Frenemies (2013–…): Season 1, Episode 7 - Bullied to Death - full transcript
Outgoing Megan Meier and shy Sarah Drew meet while in the 4th grade. The girls are bullied relentlessly at school and come to rely on each other for support. It seems like the two will be best friends forever until Megan hatches a plan to join the in-crowd and leave her friend Sarah behind. Hurt and rejected, Sarah plans her revenge. What begins as a plot to get back at Megan quickly spirals out of control and has consequences that will alter both of their lives forever.
Narrator: TWO MISFITS
BECOME BEST FRIENDS...
THEY WERE CONSTANTLY TOGETHER.
Narrator:
...UNTIL JEALOUSY SPARKS
A COLD-BLOODED PLOT FOR REVENGE.
I DON'T THINK ANYBODY
WOULD EVER EXPECT
SOMETHING LIKE THIS
TO HAPPEN WITH A FRIEND.
BOY, THAT IS THE STUFF THAT
HORROR MOVIES ARE MADE OUT OF.
[ INDISTINCT SHOUTING ]
Narrator: KEEP YOUR FRIENDS
CLOSE AND YOUR ENEMIES CLOSER.
CAPTIONS PAID FOR BY
DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS
JENNIFER DAUGHERTY
IS A SWEET, GENEROUS,
AND TRUSTING YOUNG WOMAN.
SHE JUST
WAS VERY HAPPY-GO-LUCKY.
SHE THOUGHT NOTHING
OF WALKING DOWN THE STREET
AND DANCING
WHILE SHE WAS DOING IT.
SHE WANTED EVERYBODY
TO PAY ATTENTION TO HER,
TO BE HER FRIEND.
Narrator: BUT JENNIFER IS
DIFFERENT THAN OTHERS HER AGE.
ALTHOUGH SHE IS 28 YEARS OLD,
SHE STILL LIVES AT HOME
AND HAS AN IQ OF 71.
SHE WAS 28 IN BODY,
BUT NOT IN MIND.
I WOULD PROBABLY PUT HER
CLOSER TO ABOUT 14, 15.
Narrator: AS A RESULT,
PEOPLE TEASED JENNIFER A LOT,
AND SHE DOESN'T HAVE
MANY FRIENDS.
UNTIL IN 2008, WHEN SHE MEETS
15-YEAR-OLD ANGELA MARINUCCI.
Capparelli:
ANGELA -- SHE WAS VERY POLITE,
VERY HELPFUL, VERY GOOD MANNERS.
SHE WAS GREAT.
Narrator: BUT, LIKE JENNIFER,
SHE DOESN'T MAKE FRIENDS EASILY.
HER INTERACTION WITH THE GUYS
WAS SO MUCH SMOOTHER.
ANGELA DID HAVE SOME TROUBLE
GETTING ALONG
WITH OTHER GIRLS --
SPECIFICALLY, IN HER OWN AGE.
Narrator:
BUT DESPITE THEIR DIFFERENCES,
ANGELA AND JENNIFER
IMMEDIATELY HIT IT OFF.
JENN AND ANGELA
LIKED TO DO GIRLY THINGS --
SLEEPOVERS, HANG OUT,
HAVE DANCE PARTIES.
[ LAUGHS ]
Narrator:
BY THE SUMMER OF 2009,
JENNIFER AND ANGELA
ARE BEST FRIENDS
AND SPEND
EVERY FREE MOMENT TOGETHER.
Burkholder:
ANGELA WAS DRAWN TO JENNIFER
BECAUSE JENN WAS FUN AND
SHE COULD BE CHILDISH AT TIMES.
Narrator: AND JENNIFER LOVES
HAVING A FRIEND
WHO GIVES HER THE CONFIDENCE
TO BE MORE INDEPENDENT.
IT WAS VERY ENTICING FOR HER
BECAUSE THAT'S HOW
SHE WANTED TO LIVE HER LIFE --
BEING AN INDEPENDENT ADULT.
Brennan:
ANGELA WAS KIND TO JENNIFER.
I DON'T THINK
SHE EVER HAD THAT BEFORE,
AND SO I THINK SHE WAS EXCITED
TO HAVE THAT IN HER LIFE.
Narrator: AND ANGELA'S EXCITED
TO INTRODUCE JENNIFER
TO HER NEW BOYFRIEND --
23-YEAR-OLD RICKY SMYRNES.
Brennan:
RICKY WAS CHARMING.
HE WAS HANDSOME.
HE REALLY KNEW HOW TO
TALK TO WOMEN AND SCHMOOZE.
Narrator: AND SOON,
HE STARTS PAYING ATTENTION
TO ANGELA'S BEST FRIEND,
JENNIFER.
SHOCKINGLY,
RICKY PUTS THE MOVES ON HER.
HE SHOWED HER ATTENTION,
AND SHE LIKED IT.
WHEN JENNIFER
WOULD TALK TO HIM ON THE PHONE,
SHE WOULD GIGGLE AND LAUGH.
Capparelli:
RICKY'S THE TYPE OF GUY
THAT JUST NEEDS CONSTANT
CONFIRMATION THAT HE'S THE MAN.
HE WAS TRYING TO AGITATE ANGELA
JUST TO PURPOSELY
MAKE HER JEALOUS.
Narrator: WHEN RICKY'S FLIRTING
INTENSIFIES,
INSTEAD OF TALKING TO HIM
ABOUT IT,
ANGELA ANGRILY
CONFRONTS JENNIFER.
FROM ANGELA'S STANDPOINT,
THAT WAS HER BOYFRIEND.
"HANDS OFF. YOU DON'T PLAY
ON MY PLAYGROUND."
Narrator:
JENNIFER, WHO HATES CONFLICT,
IS DESPERATE TO SAVE
HER FRIENDSHIP WITH ANGELA.
SHE TELLS HER BEST FRIEND
THAT SHE NEVER MEANT TO HURT HER
AND BEGS FOR FORGIVENESS.
JENNIFER TOLD ANGELA
THAT SHE DIDN'T LIKE RICKY
AND SHE WASN'T PURSUING HIM,
AND ANGELA, IN TURN,
SAID THAT THAT WAS OKAY
AND SORT OF FORGAVE JENNIFER.
Narrator:
BUT LITTLE DO THE FRIENDS KNOW,
ANGELA IS HARBORING A GRUDGE.
JENNIFER WAS A THREAT TO HER.
ANGELA WANTED RICKY SMYRNES
ALL TO HERSELF.
HE WAS HERS.
Narrator:
AND SOON, ANGELA'S JEALOUSY
WILL DRIVE A WEDGE
BETWEEN THE TWO FRIENDS
AND LEAD
TO HORRIFIC CONSEQUENCES.
UNAWARE OF ANGELA'S BITTERNESS,
JENNIFER FOCUSES ON HER FUTURE
WITH RENEWED INTEREST.
SHE BEGINS GOING TO
A COMMUNITY OUTREACH CENTER
AND JOINS A PROGRAM THAT HELPS
HER LEARN TO LIVE INDEPENDENTLY.
Murphy: SHE WANTED
TO HAVE HER OWN APARTMENT,
BUT I WAS AFRAID BECAUSE SHE WAS
SO EASILY TAKEN ADVANTAGE OF.
Narrator:
WHILE JENNIFER IS EXCITED
ABOUT HER GROWING INDEPENDENCE,
HER FRIEND ANGELA'S LIFE
IS BEGINNING TO SPIRAL
OUT OF CONTROL.
SHE HAD SOME PROBLEMS AT HOME.
SHE WAS SUSPENDED
FROM HIGH SCHOOL FOR FIGHTING.
SHE WAS KICKED OUT OF THE
GREENSBURG LIBRARY FOR FIGHTING.
HER MOTHER HAD A HARD TIME
CONTROLLING HER.
Narrator:
AT HER WITS' END,
ANGELA'S MOTHER DECIDES TO SEND
HER TO THE SAME OUTREACH CENTER
JENNIFER GOES TO
BUT FOR A VERY DIFFERENT REASON.
THEY WOULD WORK WITH HER
ON ANGER ISSUES
AND BEHAVIORAL PROBLEMS,
DEPRESSION ISSUES.
Narrator: AND IRONICALLY,
ANGELA'S BOYFRIEND, RICKY,
HAS ISSUES OF HIS OWN.
AFTER BEING ON PROBATION
FOR ASSAULT AND BURGLARY,
RICKY ALSO
STARTS GOING TO THE CENTER
FOR COURT-ORDERED
ANGER-MANAGEMENT CLASSES.
HE JUST LIKED TO CAUSE PROBLEMS
EVERYWHERE HE WENT.
Narrator:
IT'S A STRANGE COINCIDENCE,
BUT THE THREE FRIENDS
ALL END UP SPENDING TIME
AT THE COMMUNITY CENTER,
ALONG WITH OTHERS.
Capparelli:
THE PROBLEM IS,
THE PEOPLE THAT GO
IN THE DROP-IN CENTERS
ARE PEOPLE
WITH MENTAL DISABILITIES,
PEOPLE WITH ANGER ISSUES.
IT'S A BREEDING GROUND
FOR PEOPLE THAT DON'T FIT IN.
Narrator:
BUT JENNIFER AND ANGELA
HAVE NO IDEA THEY ARE
HEADING DOWN A DEVASTATING PATH
OF BACK-STABBING, LIES,
AND BETRAYAL.
HOW COULD A PERSON
GO FROM HAVING A FRIEND
THAT YOU SAY YOU LOVE
LIKE A SISTER
TO ENACTING THE PLAN
THAT SHE DID
AND EXECUTING IT?
IT'S INCREDIBLY TWISTED
FROM THE BEGINNING TO THE END.
Narrator: BEST FRIENDS
JENNIFER AND ANGELA
BEGIN HANGING OUT
WITH A TOUGH CROWD
THEY MEET AT
A COMMUNITY OUTREACH CENTER.
Capparelli: THEY'RE A VERY
NEGATIVE INFLUENCE --
PEOPLE THAT JUST
HAVE A HARD TIME COPING IN LIFE.
Narrator:
IN LATE DECEMBER 2009,
ANGELA INVITES JENNIFER
TO HANG OUT WITH HER
AT HER BOYFRIEND
RICKY'S APARTMENT,
WHERE HE'S LIVING
WITH OTHER OUTCASTS
FROM THE OUTREACH CENTER.
THEY WERE OSTRACIZED BY SOCIETY,
AND SO WHEN
THEY FOUND EACH OTHER,
THEY SORT OF
MADE THEIR OWN FAMILY.
Narrator: JENNIFER LOVES
BEING PART OF THIS "FAMILY,"
AND BY JANUARY, SHE AND ANGELA
ARE SPENDING SEVERAL NIGHTS
A WEEK AT RICKY'S.
THEY PARTIED CONSTANTLY
FOR DAYS AT A TIME.
ALL THAT MY MOTHER AND I
WERE TOLD
WAS THAT SHE WAS SPENDING
THE NIGHT WITH HER GOOD FRIEND.
Narrator: EVEN THOUGH RICKY
IS GOING OUT WITH ANGELA,
HE STILL WANTS TO HOOK UP
WITH JENNIFER,
AND JUST LIKE BEFORE,
HE CONTINUES TO FLIRT WITH HER,
AND IT SEEMS AS IF HE
DOESN'T CARE IF ANGELA KNOWS.
OH, I'M SURE
THAT MADE HER MAD AS HELL.
HE PLAYED THESE TWO GIRLS
AGAINST EACH OTHER.
RICKY DIDN'T CARE
ABOUT JENNIFER OR ANGELA.
HE WANTED WHAT HE WANTED,
AND IT DIDN'T MATTER TO RICKY
WHOSE FRIENDSHIPS
OR RELATIONSHIPS HE DESTROYED.
Narrator:
RICKY KEEPS HITTING ON JENNIFER
UNTIL IN FEBRUARY 2010,
SHE FINALLY GIVES IN AND HAS SEX
WITH RICKY ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS.
JENNIFER
WAS MENTALLY CHALLENGED,
AND I THINK IT WAS HARD FOR HER
TO MAKE FRIENDS.
I THINK AS SOON AS SOMEONE
PAID HER ANY BIT OF ATTENTION,
SHE GRABBED ON TO THAT PERSON.
ALL SHE WANTED
WAS FOR HIM TO LIKE HER.
IT DIDN'T MEAN ANYTHING TO HER.
SHE DIDN'T HAVE THAT MENTALITY.
Narrator:
BUT ALL TOO SOON,
ANGELA FINDS OUT
ABOUT THE HOOK-UPS
AFTER OVERHEARING RICKY
TALKING ON THE PHONE
WITH JENNIFER.
WHEN ANGELA FOUND OUT,
IT SET HER OFF.
WELL, I MEAN, IF YOU'RE
STEALING SOMEBODY'S BOYFRIEND,
THAT WOULD'VE MADE HER
VERY MAD -- VERY ANGRY.
Narrator:
ANGELA HAS BEEN WARNING JENNIFER
TO STAY AWAY FROM RICKY
FOR MONTHS,
AND NOW HER WORST FEARS
HAVE COME TRUE.
ANGELA JUST WASN'T THE TYPE
TO ACTUALLY FORGIVE.
THAT'S WHEN ANGELA DECIDED,
"I HAVE TO DO SOMETHING
ABOUT THIS."
Narrator:
IN ANGELA'S MIND,
HER BEST FRIEND HAS JUST
COMMITTED THE ULTIMATE BETRAYAL.
SHE WAS JEALOUS.
SHE WAS ANGRY.
SHE WAS VERY ANGRY.
SHE WANTED TO MAKE JENNIFER PAY.
Narrator: THE SITUATION
COMES TO A HEAD
WHEN ANGELA LEARNS THAT JENNIFER
IS PLANNING TO MOVE OUT
OF HER MOM'S HOUSE
AND GET A PLACE OF HER OWN.
Capparelli: ANGELA THOUGHT THAT
JENN WAS GETTING AN APARTMENT
TO SET UP A LITTLE LOVE NEST
FOR HER AND RICKY SMYRNES.
Murphy:
ANGELA GOES INTO A RAGE.
THAT'S WHEN SOMETHING IN HER
KIND OF SNAPPED.
Narrator: ANGELA VOWS
TO PUNISH JENNIFER AT ANY COST.
MEANWHILE, JENNIFER HAS NO IDEA
THAT HER BEST FRIEND
IS OUT FOR REVENGE.
JENNIFER'S MENTAL CAPACITY
WAS THAT OF A TEENAGER.
SHE SORT OF HAD A ROSY VIEW
OF EVERYBODY.
SHE WAS NAIVE.
I DON'T THINK HE HAD ANY IDEA
WHAT WAS GOING TO HAPPEN.
Narrator: SEETHING WITH RAGE,
ANGELA HATCHES A SHOCKING PLAN
FOR REVENGE AGAINST JENNIFER.
FIRST, SHE TEXTS JENNIFER,
INVITING HER TO COME OVER
TO RICKY'S APARTMENT.
SHE THOUGHT
SHE WAS GOING TO THE APARTMENT
FOR A COUPLE OF FUN DAYS
WITH HER FRIENDS.
JENNIFER WAS REALLY EXCITED.
Narrator:
LITTLE DOES JENNIFER KNOW
THAT ANGELA IS SETTING A TRAP
THAT WILL LEAD
TO A BLOODY CHAIN OF EVENTS.
I WOULD'VE NEVER, EVER
FOR A SECOND THOUGHT
SHE COULD DO SOMETHING
SO HEINOUSLY WRONG.
IT WAS ABSOLUTELY LIKE
THEY WERE A PACK OF WOLVES.
ONCE ONE STARTED,
IT JUST ESCALATED.
Narrator:
ANGELA IS IN A RAGE
AFTER JENNIFER SLEEPS
WITH HER BOYFRIEND, RICKY,
SO SHE LURES HER BEST FRIEND
TO RICKY'S APARTMENT
TO GET REVENGE FOR HER BETRAYAL.
SHE DIDN'T KNOW THAT ANGELA
WAS LURING HER INTO THIS TRAP.
Narrator: JENNIFER ARRIVES
AT RICKY'S ON MONDAY NIGHT.
HE'S THERE,
ALONG WITH THREE OTHER FRIENDS
FROM THE COMMUNITY CENTER.
JENNIFER SHOWED UP MONDAY NIGHT,
AND THINGS WERE FINE -- CALM.
IT WAS JUST A NORMAL GROUP
OF FRIENDS HANGING OUT.
Narrator:
BUT THE NEXT MORNING,
THINGS TAKE A TURN
FOR THE WORSE.
WHILE JENNIFER IS IN
THE BATHROOM TAKING A SHOWER,
ANGELA SEIZES THE OPPORTUNITY
TO EXECUTE HER PLAN FOR REVENGE.
SHE GATHERS THE OTHERS TOGETHER
AND PERSUADES THEM
TO HELP HER PUNISH HER FRIEND.
IT'S NOT VERY HARD TO CONVINCE
A BUNCH OF PEOPLE
WITH ANGER ISSUES,
VIOLENCE ISSUES,
THAT THIS PERSON
IS A HORRIBLE INFLUENCE
AND SHOULDN'T BE PERMITTED
TO BE IN WITH OUR GROUP.
Narrator: ANGELA AND THE OTHERS
GO THROUGH JENNIFER'S PURSE.
THEY STEAL HER MONEY
AND CELLPHONE
AND POUR MOUTHWASH AND MAKEUP
ALL OVER HER BELONGINGS.
WHEN JENNIFER COMES OUT,
JENNIFER IS IRATE.
WHAT DID YOU DO?!
Narrator: BUT JENNIFER'S ANGER
ONLY SERVES TO FUEL THE GROUP.
LITTLE DOES JENNIFER KNOW,
HER BEST FRIEND --
THE PERSON
SHE TRUSTS THE MOST --
IS ABOUT TO BEGIN
A VIOLENT ATTACK.
I MEAN, IT WENT FROM,
"I'M TAKING YOUR PURSE.
I'M TAKING YOUR $8,"
TO BEATING HER
AND TAKING TURNS BEATING HER.
[ SOBBING, SHOUTING ]
Narrator:
ANGELA CONVINCES THE OTHERS
TO HIT JENNIFER REPEATEDLY.
THEN THEY DRAW ON HER FACE
WITH NAIL POLISH.
Brennan: THEY THOUGHT
IT WAS FUNNY TO TORMENT HER,
TO SEE HER HURT
AND TO SEE HER CRY,
AND TO UPSET HER.
Narrator:
JENNIFER IS TERRIFIED,
BUT SHE DOESN'T
HAVE THE WHEREWITHAL
TO ESCAPE FROM HER TORMENTERS.
Brennan:
SHE WAS OUT-NUMBERED.
IT'S SIX AGAINST ONE.
Narrator: MEANWHILE,
THE ABUSE CONTINUES TO ESCALATE
AND SOON REACHES
A NEW LEVEL OF HORROR.
THEY HUMILIATED HER AND HURT HER
IN EVERY WAY THEY COULD,
INCLUDING CUTTING HER HAIR OFF
WITH A KNIFE
AND CUTTING INTO HER SCALP.
Brennan:
THE MOB MENTALITY KICKED IN,
AND THOSE PEOPLE DID THINGS
THAT MAYBE BY THEMSELVES
WOULD NOT DO.
Burkholder:
THEY DRUGGED HER.
THEY FORCED HER
TO DRINK DETERGENT.
THEY FORCED HER
TO DRINK URINE AND FECES.
IT WAS JUST UNIMAGINABLE.
AFTER THEY DID THAT,
THEN SHE STARTED THROWING UP.
[ Voice breaking ]
I'M SORRY.
Narrator: BLEEDING AND BATTERED,
A CONFUSED JENNIFER
DESPERATELY CALLS OUT TO HER
BEST FRIEND, ANGELA, FOR HELP.
I'M SURE SHE LOOKED AT ANGELA
AND THOUGHT, YOU KNOW,
"HOW CAN YOU
BE DOING THIS TO ME?
HOW CAN MY BEST FRIEND
BE DOING THIS TO ME?"
I CAN PICTURE THAT POOR CHILD
SAYING, "BUT YOU'RE MY FRIENDS,"
AND NOT EVEN UNDERSTANDING
BECAUSE OF HER MENTALITY
AND NOT EVEN UNDERSTANDING
WHAT WAS GOING ON.
Narrator:
BUT JENNIFER'S ANGUISHED PLEAS
FALL ON DEAF EARS.
ANGELA IS DETERMINED
TO MAKE HER SUFFER.
IT MAKES ME SICK TO THINK
THAT ANGELA WAS LOVING THIS
AND GETTING ENJOYMENT FROM THIS.
Narrator:
BUT SHOCKINGLY,
JENNIFER'S TERRIFYING ORDEAL
ISN'T OVER YET.
THE WORST IS STILL TO COME.
TO JENNIFER'S HORROR,
ONE OF THE MEN SUDDENLY
PULLS HER INTO A BEDROOM
AND THEN BRUTALLY RAPES HER.
I CAN'T IMAGINE.
I GUESS IT WAS JUST
SOME SICK OPPORTUNITY FOR HIM.
Narrator: UNBELIEVABLY,
THE HORRENDOUS ABUSE
CONTINUES INTO THE NEXT DAY.
THEY'VE RAPED HER,
THEY'VE DONE EVERYTHING
IMAGINABLE TO THIS KID,
AND YET, JENN WAS STILL ALIVE.
Narrator:
LATER THAT NIGHT,
A NEIGHBOR CALLS POLICE
AFTER HEARING SCREAMS
COMING FROM THE APARTMENT.
NOW THERE'S HOPE
JENNIFER WILL BE RESCUED
JUST IN THE NICK OF TIME.
THE POLICE SHOWING UP
AT SUCH A PIVOTAL POINT --
I THINK
IT CERTAINLY TERRIFIED THEM
THAT THEY WERE THAT CLOSE
TO BEING CAUGHT.
IF POLICE FIND HER,
HOPEFULLY THEY CAN PUT AN END
TO THIS TORTURE.
[ SIRENS WAIL ]
Narrator: JENNIFER HAS ENDURED
UNSPEAKABLE TORTURE
AT THE HANDS
OF HER BEST FRIEND, ANGELA,
AND FIVE OTHER PEOPLE
SHE TRUSTS.
WHAT HAPPENED TO HER
WAS SO INCREDIBLY HORRIFIC,
IT WAS LIKE A HORROR MOVIE.
I DON'T THINK ANYBODY
COULD'VE BELIEVED
THAT FRIENDS
WOULD TURN ON ANOTHER ONE.
[ SIRENS WAIL ]
Narrator:
BUT NOW THERE'S A CHANCE
JENNIFER WILL BE RESCUED
AFTER A NEIGHBOR HEARS SCREAMS
AND CALLS 911.
POLICE ARRIVE ON THE SCENE,
AND THE GROUP SCRAMBLES
TO HIDE JENNIFER IN THE ATTIC.
AND THEY TOLD HER, "IF YOU MAKE
ANY NOISE, WE'LL KILL YOU."
Narrator:
THEN, ANGELA'S BOYFRIEND, RICKY,
RUSHES OUTSIDE
TO TALK TO POLICE.
AND RICKY BASICALLY SAID,
YOU KNOW, "EVERYTHING'S FINE.
I'M SORRY. WE'LL KEEP IT DOWN."
Narrator: SMOOTH-TALKING RICKY
CONVINCES THE OFFICERS
THAT NOTHING IS GOING ON,
AND THEY EVENTUALLY LEAVE.
THEY NEVER
WENT INTO THE APARTMENT.
THEY NEVER SUSPECTED
THAT SHE WAS THERE.
[ SIRENS WAIL ]
Narrator: AFTER SUCH A CLOSE
CALL, THE GROUP BEGINS TO PANIC.
THEY WERE AFRAID JENN'S PARENTS
WERE GONNA SHOW UP,
AND THEY HAD TO MAKE A DECISION
AS TO WHAT IT WAS
THEY WERE GOING TO DO WITH JENN.
Narrator:
IN A CHILLING MOVE,
A COLD-HEARTED ANGELA DECIDES
THAT HER FORMER BEST FRIEND
DOESN'T DESERVE TO LIVE.
ANGELA MADE THE STATEMENT,
"I WANT THE [BLEEP] DEAD."
I THINK PEOPLE
WERE AFRAID OF ANGELA.
SHE COULD BE SCARY ENOUGH
THAT OTHER PEOPLE WOULD DO
WHAT SHE TOLD THEM TO DO.
AND THAT'S WHEN IT WAS DECIDED
AMONGST THE SIX OF THEM
THAT THEY HAD TO KILL HER.
Narrator: ANGELA CONVINCES ONE
OF THE MEN TO DO HER DIRTY WORK.
Capparelli: I THINK SHE HAD
THE BRAINS TO MASTERMIND IT,
BUT WHEN PUSH COMES TO SHOVE,
I DON'T THINK SHE HAD
THE COURAGE TO FINISH IT.
Narrator: THE GROUP DRAGS
JENNIFER DOWN FROM THE ATTIC.
BUT I DON'T THINK SHE REALLY
THOUGHT THEY WOULD KILL HER.
Narrator:
THEN, A HYSTERICAL JENNIFER
IS FORCED INTO THE BATHROOM AND
VICIOUSLY STABBED SEVERAL TIMES.
SHE DIDN'T WANT TO DIE.
SHE WAS A FIGHTER.
Narrator: BUT THE ASSAULT
ON JENNIFER IS FAR FROM OVER.
ACCORDING TO PROSECUTORS,
RICKY THEN DELIBERATELY
SLITS JENNIFER'S WRISTS.
FINALLY, ON WEDNESDAY NIGHT,
33 HOURS AFTER THE BRUTAL
TORTURE BEGAN, JENNIFER DIES.
SHE IS ONLY 30 YEARS OLD.
SHE FOUGHT FOR HER LIFE UNTIL
SHE COULD NOT FIGHT ANYMORE.
AND I'M PROUD OF HER FOR THAT.
Narrator: BUT ANGELA ISN'T
FINISHED WITH HER FRIEND YET.
AS A FINAL INDIGNITY,
SHE ORDERS THE GROUP
TO WRAP JENNIFER'S BODY
IN CHRISTMAS LIGHTS.
THEN, THEY STUFF HER
INTO A GARBAGE CAN
AND DUMP HER BODY IN A
PARKING LOT AT A NEARBY SCHOOL.
SHE WANTED JENNIFER TO BE FOUND
WITH CHRISTMAS LIGHTS
AROUND HER.
SHE DID EVERYTHING NASTY
THAT SHE COULD DO TO JENNIFER,
AND, TO HER, IT WAS LIKE
A CROWNING GLORY OR SOMETHING.
Narrator:
POLICE FIND JENNIFER'S BODY
AT THE SCHOOL THE NEXT MORNING,
WHERE, UNBELIEVABLY, ANGELA AND
RICKY TURN UP A FEW HOURS LATER.
THEY CAME BACK
TO THE CRIME SCENE
AND WANTED TO KNOW, "HEY, MAN.
WHAT'S GOING ON?"
Narrator: POLICE IMMEDIATELY
LAUNCH AN INVESTIGATION...
[ SIRENS WAIL ]
...AND IT ONLY TAKES THEM
12 HOURS
TO ARREST ANGELA AND THE OTHERS.
THEY ARE CHARGED
WITH CONSPIRACY, KIDNAPPING,
AND CRIMINAL HOMICIDE.
ALTHOUGH JENNIFER'S
FORMER BEST FRIEND,
17-YEAR-OLD ANGELA MARINUCCI,
IS A MINOR AT THE TIME
OF THE MURDER,
SHE IS CONVICTED OF ALL CHARGES
AND SENTENCED TO LIFE IN PRISON
WITHOUT PAROLE.
SHE DIDN'T SEEM REMORSEFUL
AT ALL.
SHE SEEMED PROUD
OF WHAT HAPPENED.
I HOPE SHE NEVER
SEES THE LIGHT OF DAY AGAIN.
Narrator: MELVIN KNIGHT
CONFESSES TO STABBING JENNIFER
AND IS GIVEN THE DEATH PENALTY.
RICKY SMYRNES, PEGGY MILLER,
ROBERT MASTERS, JR.,
AND AMBER MEIDINGER HAVE BEEN
CHARGED WITH CRIMINAL HOMICIDE,
AGGRAVATED ASSAULT,
AND KIDNAPPING.
THEY ARE STILL AWAITING TRIAL.
Burkholder:
I DON'T THINK ANY OF THOSE SIX
DESERVE TO WALK
AS A FREE PERSON.
THERE WERE OPPORTUNITIES
FOR EVERY ONE OF THOSE PEOPLE
TO STOP AT ANY TIME
AND JUST WALK AWAY,
AND THEY CONSCIOUSLY
CHOSE NOT TO.
Narrator:
TODAY, JENNIFER'S FAMILY
STILL STRUGGLES TO COPE
WITH THEIR TERRIBLE LOSS.
I PROTECTED JENNIFER
AS BEST AS I COULD,
AND, YOU KNOW,
THAT ONE TIME I COULDN'T.
MY WHOLE LIFE WAS SPENT
STICKING UP FOR MY SISTER,
BEATING PEOPLE UP
BECAUSE THEY PICKED ON HER
BECAUSE SHE WAS DIFFERENT.
I JUST WANT PEOPLE TO REMEMBER
THE GOODNESS SHE HAD.
SHE WAS JUST SO HAPPY
ALL THE TIME.
♪ FA LA LA LA LA LA LA LA LA
[ Crying ] SHE TOLD EVERYBODY
THAT I WAS HER HERO,
AND [SNIFFLES] SHE WAS MINE.
Narrator:
EVEN HARDER FOR THE FAMILY --
COMING TO TERMS WITH THE FACT
THAT JENNIFER'S CLOSEST FRIEND,
ANGELA,
COMMITTED SUCH A VICIOUS CRIME.
I COULDN'T IMAGINE STRANGERS
DOING SOMETHING LIKE THIS,
BUT TO DO THIS TO SOMEBODY
THAT YOU TOLD
YOU LOVED LIKE A SISTER --
[SIGHS] UNIMAGINABLE.
I CAN'T IMAGINE HOW YOU COULD
DO SOMETHING LIKE THAT
TO SOMEONE SO INNOCENT,
LET ALONE A FRIEND.
BECOME BEST FRIENDS...
THEY WERE CONSTANTLY TOGETHER.
Narrator:
...UNTIL JEALOUSY SPARKS
A COLD-BLOODED PLOT FOR REVENGE.
I DON'T THINK ANYBODY
WOULD EVER EXPECT
SOMETHING LIKE THIS
TO HAPPEN WITH A FRIEND.
BOY, THAT IS THE STUFF THAT
HORROR MOVIES ARE MADE OUT OF.
[ INDISTINCT SHOUTING ]
Narrator: KEEP YOUR FRIENDS
CLOSE AND YOUR ENEMIES CLOSER.
CAPTIONS PAID FOR BY
DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS
JENNIFER DAUGHERTY
IS A SWEET, GENEROUS,
AND TRUSTING YOUNG WOMAN.
SHE JUST
WAS VERY HAPPY-GO-LUCKY.
SHE THOUGHT NOTHING
OF WALKING DOWN THE STREET
AND DANCING
WHILE SHE WAS DOING IT.
SHE WANTED EVERYBODY
TO PAY ATTENTION TO HER,
TO BE HER FRIEND.
Narrator: BUT JENNIFER IS
DIFFERENT THAN OTHERS HER AGE.
ALTHOUGH SHE IS 28 YEARS OLD,
SHE STILL LIVES AT HOME
AND HAS AN IQ OF 71.
SHE WAS 28 IN BODY,
BUT NOT IN MIND.
I WOULD PROBABLY PUT HER
CLOSER TO ABOUT 14, 15.
Narrator: AS A RESULT,
PEOPLE TEASED JENNIFER A LOT,
AND SHE DOESN'T HAVE
MANY FRIENDS.
UNTIL IN 2008, WHEN SHE MEETS
15-YEAR-OLD ANGELA MARINUCCI.
Capparelli:
ANGELA -- SHE WAS VERY POLITE,
VERY HELPFUL, VERY GOOD MANNERS.
SHE WAS GREAT.
Narrator: BUT, LIKE JENNIFER,
SHE DOESN'T MAKE FRIENDS EASILY.
HER INTERACTION WITH THE GUYS
WAS SO MUCH SMOOTHER.
ANGELA DID HAVE SOME TROUBLE
GETTING ALONG
WITH OTHER GIRLS --
SPECIFICALLY, IN HER OWN AGE.
Narrator:
BUT DESPITE THEIR DIFFERENCES,
ANGELA AND JENNIFER
IMMEDIATELY HIT IT OFF.
JENN AND ANGELA
LIKED TO DO GIRLY THINGS --
SLEEPOVERS, HANG OUT,
HAVE DANCE PARTIES.
[ LAUGHS ]
Narrator:
BY THE SUMMER OF 2009,
JENNIFER AND ANGELA
ARE BEST FRIENDS
AND SPEND
EVERY FREE MOMENT TOGETHER.
Burkholder:
ANGELA WAS DRAWN TO JENNIFER
BECAUSE JENN WAS FUN AND
SHE COULD BE CHILDISH AT TIMES.
Narrator: AND JENNIFER LOVES
HAVING A FRIEND
WHO GIVES HER THE CONFIDENCE
TO BE MORE INDEPENDENT.
IT WAS VERY ENTICING FOR HER
BECAUSE THAT'S HOW
SHE WANTED TO LIVE HER LIFE --
BEING AN INDEPENDENT ADULT.
Brennan:
ANGELA WAS KIND TO JENNIFER.
I DON'T THINK
SHE EVER HAD THAT BEFORE,
AND SO I THINK SHE WAS EXCITED
TO HAVE THAT IN HER LIFE.
Narrator: AND ANGELA'S EXCITED
TO INTRODUCE JENNIFER
TO HER NEW BOYFRIEND --
23-YEAR-OLD RICKY SMYRNES.
Brennan:
RICKY WAS CHARMING.
HE WAS HANDSOME.
HE REALLY KNEW HOW TO
TALK TO WOMEN AND SCHMOOZE.
Narrator: AND SOON,
HE STARTS PAYING ATTENTION
TO ANGELA'S BEST FRIEND,
JENNIFER.
SHOCKINGLY,
RICKY PUTS THE MOVES ON HER.
HE SHOWED HER ATTENTION,
AND SHE LIKED IT.
WHEN JENNIFER
WOULD TALK TO HIM ON THE PHONE,
SHE WOULD GIGGLE AND LAUGH.
Capparelli:
RICKY'S THE TYPE OF GUY
THAT JUST NEEDS CONSTANT
CONFIRMATION THAT HE'S THE MAN.
HE WAS TRYING TO AGITATE ANGELA
JUST TO PURPOSELY
MAKE HER JEALOUS.
Narrator: WHEN RICKY'S FLIRTING
INTENSIFIES,
INSTEAD OF TALKING TO HIM
ABOUT IT,
ANGELA ANGRILY
CONFRONTS JENNIFER.
FROM ANGELA'S STANDPOINT,
THAT WAS HER BOYFRIEND.
"HANDS OFF. YOU DON'T PLAY
ON MY PLAYGROUND."
Narrator:
JENNIFER, WHO HATES CONFLICT,
IS DESPERATE TO SAVE
HER FRIENDSHIP WITH ANGELA.
SHE TELLS HER BEST FRIEND
THAT SHE NEVER MEANT TO HURT HER
AND BEGS FOR FORGIVENESS.
JENNIFER TOLD ANGELA
THAT SHE DIDN'T LIKE RICKY
AND SHE WASN'T PURSUING HIM,
AND ANGELA, IN TURN,
SAID THAT THAT WAS OKAY
AND SORT OF FORGAVE JENNIFER.
Narrator:
BUT LITTLE DO THE FRIENDS KNOW,
ANGELA IS HARBORING A GRUDGE.
JENNIFER WAS A THREAT TO HER.
ANGELA WANTED RICKY SMYRNES
ALL TO HERSELF.
HE WAS HERS.
Narrator:
AND SOON, ANGELA'S JEALOUSY
WILL DRIVE A WEDGE
BETWEEN THE TWO FRIENDS
AND LEAD
TO HORRIFIC CONSEQUENCES.
UNAWARE OF ANGELA'S BITTERNESS,
JENNIFER FOCUSES ON HER FUTURE
WITH RENEWED INTEREST.
SHE BEGINS GOING TO
A COMMUNITY OUTREACH CENTER
AND JOINS A PROGRAM THAT HELPS
HER LEARN TO LIVE INDEPENDENTLY.
Murphy: SHE WANTED
TO HAVE HER OWN APARTMENT,
BUT I WAS AFRAID BECAUSE SHE WAS
SO EASILY TAKEN ADVANTAGE OF.
Narrator:
WHILE JENNIFER IS EXCITED
ABOUT HER GROWING INDEPENDENCE,
HER FRIEND ANGELA'S LIFE
IS BEGINNING TO SPIRAL
OUT OF CONTROL.
SHE HAD SOME PROBLEMS AT HOME.
SHE WAS SUSPENDED
FROM HIGH SCHOOL FOR FIGHTING.
SHE WAS KICKED OUT OF THE
GREENSBURG LIBRARY FOR FIGHTING.
HER MOTHER HAD A HARD TIME
CONTROLLING HER.
Narrator:
AT HER WITS' END,
ANGELA'S MOTHER DECIDES TO SEND
HER TO THE SAME OUTREACH CENTER
JENNIFER GOES TO
BUT FOR A VERY DIFFERENT REASON.
THEY WOULD WORK WITH HER
ON ANGER ISSUES
AND BEHAVIORAL PROBLEMS,
DEPRESSION ISSUES.
Narrator: AND IRONICALLY,
ANGELA'S BOYFRIEND, RICKY,
HAS ISSUES OF HIS OWN.
AFTER BEING ON PROBATION
FOR ASSAULT AND BURGLARY,
RICKY ALSO
STARTS GOING TO THE CENTER
FOR COURT-ORDERED
ANGER-MANAGEMENT CLASSES.
HE JUST LIKED TO CAUSE PROBLEMS
EVERYWHERE HE WENT.
Narrator:
IT'S A STRANGE COINCIDENCE,
BUT THE THREE FRIENDS
ALL END UP SPENDING TIME
AT THE COMMUNITY CENTER,
ALONG WITH OTHERS.
Capparelli:
THE PROBLEM IS,
THE PEOPLE THAT GO
IN THE DROP-IN CENTERS
ARE PEOPLE
WITH MENTAL DISABILITIES,
PEOPLE WITH ANGER ISSUES.
IT'S A BREEDING GROUND
FOR PEOPLE THAT DON'T FIT IN.
Narrator:
BUT JENNIFER AND ANGELA
HAVE NO IDEA THEY ARE
HEADING DOWN A DEVASTATING PATH
OF BACK-STABBING, LIES,
AND BETRAYAL.
HOW COULD A PERSON
GO FROM HAVING A FRIEND
THAT YOU SAY YOU LOVE
LIKE A SISTER
TO ENACTING THE PLAN
THAT SHE DID
AND EXECUTING IT?
IT'S INCREDIBLY TWISTED
FROM THE BEGINNING TO THE END.
Narrator: BEST FRIENDS
JENNIFER AND ANGELA
BEGIN HANGING OUT
WITH A TOUGH CROWD
THEY MEET AT
A COMMUNITY OUTREACH CENTER.
Capparelli: THEY'RE A VERY
NEGATIVE INFLUENCE --
PEOPLE THAT JUST
HAVE A HARD TIME COPING IN LIFE.
Narrator:
IN LATE DECEMBER 2009,
ANGELA INVITES JENNIFER
TO HANG OUT WITH HER
AT HER BOYFRIEND
RICKY'S APARTMENT,
WHERE HE'S LIVING
WITH OTHER OUTCASTS
FROM THE OUTREACH CENTER.
THEY WERE OSTRACIZED BY SOCIETY,
AND SO WHEN
THEY FOUND EACH OTHER,
THEY SORT OF
MADE THEIR OWN FAMILY.
Narrator: JENNIFER LOVES
BEING PART OF THIS "FAMILY,"
AND BY JANUARY, SHE AND ANGELA
ARE SPENDING SEVERAL NIGHTS
A WEEK AT RICKY'S.
THEY PARTIED CONSTANTLY
FOR DAYS AT A TIME.
ALL THAT MY MOTHER AND I
WERE TOLD
WAS THAT SHE WAS SPENDING
THE NIGHT WITH HER GOOD FRIEND.
Narrator: EVEN THOUGH RICKY
IS GOING OUT WITH ANGELA,
HE STILL WANTS TO HOOK UP
WITH JENNIFER,
AND JUST LIKE BEFORE,
HE CONTINUES TO FLIRT WITH HER,
AND IT SEEMS AS IF HE
DOESN'T CARE IF ANGELA KNOWS.
OH, I'M SURE
THAT MADE HER MAD AS HELL.
HE PLAYED THESE TWO GIRLS
AGAINST EACH OTHER.
RICKY DIDN'T CARE
ABOUT JENNIFER OR ANGELA.
HE WANTED WHAT HE WANTED,
AND IT DIDN'T MATTER TO RICKY
WHOSE FRIENDSHIPS
OR RELATIONSHIPS HE DESTROYED.
Narrator:
RICKY KEEPS HITTING ON JENNIFER
UNTIL IN FEBRUARY 2010,
SHE FINALLY GIVES IN AND HAS SEX
WITH RICKY ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS.
JENNIFER
WAS MENTALLY CHALLENGED,
AND I THINK IT WAS HARD FOR HER
TO MAKE FRIENDS.
I THINK AS SOON AS SOMEONE
PAID HER ANY BIT OF ATTENTION,
SHE GRABBED ON TO THAT PERSON.
ALL SHE WANTED
WAS FOR HIM TO LIKE HER.
IT DIDN'T MEAN ANYTHING TO HER.
SHE DIDN'T HAVE THAT MENTALITY.
Narrator:
BUT ALL TOO SOON,
ANGELA FINDS OUT
ABOUT THE HOOK-UPS
AFTER OVERHEARING RICKY
TALKING ON THE PHONE
WITH JENNIFER.
WHEN ANGELA FOUND OUT,
IT SET HER OFF.
WELL, I MEAN, IF YOU'RE
STEALING SOMEBODY'S BOYFRIEND,
THAT WOULD'VE MADE HER
VERY MAD -- VERY ANGRY.
Narrator:
ANGELA HAS BEEN WARNING JENNIFER
TO STAY AWAY FROM RICKY
FOR MONTHS,
AND NOW HER WORST FEARS
HAVE COME TRUE.
ANGELA JUST WASN'T THE TYPE
TO ACTUALLY FORGIVE.
THAT'S WHEN ANGELA DECIDED,
"I HAVE TO DO SOMETHING
ABOUT THIS."
Narrator:
IN ANGELA'S MIND,
HER BEST FRIEND HAS JUST
COMMITTED THE ULTIMATE BETRAYAL.
SHE WAS JEALOUS.
SHE WAS ANGRY.
SHE WAS VERY ANGRY.
SHE WANTED TO MAKE JENNIFER PAY.
Narrator: THE SITUATION
COMES TO A HEAD
WHEN ANGELA LEARNS THAT JENNIFER
IS PLANNING TO MOVE OUT
OF HER MOM'S HOUSE
AND GET A PLACE OF HER OWN.
Capparelli: ANGELA THOUGHT THAT
JENN WAS GETTING AN APARTMENT
TO SET UP A LITTLE LOVE NEST
FOR HER AND RICKY SMYRNES.
Murphy:
ANGELA GOES INTO A RAGE.
THAT'S WHEN SOMETHING IN HER
KIND OF SNAPPED.
Narrator: ANGELA VOWS
TO PUNISH JENNIFER AT ANY COST.
MEANWHILE, JENNIFER HAS NO IDEA
THAT HER BEST FRIEND
IS OUT FOR REVENGE.
JENNIFER'S MENTAL CAPACITY
WAS THAT OF A TEENAGER.
SHE SORT OF HAD A ROSY VIEW
OF EVERYBODY.
SHE WAS NAIVE.
I DON'T THINK HE HAD ANY IDEA
WHAT WAS GOING TO HAPPEN.
Narrator: SEETHING WITH RAGE,
ANGELA HATCHES A SHOCKING PLAN
FOR REVENGE AGAINST JENNIFER.
FIRST, SHE TEXTS JENNIFER,
INVITING HER TO COME OVER
TO RICKY'S APARTMENT.
SHE THOUGHT
SHE WAS GOING TO THE APARTMENT
FOR A COUPLE OF FUN DAYS
WITH HER FRIENDS.
JENNIFER WAS REALLY EXCITED.
Narrator:
LITTLE DOES JENNIFER KNOW
THAT ANGELA IS SETTING A TRAP
THAT WILL LEAD
TO A BLOODY CHAIN OF EVENTS.
I WOULD'VE NEVER, EVER
FOR A SECOND THOUGHT
SHE COULD DO SOMETHING
SO HEINOUSLY WRONG.
IT WAS ABSOLUTELY LIKE
THEY WERE A PACK OF WOLVES.
ONCE ONE STARTED,
IT JUST ESCALATED.
Narrator:
ANGELA IS IN A RAGE
AFTER JENNIFER SLEEPS
WITH HER BOYFRIEND, RICKY,
SO SHE LURES HER BEST FRIEND
TO RICKY'S APARTMENT
TO GET REVENGE FOR HER BETRAYAL.
SHE DIDN'T KNOW THAT ANGELA
WAS LURING HER INTO THIS TRAP.
Narrator: JENNIFER ARRIVES
AT RICKY'S ON MONDAY NIGHT.
HE'S THERE,
ALONG WITH THREE OTHER FRIENDS
FROM THE COMMUNITY CENTER.
JENNIFER SHOWED UP MONDAY NIGHT,
AND THINGS WERE FINE -- CALM.
IT WAS JUST A NORMAL GROUP
OF FRIENDS HANGING OUT.
Narrator:
BUT THE NEXT MORNING,
THINGS TAKE A TURN
FOR THE WORSE.
WHILE JENNIFER IS IN
THE BATHROOM TAKING A SHOWER,
ANGELA SEIZES THE OPPORTUNITY
TO EXECUTE HER PLAN FOR REVENGE.
SHE GATHERS THE OTHERS TOGETHER
AND PERSUADES THEM
TO HELP HER PUNISH HER FRIEND.
IT'S NOT VERY HARD TO CONVINCE
A BUNCH OF PEOPLE
WITH ANGER ISSUES,
VIOLENCE ISSUES,
THAT THIS PERSON
IS A HORRIBLE INFLUENCE
AND SHOULDN'T BE PERMITTED
TO BE IN WITH OUR GROUP.
Narrator: ANGELA AND THE OTHERS
GO THROUGH JENNIFER'S PURSE.
THEY STEAL HER MONEY
AND CELLPHONE
AND POUR MOUTHWASH AND MAKEUP
ALL OVER HER BELONGINGS.
WHEN JENNIFER COMES OUT,
JENNIFER IS IRATE.
WHAT DID YOU DO?!
Narrator: BUT JENNIFER'S ANGER
ONLY SERVES TO FUEL THE GROUP.
LITTLE DOES JENNIFER KNOW,
HER BEST FRIEND --
THE PERSON
SHE TRUSTS THE MOST --
IS ABOUT TO BEGIN
A VIOLENT ATTACK.
I MEAN, IT WENT FROM,
"I'M TAKING YOUR PURSE.
I'M TAKING YOUR $8,"
TO BEATING HER
AND TAKING TURNS BEATING HER.
[ SOBBING, SHOUTING ]
Narrator:
ANGELA CONVINCES THE OTHERS
TO HIT JENNIFER REPEATEDLY.
THEN THEY DRAW ON HER FACE
WITH NAIL POLISH.
Brennan: THEY THOUGHT
IT WAS FUNNY TO TORMENT HER,
TO SEE HER HURT
AND TO SEE HER CRY,
AND TO UPSET HER.
Narrator:
JENNIFER IS TERRIFIED,
BUT SHE DOESN'T
HAVE THE WHEREWITHAL
TO ESCAPE FROM HER TORMENTERS.
Brennan:
SHE WAS OUT-NUMBERED.
IT'S SIX AGAINST ONE.
Narrator: MEANWHILE,
THE ABUSE CONTINUES TO ESCALATE
AND SOON REACHES
A NEW LEVEL OF HORROR.
THEY HUMILIATED HER AND HURT HER
IN EVERY WAY THEY COULD,
INCLUDING CUTTING HER HAIR OFF
WITH A KNIFE
AND CUTTING INTO HER SCALP.
Brennan:
THE MOB MENTALITY KICKED IN,
AND THOSE PEOPLE DID THINGS
THAT MAYBE BY THEMSELVES
WOULD NOT DO.
Burkholder:
THEY DRUGGED HER.
THEY FORCED HER
TO DRINK DETERGENT.
THEY FORCED HER
TO DRINK URINE AND FECES.
IT WAS JUST UNIMAGINABLE.
AFTER THEY DID THAT,
THEN SHE STARTED THROWING UP.
[ Voice breaking ]
I'M SORRY.
Narrator: BLEEDING AND BATTERED,
A CONFUSED JENNIFER
DESPERATELY CALLS OUT TO HER
BEST FRIEND, ANGELA, FOR HELP.
I'M SURE SHE LOOKED AT ANGELA
AND THOUGHT, YOU KNOW,
"HOW CAN YOU
BE DOING THIS TO ME?
HOW CAN MY BEST FRIEND
BE DOING THIS TO ME?"
I CAN PICTURE THAT POOR CHILD
SAYING, "BUT YOU'RE MY FRIENDS,"
AND NOT EVEN UNDERSTANDING
BECAUSE OF HER MENTALITY
AND NOT EVEN UNDERSTANDING
WHAT WAS GOING ON.
Narrator:
BUT JENNIFER'S ANGUISHED PLEAS
FALL ON DEAF EARS.
ANGELA IS DETERMINED
TO MAKE HER SUFFER.
IT MAKES ME SICK TO THINK
THAT ANGELA WAS LOVING THIS
AND GETTING ENJOYMENT FROM THIS.
Narrator:
BUT SHOCKINGLY,
JENNIFER'S TERRIFYING ORDEAL
ISN'T OVER YET.
THE WORST IS STILL TO COME.
TO JENNIFER'S HORROR,
ONE OF THE MEN SUDDENLY
PULLS HER INTO A BEDROOM
AND THEN BRUTALLY RAPES HER.
I CAN'T IMAGINE.
I GUESS IT WAS JUST
SOME SICK OPPORTUNITY FOR HIM.
Narrator: UNBELIEVABLY,
THE HORRENDOUS ABUSE
CONTINUES INTO THE NEXT DAY.
THEY'VE RAPED HER,
THEY'VE DONE EVERYTHING
IMAGINABLE TO THIS KID,
AND YET, JENN WAS STILL ALIVE.
Narrator:
LATER THAT NIGHT,
A NEIGHBOR CALLS POLICE
AFTER HEARING SCREAMS
COMING FROM THE APARTMENT.
NOW THERE'S HOPE
JENNIFER WILL BE RESCUED
JUST IN THE NICK OF TIME.
THE POLICE SHOWING UP
AT SUCH A PIVOTAL POINT --
I THINK
IT CERTAINLY TERRIFIED THEM
THAT THEY WERE THAT CLOSE
TO BEING CAUGHT.
IF POLICE FIND HER,
HOPEFULLY THEY CAN PUT AN END
TO THIS TORTURE.
[ SIRENS WAIL ]
Narrator: JENNIFER HAS ENDURED
UNSPEAKABLE TORTURE
AT THE HANDS
OF HER BEST FRIEND, ANGELA,
AND FIVE OTHER PEOPLE
SHE TRUSTS.
WHAT HAPPENED TO HER
WAS SO INCREDIBLY HORRIFIC,
IT WAS LIKE A HORROR MOVIE.
I DON'T THINK ANYBODY
COULD'VE BELIEVED
THAT FRIENDS
WOULD TURN ON ANOTHER ONE.
[ SIRENS WAIL ]
Narrator:
BUT NOW THERE'S A CHANCE
JENNIFER WILL BE RESCUED
AFTER A NEIGHBOR HEARS SCREAMS
AND CALLS 911.
POLICE ARRIVE ON THE SCENE,
AND THE GROUP SCRAMBLES
TO HIDE JENNIFER IN THE ATTIC.
AND THEY TOLD HER, "IF YOU MAKE
ANY NOISE, WE'LL KILL YOU."
Narrator:
THEN, ANGELA'S BOYFRIEND, RICKY,
RUSHES OUTSIDE
TO TALK TO POLICE.
AND RICKY BASICALLY SAID,
YOU KNOW, "EVERYTHING'S FINE.
I'M SORRY. WE'LL KEEP IT DOWN."
Narrator: SMOOTH-TALKING RICKY
CONVINCES THE OFFICERS
THAT NOTHING IS GOING ON,
AND THEY EVENTUALLY LEAVE.
THEY NEVER
WENT INTO THE APARTMENT.
THEY NEVER SUSPECTED
THAT SHE WAS THERE.
[ SIRENS WAIL ]
Narrator: AFTER SUCH A CLOSE
CALL, THE GROUP BEGINS TO PANIC.
THEY WERE AFRAID JENN'S PARENTS
WERE GONNA SHOW UP,
AND THEY HAD TO MAKE A DECISION
AS TO WHAT IT WAS
THEY WERE GOING TO DO WITH JENN.
Narrator:
IN A CHILLING MOVE,
A COLD-HEARTED ANGELA DECIDES
THAT HER FORMER BEST FRIEND
DOESN'T DESERVE TO LIVE.
ANGELA MADE THE STATEMENT,
"I WANT THE [BLEEP] DEAD."
I THINK PEOPLE
WERE AFRAID OF ANGELA.
SHE COULD BE SCARY ENOUGH
THAT OTHER PEOPLE WOULD DO
WHAT SHE TOLD THEM TO DO.
AND THAT'S WHEN IT WAS DECIDED
AMONGST THE SIX OF THEM
THAT THEY HAD TO KILL HER.
Narrator: ANGELA CONVINCES ONE
OF THE MEN TO DO HER DIRTY WORK.
Capparelli: I THINK SHE HAD
THE BRAINS TO MASTERMIND IT,
BUT WHEN PUSH COMES TO SHOVE,
I DON'T THINK SHE HAD
THE COURAGE TO FINISH IT.
Narrator: THE GROUP DRAGS
JENNIFER DOWN FROM THE ATTIC.
BUT I DON'T THINK SHE REALLY
THOUGHT THEY WOULD KILL HER.
Narrator:
THEN, A HYSTERICAL JENNIFER
IS FORCED INTO THE BATHROOM AND
VICIOUSLY STABBED SEVERAL TIMES.
SHE DIDN'T WANT TO DIE.
SHE WAS A FIGHTER.
Narrator: BUT THE ASSAULT
ON JENNIFER IS FAR FROM OVER.
ACCORDING TO PROSECUTORS,
RICKY THEN DELIBERATELY
SLITS JENNIFER'S WRISTS.
FINALLY, ON WEDNESDAY NIGHT,
33 HOURS AFTER THE BRUTAL
TORTURE BEGAN, JENNIFER DIES.
SHE IS ONLY 30 YEARS OLD.
SHE FOUGHT FOR HER LIFE UNTIL
SHE COULD NOT FIGHT ANYMORE.
AND I'M PROUD OF HER FOR THAT.
Narrator: BUT ANGELA ISN'T
FINISHED WITH HER FRIEND YET.
AS A FINAL INDIGNITY,
SHE ORDERS THE GROUP
TO WRAP JENNIFER'S BODY
IN CHRISTMAS LIGHTS.
THEN, THEY STUFF HER
INTO A GARBAGE CAN
AND DUMP HER BODY IN A
PARKING LOT AT A NEARBY SCHOOL.
SHE WANTED JENNIFER TO BE FOUND
WITH CHRISTMAS LIGHTS
AROUND HER.
SHE DID EVERYTHING NASTY
THAT SHE COULD DO TO JENNIFER,
AND, TO HER, IT WAS LIKE
A CROWNING GLORY OR SOMETHING.
Narrator:
POLICE FIND JENNIFER'S BODY
AT THE SCHOOL THE NEXT MORNING,
WHERE, UNBELIEVABLY, ANGELA AND
RICKY TURN UP A FEW HOURS LATER.
THEY CAME BACK
TO THE CRIME SCENE
AND WANTED TO KNOW, "HEY, MAN.
WHAT'S GOING ON?"
Narrator: POLICE IMMEDIATELY
LAUNCH AN INVESTIGATION...
[ SIRENS WAIL ]
...AND IT ONLY TAKES THEM
12 HOURS
TO ARREST ANGELA AND THE OTHERS.
THEY ARE CHARGED
WITH CONSPIRACY, KIDNAPPING,
AND CRIMINAL HOMICIDE.
ALTHOUGH JENNIFER'S
FORMER BEST FRIEND,
17-YEAR-OLD ANGELA MARINUCCI,
IS A MINOR AT THE TIME
OF THE MURDER,
SHE IS CONVICTED OF ALL CHARGES
AND SENTENCED TO LIFE IN PRISON
WITHOUT PAROLE.
SHE DIDN'T SEEM REMORSEFUL
AT ALL.
SHE SEEMED PROUD
OF WHAT HAPPENED.
I HOPE SHE NEVER
SEES THE LIGHT OF DAY AGAIN.
Narrator: MELVIN KNIGHT
CONFESSES TO STABBING JENNIFER
AND IS GIVEN THE DEATH PENALTY.
RICKY SMYRNES, PEGGY MILLER,
ROBERT MASTERS, JR.,
AND AMBER MEIDINGER HAVE BEEN
CHARGED WITH CRIMINAL HOMICIDE,
AGGRAVATED ASSAULT,
AND KIDNAPPING.
THEY ARE STILL AWAITING TRIAL.
Burkholder:
I DON'T THINK ANY OF THOSE SIX
DESERVE TO WALK
AS A FREE PERSON.
THERE WERE OPPORTUNITIES
FOR EVERY ONE OF THOSE PEOPLE
TO STOP AT ANY TIME
AND JUST WALK AWAY,
AND THEY CONSCIOUSLY
CHOSE NOT TO.
Narrator:
TODAY, JENNIFER'S FAMILY
STILL STRUGGLES TO COPE
WITH THEIR TERRIBLE LOSS.
I PROTECTED JENNIFER
AS BEST AS I COULD,
AND, YOU KNOW,
THAT ONE TIME I COULDN'T.
MY WHOLE LIFE WAS SPENT
STICKING UP FOR MY SISTER,
BEATING PEOPLE UP
BECAUSE THEY PICKED ON HER
BECAUSE SHE WAS DIFFERENT.
I JUST WANT PEOPLE TO REMEMBER
THE GOODNESS SHE HAD.
SHE WAS JUST SO HAPPY
ALL THE TIME.
♪ FA LA LA LA LA LA LA LA LA
[ Crying ] SHE TOLD EVERYBODY
THAT I WAS HER HERO,
AND [SNIFFLES] SHE WAS MINE.
Narrator:
EVEN HARDER FOR THE FAMILY --
COMING TO TERMS WITH THE FACT
THAT JENNIFER'S CLOSEST FRIEND,
ANGELA,
COMMITTED SUCH A VICIOUS CRIME.
I COULDN'T IMAGINE STRANGERS
DOING SOMETHING LIKE THIS,
BUT TO DO THIS TO SOMEBODY
THAT YOU TOLD
YOU LOVED LIKE A SISTER --
[SIGHS] UNIMAGINABLE.
I CAN'T IMAGINE HOW YOU COULD
DO SOMETHING LIKE THAT
TO SOMEONE SO INNOCENT,
LET ALONE A FRIEND.