I (Almost) Got Away with It (2010–2016): Season 1, Episode 5 - Got Two Homes in Mexico - full transcript

Narrator:
17-YEAR-OLD GONZALO MARTINEZ

IS A CONVICTED FELON.

PRISON WALLS CAN'T HOLD HIM.

HE TAKES PART
IN A DARING ESCAPE.

Kurtz: THESE GUYS
ALL WERE MEMBERS OF GANGS.

THEY WERE WILLING
TO SHOOT PEOPLE.

Narrator:
HE CROSSES THE MEXICAN BORDER

AND STARTS A NEW LIFE
AS A DRUG KINGPIN.

THERE WAS A LOT OF PARTYING
GOING ON -- STRIP CLUBS, WOMEN.

Narrator: POLICE REFUSE TO LET
THIS BECOME ANOTHER COLD CASE.

WE'RE NEVER GONNA STOP
UNTIL WE FIND GUYS LIKE THIS.



Narrator: CRIMINALS SOMETIMES
TRY TO ESCAPE FROM JUSTICE.

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

17-YEAR-OLD GANG MEMBER
GONZALO MARTINEZ

IS LIVING
A FAST AND VIOLENT LIFE

ON THE STREETS
OF DENVER, COLORADO.

BUT HIS LIFE ON THE EDGE
IS ABOUT TO CATCH UP WITH HIM.

Martinez: IT WAS JUST
A NORMAL NIGHT FOR ME,

AND IT TURNED OUT
TO BE A NIGHTMARE.

Narrator: MARTINEZ IS DRINKING
AT A FRIEND'S HOUSE.

ON THE OTHER SIDE OF TOWN,

HIS EX-GIRLFRIEND,
SABRINA MONTOYA,

IS AT ANOTHER PARTY.

ALL THESE PARTIES
ARE ALSO GANG RELATED,

SO YOU NEVER KNOW
WHAT YOU'RE GONNA STEP INTO.



Narrator:
GONZALO MARTINEZ KNOWS GANGS.

AT 10 YEARS OLD, HE TOOK
A BULLET IN A DRIVE-BY SHOOTING.

BY 13, HE WAS SELLING
CRACK COCAINE.

* I NEED A LITTLE BIT
OF CASH *

AT SABRINA'S PARTY,
A RAP CONTEST BREAKS OUT

BETWEEN A FEMALE PARTYGOER
AND A GANG MEMBER.

* YOU AIN'T
DOIN' NOTHING *

* YOU JUST
SMOKIN' SHERMAN *

* THIS GUY LOOKS LIKE THE COUSIN
OF PEE-WEE HERMAN *

[ LAUGHTER ]

SHE WINS.

HE FEELS DISRESPECTED.

RESPECT IS A THING
YOU GOT TO HOLD NO MATTER WHAT,

AND I GUESS THE GIRLS ENDED UP
DISSING THE GUYS.

I THINK RESPECT
IS NOT JUST FOR A GANG MEMBER,

BUT AS AN ORDINARY PERSON,

WE DEAL WITH IT MORE VIOLENTLY,
PROBABLY, THAN SOCIETY WOULD.

Narrator: A FIGHT STARTS,

AND THE TENSE ENVIRONMENT
BOILS OVER.

I GUESS VIOLENCE BROKE OUT.

THE WOMEN WERE ASSAULTED.

THEY THREATENED TO COME BACK
AND SHOOT THE PLACE UP.

YOU BETTER WATCH YOUR BACK!
YOU BETTER WATCH YOUR BACK!

YOU'RE GONNA GET SHOT!

ALL OF YOU GUYS
ARE GONNA GET SHOT!

WATCH YOUR BACK!

[ CELLPHONE RINGS ]

HELLO?

I just got out of this party,
and frickin' some --

Narrator:
SABRINA CLAIMS SHE CALLED
MARTINEZ AND ASKED FOR HIS HELP.

LET'S GO, MAN.
LET'S DO THIS, MAN.

COME ON,
LET'S DO THIS, MAN.

I'LL SEE YOU
ALL AROUND, MAN.

SHE PICKS UP MARTINEZ
AND ANOTHER GANG MEMBER.

THEY RETURN TO THE PARTY.

[ WOMAN SCREAMS ]

Man: OH, GOD!

THREE PARTYGOERS ARE SHOT
AND SUSTAIN MINOR INJURIES.

[ SIRENS WAIL IN DISTANCE ]

DID YOU SEE
WHERE THE SHOOTER WENT?

POLICE ARRIVE ON SCENE
AND INTERROGATE THE WITNESSES.

LISTENING TO BEATS,
AND THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN,

JUST, YOU KNOW,
CRAZY-ASS GUNSHOTS GOING OFF.

WITHIN HOURS,
MARTINEZ IS ARRESTED.

SABRINA IS ALSO ARRESTED

AND CHARGED WITH CONSPIRACY
TO COMMIT MURDER.

MARTINEZ CLAIMS HE'S INNOCENT,

BUT HE IS EVENTUALLY CONVICTED
AND SENTENCED AS AN ADULT.

Martinez:
I WAS CHARGED WITH THREE COUNTS

OF FIRST-DEGREE
ATTEMPTED MURDER,

AND I WAS SENTENCED
TO 16 COUNTS ON EACH --

EACH ATTEMPTED MURDER
TO RUN CONSECUTIVE

FOR A TOTAL OF 48 YEARS.

Narrator:
MARTINEZ KNOWS STREET LIFE,

BUT HE'S NOW FACING
THE SCHOOL OF HARD KNOCKS --

THE STATE PRISON.

MARTINEZ IS ABOUT TO GET
ADVANCED CRIMINAL TRAINING

THAT WILL FOREVER
CHANGE HIS LIFE.

AT ARKANSAS VALLEY CORRECTIONAL
FACILITY IN SOUTHEAST COLORADO,

MARTINEZ QUICKLY MAKES FRIENDS
WITH 23-YEAR-OLD ALLEN LUCERO

AND 21-YEAR-OLD ALFREDO SERNA.

HE'S A CONVICTED MURDERER
SENTENCED TO 48 YEARS IN PRISON.

SERNA, ALSO KNOWN AS "HOUDINI,"

IS FAMOUS AMONGST INMATES
FOR TWO SUCCESSFUL JAILBREAKS.

SERNA DECIDES THE TIME IS RIGHT
FOR ANOTHER ESCAPE.

HE ENLISTS THE HELP
OF GONZALO MARTINEZ.

Martinez: I WASN'T GONNA GO.
I WAS ONLY GONNA HELP PLAN IT.

I WAS IN THE PROCESS
OF FIGHTING MY CASE STILL

IN THE COURT OF APPEALS,

AND SO, I FIGURED
I'D HELP PLAN IT,

BUT I WASN'T GONNA GO.

Narrator: SERNA GIVES MARTINEZ
HIS FIRST ASSIGNMENT.

HE HAS TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO
DEFEAT THE PERIMETER SENSORS.

HE KNOWS HE HAS TO GET
UP CLOSE TO THE SENSORS

TO SEE HOW THEY WORK.

HE HATCHES A PLAN.

HE STARTS A FIGHT IN PRISON

SO THAT HE'LL GET THROWN
IN THE HOLE.

HE KNOWS THAT ONCE
HE'S OUT OF THE HOLE,

HE'LL BE PUT ON A WORK PROGRAM.

Martinez: WE WOULD HAVE TO CLEAN
THE ROCKS AROUND THE PERIMETER,

AROUND THE FENCE,
AND I TOOK THAT ADVANTAGE

TO MEASURE THE SENSORS,
SEE WHERE THEY POINTED,

HOW THE FENCES WORKED, WHERE WAS
THE BEST SPOT TO CUT IT,

WHERE WAS THE WEAKEST SPOT

AND THE BEST SPOT
TO NOT BE SEEN BY THE TOWER.

AND EVERY NIGHT, I WOULD
GO BACK, I WOULD DRAW IT UP.

Narrator: THEY PLAN THE BREAK
WITH MILITARY PRECISION,

PREPARING FOR EVERY POSSIBLE
CONTINGENCY.

Martinez: WE WENT TO
THE LIBRARY, STUDIED THE MAP --

BACK ROADS, STREET ROADS,
AND ROUTES.

PLAN "A" FOR A FOOT CHASE,

"B" FOR A HIGH-SPEED CHASE,
SHOOTOUT -- EVERYTHING.

YOU HAVE TO PLAN ALL...
ALL OPTIONS.

Narrator: WHILE MARTINEZ STARTS
TO MAP OUT

THE DETAILS OF THE ESCAPE
FROM THE INSIDE,

ALFREDO SERNA MASTERMINDS HELP
FROM THE OUTSIDE.

"SMOKEY" KURTZ
IS AN INVESTIGATOR

WITH THE COLORADO DEPARTMENT
OF CORRECTIONS.

IT WAS LATER LEARNED
THAT SOME OF THIS PLANNING

HAD ACTUALLY BEEN DONE
IN OUR VISITING ROOM

WHEN SERNA'S MOTHER
CAME TO VISIT,

AND ALSO SERNA TALKING TO HER
ON THE PHONES.

IT WAS DETERMINED, YEAH,

THEY WERE PROVIDED
WITH A GETAWAY CAR.

THEY HAD GUNS.
THEY HAD DRUGS.

THEY HAD MONEY.

PRETTY MUCH EVERYTHING THEY
NEEDED TO GET OUT OF THE AREA.

Narrator:
WITHOUT ONE CRITICAL OBJECT,

THEY WON'T BE GOING ANYWHERE.

TWO WEEKS BEFORE THE ESCAPE,

THEY FINALLY
GET THEIR HANDS ON IT.

Smith: THEY HAD OBTAINED
SOME PLIERS, SOME CUTTERS.

WE HAD SOME INFORMATION

THAT THEY HAD ACTUALLY PAID
A FAIR SUM OF MONEY TO GET THEM.

THEY OBTAINED THIS
THROUGH ANOTHER INMATE

THAT HAD TAKEN THEM
OUT OF AN AREA

WHERE THEY SHOULD HAVE BEEN
SECURED.

THAT IS A TOOL THAT YOU
DON'T WANT AN INMATE TO HAVE,

AND THEY HAD ACCESS.

Narrator:
AS THEY GET READY TO ESCAPE,

SERNA AND LUCERO
RECRUIT A THIRD INMATE.

THEN SERNA WORKS HARD
TO TRY AND GET MARTINEZ

TO BE THE FOURTH INMATE.

Martinez: THIS DUDE WAS
A GOOD FRIEND OF MINE.

NO ONE ELSE WANTED TO GO,
AND I KEPT TELLING HIM,

"WHY DO YOU WANT ANYBODY ELSE
TO GO, ANYWAY?"

HE SAID, "BECAUSE IF THE TOWER
SHOOTS AT ME,

IT'S FOUR CHANCES OUT OF ONE
THAT I GET HIT."

SO I WAS LIKE,
"YEAH, I UNDERSTAND YOU."

Narrator:
THE DAY OF THE PRISON BREAK,

THE FOURTH INMATE BACKS OUT.

MARTINEZ DECIDES
TO JOIN THE PRISON BREAK.

LET'S DO IT.
I'M DOWN ON IT.

YOU ONLY LIVE ONCE.

Martinez:
HOPE WAS FAR AWAY.

I'M STUCK
WITH A 48-YEAR SENTENCE,

SO IT WAS LIKE,
"WHAT CAN I LOSE?"

Narrator:
AS DARKNESS FALLS ON ARKANSAS
VALLEY CORRECTIONAL FACILITY,

MARTINEZ, SERNA, AND LUCERO KNOW

THEY HAVE
TWO CRITICAL ADVANTAGES.

Martinez: IN DECEMBER,
IT GETS DARKER OUT EARLIER.

IT GETS DARKER FASTER
HERE IN COLORADO,

SO WE HAD THE DARKNESS
ON OUR SIDE.

THE SENSORS WERE TURNED OFF.

THE SENSORS WERE TURNED OFF

BECAUSE I WAS
ON THAT MAINTENANCE CREW,

AND WE WERE WORKING THERE.

THEY HAD TO TURN THEM OFF.

Narrator: 5:30 P.M.

THEY MEET UP IN THE CHOW HALL.

THE PRISON BREAK
IS SET IN MOTION.

TO PULL OFF THE ESCAPE,

THE INMATES
WILL HAVE TO AVOID DETECTION

BY THE PERIMETER PATROL TRUCK,

SNEAK PAST TWO GUARD TOWERS,

AND WORK THEIR WAY
THROUGH SIX FENCES.

MARTINEZ, SERNA, AND LUCERO RUN
BEHIND ONE OF THE HOUSING UNITS,

AND THE PRISON BREAK
IS ALMOST OVER BEFORE IT STARTS.

AS THE GROUP
HEADS FOR THE FIRST FENCE,

THEY GET AN UNEXPECTED SURPRISE.

Martinez: WE CAME FACE-TO-FACE
WITH MAINTENANCE CREW.

THEY WERE COMING OUT
OF THE WORKSHOP,

AND I DON'T KNOW
HOW THEY DIDN'T SEE US.

WE THOUGHT WE WERE CAUGHT.

THERE'S A CAMERA RIGHT AWAY
THERE IN THE HANDBALL COURT.

ANYBODY DIDN'T EVEN SEE US.

WE PASSED IT, AND IT WAS JUST
A REGULAR FENCE WE JUMPED.

AND THEN, NOW YOU HAD TO
DEAL WITH THE SENSORS,

BUT THEY WERE CUT OFF.

Narrator: TO INCREASE THEIR ODDS
OF A SUCCESSFUL ESCAPE,

THEY PREARRANGE
A WELL-TIMED DIVERSION.

Martinez:
WHILE WE WERE ESCAPING, WE HAD
ANOTHER FIGHT HAPPEN IN CHOW.

WE HAD INMATES FIGHT FOR US SO
ALL OF SECURITY WOULD BE THERE.

AND ANOTHER FIGHT BROKE OUT
HERE IN THE UNIT,

SO WE HAD SECURITY
RUNNING AROUND ALL AROUND.

Narrator:
THEY SPRINT FOR THE NEXT FENCE,

EXPOSED BY THE BRIGHT
PRISON LIGHTS.

OUT IN THE OPEN,
THEY HAVE NOWHERE TO HIDE.

NEARBY, THE PRISON'S
PERIMETER PATROL GUARD

IS BEGINNING HIS ROUNDS.

AS MARTINEZ CUTS THROUGH THE
FENCE USING THE SMUGGLED PLIERS,

THE PATROL GUARD
TURNS THE CORNER,

APPROACHING THEIR POSITION.

I TOLD EVERYBODY, "STAY STILL.
STAY STILL. DON'T MOVE."

Narrator: HE DOESN'T SPOT THEM
AS HE MAKES HIS ROUNDS.

WHILE THEY ARE FROZEN IN PLACE,

INMATES INSIDE THE PRISON
ARE WATCHING THE ESCAPE GO DOWN.

CUTTING THROUGH THE FENCE
TAKES LONGER THAN EXPECTED,

PUTTING THE PRISON BREAK
IN JEOPARDY.

COME ON.

BY THE TIME THE INMATES
REACH THE LAST FENCE,

THEY'RE EXHAUSTED.

THEY CAN'T WASTE ANY MORE TIME
USING THE PLIERS.

THEY DECIDE TO RISK IT

AND CLIMB THE FENCE
TOPPED WITH RAZOR WIRE.

SERNA AND LUCERO
MAKE IT OVER THE LAST FENCE,

HIT THE GROUND,
AND RUN TOWARDS FREEDOM.

BUT MARTINEZ ISN'T SO LUCKY.

Martinez: I CLIMBED ALL THE WAY
TO THE TOP OF THE FENCE,

DESPERATE, BUT THE BARBED WIRE
WAS TOO MUCH.

I GOT STUCK ON THE TOP
INTO THE BARBED WIRE,

AND EVERYBODY ELSE
WAS ALREADY RUNNING AWAY.

Narrator: IF THE GUARDS
SPOT MARTINEZ ON THE FENCE,

HE'S AS GOOD AS DEAD.

ONCE THE INMATE
IS ON A CERTAIN FENCE,

THEY ARE SUBJECT TO BEING SHOT.

Martinez: I WAS STUCK, AND I WAS
EYE TO EYE WITH THE TOWER.

I WAS EXPECTING A BULLET
AT ANY MINUTE.

Narrator:
THREE INMATES ARE ESCAPING
FROM A REMOTE COLORADO PRISON.

Smith: THESE WERE
VERY DANGEROUS INMATES.

ALL THREE OF THEM HAD COMMITTED
AN ATTEMPTED MURDER OR A MURDER.

Narrator: GONZALO MARTINEZ
IS THE LAST TO CLIMB

THE FINAL FENCE TO FREEDOM,

BUT HE'S CAUGHT
IN THE DEADLY RAZOR WIRE.

WITH ONE LAST HEAVE,

MARTINEZ FREES HIMSELF
FROM THE RAZOR WIRE,

DROPPING 18 FEET TO THE GROUND.

WHEN I HIT THE GROUND,
I WAS TRYING TO CATCH MY AIR,

AND THEN IT HIT ME THAT,
YOU KNOW, WE MADE IT.

NO ALARMS ARE OFF, SOUNDING.

NOBODY WAS CHASING US.

AND I GOT UP AND WAS RUNNING
TO THE CAR, LAUGHING, HAPPY.

Narrator: THEY RUN ACROSS
THE STREET FROM THE PRISON

WHERE SERNA'S MOTHER
HAS LEFT THEIR GETAWAY CAR.

Martinez: RIGHT AWAY
WHEN WE GOT TO THE CAR,

EVERYBODY WAS SEARCHING
FOR THE GUNS,

'CAUSE WE DIDN'T KNOW
IF THEY WAS GONNA COME AFTER US

AT ANY MINUTE.

SO EVERYBODY GOT THE GUNS,
LOADED THEM.

MY GUN'S BIGGER
THAN YOUR GUN.

[ LAUGHS ]

THE SIZE OF THE BLAST,
YOU KNOW WHAT I'M SAYING?

MY FRIEND JUMPED
IN THE DRIVER'S SEAT TO START IT

SO WE COULD LEAVE...

...AND THE BATTERY WAS DEAD.
WHAT'S UP?

ALL YOU HEAR
IS "RRR-RRR-RRR."

START IT, MAN.

Narrator: THE INMATES HOPE THEY
DON'T HAVE TO ESCAPE ON FOOT

BECAUSE THEY ARE IN
A DESOLATE AREA,

AND TEMPERATURES
ARE BELOW FREEZING.

WHILE THEY WEIGH THEIR OPTIONS,

ONE INMATE DECIDES
TO TURN IN THE ESCAPEES.

HE WRITES A NOTE AND HIDES IT
IN AN EMPTY TOILET PAPER ROLL.

HE THEN DUMPS IT IN A TRASH CAN

NEAR ONE OF THE CORRECTIONAL
OFFICERS IN HIS UNIT.

WHEN THEY GOT
TO THE GARBAGE CAN,

THEY PULLED IT OUT
AND FOUND THAT IT SAID

THAT THREE GUYS HAD JUMPED OVER
THE FENCE AND WERE ON ESCAPE.

Narrator: THE CALL GOES OUT THAT
THERE HAS BEEN A PRISON BREAK.

INVESTIGATOR SMOKEY KURTZ

IS ONE OF THE FIRST
TO ARRIVE AT THE PRISON.

YOU'RE NOT EXPECTING TO GET
ONE OF THOSE CALLS AT NIGHT.

MY MIND IS ROLLING
THE MINUTE I GET IN THE CAR

AND HEAD TOWARDS THE FACILITY.

MY FIRST AND FOREMOST CONCERN

IS ARE OUR STAFF SAFE
WITHIN THIS FACILITY

AND IS THE GENERAL PUBLIC SAFE?

AND UNTIL THEY'RE CAPTURED,
THE GENERAL PUBLIC IS NOT SAFE.

Smith: THESE WERE
VERY DANGEROUS INMATES.

GONZALO MARTINEZ WAS INVOLVED
IN THE ATTEMPTED MURDER

OF THREE INDIVIDUALS
IN THE DENVER AREA.

SERNA WAS AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS
INDIVIDUAL

WHO SHOT A POLICE OFFICER.

THEN ALLEN LUCERO SHOT
A 71-YEAR-OLD MAN

HERE IN
THE COLORADO SPRINGS AREA.

WE KNEW WE WERE DEALING WITH
SOME EXTREMELY DANGEROUS PEOPLE

THAT WE NEEDED TO GET IN CUSTODY
AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.

Narrator: BACK AT THE CAR,
THE INMATES TRY ONE MORE TIME

TO GET THEIR GETAWAY CAR
RUNNING.

AMAZINGLY, IT STARTS.

[ ENGINE TURNS OVER ]

WHOO!

LET'S GO. LET'S GO.

THEY KNOW
IT'S ONLY A MATTER OF TIME

BEFORE LAW ENFORCEMENT
LOCKS DOWN THE AREA.

WE KNEW RIGHT AWAY THAT
THERE WAS GONNA BE ROADBLOCKS.

THEY WERE GONNA BE
AT THE TRAIN STATIONS,

AIRPORTS, BUS STATIONS,

SO YOU HAVE TO LAY LOW
TO LET THE HEAT COOL DOWN.

Narrator: THEY START
THE 160-MILE TRIP TO DENVER,

WHERE THEY HAVE CONTACTS
AND CAN HIDE OUT FOR A FEW DAYS.

Martinez:
WE DROVE, SMOKING, DRINKING,

JUST HAPPY THAT WE MADE IT,

LAUGHING,
HOPING TO GET TO THAT HIGHWAY,

'CAUSE WE KNEW
ONCE WE GOT ON THE HIGHWAY,

IT WAS ALL OPEN RANGE NOW.

Narrator: AS THE ESCAPEES
HIT THE OPEN ROAD,

THE PRISON
GOES INTO TOTAL LOCKDOWN.

THE DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS
LAUNCHES AN ALL-OUT MANHUNT.

Smith:
THEY MOBILIZE AN ESCAPE TEAM,

AND THAT ESCAPE TEAM
WILL SET UP A PERIMETER,

WHICH IS PRETTY LARGE.

AT A CERTAIN POINT IN TIME,

WE LEARNED THAT THESE GUYS
DID HAVE A VEHICLE.

THEN WE STARTED DEPLOYING
A LOT MORE RESOURCES.

Narrator: HALF A DOZEN LOCAL AND
STATE AGENCIES JOIN THE HUNT.

A K9 TEAM IS LAUNCHED

AND ROADBLOCKS ARE SET UP
TO SEARCH FOR THE THREE INMATES.

Kurtz: THEY WERE WILLING
TO SHOOT IT OUT WITH US.

THEY DIDN'T WANT
TO GO BACK TO PRISON,

AND THEY DIDN'T WANT TO BE TAKEN
ALIVE, IF THAT WAS THE SCENARIO,

AND THEY WERE WILLING
TO SHOOT PEOPLE.

Narrator:
MARTINEZ, SERNA, AND LUCERO

NOW HAVE A 2-HOUR HEAD START
ON AUTHORITIES.

Kurtz: MY BIGGEST CONCERN
IS THAT TIME IS ON THEIR SIDE.

THE LONGER --
THE MORE TIME THEY HAVE,

THE COLDER THE TRAIL GETS
FOR US.

Narrator: THEY MAKE IT TO DENVER
AND TRY TO KEEP A LOW PROFILE.

Martinez:
YOU JUST ESCAPED FROM PRISON,

AND NOW YOU'RE DRIVING AROUND
IN A STOLEN CAR.

JUST HOPING WE DIDN'T GET
PULLED OVER FOR ANYTHING NOW,

BECAUSE WE WERE HAVING
A SHOOTOUT NO MATTER WHAT.

Narrator:
AS THEY DRIVE TO A FRIEND'S
HOUSE TO GET MONEY AND CLOTHES,

A MARKED DENVER POLICE CAR
PULLS IN BEHIND THEM.

Martinez: DENVER POLICE OFFICER
DROVE OUT BEHIND US,

AND SO, EVERYBODY WAS LIKE,
"JUST BE STILL."

THE PERSON IN THE BACK
HAS A 12-GAUGE,

SO HE'S THE FIRST ONE
THAT HAS TO SHOOT,

'CAUSE THE OFFICER'S GONNA
COME ON HIS SIDE.

SO WHAT WE SAID IS

"AS SOON AS HE WALKS UP
TO THE CAR, THEN OPEN FIRE."

I'VE GOT THIS.

THE OFFICER HITS HIS SIREN.

I WAS NERVOUS.

IT WAS GONNA BE A SHOOTOUT.

[ ENGINE TURNS OVER ]

WHOO!

Narrator: THREE VIOLENT
ESCAPED CONS ARE ON THE RUN.

BUT AS THEY START TO CELEBRATE
THEIR PRISON BREAK,

A DENVER POLICE OFFICER
PULLS IN BEHIND THEM.

THE OFFICER HITS HIS SIREN
AND HIS LIGHTS ON US.

I WAS NERVOUS.
IT WAS GONNA BE A SHOOTOUT.

[ SIREN WAILS ]

[ GUN COCKS ]

Narrator: THEY PREPARE
TO FIGHT FOR THEIR LIVES.

THE OFFICER SUDDENLY
SWINGS TO THE LEFT OF THEM

AND DRIVES RIGHT PAST.

[ LAUGHS ]

BUT AS THEY BREATHE
A SIGH OF RELIEF,

THE COLORADO
DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS

STARTS COMBING
THE STREETS OF DENVER.

THEY KNOW BOTH MARTINEZ
AND SERNA ARE FROM THE AREA,

AND THEY'RE STARTING TO SEARCH
THE VERY NEIGHBORHOOD

THEY ARE HEADED TO.

Smith:
THEY GENERALLY GRAVITATE

TO WHERE THEY CAN FIND
SOME RESOURCES.

THEY'RE GONNA BE LOOKING
FOR SOME MONEY.

THEY'RE GONNA BE LOOKING
FOR SOMEONE TO STAY WITH,

SO THEY'RE GONNA GO TO
THE ONLY PEOPLE THEY KNOW --

THEIR FRIENDS.

IN THIS CASE,
OTHER GANG MEMBERS.

FOR REAL, MAN.
IT'S GOOD TO BE BACK, MAN.

Narrator:
MARTINEZ, SERNA, AND LUCERO
HOOK UP WITH FELLOW GANG MEMBERS

TO GET CLOTHES AND MONEY...

DUDE, THEY GOT ME, THOUGH.
I GOT OUT, THOUGH.

...AND THEY START TO PLAN
THEIR NEXT MOVE.

Martinez:
THERE WAS REALLY NO PLAN
AFTER GETTING OUT OF THE PRISON.

THE PLAN WAS ME AND MY FRIEND
WERE GOING OUR WAY

AND THE OTHER GUYS
ARE GOING THEIR WAY.

SEE YOU, BROTHER.
TAKE CARE, BROTHER.

BUT ONCE WE GOT OUT,
EVERYTHING JUST CHANGED.

MEXICO JUST CAME UP.

MEXICO, MAN.

I FIGURED MAYBE I COULD
GO TO MEXICO FOR A WHILE,

AND THEN MAYBE LET IT COOL DOWN.

Narrator: AFTER 48 HOURS
ON THE LAMB,

MARTINEZ, SERNA,
AND LUCERO DECIDE

THEY NEED TO GET OUT OF DENVER.

SERNA HAS FAMILY
IN JUAREZ, MEXICO,

AND THEY KNOW THIS WILL BE
A SAFE HIDEOUT.

THEY MAKE THIS 700-MILE TRIP
TO MEXICO WITHOUT ANY PROBLEMS.

CARRYING GUNS AND MARIJUANA,

THEY CROSS THE BORDER
WITHOUT GETTING STOPPED.

Martinez: THEN MEXICO,
THE POLICE DRIVE AROUND

WITH THEIR LIGHTS FLASHING
ALL NIGHT.

AND HERE, ANYTIME YOU SEE LIGHTS
IN THE U.S.,

IT'S BECAUSE
YOU'RE GETTING PULLED OVER,

SO IT WAS KIND OF NERVOUS.

Narrator:
UNDER THE COVER OF DARKNESS,

THEY MAKE THEIR WAY
TO SERNA'S RELATIVES' HOME.

WE WOKE UP THE NEXT MORNING
AND WALKED OUT THAT HOUSE.

WE WERE IN, LIKE,
THE POOREST PART OF MEXICO --

HOUSES OUT OF CARDBOARD,
DIRT ROADS, NO PAVEMENT.

SOME HOUSES
DON'T EVEN GET WATER.

AND, UH...

AND WE WERE FREE.

THAT'S WHEN I REALLY FELT
THAT I WAS FREE, I MADE IT.

Narrator: MARTINEZ KNOWS THAT
MEXICO IS A FUGITIVE'S PARADISE.

JUAREZ IS NOTORIOUS AS A PLACE
TO GO TO HIDE OUT,

TO ESCAPE THE LAW.

THIS HAS GONE ON
SINCE THE 19th CENTURY

BECAUSE IT'S A HUGE,
ANONYMOUS CITY

WITH HUNDREDS AND HUNDREDS --
REALLY THOUSANDS --

OF ALMOST ANONYMOUS BARRIOS THAT
YOU COULD JUST DISAPPEAR INTO.

Martinez:
SO, ONCE WE CROSSED THAT BORDER,

WE KNEW WE WERE GONE,
WE WERE GOOD, WE WERE FREE,

HAPPY, AND NOW IT'S JUST
THE START OF A WHOLE NEW LIFE.

Narrator: TO SUCCESSFULLY
STAY ON THE RUN IN MEXICO,

THEY KNOW THEY NEED TO SPLIT UP.

THE THREE OF THEM TOGETHER
DRAW UNWANTED ATTENTION.

Narrator:
EVERYBODY IN MEXICO

KNOW THAT WE'RE NOT FROM MEXICO
'CAUSE OF OUR ACCENT,

SO THEY KNOW YOU'RE ON THE RUN,

ESPECIALLY WITH TATTOOS AND --

YOU KNOW, THEY KNOW
WE'RE FROM THE STREETS.

SO EVERYBODY KNEW
WE WERE ON THE RUN,

BUT THEY DIDN'T KNOW FOR WHAT.

Narrator: LUCERO DOESN'T SPEAK
ANY SPANISH.

HE KNOWS HE WON'T LAST
IN JUAREZ.

AFTER TWO WEEKS IN MEXICO,

HE DECIDES
TO RETURN TO COLORADO.

WE RECEIVED INFORMATION
THROUGH CRIME STOPPERS

THAT HE WAS IN A HOTEL
IN THE COLORADO SPRINGS AREA,

AND, IN FACT,

THAT HOTEL WAS WITHIN YARDS
OF OUR HEADQUARTERS OFFICES

FOR THE DEPARTMENT
OF CORRECTIONS.

Narrator:
AUTHORITIES MAKE THE ARREST.

LUCERO IS PUT BACK BEHIND BARS

WHILE THE DEPARTMENT
OF CORRECTIONS

STARTS CLOSING IN
ON MARTINEZ AND SERNA.

Smith:
THROUGH INTELLIGENCE INFORMATION
THAT WE GATHERED EARLY ON,

WE BELIEVED THAT THESE GUYS
MAY HAVE FLED TO MEXICO.

AS WE DEVELOPED
MORE INFORMATION,

WE REALIZED THAT THEY WERE
IN JUAREZ, MEXICO.

WE ACTUALLY UTILIZED
MARSHAL SERVICES ASSISTANCE

TO HAVE SOMEONE
ACROSS THE BORDER

TAKE PICTURES OF THE RESIDENCE

WHERE WE BELIEVED
THAT GONZALO WAS STAYING.

WE HAD THOSE PHOTOS.

WE PINPOINTED
APPROXIMATELY WHERE HE WAS.

Narrator: MEANWHILE,
MARTINEZ AND SERNA KNOW

THEY NEED MEXICAN PAPERS
FOR THEIR COVER.

Martinez: EVERYTHING HAS A PRICE
IN MEXICO -- EVERYTHING.

THERE'S PEOPLE THAT SELL YOU
A BIRTH CERTIFICATE.

THERE'S PEOPLE THAT SELL YOU
AN I.D., A VISA.

YOU COULD EVEN
GO TO THE REGULAR OFFICES

AND BUY A REAL, LEGIT VISA
UNDER THE COUNTER.

Narrator:
THEY FIND A MEXICAN GANG MEMBER
WILLING TO SELL PAPERS.

FOR $50 EACH,
THEY BECOME MEXICAN CITIZENS.

MARTINEZ AND SERNA ALSO HAVE
ANOTHER FORM OF SECURITY.

INTERNATIONAL LAW PROHIBITS
THE DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS

FROM GOING INTO MEXICO
TO BRING THEM BACK.

THEY HAVE TO WAIT FOR THEM
TO CROSS THE BORDER

OR COMMIT A CRIME
WHILE IN MEXICO.

MARTINEZ AND SERNA KNOW THIS
AND ARE LAYING LOW,

WORKING HONEST JOBS
AT A CALL CENTER.

Martinez: I HAD NO REASON TO BE
WORRIED ABOUT LIVING ON THE RUN.

I WAS COVERED IN ALL AREAS.

MEXICAN AUTHORITIES
WAS NOT WORRIED ABOUT ME,

AND U.S. AUTHORITIES CAN'T
JUST GO IN THERE AND GRAB YOU.

Smith:
ONCE HE CROSSED THAT BORDER,

THERE WAS CERTAINLY
A CUSHION THERE.

HE WASN'T BEING CHASED.

WE CAN'T JUST RUN DOWN IN
AND GO DOWN AND GET SOMEONE

OR FIND THEM OR TAKE
OUR FUGITIVE HUNT DOWN THERE.

Narrator:
SERNA'S FAMILY IS HAVING
LEGAL PROBLEMS BACK IN COLORADO.

HE DECIDES HE HAS TO GO BACK.

WITHIN A FEW DAYS
OF HIS ARRIVAL IN DENVER,

RUMORS SPREAD
THAT HE'S BACK IN TOWN.

HE HIDES OUT
WITH FELLOW GANG MEMBERS.

Smith: WE DID A SURVEILLANCE
OPERATION IN DENVER

UTILIZING THE RESOURCES
THAT WE HAVE THERE.

WE HAD S.W.A.T. TEAM AVAILABLE.

WE SET UP A PERIMETER.

WE DID DETERMINE THAT HE WAS
INSIDE THE RESIDENCE.

HE WAS SPOOKED,
AND HE JUMPED OVER A BACK FENCE.

HE JUMPED OVER THE BACK FENCE

BEFORE WE WERE ABLE TO PUT
ALL OUR RESOURCES IN PLACE,

AND SO, WE HAD A FOOT CHASE.

SERNA, FREEZE!

AND HE FINALLY JUMPED OUT
ONTO A STREET OVER A FENCE

AND RIGHT INTO THE ARMS
OF THE DENVER S.W.A.T. TEAM.

ON THE GROUND!

Narrator:
AFTER SIX MONTHS ON THE RUN,

SERNA IS CORNERED AND CAPTURED.

WHILE SERNA
IS THROWN BEHIND BARS,

MARTINEZ IS EXISTING
IN A STATE OF SQUALOR.

HE'S LIVING IN A SMALL SHACK

WITH NO RUNNING WATER
OR ELECTRICITY,

AND HE MISSES THE COMFORTS
HE HAD IN COLORADO.

HE DECIDES TO RESORT
TO WHAT HE KNOWS BEST.

Martinez: SELLING DRUGS
WAS THE ONLY LIFE I KNEW,

THE ONLY WAY TO GAIN MONEY.

IT'S WHAT I DID
SINCE I WAS 13 YEARS OLD.

WORKING, YOU DON'T GET PAID
ENOUGH DOWN THERE.

YOU CAN LIVE, BUT YOU JUST
DON'T HAVE LUXURY.

WORKING AN HONEST JOB
WASN'T GONNA DO IT.

I JUST QUIT THE JOB ALL THE WAY

'CAUSE WHY WAKE UP
AT 8:00 IN THE MORNING?

Narrator:
MARTINEZ STARTS OUT SMALL,

DEALING DRUGS AT JUAREZ CLUBS
TO AMERICAN COLLEGE STUDENTS.

THERE WAS A LOT OF PARTYING
GOING ON.

A LOT OF PARTYING.

STRIP CLUBS, WOMEN,
JUST BLOWING MONEY.

SPEND IT AS YOU MAKE IT.

AND IT JUST LED
TO BIGGER THINGS.

Narrator: OVER TIME, MARTINEZ
ESCALATES HIS DRUG TRADE,

BUT HE'S DEALING IN A GAME WHERE
THE STAKES ARE UNFORGIVING.

Dr. Campbell:
IT'S A VERY VIOLENT WORLD,

AND BASICALLY THE PUNISHMENT
FOR LOSING A LOAD OF DRUGS

OR IF YOU'RE SUSPECTED
OF LOSING THEM IS DEATH,

AND PEOPLE ARE MURDERED,
THEY'RE BEHEADED,

THEY'RE BURNED, THEY'RE PUT
IN BARRELS FULL OF ACID,

THEIR FINGERS ARE CHOPPED OFF.

THE TORTURES
ARE JUST UNIMAGINABLE.

AND A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE JUST
PICKED UP OFF THE STREETS

AND DISAPPEAR, AND THEN THEY'RE
NEVER HEARD FROM AGAIN.

Narrator: AS MARTINEZ'S
DRUG DEALING GROWS,

SO DO HIS CONNECTIONS
WITH THE LOCAL POLICE.

Martinez: THE POLICE ARE
INVOLVED IN THE DRUG GAME, ALSO.

I'VE PARTIED WITH THESE GUYS,
YOU KNOW?

I'VE EVEN KNOWN THEIR WIVES,
THEIR FAMILIES.

I COULD BUY A CARD
OFF OF A LIEUTENANT OR WHATEVER,

A HIGH RANK, AND ON THE BACK
OF THE CARD HE'LL SIGN.

HE'LL SAY,
"THIS IS MY NEPHEW OR MY COUSIN.

IF YOU ARREST HIM,
PLEASE CALL ME OR LET HIM GO."

SO IT'S A "GET OUT OF JAIL FREE"
CARD.

THOSE KIND OF CONNECTIONS ARE
CRITICAL TO SURVIVING IN MEXICO

IF YOU'RE ENGAGED IN ILLEGAL
ACTIVITY OR FLEEING THE LAW.

THAT MEANT
HE COULD CIRCULATE FREELY

AS IF HE WERE A MEXICAN CITIZEN,

AS IF HE WERE NOT
A WANTED CRIMINAL.

HE COULD LIVE A NORMAL LIFE,

BECAUSE IF HE GOT INTO
ANY TROUBLE,

HE'D JUST FLASH HIS CARD.

Narrator:
AFTER A COUPLE OF MONTHS
SELLING DRUGS IN THE STREETS,

MARTINEZ GETS TAPPED
BY A MAJOR DRUG DEALER

TO START RUNNING MARIJUANA
OVER THE BORDER.

HE'S NOW PULLING IN
$60,000 A WEEK.

WE'RE PRETTY MUCH SENDING
AT LEAST 200 POUNDS IN A CAR

ON A WEEKLY BASIS.

SOMETIMES SOME FALL.
SOME DON'T MAKE IT.

SOMETIMES THEY GET CAUGHT,
AND SO, WE TAKE LOSSES.

Narrator:
AFTER A YEAR ON THE RUN,

MARTINEZ DECIDES
TO CROSS THE BORDER

WITH A FEMALE FRIEND
AND HER FAMILY.

THEY'RE HEADING INTO EL PASO
TO GET DINNER.

BUT MARTINEZ ONLY HAS
MEXICAN PAPERS.

HE'S HOPING TO GET ACROSS

WITH JUST
HIS ENGLISH-SPEAKING SKILLS.

WE GET UP TO THE LINE,
AND I'M NERVOUS,

BECAUSE AT THE SAME TIME,
I'M THINKING,

"MAN, MY FREEDOM
IS ON THE LINE."

YOU KNOW, I'M TRYING
TO CROSS WITH THESE GIRLS

JUST TO CROSS
FOR REALLY NO REASON.

Narrator:
THEY PULL UP THE U.S. BORDER,

AND THE OFFICER ASKS
FOR MARTINEZ'S I.D.

MARTINEZ STATES
THAT HE'S AN AMERICAN

AND THE SON
OF ONE OF THE WOMEN IN THE CAR.

HE EXPLAINS THAT THEY WERE
IN JUAREZ TO EAT DINNER

AND WERE RETURNING HOME.

THE BORDER PATROL AGENT
DOESN'T BUY IT.

Martinez: HE SAYS, "WELL,
I CAN'T LET YOU CROSS.

HE TAKES ME OFF THE CAR,
AND HE GRABS ME BY MY ARM.

AS SOON AS THE DOOR CLOSED, I
HEARD THE CLOSING OF THE DOOR,

AND MY MIND RIGHT AWAY
SNAPPED TO MY SURVIVAL MODE.

I'M LOOKING AT THE ROOF.
I'M LOOKING AT EVERYTHING.

I'M TRYING TO FIND
A WAY OUT OF THAT DOOR,

AND I'M TRYING TO AVOID
THAT FINGERPRINT MACHINE,

BECAUSE ONCE
THEY FINGERPRINT ME,

I KNOW IT'S ALL GONNA COME UP.

Narrator: HE'S TAKEN STRAIGHT
TO THE FINGERPRINT SCANNER.

Martinez: SO I WAS GONNA DO
WHATEVER IT TOOK.

THEY WASN'T GONNA DESERVE WHAT
I WAS PLANNING ON DOING TO THEM,

BUT I NEEDED TO GET OUT OF THERE
BY ALL MEANS.

OH, MAN, I GOT TO
GO TO THE BATHROOM, MAN.

I KNOW I CAN'T LET MYSELF
GET FINGERPRINTED,

SO I TELL THEM, "HEY, OFFICER,
I NEED TO USE THE BATHROOM."

HE SAYS, "WELL,
YOU CAN'T HOLD IT?"

I SAID,
"I GOT TO USE NUMBER 2.

I ALREADY HAD TO GO
BEFORE WE CAME."

I SAID, "I CAN'T HOLD IT.
I NEED TO GO FOR REAL."

Narrator:
THE BORDER-PATROL OFFICER

AGREES TO LET MARTINEZ
USE THE OUTDOOR BATHROOM.

AS SOON AS HE PRESSED THE CODE
ON THAT DOOR AND IT OPENS,

I JUST GOT A RELIEF, AND I JUST
KNEW I HAD TO FIGHT NOW.

YOU KNOW,
I'M GONNA HAVE TO HIT THIS GUY

AND GET AWAY FREE AND RUN.

Narrator: MARTINEZ HAS TALKED
HIS WAY OUT OF THE HOLDING AREA,

BUT NOW HE HAS TO MAKE
A DESPERATE MOVE

TO STAY ON THE RUN.

Narrator:
GONZALO MARTINEZ IS ON THE RUN
AFTER ESCAPING FROM PRISON.

BUT HE'S RISKING IT ALL

TO TRY AND CROSS
THE MEXICAN BORDER INTO EL PASO.

OH, MAN, I GOT TO
GO TO THE BATHROOM, MAN.

MARTINEZ IS QUICK ON HIS FEET

AND TELLS
THE BORDER-PATROL AGENT

THAT HE HAS TO USE THE BATHROOM.

IT'S JUST THE BREAK HE NEEDS.

Martinez: I JUST HIT HIS HAND,
AND HE LETS LOOSE,

AND I JUST TAKE OFF RUNNING
BACK ACROSS THE BORDER.

I'M RUNNING BACK TO MEXICO NOW.

AND SO, HE'S CHASING ME,
AND HE'S YELLING AT ME,

AND I'M ON THE WRONG SIDE,
RUNNING THE WRONG WAY,

'CAUSE EVERYBODY
WAS WALKING TOWARDS ME,

AND I'M RUNNING THAT WAY,
AND I'M DODGING EVERYBODY.

Narrator: MARTINEZ IS WORRIED
THAT THE U.S. BORDER PATROL

HAS ALERTED MEXICAN OFFICIALS
THAT HE'S COMING ACROSS.

HE TAKES DESPERATE ACTION
TO BLEND INTO THE CROWD.

I SEE THIS LADY WALKING.

SHE HAS AN INFANT, A NEWBORN,
IN HER HANDS.

LADY, LADY, LADY.
I NEED TO BORROW YOU.

NO.
YEAH.

NO!
POR FAVOR.

AND SO, I TELL THE LADY,
"HEY, LADY, CHECK THIS OUT.

"I NEED YOUR HELP.
THEY'RE CHASING ME.

"THE POLICE ARE CHASING ME.

I JUST NEED YOU TO HELP
WALK ME ACROSS THIS BORDER."

AND I GRABBED HER BABY
OUT OF HER HANDS.

JUST ONE SECOND, OKAY?
ALL RIGHT? JUST ONE SECOND.

I AIN'T GONNA HURT HER.
I SWEAR.

[ CRYING ]

OKAY. LET'S GO.

Narrator: HE HOPES THE WOMAN AND
HER BABY PROVIDE ENOUGH COVER.

MARTINEZ MAKES IT TO A STAIRWELL
THAT LEADS DOWN TO JUAREZ

AND AWAY
FROM MEXICAN AUTHORITIES.

Martinez: I CATCH THAT
STAIRWELL, AND I'M INTO JUAREZ.

I'M FREE.

THAT LADY IS STILL BEHIND ME,
CRYING.

I GIVE HER HER BABY AND GIVE HER
$20 AND TELL HER THANK YOU.

SHE'S TELLING ME,
"YOU'RE CRAZY."

Narrator:
ONCE HE'S SAFELY BACK IN JUAREZ,

MARTINEZ DECIDES
TO UP THE STAKES.

HE STARTS EXPANDING
HIS DRUG-RUNNING OPERATION.

Dr. Campbell: I THINK HE WAS
SMART. I THINK HE WAS TOUGH.

I THINK HE WAS EXPERIENCED,

AND I THINK
HE WAS WILLING TO TAKE RISKS,

AND HE WAS, PERHAPS,
LUCKY IN MANY CASES

BECAUSE IT IS
A DANGEROUS ACTIVITY.

IT SOUNDS LIKE MR. MARTINEZ
WAS AT THE MIDDLE LEVELS,

DOING EXTREMELY WELL
VERY QUICKLY

AND MOVING UP IN THE DRUG WORLD.

Narrator:
AS THE CASH ROLLS IN,

MARTINEZ STARTS BUYING CARS
AND HOUSES.

BUT WITH A BOOST
IN HIS DRUG TRADE

COMES THE DANGER
OF MEXICO'S DRUG CARTELS.

Martinez: THERE'S DRUG WARS.

YOU KNOW, EVERYBODY'S COMPETING,

SO DEATH IS ALWAYS A FACTOR

AND ALWAYS A BLINK OF AN EYE.

Narrator: WHILE MARTINEZ
LIVES THE FAST LIFE IN JUAREZ,

THE COLORADO
DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS

IS WAITING FOR AN OPPORTUNITY
TO STRIKE.

THEY KNOW
RIGHT WHERE MARTINEZ IS,

BUT THEY CAN'T
DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT.

Smith: IT'S THE MOST FRUSTRATING
THING IN THE WORLD

ONCE YOU KNOW SOMEONE HAS GONE
ACROSS THE BORDER INTO MEXICO

AND YOU REALLY CAN'T TOUCH THEM.

THERE'S JUST NO WAY

OTHER THAN WAITING FOR
THE MEXICAN AUTHORITIES TO ACT.

Narrator: MARTINEZ ROUTINELY
PAYS OFF MEXICAN AUTHORITIES,

AND HE'S LIVING
A DRUG KINGPIN'S LIFE.

BUT IT'S NOT A CURE FOR HOME.

THE WHOLE TIME
THAT I WAS OUT THERE, LIVING,

I WAS EMPTY INSIDE.

THE WHOLE REASON WHY I ESCAPED
WAS TO BE WITH MY FAMILY,

AND I DIDN'T HAVE THEM.

I WAS LONELY.

EVERYTHING THAT I WANTED,
I COULDN'T HAVE,

AND EVERYTHING THAT I HAD
WAS JUST MATERIAL STUFF.

Narrator:
AFTER 16 MONTHS ON THE RUN,

MARTINEZ'S DESIRE
TO SEE HIS FAMILY

OUTWEIGHS HIS FEAR
OF GETTING CAUGHT.

AT THE BORDER,
HE PREPARES FOR THE CROSSING.

Martinez: I DRESSED IT UP
REAL NICE AS A REGULAR GUY --

YOU KNOW, SOME SLACKS,
DRESS-UP SHIRT, DRESS SHOES,

AND IT WAS, LIKE, PROBABLY
ABOUT 11:00 AT NIGHT.

AND MY LADY WALKED ME HALFWAY.

SHE WAS CRYING THE WHOLE TIME.

SHE TOLD ME, "DON'T DO IT.
DON'T GO BACK."

Narrator: MARTINEZ STILL DOESN'T
HAVE AMERICAN IDENTIFICATION.

HE APPROACHES
THE BORDER-PATROL STATION.

Martinez: I TELL HER,

"MA'AM, I JUST GOT ROBBED BY
SOME GUYS DOWN HERE IN MEXICO.

"THEY TOOK MY WALLET.
THEY TOOK EVERYTHING.

I DON'T HAVE NO IDENTIFICATION."

I SAID,
"I CAME OUT HERE TO PARTY,

AND MY PARENTS, MY FAMILY DON'T
EVEN KNOW THAT I'M OUT HERE.

Narrator:
THE AGENT IS SUSPICIOUS.

SHE CALLS HER SUPERVISOR

AND BRINGS MARTINEZ
INTO A HOLDING AREA...

...THE SAME HOLDING AREA
THAT HELD HIM CAPTIVE

THREE MONTHS AGO.

WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE?

Martinez: THEY SIT ME
IN FRONT OF A DESK.

THE FINGERPRINT MACHINE
IS THERE,

AND THEN A LOT MORE GUARDS
START COMING.

THEY GET BEHIND ME.

THEY START SAYING,
"IS THIS THE RUNNER?"

IS THIS THE RUNNER?"

AND I'M LIKE, "THE RUNNER?
WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT?"

THEY SEE MY TATTOO,

AND THEY TELL ME THAT LOOKS LIKE
A JAILHOUSE TATTOO.

HAVE YOU BEEN LOCKED UP?

AND I TELL THEM, "NO, NEVER."

THEY SAY,
"WHAT GANG ARE YOU FROM?"

I SAID,
"I DON'T BELONG TO ANY GANG."

Narrator: THE AGENTS
DON'T BELIEVE MARTINEZ'S STORY.

AND THEY TELL ME,
"THOSE ARE JAILHOUSE TATTOOS."

SO, I'M EXPLAINING TO THEM
THAT THEY'RE NOT.

THEY SAID, "WELL, WE WANT
TO FINGERPRINT YOU."

THERE'S NO WAY OUT OF IT, SO AT
THAT POINT I SAID, "I'M DONE."

Narrator: MARTINEZ IS DETAINED
AND SURROUNDED BY BORDER AGENTS.

LET ME HAVE
YOUR LEFT HAND.

AND NOW THEY ARE RUNNING
HIS FINGERPRINTS.

IF THEY FIND A MATCH,
HIS LIFE ON THE RUN IS OVER.

I'M STILL THINKING
ABOUT RUNNING.

ALL RIGHT.

OKAY,
THIS IS GONNA COME BACK.

IT'S GONNA TELL US
WHO YOU ARE.

Narrator: BEFORE HE CAN REACT,
THE RESULTS COME BACK.

Martinez:
WHATEVER FINGERPRINT CAME UP

EITHER WASN'T MINE
OR THE WARRANT WASN'T ON.

I DON'T KNOW.

BUT IT -- I'M SURE IF IT
WOULD HAVE SAID I WAS WANTED,

THEY WOULD HAVE ARRESTED ME,
AND THEY DIDN'T.

WELL, WE HAVE NOTHING TO HOLD
YOU ON RIGHT NOW, BUT...

Narrator: THE AGENT TELLS
MARTINEZ HE CAN'T CROSS.

MARTINEZ KNOWS
HE'S PLAYING WITH FIRE.

HE'S NOT WILLING
TO PUSH HIS LUCK ANY FURTHER

AND ASKS IF HE CAN LEAVE.

Martinez:
AND I'M WALKING OUT.

I'M TRYING TO WALK FAST,

'CAUSE I DON'T KNOW IF THEY'RE
GONNA COME BACK AND SAY,

"HEY, COME BACK" OR SOMETHING,
SO I'M TRYING TO WALK FAST.

I'M PRETTY MUCH
JOGGING MY WAY BACK ACROSS.

AND I GET BACK ACROSS,
AND JUST HAPPY.

Narrator:
MARTINEZ RETURNS HOME

AND SLIPS BACK INTO HIS LIFE
OF DRUG DEALING AND PARTYING.

MARTINEZ HEADS
TO A HOUSE PARTY IN JUAREZ.

WE WERE AT A HOUSE PARTY,
ME AND MY FRIENDS,

AND ONE OF MY FRIENDS
GOT INTO A JAM,

INTO A BEEF WITH ANOTHER
RIVAL GROUP OF DRUG DEALERS.

Narrator:
THE CONFRONTATION ESCALATES.

Martinez: IT JUST HAPPENED
AT THE HEAT OF THE MOMENT,

AND THE SHOOTING TOOK PLACE.

A FEW PEOPLE WERE SHOT.

[ SIRENS WAIL IN DISTANCE ]

AND I WAS ARRESTED
ON THE SCENE OF THE CRIME.

Narrator: MARTINEZ,
USING HIS FAKE PAPERWORK,

IS TRIED FOR THE MURDERS
AS A MEXICAN CITIZEN,

AND MEXICAN OFFICIALS DON'T
DISCOVER HIS OUTSTANDING WARRANT

FROM THE UNITES STATES,

BUT IT ISN'T LONG
BEFORE U.S. LAW ENFORCEMENT

GETS THE BREAK THEY NEED.

THE VICTIM'S FAMILY KNOWS
THAT MARTINEZ IS ON THE RUN.

Martinez: THEY GO TO THE JUDGE,
AND THEY TELL HIM,

"YOU KNOW, HE'S AN AMERICAN.
HE AIN'T MEXICAN.

HE'S ON THE RUN FROM THE U.S."

SO NOW THE MEXICAN FBI
GETS INVOLVED.

THEY START FINGERPRINTING ME.

THEY TAKE OFF MY SHIRT,
PICTURES OF MY TATTOOS,

AND IT COMES OUT.

YOU KNOW, THEY FINALLY
FIND OUT MY REAL NAME.

Narrator: AFTER 21 MONTHS ON
THE RUN, IT'S OVER FOR MARTINEZ.

LAW ENFORCEMENT
HAVE THEIR FUGITIVE.

POLITICAL ENTANGLEMENTS
HOLD UP THE PROCESS.

IT TAKES TWO YEARS TO EXTRADITE
MARTINEZ BACK TO THE U.S.

THE CASE DRAWS THE ATTENTION
OF BOTH GOVERNMENTS.

Kurtz:
PRESIDENT FOX DOWN IN MEXICO

WAS WORKING
WITH THE STATE DEPARTMENT

AND COLIN POWELL AND SO ON

TO BRING THIS TO A HEAD

AND TO GET GONZALO BROUGHT BACK
TO THE STATE OF COLORADO.

Dr. Campbell: WHEN MR. MARTINEZ
WAS EXTRADITED,

THIS WAS A FAIRLY RARE THING,
SO IT INDICATES

THE U.S. GOVERNMENT
CARED VERY DEEPLY ABOUT THIS,

AND THE MEXICAN GOVERNMENT
TOOK A REAL HARD DECISION

AND DECIDED TO COOPERATE.

Narrator:
MARTINEZ IS WILLING TO DO
ANYTHING TO AVOID EXTRADITION.

HE WANTS TO STAY
IN MEXICAN PRISON

BECAUSE HE KNOWS
HE CAN BUY HIS WAY OUT.

EVEN BEHIND BARS, HE'S TRYING
TO MANIPULATE THE SYSTEM.

I KNEW PRISON
WAS MY ONLY OPTION,

BUT IT WAS EITHER IN MEXICO
OR IN THE U.S.,

SO I TRIED TO CATCH CASES
IN PRISON IN MEXICO.

I STABBED INMATES.
I CAUGHT DRUG CASES.

I WAS SELLING DRUGS IN PRISON.

AND THEY WOULDN'T CHARGE ME.

THEY SAID,
"WE'RE NOT GONNA CHARGE YOU.

WE KNOW YOU'RE TRYING
TO STOP YOUR EXTRADITION."

Narrator: SMOKEY KURTZ GETS
THE CALL HE'S BEEN WAITING FOR.

KURTZ HERE.

I'D RECEIVED A CALL
FROM THE INSPECTOR GENERAL,

AND I WAS IN PUEBLO
ON SOME BUSINESS

AND RECEIVED THE CALL
FROM HIM AND SAID,

"YOU GOT YOUR PASSPORT?"

AND I SAID, "WHAT FOR?"

HE SAID, "YOU'RE GONNA
GO TO MEXICO CITY

AND BRING BACK
GONZALO MARTINEZ."

SO IT WAS A TOTAL SHOCK.

Narrator: MARTINEZ IS PUT
ON A COMMERCIAL FLIGHT

FOR THE TRIP FROM MEXICO CITY
TO DENVER,

AND HE'S STILL LOOKING
FOR A WAY OUT.

HIS ONE QUESTION TO ME WAS,

"WELL, WHAT HAPPENS
IF I GET UNRULY?"

AND I SAID, "WELL, DO YOU KNOW
HOW TO FLY THIS AIRPLANE?"

HE SAYS, "NO."

I SAID, "WELL, THEN YOU BETTER
REMAIN IN YOUR SEAT."

Narrator: AFTER ALMOST
THREE YEARS ON THE RUN,

MARTINEZ IS BROUGHT INTO CUSTODY

AND TAKEN TO CENTENNIAL
CORRECTION FACILITY

IN CANON CITY, COLORADO,
A MAXIMUM-SECURITY PRISON.

HE'LL HAVE TO SERVE
THE REMAINDER OF THE SENTENCES

THAT HE HAD IN PLACE
AT THE TIME,

WHICH WERE
FOR THE ATTEMPTED MURDERS.

ON TOP OF THAT,

I BELIEVE HE HAS A 12-YEAR
SENTENCE FOR THE ESCAPE,

SO HE'S GOT A CONSIDERABLE
AMOUNT OF TIME

THAT HE'S GONNA DO.

NOWADAYS, A COLD CASE
IS SOMETHING WE DON'T STOP ON.

WE'RE NEVER GONNA STOP

UNTIL WE FIND GUYS LIKE THIS,

BECAUSE OF THE DANGER.

Narrator: MARTINEZ
ALMOST GOT AWAY WITH IT,

AND IN CASE HE'S THINKING
ABOUT A REPEAT PERFORMANCE,

THE DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS
IS PREPARED.

Smith: HE'S GOING TO STAY
AT A HIGHER CUSTODY LEVEL

FOR QUITE SOME TIME.

WE ARE GONNA
KEEP AN EYE ON HIM.

CERTAINLY, HE'S ESCAPED BEFORE.
HE COULD ESCAPE AGAIN.

Narrator: FOR MARTINEZ,
THERE'S NO REMORSE --

ONLY PRIDE.

Martinez:
I'M LOOKED AT A LOT DIFFERENT.

WHAT I DID
REALLY HASN'T BEEN DONE.

YOU KNOW, IT'S A DREAM
TO ESCAPE FROM PRISON,

ESPECIALLY WHEN
YOU HAVE NOTHING TO LOSE

AND YOU'RE
STUCK HERE FOR LIFE.

CAPTIONS PAID FOR BY
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