A Crime to Remember (2013–…): Season 4, Episode 8 - The Newlydeads - full transcript

LOS ANGELES IS A SLICK TOWN.

EVEN BACK IN '68,

EVERYONE IN L.A.
WANTED TO BE SOMEBODY.

YOU NEVER KNEW
WHO YOU COULD TRUST.

MY GOD.
IT'S CHERYL.

SHE'S HURT.
CHERYL.

GO -- GO GET HELP.

AND SOMETIMES...

CHERYL, CAN YOU HEAR ME?

CHERYL.

...YOU PUT YOUR TRUST
IN THE WRONG PERSON.



APRIL 20, 1968,

OFFICERS FROM
THE BURBANK POLICE DEPARTMENT

RESPOND TO AN APARTMENT BUILDING
KNOWN AS THE CASTILLION.

GENTLEMEN,
WHAT DO WE GOT HERE?

I HAVE A CAUCASIAN FEMALE,
MULTIPLE GUNSHOTS.

WE HAVE PARAMEDICS EN ROUTE.

SHE'S STILL BREATHING.

MA'AM,
CAN YOU UNDERSTAND ME?

WE GOT PARAMEDICS COMING.

CHERYL PERVELER HAD
BEEN SHOT TWICE IN HER HEAD.

TWO GUNSHOTS ABOVE THE LEFT EAR.

IT WAS A SHOCKING SCENE.

AND THERE WAS A GASH
ACROSS HER BREASTS,

ALSO CAUSED BY A BULLET.



POSSIBLY, CHERYL WAS
RAISING HER ARM IN SELF-DEFENSE

AND DEFLECTED THE GUN.

THERE WERE SEVEN
HALF-INCH GASHES

AROUND THE FRONT
AND TOP OF HER SKULL.

THEY WERE MADE BY
AN UNIDENTIFIED BLUNT OBJECT.

MIGHT HAVE BEEN
THE BUTT OF A GUN.

THE SEVEN GASHES SHOW
SUCH A VICIOUSNESS.

POLICE KNOW

THAT THERE HAD BEEN
SOME CARJACKINGS RECENTLY.

WAS THIS AN ATTEMPT
TO STEAL HER CAR FROM HER?

ON THE PASSENGER SEAT,

THERE WAS A WHITE SCARF
SO DRENCHED IN BLOOD

THAT IT WAS STUCK TO THE PURSE.

AND INSIDE,
THERE WAS A .35 AUTOMATIC.

THE GUN HAS NOT BEEN FIRED

AND HAS THE WORDS ON THE BARREL,

"LOVE" ON ONE SIDE,
"PAUL" ON THE OTHER.

THE PURSE ALSO HAS, $35.

WE'RE TALKING ABOUT OVER
$200 IN TODAY'S DOLLARS.

LEFT THE CASH.
AND THE CAR.

WHAT THE HELL HAPPENED HERE?

IT ISN'T TYPICAL IN A CARJACKING

FOR A PERSON TO BE SHOT
AND BEATEN LIKE CHERYL WAS.

SHELL CASING.

THEY FIND
.25-CALIBER SHELL CASINGS.

ONE OF THE SPENT CASINGS

IS FOUND IN THE BACK SEAT
OF THE CAR.

THE OTHER TWO ARE FOUND
BY THE REAR TIRE

ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE.

TWO .25-CALIBER, UNFIRED,

LIVE ROUNDS ARE ON
THE GROUND NEAR THE CAR.

CHERYL PERVELER DIED
AT THE HOSPITAL

AS SHE WAS BEING PREPPED
FOR SURGERY.

TELL ME ABOUT WHAT YOU HEARD.

WELL, I WAS SLEEPING.

I HEARD A GUNSHOT -- POP,
THEN A PAUSE,

THEN TWO SHOTS -- POP, POP.

LARRY BEAUREGARD HAD
THE CLEAREST MEMORY

OF THE SHOTS THAT NIGHT.

SHOTS TWO AND THREE DID NOT COME
IN QUICK SUCCESSION

AFTER THE FIRST SHOT WAS FIRED,

MAYBE WHEN THE ASSAILANT
BROUGHT THE BUTT OF A GUN

DOWN ON HER HEAD SEVEN TIMES.

SO, YOU WERE THE ONES
THAT FOUND HER?

MY HUSBAND AND I HAD JUST
COME HOME FROM A PARTY.

AND WHEN WE CAME UPON THE CAR,
WE SAW THAT POOR GIRL.

EVELYN MILLER TELLS
THE BURBANK POLICE DETECTIVES

THAT CHERYL PERVELER

PROBABLY HAD JUST ARRIVED HOME
THAT SATURDAY NIGHT.

SO YOU KNOW THE VICTIM, MA'AM?
A LITTLE BIT.

SHE WAS JUST
SO LOVELY AND SWEET.

THE NEIGHBORS DESCRIBED CHERYL

AS A BEAUTIFUL,
ATHLETIC, FRIENDLY GIRL.

CHERYL FORMERLY WORKED
AS A FITNESS INSTRUCTOR,

WAS A BROOKLYN TRANSPLANT
HERE TO THE AREA.

IN THE '60s,
THERE WERE A LOT OF PEOPLE

THAT MADE THEIR WAY
TO HOLLYWOOD,

LOOKING FOR THAT --
THAT BIG BREAK.

CHERYL WAS, IN MANY WAYS,

TYPICAL OF PEOPLE COMING

BECAUSE OF THE LURE
OF CALIFORNIA.

SHE'S NEWLY MARRIED
TO PAUL PERVELER,

LOCAL BAR OWNER.

HER HUSBAND?

PAUL.

PAUL PERVELER.

ACTUALLY, I CALLED HIM.
HE OWNS A BAR IN BURBANK.

SHE RECALLS
THAT SHE WAS ON THE PHONE

WITH PAUL AT HIS BAR...

WHICH HOSPITAL?

...AS THE AMBULANCE
WAS DEPARTING THE SCENE...

...AND THAT PAUL HAD GONE
ON TO THE HOSPITAL,

BUT CHERYL WAS DEAD.

YOU KNOW HOW IT GOES.

THE SPOUSE IS ALWAYS
THE FIRST SUSPECT.

SO WHEN PAUL CAME BACK
FROM THE HOSPITAL,

THE DETECTIVES MADE SURE

TO DELIVER
THEIR CONDOLENCES IN PERSON.

INVESTIGATORS TALK TO
31-YEAR-OLD PAUL PERVELER

WHEN HE RETURNS
TO HIS APARTMENT.

WE'RE SORRY FOR YOUR LOSS,
MR. PERVELER.

WE SAW THAT YOUR WIFE
HAD A HANDGUN,

A .32, IN HER PURSE.

DO YOU KNOW WHY SHE WOULD
HAVE BEEN CARRYING THAT?

I BOUGHT IT FOR CHERYL

SO THAT SHE'D HAVE
SOME PROTECTION

WHEN I WASN'T WITH HER.

PAUL PERVELER HAD HIMSELF
BEEN AN OFFICER IN THE L.A.P.D.

AFTER A COUPLE OF YEARS, HE HAD
LEFT THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.

HE HAD HELPED
A FRIEND'S ROOMMATE

ARRANGE FOR AN ABORTION,

AND AT THAT TIME --

THIS IS IN THE 1960s --
THAT WAS A FELONY.

BUT HE WAS NOT CHARGED
WITH A CRIME.

HE'S ONLY BEEN MARRIED
TO CHERYL FOR ABOUT 2 MONTHS.

PAUL IS STOIC, QUIET.

AND WHERE WERE YOU
EARLIER THIS EVENING?

I OWN A COUPLE OF BARS.

ONE'S RIGHT UP HERE
IN BURBANK,

AND THE OTHER ONE'S
IN SUNLAND.

WE JUST OPENED,
YOU KNOW?

I NAMED IT THE CHERYL'S
GRAND DUCHESS FOR HER.

PAUL SAID THAT EVENING

HE WAS WORKING AT HIS BAR
IN SUNLAND,

9 MILES AWAY
FROM THEIR APARTMENT,

AND CHERYL HAD COME BY
TO MEET HIM FOR A DRINK.

AND HE TELLS THE POLICE

THAT HE WALKED HER
OUT TO THE CAR

AND CAME BACK IN,

AND THAT IS THE --
THE LAST HE SPOKE TO HIS WIFE.

PEOPLE AT THE BAR
WOULD LATER TELL THEM

THAT HE WAS JUST PLAYING POOL.

GARY, RACK 'EM UP.

WELL, ON BEHALF OF THE L.A.P.D.,

PLEASE ACCEPT
OUR SINCEREST CONDOLENCES.

THANK YOU.

INVESTIGATORS
START TALKING TO NEIGHBORS

OF THE PERVELERS'.

EVENING, SIR. L.A.P.D.

WE'D LIKE TO ASK YOU
A FEW QUESTIONS,

IF YOU DON'T MIND.
NOT AT ALL.

DID YOU NOTICE
ANYTHING UNUSUAL TODAY?

I DID.
I THINK I SAW THE KILLER.

AND THEY MEET UP
WITH AN OLDER MAN.

HE SAW WHO HE BELIEVES TO BE
A MAN FLEEING THE SCENE...

HE WAS RIGHT OVER THERE.

...AFTER THE CRIME
HAD BEEN COMMITTED...

RIGHT THERE.

...WEARING A WHITE HOODED SHIRT.

L.A. WAS CHANGING FAST
IN THOSE DAYS.

BY '68,
THERE WAS NO DOUBT ABOUT IT.

THE CITY WAS HOPPING.

ALL THAT SPACE
AND ALL THAT ACTIVITY

MADE IT PRETTY HARD FOR THE
COPS TO TRACK DOWN A KILLER

OF SUCH A VAGUE DESCRIPTION.

SO THE BURBANK POLICE
PUTS OUT FEELERS

TO OTHER POLICE DEPARTMENTS.

1968's NOT THE DIGITAL AGE.

WE'RE TALKING ABOUT BIG
FILE CABINETS WITH PAPER RECORDS

THAT SOME CLERK SOMEWHERE
IS GONNA HAVE TO SORT THROUGH.

AND SO TWO DAYS AFTER THIS
INVESTIGATION STARTS...

...A FILE IS FINALLY FORWARDED
TO THE DETECTIVES.

HOLD ON.
I'M GONNA CALL YOU BACK.

YOU GOT TO SEE THIS.

THEY DISCOVER FROM
THE HIGHLAND POLICE DEPARTMENT,

WHICH IS IN LOS ANGELES PROPER,

THAT, TWO YEARS EARLIER,

THE HUSBAND OF THE VICTIM,
PAUL PERVELER,

WAS, IN FACT,
A SUSPECT IN A MURDER.

ON DECEMBER 11, 1966,
THE FIRE DEPARTMENT

IN THE VERY MODEST COMMUNITY
OF EL SERENO

WAS CALLED
TO A SMALL HOME THAT'S ON FIRE.

AND THEY DISCOVER
INSIDE THAT HOME...

...MARLIN CROMWELL.

HE WAS
A 27-YEAR-OLD SEARS STOCK BOY.

THEIR INITIAL REACTION IS

A MAN HAS BEEN OVERCOME
BY SMOKE.

BUT THEN THEY SEE
FIVE BULLET WOUNDS --

TWO IN HIS CHEST,

THREE SHOTS TO THE HEAD,

ALL AT VERY CLOSE RANGE.

THEY FIND A TOWEL
THAT HAS A RING OF BLOOD,

WHICH MAKES POLICE THINK,

"WAS THE TOWEL USED
AS A TYPE OF SILENCER?"

SOMEBODY
MIGHT HAVE SNUCK UP BEHIND HIM.

MARLIN CROMWELL WAS EXECUTED,
POINT BLANK.

AND THEN WHOEVER DID THAT WENT
TO THE OTHER SIDE OF THE ROOM

AND BASICALLY TOOK
TARGET PRACTICE.

THEN HIS HOUSE WAS SET ON FIRE.

HOWEVER, THE HOUSE WAS SET
ON FIRE IN A BACK ROOM.

THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVES

BEFORE THE FIRE EVER REACHES
WHERE THE EVIDENCE IS.

POOR GUY HAD A KID.

MARLIN, THEY DISCOVER,

WAS JUST AN EXTREMELY
QUIET MAN,

DESCRIBED BY EVERYONE
AS HAVING NO ENEMIES WHATSOEVER.

SO THE DEAD GUY AND KRISTINA
GOT MARRIED,

DIVORCED,
AND THEN MARRIED AGAIN.

THE POLICE DETECTIVES FIND

THE MARRIAGE LICENSE
OF THE VICTIM,

MARLIN CROMWELL, TO HIS WIFE,
KRISTINA CROMWELL.

THEY HAVE BEEN MARRIED TWICE.

HEY, CAN YOU BELIEVE
THAT'S THE SAME WOMAN?

JUST TWO MONTHS PRIOR
TO HIS MURDER,

THEY HAD REMARRIED.

I'M GONNA MISS YOU.

I'M GONNA MISS YOU, TOO,
BABE.

I LOVE YOU.
LOVE YOU.

MWAH!

THANK YOU.

KRISTINA, AS IT TURNS OUT,
DID HAVE AN ALIBI.

SHE WAS IN TWENTYNINE PALMS

VISITING A FRIEND.

NOWHERE AROUND
WHEN THE MURDER OCCURS.

IN FACT,
SHE'S 140 MILES AWAY.

HOWEVER...

THE HIGHLAND PARK
POLICE DEPARTMENT DISCOVER

THAT KRISTINA, RIGHT AFTER
HER SECOND MARRIAGE TO MARLIN,

APPLIED FOR A LIFE-INSURANCE
POLICY ON MARLIN,

AND SHE STOOD TO RECEIVE

AS MUCH AS $75,000
IN INSURANCE MONEY

FROM HER HUSBAND'S DEATH.

$75,000
WOULD BE HALF A MILLION NOW.

SO, WHERE'S
PAUL PERVELER COME IN?

CROMWELL AND PERVELER
USED TO WORK TOGETHER...

AT AN INSURANCE AGENCY,
OF ALL PLACES.

AND THAT'S NOT ALL.

**

KRISTINA.

TALK ABOUT WANTING
TO BE SOMEBODY.

WHEN I STARTED WORKING
AT THE AGENCY,

KRISTINA JUST SEEMED TO ME
LIKE AN OVERWEIGHT BRUNETTE

WITH A SELF-CONFIDENCE PROBLEM.

BY THE TIME SHE GOT THROUGH
WITH HER MAKEOVER, THOUGH,

KRISTINA LOOKED LIKE
A DIFFERENT PERSON.

GOOD FOR HER.

KRISTINA CROMWELL

HAD WORKED
AT THE AUTO CLUB OF LOS ANGELES,

WHICH IS AN INSURANCE COMPANY.

CO-WORKERS AT THE AUTO CLUB
TOLD POLICE

THAT KRISTINA CROMWELL

HAD UNDERGONE
A MAJOR PHYSICAL TRANSFORMATION.

KRISTINA
LOST CLOSE TO 75 POUNDS.

SHE DYED HER HAIR BLOND.

GAVE UP GLASSES
FOR CONTACT LENSES.

SHE CAPPED HER TEETH.

AND, SUDDENLY,
SHE WAS BEING ASKED OUT

BY A NUMBER OF MEN.

AND, IN FACT,
STRIKES UP AN OFFICE ROMANCE...

WITH A CO-WORKER...

PAUL PERVELER.

AFTER HE LEFT THE L.A.P.D.,

PAUL DID WORK
IN THE INSURANCE BUSINESS.

I NEVER SAW SUCH A BIG MOUTH
ON ANYONE.

PAUL AND KRISTINA'S ROMANCE

WAS THE WORST-KEPT SECRET
IN THE OFFICE,

THANKS TO PAUL.

HE WAS CHARMING, ALL RIGHT.

BUT I GOT TIRED
OF HEARING HIM BRAG

ABOUT HIS DAYS AS A COP

AND THE SIZE OF HIS BICEPS.

I GUESS HE WANTED CREDIT

FOR COACHING KRISTINA

THROUGH THE WEIGHT LOSS
AND MAKEOVER.

IF A MAN TOLD ME
WHAT I COULD AND COULDN'T EAT,

I WOULD TELL HIM EXACTLY
WHERE TO SHOVE IT.

BUT KRISTINA HAD
WHAT SHE WANTED.

SO, THIS IS HOW LONG
BEFORE PERVELER GOT MARRIED

TO HIS WIFE, CHERYL?

TWO YEARS.

AND, PERVELER WAS MARRIED
TO SOMEONE ELSE BACK THEN.

SO KRISTINA
AND PAUL PERVELER

ARE BOTH CHEATING
ON THEIR SPOUSES BACK THEN?

YEP.

AND THE HIGHLAND PARK BOYS
GO RATTLE PERVELER'S CAGE?

YEAH. I, -
I GOT IT RIGHT HERE.

PAUL PERVELER?

HOW ARE YOU, GENTLEMEN?
CAN I GET YOU A CUP OF JOE?

I CAN GET ONE OF THE GIRLS
TO PUT A POT ON FOR YOU.

SO THEY GO TO HIS OFFICE,

AND PAUL IS HIS NORMAL,
CHARMING SELF.

PERVELER TELLS THEM

THAT HE HAD FOUR OR FIVE DATES
WITH KRISTINA

ABOUT A YEAR PRIOR

AND THAT, REALLY,
NOTHING CAME OUT OF IT.

DECEMBER 11th OF LAST YEAR --

CAN YOU TELL US WHERE
YOU WERE THAT NIGHT?

FELLAS, THAT WAS, -

THAT WAS
QUITE A FEW MONTHS AGO.

I HONESTLY DON'T KNOW.

FOUR MONTHS HAVE PASSED

BY THE TIME THEY QUESTION PAUL
ABOUT MARLIN'S MURDER.

HIGHLAND POLICE DECIDE
TO TRACK KRISTINA.

AND IT'S TWO DAYS AFTER
PAUL PERVELER TOLD THE POLICE

HE HAD ALMOST NO CONNECTION
TO KRISTINA CROMWELL,

AND AFTER SHE RECEIVED

ONE OF HER FIRST BIG
INSURANCE PAYMENTS,

THE TWO TRAVELED TOGETHER

TO HAVE A FUN WEEKEND
IN LAS VEGAS

AND SPEND A LOT OF MONEY.

INVESTIGATORS
HAVE GOT TO INTERPRET

THEIR INTERVIEW WITH PAUL
AS A LIE.

**

HER FINANCIAL TRANSACTIONS

REALLY BEGIN TO BRING THEM
INTO FOCUS.

OVER JUST A 6-WEEK PERIOD,

KRISTINA CROMWELL

CAME INTO $25,000
OF INSURANCE MONEY,

AND THAT MONEY WAS TRANSFERRED
TO PAUL PERVELER.

TODAY, THAT'S $170,000.

SEVEN MONTHS LATER,
HE BOUGHT HIS FIRST BAR.

THERE'S A CONSPIRACY HERE --

THE MURDER OF MARLIN
FOR THE INSURANCE MONEY.

SO SHE LEAVES THIS MOPE
FOR PERVELER

AFTER SHE LOSES THE WEIGHT.

AND SHE PULLS HER
EX-HUSBAND BACK IN.

SOLD HIM A LINE ABOUT
A SECOND CHANCE FOR LOVE

AND SETS HIM UP
TO GET KILLED.

**

DETECTIVES THEORIZE

THAT KRISTINA CONVINCED MARLIN
TO REMARRY HER.

MARLIN HAD A VERY LONELY LIFE.

WHEN SHE SUGGESTED
THEY REMARRY,

HE JUMPED AT THE OPPORTUNITY.

THESE TWO
ARE GUILTY AS HELL.

FOR THE HIGHLAND PRECINCT,

THE PROBLEM WAS THAT
EVERYTHING WAS CIRCUMSTANTIAL.

PAUL WAS THE PRIME SUSPECT.

BUT HE WAS LET GO

BECAUSE THEY DID NOT HAVE ENOUGH
EVIDENCE TO PROSECUTE.

BUT PERVELER'S SMART ENOUGH
TO KNOW HOW TO COVER HIS TRACKS.

YEAH, 'CAUSE HE WAS A COP,

SO HE KNOWS EXACTLY
WHAT WE'RE GONNA LOOK FOR.

IT APPEARED
TO THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY

THAT, EVEN THOUGH THEY WERE
VERY LIKELY THE ONES

WHO DID COMMIT THIS MURDER,

IT WAS BEST TO WAIT

AND HOPE THAT MORE EVIDENCE
WOULD ARRIVE.

SO, THESE TWO -- PERVELER
AND THIS CROMWELL WOMAN --

GOT A THING GOING ON.

THAT DOESN'T STOP HER
FROM REMARRYING HER EX-HUSBAND.

TWO MONTHS LATER, HE BITES IT
ONE NIGHT IN FRONT OF THE TV.

AND THEN THE TWO OF THEM
ARE OFF TO VEGAS

WITH THE INSURANCE MONEY.

AND THEN PERVELER TAKES
THIS SWEET, INNOCENT GIRL

AND MARRIES HER,

AND THEN TWO MONTHS LATER,
SHE WINDS UP

WITH A BULLET IN THE HEAD.

WHAT DO YOU THINK THE ODDS ARE
THAT CHERYL PERVELER

HAD A LIFE-INSURANCE POLICY?

25 GRAND,

50 GRAND
DOUBLE INDEMNITY.

THAT'S A DOUBLE-INDEMNITY POLICY

WHERE THE BENEFICIARY
WOULD PROFIT DOUBLE

IN THE CASE OF AN ACCIDENTAL
DEATH OR A MURDER.

CAN YOU BELIEVE
THE NERVE ON THIS GUY?

AND, OF COURSE, THE BENEFICIARY
IS PAUL PERVELER.

**

I NEVER GOT ALONG
WITH PAUL AT WORK.

HE ALWAYS HAD TO BE
THE CENTER OF ATTENTION.

BUT I KNEW HIS FIRST WIFE,
KATHERINE,

AND SHE WAS A SWEET GIRL

WITH A GOOD HEAD
ON HER SHOULDERS.

IF ANYONE KNEW WHAT PAUL
WAS REALLY CAPABLE OF,

IT WAS KATHERINE.

BURBANK POLICE LOOK INTO
THE HISTORY OF PAUL PERVELER.

SO, YOU WERE MARRIED
TO PAUL PERVELER?

YES, FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS.

THEY QUESTION
HIS FIRST WIFE, KATHERINE.

HOW WAS HE AS A HUSBAND?

HE WAS, REAL ROMANTIC
IN THE BEGINNING.

ALWAYS AT MY SIDE
WHENEVER WE WENT OUT,

TRYING TO TAKE CARE OF ME.

WHEN I WAS 18 YEARS OLD,

I ACTUALLY ALSO DATED
PAUL PERVELER FOR 6 MONTHS.

AND HE WAS A CHARMING,
GOOD-LOOKING, LOVELY MAN.

AND, HOW WERE YOU
DOING FINANCIALLY?

IT WAS ROCKY.

**

MONEY HAD ALWAYS BEEN
IMPORTANT TO PAUL.

HE WANTED THINGS THAT WERE
FAR BEYOND HIS REACH.

HAVING OTHER PEOPLE SEE HIM

ENJOYING THE MATERIAL THINGS --

THIS IS WHAT HE LIVED FOR.

DID YOU SEE MY WIFE'S
LOVELY EARRINGS?

SWEETHEART.

THIS WAS CONSPICUOUS
IMAGE-MAKING ON HIS PART.

HE CERTAINLY
DIDN'T KEEP IT A SECRET

THAT THE DIRECTOR
STANLEY KUBRICK

WAS A COUSIN OF HIS.

HE WAS ALWAYS ANGLING
FOR SOME WAY TO GET OVER,

TRYING SOME SCHEME OR OTHER.

THEY'D NEVER REALLY
AMOUNT TO ANYTHING.

HE'D GET FRUSTRATED.

I THOUGHT THAT, UM...

GETTING MARRIED TO PAUL
WOULD HELP HIM RELAX,

BUT IT -- HE -- GOT WORSE.

HE WAS A VERY MYSTERIOUS MAN.

HE WAS A VERY MOODY MAN.

VERY OFTEN STAYED UP LATE
WATCHING MOVIES BY HIMSELF

AS HE POLISHED HIS GUNS.

HE WAS AWFUL.

HE REALLY DIDN'T...
PAY ATTENTION TO ME

THE WAY A HUSBAND
IS SUPPOSED TO, YOU KNOW?

HE BEAT ME.

I EVEN ENDED UP
IN THE HOSPITAL.

THEIR MARRIAGE
WAS ALREADY ON THE ROCKS.

PAUL WAS DRUNK.

HE FOUND HER COMING BACK
FROM A WEEKEND

SEEING A FRIEND IN SAN DIEGO.

GET OUT OF THE CAR!

GET OUT OF THE CAR
RIGHT NOW!

I SWEAR TO GOD.

I SWEAR TO GOD THAT IF YOU
DON'T TELL ME THE TRUTH...

YOU'RE DEAD!
GET OUT OF THE CAR!

HE DRAGGED HER OUT OF THE CAR
AND TOOK HER HEAD

AND WAS BEATING IT
AGAINST THE SIDE OF THE CAR.

AND THE ONLY REASON
IT WASN'T PURSUED IS

BECAUSE KATHERINE DID NOT
WANT TO PRESS CHARGES.

AND THEN THERE WERE
THE CAR ACCIDENTS.

CAR ACCIDENTS?
A HIT-AND-RUN.

THE DOCTORS WERE AMAZED
I EVEN SURVIVED THE FIRST TIME.

FIRST TIME?

NOT ONCE BUT TWICE

SHE HAD BEEN THE VICTIM
OF A HIT-AND-RUN.

AND YET, DESPITE
VERY SERIOUS INJURIES,

SHE SURVIVED BOTH.

THE FIRST TIME
KATHERINE WAS HIT

WAS SHORTLY BEFORE
THEIR FIRST WEDDING ANNIVERSARY.

HE WAS JUST BESIDE HIMSELF
THAT SHE HAD BEEN INJURED.

AND A FEW MONTHS LATER,

I WAS ALMOST FEELING
LIKE MYSELF AGAIN.

AND I WAS JUST PARKING
THE CAR...

SHE SAID SHE WAS ABLE
TO SEE A MAN LOOK BACK

IN THE REAR-VIEW MIRROR...

...BUT SHE COULD NOT IDENTIFY
WHO HAD HIT HER.

WERE THERE ANY INSURANCE
PAYOUTS AFTER THESE ACCIDENTS?

YES.

IN EACH CASE,

THERE HAD BEEN A $5,000 PAYOFF.

BUT YOU STAYED WITH HIM?

I FELT TRAPPED...

AND SCARED.

THE REASON WE CAME
TO SEE YOU TODAY

IS THAT PAUL'S SECOND WIFE
WAS JUST MURDERED.

MA'AM, ARE YOU --
ARE YOU OKAY THERE?

YOU KNOW, THERE WAS --

THERE WAS THIS
ONE TIME WITH PAUL.

HE WANTED ME TO GO
OUT OF TOWN WITH HIM.

THREE WEEKS AFTER KATHERINE

HAD GOTTEN OUT OF THE HOSPITAL,

RECOVERING FROM THE BEATING
PAUL HAD GIVEN HER,

PAUL SUGGESTED THAT THEY TAKE
A TRIP INTO THE MOUNTAINS

AND DO A LITTLE SHOOTING.

NORMALLY, HE NEVER
ASKED HER TO COME.

AND SHE JUST SAT OFF
TO THE SIDE

WHILE HE NEVER FIRED A SHOT.

ALL HE DID
WAS SORT OF PACE AROUND.

AND AT ONE POINT,
HE JUST SAID, "LET'S GO HOME.

I DON'T WANT TO SHOOT."

I THINK ABOUT IT NOW.

I FEEL LUCKY
I GOT OUT ALIVE.

ONE MORE QUESTION, MA'AM.

DO YOU HAPPEN TO KNOW A WOMAN
NAMED KRISTINA CROMWELL?

NOT REALLY,

OTHER THAN THE FACT THAT SHE
WAS SLEEPING WITH MY HUSBAND.

A SHORT TIME LATER,

SHE LEARNED ABOUT HIS INFIDELITY
WITH KRISTINA CROMWELL,

AND KATHERINE FINALLY LEFT HIM.

DETECTIVES
ARE EXAMINING PAUL'S ALIBI.

PAUL WALKED
CHERYL PERVELER OUT TO THE CAR,

BUT HIS EMPLOYEES HAD NEVER SAID

THAT HE HAD LEFT THE BAR

FOR ENOUGH TIME

TO PHYSICALLY GET
TO THE APARTMENT HOUSE,

COMMIT THE MURDER, AND GET BACK.

THIS IS GONNA BE TOUGH.

IF YOU KNEW PAUL

OR KNEW ANYONE
WHO KNEW HIM, REALLY,

YOU KNEW HE HAD A BIG MOUTH.

IT WASN'T A STRETCH TO THINK
HE MIGHT HAVE BLABBED

OR BRAGGED ABOUT THE MURDER
TO SOMEONE.

THANKS.

10 DAYS AFTER
CHERYL PERVELER'S MURDER,

MICHAEL BROCKINGTON

IS BROUGHT DOWN TO
THE BURBANK POLICE DEPARTMENT

FOR QUESTIONING.

SO, WE UNDERSTAND YOU'RE
A FRIEND OF PAUL PERVELER.

YEAH.
YEAH, FOR A FEW YEARS NOW.

MICHAEL BROCKINGTON HAD WORKED
WITH HIM AT THE AUTO CLUB,

AND HE ADMIRED PAUL.

HE BECAME HIS BEST
FRIEND/ERRAND BOY/CONFIDANT.

LISTEN,
YOU KNEW CHERYL, RIGHT?

YEAH. SHE WAS A SWEET KID.

IT'S AWFUL WHAT HAPPENED TO HER.

BUT WHAT DOES THAT
HAVE TO DO WITH ME?

WE HAPPEN TO BELIEVE
YOUR GOOD FRIEND PAUL

MAY BE INVOLVED
IN HER MURDER.

SO IF YOU'VE BEEN
HOLDING BACK

OR HAVE HAD A LITTLE SELECTIVE
AMNESIA ABOUT SOMETHING,

IT'S NOT GONNA LOOK GOOD
ON YOU.

OKAY.

OKAY.

ONE NIGHT, ABOUT A YEAR AGO,
I CAME INTO PAUL'S BAR,

AND HE WAS JUST SITTING THERE,
LIKE, IN A FUNK.

HE'D BEEN DRINKING.

**

HEY.

MICHAEL TOLD THEM

PAUL SUGGESTED
THEY HAVE A DRINK TOGETHER.

OVER THE DRINK,
PAUL PERVELER SAYS TO MICHAEL,

"HAVE YOU EVER WONDERED WHERE
I GET ALL OF MY MONEY?"

THERE'S MORE TO IT
THAN MEETS THE EYE.

I KILLED A MAN.

"I'M THE ONE WHO KILLED
MARLIN CROMWELL."

HE'S NOT JOKING.

HE'S NOT PUTTING ON
A TOUGH-GUY ACT.

HE'S CONFESSING.

ALTHOUGH MICHAEL
IS A VERY LOYAL FRIEND,

HE HAS DRAWN THAT MORAL LINE
WITH THE MURDER OF MARLIN.

AND IT DIDN'T OCCUR TO YOU
TO TELL ANYONE?

YOU DON'T KNOW PAUL.

MICHAEL SAID THAT,

WHEN HE WOULD SEE
POLICE OFFICERS,

HE WANTED TO RUSH UP TO THEM
AND TELL THEM WHAT HE KNEW.

BUT, AS HE PUT IT
TO THE OFFICERS,

"I WAS AFRAID, IF I DID,
HE'D BLOW MY HEAD OFF."

MICHAEL BROCKINGTON
HAD THE SAME EMOTIONAL REACTION

THAT PAUL'S FIRST WIFE,
KATHERINE, HAD.

WELL, THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME,
MR. BROCKINGTON.

SURE.

**

PAUL PERVELER...

YOU'RE UNDER ARREST

FOR THE MURDER
OF MARLIN CROMWELL.

BOY, YOU GUYS
NEVER GIVE UP, DO YOU?

YOU'RE GONNA HAVE
TO COME WITH US.

BOTH KRISTINA AND PAUL

ARE CHARGED
WITH FIRST-DEGREE MURDER.

KRISTINA WAS CHARGED
WITH MARLIN'S MURDER.

PAUL WAS CHARGED
WITH MARLIN'S AND CHERYL'S

AND WITH KATHERINE'S
ATTEMPTED MURDER.

LIKE THE FIRST TIME THAT PAUL
WAS SUSPECTED OF A MURDER,

THIS IS A CIRCUMSTANTIAL CASE.

MR. PROSECUTOR.

GENTLEMEN, PLEASE,
CALL ME "VINCENT."

AND, IN FACT, THEY HAD EVEN LESS
IN TERMS OF PHYSICAL EVIDENCE.

BUT WE DO HAVE A WITNESS WHO
WILL TESTIFY TO PAUL PERVELER

ADMITTING THE MURDER
OF MARLIN CROMWELL.

THIS WITNESS SOLID?
ROCK SOLID.

AND WE HAVE A PATTERN.

TWO YEARS AGO,

PAUL PERVELER
AND KRISTINA CROMWELL

WERE HAULED IN
FOR THE SHOOTING DEATH

OF KRISTINA'S SPOUSE.

THE MOTIVE -- $75,000.

NOW, JUMP AHEAD WHEN
THE INK'S BARELY DRY

ON A VERY GENEROUS
LIFE-INSURANCE POLICY.

AND LO AND BEHOLD,
PERVELER'S LOVELY YOUNG WIFE

OF JUST TWO MONTHS IS FOUND
FULL OF BULLET HOLES

IN HER CAR.

IT IS A HUGE GAMBLE.

THEY CAN'T AFFORD TO TRY TO
PROSECUTE THESE PEOPLE AND LOSE.

WHO'S NEXT?

AND YET, DESPITE HAVING

ONLY CIRCUMSTANTIAL EVIDENCE,

VINCENT BUGLIOSI DECIDED
TO PROSECUTE.

THEY HOPED THAT IF
THEY COULD SHOW ALL THE SMOKE,

THE JURY WOULD BE LED
TO THE FIRE.

**

TO SAY I FOLLOWED
THE PERVELER/CROMWELL CASE

CLOSELY WOULD BE
A REAL UNDERSTATEMENT.

TWO OF MY FORMER CO-WORKERS
WERE ON TRIAL FOR MURDER.

SEVEN MONTHS
AFTER CHERYL PERVELER'S MURDER,

THE TRIAL FOR THE MURDERS
OF CHERYL PERVELER

AND MARLIN CROMWELL

AND THE ATTEMPTED MURDERS
OF KATHERINE,

PAUL'S FIRST WIFE, COMMENCED.

PAUL AND KRISTINA
ARE TRIED TOGETHER

BECAUSE THERE WAS
A COMMON COUNT,

AND THAT WAS
THE MURDER OF MARLIN.

KRISTINA AND PAUL KNEW

THIS CASE IS COMPLETELY
CIRCUMSTANTIAL.

PAUL WAS FLIRTING AND
WINKING WITH THE COURT REPORTER,

AND KRISTINA SHOWED UP
IN A MINISKIRT.

TO TOP IT ALL OFF,

THE PROSECUTOR WAS
FRESH OUT OF LAW SCHOOL.

VINCENT BUGLIOSI
MADE A NAME FOR HIMSELF LATER,

PROSECUTING THE MANSON MURDERS,

BUT DURING THIS CASE,

HE WAS STILL A LITTLE WET
BEHIND THE EARS.

LADIES AND GENTLEMEN
OF THE JURY,

THE DEFENDANTS,

PAUL PERVELER
AND KRISTINA CROMWELL,

ARE GUILTY OF MURDER.

NOW, IF I WAS TRYING
TO CONVINCE YOU

THAT PAUL PERVELER WAS GUILTY
OF PULLING THE TRIGGER,

THEN MY CASE WOULD BE
LIKE A CHAIN.

A CHAIN IS ONLY AS STRONG
AS ITS WEAKEST LINK.

BUT THEY DIDN'T HAVE TO PROVE
THAT PAUL PERVELER

WAS THE ONE WHO ACTUALLY
PULLED THE TRIGGER.

AS LONG AS THEY CAN SHOW

THROUGH ENOUGH
CIRCUMSTANTIAL EVIDENCE

THAT THERE WAS A CONSPIRACY

BETWEEN THESE TWO
TO COMMIT MURDER

AND, THEREFORE,
THEY WERE, TOGETHER, RESPONSIBLE

FOR THE MURDER
OF MARLIN CROMWELL

AND THAT,
BECAUSE OF THIS PATTERN

OF CIRCUMSTANTIAL EVIDENCE,

PAUL PERVELER ALONE
WAS RESPONSIBLE

FOR CHERYL PERVELER'S MURDER

AND THE ATTEMPTED MURDER
OF KATHERINE.

WHAT I WILL SHOW YOU
IS THAT THE BODY OF EVIDENCE

IS NOT LIKE A CHAIN.
IT IS LIKE A ROPE.

EACH PIECE OF EVIDENCE

IS ONE OF THE INDIVIDUAL THREADS
HOLDING THE ROPE TOGETHER.

EVEN IF ONE THREAD BREAKS,

THE ROPE ITSELF
REMAINS STRONG.

THE PROSECUTION
IS MAKING A PORTRAYAL

THAT PAUL HAS THIS PLAN
TO KILL FOR INSURANCE MONEY

AND STARTS WITH
HIS EX-WIFE, KATHERINE.

THE PLOT WENT DEEP.

NOT EVEN MR. BUGLIOSI KNEW
ABOUT THIS AT THE TRIAL,

BUT...

REMEMBER HOW PAUL NEARLY
BEAT KATHERINE TO DEATH?

YEARS LATER,
KRISTINA ADMITTED THAT,

WHEN PAUL LEFT KATHERINE
BLEEDING ON THE PAVEMENT...

...SHE WAS THERE,
WAITING IN A CAR,

TO DRIVE PAUL AWAY
FROM THE SCENE OF THE CRIME.

BUT THEN
KATHERINE DIVORCES PAUL.

SO THE PROSECUTION CLAIMS
THAT PAUL TRANSFERS

THAT PLAN TO KILL
FOR INSURANCE MONEY.

THE PROSECUTION ARGUED

THAT PAUL HAD CONVINCED KRISTINA
TO REMARRY MARLIN.

VINCENT BUGLIOSI
HELD KRISTINA CROMWELL

EVERY BIT AS RESPONSIBLE,

ARGUING THAT SHE ARRANGED

FOR THE FATHER OF THEIR CHILD...

...TO BE MURDERED FOR MONEY.

OUR PROSECUTOR HERE

HAS TO DRAW ON THE CHALKBOARD

THE WITHDRAWALS
FROM KRISTINA'S ACCOUNT

AND COMPARE THOSE
TO PAUL'S ACCESSES

TO HIS SAFE DEPOSIT BOX.

ALL DONE WITHIN JUST A DAY
OR TWO OF EACH OTHER.

YOU SEE, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN,

THIS MAN NOT ONLY
IS A MURDERER,

BUT HE HAS NO REMORSE
FOR WHAT HE'S DONE.

THE PROSECUTION ARGUES

THAT AFTER MARLIN CROMWELL,

PAUL'S JUST ON THE HUNT.

HE'S GONNA MARRY CHERYL.

AND, A WEEK BEFORE,

HE TAKES OUT
A LIFE-INSURANCE POLICY ON HER.

VINCE BUGLIOSI WAS CONVINCED

THAT PAUL PERVELER
HAD ARRANGED WITH SOMEONE

TO MURDER HIS WIFE FOR HIM.

THE PROSECUTION DID NOT HAVE
THE IDENTITY OF THE TRIGGER MAN.

BUT THAT STILL MAKES
PAUL PERVELER GUILTY

OF FIRST-DEGREE MURDER.

THIS VINCE GUY
MIGHT HAVE BEEN YOUNG,

BUT AFTER THAT SHOW,

I WOULD'VE BELIEVED
HE COULD SELL ICE TO AN ESKIMO.

IS THE DEFENSE
PREPARED TO PROCEED?

YES, YOUR HONOR.

BUT THEN IT WAS
THE DEFENSE'S TURN.

REMEMBER HOW I SAID YOU CAN'T
TRUST ANYONE IN THIS TOWN?

KRISTINA AND PAUL
EACH SHOWED UP

WITH THEIR OWN
DEFENSE ATTORNEYS

AND WENT AFTER EACH OTHER.

BOY, WAS THAT A BLOODBATH.

WE'VE HEARD SOME
GOOD STORIES TODAY,

WORTHY OF
A HOLLYWOOD SCREENPLAY.

I'VE GOT A COUPLE
OF STORIES MYSELF.

RATHER THAN SAYING THAT
HE WAS COMPLETELY INNOCENT,

PAUL'S DEFENSE SUGGESTS

THAT MAYBE KRISTINA
HAD ENGINEERED

MARLIN CROMWELL'S MURDER

AND MADE THE MISTAKE OF TELLING
PAUL PERVELER ABOUT IT

AND PAUL MAY BE GUILTY
OF BLACKMAIL,

BUT HE'S NOT GUILTY OF MURDER.

LADIES AND GENTLEMEN
OF THE JURY,

YOU LOOK TO KRISTINA CROMWELL,

AND I'M SURE YOU THINK
TO YOURSELF,

"WELL, THERE'S AN ATTRACTIVE,
STYLISH WOMAN."

BUT WHAT YOU DON'T SEE
IS WHAT'S INSIDE.

KRISTINA'S DEFENSE ATTORNEY

TRIES TO PAINT HER
AS A GRIEVING WIDOW

AND SUGGESTS THAT PAUL PERVELER

COMMITTED THE MURDER BY HIMSELF.

KRISTINA'S DEFENSE
MADE THE CLAIM

THAT PAUL WAS EXTORTING HER
ALL ALONG.

THAT'S WHY
SHE GAVE HIM THE MONEY.

THE JURY WAS OUT FOR THREE DAYS.

HAS THE JURY REACHED A VERDICT?

YES, WE HAVE, YOUR HONOR.

WE FIND THE DEFENDANTS GUILTY.

**

PAUL WAS A REAL PIECE OF WORK.

I TRIED TO LOOK AT IT
FROM EVERY WHICH WAY,

BUT AS FAR AS I COULD TELL,
HE WAS JUST A PRICK.

HE HAS AN INFLATED SENSE
OF GRANDIOSITY.

HE IS CALLOUS.

HE IS NOT EMPATHIC AT ALL.

HE IS SOMEBODY
WHO EXPLOITS OTHER PEOPLE.

HE, UM, FEELS NO REMORSE
FOR HIS ACTIONS.

HE WAS DESCRIBED AS A MOVIE NUT

WHO JUST LOVED WATCHING MOVIES.

WHEN YOU LOOK
AT THE INSURANCE ELEMENTS,

IT'S HARD NOT TO THINK
ABOUT AN ENTRY

FROM FILM NOIR
IN LOS ANGELES,

THE FILM "DOUBLE INDEMNITY."

MAYBE HE GOT HIS IDEAS
FROM THAT MOVIE.

BUT HE'S FROM A MONIED FAMILY.

WHAT REALLY AND TRULY
WAS GOING ON HERE?

BECAUSE AS THESE WENT ON,
EACH GOT MORE AND MORE VIOLENT.

I DON'T THINK HE WAS KILLING
FOR INSURANCE MONEY.

I THINK PERVELER
WAS A STONE-COLD KILLER.

I'M NOT SAYING
SHE WAS A GOOD PERSON,

BUT AT LEAST WITH KRISTINA,

YOU COULD UNDERSTAND
WHY SHE DID IT.

PAUL MADE HER FEEL BEAUTIFUL.

HE MADE HER FEEL SPECIAL.

WAS FEELING BEAUTIFUL
WORTH THE PRICE

OF MARLIN CROMWELL'S LIFE?

WOULD KRISTINA HAVE DONE
WHAT SHE DID

IF IT WERE NOT FOR PAUL?

CERTAINLY, HE WAS NOT
A GOOD INFLUENCE.

BUT YOU HAVE TO ASK YOURSELF,
WHO BURNS THEIR OWN HOUSE DOWN?

WHO LEAVES THEIR SON
WITHOUT A FATHER?

DON'T WE HAVE
TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY

FOR WHAT OUR DECISIONS ARE?

AS BOTH VICTIMS --

MARLIN CROMWELL, AND THEN
LATER, CHERYL PERVELER --

WERE WALKING DOWN THE AISLE,

THE PERSON NEXT TO THEM

WAS ALREADY PLANNING
THEIR MURDER.

AND THERE CAN CERTAINLY BE
NO COLDER A KILLER THAN THAT.

IT SEEMED LIKE THE CLOSER
YOU GOT TO PAUL PERVELER,

THE MORE HE WANTED TO HURT YOU.

I CAN'T EVEN IMAGINE
WHAT THAT WAS LIKE.

BUT I DO KNOW

THAT ANYONE WHO'S BEEN
THROUGH A TRAGEDY

WILL TELL YOU THAT NO ONE
CAN EVER TRULY UNDERSTAND

EXCEPT THE PEOPLE WHO'VE BEEN
THROUGH THE SAME THING.

ONCE THERE WAS A TRIAL GOING ON,

KATHERINE AND MICHAEL
GOT TO KNOW EACH OTHER.

AND MICHAEL BROCKINGTON
CAME ACROSS TO KATHERINE

AS NOT AT ALL LIKE
PAUL PERVELER.

HE WAS ACTUALLY
A VERY SENSITIVE MAN.

AND AFTER THE TRIAL WAS OVER,
THEY, IN FACT, GOT MARRIED.

**

* I WONDER WHO'S BUYIN'
THE WINE *

* FOR LIPS THAT I USED
TO CALL MINE *

* I WONDER IF SHE
EVER TELLS HIM OF ME *

* I WONDER
WHO'S KISSIN' HER NOW *

* I WONDER WHO'S KISSIN' *

* I WONDER WHO'S KISSIN' *

* I WONDER WHO'S KISSIN' HER *

* NOW *