A Crime to Remember (2013–…): Season 3, Episode 6 - The Wrong Man - full transcript

HE SAID THE WATER
WAS COLD THAT NIGHT.

HE SAID IT WAS LAPPING
OVER HIS LEGS

WHEN HE FINALLY CAME TO.

HE SAID HE GOT UP THEN

AND WALKED BACK
TOWARD THE HOUSE.

DR. SAM SHEPPARD SAID
A LOT OF THINGS

ABOUT THAT INFAMOUS NIGHT.

BUT COULD WE BELIEVE HIM?

IT WASN'T THAT WE THOUGHT
HE WAS LYING.

IT WAS JUST
THAT AFTER THAT NIGHT,

WE DIDN'T KNOW WHAT TO BELIEVE.



HELLO, THIS IS SAM.

COME QUICKLY. MARILYN'S DEAD.

IN THE 1950s, BAY VILLAGE WAS
A SLEEPY SUBURB OF CLEVELAND

THAT OVERLOOKED
THE WATERS OF LAKE ERIE.

ALL OF US THAT LIVED THERE
THOUGHT WE'D FOUND

THE PERFECT PLACE
TO RAISE OUR FAMILIES,

OUR OWN LITTLE PARADISE.

EVERYBODY KNEW EACH OTHER.

IT WAS THIS FANTASY OF LIFE
IN POST-WORLD WAR II AMERICA.

SO, WHEN ALL THOSE POLICE CARS
PULLED INTO OUR NEIGHBORHOOD,

WE KNEW
THAT SOMETHING TRULY TERRIBLE

MUST'VE HAPPENED.

DETECTIVE.
HEY.

SO, WHAT
DO YOU GOT HERE?



WELL, WE HAVE A HOMICIDE.
WIFE IS DEAD.

THAT'S THE HUSBAND?

SAYS HE WAS ASLEEP
IN ANOTHER ROOM

WHEN HIS WIFE'S SCREAMS
WOKE HIM UP,

BUT HE GOT
KNOCKED UNCONSCIOUS

BEFORE HE COULD GET TO HER.
HEAD TRAUMA.

HIS BROTHER'S TAKING HIM
OVER TO BAY VIEW

FOR SOME TREATMENT.

SAM'S BROTHER
CAME TO THIS CRIME SCENE

AND DETERMINED
THAT SAM WAS INJURED.

HE NEEDED TO GET
TO BAY VIEW HOSPITAL.

THAT'S THE SON.

APPARENTLY,
HE DIDN'T HEAR A THING.

HEY.
SAY, "HI, GRANDPA."

SAM AND MARILYN'S LIFE
LOOKED PICTURE-PERFECT.

THEY WERE THOUGHT OF
FONDLY BY PEOPLE IN BAY VILLAGE.

THEY JUST SEEMED LIKE
THE EPITOME OF THE HAPPY FAMILY.

MY GIRLFRIENDS
AND I NICKNAMED SAM

AND MARILYN THE PRINCE
AND PRINCESS OF BAY VILLAGE.

THEY WERE HIGH-SCHOOL
SWEETHEARTS,

AND WHEN MARILYN
WENT OFF TO SKIDMORE,

THEY WROTE EACH OTHER
EVERY DAY FOR A YEAR

BEFORE SHE MISSED HIM TOO MUCH
AND MOVED BACK HOME.

SHE TOOK A JOB
DOING ADMINISTRATIVE WORK

TO PUT HIM THROUGH MED SCHOOL,

AND NOW THEY WERE THE CHARMING
DOCTOR AND HIS BEAUTIFUL WIFE.

WHEN THE POLICE GO UPSTAIRS...

...THERE'S BLOOD EVERYWHERE.

THEY SEE MARILYN'S BODY
ON THE BED.

HER HEAD IS BASHED IN
TO SUCH AN EXTENT,

THAT YOU
COULDN'T EVEN RECOGNIZE HER.

I COUNTED AT LEAST
35 INDIVIDUAL BLOWS.

LOOKS LIKE SHE PUT UP
A BIG FIGHT, TOO.

THERE ARE DEFENSIVE WOUNDS
ON HER HANDS AND FINGERNAILS TORN.

THERE'S BRUISING ON HER RING
FINGER AROUND THE KNUCKLE.

ONE OF MARILYN SHEPPARD'S TEETH
WAS BROKEN AWAY.

IT'S FOUND ON THE BED.

HER PAJAMA BOTTOMS WERE REMOVED
FROM HER LEFT LEG

AND FOUND TUCKED
UNDER THE RIGHT LEG,

AND SUGGESTED THAT IT MAY HAVE
BEEN A SEXUAL ASSAULT.

NO ONE HAD EVER SEEN
ANYTHING LIKE THAT.

THE ANGER AND THE HATRED
OF THE ACT WAS SO BRUTAL.

SOMETHING WRONG,
OFFICER?

S-SHE WAS EXPECTING.

SHE WAS PREGNANT?

FOUR MONTHS.

MARILYN CAME FROM MONEY,

BUT THAT DON'T
LET THAT FOOL YOU

INTO THINKING
SHE GREW UP HAPPY.

HER MOTHER DIED
WHEN SHE WAS YOUNG,

AND SHE HAD
ONE OF THOSE FATHERS

WHO DON'T HAVE
THE FAINTEST IDEA

HOW TO RAISE A DAUGHTER ALONE.

SO WHEN SHE ANNOUNCED
HER SECOND PREGNANCY,

I WAS THRILLED FOR HER.

SHE WAS FINALLY GOING TO HAVE
THE SORT OF FAMILY

SHE'D ALWAYS WANTED.

IN THE DEN, THE
INVESTIGATORS SEE DRAWERS OPEN,

CONTENTS RIFLED THROUGH.

THERE WAS A PHYSICIAN'S BAG
THAT HAD BEEN DUMPED OVER.

MORNING, BUBOWSKI.
YOU FIND ANY PRINTS?

I-I'M NOT FINDING
MUCH OF ANYTHING

IN THE WAY
OF A CLEAR PRINT.

THE FINGERPRINT TECHNICIAN

IS UNABLE TO GET
QUALITY FINGERPRINT LIFTS.

THE POLICE WONDER
IF SOMEONE CLEANED UP THE HOUSE

AND WIPED IT DOWN AND REMOVED
ALL THE FINGERPRINTS.

IT LOOKED LIKE
A STAGED BURGLARY.

ROBBERS MOVE FAST.

THEY DUMP DRAWERS.
THEY TRASH THE HOUSE.

THEY DIDN'T SEE THAT.

IT'S TOO CAREFUL.

NONE OF THIS ADDS UP.

WELL, LET'S
GO TALK TO HIM.

NOW, SAM HADN'T JUST
BEEN TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL,

HE'D BEEN TAKEN
TO HIS HOSPITAL.

THE SHEPPARD FAMILY
OWNED BAY VIEW HOSPITAL.

SAM AND HIS TWO BROTHERS WORKED
THERE ALONGSIDE THEIR FATHER.

FOR MOST OF US,
GOING TO BAY VIEW

FELT LIKE BEING TREATED
BY YOUR OWN FAMILY.

BUT AS FOR THE DETECTIVES,
WELL...

THE DETECTIVES
ARE HERE TO SEE YOU.

SEND THEM IN.

...THIS MEANT THEY WERE PLAYING
ON SAM'S HOME TURF.

DR. SHEPPARD...
I'M HOMICIDE DETECTIVE SHOTKEY.

THIS IS MY PARTNER,
DETECTIVE GOREAU.

OUR DEEPEST CONDOLENCES.

THANK YOU.

WE'RE TERRIBLY SORRY
TO INTRUDE,

BUT IF YOU DON'T MIND, WE'D LIKE
TO ASK YOU A FEW QUESTIONS.

MY RECOLLECTION'S A BIT CLOUDED,
BUT I CAN TRY.

JUST TAKE US
STEP-BY-STEP.

WHAT HAPPENED LAST NIGHT?

WELL, WE HAD FRIENDS DON
AND NANCY AHERN OVER FOR DINNER.

AFTER DINNER,
WE PUT OUR SON TO BED...

HEY, IT'S MOVIE NIGHT
AFTER ALL.

...AND DECIDED TO WATCH A MOVIE
WITH OUR GUESTS.

I WAS EXHAUSTED
FROM A LONG DAY AT THE HOSPITAL,

AND I LIED DOWN
ON THE DAYBED.

**

SAM!! SAM!!

SAM!!

I VAGUELY RECALL HEARING
MARILYN CRY MY NAME,

AND, IN MY DROWSY STATE,
I FELT STIMULATED TO GO TO HER,

AND I DID AS SOON
AS I COULD NAVIGATE.

IT WAS DARK.

BUT AS I WENT UP THE STAIRS,

I COULD VAGUELY MAKE OUT
THIS LIGHT OBJECT,

SILHOUETTE OF A BIPED FORM,
STANDING OVER HER BED.

A BIPED FORM?

THAT'S ALL
I CAN VISUALIZE.

WHAT HAPPENED NEXT?

WELL, I ENTERED THE ROOM,
AND JUST AS SOON AS I DID,

I WAS STRUCK FROM BEHIND
AND RENDERED UNCONSCIOUS.

SO, YOU'RE SAYING THERE WERE
TWO INTRUDERS IN THE HOUSE --

ONE THAT YOU SAW IN THE ROOM,

AND THE OTHER
THAT STRUCK YOU FROM BEHIND?

I CAN'T BE SURE.
I JUST SAW THE ONE.

OKAY, GO ON.

YOU PASSED OUT,
AND THEN WHAT HAPPENED?

WHEN I REGAINED
CONSCIOUSNESS,

I RECALL SITTING
NEXT TO MARILYN.

SHE WAS
IN VERY BAD FORM.

I THEN HEARD NOISES
DOWNSTAIRS.

I WAS COMPELLED
TO GET THIS PERSON,

SO I -- I RAN DOWNSTAIRS,

AND I COULD MAKE OUT THIS DARK
FORM STANDING BESIDE THE WINDOW.

WITHIN SECONDS,
THIS FORM DASHED OUTSIDE,

AND I FOLLOWED IT TO THE BEACH.

I GRAPPLED WITH IT...

AND I BLACKED OUT.

I RECALL WAKING UP.

THE WAVES WERE BREAKING
OVER HALF MY BODY.

I GOT UP.
I WENT BACK INTO THE HOUSE

TO CHECK ON MARILYN.

I COULD FEEL THAT SHE WAS GONE,

AND I CALLED FOR HELP.

YOU WERE RENDERED UNCONSCIOUS
A SECOND TIME?

YES.

WERE YOU ABLE TO REMEMBER
ANY SPECIFIC DETAILS

ABOUT THIS INTRUDER?

CAN YOU DESCRIBE HIM
TO US?

MY FOGGY RECOLLECTION, I CAN
BARELY VISUALIZE ANY FEATURES.

BUT HE -- HE
WAS TALLER THAN MYSELF.

HIS HAIR WAS OF A LARGE,
BUSHY NATURE.

THEY DON'T BELIEVE
A WORD THAT HE'S SAYING.

SHE'S JUST BEEN KILLED,
HE'S EXTREMELY COMPOSED.

HE CLAIMS THAT HE'S BEEN
KNOCKED OUT TWICE,

BUT HE'S NOT DEAD.

WHY WOULD A KILLER KILL HIS WIFE
AND THEN LEAVE HIM ALIVE?

SAM'S ACCOUNT OF WHAT HAPPENED
JUST DID NOT ADD UP.

WHAT'S THE TIME
OF DEATH?

APPROXIMATELY
3:00 TO 4:45 A.M.

THAT'S A LONG TIME
BEFORE HE CALLED.

YES, IT IS.

MAYBE THAT WAS THE MOMENT THAT
EVERYTHING STARTED TO UNRAVEL.

WHEN I HEARD HOW LONG
IT TOOK DR. SAM

TO CALL THE POLICE THAT NIGHT,
I HAD TO WONDER

MAYBE HE WASN'T THE MAN
WE ALL THOUGHT HE WAS.

YOU'D THINK THAT A MAN

WHOSE WIFE
HAS BEEN BLUDGEONED TO DEATH

IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT,

AND THEN BEEN ATTACKED HIMSELF,
WOULD BE A LITTLE CONFUSED.

WHAT'S THE TIME
OF DEATH?

SOMETIME BETWEEN
3:00 TO 4:45 A.M.

AND DR. SAM SEEMED
OUT OF IT, ALL RIGHT.

THAT'S A LONG TIME
BEFORE HE CALLED.

YES, IT IS.

BUT THERE WAS SOMETHING
ABOUT HIS STORY

THAT JUST DIDN'T
SMELL RIGHT TO THE POLICE.

THANKS, DOCTOR.

SO, IT SEEMS WE HAVE A LITTLE
NEW INFORMATION, DOCTOR.

YOUR WIFE DIED BETWEEN 3:00
AND SOMETIME AFTER 4:00 A.M.

BUT YOU DIDN'T CALL FOR HELP
UNTIL 5:40 IN THE MORNING.

YOU WERE ALONE
IN THE HOUSE

FOR OVER AN HOUR
WITH YOUR DECEASED WIFE.

WHAT WERE YOU DOING
THAT WHOLE TIME?

I WAS TRYING
TO GET MY BEARINGS.

I DIDN'T KNOW
IF I WAS IN A NIGHTMARE

OR IF I'D SOON AWAKE.

HOW WAS YOUR MARRIAGE?

GENTLEMEN, MY MARRIAGE
WAS PERFECTLY FINE.

ANY FIGHTS LATELY?

YOU'VE BEEN MARRIED
FOR A FEW YEARS, CORRECT?

THAT CAN WEAR ON A MAN.

I DON'T HAVE TIME
FOR THIS LINE OF INQUIRY.

IF YOU THINK I WAS CAPABLE
OF DOING THAT TO MY WIFE

WHILE MY SON WAS
IN THE ROOM NEXT DOOR,

HOW DARE YOU COME IN HERE
AND ACCUSE ME.

THEY THINK THIS IS
A SIGN OF GUILT.

I AM NOT IN ANY FORM
TO HAVE THIS DISCUSSION!

GENTLEMEN, I'M GONNA NEED
MY BROTHER BACK... NOW.

THE POLICE ARE UPSET THAT THEIR
INTERVIEW IS BEING CUT SHORT.

THEY WOULD'VE LIKED MORE TIME
TO TALK TO SAM SHEPPARD

AND TRY TO BREAK HIM DOWN
AND GET THE CONFESSION

THAT THEY BELIEVE
HE WAS HOLDING INSIDE.

WE LOOK FORWARD TO FINDING
YOUR WIFE'S KILLER REAL SOON.

I BET THEY DID.

BUT IF THE DETECTIVE'S THEORY
WAS CORRECT,

SAM SHOULD'VE BEEN COVERED
IN SCRAPES AND GASHES,

YOU KNOW, DEFENSIVE WOUNDS.

BUT WHEN THE REPORT
CAME BACK...

THERE'S NO SIGNS OF ANY
KIND OF SCRATCHING ON SAM SHEPPARD.

HE CLEARLY HAD A CONCUSSION.

HE WAS SENSITIVE TO LIGHT.

THE SPINAL CORD HAS
SOME COMPRESSION INJURIES

CAUSED BY SOME BLOW
TO THE BACK OF THE NECK.

IT SEEMS VERY UNLIKELY
THAT SAM OR MARILYN SHEPPARD

COULD'VE INFLICTED THESE WOUNDS
ON HIMSELF.

BUT EVERYONE
HAS THEIR LITTLE SECRETS.

MAYBE SAM WAS JUST
BETTER AT HIDING THEM.

HE'S A DOCTOR, RIGHT?

HE PROBABLY KNOWS
HOW TO FAKE A CONCUSSION.

AND WHEN YOU'RE TRYING
TO DISCOVER WHAT SECRETS

HAVE BEEN SWEPT UNDER THE RUG,

IT'S A GOOD IDEA TO CHECK
WITH THE PEOPLE WHO CLEAN THEM.

THE POLICE ACCESSED
THE HOUSEHOLD CHECKBOOK

AND SEE WHO THEY PAID CHECKS TO.

DID YOU EVER
SEE THEM FIGHT?

NO MORE THAN
ANY OTHER MARRIED FOLK.

ARE YOU SURE
MRS. SHEPPARD

NEVER COMPLAINED ABOUT SAM?

THEY INTERVIEWED THE BABYSITTER,

THEY INTERVIEWED
A WINDOW WASHER,

AND THEY INTERVIEWED
A HOUSEKEEPER.

DID YOU EVER HEAR
DR. SHEPPARD

RAISE HIS VOICE
TO MRS. SHEPPARD?

HE WAS NEVER AROUND
WHEN I WAS DOING MY WORK.

THEY HAD ACCESS TO THE HOUSE,

BUT NONE OF THEM
TURNED UP ANY LEADS.

IN A MURDER INVESTIGATION,
AS IN LIFE,

JUST BECAUSE THE ANSWERS
AREN'T COMING EASILY

DOESN'T MEAN THEY AREN'T
OUT THERE TO BE FOUND.

SO, THAT'S
WHAT THE DETECTIVES DID --

THEY WENT LOOKING.

A MAN TELLS THE DETECTIVES

AT 2:30, HE SAW A TALL,
BUSHY-HAIRED MAN

WITH A LIGHT SHIRT
OUTSIDE THE SHEPPARD HOUSE.

WHAT TIME
DID YOU SAY IT WAS?

IT WAS 4:30 IN THE MORNING,
I'M SURE OF THAT.

I SAW A MAN,
SEEMED VERY TALL,

ESPECIALLY WITH ALL THAT HAIR
STICKING UP.

SHE CLAIMED SEEING A PERSON

NEAR THE SHEPPARD HOME
WITH BUSHY HAIR.

THAT MATCHED SAM'S DESCRIPTION
OF THE INTRUDER.

AND THAT TIME TABLE FITS

BECAUSE THE TIME OF DEATH
IS ABOUT 4:30 IN THE MORNING.

THEY COMBED EVERY INCH
OF OUR NEIGHBORHOOD,

RIGHT DOWN TO THE LAKE.

IT WAS A GOOD THING, TOO.

THE POLICE SEE, DISTINCTLY,
TWO SETS OF FOOTPRINTS.

IT'S ROUGHLY IN THE AREA
WHERE SAM DESCRIBED HIS STRUGGLE.

THIS IS SIGNIFICANT.

THEY ALSO FIND A GREEN BAG.

IN THE BAG, THEY FIND
THE WATCH OF DR. SHEPPARD

AND A KEY CHAIN AND SOME OTHER
ITEMS FROM THE HOUSE.

COULD THIS BE SOMETHING
THAT WAS THROWN BY THE KILLER

AS SAM PURSUED HIM
DOWN TO THE BEACH?

A STRANGER LURKING IN THE DARK,

TWO SETS OF FOOTPRINTS
ON THE BEACH,

DISCARDED VALUABLES
BELONGING TO SAM --

THE CLUES WERE REALLY STARTING
TO STACK UP

IN FAVOR OF DR. SAM'S STORY.

SOMEBODY NEEDS TO START
EATING SOME HOT DOGS.

THEY'RE GETTING BURNED.

NO, NO, NO.

I THINK YOU'VE HAD ENOUGH
OVER THERE.

I THINK
I NEED ANOTHER BEER.

NO. NO.

BUT WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT IT,

THAT'S THE STORY
THAT SHOULD MAKE SENSE, RIGHT?

WE HAD NO REASON
TO SUSPECT OTHERWISE.

SAM AND MARILYN
ALWAYS SEEMED SO IN LOVE.

THE WAY THEY LOOKED AT EACH
OTHER WAS THE STUFF OF MOVIES.

IT COULDN'T HAVE BEEN
JUST FOR SHOW, RIGHT?

BUT IF ANY PART
OF IT WAS AN ACT,

WE ALL KNOW NANCY AHERN
WOULD KNOW.

IT WASN'T JUST BECAUSE
THE AHERNS HAD SEEN MARILYN

THE NIGHT SHE DIED.

NANCY AND MARILYN
WERE INSEPARABLE.

OUR CONDOLENCES,
MA'AM.

DO YOU KNOW ANYBODY WHO MIGHT
WANT TO HURT MRS. SHEPPARD?

NO.

SHE WAS YOUR
BEST FRIEND, RIGHT?

HOW WERE THINGS
IN THEIR MARRIAGE?

WELL... THEY DID FIGHT.

ABOUT WHAT?

WELL... SAM WAS CAUGHT
HAVING SOME...

INDISCRETIONS
WITH THE NURSES.

MARILYN FOUND OUT.

WHEN SHE CONFRONTED HIM
ABOUT IT,

HE WOULD ABSOLUTELY
BLOW UP AT HER.

THIS WAS A BIG BOMB-SHELL.

WHEN THE POLICE INTERVIEWED SAM,

SAM SAID THERE'S NO TROUBLE
IN THE MARRIAGE.

AND IF HE'S LYING
ABOUT THE AFFAIRS,

THEN WHAT ELSE
IS HE LYING ABOUT?

SAM HAD
A NUMBER OF AFFAIRS.

SO, THERE WASN'T
JUST ONE INDISCRETION?

IT HAD BEEN GOING ON
FOR YEARS.

SAM EVEN TOLD MARILYN
THAT HE WANTED A DIVORCE.

THAT WAS A BIG DEAL FOR US
BACK THEN.

DIVORCE DIDN'T JUST MEAN
YOUR MARRIAGE WAS OVER,

YOUR WHOLE LIFE WAS.

AT LEAST, THAT'S HOW PEOPLE
THOUGHT ABOUT IT.

IN 1954, DIVORCE
WAS A BLACK MARK

ON A FAMILY AS PROMINENT
AS THE SHEPPARD FAMILY.

SHE TELLS THE POLICE NOT
ONLY THAT SAM WANTED A DIVORCE,

BUT THE FAMILY
TALKED HIM OUT OF IT.

NOW THEY HAVE A MOTIVE.

SAM WANTED TO GET HER
OUT OF THE PICTURE

SO HE CAN HAVE THE LIFE
THAT HE WANTS TO LEAD

WITHOUT ACTUALLY HAVING
TO GET A DIVORCE.

SO, AT THIS POINT,

THE POLICE HAVE A CRIME SCENE
THAT LOOKS STAGED,

THEY HAVE A MOTIVE FOR SAM
TO GET RID OF MARILYN.

AND THIS STORY ABOUT AN INTRUDER

WITH BUSHY HAIR
WHO DIDN'T KILL HIM.

LOOK, THERE'S ONLY ONE WAY
THIS MAKES SENSE.

SHEPPARD WAS THE ONLY ONE
WE KNOW FOR CERTAIN

WHO WAS IN THE HOUSE
THAT NIGHT,

AND WE KNOW HE WANTED
OUT OF HIS MARRIAGE.

THAT'S IT?
THAT'S ALL YOU HAVE?

YOU BUY HIS
"BUSHY-HAIRED BIPED FORM" STORY?

NOT A MATTER OF WHAT I BUY.

THIS IS A WELL-RESPECTED MAN
IN OUR COMMUNITY.

I'M NOT ABOUT TO DROP
A MURDER CHARGE ON HIM

WITHOUT SOME REAL EVIDENCE.

WHAT EVIDENCE DO YOU HAVE?

WHAT DO YOU HAVE?
TELL ME, ANYTHING.

THIS CONVERSATION'S OVER.

YOU'D THINK
IN A CASE LIKE THIS ONE,

WITH SO MANY INCONSISTENCIES
AND SO FEW FACTS,

YOU'D WANT TO BE CAREFUL

ABOUT HOW YOU THROW AROUND
INFORMATION, RIGHT?

BUT WHEN YOU'RE TRYING
TO PROVE A POINT,

SOMETIMES YOU'VE GOT TO NUDGE
THINGS IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.

PRESS ROOM.

I have some information
about Sam Sheppard.

RIGHT, RIGHT, RIGHT.

SOMEONE FROM
THE POLICE DEPARTMENT

LEAKS THE INFORMATION
TO THE PRESS.

OKAY.

NO KIDDING.

OKAY, AND WHO --
WHO SAYS THAT?

SOME OF THE POLICE
USE THE PRESS

TO MAKE THEIR CASE
TO THE PUBLIC.

GETTING AWAY
WITH MURDER.

THE CLEVELAND PRESS STARTS
TO CAMPAIGN AGAINST SHEPPARD.

WORDS OF HIS AFFAIRS
WERE APPEARING IN NEWSPAPERS.

THREE WEEKS AFTER THE MURDER,
THE PRESS SAYS, "BRING HIM IN.

ARREST SAM SHEPPARD."

**

PUBLIC OPINION IS
TURNING AGAINST SAM.

PEOPLE START TO GATHER
AROUND SAM'S PARENTS' HOUSE.

WITH ALL OF THE
PRESSURE MOUNTING FROM THE PRESS,

THE POLICE CHIEF GIVES IN.

SAM SHEPPARD IS INDICTED.

IT'S A MOB.

HE DRAGS SAM OUT IN HANDCUFFS.

THE CROWD HOLLERS,
"MURDERER! MURDERER!"

THE TRIAL OF DR. SAM SHEPPARD,

CHARGED WITH THE MURDER
OF HIS WIFE,

MARILYN SHEPPARD, BEGAN MONDAY.

THE SECOND MEMBER OF THE JURY
WAS SEATED YESTERDAY.

THE TRIAL STARTED
3 OR 4 MONTHS AFTER THE MURDER.

THIS WAS A GREAT STORY.

PEOPLE WERE ADDICTED TO IT.

REPORTERS ARE COMING
IN FROM ALL OVER THE COUNTRY.

THIS HAD ALL THE DRAMA.

THE JURORS WERE GETTING HOUNDED
BY THE MEDIA.

THE COURTROOM IS A CIRCUS.

IN THIS DAY AND AGE,

THE PRESS WOULD NEVER BE ABLE
TO GET ACCESS TO THE JURY.

PEOPLE WERE CLEARLY AGAINST
HIM, THOUGHT HE WAS GUILTY.

THE PROSECUTION
MAY HAVE THE PRESS

AND THE COMMUNITY ON ITS SIDE,

BUT IT STILL HAS THE OBLIGATION
TO PROVE THE CASE.

LADIES AND GENTLEMEN
OF THE JURY,

WE ARE HERE TODAY TO TRY
THE CASE OF DR. SAM SHEPPARD,

WHO, YOU WILL SEE
IN THE COURSE OF THIS TRIAL,

HAD A HUGE ARGUMENT
WITH HIS WIFE, MARILYN,

OVER HIS EXTRAMARITAL AFFAIRS.

YOU EXPECT ME TO BELIEVE

THAT YOU'RE IN SURGERY
UNTIL MIDNIGHT?

REALLY?!

CAN'T BELIEVE A WORD
THAT COMES OUT OF YOUR MOUTH.

WERE YOU EVEN
AT THE HOSPITAL?

ARE WE HAVING THIS CONVERSATION
RIGHT NOW?

THE PROSECUTION
PORTRAYS SAM SHEPPARD

AS A PHILANDERING HUSBAND
WHO IS TIRED OF HIS MARRIAGE

AND WHO WANTS TO BE FREE
OF HIS WIFE.

THEY ARE ABLE TO PRESENT
TO THE JURY THAT SAM IS ANGRY,

HE'S MOTIVATED TO KILL MARILYN

SO THAT HE CAN GO
AND HAVE THE LIFE THAT HE WANTS.

HE PROCEEDED
TO BEAT HIS WIFE TO DEATH.

AND JURORS JUST EAT IT UP.

IT WAS VERY DISCONCERTING
FOR THE DEFENSE.

YOU SURE YOU WANT UP?
YES, ABSOLUTELY.

EXCUSE ME, YOUR HONOR.
YES?

I'D LIKE TO CALL A WITNESS
UP TO THE STAND.

MY CLIENT,
DR. SAMUEL SHEPPARD.

FINALLY, WE WERE GOING TO
GET THE FULL STORY

STRAIGHT FROM
THE HORSE'S MOUTH.

IT IS THE MOMENT
EVERYONE HAS BEEN WAITING FOR.

DO YOU SWEAR TO TELL THE TRUTH,
THE WHOLE TRUTH,

AND NOTHING BUT THE TRUTH,
SO HELP YOU GOD?

I DO.

THE WHOLE TRIAL COMES
DOWN TO WHETHER SAM SHEPPARD

CAN CONVINCE THE JURY
OF HIS INNOCENCE.

DOCTOR,
IN YOUR OWN WORDS,

PLEASE TELL US WHAT HAPPENED
THAT NIGHT.

YES, SIR.

FIRST THING I RECALL WAS BEING
AWAKENED BY THE SOUND

OF MY WIFE'S SCREAMS,

AND IN MY DROWSY STATE,
I FELT STIMULATED TO GO TO HER.

ON TOP OF THE STAIRS,
I COULD VISUALIZE A SILHOUETTE,

WHICH WAS DESCRIBABLE
AS A LIGHT-TOPPED FORM,

A BIPED FORM.

THOSE OF US WHO KNEW SAM

WERE USED TO HIS PECULIAR WAY
OF TALKING.

HE WAS A SMART MAN.

BUT THE PROSECUTOR WENT TO TOWN
WITH IT.

WHAT DID YOU MEAN BY...
LIGHT-TOPPED FORM?

I SAW A LIGHT GARMENT.

IT HAD THE APPEARANCE OF SOMEONE
INSIDE OF IT, SHOULDERS.

WELL, DID IT HAVE A HEAD?

DR. SHEPPARD,
TELL US AGAIN

WHERE YOU WERE HIT
BY THIS... INTRUDER.

IT STRUCK ME FROM BEHIND.

BUT WASN'T THIS THING
IN FRONT OF YOU?

I HAVE A FEELING
THAT IT WAS.

SO, WAS IT POSSIBLE
FOR THIS THING

TO HIT YOU FROM BEHIND?

I WOULD SAY SO.

DR. SHEPPARD
WAS A HORRIBLE WITNESS.

IT WAS A DISASTER.

AFTER 18 BALLOTS,
THE JURY FINALLY REACHES A VERDICT...

...AND THE VERDICT IS GUILTY.

SAM SHEPPARD IS SENTENCED
TO LIFE IN PRISON.

BUT THE FAMILY
DID NOT GIVE UP HOPE.

SHEPPARD'S DEFENSE TEAM
APPEALS HIS CONVICTION

ON THE GROUNDS THAT HE DID NOT
GET A FAIR TRIAL.

FOR YEARS, THIS APPEAL
WAS REJECTED BY THE OHIO COURTS.

NOW SHEPPARD
BEGINS HIS LIFE SENTENCE

AS PRISONER NUMBER 98860.

IN 1961, THE SHEPPARD FAMILY

HIRES A YOUNG BOSTON LAWYER,
F. LEE BAILEY.

WE FILED WHAT IS CALLED
A PETITION

FOR A WRIT OF HABEAS CORPUS,

WHICH ASKED THAT HE BE RELEASED

BECAUSE HIS CONSTITUTIONAL
RIGHTS HAD BEEN VIOLATED.

F. LEE BAILEY --
RING A BELL?

THE BOSTON STRANGLER,
PATTY HEARST, O.J. SIMPSON?

YEAH, BUT IT WAS THIS CASE

THAT WOULD PUT BAILEY
ON THE MAP.

FRANCIS BAILEY HADN'T BEEN
A LAWYER FOR MORE THAN A YEAR

BEFORE HE TOOK ON SAM'S CASE.

BUT HE STILL BROUGHT IT ALL
THE WAY TO THE SUPREME COURT.

F. LEE BAILEY FOUND
THAT DR. SHEPPARD

DID NOT GET A FAIR TRIAL
BECAUSE THE MEDIA ATTENTION

AND PUBLICITY WAS
SO OVER THE TOP.

WHEN THE JURY WAS
BEING SELECTED,

THE PRESS PUBLISHED ALL
OF THEIR NAMES AND ADDRESSES.

THE JURORS WERE BOMBARDED
BY THE PRESS, AND THE PRESS

HAD ALREADY DECIDED
THAT SAM SHEPPARD WAS GUILTY.

AND THE SUPREME COURT RULES
THAT DR. SHEPPARD

DID NOT RECEIVE A FAIR TRIAL.

IT WAS A PROFOUND
LANDMARK RULING,

THAT STILL HOLDS UP TODAY
AS TO THE PROPER BALANCE

BETWEEN FREEDOM OF PRESS
AND THE RIGHTS OF THE ACCUSED.

WHEN THE SUPREME COURT
REVERSED SAM'S CONVICTION,

WE HOPED THAT WOULD BE
THE END OF IT.

BUT THE STATE OF OHIO WASN'T
GOING TO LET HIM OFF THE HOOK.

IN THEIR EYES, DR. SAM WAS
AS GUILTY AS EVER.

SO AFTER 12 YEARS IN JAIL,
SAM HAD TO FACE A SECOND TRIAL.

THE DEFENSE CALLS
DR. PAUL KIRK TO THE STAND.

BUT THIS TIME...

HE HAD A SECRET WEAPON.

WHEN THE PAPERS
SAID A FORENSICS EXPERT

WAS GOING TO TAKE THE STAND,

WELL, WE WEREN'T EVEN SURE
WHAT THE WORD MEANT.

IN 1966, A GUY WHO STUDIED
BLOOD AT A CRIME SCENE

SOUNDED MORE LIKE A SICKO
THAN A SCIENTIST.

BUT BACK IN 1955, AS SOON AS
THEY HEARD THAT GUILTY VERDICT,

SAM'S FAMILY KNEW THEY NEEDED
AN EXPERT ON THEIR SIDE.

DR. KIRK WAS REALLY
CONSIDERED AS THE FATHER

OF BLOODSTAIN-PATTERN ANALYSIS.

HE WROTE THE FIRST MAJOR BOOK
ABOUT FORENSIC SCIENCE

AND HOW IT WAS TO BE APPLIED.

DR. KIRK INFORMS THE FAMILY

HIS ONLY LOYALTY
IS TO THE EVIDENCE,

AND THAT SOME OF THIS EVIDENCE

MAY ACTUALLY BE HURTFUL
TO SAM SHEPPARD.

DR. KIRK, CAN YOU
WALK US THROUGH YOUR FINDINGS

AND WHERE YOU FOUND

SIGNIFICANT BLOOD EVIDENCE
IN ANY MANNER?

YES, UM,
ALL FLYING BLOOD

LEAVES A SYMMETRICAL TAIL
INDICATING ITS TRAJECTORY.

**

WHEN THE WEAPON
HITS A BLOODY HEAD,

THE BLOOD FLIES OUT
LIKE SPOKES OF A WHEEL.

IN THIS CASE,
RADIATING FROM THE VICTIM'S HEAD

WHERE SHE WAS BEATEN.

IN ADDITION, I NOTICED
THAT THERE WAS A VOID,

OR AN ABSENCE OF BLOOD
ON A SECTION OF THE EAST WALL,

DELINEATING WHERE THE KILLER WAS
POSITIONED DURING THE ATTACK.

HE CONCLUDES
A PERPETRATOR INTERCEPTS

AND BLOCKS THE BLOOD
COMING FROM HER HEAD,

AND THIS PERPETRATOR
WOULD BE COVERED IN BLOOD.

SAM SHEPPARD DIDN'T
HAVE BLOOD ALL OVER HIM.

WERE THERE ANY OTHER
SIGNIFICANT FINDINGS?

THERE WAS A SPOT OF BLOOD

WHICH LOOKED DIFFERENT
THAN ALL THE OTHER SPATTER.

THIS WAS A LARGE STAIN.

A STAIN THAT SIZE
CANNOT FLY THROUGH THE AIR.

IT HAD TO BE DEPOSITED
IN A VERY CLOSE PROXIMITY.

AND WHAT WERE
YOUR CONCLUSIONS

ABOUT THIS DISTINCT,
LARGER BLOODSTAIN?

WELL, WHEN I EXAMINED
MARILYN SHEPPARD'S BROKEN TEETH,

IT LED ME TO BELIEVE
THAT HER TOOTH WAS BROKEN

WHEN SHE BIT THE ATTACKER,

CAUSING A DEEP INJURY
TO HIS HAND,

AND THAT IT WAS HER ATTACKER

WHO THEN DEPOSITED THE BLOOD
DIRECTLY ONTO THAT LARGER SPOT.

THE INVESTIGATORS
THOUGHT THAT THIS TOOTH

WAS BROKEN FROM A BLOW
INTO THE MOUTH,

BUT BY LOOKING AT THE FRACTURE
MARKS, DR. KIRK DETERMINED THAT,

IN FACT, THIS TOOTH WAS BROKEN
FROM THE INSIDE OUT.

AND THROUGH
LAB TESTING,

YOU WERE ABLE TO NARROW DOWN
WHOSE BLOOD THAT MIGHT'VE BEEN?

I WAS.

IT WAS NOT
OF THE SAME BLOOD TYPE

AS THE VICTIM,
MARILYN SHEPPARD,

OR DR. SAM SHEPPARD.

**

DR. KIRK IS REALLY EMPHATIC
THAT THERE IS NO SCIENTIFIC PROOF

TO SHOW THAT DR. SHEPPARD
KILLED HIS WIFE.

BUT, IN FACT, THERE WAS
SCIENTIFIC EVIDENCE INDICATING

THAT ANOTHER PERSON HAD ACTUALLY
PERPETRATED THE CRIME.

MR. FOREMAN,
HAVE YOU REACHED A VERDICT?

IN THE CASE OF THE STATE
OF OHIO VERSUS SAM SHEPPARD,

THE JURY FINDS THE DEFENDANT,
SAM SHEPPARD,

NOT GUILTY
OF ALL CHARGES.

BUT, IF IT'S NOT SAM,
WHO KILLED MARILYN SHEPPARD?

YOU KNOW THE SAYING.

SOONER OR LATER,
THE TRUTH WILL COME OUT.

**

WHEN YOU'RE LIVING IT,

35 YEARS FEELS LIKE
A LONG TIME.

BUT WHEN AN OLD FRIEND
CALLED ONE DAY IN 1989

TO SAY THERE'D BEEN A BREAK
IN THE SHEPPARD CASE,

THAT FOURTH OF JULY MORNING

CAME FLOODING BACK TO ME
LIKE IT WAS YESTERDAY.

IN 1989, A GUY
BY THE NAME OF RICHARD EBERLING

IS CONVICTED
OF MURDERING AN ELDERLY WOMAN.

RICHARD EBERLING.

BOY, THAT TAKES ME BACK.

HE WAS ONE OF THOSE GUYS

WHO DID ODD JOBS
AROUND THE NEIGHBORHOOD,

A HANDYMAN OF SORTS.

I THINK THE SHEPPARDS
HAD HIM WASH THEIR WINDOWS.

SO, YOU NEVER SAW ANYTHING

THAT MIGHT INDICATE TROUBLE
IN THE HOUSEHOLD?

NO.

TURNS OUT, THE DETECTIVES HAD
TALKED TO EBERLING BACK IN 1954

WHEN THEY QUESTIONED
THE SHEPPARDS' HOUSEHOLD HELP.

HE ACTUALLY WAS
THE WINDOW WASHER

AT THE SHEPPARD HOME
AROUND THE TIME OF THE MURDER.

THEN, 5 YEARS LATER, IN 1959,

AFTER MARILYN WAS DEAD
AND BURIED AND SAM WAS IN JAIL,

THAT SAME RICHARD EBERLING
WAS ARRESTED FOR BURGLARY.

APPARENTLY, HE WAS ONE OF
THOSE CAREER PETTY THIEVES,

AND HE'D FINALLY BEEN CAUGHT.

YOU NEEDED THE MONEY,
MR. EBERLING?

YEAH, I SOLD MOST OF THE GEMS,
BUT NOT MARILYN SHEPPARD'S.

I STILL HAVE
TWO OF HERS.

I-I FOUND THEM
IN HER SISTER'S HOUSE.

HE VOLUNTEERED THAT HE STOLE
TWO OF MARILYN SHEPPARD'S RINGS

AFTER HER DEATH.

THE DETECTIVES ASKED HIM

ABOUT HIS RELATIONSHIP
WITH MARILYN.

MARILYN WAS...

HELLO, MR. EBERLING.

...ALWAYS IMMACULATE.

SHE HAD THAT
MOVIE-STAR LOOK --

TIGHT SHORTS,
LITTLE BLOUSE,

BIT REVEALING, BUT ALWAYS --
ALWAYS CLASSY.

HE DESCRIBED HER
AS SORT OF A VIRGIN TRAMP.

SHE WAS SO CLASSY
AND SUCH A LADY,

AND THEN, IN THE NEXT BREATH,
HE'D TALK ABOUT HOW TIGHT

HER WHITE SHORTS WERE
ON HER BUTT.

THE POLICE THOUGHT THAT,

"MAYBE WE'RE ON
TO SOMEBODY NEW HERE

WHO COULD BE THE MURDERER."

IT'S GUT FEELING. THAT'S HOW
THEY OPERATED BACK THEN.

WHEN YOU'VE GOT A FEELING

THERE'S SOMETHING
LURKING BENEATH THE SURFACE,

WHY NOT THROW IN A LITTLE BAIT,
SEE WHAT BITES?

YOUR BLOOD WAS FOUND
AT THE SHEPPARDS' HOME.

CAN YOU HELP ME UNDERSTAND
WHY IT MIGHT BE THERE?

I WAS OVER THERE,
CHANGING A WINDOW SCREEN.

HANDLED IT WRONG, IT SLIPPED,
AND "KWCK!" CUT MY HAND OPEN.

RICHARD EBERLING IS ABOUT
6 FEET TALL, ABOUT 180 POUNDS.

THE DESCRIPTION OF THE
SHEPPARD SUSPECT BACK IN 1954

WAS A TALL MAN WITH BUSHY HAIR.

HE FIT THE DESCRIPTION,
EXCEPT HE WAS PREMATURELY BALD.

BUT HE WAS SAID
TO WEAR A TOUPEE.

SO, THE BUSHY-HAIRED MAN

REALLY IS SOMEBODY
WHO RESEMBLES RICHARD EBERLING.

BUT THIS ALL HAPPENED IN 1959,

AND SAM SHEPPARD
HAD BEEN FOUND GUILTY,

SO EVEN THOUGH THE LOCAL POLICE
WANTED TO PURSUE EBERLING,

THE POWERS THAT BE
WANTED NOTHING TO DO WITH IT.

FINALLY, IN 1989,

AFTER EBERLING
WAS CONVICTED OF A MURDER,

THERE WAS THEN AN EFFORT
TO REEXAMINE THE SHEPPARD CASE.

THE DNA TESTING OF
THE SO-CALLED UNIQUE BLOOD SPOT

EXCLUDES 98% OF THE POPULATION.

ONLY 2% COULD'VE
CONTRIBUTED THAT BLOOD.

RICHARD EBERLING
IS AMONG THOSE 2%.

BUT BY THE TIME
THIS ALL CAME TO LIGHT,

SAM SHEPPARD HAD BEEN DEAD
FOR ALMOST 20 YEARS.

AND THE AUTHORITIES DIDN'T WANT
TO HEAR ONE WORD ABOUT IT.

THEY SAID THE EVIDENCE
WAS PROBABLY CONTAMINATED

AND THEREFORE INCONCLUSIVE.

WHAT GOOD WOULD IT DO, ANYWAY?

NO CHARGES ARE BROUGHT
AGAINST RICHARD EBERLING.

HE DIES IN PRISON IN 1998...

AND THAT'S THE END OF IT.

I INTERVIEWED RICHARD EBERLING
SEVERAL TIMES.

IN MY OPINION,
HE KILLED MARILYN SHEPPARD.

RICHARD EBERLING,
OBSESSED WITH THE SHEPPARDS,

COMES TO THE HOUSE THAT NIGHT.

DOOR'S UNLOCKED.

NOBODY LOCKED THEIR DOORS
IN BAY VILLAGE.

EBERLING IS ON THE HUNT
FOR SOME RINGS,

SOME INTENSELY PERSONAL ITEMS.

HE'S PUTTING THEM
IN A GREEN BAG.

HE GOES UPSTAIRS
AND SEES MARILYN SHEPPARD.

SHE'S ALONE,
SLEEPING IN THE BED.

SAM? SAM!!

SAM!!

HE'S MAD. HE HAS HIS FLASHLIGHT,
HIS WEAPON,

AND HE'S STARTING TO SWING.

HE HEARS SAM COMING
UP THE STAIRS, KNOCKS SAM DOWN.

SAM CHASES HIM THROUGH
THE HOUSE, DOWN TO THE BEACH.

HEY!

I THINK EBERLING
IS COVERED IN BLOOD,

AND HE NEEDS SAM'S T-SHIRT
TO SWAP OUT FOR HIS.

HE RUNS ALONG THE SHORE
OF LAKE ERIE

AND GETS AWAY WITH IT.

THIS IS ONE OF THESE CASES
THAT CONTINUES TO BAFFLE,

FASCINATE, AND STIR CONTROVERSY.

SOME PEOPLE WON'T
LET GO OF THE THEORY

THAT SAM SHEPPARD
KILLED HIS WIFE

BECAUSE THIS STORY STILL HAS
A LOT OF UNANSWERED QUESTIONS.

WE FILTER,
THROUGH OUR PERSPECTIVE,

WHAT WE WANT TO BELIEVE

AND WHAT WE DON'T WANT
TO BELIEVE.

AND EVEN WITH THE SCIENCE,

PEOPLE WILL NEVER
COME TO AN AGREEMENT

ON WHAT HAPPENED IN THIS CASE.

YOU CAN PLAY DETECTIVE
ALL YOU WANT --

DID HE DO IT, OR DIDN'T HE?

I'M NOT SURE
THAT WE'LL EVER KNOW.

AFTER SAM'S RELEASE,
NO ONE WAS EVER CONVICTED,

SO ALL WE'VE REALLY GOT
ARE THE FACTS,

AND THE FACTS ARE THIS --

MARILYN AND SAM SHEPPARD
LOOKED VERY HAPPY TOGETHER.

THEN, IN THE EARLY HOURS
OF JULY 4th, 1954,

MARILYN SHEPPARD WAS BRUTALLY
MURDERED IN HER BED.

THIS CASE LEAVES SO
MANY DAMAGED PEOPLE IN ITS WAKE.

IT TOTALLY DESTROYED A FAMILY.

A 7-YEAR-OLD CHILD LEARNS
THAT HIS MOTHER IS DEAD

AND HIS FATHER
IS ACCUSED OF MURDER.

HE LIVES IN THE SHADOW
OF THIS CASE,

AND HE CAN NEVER SHAKE IT.

SAM HIMSELF WAS DEAD
AT 46 YEARS OLD.

THAT'S THE SUM OF IT.

SO, IF WE CAN SAY

THAT WE LEARNED ANYTHING
FROM THIS TRAGEDY,

MAYBE IT'S THIS --

SOME THINGS GET LOST TO TIME
OR TO HISTORY

OR TO THE MESSY, CONFUSING
CIRCUMSTANCES OF LIVING.

AND THAT'S JUST HOW LIFE GOES.

SOMETIMES YOU DON'T GET
TO LEARN THE ANSWER

BEFORE IT DISAPPEARS.

* KEEP YOUR LOVE LIGHT SHINING *

* IN THOSE EYES SO BLUE *

* LET ME CALL YOU SWEETHEART *

* I'M IN LOVE WITH YOU *