Web of Lies (2014–…): Season 4, Episode 3 - Love Goes South - full transcript

Narrator: A MUSICIAN FINDS
HIS DREAM GIRL ONLINE...

HE WAS DEFINITELY AFRAID
OF BEING ALONE.

Narrator: ...ONLY TO DISCOVER
SHE'S 6,000 MILES AWAY.

HOW DO YOU KNOW SHE IS
WHO SHE SAYS SHE IS?

WHERE'S YOUR SENSE
OF ADVENTURE?

RAY JUST DOVE IN,
YOU KNOW, HEADFIRST.

Narrator: THE EXOTIC ROMANCE
HEATS UP FAST.

I JUST KNEW THAT THIS
IS AN EVIL PSYCHOPATH.

Ray: I DID NOT
MAKE THOSE PURCHASES.

AND I WANT THEM
REMOVED FROM MY CARD.

Narrator: BUT WHEN
MORE THAN MONEY DISAPPEARS,



WILL THE BREAKUP TURN DEADLY?

WAS MY BROTHER
TRYING TO TELL ME,

"PLEASE, HELP ME"?

WHERE IS HE?

I'M SORRY.

I THOUGHT MAYBE WE COULD
GIVE THIS A LISTEN.

Narrator:
55-YEAR-OLD RAY MERRILL

LIVES WITH HIS GIRLFRIEND,
BARBARA FLOREZ,

IN A SUBURB OF SAN FRANCISCO.

YEAH.

Florez: RAY HAD CHARISMA.

HE HAD A DYNAMIC ABOUT HIM
THAT WAS VERY APPEALING.

IT WAS KIND OF
A VERY SUBTLE... SEDUCTIVENESS.

[ SLOW POP BALLAD PLAYING ]



RAY WAS VERY TENDER,
VERY PASSIONATE, VERY LOVING.

I REMEMBER LOOKING INTO HIS EYES

AND FEELING
THAT I SAW THE WHOLE UNIVERSE.

♪ IT'S LIKE A SONG ♪

[ MAN SINGING INDISTINCTLY ]

Narrator:
RAY'S A SUCCESSFUL MUSICIAN

AND HAS BUILT
HIS OWN RECORDING STUDIO

IN HIS SAN BRUNO HOME...

- LET'S SEE WHAT SHE'S GOT.
- YEAH.

...WHERE HE LIKES TO JAM
WITH BEST FRIEND BILL RAUCH.

I MET RAY ON A CONSTRUCTION JOB
IN CALIFORNIA,

AROUND THE MID-'70s.

WE WOULD GET TOGETHER
AFTER WORK SOMETIMES

AND, YOU KNOW, TRADE RECORDS

AND PLAY GUITARS,

YOU KNOW, JUST BASICALLY EXPAND
ON OUR FRIENDSHIP.

GOT YOURSELF A NICE
INSTRUMENT THERE.

NOW YOU JUST
GOT TO NAME IT.

HEY, LET ME SHOW YOU
WHAT I'VE BEEN WORKING ON.

SOME NEW STUFF?

I CAN RECOGNIZE SOMEBODY
WITH TALENT.

[ SOFT ROCK MUSIC PLAYING ]

AND RAY HAD PLENTY OF TALENT.

SOUNDS GOOD.

I LOVE THIS!

Narrator: PROUD OF HIS MUSICAL
ACHIEVEMENTS

AND CARPENTRY WORK,

RAY'S GOT NO FINANCIAL WORRIES.

HEY, CUTIE.

I WOULDN'T SAY
HE WAS A MILLIONAIRE.

BUT HE WAS VERY,
VERY COMFORTABLE FINANCIALLY.

WHEN OUR MOTHER
PASSED AWAY,

THERE WAS A CERTAIN AMOUNT
OF INHERITANCE

THAT BOTH OF US GOT.

Narrator: DESPITE
BEING FINANCIALLY SECURE,

RAY'S CAREFUL WITH HIS SPENDING.

WE DON'T NEED ALL THIS CRAP.
IT'S JUST MARKETING.

THERE'S NOTHING GOOD, OLD
VINEGAR CAN'T CLEAN.

RAY COULD BECOME VERY TIGHT
WITH GROCERY MONEY...

DID YOU HEAR WHAT I SAID?

...NOT WANTING
TO PURCHASE SOME ITEMS

BECAUSE HE FELT
THAT THEY WERE TOO EXPENSIVE.

STOP BEING CHEAP, RAY.

- IT'S JUST A COUPLE OF BUCKS.
- [ SIGHS ]

Narrator: RAY IS ALSO VERY
PARTICULAR ABOUT HIS MUSIC.

Florez:
HE LIKED TO, AS HE CALLED IT,

"DIG DOWN DEEP AND GET TO IT."

HEY, I THOUGHT
YOU WOULD BE HUNGRY.

NO! YOU KNOW I DON'T
LIKE INTERRUPTIONS.

HE WOULDN'T TOLERATE ANY NOISE.

IT WAS PURE CONCENTRATION.

RAY WAS A LOVELY PERSON.
BUT HE HAD HIS MOMENTS

OF, UM, YOU KNOW,

HE COULD BE PRETTY HARSH,

PRETTY DEMANDING
OF PEOPLE SOMETIMES.

HONEY, PLEASE,
JUST LEAVE ME BE.

Narrator:
THE ARGUMENTS CONTINUE.

AND OVER TIME, THE STRAIN ON RAY
AND BARBARA'S RELATIONSHIP

BECOMES TOO MUCH TO BEAR.

Florez: THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN
MYSELF AND RAY BROKE DOWN.

IT JUST WASN'T WORKING.

THERE WAS TOO MUCH FRICTION.

AND YOU PULL THE PLUG.

YOU'RE LEAVING.

I-I JUST CAN'T TAKE
THE MOOD SWINGS ANYMORE, RAY.

I'M SORRY.

SO AM I.

WE WANTED TO REMAIN FRIENDS.

Narrator: A MONTH AFTER THE
BREAKUP, RAY IS READY TO MOVE ON.

HE DECIDES TO LOOK
FOR NEW LOVE ONLINE.

Loebick: HE WASN'T A PERSON
TO GO FREQUENT CLUBS OR BARS

WHERE HE COULD
JUST PICK UP WOMEN.

HE WASN'T THAT TYPE OF GUY.

Narrator: RAY JOINS SPIRIT,

A SOUTH AMERICAN
ONLINE DATING SITE.

Loebick: HE ALWAYS HAS LIKED
LATINA WOMEN

TO MEET,
TO HAVE A RELATIONSHIP WITH,

ULTIMATELY TO END UP
IN MARRIAGE.

Narrator: RAY'S EAGER TO LET
POTENTIAL GIRLFRIENDS KNOW

THAT HE'S DONE WELL FOR HIMSELF.

Loebick: HE WAS PROUD
OF THE MONEY HE HAD.

I THINK THAT WAS A TOOL,
SO TO SPEAK,

IN TERMS OF MAKING HIMSELF

MORE IMPORTANT.

Narrator: BUT A FEW DAYS AFTER
POSTING HIS PROFILE,

RAY'S DISAPPOINTED THAT NO ONE
SEEMS INTERESTED IN HIM.

NOT ONE MESSAGE.
NOTHING.

HE WAS DEFINITELY AFRAID
OF BEING ALONE.

Rauch: HE FELT LIKE THERE WAS
NOBODY OUT THERE FOR HIM.

NO KIDDING. NICE PIC.
WANT TO BORROW MINE, BUDDY?

[ LAUGHS ]
WE DON'T WANT TO SCARE THEM OFF.

[ CHUCKLES ]
ALL RIGHT.

I WAS HOPING
FOR THE BEST FOR HIM.

I WAS HOPING THAT HE WOULD
FIND SOMEBODY AND BE HAPPY.

ULTIMATELY, THAT'S THE PRIZE.

Narrator: TWO WEEKS
AFTER JOINING THE DATING SITE...

[ COMPUTER CHIMES ]

...RAY FINALLY RECEIVES THE
MESSAGE HE'S BEEN WAITING FOR.

[ COMPUTER CHIMING ]

RAY JUST DOVE IN,
YOU KNOW, HEADFIRST.

Narrator: NEARLY 15 YEARS
YOUNGER THAN RAY,

REGINA RACHID ALMOST APPEARS
TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE.

SHE PUT ON SOME VERY
ATTRACTIVE PHOTOS OF HERSELF

AND PRESENTED HERSELF IN A WAY

THAT SEEMED VERY
APPEALING TO HIM.

[ COMPUTER CHIMES ]

Narrator: THEN RAY REALIZES
THERE'S A CATCH.

REGINA LIVES 6,000 MILES AWAY
IN BRAZIL.

- THERE HE IS.
- ALL READY, BUDDY.

- JUST FOR YOU.
- NICE.

COOK 'EM TO PERFECTION,
ALL RIGHT?

[ Chuckling ]
YOU GOT IT.

Narrator:
RAY'S BEEN MESSAGING REGINA

EVERY DAY FOR TWO WEEKS NOW.

HE'S DESPERATE TO SHOW OFF
HIS NEW ONLINE FRIEND.

DON'T PRETEND LIKE
YOU DON'T WANT TO KNOW

WHAT SHE LOOKS LIKE.

LET'S SEE HER.

- WOW.
- HE SHOWED ME A PICTURE OF HER.

AND I THOUGHT, YOU KNOW,
"SHE'S A PRETTY WOMAN."

HOW DO YOU KNOW SHE IS
WHO SHE SAYS SHE IS?

I MEAN, HOW MUCH CAN YOU
LEARN ABOUT SOMEBODY

IN A MATTER OF A COUPLE WEEKS?

THIS COULD BE A GUY
SENDING YOU THESE PICS.

YOU'RE JUST JEALOUS.

THE WHOLE THING
ABOUT ONLINE DATING

IS YOU CAN EXCHANGE INFORMATION

TILL THE COWS COME HOME.

BUT UNTIL YOU MEET THAT PERSON
TO SEE IF THERE'S ANY CHEMISTRY,

IT'S KIND OF HARD TO GET THAT
ON AN E-MAIL.

WHERE'S YOUR SENSE
OF ADVENTURE?

- SHE'S TOO GOOD FOR YOU.
- [ CHUCKLES ]

Narrator:
ON THE SPUR OF THE MOMENT,

RAY BUYS AN $800 TICKET
TO BRAZIL,

DEPARTING THE NEXT DAY.

Florez:
RAY COULD BE TRUSTING.

I THINK THAT THERE WAS, UH,

A SENSE OF INNOCENCE
ABOUT HIM AT TIMES.

Narrator:
RAY'S FRIENDS ARE FLOORED

BY THIS SUDDEN 6,000-MILE TRIP

TO SEE SOMEONE HE'S NEVER MET.

TWO WEEKS IS REALLY QUICK,

I -- I THOUGHT SO.

WAY TOO FAST.

FLYING TO BRAZIL TO MEET
A PERSON THAT YOU MET ONLINE

THAT YOU'VE NEVER SEEN
IN PERSON BEFORE,

THAT'S GOING ABOVE AND BEYOND

EVEN A FIRST DATE
TO A FANCY RESTAURANT.

Narrator:
AFTER THE 15-HOUR FLIGHT,

RAY THINKS HE'S ABOUT
TO MEET REGINA FACE TO FACE.

I'M SURE RAY THOUGHT HE KNEW
EXACTLY WHAT HE WAS DOING.

Loebick:
I WAS HOPEFUL FOR HIM.

I DIDN'T FEEL ANY PARTICULAR,
UM,

SENSE OF TREPIDATION AT ALL.

JUST, "WOW. I HOPE
THIS, UH, YOU KNOW --

THIS WORKS OUT FOR YOU."

Narrator: RAY MERRILL
HAS TRAVELED 6,000 MILES

FROM CALIFORNIA TO BRAZIL
TO MEET REGINA RACHID,

A LATINA
HE CONNECTED WITH ONLINE

JUST OVER TWO WEEKS AGO.

THEY HAVE NEVER
MET FACE-TO-FACE.

YOU?

♪

RAY AND REGINA HEAD
BACK TO HER HOME IN SAO PAULO.

Loebick:
SHE CAME FROM A FAMILY --

I BELIEVE THE MOTHER HAD
PASSED AWAY SOME YEARS PRIOR.

THE FATHER WAS SOMEONE
IN BUSINESS OF LEBANESE DESCENT.

RAY TOLD ME
SHE RAN A BOTOX CLINIC.

I STILL CAN'T BELIEVE YOU
ARE HERE, STANDING IN MY HOME.

NEITHER CAN I.

Florez:
REGINA HAD A DAUGHTER.

THIS IS MY BEAUTIFUL
DAUGHTER, SOL.

OH, NICE TO MEET YOU.

AND THE DAUGHTER
WAS GOING TO COLLEGE.

THIS IS RAY.

♪

Narrator: AFTER SPENDING A DAY

EXPLORING THE SIGHTS
OF SAO PAULO,

BEFORE RAY HEADS TO HIS HOTEL,

HE ESCORTS REGINA BACK
TO HER HOUSE.

SUCH A CABALLERO,
A GENTLEMAN.

I HAVE HAD
SUCH A GREAT TIME.

SO HAVE I.
MY TIME WITH YOU,

I ENJOY A LOT.

I'M JUST GLAD
YOU GOT TO BE MY TOUR GUIDE.

HE WAS ABSOLUTELY
ENCHANTED AND SMITTEN.

WOULD YOU LIKE TO STAY?

- SURE.
- OKAY.

[ BOTH CHUCKLE ]

♪

I HAVE A SPARE ROOM.

SHE DID PRESENT HERSELF
AS A TRADITIONAL LADY.

I AM UP EARLY
AND NEED MY REST.

OH, SURE.
I-I UNDERSTAND THAT.

THANK YOU SO MUCH
FOR A GREAT EVENING.

THANK YOU.

- GOOD NIGHT.
- GOOD NIGHT.

Rauch:
HE WAS FINE WITH NOT HAVING SEX

UNTIL FURTHER ON
IN THE RELATIONSHIP.

Narrator:
EXCITED ABOUT HIS NEWFOUND LOVE,

RAY IS EAGER TO SHARE
HIS HAPPINESS WITH HIS SISTER.

[ COMPUTER CHIMING ]

HE BELIEVED
THAT SHE WAS GOING TO BE

THIS HAPPILY EVER AFTER.

BECAUSE I HAD NOT MET HER,
I JUST WISHED HIM LUCK.

Narrator: AFTER A BLISSFUL
12 DAYS WITH REGINA IN BRAZIL,

RAY IS LEAVING
TO GO BACK HOME TOMORROW.

[ CHUCKLES ]
WOW.

WE GO OUT.
AND IT'S ON ME.

I JUST WISH
I WAS STAYING LONGER.

I HOPE YOU WILL
COME TO VISIT ME.

LET'S GO.
[ CHUCKLES ]

WHAT IS THIS?

SUGARCANE JUICE.

TRY IT.

IT HELPS
THE GRINGOS DANCE.

[ BOTH LAUGH ]

YO TE AMO.

I LOVE YOU.

I'M SURE THAT RAY,
IN HIS MIND, FELT,

"WOW, I'VE JUST GOT
THIS BEAUTIFUL WOMAN

THAT'S FALLING IN LOVE WITH ME."

BOY, THINGS HAVE HAPPENED
SO FAST. I --

MM-HMM.

BUT I LOVE YOU, TOO.

I JUST WISH
I DIDN'T HAVE TO GO.

WHEN YOU FIRST MEET SOMEONE,
AND YOU'RE VERY ATTRACTED,

YOU THEREFORE THINK
YOU'RE IN LOVE.

IT WASN'T BASED ON
A LOT OF LOGIC.

[ GIGGLING ]

[ SIGHS, LAUGHS ]

[ GIGGLES ]

HAVE YOU SEEN
MY WALLET ANYWHERE?

MAYBE THE MAID,
SHE PUT IT AWAY

SOMEWHERE SAFE.

HERE.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU FOR TONIGHT.

IT'S MY PLEASURE.

IS EVERYTHING ALL RIGHT?

YES.

I GUESS I AM JUST SAD
THAT YOU ARE LEAVING.

WHAT'S THE MATTER
WITH YOUR MOM?

MAYBE I CAN HELP.

WE'RE IN TROUBLE.

Narrator: AFTER MEETING
REGINA RACHID ONLINE,

RAY MERRILL HAS SPENT A ROMANTIC
12 DAYS WITH HER IN BRAZIL.

I LOVE YOU.

BUT JUST AS HE'S ABOUT
TO HEAD HOME TO SAN FRANCISCO...

WHAT'S THE MATTER
WITH YOUR MOM?

...HE REALIZES
REGINA MAY HAVE A PROBLEM.

- WE'RE IN TROUBLE.
- WHAT SORT OF TROUBLE?

FINANCIAL.

WHY DIDN'T YOUR MOM SAY
ANYTHING ABOUT THIS TO ME?

SHE'S TOO PROUD.

I WISH YOU STAY.

♪

Narrator: AS SOON AS RAY GETS
HOME, HE REACHES OUT TO REGINA,

HOPEFUL HE CAN HELP HER
WITH FINANCIAL WOES.

[ COMPUTER CHIMING ]

Loebick: MONEY WAS DOLED OUT
VERY JUDICIOUSLY,

UNLESS HE WAS TRYING
TO IMPRESS A LADY.

RAY HAD A CAPACITY
TO BE GENEROUS

WHEN HE WANTED TO BE.

Narrator: BUT ONLY A WEEK AFTER
RAY'S RETURN TO THE U.S.,

HE GETS A NASTY SHOCK

WHEN HE CHECKS
HIS CREDIT CARD STATEMENT.

I DID NOT
MAKE THOSE PURCHASES.

AND I WANT THEM
REMOVED FROM MY CARD.

RAY, BEING WATCHFUL
OVER HIS MONEY,

WAS GOING OVER EVERYTHING.

AND THERE WAS RECEIPTS THERE

THAT HE DOESN'T
RECALL PURCHASING.

LOOK, THIS IS FRAUD.

THE CHARGES FROM NOVEMBER 17th
WERE FROM BRAZIL.

I WAS IN THE STATES.

I HAVE A PLANE TICKET
TO PROVE IT.

YOU GO DOWN TO A FOREIGN
COUNTRY, AND YOU COME BACK,

AND THERE'S THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS
CHARGED ON YOUR CREDIT CARD?

OKAY, PLEASE REMOVE THEM
FROM MY CARD.

IT WAS A RED FLAG FOR ME.

♪ LIVIN' FAST ♪

♪ YOU'VE GOT TO LIVE
LIKE THERE'S NO TOMORROW ♪

MAN, I JUST DON'T GET
HOW THIS HAPPENED.

HE THOUGHT, WELL, YOU KNOW,
HE DID USE THE ATMs DOWN THERE.

AND HE'D THOUGHT MAYBE SOMEBODY
LOOKED OVER HIS SHOULDER.

HOPE YOU CANCELLED
YOUR CREDIT CARDS. DID YOU?

NO. THE BANK'S
LOOKING INTO IT.

♪ I'VE GOT NOTHING TO GAIN ♪

Narrator: RELIEVED THE BANK
IS RESOLVING THE FRAUD,

RAY CAN DEVOTE TIME
TO NEW GIRLFRIEND REGINA.

THEIR RELATIONSHIP HEATS UP
OVER THE NEXT TWO MONTHS.

Loebick: EVERY MOMENT THAT
MY BROTHER WAS NOT WORKING,

HE WAS ON THE COMPUTER.

HIS BEHAVIOR
WAS QUITE LIKE A TEENAGER,

IN TERMS OF HIS WHOLE WAY
OF THINKING,

OF REACTING, OF RESPONDING,

OF THE FANTASY OF THIS

HAPPILY EVER AFTER.

Narrator:
ON HIS SECOND TRIP TO BRAZIL...

THEY'RE BEAUTIFUL.
THANK YOU.

...RAY BELIEVES HE MAY
HAVE ANOTHER WAY TO HELP REGINA.

SO, I'VE BEEN THINKING.

I'D LIKE TO BUY YOU A CAR.

A CAR?

RAY THOUGHT, "IF I CAN MAKE
SOMEBODY ELSE'S LIFE

A LITTLE BETTER, YOU KNOW,
IF I CAN BUY THEM A CAR

SO THEY CAN GET AROUND"...

LOOK.

..."THERE'S NOTHING
WRONG WITH THAT."

HE THOUGHT
HE WAS DOING A GOOD THING.

RAY, I-I CAN'T
BE SEEN IN THAT.

IT'S FAR TOO SMALL.

I DO REMEMBER HIM SAYING
THAT SHE COULD ALSO ACT SPOILED.

EH...

HERE.

SHE WANTED A MORE EXPENSIVE ONE.

I DON'T KNOW
IF I CAN STRETCH TO THAT.

WHEN HE MENTIONED THIS TO ME,
THERE WASN'T A --

A NOTE OF ANNOYANCE
IN HIS VOICE

MORE THAN LIKE, "OH, HOW CUTE.

SHE'S ACTING
LIKE A SPOILED CHILD."

I HAVE BEEN THINKING
ABOUT THE CAR.

I APPRECIATE EVERYTHING
YOU HAVE DONE.

BUT THERE IS SOMEONE ELSE
WHO WILL HELP.

RAY GOT WIND
THAT THERE WAS ANOTHER SUITOR.

THERE IS A MAN, ERNESTO.

WHO'S ERNESTO?

SO THAT BECAME A THREAT.

HE'S JUST A FRIEND.

RAY WAS SCARED
THAT HE MIGHT LOSE HER.

LOOK, WHAT'S THE POINT
IN SAVING MONEY

IF YOU DON'T SPEND
SOME SOMETIMES?

I THINK HE WAS THINKING, MAYBE,
"HERE'S THIS BEAUTIFUL WOMAN.

I HAVE THIS MONEY.

SHE'S IN LOVE WITH ME."

LET'S GET THE S.U.V.

HE WASN'T THINKING CORRECTLY.

YOU ARE MY KING.

Narrator: THOUGH REGINA AND RAY
ARE GROWING CLOSER BY THE DAY,

THEY'RE STILL SLEEPING
IN SEPARATE BEDS.

A WEEK AFTER RETURNING
TO THE U.S. AGAIN...

I DON'T APPRECIATE
THE THIRD DEGREE.

...RAY IS DESPERATE TO MOVE
TO BRAZIL PERMANENTLY.

MARCIA AND BILL ARE CONCERNED
THAT RAY IS MOVING TOO FAST.

BE MY ROCK.
YOU GUYS SHOULD BE HAPPY FOR ME.

HIS GOAL WAS TO CASH OUT
HIS MONEY AND LIVE WITH REGINA.

LOOK, I'VE THOUGHT
THIS THROUGH.

I'M GOING TO PROPOSE TO HER
ON MY NEXT TRIP.

YOU'VE KNOWN HER EIGHT WEEKS.
AND YOU WANT TO GET MARRIED?

AT MY AGE,
I KNOW WHAT I WANT.

ANYONE THAT MEETS SOMEONE
IN A COUPLE MONTHS

AND IS GOING TO MOVE
TO A FOREIGN COUNTRY

AND MARRY SOMEONE?

I WOULD SAY TO ANYONE,
"THAT'S WAY TOO FAST."

WE'RE JUST SURPRISED.
THAT'S ALL.

Rauch:
HE DIDN'T TAKE A LOT OF ADVICE.

HE PRETTY MUCH HAD
HIS WAY OF DOING THINGS.

AND -- AND THAT'S THE WAY
HE WOULD DO IT.

Narrator: BUT IT'S NOT LONG
BEFORE RAY NOTICES

MORE FRAUDULENT CHARGES
ON HIS CREDIT CARD.

NOW HE SUSPECTS SOMEONE
IN REGINA'S HOUSE

MIGHT BE RESPONSIBLE.

Rauch:
HE KNEW THAT SOMETHING WAS UP.

THIS WAS NOT JUST SOMEBODY
LOOKING OVER HIS SHOULDER,

DOING A ONE-TIME
CREDIT CARD THEFT.

HE DID MENTION THAT SOMEBODY MAY
HAVE SLIPPED INTO THE BEDROOM

AND TAKEN HIS CREDIT CARDS.

YOU GOT TO GET AWAY
FROM THIS, RAY.

I CAN'T.

I NEED TO FIND OUT
WHAT'S GOING ON.

- AT LEAST CANCEL YOUR CARDS.
- THERE'S NO NEED.

I'M GOING TO GO DOWN THERE AND
STRAIGHTEN THIS WHOLE THING OUT.

HE STILL HAD HOPE
FOR THE RELATIONSHIP.

BUT AT THIS POINT,
HE WAS GOING DOWN THERE

TO FIND OUT WHAT WAS GOING ON
WITH HIS MONEY.

Narrator: FIVE MONTHS
AFTER MEETING REGINA,

RAY FLIES BACK TO BRAZIL

FOR HIS THIRD VISIT,

DETERMINED TO GET TO THE BOTTOM
OF THE CREDIT CARD FRAUD.

LISTEN.
WE HAVE TO TALK.

Florez:
ARIES ARE THE FIRST ZODIAC SIGN,

SO THEY HAVE TO BE
RIGHT IN THERE.

I KNOW SOMEONE'S BEEN
USING MY CREDIT CARD.

AND I KNOW IT'S SOMEONE
IN THIS HOUSE.

♪

I'M SORRY.

YOU DESERVE AN EXPLANATION.

Narrator: RAY MERRILL HAS TRAVELED
TO BRAZIL FOR A THIRD TIME

TO SEE HIS ONLINE LOVE, REGINA.

WE HAVE TO TALK.

HIS MISSION IS TO FIND OUT

WHO HAS BEEN
STEALING MONEY FROM HIM.

I KNOW IT'S SOMEONE
IN THIS HOUSE.

I'M SORRY.
YOU DESERVE AN EXPLANATION.

♪

TWO WEEKS AFTER
RAY LEFT FOR BRAZIL,

HIS SISTER MARCIA NEEDS
TO GET A HOLD OF HIM URGENTLY.

RAY:
Sorry I'm not around right now.

Just leave me a message,
and I'll get back to you.

[ Beep ]

IT -- IT'S MARCIA.

PLEASE CALL ME BACK.

IT'S ABOUT DAD.

Loebick: SHORTLY AFTER
HIS THIRD TRIP DOWN THERE,

OUR FATHER FELL ILL
AND WENT INTO THE HOSPITAL.

AND THE PROGNOSIS WAS

THAT HE WAS NOT GOING
TO LAST MUCH LONGER.

I STARTED TO E-MAIL RAYMOND.

I GO, "RAY, WHERE ARE YOU?

DAD IS DYING.

PLEASE GET IN TOUCH."

Narrator:
BUT RAY DOESN'T GET IN TOUCH.

Loebick: WHEN I DIDN'T HEAR BACK
FROM MY BROTHER,

I WAS CONCERNED.
I MEAN, I JUST --

IT DIDN'T MAKE SENSE TO ME.

♪

Narrator: FOUR WEEKS AFTER RAY
WAS SCHEDULED TO RETURN HOME,

MARCIA RECEIVES THE NEWS
SHE'S BEEN DREADING.

Loebick:
MY FATHER PASSED AWAY.

RAY:
Sorry I'm not around right now.

Just leave me a message.
And I'll get back to you.

I HAD STILL NOT HEARD
FROM MY BROTHER.

AND I JUST KNEW
THIS JUST DIDN'T MAKE SENSE.

[ Voice breaking ]
I NEED YOU.

I WAS JUST HOPING

THAT MAYBE I'D HEAR FROM HIM

BY THE TIME OF THE FUNERAL.

PLEASE. WHERE ARE YOU?

[ SIGHS ]

[ MAN ANNOUNCING INDISTINCTLY
OVER P.A. ]

I WENT TO THE AIRPORT
TO MEET MY BROTHER.

HE'S COMING TOWARDS ME.

HIS FACE WAS COMPLETELY RED.

AND HE WAS COMPLETELY
DRESSED IN BLACK.

[ Distorted ]
HELP ME.

HE JUST LET OUT
THIS HUGE SOB OF DESPERATION.

[ CRYING ]

[ CRICKETS CHIRPING ]

IT WAS MORE THAN A DREAM.

I-I STILL GET GOOSE BUMPS
WHEN I THINK ABOUT IT.

I KNEW IT WAS MY BROTHER
TRYING TO TELL ME,

"PLEASE, HELP ME."

Narrator: RAY'S BEST FRIEND,
BILL, IS EQUALLY CONCERNED.

WITH NO WAY OF REACHING HIM,

BILL HEADS TO RAY'S HOUSE

TO SEARCH FOR CLUES
TO HIS WHEREABOUTS.

Rauch: IT BOTHERED ME
WHEN I HADN'T HEARD FROM HIM.

AND I KNEW SOMETHING WAS UP.

SOMETHING WAS REALLY WRONG HERE.

[ DOOR RATTLING,
DOG BARKING IN DISTANCE ]

I BROKE IN.

I WAS HOPING TO FIND
SOME EVIDENCE

THAT HE HAD COME BACK,
MAYBE A SUITCASE THAT WAS OPEN.

AND -- AND IT WOULD TELL ME
THAT HE WAS HERE.

MAYBE THINGS
DIDN'T WORK OUT FOR HIM.

AND HE WAS EMBARRASSED BY IT.

♪

I WAS SHOCKED.

IT WAS ALMOST LIKE
A SHRINE OR SOMETHING

TO -- TO THIS WOMAN.

AND THEN IT BECAME OBVIOUS
HOW INFATUATED HE REALLY WAS.

IT WAS JUST UNEXPLAINABLE

THAT HE HAD GONE OFF
THE DEEP END LIKE THAT.

Narrator:
ANOTHER WEEK PASSES.

MARCIA BURIES HER FATHER.

Loebick: I FELT VERY SAD

THAT MY BROTHER WASN'T THERE

AT MY FATHER'S FUNERAL.

I WAS VERY, VERY CONCERNED.

I BELIEVE IT WAS ON MAY 8,
I FILED A MISSING PERSONS REPORT

WITH THE SAN BRUNO POLICE.

[ SIREN WAILING ]

Narrator:
LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT

START LOOKING
INTO RAY'S DISAPPEARANCE.

THEN JUST DAYS LATER,
MARCIA RECEIVES

AN UNEXPECTED MESSAGE --

AN E-MAIL FROM RAY.

WHEN I SAW THE E-MAIL,
I THOUGHT, "HE IS ALIVE.

HE IS OKAY."

♪

Narrator: BUT WHEN MARCIA READS
THE E-MAIL MORE CLOSELY,

SHE REALIZES IT'S NOT
FROM RAY'S USUAL E-MAIL ADDRESS.

AND IT'S NOT WRITTEN
IN HIS VOICE.

I DON'T THINK
MY BROTHER WROTE THIS.

I THINK SOMEONE CREATED
A FAKE E-MAIL ADDRESS FOR HIM

AND THAT THEY WROTE THIS
AS IF THEY WERE RAYMOND.

Narrator: MARCIA IMMEDIATELY
REPLIES TO RAY'S NEW ACCOUNT.

Loebick:
"IF THIS E-MAIL IS INDEED YOU,

WHAT WAS THE THING
THAT WE USED TO SAY AS KIDS

JUST BEFORE WE WENT TO SLEEP?"

Narrator: A SECRET WORD
ONLY RAY WOULD KNOW.

I DIDN'T HEAR BACK FROM HIM.

Narrator: WITH ALL LEADS
IN CALIFORNIA DRYING UP,

MARCIA PUSHES THE U.S. EMBASSY
IN BRAZIL TO HELP.

THEY APPROACH BRAZILIAN
AUTHORITIES TO FIND RAY.

[ SPEAKING SPANISH ]

Interpreter: MISSING PEOPLE
CASES ARE DIFFICULT.

WITH A MISSING AMERICAN CITIZEN

WHO HAS COME TO BRAZIL
TO SPEND A FEW DAYS,

IT'S EVEN MORE DIFFICULT.

HEY, HEY.
HAVE A LOOK AT THESE.

Narrator: BUT AS SOON
AS DETECTIVE De BARROS

LOOKS INTO RAY'S FINANCES...

LOOK, LOOK.

...SHE NOTICES UNUSUAL ACTIVITY
ON RAY'S ACCOUNTS.

SOMETHING'S NOT RIGHT.

Interpreter: SEVERAL WITHDRAWALS
WERE MADE FROM TWO

OF RAYMOND'S ACCOUNTS
WITH CITIBANK,

AMOUNTING TO
A HIGH SUM OF MONEY.

Narrator: NEARLY $130,000 HAS
BEEN TAKEN FROM RAY'S ACCOUNTS

SINCE HE WAS REPORTED MISSING
THREE WEEKS AGO.

THE NEXT STEP
OF THE INVESTIGATION

IS FOR DETECTIVE De BARROS
TO QUESTION REGINA.

- DO YOU MIND IF I KEEP THIS?
- NO, OF COURSE.

I WANT TO HELP.
I MISS HIM.

Interpreter:
REGINA IS A GOOD-LOOKING WOMAN,

FROM A GOOD SOCIAL CLASS

AND FROM A TRADITIONAL FAMILY.

DID HE STAY HERE?

YES. FOLLOW ME.

REGINA WAS ALWAYS CALM,
VERY RELAXED,

ALWAYS VERY BALANCED
IN HER ANSWERS.

THE LAST TIME I SAW HIM,
WE HAD AN ARGUMENT.

HE SAID HE WAS GOING
TO VISIT A FRIEND IN PARATY.

I ALWAYS WORK WITH THE HOPE

THAT NOTHING BAD HAS HAPPENED.

Narrator: BUT HAVING THE NAME
OF THE PLACE RAY WAS HEADED

DOESN'T MAKE IT MUCH EASIER

TO TRACK A U.S. CITIZEN
IN BRAZIL.

[ TELEPHONES RINGING ]

Interpreter:
WE WERE WORKING WITH THE HOPE

THAT HE GOT LOST IN BRAZIL,

OR HE'D BEEN THE VICTIM
OF A ROBBERY.

CHECK WITH THE RAIL COMPANY
OR HIRE CARS

TO SEE IF ANYONE WITH HIS NAME
BOOKED TRANSPORT TO PARATY.

WE THOUGHT WE HAD TIME

TO SOLVE THE CASE

AND FIND HIM ALIVE.

Narrator: BUT FOUR MONTHS
INTO THE INVESTIGATION,

LAW ENFORCEMENT
HAS MADE LITTLE PROGRESS.

Interpreter: MY HOPE OF FINDING
HIM ALIVE WAS DIMINISHING.

THANK YOU.

Narrator: UNTIL...

THERE'S A BREAKTHROUGH
ON SEÑOR MERRILL.

THANK YOU.

Narrator: AFTER SEARCHING
FOR MISSING AMERICAN RAY MERRILL

FOR FOUR MONTHS,

BRAZILIAN POLICE
FINALLY HAVE A SOLID LEAD.

THERE'S A BREAKTHROUGH
ON SEÑOR MERRILL.

♪

BEING HELD
AT A NEARBY DETENTION CENTER

ARE TWO PEOPLE
WHO HAVE BEEN ARRESTED

FOR ARMED ROBBERY
IN DOWNTOWN SAO PAULO.

AND ONE OF THE SUSPECTS

HAS JUST DROPPED
A VITAL PIECE OF EVIDENCE

CONNECTED TO RAY'S
DISAPPEARANCE --

A BAG CONTAINING
RAY'S CREDIT CARD.

Loebick:
WHEN I HEARD THAT THEY HAD FOUND

MY BROTHER'S CREDIT CARD
IN REGINA'S PURSE,

I JUST KNEW

THAT THIS IS AN EVIL PSYCHOPATH

WHO HAS DONE SOMETHING
TO MY BROTHER.

RAY GAVE ME THE CARD.

HE WAS VERY GENEROUS.

YOU WERE THE LAST PERSON
TO HAVE SEEN RAY.

WHERE IS HE?

I'M NOT SAYING ANY MORE.

Interpreter: NOW SHE IS LOOKING
LIKE YOUR MAIN SUSPECT.

[ TELEPHONES RINGING
IN DISTANCE ]

Narrator: BUT WITH REGINA
NOT TALKING, DETECTIVE De BARROS

TURNS TO THE SECOND
ARMED-ROBBERY SUSPECT --

EVANDRO RIBEIRO.

HI, EVANDRO.

I'M GOING TO BE
RECORDING EVERYTHING.

TELL ME WHAT YOU KNOW.

Interpreter:
EVANDRO, IN COMPLETE CONTRAST,

WAS VERY EMOTIONAL.

HOW ARE YOU INVOLVED?

EVANDRO CONFESSES
THAT A SERIOUS CRIME

HAD HAPPENED WITH RAYMOND.

WHERE IS HE?

[ SIREN WAILING ]

Narrator: EVANDRO SAYS
RAY WAS KIDNAPPED BY REGINA

AND HER REAL BOYFRIEND

AND HELD CAPTIVE
AT HER SAO PAULO HOME,

WHILE THEY STOLE MONEY
FROM RAY'S BANK ACCOUNTS.

THEN...

...THEY STRANGLED HIM TO DEATH.

EVANDRO WAS HIRED
TO DISPOSE OF RAY'S BODY.

Interpreter:
ACCORDING TO EVANDRO,

THE ONE WHO KILLED RAYMOND

WAS REGINA.

REGINA GAVE EVANDRO
A GALLON OF GAS.

HE POURED THE FUEL
ON TOP OF RAY'S CORPSE.

AND THEN, EVANDRO CLAIMS,

REGINA THREW A LIGHTER
ON THE CORPSE,

LETTING IT BURN.

Rauch: I'M SPEECHLESS.

IN THE MOST HORRIFIC WAY,

THEY TOOK MY FRIEND
AND STOLE FROM HIM,

KILLED HIM,
AND THEN DESECRATED HIS BODY.

I MEAN, IT DOESN'T GET
ANY WORSE THAN THAT.

Narrator:
IN MAY 2007, REGINA RACHID

IS FOUND GUILTY OF ARMED ROBBERY

AND SENTENCED TO NEARLY
SEVEN YEARS IN PRISON.

EVANDRO RIBEIRO GETS FIVE.

REGINA, HER BOYFRIEND,
AND EVANDRO

ARE ALSO CHARGED
WITH RAY MERRILL'S MURDER.

BUT THEY ARE STILL AWAITING
TRIAL ON THOSE CHARGES.

IN 2011, REGINA
IS RELEASED ON BAIL.

NOW HER BOTOX BUSINESS
IS BOOMING.

Loebick: THERE'S NOTHING
I DON'T MISS ABOUT MY BROTHER.

I MISS --

WE CAN'T GROW OLD TOGETHER.

I MISS THE CRAZY, CRAZY THINGS
THAT WE LAUGH AT.

JUST THE FACT THAT I WON'T
HAVE HIM IN MY LIFE ANYMORE.

Florez: HOW COULD THIS HAVE
HAPPENED TO MY FRIEND?

THIS IS SOMEONE
THAT I LOVED DEARLY

MURDERED OVER THE MONEY
THAT HE HAD

AND THIS VICIOUS WOMAN.

Rauch:
YEAH, IT JUST BROKE MY HEART.

YOU CAN'T --

YOU CAN'T DESCRIBE THE EMOTIONS
THAT YOU GO THROUGH

WHEN -- WHEN SOMETHING LIKE THAT
HAPPENS TO SOMEONE YOU LOVE.