I (Almost) Got Away with It (2010–2016): Season 1, Episode 1 - Got Remarried - full transcript

OPEN THE DOOR!

Narrator: A JEALOUS EX-HUSBAND
COMMITS A BRUTAL CRIME.

[ GUNSHOTS ]

McGUFFEY SHOT HIS EX-WIFE
IN BROAD DAYLIGHT.

[ CAMERA SHUTTER CLICKS,
SIREN WAILS ]

Narrator:
POLICE GIVE CHASE,

BUT THIS FUGITIVE
DISAPPEARS INTO THIN AIR.

HE'S NOT HERE!

Shipman: MICHAEL LEE McGUFFEY
WAS STILL ARMED.

HE WAS ON THE RUN.

Narrator:
THE FBI TRACKS HIM TO MEXICO.



LISTEN,
I NEED MORE MONEY.

WE KNEW HIS MOTHER AND HIS
STEPFATHER WERE HELPING HIM OUT.

Narrator:
TO CAPTURE THIS MURDERER,

INVESTIGATORS
WILL NEED MORE THAN JUST LUCK.

[ HORN BLARES ]

CRIMINALS SOMETIMES
TRY TO ESCAPE FROM JUSTICE.

THIS IS THE STORY OF HOW ONE MAN
ALMOST GOT AWAY WITH IT.

CAPTIONS PAID FOR BY
DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS

A FALL AFTERNOON

IN THE QUAINT TOWN
OF MOUNT VERNON, WASHINGTON,

60 MILES NORTH OF SEATTLE.

THE TOWN PROMISES A QUIETER
SUBURBAN LIFE FOR ITS RESIDENTS,

BUT THAT WILL SOON CHANGE.

MICHAEL McGUFFEY
IS A 27-YEAR-OLD ELECTRICIAN.



HE PLANS TO MEET
WITH HIS EX-WIFE, MICHELLE,

BEFORE SHE BEGINS HER SHIFT AS A
WAITRESS AT AUSTIN'S RESTAURANT.

HE HAS TOLD HER THAT THEY NEED
TO FINALIZE THEIR TAXES.

AS PER USUAL, I WAS HUNG OVER.

BOUGHT A BOTTLE OF RUM.

SO WHEN I GET OVER THERE,
MICHELLE'S NOT THERE.

SHE'S LATE.
SO THAT PUTS ME IN A WORSE MOOD.

Narrator:
ONE MONTH EARLIER,

THEIR EIGHT-YEAR MARRIAGE
CAME TO AN END.

MICHELLE WAS GRANTED CUSTODY
OF THEIR 4-YEAR-OLD DAUGHTER.

MICHELLE!

MICHELLE, YOU'RE LATE!

MICHELLE HAS RECENTLY
STARTED SEEING A NEW MAN.

McGUFFEY FEARS HER NEW BOYFRIEND
IS A SEXUAL PREDATOR

AND IS WORRIED
ABOUT HIS DAUGHTER.

HE WARNS MICHELLE
TO STOP SEEING THIS MAN.

MICHELLE HAS NO INTENTION
OF ENDING THE RELATIONSHIP.

I SAID, "IF YOU DO IT,
I'LL KILL BOTH OF YOU,

'CAUSE I'M NOT LETTING ANYTHING
HAPPEN TO MY LITTLE GIRL."

AND, UH...

I GUESS
SHE DIDN'T TAKE IT TO HEART.

THE ARGUMENT KEEPS GETTING
HOTTER AND HOTTER.

Narrator:
MICHELLE TELLS McGUFFEY THAT SHE
WON'T STOP SEEING THIS NEW MAN.

YOU'RE NOT
LISTENING TO ME!

AND I JUST EXPLODED.
"YOU'RE WRONG."

YOU'RE NOT GOING ANYWHERE,
DO YOU HEAR ME?

YEAH,
DO YOU SEE THAT?

HUH?

YOU'RE WRONG!
YOU'RE WRONG!

[ GUNSHOTS ]

I REMEMBER THE SOUND,
THE EXPLOSION, THE BLOOD,

AND BASICALLY,
MY MIND GOES BLANK AFTER THAT.

Narrator: WITNESSES
WHO NOTICE THE COMMOTION

AND HEAR THE GUNSHOTS
CALL 911.

AND THEN SAW HIM
RUNNING AWAY FROM THE VEHICLE,

AND LEFT HER IN THE CAR AND ONE
LEG HANGING OUT THE DOOR LIKE,

YOU KNOW,
SHE HAD TRIED TO ESCAPE,

SHE HAD TRIED TO GET AWAY.

[ TIRES SCREECH ]

Narrator: POLICE ARRIVE
ON THE SCENE WITHIN MINUTES.

MARK SHIPMAN WAS A DETECTIVE

WITH THE MOUNT VERNON POLICE
BACK IN 1993.

[ CAMERA SHUTTER CLICKS ]

Shipman:
I NOTED A WHITE FEMALE.

SHE WAS SLUMPED OVER
TO THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE VEHICLE

AND WAS OBVIOUSLY DECEASED.

SHE HAD SOME SEVERE HEAD TRAUMA.

Narrator: SHIPMAN
AND HIS TEAM OF INVESTIGATORS

COLLECT EVIDENCE
AND SURVEY THE CRIME SCENE.

Shipman:
WE BEGAN OUR INVESTIGATION,
WHICH, OF COURSE,

ALWAYS STARTS OUT
WITH PHOTOGRAPHING THE SCENE

BEFORE ANYTHING IS MOVED
OR CONTAMINATED IN ANY WAY.

WE NOTED
SHELL CASINGS IN THE CAR

AS WELL AS
ON THE OUTSIDE OF THE CAR.

Narrator:
A CRIME OF THIS CALIBER

IS ALMOST UNHEARD OF IN
THE SMALL TOWN OF MOUNT VERNON.

MANY BELIEVE
THERE WERE EARLY SIGNS

THAT SOMETHING TERRIBLE
MIGHT HAPPEN

BETWEEN MICHAEL AND MICHELLE.

I'M NOT DRUNK!
IT'S YOUR FAULT!

THERE HAD BEEN
A HISTORY OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE

BETWEEN HE AND SHELLY,

WHICH LED TO THE EVENTUAL
DIVORCE BETWEEN THE TWO OF THEM.

Gutierrez: IT WAS CLEAR
THERE WAS A VERY ROCKY MARRIAGE.

THERE WERE SEVERAL TIMES
WHERE SHE HAD TRIED TO LEAVE HIM

AND DIDN'T FOR WHATEVER REASON.

IT SEEMS LIKE QUITE OFTEN
BECAUSE SHE WAS AFRAID

THAT SOMETHING
WOULD HAPPEN TO HER IF SHE LEFT.

Narrator:
MOUNT VERNON POLICE

START AN INTENSIVE MANHUNT
TO FIND McGUFFEY.

Shipman: WE CONTINUED
TO INTERVIEW WITNESSES,

AND WHEN WE WERE SATISFIED
THAT MICHAEL McGUFFEY

WAS AT LEAST A PERSON
OF INTEREST AT THAT TIME

OR SOMEBODY WHO WE HAD TO LOCATE
OR NEEDED TO LOCATE,

WE PUT OUT
WHAT WE CALL AN A.T.L.,

OR AN ATTEMPT TO LOCATE,
OUT FOR HIM,

AS WELL AS HIS VEHICLE.

Narrator:
THERE ARE ONLY FOUR DETECTIVES

IN THE MOUNT VERNON
POLICE DEPARTMENT.

THE TEAM WORKS OVERTIME
TO LOCATE McGUFFEY.

WHAT THEY DON'T REALIZE IS THAT
HE IS RIGHT UNDER THEIR NOSES.

McGuffey: I DROVE
RIGHT BY THE CRIME SCENE AGAIN

WITH THE RED CAR
THEY WERE LOOKING FOR.

TRUTHFULLY, I REALLY THOUGHT

LIFE WAS PRETTY MUCH OVER
AT THAT POINT.

Narrator: McGUFFEY ISN'T SURE
WHERE TO GO, SO HE DRIVES EAST.

AFTER NEARLY THREE HOURS,

HE REACHES
MOUNT BAKER NATIONAL FOREST.

McGuffey:
AND I THOUGHT MAYBE UP IN THE
MOUNTAINS I COULD FIND PEACE.

I REALLY WASN'T TRYING
TO RUN FROM THE LAW OR ANYTHING.

Narrator: McGUFFEY SLEEPS
IN HIS CAR FOR TWO NIGHTS.

HE DOESN'T KNOW WHAT TO DO
OR WHERE TO GO.

THEN, ON SEPTEMBER 29th,

JUST TWO DAYS
AFTER COMMITTING THE MURDER,

McGUFFEY DRIVES
TO THE TOWN OF EVERETT.

McGuffey:
I DROVE MY CAR TO A MALL

SO IT'D BE
WITH A LOT OF OTHER CARS

SO IT COULDN'T BE TRACED

AND SO THAT OFFICERS
COULDN'T READILY FIND ME.

THEN I TOOK A CAB
AND WENT TO A MOTEL

SO I COULD SPEND THE NIGHT.

Narrator:
THE MOTEL IS JUST 30 MILES SOUTH
OF THE CRIME SCENE.

I STILL HAVEN'T EVEN
LEFT THE STATE OF WASHINGTON.

I STILL DON'T EVEN PLAN
ON LEAVING OR RUNNING AWAY

OR ANYTHING ELSE.

Narrator:
McGUFFEY'S PLANS SOON CHANGE

WHEN HE HEARS
A LOCAL NEWS REPORT.

McGuffey:
I FINALLY TURNED ON THE RADIO.

I WAS HOPING THAT I WOULD
GET SOME CLIP OF NEWS,

AND IT DID TALK ABOUT IT.

Woman: McGUFFEY HAS BEEN
AT LARGE FOR SEVERAL DAYS

AND IS CONSIDERED
ARMED AND DANGEROUS.

THAT'S WHEN I KNEW
THEY WERE LOOKING FOR ME.

Narrator: BEFORE McGUFFEY
DECIDES HIS NEXT MOVE,

HE MAKES A PHONE CALL TO
THE ONE PERSON HE CAN TRUST...

[ TELEPHONE RINGS ]
...HIS MOTHER, ANITA.

HELLO?

MAMA?

McGuffey:
I REALLY JUST HAD GIVEN UP.

I KNEW I WAS GOING TO PRISON
AND JUST HAD GIVEN UP...

UNTIL I CALLED MY MOM,
AND THAT'S MY STRENGTH.

Narrator:
ANITA TELLS HIM THAT THE POLICE

ARE CONSIDERING McGUFFEY
ARMED AND DANGEROUS.

AND ACCORDING TO McGUFFEY,

SHE HAS SOME
EVEN MORE DISTURBING NEWS.

THE OFFICERS UP THERE TOLD HER

THAT THEY WERE GOING TO
SHOOT ME ON SIGHT

AND NOT GIVE ME
A CHANCE TO GIVE UP.

Narrator: ANITA FEARS
FOR HER SON'S SAFETY.

SHE TELLS HIM
THAT HE ONLY HAS ONE CHOICE.

YOU GOT TO RUN, BABY.

YOU GOT TO RUN.

OH, GOD.

McGuffey:
AND SO SHE SAID, "THEY'RE NOT
GONNA GIVE YOU A CHANCE.

RUN, BABY, RUN."

AND THAT WAS THE START
OF EVERYTHING RIGHT THERE.

Narrator:
FOUR DAYS AFTER THE MURDER,
McGUFFEY STARTS HIS GETAWAY.

HIS FIRST MOVE
PUTS POLICE HOT ON HIS TRAIL.

A LOCAL TAXI DRIVER HAS SEEN
A PICTURE OF THE FUGITIVE ON TV

AND RECOGNIZES HIM
AS A RECENT FARE.

McGUFFEY BOARDS
A BUS IN SEATTLE.

AT THE SAME TIME,

POLICE RECEIVE THE TIP
FROM THE TAXI DRIVER.

AND YOU'RE SURE
THIS IS THE GUY?

POLICE RACE TO THE BUS STATION,
BUT THEY'RE TOO LATE.

McGUFFEY'S
NOWHERE TO BE FOUND.

HE'S NOT HERE.
WHAT?

HE'S NOT HERE!

NOW, FEARING THAT
THEIR FUGITIVE IS OUT-OF-STATE,

LOCAL OFFICIALS
CALL IN THE FBI.

GUYS,
HEAD BACK TO THE CAR.

SPECIAL AGENT WILLIAM MELLOTT

IS DEDICATED
TO FUGITIVE RECOVERY.

MOUNT VERNON POLICE REQUEST
HIS ASSISTANCE ON THIS CASE.

FUGITIVE CASES IN THE BUREAU

COME TO US AS UNLAWFUL FLIGHT
TO AVOID PROSECUTION -- UFAPs.

TYPICALLY, A DEPARTMENT
WILL COME TO THE FBI AND SAY,

"WE HAVE A FUGITIVE.

"HE'S COMMITTED
THIS HEINOUS CRIME,

"AND WE HAVE REASON TO BELIEVE
HE HAS FLED THE STATE

TO AVOID THIS PROSECUTION."

WITH THAT INFORMATION,
WE CAN TAKE IT TO A JUDGE

AND GET THE UFAP WARRANT,

AND THEN THAT ALLOWS US
TO ENTER THE CASE

AND TO TRY AND LOCATE
THE FUGITIVE.

Narrator: AGENTS TRACK
ALL OUTBOUND BUSES FROM SEATTLE,

BUT McGUFFEY HAS A PLAN
TO OUTFOX AUTHORITIES.

I WENT TO THE BUS STATION
IN SEATTLE

AND BOUGHT A TICKET
DOWN TO LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA.

STOPPED IN PORTLAND,
BOUGHT ANOTHER TICKET.

Narrator:
McGUFFEY'S STRATEGY IS TO BUY
A TICKET TO A DESTINATION,

RIDE HALFWAY THERE,
THEN GET OFF THE BUS

AND BUY A NEW TICKET
TO A NEW DESTINATION...

THEN START THE PROCESS
OVER AGAIN.

McGuffey: IF THEY WERE
TRYING TO TRACK MY MOVEMENTS,

THEN I COULD AT LEAST THROW THEM
FOR A LITTLE BIT OF A LOOP.

Narrator: HIS STRATEGY WORKS.
HIS TRAIL GOES ICE COLD.

Gutierrez: I THINK PART OF HIS
ENJOYMENT WAS THIS GAME --

THIS GAME OF, "HOW CAN I AVOID
BEING CAPTURED BY THE POLICE?

HOW CAN I OUTSMART THE POLICE?

I THINK THAT WAS
PART OF THE THRILL FOR HIM.

Narrator: INVESTIGATORS
BECOME DESPERATE FOR ANY LEADS.

WELL, ON HIS FLYER, WE PRINTED A
BUNCH OF HIS LIKES AND DISLIKES.

HE LIKED TO RIDE MOTORCYCLES.

WE KNEW
HE LIKED TO LIFT WEIGHTS.

HE WAS TRAINED
AS AN ELECTRICIAN,

SO WE WERE CONSISTENTLY
GETTING LEADS FROM ELECTRICIANS

THAT MAYBE HE WAS WORKING IN
DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE COUNTRY.

Narrator: ONE OF THE FEW HOPES
DETECTIVES HOLD ONTO

IS THAT McGUFFEY
WILL CONTACT A FAMILY MEMBER.

THEY TRACK DOWN HIS MOTHER
IN TEXAS AND ASK FOR HER HELP.

Shipman:
WE ATTEMPTED TO EXPLAIN TO THEM
THE IMPORTANCE OF LOCATING HIM

FOR NOT ONLY HIS SAFETY,
BUT OURS.

WE ASSUMED THAT
MICHAEL LEE McGUFFEY

WAS STILL ARMED.

HE WAS ON THE RUN.

HE KNEW POLICE
WERE PURSUING HIM,

AND WE DIDN'T WANT TO SEE
LAW ENFORCEMENT OR ANYONE ELSE

BE HURT
AS A RESULT OF HIS FLEEING.

MICHAEL'S MOTHER, AT ONE POINT
DURING OUR FIRST VISIT WITH HER,

TOLD US THAT SHE BELIEVED

THAT HE WOULD PROBABLY
GO OUT AND COMMIT SUICIDE.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT
YOU'RE BOTHERING ME FOR.

IF HE DID THIS,
HE HAS KILLED HIMSELF BY NOW.

LEAVE ME ALONE.

Narrator: McGUFFEY'S MOTHER
REFUSES TO COOPERATE.

BUT DETECTIVE SHIPMAN

GETS THE SENSE
THAT SHE'S COVERING FOR HER SON.

Gutierrez:
I THINK SHE REALLY FELT

LIKE HER SON
WAS A VICTIM IN ALL THIS,

AND OBVIOUSLY,
SHE WAS VERY PROTECTIVE OF HIM.

MICHAEL, WHAT ARE YOU
DOING HOME RIGHT NOW?

Reporter:
I THINK SHE FELT LIKE SHELLY
WAS REALLY THE INSTIGATOR

OF EVERYTHING THAT HAD GONE
WRONG IN THIS RELATIONSHIP.

YOU ARE NOTHING
RIGHT NOW, OKAY?

YOU'RE NOT DOING ANYTHING
WITH YOUR LIFE.

I THINK
SHE WAS WILLING TO DO

WHATEVER SHE COULD
TO PROTECT HER SON.

Narrator: MEANWHILE,

McGUFFEY CONTINUES
TO WORK HIS BUS STRATEGY.

HE'S HEADING
FOR HIS HOME STATE OF TEXAS,

WHERE HE HOPES
TO GET HELP FROM HIS FAMILY.

AFTER A WEEK OF BUS TRAVEL,

McGUFFEY IS RUNNING OUT OF MONEY
AND OPTIONS.

HE'S DESPERATE
FOR HIS MOTHER'S HELP,

BUT HE FEARS POLICE
ARE TAPPING HER PHONE LINES.

HE DECIDES A LETTER IS SAFER.

HE TELLS HER HE'LL BE IN DALLAS
IN A FEW DAYS,

AND HE SETS UP A MEETING SPOT.

I'M ABOUT TO GO
TO MAIL THAT LETTER

TO MY MOM AND MY STEPFATHER
BECAUSE, BASICALLY,

I'M JUST A LITTLE BOY
THAT WANTS TO SEE HIS MOM.

Narrator:
WHAT HE DOESN'T KNOW IS POLICE
ARE MONITORING HER MAIL, TOO.

WE DID MAIL COVERS
FOR HIS PARENTS,

LOOKING AT THEIR MAIL
TO SEE WHETHER OR NOT

THEY WERE RECEIVING
ANY CORRESPONDENCE FROM HIM.

Narrator: IF POLICE
INTERCEPT McGUFFEY'S LETTER,

THEY'LL KNOW EXACTLY WHERE
AND WHEN TO PICK HIM UP.

YOU'RE NOT
GOING ANYWHERE!

Narrator:
ON SEPTEMBER 27, 1993,

MICHAEL McGUFFEY
SHOOTS AND KILLS HIS EX-WIFE.

[ GUNSHOTS ]

NOW HE'S ON THE RUN.

HE SENDS A LETTER TO HIS MOTHER
IN BROWNWOOD, TEXAS,

ASKING FOR HELP.

BUT POLICE
ARE MONITORING HER MAIL.

BUT BECAUSE HE USED A COURIER
INSTEAD OF THE U.S. MAIL SYSTEM,

THE LETTER
REACHES HIS MOTHER UNDETECTED.

McGUFFEY ASKS HIS FAMILY

TO MEET HIM
AT A DESIGNATED SPOT...

...AND TELLS THEM
TO BRING HIM SOME MONEY.

DETECTIVE MARK SHIPMAN

IS THE LEAD DETECTIVE
IN MOUNT VERNON, WASHINGTON.

THE McGUFFEYS OWNED AND OPERATED

A NURSING HOME
AND SOME APARTMENTS

AND HAD SOME OTHER PROPERTIES
IN THE BROWNWOOD AREA.

THEY WERE INFLUENTIAL,

AND THEY DID HAVE
A FINANCIAL MEANS

TO HELP MICHAEL LEE McGUFFEY
FLEE FURTHER.

Narrator:
A FEW DAYS LATER,

McGUFFEY
GOES TO THE MEETING PLACE.

McGuffey:
I WAS HESITANT.

I WATCHED FOR THEIR CAR,
BUT I REALLY EXPECTED,

YOU KNOW -- I EXPECTED THE
POLICE TO INTERCEPT THE LETTER,

AND I EXPECTED
TO BE CAUGHT AT THAT POINT.

BUT WHEN THEY SHOWED UP,

TO BE TRUTHFUL,
I WAS JUST HAPPY TO SEE MY MOM.

WHEN I SAW MY MOM,

IT'S JUST TEARS
WELLED UP IN OUR EYES,

AND WE HUGGED EACH OTHER.

MWAH!

SHE WAS HOLDING HER BABY

THAT SHE DIDN'T KNOW
IF SHE WAS GONNA SEE AGAIN,

AND SHE SAYS, "MIKE,
I CAN'T BELIEVE THIS HAPPENED.

Narrator: HIS MOTHER
GIVES McGUFFEY $10,000 IN CASH.

I GOT SOMETHING FOR YOU.
IT'S BETTER THAN THE MONEY.

BUT HIS BROTHER GIVES HIM
SOMETHING FAR MORE VALUABLE --

A FAKE BIRTH CERTIFICATE.

THANK YOU.

HE SAYS, "YOU KNOW, MIKE,
IF YOU WANT TO,

"YOU CAN TAKE THIS
LITTLE PAPER I.D. THAT I HAVE

"FOR A DRIVER'S LICENSE
IN OKLAHOMA,

"AND JUST TAKE THAT
AND THIS BIRTH CERTIFICATE

AND SEE IF THEY'LL GIVE YOU
A PICTURE I.D."

I THINK WE BETTER GO.

OKAY.

Narrator: McGUFFEY MAKES
A QUICK TRIP BY BUS TO OKLAHOMA

AND COMES AWAY
WITH A STATE-ISSUED I.D.

UNDER THE NAME
OF MARK ALLEN PRICE.

WITH A PAPER I.D.
AND A BIRTH CERTIFICATE,

THEY'LL HOOK YOU UP
JUST LIKE THAT IN OKLAHOMA.

ONCE I GET MY DRIVER'S LICENSE
FROM OKLAHOMA,

I BUY A PLANE TICKET TO HOUSTON,
AND FROM HOUSTON,

I BUY ONE
STRAIGHT TO MEXICO CITY.

'CAUSE I FIGURE
ONCE I'M ON THOSE PLANES,

IT'LL BE HARD FOR THEM
TO CATCH UP WITH ME.

I JUST WANT TO GET TO MEXICO,
AND ONCE I GET TO MEXICO,

I FIGURE I CAN LOSE THEM
WITH THE BUS SYSTEM IN MEXICO.

I THINK ONE OF THE FRUSTRATING
PARTS OF THIS MANHUNT

IS THAT MIKE McGUFFEY
WAS SUCH AN AVERAGE-LOOKING JOE,

AND HE WAS ABOUT AVERAGE SIZE,
NO REAL DISTINGUISHING FEATURES,

OTHER THAN, AT ONE POINT,
HE WAS A BODY BUILDER.

SO I THINK THAT MADE IT
REALLY TOUGH

TO PUT OUT A DESCRIPTION
OF WHO YOU'RE LOOKING FOR

WHEN HE COULD LOOK
LIKE THE AVERAGE GUY

WALKING DOWN THE STREET.

Narrator: IT'S BEEN THREE WEEKS
SINCE McGUFFEY STARTED TO RUN.

HE'S MADE IT TO MEXICO.

FEDERAL INVESTIGATORS
ARE FOLLOWING LEADS,

BUT THEY ARE ALL DEAD ENDS.

WE THOUGHT HE WAS ON
SOME FISHING BOATS IN ALASKA,

AND WE SENT LEADS UP THERE,

AND THEY INTERVIEWED VARIOUS
BOAT CAPTAINS AND FISHERMEN

AND WEREN'T ABLE TO DETERMINE

THAT HE HAD BEEN UP THERE
OR WAS WORKING THERE.

McGuffey: I REALLY DIDN'T LIKE
MEXICO CITY BECAUSE,

I DON'T KNOW, IT WAS TOO BIG
AND IT WAS TOO CROWDED FOR ME.

AND SO I DECIDED
TO GO TO ACAPULCO.

THIS SOUNDS TERRIBLE
AFTER COMMITTING A MURDER,

BUT I DID -- I SAID,
"I'M GONNA GO TO ACAPULCO.

"IT SOUNDS LIKE A PLACE
THAT I WOULD ENJOY BEING.

"SEE IF MAYBE A LITTLE BEACH
AND SUNLIGHT

"MIGHT HELP CLEAR MY MIND.

"I MIGHT AS WELL TRY TO,
I DON'T KNOW,

"TRY TO HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF FUN
BEFORE I GET CAUGHT.

"AND I KNOW
THAT SOUNDS GREEDY AND SELFISH,

BUT WE'LL GIVE IT A SHOT."

Narrator:
SOON AFTER ARRIVING IN ACAPULCO,

McGUFFEY FINDS A MOTEL
AND CHECKS IN.

FOR THE FIRST TIME,

HE FEELS LIKE HE MIGHT HAVE
GOTTEN AWAY WITH MURDER.

THEN HE HEARS
AN UNEXPECTED KNOCK AT THE DOOR.

[ KNOCK ON DOOR ]

[ KNOCKING CONTINUES ]

WHAT HE SEES
BRINGS PANIC TO HIS MIND.

[ KNOCKING CONTINUES ]

TWO MEXICAN POLICE OFFICERS
ARE KNOCKING AT HIS DOOR.

I LOOK OUT THE PEEPHOLE,
AND THERE'S TWO COPS.

AND I SAID, "SON OF A GUN,

"I KNEW I SHOULDN'T HAVE
CAME HERE TO ACAPULCO.

"IT'S THE FIRST PLACE
THEY'RE GONNA LOOK.

THEY'RE GONNA CATCH ME
IN THIS TOURIST PLACE."

[ KNOCKING CONTINUES ]

I SAID, "OKAY, OKAY,
CALM DOWN, MIKE.

YOU CAN HANDLE THIS."

SO I PILE ALL OF THE FURNITURE
UP AGAINST THE DOOR.

SO, I GO OVER TO THE WINDOW,
LOOK DOWN.

OH, MY GOD, IT'S LIKE
FOUR OR FIVE STORIES UP,

AND THERE'S THIS LITTLE,
BITTY DRAIN POLE.

Narrator: McGUFFEY
CONSIDERS HIS OPTIONS --

CLIMB DOWN FIVE STORIES
ON A THIN DRAIN POLE

OR FACE THE POLICE.

McGUFFEY DECIDES TO SURRENDER.

McGuffey: I OPEN THE DOOR,
AND THE COPS ARE GOING,

"SIR, YOU NEED TO GIVE US
THE PANTS BACK YOU STOLE."

I'M LIKE, "WHAT?!"

AND I'M SAYING, "NO."

AND SO THEY'RE TRYING TO TELL ME
IN BROKEN ENGLISH

THAT BASICALLY THE GUY
ON THE FLOOR ABOVE ME

HUNG HIS PANTS OUT TO DRY
OUT OF THE WINDOW.

AND I'M LIKE, "OH, MY GOD,
I'M GOING TO PRISON

BECAUSE SOMEBODY THINKS
I STOLE A DAMN PAIR OF PANTS!"

Narrator: McGUFFEY
STRUGGLES TO COMMUNICATE

WITH THE MEXICAN POLICE.

HE KNOWS
THEY'VE GOT THE WRONG MAN,

BUT McGUFFEY
NEEDS TO MAKE SURE

THAT THE POLICE
DON'T FIND ANYTHING

THAT MAKES THEM
TAKE A CLOSER LOOK AT HIM.

McGuffey: AND I REALLY
DON'T WANT THEM TO FIND

THE 10 GRAND
I HAVE IN THE ROOM, TOO,

'CAUSE IT LOOKS SUSPICIOUS.

WHY DO YOU HAVE A TOURIST HERE
WITH $10,000 CASH?

THEY'RE GONNA THINK
I'M DOWN THERE

TRYING TO BUY DRUGS OR WHATEVER.

Narrator:
McGUFFEY QUICKLY REALIZES
RESISTANCE IS NOT HELPING.

HE DECIDES A DIFFERENT TACT

IS THE BEST WAY
OUT OF THE SITUATION.

McGuffey:
TO THIS DAY, I'M STILL NOT SURE

IF THOSE PANTS
EVER EXISTED OR NOT

OR THESE GUYS
WERE JUST LOOKING FOR A BRIBE.

Gutierrez:
LAW ENFORCEMENT IN MEXICO

DOESN'T HAVE
THE BEST OF REPUTATIONS,

AND FOR SOMEBODY
WHO'S GOT THE MONEY,

IT MIGHT BE EASY TO PAY YOUR WAY
OUT OF A SITUATION

EVEN IF YOU WERE TO GET CAUGHT.

[ MEN SPEAKING SPANISH ]

Narrator: IT'S A CLOSE CALL
FOR McGUFFEY --

SOMETHING
HE'LL HAVE TO BE PREPARED FOR

AS A FUGITIVE IN MEXICO.

I REALLY NEED TO KNOW

IF YOU HAD
ANY CONTACT WITH YOUR SON.

MEANWHILE,
DETECTIVE SHIPMAN

HAS TEXAS AUTHORITIES
RE-QUESTION McGUFFEY'S MOTHER.

HE HAS REASON TO BELIEVE

THAT SHE'S
HELPING HER SON FINANCIALLY

AND KNOWS MORE
THAN SHE'S TELLING.

ANITA HAD REMOVED OVER $23,000
FROM HER BANK ACCOUNT,

AND THEN SHE HAD OBTAINED
OVER 20,000 OF THOSE DOLLARS

IN $20 BILLS.

WE BELIEVE
THAT SOME OF THAT MONEY WAS USED

TO FURTHER
MICHAEL LEE McGUFFEY'S RUNNING.

WELL, WE KNEW THEY HAD MONEY

AND THEY WERE
SYMPATHETIC TO MICHAEL,

AND WE WERE ABLE TO DO
VARIOUS RECORDS CHECKS.

IN ADDITION, THE LOCAL
POLICE DEPARTMENT DOWN THERE

WAS VERY AWARE OF
MICHAEL'S STATUS AS A FUGITIVE,

AND SO THEY WOULD
PERIODICALLY GO BY.

WE WOULD CHECK ON CERTAIN
HOLIDAYS AND ON BIRTHDAYS

AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE,

AND ROUTINELY, WE WOULD
REINTERVIEW FAMILY MEMBERS

TO SEE IF THEY HAD HAD ANY SORT
OF CONTACT WITH MICHAEL.

Narrator: ASIDE FROM THE
SUSPICIOUS WITHDRAWAL OF MONEY,

THE FBI CANNOT FIND ANY EVIDENCE

THAT McGUFFEY AND HIS FAMILY
ARE IN COMMUNICATION.

HERE, TOO,
McGUFFEY HAS DEVISED A PLAN

THAT KEEPS AGENTS
FROM PICKING UP HIS SCENT.

McGuffey: I NEVER LOST CONTACT
WITH MY FAMILY.

WHAT WE DID IS I WOULD CALL A
PAY PHONE IN THE UNITED STATES,

AND WE HAD
THREE DIFFERENT PAY PHONES.

I WOULD CALL THE FIRST ONE.

IF SHE DIDN'T ANSWER THERE, THEN
I WOULD GO CALL THE SECOND ONE.

AND EITHER MY BROTHER OR MY MOM
WOULD SHOW UP AT THE PAY PHONE.

YEAH, LISTEN,

CAN YOU SEND
A LITTLE BIT MORE MONEY?

I'D TALK TO THEM.
WE'D TALK EVERY SO OFTEN.

IF I NEEDED SOME FINANCIAL HELP,

THEY'D WIRE THE MONEY
THROUGH WESTERN UNION TO ME.

WHERE ARE YOU AT
RIGHT NOW?

THEY DID SEND ME A LOT OF MONEY,
AND THEY HELPED ME A LOT.

Narrator:
IN ADDITION TO SENDING MONEY,

McGUFFEY'S BROTHER PASSES ALONG
SOME UNNERVING NEWS.

DETECTIVE SHIPMAN,
YOU KNOW,

KEEPS BREATHING DOWN
OUR NECKS.

DETECTIVE SHIPMAN

HAS BEEN RELENTLESSLY
QUESTIONING McGUFFEY'S MOTHER.

WHEN McGUFFEY HEARS THIS,

IT MAKES HIM MORE DETERMINED
TO AVOID CAPTURE.

McGuffey: THAT'S WHAT
INSPIRED ME TO NOT GET CAUGHT.

IT REALLY DID.

ANY TIME THAT I EVEN
THOUGHT ABOUT TURNING MYSELF IN,

I WOULDN'T DO IT

JUST BECAUSE I WANTED TO GET
THE BETTER OF THAT PERSON.

[ WHISTLE BLOWS ]

Narrator:
NEARLY TWO YEARS PASS,

AND McGUFFEY HAS SETTLED QUIETLY
INTO MEXICAN LIFE.

IN THE CITY OF GUADALAJARA,

HE SUPPORTS HIMSELF
WITH MONEY FROM HIS MOTHER

AND ODD JOBS
HE FINDS AROUND TOWN.

WHEN I FIRST WENT TO MEXICO,
I BOUGHT A LITTLE BOOK --

"SPANISH FOR TOURISTS" --

AND I LEARNED
HOW TO SPEAK FIVE SENTENCES,

AND STARTED OUT
WITH FIVE SENTENCES.

AND FROM THAT, PEOPLE WOULD
TEACH ME HOW TO SPEAK --

JUST TEACH ME
ONE WORD OR TWO WORDS A DAY

UNTIL ABOUT SIX MONTHS LATER,
I COULD SPEAK SPANISH.

I STAYED AWAY FROM ANYBODY
THAT COULD SPEAK ENGLISH

OR ANYBODY THAT WAS AMERICAN,

'CAUSE I FIGURED THAT WAS
THE BEST WAY TO GET CAUGHT.

Narrator:
McGUFFEY STICKS TO HIS PLAN

AND STICKS TO HIMSELF
FOR TWO YEARS.

THAT'S ALL ABOUT TO CHANGE.

ONE DAY, HE FINDS HIMSELF
AT A BAR WATCHING FOOTBALL,

AND HE LETS DOWN HIS GUARD.

HE NOTICES
ANOTHER AMERICAN AT THE BAR.

McGuffey:
WE START TALKING BACK AND FORTH,

AND DUDE SEEMS LIKE
A PRETTY GOOD GUY.

HE GOES, "WELL,
I'M A TRADE CONSULTANT

HERE AT THE CONSULATE
HERE IN GUADALAJARA."

Narrator: THE TWO AMERICANS
SHARE ROUND AFTER ROUND

AND TALK ABOUT LIFE
BACK IN THE U.S.

THEN, ACCORDING TO McGUFFEY,

HIS NEW ACQUAINTANCE
LETS HIM IN ON A SECRET

THAT CATCHES HIM
COMPLETELY OFF-GUARD.

SO HE SAYS, "EH, I'M NOT REALLY
A TRADE CONSULTANT.

I'M AN FBI AGENT
HERE IN GUADALAJARA."

Narrator:
McGUFFEY'S INSTINCT IS TO RUN,

BUT HE KNOWS IF HE DOES, THE
AGENT WILL BECOME SUSPICIOUS.

McGuffey:
WELL, IF I RUN OUT OF THERE,
THIS GUY'S GONNA FOLLOW ME,

AND HE'S GONNA FIGURE OUT
WHAT THE HELL --

OR HE'S AT LEAST GONNA LOOK AT
THE WANTED SHEETS AND FIND OUT.

Narrator: INSTEAD,
McGUFFEY TRIES TO PLAY IT COOL.

WHEN THE AGENT
ASKS ABOUT HIS LIFE IN MEXICO,

McGUFFEY
GIVES VERY GENERAL ANSWERS.

HE SAID, "HEY, WHAT ARE YOU
DOING DOWN HERE?"

AND I SAID,
"I'M AN ELECTRICIAN.

"I HELP PEOPLE OUT
WITH LITTLE SECURITY SYSTEMS

AND STUFF LIKE THAT."

Narrator: McGUFFEY
HOPES TO CHANGE THE SUBJECT,

BUT HIS NEW FRIEND
CONTINUES TO PRY,

ASKING QUESTION AFTER QUESTION.

McGuffey:
I'M ALL PARANOID.

I THINK, "MAN, DOES THIS GUY --

"IS HE REALLY
JUST KIND OF FEELING ME OUT?

IS HE JUST PLAYING ME?"
IS WHAT I'M THINKING,

SO HE COULD I.D. ME.

Narrator: McGUFFEY FIGURES
THE BEST WAY TO AVOID ARREST

IS TO MAKE HIS NEW FRIEND
FORGET EVERYTHING ABOUT HIM.

McGuffey:
"HAVE ANOTHER BEER!"

I WANT TO GET THIS GUY'S MIND
AS FUZZY AS I CAN.

HOPEFULLY
HE CAN'T REMEMBER ME AT ALL.

Narrator:
ACCORDING TO McGUFFEY,

AFTER HOURS OF DRINKING, THE FBI
AGENT IS HEAVILY INTOXICATED.

THEY MAKE PLANS TO MEET AGAIN.

IT'S A DATE McGUFFEY
IS DETERMINED NOT TO MAKE.

INSTEAD, McGUFFEY PACKS AND
IMMEDIATELY LEAVES GUADALAJARA.

IT'S HIS ONLY CHANCE TO STAY
ONE STEP AHEAD OF AUTHORITIES.

BUT HE MAY BE TOO LATE.

THE FBI RECEIVES
AN ANONYMOUS TIP.

IT IDENTIFIES
A WASHINGTON STATE MAN

FITTING THE DESCRIPTION
OF MICHAEL McGUFFEY.

AGENTS IN MEXICO
LOCATE THEIR SUSPECT.

COULD THIS BE THE END
OF MICHAEL McGUFFEY'S RUN?

Narrator: IN 1993,

MURDER SUSPECT MICHAEL McGUFFEY
FLEES TO MEXICO.

AFTER TWO YEARS ON THE LAM,

THE FBI GETS A TIP
TO HIS WHEREABOUTS.

THEY THINK THEY'VE GOT HIM
CORNERED IN PUERTO VALLARTA.

ACCORDING TO McGUFFEY,

DETECTIVE SHIPMAN
CALLS McGUFFEY'S FAMILY

TO LET THEM KNOW THEY'RE
ABOUT TO CATCH THEIR FUGITIVE.

MY EX-IN-LAWS AND THE OFFICERS
AND EVERYBODY

WAS CALLING MY MOM.

THEY WERE TAUNTING HER.

THEY FINALLY WON AND BEAT HER,
"AND YOU GUYS LOST,"

AND THAT REALLY ACTUALLY
TURNED THIS INTO A COMPETITION,

TOO, WHEN THEY DID THAT.

Narrator:
HOLDING OUT HOPE,

McGUFFEY'S MOTHER RETURNS
TO THE ASSIGNED PAY PHONE

AND WAITS FOR HER SON'S CALL.

[ TELEPHONE RINGS ]

HELLO?

I CALLED MY MOM. MY MOM'S SAD.
SHE'S CRYING.

AND SHE GOES, "HOW ARE YOU
CALLING ME ON THIS PHONE?

ARE YOU CALLING ME
FROM THE JAIL CELL?"

[ SCOFFS ]
"LIKE I ALWAYS DO, MOM."

SHE SAYS,
"YOU'RE NOT IN WASHINGTON?"

I SAID, "NO."

Narrator: THE FBI'S SUSPECT
IN PUERTO VALLARTA

TURNS OUT TO BE
A CASE OF MISTAKEN IDENTITY.

IS THERE A PROBLEM?

WE DID SEND A LEAD
DOWN TO PUERTO VALLARTA

TO HAVE A FUGITIVE -- WE THOUGHT
IT WAS MICHAEL McGUFFEY.

WHEN THEY INTERVIEWED
THE SUBJECT,

IT TURNS OUT HE WAS A FUGITIVE
FROM WASHINGTON STATE,

BUT FOR A DIFFERENT CRIME.

THEY WEREN'T ABLE
TO ARREST HIM AT THAT MOMENT,

BUT IT SCARED HIM SO MUCH

THAT HE FLED BACK TO
THE STATE OF WASHINGTON
AND TURNED HIMSELF IN.

Narrator: WHILE AUTHORITIES
FOCUSED ON THE FALSE LEAD,

McGUFFEY SLIPS AWAY.

HE SETTLES IN THE SMALL TOWN OF
SANTA ANITA IN ORDER TO LAY LOW.

AND THERE'S NO GRINGOS THERE,
NOBODY THERE THAT --

VERY FEW PEOPLE THERE
THAT CAN EVEN SPEAK ANY ENGLISH.

Narrator:
McGUFFEY SOON FINDS A LOCAL BAR
WHERE HE CAN HANG OUT.

McGuffey:
AND SO AFTER A WHILE,

I GOT TO KNOW THE BARTENDER
AND THE PEOPLE THAT OWN THE BAR

AND GOT TO BE REALLY GOOD
FRIENDS WITH ALL OF THEM.

Narrator:
McGUFFEY FEELS U.S. AUTHORITIES

WILL NOT FIND HIM HIDDEN DEEP
WITHIN MEXICAN SOCIETY.

BUT HERE,
THERE'S A DIFFERENT THREAT --

KIDNAPPING AND RANSOM
FROM LOCAL DRUG CARTELS.

McGuffey:
DOWN THERE, THEY HAVE, LIKE --

ONE GUY WAS CALLED
THE EAR LOPPER,

AND THEY CUT PIECES OF YOU OFF
AND SEND THEM TO YOUR FAMILY,

BECAUSE IF THEY SEND
A LITTLE FINGER OR AN EAR

OR WHATEVER TO YOUR FAMILY,
IT SPEEDS UP THE MONEY COMING.

Narrator: McGUFFEY IS CAREFUL
TO WATCH HIS BACK.

McGuffey:
SO I GO BACK TO THE BATHROOM,

AND I NOTICE THERE ARE
THESE TWO GUYS BACK THERE,

AND ONE'S HANDING ANOTHER ONE
A BRICK OF COKE ABOUT YEA BIG.

JUST WALKED IN -- BAD TIMING.

Narrator:
McGUFFEY MINDS HIS OWN BUSINESS,
TRYING TO KEEP A LOW PROFILE.

McGuffey:
SO I GO BACK THERE, TAKE A LEAK.
DON'T EVEN THINK ABOUT IT.

WALK BACK UP TO THE BAR,
SIT DOWN,

AND START
DRINKING MY BEER.

Narrator: McGUFFEY'S FRIEND
LORENZO GIVES HIM SOME BAD NEWS.

McGuffey:
AND THEN LORENZO COMES OVER,

AND HE GOES,
"OH, MIKE, YOU'RE IN TROUBLE.

"THAT DUDE BACK THERE
THINKS YOU'RE D.E.A.
HE'S ALL PARANOID.

"YOU SAW HIM
GIVE THAT DUDE THAT COKE.

HE MIGHT KILL YOU, MAN."

AND HE'S GOT HIS TWO GOONS THERE

JUST, YOU KNOW, TO MAKE SURE
I DON'T LEAVE THE BAR.

"YOU'RE JUST GONNA
HAVE TO TALK TO HIM

AND SEE IF YOU GUYS
CAN WORK SOMETHING OUT."

Narrator: McGUFFEY HAS TO FIND A
WAY TO CONVINCE THE DRUG DEALER

THAT HE'S NOT A D.E.A. AGENT.

OTHERWISE, THE DEALER WILL KILL
HIM IN ORDER TO KEEP HIM QUIET.

McGuffey:
IF HE WOULD HAVE DONE IT,

NOBODY IN THAT BAR WOULD HAVE
EVER SAID ANYTHING TO THE COPS.

IT WAS THAT KIND OF BAR.

AND I KNEW THAT, THEY KNEW THAT.

Narrator: McGUFFEY
TRIES TO ASSURE THE DEALER

THAT HE'S NOT WITH THE D.E.A.

TO PROVE IT, THE DEALER INSISTS
McGUFFEY USE THE DRUGS.

McGuffey:
I NEVER DONE COKE BEFORE,

SO HE SLICED OFF
BIG CHUNKS OF COKE,

AND I SAID, "MIGHT AS WELL NOW.

"I'M DEAD ANYWAY,
AND IF I DON'T DO THIS COKE,

HE'S REALLY GONNA THINK
I'M D.E.A."

[ COUGHS ]

Narrator: THE TWO MEN BINGE
ON DRUGS AND ALCOHOL ALL NIGHT.

SO WE SAT THERE.
WE DID COKE TILL THE BAR CLOSED.

[ ROCK MUSIC PLAYS ]

[ MAN SINGING IN SPANISH ]

Narrator: FINALLY, THE DEALER
IS CONVINCED OF McGUFFEY'S STORY

AND LETS HIM GO.

IT'S ANOTHER CLOSE CALL --

ONE THAT MAKES McGUFFEY

RETHINK HOW HE LIVES
HIS LIFE ON THE RUN.

IT'S NOW BEEN OVER TWO YEARS

SINCE THE MURDER
OF MICHELLE McGUFFEY.

YOU'RE WRONG!

[ GUNSHOTS ]

FOR DETECTIVE SHIPMAN,

THE TRAIL FOR HER KILLER
HAS NEARLY GONE COLD.

I GOT SOMETHING FOR YOU.
IT'S BETTER THAN THE MONEY.

BUT NOW INVESTIGATORS
LEARN SOMETHING

ABOUT MICHAEL'S BROTHER,
SHANE McGUFFEY,

THAT COULD CRACK THE CASE
WIDE OPEN.

Shipman: SHANE HAD OBTAINED
A TEXAS STATE DRIVER'S LICENSE

IN THE NAME OF MARK ALLEN PRICE
WITH HIS PICTURE ON IT.

IT WAS OUR BELIEF AT THAT TIME
THAT SHANE HAD ACQUIRED AN ALIAS

AND THAT HE WAS ATTEMPTING
TO LEGITIMATIZE THAT ALIAS

FOR HIS BROTHER, MICHAEL.

Narrator: NOW INVESTIGATORS
HAVE A NAME TO LOOK FOR.

THEY BEGIN TO SEARCH
FOR PAY STUBS AND WIRE TRANSFERS

TO THE NAME MARK ALLEN PRICE.

WHAT'S MORE,

THE FBI IS INCREASING
PUBLIC AWARENESS ON THE CASE

IN HOPES THAT SOMEONE WILL CRACK
AND TURN IN McGUFFEY.

IF WE WERE ABLE
TO KEEP THE PRESSURE UP

AND KEEP HIM PUBLICIZED,

THAT EVENTUALLY SOMEONE
WOULD COME FORWARD

WITH THE INFORMATION
THAT WOULD LEAD TO HIS ARREST,

WHETHER BECAUSE
HE MADE SOMEONE ANGRY

OR PEOPLE GOT TIRED OF SEEING
HIS FACE ON THE TELEVISION.

WE ALSO KNEW
HE HAD SEVERAL ALIASES,

AND SO
WE WERE CONSISTENTLY WATCHING

FOR THOSE NAMES TO POP UP IN
DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE COUNTRY.

Narrator:
ACCORDING TO McGUFFEY,

HIS FAMILY NOW FEELS
IT'S TOO RISKY FOR HIM

TO RECEIVE MONEY
UNDER HIS ALIAS.

HI, HONEY.

WHAT'S WRONG?

WELL, I CAN'T SEND YOU MONEY
ANY MORE, MIKE.

WHAT?

IT'S JUST NOT SAFE.

IF THE CASH DRIES UP,

McGUFFEY CANNOT SURVIVE
ON THE RUN.

IT WILL FORCE HIM
TO MAKE A DESPERATE MOVE.

ALL RIGHT, I GOT TO GO.
ALL RIGHT.

Narrator:
MICHAEL McGUFFEY HAS BEEN ON THE
LAM IN MEXICO FOR THREE YEARS.

HIS LIFELINE HAS BEEN
THE MONEY HIS MOTHER, ANITA,

WIRES TO HIS ALIAS.

NOW AUTHORITIES HAVE DISCOVERED
THE NAME HE'S USING,

AND THE MONEY
IS ABOUT TO DRY UP.

McGUFFEY HAS HAD SEVERAL
CLOSE CALLS WHILE ON THE RUN.

HE FIGURES HIS BEST BET IS
TO STAY AWAY FROM THE BAR SCENE.

WHEN HE MEETS KARLA OSONA, HIS
LIFE TAKES AN UNEXPECTED TURN.

Interpreter:
ONE DAY, HE CAME INTO THE VIDEO
STORE WHERE I WAS WORKING.

I HELPED HIM
BECAUSE HE DIDN'T HAVE

THE CORRECT MEXICAN I.D.
TO RENT A MOVIE.

THEN LATER, HE CAME TO MY WORK
AND ASKED ME OUT TO LUNCH.

McGuffey:
KARLA HAD THE PRETTIEST SMILE,

AND MY INSIDES WERE SO SAD
THAT HER SMILE LIT UP MY HEART.

I WENT FROM BEING
PARANOID ALL THE TIME

TO, BASICALLY, I GOT SOFT.

Narrator: McGUFFEY AND KARLA
BEGIN TO DATE.

WHEN QUESTIONS ABOUT HIS LIFE
IN THE U.S. ARISE,

McGUFFEY SLYLY
AVOIDS THE SUBJECT.

"WHERE ARE
MY PARENTS?"

KARLA DOESN'T KNOW
THE TRUTH.

DON'T YOU KNOW THEY'RE IN JAIL?
[ CHUCKLES ]

Interpreter:
I HAD NO IDEA ABOUT HIS PAST --

ABOUT HIS EX-WIFE
AND HOW SHE DIED.

IT CAME AS SUCH A SURPRISE.

REALLY? WHAT ABOUT?
WHAT'S UP?

Narrator: McGUFFEY
KEEPS THE TRUTH FROM KARLA.

LIFE SEEMS COMFORTABLE.

BUT HER PARENTS ARE CONCERNED
ABOUT McGUFFEY'S INTENTIONS.

McGuffey: THEY'RE LIKE,

"THIS GUY'S JUST AN AMERICAN.
HE'S USING YOU.

"YOU'VE BEEN TOGETHER
ALL THIS TIME,

AND HE HASN'T MARRIED YOU."

SO KARLA COMES CRYING TO ME,

SAYS, BASICALLY,
"IS THIS TRUE

THAT YOU'RE JUST USING ME
AND YOU DON'T LOVE ME?"

I SAID, "KARLA,
I LOVE YOU WITH ALL MY HEART."

SHE SAYS, "WELL, THEN,
HOW COME WE DON'T GET MARRIED?"

THERE'S SOMETHING
I HAVE TO TELL YOU.

Narrator: McGUFFEY FEELS
THAT HE NEEDS TO COME CLEAN.

HE TELLS KARLA
THE TRUTH ABOUT HIS PAST.

McGuffey: I SAID,
"KARLA, I'M WANTED FOR MURDER.

I'M WANTED
FOR MURDERING MY FIRST WIFE."

IT REALLY
WASN'T MY FAULT.

Interpreter: BUT HE TOLD ME
IT WASN'T HIS FAULT

AND THAT IT WAS AN ACCIDENT,
AND I BELIEVED HIM.

IN FACT, I STILL DO.

McGuffey: I SAID, "I'D LOVE
TO MARRY YOU, BUT I CAN'T

"BECAUSE I DON'T WANT TO
PUT YOU IN THAT RISK.

"I LOVE YOU TOO MUCH
FOR YOU TO HAVE THAT

"HANGING OVER YOUR HEAD
FOR THE REST OF YOUR LIFE,

AND ESPECIALLY
AFTER THEY DO CATCH ME."

AND SHE SAID
SHE STILL WANTED TO MARRY ME.

Narrator:
ON APRIL 30, 1997,

McGUFFEY MARRIES KARLA
IN A CATHOLIC SERVICE.

LIVING NEAR KARLA'S FAMILY,

McGUFFEY IS ABLE TO COMPLETELY
DISAPPEAR FROM THE RADAR.

IN ADDITION,
McGUFFEY CONTACTS HIS MOTHER

AND TELLS HER HE CAN
START TO RECEIVE MONEY AGAIN.

HELLO?
MOM?

HI, HONEY.

HEY, LISTEN,
I GOT A NEW PLAN.

IF SHE SENDS IT
TO HIS WIFE, KARLA,

THE FBI
WON'T KNOW TO TRACE IT.

McGuffey: SHE STARTED SENDING
THE MONEY TO KARLA'S NAME,

AND KARLA
WOULD GO PICK UP THE MONEY.

THIS IS A GREAT IDEA,
SWEETHEART.

SEE? I KNEW
SOMETHING WOULD WORK OUT.

THEY PROBABLY,
OVER ABOUT NINE YEARS,

PROBABLY SENT ME ANYWHERE
FROM LIKE $80,000 TO $100,000.

Narrator: McGUFFEY IS FINALLY
ABLE TO ESTABLISH A NEW LIFE.

HE FEELS CONFIDENT
THAT NOW HE'LL NEVER GET CAUGHT.

I LOVE YOU, TOO,
MIKEY.

SEVERAL YEARS PASS
WITHOUT INCIDENT.

ON JUNE 8, 2001, McGUFFEY
AND KARLA GIVE BIRTH TO A SON.

Interpreter:
HE WAS A GREAT FATHER.

HE WOULD SING HIM SONGS.

HE WOULD WAKE UP IN THE MIDDLE
OF THE NIGHT TO FEED THE BABY.

HE USED TO TAKE THE BABY
TO THE PARK.

Narrator:
BACK IN THE U.S.,

DETECTIVE SHIPMAN HAS NOT
FORGOTTEN THE McGUFFEY CASE

AFTER EIGHT YEARS.

AFTER COUNTLESS DEAD ENDS
AND A COLD TRAIL,

SHIPMAN GETS ADVICE THAT
PUTS THE CASE BACK ON TRACK.

AGENT DeFONZO.

I SPOKE WITH AN FBI AGENT
IN DARIEN, CONNECTICUT,

WHO HAD JUST COMPLETED

A PARALLEL CASE
TO THE McGUFFEY CASE.

AND WHAT HE TOLD ME IS, HE SAID,
"MARK, QUIT LOOKING FOR HIM.

FOLLOW THE MONEY,
AND YOU'LL FIND HIM."

Narrator:
SHIPMAN GOES BACK TO THE CASE

AND LOOKS FOR NEW CLUES
IN McGUFFEY'S FAMILY.

DURING OUR INVESTIGATION,

WE HAD LEARNED
THAT MICHAEL LEE McGUFFEY

HAD A LIFE INSURANCE
FOR $100,000.

I CONTACTED
THE LIFE-INSURANCE COMPANY

AND FOUND OUT
THAT EVEN AFTER THE HOMICIDE,

THE PREMIUMS
WERE REMAINING CURRENT.

Narrator: DETECTIVE SHIPMAN
LEARNS THAT McGUFFEY'S MOTHER

IS CONTINUING TO MAKE PAYMENTS
ON HIS LIFE INSURANCE.

HE CONCLUDES THAT, NUMBER ONE,
HER SON MUST STILL BE ALIVE,

AND, NUMBER TWO,
SHE KNOWS WHERE HE'S LIVING.

[ TELEPHONE RINGS ]

FINALLY, OFFICIALS RECEIVE
THE TIP THAT BREAKS THE CASE.

LAW ENFORCEMENT
IS A FUNCTION OF THE COMMUNITY,

AND SO SOME OF THE BIGGEST CASES
ARE SOLVED

WHEN SOMEONE PICKS UP THE
TELEPHONE AND CALLS IN A TIP.

MAN: Yeah, I got some info
for you on McGuffey.

GUYS, GET OVER HERE.

Narrator: THE TIPSTER PROVIDES
THEM WITH SPECIFIC DETAILS

OF THE MOST RECENT TRANSFER

FROM ANITA IN BROWNWOOD, TEXAS,
TO HER SON IN MEXICO.

AND HE WAS RECEIVING MONEY
IN MEXICO THROUGH WESTERN UNION.

AND I WAS ABLE TO DETERMINE

WHICH STORE HE WAS RECEIVING
MONEY AND HOW OFTEN.

FROM THAT,
WE WERE ABLE TO CONTACT

OUR ASSISTANT LEGAL ATTACHé
IN MEXICO CITY.

Narrator: IN ADDITION, INSTEAD
OF KARLA PICKING UP THE MONEY,

AS SHE'S DONE
FOR THE LAST FEW YEARS,

THIS WIRE
WILL BE PICKED UP BY McGUFFEY.

McGuffey: KARLA'S AT HOME,
TAKING CARE OF OUR SON.

THAT'S THE REASON WHY I WAS
PICKING UP THE MONEY MYSELF --

'CAUSE I HAD A NEWBORN SON.

AND THE DOCTORS SAID
THAT THEY WANTED US

TO KEEP HIM IN THE HOUSE FOR THE
FIRST SIX MONTHS OF HIS LIFE.

Narrator:
ON NOVEMBER 16, 2001,

McGUFFEY GOES
TO PICK UP A WIRE TRANSFER.

HE'S TAKING A RISK

BY BREAKING A RULE THAT
HAS KEPT HIM SAFE FOR YEARS.

I JUST BASICALLY --
I JUST GOT OVERCONFIDENT.

Narrator: McGUFFEY
IS PICKING UP THE MONEY.

THINGS DO NOT GO SMOOTHLY.

McGuffey:
THIS PERSON THAT DOES ALL THE
COMPUTER WORK AND EVERYTHING

AND TYPES EVERYTHING IN
SEEMS TO BE HAVING PROBLEMS,

AND THE COMPUTER
SEEMS TO BE HAVING PROBLEMS.

I'M LIKE, "HMM." SHE SAYS,
"OH, DON'T WORRY ABOUT IT.

"JUST GIVE ME A FEW MINUTES,
AND I'LL HAVE IT WORKED OUT,

AND I'LL BE ABLE
TO GET THE MONEY TO YOU."

Narrator: OUTSIDE, MEXICAN
OFFICIALS SET THEIR TRAP.

[ DOOR OPENS ]

[ INDISTINCT SHOUTING ]

McGuffey:
I FEEL ABOUT FOUR OR FIVE GUYS

GRAB ME AND DRAG ME
TO THE FLOOR FROM BEHIND.

DON'T EVEN HAVE A CLUE
WHO IT IS AT THE TIME.

ALL THESE GUYS
ARE IN PLAIN CLOTHES.

I CAN SEE THEY'VE GOT PISTOLS.

THEY'RE DRAGGING ME
OUT OF THIS PLACE,

AND THEN, AS THEY DRAG ME OUT,

THERE'S A BUNCH OF OTHER GUYS
OUT THERE

WITH, LIKE, AK-47s AND STUFF.

THEY GET ME OFF THE CURB,

AND THEY'RE TRYING
TO PUT THE HANDCUFFS ON ME,

AND I'M LIKE,
"THAT'S NOT HAPPENING."

I GET MY FEET ON THE CURB,
AND I SEE THIS BUS IS COMING,

AND SO I START
SHOVING US ALL OUT IN FRONT.

Narrator: AS THE BUS
BEARS DOWN ON THE MEN,

McGUFFEY'S ONLY HOPE
IS THAT THEY WILL LET GO.

McGuffey: IF I CAN GET US
IN FRONT OF THIS BUS,

THESE GUYS ARE GONNA LET GO
OF ME, 'CAUSE THEY WANT TO LIVE.

[ TIRES SCREECH ]

Narrator:
GUADALAJARA, MEXICO.

MICHAEL McGUFFEY HAS BEEN
ON THE RUN FOR NEARLY A DECADE

AFTER KILLING HIS EX-WIFE.

[ INDISTINCT SHOUTING ]

NOW MEXICAN IMMIGRATION OFFICERS

ARE TRYING TO ARREST HIM
FOR OVERSTAYING HIS VISA,

BUT McGUFFEY IS NOT GOING DOWN
WITHOUT A FIGHT.

I CATCH MY FEET ON THAT CURB,

AND SO I START SHOVING US ALL
OUT IN FRONT OF THAT BUS.

Narrator: THE MEXICAN
IMMIGRATION OFFICIALS

FAIL TO PRESENT IDENTIFICATION.

McGUFFEY FEARS
HE'S BEING KIDNAPPED.

McGUFFEY IS WELL AWARE

OF THE GRUESOME CONSEQUENCES
OF A KIDNAPPING.

HE REALIZES
THERE'S ONLY ONE WAY OUT.

McGuffey: IF I CAN GET US
IN FRONT OF THIS BUS,

THESE GUYS ARE GONNA LET GO
OF ME, 'CAUSE THEY WANT TO LIVE.

AND I CAN GO TO THE OTHER SIDE
OF THE HIGHWAY,

BECAUSE I CAN TAKE THE RISK
OF GETTING HIT BY THE BUS.

MAYBE I'LL DIE, BUT IT'S BETTER
THAN BEING KIDNAPPED.

Narrator:
AT THE LAST SECOND,

THE MEN OVERPOWER McGUFFEY
AND THROW HIM TO THE CURB.

[ HORN BLARES ]

McGuffey:
AND THEY FINALLY CONVINCED ME

THAT THEY'RE
IMMIGRATION OFFICERS,

AND SO I FINALLY --
I LET THEM PUT ON THE HANDCUFFS.

Officer:
ARRIBA. ARRIBA!

SO, ON THE WAY TO THE AIRPORT,

I SAID, "MAN, COME ON,
IT'S JUST A VISA.

HERE, LET ME
JUST PAY YOU FOR THE VISA."

AND THEY SAID, "WELL,
HOW MUCH MONEY DO YOU HAVE?"

"I'VE GOT A GRAND
I'M PICKING UP THERE,

AND I'LL LET YOU HAVE THAT."

NO.

Narrator:
THE MEXICAN AUTHORITIES
DON'T ACCEPT THE BRIBE.

THEY TAKE HIM TO THE AIRPORT.

THEY HAND HIM OFF
TO AN AMERICAN FEDERAL AGENT.

Shipman:
WE WERE SOMEWHAT CREATIVE IN HOW
WE RETURNED MICHAEL LEE McGUFFEY

BACK TO THE UNITED STATES.

HE HAD OVERSTAYED
HIS TIME IN MEXICO,

AND SO HE WAS
ESSENTIALLY DEPORTED

TO THE UNITED STATES
FROM MEXICO.

McGuffey:
I WAS NOT ARRESTED FOR MURDER.

I WAS ARRESTED
BECAUSE I HAD OVERSTAYED

MY VISITOR'S VISA IN MEXICO.

Narrator: THEY BOARD A FLIGHT
FOR THE UNITED STATES.

AFTER EIGHT YEARS
AND TWO MONTHS,

MICHAEL McGUFFEY
IS BACK WHERE IT ALL STARTED.

HE NOW COMES FACE-TO-FACE

WITH THE MAN WHO HAS TRACKED HIM
ALL THESE YEARS.

McGuffey:
WHEN I SAW MARK SHIPMAN,

I KNEW I WAS CAUGHT,
AND I KNEW IT WAS OVER.

AND HE SAID TO ME,
"SO, YOU'RE THE ONE."

I SAID, "YES, I'M THE ONE."

AND HE SAID, "WELL, YOU CAN'T
BLAME A GUY FOR TRYING."

I DID FEEL LIKE
I GOT AWAY FROM THE LAW,

AND I GOT OVERCONFIDENT.

AND BECAUSE I DID FEEL
LIKE I GOT AWAY FROM THE LAW,

THAT'S THE REASON
WHY I GOT CAUGHT.

THE CAPTURE OF MICHAEL McGUFFEY
IS ONE OF THOSE DAYS IN THE FBI

THAT YOU'RE ABLE
TO POINT TO AND SAY,

"SPECIFICALLY ON THIS DAY,

I DID SOMETHING TO HELP
MY COMMUNITY BE A BETTER PLACE."

Narrator:
McGUFFEY IS CAPTURED

BECAUSE OF THE DETERMINATION
OF LAW ENFORCEMENT --

THE MOUNT VERNON
POLICE DEPARTMENT, THE FBI,

AND THE MEXICAN
IMMIGRATION OFFICERS.

THIS IS A CASE
WHERE A POLICE DEPARTMENT

JUST WOULDN'T LET A CASE DIE,

AND MAYBE THEY DIDN'T MAKE
ALL THE RIGHT DECISIONS

ALL THE TIME,
BUT THEY JUST NEVER LET IT GO.

Narrator:
McGUFFEY ENTERS A PLEA OF GUILTY

FOR THE MURDER
OF MICHELLE McGUFFEY.

Gutierrez: SO, ON THE EVE
OF THIS BIG MURDER TRIAL,

MIKE McGUFFEY
SIGNS A GUILTY PLEA,

AND IT STARTS OFF
SOUNDING VERY CONTRITE AND SAD

AND APOLOGETIC
FOR WHAT HAPPENED, REMORSEFUL,

AND THEN, SUDDENLY,
TOWARDS THE END,

THERE'S THIS PART ABOUT,

"BUT SHELLY MAY HAVE PROVOKED
WHAT HAPPENED TO HER."

AND THE JUDGE WHO SENTENCED HIM
WAS JUST FLABBERGASTED BY IT.

Narrator: MICHAEL McGUFFEY IS
SENTENCED TO 26 YEARS IN PRISON.

HE IS ORDERED
TO HAVE NO CONTACT

WITH HIS DAUGHTER
OR THE VICTIM'S FAMILY.

MICHAEL LEE McGUFFEY
IS NOW A PRISONER

AT THE WASHINGTON STATE
PENITENTIARY IN WALLA WALLA.

BEHIND BARS, McGUFFEY REFLECTS
ON HIS LIFE ON THE LAM.

McGuffey:
TOO HARD OF A LIFE ON THE RUN.

IT'S -- I TELL YOU WHAT.

THAT IS ONE THING
ABOUT BEING ON THE RUN.

IT'S LIKE YOU'RE BURNING
THE CANDLE AT BOTH ENDS.

YOU KNOW, I JUST FEEL
OLD AND TIRED.

BEING IN PRISON --

IT'S BASICALLY LIKE BEING
ON A HOLDING PATTERN FOR DEATH.

IT'S JUST A BIG NOTHINGNESS.