I (Almost) Got Away with It (2010–2016): Season 1, Episode 2 - Got Dumped - full transcript

Narrator: A JEALOUS BOYFRIEND
WITH A HISTORY OF VIOLENCE...

IT'S OVER!

...KILLS IN COLD BLOOD

AND GETS AWAY WITH IT.

THERE'S NO DOUBT IN MY MIND
MICHAEL ALFONSO IS A PSYCHOPATH.

Narrator: SEVEN YEARS LATER,
HE KILLS AGAIN...

HEY!
[ GUNSHOT ]

...UNLOADING HIS PISTOL
IN FRONT OF DOZENS OF WITNESSES.

IT'S JUST -- I JUST SNAPPED
A FEW TIMES IN MY LIFE.

Narrator:
A FUGITIVE ON THE RUN.

IN THIS CASE,
IT WASN'T A WHODUNIT.



IT WAS A "WHERE IS HE?"

Narrator: HE DISAPPEARS INTO
THE JUNGLES OF CENTRAL AMERICA,

LEADING POLICE
ON AN INTERNATIONAL MANHUNT.

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

IT'S A WARM NIGHT IN THE CHICAGO
SUBURB OF WHEATON, ILLINOIS.

23-YEAR-OLD SUMANEAR YANG

IS ABOUT TO END HER SHORT-LIVED
AFFAIR WITH MICHAEL ALFONSO.

BY THE SUMMER OF 1992,

YANG IS SEPARATED
FROM HER HUSBAND

AND LIVING ALONE
WITH THEIR YOUNG SON.

THIS IS NOT
GONNA CHANGE.

YANG WANTS TO GET BACK TOGETHER
WITH HER HUSBAND.



DESPITE BEING PREGNANT
WITH ALFONSO'S CHILD,

SHE DECIDES
TO BREAK UP WITH HIM.

YOU'RE THE ONE BEING DUMB
ABOUT IT. YOU UNDERSTAND ME?

NO.
I'VE MADE MY DECISION.

Alfonso:
I GOT ANGRY WITH HER

BECAUSE SHE SAID THAT SHE
WANTED TO BREAK UP WITH ME

AND GO BACK TO HER HUSBAND.

Narrator:
ON THE NIGHT OF AUGUST 31st,

YANG AGREES TO SEE ALFONSO
ONE LAST TIME.

LOOK, GET YOUR CLOTHES ON.
I'M COMING OVER RIGHT NOW.

OKAY, FINE.

THEY MEET OUTSIDE HER APARTMENT.

HE CONVINCES HER
TO GO FOR A DRIVE.

YANG EXPLAINS

HOW SHE WANTS TO WORK THINGS OUT
WITH HER HUSBAND.

SHE PLANS TO ABORT
ALFONSO'S CHILD.

ALFONSO IMPLORES YANG TO STAY
WITH HIM AND TO KEEP THE CHILD.

SHE'S ALREADY DECIDED
THAT IT'S OVER BETWEEN THEM.

IT'S OVER!

Alfonso:
SHE GOES, "THIS IS GONNA BE
THE LAST TIME I TALK TO YOU."

AND THE THING IS,

I WAS DRIVING THE CAR, AND SHE
WAS IN THE PASSENGER SEAT.

WHAT HAPPENED WAS...

I TOOK OUT THE GUN AND STUFF
AND TOLD HER,

"NO, I DON'T THINK
YOU'RE GONNA LEAVE ME."

I TOLD HER,
"YOU'RE NOT GONNA LEAVE ME."

WE ARE OVER.
WE ARE OVER.

YOU'RE GONNA
LISTEN TO ME NOW.

Narrator: MICHAEL ALFONSO
WON'T TAKE NO FOR AN ANSWER.

YANG TRIES TO CALM HIM DOWN.

AS FAR AS ALFONSO IS CONCERNED,

IF HE CAN'T HAVE HER,
NO ONE CAN.

WHAT HAPPENED
TO THE TOUGH GIRL NOW, HUH?

READY TO SAY GOODBYE.

[ GUNSHOT ]

HE MURDERS HER IN COLD BLOOD...

AND DRIVES OFF.

ON THE MORNING
OF SEPTEMBER 1, 1992,

YANG'S MOTHER REPORTS
HER DAUGHTER MISSING.

DETECTIVE DAVID ZDAN

IS IN CHARGE OF FINDING
THE MISSING WOMAN.

HE'S A 16-YEAR VETERAN OF
THE WHEATON POLICE DEPARTMENT.

POLICE BEGIN THE INVESTIGATION.

THEY CONDUCT
DOZENS OF INTERVIEWS

AND QUICKLY LEARN THAT YANG
WAS DATING MICHAEL ALFONSO

AT THE TIME
OF HER DISAPPEARANCE.

THEY ALSO LEARN
THAT MICHAEL ALFONSO

WAS THE LAST PERSON
TO SEE YANG ALIVE.

Zdan: MY PARTNER AND I
WENT OUT TO TALK TO HIM.

AND ONE OF THE THINGS
HE TOLD US --

AND I'LL NEVER FORGET THIS.

AND I SAID, "MICHAEL,
HOW DID YOU KNOW SUE YANG?"

HE SAID,
"SHE WAS MY GIRLFRIEND."

HENCE THE WORD,
"SHE WAS MY GIRLFRIEND."

Narrator: ALFONSO IS THE
PRIME SUSPECT IN YANG'S MURDER.

BUT THERE'S LITTLE EVIDENCE
TO PROVE HIS GUILT.

Alfonso: I KNEW THAT THEY
WEREN'T GONNA CATCH ME.

YOU KNOW WHAT I'M SAYING?

I MEAN, DESPITE THEM COMING
TO MY HOUSE ALL THE TIME

AND WANTING TO SEARCH MY HOUSE
AND SEARCH MY CAR AND STUFF,

BUT I WAS LIKE, MAN,
YOU DON'T HAVE ANYTHING ON ME.

YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN?
AND THEY DIDN'T.

Narrator:
ON NOVEMBER 18, 1992,

TWO MONTHS
AFTER YANG'S DISAPPEARANCE,

POLICE FIND HER CAR IN A
VACANT LOT AT THE EDGE OF TOWN.

IT'S BEEN CONSUMED IN A FIRE.

A FEW WEEKS LATER,

HIKERS DISCOVER YANG'S
SKELETAL REMAINS

IN THE WOODS OF A STATE PARK
38 MILES FROM HER HOME.

HER SKULL INDICATES A SINGLE
GUNSHOT WOUND TO THE HEAD.

THERE WAS VERY LITTLE PHYSICAL
EVIDENCE THEY CAN GET FROM THAT.

THERE HAD BEEN A TWO-MONTH DELAY

BETWEEN THE TIME SHE DISAPPEARED
AND THE TIME THEY FOUND HER.

Narrator: THE POLICE
ARE DOING ALL THEY CAN

TO PROVE THAT MICHAEL ALFONSO
MURDERED SUMANEAR YANG.

DESPITE THEIR EFFORTS,
ALFONSO IS STILL FREE.

Gutowski: IT WAS VERY
FRUSTRATING FOR THE DETECTIVES.

I KNEW THEM WELL, AND I KNOW
IT WAS ALWAYS SOMETHING

THAT THEY CONTINUED TO WORK.

IT WAS NEVER A COLD CASE.

IT WAS ALWAYS
AN ACTIVE INVESTIGATION.

THEY WEREN'T FORGETTING
ABOUT SUMANEAR YANG.

NOT BY A LONG SHOT.

Zdan: HE WAS IN LOVE WITH HER.
THERE'S NO DOUBT ABOUT THAT.

AND WHEN SHE BROKE IT OFF

AND ESPECIALLY THREATENED
TO ABORT THE BABY,

HE JUST BECAME INFURIATED.

AND HE FELT THAT KILLING HER
WOULD SATISFY HIS RAGE.

Narrator: ALFONSO BELIEVES THAT
HE'S GOTTEN AWAY WITH MURDER.

FOR HIM, THIS HAS
JUST BEEN ANOTHER CHAPTER

IN A LONG LINE OF VIOLENT CRIMES
AGAINST WOMEN.

BY THE TIME OF YANG'S MURDER,

DETECTIVE ZDAN ALREADY
KNOWS ALFONSO ALL TO WELL.

THREE YEARS EARLIER,

ZDAN ARRESTED ALFONSO FOR THE
GANG RAPE OF A 17-YEAR-OLD GIRL.

Zdan: WE ALL KNEW THAT
THE PROPENSITY OF THIS MAN

TO COMMIT MORE VIOLENCE
AGAINST WOMEN WAS VERY HIGH.

AND WE GOT TO GET THIS GUY
OFF THE STREET.

Alfonso: WHAT'S UP?
WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE?

WHAT IS THAT?!

Narrator: IN 1994,
ALFONSO STRIKES AGAIN.

HE GETS IN A FIGHT
WITH HIS NEW GIRLFRIEND...

AAH!
[ GASPING ]

...AND BRUTALLY STABS HER.

SHE SURVIVES,

AND ALFONSO GOES TO PRISON
FOR FOUR YEARS.

IN 1998, HE IS RELEASED
FOR A FEW SHORT MONTHS

BEFORE BEING ARRESTED AGAIN.

THIS TIME,
IT'S FOR CRIMINAL SEXUAL ABUSE.

HE'S DISPLAYING
A DANGEROUS PATTERN OF VIOLENCE

WITH NO END IN SIGHT.

HE HAD LEFT A LOT OF VIOLENCE
IN HIS WAKE.

IN SEVERAL COUNTIES,

WE FOUND WOMEN WHO HAD SURVIVED
HIS SEXUAL VIOLENCE.

Zdan:
THERE'S NO DOUBT IN MY MIND
MICHAEL ALFONSO IS A PSYCHOPATH.

THERE'S SO MUCH TURMOIL
IN THAT MAN'S LIFE

THAT HE ONLY HAS THE ABILITY
TO CARE ABOUT HIMSELF.

Narrator:
IT'S BEEN NINE YEARS SINCE
THE MURDER OF SUMANEAR YANG.

AND BY THE SUMMER OF 2001,

ALFONSO CONTINUES TO LIVE IN HIS
HOMETOWN OF WHEATON, ILLINOIS.

HE'S WORKING NIGHTS
AT A WAREHOUSE,

WHERE HE BECOMES INVOLVED
WITH ANOTHER MARRIED WOMAN.

HER NAME IS GENOVEVA VELASQUEZ.

YEAH, SHE WAS
A REALLY GREAT PERSON.

SHE WAS LIKE A MOM TO ME,

BECAUSE SHE WAS MY OLDER SISTER,
AND I WAS THE YOUNGER ONE.

SHE ALWAYS WANTED
TO GIVE US THE BEST.

SHE WORKED TWO JOBS
TO MAKE ENDS MEET,

AND SHE WAS
IN A PERIOD OF TRANSITION.

Narrator:
GENO, AS HER FRIENDS CALL HER,

HAS NO IDEA
OF ALFONSO'S CRIMINAL PAST

OR OF HIS PROPENSITY
FOR VIOLENCE.

YOU WOULD SOMETIMES TALK
TO PEOPLE YOU DON'T KNOW.

YOU KNOW,
YOU DON'T KNOW THEIR BACKGROUND.

YES, THAT'S THE DANGER WE
ALL FACE WHEN WE GO OUT THERE.

Zdan: GENO WAS A GOOD WOMAN.
SHE WAS VERY FAMILY LOYAL.

AND ALTHOUGH SHE WAS HAVING

SOME ESTRANGE ISSUES
WITH HER HUSBAND,

THEY WERE WORKING OUT
THOSE ISSUES.

Narrator:
BY JUNE 5, 2001,

GENOVEVA AND ALFONSO HAVE BEEN
DATING FOR A FEW MONTHS.

SHE TELLS HIM THAT IT'S OVER
BETWEEN THEM.

SHE WANTS TO RECONCILE
WITH HER HUSBAND.

FACING REJECTION ONCE AGAIN,
ALFONSO BECOMES ENRAGED.

LET GO!
LET GO!

LET GO OF ME!

HE THREATENS BOTH GENOVEVA
AND HER FAMILY.

YOU...

YOU TOUCH ME AGAIN,
I'LL KILL YOU,

YOUR WHOLE FAMILY,
AND YOUR TWO KIDS.

YOU GOT THAT?

GENOVEVA IS TERRIFIED

AND CALLS THE POLICE.

SHE DID NOT WANT MICHAEL ALFONSO
TO BE CONTACTED,

AND THAT WAS OVER THE OBJECTION
OF THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.

NO NEED TO TALK TO HIM.

HE THREATENED
TO KILL MY CHILDREN.

Zdan: BUT SHE WAS AFRAID
THAT IF WE HAD CONTACTED HIM

THAT IT WOULD
ENRAGE HIM FURTHER,

AND SHE WAS TRULY AFRAID.

SO THERE WAS AN EXTRA PATROL
ON HER HOUSE.

Narrator:
ALFONSO STAYS UP ALL NIGHT,

DRINKING, DOING DRUGS,
AND OBSESSING OVER THE BREAKUP.

Alfonso:
I WAS DRINKING A LOT OF BEER.

AND THEN IT WAS
IN THE MORNING TIME,

AND I KNEW SHE HAD TO
GO TO WORK AT 8:00.

THEN I SAID, YOU KNOW,
"I'M GONNA DO THIS."

Narrator: THE NEXT MORNING,
GENOVEVA VELASQUEZ

DROPS HER 9-YEAR-OLD DAUGHTER
OFF AT SCHOOL

AND HEADS TO WORK.

WHEN SHE ARRIVES,
ALFONSO IS WAITING FOR HER...

...STILL DRUNK, HIGH ON DRUGS,
AND FULL OF RAGE.

ALFONSO STALKS GENO
AS SHE ARRIVES.

ARMED WITH A .357 MAGNUM,
A BRUTALLY POWERFUL WEAPON,

HE IGNORES
THE DOZENS OF WITNESSES

IN THE DRIVE-THROUGH LINE.

HEY!

HE APPROACHES GENOVEVA...

AND AIMS TO KILL.

Narrator:
MICHAEL ALFONSO HAS GOTTEN AWAY

WITH THE 1992 MURDER
OF HIS FORMER GIRLFRIEND.

POLICE SUSPECT HIM,
BUT HE'S NEVER CHARGED.

NINE YEARS LATER,
A SIMILAR SITUATION IS UNFOLDING

AS HE STALKS
HIS CURRENT GIRLFRIEND.

AND I JUST --
I PULLED OUT THE GUN.

AND THEN I JUST UNLOADED
THE WHOLE CHAMBER.

HEY!

[ GUNSHOTS ]

Narrator:
ON THE MORNING OF JUNE 6, 2001,

MICHAEL ALFONSO BRUTALLY MURDERS
GENOVEVA VELASQUEZ

THEN FLEES THE SCENE AS DOZENS
OF WITNESSES WATCH IN HORROR.

Zdan: ONE OF THE WITNESSES
AT THE McDONALD'S

WAS WAITING
THROUGH THE DRIVE-THROUGH.

AND SHE WAS SITTING IN HER CAR,

AND SHE SAW MICHAEL ALFONSO
RUN BY HER CAR

JUST AFTER
SHE HEARD THE GUNSHOTS.

AND SHE SAID THAT THIS GUY
HAD A SMIRK ON HIS FACE.

HE WAS ACTUALLY SMIRKING.

GENOVEVA'S HUSBAND WORKS
AT THE RESTAURANT AS WELL.

AND HE'S ON BREAK
AS THE SHOTS RING OUT.

WHEN HE HEARD THE SHOTS,

HE ACTUALLY RAN
TO WHERE HE HEARD THE GUNSHOTS,

AND HE SAW HIS WIFE
LYING ON THE GROUND.

AND HE WAS ABSOLUTELY
OVERCOME WITH GRIEF.

THEY WERE ESTRANGED, BUT THEY
STILL HAD A CHILD TOGETHER.

THEY STILL WORKED
WITH EACH OTHER.

THEY STILL LIVED
WITH EACH OTHER.

THERE WAS NO DOUBT
IT WAS VERY HARD ON HIM.

IT HAPPENED
AT 8:30 IN THE MORNING.

PEOPLE ARE GOING
THROUGH THE DRIVE-THROUGH

TO GET THEIR MORNING COFFEE
ON THE WAY TO WORK.

NOBODY EXPECTED THIS TO HAPPEN.

Narrator: POLICE ARRIVE MINUTES
AFTER THE MURDER...

...WITH REPORTERS
FOLLOWING CLOSE BEHIND.

EARLY ON,
WE DIDN'T KNOW WHAT WE HAD.

WE JUST KNEW THERE WAS
A SHOOTING AT THE McDONALD'S.

SO WE WEREN'T SURE, WAS IT
A RANDOM ROBBERY GONE BAD,

OR WAS IT A GUN-TOTING
CRAZY PERSON

WHO JUST WALKED INTO A RANDOM
McDONALD'S AND OPENED FIRE?

Narrator:
THERE'S A KILLER ON THE LOOSE,
AND THE PUBLIC IS FEARFUL.

POLICE WORK
TO CONTROL THE SITUATION.

Gutowski:
IT WAS ABSOLUTE PANDEMONIUM.

YOU KNOW, YELLOW POLICE TAPE,
SQUAD CARS, AMBULANCES.

IT WAS JUST ABSOLUTE CHAOS.

Narrator:
OFFICERS INFORM DETECTIVE ZDAN

OF ALFONSO'S THREATS
TO GENOVEVA THE NIGHT BEFORE.

Zdan:
I SAID, "MICHAEL ALFONSO -- WHAT
DOES HE HAVE TO DO WITH THIS?"

AND I WAS ADVISED
THAT THEY WERE DATING.

I WENT, "OH, NO.

WE GOT TO GO FIND
MICHAEL ALFONSO."

AND HE WAS NOWHERE TO BE FOUND.

Narrator:
DESPITE GENOVEVA'S FEARS

AND THE WARNING SHE GAVE POLICE,

THIS TRAGEDY WASN'T AVOIDED.

Zdan:
IT WAS A HARD ONE TO SWALLOW

WHEN A WOMAN COMES TO THE POLICE
AND SAYS, "I'M AFRAID.

THIS GUY THREATENED TO KILL ME,
AND I WANT PROTECTION."

AND EIGHT HOURS LATER,
SHE'S DEAD.

THAT WAS JUST THE HARDEST THING
IN THE WORLD TO SWALLOW.

SO, DID THAT ONE
SLIP THROUGH THE CRACKS?

IT SURE DID.

Narrator: WITNESSES POSITIVELY
IDENTIFY MICHAEL ALFONSO

AS THE MAN WHO SHOT
GENOVEVA VELASQUEZ.

THE POLICE
STEP UP THEIR HUNT FOR HIM

NOW THAT THEY ARE CERTAIN
HE'S THE KILLER.

Zdan:
WE WENT TO HIS EMPLOYMENT.

WE GOT WORK RECORDS,
A SEARCH WARRANT ON HIS HOME,

SEARCH WARRANT FOR HIS CAR
IF WE COULD FIND IT.

AND SUDDENLY,
WE STARTED LEARNING INFORMATION.

Narrator: INVESTIGATORS
SEARCH THE CRIME SCENE

AND SOON HIT THE JACKPOT,

FINDING A REVOLVER STASHED
IN A SEWER DRAIN NEARBY.

Zdan: AND THAT GUN
BALLISTICALLY MATCHED

TO THE BULLETS THAT KILLED GENO.

SO IT WAS OBVIOUS
THAT HE RAN FROM THE McDONALD'S.

HE HAD PARKED HIS BLACK PONTIAC
IN AN APARTMENT PARKING LOT,

TOSSED THE GUN IN A SEWER,
AND TOOK OFF.

Narrator: FOR INVESTIGATORS,
THE EVIDENCE IS LINING UP.

AND THE EVENTS OF THAT FATEFUL
MORNING ARE BECOMING CLEAR.

Zdan:
IN THE BEGINNING OF THIS CASE,

THE INVESTIGATION
WAS PRIMARILY FOCUSED

ON DEVELOPING EVIDENCE

TO DETERMINE THE IDENTITY
OF THE SHOOTER.

AND THAT EVIDENCE
POINTED AT MICHAEL ALFONSO.

Narrator:
AUTHORITIES ISSUE AN ARREST
WARRANT FOR MICHAEL ALFONSO,

CHARGING HIM
WITH THE FIRST-DEGREE MURDER

OF GENOVEVA VELASQUEZ.

WHEN WE GOT THE ARREST WARRANT
FOR MICHAEL ALFONSO,

THE FACE OF THE INVESTIGATION
CHANGED FROM IDENTIFY THE KILLER

TO NOW FIND THE FUGITIVE.

Narrator: ALFONSO KNOWS
THE POLICE ARE HUNTING HIM.

HE'S FLUENT IN SPANISH.

HIS PLAN IS TO ESCAPE TO MEXICO.

HE'S BEEN IN AND OUT OF PRISON
MOST OF HIS LIFE.

HE'S DETERMINED NOT TO GO BACK.

Alfonso: I'D BEEN TO THE JOINT
THREE TIMES.

AND YOU LEARN EACH TIME
FROM YOUR MISTAKES.

YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN?

YOU LEARN THE RIGHT WAY
AND THE WRONG WAY TO DO THINGS.

Narrator: HIS FIRST STEP
IS TO CONFUSE THE POLICE.

HE DRIVES HIS CAR
TO THE INDIANAPOLIS AIRPORT

AND LEAVES IT THERE.

THEN HE SPENDS THE LAST OF HIS
CASH ON A BUS TICKET TO MIAMI.

TWO DAYS AFTER THE MURDER,
ALFONSO ARRIVES IN MIAMI.

HE GETS NERVOUS
AND CAN'T STAY THERE LONG.

Alfonso: I WAS ALWAYS IN
A PARANOID STATE, PRETTY MUCH.

YOU CAN'T IMAGINE THE FEAR,
YOU KNOW?

WHEN YOU'RE OUT IN THE STREET,

YOU'RE LIKE
EVERYBODY'S, LIKE, SUSPECT.

THIS COULD BE AN UNDERCOVER.
YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN?

SOME PERSON FOLLOWS YOU
TOO LONG,

YOU'RE THINKING
THAT THIS IS POLICE.

YOU KNOW WHAT I'M SAYING?

Narrator:
ALFONSO HITCHHIKES WEST

TO THE BORDER TOWN
OF EL PASO, TEXAS.

FROM THERE, HE CAN CROSS INTO
MEXICO AND START A NEW LIFE.

Alfonso:
I TOOK A CAB ACROSS THE BORDER,

AND THEY DIDN'T ASK ME FOR
ANY IDENTIFICATION OR ANYTHING.

AND WHEN I GOT TO
THE OTHER SIDE, I TOOK A BUS.

I TOOK A BUS
TO PUERTO VALLARTA, MEXICO.

Narrator:
IN LATE JUNE 2001,

MICHAEL ALFONSO ARRIVES
IN PUERTO VALLARTA.

HE'S ONLY BEEN ON THE RUN
FOR ABOUT A MONTH,

BUT ALREADY HE'S BEGINNING
TO REGRET HIS ACTIONS.

I WISH I WOULD HAVE NEVER KILLED
ANYBODY, TO BE HONEST WITH YOU.

BUT...

MORE SO, TOO, I WISH
I WOULD HAVE THOUGHT MORE.

I WISH I WOULD HAVE LEARNED
A LESSON FROM THE FIRST ONE

AND NOT DID THE SECOND ONE.

YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN?

[ GUNSHOTS ]

Narrator: HE ROAMS AROUND THIS
POPULAR TOURIST DESTINATION,

OUT OF MONEY AND DESPERATELY
LOOKING FOR WORK.

Alfonso:
I WAS WALKING ALONG THE BEACH,

GOING TO DIFFERENT BUSINESSES,
ASKING, "DO YOU HAVE WORK?"

YOU KNOW, "DO YOU HAVE WORK
FOR ME? I NEED WORK."

Narrator:
HIS DESPERATE SEARCH PAYS OFF,

AND ALFONSO FINDS WORK
AS A BARTENDER,

SERVING UNSUSPECTING TOURISTS.

HE'S SETTLING INTO A NEW LIFE
FAR FROM HOME.

BACK IN WHEATON, ILLINOIS,

POLICE CONTINUE
THEIR INVESTIGATION.

THEY KNOW THAT ALFONSO
COULD BE ANYWHERE

AND FEAR
THAT HE'LL STRIKE AGAIN.

I THINK HE CAN'T
SATISFY HIS RAGE.

HERE'S YOUR
PSYCHOPATHIC BEHAVIOR.

DID HE KNOW WHAT HE WAS DOING
WAS WRONG?

WITHOUT A DOUBT.

THAT'S WHY HE FLED.

HE KNEW HE'D BE TAKEN
INTO CUSTODY.

BUT HE COULD NOT HELP IT.

Narrator:
THE WHEATON POLICE DEPARTMENT

ENLISTS ALL HANDS
IN THE MANHUNT,

AND ADDITIONAL SUPPORT
IS REQUESTED

FROM STATE AND NATIONAL
LAW ENFORCEMENT.

WE CALLED IN THE DUPAGE COUNTY
MAJOR CRIMES TASK FORCE,

THE ILLINOIS STATE POLICE,
THE FBI,

AND WE JUST POURED A TON
OF DETECTIVES FROM THE AREA

INTO THIS CASE.

Narrator: WITH THE HELP
OF THE FBI's VAST RESOURCES,

INVESTIGATORS INTERVIEW
DOZENS OF PEOPLE

ASSOCIATED WITH MICHAEL ALFONSO,

INCLUDING HIS MOTHER AND SISTER.

2,000 MILES AWAY,

ALFONSO IS BEGINNING
TO MISS HIS FAMILY.

AND HE'S IN NEED OF CASH.

HE KNOWS THAT CALLING HOME
IS RISKY,

BUT ON JUNE 26, 2001,

HE TAKES THE CHANCE
AND CALLS ANYWAY.

HEY, SIS.

I ASKED HER TO WIRE ME MONEY,
BUT SHE SAID NO,

'CAUSE SHE COULD GET IN TROUBLE,
YOU KNOW?

I DIDN'T WANT TO GET MY SISTER
IN TROUBLE OR ANYTHING.

YOU KNOW WHAT?
I DON'T THINK I CAN.

THE COPS ARE -- I THINK
THE COPS ARE WATCHING.

Narrator: IN FACT,
JUST BY CALLING HIS SISTER,

ALFONSO HAS PUT HER AT RISK
OF BEING AN ACCOMPLICE.

SHE KNOWS THIS

AND IMMEDIATELY CONTACTS POLICE
WITH IMPORTANT NEWS.

AND SHE TOLD US THAT SHE
RECEIVED A COLLECT PHONE CALL

FROM HER BROTHER,

AND MICHAEL TOLD HER THAT HE WAS
IN PUERTO VALLARTA, MEXICO.

WE DEVELOPED A TEAM
OF MEXICAN POLICE OFFICERS,

MEXICAN FBI,
AND THE UNITED STATES FBI,

AND THEY WERE ON PUERTO VALLARTA

IN THE AREA
WHERE HE WAS CALLING FROM.

Narrator:
THE FBI TRACES ALFONSO'S CALL.

IT LEADS THEM TO THE RESTAURANT
HE'S WORKING AT.

THE FBI AND MEXICAN AUTHORITIES
ARRIVE IN PUERTO VALLARTA.

THEY STAKE OUT HIS RESTAURANT...

...AND SURROUND IT.

INVESTIGATORS HAVE FINALLY
CAUGHT UP WITH MICHAEL ALFONSO.

WE ARE OVER!
WE ARE OVER!

YOU'RE GONNA LISTEN
TO ME NOW.

Narrator:
BY THE SUMMER OF 2001,

IT'S BEEN NINE YEARS
SINCE MICHAEL ALFONSO

MURDERED HIS GIRLFRIEND
SUMANEAR YANG.

IT'S BEEN A MONTH SINCE HE
MURDERED GENOVEVA VELASQUEZ.

FBI AGENTS
AND MEXICAN AUTHORITIES

TRACK HIM DOWN
IN PUERTO VALLARTA.

FBI AGENTS COORDINATE
WITH MEXICAN POLICE

AND CHARGE IN.

I THINK HE SAW SOMETHING,
AND HE TOOK OFF RUNNING,

BECAUSE HE'S SKILLED AT THAT.

Narrator:
THEY SCOUR THE BAR.

AFTER A THOROUGH SEARCH,

THEY REALIZE THAT ALFONSO
IS NOWHERE TO BE FOUND.

Zdan:
THEY WENT TO MAKE AN ARREST.

HE WAS NOT THERE,

AND THEY BELIEVED
THAT THEY HAD JUST MISSED HIM.

Narrator:
AUTHORITIES ARE FRUSTRATED
AT BEING MOMENTS TOO LATE.

Zdan:
HE KNOWS HOW TO EVADE CAPTURE.

I THINK HE SMELLS
WHEN THERE'S A PROBLEM.

Narrator: HE'S ON THE LOOSE.
HE'S DANGEROUS.

AND HE'S DETERMINED
NOT TO GET CAUGHT.

AFTER NARROWLY ESCAPING THE FBI
IN PUERTO VALLARTA,

ALFONSO FLEES
DEEPER INTO MEXICO,

TAKING A BUS 250 MILES EAST
TO GUADALAJARA.

HE ARRIVES BROKE
AND DISORIENTED.

I WAS WALKING AROUND, DECIDING
WHERE I WAS GONNA GO AND STUFF,

YOU KNOW, 'CAUSE I HAD
NEVER BEEN THERE BEFORE.

Narrator:
ALFONSO IS IN MEXICO ILLEGALLY

AND IS TRAVELING
WITHOUT A PASSPORT OR I.D.

HE LOOKS EVERY BIT
THE WAYWARD TRANSIENT

WHEN HE'S STOPPED
BY MEXICAN IMMIGRATION OFFICERS.

GOT SOME IDENTIFICATION
ON YOU?

NO.

WHERE YOU FROM?
CUBA.

AND THEN, ALL OF A SUDDEN,
THE IMMIGRATION CAME,

AND THE IMMIGRATION ASKED ME
FOR IDENTIFICATION.

Narrator:
HAVING JUST ESCAPED THE FBI,

HE NOW FACES A NEW THREAT.

Alfonso: I TOLD THEM THAT I
DON'T HAVE ANY IDENTIFICATION.

THEY ASKED ME WHERE I WAS FROM,
SO I TOLD THEM I WAS CUBANO,

AND I CAME HERE FROM CUBA.

AND THEY TOLD ME, "OKAY,
WELL, YOU COME WITH US."

Narrator: MEXICAN AUTHORITIES
ARREST ALFONSO

AND TRANSFER HIM
TO THE IMMIGRATION CENTER.

OFFICIALS THERE CONTINUE
TO PRESS HIM ABOUT HIS IDENTITY.

HE ONLY GIVES THEM AN ALIAS --
ADOLFO RUIZ.

Alfonso:
THEY KEPT ASKING ME, YOU KNOW,

"IS THERE ANY WAY THAT WE
CAN FIND OUT WHO YOU ARE?"

YOU KNOW,
I WASN'T GONNA TELL THEM.

MOST OF THE DETAINEES
ALFONSO MEETS

ARE FROM CENTRAL
AND SOUTH AMERICA.

ALFONSO ISN'T
THE ONLY AMERICAN FUGITIVE

BEING HELD
BY MEXICAN IMMIGRATION.

EVERY SINGLE AMERICAN THAT
WAS IN THERE WAS A FUGITIVE.

THERE WERE GUYS DOWN THERE
IN THE IMMIGRATION CAMP

FROM THE UNITED STATES WHO WERE
ON "AMERICA'S MOST WANTED"

WHO I RECOGNIZED AND STUFF
BUT WHO NEVER GOT CAUGHT.

Narrator: MICHAEL ALFONSO
IS FINALLY LOCKED UP.

BUT MEXICAN AUTHORITIES
HAVE NO IDEA

THAT HE'S WANTED FOR MURDER
BACK IN THE UNITED STATES.

EVERY DAY HE'S HELD THERE

BRINGS A GREATER CHANCE OF HIS
TRUE IDENTITY BEING DISCOVERED

OR WORSE.

THEY TOLD US, "IF YOU TRY TO
ESCAPE, WE'RE GONNA SHOOT YOU."

Narrator: HIS TRUE IDENTITY
IS NEVER REVEALED,

AND AFTER NINE LONG MONTHS,
HE IS FINALLY RELEASED.

Zdan:
HE FELT THAT HE WAS GONNA BE
TAKEN BACK TO THE UNITED STATES

AT ANY TIME,

AND WHEN THEY LET HIM GO,
HE WAS ELATED.

HE COULDN'T BELIEVE IT.

Alfonso:
I WAS FREE, YOU KNOW?

I KIND OF THOUGHT THAT,

YOU KNOW, THEY WOULD BE
ON MY TRAIL AND STUFF.

Narrator:
ALFONSO DECIDES THAT MEXICO
IS NO LONGER SAFE FOR HIM.

HE MUST LEAVE
OR RISK BEING CAUGHT AGAIN.

AS SOON AS THEY RELEASED ME,
I WENT TO GUATEMALA.

I DIDN'T JUST STAY IN MEXICO.
I WENT TO GUATEMALA.

Narrator:
ALFONSO BEFRIENDS

ONE OF THE OTHER RELEASED
DETAINEES, ORLANDO BRAVA.

TOGETHER, THEY HEAD SOUTH.

Alfonso: WE HAD NO MONEY
OR ANYTHING. WE WAS JUST GOING.

WE WENT TO THE BUS.

WE BEGGED FOR ENOUGH
TO GET TO THE NEXT STOP.

EACH STOP, WE WOULD GET OFF
AND BEG MORE MONEY

TO GET TO THE NEXT STOP UNTIL
WE FINALLY GOT TO THE BORDER.

Narrator: ALFONSO AND ORLANDO
COME TO THE BORDER

BETWEEN MEXICO AND GUATEMALA.

THEY'RE TRAVELING
WITHOUT PASSPORTS

AND CAN'T JUST
WALK THROUGH LEGALLY.

SOMEHOW,
THEY MUST FIGURE OUT A WAY

TO GET ACROSS BY OTHER MEANS.

Alfonso: AND WE PAID 5 PESOS
TO CROSS A RIVER,

AND THE RIVER IS THE ONE
THAT THE SAME IMMIGRANTS

CROSS FROM GUATEMALA
INTO MEXICO,

BUT WE WERE GOING
THE REVERSE WAY.

WE WERE GOING INTO GUATEMALA
AND STUFF,

WHICH WAS KIND OF WORSE OFF.

Narrator:
MIGRANTS HEADING NORTH

QUESTION WHY THE TWO WOULD BE
HEADING INTO GUATEMALA,

WHERE IT'S MORE DANGEROUS.

UNDAUNTED, THEY CONTINUE ON.

BY THE TIME THEY FINALLY REACH
GUATEMALA CITY,

ORLANDO IS STARTING
TO ACT STRANGELY.

[ SHOUTS IN SPANISH ]

UPON GETTING OFF THE BUS
AT GUATEMALA CITY,

MY FRIEND ORLANDO, HE SNAPPED.

HE JUST STARTED SNAPPING
AND STUFF.

[ SHOUTING IN SPANISH ]

Narrator: THE FEAR, PARANOIA,
AND STRESS OF LIVING ON THE RUN

ARE TOO MUCH FOR ORLANDO.

I JUST TOLD HIM, "IT'S BETTER IF
YOU GO YOUR WAY AND I GO MY WAY,

"BECAUSE YOU'RE
KIND OF UNSTABLE.

"YOU'RE GONNA
DRAW ATTENTION TO ME,

AND THE POLICE ARE GONNA COME."

AND THEY'RE GONNA LOCK US UP
IN THIS COUNTRY

FOR NOT HAVING PAPERS.

AND SO HE WENT HIS OWN WAY,
AND I WENT MY OWN WAY.

WE'RE DONE,
ME AND YOU, MAN.

[ SHOUTING IN SPANISH ]

Narrator:
ALFONSO IS ON HIS OWN AGAIN

AS HE TRAVELS 400 MILES
TO LIVINGSTON, GUATEMALA.

HE'S HOPING TO LAY LOW
IN THIS SMALL COASTAL TOWN.

I GOT THERE,
AND I HAD NO PLACE TO STAY,

SO I WAS WALKING ALONG
THE BEACH, ASKING FOR FOOD.

YOU KNOW, I HAD ABSOLUTELY
NOTHING TO EAT AND STUFF.

Narrator: HE'S HUNGRY
AND GETTING DESPERATE.

THE TOWN IS NOT
WHAT HE HAD EXPECTED.

IT WAS KIND OF DANGEROUS
DOWN THERE,

'CAUSE TOURISTS WERE
GETTING KILLED AND STUFF.

THERE WAS A LOT OF VIOLENCE
IN THAT TOWN.

Narrator: ALFONSO LANDS A JOB
WORKING SECURITY AT A HOTEL.

WITH A LITTLE MONEY
IN HIS POCKET,

HE STARTS DOING DRUGS.

Alfonso:
EVERY MORNING THAT I WOULD
GET PAID, I WOULD GO BUY WEED.

YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN?

AND I WAS SMOKING
EVERY SINGLE DAY

TO THE POINT WHERE I WASN'T
EVEN FUNCTIONING RIGHT,

WHERE I WOULDN'T EVEN EAT.

Narrator: IT DOESN'T TAKE LONG
BEFORE ALFONSO'S BOSS

CATCHES HIM DOING DRUGS
ON THE JOB.

HE FIRES ALFONSO ON THE SPOT.

Alfonso: I WAS SO HOTHEADED,
'CAUSE HE TOLD ME, YOU KNOW,

"YOU'RE OUT OF HERE.
YOU'RE KICKED OUT OF HERE."

AT THAT POINT, YOU KNOW,

I WAS THIS CLOSE
TO GOING AND STABBING HIM.

I WAS THIS CLOSE
TO GOING AND KILLING HIM.

Narrator: ALFONSO CONCEIVES
OF A PLAN TO KILL HIS BOSS

AND TAKE THE MONEY HE KNOWS
IS KEPT IN THE OFFICE.

Alfonso: I WAS LIKE,
"NO, I CAN'T DO THAT,

"'CAUSE IF I GET LOCKED UP
IN GUATEMALA,

"THESE JAILS ARE HORRIFIC,

AND I'LL BE STUCK
DOWN HERE FOR YEARS."

YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN?

Narrator: THIS TIME,
REASON PREVAILS OVER RAGE.

AFTER SPENDING A MONTH
IN GUATEMALA,

HE'S HAD ENOUGH
AND CONTINUES ON.

HE TRAVELS THROUGH THE THICK
JUNGLES OF THE YUCATAN PENINSULA

UNTIL HE REACHES
THE BELIZE BORDER.

Alfonso: SO, I CROSSED OVER,
AND I WAS RUNNING INTO BELIZE.

AND THE IMMIGRATION
WERE RIGHT THERE,

AND HE GOES,
"WHERE'D YOU JUST COME FROM?

YOU JUST CAME OUT OF THE WOODS,
DIDN'T YOU?"

WHAT ARE YOU DOING
OUT THERE?

JUST, UH...

WHY ARE YOU
IN THE BUSHES?

JUST LOOKING AROUND.
JUST LOOKING AROUND.

Narrator: ALFONSO HAS BEEN
LOCKED UP BY IMMIGRATION

ONCE BEFORE.

IT LOOKS LIKE
HE'S GETTING CAUGHT AGAIN.

Narrator:
IT'S BEEN A YEAR

SINCE MICHAEL ALFONSO
MURDERED GENOVEVA VELASQUEZ.

HE'S BEEN LIVING AS A FUGITIVE

IN THE JUNGLES
OF CENTRAL AMERICA.

IN THE WINTER OF 2002,

HE CROSSES INTO BELIZE
AND EMERGES FROM THE JUNGLE.

AN IMMIGRATION AGENT
STOPS HIM TO INVESTIGATE.

WHAT ARE YOU DOING
OUT THERE?

UH, JUST A VACATION.
[ CHUCKLES ]

VACATIONING
IN THE BUSHES?

I'M, UH,
STAYING IN BELIZE.

BELIZE.
YEAH.

¿CóMO SE LLAMA?

UH...I'M AMERICAN.
I'M AMERICAN.

AMERICANO?

Alfonso:
I SAID, "NO, I'M AMERICAN."

I SAID, "I LOST MY PASSPORT
AND ALL MY IDENTIFICATION.

SOMEONE ROBBED ME," AND STUFF.

HE GOES, "ARE YOU SURE YOU'RE
NOT SNEAKING OVER HERE?"

I SAID, "NO, I'M AMERICAN.

I WOULDN'T BE ABLE
TO SPEAK ENGLISH."

Narrator:
THE MOMENT IT TAKES

FOR THE IMMIGRATION OFFICER
TO DECIDE

SEEMS LIKE A LIFETIME
TO ALFONSO.

AND HE WAS LIKE, "OKAY,
I'M GONNA GIVE YOU A BREAK NOW.

I'M NOT GONNA TAKE YOU IN."

SO HE DIDN'T TAKE ME IN.
YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN?

Narrator:
ALFONSO IS FREE TO GO.

AS HE RUNS DEEPER
INTO CENTRAL AMERICA,

HE GETS FURTHER
FROM INVESTIGATORS

BACK IN WHEATON, ILLINOIS.

AND THEY'RE BEGINNING
TO LOSE TRACK OF HIM.

Zdan: MICHAEL ALFONSO
WAS A DANGER TO SOCIETY.

HE PROVED IT
TIME AND TIME AGAIN,

THROUGH HIS SEXUAL ASSAULTS
OF WOMEN, STABBING WOMEN,

RAPING THEM, KILLING THEM.

HE'S A SERIAL KILLER,

AND THERE WAS NO DOUBT
IN MY MIND HE WOULD KILL AGAIN.

Narrator:
WITH THIS IN MIND,

INVESTIGATORS
DOUBLE THEIR EFFORTS.

THERE WAS A TEAM EFFORT
ON THE PART OF LOCAL, STATE,

AND FEDERAL
LAW-ENFORCEMENT OFFICIALS.

IT EVEN CAME TO THE POINT

WHERE WE WERE GETTING
THE VELASQUEZ FAMILY HELPING US.

Narrator: WORKING WITH THEIR
RELATIVES IN MEXICO,

THE VELASQUEZ FAMILY HOPES
THAT BY POSTING FLYERS

AND FLOODING THE MEDIA,

SOMEONE WILL RECOGNIZE ALFONSO.

Laura: I REMEMBER GOING
TO MEXICO TO VISIT MY UNCLE

AND, YOU KNOW, WE WERE
TALKING ABOUT EVERYTHING,

THINGS THAT WE CAN DO,
PEOPLE THAT HE CAN TALK TO

SO THE WORD CAN GET AROUND.

Narrator: THEIR EFFORTS PAY OFF
AS DOZENS OF TIPS ARE REPORTED.

THE FBI FOLLOWS UP
AND CLOSES IN.

AND EACH TIME WE WOULD GET
AN AGENT OF THE FBI IN MEXICO

TO GO AFTER ONE OF THESE TIPS --
AND WE GOT ON IT RIGHT AWAY --

WE WERE ALWAYS
ABOUT SIX MONTHS BEHIND HIM.

Narrator: AS INVESTIGATORS
CONTINUE THEIR SEARCH,

ALFONSO ARRIVES IN ANOTHER
POPULAR TOURIST DESTINATION.

Alfonso:
I LANDED IN CANCUN,

AND THE THING IS, THEY WARN YOU
ABOUT WHEN YOU GO TO CANCUN

THAT THERE'S A LOT OF
IMMIGRATION AND STUFF IN CANCUN,

SO YOU GOT TO BE CAREFUL
AND STUFF.

Narrator: ALFONSO GETS A JOB
AS A BOUNCER AT A STRIP CLUB.

THEY GIVE HIM A PLACE TO STAY
AND A MUCH-NEEDED PAYCHECK.

THERE'S ONE BIG PROBLEM.

THE CLUB IS SWARMING
WITH AMERICANS.

Alfonso: A LOT OF AMERICANS
WOULD COME IN THE STRIP CLUB,

AND THERE WAS THIS ONE GUY
WHO CAME IN

AND RECOGNIZED ME
FROM "AMERICA'S MOST WANTED."

HE TOLD ME, "I'VE SEEN YOU
ON 'AMERICA'S MOST WANTED.'"

HE TOLD ME THAT.

I SAID, "NO,
YOU MUST BE MISTAKEN.

YOU HAVEN'T SEEN ME."

HE GOES, "WHAT'S YOUR NAME?"

I GAVE HIM A FAKE NAME
AND STUFF.

Narrator:
ALFONSO FEARS BEING RECOGNIZED.

IT ONLY TAKES ONE PHONE CALL,

AND HIS DAYS OF FREEDOM
ARE OVER.

HE'S LIKE,
"NO, I KNOW I SAW YOU."

AS SOON AS HE SAID THAT,
THAT WAS MY LAST NIGHT THERE.

Narrator: ALFONSO
DOESN'T TAKE ANY CHANCES.

HE LEAVES CANCUN AND CONTINUES
NORTH ALONG THE COAST.

BY THE WINTER OF 2002,

MICHAEL ALFONSO HAS BEEN
ON THE RUN FOR OVER A YEAR.

HE'S TRAVELED THOUSANDS OF MILES

THROUGHOUT MEXICO
AND CENTRAL AMERICA.

HE'S WORN OUT,
AND HE'S STRUGGLING TO SURVIVE.

Alfonso: AND I WAS JUST
BASICALLY BEGGING,

YOU KNOW WHAT I'M SAYING?

'CAUSE MY ULTIMATE DESTINATION
WAS TO GET TO VERACRUZ, MEXICO.

AND SO I WAS, LIKE, THINKING,
YOU KNOW,

I DIDN'T KNOW IF I WAS
GONNA MAKE IT OR NOT.

HE WAS LIVING IN SQUALOR.

HE HAD NO MONEY.
HE HAD NO RESOURCES.

HE HAD NO ONE
TO TURN BACK ON TO.

HE HAD TO SCRATCH OUT
A WAY TO SURVIVE.

Narrator: WHEN ALFONSO
FINALLY ARRIVES IN VERACRUZ,

HE'S TIRED, HUNGRY, AND BROKE.

Alfonso: I TOLD MYSELF, "EITHER
I MAKE IT I HERE OR I DON'T."

I SAID, "THERE'S NOT
GONNA BE ANY PACKING UP

"AND GOING ANYPLACE ELSE
OR NOTHING.

THIS IS WHERE I'M GONNA STAY."

Narrator: VERACRUZ IS
A HISTORIC PORT CITY.

AND ALFONSO HOPES TO BLEND IN

WITH ITS LARGE POPULATION
OF AFRICAN DESCENDENTS.

STARTING IN A NEW TOWN
HAS BECOME ROUTINE FOR ALFONSO.

AND IT DOESN'T TAKE LONG
FOR ALFONSO TO FIND A JOB,

A PLACE TO STAY...

AND A GIRLFRIEND.

Alfonso: I MET
A GIRLFRIEND DOWN THERE.

SHE WAS A NURSE.
HER NAME WAS EDITH.

AND WHAT HAPPENED WITH HER

IS WE STARTED TO DATE AND STUFF
AND GO OUT AND STUFF.

Narrator: EDITH HAS NO IDEA
ABOUT ALFONSO'S VIOLENT PAST,

NO IDEA THAT HE'S CURRENTLY
WANTED FOR MURDER.

ALFONSO SETTLES
INTO HIS NEW LIFE.

HE BEGINS TO FEEL THAT HE MIGHT
HAVE GOTTEN AWAY WITH MURDER

FOR THE SECOND TIME.

Alfonso: BY THIS TIME, I STARTED
TO FEEL REAL COMFORTABLE.

I DIDN'T FEEL LIKE SOMEONE
WAS LOOKING FOR ME,

SO I REALLY
LET MY GUARD DOWN A LOT.

AND I MEAN I STARTED GOING OUT
TO DRINK EVERY FRIDAY NIGHT,

EVERY SATURDAY NIGHT WITH THEM,
GOING TO STRIP CLUBS.

Narrator: AS ALFONSO
BEGINS TO LET HIS GUARD DOWN,

THE FBI IS TURNING UP THE HEAT.

JANUARY 2003,
THEY PLACE MICHAEL ALFONSO

ON THE LIST
OF 10 MOST-WANTED FUGITIVES.

HE'S LISTED AT 5'10",
180 POUNDS,

WITH "BLANCA"
TATTOOED ON HIS BACK.

Zdan:
I BELIEVE MICHAEL ALFONSO

WOULD BE CAPABLE
OF KILLING AGAIN, EASILY.

AND THAT'S ONE OF THE REASONS
WHY HE WAS PUT ON THE TOP 10,

HIS PROPENSITY FOR MURDER.

Narrator:
THE LISTING ALLOWS INVESTIGATORS

TO PUT GREATER RESOURCES
INTO THE CASE.

IT ALSO CREATES
MORE MEDIA ATTENTION

AND LEADS TO APPEARANCES

ON THREE POPULAR
TELEVISION CRIME SHOWS.

Zdan: WE'RE TRACKING HIM.
WE'RE FOLLOWING HIM.

AND ALTHOUGH IT'S FRUSTRATING

THAT WE'RE ALWAYS
ABOUT SIX MONTHS BEHIND HIM,

WE KNOW WHERE HE'S AT,
AND WE KNOW WHERE HE'S GOING.

SO WE FELT THAT WE JUST
KEEP DOING WHAT WE'RE DOING,

WE'RE GONNA HIT IT.

Gutowski: IN THIS CASE,
IT WASN'T A WHODUNIT.

IT WAS A "WHERE IS HE?"

AND I KNEW IT WAS
JUST A MATTER OF TIME

BEFORE HIS LUCK WOULD RUN OUT.

Narrator:
ON JUNE 14, 2004,

A MAN WALKS INTO
THE U.S. EMBASSY IN MEXICO CITY

AND TELLS THE FBI

THAT HE'S SEEN ALFONSO'S CASE
PROFILED ON TELEVISION.

HE TELLS THEM
THAT HE KNOWS MICHAEL ALFONSO.

HE KNOWS WHERE HE WORKS,
AND HE KNOWS WHERE HE LIVES.

YOU'RE NOT GONNA BELIEVE THIS.
I GOT A GREAT LEAD ON ALFONSO.

YEAH. YEAH.

FBI AGENTS AND MEXICAN
AUTHORITIES ACT QUICKLY

AND DESCEND ON VERACRUZ
THE NEXT DAY.

THEY PATROL
ALFONSO'S NEIGHBORHOOD

AND SPOT HIM
AS HE ENTERS A BARBERSHOP.

AFTER THREE YEARS
OF ELUDING JUSTICE,

LAW ENFORCEMENT FINALLY
HAVE ALFONSO IN THEIR GRASP.

THEY COORDINATE
THEIR POSITIONS...

...AND MOVE IN.

Narrator: MICHAEL ALFONSO HAS
ELUDED JUSTICE FOR OVER 12 YEARS

WHEN, ON JUNE 14, 2004,

THE FBI RECEIVES A TIP ON HIS
WHEREABOUTS AND MOVES IN.

THE FBI IS DETERMINED
NOT TO LET HIM SLIP AWAY.

DESPITE THE ACTIVITY
GOING ON OUTSIDE,

EVERYTHING APPEARS NORMAL
INSIDE THE BARBERSHOP.

Alfonso:
HE DID LIKE HALF OF MY HAIR,

AND THEN I SEE THESE --
I SEE THESE GUYS COME IN.

Narrator:
AGENTS ENTER THE BARBERSHOP

KNOWING THAT ALFONSO WILL
DO ANYTHING TO AVOID CAPTURE.

[ SPEAKING SPANISH ]
WHERE ARE YOU FROM?

CUBA.

I'M THINKING, "THEY GOT ME.
THEY GOT ME."

YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN?
"¿DE DóNDE ERES?"

"WHERE ARE YOU FROM?"
THEY ASKED ME WHERE I'M FROM.

CUBA.
I'M FROM CUBA.

YOU'RE AMERICAN.

Alfonso:
I SAID, "I'M FROM CUBA."

AND HE SAID,
"NO, Tú ERES AMERICANO."

HE SAID, "YOU'RE AMERICAN."
YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN?

Narrator: THEY CHECK
FOR A DISTINGUISHING TATTOO

ON ALFONSO'S BACK
TO CONFIRM HIS IDENTITY.

Alfonso:
AND THEN WHEN HE CHECKED,

WHEN HE PULLED BACK MY SHIRT
AND LOOKED AT MY TATTOO,

I KNEW IT WAS THEM.

I WAS LIKE,
"YEAH, THESE [BLEEP] GOT ME."

Narrator:
THE FBI FINALLY HAVE THEIR MAN.

Man: LET'S GO.

AND THERE'S NO WAY THEY'RE
LETTING HIM ESCAPE THIS TIME.

Alfonso: AND THEN
THAT'S WHEN THEY CUFFED ME UP.

AND FROM THAT DAY ON,
I'D NEVER SEE FREEDOM.

Narrator: ALFONSO'S LIFE AS
A VIOLENT CRIMINAL AND FUGITIVE

COMES TO AN END.

MEXICAN AUTHORITIES
DEPORT MICHAEL ALFONSO

BACK TO THE UNITED STATES.

ON JULY 27, 2005,

DETECTIVE DAVID ZDAN
ESCORTS ALFONSO

BACK TO THE POLICE DEPARTMENT
IN WHEATON, ILLINOIS.

THE POLICE HAVE SPENT YEARS

COLLECTING EVIDENCE AND BUILDING
A CASE AGAINST ALFONSO.

NOW COMES THE REALLY TOUGH PART.

AND IT CERTAINLY WASN'T OVER,

BECAUSE NOW YOU HAVE TO
PROSECUTE HIM.

Narrator: EVERYONE EXPECTS
A LENGTHY COURT BATTLE.

BUT ON JULY 11, 2007,

MICHAEL ALFONSO
AVOIDS A POSSIBLE DEATH SENTENCE

BY PLEADING GUILTY
TO ALL CHARGES.

WHEN HE WAS CONVICTED,

I'M IN THE JURY BOX,
WATCHING THIS,

AND I DON'T THINK ANYBODY SAW.

I JUST WENT...
[ SIGHS ]

"FINALLY."

FINALLY CONVICTED
OF THREE COUNTS OF MURDER,

THE DEATH OF GENO,
THE DEATH OF SUE YANG,

AND THE DEATH
OF SUE YANG'S BABY.

Narrator:
FAMILY MEMBERS OF THE VICTIMS

GIVE STATEMENTS
DURING THE HEARING.

Woman:
"I KNEW FROM THE BEGINNING

"THAT MICHAEL ALFONSO
HAD KILLED MY DAUGHTER.

HE IS AN EVIL PERSON."

"ALFONSO DIDN'T
JUST TAKE MY MOM.

HE TOOK MY HAPPINESS AWAY."

Gutowski: THERE REALLY WASN'T
A DRY EYE IN THE ROOM,

INCLUDING, YOU KNOW,
THE GRIZZLED POLICE DETECTIVES

AND PROSECUTORS
WHO HAD SEEN EVERYTHING.

Narrator:
AS PART OF THE PLEA DEAL,

ALFONSO AGREES TO RECORD
A FULL CONFESSION TO POLICE.

IF SHE DIDN'T
WANT TO BE WITH ME,

THEN SHE WASN'T
GONNA BE WITH ANYBODY.

WHAT WERE YOU
THINKING?

I WAS JUST THINKING,
"I'M GONNA GET HER."

I SHOT
UNTIL THE GUN CLICKED.

Narrator: IT'S A CHILLING
ACCOUNT OF VIOLENCE

BY A MAN WITHOUT EMPATHY.

THERE IS A CAUTIONARY TALE
IN THERE,

BECAUSE I'M SURE
THERE'S MANY PEOPLE OUT THERE

LIKE MICHAEL ALFONSO,

AND, YOU KNOW, THEY DON'T
LOOK LIKE THE BIG BAD WOLF,

BUT YOU NEVER KNOW
WHAT THEY'RE CAPABLE OF.

NO!

I MEAN, BESIDES THE ONES
THAT I KILLED --

YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN? --

THERE ARE OTHER ONES WHO I'VE
DONE HORRIFIC THINGS TO --

YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN? --

ALL BECAUSE I'M JEALOUS
AND CONTROLLING.

YOU KNOW WHAT I'M SAYING?

I'M NOT HEARTLESS.
YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN?

I HAVE A HEART.
YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN?

IT'S JUST THAT I JUST SNAPPED
A FEW TIMES IN MY LIFE.

HEY!

[ GUNSHOTS ]

MURDERING WOMEN, STABBING THEM,

SHOOTING THEM,
CONTROLLING THEM --

THAT'S NOT A DECENT GUY.

HE'S A BROTHER, YOU KNOW.

HE'S A SON.

AND HE'S A KILLER.

AND THERE'S NO QUESTION
ABOUT THAT.

[ GUNSHOT ]

Narrator:
MICHAEL ALFONSO IS NOW LOCKED UP

IN THE MENARD CORRECTIONAL
FACILITY IN SOUTHERN ILLINOIS.

HE'LL SPEND
THE REST OF HIS LIFE THERE

WITH NO POSSIBILITY OF PAROLE.