Frenemies (2013–…): Season 2, Episode 12 - Fire and Desire - full transcript
When high school student Amber Hess befriends classmate Todd Hoke they develop a trusted bond like brother and sister. But when one finds love, the ties that bind these friends begin to unravel, leading them to cross very dangerous lines.
Narrator: TWO YOUNG TEENS
BECOME UNLIKELY BEST FRIENDS...
Gonzalez:
THEY WERE INSEPARABLE.
THEY WERE LIKE
BROTHER AND SISTER.
Narrator:
...UNTIL JEALOUSY THREATENS
TO DRIVE A WEDGE BETWEEN THEM...
YOU SAID YOU WERE
SO MUCH HAPPIER WITHOUT HER.
HE JUST COULDN'T TAKE IT
ANYMORE.
ALL RIGHT,
WE JUST HANG OUT A LOT!
Narrator:
...LEADING TO BROKEN TRUST...
I'M REALLY SORRY.
...DECEPTION,
AND HORRIFIC CONSEQUENCES.
Amber: AAH!
IT WAS THE WORST FATE
YOU COULD POSSIBLY IMAGINE.
YOU'D HAVE TO BE TRULY EVIL
TO DO SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
Narrator:
KEEP YOUR FRIENDS CLOSE
AND YOUR ENEMIES CLOSER.
CAPTIONS PAID FOR BY
DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS
AMBER HESS
IS A SPIRITED 16-YEAR-OLD
WHO ATTENDS
COOLIDGE HIGH SCHOOL.
AMBER WAS ALWAYS REALLY FUN,
VERY VIBRANT, OUTGOING.
I MEAN,
SHE MADE FRIENDS WITH EVERYBODY.
I DON'T WANT
TO FAIL THIS, SO...
[ LAUGHTER ]
Michael: AMBER HAD A PERSONALITY
THAT EVERYBODY LIKED.
NO MATTER WHERE WE WENT,
WITHIN HOURS,
SHE WAS, "OH, THIS IS
MY NEW BEST FRIEND."
Narrator:
UNLIKE MOST KIDS HER AGE,
AMBER HAS HER OWN CAR,
WHICH MAKES HER EVEN
MORE POPULAR WITH CLASSMATES.
WE WOULD GO EVERYWHERE.
WE WOULD JUST
CRUISE ALL NIGHT SOMETIMES,
AND IT WAS JUST SO MUCH FUN.
Narrator:
DURING HER JUNIOR YEAR,
SHE BEFRIENDS 14-YEAR-OLD
FRESHMAN TODD HOKE.
THEY WERE
IN A COUPLE CLASSES TOGETHER,
AND TODD -- HE'S GOT
VERY BEAUTIFUL BROWN EYES.
HE'S SOFT-SPOKEN AND NICE.
AH, THERE YOU ARE.
Narrator: THE TWO SOON DISCOVER
THEY SHARE THE SAME TASTE
IN MUSIC AND MOVIES.
Gonzalez: AMBER AND TODD
WOULD CRUISE AROUND IN THE CAR,
GO TO THE MALL,
HANG OUT AT THE PARK.
AS THEY SPENT MORE TIME
TOGETHER,
THEY BECAME CLOSER,
VERY GOOD FRIENDS.
Narrator:
TODD OPENS UP TO AMBER,
AND SHE QUICKLY BECOMES
HIS MOST TRUSTED CONFIDANTE.
Michael: SHE'D SAY,
"OKAY, TELL ME EVERYTHING.
GET IT OFF YOUR CHEST.
I WON'T SAY A WORD."
AND TODD TRUSTED HER.
Narrator:
HE EVEN FEELS COMFORTABLE ENOUGH
TO SHARE SECRETS
ABOUT HIS UNSTABLE FAMILY LIFE.
Rankin: TODD'S GRANDMOTHER
WAS THE LEGAL GUARDIAN.
TODD'S MOTHER HAD SOME ALCOHOL
OR SUBSTANCE-ABUSE PROBLEMS
WHERE SHE LOST CUSTODY
OF ALL OF HER KIDS.
BUT SHE DID LIVE WITH HIM.
Michael: I DON'T THINK DAD
WAS EVER IN THE PICTURE,
AND I KNOW THERE WAS
A LOT OF TENSION AT THE HOUSE
WITH THE MOM AND THE GRANDMA.
STARTS THROWING THINGS.
Narrator: TODD CONFIDES IN AMBER
THAT HE'S HAVING TROUBLE
LIVING UNDER
HIS GRANDMOTHER'S RULES.
[ SIGHS ] WHATEVER.
YOU KNOW, I CAN'T TAKE IT.
SOON, TODD REBELS AND BEGINS
DRINKING AND SMOKING MARIJUANA.
Michael: TODD'S GRANDMOTHER
WAS VERY, VERY STRICT.
HE WAS JUST A GROWING BOY
WANTING TO GET OUT
AND DO THINGS ON HIS OWN,
AND GRANDMA WAS TELLING HIM,
"NO, YOU NEED
TO DO IT THIS WAY."
AMBER WAS VERY CONCERNED
ABOUT HIS FAMILY LIFE
AND WANTING TO HELP HIM.
Michael:
THERE WAS A COUPLE TIMES THAT HE
HAD COME TO HER WINDOW AT NIGHT
'CAUSE HE WAS HAVING PROBLEMS
AT HOME.
HI.
UM, MOM,
HE HAS NOWHERE ELSE TO GO.
Candy:
AMBER WOULD COME IN AND GO,
"HE'S DRUNK.
I DON'T WANT HIM HERE.
BUT THEN AGAIN,
HE CAN'T GO HOME."
AND, YOU KNOW,
SHE'D JUST TALK TO HIM
AND LISTEN TO HIM CONSTANTLY
ABOUT WHAT WAS GOING ON
AT THE HOUSE.
WHAT?! COME ON!
Narrator: AMBER'S HOUSE
BECOMES TODD'S REFUGE
AND HE SPENDS
MORE AND MORE TIME THERE.
WE HAD DINNER WITH HIM.
THEY WOULD WATCH MOVIES,
THEY WOULD PLAY GAMES
ON THE COMPUTER
OR ON THE PlayStation,
AND HANG OUT.
[ LAUGHING ]
THEY WERE LIKE
BROTHER AND SISTER.
[ LAUGHS ]
THAT IS SO UNFAIR.YEAH. SO WHAT?
Narrator:
BUT NEITHER OF THEM HAS ANY IDEA
THAT THEIR CLOSE-KNIT FRIENDSHIP
IS DESTINED FOR TRAGEDY.
IT'S NOT LONG BEFORE TODD GETS
A GIRLFRIEND, NAMED VANESSA.
HEY.
HEY.
I BOUGHT
THE NEW SEASON OF...
Narrator:
AMBER IS HAPPY FOR HIM,
BUT TODD'S NEW RELATIONSHIP
CUTS INTO THE AMOUNT OF TIME
THEY SPEND TOGETHER.
YEAH.
WHAT? HI.
OKAY. SEE YA.
LATER.
EVEN WORSE,
VANESSA IS NOT THRILLED
ABOUT TODD'S FRIENDSHIP
WITH AMBER.
NO GIRLFRIEND
WOULD FEEL COMFORTABLE
WITH THEIR BOYFRIEND ALWAYS
SPENDING TIME WITH ANOTHER GIRL.
WE JUST HANG OUT A LOT,
ALL RIGHT?
OH, YOU JUST
"HANG OUT" A LOT.
YEAH, WE DO.YOU JUST "HANG OUT."
Candy: TODD WOULD GO TO AMBER
AND TALK ABOUT THINGS
AND TELL HER STUFF
BETWEEN HIM AND HIS GIRLFRIEND
OF WHAT'S GOING ON,
AND NO GIRLFRIEND LIKES THAT.
THEY WANT TO BE THE ONE
THAT YOU TALK TO.
HEY, AMBER.
THIS UPSETS TODD'S GIRLFRIEND,
VANESSA, EVEN MORE.
AND SHE STARTS
TAKING IT OUT ON AMBER.
Todd: OH, YOU'RE NOT
TALKING ABOUT THIS AGAIN.
SHE'D ARGUE WITH AMBER A LOT
BECAUSE OF THAT SITUATION.
"STAY AWAY FROM HIM.
HE'S MY BOYFRIEND."
IT'S NOT GONNA HAPPEN.
DEAL WITH IT.
Narrator: TODD TRIES
TO APPEASE HIS GIRLFRIEND
BY SPENDING LESS TIME
WITH AMBER.
WELL, IT HAS TO STOP.
IT'S EITHER ME OR HER.
YOU NEED TO DECIDE
WHAT YOU WANT TO DO.
NOW?
AND THE MORE TODD PULLS AWAY,
THE MORE AMBER
RESENTS HIS NEW RELATIONSHIP.
AMBER HAD COME TO WANT
SOMETHING MORE WITH TODD
AND HAD COME
TO HAVE FEELINGS FOR HIM.
Narrator: AMBER IS DETERMINED
TO HOLD ON TO HER FRIENDSHIP
WITH TODD AT ALL COSTS.
BUT THAT DETERMINATION
WILL EVENTUALLY LEAD
TO DEVASTATING CONSEQUENCES.
Candy:
I DON'T THINK EITHER ONE OF THEM
SAW THIS WAS GONNA END
IN A DISASTER LIKE IT DID.
I WAS COMPLETELY SHOCKED.
I COULD NEVER IMAGINE
SOMETHING LIKE THAT HAPPENING.
Narrator:
TODD'S NEW GIRLFRIEND, VANESSA,
IS DRIVING A WEDGE BETWEEN HIM
AND HIS BEST FRIEND, AMBER.
HIS GIRLFRIEND
DIDN'T LIKE THE FACT
THAT HE WOULD GO TO AMBER
WHEN THEY HAD PROBLEMS.
Narrator:
NOT ONLY IS TODD'S GIRLFRIEND
MEAN TO AMBER,
AMBER ALSO THINKS THAT VANESSA
DOESN'T TREAT TODD WELL.
JUST BECAUSE THINGS
ARE BETTER THAN THEY USED TO BE
IS NOT A GOOD ENOUGH REASON
TO STAY WITH SOMEONE.
Candy: SHE WAS VERY DEMEANING
TOWARDS HIM
AND WASN'T GIVING HIM
THE RESPECT
AMBER THOUGHT PEOPLE DESERVED,
ESPECIALLY TODD.
SOUNDS LIKE...
YOU SHOULD BREAK UP WITH HER.
NO.
AMBER WAS TELLING TODD
THAT HE COULD DO BETTER.
Michael: TODD WOULD, LIKE,
"OH, IT'S OKAY. IT'S OKAY.
YOU DON'T NEED
TO WORRY ABOUT IT."
AND SHE'D GET A LITTLE HEATED
AND TELL HIM,
"LOOK, YOU NEED TO BREAK IT OFF
BECAUSE SHE'S PLAYING YOU."
AMBER, HOW DARE YOU...
Narrator:
AND WHEN HIS GIRLFRIEND LEARNS
ABOUT AMBER'S ATTEMPTS
TO BREAK THEM UP, SHE IS LIVID.
Michael: SHE'D BAD-MOUTH HER.
THE TYPICAL,
"YOU STAY AWAY FROM MY GUY.
YOU DON'T NEED TO BE
TALKING TO HIM."
Narrator: AMBER DOESN'T WANT
TO LOSE TODD'S FRIENDSHIP,
SO SHE BACKS OFF.
Candy: SHE KNEW
THE CIRCUMSTANCES WEREN'T RIGHT.
SHE'S NOT ABOUT HURTING
OR INTERFERING
ON SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
SHE'D JUST STAND TO THE SIDE
AND BE HIS FRIEND.
Narrator:
SEVERAL MONTHS LATER,
BY THE MIDDLE
OF HER SENIOR YEAR,
AMBER IS ON THE VERGE
OF FLUNKING OUT.
Gonzalez:
SHE JUST ALWAYS WANTED TO GO OUT
AND HAVE FUN WITH FRIENDS,
AND I THINK THAT KIND OF
OVERTOOK SCHOOL A LITTLE BIT.
I WORKED HARD.LESS TIME WITH THE FRIENDS.
GOT IT?
Michael: AT FIRST,
IT WAS A HUGE FIGHT.
"OH, I'M STUPID.
I CAN'T DO IT."
IT'S LIKE, "NO, YOU'RE NOT.
YOU JUST DON'T WANT TO."
Narrator:
AMBER AGREES TO BUCKLE DOWN
AND FOCUS ON SCHOOL.
Michael:
SHE WENT TO ALL OF HER TEACHERS,
TOLD THEM,
"LOOK, I KNOW I SCREWED UP.
WHAT CAN I DO TO MAKE IT RIGHT?"
AND THEY LAID DOWN A PLAN
FOR HER, AND SHE STUCK TO IT.
ALL RIGHT, AMBER.
THANK YOU.
YOU GOT IT.
Narrator:
A FEW MONTHS LATER,
AMBER HEARS THAT TODD HAS
BROKEN UP WITH HIS GIRLFRIEND.
SHE WANTS
TO REKINDLE THEIR FRIENDSHIP,
SO SHE INVITES HIM OVER TO TALK.
...DOESN'T
MAKE YOU HAPPY, SO...
YOU'RE RIGHT.
SHE DOESN'T
MAKE ME HAPPY.
THE TWO TEENAGERS
FIND THEMSELVES ALONE,
AND SUDDENLY, THEY DECIDE
TO TAKE THEIR RELATIONSHIP
TO ANOTHER LEVEL.
Michael:
FEELINGS START HAPPENING.
TYPICAL TEENAGERS
WANTING TO EXPLORE.
SHE WAS HAPPY
THAT THEIR RELATIONSHIP
HAD ADVANCED TO THAT POINT.
AMBER THOUGHT THAT
THEIR RELATIONSHIP WOULD CHANGE
AND THAT
THEY'D BECOME COMMITTED.
Narrator:
BUT NEITHER ONE OF THEM KNOWS
THAT REPERCUSSIONS
FROM THEIR HOOK-UP
WILL LEAD TO A SHOCKING
AND TRAGIC TURN OF EVENTS.
IT'S VERY UNTHINKABLE.
DIDN'T THINK IT WAS
IMPORTANT ENOUGH TO TELL ME?
WHO WOULD EVER IMAGINE
BEING BETRAYED IN SUCH A WAY?
I'M REALLY SORRY.
YEAH, YEAH.
Narrator: TODD AND
HIS GIRLFRIEND HAVE BROKEN UP,
SO AMBER REACHES OUT TO HIM
TO REKINDLE THEIR FRIENDSHIP.
TALKING SUDDENLY LEADS TO SEX,
AND AMBER HOPES
IT WILL LEAD TO EVEN MORE.
AMBER TOLD ME THAT SHE HAD
FALLEN PRETTY DEEP FOR HIM.
Narrator: AMBER HOPES TODD
SHARES HER FEELINGS.
HE FELT COMFORTABLE WITH HER.
I'M SURE IT WAS SOMETHING
THAT HE WANTED TO DO.
Narrator: BUT SHE QUICKLY LEARNS
HE DOESN'T FEEL THE SAME.
WHAT?
YEAH.
A SHORT TIME LATER,
TODD TELLS HER
THAT HE IS GETTING BACK TOGETHER
WITH HIS GIRLFRIEND.
Michael:
AMBER'S NOT HAPPY ABOUT IT.
SHE TRUSTED HIM ENOUGH
TO GO THAT FAR WITH HIM,
AND THEN FOR HIM
TO GO BACK TO HER,
SHE FELT BETRAYED.
Narrator:
AND TO MAKE MATTERS WORSE,
TODD STARTS TOYING
WITH AMBER'S FEELINGS.
HE WOULD TELL HER, YOU KNOW,
"I HAVE ANOTHER GIRLFRIEND.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT I WANT TO DO."
Narrator: THEN, AS AMBER'S
GRADUATION DAY APPROACHES,
SHE LEARNS SOMETHING
THAT CHANGES EVERYTHING.
SHE IS PREGNANT.
Gonzalez: WHEN AMBER FOUND OUT,
SHE CALLED ME.
SHE SEEMED REALLY EXCITED,
BUT SHE WAS VERY CONCERNED
ABOUT TODD'S REACTION.
Narrator:
AND WHEN AMBER TELLS TODD,
THE NEWS DOESN'T GO OVER WELL.
YES, IT'S YOURS.
OF COURSE IT'S YOURS.
IT WAS ALMOST A SITUATION WHERE
HE WAS DENYING THAT IT WAS HIS.
Narrator: TODD STARTS
TO DISTANCE HIMSELF FROM AMBER.
AND TO MAKE MATTERS WORSE,
HE BEGINS BERATING AMBER
IN FRONT OF OTHER CLASSMATES.
BIG FAT ASS.
Candy: HE HAD CALLED HER NAMES,
"YOU DON'T KNOW ANYTHING.
YOU'RE JUST THIS FAT,
UGLY PIECE OF..." YOU-KNOW-WHAT.
Gonzalez: TODD WAS WORRIED
ABOUT HIS GIRLFRIEND
FINDING OUT ABOUT HIM AND AMBER.
HE WAS TRYING
TO SHOW HIS GIRLFRIEND
THAT SHE DIDN'T
MEAN ANYTHING TO HIM.
IT WOULD HURT HER
DEEP DOWN INSIDE.
Narrator: THAT MAY, AMBER
GRADUATES FROM HIGH SCHOOL.
NOT LONG AFTER,
TODD APOLOGIZES FOR HIS BEHAVIOR
AND SAYS
HE WANTS TO BE FRIENDS AGAIN.
I'M REALLY SORRY.
Michael: THEY KNEW A LOT
ABOUT EACH OTHER.
TODD HAS TOLD HER
A LOT OF THINGS
ABOUT HIS FAMILY LIFE.
WHEN YOU TRUST SOMEBODY
LIKE THAT ENOUGH,
IT'S KIND OF HARD
TO JUST WALK AWAY.
COME IN.
EVERYBODY DESERVED
ANOTHER CHANCE, IN HER EYES.
Narrator:
SIX WEEKS AFTER GRADUATION,
ON FRIDAY, JUNE 22nd,
AMBER'S PARENTS
LEAVE FOR A WEEKEND IN MEXICO.
AS THEY PREPARE TO HEAD OUT,
THEY ASK THEIR DAUGHTER
TO COME WITH THEM.
Michael:
SHE'S LIKE, "NO, DAD. I'M OKAY.
I'M JUST GONNA SIT BACK HERE
AND CHILL WITH MY FRIENDS."
SHE HAD ALREADY MADE PLANS
WITH TODD.
ALL RIGHT.
OKAY. BYE.
Narrator: NOW ALMOST
THREE MONTHS PREGNANT,
AMBER HOPES TO CONFRONT TODD
ABOUT THEIR RELATIONSHIP.
AFTER TWO YEARS
OF BEING FRIENDS,
SHE BELIEVES
THEY CAN OVERCOME ANYTHING.
HEY!
WHAT'S GOING ON?
HOW YOU DOING?
Narrator: BUT AMBER IS SURPRISED
WHEN TODD WALKS IN
WITH HIS FRIEND NICK CASTILLO.
Gonzalez:
THERE WERE A LOT OF TIMES
WHERE AMBER AND TODD
WOULD BE HANGING OUT
AND NICK WOULD BE WITH THEM.
NICK CASTILLO
IS A BIG, QUIET KID
AND VERY RESERVED
IN HIS ACTIONS.
Narrator:
NICK PLAYS ON THE COMPUTER
WHILE AMBER AND TODD WATCH TV.
HEY!
THEY BEGIN JOKING AROUND
AND WRESTLING ON THE BED.
[ LAUGHING ]
STOP IT.
BUT THEN TODD
STARTS TO GET ROUGH.
TODD, STOP IT.
STAY QUIET.
TODD...
FRUSTRATED WITH TODD
ALWAYS BEING IN CONTROL,
AMBER'S FINALLY HAD ENOUGH.
GET OFF ME!
AND WHAT HAPPENS NEXT
IS BEYOND BELIEF.
I WOULDN'T WISH THIS
ON MY WORST ENEMY.
YOU'D HAVE TO BE TRULY EVIL
TO DO SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
NO! NO! NO!
STOP IT!
Narrator: AMBER AND TODD
ARE WRESTLING ON HER BED.
YOU KNOW
I'M MORE TICKLISH --
YEAH, IT'S TOO BAD.
BUT WHEN THE WRESTLING
SUDDENLY BECOMES MORE INTENSE,
THINGS QUICKLY
SPIRAL OUT OF CONTROL.
STOP IT!
KEEP IT DOWN.
Rankin:
NICK WAS ON THE COMPUTER,
AND WHILE AMBER AND TODD
WERE WRESTLING,
TODD MADE A SIGNAL TO NICK.
NICK, NICK.
NICK, COME ON.
Amber: TODD!
Narrator:
NICK SUDDENLY GETS UP
AND GRABS THE PHONE CORD
NEXT TO AMBER'S BED
AND BEGINS TO STRANGLE HER
WHILE TODD HOLDS HER DOWN.
HOLD HER!
FEAR AND ADRENALINE KICK IN
AND AMBER FIGHTS BACK.
Rankin:
AMBER ACTUALLY BROKE THE CORD,
WHICH GAVE HERE A CHANCE
TO FLEE FROM TODD
AND RAN OUT OF HER BEDROOM DOOR.
Narrator: SHE RACES TOWARDS
THE BACK DOOR OF THE HOUSE.
NO! NO!
Rankin: TODD PULLED HER
BY HER HAIR TO THE FLOOR.
AS HE PULLED HER TO THE FLOOR,
HE WAS HITTING HER IN THE HEAD
WITH A MAG FLASHLIGHT.
Narrator:
AS TODD HOLDS AMBER DOWN,
NICK GRABS A CARVING KNIFE FROM
THE BUTCHER BLOCK IN THE KITCHEN
AND BRUTALLY STABS AMBER
IN THE CHEST.
AS THEY WERE STABBING AND
BEATING HER WITH THE FLASHLIGHT,
THEY COULD STILL
HEAR HER GURGLING AND BREATHING.
[ GRUNTS ]
[ PANTING ]
AND TODD SAID THAT
"THIS BITCH JUST WON'T DIE."
Todd: GIVE ME THAT.
Narrator: THEN,
TODD GRABS THE KNIFE FROM NICK
AND STABS HER
SEVERAL MORE TIMES.
LET'S GO.
THE BOYS THEN FLEE THE HOUSE
AS AMBER BLEEDS TO DEATH
ON THE KITCHEN FLOOR.
THEY STEAL AMBER'S CAR
AND EACH GOES HOME,
PRETENDING NOTHING HAS HAPPENED.
THE DAY AFTER, BOTH NICK
AND TODD CAME BACK TO THE HOUSE
AND FOUND THAT AMBER WAS DEAD,
LAYING IN A POOL
OF COAGULATED BLOOD.
THEY DRUG HER
OUT INTO THE DESERT,
POURED GAS ON HER...
...AND LIT HER ON FIRE
TO TRY TO DISPOSE OF THE BODY
AND ANY EVIDENCE OF THIS CRIME.
Narrator: TODD AND NICK
RETURN TO THE HESS HOUSE
WHERE THEY ATTEMPT
TO CLEAN UP THE KITCHEN.
LATE ON SUNDAY AFTERNOON,
AMBER'S PARENTS RETURN
FROM THEIR WEEKEND GETAWAY.
WHERE DID THIS TOWEL
COME FROM?
I WALK UP TO THE BACK DOOR
AND THE CURTAIN'S GONE
AND THERE'S A TOWEL
HANGING THERE.
"WHAT'S GOING ON?"
Narrator: SHOCK TURNS TO HORROR
WHEN AMBER'S FATHER
OPENS THE BACK DOOR.
MICHAEL...
THERE'S BLOOD EVERYWHERE.
I MEAN, EVERYWHERE.
CEILING, COUNTER, FLOORS,
FRIDGE -- EVERYWHERE.
Narrator: AMBER'S PARENTS
TRY CALLING HER CELLPHONE,
BUT WHEN IT GOES
STRAIGHT TO VOICEMAIL...
CALL THE POLICE!
...THEY FEAR THE WORST
AND CALL 911.
THEY PULLED US OUT OF THE HOUSE,
"WHAT'S GOING ON?
WHAT HAPPENED?"
"WE DON'T KNOW."
YOU KNOW,
"OUR DAUGHTER'S MISSING.
SHE'S NOT ANSWERING THE PHONE.
HER CAR'S GONE."
Narrator:
POLICE IMMEDIATELY LAUNCH
A MISSING-PERSONS INVESTIGATION.
MR. HESS TOLD US
THAT A REAL GOOD FRIEND OF HERS
NAMED TODD HOKE,
WHO LIVED JUST DOWN THE STREET,
WOULD BE A GOOD PLACE TO START.
Narrator: POLICE QUESTION TODD,
THE LAST PERSON
KNOWN TO SEE AMBER.
I HEAR YOU GUYS
ARE VERY GOOD FRIENDS.
HE SAID HE WAS SUPPOSED TO
GO TO THE MOVIES WITH AMBER
ON FRIDAY NIGHT.
AND AMBER JUST NEVER
GOT BACK TO ME ABOUT ANYTHING.
SHE DIDN'T CALL HIM,
SO HE WENT OUT AND HUNG OUT WITH
ANOTHER FRIEND, NICK CASTILLO.
UM...NICK'S HOUSE.
NICK'S HOUSE?
YEAH.
Narrator:
THE NEXT DAY, JUNE 25th,
THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT
LOCATES A BADLY BURNED BODY
IN THE NEARBY DESERT.
Rankin: THE BODY WAS DISCOVERED
ABOUT THREE MILES AWAY
FROM AMBER'S HOUSE,
JUST THE CHARRED REMAINS
OF THE UPPER TORSO.
Narrator:
DENTAL RECORDS DETERMINE
THE BODY BELONGS TO AMBER.
POLICE SHARE THE HEARTBREAKING
NEWS WITH HER PARENTS.
WHAT IS IT?
WHAT DID THEY SAY, MIKE?
I SAID, "I NEED TO SEE HER."
AND THEY SAID, "NO, YOU CAN'T.
YOU KNOW, YOU DON'T WANT TO
SEE HER LIKE THIS."
[ SOBS ]
MIKE PUT MY FACE IN HIS HANDS,
AND HE STARED AT ME,
[ Voice breaking ] AND HE
JUST SAID, "THEY BURNED HER.
THEY BURNED OUR LITTLE GIRL."
Narrator: NOW THAT THEY FOUND
AMBER'S BODY,
POLICE FOCUS
ON FINDING HER KILLER.
THEY RETURN TO THE DESERT,
WHERE THEY UNCOVER
CRUCIAL EVIDENCE.
WE'D ACTUALLY DISCOVERED
TWO SETS OF SHOE IMPRESSIONS,
WHICH GAVE US
TWO POSSIBLE SUSPECTS.
TELL ME ABOUT
WHAT HAPPENED WITH AMBER.
Narrator:
TODD AND NICK ARE BROUGHT INTO
THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE,
WHERE THEY ARE QUESTIONED
SEPARATELY.
TODD USED NICK AS HIS ALIBI,
BUT NICK'S STATEMENT
DID NOT SUPPORT NOTHING
THAT TODD HAD TOLD US.
WHEN WE CORNERED NICK AND SAID,
"LISTEN, NICK. YOU'RE LYING,"
NICK TOOK A DEEP BREATH,
PUT HIS CHIN ON HIS CHEST.
WE KNEW RIGHT AWAY
WE WERE GONNA GET A CONFESSION.
Narrator:
NICK FOLDS UNDER PRESSURE
AND REVEALS THE GRUESOME DETAILS
OF AMBER'S MURDER.
...BEATING ON HER,
BEATING HER WITH A FLASHLIGHT.
WHEN DETECTIVES INFORM TODD
ABOUT HIS FRIEND'S CONFESSION,
HE KNOWS HE HAS NO CHOICE
BUT TO ADMIT TO HIS ROLE
IN THE KILLING.
I ASKED TODD SPECIFICALLY
"WHY DID YOU KILL AMBER?"
AND TODD'S ONLY REMARK WAS
"BECAUSE SHE WAS A BITCH."
Narrator:
BUT AMBER'S FRIENDS AND FAMILY
BELIEVE THERE'S MORE TO IT.
Gonzalez: SHE WAS PREGNANT,
AND HE OBVIOUSLY
DID NOT WANT HER TO BE.
Amber: [ SCREAMING ]
Michael: JUST TO GRAB A KNIFE
AND PUT A GIRL INTO THE GROUND
BECAUSE SHE'S PREGNANT --
I CAN'T GET THAT ONE.
AS FAR AS NICK GOES,
I DON'T KNOW IF HE WAS JUST
FOLLOWING ORDERS
OR TRYING NOT TO BE
THE ODD GUY OUT.
Narrator: FIVE DAYS
AFTER KILLING AMBER HESS,
HER FRIEND TODD HOKE
AND NICK CASTILLO
ARE CHARGED
WITH FIRST-DEGREE MURDER.
TODD PLEADS GUILTY AND
IS SENTENCED TO LIFE IN PRISON.
I WAS CONTENT WITH THAT,
KNOWING HE'D HAVE TO LIVE THERE
FOR THE REST OF HIS LIFE,
REMEMBERING WHY HE'S THERE,
WHAT HE DID.
Narrator: IN MARCH 2010,
NICK CASTILLO PLEADS GUILTY
TO SECOND-DEGREE MURDER
AND IS SENTENCED
TO 22 YEARS IN PRISON.
[ SIREN WAILING ]
BUT IN A STUNNING TWIST,
ON OCTOBER 21, 2013,
AFTER SERVING JUST THREE YEARS
IN A MAXIMUM-SECURITY PRISON,
22-YEAR-OLD TODD HOKE
TAKES HIS OWN LIFE IN HIS CELL.
I WAS DISGUSTED WHEN I FOUND OUT
HE HAD COMMITTED SUICIDE.
WHY COULDN'T HE BE MAN ENOUGH
TO DO THE TIME?
Narrator: AMBER'S PARENTS
STILL HAVE DIFFICULTY
BELIEVING THAT ONE
OF AMBER'S BEST FRIENDS
TURNED ON HER SO VIOLENTLY.
I HAD THIS KID IN MY HOUSE.
YOU KNOW, HE ATE MY FOOD,
HANGING OUT.
HOW COULD YOU DO THIS?
Candy: IT'S LIKE
THEY SLIT MY THROAT, TOO.
AND I'M JUST SITTING THERE
GOING, "WHY?"
AND THE "WHY"
WILL NEVER BE ANSWERED.
BECOME UNLIKELY BEST FRIENDS...
Gonzalez:
THEY WERE INSEPARABLE.
THEY WERE LIKE
BROTHER AND SISTER.
Narrator:
...UNTIL JEALOUSY THREATENS
TO DRIVE A WEDGE BETWEEN THEM...
YOU SAID YOU WERE
SO MUCH HAPPIER WITHOUT HER.
HE JUST COULDN'T TAKE IT
ANYMORE.
ALL RIGHT,
WE JUST HANG OUT A LOT!
Narrator:
...LEADING TO BROKEN TRUST...
I'M REALLY SORRY.
...DECEPTION,
AND HORRIFIC CONSEQUENCES.
Amber: AAH!
IT WAS THE WORST FATE
YOU COULD POSSIBLY IMAGINE.
YOU'D HAVE TO BE TRULY EVIL
TO DO SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
Narrator:
KEEP YOUR FRIENDS CLOSE
AND YOUR ENEMIES CLOSER.
CAPTIONS PAID FOR BY
DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS
AMBER HESS
IS A SPIRITED 16-YEAR-OLD
WHO ATTENDS
COOLIDGE HIGH SCHOOL.
AMBER WAS ALWAYS REALLY FUN,
VERY VIBRANT, OUTGOING.
I MEAN,
SHE MADE FRIENDS WITH EVERYBODY.
I DON'T WANT
TO FAIL THIS, SO...
[ LAUGHTER ]
Michael: AMBER HAD A PERSONALITY
THAT EVERYBODY LIKED.
NO MATTER WHERE WE WENT,
WITHIN HOURS,
SHE WAS, "OH, THIS IS
MY NEW BEST FRIEND."
Narrator:
UNLIKE MOST KIDS HER AGE,
AMBER HAS HER OWN CAR,
WHICH MAKES HER EVEN
MORE POPULAR WITH CLASSMATES.
WE WOULD GO EVERYWHERE.
WE WOULD JUST
CRUISE ALL NIGHT SOMETIMES,
AND IT WAS JUST SO MUCH FUN.
Narrator:
DURING HER JUNIOR YEAR,
SHE BEFRIENDS 14-YEAR-OLD
FRESHMAN TODD HOKE.
THEY WERE
IN A COUPLE CLASSES TOGETHER,
AND TODD -- HE'S GOT
VERY BEAUTIFUL BROWN EYES.
HE'S SOFT-SPOKEN AND NICE.
AH, THERE YOU ARE.
Narrator: THE TWO SOON DISCOVER
THEY SHARE THE SAME TASTE
IN MUSIC AND MOVIES.
Gonzalez: AMBER AND TODD
WOULD CRUISE AROUND IN THE CAR,
GO TO THE MALL,
HANG OUT AT THE PARK.
AS THEY SPENT MORE TIME
TOGETHER,
THEY BECAME CLOSER,
VERY GOOD FRIENDS.
Narrator:
TODD OPENS UP TO AMBER,
AND SHE QUICKLY BECOMES
HIS MOST TRUSTED CONFIDANTE.
Michael: SHE'D SAY,
"OKAY, TELL ME EVERYTHING.
GET IT OFF YOUR CHEST.
I WON'T SAY A WORD."
AND TODD TRUSTED HER.
Narrator:
HE EVEN FEELS COMFORTABLE ENOUGH
TO SHARE SECRETS
ABOUT HIS UNSTABLE FAMILY LIFE.
Rankin: TODD'S GRANDMOTHER
WAS THE LEGAL GUARDIAN.
TODD'S MOTHER HAD SOME ALCOHOL
OR SUBSTANCE-ABUSE PROBLEMS
WHERE SHE LOST CUSTODY
OF ALL OF HER KIDS.
BUT SHE DID LIVE WITH HIM.
Michael: I DON'T THINK DAD
WAS EVER IN THE PICTURE,
AND I KNOW THERE WAS
A LOT OF TENSION AT THE HOUSE
WITH THE MOM AND THE GRANDMA.
STARTS THROWING THINGS.
Narrator: TODD CONFIDES IN AMBER
THAT HE'S HAVING TROUBLE
LIVING UNDER
HIS GRANDMOTHER'S RULES.
[ SIGHS ] WHATEVER.
YOU KNOW, I CAN'T TAKE IT.
SOON, TODD REBELS AND BEGINS
DRINKING AND SMOKING MARIJUANA.
Michael: TODD'S GRANDMOTHER
WAS VERY, VERY STRICT.
HE WAS JUST A GROWING BOY
WANTING TO GET OUT
AND DO THINGS ON HIS OWN,
AND GRANDMA WAS TELLING HIM,
"NO, YOU NEED
TO DO IT THIS WAY."
AMBER WAS VERY CONCERNED
ABOUT HIS FAMILY LIFE
AND WANTING TO HELP HIM.
Michael:
THERE WAS A COUPLE TIMES THAT HE
HAD COME TO HER WINDOW AT NIGHT
'CAUSE HE WAS HAVING PROBLEMS
AT HOME.
HI.
UM, MOM,
HE HAS NOWHERE ELSE TO GO.
Candy:
AMBER WOULD COME IN AND GO,
"HE'S DRUNK.
I DON'T WANT HIM HERE.
BUT THEN AGAIN,
HE CAN'T GO HOME."
AND, YOU KNOW,
SHE'D JUST TALK TO HIM
AND LISTEN TO HIM CONSTANTLY
ABOUT WHAT WAS GOING ON
AT THE HOUSE.
WHAT?! COME ON!
Narrator: AMBER'S HOUSE
BECOMES TODD'S REFUGE
AND HE SPENDS
MORE AND MORE TIME THERE.
WE HAD DINNER WITH HIM.
THEY WOULD WATCH MOVIES,
THEY WOULD PLAY GAMES
ON THE COMPUTER
OR ON THE PlayStation,
AND HANG OUT.
[ LAUGHING ]
THEY WERE LIKE
BROTHER AND SISTER.
[ LAUGHS ]
THAT IS SO UNFAIR.YEAH. SO WHAT?
Narrator:
BUT NEITHER OF THEM HAS ANY IDEA
THAT THEIR CLOSE-KNIT FRIENDSHIP
IS DESTINED FOR TRAGEDY.
IT'S NOT LONG BEFORE TODD GETS
A GIRLFRIEND, NAMED VANESSA.
HEY.
HEY.
I BOUGHT
THE NEW SEASON OF...
Narrator:
AMBER IS HAPPY FOR HIM,
BUT TODD'S NEW RELATIONSHIP
CUTS INTO THE AMOUNT OF TIME
THEY SPEND TOGETHER.
YEAH.
WHAT? HI.
OKAY. SEE YA.
LATER.
EVEN WORSE,
VANESSA IS NOT THRILLED
ABOUT TODD'S FRIENDSHIP
WITH AMBER.
NO GIRLFRIEND
WOULD FEEL COMFORTABLE
WITH THEIR BOYFRIEND ALWAYS
SPENDING TIME WITH ANOTHER GIRL.
WE JUST HANG OUT A LOT,
ALL RIGHT?
OH, YOU JUST
"HANG OUT" A LOT.
YEAH, WE DO.YOU JUST "HANG OUT."
Candy: TODD WOULD GO TO AMBER
AND TALK ABOUT THINGS
AND TELL HER STUFF
BETWEEN HIM AND HIS GIRLFRIEND
OF WHAT'S GOING ON,
AND NO GIRLFRIEND LIKES THAT.
THEY WANT TO BE THE ONE
THAT YOU TALK TO.
HEY, AMBER.
THIS UPSETS TODD'S GIRLFRIEND,
VANESSA, EVEN MORE.
AND SHE STARTS
TAKING IT OUT ON AMBER.
Todd: OH, YOU'RE NOT
TALKING ABOUT THIS AGAIN.
SHE'D ARGUE WITH AMBER A LOT
BECAUSE OF THAT SITUATION.
"STAY AWAY FROM HIM.
HE'S MY BOYFRIEND."
IT'S NOT GONNA HAPPEN.
DEAL WITH IT.
Narrator: TODD TRIES
TO APPEASE HIS GIRLFRIEND
BY SPENDING LESS TIME
WITH AMBER.
WELL, IT HAS TO STOP.
IT'S EITHER ME OR HER.
YOU NEED TO DECIDE
WHAT YOU WANT TO DO.
NOW?
AND THE MORE TODD PULLS AWAY,
THE MORE AMBER
RESENTS HIS NEW RELATIONSHIP.
AMBER HAD COME TO WANT
SOMETHING MORE WITH TODD
AND HAD COME
TO HAVE FEELINGS FOR HIM.
Narrator: AMBER IS DETERMINED
TO HOLD ON TO HER FRIENDSHIP
WITH TODD AT ALL COSTS.
BUT THAT DETERMINATION
WILL EVENTUALLY LEAD
TO DEVASTATING CONSEQUENCES.
Candy:
I DON'T THINK EITHER ONE OF THEM
SAW THIS WAS GONNA END
IN A DISASTER LIKE IT DID.
I WAS COMPLETELY SHOCKED.
I COULD NEVER IMAGINE
SOMETHING LIKE THAT HAPPENING.
Narrator:
TODD'S NEW GIRLFRIEND, VANESSA,
IS DRIVING A WEDGE BETWEEN HIM
AND HIS BEST FRIEND, AMBER.
HIS GIRLFRIEND
DIDN'T LIKE THE FACT
THAT HE WOULD GO TO AMBER
WHEN THEY HAD PROBLEMS.
Narrator:
NOT ONLY IS TODD'S GIRLFRIEND
MEAN TO AMBER,
AMBER ALSO THINKS THAT VANESSA
DOESN'T TREAT TODD WELL.
JUST BECAUSE THINGS
ARE BETTER THAN THEY USED TO BE
IS NOT A GOOD ENOUGH REASON
TO STAY WITH SOMEONE.
Candy: SHE WAS VERY DEMEANING
TOWARDS HIM
AND WASN'T GIVING HIM
THE RESPECT
AMBER THOUGHT PEOPLE DESERVED,
ESPECIALLY TODD.
SOUNDS LIKE...
YOU SHOULD BREAK UP WITH HER.
NO.
AMBER WAS TELLING TODD
THAT HE COULD DO BETTER.
Michael: TODD WOULD, LIKE,
"OH, IT'S OKAY. IT'S OKAY.
YOU DON'T NEED
TO WORRY ABOUT IT."
AND SHE'D GET A LITTLE HEATED
AND TELL HIM,
"LOOK, YOU NEED TO BREAK IT OFF
BECAUSE SHE'S PLAYING YOU."
AMBER, HOW DARE YOU...
Narrator:
AND WHEN HIS GIRLFRIEND LEARNS
ABOUT AMBER'S ATTEMPTS
TO BREAK THEM UP, SHE IS LIVID.
Michael: SHE'D BAD-MOUTH HER.
THE TYPICAL,
"YOU STAY AWAY FROM MY GUY.
YOU DON'T NEED TO BE
TALKING TO HIM."
Narrator: AMBER DOESN'T WANT
TO LOSE TODD'S FRIENDSHIP,
SO SHE BACKS OFF.
Candy: SHE KNEW
THE CIRCUMSTANCES WEREN'T RIGHT.
SHE'S NOT ABOUT HURTING
OR INTERFERING
ON SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
SHE'D JUST STAND TO THE SIDE
AND BE HIS FRIEND.
Narrator:
SEVERAL MONTHS LATER,
BY THE MIDDLE
OF HER SENIOR YEAR,
AMBER IS ON THE VERGE
OF FLUNKING OUT.
Gonzalez:
SHE JUST ALWAYS WANTED TO GO OUT
AND HAVE FUN WITH FRIENDS,
AND I THINK THAT KIND OF
OVERTOOK SCHOOL A LITTLE BIT.
I WORKED HARD.LESS TIME WITH THE FRIENDS.
GOT IT?
Michael: AT FIRST,
IT WAS A HUGE FIGHT.
"OH, I'M STUPID.
I CAN'T DO IT."
IT'S LIKE, "NO, YOU'RE NOT.
YOU JUST DON'T WANT TO."
Narrator:
AMBER AGREES TO BUCKLE DOWN
AND FOCUS ON SCHOOL.
Michael:
SHE WENT TO ALL OF HER TEACHERS,
TOLD THEM,
"LOOK, I KNOW I SCREWED UP.
WHAT CAN I DO TO MAKE IT RIGHT?"
AND THEY LAID DOWN A PLAN
FOR HER, AND SHE STUCK TO IT.
ALL RIGHT, AMBER.
THANK YOU.
YOU GOT IT.
Narrator:
A FEW MONTHS LATER,
AMBER HEARS THAT TODD HAS
BROKEN UP WITH HIS GIRLFRIEND.
SHE WANTS
TO REKINDLE THEIR FRIENDSHIP,
SO SHE INVITES HIM OVER TO TALK.
...DOESN'T
MAKE YOU HAPPY, SO...
YOU'RE RIGHT.
SHE DOESN'T
MAKE ME HAPPY.
THE TWO TEENAGERS
FIND THEMSELVES ALONE,
AND SUDDENLY, THEY DECIDE
TO TAKE THEIR RELATIONSHIP
TO ANOTHER LEVEL.
Michael:
FEELINGS START HAPPENING.
TYPICAL TEENAGERS
WANTING TO EXPLORE.
SHE WAS HAPPY
THAT THEIR RELATIONSHIP
HAD ADVANCED TO THAT POINT.
AMBER THOUGHT THAT
THEIR RELATIONSHIP WOULD CHANGE
AND THAT
THEY'D BECOME COMMITTED.
Narrator:
BUT NEITHER ONE OF THEM KNOWS
THAT REPERCUSSIONS
FROM THEIR HOOK-UP
WILL LEAD TO A SHOCKING
AND TRAGIC TURN OF EVENTS.
IT'S VERY UNTHINKABLE.
DIDN'T THINK IT WAS
IMPORTANT ENOUGH TO TELL ME?
WHO WOULD EVER IMAGINE
BEING BETRAYED IN SUCH A WAY?
I'M REALLY SORRY.
YEAH, YEAH.
Narrator: TODD AND
HIS GIRLFRIEND HAVE BROKEN UP,
SO AMBER REACHES OUT TO HIM
TO REKINDLE THEIR FRIENDSHIP.
TALKING SUDDENLY LEADS TO SEX,
AND AMBER HOPES
IT WILL LEAD TO EVEN MORE.
AMBER TOLD ME THAT SHE HAD
FALLEN PRETTY DEEP FOR HIM.
Narrator: AMBER HOPES TODD
SHARES HER FEELINGS.
HE FELT COMFORTABLE WITH HER.
I'M SURE IT WAS SOMETHING
THAT HE WANTED TO DO.
Narrator: BUT SHE QUICKLY LEARNS
HE DOESN'T FEEL THE SAME.
WHAT?
YEAH.
A SHORT TIME LATER,
TODD TELLS HER
THAT HE IS GETTING BACK TOGETHER
WITH HIS GIRLFRIEND.
Michael:
AMBER'S NOT HAPPY ABOUT IT.
SHE TRUSTED HIM ENOUGH
TO GO THAT FAR WITH HIM,
AND THEN FOR HIM
TO GO BACK TO HER,
SHE FELT BETRAYED.
Narrator:
AND TO MAKE MATTERS WORSE,
TODD STARTS TOYING
WITH AMBER'S FEELINGS.
HE WOULD TELL HER, YOU KNOW,
"I HAVE ANOTHER GIRLFRIEND.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT I WANT TO DO."
Narrator: THEN, AS AMBER'S
GRADUATION DAY APPROACHES,
SHE LEARNS SOMETHING
THAT CHANGES EVERYTHING.
SHE IS PREGNANT.
Gonzalez: WHEN AMBER FOUND OUT,
SHE CALLED ME.
SHE SEEMED REALLY EXCITED,
BUT SHE WAS VERY CONCERNED
ABOUT TODD'S REACTION.
Narrator:
AND WHEN AMBER TELLS TODD,
THE NEWS DOESN'T GO OVER WELL.
YES, IT'S YOURS.
OF COURSE IT'S YOURS.
IT WAS ALMOST A SITUATION WHERE
HE WAS DENYING THAT IT WAS HIS.
Narrator: TODD STARTS
TO DISTANCE HIMSELF FROM AMBER.
AND TO MAKE MATTERS WORSE,
HE BEGINS BERATING AMBER
IN FRONT OF OTHER CLASSMATES.
BIG FAT ASS.
Candy: HE HAD CALLED HER NAMES,
"YOU DON'T KNOW ANYTHING.
YOU'RE JUST THIS FAT,
UGLY PIECE OF..." YOU-KNOW-WHAT.
Gonzalez: TODD WAS WORRIED
ABOUT HIS GIRLFRIEND
FINDING OUT ABOUT HIM AND AMBER.
HE WAS TRYING
TO SHOW HIS GIRLFRIEND
THAT SHE DIDN'T
MEAN ANYTHING TO HIM.
IT WOULD HURT HER
DEEP DOWN INSIDE.
Narrator: THAT MAY, AMBER
GRADUATES FROM HIGH SCHOOL.
NOT LONG AFTER,
TODD APOLOGIZES FOR HIS BEHAVIOR
AND SAYS
HE WANTS TO BE FRIENDS AGAIN.
I'M REALLY SORRY.
Michael: THEY KNEW A LOT
ABOUT EACH OTHER.
TODD HAS TOLD HER
A LOT OF THINGS
ABOUT HIS FAMILY LIFE.
WHEN YOU TRUST SOMEBODY
LIKE THAT ENOUGH,
IT'S KIND OF HARD
TO JUST WALK AWAY.
COME IN.
EVERYBODY DESERVED
ANOTHER CHANCE, IN HER EYES.
Narrator:
SIX WEEKS AFTER GRADUATION,
ON FRIDAY, JUNE 22nd,
AMBER'S PARENTS
LEAVE FOR A WEEKEND IN MEXICO.
AS THEY PREPARE TO HEAD OUT,
THEY ASK THEIR DAUGHTER
TO COME WITH THEM.
Michael:
SHE'S LIKE, "NO, DAD. I'M OKAY.
I'M JUST GONNA SIT BACK HERE
AND CHILL WITH MY FRIENDS."
SHE HAD ALREADY MADE PLANS
WITH TODD.
ALL RIGHT.
OKAY. BYE.
Narrator: NOW ALMOST
THREE MONTHS PREGNANT,
AMBER HOPES TO CONFRONT TODD
ABOUT THEIR RELATIONSHIP.
AFTER TWO YEARS
OF BEING FRIENDS,
SHE BELIEVES
THEY CAN OVERCOME ANYTHING.
HEY!
WHAT'S GOING ON?
HOW YOU DOING?
Narrator: BUT AMBER IS SURPRISED
WHEN TODD WALKS IN
WITH HIS FRIEND NICK CASTILLO.
Gonzalez:
THERE WERE A LOT OF TIMES
WHERE AMBER AND TODD
WOULD BE HANGING OUT
AND NICK WOULD BE WITH THEM.
NICK CASTILLO
IS A BIG, QUIET KID
AND VERY RESERVED
IN HIS ACTIONS.
Narrator:
NICK PLAYS ON THE COMPUTER
WHILE AMBER AND TODD WATCH TV.
HEY!
THEY BEGIN JOKING AROUND
AND WRESTLING ON THE BED.
[ LAUGHING ]
STOP IT.
BUT THEN TODD
STARTS TO GET ROUGH.
TODD, STOP IT.
STAY QUIET.
TODD...
FRUSTRATED WITH TODD
ALWAYS BEING IN CONTROL,
AMBER'S FINALLY HAD ENOUGH.
GET OFF ME!
AND WHAT HAPPENS NEXT
IS BEYOND BELIEF.
I WOULDN'T WISH THIS
ON MY WORST ENEMY.
YOU'D HAVE TO BE TRULY EVIL
TO DO SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
NO! NO! NO!
STOP IT!
Narrator: AMBER AND TODD
ARE WRESTLING ON HER BED.
YOU KNOW
I'M MORE TICKLISH --
YEAH, IT'S TOO BAD.
BUT WHEN THE WRESTLING
SUDDENLY BECOMES MORE INTENSE,
THINGS QUICKLY
SPIRAL OUT OF CONTROL.
STOP IT!
KEEP IT DOWN.
Rankin:
NICK WAS ON THE COMPUTER,
AND WHILE AMBER AND TODD
WERE WRESTLING,
TODD MADE A SIGNAL TO NICK.
NICK, NICK.
NICK, COME ON.
Amber: TODD!
Narrator:
NICK SUDDENLY GETS UP
AND GRABS THE PHONE CORD
NEXT TO AMBER'S BED
AND BEGINS TO STRANGLE HER
WHILE TODD HOLDS HER DOWN.
HOLD HER!
FEAR AND ADRENALINE KICK IN
AND AMBER FIGHTS BACK.
Rankin:
AMBER ACTUALLY BROKE THE CORD,
WHICH GAVE HERE A CHANCE
TO FLEE FROM TODD
AND RAN OUT OF HER BEDROOM DOOR.
Narrator: SHE RACES TOWARDS
THE BACK DOOR OF THE HOUSE.
NO! NO!
Rankin: TODD PULLED HER
BY HER HAIR TO THE FLOOR.
AS HE PULLED HER TO THE FLOOR,
HE WAS HITTING HER IN THE HEAD
WITH A MAG FLASHLIGHT.
Narrator:
AS TODD HOLDS AMBER DOWN,
NICK GRABS A CARVING KNIFE FROM
THE BUTCHER BLOCK IN THE KITCHEN
AND BRUTALLY STABS AMBER
IN THE CHEST.
AS THEY WERE STABBING AND
BEATING HER WITH THE FLASHLIGHT,
THEY COULD STILL
HEAR HER GURGLING AND BREATHING.
[ GRUNTS ]
[ PANTING ]
AND TODD SAID THAT
"THIS BITCH JUST WON'T DIE."
Todd: GIVE ME THAT.
Narrator: THEN,
TODD GRABS THE KNIFE FROM NICK
AND STABS HER
SEVERAL MORE TIMES.
LET'S GO.
THE BOYS THEN FLEE THE HOUSE
AS AMBER BLEEDS TO DEATH
ON THE KITCHEN FLOOR.
THEY STEAL AMBER'S CAR
AND EACH GOES HOME,
PRETENDING NOTHING HAS HAPPENED.
THE DAY AFTER, BOTH NICK
AND TODD CAME BACK TO THE HOUSE
AND FOUND THAT AMBER WAS DEAD,
LAYING IN A POOL
OF COAGULATED BLOOD.
THEY DRUG HER
OUT INTO THE DESERT,
POURED GAS ON HER...
...AND LIT HER ON FIRE
TO TRY TO DISPOSE OF THE BODY
AND ANY EVIDENCE OF THIS CRIME.
Narrator: TODD AND NICK
RETURN TO THE HESS HOUSE
WHERE THEY ATTEMPT
TO CLEAN UP THE KITCHEN.
LATE ON SUNDAY AFTERNOON,
AMBER'S PARENTS RETURN
FROM THEIR WEEKEND GETAWAY.
WHERE DID THIS TOWEL
COME FROM?
I WALK UP TO THE BACK DOOR
AND THE CURTAIN'S GONE
AND THERE'S A TOWEL
HANGING THERE.
"WHAT'S GOING ON?"
Narrator: SHOCK TURNS TO HORROR
WHEN AMBER'S FATHER
OPENS THE BACK DOOR.
MICHAEL...
THERE'S BLOOD EVERYWHERE.
I MEAN, EVERYWHERE.
CEILING, COUNTER, FLOORS,
FRIDGE -- EVERYWHERE.
Narrator: AMBER'S PARENTS
TRY CALLING HER CELLPHONE,
BUT WHEN IT GOES
STRAIGHT TO VOICEMAIL...
CALL THE POLICE!
...THEY FEAR THE WORST
AND CALL 911.
THEY PULLED US OUT OF THE HOUSE,
"WHAT'S GOING ON?
WHAT HAPPENED?"
"WE DON'T KNOW."
YOU KNOW,
"OUR DAUGHTER'S MISSING.
SHE'S NOT ANSWERING THE PHONE.
HER CAR'S GONE."
Narrator:
POLICE IMMEDIATELY LAUNCH
A MISSING-PERSONS INVESTIGATION.
MR. HESS TOLD US
THAT A REAL GOOD FRIEND OF HERS
NAMED TODD HOKE,
WHO LIVED JUST DOWN THE STREET,
WOULD BE A GOOD PLACE TO START.
Narrator: POLICE QUESTION TODD,
THE LAST PERSON
KNOWN TO SEE AMBER.
I HEAR YOU GUYS
ARE VERY GOOD FRIENDS.
HE SAID HE WAS SUPPOSED TO
GO TO THE MOVIES WITH AMBER
ON FRIDAY NIGHT.
AND AMBER JUST NEVER
GOT BACK TO ME ABOUT ANYTHING.
SHE DIDN'T CALL HIM,
SO HE WENT OUT AND HUNG OUT WITH
ANOTHER FRIEND, NICK CASTILLO.
UM...NICK'S HOUSE.
NICK'S HOUSE?
YEAH.
Narrator:
THE NEXT DAY, JUNE 25th,
THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT
LOCATES A BADLY BURNED BODY
IN THE NEARBY DESERT.
Rankin: THE BODY WAS DISCOVERED
ABOUT THREE MILES AWAY
FROM AMBER'S HOUSE,
JUST THE CHARRED REMAINS
OF THE UPPER TORSO.
Narrator:
DENTAL RECORDS DETERMINE
THE BODY BELONGS TO AMBER.
POLICE SHARE THE HEARTBREAKING
NEWS WITH HER PARENTS.
WHAT IS IT?
WHAT DID THEY SAY, MIKE?
I SAID, "I NEED TO SEE HER."
AND THEY SAID, "NO, YOU CAN'T.
YOU KNOW, YOU DON'T WANT TO
SEE HER LIKE THIS."
[ SOBS ]
MIKE PUT MY FACE IN HIS HANDS,
AND HE STARED AT ME,
[ Voice breaking ] AND HE
JUST SAID, "THEY BURNED HER.
THEY BURNED OUR LITTLE GIRL."
Narrator: NOW THAT THEY FOUND
AMBER'S BODY,
POLICE FOCUS
ON FINDING HER KILLER.
THEY RETURN TO THE DESERT,
WHERE THEY UNCOVER
CRUCIAL EVIDENCE.
WE'D ACTUALLY DISCOVERED
TWO SETS OF SHOE IMPRESSIONS,
WHICH GAVE US
TWO POSSIBLE SUSPECTS.
TELL ME ABOUT
WHAT HAPPENED WITH AMBER.
Narrator:
TODD AND NICK ARE BROUGHT INTO
THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE,
WHERE THEY ARE QUESTIONED
SEPARATELY.
TODD USED NICK AS HIS ALIBI,
BUT NICK'S STATEMENT
DID NOT SUPPORT NOTHING
THAT TODD HAD TOLD US.
WHEN WE CORNERED NICK AND SAID,
"LISTEN, NICK. YOU'RE LYING,"
NICK TOOK A DEEP BREATH,
PUT HIS CHIN ON HIS CHEST.
WE KNEW RIGHT AWAY
WE WERE GONNA GET A CONFESSION.
Narrator:
NICK FOLDS UNDER PRESSURE
AND REVEALS THE GRUESOME DETAILS
OF AMBER'S MURDER.
...BEATING ON HER,
BEATING HER WITH A FLASHLIGHT.
WHEN DETECTIVES INFORM TODD
ABOUT HIS FRIEND'S CONFESSION,
HE KNOWS HE HAS NO CHOICE
BUT TO ADMIT TO HIS ROLE
IN THE KILLING.
I ASKED TODD SPECIFICALLY
"WHY DID YOU KILL AMBER?"
AND TODD'S ONLY REMARK WAS
"BECAUSE SHE WAS A BITCH."
Narrator:
BUT AMBER'S FRIENDS AND FAMILY
BELIEVE THERE'S MORE TO IT.
Gonzalez: SHE WAS PREGNANT,
AND HE OBVIOUSLY
DID NOT WANT HER TO BE.
Amber: [ SCREAMING ]
Michael: JUST TO GRAB A KNIFE
AND PUT A GIRL INTO THE GROUND
BECAUSE SHE'S PREGNANT --
I CAN'T GET THAT ONE.
AS FAR AS NICK GOES,
I DON'T KNOW IF HE WAS JUST
FOLLOWING ORDERS
OR TRYING NOT TO BE
THE ODD GUY OUT.
Narrator: FIVE DAYS
AFTER KILLING AMBER HESS,
HER FRIEND TODD HOKE
AND NICK CASTILLO
ARE CHARGED
WITH FIRST-DEGREE MURDER.
TODD PLEADS GUILTY AND
IS SENTENCED TO LIFE IN PRISON.
I WAS CONTENT WITH THAT,
KNOWING HE'D HAVE TO LIVE THERE
FOR THE REST OF HIS LIFE,
REMEMBERING WHY HE'S THERE,
WHAT HE DID.
Narrator: IN MARCH 2010,
NICK CASTILLO PLEADS GUILTY
TO SECOND-DEGREE MURDER
AND IS SENTENCED
TO 22 YEARS IN PRISON.
[ SIREN WAILING ]
BUT IN A STUNNING TWIST,
ON OCTOBER 21, 2013,
AFTER SERVING JUST THREE YEARS
IN A MAXIMUM-SECURITY PRISON,
22-YEAR-OLD TODD HOKE
TAKES HIS OWN LIFE IN HIS CELL.
I WAS DISGUSTED WHEN I FOUND OUT
HE HAD COMMITTED SUICIDE.
WHY COULDN'T HE BE MAN ENOUGH
TO DO THE TIME?
Narrator: AMBER'S PARENTS
STILL HAVE DIFFICULTY
BELIEVING THAT ONE
OF AMBER'S BEST FRIENDS
TURNED ON HER SO VIOLENTLY.
I HAD THIS KID IN MY HOUSE.
YOU KNOW, HE ATE MY FOOD,
HANGING OUT.
HOW COULD YOU DO THIS?
Candy: IT'S LIKE
THEY SLIT MY THROAT, TOO.
AND I'M JUST SITTING THERE
GOING, "WHY?"
AND THE "WHY"
WILL NEVER BE ANSWERED.