Do Not Disturb: Hotel Horrors (2015): Season 1, Episode 2 - Saints and Sinners - full transcript

NEW ORLEANS HAS ALWAYS BEEN

A CITY OF SAINTS AND SINNERS.

HERE, THE PIOUS AND THE PARTIERS

HAVE ALWAYS CO-EXISTED.

BUT WHEN SOMEONE GETS MURDERED

IN A FRENCH QUARTER HOTEL,
THE CITY TAKES NOTICE.

WE OPENED THE DOOR
AND SAW ALL THE BLOOD.

WE HAVE NO VIABLE SUSPECT.

THERE IS TAROT-CARD READERS,

SORCERERS, WITCHES,
WIZARDS, AND VAMPIRES.

WE ALL KNOW HIM
AS THE JOKER.



HE SAID HE'S DOING GOD'S WORK.

HE CALLS HIMSELF
THE ANGEL OF DEATH.

A DEAD MAN IN THE FRENCH QUARTER

INSIDE A NICE HOTEL,

IT AS HIGH-PROFILE
AS YOU CAN GET IN NEW ORLEANS.

CAPTIONS PAID FOR BY
DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS

NEW ORLEANS,
THE ENTIRE FRENCH QUARTER

WAS BUILT AROUND
ST. LOUIS CATHEDRAL.

IF THAT DOESN'T TELL YOU
HOW CATHOLIC IT IS,

THE CITY IS ENMESHED
IN CATHOLICISM.

BUT AT NIGHT,

THE CATHEDRAL HOSTS OTHER
DARKER FORCES AROUND IT.

NEW ORLEANS HAS
A DARK UNDERCURRENT.

THERE'S THIS SUBCULTURE
OF STREET PEOPLE.



LOCALLY, THEY'RE REFERRED TO
AS "GUTTER PUNKS."

THEY'RE JUST TRANSIENT KIDS.

AND AT NIGHT,

THEY'RE TAROT-CARD READING,
STEALING, OR HUSTLING.

FAR AWAY
FROM NEW ORLEANS' DARK SIDE,

THE FRENCH QUARTER'S
CHATEAU LEMOYNE,

NAMED FOR A NEW ORLEANS FOUNDER,

IS BOOKED SOLID
DURING MARDI GRAS.

BUT ON MARCH 25, 1998,
JUST TWO WEEKS LATER,

THE HOTEL MAKES HISTORY
IN A MORE HORRIFIC WAY.

HELLO, HOUSEKEEPING!

HOUSEKEEPING!

IN JUST A FEW DAYS' TIME,

THE VICTIM'S IDENTITY
WILL SEND SHOCK WAVES

THROUGH THE BIG EASY.

WHEN DETECTIVES ARRIVE,

THEY HAVE NO IDEA WHAT OR WHO
THEY'RE DEALING WITH.

WHAT THEY DO KNOW IS THAT
A BRUTAL KILLER IS ON THE LOOSE.

IT'S ONE OF THE BLOODIEST SCENES

I'VE EVER BEEN ON
WHEN YOU HAVE ONE VICTIM.

THERE WAS BLOOD EVERYWHERE --
ON THE WALLS...

...ON THE FURNITURE,
ON THE BEDS THEMSELVES.

AND THERE ON THE FLOOR,

I THEN VIEWED THE BODY OF A MALE
DRESSED ONLY IN SOCKS.

WE DON'T KNOW
EXACTLY WHAT WENT DOWN,

WE JUST KNOW
THAT IT WAS A BLOODY STRUGGLE

AND HE WAS STABBED
MULTIPLE TIMES.

IN THE YEARS
OF HANDLING HOMICIDES,

STABBING AS A FORM OF KILLING
IS USUALLY PERSONAL,

AS OPPOSED TO HAVING A GUN.

AND IN THIS CASE,
THE NUMBER OF STAB WOUNDS

WAS INDICATIVE
OF SOME PERSONAL RAGE,

THAT THE PERSON
PROBABLY KNEW THE VICTIM.

AND THEN I SEE CONDOM PACKETS.

AND EMPTY CONDOM PACKETS.

THEN WE FIND ACTUAL USED CONDOMS
THERE ON THE SCENE.

AT THIS POINT, WE'RE THINKING
SOME TYPE OF SEXUAL RENDEZVOUS,

AND THAT THE PERSON
HE HAD THE RENDEZVOUS WITH

IS THE PERPETRATOR.

WE DON'T KNOW
WHETHER IT'S MAN OR WOMAN.

THERE'S NO WAY TO TELL
AT THIS POINT.

POLICE RECOVER
THE VICTIM'S CLOTHES,

INCLUDING
A NEW YORK BASEBALL CAP,

BUT THEY FIND NO WALLET OR I.D.
ANYWHERE IN THE ROOM.

DETECTIVE.

AFTER FINDING A KEY,
I GO DOWNSTAIRS,

TALK TO THE MANAGER
OF THE HOTEL,

TRYING TO FIND OUT
WHAT WE COULD FIND OUT

ABOUT THIS PERSON IN THE ROOM

SINCE WE DON'T HAVE
IDENTIFICATION.

IT WAS
A RAMON MARTINEZ.

A SINGLE MAN
AT 10:30 P.M. FOR ONE NIGHT.

HOW ABOUT A VEHICLE?

IT SAYS HE WAS DRIVING
A MITSUBISHI.

THAT'S ALL IT SAYS.

YEAH.
THIS IS DETECTIVE WAGUESPACK.

I NEED A POLICE ASSIST
TO LOOK FOR A PARKED VEHICLE.

I KNEW IT WAS A MITSUBISHI.

I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT KIND OF COLOR
OR ANYTHING ELSE.

SO TWO GUYS
WENT TO THE PARKING LOT,

I STARTED WALKING THE STREET.

DETECTIVES HOPE FINDING THE CAR

WILL HELP SHED LIGHT
ON WHO RAMON MARTINEZ WAS

AND WHY HE DIED.

THERE IS A SCIENCE
THAT STUDIES BLOOD SPATTER,

SO WE KNEW WE WERE GONNA NEED
A BLOOD-SPATTER EXPERT

WHO COULD PROBABLY TELL US

WHAT WAS HAPPENING IN THAT ROOM
AT THE TIME.

WHAT YOU GOT?

WE HAVE A MALE,
HISPANIC, MID-30s,

MULTIPLE STAB WOUNDS,
NO MURDER WEAPON.

I WAS PRETTY MUCH
THE ONLY EXPERT IN THE STATE.

THERE'S NOT VERY MANY WOMEN
THAT WORK IN FORENSICS,

AND CERTAINLY NOT A LOT OF WOMEN
THAT DO BLOOD-SPATTER ANALYSIS.

I HAVE NO IDEA
WHO WE'RE LOOKING FOR.

I'M HOPING MAYBE YOU GUYS
CAN TELL US SOMETHING.

BY EXAMINING THE
BLOOD STAINS AND THE SPATTER,

WE WOULD BE ABLE TO COME
TO A REASONABLE CONCLUSION

ON WHERE THE CRIME OCCURRED
INITIALLY, WHERE IT STARTED,

HOW IT PROCEEDED,
AND THEN, OF COURSE,

WHERE IT FINALLY ENDED UP,
WHERE IT CULMINATED.

WHEN WE OPENED THE DOOR

AND I LOOKED IN
AND I SAW ALL THE BLOOD...

...I KNEW THAT THIS WAS
GOING TO BE VERY COMPLICATED.

JUST GLANCING AT IT...

IT SPOKE TO THE VICIOUSNESS
OF THIS CRIME.

I COULD PICTURE
IMMEDIATELY IN MY MIND

HOW THE VICTIM WAS TRYING
TO ESCAPE HIS ATTACKER,

BUT THERE WAS NOWHERE TO GO.

WHEN IT COMES
TO WORKING A CRIME SCENE,

THE PHYSICAL EVIDENCE
OF IT'S GONNA TELL THE STORY,

AND IT'S GOING TO GUIDE YOU
IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.

IT'S JUST GONNA BE
UP TO THE INDIVIDUAL EXAMINER

AND CRIME-SCENE INVESTIGATOR
TO BE ABLE TO INTERPRET

AND READ THE STORY
THAT'S BEING TOLD.

WHAT BILLY AND I NEEDED TO DO

WAS TO BE ABLE TO PUT THAT
ON PAPER AND PROVE IT.

WE FIRST LOOKED AT THE ROOM
AS A WHOLE.

I DIDN'T THINK IT WAS A WOMAN

BECAUSE OF THE STRENGTH
THAT WAS NEEDED...

...AND BECAUSE OF THE SIZE OF
THE SHOE IMPRESSION THAT WE HAD.

NONE OF IT LOOKED LIKE A WOMAN.

IT WAS A MAN WHO HAD BEEN KILLED
BY ANOTHER MAN.

IS THERE ANYTHING YOU CAN
TELL ME ABOUT MR. MARTINEZ?

HIS DEMEANOR,
WHAT WAS HE WEARING, LUGGAGE?

UM...

I REMEMBER THAT HE WAS CARRYING
A SMALL BAG.

GOOD EVENING, SIR.
HOW CAN I HELP YOU?

DID YOU HAVE A ROOM FOR TONIGHT?

HE WAS WEARING
A DARK NEW YORK BASEBALL CAP.

IT'LL BE 520.

DO YOU NEED ANY ADDITIONAL
KEY CARDS THIS EVENING?

NO, BUT THANK YOU
FOR ASKING.

AND I TOOK HIM UP.

I'M HAPPY TO HELP.

ANYTHING YOU NEED, YOU JUST
GIVE US A CALL ANY TIME.

LET'S SEE HERE...

OKAY.

THERE YOU ARE,
MR. MARTINEZ.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

WILL YOU BE NEEDING
ANYTHING ELSE THIS EVENING?

YES.
WHAT TIME IS CHECKOUT?

11 A.M.

I MAY NEED
A LATER CHECKOUT.

UM...

CAN I GIVE YOU A CALL
LATER TONIGHT WHEN I KNOW?

HE WAS...

HE WAS VERY NICE,
POLITE.

YOU START THERE, I'M GONNA
CHECK OUT THE BATHROOM.

ALL RIGHT.

WHEN YOU'RE LOOKING
AT A CRIME SCENE,

THE IDEA IS THAT WE FIRST
HAD TO FIND THE STARTING POINT.

WHERE DID IT START,
AND THEN WHAT HAPPENED?

WHERE DO WE SEE
A MAJORITY OF THE BLOOD,

AND THEN WERE DO WE SEE
THE LEAST AMOUNT OF BLOOD?

BECAUSE
THE LEAST AMOUNT OF BLOOD

IS GOING TO BE WHERE
THE ORIGINAL INJURIES HAPPENED.

AND THEY HAPPENED
IN THE BATHROOM.

WE FOUND THAT BLOOD
ON THE TOILET BOWL,

ON THE BOTTOM, AT THE FLOOR.

THIS WAS A SMALL PATTERN,
AND WE KNEW THAT THE VICTIM --

FROM ALL THE OTHER PATTERNS
IN THERE --

COULD HAVE ONLY BEEN IN THERE
AT THE INITIAL ATTACK.

THERE WAS A GOOD CHANCE BECAUSE
OF THE ANGLE OF THE STAINS

THAT HE WAS ON THE FLOOR.

NOW, I DON'T KNOW WHICH PART
OF HIS BODY WAS INJURED,

BUT HE WAS NOT STANDING.

HE WAS CAST OFF BALANCE.

SO WE KNOW FROM THE BATHROOM,
TRY TO GET OUT THE DOOR.

AND THEN
THERE'S A FRENZIED ATTACK THERE.

AND WE SEE PARTS OF HIS BODY,

LIKE HIS FOREARM
THAT PRESSES AGAINST THE DOOR.

YOU CAN SEE A HAND PRINT

WHERE HE REACHES UP
TO UNLOCK THE CHAIN ON THE DOOR.

AND IT'S PUSHED FORWARD AND THEN
DOWN TO THE SIDE OF THE WALL.

THE PERPETRATOR IS PUSHING HIM
INTO THE CORNER.

THE VICTIM REACHES OUT,
AND HE SLAMS HIS HAND DOWN.

IT WAS PUT DOWN WITH FORCE.

BUT HE'S TRYING TO GET AWAY.

AND THEN, GUESS WHAT, BLOODY
SHOE PRINTS STAND UP ON THE BED

AND WALK ACROSS THE BED.

AND HE DIES RIGHT THERE.

THE REPORT SAYS
HE WAS STABBED 50 TIMES,

AND HE WAS STABBED
EVEN POSTMORTEM, AFTER DEATH.

SUCH OVERKILL
INDICATES A CRIME OF PASSION.

WHO WAS SO DETERMINED
TO KILL RAMON MARTINEZ AND WHY?

WE COULD NOT FATHOM THAT
IT WAS GONNA BE AS HIGH-PROFILE

AS IT TURNED OUT TO BE.

THE POLICE FOUND HIM DEAD

IN THE CHATEAU LEMOYNE HOTEL
IN THE FRENCH QUARTER.

THIS IS NOT JUST "SOMEONE
GOT STABBED" CRIME SCENE.

THIS IS
A VERY HEINOUS CRIME SCENE.

THE CITY OF NEW ORLEANS
IS A TOURIST DESTINATION.

IT CERTAINLY
COULD HAVE AN IMPACT

IF PEOPLE WERE TO BELIEVE
THAT GOING TO NEW ORLEANS

AND GOING TO THE FRENCH QUARTER
PUTS YOU IN PERIL.

WELL, DO YOU KNOW IF HE HAD
ANY CONTACT WITH ANYONE ELSE

IN THE HOTEL
THAT NIGHT?

AS FAR AS I CAN TELL,
THE LAST PERSON

WHO SPOKE WITH ROOM 520
WAS THE NIGHT SECURITY GUARD.

AFTER 11:00 P.M., OUR NIGHT
SECURITY HANDLES ALL THE CALLS,

SO HE ARRIVED AT THE ROOM
MAYBE AROUND MIDNIGHT.

YOUR TOWELS.

I WAS IN THE SHOWER.

JUST LEAVE THEM
ON THE GROUND.

THE MAN BEHIND THE DOOR

DID NOT HAVE A SPANISH ACCENT.

DID THE SECURITY GUARD
UNKNOWINGLY HELP THE KILLER

COVER HIS TRACKS?

A LOT OF THE PATTERN
WAS DISTORTED AND DESTROYED

BECAUSE HE PERPETRATOR WENT BACK
INTO THE BATHROOM

AND CLEANED UP.

AND SO THERE IS BLOODY WATER
ALL OVER THE PLACE.

BUT NOT EVERYTHING
WAS DESTROYED.

INVESTIGATORS RECOVER
A SINGLE STRAND OF DYED RED HAIR

AND BELIEVE IT BELONGS
TO THE MURDERER.

THEY ALSO DISCOVER OTHER BLOOD,
TYPE "O,"

THAT IS DIFFERENT
FROM THE VICTIM'S.

THAT TELLS THEM THE PERP

WAS LIKELY ALSO INJURED
IN THE ATTACK.

IF WE DETERMINE
THAT THERE'S A POSSIBILITY

THAT THE PERPETRATOR,
THE KILLER, WAS INJURED,

WE'LL ALWAYS NOTIFY
THE HOSPITALS

TO LET US KNOW IF ANYBODY
COMES IN WITH STAB WOUNDS,

SEVERE CUTS.

DETECTIVES ALSO FIND
TYPE "O" BLOOD IN THE STAIRWELL,

TRACING THE KILLER'S STEPS
FROM THE FIFTH FLOOR

DOWN A BACK STAIRWELL

TO THE BUSY STREETS
OF THE FRENCH QUARTER,

WHERE HE'S SWALLOWED UP
BY THE THRONGS OF TOURISTS.

WE CHECKED TO FIND OUT

IF THEY HAD SURVEILLANCE VIDEO
FOR THE HOTEL.

THE SURVEILLANCE SYSTEM
THAT THE HOTEL HAD AT THE TIME

WAS NOT ONE THAT MAINTAINED
EVERY ANGLE ALL THE TIME,

AND SO IT HAD GAPS IN THIS TAPE.

WE VIEWED IT.

THERE WAS NOTHING THAT WOULD
EVEN IDENTIFY MARTINEZ

AS COMING INTO THE HOTEL
OR LEAVING,

AND THEN NO ONE ELSE
THAT SEEMED SUSPICIOUS

WAS ON THAT HOTEL VIDEO.

THEY NOW KNOW HOW MARTINEZ DIED,

BUT WHY HE WAS KILLED AND
WHO HE WAS ARE STILL MYSTERIES.

POLICE HAVE YET TO LOCATE
A MITSUBISHI

THAT MATCHES THE KEYS
FOUND IN MARTINEZ'S ROOM.

SO DETECTIVE WAGUESPACK
WIDENS HIS SEARCH.

SO I JUST STARTED
WALKING UP AND DOWN THE STREET

FROM THE HOTEL IN DAUPHINE.

EXCUSE ME,
MA'AM.

I'M DETECTIVE DEAL.

I WAS WONDERING IF,
BY CHANCE,

YOU HEARD OR SAW
SOMETHING UNUSUAL LAST NIGHT

COMING FROM
THE ROOM NEXT DOOR?

YEAH, WE HEARD SOME NOISE
JUST AROUND 1:00 A.M.

THERE WAS A LOT OF, YOU KNOW,
BANGING AND RUCKUS AND FIGHTING.

IT'S NEW ORLEANS.

LIKE, WE THOUGHT PEOPLE
WERE JUST PARTYING, YOU KNOW?

HEAR ANY VOICES
OR ANYTHING SAID, BY CHANCE?

IT WAS
REALLY MUFFLED.

YOU KNOW, NOTHING SPECIFIC,
NOTHING I COULD REALLY TELL YOU.

THEY ACTUALLY SAID
THAT THEY HEARD NOISE

AROUND THE TIME THAT THIS
INCIDENT WOULD HAVE OCCURRED

AND HEARD NOISE
THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN CONSISTENT

WITH WHAT WE FOUND IN THAT ROOM.

THE FIRST ROAD
I CAME TO, BIENVILLE.

I KNOW IT WAS A MITSUBISHI.

AND LUCKILY,
WITHIN THE FIRST BLOCK,

THE 900 BLOCK, I JUST FOUND
A MITSUBISHI AND THE KEY WORKED.

HE IS COMPLETELY SHOCKED

TO SEE THAT IT SAYS
"FATHER RAMON MARTINEZ."

I GOT A POSITIVE I.D.
ON THE CAR.

IT'S REGISTERED
TO A FATHER RAMON MARTINEZ.

REPEAT, THE VICTIM IS A PRIEST.

ONCE WE FOUND OUT THAT HE WAS
A CATHOLIC PRIEST, THIS...

THIS BLEW ALL OF OUR MINDS.

FROM THE DETECTIVES'
POINT OF VIEW,

THEY'RE LOOKING AT A DEAD MAN
IN THE FRENCH QUARTER

INSIDE A NICE HOTEL.

THEY HAVE THE SEX ANGLE.

THEN THEY FIND OUT THE VICTIM
IS A CATHOLIC PRIEST,

WELL, THAT PUTS THE CASE
UP TO HERE.

I MEAN, IT IS AS HIGH PROFILE
AS YOU CAN GET IN NEW ORLEANS.

NEW ORLEANS
IS A VERY CATHOLIC TOWN.

EVERYTHING IN THIS CITY

ALMOST EVOLVES AROUND
THE CATHOLIC RELIGION.

SO DEALING WITH
A CATHOLIC PRIEST

FOUND DEAD IN A HOTEL
UNDER THESE CIRCUMSTANCES,

WE KNOW THAT IT'S GONNA RAISE
SOME EYEBROWS.

I GOT A POSITIVE I.D.
ON THE CAR.

THE VICTIM IS A PRIEST.

WHEN YOU HAVE A CATHOLIC PRIEST
IN THIS VERY CATHOLIC CITY

FOUND DEAD AND, I MEAN,
BRUTALLY MURDERED IN A HOTEL,

IT JUST SETS OFF ALARM BELLS
ALL OVER TOWN.

AND THIS BECAME
ONE OF THE HIGHEST PROFILE CASES

IN RECENT MEMORY.

WE COULD NOT FATHOM THAT
IT WAS GONNA BE AS HIGH-PROFILE

AS IT TURNED OUT TO BE.

THE EXTREME VIOLENCE, YOU KNOW,

THAT THIS WASN'T JUST
A DISPASSIONATE ROBBERY,

THERE HAD TO BE SOME CONNECTION

BETWEEN THE VICTIM
AND THE MURDERER.

FATHER MARTINEZ'S CAR

IS REGISTERED
IN PORT SULPHUR PARISH --

50 MILES SOUTHEAST
OF NEW ORLEANS.

SO WE WENT TO PORT SULPHUR

TO THE CHURCH
THAT HE MINISTERED.

APPEARS THAT HE WAS WELL-LIKED
BY ALL HIS PARISHIONERS

AND HE PERFORMED
A LOT OF MARRIAGES.

FATHER MARTINEZ ALSO COUNSELED

TROUBLED MARRIED COUPLES

AND TAUGHT
AT A JESUIT HIGH SCHOOL,

AS WELL AS PRESTIGIOUS
LOYOLA UNIVERSITY.

BOTH OF YOU
MUST BE WILLING

TO GO FORTH
ON THIS JOURNEY TOGETHER.

HE WAS WELL-KNOWN
IN THE ACADEMIC CIRCLES.

DETECTIVES ALSO LEARN
THAT RAMON MARTINEZ

HAD DREAMED
OF BECOMING A CATHOLIC PRIEST

FROM THE TIME HE WAS A CHILD.

RAMON MARTINEZ
WAS BORN IN 1961 IN CUBA --

TWO YEARS
AFTER THE CUBAN REVOLUTION

WHEN CUBA BASICALLY BECAME
AN OFFICIALLY ATHEIST STATE,

SO A VERY RELIGIOUS BOY
LIKE RAMON MARTINEZ

FROM A VERY CATHOLIC FAMILY,
HE FOUND IT HARD LIVING IN CUBA.

BY THE TIME
RAMON IS SIX OR SEVEN,

HIS FAMILY WAS ABLE
TO EMIGRATE TO NEW ORLEANS,

WHERE HE ULTIMATELY FULFILLED
HIS DREAM OF BECOMING A PRIEST.

10 YEARS AFTER BEING ORDAINED

AND JUST TWO MONTHS
BEFORE HE WAS MURDERED,

FATHER RAMON MARTINEZ IS GRANTED
THE HIGHEST CATHOLIC HONOR.

HE'S CHOSEN
TO ACCOMPANY POPE JOHN PAUL II

ON AN OFFICIAL PAPAL VISIT
TO CUBA.

IN NEW ORLEANS,
THAT WAS A BIG DEAL

BECAUSE, YOU KNOW,
ONE OF OUR OWN PRIESTS

WAS GOING WITH THE POPE.

THEY WERE OPENING UP CUBA
FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER

TO AN OFFICIAL PAPAL VISIT.

FATHER RAMON'S PART OF THE TRIP
GOT A LOT OF PRESS,

ESPECIALLY IN NEW ORLEANS.

HE'S LAUDED ON THE LOCAL NEWS.

THEY CAN COME TO CHURCH,

BUT NO
OUTSIDE PROCESSIONS.

PRIESTS ARE NOT ALLOWED
TO HAVE OUTSIDE PROCESSIONS

WITH THE STATUES.

BUT AWAY
FROM HIS OFFICIAL DUTIES,

MARTINEZ KEPT ANOTHER PART
OF HIS LIFE HIDDEN.

HE MAINTAINED A RECTORY
WHERE HE LIVED IN LAPLACE,

AND HE ALSO HAD A RECTORY
THAT WAS LOCATED IN PORT SULPHUR

IN PLAQUEMINE'S PARISH.

AND FOR THOSE
WHO AREN'T FAMILIAR

AT LEAST WITH CATHOLICISM,

THE RECTORY
IS WHERE THE PRIEST LIVES,

SO THESE ARE ESSENTIALLY
BOTH OF HIS RESIDENCES.

AT BOTH RECTORIES,
WHAT THEY FOUND

WAS THAT FATHER MARTINEZ

HAD A COLLECTION
OF HOMOSEXUAL PORNOGRAPHY.

SEX TOYS
AND DIFFERENT THINGS LIKE THAT,

HOMOSEXUAL LITERATURE.

GAY PORNOGRAPHIC VIDEOTAPES
AND GAY MAGAZINES.

THE CAT WAS OUT OF THE BAG.

THE POLICE KNEW
THAT THIS WAS A GAY SEX CRIME.

I'VE BEEN WAITING FOR THIS
ALL NIGHT.

THAT POINT,
THE POLICE NEEDED TO FIND OUT

MORE ABOUT
FATHER MARTINEZ'S SECRET LIFE.

SO THEY STARTED
SCOURING THE FRENCH QUARTER

TO FIND OUT
WHO HE HAD BEEN WITH,

WHO HE HUNG AROUND WITH,
WHO KNEW HIM.

THEY WENT TO THE,
YOU KNOW, GAY BARS,

THEY WENT TO STREET PEOPLE,

SHOWING A PHOTOGRAPH AROUND
OF FATHER RAMON,

AND ASKING IF ANYBODY KNEW HIM.

THEY NEEDED TO FIND OUT
WHO HE SPENT TIME WITH

IN ORDER TO NARROW DOWN
THE SUSPECT LIST.

OUT IN EVERGREEN,

WE LEARNED HE WOULD ALWAYS GO
AND STAY AT LA QUINTA.

- HI.
- GOOD EVENING, SIR.

I'M DETECTIVE WAGUESPACK.

I'M INVESTIGATING
A HOMICIDE.

HAVE YOU EVER SEEN
THIS MAN?

YEAH,
SURE, SURE!

THAT'S MIKE
FROM IBM.

HE'S IN HERE
ABOUT EVERY OTHER WEEK.

EMPLOYEES AND THE DESK CLERK
KNEW HIM AS MIKE,

AND HE WAS A FREQUENT GUEST
AT THEIR MOTEL.

YOU EVER SEEN ANYBODY COME IN
WITH HIM?

NO,
I HAVEN'T.

HE'S --
HE'S ALWAYS ALONE.

A SEARCH OF POLICE RECORDS

ALSO REVEALS
THAT FATHER MARTINEZ

HAD BEEN IN TROUBLE WITH THE LAW
A DECADE EARLIER.

DURING THE PROCESS, WE FOUND OUT

THAT HE HAD BEEN ARRESTED
OUT IN NEW ORLEANS

IN AN ADULT BOOK STORE

FOR SOLICITING TO PERFORM
ORAL SEX ON TWO VICE SQUAD GUYS.

YOU HEAR THAT?
HEY, COME HERE.

LET ME
GET YOUR HANDS.

- PUT THEM UP.
- NO!

COME ON.
PUT THEM UP, BUDDY.

HE'S GOT A PRIOR ARREST RECORD.

DOESN'T MATTER WHETHER HE'S A
PRIEST OR NOT, HE BROKE THE LAW.

HE WAS RELEASED
WITH JUST A FINE.

BUT POLICE ARE STILL NO CLOSER
TO FINDING MARTINEZ'S KILLER.

NO ONE REMEMBERS
SEEING HIM WITH ANYONE

ON THE DAYS
LEADING UP TO THE MURDER.

THE FIRST 24 TO 48 HOURS
AFTER A MURDER CASE

ARE THE MOST IMPORTANT,

AND THE POLICE IN THIS CASE
JUST DIDN'T GET ENOUGH LEADS.

WE HAVE NO VIABLE SUSPECT.

NO MORE INFORMATION

THAT WOULD TELL US
WHAT HAPPENED IN THE ROOM.

WE PRETTY MUCH
RAN INTO A BRICK WALL.

DESPERATE FOR A LEAD,
AUTHORITIES OFFER A REWARD

FOR ANY INFORMATION LEADING
TO THE ARREST AND CONVICTION

OF THE KILLER.

AS NEWS SPREADS
THAT THE PRIEST WAS GAY

AND LED A SECRET DOUBLE LIFE,

THE HIGH-PROFILE CASE
WITH A REWARD ATTACHED

TAKES ON A LIFE OF ITS OWN.

EVERYBODY IN THIS CITY
KNEW ABOUT IT,

EVEN THOSE
WHO AREN'T WITH A REGULAR FAMILY

OR RECEIVED THE NEWSPAPER.

THE PEOPLE IN THE FRENCH QUARTER
WERE TALKING AMONGST THEMSELVES

ABOUT THIS MURDER.

IT WAS JUST THAT UNUSUAL.

THEN, IN SEPTEMBER OF 1998,

SIX MONTHS TO THE DAY

AFTER THE BODY
OF FATHER MARTINEZ WAS FOUND,

DETECTIVES GET A POSSIBLE LEAD.

THE POLICE OFFICER
IN THE EIGHTH DISTRICT,

WHICH ENCOMPASSES
THE FRENCH QUARTER,

HE CALLS HOMICIDE
AND SAID HE HAD SOME INFORMATION

ABOUT A FEMALE
WHO LIKELY KNOWS SOMETHING

ABOUT A PERSON
WHO MAY HAVE MURDERED A PRIEST.

SHE CLAIMS TO MAKE
A LIVING AS A TAROT-CARD READER

IN THE FRENCH QUARTER'S
JACKSON SQUARE.

JACKSON SQUARE
IS A BIG, OPEN AREA

IN FRONT OF ST. LOUIS CATHEDRAL
IN THE FRENCH QUARTER.

AND IT'S FILLED WITH MUSICIANS,
FORTUNE TELLERS,

TAROT-CARD READERS --

EVERY KIND OF STREET PERFORMER
YOU COULD IMAGINE

HANGING OUT THERE
JUST ABOUT 24 HOURS A DAY.

IT SEEMS LIKE THERE IS A CULTURE
FOR EVERYTHING IN HERE,

INCLUDING TAROT-CARD READERS,
PALM READERS, MYSTICS, PSYCHICS.

A LOT OF THEM
ARE ON SKATEBOARDS.

THEY'RE HOMELESS.

THEY BASICALLY JUST
HANG AROUND THE FRENCH QUARTER

AND TRY AND BUM MONEY
OFF OF PEOPLE.

IT'S A GROUP OF PEOPLE

THAT COMMONLY ARE REFERRED TO
IN THIS CITY AS "GUTTER PUNKS."

MOST OF THEM ARE TROUBLED YOUTH.

HEY, JENN!

HEY!

WORKING ON JACKSON SQUARE
ON A DAY-TO-DAY BASIS

IS A BIG STRUGGLE.

HOW'S BIZ?

SLOW TONIGHT
'CAUSE IT'S SO COLD.

LIKE, OFTEN AS A READER,

WE DON'T KNOW
IF WE'RE GOING TO EAT OR NOT.

SHIMMER AND I WOULD OFTEN
MEET ON JACKSON SQUARE

AND SET UP NEXT TO EACH OTHER.

SHIMMER WAS AN ITTY-BITTY,
LITTLE GIRL WITH SHORT HAIR.

SHE REMINDED ME
OF A PIXIE OR A FAIRY.

SHIMMER IS ACTUALLY A RUNAWAY
FROM CHICAGO,

AND SHE CAME DOWN HERE
AND BECAME A TAROT-CARD READER.

WE HAVE A LOT OF RUNAWAYS

THAT TEND TO SOCIALIZE
AMONGST THEMSELVES.

THEY TEND TO SOMETIMES
GET VERY AGGRESSIVE

WITH REGARDS TO PANHANDLING.

NOT WILLING TO WAIT
FOR HER MEAL TICKET,

SHIMMER PURSUES
ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY.

SHE BELIEVES SHE HAS INFORMATION

TO HELP POLICE
CATCH THE PRIEST'S KILLER

AND MAYBE HELP HERSELF
TO THE REWARD.

BUT CAN THE POLICE TRUST HER?

SHIMMER WAS AFRAID TO SPEAK
TO ANY UNIFORMED POLICE OFFICER,

SO SHE ASKED SPECIFICALLY
FOR A PLAIN-CLOTHES COP

TO MEET HER AT THE FRENCH
QUARTER AT HER TAROT-CARD TABLE.

GOOD EVENING.

GOOD EVENING.

CARE TO HAVE
YOUR CARDS READ?

I WAS HOPING
YOU COULD PROVIDE ME

SOME INFORMATION...
ABOUT MY FUTURE WITH A PRIEST.

GO AHEAD
AND ASK THE DECK A QUESTION.

IT'S THAT EASY,

WHO KILLED
THE PRIEST?

SHE SAID THAT SHE WAS
INVOLVED WITH A YOUNG MAN

WHO WAS BRAGGING
ABOUT HAVING KILLED A PRIEST

SEVERAL MONTHS BEFORE.

I THINK
MY BOYFRIEND IS THE KILLER.

WITHIN A FEW MINUTES,

HE KNEW THAT THIS WAS A HOT LEAD
ON THE FATHER RAMON CASE.

WE ALL KNOW HIM
AS THE JOKER.

GO AHEAD
AND ASK THE DECK A QUESTION.

WHO KILLED
THE PRIEST?

I THINK
MY BOYFRIEND IS THE KILLER.

I'M LISTENING.

WHAT'S HIS NAME?

HIS NAME
IS ROBERT.

BUT WE ALL KNOW HIM
AS THE JOKER.

SO ANSWER REPRESENTS WHERE YOU
ARE ON YOUR CAREER RIGHT NOW.

- HEY.
- HEY!

HOW'S BUSINESS?

IT'S GOOD.
HOW ARE YOU?

GREAT.
MWAH!

HEY, JOKER.

I JUST ASSUMED THAT
ROBERT'S STREET NAME WAS JOKER

'CAUSE HE WAS
KIND OF GOOFY-LOOKING.

ROBERT WAS ONE OF THE FIRST
PEOPLE THAT WAS NICE TO ME

IN THIS CITY,
AND WE WERE FRIENDS.

HEY, MAN, YOU SHOULD REALLY
LISTEN TO HER.

SHE KNOWS
WHAT SHE'S TALKING ABOUT.

HE WAS JUST ALWAYS
HANGING AROUND THE SQUARE,

TALKING TO SHIMMER.

EVERYBODY KNEW
THEY WERE DATING.

SINCE I WAS RIGHT NEXT TO HER
ALL THE TIME,

HE WAS JUST ALWAYS THERE.

WHAT'S HE DO
FOR A LIVING?

HE HUSTLES
FOR JOHNS.

SHIMMER EXPLAINED
THAT THE PRIEST AND HE

HAD SOME ROMANTIC TRYST GOING ON

AND THAT THEY HAD GOTTEN
TOGETHER ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS.

HOW MUCH
CAN YOU SPEND?

$20.

GET IN.

HE ADMITTED THAT HE HAD
HAD SEX FOR CASH WITH MARTINEZ

PRIOR TO THE MURDER

AND THAT
WHEN HE WAS PICKED UP AGAIN

AND WENT TO THE HOTEL,
HE DID SO WILLINGLY.

AT SOME POINT,

WHILE FATHER MARTINEZ
WAS PERFORMING ORAL SEX ON HIM,

HE TOLD SHIMMER
THAT HE WAS DISGUSTED

BY THIS BEHAVIOR
OF A MAN OF THE CLOTH, A PRIEST,

AND FELT THAT THIS WAS SOMETHING
THAT HE NEEDED TO TAKE CARE OF,

BECAME ENRAGED, AND BEGAN
STABBING FATHER MARTINEZ.

HE TOLD HER THAT HE HAD
STABBED HIM IN HIS NECK.

AND THEN AS THE STRUGGLE ENSUED,
HE STABBED HIM,

AND HE CONTINUED TO STAB HIM
UNTIL HE WAS MOTIONLESS.

AFTER STABBING HIM,
HE WENT INTO THE BATHROOM,

TOOK A SHOWER TO GET THE BLOOD
OFF OF HIM, THEN LEFT THE ROOM.

HE'S TELLING HER
THAT HE BASICALLY DID GOD'S WORK

AND GOD WILL FORGIVE HIM
FOR KILLING THE PRIEST

BECAUSE HE BASICALLY WAS EVIL.

AND HE WAS THE ANGEL OF DEATH.

SO HE WAS BRAGGING TO SHIMMER

AND ALSO TRYING
TO JUSTIFY HIS ACTIONS.

HI!

HAVE YOU EVER MET
THIS PRIEST?

NO.

WHAT SHE SAID LINED UP

WITH WHAT THE PEOPLE ON
EITHER SIDE OF THE ROOM HAD SAID

ABOUT STRUGGLE AND NOISES
ON THE NIGHT IN QUESTION

AND WHAT
THE BLOOD-SPATTER EXPERT TOLD US

LIKELY HAPPENED IN THE ROOM
JUDGING FROM THE EVIDENCE.

ALL RIGHT, SO IS THERE ANYTHING
ELSE YOU WANT TO TELL ME?

SHE WAS ACTING
REALLY WEIRD AND PARANOID.

ALL RIGHT.

IN ALL HONESTY, I HAVE NO IDEA

WHETHER SHE TURNED HIM IN
FOR THE MONEY OR OUT OF FEAR.

SHE'S LIVING ON THE STREET,
AND, YOU KNOW,

IF THERE'S A REWARD OF,
YOU KNOW,

EVEN A FEW HUNDRED DOLLARS
OR A THOUSAND DOLLARS,

I MEAN, THAT'S GONNA BE
SIGNIFICANT TO HER.

HE TOOK
THE PRIEST'S WALLET.

HOW DO
YOU KNOW THIS?

HE TOLD ME.
HE SHOWED IT TO ME.

COULD SHIMMER
BE MAKING IT ALL UP

JUST FOR A PAYDAY?

YOU GOT
A LAST NAME?

NOT THAT
I KNOW OF.

SHIMMER OLD THE POLICE
THAT SHE ONLY KNEW THE MAN

AS ROBERT OR JOKER.

HE ALSO HAD ANOTHER ALIAS --
HE WENT BY MAN-O-WAR.

SHE COULDN'T GIVE THEM
A FULL NAME.

BUT SHE DOES
GIVE POLICE HIS BIRTH DATE

AND THE PHONE NUMBER OF
HIS EX-GIRLFRIEND OUT OF STATE.

504...

...SINCE ROBERT FLED
TO HIS HOME STATE OF KENTUCKY.

...525.

THAT'S ALL
I GOT.

ALL RIGHT,
OKAY.

A SEARCH OF COUNTY JAIL RECORDS
FOR A WHITE MALE NAMED ROBERT

WITH A DATE BIRTH OF 6/19/78
REVEALS ROBERT ALLEN.

A DETECTIVE CALLED THE
NUMBER SHIMMER GAVE THE POLICE.

HELLO, CAN I SPEAK
TO ROBERT ALLEN?

THE WOMAN THERE SAID THAT
THERE WAS NO ROBERT ALLEN THERE.

HOMICIDE.

IT'S ROBERT.

ROBERT CALLED THE POLICE

TO CONFIRM
THAT HE WASN'T ROBERT ALLEN,

BUT HE DID PROVIDE
HIS REAL NAME,

WHICH WAS ROBERT CHIDESTER.

CHIDESTER AGREES
TO TALK TO DETECTIVES LATER

IN PERSON

AND PROVIDES CONTACT INFORMATION
IN NEW ORLEANS.

BUT THE PHONE NUMBER AND ADDRESS
ARE PHONY.

ON SEPTEMBER 23, 1998, WITH A
MUG SHOT OF ROBERT NOW IN HAND,

HOMICIDE DETECTIVES MAKE A HOME
VISIT TO THEIR TAROT-CARD READER

AND INFORMER, SHIMMER,

TO SEE IF SHE CAN CONFIRM
IT'S THE ROBERT THAT SHE KNOWS.

ARE YOU SHIMMER?

YEAH.

WE'RE FROM
NEW ORLEANS P.D.

WE HAVE SOMETHING
WE WANT TO SHOW YOU.

MAY WE COME IN?

SURE.

THIS ROBERT ALLEN,
YOUR BOYFRIEND?

THAT'S NOT
MY BOYFRIEND.

I DON'T KNOW
WHO THAT IS.

ROBERT CHIDESTER?

UM...

JOKER?

NO.

SHE HAD SEEN HIM
IN DIFFERENT HAIRSTYLES

AND DIFFERENT-COLOR HAIR.

AT FIRST, SHE MAY HAVE
JUST NOT RECOGNIZED HIM.

TAKE ANOTHER LOOK
AT THAT.

OR SHE HESITATED BRIEFLY
OUT OF FEAR.

IT'S NOT UNCOMMON FOR A WITNESS
TO BE A BIT HESITANT, YOU KNOW,

'CAUSE "DO I WANT TO DO THIS,
DO I WANT TO GET INVOLVED,

AM I MORE AFRAID
OF HIM BEING ON THE STREET,

OR AM I MORE AFRAID
OF SENDING HIM TO JAIL?"

I DON'T RECOGNIZE HIM.

WHAT'S THIS?

WHAT DO WE HAVE HERE?

IN THE APARTMENT,

WE FIND FOUR-INCH DOUBLE-EDGED
KNIFE THAT HAD BLOOD ON IT.

IS THAT YOURS?

YEAH.

BUT WHEN
THE CRIME-LAB REPORT COMES BACK,

SHIMMER IS CLEARED.

THE BLOOD ON THE BLADE TURNED
OUT TO BE SHIMMER'S BLOOD.

IT WAS NOT RELATED
TO THE MURDER.

THAT WAS RELATED TO SHIMMER, WHO
HAD SORT OF A CUTTING FETISH.

SHE WOULD USE THE KNIFE
TO MAKE SMALL CUTS IN HERSELF.

WITH ROBERT CHIDESTER
STILL AT LARGE,

SHIMMER FEARS
WHAT HE'LL DO TO HER

IF HE FINDS OUT
SHE TALKED TO POLICE.

THE JOKER
MADE THREATS TO SHIMMER,

SAYING, "IF YOU TELL ANYONE,
I'LL KILL YOU."

A FEW DAYS LATER,
POLICE CAN'T LOCATE SHIMMER.

FEARING THE WORST,
THEY CANVASS JACKSON SQUARE.

I HEARD
YOU'RE A FRIEND OF SHIMMER'S.

DEPENDS
WHO'S ASKING.

DETECTIVE WAGUESPACK.

HAVE YOU
SEEN HER AROUND?

WE CAN'T FIND HER.

COULD CHIDESTER
HAVE SILENCED HER FOR GOOD?

SHIMMER?

HEY, JOKER.

WHERE YOU BEEN?

I HEARD
YOU'RE A FRIEND OF SHIMMER'S.

DEPENDS
WHO'S ASKING.

DETECTIVE WAGUESPACK.

HAVE YOU
SEEN HER AROUND?

WE CAN'T FIND HER.

I REALLY HAVEN'T SEEN HER
IN A WHILE.

IS IT POSSIBLE THAT CHIDESTER

HAS CLAIMED A SECOND VICTIM?

SHIMMER?

HEY, JOKER.

WHERE YOU BEEN?

NOWHERE.

I'VE BEEN HERE,
READING TAROT.

SHIMMER, AS SWEET
AS SHE WAS, SHE STARTED ACTING

REALLY PARANOID
EVERY TIME JOKER WAS AROUND.

SHE TOLD ME ONE DAY
THAT HE WAS STALKING HER,

AND I BELIEVE
THAT SHIMMER THOUGHT

THAT ROBERT WAS GONNA HURT HER.

MYSTICAL JENN
DOESN'T KNOW WHERE SHIMMER IS,

BUT SHE HAS
SEEN ROBERT CHIDESTER.

HE'S BACK IN NEW ORLEANS.

THE MURDER SUSPECT
IS WORKING AT A LOCAL RESTAURANT

IN THE FRENCH QUARTER
AS A DISHWASHER.

SHE HAD TOLD US
THAT HE PUT AN APPLICATION

AT LA PENICHE
AT TOURA AND DAUPHINE.

SO ALL OF US JUST KIND OF SPREAD
OUT, WENT DIFFERENT PLACES.

YEAH, HE WORKED HERE
FOR ABOUT A WEEK.

HE WAS
A DISHWASHER.

HE WAS TERRIBLE.
I HAD TO FIRE HIM.

AND WE DID LEARN THAT HE WORKED
AT LA PENICHE FOR A WEEK.

AND I SPOKE TO THE MANAGER,
AND SHE WAS ABLE TO SUPPLY US

WITH A COMPLETE FILE
AND A PHOTOGRAPH.

YEAH, HERE.

YOU CAN HAVE IT --
HE'S NOT COMING BACK.

THE APPLICATION
LISTED AN ADDRESS

AT AN APARTMENT
IN UPTOWN NEW ORLEANS,

WHERE HE WAS STAYING.

SO, ROBERT CHIDESTER
STILL LIVE AT THIS ADDRESS?

NO. HE MOVED OUT
A SHORT WHILE AGO.

HE LIVES
AT 2100 JANUS STREET.

NEED BACKUP
AT 2100 JANUS STREET

FOR THE ARREST OF WANTED SUSPECT
ROBERT CHIDESTER.

WE WERE EXPECTING AFTER
THE HORRIFIC SCENE, THE BLOOD,

THE AMOUNT OF CARNAGE
TO THE BODY, THE LONG CHASE --

SIX MONTHS --

WE WERE EXPECTING
A HORRIFIC ENDING.

On my count.

You ready?

One, two, three.

FREEZE!

FREEZE!
POLICE, DON'T MOVE!

KEEP YOUR HANDS
WHERE WE CAN SEE THEM.

WHEN I WENT THROUGH THE DOOR,

HE HAD LIKE A 10-INCH,
12-INCH PARATROOPER KNIFE

NEXT TO THE BED.

AND HE WENT FOR IT,
AND I TOLD HIM, "DON'T DO IT.

I'D HAVE TO KILL YOU."

OFFICER, CUFF HIM.

BACK AT HEADQUARTERS,

POLICE INTERROGATE
ROBERT CHIDESTER.

HE CLAIMS
HE NEVER TOUCHED SHIMMER,

AND POLICE CONFIRM SHE'S SAFE
AND SOUND AT HOME IN CHICAGO.

SO WHAT HAPPENED
IN THE ROOM?

I'M JUST DOING A JOB.

MADE SOME MONEY.

BUT IT DOESN'T TAKE LONG

FOR HIM TO CONFESS TO KILLING
FATHER RAMON MARTINEZ.

I DID
WHAT THE DEMON TOLD ME TO DO.

WHAT HE TOLD SHIMMER
WAS MORE BRAGGING

ABOUT HAVING MURDERED A PRIEST
WHO HE CONSIDERED DIRTY.

HE SAID HE WAS AN AVENGING ANGEL
SENT DOWN FROM HEAVEN.

BUT TO POLICE,
CHIDESTER CHANGES HIS STORY.

HE NOW ADMITS THAT HE ONLY KNEW
HIS CUSTOMER AS MIKE.

HE DIDN'T DISCOVER THAT MIKE
WAS REALLY FATHER MARTINEZ

UNTIL AFTER HE KILLED HIM.

HE LIED TO ME.

HE SAID
HIS NAME WAS MIKE.

IN THE STATEMENT, HE DID SAY

THAT HE WOULD PAY $20 TO LET
MIKE PERFORM ORAL SEX ON HIM.

FATHER MARTINEZ
INVITES CHIDESTER UP TO HIS ROOM

AT THE CHATEAU LEMOYNE.

AND THAT NIGHT,
HE WANTED HIM TO DO OTHER THINGS

THAT CHIDESTER
DIDN'T WANT TO DO.

THEN WHAT HAPPENED?

HE EXPLAINED
THAT FATHER MARTINEZ WANTED HIM

TO TAKE SEVERAL BATHS
AND TO PUT ON SEVERAL CONDOMS

BECAUSE HE WAS INSINUATING
OR INFERRING

THAT CHIDESTER WAS NOT CLEAN.

HE STATED THAT FATHER MARTINEZ

HAD PERFORMED ORAL SEX ON HIM
BUT HE WANTED TO DO MORE.

HE TRIED
TO ENGAGE TOO MUCH.

IN THERE.
GET IN THERE!

JUST GET IN THERE!

I GOT SOMETHING --
I OWN YOU!

ALL RIGHT,
YOU'RE NOT GOING -- I OWN YOU!

I PAID FOR YOU!
YOU'RE NOT --

- JUST LET ME OUT!
- NO, YOU'RE NOT GOING NOWHERE!

NO!

FATHER MARTINEZ
SUPPOSEDLY TOOK A SWING AT HIM

AND STARTED
TO ATTACK MR. CHIDESTER.

AND MR. CHIDESTER SAID
AT THAT POINT,

HE JUST CONTINUED TO STAB HIM,
ABOUT 20 TO 30 TIMES.

BUT SHERRY FIESTER AND HER TEAM

INSIST THE EVIDENCE DISPROVES
CHIDESTER'S SELF-DEFENSE STORY.

THEY CONCLUDED THAT THE PRIEST
NEVER ASSAULTED CHIDESTER.

THIS IS SCIENCE,

AND IT IS NOT SOMETHING THAT
CAN BE INTERPRETED BUT ONE WAY.

THE PRIEST WAS TRYING
TO ESCAPE HIS ATTACKER.

AND THE PERPETRATOR

WAS CONTINUOUSLY
INFLICTING PAIN ON HIM.

THE PHYSICAL EVIDENCE
OF A CRIME SCENE NEVER LIES.

WHEN HE GOT
IN FRONT OF THE POLICE,

HIS STORY CHANGED, AND IT BECAME
MORE OF A SELF-DEFENSE EXCUSE

FOR KILLING FATHER RAMON.

THE TWO STORIES DON'T MATCH UP.

HE'S STARTING
TO PLOT HIS DEFENSE.

SO HE'S NOT BEING BRAGGADOCIO,

HE'S NOT BRAGGING ABOUT,
YOU KNOW, DOING GOD'S WORK.

NOW HE'S JUST
TRYING TO DEFEND HIMSELF

WHY HE KILLED THE PRIEST.

HE COULD HAVE RAPED
ME, AND HE WAS GONNA RAPE ME.

AND IT WAS MY JOB
TO STOP HIM FROM DOING THAT

AND DOING IT
TO ANYBODY ELSE.

HE SAID THAT
AFTER KILLING FATHER MARTINEZ,

HE SHOWERED AND CHANGED CLOTHES.

HE ACTUALLY TOOK A PAIR
OF FATHER MARTINEZ'S PANTS,

AND THOSE PAIR OF PANTS
HAD FATHER MARTINEZ'S WALLET.

AT THAT POINT,
HE FINALLY OPENED UP THE WALLET

AND REALIZED THAT THE MAN THAT
HE HAD JUST STABBED TO DEATH

WAS A PRIEST.

LOOK.

PART OF HIS STATEMENT

WAS THAT THE PRIEST WAS EVIL
AND THAT GOD WOULD UNDERSTAND

THAT CHIDESTER DID
WHAT HE HAD TO DO.

HE ACTUALLY CONSIDERED HIMSELF
THE ANGEL OF DEATH

FOR KILLING THE PRIEST.

I THINK MR. CHIDESTER,
IN HIS OWN MIND,

SAW HIMSELF TO BE SOMETHING
THAT IN LIFE, HE WASN'T.

HE WAS TRYING TO CULTIVATE
SOME KIND OF IMAGE OF HIMSELF

OTHER THAN JUST A POOR KID
LIVING ON THE STREETS.

I ALSO BELIEVE THAT
MR. CHIDESTER IS A SOCIOPATH.

I DON'T THINK HE HAS ONE REGRET.

I BELIEVE THAT HE GOT A THRILL
OUT OF KILLING THIS PERSON.

I THINK HE DID THIS
JUST TO DO IT.

ARMED WITH
HIS TWISTED CONFESSION,

THE NEW ORLEANS
DISTRICT ATTORNEY

CHARGES ROBERT CHIDESTER
WITH FIRST-DEGREE MURDER

IN THE DEATH OF FATHER MARTINEZ.

HE SEEKS THE DEATH PENALTY.

THEY HAD TWO COMPETENCY HEARINGS
FOR MR. CHIDESTER

WITHIN ONE YEAR.

BOTH TIMES, HE WAS FOUND
NOT COMPETENT TO STAND TRIAL.

FINALLY,
TWO YEARS LATER IN 2001,

DOCTORS DEEMED CHIDESTER
COMPETENT.

BUT JUST BEFORE
THE TRIAL BEGINS,

THE NOW-22-YEAR-OLD
FORMER STREET HUSTLER

WITHDRAWS HIS PLEA OF NOT GUILTY
TO FIRST-DEGREE MURDER

AND PLEADS GUILTY
TO MANSLAUGHTER.

HE IS SENTENCED
TO 25 YEARS TO LIFE.

WE UNDERSTAND
WHY HE GOT THE PLEA DEAL

BECAUSE, OF COURSE,
A TRIAL WOULD BE SENSATIONAL.

THE PRIEST'S HOMOSEXUALITY,
FRENCH QUARTER, NEW ORLEANS --

THE WHOLE NINE YARDS.

SO IT WAS IN THE BEST INTEREST
OF ALL PARTIES

THAT A PLEA DEAL WAS STRUCK.

I BELIEVE
THAT THE MARTINEZ FAMILY

IS AT PEACE WITH THE DECISION
THAT WE REACHED

AND THE PLEA AND THE SENTENCE
THAT WAS HANDED DOWN.

NEW ORLEANS IS ALSO AT PEACE,

AS EACH SPRING, THE ANNUAL
CELEBRATION OF MARDI GRAS,

WITH ITS BRILLIANT MASKS
AND DANCING SPIRITS,

WINDS ITS WAY
THROUGH THE NARROW,

CROWDED STREETS
OF THE FRENCH QUARTER.

THE CELEBRATION
MARKS THE BEGINNING OF LENT,

THE MOST DEVOUT AND PIOUS SEASON
OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH.

IT ALSO MARKS THE ANNIVERSARY

OF THE GRISLY MURDER
OF FATHER RAMON MARTINEZ,

WHO IS REMEMBERED FONDLY
FOR HIS SERVICE.

THE PARISHIONERS
JUST ADORED HIM.

HE WAS A PERSON
THAT WAS COMMITTED

TO HIS JOB OF TEACHING.

BUT WHOSE MEMORY IS TAINTED

BY ONE FATEFUL NIGHT

WHEN HIS LIGHT
WAS BRUTALLY EXTINGUISHED

BEHIND CLOSED DOORS
IN THE CHATEAU LEMOYNE.