Frenemies (2013–…): Season 2, Episode 9 - Baseball Playing Killer - full transcript
Narrator:
TWO NEXT-DOOR NEIGHBORS
FORM A TIGHT BOND.
THEY WERE VERY CLOSE AS KIDS,
AND THEY PLAYED A LOT TOGETHER.
Narrator:
BUT AS THEY GROW OLDER,
ONE FOLLOWS THE OTHER
DOWN A PERILOUS PATH.
I DON'T THINK HE THOUGHT HE'D BE
INTO ANY SORT OF DANGER.
Narrator:
"DANGER" IS AN UNDERSTATEMENT
IN THIS TWISTED STORY OF
JEALOUSY, LIES, AND DECEPTION.
[ SCREAMS ]
IT'S SO HEARTBREAKING THAT HE
WOULD BETRAY HIM LIKE THAT.
WHAT HAVE YOU DONE?!
Narrator:
KEEP YOUR FRIENDS CLOSE...
AND YOUR ENEMIES CLOSER.
CAPTIONS PAID FOR BY
DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS
JASON CAMPBELL LOVES BASEBALL
MORE THAN JUST ABOUT ANYTHING.
HE WAS VERY GOOD AT IT, TOO.
THE GAME WAS ALWAYS SERIOUS
TO HIM.
Narrator: HIS LOVE OF BASEBALL
COMES FROM HIS FATHER,
WHO PASSED AWAY WHEN JASON
WAS JUST 15 YEARS OLD.
JASON'S LIFE CHANGES EVEN MORE
WHEN HIS FAMILY MOVES
FROM MASSAPEQUA, NEW YORK,
TO CENTRAL ISLIP
ON NEW YORK'S LONG ISLAND.
Norma:
HE WASN'T VERY HAPPY AT FIRST,
AND I'D TELL HIM
HE'D MAKE FRIENDS.
AND AFTER A WHILE,
HE HAD FOUND NEW FRIENDS.
HEY, KID.
Narrator: ONE OF THEM IS HIS NEW
NEXT-DOOR NEIGHBOR ASTON BARTH.
EVEN THOUGH ASTON IS TWO YEARS
YOUNGER THAN JASON,
THE BOYS IMMEDIATELY HIT IT OFF.
SOMETIMES THEY'D SIT OUT FRONT,
AND THEY'D HAVE THE GARAGE OPEN
AND PLAY MUSIC.
SOMETIMES
THEY'D WATCH THE BALL GAME.
Narrator:
WHILE JASON LOVES BASEBALL,
ASTON'S SPORT IS GYMNASTICS.
HE WINS NUMEROUS MEDALS
AT THE STATE LEVEL
IN THE TOUGH
ALL-AROUND CATEGORY.
Rochelle:
AND HE WAS VERY GOOD AT IT.
HE HAD SO MUCH ENERGY.
Narrator: OF THE TWO,
ASTON IS MUCH MORE OF A SHOWOFF.
Rochelle:
ASTON LIKED ATTENTION.
WE WERE ALL IN THE FRONT
OF MY MOM'S HOUSE,
AND HE JUST STARTS DOING
LIKE A THOUSAND HANDSPRINGS.
WE WERE ALL JUST LAUGHING.
Narrator: JASON, ON THE OTHER
HAND, IS MORE LAID-BACK.
Norma:
HE'S A PEACE MAKER.
HE WAS QUIET
AND NEVER BOTHERED ANYONE.
Narrator: PRETTY SOON,
JASON'S BACKYARD
BECOMES THE HOT SPOT FOR ASTON
AND THE NEIGHBORHOOD KIDS.
IT'S AN AWESOME WAY TO GROW UP
WHEN YOU HAVE FRIENDS
THAT ARE REALLY CLOSE.
Narrator: BUT NEITHER FRIEND
COULD EVER HAVE PREDICTED
THAT DECADES LATER,
THEIR TIGHT-KNIT BOND
WOULD BE SHATTERED
BY UNIMAGINABLE VIOLENCE.
IN 1994, JASON'S A JUNIOR
AND ASTON'S A FRESHMAN
AT CENTRAL ISLIP HIGH.
JASON IS NOW THE OUTGOING ONE
IN THE POPULAR CROWD
AND BECOMES QUITE A LADIES MAN.
JASON REALLY STARTED TO KNOW
HOW CHARISMATIC HE COULD BE,
YOU KNOW?
AND HE KIND OF WENT WITH IT.
THAT'S WHEN HE CARED ABOUT
HIS CLOTHES AND HIS HAIRCUT
AND, YOU KNOW,
EVERYTHING HAD TO BE SHARP
WHEN HE WENT TO SCHOOL.
[ BELL RINGS ]
Narrator: UNLIKE JASON,
THE YOUNGER ASTON
IS SOCIALLY AWKWARD
AND BECOMES A LONER.
HE WANTED TO JUST BE ACCEPTED,
BUT DIDN'T KNOW
HOW TO BE HIMSELF.
Narrator: HE NO LONGER FITS
IN TO JASON'S CROWD,
AND DEEP INSIDE, ASTON BEGINS
TO RESENT HIS NEXT-DOOR NEIGHBOR
FOR CUTTING HIM
OUT OF HIS INNER CIRCLE.
ASTON WAS JEALOUS.
HE JUST COULDN'T BE THE GUY
THAT JASON WAS.
Narrator:
AND HIS JEALOUSLY SHOWS.
ONE DAY, ASTON SNEAKS OVER
TO JASON'S HOUSE.
I REMEMBER JASON BOUGHT
BRAND-NEW BOOTS,
AND HE SAID, "MY BOOTS IS
MISSING AND I KNOW WHO TAKE IT.
IT'S ASTON."
AND JASON WENT OVER
ASTON'S HOME,
AND HE CAME BACK WITH THE BOOTS.
Narrator: BUT ASTON'S NOT
THE ONLY ONE BEHAVING BADLY.
BY THE END
OF JASON'S JUNIOR YEAR,
HE FALLS IN WITH A BAD CROWD
AND STARTS DRINKING
AND DOING DRUGS.
HIS LIFE GETS SO OUT OF CONTROL
JASON DROPS OUT OF HIGH SCHOOL.
I WAS DISAPPOINTED, HEARTBROKEN.
Narrator: THINGS GET EVEN WORSE
WHEN JASON IS ARRESTED
FOR POSSESSION OF DRUGS
A SHORT TIME LATER.
I DON'T WANT TO DO THAT.
NO, THIS IS WHAT YOU ARE
GOING TO DO.
IN AN EFFORT TO HELP HIM
TURN HIS LIFE AROUND,
JASON'S MOM SENDS HIM AWAY
TO A JUVENILE TRAINING CENTER
FOR SEVERAL MONTHS
TO GET HIS G.E.D.
AND JASON IS FURIOUS.
I THOUGHT I WAS DOING GOOD
BECAUSE I FELT IT WOULD GET HIM
AWAY FROM THESE OTHER GUYS
THAT WERE
SO MUCH INFLUENCE ON HIM,
AND THAT WOULD KEEP HIM
OUT OF TROUBLE.
Narrator: SEVERAL YEARS LATER,
THINGS ARE LOOKING UP FOR JASON.
NOW IN HIS 20s, HE GETS
A GOOD-PAYING CONSTRUCTION JOB
AND SOON MOVES OUT ON HIS OWN
A FEW BLOCKS
FROM HIS CHILDHOOD HOME.
HI, MA.
MEANWHILE, ASTON FLOUNDERS
AFTER HIGH SCHOOL
AND IS FORCED TO LIVE AT HOME.
HE DOESN'T HAVE A JOB
AND SPENDS MOST OF HIS TIME
DRINKING
AND HANGING OUT ON THE STREETS.
ASTON ALSO FATHERS TWO CHILDREN.
TWO GIRLS. BEAUTIFUL,
BEAUTIFUL LITTLE GIRLS.
Narrator: THOUGH ASTON LIVES
WITH HIS PARENTS,
THE FINANCIAL PRESSURE
OF SUPPORTING AND CARING FOR
HIS CHILDREN
BEGINS TO FEEL OVERWHELMING.
HE ENVIES JASON'S FREEDOM.
ASTON WAS JEALOUS OF MY BROTHER
BECAUSE MY BROTHER WAS LIVING
HIS LIFE AND ENJOYING IT.
Narrator:
AS ENVY AND DESPERATION
CONTINUE TO DRIVE A WEDGE
BETWEEN THE FRIENDS,
ONE OF THEM WILL CROSS OVER
A VERY DANGEROUS LINE.
WE ALL MAKE MISTAKES,
SOME BIGGER THAN OTHERS.
HE COULDN'T REALLY
GET AWAY WITH IT.
RIGHT NOW.
Narrator: WITH A STEADY JOB
AND A NEW APARTMENT,
LIFE IS GOOD FOR JASON CAMPBELL.
MEANWHILE,
HIS CHILDHOOD FRIEND ASTON
IS STRUGGLING TO TAKE CARE
OF HIS GROWING FAMILY,
SO HE COMES UP WITH A DESPERATE
PLAN TO MAKE SOME MONEY.
RIGHT NOW.
WHOA, WHOA, WAIT.
DON'T -- PLEASE.GIVE ME THE MONEY RIGHT NOW.
HE DECIDES TO ROB
A CONVENIENCE STORE,
BUT IS CAUGHT RED-HANDED.
IN DECEMBER 2000,
21-YEAR-OLD ASTON
IS CONVICTED
OF ATTEMPTED ROBBERY
AND IS SENT TO PRISON
FOR NEARLY THREE YEARS.
WHILE ASTON IS IN PRISON,
JASON BECOMES A FATHER.
ALTHOUGH HE AND THE BIRTH MOTHER
BREAK UP,
JASON IS THRILLED TO HAVE A SON.
HE LOVED HIS KIDS.
HE WAS SUCH A GOOD FATHER.
[ DOORBELL RINGS ]
Narrator: IN 2003,
ASTON GETS OUT OF PRISON
AND MOVES BACK HOME
WITH HIS MOTHER.
HIS GIRLFRIEND AND KIDS
MOVE IN, TOO.
HE ALSO RECONNECTS
WITH HIS LONGTIME PAL JASON.
IT'S AS IF NO TIME HAS PASSED
FOR THE CHILDHOOD FRIENDS.
Biordi:
AFTER ASTON GOT OUT OF JAIL,
JASON WOULD COME BY THE HOUSE,
REKINDLE THINGS,
AND YOU WANT TO SEE EACH OTHER
AND TALK TO EACH OTHER,
SO THEY WOULD HANG OUT.
Narrator: 27-YEAR-OLD ASTON SAYS
HE IS TURNING OVER A NEW LEAF
AND SURPRISES HIS FRIEND
BY GETTING MARRIED.
HE INVITES JASON'S ENTIRE FAMILY
TO THE WEDDING.
Rochelle: IT WAS NICE.
IT WAS VERY INTIMATE,
THEIR CEREMONY.
THEY DIDN'T WANT ANYTHING MORE
THAN WHAT THEY HAD.
AND THAT'S WHAT YOU KIND OF FELT
AND YOU RESPECTED IT.
Narrator: ASTON GETS A JOB
AS A COOK IN A RESTAURANT,
BUT IS STILL STRUGGLING
TO MAKE ENDS MEET.
AND ONCE HE FINDS OUT
HIS WIFE IS EXPECTING AGAIN,
HE GOES BACK TO HIS OLD WAYS.
AND IN AUGUST 2007,
ASTON DEVISES ANOTHER ROBBERY.
THIS TIME,
IT'S AN ELABORATE SCHEME
USING A DISGUISE STRAIGHT OUT
OF HIS MOTHER'S CLOSET.
HE WAS WEARING A BLOND WIG,
A DRESS, HEELS,
AND IN FULL MAKE-UP.
Narrator: ASTON HEADS TO A BANK
LESS THAN A MILE FROM HOME
AND SLIDES A NOTE TO THE TELLER
DEMANDING MONEY.
BUT ASTON FORGETS
JUST ONE THING --
ALONG WITH HIS LIPSTICK,
HE'S STILL SPORTING
A BUSHY MUSTACHE.
THE ATTENTION-SEEKING ASTON
BRAGS ABOUT THE BANK HEIST
TO JASON
AND HIS NEIGHBORHOOD FRIENDS.
Rochelle:
HE GOT AWAY WITH IT.
YOU KNOW, IT WAS JUST REALLY
HUMOROUS AT FIRST.
WE WERE ALL LIKE,
"YOU ARE LOSING IT."
[ LAUGHTER ]
Narrator: IT'S AMUSING
UNTIL THE SURVEILLANCE TAPE
OF ASTON'S
CROSS-DRESSING ROBBERY
HITS THE AIRWAVES
THREE WEEKS LATER.
THIS DUDE'S CRAZY.
ASTON'S BANK ROBBERY
MADE NATIONAL HEADLINES.
WHEN I SAW THAT, I SAID,
"I'LL BE A MONKEY'S UNCLE.
I CAN'T BELIEVE HE WORE THAT."
HE LOOKED JUST LIKE HIS MOTHER,
UNFORTUNATELY.
Narrator: WITHIN A MONTH,
AN ANONYMOUS TIP
LEADS POLICE TO PICK UP ASTON.
HE IS CONVICTED
OF THIRD-DEGREE ROBBERY,
AND ONCE AGAIN
IS SENT TO PRISON,
THIS TIME FOR NEARLY FOUR YEARS.
Jason:
SO, UH, EXCUSE ME.
MEANWHILE, TWO YEARS LATER,
JASON MEETS THE WOMAN
OF HIS DREAMS, LaTONYA MILLS.
SOMETHING ABOUT HIS SMILE
AND HIS PERSONALITY
DREW ME TO HIM.
IT WAS JUST LIKE FIREWORKS,
AND IT WAS ON THE 4th OF JULY.
[ CHUCKLES ]
Narrator:
LaTONYA SOON GETS PREGNANT.
THEY HAVE A SON TOGETHER,
AND JASON IS THRILLED
TO BE A FATHER AGAIN.
HE WAS AN AWESOME FATHER.
HIS SON JUST LIT UP
WHEN HE SEEN HIM.
Narrator: HE AND LaTONYA
TALK ABOUT GETTING MARRIED.
AND FINALLY, AT 34,
EVERYTHING SEEMS TO BE
FALLING INTO PLACE FOR JASON.
Mills: WE WAS JUST TRYING
TO GET THE RIGHT JOBS
SO WE CAN MOVE AND BUILD
OUR FUTURE WITH EACH OTHER.
Narrator: TO MOVE FORWARD
WITH SECURING THEIR FUTURE,
JASON MAKES A SHOCKING CHOICE
THAT THREATENS
TO PUT HIM BEHIND BARS,
JUST LIKE HIS BUDDY ASTON.
I TOLD HIM THAT THIS IS NOT
THE LIFESTYLE I WANT TO LIVE.
WHATEVER HAPPENED IN THAT ROOM,
I THINK HE SNAPPED.
[ CRYING ]
Narrator:
IN THE SUMMER OF 2011,
34-YEAR-OLD JASON CAMPBELL
HAS A NEW BABY
AND MAKES PLANS FOR A LIFE
WITH HIS GIRLFRIEND, LaTONYA.
THAT SAME SUMMER,
HIS OLD FRIEND
32-YEAR-OLD ASTON BARTH
IS PAROLED AFTER DOING TIME
FOR HIS INFAMOUS
CROSS-DRESSING BANK HEIST.
ASTON SPENT ABOUT FOUR YEARS
IN PRISON FOR THAT BANK ROBBERY.
Narrator: HE MOVES BACK IN
WITH HIS MOTHER,
BUT HIS WIFE AND KIDS
ARE LONG GONE.
SHE MOVED ON
AND MET SOMEONE ELSE,
AND THAT WAS IT WITH THAT.
Narrator: EVEN THOUGH JASON HAD
NO CONTACT WITH ASTON
WHILE HE WAS IN PRISON,
NOW THAT HE'S OUT,
THEY IMMEDIATELY RECONNECT.
JASON WAS THERE
BASICALLY EVERY DAY.
THEY'D SMOKE MARIJUANA
WITH EACH OTHER.
I DIDN'T LIKE ASTON AT ALL.
I TOLD JASON,
"YOU JUST BETTER BE CAREFUL."
Narrator:
SOON LaTONYA FINDS OUT
THE PAIR ISN'T JUST SOCIALIZING.
RECENTLY, JASON'S HAD TROUBLE
HOLDING DOWN A STEADY JOB,
SO THE GUYS TEAM UP
TO MAKE A LIVING.
HE WOULD HAVE GUYS
MEET HIM THERE,
AND HE WOULD SELL DOPE TO THEM.
Narrator:
BUT LaTONYA IS SCARED
AND DESPERATELY WANTS HIM
OUT OF THE DRUG GAME.
I DON'T WANT THAT MONEY,
JASON!
I TOLD HIM THAT HE NEEDS
TO CLEAN UP HIS LIFE,
OR THERE WAS GONNA BE
NO MORE ME AND HIM.
HE CRIED
AND TOLD ME HE LOVED ME.
HE LOVED OUR SON.
AND HE WOULDN'T KNOW WHAT TO DO
IF I LEFT HIM.
Narrator: JASON PROMISES HER
HE'LL STOP SELLING DRUGS,
BUT THAT PROMISE
DOESN'T SIT WELL WITH ASTON.
I CAN'T BE DOING THIS WITH YOU
NO MORE, ALL RIGHT?
I NEED YOU ON THIS WITH ME.
WHAT YOU MEAN,
YOU QUIT ON ME LIKE THAT?
I NEED YOU ON THIS WITH ME, MAN.
WHAT'S UP?!
UNDER THE GUISE
OF VISITING HIS MOM,
JASON KEEPS SNEAKING OVER
TO ASTON'S BEHIND LaTONYA'S BACK
TO SELL DRUGS.
I WOULD SEE HIM RUNNING --
LITERALLY RUNNING
FROM ASTON'S YARD
INTO HIS MOTHER'S YARD
TO ACT LIKE HE WAS JUST COMING
FROM HIS MOM OUT THE DRIVEWAY.
AND I WOULD SAY TO HIM,
"I KNOW YOU DID NOT JUST COME
FROM THAT YARD OVER THERE."
AND HE WAS LIKE,
"NO, WHAT YOU TALKING ABOUT?"
Narrator:
JUST TWO WEEKS BEFORE CHRISTMAS,
LaTONYA IS SHOCKED WHEN
SHE LEARNS SHE'S PREGNANT AGAIN.
JASON SWEARS HE'LL STOP
SELLING DRUGS ONCE AND FOR ALL.
YOU ALL GOOD.
WE'RE GONNA DO THIS
THE RIGHT WAY, OKAY?
Mills: HE JUST WAS LIKE,
"IF IT'S A GIRL,
"I WANT HER TO BE NAMED JANUARY
BECAUSE MY BIRTHDAY'S
IN JANUARY."
THERE'S MY BABY BOY!
HI, MA.
Narrator:
THEN ON DECEMBER 17th,
JASON STOPS BY
HIS MOTHER'S HOUSE FOR A VISIT.
SHORTLY AFTER HE GETS THERE,
HE TELLS HER HE NEEDS TO GO
NEXT DOOR TO TALK TO ASTON.
SEE YOU REAL QUICK.
ALL RIGHT.
HE INTENDS TO TELL HIM
HE'S THROUGH PEDDLING DRUGS.
BUT ASTON IS NOT ALONE
WHEN JASON ARRIVES.
AND WHEN JASON SAYS
HE NEEDS TO TALK,
THE OTHERS LEAVE QUICKLY.
THAT'LL BE EASY,
Y'ALL.
MEANWHILE,
LaTONYA IS LOSING HER COOL.
SHE AND JASON WERE SUPPOSED TO
GO CHRISTMAS SHOPPING.
[ CELLPHONE RINGS ]
HELLO?
Mills:
HE CALLED ME AROUND 7:00-ISH
AND SAID HE WAS AT ASTON'S,
AND I YELLED AT HIM.
YOU WERE SUPPOSED TO BE HERE
OVER TWO HOURS AGO!
"WE WERE SUPPOSED TO GO OUT,
GO SHOPPING FOR YOUR SON.
WHAT ARE YOU DOING?"
I'M GONNA PICK YOU UP TOMORROW
MORNING, ALL RIGHT?
BYE.
Narrator: BUT WHEN JASON DOESN'T
SHOW UP THE NEXT MORNING,
LaTONYA IS FURIOUS.
SHE THINKS SHE KNOWS
JUST WHERE TO FIND HIM.
ASTON, WHERE IS JASON?
BUT NOTHING COULD EVER
PREPARE HER
FOR THE GRUESOME TRUTH
THAT LIES AHEAD.
Mills:
MY HEAD WAS JUST SPINNING.
MY BODY WAS NUMB -- JUST NUMB.
Norma:
IT WAS LIKE A NIGHTMARE.
IT'S ONE OF THE WORST THINGS
THAT COULD EVER HAPPEN
TO A HUMAN BEING.
[ CRYING ]
Narrator: ON THE NIGHT
OF DECEMBER 17, 2012,
AN INTENSE ARGUMENT
OVER SELLING DRUGS
HAS REACHED THE BOILING POINT
BETWEEN CHILDHOOD PALS
33-YEAR-OLD ASTON BARTH
AND 35-YEAR-OLD JASON CAMPBELL.
NO BUSINESS, MAN.
THIS IS MY BUSINESS.
THIS IS ME TELLING YOU
IT'S A WRAP.
MEANWHILE, JASON HAS PLANS
TO MEET HIS GIRLFRIEND, LaTONYA,
EARLY THE NEXT MORNING.
BUT WHEN HE DOESN'T SHOW UP,
LaTONYA MARCHES OVER TO ASTON'S
HOUSE LOOKING FOR JASON.
Mills:
HE COMES OUT AND MEETS ME
BEFORE I CAN EVEN GET CLOSE
TO THE DOOR.
AND I ASKED HIM,
"IS JASON HERE?"
HE WAS LIKE,
"NO, I HAVEN'T SEEN HIM."
HE TOLD HER HE HAD LEFT THERE
AT 2:00 IN THE MORNING.
Narrator: LaTONYA IS CONVINCED
SOMETHING IS WRONG
AND CALLS JASON'S MOTHER, NORMA.
BUT SHE HASN'T HEARD FROM JASON,
EITHER.
I HAVEN'T SEEN HIM.
SHE SAID, "SOMETHING IS WRONG."
AND SHE SAID, "MS. CAMPBELL,
DO YOU THINK I SHOULD FILE
A MISSING-PERSONS?"
AND I SAID, "GO FOR IT
IF YOU WANT TO,"
'CAUSE SHE WAS
REALLY, REALLY WORRIED.
Narrator: TWO DAYS GO BY,
AND LaTONYA KEEPS CALLING
JASON'S PHONE
AND ASKS EVERYONE SHE KNOWS
IF THEY'VE SEEN JASON.
Mills: I CALLED ANYWHERE
THAT YOU CAN THINK OF --
HOSPITALS AND JAILS.
I HAVEN'T SEEN HIM
IN LIKE FOUR DAYS.
ARE YOU SURE YOU HAVEN'T
SPOKEN TO HIM OR ANYTHING?
Narrator:
ON FRIDAY, DECEMBER 21st,
FOUR DAYS AFTER
JASON'S DISAPPEARANCE,
POLICE FILE
A MISSING-PERSONS REPORT.
THAT SAME DAY, JASON'S MOTHER
GOES TO ASTON'S HOUSE
TO CONFRONT HIS CHILDHOOD PAL.
Norma: AND I ASKED ASTON,
"YOU HAVEN'T HEARD FROM JASON?
YOU HAVEN'T SEEN JASON?"
AND HE SAID, "NO,
BUT WHEN I SEE HIM,
I'LL LET HIM KNOW
YOU'RE LOOKING FOR HIM."
THANK YOU.
ALL RIGHT.
Narrator: THREE DAYS LATER,
ON CHRISTMAS EVE,
ALMOST A FULL WEEK
SINCE JASON'S DISAPPEARANCE,
LaTONYA HAS BEEN SICK
WITH WORRY.
ASTON, WHERE IS JASON?
SHE SENSES ASTON KNOWS
MORE THAN HE'S LETTING ON.
SOMETHING JUST KEPT DRAWING ME
OVER TO ASTON'S HOUSE.
ASTON, I KNOW YOU KNOW
WHERE HE IS!
WHERE IS HE?!
HE PUT HIS HAND ON MY SHOULDER
AND WAS HAVING TEARS
COME OUT HIS EYES.
AND HE JUST KEPT SAYING,
"I'M SORRY. I'M SORRY."
AND I'M LIKE, "SORRY?
WHAT ARE YOU SORRY FOR?"
HE STARTED CRYING
AND HANDED ME JASON'S HAT
AND KEYS.
AND HE JUST STARTED VOMITING.
I FELT LIKE
SOMETHING WASN'T RIGHT.
I KNEW HE EITHER KNEW
SOMETHING WAS WRONG WITH JASON
OR HE DID SOMETHING TO JASON.
Narrator: ASTON THEN IMMEDIATELY
GETS IN HIS CAR AND DRIVES OFF.
A FEW HOURS LATER,
ASTON'S MOTHER AND BROTHER
HEAR ABOUT ASTON'S
BIZARRE BEHAVIOR
AND FRANTICALLY START SEARCHING
HIS ROOM.
THEY MAKE
A HORRIFYING DISCOVERY.
[ SCREAMS ]
ASTON'S MOTHER AND BROTHER
WENT INTO HIS ROOM
AND FOUND JASON'S BODY
IN THE CLOSET.
OH, MY GOD! LOOK!
[ Crying ] OH, MY GOD!
Narrator: ASTON'S BROTHER
IMMEDIATELY CALLS POLICE.
AS JASON'S MOM IS ARRIVING HOME,
SHE SEES THE SCENE AT ASTON'S.
DETECTIVES
BREAK THE TRAGIC NEWS.
I JUST SCREAMED, "NO, NO!"
AND I JUST SCREAMED, "OH, GOD!"
AND I WENT DOWN.
[ CRYING ]
Rochelle:
IT WAS HURTING TIME FOR HIS KIDS
AND FOR MY KIDS
AND FOR MY FAMILY.
[ SIRENS WAILING ]
Narrator: LATER THAT DAY,
POLICE TRACK ASTON DOWN AT WORK
AND ARREST HIM.
Biordi: ACCORDING TO POLICE,
ASTON MADE A FULL CONFESSION
ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED
IN THAT BEDROOM THAT DAY.
Narrator:
HE ALLEGEDLY TELLS POLICE
THAT THEY ARGUED OVER DRUGS
AND THAT HE GOT SO ENRAGED
WITH HIS LIFELONG FRIEND
THAT HE SUDDENLY LOST CONTROL.
Biordi:
ASTON STARTS TO CHOKE JASON.
Norma: AND THEN HE CHOPPED HIM
WITH THE AX.
Narrator: ASTON STUFFS HIS LIMP
BODY IN THE BEDROOM CLOSET
AND ACTS
AS IF NOTHING HAS HAPPENED.
ASTON TELLS POLICE
LATER THAT DAY
HE GOES BACK INTO THE CLOSET
TO FINISH THE JOB.
HE TRIED TO DISMEMBER HIS BODY
WITH AN AX.
Narrator: ASTON REALIZES
HE NEEDS TO HIDE THE BODY.
HE STUFFS JASON'S BODY
IN HIS CLOSET
AND COVERS IT WITH A BLANKET.
THE BODY REMAINS IN ASTON'S
CLOSET FOR AN ENTIRE WEEK.
Narrator: ASTON IS CHARGED
WITH THE SECOND-DEGREE MURDER
OF HIS CHILDHOOD FRIEND
JASON CAMPBELL.
HE PLEADS GUILTY
TO SECOND-DEGREE MURDER
AND IS SENT TO PRISON.
I SEE AN EVIL PERSON
THAT JUST HAS NO REMORSE
FOR SOMETHING WICKED
THAT HE HAD DID.
Narrator:
IN AUGUST OF 2013,
LaTONYA GIVES BIRTH TO JASON'S
THIRD CHILD, A DAUGHTER.
SHE NAMES HER JANUARY,
AS JASON WANTED.
BUT THE FAMILY IS STILL LEFT
WITH THE PAIN
OF LOSING THEIR LOVED ONE AT
THE HANDS OF SOMEONE SO CLOSE.
I'M SURE MY BROTHER
NEVER EVER WOULD THINK
IN A MILLION YEARS THAT HE WOULD
BETRAY HIM LIKE THAT.
ESPECIALLY FOR IT TO BE
SO CLOSE TO HOME,
LIVING RIGHT NEXT DOOR.
SOMEONE JAY CALLED HIS FRIEND
COULDN'T DO SOMETHING
LIKE THIS TO HIM.
TWO NEXT-DOOR NEIGHBORS
FORM A TIGHT BOND.
THEY WERE VERY CLOSE AS KIDS,
AND THEY PLAYED A LOT TOGETHER.
Narrator:
BUT AS THEY GROW OLDER,
ONE FOLLOWS THE OTHER
DOWN A PERILOUS PATH.
I DON'T THINK HE THOUGHT HE'D BE
INTO ANY SORT OF DANGER.
Narrator:
"DANGER" IS AN UNDERSTATEMENT
IN THIS TWISTED STORY OF
JEALOUSY, LIES, AND DECEPTION.
[ SCREAMS ]
IT'S SO HEARTBREAKING THAT HE
WOULD BETRAY HIM LIKE THAT.
WHAT HAVE YOU DONE?!
Narrator:
KEEP YOUR FRIENDS CLOSE...
AND YOUR ENEMIES CLOSER.
CAPTIONS PAID FOR BY
DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS
JASON CAMPBELL LOVES BASEBALL
MORE THAN JUST ABOUT ANYTHING.
HE WAS VERY GOOD AT IT, TOO.
THE GAME WAS ALWAYS SERIOUS
TO HIM.
Narrator: HIS LOVE OF BASEBALL
COMES FROM HIS FATHER,
WHO PASSED AWAY WHEN JASON
WAS JUST 15 YEARS OLD.
JASON'S LIFE CHANGES EVEN MORE
WHEN HIS FAMILY MOVES
FROM MASSAPEQUA, NEW YORK,
TO CENTRAL ISLIP
ON NEW YORK'S LONG ISLAND.
Norma:
HE WASN'T VERY HAPPY AT FIRST,
AND I'D TELL HIM
HE'D MAKE FRIENDS.
AND AFTER A WHILE,
HE HAD FOUND NEW FRIENDS.
HEY, KID.
Narrator: ONE OF THEM IS HIS NEW
NEXT-DOOR NEIGHBOR ASTON BARTH.
EVEN THOUGH ASTON IS TWO YEARS
YOUNGER THAN JASON,
THE BOYS IMMEDIATELY HIT IT OFF.
SOMETIMES THEY'D SIT OUT FRONT,
AND THEY'D HAVE THE GARAGE OPEN
AND PLAY MUSIC.
SOMETIMES
THEY'D WATCH THE BALL GAME.
Narrator:
WHILE JASON LOVES BASEBALL,
ASTON'S SPORT IS GYMNASTICS.
HE WINS NUMEROUS MEDALS
AT THE STATE LEVEL
IN THE TOUGH
ALL-AROUND CATEGORY.
Rochelle:
AND HE WAS VERY GOOD AT IT.
HE HAD SO MUCH ENERGY.
Narrator: OF THE TWO,
ASTON IS MUCH MORE OF A SHOWOFF.
Rochelle:
ASTON LIKED ATTENTION.
WE WERE ALL IN THE FRONT
OF MY MOM'S HOUSE,
AND HE JUST STARTS DOING
LIKE A THOUSAND HANDSPRINGS.
WE WERE ALL JUST LAUGHING.
Narrator: JASON, ON THE OTHER
HAND, IS MORE LAID-BACK.
Norma:
HE'S A PEACE MAKER.
HE WAS QUIET
AND NEVER BOTHERED ANYONE.
Narrator: PRETTY SOON,
JASON'S BACKYARD
BECOMES THE HOT SPOT FOR ASTON
AND THE NEIGHBORHOOD KIDS.
IT'S AN AWESOME WAY TO GROW UP
WHEN YOU HAVE FRIENDS
THAT ARE REALLY CLOSE.
Narrator: BUT NEITHER FRIEND
COULD EVER HAVE PREDICTED
THAT DECADES LATER,
THEIR TIGHT-KNIT BOND
WOULD BE SHATTERED
BY UNIMAGINABLE VIOLENCE.
IN 1994, JASON'S A JUNIOR
AND ASTON'S A FRESHMAN
AT CENTRAL ISLIP HIGH.
JASON IS NOW THE OUTGOING ONE
IN THE POPULAR CROWD
AND BECOMES QUITE A LADIES MAN.
JASON REALLY STARTED TO KNOW
HOW CHARISMATIC HE COULD BE,
YOU KNOW?
AND HE KIND OF WENT WITH IT.
THAT'S WHEN HE CARED ABOUT
HIS CLOTHES AND HIS HAIRCUT
AND, YOU KNOW,
EVERYTHING HAD TO BE SHARP
WHEN HE WENT TO SCHOOL.
[ BELL RINGS ]
Narrator: UNLIKE JASON,
THE YOUNGER ASTON
IS SOCIALLY AWKWARD
AND BECOMES A LONER.
HE WANTED TO JUST BE ACCEPTED,
BUT DIDN'T KNOW
HOW TO BE HIMSELF.
Narrator: HE NO LONGER FITS
IN TO JASON'S CROWD,
AND DEEP INSIDE, ASTON BEGINS
TO RESENT HIS NEXT-DOOR NEIGHBOR
FOR CUTTING HIM
OUT OF HIS INNER CIRCLE.
ASTON WAS JEALOUS.
HE JUST COULDN'T BE THE GUY
THAT JASON WAS.
Narrator:
AND HIS JEALOUSLY SHOWS.
ONE DAY, ASTON SNEAKS OVER
TO JASON'S HOUSE.
I REMEMBER JASON BOUGHT
BRAND-NEW BOOTS,
AND HE SAID, "MY BOOTS IS
MISSING AND I KNOW WHO TAKE IT.
IT'S ASTON."
AND JASON WENT OVER
ASTON'S HOME,
AND HE CAME BACK WITH THE BOOTS.
Narrator: BUT ASTON'S NOT
THE ONLY ONE BEHAVING BADLY.
BY THE END
OF JASON'S JUNIOR YEAR,
HE FALLS IN WITH A BAD CROWD
AND STARTS DRINKING
AND DOING DRUGS.
HIS LIFE GETS SO OUT OF CONTROL
JASON DROPS OUT OF HIGH SCHOOL.
I WAS DISAPPOINTED, HEARTBROKEN.
Narrator: THINGS GET EVEN WORSE
WHEN JASON IS ARRESTED
FOR POSSESSION OF DRUGS
A SHORT TIME LATER.
I DON'T WANT TO DO THAT.
NO, THIS IS WHAT YOU ARE
GOING TO DO.
IN AN EFFORT TO HELP HIM
TURN HIS LIFE AROUND,
JASON'S MOM SENDS HIM AWAY
TO A JUVENILE TRAINING CENTER
FOR SEVERAL MONTHS
TO GET HIS G.E.D.
AND JASON IS FURIOUS.
I THOUGHT I WAS DOING GOOD
BECAUSE I FELT IT WOULD GET HIM
AWAY FROM THESE OTHER GUYS
THAT WERE
SO MUCH INFLUENCE ON HIM,
AND THAT WOULD KEEP HIM
OUT OF TROUBLE.
Narrator: SEVERAL YEARS LATER,
THINGS ARE LOOKING UP FOR JASON.
NOW IN HIS 20s, HE GETS
A GOOD-PAYING CONSTRUCTION JOB
AND SOON MOVES OUT ON HIS OWN
A FEW BLOCKS
FROM HIS CHILDHOOD HOME.
HI, MA.
MEANWHILE, ASTON FLOUNDERS
AFTER HIGH SCHOOL
AND IS FORCED TO LIVE AT HOME.
HE DOESN'T HAVE A JOB
AND SPENDS MOST OF HIS TIME
DRINKING
AND HANGING OUT ON THE STREETS.
ASTON ALSO FATHERS TWO CHILDREN.
TWO GIRLS. BEAUTIFUL,
BEAUTIFUL LITTLE GIRLS.
Narrator: THOUGH ASTON LIVES
WITH HIS PARENTS,
THE FINANCIAL PRESSURE
OF SUPPORTING AND CARING FOR
HIS CHILDREN
BEGINS TO FEEL OVERWHELMING.
HE ENVIES JASON'S FREEDOM.
ASTON WAS JEALOUS OF MY BROTHER
BECAUSE MY BROTHER WAS LIVING
HIS LIFE AND ENJOYING IT.
Narrator:
AS ENVY AND DESPERATION
CONTINUE TO DRIVE A WEDGE
BETWEEN THE FRIENDS,
ONE OF THEM WILL CROSS OVER
A VERY DANGEROUS LINE.
WE ALL MAKE MISTAKES,
SOME BIGGER THAN OTHERS.
HE COULDN'T REALLY
GET AWAY WITH IT.
RIGHT NOW.
Narrator: WITH A STEADY JOB
AND A NEW APARTMENT,
LIFE IS GOOD FOR JASON CAMPBELL.
MEANWHILE,
HIS CHILDHOOD FRIEND ASTON
IS STRUGGLING TO TAKE CARE
OF HIS GROWING FAMILY,
SO HE COMES UP WITH A DESPERATE
PLAN TO MAKE SOME MONEY.
RIGHT NOW.
WHOA, WHOA, WAIT.
DON'T -- PLEASE.GIVE ME THE MONEY RIGHT NOW.
HE DECIDES TO ROB
A CONVENIENCE STORE,
BUT IS CAUGHT RED-HANDED.
IN DECEMBER 2000,
21-YEAR-OLD ASTON
IS CONVICTED
OF ATTEMPTED ROBBERY
AND IS SENT TO PRISON
FOR NEARLY THREE YEARS.
WHILE ASTON IS IN PRISON,
JASON BECOMES A FATHER.
ALTHOUGH HE AND THE BIRTH MOTHER
BREAK UP,
JASON IS THRILLED TO HAVE A SON.
HE LOVED HIS KIDS.
HE WAS SUCH A GOOD FATHER.
[ DOORBELL RINGS ]
Narrator: IN 2003,
ASTON GETS OUT OF PRISON
AND MOVES BACK HOME
WITH HIS MOTHER.
HIS GIRLFRIEND AND KIDS
MOVE IN, TOO.
HE ALSO RECONNECTS
WITH HIS LONGTIME PAL JASON.
IT'S AS IF NO TIME HAS PASSED
FOR THE CHILDHOOD FRIENDS.
Biordi:
AFTER ASTON GOT OUT OF JAIL,
JASON WOULD COME BY THE HOUSE,
REKINDLE THINGS,
AND YOU WANT TO SEE EACH OTHER
AND TALK TO EACH OTHER,
SO THEY WOULD HANG OUT.
Narrator: 27-YEAR-OLD ASTON SAYS
HE IS TURNING OVER A NEW LEAF
AND SURPRISES HIS FRIEND
BY GETTING MARRIED.
HE INVITES JASON'S ENTIRE FAMILY
TO THE WEDDING.
Rochelle: IT WAS NICE.
IT WAS VERY INTIMATE,
THEIR CEREMONY.
THEY DIDN'T WANT ANYTHING MORE
THAN WHAT THEY HAD.
AND THAT'S WHAT YOU KIND OF FELT
AND YOU RESPECTED IT.
Narrator: ASTON GETS A JOB
AS A COOK IN A RESTAURANT,
BUT IS STILL STRUGGLING
TO MAKE ENDS MEET.
AND ONCE HE FINDS OUT
HIS WIFE IS EXPECTING AGAIN,
HE GOES BACK TO HIS OLD WAYS.
AND IN AUGUST 2007,
ASTON DEVISES ANOTHER ROBBERY.
THIS TIME,
IT'S AN ELABORATE SCHEME
USING A DISGUISE STRAIGHT OUT
OF HIS MOTHER'S CLOSET.
HE WAS WEARING A BLOND WIG,
A DRESS, HEELS,
AND IN FULL MAKE-UP.
Narrator: ASTON HEADS TO A BANK
LESS THAN A MILE FROM HOME
AND SLIDES A NOTE TO THE TELLER
DEMANDING MONEY.
BUT ASTON FORGETS
JUST ONE THING --
ALONG WITH HIS LIPSTICK,
HE'S STILL SPORTING
A BUSHY MUSTACHE.
THE ATTENTION-SEEKING ASTON
BRAGS ABOUT THE BANK HEIST
TO JASON
AND HIS NEIGHBORHOOD FRIENDS.
Rochelle:
HE GOT AWAY WITH IT.
YOU KNOW, IT WAS JUST REALLY
HUMOROUS AT FIRST.
WE WERE ALL LIKE,
"YOU ARE LOSING IT."
[ LAUGHTER ]
Narrator: IT'S AMUSING
UNTIL THE SURVEILLANCE TAPE
OF ASTON'S
CROSS-DRESSING ROBBERY
HITS THE AIRWAVES
THREE WEEKS LATER.
THIS DUDE'S CRAZY.
ASTON'S BANK ROBBERY
MADE NATIONAL HEADLINES.
WHEN I SAW THAT, I SAID,
"I'LL BE A MONKEY'S UNCLE.
I CAN'T BELIEVE HE WORE THAT."
HE LOOKED JUST LIKE HIS MOTHER,
UNFORTUNATELY.
Narrator: WITHIN A MONTH,
AN ANONYMOUS TIP
LEADS POLICE TO PICK UP ASTON.
HE IS CONVICTED
OF THIRD-DEGREE ROBBERY,
AND ONCE AGAIN
IS SENT TO PRISON,
THIS TIME FOR NEARLY FOUR YEARS.
Jason:
SO, UH, EXCUSE ME.
MEANWHILE, TWO YEARS LATER,
JASON MEETS THE WOMAN
OF HIS DREAMS, LaTONYA MILLS.
SOMETHING ABOUT HIS SMILE
AND HIS PERSONALITY
DREW ME TO HIM.
IT WAS JUST LIKE FIREWORKS,
AND IT WAS ON THE 4th OF JULY.
[ CHUCKLES ]
Narrator:
LaTONYA SOON GETS PREGNANT.
THEY HAVE A SON TOGETHER,
AND JASON IS THRILLED
TO BE A FATHER AGAIN.
HE WAS AN AWESOME FATHER.
HIS SON JUST LIT UP
WHEN HE SEEN HIM.
Narrator: HE AND LaTONYA
TALK ABOUT GETTING MARRIED.
AND FINALLY, AT 34,
EVERYTHING SEEMS TO BE
FALLING INTO PLACE FOR JASON.
Mills: WE WAS JUST TRYING
TO GET THE RIGHT JOBS
SO WE CAN MOVE AND BUILD
OUR FUTURE WITH EACH OTHER.
Narrator: TO MOVE FORWARD
WITH SECURING THEIR FUTURE,
JASON MAKES A SHOCKING CHOICE
THAT THREATENS
TO PUT HIM BEHIND BARS,
JUST LIKE HIS BUDDY ASTON.
I TOLD HIM THAT THIS IS NOT
THE LIFESTYLE I WANT TO LIVE.
WHATEVER HAPPENED IN THAT ROOM,
I THINK HE SNAPPED.
[ CRYING ]
Narrator:
IN THE SUMMER OF 2011,
34-YEAR-OLD JASON CAMPBELL
HAS A NEW BABY
AND MAKES PLANS FOR A LIFE
WITH HIS GIRLFRIEND, LaTONYA.
THAT SAME SUMMER,
HIS OLD FRIEND
32-YEAR-OLD ASTON BARTH
IS PAROLED AFTER DOING TIME
FOR HIS INFAMOUS
CROSS-DRESSING BANK HEIST.
ASTON SPENT ABOUT FOUR YEARS
IN PRISON FOR THAT BANK ROBBERY.
Narrator: HE MOVES BACK IN
WITH HIS MOTHER,
BUT HIS WIFE AND KIDS
ARE LONG GONE.
SHE MOVED ON
AND MET SOMEONE ELSE,
AND THAT WAS IT WITH THAT.
Narrator: EVEN THOUGH JASON HAD
NO CONTACT WITH ASTON
WHILE HE WAS IN PRISON,
NOW THAT HE'S OUT,
THEY IMMEDIATELY RECONNECT.
JASON WAS THERE
BASICALLY EVERY DAY.
THEY'D SMOKE MARIJUANA
WITH EACH OTHER.
I DIDN'T LIKE ASTON AT ALL.
I TOLD JASON,
"YOU JUST BETTER BE CAREFUL."
Narrator:
SOON LaTONYA FINDS OUT
THE PAIR ISN'T JUST SOCIALIZING.
RECENTLY, JASON'S HAD TROUBLE
HOLDING DOWN A STEADY JOB,
SO THE GUYS TEAM UP
TO MAKE A LIVING.
HE WOULD HAVE GUYS
MEET HIM THERE,
AND HE WOULD SELL DOPE TO THEM.
Narrator:
BUT LaTONYA IS SCARED
AND DESPERATELY WANTS HIM
OUT OF THE DRUG GAME.
I DON'T WANT THAT MONEY,
JASON!
I TOLD HIM THAT HE NEEDS
TO CLEAN UP HIS LIFE,
OR THERE WAS GONNA BE
NO MORE ME AND HIM.
HE CRIED
AND TOLD ME HE LOVED ME.
HE LOVED OUR SON.
AND HE WOULDN'T KNOW WHAT TO DO
IF I LEFT HIM.
Narrator: JASON PROMISES HER
HE'LL STOP SELLING DRUGS,
BUT THAT PROMISE
DOESN'T SIT WELL WITH ASTON.
I CAN'T BE DOING THIS WITH YOU
NO MORE, ALL RIGHT?
I NEED YOU ON THIS WITH ME.
WHAT YOU MEAN,
YOU QUIT ON ME LIKE THAT?
I NEED YOU ON THIS WITH ME, MAN.
WHAT'S UP?!
UNDER THE GUISE
OF VISITING HIS MOM,
JASON KEEPS SNEAKING OVER
TO ASTON'S BEHIND LaTONYA'S BACK
TO SELL DRUGS.
I WOULD SEE HIM RUNNING --
LITERALLY RUNNING
FROM ASTON'S YARD
INTO HIS MOTHER'S YARD
TO ACT LIKE HE WAS JUST COMING
FROM HIS MOM OUT THE DRIVEWAY.
AND I WOULD SAY TO HIM,
"I KNOW YOU DID NOT JUST COME
FROM THAT YARD OVER THERE."
AND HE WAS LIKE,
"NO, WHAT YOU TALKING ABOUT?"
Narrator:
JUST TWO WEEKS BEFORE CHRISTMAS,
LaTONYA IS SHOCKED WHEN
SHE LEARNS SHE'S PREGNANT AGAIN.
JASON SWEARS HE'LL STOP
SELLING DRUGS ONCE AND FOR ALL.
YOU ALL GOOD.
WE'RE GONNA DO THIS
THE RIGHT WAY, OKAY?
Mills: HE JUST WAS LIKE,
"IF IT'S A GIRL,
"I WANT HER TO BE NAMED JANUARY
BECAUSE MY BIRTHDAY'S
IN JANUARY."
THERE'S MY BABY BOY!
HI, MA.
Narrator:
THEN ON DECEMBER 17th,
JASON STOPS BY
HIS MOTHER'S HOUSE FOR A VISIT.
SHORTLY AFTER HE GETS THERE,
HE TELLS HER HE NEEDS TO GO
NEXT DOOR TO TALK TO ASTON.
SEE YOU REAL QUICK.
ALL RIGHT.
HE INTENDS TO TELL HIM
HE'S THROUGH PEDDLING DRUGS.
BUT ASTON IS NOT ALONE
WHEN JASON ARRIVES.
AND WHEN JASON SAYS
HE NEEDS TO TALK,
THE OTHERS LEAVE QUICKLY.
THAT'LL BE EASY,
Y'ALL.
MEANWHILE,
LaTONYA IS LOSING HER COOL.
SHE AND JASON WERE SUPPOSED TO
GO CHRISTMAS SHOPPING.
[ CELLPHONE RINGS ]
HELLO?
Mills:
HE CALLED ME AROUND 7:00-ISH
AND SAID HE WAS AT ASTON'S,
AND I YELLED AT HIM.
YOU WERE SUPPOSED TO BE HERE
OVER TWO HOURS AGO!
"WE WERE SUPPOSED TO GO OUT,
GO SHOPPING FOR YOUR SON.
WHAT ARE YOU DOING?"
I'M GONNA PICK YOU UP TOMORROW
MORNING, ALL RIGHT?
BYE.
Narrator: BUT WHEN JASON DOESN'T
SHOW UP THE NEXT MORNING,
LaTONYA IS FURIOUS.
SHE THINKS SHE KNOWS
JUST WHERE TO FIND HIM.
ASTON, WHERE IS JASON?
BUT NOTHING COULD EVER
PREPARE HER
FOR THE GRUESOME TRUTH
THAT LIES AHEAD.
Mills:
MY HEAD WAS JUST SPINNING.
MY BODY WAS NUMB -- JUST NUMB.
Norma:
IT WAS LIKE A NIGHTMARE.
IT'S ONE OF THE WORST THINGS
THAT COULD EVER HAPPEN
TO A HUMAN BEING.
[ CRYING ]
Narrator: ON THE NIGHT
OF DECEMBER 17, 2012,
AN INTENSE ARGUMENT
OVER SELLING DRUGS
HAS REACHED THE BOILING POINT
BETWEEN CHILDHOOD PALS
33-YEAR-OLD ASTON BARTH
AND 35-YEAR-OLD JASON CAMPBELL.
NO BUSINESS, MAN.
THIS IS MY BUSINESS.
THIS IS ME TELLING YOU
IT'S A WRAP.
MEANWHILE, JASON HAS PLANS
TO MEET HIS GIRLFRIEND, LaTONYA,
EARLY THE NEXT MORNING.
BUT WHEN HE DOESN'T SHOW UP,
LaTONYA MARCHES OVER TO ASTON'S
HOUSE LOOKING FOR JASON.
Mills:
HE COMES OUT AND MEETS ME
BEFORE I CAN EVEN GET CLOSE
TO THE DOOR.
AND I ASKED HIM,
"IS JASON HERE?"
HE WAS LIKE,
"NO, I HAVEN'T SEEN HIM."
HE TOLD HER HE HAD LEFT THERE
AT 2:00 IN THE MORNING.
Narrator: LaTONYA IS CONVINCED
SOMETHING IS WRONG
AND CALLS JASON'S MOTHER, NORMA.
BUT SHE HASN'T HEARD FROM JASON,
EITHER.
I HAVEN'T SEEN HIM.
SHE SAID, "SOMETHING IS WRONG."
AND SHE SAID, "MS. CAMPBELL,
DO YOU THINK I SHOULD FILE
A MISSING-PERSONS?"
AND I SAID, "GO FOR IT
IF YOU WANT TO,"
'CAUSE SHE WAS
REALLY, REALLY WORRIED.
Narrator: TWO DAYS GO BY,
AND LaTONYA KEEPS CALLING
JASON'S PHONE
AND ASKS EVERYONE SHE KNOWS
IF THEY'VE SEEN JASON.
Mills: I CALLED ANYWHERE
THAT YOU CAN THINK OF --
HOSPITALS AND JAILS.
I HAVEN'T SEEN HIM
IN LIKE FOUR DAYS.
ARE YOU SURE YOU HAVEN'T
SPOKEN TO HIM OR ANYTHING?
Narrator:
ON FRIDAY, DECEMBER 21st,
FOUR DAYS AFTER
JASON'S DISAPPEARANCE,
POLICE FILE
A MISSING-PERSONS REPORT.
THAT SAME DAY, JASON'S MOTHER
GOES TO ASTON'S HOUSE
TO CONFRONT HIS CHILDHOOD PAL.
Norma: AND I ASKED ASTON,
"YOU HAVEN'T HEARD FROM JASON?
YOU HAVEN'T SEEN JASON?"
AND HE SAID, "NO,
BUT WHEN I SEE HIM,
I'LL LET HIM KNOW
YOU'RE LOOKING FOR HIM."
THANK YOU.
ALL RIGHT.
Narrator: THREE DAYS LATER,
ON CHRISTMAS EVE,
ALMOST A FULL WEEK
SINCE JASON'S DISAPPEARANCE,
LaTONYA HAS BEEN SICK
WITH WORRY.
ASTON, WHERE IS JASON?
SHE SENSES ASTON KNOWS
MORE THAN HE'S LETTING ON.
SOMETHING JUST KEPT DRAWING ME
OVER TO ASTON'S HOUSE.
ASTON, I KNOW YOU KNOW
WHERE HE IS!
WHERE IS HE?!
HE PUT HIS HAND ON MY SHOULDER
AND WAS HAVING TEARS
COME OUT HIS EYES.
AND HE JUST KEPT SAYING,
"I'M SORRY. I'M SORRY."
AND I'M LIKE, "SORRY?
WHAT ARE YOU SORRY FOR?"
HE STARTED CRYING
AND HANDED ME JASON'S HAT
AND KEYS.
AND HE JUST STARTED VOMITING.
I FELT LIKE
SOMETHING WASN'T RIGHT.
I KNEW HE EITHER KNEW
SOMETHING WAS WRONG WITH JASON
OR HE DID SOMETHING TO JASON.
Narrator: ASTON THEN IMMEDIATELY
GETS IN HIS CAR AND DRIVES OFF.
A FEW HOURS LATER,
ASTON'S MOTHER AND BROTHER
HEAR ABOUT ASTON'S
BIZARRE BEHAVIOR
AND FRANTICALLY START SEARCHING
HIS ROOM.
THEY MAKE
A HORRIFYING DISCOVERY.
[ SCREAMS ]
ASTON'S MOTHER AND BROTHER
WENT INTO HIS ROOM
AND FOUND JASON'S BODY
IN THE CLOSET.
OH, MY GOD! LOOK!
[ Crying ] OH, MY GOD!
Narrator: ASTON'S BROTHER
IMMEDIATELY CALLS POLICE.
AS JASON'S MOM IS ARRIVING HOME,
SHE SEES THE SCENE AT ASTON'S.
DETECTIVES
BREAK THE TRAGIC NEWS.
I JUST SCREAMED, "NO, NO!"
AND I JUST SCREAMED, "OH, GOD!"
AND I WENT DOWN.
[ CRYING ]
Rochelle:
IT WAS HURTING TIME FOR HIS KIDS
AND FOR MY KIDS
AND FOR MY FAMILY.
[ SIRENS WAILING ]
Narrator: LATER THAT DAY,
POLICE TRACK ASTON DOWN AT WORK
AND ARREST HIM.
Biordi: ACCORDING TO POLICE,
ASTON MADE A FULL CONFESSION
ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED
IN THAT BEDROOM THAT DAY.
Narrator:
HE ALLEGEDLY TELLS POLICE
THAT THEY ARGUED OVER DRUGS
AND THAT HE GOT SO ENRAGED
WITH HIS LIFELONG FRIEND
THAT HE SUDDENLY LOST CONTROL.
Biordi:
ASTON STARTS TO CHOKE JASON.
Norma: AND THEN HE CHOPPED HIM
WITH THE AX.
Narrator: ASTON STUFFS HIS LIMP
BODY IN THE BEDROOM CLOSET
AND ACTS
AS IF NOTHING HAS HAPPENED.
ASTON TELLS POLICE
LATER THAT DAY
HE GOES BACK INTO THE CLOSET
TO FINISH THE JOB.
HE TRIED TO DISMEMBER HIS BODY
WITH AN AX.
Narrator: ASTON REALIZES
HE NEEDS TO HIDE THE BODY.
HE STUFFS JASON'S BODY
IN HIS CLOSET
AND COVERS IT WITH A BLANKET.
THE BODY REMAINS IN ASTON'S
CLOSET FOR AN ENTIRE WEEK.
Narrator: ASTON IS CHARGED
WITH THE SECOND-DEGREE MURDER
OF HIS CHILDHOOD FRIEND
JASON CAMPBELL.
HE PLEADS GUILTY
TO SECOND-DEGREE MURDER
AND IS SENT TO PRISON.
I SEE AN EVIL PERSON
THAT JUST HAS NO REMORSE
FOR SOMETHING WICKED
THAT HE HAD DID.
Narrator:
IN AUGUST OF 2013,
LaTONYA GIVES BIRTH TO JASON'S
THIRD CHILD, A DAUGHTER.
SHE NAMES HER JANUARY,
AS JASON WANTED.
BUT THE FAMILY IS STILL LEFT
WITH THE PAIN
OF LOSING THEIR LOVED ONE AT
THE HANDS OF SOMEONE SO CLOSE.
I'M SURE MY BROTHER
NEVER EVER WOULD THINK
IN A MILLION YEARS THAT HE WOULD
BETRAY HIM LIKE THAT.
ESPECIALLY FOR IT TO BE
SO CLOSE TO HOME,
LIVING RIGHT NEXT DOOR.
SOMEONE JAY CALLED HIS FRIEND
COULDN'T DO SOMETHING
LIKE THIS TO HIM.