Forensic Files (1996–…): Season 13, Episode 29 - Pet Rock - full transcript
A woman is bound with electrical cords from a reptile tank heated rock, and murdered. Investigators are able to match forensic evidence to the owner of a boa constrictor living nearby.
>> Narrator: UP NEXT, A YOUNG
WOMAN'S MISSING, AND SOMEONE HAS
STOLEN HER IDENTITY.
>> NO ONE SAW HER LEAVE.
NO ONE SAW HER ARRIVE BACK AT
HER APARTMENT.
>> Narrator: BUT WHO WANTED TO
HARM HER?
>> SHE HAD RECEIVED SOME
HARASSING PHONE CALLS PRIOR TO
HER BEING REPORTED MISSING.
>> Narrator: EVENTUALLY, THE
FORENSIC EVIDENCE PROVIDED THOSE
ANSWERS.
>> EVERYBODY AND THEIR BROTHER
WAS TRYING TO MAKE A DEAL WITH
THE DEVIL.
>> "LET HE WHO HAS NO SIN CAST
THE FIRST STONE."
LET ME TELL YOU, I'D HAVE NO
PROBLEM CASTING ALL THE STONES.
>> Narrator: LIFE WAS AN
ADVENTURE FOR 28-YEAR-OLD
DENISE O'NEILL.
THERE WAS NO TRIP SHE WOULDN'T
TAKE, VIRTUALLY NO ACTIVITY SHE
WOULDN'T TRY.
>> SHE ALWAYS LOVED TO TRAVEL.
SHE WAS ALWAYS OUT THERE
SWIMMING OR HAVING A GAME OF
TENNIS OR SCUBA DIVING, GOING TO
MUSEUMS AND THE ARTS, OF COURSE.
ANYTHING IN THE ARTS, SHE LOVED.
SHE JUST LOVED LIFE.
SHE REALLY LOVED LIFE.
>> Narrator: AFTER GRADUATING
FROM COLLEGE, DENISE TOOK A JOB
AS A WAITRESS IN PALM BEACH,
FLORIDA, WHILE SHE LOOKED FOR A
JOB TEACHING ENGLISH.
>> SHE KNEW THE RESTAURANT
BUSINESS FROM "A" TO "Z" AND
CERTAINLY MADE VERY GOOD MONEY.
SO WHY NOT?
>> Narrator: DENISE WAS A
PUNCTUAL EMPLOYEE, BUT AFTER
MISSING TWO CONSECUTIVE DAYS OF
WORK WITHOUT CALLING IN, HER
MANAGER GREW ALARMED.
>> DENISE HAD BEEN EMPLOYED AT
THIS RESTAURANT FOR 2 1/2 YEARS
AND HAD NEVER MISSED A DAY OF
WORK AT ALL.
>> HER EMPLOYER NOTIFIED THE
POLICE DEPARTMENT, AND THEY
BEGAN A MISSING-PERSONS
INVESTIGATION.
>> Narrator: POLICE WENT TO
DENISE'S APARTMENT.
HER CAR WAS MISSING, BUT THERE
WERE NO SIGNS OF A BREAK-IN.
>> HER APARTMENT WAS EXTREMELY
NEAT, IN ORDER.
NOTHING SEEMED TO BE IN
DISARRAY.
>> Narrator: THEY ALSO CHECKED
THE PHONE ANSWERING MACHINE,
WHICH PROVIDED A CLUE.
>> THERE WAS AN EARLY ALERT FROM
A CREDIT-CARD COMPANY SAYING
THERE WAS SOME UNUSUAL SPENDING
ON ONE OF HER CARDS.
>> Narrator: LATER THAT
AFTERNOON, POLICE FOUND DENISE'S
CAR IN A PARKING LOT ACROSS THE
STREET FROM HER APARTMENT.
>> THEY IMMEDIATELY FELT THAT
SOMEONE ELSE MUST HAVE BEEN IN
THE CAR BECAUSE MS. O'NEILL WAS
A VERY, VERY FASTIDIOUS PERSON,
AND THE CAR WAS JUST THE
OPPOSITE.
>> Narrator: A PINK JACKET
BELONGING TO DENISE WAS ON THE
BACK SEAT.
TWO SODA BOTTLES WERE ON THE
FLOOR.
>> THERE WAS A CIGARETTE BUTT ON
THE FLOOR OF THE DRIVER'S SIDE
OF THE CAR, AND MS. O'NEILL
DIDN'T SMOKE.
>> I NOTICED THAT THERE WAS
WHITE SAND ON THE RIGHT-REAR
FLOOR MAT.
WE HAD SAND ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE
AND A SMALL AMOUNT ON THE
PASSENGER SIDE.
>> Narrator: IN FLORIDA, SAND IS
QUITE COMMON, BUT NOT THIS KIND
OF SAND.
>> IT WASN'T BEACH SAND.
IT WASN'T BLACK MUD.
IT WASN'T COARSE BROWN SAND.
IT WAS UNIQUE.
IT WAS CONSISTENT WITH
LIMESTONE.
>> Narrator: POLICE DUSTED THE
ENTIRE CAR INSIDE AND OUT FOR
FINGERPRINTS.
>> WE FOUND OVER 20 PRINTS IN
TOTAL.
THEY WERE ALL OVER THE CAR.
THEY WERE ON THE INSIDE.
THEY WERE ON THE TRUNK.
THEY WERE ON THE OUTSIDE OF THE
VEHICLE.
>> Narrator: ON THE DAY DENISE
WENT MISSING, HER CREDIT CARD
REVEALED SHE BOUGHT A PAIR OF
WOMEN'S SNEAKERS AT 2:30 IN THE
AFTERNOON BUT FAILED TO SHOW UP
FOR WORK AT 5:30.
>> SO, SOMEWHERE IN BETWEEN THAT
WINDOW, SOMETHING MUST HAVE
HAPPENED TO HER.
>> THIS WAS ONE OF THE BEST
PIECES OF EVIDENCE FOR THE
POLICE 'CAUSE IT GAVE THEM A
TIME FRAME.
>> Narrator: NO ONE AT DENISE'S
APARTMENT HAD SEEN OR HEARD
ANYTHING SUSPICIOUS, BUT THEN A
CHILLING CALL CAME IN TO 911.
>> THE BODY WAS VERY VISIBLE TO
THE NEIGHBOR.
IT LOOKED LIKE IT HAD BEEN
WRAPPED UP IN SOME LARGE PINK
SHEET.
>> Narrator: DENTAL RECORDS
CONFIRMED THE VICTIM WAS
DENISE O'NEILL.
>> THE BODY WAS BOUND.
HER HANDS AND FEET WERE TIED UP
WITH SEVERAL IMPLEMENTS --
SHOESTRINGS, A DOG LEASH -- A
MULTICOLORED DOG LEASH.
>> WE WERE NUMB FOR, LIKE, DAYS.
WE KNEW WE HAD TO BURY HER.
[ SNIFFLES ]
AND WE WERE WALKING UP
PALM BEACH BOULEVARD.
IT WAS SO HOT, AND WE WERE
FREEZING.
WE WERE SO COLD...
AND YET IT WAS HOT.
AND YOU THINK YOU'RE DREAMING.
YOU THINK YOU'RE GONNA WAKE UP,
BUT YOU'RE NOT WAKING UP AT ALL.
>> THE HORROR, THE FEAR THAT
THAT POOR GIRL WENT THROUGH
PRIOR TO HER DEATH, THE TOTAL
DISREGARD FOR HUMAN LIFE...
>> IT PUTS A LOT OF PRESSURE ON
POLICE TO COME UP WITH A
MURDERER, 'CAUSE, YOU KNOW,
PEOPLE FEEL LIKE, YOU KNOW, THIS
COULD HAPPEN AGAIN TO ANY ONE OF
US.
>> Narrator: THE MEDICAL
EXAMINER DETERMINED THAT THE
CAUSE OF DENISE O'NEILL'S DEATH
WAS ASPHYXIATION.
SHE'D BEEN STRANGLED TO DEATH.
THEY ALSO FOUND EVIDENCE OF
SEXUAL ASSAULT.
>> WHEN THE SWAB FROM THE VICTIM
WAS ANALYZED IN THE DNA SECTION,
A MALE PROFILE WAS DEVELOPED.
>> Narrator: INVESTIGATORS WERE
PUZZLED BY THE TWO ELECTRICAL
CORDS USED TO TIE THE SHEET
AROUND DENISE'S BODY.
>> THESE OBJECTS I'VE NEVER SEEN
BEFORE.
I WAS VERY SUSPICIOUS AS TO WHAT
THEY EVEN WERE.
I HAD NO IDEA.
>> Narrator: RESEARCH IDENTIFIED
THEM AS HEAT ROCKS.
>> A HEAT ROCK IS A PRETTY
SIMPLE DEVICE.
IT'S A FAKE ROCK THAT GETS
HEATED UP BY ELECTRICITY, AND
PEOPLE USE IT TO WARM
COLD-BLOODED ANIMALS, LIKE A PET
SNAKE.
>> Narrator: INVESTIGATORS ALSO
FOUND SOME UNUSUAL BLACK HAIRS
ON THE BEDSHEET.
MICROSCOPIC ANALYSIS SHOWED
THESE WERE DOG HAIRS.
>> MY KILLER IS GOING TO OWN A
BLACK DOG.
MY KILLER IS ALSO GOING TO OWN A
REPTILE, WHETHER IT BE A SNAKE
OR A LIZARD.
MY KILLER IS ALSO GOING TO HAVE
SOME TYPE OF ASSOCIATION WITH A
SIZE-36 BELT, BECAUSE THAT'S THE
SIZE BELT THAT WE FOUND WRAPPED
AROUND DENISE'S BODY.
>> Narrator: THE SAND FOUND IN
DENISE'S CAR WAS SIMILAR TO THE
SAND IN THE AREA NEAR HER BODY,
PROOF DENISE'S CAR HAD BEEN USED
TO TRANSPORT HER BODY.
INVESTIGATORS KNEW THAT DENISE
HAD BEEN ABDUCTED SOMETIME
BETWEEN 2:30 AND 5:30 ON THE DAY
SHE DISAPPEARED.
HER NEIGHBOR SAID THEY DIDN'T
SEE OR HEAR ANYTHING SUSPICIOUS.
LATER THAT SAME DAY, SOMEONE
USED DENISE'S ATM CARD TO
WITHDRAW $700 FROM HER CHECKING
ACCOUNT.
>> THE WORKING ASSUMPTION AT
THIS POINT FOR THE COPS WAS THAT
WHOEVER USED THAT ATM CARD
PROBABLY KILLED DENISE O'NEILL.
>> Narrator: UNFORTUNATELY, THE
SURVEILLANCE CAMERA AT THE ATM
WASN'T FUNCTIONING PROPERLY, SO
IT WAS IMPOSSIBLE TO TELL WHO
MADE THE WITHDRAWAL.
THEN, INVESTIGATORS NOTICED
SOMETHING ON THE LOCAL
NEWSCASTS.
THIS MAN, ONE OF DENISE'S
NEIGHBORS, KEPT TURNING UP IN
VARIOUS NEWS STORIES ABOUT HER
DISAPPEARANCE.
>> THIS BEHAVIOR REALLY STRUCK
POLICE AS ODD, BECAUSE HE WANTED
TO BE IN FRONT OF THE CAMERA,
AND HE WANTED TO BE INTERVIEWED.
>> Narrator: IN AN INTERVIEW
GIVEN BEFORE DENISE'S BODY WAS
FOUND, HE MADE A SURPRISING
REFERENCE.
>> WHAT WAS MOST INTERESTING WAS
THAT HE REFERRED TO DENISE IN
THE PAST TENSE.
>> Narrator: HIS NAME WAS
LEWIS CABALLERO, AND HE WAS
DENISE'S NEXT-DOOR NEIGHBOR AND
WAS UNEMPLOYED, BUT WHEN POLICE
WENT TO INTERVIEW CABALLERO, HE
WASN'T HOME.
[ DOG BARKING ]
>> I HAPPENED TO KNOCK ON DOOR
737, WHICH WAS RIGHT ACROSS THE
HALL FROM HER APARTMENT OF 738.
WHILE KNOCKING ON THE DOOR, I
HEARD A DOG BARK.
[ DOG BARKING ]
>> Narrator: THROUGH A WINDOW,
INVESTIGATORS SAW THE DOG AND
ITS COLORING.
>> SEEING A BLACK CHOW WITH MY
OWN EYES, THE HAIR ON THE BACK
OF OUR NECKS STOOD UP.
>> Narrator: DETECTIVES ASKED
ANOTHER NEIGHBOR ABOUT
CABALLERO.
>> A GUY SAID, "THE ONLY GUY I
KNOW IS THE GUY," AND HE POINTED
UP, "THE GUY THAT LIVES UP
THERE.
YOU KNOW, THE GUY WITH THE CHOW
AND THE BOA CONSTRICTOR."
WE SAID, "WOW.
WOW."
>> Narrator: IN THE SEARCH FOR
DENISE O'NEILL'S KILLER,
INVESTIGATORS' PRIME SUSPECT
LIVED JUST A FEW FEET AWAY FROM
DENISE'S APARTMENT.
IT WAS HER NEIGHBOR,
LEWIS CABALLERO.
>> WHEN WE FIRST WALKED UP ON
CABALLERO, HE TOLD US --
HE DIDN'T SAY IT DIRECTLY, BUT
HE TOLD US HE REALLY DIDN'T LIKE
DENISE.
HE DESCRIBED HER AS BEING
SNOOTY.
>> Narrator: CABALLERO DENIED
ANY INVOLVEMENT IN DENISE'S
MURDER AND SAID HE HAD NO
RELATIONSHIP WITH HER OTHER THAN
TO SAY HELLO.
>> WE DISCOVERED THAT
MR. CABALLERO WAS IN SERIOUS
FINANCIAL TROUBLE.
HE HAD A PHONE BILL OF $6,000
FROM PHONE-SEX LINES THAT HE HAD
BEEN CALLING, THAT HE WAS BEHIND
IN HIS RENT, AND THAT HE COULD
BE EVICTED AT ANY TIME.
>> Narrator: DETECTIVES OBTAINED
A SEARCH WARRANT FOR CABALLERO'S
APARTMENT.
>> WHAT STRUCK ME IMMEDIATELY
WAS THE LARGE AMOUNT OF
PORNOGRAPHY INSIDE THE CLOSET.
THE TYPE OF PORNOGRAPHY THAT WAS
THERE DEALT WITH A LOT OF
VIOLENCE.
IT WAS REAL, REAL SICK STUFF.
>> WE DID NOT FIND
DENISE O'NEILL'S FINGERPRINTS
INSIDE CABALLERO'S APARTMENT.
>> Narrator: BUT THEY DID
DISCOVER OTHER CLUES.
>> I WALKED INTO THE ACTUAL
BEDROOM AREA, AND AS I STARTED
TO TURN TO THE LEFT, I OBSERVED
WHAT APPEARED TO BE AND THOUGHT
WAS A FISH AQUARIUM.
>> THEY FOUND IMPRESSIONS AT THE
BOTTOM OF THE TANK, AND IT
LOOKED LIKE THEY MIGHT BE WHERE
THE HEAT ROCKS HAD BEEN.
>> Narrator: A PAIR OF HEAT
ROCKS AND THE ELECTRICAL CORDS
WERE WRAPPED AROUND DENISE'S
BODY.
POLICE ALSO FOUND A PAIR OF
BLACK MEN'S SNEAKERS IN
CABALLERO'S CLOSET.
>> DIDN'T HAVE ANY SHOELACES IN
THEM.
>> MS. O'NEILL HAD BEEN BOUND
WITH BLACK-COLORED SHOELACES.
>> Narrator: THERE WAS ALSO A
REDDISH-BROWN STAIN ON THE
BEDROOM CARPET THAT MIGHT BE
BLOOD.
TO BE SURE, INVESTIGATORS TURNED
OUT THE LIGHTS AND SPRAYED THE
STAIN WITH LUMINOL.
THREE VERY DISTINCT BLOODSTAINS
EMERGED.
>> IT APPEARED TO BE CONSISTENT
WITH THE OUTLINE OF THE BUTTOCKS
AREA OF A HUMAN BEING.
>> Narrator: ALSO IN CABALLERO'S
BEDROOM, INVESTIGATORS FOUND
SEVERAL OTHER IMPORTANT ITEMS.
>> WE FOUND A PAIR OF SCISSORS,
AND TRAPPED WITHIN THE HINGE OF
THE SCISSORS APPEARED TO BE
BLUE-COLORED FIBERS.
WE KNEW THAT MS. O'NEILL HAD
BEEN WEARING A BLUE-COLORED
GARMENT THAT HAD BEEN CUT.
>> Narrator: CABALLERO
MAINTAINED DENISE HAD NEVER BEEN
INSIDE HIS APARTMENT, BUT UNDER
A CARDBOARD BOX, INVESTIGATORS
FOUND A GYM-MEMBERSHIP CARD.
>> AND WHEN I PICKED IT UP AND
TURNED IT OVER AND IT HAD
DENISE O'NEILL'S NAME ON IT, I
WAS ECSTATIC.
"I DIDN'T KNOW HER," HE SAYS IN
FRONT OF THE CAMERAS.
WELL, I'VE GOT YOU NOW, BECAUSE
SHE'S DEAD, AND HER CARD IS
INSIDE YOUR HOUSE.
>> Narrator: DETECTIVES BELIEVE
THIS CLUE WAS LEFT AT THE SCENE
BY A DESPERATE DENISE O'NEILL.
>> I CAN'T PROVE IT, BUT I'LL
ALWAYS SAY THAT SHE PUT THAT
CARD THERE.
THAT'S THE WAY IT HIT ME.
>> MY FIRST QUESTION WAS, "HAVE
YOU EVER DETAILED DENISE'S
VEHICLE?"
LEWIS CABALLERO'S RESPONSE WAS,
HE'S NEVER BEEN IN HER CAR OR
NEVER DETAILED HER CAR.
>> Narrator: BUT ANALYSTS FOUND
CABALLERO'S PRINTS INSIDE
DENISE'S CAR.
WHEN FACED WITH THIS EVIDENCE,
CABALLERO CHANGED HIS STORY.
HE NOW CLAIMED HE WAS AN
UNWITTING ACCOMPLICE.
HE SAID THE REAL KILLER WAS HIS
FRIEND, 19-YEAR-OLD ISAC BROWN.
BROWN, WHO HAD NO CRIMINAL
RECORD, ALSO CONFESSED BUT SAID
THE KILLER WAS CABALLERO, WHO
WAS BROKE AND DESPERATE FOR
MONEY.
BROWN SAID CABALLERO HAD BEEN
PLANNING TO ROB DENISE FOR
MONTHS.
>> THERE WAS JUST LOOSE TALK
FROM CABALLERO SAYING, "MAN, I
NEED TO COME UP.
I NEED TO HIT SOMEBODY.
I NEED SOME MONEY RIGHT NOW.
AND THE ONLY PERSON I COULD
THINK OF THAT'S GOT SOME MONEY
RIGHT NOW IS RIGHT THERE."
AND HE'D ALWAYS POINT ACROSS THE
HALLWAY.
>> EVERYBODY AND THEIR BROTHER
WAS TRYING TO MAKE A DEAL WITH
THE DEVIL.
IN OTHER WORDS, EVERY BAD GUY IN
THIS CASE WAS WANTING TO CONFESS
AND PLEAD OUT BUT GET THE BEST
DEAL THEY COULD.
>> Narrator: BROWN'S PRINTS WERE
FOUND ON A SODA BOTTLE IN
DENISE'S CAR, PROOF HE WAS
INVOLVED.
DESPITE BROWN AND CABALLERO'S
CONFLICTING VERSIONS OF WHAT
HAPPENED, THEIR STORIES WERE
IDENTICAL ON ONE COUNT -- THEY
HAD BREAKFAST TOGETHER JUST
HOURS AFTER DUMPING DENISE'S
BODY IN THE CANAL.
>> THEY WENT TO AN IHOP
RESTAURANT OFF A COMMERCIAL
BOULEVARD IN 441 IN THE CITY OF
TAMARAC.
>> Narrator: INVESTIGATORS TRACK
DOWN THE RECEIPT FOR THAT MEAL.
>> WHEN IT ASKED FOR THE
WAITRESS TO ENTER HOW MANY
CUSTOMERS WERE PRESENT, IT
DIDN'T SAY TWO CUSTOMERS.
IT SAID THREE CUSTOMERS.
>> Narrator: THIS EXPLAINED WHY
THE 36-INCH BELT USED TO WRAP
DENISE'S BODY DIDN'T FIT
CABALLERO OR BROWN AND WHY THE
SHOES WITHOUT THE SHOELACES IN
CABALLERO'S APARTMENT ALSO
DIDN'T FIT EITHER ONE, AS WELL.
>> THAT LED ME TO BELIEVE VERY
STRONGLY THAT I HAD A THIRD
KILLER, THAT I HAD A THIRD
INDIVIDUAL INVOLVED WITH THE
MURDER OF DENISE O'NEILL.
>> Narrator: BUT IF THERE WERE A
THIRD PERPETRATOR,
LEWIS CABALLERO AND ISAC BROWN
WEREN'T TALKING.
>> Narrator: INVESTIGATORS NOW
HAD TWO MEN IN CUSTODY FOR THE
ABDUCTION AND MURDER OF
DENISE O'NEILL --
LEWIS CABALLERO AND ISAC BROWN.
NOT SURPRISINGLY, EACH MAN
IDENTIFIED THE OTHER AS THE
KILLER.
COMPLICATING THINGS FURTHER,
INVESTIGATORS DISCOVERED THAT A
THIRD MAN WAS WITH CABALLERO AND
BROWN ON THE MORNING THEY
DISPOSED OF THE BODY.
>> IT IS ABSOLUTELY SHOCKING.
THE DEFENSE NOW CAN SAY THE REAL
CULPRIT IS OUT THERE.
THE REAL CULPRIT IS THE PERSON
WHO YOU HAVEN'T CHARGED.
>> Narrator: BUT WHO WAS THIS
THIRD MAN?
WHEN POLICE DID A BACKGROUND
CHECK ON LEWIS CABALLERO, THEY
LEARNED HE'D BEEN ARRESTED A
MONTH EARLIER FOR CAR THEFT, AND
HE HAD AN ACCOMPLICE.
>> HE WAS WITH AN ACQUAINTANCE
OF HIS, ROBERT MESSER.
>> Narrator: 20-YEAR-OLD
ROBERT MESSER'S FINGERPRINTS
WERE ON FILE.
>> VOILà.
LO AND BEHOLD, THERE WAS
MR. MESSER'S PRINTS ON SOME OF
THE ITEMS IN THE TRUNK OF
DENISE O'NEILL'S CAR.
>> Narrator: WHEN POLICE
ARRESTED MESSER, HE, TOO, DENIED
ANY INVOLVEMENT IN THE MURDER.
>> ROBERT MESSER TOLD ME, "I
DIDN'T KILL HER.
HOW DARE YOU TELL ME THAT I'M
THE KILLER.
I'LL TELL YOU WHAT HAPPENED.
I WAS THERE."
>> Narrator: MESSER SAID HE DID
NOTHING BUT THAT CABALLERO AND
BROWN WERE BOTH INVOLVED.
MESSER SAID HE WAS IN
CABALLERO'S LIVING ROOM WHEN
CABALLERO AND BROWN RAPED AND
MURDERED DENISE O'NEILL IN THE
BEDROOM.
ALL THREE MEN WERE CHARGED WITH
FIRST-DEGREE MURDER, BUT WHEN
DNA RESULTS CAME BACK, ONLY ONE
OF THE THREE, LEWIS CABALLERO,
WAS TIED TO THE SEXUAL ASSAULT.
BASED ON THE FORENSIC EVIDENCE
AND WITNESS INTERROGATIONS,
INVESTIGATORS BELIEVE CABALLERO
PLANNED THE ATTACK ON AN
AFTERNOON WHEN DENISE WAS DOING
HER LAUNDRY.
WHEN NO ONE WAS AROUND, HE
GRABBED HER...
>> WHERE'S YOUR PURSE?
WHERE'S YOUR PURSE?
>> RIGHT THERE!
JUST DON'T HURT ME!
DON'T HURT ME!
>> Narrator: ...AND FORCED HER
INTO HIS APARTMENT...
AND WITH ISAC BROWN'S HELP,
GAGGED AND TIED HER UP.
HE TOOK HER ATM CARD AND FORCED
HER TO DIVULGE HER PIN NUMBER.
>> 3391.
>> I'LL BE RIGHT BACK.
>> Narrator: CABALLERO THEN LEFT
TO GET SOME MONEY AND ON THE WAY
BACK PICKED UP ROBERT MESSER.
ISAC BROWN STAYED BEHIND.
AT SOME POINT, DENISE WAS ABLE
TO REMOVE HER GYM-MEMBERSHIP
CARD AND HIDE IT UNDERNEATH A
CARDBOARD BOX, LEAVING PROOF
THAT SHE HAD BEEN IN CABALLERO'S
APARTMENT.
WHEN CABALLERO RETURNED WITH
MESSER, HE SEXUALLY ASSAULTED
HER, THEN USED ELECTRICAL CORDS
FROM THE HEAT ROCKS TO STRANGLE
HER TO DEATH.
>> THE TRIO WRAPPED DENISE'S
BODY IN THE SHEET, USING THE
BELT, SHOELACES, AND THE
ELECTRICAL CORDS.
THEY USED DENISE'S CAR TO DRIVE
TO THE CANAL, WHERE THEY DUMPED
HER BODY.
THEY TRACKED SAND INTO THE CAR
AND LEFT THEIR FINGERPRINTS
BEHIND.
LATER, THE THREE WENT TO
BREAKFAST.
>> THEY WERE ABSOLUTE BURNED.
THEY SHOULD HAVE BEEN BURNED
ALIVE, ALL THREE OF THEM, AND I
MAKE NO BONES ABOUT IT.
AND THEY SAY, "LET HE WHO HAS NO
SIN CAST THE FIRST STONE."
LET ME TELL YOU, I'D HAVE NO
PROBLEM CASTING ALL THE STONES.
>> Narrator: ROBERT MESSER WAS
TRIED AND CONVICTED OF
MANSLAUGHTER AND SENTENCED TO 15
YEARS.
ISAC BROWN WAS CONVICTED OF FIVE
COUNTS, INCLUDING SECOND-DEGREE
MURDER.
>> CHANCES ARE, THIS IS WHERE
I'LL DIE, IN PRISON.
I DON'T WANT FOR SOMEONE ELSE TO
HAVE TO GO THROUGH WHAT I'M
DOING WHEN ALL THEY COULD DO IS
JUST MAKE BETTER CHOICES IN WHO
THEY CALL FRIENDS, MAKE BETTER
CHOICES IN, YOU KNOW, HOW THEY
FOLLOW THEIR MORALS.
>> Narrator: LEWIS CABALLERO WAS
CONVICTED OF KIDNAPPING AND
MURDER, AND HE NOW SITS ON DEATH
ROW.
>> I THANKED GOD FOR FORENSIC
SCIENCE, AND THANK GOD FOR THE
MEN AND WOMEN WHO DONATE THEIR
TIME TO STUDY IT TO BRING TO
JUSTICE THESE MONSTERS.
I AM VERY GRATEFUL FOR FORENSIC
SCIENCE.
>> DENISE O'NEILL IS ONE OF A
FEW VICTIMS THAT I'VE
ENCOUNTERED THROUGH MY TENURE
WITH THIS AGENCY THAT HAVE
AFFECTED ME.
I STILL THINK ABOUT DENISE.
I STILL THINK ABOUT HER FAMILY.
WOMAN'S MISSING, AND SOMEONE HAS
STOLEN HER IDENTITY.
>> NO ONE SAW HER LEAVE.
NO ONE SAW HER ARRIVE BACK AT
HER APARTMENT.
>> Narrator: BUT WHO WANTED TO
HARM HER?
>> SHE HAD RECEIVED SOME
HARASSING PHONE CALLS PRIOR TO
HER BEING REPORTED MISSING.
>> Narrator: EVENTUALLY, THE
FORENSIC EVIDENCE PROVIDED THOSE
ANSWERS.
>> EVERYBODY AND THEIR BROTHER
WAS TRYING TO MAKE A DEAL WITH
THE DEVIL.
>> "LET HE WHO HAS NO SIN CAST
THE FIRST STONE."
LET ME TELL YOU, I'D HAVE NO
PROBLEM CASTING ALL THE STONES.
>> Narrator: LIFE WAS AN
ADVENTURE FOR 28-YEAR-OLD
DENISE O'NEILL.
THERE WAS NO TRIP SHE WOULDN'T
TAKE, VIRTUALLY NO ACTIVITY SHE
WOULDN'T TRY.
>> SHE ALWAYS LOVED TO TRAVEL.
SHE WAS ALWAYS OUT THERE
SWIMMING OR HAVING A GAME OF
TENNIS OR SCUBA DIVING, GOING TO
MUSEUMS AND THE ARTS, OF COURSE.
ANYTHING IN THE ARTS, SHE LOVED.
SHE JUST LOVED LIFE.
SHE REALLY LOVED LIFE.
>> Narrator: AFTER GRADUATING
FROM COLLEGE, DENISE TOOK A JOB
AS A WAITRESS IN PALM BEACH,
FLORIDA, WHILE SHE LOOKED FOR A
JOB TEACHING ENGLISH.
>> SHE KNEW THE RESTAURANT
BUSINESS FROM "A" TO "Z" AND
CERTAINLY MADE VERY GOOD MONEY.
SO WHY NOT?
>> Narrator: DENISE WAS A
PUNCTUAL EMPLOYEE, BUT AFTER
MISSING TWO CONSECUTIVE DAYS OF
WORK WITHOUT CALLING IN, HER
MANAGER GREW ALARMED.
>> DENISE HAD BEEN EMPLOYED AT
THIS RESTAURANT FOR 2 1/2 YEARS
AND HAD NEVER MISSED A DAY OF
WORK AT ALL.
>> HER EMPLOYER NOTIFIED THE
POLICE DEPARTMENT, AND THEY
BEGAN A MISSING-PERSONS
INVESTIGATION.
>> Narrator: POLICE WENT TO
DENISE'S APARTMENT.
HER CAR WAS MISSING, BUT THERE
WERE NO SIGNS OF A BREAK-IN.
>> HER APARTMENT WAS EXTREMELY
NEAT, IN ORDER.
NOTHING SEEMED TO BE IN
DISARRAY.
>> Narrator: THEY ALSO CHECKED
THE PHONE ANSWERING MACHINE,
WHICH PROVIDED A CLUE.
>> THERE WAS AN EARLY ALERT FROM
A CREDIT-CARD COMPANY SAYING
THERE WAS SOME UNUSUAL SPENDING
ON ONE OF HER CARDS.
>> Narrator: LATER THAT
AFTERNOON, POLICE FOUND DENISE'S
CAR IN A PARKING LOT ACROSS THE
STREET FROM HER APARTMENT.
>> THEY IMMEDIATELY FELT THAT
SOMEONE ELSE MUST HAVE BEEN IN
THE CAR BECAUSE MS. O'NEILL WAS
A VERY, VERY FASTIDIOUS PERSON,
AND THE CAR WAS JUST THE
OPPOSITE.
>> Narrator: A PINK JACKET
BELONGING TO DENISE WAS ON THE
BACK SEAT.
TWO SODA BOTTLES WERE ON THE
FLOOR.
>> THERE WAS A CIGARETTE BUTT ON
THE FLOOR OF THE DRIVER'S SIDE
OF THE CAR, AND MS. O'NEILL
DIDN'T SMOKE.
>> I NOTICED THAT THERE WAS
WHITE SAND ON THE RIGHT-REAR
FLOOR MAT.
WE HAD SAND ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE
AND A SMALL AMOUNT ON THE
PASSENGER SIDE.
>> Narrator: IN FLORIDA, SAND IS
QUITE COMMON, BUT NOT THIS KIND
OF SAND.
>> IT WASN'T BEACH SAND.
IT WASN'T BLACK MUD.
IT WASN'T COARSE BROWN SAND.
IT WAS UNIQUE.
IT WAS CONSISTENT WITH
LIMESTONE.
>> Narrator: POLICE DUSTED THE
ENTIRE CAR INSIDE AND OUT FOR
FINGERPRINTS.
>> WE FOUND OVER 20 PRINTS IN
TOTAL.
THEY WERE ALL OVER THE CAR.
THEY WERE ON THE INSIDE.
THEY WERE ON THE TRUNK.
THEY WERE ON THE OUTSIDE OF THE
VEHICLE.
>> Narrator: ON THE DAY DENISE
WENT MISSING, HER CREDIT CARD
REVEALED SHE BOUGHT A PAIR OF
WOMEN'S SNEAKERS AT 2:30 IN THE
AFTERNOON BUT FAILED TO SHOW UP
FOR WORK AT 5:30.
>> SO, SOMEWHERE IN BETWEEN THAT
WINDOW, SOMETHING MUST HAVE
HAPPENED TO HER.
>> THIS WAS ONE OF THE BEST
PIECES OF EVIDENCE FOR THE
POLICE 'CAUSE IT GAVE THEM A
TIME FRAME.
>> Narrator: NO ONE AT DENISE'S
APARTMENT HAD SEEN OR HEARD
ANYTHING SUSPICIOUS, BUT THEN A
CHILLING CALL CAME IN TO 911.
>> THE BODY WAS VERY VISIBLE TO
THE NEIGHBOR.
IT LOOKED LIKE IT HAD BEEN
WRAPPED UP IN SOME LARGE PINK
SHEET.
>> Narrator: DENTAL RECORDS
CONFIRMED THE VICTIM WAS
DENISE O'NEILL.
>> THE BODY WAS BOUND.
HER HANDS AND FEET WERE TIED UP
WITH SEVERAL IMPLEMENTS --
SHOESTRINGS, A DOG LEASH -- A
MULTICOLORED DOG LEASH.
>> WE WERE NUMB FOR, LIKE, DAYS.
WE KNEW WE HAD TO BURY HER.
[ SNIFFLES ]
AND WE WERE WALKING UP
PALM BEACH BOULEVARD.
IT WAS SO HOT, AND WE WERE
FREEZING.
WE WERE SO COLD...
AND YET IT WAS HOT.
AND YOU THINK YOU'RE DREAMING.
YOU THINK YOU'RE GONNA WAKE UP,
BUT YOU'RE NOT WAKING UP AT ALL.
>> THE HORROR, THE FEAR THAT
THAT POOR GIRL WENT THROUGH
PRIOR TO HER DEATH, THE TOTAL
DISREGARD FOR HUMAN LIFE...
>> IT PUTS A LOT OF PRESSURE ON
POLICE TO COME UP WITH A
MURDERER, 'CAUSE, YOU KNOW,
PEOPLE FEEL LIKE, YOU KNOW, THIS
COULD HAPPEN AGAIN TO ANY ONE OF
US.
>> Narrator: THE MEDICAL
EXAMINER DETERMINED THAT THE
CAUSE OF DENISE O'NEILL'S DEATH
WAS ASPHYXIATION.
SHE'D BEEN STRANGLED TO DEATH.
THEY ALSO FOUND EVIDENCE OF
SEXUAL ASSAULT.
>> WHEN THE SWAB FROM THE VICTIM
WAS ANALYZED IN THE DNA SECTION,
A MALE PROFILE WAS DEVELOPED.
>> Narrator: INVESTIGATORS WERE
PUZZLED BY THE TWO ELECTRICAL
CORDS USED TO TIE THE SHEET
AROUND DENISE'S BODY.
>> THESE OBJECTS I'VE NEVER SEEN
BEFORE.
I WAS VERY SUSPICIOUS AS TO WHAT
THEY EVEN WERE.
I HAD NO IDEA.
>> Narrator: RESEARCH IDENTIFIED
THEM AS HEAT ROCKS.
>> A HEAT ROCK IS A PRETTY
SIMPLE DEVICE.
IT'S A FAKE ROCK THAT GETS
HEATED UP BY ELECTRICITY, AND
PEOPLE USE IT TO WARM
COLD-BLOODED ANIMALS, LIKE A PET
SNAKE.
>> Narrator: INVESTIGATORS ALSO
FOUND SOME UNUSUAL BLACK HAIRS
ON THE BEDSHEET.
MICROSCOPIC ANALYSIS SHOWED
THESE WERE DOG HAIRS.
>> MY KILLER IS GOING TO OWN A
BLACK DOG.
MY KILLER IS ALSO GOING TO OWN A
REPTILE, WHETHER IT BE A SNAKE
OR A LIZARD.
MY KILLER IS ALSO GOING TO HAVE
SOME TYPE OF ASSOCIATION WITH A
SIZE-36 BELT, BECAUSE THAT'S THE
SIZE BELT THAT WE FOUND WRAPPED
AROUND DENISE'S BODY.
>> Narrator: THE SAND FOUND IN
DENISE'S CAR WAS SIMILAR TO THE
SAND IN THE AREA NEAR HER BODY,
PROOF DENISE'S CAR HAD BEEN USED
TO TRANSPORT HER BODY.
INVESTIGATORS KNEW THAT DENISE
HAD BEEN ABDUCTED SOMETIME
BETWEEN 2:30 AND 5:30 ON THE DAY
SHE DISAPPEARED.
HER NEIGHBOR SAID THEY DIDN'T
SEE OR HEAR ANYTHING SUSPICIOUS.
LATER THAT SAME DAY, SOMEONE
USED DENISE'S ATM CARD TO
WITHDRAW $700 FROM HER CHECKING
ACCOUNT.
>> THE WORKING ASSUMPTION AT
THIS POINT FOR THE COPS WAS THAT
WHOEVER USED THAT ATM CARD
PROBABLY KILLED DENISE O'NEILL.
>> Narrator: UNFORTUNATELY, THE
SURVEILLANCE CAMERA AT THE ATM
WASN'T FUNCTIONING PROPERLY, SO
IT WAS IMPOSSIBLE TO TELL WHO
MADE THE WITHDRAWAL.
THEN, INVESTIGATORS NOTICED
SOMETHING ON THE LOCAL
NEWSCASTS.
THIS MAN, ONE OF DENISE'S
NEIGHBORS, KEPT TURNING UP IN
VARIOUS NEWS STORIES ABOUT HER
DISAPPEARANCE.
>> THIS BEHAVIOR REALLY STRUCK
POLICE AS ODD, BECAUSE HE WANTED
TO BE IN FRONT OF THE CAMERA,
AND HE WANTED TO BE INTERVIEWED.
>> Narrator: IN AN INTERVIEW
GIVEN BEFORE DENISE'S BODY WAS
FOUND, HE MADE A SURPRISING
REFERENCE.
>> WHAT WAS MOST INTERESTING WAS
THAT HE REFERRED TO DENISE IN
THE PAST TENSE.
>> Narrator: HIS NAME WAS
LEWIS CABALLERO, AND HE WAS
DENISE'S NEXT-DOOR NEIGHBOR AND
WAS UNEMPLOYED, BUT WHEN POLICE
WENT TO INTERVIEW CABALLERO, HE
WASN'T HOME.
[ DOG BARKING ]
>> I HAPPENED TO KNOCK ON DOOR
737, WHICH WAS RIGHT ACROSS THE
HALL FROM HER APARTMENT OF 738.
WHILE KNOCKING ON THE DOOR, I
HEARD A DOG BARK.
[ DOG BARKING ]
>> Narrator: THROUGH A WINDOW,
INVESTIGATORS SAW THE DOG AND
ITS COLORING.
>> SEEING A BLACK CHOW WITH MY
OWN EYES, THE HAIR ON THE BACK
OF OUR NECKS STOOD UP.
>> Narrator: DETECTIVES ASKED
ANOTHER NEIGHBOR ABOUT
CABALLERO.
>> A GUY SAID, "THE ONLY GUY I
KNOW IS THE GUY," AND HE POINTED
UP, "THE GUY THAT LIVES UP
THERE.
YOU KNOW, THE GUY WITH THE CHOW
AND THE BOA CONSTRICTOR."
WE SAID, "WOW.
WOW."
>> Narrator: IN THE SEARCH FOR
DENISE O'NEILL'S KILLER,
INVESTIGATORS' PRIME SUSPECT
LIVED JUST A FEW FEET AWAY FROM
DENISE'S APARTMENT.
IT WAS HER NEIGHBOR,
LEWIS CABALLERO.
>> WHEN WE FIRST WALKED UP ON
CABALLERO, HE TOLD US --
HE DIDN'T SAY IT DIRECTLY, BUT
HE TOLD US HE REALLY DIDN'T LIKE
DENISE.
HE DESCRIBED HER AS BEING
SNOOTY.
>> Narrator: CABALLERO DENIED
ANY INVOLVEMENT IN DENISE'S
MURDER AND SAID HE HAD NO
RELATIONSHIP WITH HER OTHER THAN
TO SAY HELLO.
>> WE DISCOVERED THAT
MR. CABALLERO WAS IN SERIOUS
FINANCIAL TROUBLE.
HE HAD A PHONE BILL OF $6,000
FROM PHONE-SEX LINES THAT HE HAD
BEEN CALLING, THAT HE WAS BEHIND
IN HIS RENT, AND THAT HE COULD
BE EVICTED AT ANY TIME.
>> Narrator: DETECTIVES OBTAINED
A SEARCH WARRANT FOR CABALLERO'S
APARTMENT.
>> WHAT STRUCK ME IMMEDIATELY
WAS THE LARGE AMOUNT OF
PORNOGRAPHY INSIDE THE CLOSET.
THE TYPE OF PORNOGRAPHY THAT WAS
THERE DEALT WITH A LOT OF
VIOLENCE.
IT WAS REAL, REAL SICK STUFF.
>> WE DID NOT FIND
DENISE O'NEILL'S FINGERPRINTS
INSIDE CABALLERO'S APARTMENT.
>> Narrator: BUT THEY DID
DISCOVER OTHER CLUES.
>> I WALKED INTO THE ACTUAL
BEDROOM AREA, AND AS I STARTED
TO TURN TO THE LEFT, I OBSERVED
WHAT APPEARED TO BE AND THOUGHT
WAS A FISH AQUARIUM.
>> THEY FOUND IMPRESSIONS AT THE
BOTTOM OF THE TANK, AND IT
LOOKED LIKE THEY MIGHT BE WHERE
THE HEAT ROCKS HAD BEEN.
>> Narrator: A PAIR OF HEAT
ROCKS AND THE ELECTRICAL CORDS
WERE WRAPPED AROUND DENISE'S
BODY.
POLICE ALSO FOUND A PAIR OF
BLACK MEN'S SNEAKERS IN
CABALLERO'S CLOSET.
>> DIDN'T HAVE ANY SHOELACES IN
THEM.
>> MS. O'NEILL HAD BEEN BOUND
WITH BLACK-COLORED SHOELACES.
>> Narrator: THERE WAS ALSO A
REDDISH-BROWN STAIN ON THE
BEDROOM CARPET THAT MIGHT BE
BLOOD.
TO BE SURE, INVESTIGATORS TURNED
OUT THE LIGHTS AND SPRAYED THE
STAIN WITH LUMINOL.
THREE VERY DISTINCT BLOODSTAINS
EMERGED.
>> IT APPEARED TO BE CONSISTENT
WITH THE OUTLINE OF THE BUTTOCKS
AREA OF A HUMAN BEING.
>> Narrator: ALSO IN CABALLERO'S
BEDROOM, INVESTIGATORS FOUND
SEVERAL OTHER IMPORTANT ITEMS.
>> WE FOUND A PAIR OF SCISSORS,
AND TRAPPED WITHIN THE HINGE OF
THE SCISSORS APPEARED TO BE
BLUE-COLORED FIBERS.
WE KNEW THAT MS. O'NEILL HAD
BEEN WEARING A BLUE-COLORED
GARMENT THAT HAD BEEN CUT.
>> Narrator: CABALLERO
MAINTAINED DENISE HAD NEVER BEEN
INSIDE HIS APARTMENT, BUT UNDER
A CARDBOARD BOX, INVESTIGATORS
FOUND A GYM-MEMBERSHIP CARD.
>> AND WHEN I PICKED IT UP AND
TURNED IT OVER AND IT HAD
DENISE O'NEILL'S NAME ON IT, I
WAS ECSTATIC.
"I DIDN'T KNOW HER," HE SAYS IN
FRONT OF THE CAMERAS.
WELL, I'VE GOT YOU NOW, BECAUSE
SHE'S DEAD, AND HER CARD IS
INSIDE YOUR HOUSE.
>> Narrator: DETECTIVES BELIEVE
THIS CLUE WAS LEFT AT THE SCENE
BY A DESPERATE DENISE O'NEILL.
>> I CAN'T PROVE IT, BUT I'LL
ALWAYS SAY THAT SHE PUT THAT
CARD THERE.
THAT'S THE WAY IT HIT ME.
>> MY FIRST QUESTION WAS, "HAVE
YOU EVER DETAILED DENISE'S
VEHICLE?"
LEWIS CABALLERO'S RESPONSE WAS,
HE'S NEVER BEEN IN HER CAR OR
NEVER DETAILED HER CAR.
>> Narrator: BUT ANALYSTS FOUND
CABALLERO'S PRINTS INSIDE
DENISE'S CAR.
WHEN FACED WITH THIS EVIDENCE,
CABALLERO CHANGED HIS STORY.
HE NOW CLAIMED HE WAS AN
UNWITTING ACCOMPLICE.
HE SAID THE REAL KILLER WAS HIS
FRIEND, 19-YEAR-OLD ISAC BROWN.
BROWN, WHO HAD NO CRIMINAL
RECORD, ALSO CONFESSED BUT SAID
THE KILLER WAS CABALLERO, WHO
WAS BROKE AND DESPERATE FOR
MONEY.
BROWN SAID CABALLERO HAD BEEN
PLANNING TO ROB DENISE FOR
MONTHS.
>> THERE WAS JUST LOOSE TALK
FROM CABALLERO SAYING, "MAN, I
NEED TO COME UP.
I NEED TO HIT SOMEBODY.
I NEED SOME MONEY RIGHT NOW.
AND THE ONLY PERSON I COULD
THINK OF THAT'S GOT SOME MONEY
RIGHT NOW IS RIGHT THERE."
AND HE'D ALWAYS POINT ACROSS THE
HALLWAY.
>> EVERYBODY AND THEIR BROTHER
WAS TRYING TO MAKE A DEAL WITH
THE DEVIL.
IN OTHER WORDS, EVERY BAD GUY IN
THIS CASE WAS WANTING TO CONFESS
AND PLEAD OUT BUT GET THE BEST
DEAL THEY COULD.
>> Narrator: BROWN'S PRINTS WERE
FOUND ON A SODA BOTTLE IN
DENISE'S CAR, PROOF HE WAS
INVOLVED.
DESPITE BROWN AND CABALLERO'S
CONFLICTING VERSIONS OF WHAT
HAPPENED, THEIR STORIES WERE
IDENTICAL ON ONE COUNT -- THEY
HAD BREAKFAST TOGETHER JUST
HOURS AFTER DUMPING DENISE'S
BODY IN THE CANAL.
>> THEY WENT TO AN IHOP
RESTAURANT OFF A COMMERCIAL
BOULEVARD IN 441 IN THE CITY OF
TAMARAC.
>> Narrator: INVESTIGATORS TRACK
DOWN THE RECEIPT FOR THAT MEAL.
>> WHEN IT ASKED FOR THE
WAITRESS TO ENTER HOW MANY
CUSTOMERS WERE PRESENT, IT
DIDN'T SAY TWO CUSTOMERS.
IT SAID THREE CUSTOMERS.
>> Narrator: THIS EXPLAINED WHY
THE 36-INCH BELT USED TO WRAP
DENISE'S BODY DIDN'T FIT
CABALLERO OR BROWN AND WHY THE
SHOES WITHOUT THE SHOELACES IN
CABALLERO'S APARTMENT ALSO
DIDN'T FIT EITHER ONE, AS WELL.
>> THAT LED ME TO BELIEVE VERY
STRONGLY THAT I HAD A THIRD
KILLER, THAT I HAD A THIRD
INDIVIDUAL INVOLVED WITH THE
MURDER OF DENISE O'NEILL.
>> Narrator: BUT IF THERE WERE A
THIRD PERPETRATOR,
LEWIS CABALLERO AND ISAC BROWN
WEREN'T TALKING.
>> Narrator: INVESTIGATORS NOW
HAD TWO MEN IN CUSTODY FOR THE
ABDUCTION AND MURDER OF
DENISE O'NEILL --
LEWIS CABALLERO AND ISAC BROWN.
NOT SURPRISINGLY, EACH MAN
IDENTIFIED THE OTHER AS THE
KILLER.
COMPLICATING THINGS FURTHER,
INVESTIGATORS DISCOVERED THAT A
THIRD MAN WAS WITH CABALLERO AND
BROWN ON THE MORNING THEY
DISPOSED OF THE BODY.
>> IT IS ABSOLUTELY SHOCKING.
THE DEFENSE NOW CAN SAY THE REAL
CULPRIT IS OUT THERE.
THE REAL CULPRIT IS THE PERSON
WHO YOU HAVEN'T CHARGED.
>> Narrator: BUT WHO WAS THIS
THIRD MAN?
WHEN POLICE DID A BACKGROUND
CHECK ON LEWIS CABALLERO, THEY
LEARNED HE'D BEEN ARRESTED A
MONTH EARLIER FOR CAR THEFT, AND
HE HAD AN ACCOMPLICE.
>> HE WAS WITH AN ACQUAINTANCE
OF HIS, ROBERT MESSER.
>> Narrator: 20-YEAR-OLD
ROBERT MESSER'S FINGERPRINTS
WERE ON FILE.
>> VOILà.
LO AND BEHOLD, THERE WAS
MR. MESSER'S PRINTS ON SOME OF
THE ITEMS IN THE TRUNK OF
DENISE O'NEILL'S CAR.
>> Narrator: WHEN POLICE
ARRESTED MESSER, HE, TOO, DENIED
ANY INVOLVEMENT IN THE MURDER.
>> ROBERT MESSER TOLD ME, "I
DIDN'T KILL HER.
HOW DARE YOU TELL ME THAT I'M
THE KILLER.
I'LL TELL YOU WHAT HAPPENED.
I WAS THERE."
>> Narrator: MESSER SAID HE DID
NOTHING BUT THAT CABALLERO AND
BROWN WERE BOTH INVOLVED.
MESSER SAID HE WAS IN
CABALLERO'S LIVING ROOM WHEN
CABALLERO AND BROWN RAPED AND
MURDERED DENISE O'NEILL IN THE
BEDROOM.
ALL THREE MEN WERE CHARGED WITH
FIRST-DEGREE MURDER, BUT WHEN
DNA RESULTS CAME BACK, ONLY ONE
OF THE THREE, LEWIS CABALLERO,
WAS TIED TO THE SEXUAL ASSAULT.
BASED ON THE FORENSIC EVIDENCE
AND WITNESS INTERROGATIONS,
INVESTIGATORS BELIEVE CABALLERO
PLANNED THE ATTACK ON AN
AFTERNOON WHEN DENISE WAS DOING
HER LAUNDRY.
WHEN NO ONE WAS AROUND, HE
GRABBED HER...
>> WHERE'S YOUR PURSE?
WHERE'S YOUR PURSE?
>> RIGHT THERE!
JUST DON'T HURT ME!
DON'T HURT ME!
>> Narrator: ...AND FORCED HER
INTO HIS APARTMENT...
AND WITH ISAC BROWN'S HELP,
GAGGED AND TIED HER UP.
HE TOOK HER ATM CARD AND FORCED
HER TO DIVULGE HER PIN NUMBER.
>> 3391.
>> I'LL BE RIGHT BACK.
>> Narrator: CABALLERO THEN LEFT
TO GET SOME MONEY AND ON THE WAY
BACK PICKED UP ROBERT MESSER.
ISAC BROWN STAYED BEHIND.
AT SOME POINT, DENISE WAS ABLE
TO REMOVE HER GYM-MEMBERSHIP
CARD AND HIDE IT UNDERNEATH A
CARDBOARD BOX, LEAVING PROOF
THAT SHE HAD BEEN IN CABALLERO'S
APARTMENT.
WHEN CABALLERO RETURNED WITH
MESSER, HE SEXUALLY ASSAULTED
HER, THEN USED ELECTRICAL CORDS
FROM THE HEAT ROCKS TO STRANGLE
HER TO DEATH.
>> THE TRIO WRAPPED DENISE'S
BODY IN THE SHEET, USING THE
BELT, SHOELACES, AND THE
ELECTRICAL CORDS.
THEY USED DENISE'S CAR TO DRIVE
TO THE CANAL, WHERE THEY DUMPED
HER BODY.
THEY TRACKED SAND INTO THE CAR
AND LEFT THEIR FINGERPRINTS
BEHIND.
LATER, THE THREE WENT TO
BREAKFAST.
>> THEY WERE ABSOLUTE BURNED.
THEY SHOULD HAVE BEEN BURNED
ALIVE, ALL THREE OF THEM, AND I
MAKE NO BONES ABOUT IT.
AND THEY SAY, "LET HE WHO HAS NO
SIN CAST THE FIRST STONE."
LET ME TELL YOU, I'D HAVE NO
PROBLEM CASTING ALL THE STONES.
>> Narrator: ROBERT MESSER WAS
TRIED AND CONVICTED OF
MANSLAUGHTER AND SENTENCED TO 15
YEARS.
ISAC BROWN WAS CONVICTED OF FIVE
COUNTS, INCLUDING SECOND-DEGREE
MURDER.
>> CHANCES ARE, THIS IS WHERE
I'LL DIE, IN PRISON.
I DON'T WANT FOR SOMEONE ELSE TO
HAVE TO GO THROUGH WHAT I'M
DOING WHEN ALL THEY COULD DO IS
JUST MAKE BETTER CHOICES IN WHO
THEY CALL FRIENDS, MAKE BETTER
CHOICES IN, YOU KNOW, HOW THEY
FOLLOW THEIR MORALS.
>> Narrator: LEWIS CABALLERO WAS
CONVICTED OF KIDNAPPING AND
MURDER, AND HE NOW SITS ON DEATH
ROW.
>> I THANKED GOD FOR FORENSIC
SCIENCE, AND THANK GOD FOR THE
MEN AND WOMEN WHO DONATE THEIR
TIME TO STUDY IT TO BRING TO
JUSTICE THESE MONSTERS.
I AM VERY GRATEFUL FOR FORENSIC
SCIENCE.
>> DENISE O'NEILL IS ONE OF A
FEW VICTIMS THAT I'VE
ENCOUNTERED THROUGH MY TENURE
WITH THIS AGENCY THAT HAVE
AFFECTED ME.
I STILL THINK ABOUT DENISE.
I STILL THINK ABOUT HER FAMILY.