The 1980s: The Deadliest Decade (2016–2017): Season 1, Episode 5 - The Black Monday Murder - full transcript

THERE WAS A GRIM DISCOVERY

BY A MAINTENANCE CREW
IN NEWBURGH TODAY.

THIS CASE RANKS,
AS FAR AS STRANGENESS,

NUMBER ONE.

ANYBODY WHO HAS
ANY KIND OF SECRET LIFE

CAN BE VERY DANGEROUS PEOPLE.

HE WAS A WALL STREET
STOCK ANALYST,

THE FATHER OF TWO CHILDREN.

YOU HAVE TWO PEOPLE
WHO WERE MARRIED

FOR A LONG TIME,
DEEPLY ENTANGLED.

YOU'RE A LIAR, CHEATER.



INVESTIGATORS HAVE
LITTLE TO GO ON.

SOME JEWELRY,
A KNIFE, RUBBER GLOVES.

IT BECAME THIS
WEIRD PUZZLE, WEIRD MAZE,

AND IT ENDED TRAGICALLY.

JUST SAY NO.

BIG MONEY.

IN THE MID-1980s,

IT'S MORE THAN
THE AMERICAN DREAM.

IT'S THE AMERICAN OBSESSION.

WE CONSUME SO MUCH.

THERE'S SO MANY THINGS TO BUY.

TOPPING THE CHARTS
IS THE BANGLES,

AND ON TOP OF THE WORLD
IS "WALL STREET'S" GORDON GEKKO.

AND IF YOU NEED A FRIEND,
GET A DOG.



THERE'S NO PLACE
WALL STREET GREED

IS MORE RICHLY REWARDED
THAN HERE --

NEW YORK, NEW YORK.

YOU HAVE TO GO RIGHT
DOWN TO WALL STREET,

BECAUSE THAT'S WHERE
IT WAS ALL HAPPENING.

THE STOCK MARKET WAS BOOMING,
IT WAS GROWING.

REAL ESTATE WAS BOOMING.

MAKING A DEAL IS AN ART FORM.

PEOPLE HAVE IT
OR DON'T HAVE IT.

NEW YORK CITY
IN THE '80s

WAS A PLACE THAT WAS CONSIDERED
A CITY OF EXCESS.

YOU CAN DO ANYTHING YOU WANT
AND EVERYTHING'S OKAY.

68 MILES
NORTH OF WALL STREET,

A WORKER AT A CAR WASH
IN NEWBURGH, NEW YORK,

IS THROWING OUT THE TRASH
WHEN SOMETHING CATCHES HIS EYE.

HE FOUND A NUMBER OF
REALLY DISTURBING THINGS --

A KNIFE,

ROPE,

WOMEN'S CLOTHING.

ALONG WITH
A DRIVER'S LICENSE.

44-YEAR-OLD DIANE PIKUL.

AND IT JUST
SEEMED REALLY WEIRD,

JUST SEEMED LIKE THERE
WAS SOMETHING OFF.

WHAT IS THIS DOING HERE?

YOU JUST DON'T THROW
THESE TYPES OF THINGS OUT.

THERE'S SOMETHING --
SOMETHING WRONG.

DIANE PIKUL,
NEE WHITMORE,

GREW UP IN THE SMALL
INDUSTRIAL CITY

OF SOUTH BEND, INDIANA.

BUT SHE ALWAYS DREAMED OF
ESCAPING HER MIDWESTERN ROOTS

FOR A MORE GLAMOROUS LIFE.

SHE WAS A BEAUTIFUL GIRL,
AMBITIOUS, CREATIVE,

AND REALLY EXCITED
ABOUT HER FUTURE.

SHE WAS AN ASPIRING WRITER.

SHE HAD BIG DREAMS.

IN 1965,
SHE GRADUATES

FROM MOUNT HOLYOKE
WITH AN ENGLISH DEGREE.

SHE WAS A GOOD WRITER.

DIANE GOT A LOT OF HER
SATISFACTION AND RESOLUTION

FROM WRITING HER
FICTION SHORT STORIES.

AFTER GRADUATION,
SHE SETS OFF FOR THE ONE CITY

THAT'S AS BIG AS HER DREAMS.

SHE WANTED TO MAKE A LIFE
FOR HERSELF IN NEW YORK CITY.

SHE WAS TRYING TO CREATE
THE KIND OF LIFE

THAT WAS THE DREAM.

SHE WAS JUST PRECIOUS.

SHE HAD LITTLE RINGLETS
LIKE SHIRLEY TEMPLE.

SHE HAD A BEAMING SMILE
AND JUST A JOYOUS PERSON.

WHILE DIANE STRIVES
TO SUCCEED AS A WRITER,

SHE PICKS UP A PLUM DAY JOB

AS A SECRETARY
AT LIFE MAGAZINE.

THERE, SHE'S EXPOSED
TO THE FINER THINGS IN LIFE

AND DEVELOPS
AN APPETITE FOR LUXURY.

AS THE 1980s DAWN,

SHE MEETS A MAN
WHO CAN SATISFY IT --

WEALTHY STOCK ANALYST
JOE PIKUL.

JOE WAS VERY CHARISMATIC
AND HE COULD REALLY DRAW YOU IN.

THEIR ATTRACTION IS MUTUAL.

FROM THE START, THEY LED
A PRETTY HAPPY LIFE TOGETHER.

SHE GOT INVOLVED
WITH JOE RIGHT AWAY,

AFTER A FEW WEEKS.

THEY WERE OFF TO THE RACES
RIGHT AWAY.

IT WAS SORT OF A CASE
OF OPPOSITES ATTRACT.

SHE WAS THIS FREE-SPIRIT WRITER

AND SORT OF ASPIRING
AND STILL BUILDING HER CAREER

AND HE HAD MADE IT ALREADY.

HE WAS INCREDIBLY SUCCESSFUL

AND SORT OF RULING
WALL STREET IN MANY WAYS

AND TO DIANE
REPRESENTED STABILITY

AND SORT OF
A NEW WAY OF LIFE.

DIANE IS BEAUTIFUL,
SHE'S SPIRITED,

THE PERFECT COMPLEMENT
TO JOE'S EGO.

FOR DIANE,
JOE'S THE ANSWER

TO HER DREAMS OF
A LIFE OF COMFORT.

HE'S POWERFUL AND...

HE'S RICH.

JOE WAS SOME
WALL STREET WONDER.

HE WAS A GIFTED KIND OF GENIUS.

HE WAS EXTREMELY SMART,

MAYBE EVEN BRILLIANT
IN TERMS OF STOCK MARKET.

I'VE NEVER MET ANYBODY
QUITE LIKE JOE PIKUL.

JOE WAS NEW MONEY
IN THE MAKING,

AND HE EARNED HIS WEALTH
THE HARD WAY.

JOE GREW UP IN
A SMALL TOWN IN MASSACHUSETTS,

A WORKING-CLASS FAMILY
THAT AT TIMES

STRUGGLED TO JUST
PUT FOOD ON THE TABLE,

BUT HE HAD VERY HIGH AMBITIONS.

HE WANTED
A BETTER LIFE FOR HIMSELF,

AND IN THE EARLY 1960s,
HE DISCOVERS HIS PATH.

WORKING AS A SECURITIES ANALYST

FOR STANDARD & POOR'S
ON WALL STREET.

WITHIN 10 YEARS, HE'S MANAGING
$80 MILLION IN ASSETS,

SWEETENED WITH
A 10 PERCENT COMMISSION.

HE MADE BIG BUCKS,
MILLIONS OF DOLLARS.

ALONG THE WAY,
HE ACQUIRES THE STYLE

AND SWAGGER OF A BIG-TIME
WALL STREET POWER BROKER.

HE WAS THE TYPE OF PERSON,
FROM WHAT EVERYBODY SAID,

THAT HE WAS USED TO
GETTING HIS OWN WAY,

BEING FINANCIALLY IN A POSITION

THAT HE WAS ABLE
TO GET HIS OWN WAY.

MICHAEL DOUGLAS' GORDON GEKKO,
THAT'S BASICALLY THE WAY IT WAS.

WALL STREET HAS ALWAYS BEEN
AN OLD BOYS CLUB,

SO ALL THESE GUYS
WERE GETTING RICH

AND JOE WAS PART
OF THAT OLD BOYS CLUB.

HE WAS SORT OF
A FIXTURE IN NEW YORK CITY.

HE WAS A SELF-MADE MAN

WHO WAS REALLY
AT THE TOP OF HIS GAME.

JOE IS USED TO
GETTING WHAT HE WANTS,

AND HE WANTS DIANE.

JUST MONTHS
AFTER MEETING IN 1978,

JOE AND DIANE GET MARRIED.

THEY'RE KINDRED SPIRITS,
BOTH HIGHLY AMBITIOUS.

THEY WERE ABLE
TO LIVE A LIFESTYLE

THAT WAS PRETTY HIGH UP THERE
FOR THE '80s.

THEY HAVE A PLUSH DUPLEX
IN GREENWICH VILLAGE,

CLOSETS FULL OF DESIGNER CLOTHES
AND BROOKS BROTHERS SUITS,

AND A BUSTLING HOUSEHOLD STAFF
OF MAIDS AND DRIVERS.

THE PIKULS HAD
A GREAT LIFESTYLE.

ANYTHING THEY WANTED,
THEY GOT.

MONEY WAS NO OBJECT.

BUT BY THE MID-1980s,

NOTHING'S MORE PRECIOUS
TO THE PIKULS

THAN THEIR TWO CHILDREN.

CLAUDIA AND BLAKE,
NAMES PLUCKED RIGHT OUT OF

THE POPULAR PRIME-TIME
SOAP OPERA "DYNASTY."

WITH JOE'S ENCOURAGEMENT,
DIANE HAS TRADED IN

HER WRITING ASPIRATIONS
TO BE A MOTHER.

HER BEST ATTRIBUTE
IS HER LOVE OF THOSE CHILDREN.

SHE JUST WAS A GREAT MOM.

SHE LOVED THOSE KIDS TO PIECES.

SO DOES JOE.

HE DOTED ON HIS CHILDREN.

WHATEVER THOSE KIDS WANTED,
HE TRIED TO GIVE THEM.

EVERY YEAR, THE WHOLE FAMILY
LOOKS FORWARD TO SUMMERS

AT THEIR SECOND HOME
IN AMAGANSETT, LONG ISLAND,

IN THE AREA FAMOUSLY KNOWN
AS THE HAMPTONS.

EVERY CITY HAS A VACATION LAND
NEARBY THAT PEOPLE

THAT ARE VERY WEALTHY
GO TO TO ESCAPE,

AND THE HAMPTONS
WAS PERFECT.

I LIVED IN THE HAMPTONS
FOR ABOUT THREE YEARS,

AND WHEN I MOVED THERE,

MY FRIEND GAVE ME
DIANE'S PHONE NUMBER

AND WE BECAME FRIENDS.

THEY CAME TO DINNER PARTIES
AT MY HOUSE

AND WE PLAYED A LOT OF
TRIVIAL PURSUIT.

WE WERE HAVING A GOOD TIME.

THEY WERE JUST ANOTHER
HAPPY COUPLE IN THE HAMPTONS.

I DIDN'T HAVE ANY AWARENESS
AT ALL THAT ANYTHING WAS WRONG.

BY THE LATE '80s,
DIANE IS GETTING RESTLESS.

AFTER NINE YEARS OF MARRIAGE,

SHE'S TIRED OF BEING
A STAY-AT-HOME MOM.

LEAVING THE KIDS
ON THEIR OWN WOULD BE TOUGH,

BUT SHE'S EAGER TO GET BACK
TO HER WRITING CAREER.

SHE LANDS A JOB AS AN EXECUTIVE
ASSISTANT AT HARPER'S MAGAZINE

AND SHE THRIVES.

WHAT MADE HER STAND OUT, TO ME,

IS THAT SHE WAS
NEVER A MINUTE LATE.

SHE WAS VERY SMART,

FOCUSED,
COMMITTED TO HER JOB.

TWO CAREERS,
TWO CHILDREN,

TWO HOMES.

THE PIKULS ARE THE CLASSIC

PICTURE-PERFECT COUPLE
OF THE ERA.

OR SO IT SEEMS.

THAT HAPPILY EVER AFTER
DREAM OF THE HOUSE

AND THE KIDS
AND ALL OF THAT,

IT ALL LOOKS LIKE AN ARGYLE
SWEATER ON THE OUTSIDE,

BUT YOU DON'T KNOW
WHAT'S INSIDE.

OCTOBER 19, 1987.
BLACK MONDAY.

THE STOCK MARKET DROPS A BOMB
BY FALLING MORE THAN 500 POINTS.

BLACK MONDAY IS
THE SINGLE BIGGEST POINT DROP

SINCE THE GREAT DEPRESSION.

WALL STREET PANICS.

IT WAS DEVASTATING.

PEOPLE WERE JUMPING
OUT OF WINDOWS.

LIVES WERE RUINED.

DOWN AND DOWN AND DOWN.
NEVER STOP.

THE STOCK MARKET TANKED.

EVERYONE STARTED LOSING GOBS

AND TONS OF MONEY FOR THEMSELVES
AND FOR THEIR CLIENTS.

THE DECADENT LIFESTYLE
OF THE DAY

COMES TO A SCREECHING HALT.

OVERNIGHT,
JOE PIKUL LOSES A FORTUNE.

JOE TOOK A HUGE
FINANCIAL HIT, HUGE.

HE LOST TONS OF MONEY.

JOE AND DIANE DECIDE TO PUT
THEIR MOST PRIZED POSSESSION

ON THE MARKET --

THEIR HOME IN THE HAMPTONS.

THEN, DIANE BREAKS DOWN AT WORK.

SHE LEANED AGAINST
THE DOORJAMB OF MY OFFICE,

AND ALL THE MUSCLES
IN HER FACE JUST CRUMPLED

AND SHE STARTED TO SOB.

I HADN'T SEEN ANY EMOTION

EXCEPT BREEZY HUMOR
AND DELIGHT IN HER CHILDREN,

AND I HADN'T REALLY
SEEN ANY EMOTION

OF NOTE BEFORE THEN.

AND THEN I THINK SHE JUST
BRUSHED HER TEARS AWAY

AND HER FACE WAS AS IT WAS
BEFORE SHE BROKE DOWN SOBBING.

SO VERY, VERY QUICKLY,
SPLIT-SECONDLY QUICKLY,

SHE COMPOSED HERSELF,
WHICH WAS ASTOUNDING TO ME.

SHE SAID, "WELL, THIS WEEKEND,

I'M GOING OUT TO AMAGANSETT."

DIANE HEADS TO
THE HAMPTONS TO MEET JOE

AND PREP THE HOUSE FOR SALE.

IT'S THE LAST TIME
ANYONE SHE WORKS WITH

WILL SEE HER ALIVE.

WHILE AMERICA IS REELING

FROM THE STOCK MARKET CRASH
OF BLACK MONDAY,

DIANE PIKUL IS HEADED OUT
TO THE HAMPTONS

FOR THE WEEKEND
TO HELP HER HUSBAND, JOE,

GET THEIR SUMMER HOME
READY FOR SALE.

BUT COME MONDAY MORNING,
DIANE DOESN'T SHOW UP FOR WORK.

HER COWORKER, ANN,
KNOWS SOMETHING ISN'T RIGHT.

SHE WOULD HAVE CALLED
AS SOON AS 9:00

OR HAD SOMEBODY CALL
OR SOMETHING HAD HAPPENED.

I TOOK PART OF HER ROLODEX
AND WE JUST STARTED CALLING.

THEN, IT'S JOE.

HE'S LOOKING FOR HER, TOO.

JOE PIKUL KEPT CALLING,
ASKING IF DIANE HAD COME IN.

HE WAS ANXIOUS AND DISTRAUGHT
AND CONCERNED.

ANN CALLS THE POLICE.

DETECTIVE BILL GLYNN PICKS UP.

WHEN SHE FIRST STARTED
TELLING ME ABOUT IT,

I'M SAYING, "HERE'S A WOMAN
THAT'S OVERREACTING."

YOU KNOW,
MY THOUGHTS WERE THAT

SHE MIGHT HAVE
JUST TAKEN THE DAY.

BUT THEN ANN
TELLS DETECTIVE GLYNN

THAT DIANE HAS BEEN
KEEPING A SECRET.

SHE WAS GETTING A DIVORCE.

DIANE HAS MAINTAINED THE
APPEARANCE OF A PERFECT LIFE.

THE TRUTH IS,
ANN TELLS THE DETECTIVE,

HER MARRIAGE IS TROUBLED.

OVER TIME,
JOE AND DIANE'S MARRIAGE

STARTED TO CRACK A LITTLE BIT.

THIS PERFECT PICTURE
THAT THEY HAD PAINTED

WAS NO LONGER TRUE.

TENSIONS STARTED TO GROW.

THEY WOULD BICKER AND FIGHT

AND THINGS WERE JUST
NOT AS THEY HAD BEEN

WHEN THEY FIRST MET.

DIANE WAS AGAINST JOE
GETTING CUSTODY OF THE CHILDREN.

SHE WAS A MOTHER TIGER
FOR THOSE KIDS.

DETECTIVE GLYNN ISN'T ALARMED.

I SAID, "YOU KNOW,
COUPLES ARGUE AND THEY FIGHT."

AND I SAID,
"ONCE EVERYONE COOLS DOWN,

THEY COME BACK."

BUT HE FEELS COMPELLED
TO FOLLOW THROUGH ON ANN'S CALL.

I SAID, "THIS IS WHAT I'LL DO.
I'LL CALL JOE PIKUL."

SO I CALLED HIM.

I SAID, "I'D LIKE TO COME OVER
AND JUST GET INFORMATION."

SO HE SAID OKAY.

BUT WHEN I HUNG UP
THE PHONE FROM HIM,

ANOTHER DETECTIVE
AT ANOTHER DESK HAD SAID,

"DOES ANYONE KNOW
ABOUT A PIKUL?"

AND I SAID, "YEAH, I JUST GOT
OFF THE PHONE WITH HIM, SO..."

SHE SAID, "WELL,
THIS IS NEWBURGH, NEW YORK.

I FOUND DIANE PIKUL'S WALLET

IN A DUMPSTER
AT A CAR WASH."

THE WORKER WHO FOUND
THE MYSTERIOUS ITEMS

HAD JUST ALERTED THE POLICE.

NOW I'M GETTING
A STRONG FEELING

THAT THERE'S SOMETHING
WRONG WITH DIANE.

WHEN DETECTIVE GLYNN VISITS

THE PIKULS'
GREENWICH VILLAGE APARTMENT,

HE TELLS JOE THE NEWS
ABOUT THE WALLET.

JOE IS CONCERNED.

SO WE SAT DOWN AND I SAID,
"WHAT HAPPENED WITH DIANE?

WAS SHE OUT AT THE COUNTRY HOUSE
WITH YOU?"

JOE TELLS GLYNN
THAT HE AND THE CHILDREN

RETURNED FROM THE HAMPTONS
THAT MORNING WITHOUT DIANE.

HE SAYS SHE STORMED OUT
FRIDAY NIGHT

AFTER A FIGHT THEY HAD
AND DIANE HAS YET TO TURN UP.

I SAID, "WHAT WAS
THE FIGHT ABOUT?"

HE SAID, "I FOUND A CONDOM
UNDER THE BED

AND THE CONDOM ISN'T MINE
AND I'VE SUSPECTED ALL ALONG

THAT SHE WAS HAVING AN AFFAIR."

JOE IS VERY UPSET.

IT WASN'T HIS BRAND
CONDOMS THAT HE USED.

SO HE WAS PRETTY SET THAT
SHE WAS HAVING A BOYFRIEND.

JOE STRUCK ME AS A MAN
THAT WAS VERY NERVOUS.

VERY NERVOUS.

SO I SAID, "WELL,
WHAT HAPPENED THEN?"

HE SAID, "WELL, WE STARTED
YELLING AND SCREAMING

AND SHE LEFT."

I SAID, "AND YOU HAVE
NO IDEA WHERE SHE IS?"

"NO. NOT AT ALL."

AFTER THEIR ARGUMENT,
JOE SAYS HE WENT TO SLEEP.

IN THE MORNING,
WITH DIANE STILL GONE,

HE SEARCHED FOR HER.

BUT SHE WAS NOWHERE
TO BE FOUND.

IT SEEMS THAT DIANE
HAS LEFT HER FAMILY

TO RUN AWAY WITH HER LOVER.

JOE OFFERS TO HELP FIND HER
IN ANY WAY HE CAN

AND GIVES DETECTIVES PERMISSION
TO SEARCH THEIR HAMPTONS HOME.

THEY FOUND EXACTLY
WHAT JOE DESCRIBED.

THEY FOUND A CONDOM
UNDERNEATH THE BED,

WHICH COINCIDED WITH HIS STORY
THAT HIS WIFE

HAD A SECRET LOVER
AND WAS HAVING AN AFFAIR.

BUT IN THE KITCHEN,
THEY DISCOVER SOMETHING

MUCH MORE CHILLING --

BLOOD STAINS
ON THE FLOOR.

DETECTIVES' CONCERN
IMMEDIATELY TURNED TO DIANE

AND HER WELL-BEING AND SAFETY.

WAS SHE HURT?
WAS SHE ALIVE?

AND, MORE IMPORTANTLY,
WHO HAD HURT HER?

WAS IT THIS SECRET LOVER,
PERHAPS?

IT SEEMS CLEAR.

JOE PIKUL'S WIFE
HAS DISAPPEARED.

BUT WHERE SHE IS
IS A MYSTERY.

MAYBE SHE'S GONE FOREVER.

WIFE AND MOTHER DIANE PIKUL

HAS DISAPPEARED
WITH A MYSTERY LOVER.

THAT'S WHAT HER
HUSBAND JOE THINKS.

HE DIDN'T UNDERSTAND
WHERE HIS WIFE WAS.

HE THOUGHT MAYBE SHE RAN AWAY
WITH SOME OTHER FELLOW

AND DIDN'T KNOW
WHAT WAS GOING ON.

BUT WHAT LAW ENFORCEMENT FINDS
AT THE PIKULS' HAMPTONS HOME

MAKES INVESTIGATORS
SUSPECT THE WORST.

AFTER FINDING THE BLOOD
ON THE FLOOR IN THE KITCHEN,

THE POLICE LAUNCHED
A SEARCH FOR DIANE.

THEY BROUGHT IN DOGS
AND FANNED OUT

THROUGHOUT THE NEIGHBORHOOD
SEARCHING FOR HER

AND POTENTIALLY HER BODY.

EVERYONE HAD A FEELING

THAT SOMETHING BAD
HAPPENED TO DIANE.

DETECTIVES COME UP
EMPTY HANDED.

THERE'S NO TRACE OF DIANE
IN THE HAMPTONS

OR A SECRET BOYFRIEND.

WHERE COULD SHE BE?

DETECTIVE GLYNN DISCOVERS
ONE POSSIBILITY.

IT TURNS OUT JOE
HAS ANOTHER PLACE

HE RENTS IN MANHATTAN
TO ENTERTAIN.

NOT FAR FROM WHERE HE WORKED,

SOMETHING HE COULD WALK TO
FROM HIS OFFICE.

THAT MIGHT BE SOMEWHERE
THEY COULD LOOK FOR HER,

THAT AFTER THEIR ARGUMENT,

THAT'S SOMEWHERE
THAT SHE MAY HAVE GONE.

DETECTIVES SEARCH
JOE'S APARTMENT.

THERE'S NO SIGN OF DIANE,

BUT THEY STUMBLE
ONTO A FIND.

IT WAS ALL WOMEN'S
CLOTHING IN THERE

AND IT WAS LARGE CLOTHES,

SO WE KNEW
IT WASN'T DIANE'S CLOTHING.

AND THAT'S NOT ALL.

THERE WAS SEX TOYS,
ALL SORTS OF PARAPHERNALIA,

SOMETHING THAT WAS
SO BEYOND THE PALE.

THERE WAS THIS
WHOLE OTHER LIFE,

THIS WHOLE OTHER WORLD.

IT APPEARS DIANE
ISN'T THE ONLY ONE

WITH A SECRET LIFE.

IT LOOKS LIKE JOE
HAS A MISTRESS.

WHAT WAS GOING ON
ON WALL STREET,

WITH THE OLD BOYS CLUBS,
THEY LIKE TO KEEP SECRETS.

ON WALL STREET
IN THAT DAY AND AGE,

IT WAS GLITZ AND GLAM.

THERE WERE GIRLS ON THE SIDE.

THERE WAS GIRLS EVERYWHERE.

YOU CAN DO ANYTHING YOU WANT

AND YOU GO HOME
AND EVERYTHING'S OKAY.

IT SEEMS JOE ISN'T
TELLING POLICE THE FULL STORY.

LINGERIE FOUND IN HIS APARTMENT
MATCHES THE ITEMS

FOUND IN THE DUMPSTER
WITH DIANE'S WALLET.

DOES IT BELONG
TO JOE'S MISTRESS?

COULD SHE BE BEHIND
DIANE'S DISAPPEARANCE?

DETECTIVE GLYNN RETRACES
THE LAST PLACES DIANE WAS SEEN,

STARTING WITH HER JOB
AT HARPER'S MAGAZINE.

HER COWORKER ANN HELPS PAINT
A CLEARER PICTURE

OF THE PIKULS'
TROUBLED MARRIAGE.

THEY HAD BEEN
FIGHTING A LOT

AND SHE WAS AT THE END
OF HER TETHER.

SHE HAD HIRED THE WEALTHIEST,

MOST FAMOUS DIVORCE LAWYER
IN THE CITY, RAOUL FELDER.

IT TURNS OUT MANY THINGS

WERE GOING WRONG
IN THE PIKULS' MARRIAGE.

THE THINGS THEY SAID
TO EACH OTHER WERE HORRIBLE.

THEY FOUGHT ABOUT
EVERYTHING, EVERYTHING.

IN FACT, JOE SECRETLY
RECORDED THEIR ARGUMENTS.

TODAY, ONLY THE TRANSCRIPTS
REMAIN.

JOE WAS ANGRY DIANE
TOOK A JOB

AND ACCUSED HER
OF NEGLECTING THE KIDS.

YOU'RE TRYING TO TURN
MY CHILDREN AGAINST ME.

YOU TELL THEM
I DON'T CARE ABOUT THEM.

I NEVER SAID THAT.

YES, YOU DID.

THEN DIANE FOUND SOMETHING
THAT TOOK THEIR PROBLEMS

TO A WHOLE NEW LEVEL.

WHILE TIDYING UP
SOME OF JOE'S STUFF,

SHE FOUND WOMEN'S LINGERIE
AMONGST HIS BELONGINGS.

IT WAS NICE,
VERY EXPENSIVE LINGERIE.

WHERE'D THIS COME FROM?
THIS IS NOT MY LINGERIE.

WHOSE LINGERIE IS THIS?

THIS WAS SHOCKING
TO HER AND CONFUSING

AND OF COURSE UPSETTING,

AND HER REACTION
WAS LIKELY ANGER.

AS A WIFE, ONE OF
THE MOST DEVASTATING THINGS

THAT CAN HAPPEN TO YOU
IS FINDING OUT

THAT YOUR HUSBAND
IS HAVING AN AFFAIR.

THIS ENDS MARRIAGES,
IT BREAKS UP FAMILIES,

AND THIS IS LIKELY
WHAT WAS GOING THROUGH

DIANE'S HEAD AT THAT TIME

AND IT MUST HAVE BEEN
COMPLETELY DEVASTATING FOR HER.

YOU'RE A LIAR, CHEATER.

DIANE WAS SO UPSET,
SHE EVEN MADE DEATH THREATS.

- I DON'T CARE IF I GO TO JAIL.
- I'LL KILL YOU IF I HAVE TO.

AS THE INFORMATION BUILDS,

SO DOES
DETECTIVE GLYNN'S CONCERN.

THEN, ABOUT 50 MILES NORTH
OF NEW YORK CITY,

TWO DAYS AFTER DIANE
WAS REPORTED MISSING...

SOME HIGHWAY CREWS WERE CLEANING
OUT DRAINAGE DITCHES

ALONG THE NEW YORK STATE THRUWAY
NEAR NEWBURGH

AND THEY CAME ACROSS
A OBJECT WRAPPED IN A TARP,

AND SOMETHING
VERY ODD ABOUT IT.

AND THEY GO DOWN AND INSPECT,

AND TO THEIR SURPRISE,
IT'S A BODY.

THE BODY OF DIANE PIKUL.

THERE WAS A GRIM DISCOVERY

BY A MAINTENANCE CREW
IN NEWBURGH TODAY.

FOR DAYS, HER FRIENDS HAVE BEEN
DESPERATE FOR NEWS ABOUT HER.

NOW THEY'RE SHATTERED BY IT.

IT WAS A NIGHTMARE.
IT WAS DEVASTATING.

ALL I KNOW IS THAT
I COULDN'T STOP CRYING.

I JUST COULDN'T STOP CRYING.

COULDN'T STOP.

AUTHORITIES
EXAMINE DIANE'S BODY.

HER WRISTS AND ANKLES
ARE BOUND IN CORD

AND THERE ARE MARKS
AROUND HER NECK.

DIANE PIKUL
HAD BEEN STRANGLED.

THAT WAS THE CAUSE OF DEATH.

SHE'S ALSO COVERED IN BRUISES
FROM A SEVERE BEATING.

THE MISSING-PERSONS CASE
OF DIANE PIKUL

JUST BECAME A HOMICIDE.

POLICE HAVE
BEEN INVESTIGATING

THE SUDDEN DISAPPEARANCE
OF DIANE PIKUL,

WHOSE TROUBLED MARRIAGE
WAS FILLED WITH SECRETS.

WITH THE DISCOVERY
OF HER BODY,

THE CASE HAS BEEN
RULED A HOMICIDE.

WHEN YOU LOOK
AT MOST HOMICIDES,

THE INITIAL SUSPECTS

ARE USUALLY THE PEOPLE
CLOSEST TO THE VICTIM.

LEARNING ABOUT
THE MARITAL DISCORD

THAT JOE PIKUL AND DIANE PIKUL
HAD STEERED THE INVESTIGATION

TOWARDS JOE PIKUL
AS A SUSPECT.

I THOUGHT JOE MIGHT HAVE
A HAND IN THIS.

JOE FOUGHT WITH DIANE,
WAS IN THE MIDST OF A DIVORCE,

AND HE WAS THE LAST PERSON
WHO SAW HER ALIVE.

THERE'S ENOUGH PROBABLE CAUSE
FOR DETECTIVES TO TAKE ACTION.

JOE IS ARRESTED
AND BROUGHT IN FOR QUESTIONING.

I'VE INTERROGATED A LOT OF
PEOPLE DURING MY CAREER, A LOT,

AND YOU GET TO BUILD
A BOND WITH THEM,

BECAUSE THAT'S THE ONLY WAY
YOU'RE GOING TO REALLY SOLICIT

ANY INFORMATION.

POLICE EXPLAIN HE'LL BE
PROCESSED ACCORDING TO ROUTINE.

BUT THERE'S A PROBLEM.

HE REFUSES TO
TAKE OFF HIS CLOTHES.

THIS WAS A NEW ONE FOR ME.

HE WAS TRYING TO TALK HIS WAY
OUT OF BEING STRIP SEARCHED.

JOE TRIED AND TRIED AND TRIED
TO GET OUT OF THAT STRIP SEARCH.

HE BEGGED, HE PLEADED.

THE POLICE INSIST.

"NO, NO, NO, YOU HAVE TO DO IT,

YOU HAVE TO DO IT,
YOU HAVE TO DO IT."

FINALLY...

HE TOOK HIS CLOTHES OFF,

AND WHAT WAS HE WEARING
UNDERNEATH HIS STREET CLOTHES?

JOE WAS A CROSS-DRESSER.

AND THEN HIS SECRET WAS OUT.

THE DISCOMFORT
IN THE ROOM WAS PALPABLE.

THE POLICE WERE
KIND OF SHOCKED,

CONFUSED, MAYBE EVEN
A LITTLE EMBARRASSED.

AND JOE WAS HUMILIATED.

BUT MORE IMPORTANT,

DETECTIVES WANT TO KNOW,
COULD JOE'S SECRET LIFE

HAVE SOMEHOW LED
TO DIANE'S MURDER?

AFTER MANY HOURS, THEY PRESSED
THE STOCKBROKER FOR DETAILS

AND HE FINALLY
BREAKS HIS SILENCE.

OVER A YEAR BEFORE HER MURDER,

DIANE HAD DISCOVERED
JOE'S SECRET.

DIANE FOUND LINGERIE
IN JOE'S OFFICE,

AND THAT'S NOT ALL.

WHAT SHE HAD WAS
THESE PICTURES

SHE FOUND OF HIM
IN WOMEN'S LINGERIE.

SHE LOOKED AT THOSE PHOTOS
AND SAW HER HUSBAND,

A PERSON WHO DRESSED
IN THREE-PIECE SUITS,

WAS ALWAYS IMMACULATELY DRESSED,

AND HERE WAS THIS GUY
WEARING THE DAINTIEST LINGERIE

YOU COULD GET.

IT WAS PRETTY SENSATIONAL.

YOU CAN PICTURE HIM WITH
A BROOKS BROTHERS SUIT ON

WITH LINGERIE UNDERNEATH.

AND THEN DIANE
FINDS THE VIDEOTAPES.

AND THE CONTENTS
OF THOSE TAPES WERE TAPES

THAT HE MADE OF HIMSELF
CROSS-DRESSING

IN HIS ALTER EGO OF CHLOE.

THERE IS HER HUSBAND
DANCING AROUND TO TINA TURNER

LIKE HE'S IN HIS OWN WORLD.

THESE PICTURES
REPRESENTED A HUGE BETRAYAL

IN THEIR MARRIAGE,
A SECRET THAT HER HUSBAND

HAD BEEN KEEPING FROM HER,

THAT HE DIDN'T TRUST
HER ENOUGH TO TELL HER.

IT MUST
HAVE BEEN TENSE,

AND HOW MUCH COULD DIANE

PRETEND THAT EVERYTHING
WAS NORMAL?

DIANE COULDN'T LIVE
WITH THESE SECRETS.

SHE COULD NOT LOOK HIM
IN THE FACE AND ACT NORMALLY,

SO SHE CONFRONTED HIM.

HOW COULD YOU DO THIS
TO THE MOTHER OF YOUR CHILDREN?

TOLD HIM THAT SHE KNEW
ABOUT THE LINGERIE,

SHE KNEW ABOUT THE VIDEOTAPE,
ABOUT HIS SECRET LIFE,

AND SHE SAID, "WHAT IS THIS?
WHAT'S GOING ON?"

JOE SAID HE HAD
THIS LIFESTYLE.

THERE WAS NO WAY
HE COULD REALLY,

REALLY CHANGE
TO WHAT SHE WANTED.

I AM MAD
AND I AM BROKEN-HEARTED

AND I TRIED AS HARD AS I COULD

AND YOU KNOW
IN YOUR HEART THAT I DID.

I DON'T BELIEVE YOU DID.

WELL, THAT IS TOO BAD.

AND THIS WAS
DEVASTATING TO JOE.

HIS LIFE WAS SORT OF
CRUMBLING AROUND HIM.

IN THE 1980s,
MEN WHO WORK

IN HIGH-POWER FINANCE
DON'T DRESS IN WOMEN'S CLOTHES.

THE IDEA OF A TOP FINANCIER

WEARING WOMEN'S CLOTHING
AND DANCING AROUND

TO TINA TURNER,
IT COULD RUIN HIM.

JOE IS VULNERABLE
AND DIANE SEIZES ON THAT.

SHE WANTS A DIVORCE.

I DON'T WANT ANYTHING
TO DO WITH YOU.

I'M GOING TO HANG YOU
IF YOU DON'T COOPERATE.

WHAT WERE PREVIOUSLY
ANGRY ARGUMENTS AND TIRADES

NOW BECAME VICIOUS,
CALLING HIM

ABSOLUTELY HORRIFIC NAMES

AND REALLY ATTACKING HIM
IN EVERY SENSE OF THE WORD.

SHE CAME AT HIM SAYING,
"I THINK YOU'RE GAY.

I THINK YOU'RE,
YOU KNOW, YOU HAVE AIDS."

- I PROBABLY HAVE THE AIDS VIRUS.
- I'M TOO SCARED TO GET A TEST.

I'M SURE I DO.

YOU DO TOO.

WHY?

WHY? BECAUSE YOU HAD
A HOMOSEXUAL ENCOUNTER.

THAT IS, OF COURSE,
RIDICULOUS,

AND YOU KNOW IT IS.

JOE NEVER
DOES SAY IF HE'S GAY,

BUT DIANE IS AFRAID

AND SHE KNOWS EXACTLY
WHAT SHE'S ACCUSING HIM OF.

AIDS WAS AT THAT POINT

STILL CONSIDERED
A "HOMOSEXUAL DISEASE"

AND WAS RUNNING RAMPANT THROUGH
THE GAY COMMUNITIES.

BECAUSE OF THE POPULATION
THAT IT IS AFFECTING,

THERE WAS A LARGE STIGMA
ATTACHED TO IT.

IT WAS SEEN
AS DIRTY AND SHAMEFUL.

DIANE DELIVERS A CRUSHING BLOW
WITH AN ULTIMATUM.

I DON'T WANT YOU SPENDING
SO MUCH TIME WITH THE CHILDREN.

I THINK YOU'RE A VERY BAD
INFLUENCE ON THEM.

SHE WANTS FULL CUSTODY
OF THEIR CHILDREN

OR SHE'LL REVEAL
HIS SECRET TO THE WORLD.

SHE WAS GOING TO EXPOSE HIM,

THE GREAT BIG
WALL STREET WONDER,

AND TAKE HIS CHILDREN
AWAY FROM HIM.

OF COURSE HE WAS THREATENED.

IT JUST WOULD BE
DEVASTATING FOR HIM.

THE MOST VALUABLE ASSET
IN JOE AND DIANE'S MARRIAGE

WAS THEIR CHILDREN,
AND JOE WANTED TO MAKE SURE

THAT HE GOT CUSTODY OF THEM.

JOE AND DIANE'S
BITTER CONFLICT

COMES TO A HEAD ON
THE NIGHT OF OCTOBER 24th.

BACK IN THE INTERROGATION ROOM,
POLICE FIND

THERE'S ONE MORE THING JOE
HASN'T TALKED ABOUT --

A LONG SCRATCH ON HIS SIDE.

NOW JOE CAN AT LAST
REVEAL THE TRUTH

ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED THAT NIGHT.

JOE PIKUL IS UNDER ARREST

FOR THE MURDER
OF HIS WIFE, DIANE.

HE HAS REVEALED TO
AUTHORITIES HIS SECRET LIFE

AND HIS DISINTEGRATING MARRIAGE.

AND NOW HE'S GOT ONE MORE
SHOCKING PIECE OF INFORMATION

TO SHARE WITH THEM.

HE KILLED DIANE.

HE MURDERED HIS WIFE.

BUT ACCORDING TO JOE,
HE HAD NO CHOICE.

JOE WAS CLAIMING
SELF DEFENSE.

HE SHOWS POLICE A SCAR
THAT BEARS OUT

WHAT HE SAYS WENT DOWN
THE NIGHT HE KILLED DIANE.

AROUND 1:00 A. M., SHE ARRIVES
AT THEIR HAMPTONS HOME.

THE KIDS ARE ASLEEP BUT JOE
IS WAITING UP FOR HER,

AND LATE AS SHE IS, HE'S UPSET.

THE TWO LAUNCH INTO A FIERCE
SCREAMING MATCH

THAT ONLY ESCALATES.

HE GIVES A STATEMENT THAT
AT SOME POINT IN TIME,

DIANE GETS ANGRY WITH HIM
AND GRABS THIS BIG KITCHEN KNIFE

AND COMES AFTER HIM.

HE TRIES TO DEFEND HIMSELF,
HE GETS SLICED ON HIS BODY,

THE STOMACH AREA
OR SIDE AREA.

HE SAID THAT HE TRIED
TO PUSH HER BACK.

SHE CAME AT HIM.

IN HER PROCESS
OF TAKING THE KNIFE,

HE PUT HIS HAND ON HER THROAT
AND CHOKED HER.

DURING THE COURSE
OF DEFENDING HIMSELF,

HE ACCIDENTLY KILLS DIANE.

IT'S A STUNNING STORY,

ENOUGH TO CHARGE JOE
WITH SECOND-DEGREE MURDER.

I WAS A STAFF REPORTER
AT THE NEW YORK POST.

I BECAME INVOLVED
WHEN THIS CASE BROKE.

IT HAD WALL STREET,
IT HAD THE HAMPTONS,

IT HAD CROSS-DRESSING,
IT HAD SEXUAL PECCADILLOS.

EVERYTHING THAT MADE
A GREAT TABLOID STORY, IT HAD,

SO IT EXPLODED
INTO A HUGE STORY.

JOE HIRES RENOWNED
DEFENSE ATTORNEY RON BEKOFF.

ONE OF HIS CIVIL LAWYERS
FROM MANHATTAN,

HE HAD BUSINESS INTEREST,
SENT HIM TO ME.

HE JUST SAID,
"I KNOW SOMEONE WHO WAS

A WELL-TO-DO STOCK BROKER

WHO'S GOING TO PROBABLY
HAVE A CRIMINAL PROBLEM.

I'D LIKE YOU TO TALK TO HIM,"
AND I DID.

THAT SAME MONTH,

BEKOFF GETS PIKUL
RELEASED ON BAIL

AND BACK LIVING
WITH HIS CHILDREN.

JOE BELIEVES HIS DEFENSE
WILL PREVAIL.

PROSECUTOR ALAN JOSEPH
HAS HIS WORK CUT OUT FOR HIM.

I WAS THE CHIEF ASSISTANT
DISTRICT ATTORNEY

PROSECUTING JOSEPH PIKUL.

IT WAS PROBABLY THE MOST
NOTORIOUS CASE THAT I HAD.

THE FIRST TIME I MET JOE PIKUL,
HE SEEMED TO BE

A VERY CONFIDENT,
COCKY INDIVIDUAL.

HE PROBABLY THOUGHT
THAT WE DIDN'T KNOW

WHAT WE WERE DOING AND...

NOTHING WAS GOING TO STICK.

JOE PIKUL'S
MURDER TRIAL BEGINS.

JOSEPH PIKUL IS
THE HOTSHOT WALL STREET ANALYST

WHO DRESSED OCCASIONALLY
LIKE A WOMAN

AND IS ACCUSED
OF MURDERING HIS WIFE

IN THEIR AMAGANSETT,
LONG ISLAND, HOME.

IN COURT,
BEKOFF MOUNTS HIS DEFENSE.

HE CLAIMS IT'S NOT JOE'S
LIFESTYLE THAT'S ON TRIAL.

HE HAD TO TAKE DIANE'S LIFE
TO PROTECT HIS OWN.

IN THAT DUMPSTER,
THEY FOUND A BIG KNIFE,

SO WE OFFERED
IN EVIDENCE THAT -- "WELL,

THAT'S THE KNIFE JOE
TOOK AWAY FROM HER.

THAT'S THE KNIFE
SHE CAME AT JOE WITH."

BUT THE PROSECUTION'S CASE
AGAINST JOE IS COMPELLING

BECAUSE OF WHAT HE DID
WITH HIS WIFE'S BODY

AFTER HE KILLED HER.

IT'S A CLOUDLESS MORNING WHEN
JOE LEAVES HIS HAMPTONS HOME

WITH HIS TWO YOUNG
CHILDREN IN TOW.

HE'S DROPPING THEM OFF
WITH AN OLD COLLEGE FRIEND

BECAUSE HE'S GOT
AN IMPORTANT TASK TO ATTEND TO.

AT THE TIME THAT IT OCCURRED,
I DON'T BELIEVE THAT

THE KIDS HAD ANY IDEA
WHAT WAS GOING ON.

IN THE BACK OF THE PIKULS'
'87 STATION WAGON

IS THEIR DEAD MOTHER, DIANE.

JOE STOPS AT THE LOCAL
HARDWARE STORE,

WHERE HE BUYS TARPS,
ROPE,

AND OTHER SUPPLIES
TO WRAP THE BODY.

HE ALSO NEEDS ICE.

LOTS OF IT.

JOE PIKUL
BOUGHT 'EM OUT OF ICE.

I MEAN, HE BOUGHT LIKE
EVERY BAG OF ICE THE GUY HAD.

WE ASSUME THAT WAS TO KEEP
THE BODY FROM DECOMPOSING

WHILE HE WAS TRYING TO
FIGURE OUT WHAT TO DO WITH IT.

SO HE DUMPS THE KIDS
WITH HIS COLLEGE BUDDY

AND THEN HE HEADS UP
TO MASSACHUSETTS.

PROBABLY WHAT WENT
THROUGH HIS MIND

IS THE FURTHER AWAY
FROM NEW YORK HE GETS,

THE BETTER CHANCE HE HAS
OF GETTING AWAY WITH THIS.

JOE DRIVES ON FOR MILES
IN A DAZE OF INDECISION.

DIDN'T KNOW WHAT TO DO
WITH THE BODY.

THEN,
IN NEWBURGH, NEW YORK,

TWO DAYS AFTER
HE MURDERED DIANE...

HE DUMPS THE BODY
AT THE LAST MINUTE

OFF OF THE THRUWAY BECAUSE HE'S
OUT OF OPTIONS AT THIS POINT.

HE'S GOT TO PICK THE KIDS UP
AND GET BACK TO THE CITY.

JOE GETS THE KIDS
AND DRIVES TO A CAR WASH

TO GET HIS STATION WAGON
SCRUBBED DOWN,

INSIDE AND OUT.

HE THROWS OUT DIANE'S PURSE
AND SOME WOMEN'S CLOTHES --

HIS OWN.

TURNS OUT THAT THE CLOTHING
WAS REALLY JOE PIKUL'S

WOMEN'S CLOTHING, NOT DIANE'S.

HE ALSO GETS RID
OF THAT KNIFE.

FOR THE PROSECUTION,
JOE'S ELABORATE BEHAVIOR

SEEMS EASY ENOUGH TO EXPLAIN.

YOU DON'T ACCIDENTLY
STRANGLE SOMEBODY.

YOU DON'T GO TO THE LENGTHS
THAT HE WENT TO

AND THEN GO ON YOUR LIFE
AS IF NOTHING HAPPENED.

YOU DON'T DO THAT IF YOU
ACCIDENTLY KILL SOMEBODY.

THIS ALLEGED SELF-DEFENSE,
BORN, I SUBMIT,

IN AN ATTEMPT TO TAILOR
THE FACTS TO SUPPORT A VERSION

THAT MIGHT AID HIM
IN BEATING THE RAP.

EVERYTHING THAT WE HAD
BASICALLY POINTED

TOWARDS JOE PIKUL MURDERING,

NOT ACCIDENTLY KILLING,
DIANE PIKUL.

DIANE CONFRONTING JOE PIKUL
WITH THE DIVORCE...

I'M SURE MADE JOE SNAP
TO A CERTAIN DEGREE.

HE JUST WANTED DIANE
OUT OF HIS LIFE.

BY MURDERING DIANE,

JOE PIKUL WOULD
HAVE HIS KIDS,

HIS MONEY WOULD BE
KEPT WITH HIM,

HE WOULDN'T BE SPLITTING IT
WITH ANYBODY ELSE,

AND NO ONE WOULD BE ANY WISER.

IT WAS ALMOST LIKE
AN ATOMIC BOMB

DROPPING ON THIS FAMILY.

JOE'S SECRETS,
THEIR FIGHTS,

THE BLACK MONDAY,
THE SALE OF THE HOUSE.

DURING THE TRIAL,

A MEDICAL EXAMINER
TAKES THE STAND

AND TESTIFIES THAT
THE KNIFE WOUNDS

ON JOE'S SIDE WERE LIKELY
SELF-INFLICTED.

AFTER A DAY OF DELIBERATION,
THE JURY REACHES A VERDICT --

GUILTY OF SECOND-DEGREE MURDER.

BEFORE HE'S SENTENCED,

JOE BECOMES ILL
AND IS DIAGNOSED WITH AIDS.

JOE NEVER CAME OUT
TO ANYONE AS GAY.

HIS WIFE CERTAINLY
SUSPECTED THAT HE WAS,

SO IT'S QUITE POSSIBLE
THAT HE WAS HAVING

HOMOSEXUAL AFFAIRS
WHILE MARRIED TO HIS WIFE.

SHORTLY AFTER, HE DIES.

IN THE END,
THE ULTIMATE VICTIMS

WERE JOE AND DIANE'S CHILDREN,
CLAUDIA AND BLAKE.

DIANE'S COUSIN ADOPTED
AND RAISED THEM.

JOE AND DIANE PIKUL LIVED LARGE,
BUT IN PRIVATE, THEY STRUGGLED.

YOU'RE DEALING
WITH HIGH-POWERED,

VERY WEALTHY,
RESPECTED PEOPLE

WHOSE MARRIAGE JUST CRUMBLED,

AND IT UNFORTUNATELY
LED TO MURDER.

WHY DID JOE MURDER DIANE?

THAT'S SOMETHING I DON'T KNOW
IF ANYONE WILL EVER TRULY KNOW

WHAT WAS GOING THROUGH HIS MIND.

THERE'S NO QUESTION JOE
WAS A TORTURED SOUL.