The 1980s: The Deadliest Decade (2016–2017): Season 1, Episode 6 - The Real Fatal Attraction - full transcript

WHEN THE POLICE ARRIVED,

THEY HAD TO FORCE THEMSELVES
INTO THE LOBBY-LEVEL DOORS.

OFFICE ROMANCES CAN CREATE
A TRAIN WRECK.

POLICE WERE CALLED
TO A SHOCKING SCENE

AT 1111 GRAND BOULEVARD.

THIS HOMICIDE WAS UNIQUE.

EXTREME SEXUAL BEHAVIOR.

THEY WERE KIND OF
PLAYING WITH FIRE.

SHE SAYS, "I CAN'T CARRY ON
THIS RELATIONSHIP."

WHAT'S THE SHOTGUN
DOING IN THE OFFICE?

INCREDIBLY UNBELIEVABLE
PATHOLOGICAL EVIL.



THIS WAS A VERY PERSONAL,
CALCULATED CRIME.

THE VICTIM NEVER SAW IT COMING.

JUST SAY NO.

THEY DON'T UNDERSTAND

THAT THERE IS SOMETHING
HISTORIC HAPPENING.

AND WE'RE ALL PART OF IT.

FOR AMERICAN WOMEN,

THE 1980s IS THE GREAT AGE
OF EQUAL OPPORTUNITY.

AMERICAN WOMEN HAVE GAINED
THEIR SELF-CONFIDENCE

THE OLD-FASHIONED WAY --
THEY'VE EARNED IT.

BIG HAIR, BIG SHOULDER PADS,

BIG MAKEUP,
AND BIG AMBITION FOR WOMEN.

PLUCKY TESS McGILL BECOMES

THE AVATAR OF A NEW GENERATION
OF WORKING GIRLS.



I HAVE A HEAD FOR BUSINESS
AND A BOD FOR SIN.

WOMEN ARE LOOKING TO SHATTER
GLASS CEILINGS EVERYWHERE.

28-YEAR-OLD
LINDA CULBERTSON

IS READY TO TAKE A HAMMER
TO HER OWN GLASS CEILINGS.

SHE'S GETTING A FRESH START
AFTER A ROCKY PAST.

BACK IN HIGH SCHOOL,
SHE JOINED THE BUSINESS CLUB,

HOPING TO BE AN ENTREPRENEUR.

AT THE AGE OF 18,
PREGNANCY AND MARRIAGE

PUT THOSE AMBITIONS ON HOLD.

BUT LINDA WON'T BE STOPPED.

SHE JUGGLES MOTHERHOOD
AND HER OWN BUSINESS...

SHE WAS A SMART WOMAN.
SHE WAS HARDWORKING.

UNTIL A BAD ROMANCE
LEAVES HER LIFE IN RUINS.

SHE HAD BEEN MARRIED TO A MAN
WHO WAS IN PRISON FOR EXTORTION.

SHE AND HER CHILDREN
MOVED TO KANSAS CITY

TO LIVE WITH HER MOTHER.

TODAY,
LINDA'S STARTING A NEW JOB

AS A LEGAL SECRETARY

FOR A SMALL LAW FIRM
CALLED PIERCE & ASSOCIATES.

AFTER MONTHS OF ANSWERING
WANT ADS,

SHE'S HOPING THIS WILL BE

THE LIFE-CHANGING
OPPORTUNITY SHE NEEDS.

I'D ALREADY BEEN TURNED DOWN
BY SEVERAL OTHER LAW FIRMS

THAT...I WANTED THIS JOB.

LINDA, I DON'T THINK
SHE HAD A COLLEGE EDUCATION.

AT FIRST, SHE WAS
MAKING $11,000 A YEAR,

SO IT WOULD HAVE BEEN
REALLY GOOD FOR HER.

DON PIERCE, HER NEW BOSS,
HAS HIGH EXPECTATIONS.

THAT'S WHAT'S MADE HIM
SUCH A SUCCESS.

DON WAS INCREDIBLY HARDWORKING,
ALMOST TO A FAULT.

HE WAS AN EAGLE SCOUT.
HE WAS HOMECOMING KING.

HE WAS PRESIDENT
OF HIS FRATERNITY IN COLLEGE.

HE EVENTUALLY BECAME A LAWYER
AND STARTED HIS OWN FIRM.

DON WAS, IN MANY WAYS,
YOUR AMERICAN DREAM.

DON BUILDS HIS FIRM
WITH A WIDE RANGE OF CLIENTS.

HE DID TRIAL WORK.
HE DID WILLS AND TRUSTS.

HE DID DIVORCES.

HE DID CRIMINAL WORK
AS A DEFENSE ATTORNEY.

HE WAS A GOOD LAWYER.
HE WAS WELL-LIKED, WORKED HARD.

IN HER FIRST WEEK,

LINDA LEARNS THAT DON
HAS TWO LOVES --

THE LAW FIRM HE STARTED...
AND HIS WIFE,

AN EQUALLY AMBITIOUS
BUSINESSWOMAN NAMED KATHERINE.

SHE WAS AN EXECUTIVE
WITH SPRINT.

SO THEY WERE BOTH VERY BUSY,
HARDWORKING INDIVIDUALS.

THEY WERE VERY CLOSE
TO EACH OTHER.

THEY DIDN'T HAVE ANY CHILDREN.

THEY TRAVELED EXTENSIVELY,
REALLY ENJOYED TRAVEL.

THEY WERE VERY COMMITTED
TO BOTH OF THEIR JOBS.

NO PROBLEMS, NO ARGUMENTS.

IT WAS JUST A GOOD,
SOLID MARRIAGE.

KATHERINE, IN MANY WAYS,
WOULD HAVE BEEN A ROLE MODEL

FOR SOMEONE LIKE LINDA.

LINDA IS DETERMINED TO MAKE
HERSELF INTO A SUCCESS.

PIERCE & ASSOCIATES.

LINDA ALMOST IMMEDIATELY
THREW HERSELF

COMPLETELY INTO HER WORK.

IT WAS A VERY BUSY OFFICE.
SHE ANSWERED THE PHONES.

SHE DID ALL OF
THE WORD PROCESSING.

DON WORKED LONG HOURS.
SHE WORKED EVEN LONGER HOURS.

AND IF HE WORKED HARD,
SHE WORKED HARDER.

HE WAS A TASKMASTER AT WORK.

BUT LINDA RISES
TO THE CHALLENGE.

SHE WAS ALWAYS THERE
WHEN I GOT THERE IN THE MORNING.

SHE WAS ALWAYS THERE WHEN
I LEFT AT NIGHT.

AND AS THE LONG NIGHTS
OF WORK ADD UP

TO MONTHS AND YEARS,
DON AND LINDA GROW CLOSE.

THEY HAD
A VERY STRONG RELATIONSHIP.

SHE THOUGHT THE WORLD OF HIM
AND WOULD DO ANYTHING FOR HIM.

THE LONGER LINDA WORKED FOR DON,

THE MORE AND MORE TIME
THEY SPENT TOGETHER.

LINDA WAS WHAT WOULD BE
CALLED HIS "OFFICE WIFE."

SHE SORT OF SERVED HIM AS BEST
SHE COULD IN THE WORKPLACE.

DON HELPS LINDA, AS WELL,

FILING THE LEGAL PAPERS
FOR HER DIVORCE.

SHE'S FINALLY FREE.

LINDA HAS MADE HERSELF
DOWNRIGHT INDISPENSABLE.

SHE'S GONE FROM BEING
A SECRETARY TO OFFICE MANAGER.

SHE WAS A GOOD ONE
BECAUSE HE KEPT HER ON

AND KEPT GIVING HER RAISES.

BACK THEN,
$40,000 WOULD BE GOOD PAY.

THE SINGLE MOM
CAN FINALLY AFFORD

TO TAKE CARE OF HER FAMILY
AND TREAT HERSELF.

SHE CAME INTO A SALON
THAT I WAS WORKING IN.

AND I WOULD DO HER HAIR
ONCE A WEEK.

SHE SEEMED TO BE
VERY HAPPY, JOYFUL.

SHE OPENS UP TO HILA

ABOUT HER STRONG FEELINGS
FOR HER BOSS.

SHE TOLD ME A LOT
OF THINGS ABOUT HIM.

SHE TOLD ME
THAT HE WAS A VERY SERIOUS,

VERY BUSY, IMPORTANT PERSON.

LINDA SHOWS OFF JEWELRY
THAT SHE SAYS DON GAVE HER

AND LETS HILA IN ON A SECRET.

SHE TOLD ME THAT
THEY WERE HAVING AN AFFAIR.

DON STARTED PUTTING
HIS HANDS ON MY SHOULDERS.

HE STARTED STROKING MY ARM.

AND I JUST KIND OF
LOOKED AT HIM.

I WENT AHEAD AND HAD SEX
WITH HIM THAT NIGHT.

LINDA TELLS HILA
THAT, YEARS LATER,

THE AFFAIR
IS STILL GOING STRONG.

HE WAS GONNA GET A DIVORCE.
HE WAS GOING TO MARRY ME.

HILA'S A GOOD LISTENER.

AND LINDA SOON HAS A CHANCE
TO HELP HER FRIEND.

I BECAME PREGNANT

AND EVENTUALLY HAD COMPLICATIONS
WITH MY PREGNANCY

WHERE I COULDN'T STAND
ON MY FEET AND DO HAIR.

SO SHE OFFERED ME A JOB.

NOW HILA
HAS A FRONT-ROW SEAT

FOR LINDA'S OFFICE ROMANCE.

THERE WERE FLOWERS
SENT TO THE OFFICE.

AND SHE SAID THEY WERE FROM DON.

THEY SPENT THEIR LUNCH HOURS

TOGETHER EVERY DAY
BEHIND CLOSED DOORS.

HILA IS HAPPY FOR HER FRIEND.

AFTER YEARS OF STRUGGLING
AND A BROKEN MARRIAGE,

LINDA FINALLY
SEEMS TO HAVE A GOOD JOB

AND A MAN WHO APPRECIATES HER.

BUT NOT EVERYONE
APPRECIATES DON PIERCE.

Don, it's Linda.

You need to get in here.

HIS OFFICE HAD BEEN VANDALIZED.

THERE WAS RED
SPRAY PAINT EVERYWHERE.

A VICIOUS MESSAGE
STAINS HIS CURTAINS.

THIS WAS
A VERY PERSONAL ATTACK.

THEY WENT AFTER PICTURES
OF HIM AND HIS WIFE.

THEY WENT AFTER HIS CREDENTIALS.

THIS WAS SOMEONE
FILLED WITH RAGE

SPECIFICALLY AGAINST DON.

UNABLE TO IMAGINE
WHO WOULD HAVE DONE THIS,

DON CALLS THE POLICE.

BUT WITHOUT FINGERPRINTS
OR WITNESSES,

THE INVESTIGATION LEADS NOWHERE.

TO KEEP DON UPBEAT,
LINDA WORKS HARDER.

NIGHT AFTER NIGHT,
SHE STAYS IN THE OFFICE

TO FINISH HER WORK.

WHEN I WOULD
GET TO WORK EARLY,

SHE WOULD STILL HAVE
HER HAIR UP IN THE ROLLERS

LIKE YOU WOULD
IF YOU WERE AT HOME.

THEY'D BUILT A SHOWER
THERE IN THE OFFICE.

AND THE COUCH FOLDED
OUT FOR HER TO SLEEP.

SHE DIDN'T EVEN GET TO GO HOME
TO SEE HER CHILDREN.

BUT THERE IS AN UPSIDE.

I KNEW IF I PERFORMED
AND DID EVERYTHING

THAT HE HAD ME DO

THAT HE'D GIVE ME ANYTHING
THAT I ASKED FOR,

REGARDLESS OF WHETHER IT WAS
EXPENSIVE JEWELRY, CASH MONEY.

IT DIDN'T MATTER, YOU KNOW?
AND I DID IT.

BUT LINDA'S NOT THE ONLY ONE
WHO WANTS DON'S ATTENTION.

HIS WIFE, KATHERINE, DOES TOO.

SHE DECIDES IT'S TIME
TO WHISK HIM AWAY

ON A CARIBBEAN VACATION.

LINDA LIKELY HAD MIXED EMOTIONS

ABOUT DON GOING ON VACATION
WITH HIS WIFE.

SHE LIKELY WAS JEALOUS.

HOWEVER,
SHE ALSO LIKELY FELT PROUD.

HE TRUSTED HER
TO KEEP THE OFFICE

RUNNING WHILE HE WAS GONE.

TRUE TO FORM,

LINDA STAYS LATE WORKING
IN THE OFFICE ALL ALONE.

OR SO SHE THINKS.

THE VERY NIGHT THAT DON LEFT
FOR VACATION...

...SHE SAID SHE BEGAN
RECEIVING PHONE CALLS.

PIERCE & ASSOCIATES.

WHEN SHE WOULD ANSWER
THE PHONE...

HELLO?

...THERE WOULD BE NOBODY
ON THE OTHER LINE.

HELLO?

AND SHE WOULD HANG UP.

THIS CONTINUED TO HAPPEN OVER
THE COURSE OF SEVERAL MINUTES.

PIERCE & ASSOCIATES,
CAN I HELP YOU?

ARE YOU THERE?

LINDA EVENTUALLY JUST
STOPPED ANSWERING THE PHONE.

ABOUT 20 MINUTES LATER,
SHE HEARD A LOUD NOISE.

IT WAS SOMEONE ACTUALLY
BREAKING INTO THE OFFICE.

LINDA CULBERTSON,
THE OFFICE MANAGER

AT PIERCE & ASSOCIATES,
IS ALWAYS LAST TO LEAVE

AND FIRST TO ARRIVE.

BUT ON THE MORNING
OF OCTOBER 19th,

THE FIRST ATTORNEY
TO SHOW UP AT WORK

FINDS A TERRIFYING SIGHT.

THE OFFICE HAS BEEN TRASHED.

AND LINDA IS NOWHERE
TO BE FOUND.

THE ATTORNEY PROCEEDED
THROUGH THE OFFICE...

...AND WENT IN AND OPENED
ONE OF THE CLOSET DOORS...

...AND FOUND LINDA IN A REALLY,
REALLY DISTURBING STATE.

SHE SAID THE OFFICE
HAD BEEN BROKE INTO,

THAT THEY KICKED THE DOOR
IN TO THE OFFICE.

SHE SAID THAT SHE WAS THERE
WHEN IT HAPPENED,

THAT THEY STOLE
ALL THE OFFICE EQUIPMENT.

SHE HAD HID IN A CLOSET THERE
FOR HOURS AND DIDN'T COME OUT.

SHE WAS SCARED.

SHE HAD URINATED
AND DEFECATED

BECAUSE SHE'D BEEN
IN THERE SO LONG.

LINDA CALLS THE POLICE,

REMINDING THEM THAT THIS
IS NOT THE FIRST TIME

SHE'S CALLED ABOUT A BREAK-IN.

DON HANDLES DIVORCE
AND CRIMINAL CASES.

UNFORTUNATELY,
LAWYERS MAKE ENEMIES.

LINDA TELLS THE DETECTIVE
SHE THINKS THE OFFICE

COULD HAVE BEEN TRASHED
BY AN ADVERSARY.

THERE'S TWO SIDES
TO EVERY COURT CASE.

SO THERE'S ALWAYS A SIDE
THAT'S GONNA BE AGAINST YOU.

IT MADE A LOT MORE SENSE,

RATHER THAN SAM SAUSAGE
WALKING DOWN THE STREET,

DECIDING TO BREAK
INTO A LAW OFFICE.

OR COULD LINDA
HAVE BEEN THE REAL TARGET?

AFTER ALL, DON WASN'T THERE.

HIS WIFE, KATHERINE,
HAD WHISKED HIM AWAY

BEFORE THE CRIME OCCURRED.

FOR NOW, THE POLICE ARE STUMPED.

THERE'S NO PHYSICAL EVIDENCE.
THERE ARE NO WITNESSES.

AND, OF COURSE, BACK THEN,

VIDEO-SURVEILLANCE EQUIPMENT
WAS VERY RARE.

IF THEY DON'T HAVE
ANY VIABLE SUSPECTS,

THE BURGLARY DETECTIVES
JUST MOVE ON.

THEY'RE NOT GONNA
SPEND THEIR TIME

SPINNING THEIR WHEELS.

IF LINDA IS HOPING
THAT THE BURGLARY

WILL SPARK A TENDER REUNION
WITH DON, SHE'S DISAPPOINTED.

WELL, HE WAS ON VACATION

AND HAD TO COME ALL THE WAY
BACK FROM THE VIRGIN ISLANDS

BECAUSE OF THE BREAK-IN.

WHEN HE RETURNS,
DON BURIES HIMSELF IN WORK.

THIS WAS LIKELY AN ATTEMPT
TO SWEEP THE FEAR UNDER THE RUG

AND TRY TO CONTINUE
BUSINESS AS USUAL.

BUT FOR LINDA,
IT'S NOT BUSINESS AS USUAL.

DON'S DEMANDS
BECOME OVERWHELMING.

SHE CAN'T KEEP UP.

I DID EVERYTHING FOR HIM.

I PERFORMED ALL THE DUTIES
THAT HE WANTED ME TO DO.

I TOOK HIS LAUNDRY
TO THE CLEANERS.

IT WAS LIKE I WAS HIS WIFE.

AND I WAS TO STAY THERE
DAY AND NIGHT,

BE THERE WHEN HE NEEDED ME.

BY THAT POINT, LINDA WAS PRETTY
MUCH LIVING AT THE OFFICE.

SHE WAS SLEEPING THERE
EVERY NIGHT.

BUT IT'S NEVER ENOUGH.

SHE WOULD TELL ME
THAT HE WOULD BE AGGRAVATED

ABOUT THINGS NOT
GETTING DONE FAST ENOUGH

OR THAT SHE COULDN'T EVER
DO ANYTHING TO PLEASE HIM.

I RELY ON YOU
TO DO THESE THINGS!

NOW I CAN'T RELY ON YOU
ONE SINGLE LITTLE BIT!

I'M SORRY!

THEN LINDA TELLS HILA

THE STRESS HAS PUSHED DON
OVER THE EDGE.

HE'S STARTED ABUSING HER.

SHE SHOWED ME BRUISES
ON HER ARMS

AND TOLD ME THAT HE HAD
BEEN VIOLENT WITH HER.

DESPITE IT ALL,
LINDA WON'T LEAVE DON.

THOUGH LINDA WAS WORKING
INCREDIBLY LONG HOURS,

SHE WAS BEING FINANCIALLY
REWARDED FOR THOSE HOURS.

THE THOUGHT OF LEAVING

AND HAVING TO SUPPORT
HER CHILDREN AGAIN

WITHOUT AN INCOME
WAS LIKELY FRIGHTENING.

SHE FELT SHE HAD
A LOYALTY TO HIM

BECAUSE HE DID HELP HER
GET DIVORCED

WHEN SHE FIRST CAME
TO KANSAS CITY,

AND THAT SHE LOVED HIM.

IN FEBRUARY OF '89,

THE KANSAS CITY STAR DOCUMENTS
HOW A RISING CRIME RATE

IS PROVOKING AN INCREASING
NUMBER OF LOCAL WOMEN

TO TAKE UP ARMS.

INCLUDED IS THE TALE OF A WOMAN

TRAUMATIZED BY A RECENT BURGLARY
AT A LAW FIRM.

LINDA HAS DECIDED
TO TAKE MATTERS

INTO HER OWN HANDS.

SHE BUYS A SHOTGUN
AND TAKES SHOOTING LESSONS.

DON ALSO TAKES STEPS
TO PROTECT WHAT'S HIS.

HE MAKES THE LANDLORD
HIRE A SECURITY FIRM

TO PATROL THE HALLS.

DON WAS NOT ONLY CONCERNED
ABOUT HIS SAFETY.

BUT HE WAS CONCERNED
ABOUT LINDA'S SAFETY, AS WELL.

DESPITE, OR MAYBE
BECAUSE OF THESE PRECAUTIONS,

THE ATMOSPHERE
IN THE OFFICE HAS CHANGED.

THE OFFICE
WAS A WEIRD PLACE TO WORK

WITH ALL OF THIS STUFF GOING ON.

IT REALLY SEEMED LIKE THINGS

WERE SERIOUSLY HEADED
IN THE WRONG DIRECTION.

ROBERT LAING QUITS.

FEELING DISTANCED
FROM HER FORMER FRIEND,

SO DOES HILA.

I DON'T KNOW IF YOU'VE EVER BEEN
AROUND THOSE KIND OF PEOPLE

THAT MAKE YOU FEEL LIKE YOU HAD
TO WALK ON PINS AND NEEDLES.

WE DIDN'T TALK LIKE WE DID
WHEN I DID HER HAIR.

I ENDED UP LEAVING.

BUT IT'S NOT
JUST LONG-TERM EMPLOYEES

WHO NOTICE THE TENSION.

IN 1989, 21-YEAR-OLD
EVASON JACOBS BEGINS WORKING

FOR DANGUARD SECURITIES
AT 1111 GRAND BOULEVARD.

MY HOURS WAS FROM 5:00
IN THE EVENING

TO 1:00 IN THE MORNING.

THE BUILDING HAD
LIKE A GLOOM OVER IT,

LIKE A DARK CLOUD OR SOMETHING.

AND I HAD AN UNEASY
FEELING ABOUT IT,

BUT I STILL WORKED THERE.

HE OFTEN SEES AND HEARS
DON AND LINDA WORKING LATE.

A BOSS AND A COWORKER SHOULDN'T
ARGUE LIKE THEY ARGUED.

I'M SORRY!

HE'D SAY SOMETHING TO HER
AND SHE WOULD YELL BACK AT HIM

LIKE A
HUSBAND-AND-WIFE-TYPE THING.

VERY ODD.

BUT THAT WASN'T MY BUSINESS.

BUT IT'S BEEN HAPPENING
NOW FOR THE PAST TWO WEEKS!

ONE NIGHT AFTER DON LEAVES,

LINDA INVITES EVASON
TO TAKE A BREAK IN HER OFFICE.

...THAT SIMULATES
WEIGHTLESSNESS

FOR SHORT PERIODS OF TIME.

IT SOON TURNS
INTO A NIGHTLY ROUTINE.

SHE WOULD ASK ME,
"YOU WANT SOMETHING TO DRINK?

YOU WANT SOMETHING
TO EAT OR SOMETHING?"

AND, YOU KNOW, I'D COME IN,

TALK ABOUT TV SHOWS
OR WHATEVER THEY WATCHED.

THAT'S HOW WE MOSTLY
GOT ACQUAINTED.

IDLE CHITCHAT TURNS
TO LATE-NIGHT CONFESSIONALS.

THEY WOULD HAVE
LONG TALKS AND BEGAN

TO TELL EACH OTHER THINGS

THAT THEY LIKELY
DIDN'T TELL OTHER PEOPLE.

EVASON SHARES
THAT HE'S GOT A GIRLFRIEND

AND A NEWBORN AT HOME.

AND HE'S BARELY SCRAPING BY
ON HIS MINIMUM-WAGE SALARY.

LINDA OPENS UP
ABOUT HER LOVE/HATE

RELATIONSHIP WITH DON
AND HOW SHE FEELS TRAPPED.

SHE USED TO COMMENT

THAT HE WOULD GET MAD
AT HER FOR STUPID STUFF.

WHATEVER SHE DID,
HE WAS PISSED.

ONE NIGHT, LINDA BREAKS DOWN.

SHE STARTED TALKING THAT
HE WAS DOING ALL TYPE

OF STUFF TO HER, ABUSIVE STUFF.

LINDA SAYS SHE'S GOT A DREAM,

ONE DON WON'T LET HER PURSUE.

SHE WANTED TO GET HER
OWN LITTLE BUSINESS GOING ON.

I ASKED HER,
"WHY DON'T YOU JUST LEAVE?"

AND SHE SAID,
"HE'S TOO POSSESSIVE.

HE WON'T LET ME LEAVE."

BUT SOMETHING UNSPEAKABLE

WILL SOON SEPARATE
THE TWO FOREVER.

JUST AFTER 10:00 P. M.,
A PANICKY CALL COMES IN TO 911.

I WAS A SQUAD SERGEANT,
SUPERVISOR OF A HOMICIDE SQUAD.

THE DISPATCHER CALLED US.

THEY REQUESTED OFFICERS

RESPOND TO THIS
1111 GRAND BUILDING.

THE OFFICES
OF PIERCE & ASSOCIATES.

THE CALLER IS DESPERATE.

THE FIRST OFFICERS ON THE SCENE
ARE THERE WITHIN MINUTES.

POLICE FOUND A GRUESOME SIGHT.
THERE WAS GUNPOWDER IN THE AIR.

THERE WAS BLOOD IN THE HALLWAY.

AND THERE WAS A BODY
IN THE ELEVATOR.

PUT THE GUN DOWN!
PUT YOUR HANDS UP!

DOWN! PUT THE GUN DOWN!

AT THE LAW-FIRM OFFICES
OF PIERCE & ASSOCIATES,

KANSAS CITY POLICE RESPOND
TO AN URGENT 911 CALL.

THEY'RE SHOOTING GUNS!

I -- I CANNOT
UNDERSTAND YOU, MA'AM.

PLEASE HELP ME!
HELP ME, MA'AM! HELP ME!

MA'AM,
YOU'LL HAVE TO CALM DOWN.

WHEN THE POLICE ARRIVED,

THEY HAD TO FORCE THEMSELVES
INTO THE LOBBY-LEVEL DOORS.

AND THEY TOOK THE STAIRWAY
UP TO THE THIRD FLOOR.

DETECTIVE PETE EDLUND
IS IN CHARGE

OF THE HOMICIDE SQUAD
CALLED TO THE SCENE.

HE'S EXPECTING THE UNEXPECTED.

DOWNTOWN KANSAS CITY
IN THE EVENING,

AT THAT PERIOD OF TIME,
WAS RELATIVELY QUIET.

TO HAVE THIS SHOOTING
AT THAT TIME OF NIGHT

IN AN OFFICE BUILDING,
THAT WAS UNIQUE.

POLICE FOLLOW A TRAIL
OF BLOOD IN THE HALLWAY

TO A GRUESOME SIGHT
IN THE ELEVATOR.

IT'S DONALD PIERCE.

HE WAS DEAD.

APPARENTLY HAD BEEN SHOT
AT LEAST TWICE WITH A SHOTGUN.

MUST HAVE BEEN
A SHOCKING SIGHT FOR THE POLICE.

THE VICTIM HAD BEEN SHOT
IN THE RIGHT EYE,

UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL.

LINDA CULBERTSON
EMERGES. AND SHE'S ARMED.

PUT THE GUN DOWN!
PUT YOUR HANDS UP!

DOWN! PUT THE GUN DOWN!

SHE COMES OUT
CARRYING THIS SHOTGUN,

FRANTIC AND HYSTERICAL.

LINDA TELLS THEM
SHE'S THE ONE WHO CALLED 911

AND THEY QUICKLY DETERMINE
HER GUN HASN'T BEEN FIRED.

ONE OF THE OFFICERS
ESCORTED HER DOWNSTAIRS.

SHE BASICALLY WAS SO HYSTERICAL
THAT HE CARRIED HER DOWNSTAIRS.

THE POLICE FAN OUT
TO CHECK FOR MORE VICTIMS.

WE CALLED TWO SWAT TEAMS TO DO
A COMPLETE BUILDING SEARCH,

AND AS WELL AS SEARCHING
A BUILDING NEXT DOOR,

TO SEE IF ANYBODY ELSE
WAS IN THE BUILDINGS,

IF ANYBODY ELSE WAS HURT.

AND THAT'S WHEN OFFICERS
FIND THE SECURITY GUARD,

EVASON JACOBS, ON THE TOP FLOOR.

HE HAD BEEN TIED UP
WITH WIRE AND GAGGED

WITH A GAUZE AND A TIE.

HE SAYS THAT HE WAS
HIT FROM BEHIND.

HE COULDN'T IDENTIFY THE SUBJECT
WHO TIED HIM UP AND GAGGED HIM.

ALL I HEARD WAS GUNSHOTS.

AND THEN THE ALARMS WENT OFF.

AND ABOUT 20
OR 30 MINUTES LATER,

THAT'S WHEN THE POLICE
CAME IN AND EVERYTHING.

THE BUILDING SECURED,
DETECTIVE EDLUND'S TEAM

BEGINS TO RECONSTRUCT
THE CRIME SCENE.

THEY STUDY THE BLOODSTAINS
AND THE BULLET HOLES.

THE FIRST SHOT HIT HIM
IN THE CHEST AND ARM.

AND THE SECOND SHOT
HIT HIM IN THE KNEE.

AND SO HE'S COMPLETELY DISABLED.

IT WAS ALMOST AS IF SOMEONE

WAS HUNTING HIM
THROUGHOUT THE OFFICE

UNTIL THEY FINALLY CAUGHT HIM
AND KILLED HIM.

A TRAIL OF BLOOD SHOWS
THAT DON WAS ABLE TO CRAWL

INTO THE ELEVATOR,
WHERE THE FINAL SHOT WAS FIRED.

THE SHOTGUN WAS PUT
TO HIS EYE.

GUNSHOTS FIRED
FROM A CLOSE RANGE

TO THE VICTIM
ARE AN ACT OF RAGE AND ANGER.

SO THIS IS A VERY,
VERY PERSONAL CRIME.

PART OF THE HOMICIDE TEAM
IS DEPLOYED TO INFORM

KATHERINE PIERCE, DON'S WIFE,
OF HER HUSBAND'S DEATH.

THE NORMAL THING WHEN
SOMEBODY'S KILLED IS YOU START

LOOKING AT THE SPOUSE FIRST.

BUT THEY ALSO NEED HER HELP.

AFTER THE INITIAL
CRIME-SCENE INVESTIGATION,

WE HAD TO GET A CONSENT
TO SEARCH THE OFFICE

SIGNED BY MRS. PIERCE

BECAUSE MR. PIERCE
WAS NOT FOUND IN THE OFFICE.

HE WAS FOUND IN THE ELEVATOR
IN THE HALLWAY.

SHE WAS TRAUMATIZED BY THE FACT
THAT HER HUSBAND WAS KILLED.

BUT MRS. PIERCE GAVE US CONSENT.

DETECTIVE EDLUND AND HIS MEN
HEAD BACK TO THE STATION

TO QUESTION
THEIR TWO WITNESSES,

LINDA AND EVASON,
IF HE'S ABLE TO TALK.

JACOBS IS CHECKED OUT
AT THE HOSPITAL.

HE'S OKAY.

HE'S GOT A COUPLE
KNOTS ON HIS HEAD.

THEY BRING HIM DOWN
TO BE INTERVIEWED

AND TO BE GIVEN
A WRITTEN STATEMENT.

THEY SAID IF THEY HAD
MORE QUESTIONS FOR ME,

THEY'D LET ME GO HOME,
AND I WENT HOME.

AND, YOU KNOW...

WE DID THE SAME THING
WITH MS. CULBERTSON.

BROUGHT HER DOWN,
CALMED HER DOWN,

GOT HER SOMETHING TO DRINK.

AND SHE WAS GOING TO
GIVE A FORMAL STATEMENT.

LINDA TELLS EDLUND
SHE WAS IN THE OFFICE

WHEN DON LEFT
JUST AFTER 10:00 P. M.

HE WAS OUT IN THE HALLWAY.

SHE HEARD HER BOSS,
MR. PIERCE, YELL OUT.

AND THEN SHE HEARD A GUNSHOT.

HE WAS JUST BEGGING,
BEGGING FOR HELP.

AND I-I COULDN'T --
I COULDN'T HELP HIM.

I COULDN'T GO OUT THERE.
I WAS TOO AFRAID.

SO SHE WENT AND HID
BEHIND HER DESK IN THE OFFICE.

THEN SHE HEARD
ANOTHER GUNSHOT.

LINDA SAYS
THAT SHE MUSTERED THE COURAGE

TO GRAB THE SHOTGUN
SHE BOUGHT FOR PROTECTION.

BUT SHE WAS TOO
TERRIFIED TO USE IT.

SHE NEVER SAW THE KILLER.

BUT SHE HEARD
ONE IMPORTANT CLUE.

SHE SAYS SHE THEN
HEARD SOMEBODY

IN THE HALLWAY,
A MALE VOICE, SAYING,

"YOU'LL NEVER TAKE ME
TO COURT AGAIN."

WHAT SHE TOLD
THE POLICE WAS,

"SOME DISGRUNTLED CLIENT
KILLED HIM."

LINDA REMINDS THE POLICE

THAT DON HAD BEEN
A TARGET OF VANDALISM

AND BURGLARY BEFORE.

POLICE WERE LIKELY CONSIDERING
THAT DON HAD BEEN MURDERED

BY SOMEBODY WHO HAD BEEN
STALKING HIM FOR SEVERAL MONTHS.

HIS LAST CLIENT THAT DAY
WAS A WOMAN NAMED BRENDA TEMPLE.

SHE'S GETTING A DIVORCE.

LINDA SAYS BRENDA'S HUSBAND
HAS THREATENED DON.

IT'S A SOLID LEAD.

BUT WHILE LINDA'S
BEING INTERVIEWED,

POLICE SEARCHING THE LAW OFFICES

COME ACROSS A SURPRISE
THAT CHANGES EVERYTHING.

A SAWED-OFF SHOTGUN
THAT'S WRAPPED UP

IN PLASTIC ON A SHELF
IN THE OFFICE CLOSET.

POLICE SUSPECT
IT'S THE MURDER WEAPON.

BUT ACCORDING
TO LINDA'S STATEMENT,

SHE NEVER HEARD THE SHOOTER
ENTER THE OFFICE.

WHAT'S THE SHOTGUN,
SHOTGUN SHELLS, AMMO,

ALL THIS STUFF
DOING IN THE OFFICE

IF THIS IS SUPPOSED TO BE
A DISGRUNTLED CLIENT

THAT SHOT HIM OR AN INTRUDER?

WHEN INVESTIGATORS
LEARN OF THE DISCOVERY,

IT CHANGES THE MOOD
IN THE INTERROGATION ROOM.

WE WERE BEING INFORMED

OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
FROM THE CRIME SCENE.

SO WE WOULD THEN GO BACK
TO MS. CULBERTSON, SAY,

"YOU WERE SAYING YOU DIDN'T KNOW
ANYTHING ABOUT A SHOOTING.

YOU JUST HEARD THE GUNSHOT.

NOW WE FIND THE SHOTGUN
WRAPPED UP IN YOUR --

IN YOUR OFFICE ON A SHELF."

INVESTIGATORS THINK LINDA
IS HIDING SOMETHING,

AND SHE IS.

RELUCTANTLY, LINDA REVEALS

TROUBLING DETAILS OF
HER RELATIONSHIP WITH DON.

SHE EVENTUALLY
GOT AROUND TO SAYING

THAT HE WAS VERY DEMANDING,

BOTH FROM
A PROFESSIONAL STANDPOINT

AND THEN FROM AN AGGRESSIVE
SEXUAL STANDPOINT.

HE ABUSED HER SEXUALLY.

WE HAD TO MILK IT OUT OF HER
OVER A LONG PERIOD OF TIME.

AND THE MAN THINKS
AND THOUGHT HE OWNED ME

24 HOURS A DAY,
7 DAYS A WEEK.

I COULDN'T HAVE
A LIFE OF MY OWN.

THEN...

LINDA DROPS A BOMBSHELL.

LINDA NOW TELLS THE POLICE
THAT SHE KNOWS WHO KILLED DON.

DON PIERCE IS DEAD,
SHOT POINT-BLANK IN AN ELEVATOR.

UNDER PRESSURE
FROM INVESTIGATORS,

LINDA CULBERTSON SAYS
SHE KNOWS WHO KILLED HIM.

RELUCTANTLY, SHE ADMITS

SHE'S BEEN COVERING
FOR HER FRIEND.

LINDA TOLD THE POLICE
THAT SHE BELIEVED

IT WAS EVASON JACOBS
THAT HAD KILLED DON.

EVASON HAD TOLD HER THAT
HE WAS VERY ANGRY WITH DON.

SHE SAID THAT JACOBS
WANTED TO KILL PIERCE

'CAUSE PIERCE HAD MADE
RACIST REMARKS.

ONE EVENING,
AFTER DON AND JACOBS

HAD GOT INTO A HEATED ARGUMENT,
JACOBS BROUGHT TO THE FACT

THAT NIGHT THAT
HE WAS SO MAD AT DON,

THAT HE WAS GOING TO TAKE CARE
OF THE SON OF A BITCH.

ACCORDING TO LINDA,
EVASON SHARED HIS ANGER

WITH HER DURING ONE
OF THEIR LATE-NIGHT TALKS.

HE ASSUMED SHE'D BE HAPPY

IF HE GOT RID
OF HER ABUSIVE BOSS.

LINDA SAID THAT WHEN
EVASON FIRST MADE THOSE REMARKS,

SHE THOUGHT HE WAS JOKING.

OVER TIME, SHE BEGAN TO BELIEVE
THAT HE MIGHT DO SOMETHING.

AND SHE BECAME AFRAID.

IT WAS CERTAIN THINGS THAT --
THAT HE SAID AND DID THAT,

YOU KNOW, I JUST KIND OF --
I DIDN'T BELIEVE IT.

AND I JUST LET HIM
SAY THESE THINGS.

AND I WAS SCARED.
I WAS INTIMIDATED.

BUT, YOU KNOW,
I SHOULD HAVE KNOWN BETTER.

BUT POLICE HAD FOUND
EVASON JACOBS BOUND,

GAGGED AND INJURED
AT THE CRIME SCENE.

ACCORDING TO LINDA,
THE ENTIRE SCENE WAS STAGED.

LINDA SAID JACOBS HIRED A MAN
BY THE NAME OF QUINCY BROWN

TO DO THE DEED.

BROWN IS THIS 19-YEAR-OLD KID.

AND THE SECURITY GUARD
AND HIS FRIEND TOLD HER

THAT THEY WERE
GONNA KILL MR. PIERCE

BECAUSE OF HIS RACIST
ATTITUDE TOWARDS JACOBS.

IT'S JUST NINE HOURS
SINCE DON PIERCE WAS MURDERED.

HOPING TO WRAP UP THE CASE,

DETECTIVE EDLUND
PULLS EVASON JACOBS BACK IN

AND ROUNDS UP QUINCY BROWN,
AS WELL.

WE CALLED THEM
IN THE NEXT MORNING

BECAUSE THE DYNAMIC
OF THE INVESTIGATION

HAS CHANGED DRAMATICALLY.

RUNNING THE TWO
INTERROGATIONS SIMULTANEOUSLY,

EDLUND CONFRONTS THE PAIR
WITH LINDA'S STORY.

JACOBS' RESPONSE
TO MS. CULBERTSON

WAS HE DIDN'T KNOW
WHAT WE WERE TALKING ABOUT.

SHE TOLD THE POLICE THAT ME
AND MR. PIERCE HAD WORDS.

I TOLD THE POLICE THAT I NEVER
HAD NO PROBLEM WITH HIM.

BUT WHEN THE FINGERPRINT RESULTS

COME BACK ON THAT SHOTGUN,

SURE ENOUGH, QUINCY BROWN'S
AND EVASON JACOBS' ARE THERE.

AND THE POLICE USE
THAT TO PRESSURE EVASON

TO TELL THE TRUTH.

WHAT THEY DID WAS...

IT WAS LIKE
A SCARE TACTIC, YOU KNOW?

"WELL, IF YOU DON'T TELL US
WHAT'S REALLY GOING ON,

WE GONNA BELIEVE
WHAT LINDA CULBERTSON

IS TELLING US.

SO WE GONNA MAKE SURE THAT
YOU GET THE DEATH PENALTY."

MR. JACOBS, MR. BROWN,
THEY'RE JUST AVERAGE JOES.

THEY'RE NOT BRAIN SURGEONS.

JACOBS IMPLICATED BROWN.

BROWN GAVE IT UP
FAIRLY EASILY, TOO.

I WAS 21 YEARS OLD AT THE TIME.

NEVER BEEN IN TROUBLE
BEFORE WITH THE LAW.

OKAY, SO IF YOU TELLING ME

YOU GONNA MAKE SURE
I GET THE DEATH PENALTY,

I'M GONNA PANIC.

EVASON JACOBS ADMITS
HE BOUGHT THE SHOTGUN.

AND HE CORROBORATES
LINDA'S STORY.

HE AND QUINCY BROWN STAGED

THE SCENE TO MAKE IT LOOK
LIKE SOMEONE HAD BROKEN IN.

THE FRIEND
OF THE SECURITY GUARD HIT HIM

AND TIED HIM UP,

AND THEN WAITED
OUTSIDE OF OUR OFFICE

FOR DON TO COME OUT.

SURE ENOUGH, BOTH EVASON'S
AND QUINCY'S STORIES MATCH UP.

AND THEY MATCH THE EVIDENCE
FROM THE SCENE.

BUT THERE'S ONE MORE THING
THEY INSIST IS TRUE.

NEITHER OF THEM
KILLED DON PIERCE.

THE MORNING AFTER DON PIERCE
HAS BEEN SHOT TO DEATH,

EVASON JACOBS AND QUINCY BROWN
ARE IN CUSTODY.

THEY ADMIT CONSPIRING
TO MURDER PIERCE.

BUT THEY SAY NEITHER OF THEM
FIRED THE FATAL BULLET.

BROWN SHOT HIM
BUT DIDN'T KILL HIM.

THEY SAY THE REAL MURDERER
IS LINDA CULBERTSON.

SHE MASTERMINDED
THE WHOLE THING.

EVASON SAYS
HE WAS DESPERATE FOR MONEY.

I WAS TRYING TO GET MY OWN PLACE
WITH MY DAUGHTER'S MOTHER

AND GET OUT OF
MY PARENTS' HOUSE.

MY MIND WAS...I WAS JACKED-UP.

LINDA WANTED TO
GET RID OF DON PIERCE.

SO SHE OFFERED EVASON CASH,

A CAR, AND A JOB
TO DO ONE THING.

TAKE HIM OUT.

HE CAN'T
BRING HIMSELF TO DO IT.

SO HE ASKS A FRIEND,
QUINCY BROWN.

THEY TALKED, AND SHE TOLD HIM
THE SAME THING SHE TOLD ME.

SHE WAS GONNA GIVE HIM A JOB,
A HOUSE, AND A CAR.

AND HE SAID, "WELL, IF SHE
GONNA DO THAT, I'LL DO IT."

THERE'S ONE THING
BACKING THEIR CLAIM --

A THIRD SET OF PRINTS
ON THE MURDER WEAPON.

AND THEY BELONG TO LINDA.

WHEN CONFRONTED
WITH THIS FACT,

SHE TELLS THE POLICE THAT EVASON
MADE HER HOLD THE GUN

AND THAT THAT IS WHY HER
FINGERPRINTS WERE ON IT.

IS LINDA A FRIGHTENED WITNESS
OR A COLD-BLOODED KILLER?

POLICE AREN'T SURE
WHO TO BELIEVE.

THEN A CALL COMES IN FROM HILA,

LINDA'S ONE-TIME
HAIRDRESSER AND COWORKER.

POLICE WERE CALLED
TO A SHOCKING SCENE

AT 1111 GRAND BOULEVARD.

WHEN THE NEWS CAME ON
THAT AN ATTORNEY

HAD BEEN MURDERED

AT 1111 GRAND GATE CITY
BANK BUILDING,

I IMMEDIATELY FELT SICK.

AND I KNEW IT WAS HIM
BEFORE THEY EVEN SAID IT.

I CALLED THE POLICE,
AND I SAID,

"THAT WOMAN'S NOT RIGHT."

MONTHS EARLIER, HILA HAD
A FALLING OUT WITH LINDA.

AND THE REASON IS SHOCKING.

LINDA CONFIDED THAT
SHE WAS BEHIND THE YEARS

OF CRIMINAL ACTIVITY
AT DON'S OFFICE.

SHE'S THE ONE
THAT SPRAY-PAINTED THAT THREAT

RIGHT ON THE CURTAINS.

ACCORDING TO HILA,
IT WAS LINDA WHO BURGLARIZED

THE OFFICE TO PUNISH DON
FOR VACATIONING WITH HIS WIFE

AND FORCE HIM TO RETURN.

SHE DID FESS UP TO THAT.

SHE CLAIMED SHE HAD A FRIEND
WHO HAD KICKED IN THE DOOR

TO MAKE IT LOOK LIKE A ROBBERY.

IN FACT,
HILA EXPERIENCED LINDA'S

OUTRAGEOUS BEHAVIOR FIRST-HAND.

ONE EVENING, SHE NEEDED
TO PUT SOME FILES

IN DON'S CAR FOR HIM.

AND SHE STARTS POURING
SOMETHING ALL OVER THIS CAR.

I SAID, "WHAT ARE YOU DOING?"

SHE GOES,
"THAT WAS HIS WIFE'S CAR.

I JUST POURED BRAKE FLUID
ALL OVER HIS CAR."

IN DECEMBER, SIX MONTHS BEFORE
DON'S DEATH, LINDA TOLD HILA

SHE'D COME TO
A REALIZATION ABOUT DON.

SHE SAYS, "I CAN'T CARRY ON
THIS RELATIONSHIP.

HE'S NOT GOING TO
LEAVE HIS WIFE.

I HAVE TO GET ON WITH MY LIFE."

WELL, I WAS KIND OF FREAKED OUT.
SHE'S MY BOSS.

AND SHE'S VERY VENGEFUL,
OBVIOUSLY.

IT WAS FRIGHTENING.

I SAID AND DID NOTHING.

I'M THINKING THAT SHE SPENT
MONTHS PLANNING TO KILL HIM.

NOW,
ARMED WITH HILA'S STATEMENTS,

POLICE ONCE AGAIN
CONFRONT LINDA.

EACH TIME WE KEPT HITTING HER
WITH MORE INFORMATION,

SHE WOULD CHANGE HER STORY.

SHE FINALLY GAVE UP THE FACT

THAT THERE WAS A CONSPIRACY
BETWEEN HER,

JACOBS AND BROWN
TO KILL MR. PIERCE.

LESS THAN 24 HOURS
AFTER DON PIERCE'S MURDER,

ALL THREE ARE UNDER ARREST.

PROSECUTORS SAY CULBERTSON
HIRED A SECURITY GUARD

IN HER BUILDING TO KILL
HER BOSS, DONALD PIERCE.

AND THE SECURITY GUARD,
EVASON JACOBS,

IN TURN HIRED A FRIEND,
QUINCY BROWN,

TO PULL THE TRIGGER.

AT TRIAL, PROSECUTORS

REVEAL THE WEB
OF DECEIT UNCOVERED

BY THE POLICE INVESTIGATION.

LINDA LIED TO EVASON
ABOUT DON BEING A RACIST.

JACOBS NEVER HEARD MR. PIERCE
SAY ANYTHING DEROGATORY

TOWARDS HIM
OR DEMEANING AT ALL.

IT WAS ALL MS. CULBERTSON

TELLING HIM THAT
THAT WAS GOING ON.

LINDA LIKELY LIED
ABOUT DON HURTING HER.

I WOULD NOT PUT ANY VALIDITY
AT ALL TO THE CLAIMS

THAT DON WAS ABUSING LINDA.

IN FACT,
MANY THINK SHE LIED ABOUT THEM

HAVING AN AFFAIR ALTOGETHER.

I NEVER SAW ANYTHING THAT WOULD
INDICATE THAT TO ME.

THERE WERE FLOWERS
SENT TO THE OFFICE.

AND SHE SAID THEY WERE FROM DON.

IT WAS JUST HER WORD.

MS. CULBERTSON WAS TOTALLY
FIXATED ON DONALD PIERCE.

WE NEVER WERE
ABLE TO EVER ESTABLISH

WITH ANYONE ELSE
THAT IT WAS RECIPROCAL.

JUST NEVER FOUND IT.

TO HER, A SLIGHT TOUCH
ON THE SHOULDER

OR A WINK MIGHT BE INTERPRETED
AS AN AFFAIR OR AS LOVE.

WHEN SHE MET EVASON JACOBS,

SHE USED HIM TO PUT
HER PLAN INTO ACTION.

DURING HER LATE-NIGHT TALKS,

LINDA WAS GRADUALLY
MANIPULATING HIM.

EVERY TIME
THAT I CAME TO WORK,

SHE ALWAYS CAME UP
TO ME AND ASKED ME,

"YOU FIND ANYBODY YET?
YOU FIND ANYBODY YET?"

NO.
SHE WASN'T MESSING AROUND.

TO LINDA, IF SHE COULDN'T
BE WITH DON, NOBODY COULD.

PROSECUTORS LAY OUT WHAT
THEY BELIEVE HAPPENED

ON THE NIGHT OF JUNE 7th.

QUINCY BROWN SURPRISES
DON PIERCE IN THE HALLWAY.

HE LEVELS LINDA'S SHOTGUN
AND FIRES THE FIRST TWO SHOTS.

SHE WAS PUSHING ME, TELLING ME,

"SHOOT HIM AGAIN!
SHOOT HIM AGAIN!

HE'S STILL MOVING!"

I RAN TOWARDS LINDA,
AND I GAVE HER THE GUN.

THEN I RAN OUT THE BUILDING.
I RAN DOWN THE STAIRS.

BUT INCREDIBLY,
DON IS STILL ALIVE.

AGONIZING MINUTES GO BY.

HE JUST KEPT SCREAMING.

AND I JUST WANTED
THE SCREAMING TO STOP.

HE IS TRULY HELPLESS.

HE CAN'T --
CAN'T GET OUT OF THERE.

HE KNOWS WHAT'S COMING.
IT'S...MY GOD.

WHAT HELL WAS HE GOING THROUGH
FOR THOSE 10 MINUTES?

WHATEVER THE CONVERSATION WAS,
LINDA ENDED IT.

PUT THE GUN DOWN!

PUT YOUR HANDS UP!
DOWN! PUT THE GUN DOWN!

WHEN POLICE ARRIVE,
SHE SWITCHED OUT ONE SHOTGUN

FOR ANOTHER AND THE TRUTH
FOR A COLOSSAL LIE.

THEY MADE A DEAL WITH HER.

THEY WERE GONNA TRY IT
WITH JUST A JUDGE,

WITHOUT A JURY.

AND IF SHE DIDN'T APPEAL,
THEY WOULD GIVE HER LIFE

WITHOUT PAROLE AND NOT DEATH.

SHE AGREED TO THAT.

AND SHE WAS FOUND GUILTY
VERY QUICKLY.

LINDA CULBERTSON
AND HER COCONSPIRATORS

ARE EACH CONVICTED OF MURDER
AND SENTENCED TO LIFE.

IN MY OPINION,
LINDA SUFFERS

FROM BORDERLINE
PERSONALITY DISORDER,

A PERSONALITY DISORDER
THAT IS MARKED

BY EXTREME
EMOTIONAL INSTABILITY.

THESE INDIVIDUALS, AT TIMES,

CAN ALMOST LOSE TOUCH
WITH REALITY.

BELIEVE ME,
SHE WAS A GOOD MANIPULATOR.

AND SHE WAS A REAL GOOD LIAR.

I JUST WANT PEOPLE TO KNOW
WHAT REALLY HAPPENED.

AND I'M VERY SORRY
THAT MR. PIERCE LOST HIS LIFE.

SHE WAS A PATHOLOGICAL LIAR

AND GOT AWAY WITH IT
MOST OF THE TIME.

IF LINDA TOLD YOU THAT THE SUN
WAS GONNA RISE IN THE EAST,

YOU PROBABLY WOULD REALLY
WANT TO GET UP AND CHECK.