I (Almost) Got Away with It (2010–2016): Season 1, Episode 13 - Got to Get Bike Parts - full transcript
In central Florida in 1991, Marvin Carson settled an argument with rival gang member Richard Hawk by shooting him repeatedly with an AK47. Carson then went on the run. But when he returned to his home town, police were tipped.
Narrator: A FLORIDA BIKER...
DON'T!
...COMMITS A VIOLENT MURDER.
BACK OFF!
[ GUNSHOTS ]
I SAW BULLET HOLES THAT HAD
PENETRATED ROUGHLY FIVE WALLS.
Narrator:
MARVIN CARSON TAKES DRAMATIC
STEPS TO CHANGE HIS LOOK,
THEN GOES ON THE RUN.
I COULD HAVE WALKED
IN A COP SHOP,
THEY WOULDN'T EVEN
HAVE KNOWN ME.
Narrator:
AUTHORITIES MUST FIND HIM
BEFORE A RIVAL BIKER GANG DOES.
Green: IF THE OUTLAWS
CAUGHT UP WITH HIM,
I WOULD HAVE NEVER
SEEN HIM AGAIN.
Narrator: INVESTIGATORS ARE
FRANTIC TO CATCH THIS MADMAN.
IT WAS ONLY A MATTER OF TIME
BEFORE HE MIGHT KILL AGAIN.
TURNING MYSELF IN
IS AGAINST MY RELIGION.
Narrator: 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
MARVIN CARSON LIVES BY THE CODE
OF THE OPEN ROAD.
[ ENGINE REVS ]
A 43-YEAR-OLD BIKER
FROM CENTRAL FLORIDA,
HE BELIEVES IN THE BIKER
CREDO -- LIVE FREE OR DIE.
IN 1991,
HE PUTS THAT TO THE TEST.
I THINK PART
OF THE BIKER CULTURE
WAS LIKE LIVING IN THE OLD WEST.
YOU KNOW, YOU TOOK CARE
OF YOUR OWN PROBLEMS.
Narrator: CARSON BELIEVES
IN MAKING HIS OWN RULES
AND DICTATING HIS OWN FORM
OF LAW AND ORDER.
Carson: SOMEBODY RAPES YOUR
SISTER, YOU DON'T CALL THE LAW.
YOU GO OVER AND YOU SHOOT
THE SON OF A BITCH.
I DON'T LIVE
BY OTHER PEOPLE'S STANDARDS.
I DON'T RECOGNIZE
ANYBODY'S RIGHT
TO TELL ME HOW TO LIVE MY LIFE.
YOU KNOW?
WHO DIED AND LEFT THEM
IN CHARGE?
Narrator: CARSON IS LIVING AND
WORKING ODD JOBS IN FLORAL CITY,
A QUIET AND RURAL TOWN
25 MILES EAST OF TAMPA, FLORIDA.
ON A SUMMER DAY, CARSON RECEIVES
AN EMOTIONAL CALL
FROM HIS FRIEND KAT BARKER.
HEY, BABE.
HOW YOU DOING?
NO, I'M PISSED.
SHE JUST BROKE UP
WITH HER BIKER BOYFRIEND JUDD,
AND SHE NEEDS CARSON'S HELP.
KAT CALLED ME AND TOLD ME
THAT JUDD HAD LEFT,
THAT THEY BROKE UP,
AND SHE HAD AN OLD THREE-WHEELER
OVER AT HIS HOUSE
IN HIS TRAILER.
AND SHE ASKED ME
TO GO OVER THERE AND GET IT.
YEAH,
I CAN DO THAT FOR YOU.
I KNEW
I COULD COUNT ON YOU.
ALL RIGHT,
SEE YOU LATER.
Narrator: CARSON AGREES TO HELP
KAT GET HER MOTORCYCLE BACK.
HE WAITS FOR JUDD
TO LEAVE HIS HOUSE.
THEN HE MAKES HIS MOVE.
[ ENGINE TURNS OVER ]
JUDD RETURNS
AND FINDS THE BIKE MISSING.
HE SUSPECTS
IT WAS MARVIN CARSON.
JUDD ENLISTS THE HELP
OF RICHARD HAWK,
A DANGEROUS INDIVIDUAL WITH TIES
TO A NOTORIOUS BIKER GANG,
THE OUTLAWS.
AS ANYBODY IN LAW ENFORCEMENT
WILL TELL YOU,
THEY HAVE A REPUTATION
FOR TAKING NAMES
AND DEFINITELY
EXTRACTING PUNISHMENT
FOR PEOPLE WHO CROSS THEM.
WHAT'S UP, BROTHER?
CARSON CAME RIGHT IN HERE
LIKE HE OWNED THE PLACE!
THEY ARE KNOWN TO DO
SOME VERY VIOLENT THINGS.
GET YOUR PIECE.
LET'S GO HANDLE THIS.
Narrator: HAWK AND JUDD DECIDE
TO START INTIMIDATING PEOPLE.
THEY WANT THE BIKE BACK.
LET'S DO THIS.
LET'S DO IT.
COME ON, BRO.
THEY START BY PAYING A VISIT
TO TWO OF CARSON'S FRIENDS,
KNOWN AS TROOPER AND JESSIE.
Carson:
THEY THREATENED JESSIE.
HEY, WE'RE GONNA HAVE
A LITTLE TALK!
THEY TOOK HIM AT GUNPOINT,
PUT HIM IN THE VAN.
GET IN THE BACK!
[ TIRES SCREECHING ]
HAD HIM TAKE HIM AROUND
TO WHERE TROOPER WAS WORKING
AT THIS AUTO PLACE
AND WENT IN AND TOOK HIM
OUT OF THE PLACE AT GUNPOINT.
THEY TOLD HIM
THEY WERE GONNA KILL ME
AND THEY WERE GONNA BEAT THEM UP
IF THEY DIDN'T
GIVE THE STUFF BACK.
YOUR BOY CARSON
DONE MESSED WITH THE WRONG MAN.
I KNOW HE WENT IN MY GARAGE
AND TOOK MY BIKE!
Narrator: TROOPER AND JESSIE
ARE COMPLETELY IN THE DARK.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT
YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT, MAN!
THEY KNOW NOTHING ABOUT CARSON
TAKING THE MOTORCYCLE.
SHUT UP!
SHUT UP!
I'M TELLING YOU!
THEY SCARED TROOPER SO BAD
THAT HE PISSED ON HISSELF.
YOU HEAR ME?!
TELL HIM WHATEVER YOU WANT.
I HEAR YOU, MAN.
Narrator:
JUDD AND HAWK ARE SATISFIED
THAT THEY GOT
THEIR MESSAGE ACROSS.
THEY LET TROOPER AND JESSIE GO.
YOU TELL CARSON
I'M COMING FOR HIM!
[ TIRES SCREECHING ]
THEY IMMEDIATELY CALL CARSON
AND TELL HIM
THAT TROUBLE IS BREWING.
GONNA SHOOT BACK OVER,
THEN HE'S GONNA COME AFTER YOU.
HE'S GONNA KILL YOU.
CARSON WON'T BACK DOWN.
HE REFUSES
TO GIVE THE BIKE BACK.
IF YOU WANT
TO GET THESE GUYS,
GOT TO HAVE
SOME SERIOUS FIREPOWER, MAN.
HAWK AND JUDD ARE FURIOUS.
THEY WANT TO RATTLE CARSON.
THEY WAIT UNTIL THE NEXT DAY,
AND THEY STRIKE AGAIN.
THIS TIME, THEY GO AFTER
CARSON'S FRIEND MIKE RICHARDSON.
DAMN!
WHAT'S GOING ON, MAN?
Carson: JUDD WRAPPED HIS HANDS
UP WITH DUCT TAPE
AND WAS THREATENING
TO BEAT HIM UP,
AND HAWK POINTED A GUN
AT MIKE RICHARDSON.
CHECK IT OUT, DUDE.
YEAH, MAN.
YOU TELL CARSON
I WANT MY...BACK.
Carson: AND HE DIDN'T
HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH IT.
HE DIDN'T EVEN KNOW
WHAT WAS GOING ON.
YOU GOT THAT?
DAMN, JUDD, MAN.
Narrator:
HAWK AND JUDD STILL AREN'T
GETTING THE RESULTS THEY WANT.
JUST CALL HIM UP.
FINALLY,
THEY CALL CARSON DIRECTLY.
[ TELEPHONE RINGS ]
WHO IS THIS?
HEY, IT'S JUDD, MAN.
CARSON KNOWS THE FEUD
HAS REACHED A TIPPING POINT.
NO, MAN.
Carson: HAWK WAS MORE OR LESS
A LOT LIKE I WAS, YOU KNOW?
HE DIDN'T MAKE IDLE THREATS.
YOU JUST TRY IT.
I GOT A REAL PROBLEM
BECAUSE THESE GUYS ARE DRUNK
AND THEY'RE ARMED,
AND THEY'RE REALLY STUPID.
WHAT THE HELL
WAS THAT ABOUT?
Narrator:
HE'S WORRIED THAT HAWK AND JUDD
ARE GOING TO COME FOR HIM
IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT.
CAN YOU GO TO YOUR SISTER'S
HOUSE OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT?
WHAT IS GOING ON?
I MADE MY GIRLFRIEND, MARILYN,
LEAVE THE HOUSE
BECAUSE I WAS AFRAID
THEY WOULD COME UP THERE
AND SHE WOULD GET CAUGHT
IN THE CROSSFIRE.
Narrator: HE GOES TO BED,
BUT HE ISN'T TAKING ANY CHANCES.
AND I WAS LAYING ON THE FLOOR
WITH MY AK-47 AND MY DOG.
Narrator:
CARSON SPENDS A RESTLESS NIGHT
WAITING FOR BULLETS TO FLY.
Carson: I DIDN'T WANT TO
HAVE TO FACE WHAT WAS COMING.
I KNEW IT WAS GONNA BE BAD,
HOWEVER IT WENT.
Narrator:
HAWK AND JUDD DON'T SHOW.
CARSON'S FRIENDS
SHOW UP AT HIS HOUSE.
THEY WANT TO RETALIATE.
ACCORDING TO CARSON, HE AGREES
TO GO SEE HAWK AND JUDD.
HE WANTS TO TRY AND WORK OUT THE
PROBLEM WITH HAWK FACE TO FACE.
LET'S GO. COME ON.
THEY DON'T TAKE ANY CHANCES.
THEY ARM UP FOR THE MEETING.
I GOT A .44 RUGER REDHAWK.
GAVE IT TO MIKE.
I GOT MY A.K.
AND MOST PEOPLE LOOKING AT AN
A.K. WITH A 30-ROUND CLIP IN IT
ARE GONNA LAY DOWN.
YOU KNOW, INTIMIDATION FACTOR.
AND I'M THINKING, "WELL,
MAYBE IF I CAN GO OVER THERE
"AND GET THE DROP ON THEM,
"ONCE I TALK TO HAWK
FACE TO FACE,
THEN I CAN STRAIGHTEN
JUDD'S LIES OUT."
LET'S GO.
Narrator:
HAWK AND JUDD HAVE NO IDEA
THAT FOUR MEN, ARMED TO THE
TEETH, ARE HEADING THEIR WAY.
Carson: AND I TOLD JESSIE
AND TROOPER TO GO AROUND BACK.
AND I SAID, "HAWK COMES OUT THE
BACK DOOR," I SAID, "SHOOT HIM."
Narrator: CARSON AND RICHARDSON
HEAD TO THE FRONT DOOR.
[ INDISTINCT CONVERSATIONS ]
INSIDE, A BIKER
STEPS UP TO CHANGE THE MUSIC.
HE HEARS A NOISE OUTSIDE.
[ LAUGHS]
CARSON IS CAUGHT OFF GUARD
WHEN THE DOOR OPENS.
HE STRIKES HARD AND FAST.
I JUST TURNED THE A.K. AROUND
AND HIT HIM
BETWEEN THE EYES WITH IT.
KNOCKED HIM
BACK ACROSS THE ROOM.
Narrator: ACCORDING TO CARSON,
HAWK IMMEDIATELY
DIVES FOR A WEAPON.
Carson: AND I'M STANDING THERE
WITH THE A.K. POINTED AT HIM,
YELLING, "NO, NO!"
Woman: JUST SHOOT HIM!
COME ON, DO IT!
Carson: ALL OF A SUDDEN,
EVERYTHING WAS JUST SLOW MOTION.
MIKE POPS IN THE DOOR,
POINTING THE RUGER .44 AT HIM,
AND HE SAW MIKE,
AND HE PULLED THE TRIGGER.
AND THE SHOT WENT BETWEEN US.
MIKE HIT HAWK IN THE GROIN.
[ GUNSHOTS ]
I FIRED THREE TIMES
WITH THE A.K.
AAH!
HE WENT DOWN
ON THE FLOOR.
HAWK! COME ON.
Narrator:
CARSON TURNS HIS FOCUS TO JUDD
AND USES HIS AK-47
TO DELIVER A MESSAGE.
TOLD HIM, I SAYS,
"I OUGHT TO BLOW YOUR HEAD OFF,
YOU SON OF A BITCH.
YOU CAUSED THIS."
HE DESERVED SOMETHING.
COULD HAVE BEAT HIS ASS.
I'M NOT A KILLER.
HAWK!
AND I JUST TURNED AROUND
AND WALKED OUT.
Narrator:
THEY FLEE FROM THE MURDER SCENE.
BUT THEY'VE LEFT EYEWITNESSES
TO THE MURDER ALIVE.
THEY DECIDE
THERE'S NO CHOICE BUT TO RUN.
NO IFs ABOUT IT.
THAT SUMS IT UP, YOU KNOW?
LIFE AS YOU'VE KNOWN IT IS GONE.
Narrator: JUDD WAITS
UNTIL THE COAST IS CLEAR.
THEY CALL 911.
WE NEED SOME HELP!
BILL FARMER
WAS A HOMICIDE INVESTIGATOR
FOR THE SUMTER COUNTY SHERIFF'S
DEPARTMENT BACK IN 1991.
I WANT YOU TO GET A CLOSE-UP
OF THIS LATER ON.
I RECEIVED A CALL.
I PROCEEDED
TO THE HAWK RESIDENCE.
I OBSERVED WHAT APPEARED TO BE
A GUNSHOT WOUND TO THE CHEST.
THERE WAS A BLOODY AREA
ON HIS SHIRT TO THE CHEST.
ALSO, ONE TO THE GROIN AREA --
BLOOD COMING OUT OF HIS JEANS
HE WAS WEARING.
[ CAMERA SHUTTER CLICKS ]
Narrator: INVESTIGATORS COMB
THE CRIME SCENE FOR EVIDENCE.
FARMER NOTES THE POWER OF
THE WEAPONRY USED -- AN AK-47.
IT'S AN ASSAULT RIFLE CAPABLE
OF 600 ROUNDS PER MINUTE.
I SAW BULLET HOLES THAT HAD
PENETRATED ROUGHLY FIVE WALLS
ALL THE WAY BACK THROUGH THE
BATHROOM TO THE BACK BEDROOM.
Narrator:
FARMER KNOWS HE HAS A HIGHLY
DANGEROUS FUGITIVE ON THE LOOSE.
HE WAS A VERY
INTIMIDATING-TYPE GUY,
AND HE USED INTIMIDATION
TO GET WHAT HE WANTED.
WE CONSIDERED MARVIN CARSON
ARMED AND DANGEROUS,
AND HE WAS A FUGITIVE.
Narrator:
INVESTIGATORS QUESTION THE
WITNESSES AT THE CRIME SCENE.
JUDD WANTS TO SEE CARSON
GO DOWN.
AND THESE GUYS
COME BUSTING IN,
AND THEN
THEY SHOOT MY BOYFRIEND.
HE TELLS POLICE THAT CARSON
COULD BE HIDING OUT
AT HIS GIRLFRIEND'S HOUSE,
AND HE OFFERS TO TAKE POLICE
STRAIGHT THERE.
Farmer:
WE WERE HOPING THAT HE WAS THERE
AND IT WOULD BE OVER REAL QUICK.
Narrator: RUSSELL MERRITT
IS A HOMICIDE INVESTIGATOR
WITH THE SUMTER COUNTY
SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT.
HE IS ONE OF THE SHERIFFS
TO RESPOND TO THE SCENE.
Merritt: WE ACTUALLY THOUGHT
THAT, AT THAT TIME,
THAT THERE WAS AN ARMED PERSON
IN THERE WITH AN AK-47.
WHEN YOU FIRST ARRIVE LIKE THAT,
YOUR HEART RATE'S UP.
YOU LET YOUR GUARD DOWN, THEN
YOU'RE GOING TO BE A VICTIM.
Narrator: THE S.W.A.T. TEAM
STORMS THE HOUSE,
PREPARED TO TAKE CARSON DOWN.
Narrator: JUNE 29, 1991.
I SAID DON'T!
MARVIN CARSON
MURDERS A RIVAL BIKER.
[ GUNSHOTS ]
NOW HE'S ON THE RUN.
BUT POLICE ARE TIPPED OFF
THAT HE'S STAYING
AT HIS GIRLFRIEND'S HOUSE.
THE S.W.A.T. TEAM MOVES IN
FOR THE CAPTURE.
POLICE! FREEZE!
GET UP, GET UP!
THE S.W.A.T. CONDUCTS A THOROUGH
SEARCH OF THE RESIDENCE.
THEY DON'T FIND CARSON.
APPARENTLY, MARVIN CARSON
HAD LEFT EARLIER.
Narrator:
THE POLICE DON'T FIND CARSON,
BUT THEY DO UNCOVER
SOME DISTURBING EVIDENCE.
Farmer: SHE HAD A LARGE AMOUNT
OF AK-47 AMMO
AND EXTRA CLIPS
FOR THE ASSAULT WEAPON,
AND WE COLLECTED
ALL THAT AS EVIDENCE.
CLIPS FOR AK-47s.
WE GOT OUR MAN.
YEAH.
Narrator: SHERIFF BILL FARMER
IS DETERMINED
TO STAY ON CARSON'S TRAIL.
HE DIGS DEEPER
INTO THE INVESTIGATION
AND LEARNS THAT CARSON IS
NO STRANGER TO VIOLENT ACTIVITY.
MARVIN CARSON HAS GOT A HISTORY
OF VIOLENCE IN THE PAST,
OF CONFRONTING PEOPLE THAT
HE FEELS HAS DONE HIM WRONG.
Narrator: YEARS EARLIER, CARSON
WALKED INTO A FLORIDA BAR,
AND A FIGHT BROKE OUT.
HE GOT INVOLVED
IN A DISAGREEMENT
WITH A GENTLEMAN AT A BAR
OVER NEAR TAMPA...
I'M NOT SCARED OF YOU, EITHER,
MAN!
YOU SHOULD BE!
...OVER A YOUNG LADY,
A 19-YEAR-OLD GIRL.
NEVER TALK TO ME
LIKE THAT!
Narrator: ALTHOUGH DETAILS
OF THE MURDER ARE UNCLEAR...
[ GLASS SHATTERS ]
YOU'RE NOT WORTH IT.
YOU'RE NOT WORTH IT!
GET OUT OF HERE!
...CARSON REPORTEDLY
WALKS AWAY FROM THE FIGHT.
THAT'S RIGHT, WALK.
A BASEBALL BAT CATCHES HIS EYE.
[ BREATHING HEAVILY ]
I THOUGHT, "WELL, I'LL GO SEE
WHAT THIS GUY'S PROBLEM IS."
Gross:
CARSON CAME UP BEHIND HIM
WITHOUT ANY WARNING
WHATSOEVER...
...AND HIT HIM
IN THE BACK OF THE HEAD.
AND WITH ONE BLOW,
HE KNOCKED THIS GUY INTO A COMA
FROM WHICH HE NEVER RECOVERED.
Narrator: CARSON'S VICTIM
DIES FROM HIS INJURIES.
I FEEL LIKE THE GUY
GOT WHAT HE ASKED FOR.
Narrator: CARSON SERVED
FIVE YEARS IN THE STATE PRISON
FOR SECOND-DEGREE MURDER.
AFTER THAT FIRST BIT, I FOUND
OUT WHAT PRISON WAS LIKE.
I HAD NO DESIRE OR INTENTION
TO EVER GO BACK.
Narrator: TWO DECADES LATER,
CARSON IS WANTED FOR MURDER
AGAIN.
AT POLICE HEADQUARTERS,
AUTHORITIES SCRAMBLE
TO NOTIFY LOCAL AGENCIES
THAT A HARDENED CRIMINAL
IS ON THE LOOSE.
HE'S KILLED TWICE, AND POLICE
BELIEVE HE'LL STRIKE AGAIN.
AAH!
CARSON'S CRIMINAL HISTORY
GIVES HIM AN EDGE.
HE'S BEEN AROUND FUGITIVES
BEFORE,
AND HE KNOWS THE STEPS HE HAS TO
TAKE TO STAY ON THE RUN.
CARSON AND RICHARDSON
SPLIT OFF FROM THE GROUP.
THEN CARSON DITCHES
THE MURDER WEAPONS IN A SWAMP.
[ WATER SPLASHES ]
CARSON AND RICHARDSON KNOW THEY
NEED A TEMPORARY SAFE HOUSE.
Carson: AT THAT POINT,
I HAD NO IDEA WHAT TO DO,
OTHER THAN
I COULDN'T GO BACK FOR A WHILE.
THE ONLY THING I COULD THINK OF
WAS TO JUST LET SOME TIME PASS.
Narrator:
RICHARDSON'S MOTHER LIVES
IN DAYTONA BEACH, FLORIDA.
THEY HEAD THERE TO HIDE OUT
FOR A COUPLE OF DAYS.
THEY BELIEVE IT IS THEIR BEST
SHOT TO STAY UNDER THE RADAR.
CARSON REALIZES
THAT HE STANDS OUT IN A CROWD
IN HIS BIKER GEAR.
HE DITCHES HIS BIKER CLOTHING
FOR A WHOLE NEW LOOK.
CARSON IS DETERMINED
NOT TO GET CAUGHT.
HE REMOVES ONE OF HIS
MOST IDENTIFIABLE FEATURES.
Carson: I WANTED TO LOOK LIKE
A RETIRED YANKEE, YOU KNOW?
GOT A MILLION OF THEM
DOWN HERE -- SNOWBIRDS.
JUST JOIN THE FLOCK.
Narrator: CARSON BELIEVES
HE LOOKS NOTHING
LIKE HIS PICTURE
ON HIS WANTED POSTER.
I COULD HAVE
WALKED IN A COP SHOP,
THEY WOULDN'T EVEN
HAVE KNOWN ME.
Narrator: WHILE CARSON
CREATES A NEW IDENTITY,
WORD OF THE MURDER
REACHES HIS FAMILY.
HIS TWO SISTERS HEAR
THAT CARSON IS ON THE RUN,
AND THEY FIND OUT WHY.
WHAT'S UP?
I GOT A CALL FROM MY SISTER.
SHE SAID HE HAD SHOT SOMEONE.
OH, MY GOD.
IT TOOK ME A WHILE TO COMPREHEND
THAT SOMETHING LIKE THIS
COULD ACTUALLY HAPPEN.
I WAS TOTALLY IN SHOCK.
I WAS LIKE, "WHAT HAPPENED?"
Narrator:
THE MURDER DETAILS DON'T ADD UP
FOR CARSON'S SISTER.
UNFORTUNATELY,
FOR HIM AND EVERYBODY ELSE,
THERE WERE THREE WITNESSES IN
THE TRAILER, THREE OTHER PEOPLE,
WHICH,
IF MY BROTHER HAD INTENDED
ON GOING IN AND KILLING HAWK,
HE WOULD NOT HAVE LEFT
ANY WITNESSES.
Narrator: POLICE RATCHET UP
THEIR INVESTIGATION
AND DEVELOP INSIGHT INTO WHY
CARSON COMMITTED THE HOMICIDE.
MARVIN CARSON'S GOT A HISTORY
OF VIOLENCE IN THE PAST,
OF CONFRONTING PEOPLE THAT
HE FEELS HAS DONE HIM WRONG.
HE FELT THAT RICHARD HAWK
HAD DONE HIM WRONG,
AND HE WENT TO HIS HOUSE
TO CONFRONT HIM,
AND THE SHOOTING OCCURRED.
Narrator: SHERIFF FARMER NOW HAS
ANOTHER PROBLEM ON HIS HANDS.
WORD ON THE STREET
IS THE OUTLAWS HAVE A CONTRACT
ON CARSON'S HEAD.
FARMER KNOWS
HE HAS TO MOVE FAST.
Farmer: I FELT LIKE I NEEDED
TO FIND THEM FIRST
BEFORE THE OUTLAWS GOT TO THEM
OR I MIGHT NOT HAVE ANYBODY
TO TALK TO, REFERENCE THIS CASE.
IT WAS ALMOST LIKE A CONTEST
BETWEEN THE OUTLAWS AND US
TO WHO COULD GET HIM FIRST.
[ ENGINE TURNS OVER ]
IT WAS A WELL-KNOWN FACT THAT
YOU DIDN'T CROSS THEM, YOU KNOW?
AND IF YOU GOT CROSSWAYS
WITH ONE OF THEM,
YOU GOT CROSSWAYS
WITH ALL OF THEM.
Narrator: EVEN CARSON'S FAMILY
IS CONCERNED.
THEY KNOW THERE'S A GOOD CHANCE
THE OUTLAWS COULD GET TO CARSON
BEFORE THE POLICE DO.
Green: IF THE OUTLAWS
CAUGHT UP WITH HIM,
I WOULD NEVER HAVE SEEN HIM
AGAIN, I'M SURE.
THEY WOULD KILL HIM AND BURY HIM
IN A DITCH SOMEWHERE,
AND THAT WOULD BE IT.
Narrator:
CARSON AND RICHARDSON NOW HAVE
LAW ENFORCEMENT AND OUTLAWS
HUNTING FOR THEM.
THEY DECIDE THEY NEED
TO SPLIT UP AND LEAVE FLORIDA.
RICHARDSON ESCAPES TO VERMONT
WHILE CARSON DECIDES
TO HEAD TO LOUISIANA.
Carson: THERE'S JUST TOO MANY
PEOPLE IN FLORIDA THAT KNEW ME.
YOU'VE ALWAYS GOT SOMEBODY
THAT'S GONNA GO TO THE COPS.
I DON'T CARE WHERE YOU'RE AT.
Narrator: CARSON IS RUNNING,
BUT HE'S NOT RUNNING SCARED.
I WASN'T WORRIED
ABOUT THOSE PEOPLE.
I STILL HAD A GUN.
[ CHUCKLES ]
AND AT THAT POINT,
I GOT NOTHING TO LOSE.
I ALREADY GOT
A HOMICIDE WARRANT ON ME.
WHAT ARE THEY GONNA DO TO ME?
Narrator: CARSON KNOWS THAT HE
NEEDS CASH TO STAY ON THE RUN.
ON HIS WAY TO LOUISIANA,
HE STOPS AT A MEATPACKING PLANT
IN LAKELAND, FLORIDA.
HIS FRIEND DAVID BLANTON
OWES HIM MONEY.
HEY, BARNES.
AND I CAUGHT HIM COMING OUT
OF LAKES BROTHERS,
WHERE HE WORKED,
AND TOLD HIM WHAT HAPPENED.
ONE OF HIS FRIENDS
WAS WITH HIM.
GIVE ME AN HOUR,
AND THEN COME BACK.
AND HIS FRIEND WENT HOME
AND TOLD HIS WIFE ABOUT IT,
AND SHE CALLED THE COPS.
Narrator:
WHILE CARSON WAITS FOR HIS CASH,
POLICE ARE BEING TOLD
HIS EXACT LOCATION.
NOW!
Narrator: JULY 1991.
[ GUNSHOTS ]
MARVIN CARSON IS ON THE RUN
AFTER MURDERING A MAN
IN FLORIDA.
AS HE GETS READY TO JUMP
THE STATE LINE INTO LOUISIANA,
HE MAKES A MISTAKE.
HEY, BARNES.
IT'S CARSON.
HE STOPS TO GET CASH
FROM A FRIEND.
HE'S TIPPED OFF TO POLICE.
[ SIRENS WAIL ]
Farmer:
I THINK I'VE GOT A HOT LEAD,
AND POSSIBLY
THIS IS WHERE CARSON'S AT.
Narrator: CARSON GETS HIS CASH
AND TAKES OFF.
WHEN POLICE ARRIVE ON THE SCENE,
CARSON IS GONE WITHOUT A TRACE.
Carson: YOU NEVER KNOW
WHO YOU CAN TRUST.
DIDN'T MISS ME BY MUCH.
Farmer: OF COURSE, WE RUN DOWN
LEADS LIKE THIS ALL THE TIME,
AND SOMETIMES YOU GET YOUR HANDS
ON THESE PEOPLE,
SOMETIMES YOU DON'T.
THEY KEEP RIGHT ON RUNNING.
NOBODY'S EVER BEEN ABLE
TO FIND ME
WHEN I DIDN'T WANT TO BE FOUND.
YOU KNOW,
IT'S NOT THE FIRST TIME
PEOPLE HAVE BEEN LOOKING FOR ME.
Narrator: TWO WEEKS
INTO THE INVESTIGATION,
POLICE GET A NEW BREAK.
THEY RECEIVE A CALL THAT BIKERS
ARE CAUSING A DISTURBANCE
AT THE HOME
OF CARSON'S GIRLFRIEND
IN FLORAL CITY, FLORIDA.
I HAD SOME PEOPLE OVER THERE
THAT WAS TRYING TO BUY MY BIKES.
AND THEY'D BEEN OVER THERE, AND
THEY WERE CRANKING THE BIKES.
Narrator: POLICE RESPOND,
AND THEY SEE CARSON'S GIRLFRIEND
LEAVING HER HOUSE.
SHE'S WITH A MAN
WHO FITS CARSON'S DESCRIPTION.
POLICE THINK THEY HAVE
A POSITIVE I.D.
[ CAR DOOR OPENS, CLOSES ]
THEY MOVE IN
AND SURROUND THE VEHICLE.
HANDS ON THE CAR!
HANDS ON THE CAR!
YOU'RE UNDER ARREST, CARSON!
I'M NOT CARSON!
Narrator:
THEY'VE GOT THE WRONG MAN.
INVESTIGATORS
ARE GETTING FRUSTRATED.
LOOKS LIKE WE'VE MADE
A MAJOR MISTAKE HERE.
YEAH, RIGHT.
Farmer: WE JUST FELT LIKE
IT WAS ONLY A MATTER OF TIME
BEFORE HE MIGHT KILL AGAIN
TO STAY, YOU KNOW, ON THE RUN.
ANYBODY ELSE WHO GETS IN HIS
WAY, HE COULD KILL THEM, ALSO.
HE HAD SAFE HOUSES AND BIKER
GROUPS AROUND THE NATION
THAT HE COULD GO TO
AND THAT THEY WOULD HIDE HIM.
A LOT OF THEIR PEOPLE
ARE ON THE RUN,
AND THEY PROVIDE SAFE HAVENS
FOR THEM TO HIDE FROM THE LAW.
MY BIG ADVANTAGE WAS THAT
I HAD A LOT OF FRIENDS,
THE BIKERS AND THE REDNECKS --
NONE OF THEM LIKE COPS.
[ LAUGHS ] YOU KNOW?
IF THEY COULD HELP SOMEBODY
THAT'S ON THE RUN FROM THE LAW,
THEY'D DO IT
EVEN IF THEY DIDN'T LIKE YOU.
Narrator:
CARSON CAN FEEL THE HEAT,
AND HE WANTS TO GET OUT OF TOWN.
HE CATCHES A BUS IN ORLANDO
AND TRAVELS 1,000 MILES
TO SHREVEPORT, LOUISIANA.
Carson: I HAD NEVER BEEN
IN LOUISIANA IN MY LIFE,
SO I FIGURED THAT WOULD
BE A GOOD PLACE TO GO.
THERE WOULD BE ONLY FOUR PEOPLE
THERE THAT KNEW ME.
YOU KNOW, MY FRIEND AND HIS WIFE
AND HIS TWO KIDS.
Narrator: CARSON SETTLES IN
TO A QUIET ROUTINE IN LOUISIANA.
BUT HE DOESN'T GET COMPLACENT.
HE STARTS READING UP ON HOW TO
BECOME AN EVEN BETTER FUGITIVE.
Carson: I READ
ALL THESE UNDERGROUND BOOKS,
BOOKS ON HOW TO GET LOST
AND STAY LOST,
HOW TO CHANGE YOUR IDENTITY.
FOR THE FIRST COUPLE OF MONTHS,
I DIDN'T DO MUCH OF ANYTHING
EXCEPT STAY AROUND THE HOUSE
AND READ AND WATCH TV.
Narrator: CARSON FEELS LIKE HE'S
DONE ENOUGH TO COVER HIS TRACKS,
BUT HE DOESN'T LIKE THE IDEA
THAT HE HAS TO RUN AND HIDE
FROM ANYONE.
Carson:
WHEN YOU'RE OUT THERE,
YOU REALLY DON'T HAVE
ANY CONTROL OVER ANYTHING.
YOU HAVE CONTROL
OVER YOUR ACTIONS,
BUT EVEN IF YOU'RE REALLY ON TOP
OF EVERYTHING THAT YOU'RE DOING,
THERE'S STILL WAYS
THAT THEY CAN GET YOU.
Narrator:
CARSON CONTINUES TO DRAW
FROM HIS CRIMINAL EXPERIENCE.
HE KNOWS HE SHOULDN'T RISK
GOING OUT ON THE OPEN ROAD.
HE STOPS DRIVING COMPLETELY.
THE MAIN THING
THAT I KNEW ABOUT FUGITIVES
AND FUGITIVES
BEING CAUGHT BY THE COPS
WAS THAT THEY WERE USUALLY
PICKED UP ON TRAFFIC STOPS.
Narrator:
THE ONLY TIME CARSON LEAVES
HIS HIDEOUT IS TO GO RUNNING.
HE'S TRYING TO LOSE WEIGHT
TO CHANGE HIS APPEARANCE.
I WAS CUTTING DOWN
ON MY CALORIES
AND DOING A LOT OF EXERCISE,
AND THAT PRETTY MUCH
TOTALLY CHANGED MY APPEARANCE.
Narrator:
BUT HIS PLAN BACKFIRES.
WHAT HE DOESN'T REALIZE
IS THAT HE STANDS OUT.
Carson: THEN I NOTICED
THAT I WAS THE ONLY ONE
IN TOWN JOGGING, YOU KNOW?
Narrator:
CARSON'S BIG FIGURE RUNNING
DOWN THE ROAD AROUSES SUSPICION.
THIS ONE COP
WAS SITTING DOWN BY THIS MALL,
AND I STARTED JOGGING EVERY DAY
FROM MY FRIEND'S HOUSE,
AND I SEEN THIS GUY
LOOKING AT ME.
AND HE WAS SITTING IN HIS CAR,
YOU KNOW,
AT THIS ONE PLACE,
AND HE WAS THERE EVERY DAY.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT HE WAS DOING.
AND IT WAS JUST LIKE TWO OR
THREE DAYS IN A ROW, YOU KNOW?
AND I WAS RUNNING
THE SAME ROUTE.
Narrator: THE OFFICER MOVES IN
FOR A CLOSER LOOK.
WHEN I SAW THE COP TURN AROUND
AND FOLLOW ME,
I WAS WORRIED THAT HE MIGHT STOP
ME AND ASK ME FOR SOME I.D.,
AND I DIDN'T HAVE ANY, AND...
WHAT THAT MIGHT LEAD TO.
Narrator: THE COP TAKES
A GOOD LOOK AT CARSON...
AND THEN SHRUGS HIM OFF.
CARSON KNOWS HE'S JUST
HAD A VERY CLOSE CALL.
Carson: I NEVER THOUGHT
I WAS FREE AND CLEAR.
I KNEW THAT, ANY MOMENT,
YOU KNOW, IT COULD ALL GO SOUR.
Narrator:
LOUISIANA POLICE MAY HAVE
NEARLY MISSED A FUGITIVE,
BUT FLORIDA POLICE NOW HAVE THE
BREAK THEY'VE BEEN WAITING FOR.
BILL FARMER LEARNS THAT A
NEIGHBORING SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT
HAS A RELIABLE INFORMANT...
DAVID FOX.
AND THEY ARE WILLING
TO GO TO GREAT LENGTHS
TO USE THEIR NEW SOURCE.
SO, FOX, I WANT YOU TO TELL ME
WHERE CARSON IS.
AND THEY LET HIM OUT BECAUSE
HE TOLD THEM HE COULD FIND ME.
I CAN FIND HIM REAL EASY,
BUT I CAN'T DO IT FROM HERE.
HE WAS AN INFORMANT
FOR PINELLAS COUNTY,
AND HE'D BEEN AN INFORMANT
ON SOME BIKER ACTIVITY.
Narrator:
POLICE ARE CONFIDENT THAT FOX
WILL LEAD THEM RIGHT TO CARSON.
THEY RELEASE HIM FROM PRISON.
FOX GOES RIGHT TO WORK
LOOKING FOR CARSON.
FOX LEAVES A BIKER BAR
WITH TWO MEN.
ONE OF THEM
MARCHES CARSON'S DESCRIPTION.
THE BEST LEAD INVESTIGATORS HAVE
WALKS OUT OF A BAR AND STEPS
DIRECTLY INTO TROUBLE.
HEY, WHAT'S GOING ON?!
HEY! HEY!
[ SIREN WAILS ]
Narrator:
MARVIN CARSON IS ON THE LAM.
BUT POLICE BELIEVE
THEY ARE CLOSING IN ON HIM.
THEY HAVE AN INFORMANT NAMED FOX
WHO THEY THINK
CAN GET TO CARSON.
I CAN FIND HIM REAL EASY,
BUT I CAN'T DO IT FROM HERE.
FOX GOES OUT TO A BIKER BAR
IN CENTRAL FLORIDA.
AND THEY SAID
THE LAST TIME HE WAS SEEN,
IT WAS LEAVING A PANASOFFKEE BAR
WITH TWO BIG GUYS.
Narrator: BUT HE'S NEVER
HEARD FROM AGAIN.
HEY, WHAT'S GOING ON?!
HEY! HEY!
GET DOWN ON YOUR KNEES!
I WOULDN'T RAT ON A BIKER!
I AIN'T A RAT, OKAY?
FOX WAS MADE TO KNEEL
SIDE OF THE ROAD,
AND HE WAS SHOT IN THE BACK
OF THE HEAD, EXECUTION STYLE.
Narrator:
WHEN HIS BODY IS FOUND,
POLICE FIND WHAT THEY BELIEVE
IS A CALLING CARD.
Carson:
WHEN THEY FOUND HIM,
THEY FOUND MY NAME
IN HIS POCKET.
Narrator: POLICE THINK CARSON
HAS STRUCK AGAIN.
Farmer: WE FELT THAT MAYBE
THIS WAS MARVIN CARSON
SENDING A MESSAGE --
"IF ANYBODY'S GONNA RAT ME OUT
OR INFORM ON ME,
I'LL TAKE CARE OF THE PROBLEM."
Narrator: POLICE BELIEVE CARSON
IS TOYING WITH THEM.
THEY THINK HE'S SENDING THEM
A PERSONAL MESSAGE.
Farmer: WE FELT LIKE
HE'S PUT ANOTHER BODY ON US.
HE'S KILLED ANOTHER INDIVIDUAL
AND DUMPED HIM ON US,
SO TO SPEAK,
AND WE WANTED HIM REAL BAD.
WE FEEL THAT HE KILLED
DAVID FOX, HE MAY KILL AGAIN.
Narrator: CARSON CLAIMS TO KNOW
NOTHING ABOUT THE MURDER.
HE BELIEVES THAT FOX
CROSSED THE OUTLAWS
BY INFORMING ON THEIR ACTIVITIES
AND THAT THE OUTLAWS
ARE TRYING TO FRAME HIM.
I AIN'T A RAT, OKAY?
Carson:
OH, I KNOW WHAT HAPPENED TO HIM.
THE OUTLAWS KILLED HIM.
I TOLD YOU WHAT HAPPENS
WHEN YOU SCREW WITH THEM PEOPLE.
YOU TURN ONE OF THEIR MEMBERS
OVER TO THE COPS...
I'M SURPRISED
IT TOOK AS LONG AS IT DID.
Narrator:
IT'S A CLEAN KNOCK-OFF.
POLICE CAN'T TIE ANYONE,
INCLUDING CARSON, TO THE CRIME.
AFTER FOX'S MURDER,
POLICE SOURCES
COMPLETELY DRY UP.
Farmer: HE WAS ON THE RUN,
JUST STAYING WITH FRIENDS,
AND HANGING OUT IN BIKER BARS
AND SAFE HOUSES,
TRYING TO STAY
ONE STEP AHEAD OF US.
AND YOU'RE WAITING ON THAT NEXT
PHONE CALL, THAT NEXT LEAD,
AND YOU'RE HOPING FOR IT,
AND IT'S JUST
A GREAT ANTICIPATION
TRYING TO GET THAT NEXT LEAD.
Narrator:
CARSON KNOWS THAT POLICE
WON'T GIVE UP THEIR MANHUNT.
HE DECIDES HE'S BEEN
IN LOUISIANA LONG ENOUGH.
HE WANTS TO STAY ON THE MOVE.
PARANOID THAT POLICE
MAY BE TAPPING PHONES,
HE USES A PAY PHONE TO CALL
HIS BROTHER IN ATLANTA, GEORGIA.
I TOLD HIM, I SAID,
"I NEED TO COME OVER AND STAY IN
ATLANTA FOR A WHILE, YOU KNOW?"
I SAID, "CAN YOU GET ME
A PLACE TO STAY OVER THERE?"
HE TOOK THE NEXT DAY OFF,
AND HE COME OVER AND GOT ME.
Narrator: POLICE REFUSE TO BACK
OFF THIS FUGITIVE COLD CASE.
WE WERE CONSTANTLY
LOOKING FOR HIM
AND LOOKING FOR THAT NEXT LEAD.
Narrator: WHILE POLICE WORK TO
EXPLOIT ANY LEADS THAT COME IN,
CARSON IS GETTING COMFORTABLE
AS A FUGITIVE ON THE RUN.
MY ACE IN THE HOLE WAS THE FACT
THAT NOT THAT MANY PEOPLE
KNEW WHERE I WAS AT
FOR MOST OF THE TIME
THAT I WAS GONE.
BUT YOU'RE ALWAYS LOOKING TO SEE
WHO AND WHAT'S AROUND YOU.
Narrator:
CARSON FEELS SAFE IN ATLANTA.
BUT TO SURVIVE ON THE RUN,
HE NEEDS MORE CASH.
Green: IT'S NOT EASY TO RUN
IF YOU DON'T HAVE MONEY,
AND IT'S KIND OF HARD TO GET A
JOB IF YOU DON'T HAVE YOUR I.D.
AND AS SOON AS SOMEBODY
KNOWS WHO YOU ARE,
THEN THEY'RE GONNA BE
COMING AFTER YOU, SO...
IT'S VERY HARD TO BE ON THE RUN
IF YOU DON'T HAVE A LOT OF HELP.
Narrator:
CARSON IS DESPERATE FOR CASH.
HE CALLS A FRIEND IN FLORIDA
FOR HELP.
Carson: HAD CONTACTED KAT AGAIN
AND TOLD HER TO SELL MY BIKE.
I HAD A '50 HARLEY
THAT I HAD JUST SPENT $20,000
REBUILDING FROM THE GROUND UP.
Narrator:
DESPITE THE INFLOW OF CASH,
LIFE ON THE LAM IS TOUGH...
EVEN FOR A HARDENED BIKER.
Carson: IT WASN'T ANY FUN.
YOU GET ATTACHED TO PEOPLE.
YOU GET ATTACHED TO PLACES.
IT'S LIKE A NIGHTMARE
NEVER REALLY LIVING LIFE.
YOU'RE JUST EXISTING
FROM DAY TO DAY.
CARSON.
Narrator:
CARSON ROUTINELY CALLS IN
TO CHECK ON FRIENDS AND FAMILY,
BUT IN OCTOBER OF 1992,
HE'S STUNNED BY NEWS
OF HIS CO-CONSPIRATOR,
MICHAEL RICHARDSON.
HE HAD COME BACK FROM VERMONT
FOR HIS MOTHER'S FUNERAL,
AND THE COPS GOT HIM
AT HIS MOTHER'S FUNERAL.
Narrator: CARSON IS LEARNING
ABOUT THE ARREST
ALMOST A YEAR
AFTER IT TOOK PLACE.
THE DELAYED NEWS
SURPRISES CARSON.
HE'S EVEN MORE SHOCKED
BY RICHARDSON'S LIGHT SENTENCE.
AAH!
THEY SENTENCED
HIM TO THREE YEARS
FOR MANSLAUGHTER
WITHOUT A FIREARM,
RUNNING CONCURRENT
WITH A PROBATION VIOLATION.
Narrator: WHEN RICHARDSON
IS BROUGHT IN TO CUSTODY,
POLICE TRY
TO EXTRACT INFORMATION
ON CARSON'S WHEREABOUTS.
BUT RICHARDSON
WON'T GIVE ANYTHING UP.
JUST PART OF THE DEAL
IN WORKING WITH A MOTORCYCLE
OR A BIKER-STYLE CULTURE
THAT THEY'RE NOT GONNA
ASSIST LAW ENFORCEMENT.
Narrator: CARSON IMMEDIATELY HAS
A FRIEND MEET WITH A LAWYER.
HE WANTS TO KNOW IF HE WOULD
ALSO GET A LIGHT SENTENCE
IF HE TURNED HIMSELF IN.
THE ATTORNEY TOLD HIM
THAT SINCE MIKE AND I HAD BOTH
DONE THE SAME THING,
WE'D BOTH SHOT THE GUY,
THAT THEY COULDN'T DO ANYTHING
TO ME BUT WHAT THEY DONE TO HIM.
SO I'M THINKING,
"I COULD DO THREE YEARS
STANDING ON MY HEAD,"
SO THAT'S WHEN
I DECIDED TO COME BACK.
Narrator: HE'S WILLING TO RISK
GOING HOME TO FLORIDA,
BUT HE'S NOT WILLING
TO TURN HIMSELF IN.
ONCE I FIGURED THAT I WOULDN'T
HAVE TO DO ANY REAL TIME,
YOU KNOW, THERE WAS NO REASON
FOR ME TO BE ANYWHERE BUT HERE.
I DECIDED TO JUST GO BACK
TO MY OLD STOMPING GROUNDS
AND GO BACK TO DOING
WHAT I DID BEST -- PARTYING.
TURNING MYSELF IN
IS AGAINST MY RELIGION.
Narrator: NOVEMBER 1992.
CARSON RETURNS TO FLORIDA
AND HEADS OUT WITH A FRIEND
TO RED FRED'S,
A LOCAL BAR IN PLANT CITY.
WHAT DO YOU
WANT TO DRINK?
WE'RE SITTING IN THERE DRINKING,
AND THIS COP WALKS IN THE BAR...
AND GOES OVER AND STARTS
TALKING TO THE BARMAID.
AND I TOLD MY FRIEND,
I SAID, "I SEE THE COPS
STILL COME IN HERE."
AND HE SAID, "NO,
THEY DON'T COME IN HERE.
THEY DON'T COME IN HERE
ANYMORE AT ALL."
AND I SAID, "OH, OKAY."
I'LL SEE YOU, MAN.
Narrator: CARSON KNOWS HE HAS TO
MOVE FAST TO AVOID CAPTURE.
WHEN WE SAW THE COP COME IN,
I WENT OUT THE BACK DOOR.
THERE'S AN ALLEY BETWEEN THE BAR
AND THE BUILDING NEXT DOOR.
Narrator:
HE TEARS OUT OF THE PARKING LOT.
HE'S BARELY
A STEP AHEAD OF POLICE.
MY LUCK -- I GET CAUGHT
BY A FREIGHT TRAIN.
[ TRAIN HORN BLOWS ]
SO I'M SITTING THERE
IN THE TRUCK,
AND I LOOK OVER TO MY RIGHT,
AND THERE'S EIGHT COP CARS
SITTING IN THAT PARKING LOT.
I'M GOING, "OH..."
[ LAUGHS ]
Narrator: CARSON IS TRAPPED
BY THE PASSING TRAIN,
AND POLICE
ARE CLOSING IN ON HIM.
[ SIREN WAILS ]
[ SIREN WAILS ]
Narrator: NOVEMBER 1992.
MARVIN CARSON HAS ELUDED
LAW ENFORCEMENT FOR 16 MONTHS.
NOW HIS FUGITIVE DAYS
ARE IN JEOPARDY.
FLORAL CITY, FLORIDA, POLICE
RESPOND TO A TIP
THAT CARSON IS AT A LOCAL BAR.
CARSON SLIPS OUT THE BACK OF THE
BAR BEFORE POLICE CAN GRAB HIM.
HIS GETAWAY IS THEN STOPPED
BY A PASSING TRAIN.
I LOOKED OVER AND SAW THE COPS,
AND THAT GOT MY HEART RATE UP
A LITTLE BIT, YOU KNOW?
I DIDN'T THINK
THEY WERE READY FOR ME.
I DIDN'T THINK
I WAS READY FOR THEM.
Narrator: AFTER TENSE MOMENTS,
THE FREIGHT TRAIN PASSES.
CARSON SPEEDS AWAY BEFORE POLICE
REALIZE WHAT HAS HAPPENED.
EVEN THOUGH THE POLICE WERE
AFTER ME, I WAS AFTER A DRINK.
I WANTED A DRINK, AND I WAS
GONNA GET ONE SOMEWHERE.
Narrator: HE HEADS INTO
A SECOND BAR DOWN THE ROAD.
BUT A FRIEND STOPS HIM
WITH A FIRM WARNING.
HEY. HOW'S IT GOING, MAN?
Carson: MY FRIEND TOLD ME
THAT IT WASN'T A GOOD IDEA
FOR ME TO GO IN THAT BAR
'CAUSE THE COPS HAD JUST BEEN
THERE LOOKING FOR ME.
I OWE YOU.
I OWE YOU, MAN.
Narrator: CARSON MOVES ON.
HE FINDS A THIRD BAR
FARTHER DOWN THE ROAD
AND STOPS IN FOR A DRINK.
BUT HIS LUCK
IS STARTING TO RUN OUT.
Carson: AND I GET A BEER.
AND THE NEXT THING I KNOW,
I SEE LIGHTS OUT THERE.
AND THEY'RE TOWING THE TRUCK.
Narrator:
POLICE HAVE IDENTIFIED HIS TRUCK
AND ARE HOT ON HIS TRAIL.
ONCE AGAIN, CARSON SLIPS OUT
OF THE BACK OF THE BAR
BEFORE THE COPS CAN GRAB HIM.
NOW ON FOOT, HE'S EXPOSED.
HE REMEMBERS AN OLD FRIEND
LIVES NEARBY.
HE GOES THERE TO HIDE OUT.
FOR FIVE WEEKS,
CARSON LIVES RIGHT UNDER
THE NOSE OF AUTHORITIES.
CARSON NOTICES
SOMETHING UNUSUAL.
Carson: AFTER BEING OUT THERE
A COUPLE WEEKS,
THIS FOUR-DOOR OLDSMOBILE --
ONE OF THE OLD '70s,
BIG, LONG,
HAD 90% TINT ON THE WINDOWS.
YOU COULD TELL,
EVEN WITH THE TINT,
THERE WAS FOUR GUYS IN THE CAR.
SO I'M THINKING, "COPS."
Narrator: CARSON KNOWS THAT THE
COPS ARE STILL LOOKING FOR HIM.
BUT AT 6'5" AND 200 POUNDS,
MARVIN CARSON ISN'T AFRAID
OF ANYONE OR ANYTHING.
CARSON FIGURES
THAT IF HIS ACCOMPLICE
ONLY SERVED THREE YEARS,
HE, TOO, WILL FACE
A RELATIVELY SHORT SENTENCE.
I KNEW THEY WERE GONNA
COME AND GET A WARRANT,
COME TO THE DOOR SOONER OR
LATER, SO I DECIDED IT WAS TIME.
I ROLLED ME A BIG, OLD FAT
DOOBIE UP AND SMOKED IT,
PUT MY WALKMAN ON
AND WENT WALKING DOWN THE ROAD.
AND WHEN I WAS WALKING OUT,
THE GUYS DROVE THE OLDSMOBILE
BY ME.
I SEEN THEM DRIVING BY
REAL SLOW, LOOKING AT ME.
I'M THINKING, "HMM. STRANGE."
SO I WENT DOWN, AND I GOT THE
NEWSPAPER, AND I STARTED BACK.
AND THEY WAITED TILL I GOT
ON THAT LONG, STRAIGHT STRETCH.
Narrator:
THE UNDERCOVER OFFICERS MAKE
THE CALL TO MOVE IN ON CARSON.
HEY.
I NEED TO SEE SOME I.D.
Carson: I JUST LOOKED AT THEM,
I SAID, "YOU KNOW WHO I AM."
"GET ON THE GROUND!
GET ON THE GROUND!"
SAID, "YOU GET ON THE GROUND."
I'M THINKING, "ABOUT TIME."
[ LAUGHS ]
YOU KNOW?
"TOOK YOU LONG ENOUGH."
Narrator: SUMTER COUNTY,
FLORIDA, SHERIFFS ARE RELIEVED
THAT THIS FUGITIVE CASE
IS CLOSED.
Farmer: I WOULD HAVE
LOVED TO HAVE BEEN THERE
DOING THE APPREHENSION
OF MARVIN CARSON
AFTER SEARCHING SO MANY MONTHS
FOR HIM.
IT WAS STILL GREAT TO KNOW
THAT HE WAS IN CUSTODY
AND HE WAS GONNA BE BROUGHT
BACK HERE TO STAND TRIAL.
Narrator: SEPTEMBER 1993.
MARVIN CARSON GOES TO TRIAL.
DISTRICT ATTORNEY BILL GROSS
DOESN'T BUY CARSON'S CLAIM
THAT HE KILLED RICHARD HAWK
IN SELF-DEFENSE.
[ GUNSHOTS ]
WE WERE NOT IN A DEALING MOOD
WITH MR. CARSON.
LOOKING AT HIS BACKGROUND,
THE FACT THAT THIS WAS THE
SECOND PERSON HE HAD KILLED,
THERE WAS NOT GONNA BE
ANY DEALING WITH MR. CARSON.
I SOUGHT THE DEATH PENALTY.
I TRULY BELIEVE, TO THIS DAY,
THAT SOME PEOPLE DO NOT DESERVE
THE DEATH PENALTY
FOR FIRST-DEGREE MURDER.
MR. CARSON, HOWEVER, DOES.
Narrator: JUNE 23, 1994.
THE 12-MEMBER JURY
RETURNS THE VERDICT.
GUILTY.
HE HAD AN EXCELLENT LAWYER,
AND HIS LAWYER ARGUED ELOQUENTLY
FOR HIS LIFE.
HE FOUGHT TOOTH AND NAIL,
AND HE WAS SUCCESSFUL
IN SAVING MR. CARSON'S LIFE.
HE SHOULD BE ON DEATH ROW.
Narrator:
CARSON RECEIVES A LIFE SENTENCE
FOR THE MURDER OF RICHARD HAWK.
HE IS NOW INCARCERATED
AT THE MAXIMUM-SECURITY
POLK CORRECTIONAL FACILITY
IN POLK CITY, FLORIDA.
Farmer: HE'S STILL
A DANGEROUS INDIVIDUAL,
IF HE WAS TO EVER
GET OUT OF PRISON.
I FIRMLY BELIEVE
HE'S WHERE HE BELONGS.
Narrator:
CONVICTED MURDERER MARVIN CARSON
ALMOST GOT AWAY WITH IT,
AND TODAY, HE HAS FEW REGRETS.
TOO MANY PEOPLE SPEND THEIR TIME
THINKING ABOUT TOMORROW,
AND THEY'RE GONE TODAY.
Narrator:
CARSON STILL MAINTAINS
HE FIRED HIS GUN
IN SELF-DEFENSE.
AND RATHER THAN SPEND THE REST
OF HIS DAYS BEHIND BARS,
HE WANTED ANOTHER OUTCOME.
Carson: I WANTED THEM TO GIVE ME
THE DEATH PENALTY AT THAT POINT.
I TOLD MY ATTORNEY THAT I WANTED
THE DEATH PENALTY,
AND HE SAID, "ARE YOU CRAZY?"
AND I SAID, "PROBABLY."
DON'T!
...COMMITS A VIOLENT MURDER.
BACK OFF!
[ GUNSHOTS ]
I SAW BULLET HOLES THAT HAD
PENETRATED ROUGHLY FIVE WALLS.
Narrator:
MARVIN CARSON TAKES DRAMATIC
STEPS TO CHANGE HIS LOOK,
THEN GOES ON THE RUN.
I COULD HAVE WALKED
IN A COP SHOP,
THEY WOULDN'T EVEN
HAVE KNOWN ME.
Narrator:
AUTHORITIES MUST FIND HIM
BEFORE A RIVAL BIKER GANG DOES.
Green: IF THE OUTLAWS
CAUGHT UP WITH HIM,
I WOULD HAVE NEVER
SEEN HIM AGAIN.
Narrator: INVESTIGATORS ARE
FRANTIC TO CATCH THIS MADMAN.
IT WAS ONLY A MATTER OF TIME
BEFORE HE MIGHT KILL AGAIN.
TURNING MYSELF IN
IS AGAINST MY RELIGION.
Narrator: 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
MARVIN CARSON LIVES BY THE CODE
OF THE OPEN ROAD.
[ ENGINE REVS ]
A 43-YEAR-OLD BIKER
FROM CENTRAL FLORIDA,
HE BELIEVES IN THE BIKER
CREDO -- LIVE FREE OR DIE.
IN 1991,
HE PUTS THAT TO THE TEST.
I THINK PART
OF THE BIKER CULTURE
WAS LIKE LIVING IN THE OLD WEST.
YOU KNOW, YOU TOOK CARE
OF YOUR OWN PROBLEMS.
Narrator: CARSON BELIEVES
IN MAKING HIS OWN RULES
AND DICTATING HIS OWN FORM
OF LAW AND ORDER.
Carson: SOMEBODY RAPES YOUR
SISTER, YOU DON'T CALL THE LAW.
YOU GO OVER AND YOU SHOOT
THE SON OF A BITCH.
I DON'T LIVE
BY OTHER PEOPLE'S STANDARDS.
I DON'T RECOGNIZE
ANYBODY'S RIGHT
TO TELL ME HOW TO LIVE MY LIFE.
YOU KNOW?
WHO DIED AND LEFT THEM
IN CHARGE?
Narrator: CARSON IS LIVING AND
WORKING ODD JOBS IN FLORAL CITY,
A QUIET AND RURAL TOWN
25 MILES EAST OF TAMPA, FLORIDA.
ON A SUMMER DAY, CARSON RECEIVES
AN EMOTIONAL CALL
FROM HIS FRIEND KAT BARKER.
HEY, BABE.
HOW YOU DOING?
NO, I'M PISSED.
SHE JUST BROKE UP
WITH HER BIKER BOYFRIEND JUDD,
AND SHE NEEDS CARSON'S HELP.
KAT CALLED ME AND TOLD ME
THAT JUDD HAD LEFT,
THAT THEY BROKE UP,
AND SHE HAD AN OLD THREE-WHEELER
OVER AT HIS HOUSE
IN HIS TRAILER.
AND SHE ASKED ME
TO GO OVER THERE AND GET IT.
YEAH,
I CAN DO THAT FOR YOU.
I KNEW
I COULD COUNT ON YOU.
ALL RIGHT,
SEE YOU LATER.
Narrator: CARSON AGREES TO HELP
KAT GET HER MOTORCYCLE BACK.
HE WAITS FOR JUDD
TO LEAVE HIS HOUSE.
THEN HE MAKES HIS MOVE.
[ ENGINE TURNS OVER ]
JUDD RETURNS
AND FINDS THE BIKE MISSING.
HE SUSPECTS
IT WAS MARVIN CARSON.
JUDD ENLISTS THE HELP
OF RICHARD HAWK,
A DANGEROUS INDIVIDUAL WITH TIES
TO A NOTORIOUS BIKER GANG,
THE OUTLAWS.
AS ANYBODY IN LAW ENFORCEMENT
WILL TELL YOU,
THEY HAVE A REPUTATION
FOR TAKING NAMES
AND DEFINITELY
EXTRACTING PUNISHMENT
FOR PEOPLE WHO CROSS THEM.
WHAT'S UP, BROTHER?
CARSON CAME RIGHT IN HERE
LIKE HE OWNED THE PLACE!
THEY ARE KNOWN TO DO
SOME VERY VIOLENT THINGS.
GET YOUR PIECE.
LET'S GO HANDLE THIS.
Narrator: HAWK AND JUDD DECIDE
TO START INTIMIDATING PEOPLE.
THEY WANT THE BIKE BACK.
LET'S DO THIS.
LET'S DO IT.
COME ON, BRO.
THEY START BY PAYING A VISIT
TO TWO OF CARSON'S FRIENDS,
KNOWN AS TROOPER AND JESSIE.
Carson:
THEY THREATENED JESSIE.
HEY, WE'RE GONNA HAVE
A LITTLE TALK!
THEY TOOK HIM AT GUNPOINT,
PUT HIM IN THE VAN.
GET IN THE BACK!
[ TIRES SCREECHING ]
HAD HIM TAKE HIM AROUND
TO WHERE TROOPER WAS WORKING
AT THIS AUTO PLACE
AND WENT IN AND TOOK HIM
OUT OF THE PLACE AT GUNPOINT.
THEY TOLD HIM
THEY WERE GONNA KILL ME
AND THEY WERE GONNA BEAT THEM UP
IF THEY DIDN'T
GIVE THE STUFF BACK.
YOUR BOY CARSON
DONE MESSED WITH THE WRONG MAN.
I KNOW HE WENT IN MY GARAGE
AND TOOK MY BIKE!
Narrator: TROOPER AND JESSIE
ARE COMPLETELY IN THE DARK.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT
YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT, MAN!
THEY KNOW NOTHING ABOUT CARSON
TAKING THE MOTORCYCLE.
SHUT UP!
SHUT UP!
I'M TELLING YOU!
THEY SCARED TROOPER SO BAD
THAT HE PISSED ON HISSELF.
YOU HEAR ME?!
TELL HIM WHATEVER YOU WANT.
I HEAR YOU, MAN.
Narrator:
JUDD AND HAWK ARE SATISFIED
THAT THEY GOT
THEIR MESSAGE ACROSS.
THEY LET TROOPER AND JESSIE GO.
YOU TELL CARSON
I'M COMING FOR HIM!
[ TIRES SCREECHING ]
THEY IMMEDIATELY CALL CARSON
AND TELL HIM
THAT TROUBLE IS BREWING.
GONNA SHOOT BACK OVER,
THEN HE'S GONNA COME AFTER YOU.
HE'S GONNA KILL YOU.
CARSON WON'T BACK DOWN.
HE REFUSES
TO GIVE THE BIKE BACK.
IF YOU WANT
TO GET THESE GUYS,
GOT TO HAVE
SOME SERIOUS FIREPOWER, MAN.
HAWK AND JUDD ARE FURIOUS.
THEY WANT TO RATTLE CARSON.
THEY WAIT UNTIL THE NEXT DAY,
AND THEY STRIKE AGAIN.
THIS TIME, THEY GO AFTER
CARSON'S FRIEND MIKE RICHARDSON.
DAMN!
WHAT'S GOING ON, MAN?
Carson: JUDD WRAPPED HIS HANDS
UP WITH DUCT TAPE
AND WAS THREATENING
TO BEAT HIM UP,
AND HAWK POINTED A GUN
AT MIKE RICHARDSON.
CHECK IT OUT, DUDE.
YEAH, MAN.
YOU TELL CARSON
I WANT MY...BACK.
Carson: AND HE DIDN'T
HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH IT.
HE DIDN'T EVEN KNOW
WHAT WAS GOING ON.
YOU GOT THAT?
DAMN, JUDD, MAN.
Narrator:
HAWK AND JUDD STILL AREN'T
GETTING THE RESULTS THEY WANT.
JUST CALL HIM UP.
FINALLY,
THEY CALL CARSON DIRECTLY.
[ TELEPHONE RINGS ]
WHO IS THIS?
HEY, IT'S JUDD, MAN.
CARSON KNOWS THE FEUD
HAS REACHED A TIPPING POINT.
NO, MAN.
Carson: HAWK WAS MORE OR LESS
A LOT LIKE I WAS, YOU KNOW?
HE DIDN'T MAKE IDLE THREATS.
YOU JUST TRY IT.
I GOT A REAL PROBLEM
BECAUSE THESE GUYS ARE DRUNK
AND THEY'RE ARMED,
AND THEY'RE REALLY STUPID.
WHAT THE HELL
WAS THAT ABOUT?
Narrator:
HE'S WORRIED THAT HAWK AND JUDD
ARE GOING TO COME FOR HIM
IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT.
CAN YOU GO TO YOUR SISTER'S
HOUSE OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT?
WHAT IS GOING ON?
I MADE MY GIRLFRIEND, MARILYN,
LEAVE THE HOUSE
BECAUSE I WAS AFRAID
THEY WOULD COME UP THERE
AND SHE WOULD GET CAUGHT
IN THE CROSSFIRE.
Narrator: HE GOES TO BED,
BUT HE ISN'T TAKING ANY CHANCES.
AND I WAS LAYING ON THE FLOOR
WITH MY AK-47 AND MY DOG.
Narrator:
CARSON SPENDS A RESTLESS NIGHT
WAITING FOR BULLETS TO FLY.
Carson: I DIDN'T WANT TO
HAVE TO FACE WHAT WAS COMING.
I KNEW IT WAS GONNA BE BAD,
HOWEVER IT WENT.
Narrator:
HAWK AND JUDD DON'T SHOW.
CARSON'S FRIENDS
SHOW UP AT HIS HOUSE.
THEY WANT TO RETALIATE.
ACCORDING TO CARSON, HE AGREES
TO GO SEE HAWK AND JUDD.
HE WANTS TO TRY AND WORK OUT THE
PROBLEM WITH HAWK FACE TO FACE.
LET'S GO. COME ON.
THEY DON'T TAKE ANY CHANCES.
THEY ARM UP FOR THE MEETING.
I GOT A .44 RUGER REDHAWK.
GAVE IT TO MIKE.
I GOT MY A.K.
AND MOST PEOPLE LOOKING AT AN
A.K. WITH A 30-ROUND CLIP IN IT
ARE GONNA LAY DOWN.
YOU KNOW, INTIMIDATION FACTOR.
AND I'M THINKING, "WELL,
MAYBE IF I CAN GO OVER THERE
"AND GET THE DROP ON THEM,
"ONCE I TALK TO HAWK
FACE TO FACE,
THEN I CAN STRAIGHTEN
JUDD'S LIES OUT."
LET'S GO.
Narrator:
HAWK AND JUDD HAVE NO IDEA
THAT FOUR MEN, ARMED TO THE
TEETH, ARE HEADING THEIR WAY.
Carson: AND I TOLD JESSIE
AND TROOPER TO GO AROUND BACK.
AND I SAID, "HAWK COMES OUT THE
BACK DOOR," I SAID, "SHOOT HIM."
Narrator: CARSON AND RICHARDSON
HEAD TO THE FRONT DOOR.
[ INDISTINCT CONVERSATIONS ]
INSIDE, A BIKER
STEPS UP TO CHANGE THE MUSIC.
HE HEARS A NOISE OUTSIDE.
[ LAUGHS]
CARSON IS CAUGHT OFF GUARD
WHEN THE DOOR OPENS.
HE STRIKES HARD AND FAST.
I JUST TURNED THE A.K. AROUND
AND HIT HIM
BETWEEN THE EYES WITH IT.
KNOCKED HIM
BACK ACROSS THE ROOM.
Narrator: ACCORDING TO CARSON,
HAWK IMMEDIATELY
DIVES FOR A WEAPON.
Carson: AND I'M STANDING THERE
WITH THE A.K. POINTED AT HIM,
YELLING, "NO, NO!"
Woman: JUST SHOOT HIM!
COME ON, DO IT!
Carson: ALL OF A SUDDEN,
EVERYTHING WAS JUST SLOW MOTION.
MIKE POPS IN THE DOOR,
POINTING THE RUGER .44 AT HIM,
AND HE SAW MIKE,
AND HE PULLED THE TRIGGER.
AND THE SHOT WENT BETWEEN US.
MIKE HIT HAWK IN THE GROIN.
[ GUNSHOTS ]
I FIRED THREE TIMES
WITH THE A.K.
AAH!
HE WENT DOWN
ON THE FLOOR.
HAWK! COME ON.
Narrator:
CARSON TURNS HIS FOCUS TO JUDD
AND USES HIS AK-47
TO DELIVER A MESSAGE.
TOLD HIM, I SAYS,
"I OUGHT TO BLOW YOUR HEAD OFF,
YOU SON OF A BITCH.
YOU CAUSED THIS."
HE DESERVED SOMETHING.
COULD HAVE BEAT HIS ASS.
I'M NOT A KILLER.
HAWK!
AND I JUST TURNED AROUND
AND WALKED OUT.
Narrator:
THEY FLEE FROM THE MURDER SCENE.
BUT THEY'VE LEFT EYEWITNESSES
TO THE MURDER ALIVE.
THEY DECIDE
THERE'S NO CHOICE BUT TO RUN.
NO IFs ABOUT IT.
THAT SUMS IT UP, YOU KNOW?
LIFE AS YOU'VE KNOWN IT IS GONE.
Narrator: JUDD WAITS
UNTIL THE COAST IS CLEAR.
THEY CALL 911.
WE NEED SOME HELP!
BILL FARMER
WAS A HOMICIDE INVESTIGATOR
FOR THE SUMTER COUNTY SHERIFF'S
DEPARTMENT BACK IN 1991.
I WANT YOU TO GET A CLOSE-UP
OF THIS LATER ON.
I RECEIVED A CALL.
I PROCEEDED
TO THE HAWK RESIDENCE.
I OBSERVED WHAT APPEARED TO BE
A GUNSHOT WOUND TO THE CHEST.
THERE WAS A BLOODY AREA
ON HIS SHIRT TO THE CHEST.
ALSO, ONE TO THE GROIN AREA --
BLOOD COMING OUT OF HIS JEANS
HE WAS WEARING.
[ CAMERA SHUTTER CLICKS ]
Narrator: INVESTIGATORS COMB
THE CRIME SCENE FOR EVIDENCE.
FARMER NOTES THE POWER OF
THE WEAPONRY USED -- AN AK-47.
IT'S AN ASSAULT RIFLE CAPABLE
OF 600 ROUNDS PER MINUTE.
I SAW BULLET HOLES THAT HAD
PENETRATED ROUGHLY FIVE WALLS
ALL THE WAY BACK THROUGH THE
BATHROOM TO THE BACK BEDROOM.
Narrator:
FARMER KNOWS HE HAS A HIGHLY
DANGEROUS FUGITIVE ON THE LOOSE.
HE WAS A VERY
INTIMIDATING-TYPE GUY,
AND HE USED INTIMIDATION
TO GET WHAT HE WANTED.
WE CONSIDERED MARVIN CARSON
ARMED AND DANGEROUS,
AND HE WAS A FUGITIVE.
Narrator:
INVESTIGATORS QUESTION THE
WITNESSES AT THE CRIME SCENE.
JUDD WANTS TO SEE CARSON
GO DOWN.
AND THESE GUYS
COME BUSTING IN,
AND THEN
THEY SHOOT MY BOYFRIEND.
HE TELLS POLICE THAT CARSON
COULD BE HIDING OUT
AT HIS GIRLFRIEND'S HOUSE,
AND HE OFFERS TO TAKE POLICE
STRAIGHT THERE.
Farmer:
WE WERE HOPING THAT HE WAS THERE
AND IT WOULD BE OVER REAL QUICK.
Narrator: RUSSELL MERRITT
IS A HOMICIDE INVESTIGATOR
WITH THE SUMTER COUNTY
SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT.
HE IS ONE OF THE SHERIFFS
TO RESPOND TO THE SCENE.
Merritt: WE ACTUALLY THOUGHT
THAT, AT THAT TIME,
THAT THERE WAS AN ARMED PERSON
IN THERE WITH AN AK-47.
WHEN YOU FIRST ARRIVE LIKE THAT,
YOUR HEART RATE'S UP.
YOU LET YOUR GUARD DOWN, THEN
YOU'RE GOING TO BE A VICTIM.
Narrator: THE S.W.A.T. TEAM
STORMS THE HOUSE,
PREPARED TO TAKE CARSON DOWN.
Narrator: JUNE 29, 1991.
I SAID DON'T!
MARVIN CARSON
MURDERS A RIVAL BIKER.
[ GUNSHOTS ]
NOW HE'S ON THE RUN.
BUT POLICE ARE TIPPED OFF
THAT HE'S STAYING
AT HIS GIRLFRIEND'S HOUSE.
THE S.W.A.T. TEAM MOVES IN
FOR THE CAPTURE.
POLICE! FREEZE!
GET UP, GET UP!
THE S.W.A.T. CONDUCTS A THOROUGH
SEARCH OF THE RESIDENCE.
THEY DON'T FIND CARSON.
APPARENTLY, MARVIN CARSON
HAD LEFT EARLIER.
Narrator:
THE POLICE DON'T FIND CARSON,
BUT THEY DO UNCOVER
SOME DISTURBING EVIDENCE.
Farmer: SHE HAD A LARGE AMOUNT
OF AK-47 AMMO
AND EXTRA CLIPS
FOR THE ASSAULT WEAPON,
AND WE COLLECTED
ALL THAT AS EVIDENCE.
CLIPS FOR AK-47s.
WE GOT OUR MAN.
YEAH.
Narrator: SHERIFF BILL FARMER
IS DETERMINED
TO STAY ON CARSON'S TRAIL.
HE DIGS DEEPER
INTO THE INVESTIGATION
AND LEARNS THAT CARSON IS
NO STRANGER TO VIOLENT ACTIVITY.
MARVIN CARSON HAS GOT A HISTORY
OF VIOLENCE IN THE PAST,
OF CONFRONTING PEOPLE THAT
HE FEELS HAS DONE HIM WRONG.
Narrator: YEARS EARLIER, CARSON
WALKED INTO A FLORIDA BAR,
AND A FIGHT BROKE OUT.
HE GOT INVOLVED
IN A DISAGREEMENT
WITH A GENTLEMAN AT A BAR
OVER NEAR TAMPA...
I'M NOT SCARED OF YOU, EITHER,
MAN!
YOU SHOULD BE!
...OVER A YOUNG LADY,
A 19-YEAR-OLD GIRL.
NEVER TALK TO ME
LIKE THAT!
Narrator: ALTHOUGH DETAILS
OF THE MURDER ARE UNCLEAR...
[ GLASS SHATTERS ]
YOU'RE NOT WORTH IT.
YOU'RE NOT WORTH IT!
GET OUT OF HERE!
...CARSON REPORTEDLY
WALKS AWAY FROM THE FIGHT.
THAT'S RIGHT, WALK.
A BASEBALL BAT CATCHES HIS EYE.
[ BREATHING HEAVILY ]
I THOUGHT, "WELL, I'LL GO SEE
WHAT THIS GUY'S PROBLEM IS."
Gross:
CARSON CAME UP BEHIND HIM
WITHOUT ANY WARNING
WHATSOEVER...
...AND HIT HIM
IN THE BACK OF THE HEAD.
AND WITH ONE BLOW,
HE KNOCKED THIS GUY INTO A COMA
FROM WHICH HE NEVER RECOVERED.
Narrator: CARSON'S VICTIM
DIES FROM HIS INJURIES.
I FEEL LIKE THE GUY
GOT WHAT HE ASKED FOR.
Narrator: CARSON SERVED
FIVE YEARS IN THE STATE PRISON
FOR SECOND-DEGREE MURDER.
AFTER THAT FIRST BIT, I FOUND
OUT WHAT PRISON WAS LIKE.
I HAD NO DESIRE OR INTENTION
TO EVER GO BACK.
Narrator: TWO DECADES LATER,
CARSON IS WANTED FOR MURDER
AGAIN.
AT POLICE HEADQUARTERS,
AUTHORITIES SCRAMBLE
TO NOTIFY LOCAL AGENCIES
THAT A HARDENED CRIMINAL
IS ON THE LOOSE.
HE'S KILLED TWICE, AND POLICE
BELIEVE HE'LL STRIKE AGAIN.
AAH!
CARSON'S CRIMINAL HISTORY
GIVES HIM AN EDGE.
HE'S BEEN AROUND FUGITIVES
BEFORE,
AND HE KNOWS THE STEPS HE HAS TO
TAKE TO STAY ON THE RUN.
CARSON AND RICHARDSON
SPLIT OFF FROM THE GROUP.
THEN CARSON DITCHES
THE MURDER WEAPONS IN A SWAMP.
[ WATER SPLASHES ]
CARSON AND RICHARDSON KNOW THEY
NEED A TEMPORARY SAFE HOUSE.
Carson: AT THAT POINT,
I HAD NO IDEA WHAT TO DO,
OTHER THAN
I COULDN'T GO BACK FOR A WHILE.
THE ONLY THING I COULD THINK OF
WAS TO JUST LET SOME TIME PASS.
Narrator:
RICHARDSON'S MOTHER LIVES
IN DAYTONA BEACH, FLORIDA.
THEY HEAD THERE TO HIDE OUT
FOR A COUPLE OF DAYS.
THEY BELIEVE IT IS THEIR BEST
SHOT TO STAY UNDER THE RADAR.
CARSON REALIZES
THAT HE STANDS OUT IN A CROWD
IN HIS BIKER GEAR.
HE DITCHES HIS BIKER CLOTHING
FOR A WHOLE NEW LOOK.
CARSON IS DETERMINED
NOT TO GET CAUGHT.
HE REMOVES ONE OF HIS
MOST IDENTIFIABLE FEATURES.
Carson: I WANTED TO LOOK LIKE
A RETIRED YANKEE, YOU KNOW?
GOT A MILLION OF THEM
DOWN HERE -- SNOWBIRDS.
JUST JOIN THE FLOCK.
Narrator: CARSON BELIEVES
HE LOOKS NOTHING
LIKE HIS PICTURE
ON HIS WANTED POSTER.
I COULD HAVE
WALKED IN A COP SHOP,
THEY WOULDN'T EVEN
HAVE KNOWN ME.
Narrator: WHILE CARSON
CREATES A NEW IDENTITY,
WORD OF THE MURDER
REACHES HIS FAMILY.
HIS TWO SISTERS HEAR
THAT CARSON IS ON THE RUN,
AND THEY FIND OUT WHY.
WHAT'S UP?
I GOT A CALL FROM MY SISTER.
SHE SAID HE HAD SHOT SOMEONE.
OH, MY GOD.
IT TOOK ME A WHILE TO COMPREHEND
THAT SOMETHING LIKE THIS
COULD ACTUALLY HAPPEN.
I WAS TOTALLY IN SHOCK.
I WAS LIKE, "WHAT HAPPENED?"
Narrator:
THE MURDER DETAILS DON'T ADD UP
FOR CARSON'S SISTER.
UNFORTUNATELY,
FOR HIM AND EVERYBODY ELSE,
THERE WERE THREE WITNESSES IN
THE TRAILER, THREE OTHER PEOPLE,
WHICH,
IF MY BROTHER HAD INTENDED
ON GOING IN AND KILLING HAWK,
HE WOULD NOT HAVE LEFT
ANY WITNESSES.
Narrator: POLICE RATCHET UP
THEIR INVESTIGATION
AND DEVELOP INSIGHT INTO WHY
CARSON COMMITTED THE HOMICIDE.
MARVIN CARSON'S GOT A HISTORY
OF VIOLENCE IN THE PAST,
OF CONFRONTING PEOPLE THAT
HE FEELS HAS DONE HIM WRONG.
HE FELT THAT RICHARD HAWK
HAD DONE HIM WRONG,
AND HE WENT TO HIS HOUSE
TO CONFRONT HIM,
AND THE SHOOTING OCCURRED.
Narrator: SHERIFF FARMER NOW HAS
ANOTHER PROBLEM ON HIS HANDS.
WORD ON THE STREET
IS THE OUTLAWS HAVE A CONTRACT
ON CARSON'S HEAD.
FARMER KNOWS
HE HAS TO MOVE FAST.
Farmer: I FELT LIKE I NEEDED
TO FIND THEM FIRST
BEFORE THE OUTLAWS GOT TO THEM
OR I MIGHT NOT HAVE ANYBODY
TO TALK TO, REFERENCE THIS CASE.
IT WAS ALMOST LIKE A CONTEST
BETWEEN THE OUTLAWS AND US
TO WHO COULD GET HIM FIRST.
[ ENGINE TURNS OVER ]
IT WAS A WELL-KNOWN FACT THAT
YOU DIDN'T CROSS THEM, YOU KNOW?
AND IF YOU GOT CROSSWAYS
WITH ONE OF THEM,
YOU GOT CROSSWAYS
WITH ALL OF THEM.
Narrator: EVEN CARSON'S FAMILY
IS CONCERNED.
THEY KNOW THERE'S A GOOD CHANCE
THE OUTLAWS COULD GET TO CARSON
BEFORE THE POLICE DO.
Green: IF THE OUTLAWS
CAUGHT UP WITH HIM,
I WOULD NEVER HAVE SEEN HIM
AGAIN, I'M SURE.
THEY WOULD KILL HIM AND BURY HIM
IN A DITCH SOMEWHERE,
AND THAT WOULD BE IT.
Narrator:
CARSON AND RICHARDSON NOW HAVE
LAW ENFORCEMENT AND OUTLAWS
HUNTING FOR THEM.
THEY DECIDE THEY NEED
TO SPLIT UP AND LEAVE FLORIDA.
RICHARDSON ESCAPES TO VERMONT
WHILE CARSON DECIDES
TO HEAD TO LOUISIANA.
Carson: THERE'S JUST TOO MANY
PEOPLE IN FLORIDA THAT KNEW ME.
YOU'VE ALWAYS GOT SOMEBODY
THAT'S GONNA GO TO THE COPS.
I DON'T CARE WHERE YOU'RE AT.
Narrator: CARSON IS RUNNING,
BUT HE'S NOT RUNNING SCARED.
I WASN'T WORRIED
ABOUT THOSE PEOPLE.
I STILL HAD A GUN.
[ CHUCKLES ]
AND AT THAT POINT,
I GOT NOTHING TO LOSE.
I ALREADY GOT
A HOMICIDE WARRANT ON ME.
WHAT ARE THEY GONNA DO TO ME?
Narrator: CARSON KNOWS THAT HE
NEEDS CASH TO STAY ON THE RUN.
ON HIS WAY TO LOUISIANA,
HE STOPS AT A MEATPACKING PLANT
IN LAKELAND, FLORIDA.
HIS FRIEND DAVID BLANTON
OWES HIM MONEY.
HEY, BARNES.
AND I CAUGHT HIM COMING OUT
OF LAKES BROTHERS,
WHERE HE WORKED,
AND TOLD HIM WHAT HAPPENED.
ONE OF HIS FRIENDS
WAS WITH HIM.
GIVE ME AN HOUR,
AND THEN COME BACK.
AND HIS FRIEND WENT HOME
AND TOLD HIS WIFE ABOUT IT,
AND SHE CALLED THE COPS.
Narrator:
WHILE CARSON WAITS FOR HIS CASH,
POLICE ARE BEING TOLD
HIS EXACT LOCATION.
NOW!
Narrator: JULY 1991.
[ GUNSHOTS ]
MARVIN CARSON IS ON THE RUN
AFTER MURDERING A MAN
IN FLORIDA.
AS HE GETS READY TO JUMP
THE STATE LINE INTO LOUISIANA,
HE MAKES A MISTAKE.
HEY, BARNES.
IT'S CARSON.
HE STOPS TO GET CASH
FROM A FRIEND.
HE'S TIPPED OFF TO POLICE.
[ SIRENS WAIL ]
Farmer:
I THINK I'VE GOT A HOT LEAD,
AND POSSIBLY
THIS IS WHERE CARSON'S AT.
Narrator: CARSON GETS HIS CASH
AND TAKES OFF.
WHEN POLICE ARRIVE ON THE SCENE,
CARSON IS GONE WITHOUT A TRACE.
Carson: YOU NEVER KNOW
WHO YOU CAN TRUST.
DIDN'T MISS ME BY MUCH.
Farmer: OF COURSE, WE RUN DOWN
LEADS LIKE THIS ALL THE TIME,
AND SOMETIMES YOU GET YOUR HANDS
ON THESE PEOPLE,
SOMETIMES YOU DON'T.
THEY KEEP RIGHT ON RUNNING.
NOBODY'S EVER BEEN ABLE
TO FIND ME
WHEN I DIDN'T WANT TO BE FOUND.
YOU KNOW,
IT'S NOT THE FIRST TIME
PEOPLE HAVE BEEN LOOKING FOR ME.
Narrator: TWO WEEKS
INTO THE INVESTIGATION,
POLICE GET A NEW BREAK.
THEY RECEIVE A CALL THAT BIKERS
ARE CAUSING A DISTURBANCE
AT THE HOME
OF CARSON'S GIRLFRIEND
IN FLORAL CITY, FLORIDA.
I HAD SOME PEOPLE OVER THERE
THAT WAS TRYING TO BUY MY BIKES.
AND THEY'D BEEN OVER THERE, AND
THEY WERE CRANKING THE BIKES.
Narrator: POLICE RESPOND,
AND THEY SEE CARSON'S GIRLFRIEND
LEAVING HER HOUSE.
SHE'S WITH A MAN
WHO FITS CARSON'S DESCRIPTION.
POLICE THINK THEY HAVE
A POSITIVE I.D.
[ CAR DOOR OPENS, CLOSES ]
THEY MOVE IN
AND SURROUND THE VEHICLE.
HANDS ON THE CAR!
HANDS ON THE CAR!
YOU'RE UNDER ARREST, CARSON!
I'M NOT CARSON!
Narrator:
THEY'VE GOT THE WRONG MAN.
INVESTIGATORS
ARE GETTING FRUSTRATED.
LOOKS LIKE WE'VE MADE
A MAJOR MISTAKE HERE.
YEAH, RIGHT.
Farmer: WE JUST FELT LIKE
IT WAS ONLY A MATTER OF TIME
BEFORE HE MIGHT KILL AGAIN
TO STAY, YOU KNOW, ON THE RUN.
ANYBODY ELSE WHO GETS IN HIS
WAY, HE COULD KILL THEM, ALSO.
HE HAD SAFE HOUSES AND BIKER
GROUPS AROUND THE NATION
THAT HE COULD GO TO
AND THAT THEY WOULD HIDE HIM.
A LOT OF THEIR PEOPLE
ARE ON THE RUN,
AND THEY PROVIDE SAFE HAVENS
FOR THEM TO HIDE FROM THE LAW.
MY BIG ADVANTAGE WAS THAT
I HAD A LOT OF FRIENDS,
THE BIKERS AND THE REDNECKS --
NONE OF THEM LIKE COPS.
[ LAUGHS ] YOU KNOW?
IF THEY COULD HELP SOMEBODY
THAT'S ON THE RUN FROM THE LAW,
THEY'D DO IT
EVEN IF THEY DIDN'T LIKE YOU.
Narrator:
CARSON CAN FEEL THE HEAT,
AND HE WANTS TO GET OUT OF TOWN.
HE CATCHES A BUS IN ORLANDO
AND TRAVELS 1,000 MILES
TO SHREVEPORT, LOUISIANA.
Carson: I HAD NEVER BEEN
IN LOUISIANA IN MY LIFE,
SO I FIGURED THAT WOULD
BE A GOOD PLACE TO GO.
THERE WOULD BE ONLY FOUR PEOPLE
THERE THAT KNEW ME.
YOU KNOW, MY FRIEND AND HIS WIFE
AND HIS TWO KIDS.
Narrator: CARSON SETTLES IN
TO A QUIET ROUTINE IN LOUISIANA.
BUT HE DOESN'T GET COMPLACENT.
HE STARTS READING UP ON HOW TO
BECOME AN EVEN BETTER FUGITIVE.
Carson: I READ
ALL THESE UNDERGROUND BOOKS,
BOOKS ON HOW TO GET LOST
AND STAY LOST,
HOW TO CHANGE YOUR IDENTITY.
FOR THE FIRST COUPLE OF MONTHS,
I DIDN'T DO MUCH OF ANYTHING
EXCEPT STAY AROUND THE HOUSE
AND READ AND WATCH TV.
Narrator: CARSON FEELS LIKE HE'S
DONE ENOUGH TO COVER HIS TRACKS,
BUT HE DOESN'T LIKE THE IDEA
THAT HE HAS TO RUN AND HIDE
FROM ANYONE.
Carson:
WHEN YOU'RE OUT THERE,
YOU REALLY DON'T HAVE
ANY CONTROL OVER ANYTHING.
YOU HAVE CONTROL
OVER YOUR ACTIONS,
BUT EVEN IF YOU'RE REALLY ON TOP
OF EVERYTHING THAT YOU'RE DOING,
THERE'S STILL WAYS
THAT THEY CAN GET YOU.
Narrator:
CARSON CONTINUES TO DRAW
FROM HIS CRIMINAL EXPERIENCE.
HE KNOWS HE SHOULDN'T RISK
GOING OUT ON THE OPEN ROAD.
HE STOPS DRIVING COMPLETELY.
THE MAIN THING
THAT I KNEW ABOUT FUGITIVES
AND FUGITIVES
BEING CAUGHT BY THE COPS
WAS THAT THEY WERE USUALLY
PICKED UP ON TRAFFIC STOPS.
Narrator:
THE ONLY TIME CARSON LEAVES
HIS HIDEOUT IS TO GO RUNNING.
HE'S TRYING TO LOSE WEIGHT
TO CHANGE HIS APPEARANCE.
I WAS CUTTING DOWN
ON MY CALORIES
AND DOING A LOT OF EXERCISE,
AND THAT PRETTY MUCH
TOTALLY CHANGED MY APPEARANCE.
Narrator:
BUT HIS PLAN BACKFIRES.
WHAT HE DOESN'T REALIZE
IS THAT HE STANDS OUT.
Carson: THEN I NOTICED
THAT I WAS THE ONLY ONE
IN TOWN JOGGING, YOU KNOW?
Narrator:
CARSON'S BIG FIGURE RUNNING
DOWN THE ROAD AROUSES SUSPICION.
THIS ONE COP
WAS SITTING DOWN BY THIS MALL,
AND I STARTED JOGGING EVERY DAY
FROM MY FRIEND'S HOUSE,
AND I SEEN THIS GUY
LOOKING AT ME.
AND HE WAS SITTING IN HIS CAR,
YOU KNOW,
AT THIS ONE PLACE,
AND HE WAS THERE EVERY DAY.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT HE WAS DOING.
AND IT WAS JUST LIKE TWO OR
THREE DAYS IN A ROW, YOU KNOW?
AND I WAS RUNNING
THE SAME ROUTE.
Narrator: THE OFFICER MOVES IN
FOR A CLOSER LOOK.
WHEN I SAW THE COP TURN AROUND
AND FOLLOW ME,
I WAS WORRIED THAT HE MIGHT STOP
ME AND ASK ME FOR SOME I.D.,
AND I DIDN'T HAVE ANY, AND...
WHAT THAT MIGHT LEAD TO.
Narrator: THE COP TAKES
A GOOD LOOK AT CARSON...
AND THEN SHRUGS HIM OFF.
CARSON KNOWS HE'S JUST
HAD A VERY CLOSE CALL.
Carson: I NEVER THOUGHT
I WAS FREE AND CLEAR.
I KNEW THAT, ANY MOMENT,
YOU KNOW, IT COULD ALL GO SOUR.
Narrator:
LOUISIANA POLICE MAY HAVE
NEARLY MISSED A FUGITIVE,
BUT FLORIDA POLICE NOW HAVE THE
BREAK THEY'VE BEEN WAITING FOR.
BILL FARMER LEARNS THAT A
NEIGHBORING SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT
HAS A RELIABLE INFORMANT...
DAVID FOX.
AND THEY ARE WILLING
TO GO TO GREAT LENGTHS
TO USE THEIR NEW SOURCE.
SO, FOX, I WANT YOU TO TELL ME
WHERE CARSON IS.
AND THEY LET HIM OUT BECAUSE
HE TOLD THEM HE COULD FIND ME.
I CAN FIND HIM REAL EASY,
BUT I CAN'T DO IT FROM HERE.
HE WAS AN INFORMANT
FOR PINELLAS COUNTY,
AND HE'D BEEN AN INFORMANT
ON SOME BIKER ACTIVITY.
Narrator:
POLICE ARE CONFIDENT THAT FOX
WILL LEAD THEM RIGHT TO CARSON.
THEY RELEASE HIM FROM PRISON.
FOX GOES RIGHT TO WORK
LOOKING FOR CARSON.
FOX LEAVES A BIKER BAR
WITH TWO MEN.
ONE OF THEM
MARCHES CARSON'S DESCRIPTION.
THE BEST LEAD INVESTIGATORS HAVE
WALKS OUT OF A BAR AND STEPS
DIRECTLY INTO TROUBLE.
HEY, WHAT'S GOING ON?!
HEY! HEY!
[ SIREN WAILS ]
Narrator:
MARVIN CARSON IS ON THE LAM.
BUT POLICE BELIEVE
THEY ARE CLOSING IN ON HIM.
THEY HAVE AN INFORMANT NAMED FOX
WHO THEY THINK
CAN GET TO CARSON.
I CAN FIND HIM REAL EASY,
BUT I CAN'T DO IT FROM HERE.
FOX GOES OUT TO A BIKER BAR
IN CENTRAL FLORIDA.
AND THEY SAID
THE LAST TIME HE WAS SEEN,
IT WAS LEAVING A PANASOFFKEE BAR
WITH TWO BIG GUYS.
Narrator: BUT HE'S NEVER
HEARD FROM AGAIN.
HEY, WHAT'S GOING ON?!
HEY! HEY!
GET DOWN ON YOUR KNEES!
I WOULDN'T RAT ON A BIKER!
I AIN'T A RAT, OKAY?
FOX WAS MADE TO KNEEL
SIDE OF THE ROAD,
AND HE WAS SHOT IN THE BACK
OF THE HEAD, EXECUTION STYLE.
Narrator:
WHEN HIS BODY IS FOUND,
POLICE FIND WHAT THEY BELIEVE
IS A CALLING CARD.
Carson:
WHEN THEY FOUND HIM,
THEY FOUND MY NAME
IN HIS POCKET.
Narrator: POLICE THINK CARSON
HAS STRUCK AGAIN.
Farmer: WE FELT THAT MAYBE
THIS WAS MARVIN CARSON
SENDING A MESSAGE --
"IF ANYBODY'S GONNA RAT ME OUT
OR INFORM ON ME,
I'LL TAKE CARE OF THE PROBLEM."
Narrator: POLICE BELIEVE CARSON
IS TOYING WITH THEM.
THEY THINK HE'S SENDING THEM
A PERSONAL MESSAGE.
Farmer: WE FELT LIKE
HE'S PUT ANOTHER BODY ON US.
HE'S KILLED ANOTHER INDIVIDUAL
AND DUMPED HIM ON US,
SO TO SPEAK,
AND WE WANTED HIM REAL BAD.
WE FEEL THAT HE KILLED
DAVID FOX, HE MAY KILL AGAIN.
Narrator: CARSON CLAIMS TO KNOW
NOTHING ABOUT THE MURDER.
HE BELIEVES THAT FOX
CROSSED THE OUTLAWS
BY INFORMING ON THEIR ACTIVITIES
AND THAT THE OUTLAWS
ARE TRYING TO FRAME HIM.
I AIN'T A RAT, OKAY?
Carson:
OH, I KNOW WHAT HAPPENED TO HIM.
THE OUTLAWS KILLED HIM.
I TOLD YOU WHAT HAPPENS
WHEN YOU SCREW WITH THEM PEOPLE.
YOU TURN ONE OF THEIR MEMBERS
OVER TO THE COPS...
I'M SURPRISED
IT TOOK AS LONG AS IT DID.
Narrator:
IT'S A CLEAN KNOCK-OFF.
POLICE CAN'T TIE ANYONE,
INCLUDING CARSON, TO THE CRIME.
AFTER FOX'S MURDER,
POLICE SOURCES
COMPLETELY DRY UP.
Farmer: HE WAS ON THE RUN,
JUST STAYING WITH FRIENDS,
AND HANGING OUT IN BIKER BARS
AND SAFE HOUSES,
TRYING TO STAY
ONE STEP AHEAD OF US.
AND YOU'RE WAITING ON THAT NEXT
PHONE CALL, THAT NEXT LEAD,
AND YOU'RE HOPING FOR IT,
AND IT'S JUST
A GREAT ANTICIPATION
TRYING TO GET THAT NEXT LEAD.
Narrator:
CARSON KNOWS THAT POLICE
WON'T GIVE UP THEIR MANHUNT.
HE DECIDES HE'S BEEN
IN LOUISIANA LONG ENOUGH.
HE WANTS TO STAY ON THE MOVE.
PARANOID THAT POLICE
MAY BE TAPPING PHONES,
HE USES A PAY PHONE TO CALL
HIS BROTHER IN ATLANTA, GEORGIA.
I TOLD HIM, I SAID,
"I NEED TO COME OVER AND STAY IN
ATLANTA FOR A WHILE, YOU KNOW?"
I SAID, "CAN YOU GET ME
A PLACE TO STAY OVER THERE?"
HE TOOK THE NEXT DAY OFF,
AND HE COME OVER AND GOT ME.
Narrator: POLICE REFUSE TO BACK
OFF THIS FUGITIVE COLD CASE.
WE WERE CONSTANTLY
LOOKING FOR HIM
AND LOOKING FOR THAT NEXT LEAD.
Narrator: WHILE POLICE WORK TO
EXPLOIT ANY LEADS THAT COME IN,
CARSON IS GETTING COMFORTABLE
AS A FUGITIVE ON THE RUN.
MY ACE IN THE HOLE WAS THE FACT
THAT NOT THAT MANY PEOPLE
KNEW WHERE I WAS AT
FOR MOST OF THE TIME
THAT I WAS GONE.
BUT YOU'RE ALWAYS LOOKING TO SEE
WHO AND WHAT'S AROUND YOU.
Narrator:
CARSON FEELS SAFE IN ATLANTA.
BUT TO SURVIVE ON THE RUN,
HE NEEDS MORE CASH.
Green: IT'S NOT EASY TO RUN
IF YOU DON'T HAVE MONEY,
AND IT'S KIND OF HARD TO GET A
JOB IF YOU DON'T HAVE YOUR I.D.
AND AS SOON AS SOMEBODY
KNOWS WHO YOU ARE,
THEN THEY'RE GONNA BE
COMING AFTER YOU, SO...
IT'S VERY HARD TO BE ON THE RUN
IF YOU DON'T HAVE A LOT OF HELP.
Narrator:
CARSON IS DESPERATE FOR CASH.
HE CALLS A FRIEND IN FLORIDA
FOR HELP.
Carson: HAD CONTACTED KAT AGAIN
AND TOLD HER TO SELL MY BIKE.
I HAD A '50 HARLEY
THAT I HAD JUST SPENT $20,000
REBUILDING FROM THE GROUND UP.
Narrator:
DESPITE THE INFLOW OF CASH,
LIFE ON THE LAM IS TOUGH...
EVEN FOR A HARDENED BIKER.
Carson: IT WASN'T ANY FUN.
YOU GET ATTACHED TO PEOPLE.
YOU GET ATTACHED TO PLACES.
IT'S LIKE A NIGHTMARE
NEVER REALLY LIVING LIFE.
YOU'RE JUST EXISTING
FROM DAY TO DAY.
CARSON.
Narrator:
CARSON ROUTINELY CALLS IN
TO CHECK ON FRIENDS AND FAMILY,
BUT IN OCTOBER OF 1992,
HE'S STUNNED BY NEWS
OF HIS CO-CONSPIRATOR,
MICHAEL RICHARDSON.
HE HAD COME BACK FROM VERMONT
FOR HIS MOTHER'S FUNERAL,
AND THE COPS GOT HIM
AT HIS MOTHER'S FUNERAL.
Narrator: CARSON IS LEARNING
ABOUT THE ARREST
ALMOST A YEAR
AFTER IT TOOK PLACE.
THE DELAYED NEWS
SURPRISES CARSON.
HE'S EVEN MORE SHOCKED
BY RICHARDSON'S LIGHT SENTENCE.
AAH!
THEY SENTENCED
HIM TO THREE YEARS
FOR MANSLAUGHTER
WITHOUT A FIREARM,
RUNNING CONCURRENT
WITH A PROBATION VIOLATION.
Narrator: WHEN RICHARDSON
IS BROUGHT IN TO CUSTODY,
POLICE TRY
TO EXTRACT INFORMATION
ON CARSON'S WHEREABOUTS.
BUT RICHARDSON
WON'T GIVE ANYTHING UP.
JUST PART OF THE DEAL
IN WORKING WITH A MOTORCYCLE
OR A BIKER-STYLE CULTURE
THAT THEY'RE NOT GONNA
ASSIST LAW ENFORCEMENT.
Narrator: CARSON IMMEDIATELY HAS
A FRIEND MEET WITH A LAWYER.
HE WANTS TO KNOW IF HE WOULD
ALSO GET A LIGHT SENTENCE
IF HE TURNED HIMSELF IN.
THE ATTORNEY TOLD HIM
THAT SINCE MIKE AND I HAD BOTH
DONE THE SAME THING,
WE'D BOTH SHOT THE GUY,
THAT THEY COULDN'T DO ANYTHING
TO ME BUT WHAT THEY DONE TO HIM.
SO I'M THINKING,
"I COULD DO THREE YEARS
STANDING ON MY HEAD,"
SO THAT'S WHEN
I DECIDED TO COME BACK.
Narrator: HE'S WILLING TO RISK
GOING HOME TO FLORIDA,
BUT HE'S NOT WILLING
TO TURN HIMSELF IN.
ONCE I FIGURED THAT I WOULDN'T
HAVE TO DO ANY REAL TIME,
YOU KNOW, THERE WAS NO REASON
FOR ME TO BE ANYWHERE BUT HERE.
I DECIDED TO JUST GO BACK
TO MY OLD STOMPING GROUNDS
AND GO BACK TO DOING
WHAT I DID BEST -- PARTYING.
TURNING MYSELF IN
IS AGAINST MY RELIGION.
Narrator: NOVEMBER 1992.
CARSON RETURNS TO FLORIDA
AND HEADS OUT WITH A FRIEND
TO RED FRED'S,
A LOCAL BAR IN PLANT CITY.
WHAT DO YOU
WANT TO DRINK?
WE'RE SITTING IN THERE DRINKING,
AND THIS COP WALKS IN THE BAR...
AND GOES OVER AND STARTS
TALKING TO THE BARMAID.
AND I TOLD MY FRIEND,
I SAID, "I SEE THE COPS
STILL COME IN HERE."
AND HE SAID, "NO,
THEY DON'T COME IN HERE.
THEY DON'T COME IN HERE
ANYMORE AT ALL."
AND I SAID, "OH, OKAY."
I'LL SEE YOU, MAN.
Narrator: CARSON KNOWS HE HAS TO
MOVE FAST TO AVOID CAPTURE.
WHEN WE SAW THE COP COME IN,
I WENT OUT THE BACK DOOR.
THERE'S AN ALLEY BETWEEN THE BAR
AND THE BUILDING NEXT DOOR.
Narrator:
HE TEARS OUT OF THE PARKING LOT.
HE'S BARELY
A STEP AHEAD OF POLICE.
MY LUCK -- I GET CAUGHT
BY A FREIGHT TRAIN.
[ TRAIN HORN BLOWS ]
SO I'M SITTING THERE
IN THE TRUCK,
AND I LOOK OVER TO MY RIGHT,
AND THERE'S EIGHT COP CARS
SITTING IN THAT PARKING LOT.
I'M GOING, "OH..."
[ LAUGHS ]
Narrator: CARSON IS TRAPPED
BY THE PASSING TRAIN,
AND POLICE
ARE CLOSING IN ON HIM.
[ SIREN WAILS ]
[ SIREN WAILS ]
Narrator: NOVEMBER 1992.
MARVIN CARSON HAS ELUDED
LAW ENFORCEMENT FOR 16 MONTHS.
NOW HIS FUGITIVE DAYS
ARE IN JEOPARDY.
FLORAL CITY, FLORIDA, POLICE
RESPOND TO A TIP
THAT CARSON IS AT A LOCAL BAR.
CARSON SLIPS OUT THE BACK OF THE
BAR BEFORE POLICE CAN GRAB HIM.
HIS GETAWAY IS THEN STOPPED
BY A PASSING TRAIN.
I LOOKED OVER AND SAW THE COPS,
AND THAT GOT MY HEART RATE UP
A LITTLE BIT, YOU KNOW?
I DIDN'T THINK
THEY WERE READY FOR ME.
I DIDN'T THINK
I WAS READY FOR THEM.
Narrator: AFTER TENSE MOMENTS,
THE FREIGHT TRAIN PASSES.
CARSON SPEEDS AWAY BEFORE POLICE
REALIZE WHAT HAS HAPPENED.
EVEN THOUGH THE POLICE WERE
AFTER ME, I WAS AFTER A DRINK.
I WANTED A DRINK, AND I WAS
GONNA GET ONE SOMEWHERE.
Narrator: HE HEADS INTO
A SECOND BAR DOWN THE ROAD.
BUT A FRIEND STOPS HIM
WITH A FIRM WARNING.
HEY. HOW'S IT GOING, MAN?
Carson: MY FRIEND TOLD ME
THAT IT WASN'T A GOOD IDEA
FOR ME TO GO IN THAT BAR
'CAUSE THE COPS HAD JUST BEEN
THERE LOOKING FOR ME.
I OWE YOU.
I OWE YOU, MAN.
Narrator: CARSON MOVES ON.
HE FINDS A THIRD BAR
FARTHER DOWN THE ROAD
AND STOPS IN FOR A DRINK.
BUT HIS LUCK
IS STARTING TO RUN OUT.
Carson: AND I GET A BEER.
AND THE NEXT THING I KNOW,
I SEE LIGHTS OUT THERE.
AND THEY'RE TOWING THE TRUCK.
Narrator:
POLICE HAVE IDENTIFIED HIS TRUCK
AND ARE HOT ON HIS TRAIL.
ONCE AGAIN, CARSON SLIPS OUT
OF THE BACK OF THE BAR
BEFORE THE COPS CAN GRAB HIM.
NOW ON FOOT, HE'S EXPOSED.
HE REMEMBERS AN OLD FRIEND
LIVES NEARBY.
HE GOES THERE TO HIDE OUT.
FOR FIVE WEEKS,
CARSON LIVES RIGHT UNDER
THE NOSE OF AUTHORITIES.
CARSON NOTICES
SOMETHING UNUSUAL.
Carson: AFTER BEING OUT THERE
A COUPLE WEEKS,
THIS FOUR-DOOR OLDSMOBILE --
ONE OF THE OLD '70s,
BIG, LONG,
HAD 90% TINT ON THE WINDOWS.
YOU COULD TELL,
EVEN WITH THE TINT,
THERE WAS FOUR GUYS IN THE CAR.
SO I'M THINKING, "COPS."
Narrator: CARSON KNOWS THAT THE
COPS ARE STILL LOOKING FOR HIM.
BUT AT 6'5" AND 200 POUNDS,
MARVIN CARSON ISN'T AFRAID
OF ANYONE OR ANYTHING.
CARSON FIGURES
THAT IF HIS ACCOMPLICE
ONLY SERVED THREE YEARS,
HE, TOO, WILL FACE
A RELATIVELY SHORT SENTENCE.
I KNEW THEY WERE GONNA
COME AND GET A WARRANT,
COME TO THE DOOR SOONER OR
LATER, SO I DECIDED IT WAS TIME.
I ROLLED ME A BIG, OLD FAT
DOOBIE UP AND SMOKED IT,
PUT MY WALKMAN ON
AND WENT WALKING DOWN THE ROAD.
AND WHEN I WAS WALKING OUT,
THE GUYS DROVE THE OLDSMOBILE
BY ME.
I SEEN THEM DRIVING BY
REAL SLOW, LOOKING AT ME.
I'M THINKING, "HMM. STRANGE."
SO I WENT DOWN, AND I GOT THE
NEWSPAPER, AND I STARTED BACK.
AND THEY WAITED TILL I GOT
ON THAT LONG, STRAIGHT STRETCH.
Narrator:
THE UNDERCOVER OFFICERS MAKE
THE CALL TO MOVE IN ON CARSON.
HEY.
I NEED TO SEE SOME I.D.
Carson: I JUST LOOKED AT THEM,
I SAID, "YOU KNOW WHO I AM."
"GET ON THE GROUND!
GET ON THE GROUND!"
SAID, "YOU GET ON THE GROUND."
I'M THINKING, "ABOUT TIME."
[ LAUGHS ]
YOU KNOW?
"TOOK YOU LONG ENOUGH."
Narrator: SUMTER COUNTY,
FLORIDA, SHERIFFS ARE RELIEVED
THAT THIS FUGITIVE CASE
IS CLOSED.
Farmer: I WOULD HAVE
LOVED TO HAVE BEEN THERE
DOING THE APPREHENSION
OF MARVIN CARSON
AFTER SEARCHING SO MANY MONTHS
FOR HIM.
IT WAS STILL GREAT TO KNOW
THAT HE WAS IN CUSTODY
AND HE WAS GONNA BE BROUGHT
BACK HERE TO STAND TRIAL.
Narrator: SEPTEMBER 1993.
MARVIN CARSON GOES TO TRIAL.
DISTRICT ATTORNEY BILL GROSS
DOESN'T BUY CARSON'S CLAIM
THAT HE KILLED RICHARD HAWK
IN SELF-DEFENSE.
[ GUNSHOTS ]
WE WERE NOT IN A DEALING MOOD
WITH MR. CARSON.
LOOKING AT HIS BACKGROUND,
THE FACT THAT THIS WAS THE
SECOND PERSON HE HAD KILLED,
THERE WAS NOT GONNA BE
ANY DEALING WITH MR. CARSON.
I SOUGHT THE DEATH PENALTY.
I TRULY BELIEVE, TO THIS DAY,
THAT SOME PEOPLE DO NOT DESERVE
THE DEATH PENALTY
FOR FIRST-DEGREE MURDER.
MR. CARSON, HOWEVER, DOES.
Narrator: JUNE 23, 1994.
THE 12-MEMBER JURY
RETURNS THE VERDICT.
GUILTY.
HE HAD AN EXCELLENT LAWYER,
AND HIS LAWYER ARGUED ELOQUENTLY
FOR HIS LIFE.
HE FOUGHT TOOTH AND NAIL,
AND HE WAS SUCCESSFUL
IN SAVING MR. CARSON'S LIFE.
HE SHOULD BE ON DEATH ROW.
Narrator:
CARSON RECEIVES A LIFE SENTENCE
FOR THE MURDER OF RICHARD HAWK.
HE IS NOW INCARCERATED
AT THE MAXIMUM-SECURITY
POLK CORRECTIONAL FACILITY
IN POLK CITY, FLORIDA.
Farmer: HE'S STILL
A DANGEROUS INDIVIDUAL,
IF HE WAS TO EVER
GET OUT OF PRISON.
I FIRMLY BELIEVE
HE'S WHERE HE BELONGS.
Narrator:
CONVICTED MURDERER MARVIN CARSON
ALMOST GOT AWAY WITH IT,
AND TODAY, HE HAS FEW REGRETS.
TOO MANY PEOPLE SPEND THEIR TIME
THINKING ABOUT TOMORROW,
AND THEY'RE GONE TODAY.
Narrator:
CARSON STILL MAINTAINS
HE FIRED HIS GUN
IN SELF-DEFENSE.
AND RATHER THAN SPEND THE REST
OF HIS DAYS BEHIND BARS,
HE WANTED ANOTHER OUTCOME.
Carson: I WANTED THEM TO GIVE ME
THE DEATH PENALTY AT THAT POINT.
I TOLD MY ATTORNEY THAT I WANTED
THE DEATH PENALTY,
AND HE SAID, "ARE YOU CRAZY?"
AND I SAID, "PROBABLY."