The 1980s: The Deadliest Decade (2016–2017): Season 2, Episode 6 - The Dixieland Murders - full transcript

[ STATIC CRACKLES ]

♪♪♪♪

Anchorman: FOR MANY,
THE STORY IS LIKE

A BAD, RECURRING NIGHTMARE.

Hill: EVERYBODY IS IN SHOCK.

EVERYBODY STARTS,
"HAVE YOU HEARD?

HAVE YOU HEARD? HAVE YOU HEARD?"

McDaniel: ONE OF THE SHOTS
HIT HIM IN THE MOUTH

AND SHEARED OFF SOME TEETH.

SHE HAD BEEN SHOT FOUR TIMES
IN THE TOP OF HER HEAD.

THERE WAS SO MUCH SPECULATION.



WHO WAS THE ACTUAL TARGET?

EVERY CONCEIVABLE RUMOR
THAT YOU COULD IMAGINE

HAD SOME TRACTION AS THE TRUTH.

THEY JUST REACHED DEAD END,
EVERY LEAD, EVERY SUSPECT.

BUT SHE WAS DETERMINED.

SHE WAS GOING TO GET JUSTICE
FOR HER FOLKS.

Killing Joke:
♪♪ AH AH AH AH ♪♪

♪♪ EIGHTIES ♪♪

♪♪ I'M LIVIN'
IN THE EIGHTIES ♪♪

♪♪ EIGHTIES ♪♪

JUST SAY NO.

♪♪ WELL, I HAVE TO PUSH ♪♪
- [SIREN CHIRPS]

♪♪ I HAVE TO STRUGGLE, OH! ♪♪

♪♪ EIGHTIES ♪♪



[ CLOCK TICKS,
ELECTRICITY CRACKLES ]

I KNOW YOU. YOU'RE FROM
"SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE."

YOU'RE JOE --

Narrator: IT'S THE '80s,

AND GANGSTERS ARE
BEING PLAYED FOR LAUGHS

IN MOVIES LIKE
"JOHNNY DANGEROUSLY,"

"MARRIED TO THE MOB,"

AND "PRIZZI'S HONOR"

DO I ICE HER?
DO I MARRY HER?

BUT IN REAL LIFE,
THE MOB IS SERIOUS BUSINESS.

THE TIME HAS COME TO CRIPPLE
THE POWER OF THE MOB IN AMERICA.

IN NEW YORK,
RUDY GIULIANI PUTS AWAY

THE HEADS OF THE MAFIA'S
NOTORIOUS FIVE FAMILIES.

THERE'S GOING TO BE
ARRAIGNED AT 3:00.

Narrator: BUT DOWN SOUTH,
ANOTHER VICIOUS CRIME GROUP

IS STILL GOING STRONG,
THE DIXIE MAFIA.

THE DIXIE MAFIA
WAS VERY DANGEROUS.

THE FBI HAS RECORDINGS WHERE
THE ITALIAN MOB HAS DISCUSSED

HOW VIOLENT
THE DIXIE MAFIA MEMBERS ARE.

[ GUNSHOTS ]

Narrator: THEY OPERATE ALL OVER
THE SOUTHERN U. S.,

FROM FLORIDA TO OKLAHOMA,

BUT THE SEAT OF POWER
IS A NARROW CORRIDOR

OF BILOXI, MISSISSIPPI,
KNOWN AS THE STRIP.

THE BILOXI STRIP WAS LOCATED
ALONG THE BEACH AND HIGHWAY 90.

AT THE TIME, THERE WERE PROBABLY
20 STRIP CLUBS OR NIGHT CLUBS

IN THAT IMMEDIATE AREA.

Narrator: UNLIKE THEIR NORTHERN
COUNTERPARTS,

THE DIXIE MAFIA
IS NOT FAMILY-BASED,

AND THERE IS
NO CHAIN OF COMMAND.

THERE IS NO CAPO,
OR CAPO DI TUTTI CAPI,

OR ANY DONS,
OR ANY OF THE THINGS

THAT YOU'D NORMALLY EXPECT
TO SEE IN ORGANIZED CRIME.

THEY WERE VERY LOOSELY
ORGANIZED,

BUT THERE WAS A NUMBER
OF MEMBERS OF THAT

WHO EVERYBODY KNEW
YOU COULD GO TO,

TO GET DRUGS,
TO GET SOMEBODY KILLED,

TO SET UP A GAMBLING OPERATION.

KIDNAPPINGS, EXTORTIONS, ARSON,
PROSTITUTION, NARCOTICS,

ANY WAY A DOLLAR COULD BE MADE,

THEY WERE INVOLVED IN IT.

Narrator: IN CONTRAST,
JUST A SHORT DISTANCE

AWAY FROM THE SLEAZE
OF THE STRIP

LIVES ONE OF THE MOST
UPSTANDING COUPLES IN BILOXI,

THE HONORABLE JUDGE
VINCENT SHERRY...

I, VINCENT J. SHERRY...

- SOLEMNLY SWEAR...
- ...SOLEMNLY SWEAR...

...AND HIS CIVIC-MINDED WIFE,
MARGARET, A CITY COUNCILWOMAN.

WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO DO A LOT
OF THINGS THROUGH THE EFFORT

OF A LOT OF VOLUNTEERS.

Hill: THEY WERE SEEN IN PUBLIC
VERY OFTEN AT CIVIC EVENTS,

AT CHARITY EVENTS,
OUT AT RECEPTIONS.

THEY WERE VERY INVOLVED
IN THEIR COMMUNITY

BECAUSE OF HIS POSITION
AND BECAUSE OF HERS.

Narrator: MARGARET AND VINCE ARE
BOTH BUSY, INTELLIGENT,

BUT COMPLETELY DISSIMILAR
IN EVERY OTHER WAY.

McDaniel:
YOU KNOW, OPPOSITES ATTRACT?

WELL, THAT WAS
VINCE AND MARGARET.

HE WAS VERY INVOLVED
IN THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY,

AND MARGARET WAS
EXACTLY THE OPPOSITE.

SHE WAS A STOMP-DOWN
REPUBLICAN CONSERVATIVE.

THEY WERE LIKE OIL AND WATER.

THEY WERE SUCH DIFFERENT PEOPLE,

BUT SUCH A COUPLE IN LOVE
WITH EACH OTHER.

I THINK THEY PLAYED OFF
OF EACH OTHER

AND WERE MATURE ENOUGH
TO REALIZE,

"I NEED TO SEE BOTH SIDES
OF THE FENCE."

♪♪♪♪

Narrator: MARRIED FOR 37 YEARS,
THE SHERRYS HAVE TWO DAUGHTERS,

LYNNE AND LESLIE,
AND TWO SONS, ERIC AND VIN.

THE FAMILY SETTLED IN BILOXI
IN 1970 AFTER VINCE

RETIRED FROM THE AIR FORCE

AND BECAME
A CRIMINAL DEFENSE ATTORNEY.

VINCE QUITE OFTEN REPRESENTED
PEOPLE I HAD ARRESTED,

BUT HE WAS JOVIAL,
AND HE WAS EASY TO TALK TO.

Narrator:
UNLIKE HER EASYGOING HUSBAND,

MARGARET IS AS TOUGH AS NAILS.

IT'S HARDER TO BUCK THE TREND
AND STAND UP FOR YOUR PRINCIPLES

THAN IT IS TO GO ALONG
WITH THE CROWD.

McDaniel: STRICT, SHE REMINDED
YOU OF A SUNDAY SCHOOL TEACHER,

OR MAYBE EVEN A NUN
IN A PAROCHIAL SCHOOL

THAT WALKED AROUND
WITH A RULER SLAPPING YOU

ON YOUR BACK OF YOUR HANDS.

Barrett:
SHE WAS ALWAYS DOING SOMETHING.

SHE ENGAGED IN HER POLITICAL
ACTIVITIES FROM EARLY MORNING

UNTIL 7:00 OR 8:00 AT NIGHT.

Narrator: MARGARET IS A FORCE
TO BE RECKONED WITH

WHEN SHE WINS A SEAT
ON THE CITY COUNCIL,

WHERE SHE IS NOT AFRAID
TO TAKE ON THE GOOD OL' BOYS.

WHAT COMES TO MIND IS
SHIRLEY MacLAINE'S CHARACTER

IN "STEEL MAGNOLIAS."

SHE WAS OUTSPOKEN,
SAID WHAT SHE WANTED.

YOU KNEW WHERE SHE STOOD.

THE ONLY REASON PEOPLE
ARE NICE TO ME

IS BECAUSE I HAVE
MORE MONEY THAN GOD.

THAT FITS MARGARET SHERRY
TO A TEE.

SHE WAS VERY BLUNT
AND SPOKE HER MIND.

Narrator:
WHILE MARGARET IS SPEAKING OUT

AS A CITY COUNCIL MEMBER,

VINCE IS A PARTNER IN A LAW FIRM
WITH HIS GOOD FRIEND,

PETE HALAT.

I RAN INTO VINCE AND SHERRY AND
PETER HALAT IN COURT FREQUENTLY.

PETER HALAT WAS AN
UP-AND-COMING YOUNG LAWYER.

HE WAS POLITICALLY ACTIVE.

McDaniel:
PETE WAS A GOOD GUY, FUN GUY.

HE WAS ALWAYS PERFECTLY DRESSED,
HAIR ALWAYS PERFECT,

AND HE KNEW HOW
TO SCHMOOZE PEOPLE.

VINCE WAS A VERY GOOD
DEFENSE ATTORNEY.

HE WAS ALWAYS PREPARED.

HE KNEW THE RIGHT
QUESTIONS TO ASK.

HE WOULD FIGHT
TO THE BITTER END.

Narrator:
PETE AND VINCE BELIEVE EVERYONE

DESERVES LEGAL REPRESENTATION,

ESPECIALLY PAYING CLIENTS,
AND IN BILOXI,

THE PAYING CLIENTS
WITH THE MOST LEGAL PROBLEMS

ARE THE DIXIE MAFIA.

EVERYBODY IS ENTITLED
TO A DEFENSE,

AND THEY REPRESENTED
THEIR CLIENTS WELL.

Narrator:
AND PETE AND VINCE REPRESENT

SOME OF THE CORNBREAD
COSA NOSTRA'S

MOST COLORFUL FIGURES.

FROM DRUG SMUGGLERS
AND CONVICTED MURDERERS

TO THE GROUP'S KINGPIN,
STRIP CLUB OWNER, MIKE GILLICH.

HE WAS THE CRIME FIGURE THAT
EVERYBODY KNEW ON THE COAST.

McDaniel:
MIKE WAS KIND OF GRANDFATHERLY,

BUT WITH EYES THAT
YOU COULD IMMEDIATELY TELL,

HIS GUY WILL KILL YOU
IF HE HAS TO.

Narrator: VINCE HELPS MIKE
WITH EVERYTHING,

FROM ARRANGING WORK PERMITS
FOR HIS STRIPPERS,

TO GETTING THEM
REDUCED SENTENCES.

AS FOR PETE, ONE OF HIS STAR
CLIENTS IS A PAL OF GILLICH'S,

A CON NAMED
KIRKSEY McCORD NIX JR.

NIX WAS SERVING A LIFE SENTENCE

AT THE LOUISIANA STATE
PENITENTIARY IN ANGOLA.

McDaniel:
KILLED A GROCER AND HIS WIFE,

HE WAS PROBABLY ONE
OF THE 10 SMARTEST PEOPLE

I HAVE EVER COME ACROSS
IN MY LIFE.

HE WAS LITERALLY A GENIUS
AS FAR AS I KNOW,

BUT TURNED IT TO THE DARK SIDE.

[ GUNSHOT ]

♪♪♪♪

Narrator: WHILE VINCE IS
DEFENDING THE LOWLIFES

OF BILOXI,
HIS WIFE, MARGARET,

IS FIGHTING
TO RUN THEM OUT OF TOWN

WHEN SHE CAMPAIGNS FOR MAYOR.

MARGARET WAS DETERMINED TO RID
THE COAST OF THE CORRUPTION,

THE NIGHT CLUBS, ILLEGAL
GAMBLING, THE PROSTITUTION.

Narrator: SHE NOT ONLY WANTS TO
CLEAN UP THE STRIP,

BUT ALSO CITY HALL.

SHE OFTEN BUTTS HEADS
WITH HER OPPONENT,

THE CITY MAYOR, GERALD BLESSEY.

YOU KNOW, IT'S EASY TO SIT ON
THE SIDELINES A FEW HOURS A WEEK

AND VOTE NO ON EVERYTHING
THAT COMES UP.

GERALD BLESSEY HAS TOLD YOU
THAT THE CITY HAS NEVER BEEN

IN BETTER FINANCIAL SHAPE.

DON'T I WISH?

Hill: SHE AND GERALD BLESSEY
WERE NOT THE BEST OF FRIENDS.

SHE JUST DISAGREED
WITH A LOT OF HIS POLICIES,

A LOT OF HIS IDEAS.

Narrator: ON JUNE 4th,
THE ELECTION IS CLOSE.

MARGARET LOSES
BY ONLY 500 VOTES.

NOT WILLING TO GIVE UP
AFTER ONE DEFEAT,

SHE CONTINUES TO BE A THORN
IN GERALD BLESSEY'S SIDE.

I, VINCENT J. SHERRY...

- SOLEMNLY SWEAR...
- ...SOLEMNLY SWEAR...

BUT ONLY A YEAR LATER, IN 1986,
IT'S VINCE WHO ENTERS POLITICS,

LEAVING HIS LAW FIRM
TO ACCEPT AN APPOINTMENT

AS A STATE CIRCUIT COURT JUDGE,

AND FOR MARGARET,
IT'S A RELIEF TO HAVE VINCE

JUDGING BILOXI'S
SLEAZY CRIMINALS

INSTEAD OF DEFENDING THEM.

ON THE EVENING
OF SEPTEMBER 14, 1987,

VINCE AND MARGARET
ARE GETTING READY FOR BED.

THE NEXT DAY, THEY PLAN TO VISIT

THEIR YOUNGEST DAUGHTER
AT COLLEGE.

VINCENT HAD ARRANGED TO TAKE OFF
THE DAY FROM HIS JOB

AS A CIRCUIT JUDGE,

AND HE WAS SUPPOSED TO GO OVER
TO LSU, VISIT WITH HIS DAUGHTER,

AND THEN HE WAS GOING
TO BE ON THE BENCH.

Narrator: AS THE SHERRYS SETTLE
DOWN FOR THE NIGHT,

ALL IS QUIET

EXCEPT FOR THE SOUND
OF VINCE'S GAME ON TV

AND THE CRICKETS OUTSIDE,

A TYPICAL END TO THE DAY
FOR VINCE AND MARGARET,

AND THEIR LAST TOGETHER.

[ CLOCK TICKS,
ELECTRICITY CRACKLES ]

THE FIRST PERSON TO ARRIVE
IN VINCE'S COURT IS HIS CLERK,

WHO MAKES A HABIT OF COMING IN
BRIGHT AND EARLY TO MAKE COFFEE

AND PREPARE THE COURTROOM
FOR THE DAY.

Barrett: BUT THE JUDGE DIDN'T
SHOW UP WHEN HE WAS SUPPOSED TO,

WHICH WAS UNLIKE VINCENT SHERRY.

HE WOULD SHOW UP WHEN
HE WAS SUPPOSED TO SHOW UP.

THEY'RE TRYING
TO CALL HIM AT HOME,

AND THEY'RE NOT
GETTING ANY ANSWER.

REPEATED CALLS
ARE GOING UNANSWERED,

AND SO THEY START TO GET
CONCERNED, "WHERE'S THE JUDGE?"

Narrator: WORRIED, VINCE'S STAFF
CALLS HIS GOOD FRIEND

AND FORMER LAW PARTNER,
PETE HALAT.

AND SO THEY CHECK
WITH HALAT'S OFFICE

BECAUSE THEY WERE VERY CLOSE,

AND THEY ASSUMED THAT PETE
WOULD KNOW SOMETHING,

AND HE DIDN'T KNOW
ANYTHING EITHER,

SO SUSPICION STARTED
TO GET PRETTY HIGH.

Bell: PETE HALAT CALLED
THE SHERRY RESIDENCE.

THERE WAS NO ANSWER.

AND PETE REPORTED BACK
TO THE COURT ADMINISTRATOR

THAT HE WOULD PERSONALLY
GO OUT TO JUDGE SHERRY'S HOUSE

AND SEE WHY THE JUDGE
WAS NOT AT WORK.

Narrator:
PETE HEADS OVER TO THE SHERRYS'.

♪♪♪♪

Hill: HALAT ARRIVED AT THE HOUSE
AND NOTICED

THAT THE NEWSPAPERS
HAVE STACKED UP.

THE MAIL HASN'T BEEN
COLLECTED FROM THE MAILBOX.

HE WALKED UP TO THE FRONT DOOR
OF THE HOUSE,

SAW THE DOGS RUNNING AROUND,
BARKING INSIDE THE HOUSE.

PETER HALAT HAD A KEY
TO THE HOUSE.

HE OPENED THE DOOR.

♪♪♪♪

HE WENT INSIDE.

WHEN HE WENT INSIDE,
THERE WAS AN ODOR THAT CAME OUT.

THERE WAS DOG EXCREMENT,
AND THE DOGS HAD NOT BEEN OUT.

[ DOG BARKING ]

♪♪♪♪

♪♪♪♪

Narrator: MOMENTS LATER,
PETE RUNS FROM THE HOUSE,

PANICKED AND SHOUTING.

VINCENT AND MARGARET ARE DEAD.

♪♪♪♪

[ CLOCK TICKS,
ELECTRICITY CRACKLES ]

Narrator: WHEN PETE HALAT ENTERS
THE HOME OF HIS FRIEND,

VINCE SHERRY, HE HAS A FEELING
THAT SOMETHING ISN'T RIGHT.

WHEN HALAT ENTERED,
HE SAW JUDGE SHERRY

ON HIS BACK IN THE FAMILY ROOM

WITH A LOT OF BLOOD
SURROUNDING HIS BODY.

♪♪♪♪

Narrator: WITHIN 15 MINUTES,

THE BILOXI POLICE DEPARTMENT
ARRIVES.

WHAT THEY DISCOVERED
INITIALLY WAS JUDGE SHERRY

WITH GUNSHOT WOUNDS TO HIS HEAD.

HE WAS SHOT AT VERY CLOSE RANGE.

AT LEAST ONE OF THE SHOTS
HAD HIT HIM IN THE MOUTH

AND SHEARED OFF SOME TEETH,
AND THERE WAS SOME BLOOD.

IT WAS OBVIOUS THAT HE WAS ALIVE
WHEN HE HIT THE FLOOR

BECAUSE HE HAD
PUMPED OUT SOME BLOOD,

SO HIS HEART WAS STILL BEATING,

AND APPARENTLY, THE SHOOTER
FIRED ONE MORE ROUND

INTO THE JUDGE'S MOUTH.

Narrator: THE POLICE NOW WONDER
WHERE IS MARGARET SHERRY,

AND COULD THE KILLER
STILL BE IN THE HOUSE?

THEY WENT BACK DOWN A HALLWAY
TO THE BACK BEDROOM...

AND DISCOVERED MARGARET'S BODY.

SHE HAD BEEN SHOT FOUR TIMES
IN THE TOP OF HER HEAD.

Narrator: MARGARET IS SLUMPED
DOWN IN FRONT OF THE MIRROR.

IT SEEMS THAT AFTER
SHOOTING HER HUSBAND,

THE KILLER SURPRISED HER AS
SHE WAS GETTING READY FOR BED.

McDaniel:
SHE WAS TAKING OFF HER EARRINGS,

AND SHE HAD ALREADY
GOTTEN ONE OF THEM.

IT WAS IN HER HAND
WHEN THEY FOUND HER BODY,

AND THE OTHER ONE
WAS IN HER EAR.

WHOEVER CAME IN SHOT AT HER
ACROSS THE ROOM

FROM THE DOOR FIRST,

AND THOSE TWO ROUNDS MISSED
AND WENT INTO THE WALL,

AND SHE APPARENTLY TURNED AROUND
TO FACE HER ATTACKER,

AND THEY GOT UP
MUCH CLOSER AND SHOT HER.

Narrator: THE LIVES OF TWO
OF THE MOST PROMINENT PEOPLE

IN BILOXI HAD BEEN BRUTALLY
CUT SHORT, BUT WHY?

THE HOUSE WAS NOT RANSACKED
IN ANY WAY

BY THE PERPETRATOR
OF THIS CRIME.

NOTHING OF VALUE WAS TAKEN.

THE JUDGE'S WALLET,
MARGARET'S PURSE, ET CETERA,

WERE STILL ON SCENE,

SO IT DEFINITELY WAS NOT
A ROUTINE ROBBERY OR BURGLARY.

Narrator: AND THERE ARE NO SIGNS
OF A FORCED ENTRY.

THEY WERE WONDERING DID
THE JUDGE KNOW THIS GUY?

I MEAN, DID THIS GUY JUST COME
KNOCK ON THE DOOR,

AND HE OPENS THE DOOR,

AND HE RECOGNIZES THE PERSON
AND LETS THEM IN,

OR DID HE JUST OPEN THE DOOR
NOT KNOWING WHO IT WAS,

AND THEN THE GUY
FORCED HIMSELF IN?

♪♪♪♪

Narrator:
A SEARCH FOR FINGERPRINTS

AND A MURDER WEAPON
COMES UP EMPTY,

BUT THE SHELL CASES
THEY FIND IN THE HOUSE

REVEAL AN IMPORTANT CLUE.

AS FAR AS THE WEAPON USED
DURING THE SHERRY MURDERS,

IT WAS DETERMINED TO BE

A RUGER.22
SEMI-AUTOMATIC PISTOL,

WHICH IS A FAVORITE
CALIBER OF HIT MEN.

Narrator:
THE COPS ALSO DETERMINE

THAT THE EXECUTION-STYLE SHOTS

THAT HIT THE SHERRYS
WERE FIRED IN PAIRS,

OR DOUBLE TAPS, A TRADEMARK
OF PROFESSIONAL KILLERS.

ALL THOSE PEOPLE WHO KILL
FOR A LIVING

ARE TAUGHT TO DOUBLE TAP.

THE DOUBLE TAP IS ALWAYS MEANT
TO ASSURE

IF THE FIRST ONE DON'T GET YOU,
THE SECOND ONE WILL.

Narrator: THERE'S ALSO ANOTHER
TELLTALE SIGN

OF A PROFESSIONAL HIT.

THE COPS FIND PIECES OF FOAM

AROUND VINCE
AND MARGARET'S BODIES.

FOAM IS A VERY COMMON SUBSTANCE
USED IN A CHEAP SILENCER.

WITH ALL THE INDICATIONS BEING
THAT THE WEAPON USED TO KILL

THE SHERRYS
WAS SILENCER-EQUIPPED,

IT MEANT THAT EVEN MARGARET
DID NOT HEAR THE GUNSHOTS

WHEN HER HUSBAND, THE JUDGE,
WAS SHOT A FEW ROOMS AWAY.

Narrator: AS THEIR BODIES ARE
BROUGHT TO THE MORGUE

FOR A FULL AUTOPSY,

NEWS OF VINCE AND MARGARET'S
MURDER BLAST THROUGH BILOXI

LIKE A HURRICANE.

Anchorman: FOR MANY,
THE STORY IS LIKE

A BAD, RECURRING NIGHTMARE.

EVERYBODY IS IN SHOCK.
THIS IS A PROMINENT COUPLE.

THIS IS A SITTING CIRCUIT JUDGE.

THIS IS A SITTING
CITY COUNCILWOMAN,

AND THEY KNOW THAT EVERYBODY
STARTS, YOU KNOW,

"HAVE YOU HEARD?
HAVE YOU HEARD? HAVE YOU HEARD?

GUESS WHAT'S ON THE NEWS?

YOU'RE NOT GOING TO BELIEVE
WHAT I JUST HEARD ON THE RADIO."

Narrator: PETE HALAT'S SHOCKED
FACE IS ALL OVER THE NEWS.

I CAN'T POSSIBLY
CONCEIVE OF ANYBODY

THAT WOULD HATE
EITHER VINCE OR MARGARET

TO THE EXTENT THAT THEY WOULD
DO SUCH AN IRRATIONAL ACT.

Narrator: THE SHERRY CHILDREN
RACE HOME TO BILOXI.

Anchorwoman:
A STRONG FAMILY BOND IS

WHAT HAS GIVEN
THE SHERRY FAMILY STRENGTH

TO ENDURE THE TRAGIC LOSS
OF THEIR PARENTS.

Narrator: MEANWHILE, A TASK
FORCE MADE UP OF LOCAL POLICE,

STATE TROOPERS,
AND THE FBI COME TOGETHER

TO INVESTIGATE THE MURDERS.

THE AUTOPSY RESULTS COME IN,

AND POLICE ARE ABLE
TO CORRELATE THEM

WITH ANOTHER VALUABLE
PIECE OF INFORMATION.

ONE FRIEND SAYS MARGARET
SPOKE WITH HER

BETWEEN 7:00 AND 7:30 P. M.
ON SEPTEMBER 14th.

SHE COULD HEAR
"WHEEL OF FORTUNE" ON

IN THE BACKGROUND.

Sajac: $200.

BASED UPON THE TIME AND THE
TELEVISION SHOW THAT WAS ON,

THAT TENDED TO CONFIRM WHAT
THE AUTOPSY HAD REVEALED ABOUT

WHEN THEY HAD THEIR LAST MEAL
AND HOW LONG AGO THEIR LAST MEAL

HAD BEEN BASED
ON THE LEVEL OF DIGESTION

OF THE FOOD IN THEIR STOMACHS.

Narrator: POLICE NOW BELIEVE
THE SHERRYS WERE KILLED

BETWEEN 7:30 P. M. AND MIDNIGHT
ON MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 14th,

BUT THEY STILL HAVE NO IDEA

WHO KILLED VINCE
AND MARGARET SHERRY.

THERE WAS SO MUCH SPECULATION
ON WHY THE JUDGE

AND HIS WIFE WERE KILLED

AND WHO KILLED THEM
AND WHO WAS THE ACTUAL TARGET.

WAS IT THE JUDGE
BECAUSE SOMEONE WAS MAD AT HIM

FOR HIS SENTENCING,

OR WAS IT MARGARET BECAUSE
OF HER ANTI-CORRUPTION STANCE

AND THE POSSIBILITY
SHE MIGHT BE ELECTED MAYOR

OF BILOXI IN THE FUTURE?

THE REACTION OF THE COMMUNITY
ABOUT THE MURDERS

WAS EVERYTHING
FROM SOUP TO NUTS.

THERE WERE PEOPLE
THAT WERE SCARED TO DEATH,

ESPECIALLY PEOPLE THAT LIVED
IN THAT NEIGHBORHOOD.

HOW COULD A HIT MAN COME INTO
OUR NEIGHBORHOOD

AND KILL THE JUDGE?

YOU OUGHT TO BE...

YOU WOULD EXPECT ONE
OF THE BETTER-PREPARED

AND PROTECTED PEOPLE.

Narrator: ON SEPTEMBER 19th,
FIVE DAYS AFTER THE HOMICIDES,

BILOXI COMES TO MOURN
THE SHERRYS.

WHY HAS GOD DEEMED TO TAKE VINCE
AND MARGARET FROM US?

PETE HALAT DELIVERS AN ELOQUENT,
EMOTIONAL EULOGY,

ENDING IT
WITH A PASSIONATE PLEDGE.

Bell: PETE HALAT, MORE OR LESS,
MADE A CAMPAIGN PROMISE

THAT HE WOULD RUN
FOR MAYOR NEXT

ON THE ANTI-CORRUPTION PLATFORM
OF MARGARET SHERRY.

Narrator: AMONG THOSE PAYING
THEIR LAST RESPECTS

TO THE SHERRYS ARE COPS,
BUT THEY'RE NOT OFF-DUTY.

Hill: THE POLICE ARE THERE
AT THE FUNERAL IN PLAIN CLOTHES

BECAUSE THEY'RE LOOKING TO SEE
WHO'S ATTENDING THE FUNERAL,

SOMEBODY THAT MAKES
THEIR RED FLAGS GO UP.

Narrator: THE SHERRYS' DAUGHTER,
LYNNE, HAS SOMEONE IN MIND,

HER MOTHER'S
POLITICAL ARCHRIVAL,

BILOXI MAYOR GERALD BLESSEY.

♪♪♪♪

[ CLOCK TICKS,
ELECTRICITY CRACKLES ]

Narrator: AFTER THE DOUBLE
MURDER OF JUDGE VINCENT SHERRY

AND HIS WIFE MARGARET,
A CRUSADING CITY COUNCILWOMAN,

THEIR CHILDREN WONDER
IF THE TOWN'S MAYOR,

GERALD BLESSEY, MAY BE INVOLVED.

IT WAS NOT A SECRET
THAT SHE AND GERALD BLESSEY

DIDN'T LIKE EACH OTHER.

WELL, WE HAD A LADY COME UP
TO US AT THE WAKE AND SAY,

"HONEY, 75% OF THE PEOPLE
IN THIS TOWN

BELIEVE GERALD BLESSEY HAD
YOUR MAMA AND DADDY KILLED,

AND THE OTHER 25%
ARE RELATED TO HIM."

Narrator: IN RESPONSE
TO THE GROWING RUMORS,

MAYOR BLESSEY SOON HOLDS
A PRESS CONFERENCE.

ALTHOUGH JUDGE
AND MRS. SHERRY AND I

HAD ROBUST POLITICAL DEBATES,

THESES DIFFERENCES
WERE ABOUT IDEAS

AND WERE TOUGH,
BUT NORMAL, POLITICAL DEBATE.

THEY QUICKLY WANT TO DISPEL
ANY RUMOR OR SPECULATION

THAT IT WAS
POLITICALLY MOTIVATED.

IT WAS AN EFFORT
TO ASSURE PEOPLE

THAT THIS IS NOT
A POLITICAL HIT,

AND MAYOR BLESSEY
IS NOT INVOLVED.

Narrator: MEANWHILE, THE POLICE
START LOOKING AT VINCE'S

FORMER LAW CLIENTS
AS POSSIBLE SUSPECTS.

Hill: SHERRY'S FORMER CLIENTS
WERE OF INTEREST TO THE POLICE

BECAUSE THEY KNEW
THAT HE DIDN'T HESITATE

TO REPRESENT
SOME UNSAVORY CHARACTERS,

THE STRIP CLUB OWNERS,
THE STRIPPERS,

WHOEVER ELSE DID BUSINESS
AT THE STRIP CLUBS

THAT MAYBE WEREN'T
THE MOST REPUTABLE PEOPLE.

McDaniel:
IT'S A DANGEROUS BUSINESS

WHEN YOU HAVE
THOSE KIND OF CLIENTS,

AND THAT IS ALWAYS
ONE OF THE FIRST THINGS

THAT COMES TO
LAW ENFORCEMENT'S MIND,

THE REVENGE
THAT CRIMINAL DEFENDANTS

HAVE WHEN
THEY'RE SITTING IN JAIL,

AND THEY FEEL LIKE
THEIR LAWYER FAILED THEM.

WHO WOULD WANT TO KILL THIS GUY?

MAYBE SOMEBODY
THAT HE SOLD OUT OR SOMEBODY

THAT HE DIDN'T DO
A GOOD JOB FOR.

Narrator: WHILE THE COPS LOOK
INTO VINCE'S CLIENTS,

HIS DAUGHTER, LYNNE,
IS GETTING IMPATIENT.

SHE WANTS THE FBI TO
TAKE OVER THE INVESTIGATION,

BUT SINCE IT'S NOT
A FEDERAL CASE,

THERE'S ONLY SO MUCH
THE AGENCY CAN DO.

WHAT WE DID WAS OFFER
OUR LABORATORY EXPERTS

TO COME DOWN AND ASSIST
ON THE CRIME SCENE.

ALSO, WE OFFERED TO COVER
OUT-OF-STATE LEADS,

SO WE MAINLY
ASSISTED THE LOCALS,

RATHER THAN LEADING OR TAKING
OVER THE INVESTIGATION.

Narrator: BUT THE BILOXI POLICE
COME UP

WITH THE MOST PROMISING
LEAD YET --

A TAPE MADE JUST FOUR MONTHS
BEFORE THE SHERRYS WERE KILLED.

THERE HAD BEEN SOME TYPE OF
THREAT MADE AGAINST JUDGE SHERRY

WHILE HE WAS ON THE BENCH.

Narrator: AND THE RECORDING IS
OF VINCE ADDRESSING HIS COURT

ABOUT THIS THREAT.

Vince: WOULD YOU BELIEVE
IN THE PAST TWO WEEKS,

I'VE HAD AN OUT-OF-STATE
THREAT ON MY LIFE

AND IN-CITY THREAT
ON MY LIFE?

AND I KNOW
WHERE IT'S COMING FROM,

BUT I'LL SEE MYSELF
IN THE PITS OF HELL

BEFORE I'LL BE AFRAID
OF THESE PEOPLE.

Narrator: DETECTIVES LISTEN TO
THE TAPE OVER AND OVER AGAIN,

BUT THERE ARE NO CLUES
TO WHO'S MADE THOSE THREATS

THAT COULD LEAD THEM
TO VINCE'S KILLER.

IT SEEMS VINCE KEPT
ALL THE DETAILS TO HIMSELF,

AND THEY DIED WITH HIM.

BUT AS THE COPS CONTINUE
COMBING THROUGH THE FILES

FROM THE LAW FIRM
VINCE SHARED WITH PETE HALAT,

THEY UNCOVER SOMETHING UNUSUAL.

THERE HAD BEEN A SIGNIFICANT
NUMBER OF TELEPHONE CALLS

BACK AND FORTH BETWEEN
THE LOUISIANA STATE PENITENTIARY

AT ANGOLA
AND PETE HALAT'S LAW OFFICE.

THE NUMBER WAS SOMETHING
LIKE 340 OR 345 CALLS

IN THE PRIOR NINE MONTHS BEFORE
THE SHERRYS WERE MURDERED,

SO OBVIOUSLY,
THIS WAS OF GREAT INTEREST.

I PRACTICED CRIMINAL DEFENSE LAW
FOR ABOUT 9½½ YEARS.

IF I TOOK MORE THAN
ONE OR TWO CALLS A WEEK

FROM A CLIENT OF MINE,
THAT WAS A LOT.

ANYONE WHO GETS MORE
THAN A COUPLE OF CALLS

FROM YOUR CLIENT,
SOMETHING IS GOING ON THERE.

Narrator:
THE POLICE LEARN THAT THE CALLS

WERE TO AND FROM PETE HALAT
AND KIRKSEY McCORD NIX JR.,

THE DIXIE MAFIA KINGPIN
SERVING LIFE AT ANGOLA,

AND PETE HALAT'S CLIENT,

SO THE COPS QUESTION
PETE ABOUT THE CALLS.

HALAT CLAIMED THE REASON
HE WAS IN CONTACT WITH NIX

ON A REGULAR BASIS WAS
THAT HE WAS REPRESENTING HIM

ON VARIOUS LEGAL MATTERS.

Narrator: BUT PETE ISN'T
THE ONLY ONE AT THE OFFICE

TALKING TO NIX.

THERE IS ALSO SOMEONE CLOSE TO
HIM WORKING AT PETE'S LAW FIRM.

PETE HAD ALLOWED LARA SHARPE,
THE GIRLFRIEND OF KIRKSEY NIX,

TO HAVE AN OFFICE.

McDaniel: LARA HAS BEEN COMPARED
TO DOLLY PARTON,

BUT NOT BECAUSE OF HER STATURE,
BUT BECAUSE OF HER HAIR.

SHE HAD LOTS OF BLONDE HAIR
AND WORE IT

IN ALL KIND OF DIFFERENT
ARRANGEMENTS AND SO FORTH,

AND SHE WAS KIND OF HAPPY
ABOUT WEARING NICE CLOTHES

AND SHOWING OFF HER BODY
AND THAT SORT OF STUFF.

Narrator: PETE EXPLAINS LARA'S
PRESENCE AS A FAVOR

TO HIS WELL-PAYING CLIENT.

NIX LETS HER HANDLE MINOR ISSUES
RELATED TO HIS FINANCES.

AND THERE IS NO OTHER
EXPLANATION FOR IT

OTHER THAN HE DID IT
AS A FAVOR TO KIRKSEY

BECAUSE KIRKSEY
ASKED HIM TO DO THAT

BECAUSE HE WANTED HER THERE
TO KEEP AN EYE ON HIS MONEY.

Narrator: IT MAY LOOK FISHY,

BUT THERE DOESN'T SEEM
TO BE ANY CONNECTION

BETWEEN THE CALLS TO ANGOLA
AND THE SHERRY MURDERS.

ONE BY ONE,
THE COPS' MOST PROMISING LEADS

START TO FIZZLE OUT,

INCLUDING MAYOR GERALD BLESSEY.

DETECTIVES CAN'T FIND
ONE PIECE OF EVIDENCE

TYING HIM TO THE MURDERS.

McDaniel:
GERALD BLESSEY, NO MATTER
WHAT YOU THOUGHT ABOUT HIM,

HE WAS A VERY, VERY
CAPABLE POLITICIAN

WHO HAD WEATHERED
LOTS OF STORMS,

AND WHAT MARGARET SHERRY
MIGHT HAVE SAID ABOUT HIM

I THINK WOULD HAVE
JUST ROLLED OFF HIS BACK

LIKE WATER OFF A DUCK'S BACK,

SO AS FAR AS I KNOW,
THERE WAS NEVER ANY SUBSTANCE,

ANY TRUTH, ANY REAL REASON

TO BELIEVE THOSE RUMORS
ABOUT GERALD BLESSEY.

Narrator: AS DAYS TURN INTO
WEEKS AND WEEKS INTO MONTHS,

THE TASK FORCE DWINDLES,

AND SO DOES COOPERATION BETWEEN
FAMILY MEMBERS AND POLICE.

INVESTIGATORS NOW OPERATE
UNDER THE ASSUMPTION

THAT VINCE SHERRY IS THE TARGET,
BUT THEY'RE AT A DEAD END.

THEN, IN JUNE OF 1989,

A VERY UNLIKELY SOURCE
DROPS A BOMBSHELL

THAT STUNS ALL OF BILOXI.

Man: I WAS THERE WHEN
THE AGREEMENT WAS MADE.

- TO KILL MR. SHERRY?
- YES.

♪♪♪♪

Narrator: ALMOST TWO YEARS HAVE
PASSED WITH NO PROMISING LEADS

INTO THE MURDERS
OF PROMINENT BILOXI COUPLE,

VINCE AND MARGARET SHERRY.

MEANWHILE, PETE HALAT'S
PROMISE AT THEIR FUNERAL

TO RUN FOR MAYOR OF BILOXI
BECOMES A REALITY.

I WANT TO GET THIS CITY POINTED
BACK IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.

Narrator: PETE EASILY WINS THE
ELECTION TO BECOME MAYOR.

PETE HALAT WAS ELECTED,
NUMBER ONE,

BECAUSE HE RAN ON THE POLICIES
AND BELIEFS OF MARGARET SHERRY,

AND HE WAS A HOMETOWN BOY,
JUST A POPULAR LOCAL CANDIDATE.

Narrator: BUT FOR LYNNE SPOSITO,
THE SHERRYS' ELDEST DAUGHTER,

PETE'S DEEP COMMITMENT
TO FINDING HER PARENTS' MURDERER

HAS GONE UNFULFILLED.

HERE IS IT, 1989,
WELL, TWO YEARS HAVE PASSED.

THERE IS NOTHING
ON THE SHERRY CASE.

THE TASK FORCE IS DOWNSIZING.

THERE IS NOTHING FOR THEM TO DO.

THEY HAVE RUN AFTER EVERY LEAD,

EVERY SUSPECT,
EVERYTHING THEY HAD.

THEY JUST REACHED DEAD END.

Narrator: LYNNE DECIDES TO
TAKE MATTERS INTO HER OWN HANDS.

Hill: SHE'S AGGRAVATED.
SHE'S HAD IT.

SHE WANTS TO KNOW WHY
THERE IS NOTHING GOING ON

IN HER PARENTS' CASE,

AND SHE SEES
THAT IT HAS STALLED,

AND SHE'S JUST NOT
HAPPY WITH THAT.

I VERY MUCH BELIEVE
IN A HEREAFTER,

AND I BELIEVE
I'M GOING TO SEE MY PARENTS,

AND HOW COULD I LOOK THEM
IN THE EYE AND SAY,

"I DIDN'T LOVE YOU ENOUGH TO
FIND OUT WHO DID THIS TO YOU?"

Hill: SO SHE GOES AND FINDS HER
OWN PRIVATE INVESTIGATOR,

THE RETIRED MISSISSIPPI
STATE HIGHWAY PATROL OFFICER

BY THE NAME OF REX ARMISTEAD.

McDaniel:
REX HAD GREAT INSTINCTS,

SO HE WAS A GREAT INVESTIGATOR.

HE WAS ALSO A CLASSIC DEFINITION
OF BEING LARGER THAN LIFE,

AND HE HAD A NETWORK
OF SNITCHES, AS THEY CALL THEM,

THAT WENT ACROSS STATE LINES
AND EVERYTHING ELSE.

Narrator:
AS HE DIVES INTO THE CASE,

ARMISTEAD'S INSTINCTS
LEAD HIM STRAIGHT

TO PETE HALAT'S LAW OFFICE.

HE WANTS TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT
ALL THOSE CALLS FROM ANGOLA.

SO HE MAKES
SOME VISITS TO ANGOLA,

AND THAT'S WHERE
HE UNCOVERS A PRISONER

BY THE NAME OF BOBBY JOE FABIAN.

Narrator: FABIAN IS A MEMBER
OF THE DIXIE MAFIA.

ARMISTEAD HAD ARRESTED HIM
IN THE PAST

AND KNEW THAT HE WAS
CONNECTED TO KIRKSEY NIX.

McDaniel: HE KNEW THAT BOBBY JOE
WAS THE GRAPEVINE KEEPER.

IF THERE WAS SOMETHING GOING ON
INVOLVING KIRKSEY McCORD NIX,

FABIAN WOULD AT LEAST
KNOW ABOUT IT.

Narrator:
AND ARMISTEAD KNOWS FABIAN WOULD

BE READY AND WILLING TO TALK.

FABIAN WAS CHARGED
WITH KILLING A HORSE BREEDER

AND WAS DOING LIFE,

AND ONE OF HIS GOALS
WAS TO GET OUT OF ANGOLA.

ANGOLA STATE PENITENTIARY
IN TUNICA, LOUISIANA,

IS ONE OF THE MOST DANGEROUS
SPOTS ON THE PLANET.

ONE OF THE REASONS
THAT HE WAS TRYING TO HELP

WAS SO HE COULD GET
TRANSFERRED TO MISSISSIPPI.

Narrator: FABIAN BEGINS
BY TELLING ARMISTEAD

ABOUT A COAST-TO-COAST
LONELY HEART SCAM

THAT KIRKSEY NIX IS RUNNING
FROM HIS PRISON CELL.

WHAT THEY DID WAS THE INMATES
PRETENDED TO BE

A YOUNG, GAY MALE
WHO WAS INTERESTED

IN LEAVING THE SOUTH
AND LOCATING A NEW PARTNER.

McDaniel:
THEY PUT ADS IN THE ADVOCATE,

MOSTLY IN THE ADVOCATE,
WHICH WAS FOR GAY MEN,

AND THEY THEN
WOULD PUT A PICTURE

OF A GOOD-LOOKING
YOUNG MAN IN THERE,

AND THEY WOULD GIVE AN ADDRESS
WHERE THEY COULD CONTACT HIM.

THE VICTIMS WOULD RESPOND
TO A P. O. BOX LISTED IN THE AD.

McDaniel: THE INMATES, THEY'D
WRITE LETTERS BACK AND SAY,

"I NEED SOME MONEY
FOR BUS TRANSPORTATION

TO WHERE YOU ARE
AND FOR SOME CLOTHES,"

SO THEY'D HIT THEM
EASY AT FIRST, $250, $300, $400,

AND THEY WOULD GET THEM HOOKED.

THERE WAS ONE GUY
WHO SENT $17,000.

ONE WAS $20,000.

IT WAS A GENIUS SCAM,
IT REALLY WAS.

Narrator: AND IF ANY OF THE
VICTIMS GOT WISE TO THE SCAM,

NIX AND HIS CONSPIRATORS
WOULD THREATEN TO OUT THEM,

SOMETHING A CLOSETED
GAY MAN IN THE 1980s

WOULD DO ALMOST
ANYTHING TO AVOID,

SO THE MONEY KEPT FLOWING
TO NIX VIA WESTERN UNION

TO PICK UP PEOPLE
ON THE OUTSIDE.

NORMALLY, THE MONEY WAS WIRED
FROM THE SCAM VICTIMS

AROUND THE COUNTRY THROUGH
WESTERN UNION WIRE TRANSFERS.

AROUND $500,000 IS SUPPOSEDLY
WHAT THE PARTICIPANTS SAY

HAD BEEN BROUGHT IN.

THE PURPOSE OF THE SCAM
WAS TO GENERATE SUFFICIENT MONEY

FOR KIRKSEY NIX

TO BE ABLE TO BUY
HIS WAY OUT OF ANGOLA

THROUGH BRIBES
AND CORRUPT PAYOFFS

TO WHATEVER POLITICIAN
IN AUTHORITY

COULD ARRANGE HIS RELEASE.

Narrator: BUT ARMISTEAD WONDERS
HOW THE SCAM HAS ANYTHING TO DO

WITH THE MURDERS OF VINCE
AND MARGARET SHERRY

UNTIL BOBBY JOE FABIAN
DROPS A BOMBSHELL

THAT PROMISES TO BLOW
THE LID OFF THE CASE,

GROUND ZERO WAS CITY HALL
AND MAYOR PETE HALAT.

WHAT HE HAD TO TELL
REX ARMISTEAD WAS JUST WILD.

HALAT WAS THE RECIPIENT
OF THE MONEY,

ACCORDING TO BOBBY JOE FABIAN.

THE MONEY FROM THE SCAM
WAS BEING DELIVERED

BY VARIOUS SOURCES
TO HIS OFFICE.

HALAT OVERSAW THE MONEY.

Barrett: WHEN IT CAME TIME
FOR THE MONEY TO CHANGE HANDS,

THE MONEY THAT PETER HALAT

WAS SUPPOSEDLY HOLDING
TO FINANCE THE PARDONS,

SOME SEVERAL
HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS,

CAME UP MISSING.

McDaniel: KIRKSEY FINDS OUT THAT
SOMEBODY IS TAKING HIS MONEY

TO BUY HIS PARDON.

HE WAS LIVID!

THIS WAS NOT ONLY
ABOUT LOSING MONEY.

IT WAS ABOUT LOSING
THE ONLY SHOT AT FREEDOM

THAT HE THOUGHT HE HAD,

AND HE SAID, "SOMEBODY
IS GOING TO DIE FOR THIS."

Narrator:
ACCORDING TO BOBBY JOE FABIAN,

WHEN HALAT GETS WIND
THAT KIRKSEY NIX

DISCOVERED THE MISSING MONEY,

HE IMMEDIATELY
ARRANGES A MEETING

AT ANGOLA WITH HIS CLIENT.

BOBBY JOE FABIAN SAID
THAT SOMEBODY HAD TO DIE

FOR THAT MISSING MONEY,

AND IT SURE WASN'T
GOING TO BE PETE HALAT.

McDaniel: THE ONLY THING HALAT
COULD THINK OF WAS FOR KIRKSEY

TO HAVE SOMEBODY ELSE
TO BLAME IT ON,

AND HE GAVE UP VINCE.

HE SAID VINCE GOT THE MONEY.

♪♪♪♪

♪♪♪♪

Narrator: INVESTIGATORS ARE
STUNNED BY THE CLAIM

THAT PETE HALAT,
NOW THE MAYOR OF BILOXI,

BLAMED VINCE SHERRY FOR STEALING
FROM THE DIXIE MAFIA,

MONEY HALAT HIMSELF HAD STOLEN,

BUT TO FBI AGENT KEITH BELL,
IT HAS THE RING OF TRUTH.

THE DIXIE MAFIA DOESN'T PLAY,

AND WHEN YOU START TAKING
THE PROCEEDS WITHOUT PERMISSION,

THERE IS A GOOD CHANCE
YOU'LL BE KILLED.

Narrator:
BY GIVING UP WHAT HE KNOWS

ABOUT THE MURDER OF THE SHERRYS,

ANGOLA INMATE BOBBY JOE FABIAN

HAS KNOWINGLY
PUT HIS LIFE IN DANGER,

AND WITH GOOD REASON.

ONE OF HIS GOALS
WAS TO GET OUT OF ANGOLA.

ONE OF THE REASONS THAT HE WAS
TRYING TO HELP AUTHORITIES

WAS SO HE COULD GET TRANSFERRED.

HE KNEW HE WAS GOING TO SPEND
THE REST OF HIS LIFE IN PRISON,

BUT HE MIGHT AS WELL
BE SOMEWHERE

WHERE HE'S NOT IN DANGER.

Narrator: FABIAN FIGURES
THE BEST WAY TO GET TRANSFERRED

WAS TO PUSH AUTHORITIES
TO HAVE TO PROTECT HIM,

AND HE DOES IT BY GOING ON TV
WITH HIS ALLEGATIONS

OF PETE HALAT'S INVOLVEMENT
IN THE MURDERS OF THE SHERRYS.

BOBBY JOE DID THAT
SPECIFICALLY TO PUT HIMSELF

IN THE KIND OF DANGER WHERE THEY
WOULD HAVE TO MOVE HIM.

Fabian: I WAS THERE WHEN
THE AGREEMENT WAS MADE.

- TO KILL MR. SHERRY?
- YES.

HE WAS NOT AS STUPID AS IT LOOKS
FOR TALKING TO THE POLICE.

HE GOT WHAT HE WANTED
OUT OF THAT DEAL.

I MEAN, HE WAS
A SHREWD CHARACTER.

Anchorwoman: AUTHORITIES SAY
THEY ARE LOOKING AT A LINK

BETWEEN THE SHERRY MURDERS
AND A MONEY SCAM

RUN BY AN INMATE FORMERLY
REPRESENTED BY PETE HALAT.

McDaniel: PETE HALAT, NATURALLY
WENT BERSERK,

WENT, I MEAN,
JUST BALLISTIC ABOUT IT.

HE CALLED A NEWS CONFERENCE
THE VERY NEXT DAY,

MAYBE, KIND OF DARED TO PROVE
IT WAS HIM THAT HAD DONE IT.

THAT ANY SUGGESTION
THAT I WAS INVOLVED

IN PLANNING THE MURDER
OF VINCE AND MARGARET SHERRY

IS AN OUTRIGHT LIE.

McDaniel: IT WAS OVERKILL.
IT WAS TOO MUCH.

TO QUOTE SHAKESPEARE, "ME THINKS
HE PROTEST TOO MUCH,"

AND THAT REALLY GAVE
THE LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS

KIND OF A PERKED-UP EAR TO SEE,

WELL, THERE'S
SOMETHING REALLY HERE.

Narrator: BUT AFTER TWO YEARS
OF DEAD ENDS,

THERE'S NOW ENOUGH
INFORMATION FOR THE FBI

TO TAKE THE LEAD ON THE CASE.

PUTS THE FBI
RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE.

WE HAD THE SCAM
THAT WAS INTERSTATE,

AND THAT WAS ENOUGH TO GET US
GOING IN THE SHERRY MURDERS.

Narrator:
WITH THE BUREAU NOW IN CHARGE,

FBI AGENT KEITH BELL ZEROES IN
ON PETE HALAT'S LAW OFFICE.

THERE, HE UNCOVERS OTHER PLAYERS

IN KIRKSEY NIX'S
LONELY HEART SCAM,

INCLUDING BILOXI STRIP CLUB
OWNER, MIKE GILLICH.

McDaniel: MIKE GILLICH WAS
PRETTY MUCH THE LEADER

OF THE CRIMINAL ENTERPRISE
DOWN HERE ON THE COAST,

AND THOSE TWO
HAD A LOT OF INTERPLAY,

AND GILLICH IS JUST LIKE
BROTHERS WITH PETE HALAT.

Bell: BOTH PETE HALAT
AND GILLICH WERE TIGHT WITH NIX.

YOU KNOW,
THIS IS PRETTY INTERESTING.

Narrator: AND THE FBI IS ABLE TO
PINPOINT NIX'S GIRLFRIEND,

LARA SHARPE'S,
ROLE AT PETE'S OFFICE.

McDaniel:
SHE WAS CALLED A PARALEGAL,

BUT IT'S RIDICULOUS.

SHE WAS NO MORE A PARALEGAL
THAN MY 4-YEAR-OLD GRANDSON IS.

Narrator: AFTER VINCE SHERRY
LEFT THE PRACTICE IN 1986,

LARA SHARPE MOVED
INTO A BACK OFFICE

AND ACTED AS THE CONDUIT BETWEEN
KIRKSEY NIX AND PETE HALAT.

WITH HER LEGAL STANDING
AS A CERTIFIED PARALEGAL

AS SWORN TO BY PETE HALAT,

SHE WAS ABLE
TO MAKE TELEPHONE CALLS,

WHAT WE CALL LEGAL CALLS,
WHICH WERE NOT MONITORED,

SO THAT GAVE THEM
THE POSSIBILITY

OF TALKING ABOUT THE SCAMS

AND CONTINUING ON
WITH THE SCAM ACTIVITY.

Narrator: BUT THAT ISN'T
ALL THE FBI DISCOVERS.

THEY FIND A POSSIBLE LINK
BETWEEN THE SCAM

AND THE MURDERS.

Bell: WE WERE ABLE TO SHOW
THROUGH SUBSEQUENT INVESTIGATION

THAT LARA SHARPE AND PETE HALAT
ACTUALLY RENTED SAFE DEPOSIT BOX

TOGETHER IN WHICH WE BELIEVE

MUCH OF THE SCAM MONEY
WAS PLACED,

BUT OVER THE YEARS, PETE HALAT,

WHO HAD A LIFESTYLE

THAT WAS ABOVE HIS NORMAL
INCOME AS AN ATTORNEY,

STARTED TAKING SOME
OF THAT MONEY OUT.

♪♪♪♪

♪♪♪♪

Narrator: WITH THIS DISCOVERY,
INVESTIGATORS NOW HAVE A LINK

BETWEEN THE SCAM
AND THE MURDERS.

THEY HOPE BY PURSUING
CHARGES ON THE SCAM,

THE TRUTH WILL COME OUT.

[ CLOCK TICKS,
ELECTRICITY CRACKLES ]

♪♪♪♪

PROSECUTORS INDICT KIRKSEY NIX,
LARA SHARPE,

AND BILOXI CLUB OWNER,
MIKE GILLICH,

ON CHARGES OF FEDERAL CONSPIRACY
AND WIRE FRAUD,

BUT PETE HALAT ISN'T NAMED
IN THE INDICTMENTS.

PETER HALAT WAS NOWHERE TO BE
FOUND IN THOSE INDICTMENTS.

PEOPLE WERE SHOCKED.

HALF THE COMMUNITY THOUGHT
PETER HALAT WAS INVOLVED IN IT.

THE OTHER HALF DIDN'T.

HE PROCLAIMED HIS INNOCENCE,
"SEE, THEY DIDN'T INDICT ME,

SO I DIDN'T DO IT."

Hill: BELIEVING SOMETHING
AND PROVING IT

IS TWO DIFFERENT THINGS,

AND THE GOVERNMENT JUST DIDN'T
HAVE IT TO INDICT HIM.

AFTER A SIX-WEEK TRIAL,
THE JURY FINDS NIX,

SHARPE, AND GILLICH GUILTY
OF CONSPIRACY AND WIRE FRAUD,

AND EACH IS SENT TO PRISON,

BUT THE QUESTION "WHO KILLED
THE SHERRYS AND WHY?" REMAINS,

BUT IN 1994, TWO YEARS
AFTER BEING SENTENCED,

ONE OF THE GUILTY WILL
FINALLY PROVIDE THE ANSWER.

MIKE GILLICH RECEIVED
A 15-YEAR PRISON SENTENCE.

GILLICH WAS NOT A YOUNG MAN
AT THAT TIME.

THE THOUGHT OF SPENDING
15 YEARS OF HIS LIFE,

OF WHAT HE HAD LEFT,

IN A FEDERAL PRISON
OBVIOUSLY GOT HIM THINKING

BECAUSE TWO YEARS AFTER
HE STARTED SERVING HIS TERM,

HE DECIDES HE'S GOING
TO CUT A DEAL.

HE'S GOING TO SING.

McDaniel: HE CALLED THE NEXT DAY
TO THE FBI AND SAID,

"I'M THROUGH.
I WANT TO TELL YOU EVERYTHING."

HE TOLD IT ALL.

HE WAS LITERALLY THE ONLY PERSON

WHO COULD HAVE FILLED
IN ALL THE DETAILS, THE THINGS

THAT WE COULDN'T POSSIBLY HAVE
PROVED WITHOUT HIM.

Narrator:
AND THE REASON IS MIKE GILLICH

IS KIRKSEY NIX'S POINT MAN
FOR THE HIT ON THE SHERRYS.

NOTHING HAPPENED THAT DIDN'T GO
THROUGH HIM, AND HE WAS THE KEY.

Bell: AND HE TOLD THE STORY
ABOUT HOW IT ALL WENT DOWN,

HOW THE MONEY
HAD COME UP MISSING,

HOW PETE HALAT HAD FALSELY
IMPLICATED JUDGE SHERRY

AND HOW THAT LED TO THE DEATHS
OF JUDGE SHERRY AND MARGARET.

McDaniel: GILLICH REVEALED
THAT THE HIT MAN

WAS A GUY NAMED THOMAS HOLCOMB,

WHO WAS KNOWN TO
THE AUTHORITIES DOWN THERE.

Narrator: THE INVESTIGATORS
LEARNED HOW HOLCOMB GOT INTO

THE SHERRY HOUSE.

[ DOORBELL RINGS ]

THE JUDGE ANSWERED THE DOOR
AND THE HIT MAN SAID,

"I HAVE A MESSAGE FOR YOU
FROM YOUR FRIEND IN LAS VEGAS,"

AND HE GAVE THE NAME
OF THE FRIEND, WHICH WAS GREG.

SO THE JUDGE INVITED HIM IN...

BUT AS SOON AS THEY REACHED
THE FAMILY ROOM,

HOLCOMB SHOT THE JUDGE
TWICE IN THE FACE.

[ SILENCED GUNSHOTS ]

AT THAT POINT, HOLCOMB,
AFTER SHOOTING THE JUDGE,

WALKED TO WHERE MARGARET
WAS IN THE BEDROOM.

♪♪♪♪

♪♪♪♪

HE FIRED TWICE AT HER
FROM THE DOORWAY.

[ SILENCED GUNSHOTS ]

BOTH SHOTS BARELY MISSED HER.

MARGARET FAINTED, AND THEN
HOLCOMB CAME OVER

AND SHOT HER FOUR TIMES
IN THE TOP OF THE HEAD.

[ SILENCED GUNSHOTS ]

AT THAT POINT,
HE EXITED THAT BEDROOM

AND WENT BACK
TO THE FAMILY ROOM,

SAW THE JUDGE
STILL MOVING AROUND,

AND HE FIRED ONE MORE ROUND
INTO THE JUDGE'S MOUTH.

[ SILENCED GUNSHOT ]

BASICALLY, MIKE GILLICH'S STORY
WAS CONFIRMED ON EVERY DETAIL.

♪♪♪♪

♪♪♪♪

Hill: SO THAT'S WHAT
THE PROSECUTION WAS HOPING FOR.

THEY NEEDED
TO REEL IN THE BIG FISH,

AND THE BIG FISH WAS PETE HALAT.

♪♪♪♪

[ CLOCK TICKS,
ELECTRICITY CRACKLES ]

Narrator: NEARLY A DECADE AFTER
THE MURDERS OF VINCE

AND MARGARET SHERRY,

THEIR FRIEND PETE HALAT
IS INDICTED

AND CHARGED WITH CONSPIRACY
TO COMMIT MURDER

ALONG WITH KIRKSEY NIX,
LARA SHARPE, AND THOMAS HOLCOMB.

[ CLOCK TICKS,
ELECTRICITY CRACKLES ]

AFTER ONE WEEK OF DELIBERATIONS,
THE JURY REACHES A VERDICT.

THEY ACQUIT PETE HALAT
ON THE CHARGE OF CONSPIRACY

TO COMMIT MURDER,

BUT FIND HIM GUILTY
OF CONSPIRACY

TO COMMIT RACKETEERING,

OBSTRUCTION OF JUSTICE,
AND WIRE FRAUD.

HALAT IS SENTENCED
TO 18 YEARS IN PRISON.

I JUST CAN'T IMAGINE THE PAIN
THAT THAT FAMILY WENT THROUGH.

♪♪♪♪

IT CONSUMED LYNNE SPOSITO,
BUT SHE WAS DETERMINED.

SHE WAS GOING TO GET JUSTICE
FOR HER FOLKS, AND SHE DID.

McDaniel:
NOTHING WILL SATISFY THE LOSS

OF BOTH OF YOUR PARENTS,
ESPECIALLY IN THIS WAY,

BUT I THINK
SHE'S GOT TO BE SATISFIED

THAT THE SYSTEM WORKED.

IT IS INCOMPREHENSIBLE TO ME

THAT ANYONE COULD DO THAT
TO A FRIEND,

BUT ON THE OTHER HAND,
IT IS INCOMPREHENSIBLE TO ME

THAT ANY LAWYER
WOULD BE INVOLVED

WITH SO MANY SCURRILOUS FOLKS.

Narrator: BILOXI TODAY IS
LIGHT-YEARS AWAY FROM THE CITY

IT WAS IN THE 1980s.

THE STRIP CLUBS AND DIVES
HAVE BEEN REPLACED BY CASINOS

WHERE GAMBLING IS NOW LEGAL,

AND WITH THE CLEAN-UP OF BILOXI

CAME THE DEMISE OF ANOTHER
GULF COAST INSTITUTION.

THE DIXIE MAFIA, THE SOUTHERN
BRANCH IN BILOXI, MISSISSIPPI,

IS GONE.

IT'S OVER WITH.

ALL THE PLAYERS ARE IN JAIL
OR DEAD, ALL OF THEM.

Narrator: BUT TWO PEOPLE
WHO COMMITTED THEIR LIVES

TO MAKING BILOXI BETTER
ARE ALSO GONE,

THEIR LIVES CUT SHORT
BEFORE THEIR DREAMS

FOR THEIR BELOVED CITY
CAME TRUE.