT WAS
STILL THERE DRINKING,

AND JENNIFER,

SHE WAS THE LAST GIRL THERE.

AND THEY LEFT THE BAR
ABOUT 4:00 IN THE MORNING.

THEY SAID GOODBYE
IN FRONT OF DORRIAN'S.

HE WALKED HIS WAY,
SHE WALKED HER WAY.

ROBERT SAYS IT'S
THE LAST TIME HE SAW JENNIFER,

BUT SHEEHAN ISN'T BUYING IT.

HE THINKS THE SCRATCHES
ON ROBERT'S FACE

TELL A DIFFERENT STORY,

SO HE GRILLS HIS SUSPECT
THROUGH THE NIGHT.

HE CONTINUOUSLY KEPT
TO THE SAME STORY.

THEY SAID GOODBYE
IN FRONT OF DORRIAN'S,

AND KEPT GOING BACK,

DOING THE OLD
"COLUMBO" ROUTINE LIKE,

"YOU KNOW, I CAN'T REMEMBER
AS WELL AS I USED TO.

YOU KNOW, WOULD YOU
DO ME A FAVOR?

WOULD YOU REPEAT
THAT ONE MORE TIME?"

THE INTERROGATION DRAGS ON

FOR NEARLY 12 GRUELING HOURS.

IF YOU DON'T HELP US...
UNTIL CHAMBERS STUMBLES.

AND THIS TIME, HE SAYS,

"WELL, I'M WALKING UP
86th STREET BY A DOUGHNUT SHOP."

AND I'M LIKE, WHAT?

AND, YOU KNOW, HE LOOKED,

'CAUSE HE KNEW HE SCREWED UP.

I SAID, "WHAT ARE YOU
TALKING ABOUT?

ALL DAY LONG,
YOU'RE SAYING YOU SAID

GOODBYE TO HER
IN FRONT OF DORRIAN'S,

AND NOW, YOU'RE
ON LEXINGTON AVENUE.

SO I SAID,
"WHAT HAPPENED TO YOUR FACE?

DON'T SIT HERE AND **** ME

THAT THESE THINGS
CAME FROM A CAT.

WHAT DO YOU GOT?
YOU HAVE A MOUNTAIN LION?"

ROBERT CHAMBERS
IS ABOUT TO BREAK

WITH A STORY THAT'S STUNNING.

LESS THAN 24 HOURS
SINCE JENNIFER LEVIN'S BODY

WAS FOUND,
AT THE CENTRAL PARK PRECINCT,

ROBERT CHAMBERS
IS UNDER INTERROGATION

FOR HER MURDER.

THE PRESS HAS BEEN
DESPERATELY CIRCLING

TO GET ANY INFORMATION

THEY CAN RUN ON
THEIR FRONT PAGES.

IT WAS ALL HAPPENING
IN REAL TIME.

THE PRESS WAS GATHERED
AS THEY WERE QUESTIONING

ROBERT CHAMBERS.

WE HAD OUR EARS
ON THE POLICE RADIO.

WE HAD SOURCES UP
OVER POLICE PLAZA.

ANY LITTLE THING WE COULD FIND.

IT'S A HOT STORY,
AND IT'S ABOUT TO CATCH FIRE.

ROBERT CHAMBERS ADMITTED

BEING WITH HER
IN THE PARK,

ADMITTED THAT THEY HAD STARTED
TO HAVE A SEXUAL ENCOUNTER.

BUT ROBERT CLAIMS
THEIR NIGHT TOGETHER

SUDDENLY TURNED VIOLENT.

HE ADMITS SHE WAS THE ONE
WHO SCRATCHED HIS FACE,

NOT HIS CAT.

AND THAT'S NOT ALL.

WHAT HE WAS SAYING
IS THAT JENNIFER HAD

SQUEEZED HIS TESTICLES

AND THAT SHE HURT HIM.

MY PARTNER STOPPED
AND ASKED HIM,

"SO WHAT YOU'RE TRYING
TO TELL SHEEHAN AND I

IS THAT YOU WERE RAPED
IN CENTRAL PARK BY A WOMAN?"

AND HE SAID, "YEAH."

WE BOTH LAUGHED
AND SAID TO HIM,

"YOU'RE THE FIRST GUY THAT I'VE
EVER HEARD THAT HAPPEN TO HIM."

AND CHAMBERS WENT,

"WELL, I'M SURE IT
HAPPENS ALL THE TIME

'CAUSE IT HAPPENED TO ME."

ROBERT CLAIMS
WHAT HAPPENS NEXT

WAS DONE IN SELF-DEFENSE.

HE JUST REACHED DOWN
WITH HIS ARM

AND FLIPPED HER
BACK OVER HIS HEAD.

AND THAT WAS IT.

SHE DIDN'T MOVE AGAIN.

WHEN CHAMBERS REALIZED
JENNIFER WAS DEAD,

HE FROZE AND DIDN'T
LEAVE THE PARK.

HE WAS SITTING
ON A STONE WALL

IN A STATE OF SHOCK

WHEN THE POLICE
AND THE AMBULANCE CAME.

GOD KNOWS WHAT WAS
GOING THROUGH HIS MIND,

BUT IT WAS INTRIGUING.

A SUSPECT IS UNDER ARREST
IN THE MURDER OF A YOUNG WOMAN

WHOSE BODY WAS FOUND
IN CENTRAL PARK,

AND POLICE SAY
HE WAS NOT A STRANGER.

THE DAY HE'S ARRESTED,

HIS FAMILY HIRES RENOWNED
DEFENSE ATTORNEY JACK LITTMAN

AND HIS CO-COUNSEL
ROGER STAVIS.

THIS WOULD HAVE BEEN
MY FIRST CASE

AS A CRIMINAL DEFENSE ATTORNEY.

VERY QUICKLY, WE FOCUSED ON
PREPARING THE CASE

AND PREPARING FOR TRIAL.

THE FIRST THING
JACK LITTMAN DID

WAS GO TO THE JUDGE AND SAY,

"ROBERT'S GOT TO BE
LET OUT OF JAIL IMMEDIATELY

BECAUSE THIS WAS AN ACCIDENT.

IT WASN'T HIS FAULT.

IT WAS THIS GIRL'S FAULT."

JACK LITTMAN, HE WAS NOTORIOUS
FOR BLAMING A VICTIM.

HE'D DONE IT IN OTHER CASES
TO THE POINT

WHERE THERE WAS PHRASE
CALLED BEING "LITTMAN-IZED,"

WHICH MEANT BEING SUBJECT

TO BEING BLAMED
FOR YOUR OWN CRIME.

SOME PEOPLE'S KINKINESS
OR OTHER PEOPLE'S ORDINARINESS,

AND I'M NOT REALLY GONNA COMMENT

ABOUT THE SPECIFICS
OF THE SEXUAL DOINGS.

HE REALLY PLAYED UP
THAT ROBERT CHAMBERS

WAS PURSUED
BY THIS AGGRESSIVE,

PROMISCUOUS GIRL
WHO THEN GOT

OVER-AGGRESSIVE DURING SEX.

ME AND JACK LITTMAN,
WE WERE PARIAHS

BECAUSE WE WERE
BLAMING THE VICTIM.

OF COURSE, WE WERE NOT
BLAMING THE VICTIM.

WHAT WE WERE DOING WAS
CORROBORATING THE CIRCUMSTANCES

AS DESCRIBED
BY ROBERT CHAMBERS.

WE WERE DOING OUR JOBS
AS PROFESSIONALS.

IT'S A VERSION OF EVENTS

THAT SENDS NEW YORK CITY'S
NOTORIOUS

TABLOID PRESS INTO A FRENZY.

THERE WAS A LOT OF MEDIA
INTEREST, AND EARLY ON,

JACK LITTMAN WAS MAKING
ROBERT CHAMBERS AVAILABLE.

HEADLINES
SUM UP ROBERT'S DEFENSE

WITH A PAIR OF WORDS

THAT BECOMES TABLOID
NEWSPAPER HISTORY.

"ROUGH SEX."

CHAMBERS
ACCIDENTALLY KILLED LEVIN

DURING ROUGH SEX.

WE HAD THE IMMEDIATE
FEELING IT WAS A HUGE,

HUGE TABLOID STORY

THAT WAS GONNA SELL LOTS
OF EXTRA PAPERS

FOR WEEKS AND MONTHS.

IT HAD THE MURDER
OF A PRETTY YOUNG GIRL,

MONEY,

SEX.

IT HAD EVERYTHING.

WHILE THE PRESS
IS SELLING PAPERS

WITH ROBERT'S VERSION,

THEY'RE ALSO SELLING
ROBERT HIMSELF.

HE WAS PORTRAYED
AS THIS WONDERFUL,

HANDSOME, CHARMING GUY,

WHO ALL THE BOYS IDOLIZED
AND ALL THE GIRLS ADORED.

I MEAN, I GUESS
ANYBODY CAN DO ANYTHING,

BUT HE IS THE NICEST,
HE'S FRIENDLY,

HE IS ONE -- I JUST CAN'T SEE
HIM DOING ANYTHING LIKE THAT.

HOW COULD SOMEBODY LIKE HIM
POSSIBLY HAVE DONE SOMETHING?

SHE MUST HAVE
PROVOKED IT.

YOU JUST HAVE TO USE
YOUR COMMON SENSE.

OBVIOUSLY, SHE'S
TOO YOUNG TO USE HER OWN.

HEADLINE BY HEADLINE,

THE PUBLIC BECOMES
INTOXICATED BY ROBERT.

PEOPLE WOULD JUST SAY TO ME,

"HE'S SO GOOD-LOOKING,

I CAN'T BELIEVE HE'D HAVE
TO FORCE A GIRL TO HAVE SEX."

WHILE JENNIFER'S
REPUTATION IS TRASHED...

SHE WAS PAINTED AS A SLUT,

AS A VAMP,
AS A PROMISCUOUS,

SEXUALLY-AGGRESSIVE PERSON.

THE CONTEXT OF A LOT
OF THE HEADLINES

AND THE STORIES

WAS THAT SHE ASKED
FOR HER MURDER,

THAT SHE PROVOKED IT, EVEN.

AND THE WHOLE STORY IS GIVEN
A MADE-FOR-TABLOID'S NAME...

..."THE PREPPIE MURDER."

ON OCTOBER 1st, ROBERT CHAMBERS
IS FREED ON BAIL.

MEANWHILE, JENNIFER'S FAMILY
IS LOOKING FOR JUSTICE.

IN 1986, I WAS A PROSECUTOR
IN THE MANHATTAN D. A.'s OFFICE

AND ASSISTANT
DISTRICT ATTORNEY

IN CHARGE OF THE SPECIAL
VICTIMS' UNIT.

TO SEE THE LEVINS' EXPERIENCE,

LOSING A CHILD,
NOTHING WORSE IN MY MIND.

BUT THEN TO SEE HOW
THE MEDIA PORTRAYED HER,

SAYING WHAT A GOOD KID
ROBERT WAS

AND THAT JENNIFER HAD
BROUGHT ON HER OWN DEATH,

CAN'T THINK OF
ANYTHING MORE PAINFUL.

THERE WERE HUNDREDS
OF REPORTERS.

THE NEWS MEDIA
WERE THERE EN MASSE

WITH CAMERAS AND MICROPHONES.

AS FALL TURNS TO WINTER,

ATTORNEYS WORK TOWARDS
THE JANUARY 4th TRIAL DATE.

THE DEFENSE'S CASE
WILL HANG ON ROBERT'S CLAIM.

JENNIFER LEVIN
WAS ESSENTIALLY STRANGLED

DURING ROUGH SEX.

AND ROUGH SEX WAS WHAT
ROBERT CHAMBERS

TOLD THE POLICE OFFICERS
AND THE DETECTIVES.

TO PROVE JENNIFER
AND ROBERT'S SEXUAL ENCOUNTER

WAS PART OF A KINKY,
YET CONSENSUAL

SEXUAL RELATIONSHIP,

LITTMAN AND STAVIS ARGUE
THEY'RE MISSING

A KEY PIECE OF EVIDENCE --

THAT DATE BOOK
JENNIFER'S FATHER

GAVE TO THE POLICE.

I HAD INTERVIEWED
ALL OF HER FRIENDS.

THEY TOLD ME THAT
SHE HAD KEPT A DIARY

AND THAT THE DIARY INCLUDED

SEXUAL LIAISONS
THAT SHE HAD HAD.

WE WANTED ACCESS
TO THE DIARY.

IF ROBERT'S LAWYERS
GET THEIR HANDS ON THE DIARY,

JENNIFER'S EVERY SECRET
WILL BE A FEAST FOR THE PRESS.

IN A CASE
THAT'S BECOME A MEDIA SENSATION,

ROBERT CHAMBERS
WILL STAND TRIAL

FOR THE MURDER
OF JENNIFER LEVIN.

DEFENSE ATTORNEY JACK LITTMAN

CLAIMS HE'S MISSING
CRUCIAL EVIDENCE --

JENNIFER'S DATE BOOK.

HE BELIEVES IT COULD
REVEAL CRUCIAL TRUTHS

ABOUT JENNIFER'S SEX LIFE,

SO HE MAKES A CALCULATED MOVE.

HE BEGAN JUST FLATLY ON HIS OWN
TO USE THE EXPRESSION

"SEX DIARY."

"SEX DIARY"
BECAME THE HEADLINE,

A NONEXISTENT, COMPLETELY,

MAY I SAY, SLEAZY CHOICE OF
WORDS FOR MY ADVERSARY TO USE.

PROSECUTOR
LINDA FAIRSTEIN ARGUES

IN FRONT OF THE JUDGE
THAT THE DATE BOOK

HAS NO RELEVANCE TO THE CASE.

AND CLAIMS THE DEFENSE
IS ATTEMPTING

TO PUBLICLY SMEAR THE VICTIM.

WE HAD IT TAKEN
TO THE JUDGE TO EXAMINE,

AND A WEEK LATER,
HE GAVE IT BACK TO ME

AND MADE A RULING THAT IT
WAS NOT A SEX DIARY.

I WAS ONE
OF THE FEW PEOPLE

THAT READ JENNIFER'S JOURNAL.

IT HAD NOTHING TO DO
WITH ROUGH SEX.

THE DIARY IS RULED
AS INADMISSIBLE EVIDENCE.

BUT IN THE PUBLIC EYE,
THE DAMAGE IS DONE.

IN THE TRIAL AHEAD,
LINDA FAIRSTEIN

KNOWS SHE FACES
AN UPHILL BATTLE.

WE WERE DETERMINED TO FIND OUT
AS MUCH ABOUT ROBERT CHAMBERS.

WHAT WOULD BRING A 19-YEAR-OLD
TO THIS POINT IN HIS LIFE?

WHAT WE FOUND WAS A VERY LONG,
VERY DISTURBED

CRIMINAL HISTORY OF ROBERT.

MIKE SHEEHAN AND I
WERE ABLE TO TRACE

MORE THAN 30 BURGLARIES

AND THEFTS THAT
HE HAD COMMITTED.

IT TURNS OUT
ROBERT'S PREPPIE FACADE

IS COVERING UP
A BLUE-COLLAR LIFE.

HE WAS NOT WEALTHY.

HIS MOTHER WAS A NURSE.

SHE WORKED HER FINGERS
TO THE BONE,

AND IT REALLY WAS
FOR ROBERT CHAMBERS.

HE WAS NOT A WELL-TO-DO,
PREPPIE KID AT ALL.

HE GREW UP WITH THESE KIDS.

THEY HAD MONEY.

HE NEVER HAD MONEY
OF HIS OWN.

ROBERT ALSO NEEDS
TO FEED A RAGING DRUG HABIT.

HE WAS A DRUG ADDICT
FROM THE AGE OF 14 ON.

DESPITE MULTIPLE
ATTEMPTS AT REHAB,

HE STRUGGLED THROUGH PREP SCHOOL
AFTER PREP SCHOOL.

ROBERT CHAMBERS HAD BEEN
THROWN OUT OF SEVERAL

BECAUSE OF HIS DRUG USE.

HE STARTED COLLEGE.

HE WAS THROWN OUT
OF BOSTON UNIVERSITY, AGAIN,

FOR DRUG USE.

JENNIFER LEVIN
AND HER FRIENDS

KNEW ROBERT HAD
A REPUTATION FOR DRUGS

AND FOR STEALING.

DETECTIVE SHEEHAN BELIEVES
SHE HAD THE BAD LUCK

OF CATCHING HIM
AT IT FIRSTHAND.

IT'S OUR THEORY THAT SHE
FINDS HIM RIFLING HER PURSE,

AND THAT'S HOW
THE ENTIRE THING BEGINS.

BECAUSE THE CONTENTS
OF HER PURSE WAS STREWN.

ALSO THE FACT
THAT SHE HAD $40 IN HER BAG,

WHICH IS NOW GONE.

HER GIRLFRIENDS TOLD US
THAT SHE HAD 40 BUCKS.

MAYBE JENNIFER
CONFRONTED HIM.

SHE WAS BALLSY.

IF THERE WAS AN ISSUE,

SHE WILL CONFRONT
YOU RIGHT AWAY,

AND SHE HAD NO PROBLEMS
ARTICULATING HOW SHE FELT.

SHE PROBABLY SAID
TO ROBERT, "HOW DARE YOU?

AND I'M GONNA TELL
EVERYONE WHAT YOU DID."

AND I THINK THAT
THREW HIM INTO A RAGE.

WHEN HER BODY WAS FOUND,

JENNIFER WASN'T
WEARING HER EARRINGS.

AFTER HE KILLED HER,
LIKE MANY JUNKIES,

LIKE MANY DRUG ADDICTS,

YOU LEAVE NOTHING OF VALUE,

AND I'VE ALWAYS BELIEVED THAT,

AFTER SHE WAS DEAD,

HE COLDLY TOOK THOSE EARRINGS,

PUT THEM IN HIS POCKET,
AND WALKED AWAY.

BUT FAIRSTEIN CAN'T BRING

ROBERT'S CRIMINAL HISTORY
TO LIGHT

UNLESS HE TAKES THE STAND.

IT'S TRUE FOR ANY TRIAL.

IT'S ONLY DURING
CROSS-EXAMINATION

THAT THE PROSECUTION
CAN INTRODUCE CRIMINAL HISTORY

OUTSIDE THE CASE.

I NEEDED FOR HIM TO TAKE
THE STAND AT THE TRIAL.

OVER A YEAR AFTER
JENNIFER'S DEATH

DOMINATED NEWSPAPER HEADLINES,
JURY SELECTION BEGINS,

BUT FINDING 12 UNBIASED MEMBERS
IS A DAUNTING TASK.

WE WENT THROUGH
PROSPECTIVE JURORS,

MORE THAN I BELIEVE 486
TO GET OUR JURY OF 12,

AND TO THIS DAY,

REMAINS ONE OF THE MOST
DISTURBING PARTS

OF HOW THE MEDIA INFLUENCED
PUBLIC PERCEPTIONS.

TODAY, OPENING ARGUMENTS BEGAN
IN THE SENSATIONAL TRIAL.

WHEN CHAMBERS FIRST
ENTERED THE COURTROOM

FOR THE TRIAL,
IT WAS PANDEMONIUM.

I MEAN, YOU HAD DOZENS
AND DOZENS

AND DOZENS OF REPORTERS
ALL OVER.

IT WAS LIKE A CIRCUS.

I'VE NEVER TRIED A CASE
WITH SO MUCH MEDIA

PRINT AND TELEVISION.

CHAMBERS IS CHARGED
WITH SECOND-DEGREE MURDER,

WHICH MEANS PROSECUTOR
LINDA FAIRSTEIN NEEDS TO SHOW

THAT ROBERT ATTACKED
JENNIFER INTENTIONALLY.

HE SAID HE FLIPPED HER

AND SHE NEVER MOVED AGAIN --

AN ACCIDENT.

I NEVER THOUGHT THAT
THE ACCIDENT STORY

MADE ANY SENSE.

JENNIFER LEVIN WAS MURDERED.

FAIRSTEIN BELIEVES
SHE HAS PROOF

IN THE AUTOPSY REPORT.

THE GREATEST INJURY
WAS MULTIPLE MARKS

ON HER NECK -- LONG, DEEP.

THEY WERE FROM REPEATED
APPLICATIONS OF FORCE,

NOT JUST ONE STRANGULATION,

BUT AN ACT OF STRUGGLE.

SOMEBODY HAS TO CONTINUE
TO APPLY PRESSURE,

HAS TO CONTINUE TO STRANGLE

OR BLOCK YOUR MOUTH
FOR YOU TO DIE.

THIS ISN'T THE MOVIES

WHERE A GUY GRABS YOU
BY THE NECK

AND TEN SECONDS LATER,
YOU'RE DEAD ON THE FLOOR.

THIS WOMAN WAS STRANGLED
AND SMOTHERED

FOR A PROLONGED
PERIOD OF TIME.

THEN FAIRSTEIN
PRESENTS THE JURY

WITH ANOTHER VALUABLE
PIECE OF EVIDENCE

FROM THE AUTOPSY REPORT.

ROBERT CHAMBERS SAID
HE AND JENNIFER LEVIN

HAD BEEN ENGAGED
IN "ROUGH SEX" IN THE PARK

AND THAT'S WHY SHE DIED.

IN REALITY,
THERE WAS NO SEX AT ALL.

IN FACT, FAIRSTEIN BELIEVES

ROBERT REARRANGED
JENNIFER'S CLOTHES

TO MAKE IT LOOK
LIKE A SEXUAL ASSAULT.

IT WAS ABSOLUTELY CLEAR

FROM THE EXAMINATION
OF JENNIFER'S BODY

THAT SHE HAD NOT BEEN
SEXUALLY PENETRATED.

FAIRSTEIN IS ADAMANT,

IF THERE'S NO SEX,

THERE'S NO ROUGH SEX
AS A DEFENSE.

ROBERT'S ATTORNEYS
ARGUE OTHERWISE.

THEY BEGIN THEIR CASE
WITH THEIR OWN MEDICAL EXAM

CONDUCTED ON
JENNIFER'S BODY,

TO SHOW HOW ROBERT STRANGLED
HER IN SELF-DEFENSE.

WE HAD AN EXPERT
FORENSIC PATHOLOGIST

WHO SAID THAT IT COULD BE
A MARK NOT FROM HANDS,

BUT FROM AN ARM,

WHICH WOULD BE
MORE CONSISTENT

WITH WHAT ROBERT CHAMBERS
HAD TOLD THE POLICE.

BUT THE DEFENSE'S
ULTIMATE BLOW TO THE PROSECUTION

IS THE WITNESS
THEY DON'T CALL.

ROBERT IS NOT TESTIFYING.

THE JURY WOULD NEVER HEAR
HIS HISTORY OF BURGLARIES.

I HAVE TO BELIEVE
THAT THE REASON

THAT ROBERT CHAMBERS
DID NOT TAKE THE STAND

AND BE CROSS-EXAMINED WAS

BECAUSE I HAD ENOUGH MATERIAL
TO CROSS-EXAMINE HIM

TO ANOTHER PLANET.

IT WAS ENORMOUSLY FRUSTRATING.

AFTER THREE EXHAUSTING MONTHS,

THE CASE GOES TO THE JURY.

DAYS PASS WITHOUT A VERDICT.

EVERYBODY WAS GETTING
A LITTLE CONCERNED.

DAYS SIX AND SEVEN,

INCREDIBLY TENSE
IN THE COURTROOM.

AND THEN, NEWS.

I BELIEVE THEY SENT A NOTE OUT,
DAY SEVEN OR EIGHT,

THAT THEY HAD BEEN UNABLE
TO REACH A VERDICT.

THE JURY WAS
HOPELESSLY DEADLOCKED.

IS ROBERT CHAMBERS
ABOUT TO GET AWAY WITH MURDER?

THE PROSECUTION
OF ROBERT CHAMBERS

IS ON THE BRINK OF COLLAPSE.

THE JURY IN
THE ROBERT CHAMBERS CASE

WAS NOT GOING
TO REACH A VERDICT.

WE KNEW ON DAY NINE
THAT THE JURY

WAS HOPELESSLY DEADLOCKED.

FOR BOTH SIDES,
A MISTRIAL WOULD BE DEVASTATING.

THE LEVINS WERE
IN COMPLETE AGREEMENT

THAT NOTHING WOULD GET BETTER
A SECOND TIME AROUND.

NOW A PLEA DEAL MIGHT JUST BE

THEIR
ONLY HOPE OF CLOSURE.

MANSLAUGHTER
IN THE FIRST DEGREE,

THE SECOND MOST SERIOUS CHARGE.

JUST A FEW MINUTES
AFTER 5:00 THIS EVENING,

IN A PACKED
AND HUSHED COURTROOM,

ROBERT CHAMBERS
PLEADED GUILTY

TO THE CHARGE
OF FIRST-DEGREE MANSLAUGHTER.

AS PART OF THE AGREEMENT,

ROBERT HAS TO ADMIT
IN OPEN COURT

THAT HE INTENDED
TO HARM JENNIFER

WHEN HE KILLED HER.

AFTER REFUSING TO SPEAK
DURING HIS ENTIRE TRIAL,

ROBERT FINALLY
EXPRESSES REMORSE.

AND I WISH TO APOLOGIZE
TO THE FAMILY

AND TO HER FRIENDS
FOR ALL THE TROUBLE

THEY'VE GONE THROUGH.

I'VE NEVER WANTED ANY OF THIS
TO HAPPEN TO ANYBODY.

HIS SENTENCE --
5 TO 15 YEARS.

IT WAS CONTROVERSIAL,

THE FUNCTIONAL EQUIVALENT
UNDER THE CIRCUMSTANCES

OF A SLAP ON THE WRIST.

IT FELT WRONG
ON SO MANY LEVELS.

AS FAR AS I'M CONCERNED,
IT WASN'T ENOUGH,

AND DIDN'T TEACH HIM ANYTHING.

A MONTH AFTER
HIS SENTENCING,

THE POPULAR TABLOID SHOW

"A CURRENT AFFAIR"
RELEASES

A VIDEO THANKS
TO REPORTER STEVE DUNLEAVY.

IT WAS AN ABSOLUTELY
INCREDIBLE EXCLUSIVE.

THEY'D HAD THE PARTY
WHEN CHAMBERS WAS OUT ON BAIL,

AND ONE OF THE GIRLS
HAD A VIDEO CAMERA.

BOBBY CHAMBERS WAS
SITTING ON THE FLOOR,

AND THEN SUDDENLY,
A DOLL CAME UP.

WHEN I SAW IT,
I SAID, "MY GOD."

THE VIDEO STRIPS AWAY
THE HANDSOME, GOOD-GUY IMAGE

AND GIVES THE PUBLIC A LOOK
AT THE REAL ROBERT CHAMBERS.

I HAD MORE CALLS
AFTER THAT WAS ON AIR SAYING,

"WELL,
IF WE'D ONLY KNOWN THAT,

WE WOULD HAVE THOUGHT,
WHAT A HORRIBLE PERSON HE WAS."

PROBABLY THAT VIDEO

DID MORE TO CHANGE
PUBLIC REACTION

TO ROBERT AFTER THE TRIAL.

NOT ONLY DID HE
NOT HAVE REMORSE,

HE THOUGHT THE WHOLE THING
WAS RATHER FUNNY.

HOW COULD HE HAVE
PLAYED AROUND LIKE THAT

AND MADE A JOKE
OUT OF STRANGLING HER?

AFTER THAT, IT WAS ALL OVER
FOR BOBBY CHAMBERS.

IN PRISON, CHAMBERS
RACKS UP INFRACTIONS FOR DRUGS,

WEAPONS, AND ASSAULTING
CORRECTIONAL OFFICERS.

HE SERVES HIS FULL
15-YEAR SENTENCE.

HE'S RELEASED IN 2003.

BUT IN 2007,

HE'S CAUGHT SELLING COCAINE
TO UNDERCOVER COPS

IN HIS NEW YORK APARTMENT.

HE GETS 19 YEARS,

MORE TIME FOR DEALING DRUGS

THAN FOR KILLING
JENNIFER LEVIN.

THE DRUG USE AND DRUG SALE

IS NOT A SURPRISE
TO ANY OF US

WHO KNEW THAT ABOUT HIM.

THE SO-CALLED "PREPPIE KILLER"

REMAINS ONE OF THE MOST
NOTORIOUS CRIMINALS

OF THE 1980s.

BUT THE MEMORY
THAT BURNS THE BRIGHTEST

IS THAT OF A VIBRANT TEENAGER

WHOSE LIFE WAS CUT TOO SHORT.

JENNIFER LEVIN.

I THINK OF HER
IN THE HAPPY PICTURE

JUST HOURS BEFORE HER DEATH
BECAUSE SHE WAS SMILING

AND BECAUSE EVERYTHING
LAY AHEAD OF HER.

I THINK ABOUT IF
SHE'D BE MARRIED WITH KIDS,

AND I MISS HER.

AND I THINK ABOUT HER OFTEN.