Web of Lies (2014–…): Season 2, Episode 13 - Only Way Out - full transcript

Narrator:
WHEN TWO LONELY TEENAGERS

FALL HARD
FOR EACH OTHER ONLINE...

LISTEN.

IT WAS JUST A GAME
TO HIM AT FIRST.

Narrator:
IT SEEMS INNOCENT ENOUGH...

IF YOU TRY TO MAKE CONTACT
WITH HER, I WILL CALL THE COPS.

...UNTIL SHE PUTS HIS LOVE
TO THE TEST.

HIS WORLD
MUST'VE JUST COLLAPSED.

AND IT TURNED
INTO SOMETHING DANGEROUS.

EVERYTHING THAT HE THOUGHT
WAS TRUE WAS NOT.

Narrator: IN A QUIET SUBURB
IN THE AMERICAN HEARTLAND,



20-YEAR-OLD ROBERT BEST

IS ABOUT TO TAKE A STEP FROM
WHICH THERE'S NO TURNING BACK.

FROM THE START, ROBERT BEST
HASN'T HAD AN EASY TIME OF IT.

Lee: HIS BIOLOGICAL MOM
GAVE HIM UP AT BIRTH.

SO, HE SPENT PRETTY MUCH
HIS WHOLE LIFE

NEVER SEEING HIS BIOLOGICAL MOM.

Narrator: ROBERT'S PARENTS
SPLIT UP BEFORE HE WAS BORN

AND HIS FATHER,
LEE, SOON REMARRIED.

HIS STEPMOM, MY SECOND WIFE,

SHE STEPPED INTO THE PICTURE
WHEN HE WAS NINE MONTHS OLD.

SO, FROM NINE
TILL HE WAS ABOUT FOUR,

THAT WAS MOM.

Narrator: BUT THAT MARRIAGE
FAILED, AS WELL.

SHE LITERALLY WAS TAKING MY SON
WITH HER



WHEN SHE WAS HAVING AN AFFAIR.

HE WAS EXPOSED TO SOME THINGS
NO CHILD SHOULD BE EXPOSED TO.

Narrator:
WHEN LEE FOUND OUT

HIS SON HAD WITNESSED
HIS WIFE'S INFIDELITY,

HE EXPLODED WITH RAGE.

Lee: I ASSAULTED THE GUY WHO WAS
HAVING AN AFFAIR WITH MY WIFE.

SO NOW HE DIDN'T HAVE A DAD.

I WAS IN JAIL.

Narrator:
WITH HIS DAD IN PRISON,

ROBERT WAS SENT
TO LIVE WITH HIS GRANDPARENTS

ON THEIR RANCH
16 MILES OUTSIDE ELLENSBURG.

WHEN LEE WAS RELEASED,

HE WORKED OUT OF TOWN
ON CONSTRUCTION JOBS.

SO, ROBERT STAYED ON THE RANCH.

HE REALLY FELT THE RANCH
WAS A PRISON FOR HIM,

THAT HE COULDN'T GET INTO TOWN

TO SOCIALIZE
WITH HIS FRIENDS MORE.

HEY, BOBBY,
YOU WANT SOME SUPPER?

NO THANKS.
I'M NOT HUNGRY.

ARE YOU SURE?

I MADE YOUR FAVORITE...
CHICKEN AND DUMPLINGS.

I'M GOOD, GRANDMA.

Narrator: ISOLATED AND
WITH NO FRIENDS HIS AGE NEARBY,

ROBERT
STARTS REACHING OUT ONLINE.

Bernice: I THINK ROBERT'S
WHOLE THING WITH THE COMPUTER

WAS THAT HE COULD INTERACT
WITH THE YOUNGER GENERATION.

HE DIDN'T HAVE MUCH CONTACT
WITH THEM AT HOME.

SO, I THINK THE COMPUTER

HELPED HIM GET THAT CONTACT
WITH PEOPLE,

MORE OF HIS PEERS.

Narrator: EVERY NIGHT, ROBERT
LOGS ONTO A MULTIPLAYER GAME

AS ELEMENTAL EVIL...

A CHARACTER EQUIPPED
WITH SUPERPOWERS

WHO GOES ON CRIME-FIGHTING
MISSIONS IN A VIRTUAL CITY.

TONIGHT, HE'S FLYING AROUND
WHEN A MESSAGE

COMES IN THAT WILL CHANGE
HIS LIFE FOREVER.

ICE PRINCESS LIVES 2,000 MILES
AWAY IN GAHANNA,

A SUBURB OF COLUMBUS, OHIO.

HER REAL NAME IS GRACE DILLMAN.

SHE SAYS SHE'S 16, A YEAR
OR SO OLDER THAN ROBERT.

THEY SEEM TO BOND IMMEDIATELY.

Mash:
BOB WAS LOOKING FOR FRIENDS.

I DON'T THINK HE EVER THOUGHT HE
COULD MEET SOMEBODY LIKE GRACE,

WHO HE FELT FOR.

BUT I ALSO DON'T THINK HE
WAS REALLY PURSUING IT AT FIRST.

BOBBY, TIME FOR BED,
HON.

OKAY, GRANDMA.
GIVE ME JUST A SEC, OKAY?

Narrator: GRACE AND ROBERT
START CHATTING REGULARLY.

THEY EXCHANGE E-MAIL ADDRESSES.

SOON, THEY BEGIN TO SHARE
THE DETAILS OF THEIR LIVES.

GRACE TALKS ABOUT HER FAMILY
AND BEING HOMESCHOOLED.

SHE FEELS NO ONE
UNDERSTANDS HER.

ROBERT EXPLAINS HIS SENSE
OF ISOLATION OUT ON THE RANCH.

THE MORE THEY CHAT,

THEY DISCOVER IT'S EASY
TO OPEN UP TO EACH OTHER.

OVER TIME,
THEIR FEELINGS DEEPEN.

IT WAS JUST A GAME
TO HIM AT FIRST,

JUST SOMEBODY TO TALK TO.

BUT THEN IT
TURNED INTO SOMETHING MORE.

Narrator: INCREASINGLY,

IT SEEMS LIKE GRACE IS THE ONLY
GOOD THING IN ROBERT'S LIFE.

EVERYTHING
ELSE IS GOING DOWNHILL.

Bernice: THERE WAS A PERIOD
OF TIME WHEN HE WAS BUMPING

HIS HEAD
AGAINST HIS DAD, HE SAID.

AND THE COMPUTER
GOT MORE IMPORTANT.

GRADES GOT LESS IMPORTANT.

Narrator: ROBERT BEGINS
STAYING UP LATE ON THE COMPUTER

AND TEXTING GRACE IN SECRET
THROUGH THE NIGHT.

HIS DAD
ISN'T AWARE OF THE RELATIONSHIP,

BUT HE'S WORRIED
THAT WITH ROBERT SPENDING

SO MUCH TIME ONLINE,
IT WILL AFFECT HIS STUDIES.

BOBBY'S EDUCATION
WAS HUGELY IMPORTANT TO ME.

HEY, MISTER.

YOU KNOW
WHAT TIME IT IS?

IT'S THE WEEKEND.
WHAT DO YOU CARE?

YES, ROBERT,
I KNOW IT'S THE WEEKEND.

AND I KNOW
YOU GOT SCHOOL WORK.

YOU KNOW YOU DO.

LOOK, I WORK MY BUTT OFF
SO YOU DON'T HAVE

TO WORK CONSTRUCTION
LIKE ME AND YOUR GRANDFATHER.

I WAS IN A POSITION
WHERE I WANTED MY SON

TO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY
TO GET A COLLEGE EDUCATION

AND NOT DO WHAT I DO
FOR A LIVING.

I MEAN, I MAKE A GOOD LIVING,

BUT THE END RESULT
IS YOU'RE GONNA BE CRIPPLED.

YOU KNOW, YOU'RE GONNA
WEAR YOUR BODY OUT.

YOU'RE GONNA BE IN A LOT
OF PAIN.

HEY, MISTER.

DO YOU HEAR ME?

YES, SIR.

SO I WAS PRETTY HARD ON HIM,
EDUCATION-WISE.

PRETTY FOCUSED.
YOU GOT TO GET GOOD GRADES.

YOU GOT TO STUDY.

Narrator:
BUT ROBERT IS TOO OBSESSED

WITH GRACE DILLMAN,
HIS ICE PRINCESS,

TO CARE MUCH ABOUT SCHOOL WORK.

BUT WOULD SHE REALLY
WANT TO BE WITH HIM?

SHE'S OLDER
FROM A WEALTHY FAMILY.

IS SHE OUT OF HIS LEAGUE?

THEN, A YEAR
AFTER THEY BEGIN CHATTING,

GRACE DROPS A BOMBSHELL.

WHEN BOB FOUND OUT ABOUT GRACE
LYING ABOUT HER AGE,

HE WAS VERY ANGRY AND UPSET THAT
ANOTHER WOMAN HAD LIED TO HIM

AND HE TRIED TO PUSH HER AWAY.

Narrator: FOR ALMOST A YEAR
AFTER BREAKING UP WITH GRACE,

ROBERT THROWS HIMSELF
INTO A NEW PASSION...

FIXING TRUCKS WITH HIS GRANDPA.

Lee: HIS MECHANICS CAME ABOUT
WITH HIS SENIOR PROJECT.

I HAD A FEW CLASSIC RIGS
OUT THERE.

AND WHEN HE TURNED 16, I SAYS,
"YOU CAN HAVE YOUR PICK."

SO HE TOOK ONE OF THE TRUCKS,
TORE DOWN THE ENGINE.

THEY REPAIRED IT,
GOT IT COMPLETELY RUNNING,

AND HE FOUND HE LIKED THAT.

Narrator: HE'D RECENTLY
BROKEN UP WITH A LOCAL GIRL

AFTER SEVERAL MONTHS
OF DATING.

ARE YOU STILL SAD
ABOUT CHRISTIE?

GRANDMA,
I'M OKAY REALLY.

IN FACT, ROBERT
IS BACK IN TOUCH WITH GRACE,

DESPITE HER LYING ABOUT
JUST HOW YOUNG SHE IS.

I DON'T THINK ROBERT
WOULD HAVE WENT AFTER GRACE,

BUT SHE KEPT PURSUING HIM.

AND AFTER A WHILE, HE HAD
THAT IMAGE OF HER IN HIS HEAD...

THE MATURE, YOUNG WOMAN
WHO HE THOUGHT SHE WAS.

Narrator: WHILE ROBERT TELLS
GRACE ABOUT HIS EX, CHRISTIE,

SHE TELLS HIM ABOUT SOMEONE

SHE'S FALLEN
FOR WHO HE'S NICKNAMED ROMEO.

INTRIGUED, ROBERT CAN'T HELP
BUT ASK GRACE THREE QUESTIONS.

THEN, ROBERT
PLUCKS UP THE COURAGE

TO ASK HIS FINAL QUESTION.

I MUST BE CRAZY.

Mash:
I THINK HE WENT BACK TO HER

BECAUSE HE WANTED
TO GO BACK TO HER.

HE HAD THAT IMAGE
OF HER IN HIS HEAD,

AND HE COULDN'T GET IT OUT.

AND IT JUST DIDN'T MATTER
TO HIM ANYMORE.

Narrator: IT'S A RELATIONSHIP
THAT WILL LEAD ROBERT

INTO A DARKNESS
HE IS TOTALLY UNPREPARED FOR.

HE HAD FALLEN SO FAR IN LOVE
WITH HER,

HE WOULD HAVE DONE ANYTHING.

Narrator:
ROBERT BEST AND GRACE DILLMAN

HAVE REKINDLED
AN ONLINE RELATIONSHIP

AND DECLARED THEIR LOVE
FOR EACH OTHER.

BY SPRING 2010,
ROBERT IS 18 AND GRACE IS 14.

THEY HAVE BEEN IN CONTACT
ON AND OFF FOR THREE YEARS,

AND THEY'VE BEEN
OFFICIALLY DATING ONLINE

FOR OVER A YEAR.

THEIR PARENTS STILL KNOW NOTHING
ABOUT THEIR RELATIONSHIP.

THEY TALK EVERY DAY,

MAKING IT EASY TO FORGET
THEY LIVE 2,000 MILES APART.

Narrator: ONE AFTERNOON, ROBERT,
WHO JUST GRADUATED HIGH SCHOOL,

COMES UP WITH A PLAN THAT COULD
BRING HIM CLOSER TO GRACE

WITHOUT HIS FAMILY
KNOWING ABOUT IT.

WHAT IF HE COULD GO
TO MECHANICS SCHOOL IN OHIO,

GRACE'S HOME STATE?

HE FINDS WHAT HE'S LOOKING
FOR ONLINE...

OHIO TECH,
A COLLEGE IN CLEVELAND

JUST TWO HOURS' DRIVE
FROM COLUMBUS WHERE GRACE LIVES.

HEY, DAD,
COME HERE.

ROBERT'S DAD
IS VISITING FOR THE WEEKEND.

WHAT DO YOU GOT THERE,
SON?

Lee: THEY WERE THE NUMBER-ONE
RATED AUTO MECHANIC SCHOOL.

LIKE MOST PARENTS,
I WANT THE BEST FOR MY SON.

IT'S THE BEST AUTOMOTIVE PROGRAM
IN THE COUNTRY.

THAT'S GREAT.

I LOOK AT IT AND GO,
"WOW, OKAY."

SO, TOP SCHOOL IN THE NATION,

TOP QUALITY TRAINING.

YOU'RE GONNA COME OUT OF THERE,
YOUR CHANCES OF GETTING A JOB

ARE JUST FANTASTIC.

I THINK IT'S THE ONE.

Narrator: AS SUMMER ENDS,

ROBERT MAKES
THE 2,000 MILE JOURNEY

FROM WASHINGTON STATE
TO CLEVELAND, OHIO.

Mash:
ROBERT CAME TO OHIO FOR GRACE,

AND AN 18-MONTH COURSE
AT OHIO TECHNICAL COLLEGE

WAS THE BEST AND FASTEST
AND EASIEST WAY TO GET HER.

Narrator:
AFTER A WEEK OF DRIVING,

HE ARRIVES IN CLEVELAND.

AT LAST, HE'S WITHIN REACH
OF THE GIRL HE LOVES.

IT WAS HIS LIFE DREAM
TO BE WITH GRACE.

Narrator: GRACE AND ROBERT
WASTE NO TIME ARRANGING TO MEET.

NOW 15, GRACE IS STILL A MINOR.

SHE DECIDES TO LIE
TO HER PARENTS.

SHE DOESN'T THINK THEY
WILL APPROVE IF SHE TELLS THEM

HOW SHE AND ROBERT MET ONLINE

OR HOW MANY YEARS
THEY'VE KNOWN EACH OTHER.

GRACE WAS BROUGHT UP
IN A VERY STRICT,

RELIGIOUS HOME.

IT WAS A WEALTHY HOME.

BUT GRACE WAS HOMESCHOOLED
MOST OF THE TIME.

GRACE, HURRY UP!
WE'RE LATE.

AND SO SHE WAS QUITE ISOLATED
MUCH OF THE TIME FROM HER PEERS.

GRACE, COME ON.

Narrator: SINCE HER PARENTS
ARE DEVOUT CHRISTIANS,

GRACE DECIDES MEETING ROBERT
AT CHURCH IS THE BEST OPTION.

Mash: ON THE WAY,
BOB FELT ANXIOUS AND EXCITED.

AND MOST LIKELY
HE THOUGHT THAT HE WAS GONNA GET

WHAT HE WANTED
BECAUSE THAT'S BOB'S LIFE.

HE GETS WHAT HE WANTS.

Narrator:
AT THE CHURCH IN GAHANNA,

ROBERT GETS WHAT APPEARS
TO BE A LUCKY BREAK.

HE SEES A MAN AT THE DOOR WHOM
HE GUESSES IS GRACE'S FATHER.

YOU MUST BE MR. DILLMAN.

I AM.

AND WHO'S ASKING?

I'M ROBERT.

Mash:
HE SHOOK ALAN'S HAND

AND SAID, "HI, I'M ROBERT BEST,

AND I'M HERE
TO DATE YOUR DAUGHTER."

YOU KNOW, GRACIE HAS BEEN
TELLING US ALL ABOUT YOU.

SIR, IF YOU'D JUST
GIVE ME A CHANCE...

LET ME STOP YOU
RIGHT THERE.

I'M SURE
YOU'RE A NICE GUY.

BUT YOU'RE WAY TOO OLD
FOR GRACE.

SO YOU'RE NOT TO TRY TO SEE HER
OR ATTEMPT TO REACH HER

IN ANY WAY.

AM I UNDERSTOOD?

SIR, IF YOU'D GIVE ME A CHANCE
JUST TO TALK TO...

ROBERT.

WHY DON'T YOU JUST TURN
YOURSELF AROUND AND GO HOME?

AND IF YOU TRY
TO MAKE CONTACT WITH HER,

I WILL CALL THE COPS.

NOW, GO.

Choung:
FOLLOWING THAT INCIDENT,

GRACE'S FATHER
REPORTED TO THE POLICE

THAT HIS DAUGHTER WAS
HAVING AN ONLINE RELATIONSHIP

WITH SOMEONE.

AFTER REVIEWING THE INFORMATION
THAT WAS PROVIDED,

THE INVESTIGATING DETECTIVE

DETERMINED THAT THERE WAS
NO CRIME TO INVESTIGATE.

Narrator:
FOR AN ENTIRE YEAR,

ROBERT HONORS GRACE'S FATHER'S
REQUEST TO STAY AWAY

AND SETTLES INTO LIFE
AS A COLLEGE STUDENT.

HE DOESN'T TRY TO CONTACT GRACE,

AND SHE KEEPS QUIET, AS WELL.

BUT THEN, OUT OF NOWHERE,
HE RECEIVES A MESSAGE.

IT'S GRACE DEFYING HER FATHER

AND REACHING OUT TO HIM
ONCE MORE.

ONLY THIS TIME, SHE'S TAKING
STEPS TO AVOID DETECTION.

SHE WOULD TEXT HIM
OFF OF HER FRIENDS' PHONES,

OR WHEN HER PARENTS
WERE AWAY OR NOT HOME,

THEY WOULD SKYPE.

BUT I DON'T THINK THEY EVER
TALKED ON HER OWN CELL PHONE.

IT WAS ALWAYS A FRIEND'S.

Narrator: PRETTY SOON, ROBERT AND
GRACE ARE CHATTING REGULARLY AGAIN.

HE TELLS HER ABOUT COLLEGE
AND HIS ROOMMATES,

AND SHE FILLS HIM
IN ON LIFE AT HOME.

AS THE WEEKS PASS,

ROBERT FINDS HE'S FALLING
FOR GRACE ONCE MORE,

AND SHE RETURNS HIS FEELINGS.

I wish I lived with you.

I WISH YOU DID, TOO.

So happy I get to see you.

I miss you.

I KNOW.
I MISS YOU TOO.

I CAN'T WAIT
FOR US TO BE TOGETHER.

BUT THE RELATIONSHIP THEY WANT

IS IMPOSSIBLE
WITHOUT HER PARENTS' APPROVAL.

Mash: I THOUGHT THEIR RELATIONSHIP
WAS KIND OF DANGEROUS,

BUT GRACE WAS THE MISSING PIECE
TO BOB'S PUZZLE.

THAT WAS THE WOMAN
HE COULD TRUST.

THAT WAS REALLY THE ONLY THING
HE WANTED IN LIFE

WAS A TRUSTWORTHY WOMAN.

AND TO HIM, SHE WAS IT.

Narrator: THEN, ONE NIGHT,

GRACE DECIDES TO TEST
ROBERT'S LOVE TO THE LIMIT.

THE PLAN WAS TO REMOVE
HER FAMILY FROM THE EQUATION.

Narrator: ROBERT BEST'S WORLD
HAS JUST TURNED UPSIDE DOWN.

HIS ON-AGAIN,
OFF-AGAIN ONLINE GIRLFRIEND

HAS REAPPEARED IN HIS LIFE,

AND SHE'S ASKED FOR HIS HELP.

BUT THE REASON
BEHIND HER REQUEST IS SHOCKING.

SHE SAID HER FATHER
ABUSED HER SEXUALLY

AND THAT HER MOTHER
WOULD BEAT HER.

Narrator:
ROBERT FEELS A TERRIBLE KINSHIP

BECAUSE OF A SECRET
HIS GRANDMOTHER SHARED

WITH HIM TWO YEARS EARLIER.

Bernice: I WAS A VICTIM
OF CHILD RAPE, ALSO.

THAT WAS SOMETHING
THAT ROBERT WAS AWARE, YOU KNOW,

BECAUSE WE TALKED OPENLY
ABOUT A LOT OF THINGS LIKE THAT.

IF HE THOUGHT
SHE WAS BEING MOLESTED

AND KNOWING THAT THAT HAD
HAPPENED TO HIS GRANDMA,

THAT COULD'VE REALLY
TRIPPED A TRIGGER.

MOM, I WAS THINK...

Shh.

YOU KNOW SUNDAY DINNER
IS SILENT.

Mash:
BOB WANTED TO SAVE GRACE.

AND WHEN I ASKED,
"WHY DOESN'T SHE CALL THE POLICE

OR TELL SOMEBODY,"
HE SAID HER PARENTS

WERE TOO HIGH IN POWER
TO GET HER HELP...

THAT NOBODY WOULD LISTEN TO HER.

Narrator: WITH GRACE UNWILLING
TO GO TO POLICE,

ROBERT SUGGESTS
THEY RUN AWAY TOGETHER.

BUT SHE TELLS HIM HER PARENTS
WILL ONLY COME AFTER HER.

AND IF THAT HAPPENS,
HER PUNISHMENT

WILL BE FAR WORSE THAN ANYTHING
SHE'S SUFFERED BEFORE.

Mash: I THINK GRACE
WAS TOO AFRAID TO RUN AWAY.

SHE DIDN'T KNOW WHERE TO RUN.

WHAT WOULD MY EXCUSE BE?

ARE THEY GONNA LOOK AT HIM
FIRST?

I DON'T THINK SHE REALLY EVER
THOUGHT ABOUT RUNNING AWAY.

Narrator: OVER THE NEXT FEW
MONTHS, GRACE'S ANGER TAKES OVER.

SHE SUGGESTS THE UNTHINKABLE...

THAT THEY KILL HER PARENTS.

THEY BOTH AGREED
THAT HER PARENTS JUST HAD TO GO

AND THAT THEY
WERE GONNA KILL THEM.

AND THEY THOUGHT THAT THEY
WOULD GET AWAY WITH IT.

Narrator: GRACE CONVINCED ROBERT
THAT THERE IS NO OTHER SOLUTION.

HER PARENTS HAVE TO DIE.

Choung:
GRACE DID A GREAT JOB

OF PAINTING A PICTURE
OF ABUSE IN THE HOME.

AND ROBERT, CARING AS MUCH
AS HE DID FOR HER,

WANTED TO DO SOMETHING TO HELP.

Narrator: IN THE MONTHS
LEADING UP TO JUNE 2012,

GRACE AND ROBERT
FINE-TUNED THEIR PLANS.

THEY SET A DATE AND TIME...

THE EARLY MORNING
HOURS OF JUNE 13th.

IT'S THE DAY BEFORE.

GRACE GOES
OVER THEIR FINAL CHECKLIST

TO ENSURE EVERYTHING
GOES SMOOTHLY.

Choung:
THEY HAD DETAILED THEIR PLAN,

AND IT WAS SHOCKINGLY SPECIFIC,

TO THE POINT WHERE GRACE WAS NOT
TO TURN OFF THE HOUSE ALARM

RIGHT ON AN HOUR.

THERE WAS
A RECOMMENDATION MADE,

"WELL, MAKE IT
FIVE MINUTES BEFORE,

10 MINUTES BEFORE
SO IT'S NOT SUSPICIOUS."

GRACE WAS SUPPOSED
TO LEAVE THE OUTER GARAGE DOOR

UNLOCKED
SO ROBERT COULD COME IN.

AND THERE WAS ALSO DISCUSSION
ABOUT CHECKING THE GROUND

TO SEE IF THERE WAS DUST
SO FOOTPRINTS WOULDN'T APPEAR.

Narrator: GRACE GIVES ROBERT
AS MUCH DETAIL ABOUT THE HOUSE

AS SHE CAN.

SHE DOESN'T WANT ANYTHING
TO GO WRONG TONIGHT.

AS EVENING FALLS,
ROBERT BEGINS HIS PREPARATIONS.

AT MIDNIGHT, HE LEAVES CLEVELAND
FOR THE DRIVE TO GAHANNA.

GRACE WAITS EXPECTANTLY
FOR THE MAN

SHE'S DUBBED HER FALLEN ANGEL.

Grace: "MY FALLEN ANGEL,
I KNOW IT'S THE ONLY WAY,

BUT I WORRY FOR HIS HUMANITY.

WHEN THIS HAPPENS,
A PART OF HIS HUMANITY

WILL BE LOST IN THE WORLD
FOREVER.

EVEN HE FEARS
FOR THE SAME THING."

Narrator: BY 2:00 A.M.,

ROBERT IS ON THE OUTSKIRTS
OF GAHANNA

LOOKING FOR SOMEWHERE
INCONSPICUOUS TO LEAVE HIS CAR.

Choung: HE ACTUALLY PARKED
ABOUT A QUARTER OF A MILE AWAY.

AND TO AVOID DETECTION,

HE DIDN'T EVEN PARK ON
THE STREET WHERE THE HOUSE WAS.

HE WALKED THROUGH THE WOODS.

WHEN ROBERT
ARRIVED AT THE HOUSE,

EVERYTHING HAD BEEN
GOING ACCORDING TO PLAN.

THE ALARM HAD BEEN TURNED OFF.

[ ALARM BEEPS ]

HE ACTUALLY LEFT HIS SHOES
ON TOP OF THE TRASH CAN

RIGHT BY THE DOOR.

THE DOOR WAS UNLOCKED.

HE WALKED IN.

WALKED INTO THE RESIDENCE.

THEY HAD ALREADY PRE-PLANNED
THIS.

AND HE MET GRACE.

Narrator: FIVE YEARS
SINCE THEIR RELATIONSHIP BEGAN,

ROBERT FINALLY HAS GRACE
ALL TO HIMSELF.

Choung:
HE SPOKE WITH HER A LITTLE BIT,

AND SHE CONVINCED HIM

THAT WHAT HE WAS DOING
WAS RIGHT.

GRACE'S PARENTS BEDROOM

AND HER BEDROOM ARE
ON OPPOSITE SIDES OF THE HOUSE.

SO, HE ENDED UP
WALKING ACROSS THE HALLWAY.

Narrator: ROBERT BEST'S ONLINE
GIRLFRIEND, GRACE DILLMAN,

HAS TOLD HIM THAT HER FATHER
SEXUALLY ABUSES HER

AND HER MOTHER BEATS HER.

THEY DECIDE MURDER
IS THE ONLY WAY

FOR GRACE TO ESCAPE THE TORMENT.

Choung: FOR GRACE AND ROBERT
TO BE TOGETHER,

THE PLAN WAS TO REMOVE
HER FAMILY FROM THE EQUATION.

Narrator:
THE PLAN IS FOR ROBERT

TO SLIT THE THROAT
OF GRACE'S FATHER, ALAN, FIRST.

HER MOTHER IS LESS LIKELY
TO PUT UP A STRUGGLE.

Choung: HE ACTUALLY STOOD
OVER GRACE'S FATHER

FOR A PERIOD OF TIME,
JUST WATCHING HIM SLEEP.

UNABLE TO DO
WHAT HE WAS SUPPOSED TO DO,

HE THEN LEFT.

HE WALKED BACK TO GRACE'S ROOM.

AND THEY HAD
ANOTHER CONVERSATION.

WHAT HAPPENED?

I JUST COULDN'T DO IT,
GRACE.

I'M SORRY.

THERE MUST BE SOME OTHER WAY
TO DO THIS.

ROBERT, THERE ISN'T.

THIS IS IT.

THIS IS THE ONLY WAY.

AT THAT POINT,
GRACE CONVINCED HIM AGAIN.

YOU KNOW, "THE ONLY WAY
THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE TOGETHER

IS IF YOU DO THIS."

WHY WON'T YOU HELP ME?

DON'T YOU LOVE ME?

OF COURSE I LOVE YOU.

ALL RIGHT.

LET'S DO IT.

I'M GOING TO NEED SOMETHING
BIGGER THIS TIME.

ROBERT REMARKED THAT IN ORDER
TO DO THE JOB RIGHT,

HE ACTUALLY
NEEDED A BIGGER KNIFE.

HE WENT TO THE KITCHEN, GRABBED
ABOUT A SEVEN-INCH STEAK KNIFE.

AND ACTUALLY,
HE PICKED UP A BLANKET.

AND HIS COMMENT
WAS THAT HE NEEDED SOMETHING

TO CONTAIN THE ARTERIAL SPRAY.

YOU READY?

YEAH.

ROBERT AND GRACE
RE-ENTERED THE BEDROOM.

HE HAD THE STEAK KNIFE WITH HIM,

AND A BLANKET.

AND UNFORTUNATELY, THAT BLANKET

ACTUALLY RUBBED AGAINST
GRACE'S FATHER'S LEG,

WHICH WOKE HIM UP.

WHAT WAS THAT?

GET OUT OF HERE.

[ SCREAMING ]

HAVING SEEN ROBERT,
HE CHARGED HIM.

IN ROBERT'S MIND,
IT WAS THE POINT OF NO RETURN.

IT WAS NOW OR NEVER.

[ GROANS ]

DURING THE STRUGGLE,

BOTH ROBERT AND GRACE'S FATHER
FELL TO THE GROUND.

AND, FOR WHATEVER REASON, ROBERT
YELLED AT GRACE'S FATHER.

- WHY DID YOU DO IT?
- DO WHAT?

WHAT DID I DO?

WHY DID YOU MOLEST HER?

FOR GOD'S SAKE,
I NEVER MOLESTED HER.

SHE'S LYING TO YOU.

IS THAT TRUE?

I LIED.

I'M SO SORRY, ROBERT.

[ SCREAMING ]

Choung: EVERYTHING THAT HE
THOUGHT WAS TRUE WAS NOT.

Seifert: HIS WORLD
MUST HAVE JUST COLLAPSED,

BECAUSE HIS PROBLEM
IS TRUSTING WOMEN.

AND HE TRUSTED THIS WOMAN.

AND HERE, SHE HAS DECEIVED HIM,
AND LET HIM DOWN AGAIN.

Woman:
OH, MY GOD, ALAN!

WHAT HAVE YOU DONE?

WHAT HAVE YOU DONE?

CALL 911.

Narrator: ROBERT HAD BEEN
TRAINED IN FIRST AID.

HAVING JUST TRIED
TO KILL ALAN DILLMAN,

HE NOW DESPERATELY TRIES
TO SAVE HIS LIFE

WHILE GRACE'S MOTHER
CALLS 911.

OH, MY GOD.

Choung: ROBERT ACTUALLY STARTED
HELPING GRACE'S FATHER,

TO TRY TO STOP THE BLEEDING.

GRACE, STILL STANDING THERE
IN THE ROOM.

ALAN!
OH, MY GOD.

Narrator: WITHIN MINUTES,

OFFICERS FROM THE GAHANNA
POLICE DEPARTMENT

RESPOND TO THE EMERGENCY CALL.

Choung: THE OFFICERS FOUND
ROBERT EXTREMELY COMPLIANT.

THEY ORDERED HIM
OUT OF THE ROOM.

THEY HANDCUFFED HIM,
PLACED HIM IN CUSTODY,

THEN WALKED HIM OUTSIDE

TO WHERE HE WAS PLACED
IN THE BACK OF THE CRUISER.

[ POLICE RADIO CHATTER ]

THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE INCIDENT,

GRACE WAS JUST EMOTIONLESS
WATCHING WAS HAPPENING.

AN OFFICER
ASKED HER VERY POIGNANTLY,

"IS THAT YOUR BOYFRIEND?"

TO WHICH SHE RESPONDED,

"NO, NOT REALLY."

OUR OFFICERS,
BASED ON THE 911 CALL,

KNEW THAT SHE
WAS SOMEHOW INVOLVED.

SO, THEY ACTUALLY
CALLED HER OUT ALSO.

HOW COULD YOU DO
THIS TO YOUR FATHER?

LET'S SEE
WHAT WE CAN DO TO HELP YOU.

WE MET ONLINE.

Narrator:
AT THE POLICE STATION,

ROBERT COOPERATES
WITH INVESTIGATORS.

Choung: HE TOOK US STEP BY STEP,
EVERYTHING THAT HAD HAPPENED.

ALL I WANTED TO DO
WAS PROTECT HER.

HE WAS INTELLIGENT ENOUGH
THAT HE KNEW HOW

TO EXPLAIN THE SITUATION TO US
IN A CLEAR AND CONCISE MANNER.

Narrator: BUT INTERVIEWING
GRACE IS A DIFFERENT STORY.

THERE WAS NO SIGNS
OF FORCED ENTRY.

Choung:
SHE DENIED TO SPEAK WITH US.

HOWEVER, SOME OF THE COMMENTS
THAT SHE MADE

WHILE SHE WAS SITTING THERE
IN THE INTERVIEW ROOM

RAISED CONCERN.

SHE WENT ON ABOUT HOW DELICIOUS
THE WATER TASTED.

IT JUST SEEMED LIKE SHE
WAS SO DETACHED FROM THE MOMENT.

HER REACTIONS WERE NOT NORMAL
FOR SOMEBODY OF HER AGE

FOLLOWING
SUCH A CRITICAL INCIDENT.

THIS WAS UNIQUE.

IT CAUGHT EVERYBODY OFF GUARD.

GIVE ME SOMETHING
TO WORK WITH, GRACE.

Narrator: WITH GRACE UNCOOPERATIVE,
IT'S IMPOSSIBLE FOR POLICE

TO VERIFY
ROBERT'S VERSION OF EVENTS.

ALL WE HAD WAS THIS STATEMENT
MADE BY ROBERT.

WE HAD A STABBING.

WE HAD A KNIFE.

WE HAD A VICTIM.
WE HAD A SUSPECT.

WHAT WE DIDN'T HAVE
WAS MOTIVATION.

Narrator: ROBERT BEST HAS
ATTEMPTED TO MURDER THE FATHER

OF HIS 16-YEAR-OLD
ONLINE GIRLFRIEND GRACE DILLMAN.

I LIED.

BUT EVERYTHING FALLS APART
WHEN GRACE ADMITS SHE'S

BEEN LYING TO HIM
ABOUT HER FATHER'S ABUSE.

WE MET ONLINE.

ROBERT IS IN CUSTODY,

HELPING DETECTIVES
WITH THEIR INVESTIGATION.

BUT GRACE REMAINS UNCOOPERATIVE.

TO UNDERSTAND WHAT MOTIVATED
THIS BRUTAL ATTACK,

THE POLICE NEED
TO TAKE A DIFFERENT APPROACH.

THEY IMPOUND GRACE
AND ROBERT'S COMPUTERS,

AND BEGIN SEARCHING
THROUGH THEIR MESSAGES.

Choung: THE ONLINE ELEMENT
FOR THIS INVESTIGATION

WAS PROBABLY THE MOST
IMPORTANT ASPECT THAT WE HAD.

AS DETAILED
AND AS WELL THOUGHT OUT

THE PLAN WAS
BETWEEN ROBERT AND GRACE,

IT WAS ABSOLUTELY FLAWED.

IT ALMOST SEEMED
LIKE THEY WERE FOCUSING

ON THE SUPERFICIAL THINGS...

NOT LEAVING FOOTPRINTS,
YOU KNOW?

BASICALLY, THINGS
THAT YOU'LL WATCH AND SEE ON TV.

HOWEVER, THEIR BIGGEST FLAW
WAS THEIR ONLINE CORRESPONDENCE.

Narrator: AS POLICE CATALOGUED
THE COUPLE'S E-MAILS,

SERGEANT CHOUNG
LEARNS HOW THE PLOT WAS HATCHED

AND HOW DEEPLY ROBERT
HAD FALLEN FOR GRACE.

I STILL CARE ABOUT HER.

I LOVE HER.

MY FIRST REACTION WAS,
"MY GOD, THIS GUY GOT DUPED."

HE HAD FALLEN SO FAR
IN LOVE WITH HER

THAT HE
WOULD HAVE DONE ANYTHING.

AND HE ALMOST DID.

TO BE ABLE
TO JUSTIFY MURDERING SOMEBODY

IN THE NAME OF LOVE
IS PRETTY PROFOUND.

AND IT REALLY SEEMED
LIKE GRACE WAS GROOMING ROBERT

THROUGHOUT THIS ENTIRE PROCESS.

Narrator:
THE CORRESPONDENCE ALSO REVEALS

ANOTHER DISTURBING ASPECT
OF GRACE'S ONLINE ACTIVITY...

THE CONSTANT USE OF A PSEUDONYM,
ALEXANDRIA STEELE.

Choung: THERE WERE TIMES
WHEN ROBERT ACTUALLY

REFERRED TO HER AS ALEX,
AND SOMETIMES AS GRACE.

IT ALMOST SEEMED
LIKE IT WAS NATURAL JUST

TO USE THEM INTERCHANGEABLY.

Narrator: ROBERT, MEANWHILE,

WAS STILL USING HIS GAMING
HANDLE, ELEMENTAL EVIL.

Seifert: BEING ONLINE

ALLOWED THEM
TO CREATE A DIFFERENT PERSONA.

AND THEN THESE TWO FANTASY
PEOPLE

FORM A RELATIONSHIP
LIKE IN A VIDEO GAME,

WHERE YOU CAN CREATE
A WHOLE FANTASY UNIVERSE

WHERE THESE PEOPLE
MAKE UP THEIR OWN STORY.

Narrator: AFTER READING
THROUGH HER E-MAILS,

SERGEANT CHOUNG BEGINS
TO WONDER IF GRACE

TOOK THIS VIRTUAL FANTASY
TO ANOTHER LEVEL.

Choung:
FOR HER TO ADOPT ANOTHER NAME,

I DON'T THINK
IT WAS TO COVER HER TRACKS

OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT.

I THINK SHE TRULY FELT THAT,
THAT WAS HER NAME.

Narrator: BUT WHATEVER PROBLEMS
GRACE HAD ACCEPTING REALITY,

THERE IS SOMETHING ELSE
THAT STILL ELUDES INVESTIGATORS.

Choung: UNFORTUNATELY,
WE REALLY DIDN'T KNOW THE EXTENT TO WHICH

SHE FABRICATED THIS STORY
WHERE SHE HAD BEEN MOLESTED,

AT A VERY EARLY AGE
BY HER FATHER,

WHERE SHE SAID THAT SHE HAD BEEN
BEATEN BY HER MOTHER.

Narrator: IT'S THE PUZZLE
AT THE HEART OF THE CASE,

AND IT CONTINUES TO INTRIGUE
PSYCHOLOGIST KATHRYN SEIFERT.

Seifert:
YOU REALLY CAN'T WALK UP

AND KILL SOMEBODY
THAT YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO LOVE,

UNLESS THERE'S A BREAK
IN THAT ATTACHMENT.

AND WHAT BREAKS ATTACHMENT
IS ONE OF TWO THINGS...

SEVERE MENTAL ILLNESS OR ABUSE
AND NEGLECT EARLY IN CHILDHOOD.

ROBERT, I BELIEVE,
ALSO HAD SOME ATTACHMENT ISSUES

BECAUSE THE ABANDONMENT
BY MOTHER AND STEPMOTHER.

THE INTERNET
BECOMES THE PERFECT VEHICLE

FOR TWO KIDS TO UNDERSTAND
HOW TO SAY, "I LOVE YOU FOREVER"

IN A VERY UNREALISTIC WAY,

AND, "I'LL DO ANYTHING FOR YOU,"
BUT DO NOT HAVE THE EMPATHY

THAT GOES
ALONG WITH REAL RELATIONSHIPS.

Woman:
A FATHER STABBED IN HIS BED.

Narrator: IN PART,
THANKS TO ROBERT'S FIRST AID,

ALAN DILLMAN
SURVIVED THE ATTACK.

AFTER PLEADING GUILTY,

ROBERT RECEIVES AN EIGHT-YEAR
SENTENCE FOR ATTEMPTED MURDER,

ATTEMPTED AGGRAVATED MURDER,
AND FELONIOUS ASSAULT.

I GET THE WORD
THAT MY SON IS GOING TO PRISON

FOR ALLEGEDLY TRYING
TO MURDER SOMEBODY.

IT WAS A DEVASTATING BLOW
TO THE WHOLE FAMILY.

I WATCHED MY FATHER,

THE STRONGEST MAN I KNOW...

6-FOOT-2, 250 POUNDS,

LIKE A MOUNTAIN.

AND COMPLETELY IN TEARS.

Narrator: LEE BEST CALLS HIS SON
IN PRISON EVERY WEEK.

I DON'T ABSOLVE HIM OF ANYTHING
HE DID.

I MEAN, HE COMMITTED A CRIME.

HE NEEDED TO BE PUNISHED.

BUT THROUGH IT ALL,
I STILL LOVE MY SON VERY MUCH.

NO MATTER WHAT HE DOES,

Bernice: AS FAR AS AN EDUCATION
AND HIS LIFE IN THE FUTURE,

IT'S GOING TO BE A HARD ROW
TO HOE.

AND I'M JUST HOPING
THAT HE WILL UNDERSTAND

THAT HIS FAMILY
WILL BE THERE BEHIND HIM.

Narrator: THE GIRL ROBERT WANTED
TO PROTECT, GRACE DILLMAN,

RECEIVES TWO YEARS PROBATION
UNDER MEDICAL SUPERVISION

AND AN EIGHT-YEAR
SUSPENDED SENTENCE

FROM THE JUVENILE COURT.

NEITHER SHE NOR HER FAMILY

WANTED TO PARTICIPATE
IN THIS DOCUMENTARY.

GRACE'S MENTAL HEALTH RECORDS
ARE CONFIDENTIAL,

AND HER TRUE MOTIVATION

FOR PLANNING TO MURDER
HER PARENTS REMAINS UNKNOWN.

I REALLY DON'T HAVE TOO MUCH OF
AN OPINION ABOUT GRACE HERSELF.

I DON'T KNOW THE GIRL.

I'VE NEVER TALKED TO HER
ON THE PHONE OR ANYTHING.

BUT HE STILL HAS FEELINGS
FOR HER.

HE WROTE TO ME ONCE

THAT, "I DON'T KNOW WHAT'S GOING
TO HAPPEN WHEN I GET OUT.

I DON'T KNOW IF WE'LL GET
BACK TOGETHER AGAIN.

I DON'T THINK
WE'RE GOOD FOR ONE ANOTHER,

BUT I STILL LOVE HER."