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

♪

Narrator:
WHEN THE PROMISE OF LOVE

IS JUST A CLICK AWAY,

THE TEMPTATION
IS HARD TO RESIST.

I HAD NO IDEA DAD WAS
EXPLORING INTERNET DATING.

Narrator: BUT IT'S EASY TO MAKE
POOR CHOICES...

YOU'RE NOT GONNA BELIEVE THIS.
IT WAS LIKE, "OH, MY GOD."

Narrator: DESPITE THE SECRETS
LURKING ONLINE...

THEY HAD A HISTORY
OF LEAVING DEAD MEN BEHIND.

Narrator: THAT SUGGEST
DEVIOUS INTENTIONS...

IT'S OFF-THE-CHARTS DANGEROUS,
AND IT WAS SCARY.



Narrator: AND A TRAIL OF DEATH.

I WAS DUMBFOUNDED.

[ SIREN WAILING ]

♪

♪

Narrator:
FLORIDA'S SUBTROPICAL CLIMATE

AND GLORIOUS BEACHES
MAKE IT THE IDEAL PLACE

TO ENJOY
THE GOLDEN YEARS OF LIFE.

[ INDISTINCT CONVERSATIONS ]

ALEX STRATEGOS IS
A FORMER ACCOUNTANT

LIVING ALONE IN HIS MODEST HOME
IN PINELLAS PARK,

JUST 20 MILES EAST OF TAMPA.

IT WAS HIS SON, DEAN,
WHO HAD THE IDEA

TO BRING ALEX DOWN
TO THE SUNSHINE STATE.



MY DAD WAS HAVING
HEALTH PROBLEMS

WHERE HE WAS
UP NORTH IN PENNSYLVANIA.

HE WAS HAVING PROBLEMS
WITH STROKES.

HE'D FALLEN,
AND HE'D HAD SOME KNEE SURGERY.

AND HE WAS DIABETIC.

HEY, DAD.

IT JUST SEEMED LIKE IT WAS TIME
FOR ME TO INVITE HIM DOWN HERE.

I BROUGHT YOU SOME FRUIT.

SO WE DID SOME HOUSE SHOPPING.

AND HE PICKED A PLACE
THAT WAS CLOSE BY TO ME,

SO I COULD KEEP AN EYE ON HIM.

YOU KNOW I DON'T LIKE FRUIT.

YOU DON'T LIKE ANYTHING
THAT'S GOOD FOR YOU.

Narrator: FAMILY FRIEND
JUDI FROCK HAS KNOWN ALEX

SINCE HE ARRIVED IN FLORIDA
2 YEARS EARLIER.

LEAVE HIM ALONE, DEAN.

ALEX WAS REALLY NICE.
HE HAS A GOOD SENSE OF HUMOR.

IT'S ON THE DRY SIDE,
WHICH I LOVE.

HE LIKES BEING ON THE COMPUTER.

Narrator:
ALEX IS OFTEN ENGROSSED

IN CHATS WITH OLD FRIENDS
ON THE INTERNET.

[ TYPING ]

YOU READY FOR THE BEACH, ALEX?

YOU MIGHT FIND A NICE LADY.

HE DOESN'T TALK A WHOLE LOT.

I MEAN, IF YOU
ASK HIM QUESTIONS,

HE'LL ANSWER MOST OF THE TIME.

SOME OF THE TIMES,
HE'LL JUST SAY, "I DON'T KNOW."

AND THEN YOU GO, "OKAY,
WE'RE NOT TALKIN' ABOUT THAT."

HEY, DAD, YOU LISTENIN'?
WE'RE GOIN' TO THE BEACH.

YOU CAN TALK TO YOUR BUDDIES
IN PITTSBURGH LATER.

SOMETIMES THEY'RE TOO ALIKE
SO THAT THEY CLASH A LITTLE BIT.

WHAT KIND OF SON ARE YOU,
PUSHIN' YOUR OLD MAN AROUND?

COME ON, DAD. LET'S GO.

[ SEABIRDS CALLING ]

Narrator: DESPITE HIS
COMFORTABLE SURROUNDINGS,

ALEX IS LONELY.

DAD WOULD BE
A GOOD PARTNER FOR SOMEONE.

Narrator: THOUGH PREVIOUSLY
MARRIED TWICE,

HE HAS SPENT THE LAST
10 YEARS ALONE.

WE ALL HAD HOPED THAT HE WOULD
BE ABLE TO MEET SOMEBODY

TO WHERE HE COULD SPEND
SOME TIME DOING THINGS...

- [ COUGHING ]
- GOING OUTSIDE,

GOING TO THE BEACH.

Narrator:
WHAT DEAN DOESN'T REALIZE

IS THAT ALEX HAS ALREADY DECIDED
TO LOOK FOR A GIRLFRIEND ONLINE.

IN 2004, DAD WAS PROBABLY AHEAD
OF THE CURVE

IN USING THE INTERNET FOR
SOMEBODY OF HIS AGE GROUP.

[ BEEP ]

Narrator:
DESPITE HIS INHERENT SHYNESS,

ALEX SIGNS UP
FOR A DATING WEBSITE.

[ ELECTRONIC WHIRRING ]

[ TYPING ]

[ BIRDS CHIRPING ]

Narrator: AND SURE ENOUGH,
THE CURE FOR ALEX'S LONELINESS

IS JUST AN E-MAIL AWAY.

ALEX'S PROFILE HAS ATTRACTED
A LADY NAMED MELISSA FRIEDRICH.

[ ELECTRONIC CLICKING ]

MELISSA IS 69 AND LIVES IN
PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND IN CANADA.

LIKE ALEX, SHE'S LOOKING
FOR COMPANIONSHIP.

OVER THE NEXT 2 WEEKS,

ALEX AND MELISSA
MESSAGE BACK AND FORTH.

MELISSA TELLS HIM
THAT SHE'S A WIDOW.

SHE'S TRAVELED
ALL OVER THE U.S. AND CANADA

AND LIVED NOT FAR FROM ALEX

IN NEARBY BRADENTON
ONLY 2 YEARS AGO.

AFTER 4 WEEKS OF
ONLINE CORRESPONDENCE,

MELISSA SUGGESTS THAT SHE COMES
DOWN TO FLORIDA FOR A VISIT.

SHE'LL MAKE THE LONG DRIVE
TO PINELLAS PARK

AT THE END OF THE MONTH.

THE PROSPECT
OF SHARING A BED

DOESN'T SEEM TO BOTHER
MELISSA...

OR ALEX.

ALEX GETS TO WORK
PREPARING FOR MELISSA'S VISIT.

HEY, DAD, WE'RE HERE!

WHEN DEAN AND JUDI
COME OVER...

SPIC-AND-SPAN IN HERE, ALEX!

Narrator:
ALEX SEEMS DISTRACTED.

- EVERYTHING OKAY?
- SAME OLD, SAME OLD.

[ COMPUTER CHIMES ]

YOU SEE THE GAME?
PANTHERS LOST AGAIN.

WE WERE SITTIN' ON THE COUCH,
AND HE GOES...

DID I TELL YOU I-I HAVE A FRIEND
COMING DOWN TO VISIT?

"I MET SOME LADY ONLINE,

AND SHE'S GONNA BE COMING DOWN
IN A COUPLE WEEKS."

- LIKE ONLINE DATING?
- I GUESS SO.

SO I THOUGHT THAT
WAS A LITTLE STRANGE,

HAVING ONLY TALKED TO HIM ON --
ONLINE.

SHE GONNA STAY
AT A COMFORT INN?

IT'S CLOSE.

NO, SHE'LL STAY WITH ME.

I KINDA FROZE WHEN HE SAID THAT
'CAUSE WOMEN DON'T DO THAT.

I SAID, "ARE YOU SURE
ABOUT THIS?"

AND HE GOES,
"OH, YEAH, IT'LL BE FINE."

I REALLY HAD TO TRUST
MY FATHER'S JUDGMENT AND HOPE

AND SEE HOW THINGS
WOULD TURN OUT

ONCE THAT SHE GOT HERE.

Narrator: PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND
IS ALMOST 2,000 MILES AWAY,

- AN EPIC DRIVE FOR ANYONE...
- [ CROSSING BELL CLANGING ]

LET ALONE
A 69-YEAR-OLD SINGLE LADY.

DAYS PASS, AND ALEX HEARS
NOTHING FROM MELISSA.

- [ THUNDERCLAP ]
- THE FLORIDA COAST IS HIT

BY THE LAST STORMS
OF THE SEASON...

[ TELEPHONE RINGS ]

WHEN ALEX GETS A CALL.

[ RING ]

HELLO?

MELISSA!

Narrator: MELISSA IS PARKED
AT A NEARBY HOTEL

AND ISN'T SURE
HOW TO GET TO ALEX'S PLACE.

STAY WHERE YOU ARE.
I'LL COME AND MEET YOU.

♪

HELLO, ALEX!
I'M MELISSA!

HI, MELISSA.

[ CHUCKLES ] THANK YOU
FOR COMING TO FIND ME. MWAH.

IT'S REALLY GREAT
TO FINALLY MEET YOU!

OH, YOU LOOK EVEN MORE HANDSOME
THAN YOU DO IN YOUR PICTURE!

OH, THANK YOU.
ARE YOU HUNGRY?

- OH, I'M STARVING.
- I KNOW THIS GREAT PLACE NEARBY.

WOULD YOU LIKE TO FOLLOW ME?

OH, I'D LOVE TO. DON'T WORRY.
I'M NOT GONNA LET YOU GET AWAY!

[ LAUGHTER ]

[ WIND HOWLING ]

[ LAUGHTER ]

THIS WAS A WONDERFUL CHOICE.
THE MEAL WAS DELICIOUS.

[ GLASSES CLINK ]

TO A NEW FRIENDSHIP.

Narrator:
ALEX PICKS UP THE BILL,

AND THEY DRIVE HOME
TO HIS CONDO.

[ BAGS THUD ]

YOU REMEMBER
I ONLY HAVE ONE BED.

UH, I CAN SLEEP
ON THE COUCH.

DON'T BE SILLY.

I FOUND A BOTTLE OF WINE FOR US.
I HOPE YOU DON'T MIND.

[ CHUCKLES ]

[ GLASSES CLINK ]

[ VOICE ECHOING ]
ALEX, DON'T GET UP, OKAY?

YOUR WIFE IS HERE.
YOUR WIFE IS HERE.

[ ECHOING CONTINUES ] YOUR WIFE
IS HERE. YOUR WIFE IS HERE.

- HMM?
- HUH?

[ VOICE ECHOING ]
HOW ARE YOU FEELING?

♪

♪

Narrator:
ALEX STRATEGOS' ONLINE FRIEND,

MELISSA FRIEDRICH, HAS DRIVEN
2,000 MILES TO MEET HIM.

HELLO, ALEX!
I'M MELISSA!

Narrator: BUT JUST HOURS AFTER
THEIR FIRST DINNER DATE,

ALEX WAKES UP
IN A HOSPITAL BED.

[ Weakly ] MELISSA.

Narrator: MELISSA HAS TOLD
THE HOSPITAL SHE'S HIS WIFE.

WHAT HAPPENED?

YOU HAD A FALL LAST NIGHT.

HAS THIS HAPPENED BEFORE?

I GUESS SO.

BUT NOT LIKE THIS.

I DON'T REMEMBER ANYTHING
AT ALL.

I'M SORRY. WE'RE -- WE'RE GONNA
HAVE TO KEEP ALEX HERE

FOR A FEW DAYS.

YOU SHOULD GO HOME
AND GET SOME REST.

I'M GONNA GO AND SPRUCE UP
YOUR CONDO FOR YOU.

I STILL HAVE THE KEYS.

THAT'D BE GREAT.

♪

Narrator: WHEN MELISSA RETURNS
TO ALEX'S CONDO,

SHE RECEIVES
AN UNEXPECTED GUEST.

[ KNOCK ON DOOR ]

CAN I HELP YOU?

HI, MELISSA. I'M DEAN.

A- ALEX'S SON?

DAD TOLD ME YOU'D BE HERE.

Narrator:
ALEX HADN'T MENTIONED A SON.

OH. HI, DEAN.

SORRY I'M NOT WITH IT.

I WAS UP ALL NIGHT
WITH ALEX, YOUR FATHER.

Narrator: DEAN TELLS HER

THAT HIS DAD CALLED HIM
ABOUT HIS FALL

AND HOW HE WAS UPSET
AND WORRIED FOR HIS HOUSEGUEST.

I WENT OVER TO GREET MELISSA.

I JUST WANTED HER
TO FEEL WELCOME

SINCE SHE DIDN'T KNOW
ANYBODY IN TOWN.

I JUST WANTED TO LET YOU KNOW
THAT I LIVE PRETTY CLOSE BY.

AND IF YOU NEED ANYTHING,
JUST GIVE ME A SHOUT.

OKAY.

I TOLD HER THAT, "IF THERE'S
ANYTHING THAT YOU NEED,

JUST LET ME KNOW."

- THAT'S MY NUMBER.
- OH, THANKS, DEAN.

SHE SEEMED WELL-SPOKEN,
ARTICULATE,

PERHAPS A LITTLE SURPRISED
TO SEE ME.

I NOTICED A NEWER-MODEL CADILLAC
WAS IN THE DRIVEWAY.

IT PUT ME AT EASE
KNOWING THAT AT LEAST

HE DIDN'T INVITE SOMEBODY HERE

WHO LOOKED LIKE
THEY WERE DESPERATE.

[ ENGINE STARTS ]

I THOUGHT THAT, PERHAPS,
THIS COULD WORK ITSELF OUT

TO WHERE SHE COULD HELP HIM
TO DO THINGS AROUND THE HOUSE.

AFTER THE HOSPITAL KEPT HIM
A FEW DAYS,

HE NATURALLY BOUNCED BACK.

THE DOCTORS COULDN'T FIND
ANYTHING WRONG WITH HIM.

SO THEY SENT HIM HOME.

Narrator:
THE DAY AFTER ALEX GETS HOME,

DEAN STOPS BY
WITH HIS FRIEND, JUDI.

IT WAS JUST LITTLE
IDLE CHITCHAT.

SHE'S VERY SOFT-SPOKEN,
VERY SWEET.

I CALL HER "SWEET MELISSA."

SHE -- SHE IS VERY SWEET.

ALEX HAS SOME LOVELY PLANTS.

SHE WAS JUST KINDA PATTIN' HIM,
TAKIN' CARE OF HIM.

- HOW IS HE?
- A LITTLE T.L.C.,

AND HE'LL BE HIS OLD SELF AGAIN.
[ CHUCKLES ]

HE WAS FLATTERED
BY HER ATTENTION.

DO YOU WANT SOME COOKIES?
I, UH, MADE 'EM MYSELF.

AND THE DINING ROOM TABLE
HAD A TABLECLOTH ON IT NOW.

AND I THOUGHT, "WELL,
SHE'S TIDYING THIS UP.

SHE'S MAKING IT A HOME."

- CHOCOLATE CHIP?
- SHE'S A GREAT COOK.

IT APPEARED TO BE A GOOD FIT.

MELISSA WAS NOT ONLY
DOWN TO EARTH.

SHE ALSO SEEMED LIKE

SHE MAYBE HAD A BIT
OF CLASS ABOUT HER.

THIS COULD REALLY TAKE UP
SOME SLACK FOR DEAN.

AND IT WOULD BE GOOD
FOR EVERYBODY.

HE SEEMED HAPPY.

IT WOULD BE GREAT
IF THIS WOULD WORK OUT.

Narrator: MELISSA AND ALEX
SLIP INTO A ROUTINE

OVER THE NEXT FEW DAYS.

THE CONDO IS KEPT SPOTLESS,

AND MELISSA MAKES SURE ALEX
DOESN'T EXERT HIMSELF TOO MUCH.

SHE SPOILS HIM WITH HER COOKING

AND LOVES SERVING HIM
HIS FAVORITE BEDTIME TREAT,

BUTTER PECAN ICE CREAM.

HOW IS YOUR ICE CREAM TONIGHT?

MM.

I REALLY DON'T TALK TO
MY FATHER ABOUT RELATIONSHIPS.

BUT I HAD AN INKLING
THAT WHAT HE WAS LOOKING FOR

WAS A CONVENTIONAL RELATIONSHIP
THAT HE WAS USED TO,

WHICH WOULD INVOLVE
THE POSSIBILITY

OF GETTING MARRIED
ANOTHER TIME.

[ COUGHING ]

Narrator:
TWO WEEKS AFTER MOVING IN,

MELISSA IS WOKEN UP
BY ALEX'S LABORED BREATHING.

[ LABORED BREATHING ]

ARE YOU AWAKE?

[ COUGHING ]

[ Weakly ]
I NEED THE BATHROOM.

[ COUGHING ]

[ BREATHING HEAVILY ]

[ COUGHING ]

[ LABORED BREATHING ]

I GOT A PHONE CALL FROM MELISSA
BECAUSE DAD HAD FALLEN AGAIN.

DEAN, I NEED YOUR HELP
TO GET HIM UP.

HE WAS REALLY OUT OF IT.

- WHAT HAPPENED?
- HE JUST FELL DOWN.

- I DON'T KNOW WHAT HAPPENED.
- DAD.

HE APPEARED TO BE
SLURRING HIS WORDS.

DAD.

AND I FEARED THAT

MAYBE HE HAD
HAD ANOTHER STROKE.

WE'LL LEAN HIM
AGAINST THIS WALL.

COME ON.

Narrator: MELISSA TAKES CONTROL
AND CALLS 9-1-1.

DAD, IT'S GONNA BE ALL RIGHT.

- I WAS GLAD THAT SHE WAS THERE.
- I NEED AN AMBULANCE.

[ SIREN WAILING ]

Narrator: ONCE AGAIN,
DOCTORS TRY TO FIGURE OUT

WHAT'S WRONG WITH ALEX.

HIS MEDICAL HISTORY OF DIABETES
AND STROKES MAKES IT DIFFICULT

FOR THEM TO GET TO THE ROOT
OF THE PROBLEM.

AFTER A FEW DAYS,
HE IS SENT HOME TO MELISSA.

BUT OVER THE COURSE
OF THE NEXT 2 MONTHS,

ALEX COLLAPSES SEVEN MORE TIMES.

IT WAS ABOUT EVERY --
EVERY WEEK, EVERY 5, 6, 7 DAYS.

DEAN WOULD CALL AND SAY,
"DAD'S BACK IN THE HOSPITAL."

Narrator: 10 WEEKS AFTER MELISSA
ARRIVED IN FLORIDA,

JUDI GOES TO THE HOSPITAL
TO CHECK ON ALEX.

HEY, ALEX. IT'S JUDI.

I WENT WITH DEAN TO SEE ALEX,
AND HE WAS LAYING IN THE BED.

AND HE WAS PRETTY MUCH
OUT OF IT.

YOU HANGIN' IN THERE?

DAD APPEARED TO REALLY BE

FALLING OVER THE EDGE
OF A CLIFF HEALTH-WISE.

TO ME, IT COULD'VE VERY WELL
BEEN A NATURAL DECLINE.

SOMETHING'S WRONG, DEAN.

HE COULDN'T HAVE GOT
THIS SICK THIS QUICK.

- AND NO ONE KNOWS WHY.
- HE'S OLD.

HE'S BEEN ILL FOR YEARS.

THERE COULD BE SEVERAL REASONS

THAT HE WOULD BE
FALLING DOWN AND --

AND BE BACK IN THE HOSPITAL.

MY GUT JUST TOLD ME
IT WAS SOMETHING DIFFERENT.

BEFORE SHE LEAVES,
JUDI CHATS WITH ALEX...

ALEX.

AND LEARNS JUST HOW
DEEPLY DEPENDENT ON MELISSA

HE HAS BECOME.

[ Weakly ] I LOVE HER.

[ Voice breaking ]
I WANNA MARRY HER.

AND HE'S CRYING.
HE WANTED TO MARRY HER.

- AW, OKAY, OKAY.
- [ CRYING ]

WHY DON'T WE TALK ABOUT THAT
WHEN YOU'RE FEELING

A LITTLE BIT BETTER, OKAY?

SO I SAID, "YOU DON'T
WANT HER TO MARRY SOMEBODY

"THAT'S SICK LIKE THIS.

"YOU -- LET'S WAIT
TO GET YOU BETTER.

AND THEN WE'LL TALK ABOUT IT."
HE GOES, "OKAY."

Narrator: JUDI IS UNCERTAIN.

ON THE SURFACE, IT LOOKS LIKE
MELISSA CARES FOR ALEX.

BUT EVER SINCE SHE ARRIVED,
HIS HEALTH HAS RAPIDLY DECLINED.

JUDI ASKS HER WORK COLLEAGUES
FOR ADVICE.

WHAT WOULD YOU THINK ABOUT
A WOMAN TRAVELING 2,000 MILES

TO MEET AN OLD MAN,
MOVES IN WITH HIM THE SAME NIGHT

AND THEN THE GUY
STARTS GETTING SICK?

I TOLD THEM WHAT WAS GOING ON.

AND THEY WERE BOTH GOING,
"WHAT?"

YOU KNOW, THEIR FLAGS
WERE GOING UP.

I SAY, "YEAH, I KNOW. I CAN'T --
BUT -- I CAN'T DO ANYTHING."

BECAUSE TRUTHFULLY,
SHE HADN'T DONE ANYTHING WRONG."

Narrator: JUDI'S FRIEND,
HILLARY LYNCH,

IS SO SHOCKED BY HER STORY,
SHE CALLS HER HUSBAND,

DETECTIVE MIKE LYNCH
OF THE PINELLAS PARK P.D.

THE WIFE OF A COP
IS USUALLY SUSPICIOUS AS WELL.

[ TELEPHONE RINGS ]

OH. HEY, HONEY.

THINGS DIDN'T SOUND
RIGHT TO HER,

AND SHE KINDA WANTED
TO RUN THAT BY ME.

HOW -- HOW OLD IS ALEX?

THIS WOMAN HAD JUST INTRODUCED
HERSELF INTO ALEX'S LIFE.

AND WHERE'S ALEX NOW?

NUMBER ONE,
IT'S NOT NORMAL FOR SOMEBODY

TO MOVE IN LIKE THAT
OUT OF THE BLUE.

SECONDLY, THESE MYSTERIOUS
MEDICAL TRIPS BECOME A PROBLEM.

THAT, TO ME,
WAS A HUGE RED FLAG.

OKAY, LEAVE IT WITH ME.

IT ALL SEEMED TO START
WHEN SHE MOVED INTO THE HOUSE.

[ SIREN WAILING IN DISTANCE ]

Narrator: DOCTORS, CONCERNED
ABOUT ALEX'S SLOW RECOVERY,

MOVE HIM TO CRYSTAL OAKS
SKILLED NURSING FACILITY

WITH 24-HOUR MEDICAL CARE.

HEY, DAD. HOW'S IT GOIN'?

Narrator:
THE CRYSTAL OAKS STAFF

RAISE FURTHER CONCERNS
ABOUT ALEX TO DEAN.

CAN WE TALK?

UM, THERE'S THIS WOMAN
NAMED MELISSA.

SHE SAYS SHE'S MARRIED
TO YOUR FATHER.

NO, THEY'RE NOT MARRIED.

WELL, SHE'S TRYING TO MAKE ALEX
A PERMANENT RESIDENT HERE.

WHY WOULD SHE DO THAT?
I NEVER AGREED TO THAT.

WELL, THERE'S SOMETHING ELSE.

UM, SHE SAYS
SHE'S GOT POWER OF ATTORNEY.

POWER OF ATTORNEY
GIVES A PERSON POWER

TO DO WHATEVER THEY WANT
WITH YOUR PROPERTY,

YOUR BANK ACCOUNTS, ANYTHING.

I FELT IT IN THE PIT
OF MY STOMACH

THAT I TOOK MY EYE OFF THE BALL.

Narrator: BUT THE TRUTH
IS EVEN MORE SHOCKING

THAN DEAN OR JUDI
COULD HAVE EVER IMAGINED.

THE WOMAN IS OFF-THE-CHARTS
DANGEROUS.

♪

♪

DEAN STRATEGOS IS CONCERNED
ABOUT HIS FATHER'S HEALTH

AND HIS NEW GIRLFRIEND,
MELISSA FRIEDRICH.

[ Voice breaking ] I LOVE HER.

Narrator:
DEAN'S FRIEND, JUDI,

HAS CALLED IN THE POLICE
FOR ASSISTANCE.

- ARE YOU DEAN STRATEGOS?
- I'M DEAN, YEAH.

I'M DETECTIVE LYNCH.

Narrator:
DETECTIVE LYNCH HAS DECIDED

TO FOLLOW UP
ON JUDI'S CONCERNS ABOUT ALEX.

I'M WITH PINELLAS P.D.

I HEARD ABOUT WHAT'S BEEN
GOING ON WITH YOUR DAD.

WHEN SERGEANT LYNCH ARRIVED,
IT REALLY WAS A RELIEF.

I NEEDED ALL THE HELP
THAT I COULD GET.

DAD, THIS IS DETECTIVE LYNCH.

JUST TAKE YOUR TIME, ALEX.

ALEX WAS VERY SICK.

I'M TOLD I KEEP FALLING.
I DON'T RECALL FALLING.

I JUST WAKE UP
IN A HOSPITAL BED.

Narrator:
ON THE SURFACE, DETECTIVE LYNCH

DOESN'T SEE ANYTHING SUSPICIOUS
ABOUT ALEX'S DECLINING HEALTH.

IT'S WRONG IN THIS LINE OF WORK
TO JUMP TO CONCLUSIONS.

AND, CERTAINLY,
ALEX WAS DIAGNOSED WITH A --

A COUPLE OF DIFFERENT THINGS
LIKE DIABETES.

HE HAD HAD PREVIOUS STROKES

THAT COULD'VE CAUSED HIM
TO FALL OR BECOME DIZZY.

I'M A DIABETIC.

BUT I'VE NEVER NOT REMEMBERED.
AND I'VE HAD A STROKE.

BUT IT'S --
IT'S NOTHING LIKE A STROKE.

Narrator: LYNCH REQUESTS
ALEX'S MEDICAL CHARTS.

THE 73-YEAR-OLD IS ON
A COCKTAIL OF PRESCRIPTIONS

TO CONTROL
HIS VARIOUS HEALTH ISSUES.

BUT ONE DRUG STANDS OUT
IN HIS BLOOD TEST.

HAVE YOU HEARD
OF BENZODIAZEPINE?

Narrator: BENZODIAZEPINE
IS A POWERFUL TRANQUILIZER.

BENZODIAZEPINES
ARE TYPICALLY PRESCRIBED

BY DOCTORS FOR VARYING AILMENTS.

BUT WHAT WE SEE IT
IN MY LINE OF WORK

IS THE ABUSE OF THEM.

PEOPLE USE THEM TO GET SOMEWHAT
OF A HIGH FEELING, IF YOU WILL.

IT KIND OF MELLOWS THEM OUT.

TO SEE IT IN ALEX'S SYSTEM
WAS CERTAINLY, UH, STRANGE.

Narrator: THE SIDE EFFECTS
OF BENZODIAZEPINE INCLUDE

MEMORY LOSS AND DROWSINESS.

IN LARGE DOSES, IT CAN KILL.

ALEX WAS NOT TAKING
ANY MEDICATIONS THAT,

UH, HAD BENZODIAZEPINES IN IT.

TO THE DETECTIVE, ALEX'S PATTERN
OF REPEATED HOSPITAL VISITS

SUGGESTS HE'S SOMEHOW
GETTING BENZOS AT HOME.

TELL ME ABOUT WHAT YOU
AND MELISSA DO AT HOME.

SO I ASK ALEX
ABOUT HIS RITUALS.

WHAT WAS HE DOING, UM, YOU KNOW,
WITH MELISSA IN THE HOUSE?

MELISSA'S GREAT.

SHE BRINGS ME ICE CREAM
AT NIGHT, EVERY NIGHT.

SHE'S GREAT TO ME.

ALEX TELLS ME, EACH NIGHT,

SHE WOULD PROVIDE HIM
WITH A DISH OF ICE CREAM.

THE BENZOS ARE IN A POWDER FORM,

AND IT CERTAINLY
COULD'VE BEEN EASILY

MIXED IN THE ICE CREAM.

[ Voice echoing ]
HOW'S YOUR ICE CREAM TONIGHT?

HIS MEMORY IS GOOD LEADING
UP TO THE ICE CREAM.

BUT BEYOND THAT, IT'S ALL FUZZY.
IT'S UNCLEAR TO HIM.

AND THAT'S BENZODIAZEPINES.
IT PUTS YOU IN A FOG.

Narrator: DETECTIVE LYNCH IS NOW
CONVINCED THAT MELISSA

HAS BEEN DRUGGING ALEX

AND LOOKS FOR A POSSIBLE MOTIVE.

REMEMBER, THIS WOMAN'S
BEEN ALONE IN ALEX'S HOUSE NOW

FOR A LONG TIME.
WHAT COULD SHE HAVE BEEN DOING?

SO I WANTED TO LOOK AT
HIS BANK ACCOUNTS.

THIS IS
DAD'S SAVINGS ACCOUNT.

DAD HAD GIVEN ME
HIS ACCOUNT NUMBERS

SO I COULD TAKE CARE
OF HIS BANKING BUSINESS FOR HIM.

IT DOESN'T TAKE LONG
TO FIND A SERIES

OF SUSPICIOUS TRANSACTIONS.

ALMOST $18,000 IS MISSING,

TRANSFERRED
INTO MELISSA'S OWN ACCOUNT.

SHE'S TAKEN ALMOST
EVERYTHING HE HAS.

THAT DID SHOCK ME.
IT REALLY DID.

DAD'S GONNA BE MORTIFIED.

WELL, THE FACT THAT
THE MONEY WAS MISSING

REALLY SAID IT ALL RIGHT THERE.

THERE WAS NO REASON
THAT SHE WOULD'VE HAD

TO HAVE $18,000 TRANSFERRED
FROM HIS ACCOUNT FOR ANYTHING.

HE TRUSTED HER.

I TRUSTED HER.

I'VE SEEN MANY THINGS IN --
IN 19 YEARS OF BEING A COP.

BUT SHOWING UP INTO HIS HOUSE

AND STEALING
FROM RIGHT UNDERNEATH HIM

WAS A SHOCK TO ME.

Narrator:
DEAN AND DETECTIVE LYNCH

RELAY THEIR FINDINGS TO ALEX.

WHILE YOU'VE BEEN
IN THE HOSPITAL,

MELISSA'S BEEN DIPPING
INTO YOUR ACCOUNTS, DAD.

IT'S NOT GOOD.

DID YOU ASK MELISSA?
I'M SURE SHE COULD EXPLAIN.

DAD, I'M SURE SHE'S NOT
BEING STRAIGHT WITH US.

ALEX,
THERE'S $18,000 MISSING.

DID YOU AUTHORIZE THIS?

ALEX HAD MIXED EMOTIONS.

HE STILL WANTED THIS
TO BE NOT TRUE, I THINK,

ALTHOUGH THE REALITY
WAS HITTING HIM

WHEN HE SAW THE MONEY
HAD LEFT HIS ACCOUNT.

THAT'S WHEN -- THAT'S WHEN
IT REALLY HIT HIM.

YOU KNOW,
I DO REMEMBER SOMETHIN'.

I WAS FEELIN' DIZZY
GOIN' TO THE BATHROOM.

[ LABORED BREATHING ]

HE REMEMBERED
THIS PARTICULAR INCIDENT

WHERE HE LOOKED UP
FROM THE FLOOR TO SEE MELISSA

STANDING OVER TOP OF HIM
WITH HER ARMS JUST FOLDED,

STANDING THERE OVER HIM
AND NOT HELPING HIM.

WELL, HE COULDN'T UNDERSTAND
WHY SHE WASN'T HELPING HIM.

Narrator:
WITH EVIDENCE OF THEFT,

LYNCH GETS AN ARREST WARRANT
FOR MELISSA FRIEDRICH.

WE HAD ENOUGH
INFORMATION TO MAKE AN ARREST.

IF THE DETECTIVE CAN PROVE
SHE FED BENZOS TO ALEX,

MELISSA COULD FACE
AN ATTEMPTED MURDER CHARGE.

POLICE HUNT FOR MELISSA
AT ALEX'S CONDO

AND THE SURROUNDING
NEIGHBORHOOD,

BUT THERE IS NO SIGN OF HER.

THERE WAS A FEAR, OBVIOUSLY,
THAT SHE COULD LEAVE TOWN.

SHE WAS A --
A CANADIAN CITIZEN.

LYNCH ASKS STAFF
AT CRYSTAL OAKS TO CALL HIM

IF SHE MAKES AN APPEARANCE.

MEANTIME, HE RUNS A BACKGROUND
CHECK ON MELISSA FRIEDRICH

ON THE NATIONAL CRIMINAL
DATABASE.

IN MY EXPERIENCE OF DEALING

WITH SOMEONE LIKE,
UM, MELISSA,

THIS IS PROBABLY
NOT THE FIRST TIME

THAT SHE HAS DONE
SOMETHING LIKE THIS.

Narrator: HIS HUNCH IS RIGHT.

THIS IS NOT
MELISSA'S FIRST RODEO.

SHE HAD A NUMEROUS AMOUNT
OF ALIASES.

SHE HAD SOME SIMILAR,
UH, FORGERY CASES

AND FRAUD-RELATED CASES
IN HER PAST.

Narrator:
SINCE 1970, SHE'S NOTCHED UP

OVER 30 CONVICTIONS
USING 13 ALIASES.

AND THAT'S NOT ALL.

I WAS AMAZED TO SEE THAT,
JUST A COUPLE YEARS EARLIER,

HER HUSBAND HAD DIED
SUSPICIOUSLY UNDER --

UNDER CIRCUMSTANCES
THAT WERE VERY SIMILAR TO,

UH, ALEX'S, UH, CASE.

Narrator: LYNCH CALLS THE SON
OF ROBERT FRIEDRICH,

MELISSA'S DECEASED HUSBAND.

I LEARNED THAT ROBERT FRIEDRICH
WAS IN GOOD HEALTH LEADING UP

TO HIS INTRODUCTION TO MELISSA.

[ TELEPHONE RINGING ]

Narrator: THE DETECTIVE
DISCOVERS HOW ROBERT FRIEDRICH

WENT LOOKING FOR TRUE LOVE.

I JUST TOLD THE INVESTIGATOR

THAT MY FATHER
WAS COMPLETELY OVERWHELMED,

BRAINWASHED.

HE WAS UNDER HER SPELL.

Narrator: DENNIS FRIEDRICH
EXPLAINS THAT HIS FATHER

DIDN'T FIND LOVE WITH MELISSA,
BUT SOMETHING MUCH DARKER.

SHE'S NOT JUST A GOLD DIGGER.
SHE'S A MURDERER.

♪

♪

Narrator: ALEX STRATEGOS IS
STILL IN CRITICAL CONDITION

AFTER BEING POISONED
BY HIS ONLINE GIRLFRIEND,

MELISSA FRIEDRICH,
WHO IS NOW ON THE RUN.

DETECTIVE LYNCH APPROACHES
THE FAMILY

OF MELISSA'S DECEASED HUSBAND.

I SPOKE WITH THE FRIEDRICHS.

AND, UH, I FELT
VERY BAD FOR THEM.

- [ TELEPHONE RINGS ]
- ONE OF THE THINGS THAT STOOD OUT

WAS THEIR FATHER
HAD MET MELISSA, MARRIED HER.

AND HE, AGAIN, EXPERIENCED
THESE SIMILAR EPISODES OF --

OF SUDDEN ONSET
OF FALLING AND --

AND BECOMING ILL WHEN THEY --
WHEN THEY GOT TOGETHER.

ROBERT FRIEDRICH'S SON REVEALS

HOW MELISSA FIRST
CAME INTO THEIR LIVES

AFTER A SECRET MARRIAGE.

WELL, I TOLD AN INVESTIGATOR

THAT HE HAD THIS VOICE MESSAGE
FROM MY DAD

SAYING THAT HE HAD JUST GOTTEN
MARRIED UP IN NOVA SCOTIA.

I WAS DUMBFOUNDED.
I WAS ANGRY. [ LAUGHS ]

I WAS FURIOUS WITH HIM.

Narrator: MELISSA BEGAN TO TAKE
OVER HIS FATHER'S LIFE,

THEN HIS MONEY.

SHE HAD REALLY DRIVEN A WEDGE
BETWEEN MY FATHER AND HIS SONS,

AND SHE HAD TAKEN OVER
HIS DECISION-MAKING PROCESS.

YOU'D BETTER FINISH THIS UP.

Narrator: IT WASN'T LONG BEFORE
SHE SHOWED HER TRUE COLORS

TO DENNIS FRIEDRICH
IN A VOICEMAIL.

Automated female voice:
NEXT MESSAGE.

Narrator: AFTER LESS
THAN 2 YEARS OF MARRIAGE,

ROBERT DIED SUDDENLY
FROM A CARDIAC ARREST.

[ MONITOR EMITTING
CONTINUOUS TONE ]

MELISSA WAS THE SOLE BENEFICIARY
OF HIS ESTATE.

THE FAMILY WAS SUSPICIOUS
THAT SHE HAD POISONED ROBERT.

BUT BECAUSE THEY WERE MARRIED,
MELISSA HAD THE CONTROL

TO HAVE HIM CREMATED
BEFORE THE FAMILY

EVER KNEW, YOU KNOW,
WHAT WAS HAPPENING.

ROBERT WAS QUICKLY CREMATED
WITH NO AUTOPSY,

AT MELISSA'S INSISTENCE.

THE DOCTOR WHO SIGNED
THE DEATH CERTIFICATE

NEVER SAW HIM.

HE -- SHE JUST DID IT
OVER THE TELEPHONE.

HE FIGURED, "OLD MAN,
CARDIAC PROBLEMS,

"DIES AT HOME, 84 YEARS OLD,

WHAT'S UNUSUAL ABOUT THAT?
THIS IS FLORIDA."

Narrator: UNSATISFIED,
ROBERT'S SON, DENNIS,

DID SOME ONLINE DIGGING
INTO HIS NEW STEPMOM

AND FOUND A TRAIL OF ALIASES.

SHE HAD HAD
SO MANY DIFFERENT NAMES.

SHE WAS MELISSA FRIEDRICH.
SHE WAS MELISSA SHEPPARD.

SHE WAS MELISSA STEWART.

Narrator: HIS SEARCH LED TO
AN INCREDIBLE REVELATION.

I TOLD THE INVESTIGATOR

THAT I CAME ACROSS THIS ARTICLE
ABOUT A MURDERER.

AND I LOOKED AT THE NAME.
AND I SAID, "MELISSA STEWART?"

I SAID, "THIS IS HER."

Narrator: DENNIS FOUND THAT
MELISSA HAD BEEN CHARGED

WITH THE MURDER
OF HER PREVIOUS HUSBAND,

GORDON STEWART.

IN COURT, SHE CLAIMED HE'D
DRIVEN HER TO A REMOTE SPOT

AND RAPED HER.

WHEN HE WENT TO URINATE
BEHIND THE CAR,

SHE TOOK THE CHANCE
TO ESCAPE...

- [ REVS ENGINE ]
- AAH!

...AND RAN OVER HIM TWICE.

[ BODY THUDS ]

MELISSA HAD RUN HIM OVER
ON AN OLD ABANDONED LOGGING ROAD

THAT WAS WITNESSED
BY TWO INDIVIDUALS.

[ ENGINE REVVING ]

Narrator: THE AUTOPSY REVEALED
BENZODIAZEPINE

IN GORDON STEWART'S SYSTEM

AT LEVELS
THAT WOULD'VE PROVED FATAL

IF THE CAR HADN'T
KILLED HIM FIRST.

AND I SAID, "IF SHE
MURDERED THIS GUY,

SHE PROBABLY MURDERED
MY DAD, TOO."

CLAIMING BATTERED WIFE SYNDROME,

MELISSA WAS ONLY CONVICTED
OF MANSLAUGHTER

AND SERVED JUST UNDER
3 YEARS IN PRISON.

MELISSA HAS A HISTORY

OF LEAVING DEAD MEN
BEHIND IN HER --

IN HER TRAVELS AND --
AND TAKING THEIR MONEY,

EVERYTHING THAT THEY'RE WORTH.

AND HERE SHE IS AGAIN
DOING THE SAME THING WITH ALEX.

Narrator:
AFTER CONFIRMING DENNIS' STORY,

DETECTIVE LYNCH
TELLS DEAN AND JUDI

EXACTLY WHO THEY ARE UP AGAINST.

DEAN? DETECTIVE LYNCH.

IT'S A SHOCK.

YOU KNOW, I'M JUST LIKE,
"OH, MY GOD!"

BECAUSE THINGS DON'T --
THINGS LIKE THIS

JUST DON'T HAPPEN
TO REGULAR PEOPLE, YOU KNOW?

YOU'VE GOT TO BE KIDDING!

THE WOMAN IS
OFF-THE-CHARTS DANGEROUS.

AND IT WAS SCARY.

IT WAS SCARY.

Narrator: THEN DETECTIVE LYNCH
GETS THE CALL

FROM CRYSTAL OAKS
NURSING FACILITY

WHERE ALEX REMAINS ILL.

THEY TELL HIM THAT MELISSA

IS ON HER WAY OVER
TO VISIT HER SICK BOYFRIEND.

LET'S GO.

[ SIREN WAILING ]

IT'S IMPERATIVE THAT WE GET HER
IN CUSTODY

FOR THE FEAR
THAT ANY MORE CONTACT WITH ALEX,

HE -- HE COULD BE DEAD.

Narrator:
THE SUSPECTED 2-TIME KILLER

MUST BE INTERCEPTED
BEFORE SHE CAN GET TO ALEX.

THERE MAY HAVE BEEN
THAT THOUGHT IN HER MIND THAT,

HOW MUCH MORE
DOES SHE NEED ALEX?

BUT I HAD TO GET PAST
THIS GRANDMA IMAGE

AND NOW LOOK AT HER
FROM A DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE,

THAT THIS IS NOTHING NEW
FOR HER.

SHE HAS DONE THIS BEFORE.

SHE IS CALCULATING,
AND SHE WAS COLD.

ARE YOU MELISSA FRIEDRICH?

I'M DETECTIVE MIKE LYNCH.

SHE SAID, "I'M JUST HERE
TO VISIT MY HUSBAND."

WHAT I WANTED TO SAY WAS,

"I KNOW YOU'RE NOT
EVEN MARRIED TO HIM."

YOU CAN'T GO IN THERE,
MA'AM.

YOU'RE GONNA NEED
TO COME WITH ME.

Narrator: LYNCH TAKES MELISSA
TO ALEX'S CONDO TO INTERVIEW HER

IN THE HOPES SHE MIGHT
LET HER GUARD DOWN

AND INCRIMINATE HERSELF.

SEARCHING MELISSA'S BELONGINGS,

THE POLICE FIND
A CACHE OF BENZOS

AND OTHER POTENTIALLY
TOXIC PRESCRIPTION DRUGS.

[ PILLS RATTLING ]

SHE DENIED THAT SHE'S
GIVEN HIM ANY MEDICATION.

SHE DENIED, UH, TAKING
ANY MONEY FROM HIM.

THEY'RE ALL MINE.

SHE DENIED HAVING
ANY CRIMINAL PAST AT ALL.

I GUESS HE MUST'VE
HELPED HIMSELF.

SHE WAS JUST A CARETAKER.

AND SHE WAS CONCERNED
FOR ALEX'S WELL-BEING.

BUT LYNCH ISN'T FALLING
FOR MELISSA'S EXPLANATIONS.

I'M TAKING YOU IN.
GET UP.

SHE JUST STARED OFF INTO SPACE.

[ HANDCUFFS CLICKING ]

PROSECUTORS
WANT TO CHARGE MELISSA

WITH ATTEMPTED MURDER.

BUT MELISSA DENIES
POISONING ALEX.

AND HIS FINAL TOXICOLOGY
REPORT SHOWS

ONLY TINY AMOUNTS
OF BENZODIAZEPINES.

ALTHOUGH I BELIEVE
THAT MELISSA WAS --

WAS POISONING ALEX
WITH THE BENZODIAZEPINES,

WE COULD NOT PROVE IT.

MELISSA AGREES TO A PLEA DEAL

AND IS ONLY CHARGED WITH
EXPLOITATION OF THE ELDERLY,

ONE COUNT OF GRAND THEFT
AND TWO COUNTS OF FORGERY.

SHE GETS JUST
5 YEARS IN PRISON.

ALEX STRATEGOS,
THE THIRD-KNOWN VICTIM

MELISSA PUMPED FULL OF BENZOS,
PULLS THROUGH.

ALEX IS LUCKY TO LIVE
TO TELL THE TALE,

AND HE KNOWS IT.

DEAN NAMED HER
THE "INTERNET BLACK WIDOW."

AND IT STUCK.
SHE GOES OUT ON THE INTERNET.

SHE LOOKS FOR A MAN.
SHE KILLS HIM.

Narrator: MELISSA,
THE INTERNET BLACK WIDOW,

IS RELEASED FROM PRISON IN 2009,

A YEAR EARLY, FOR GOOD BEHAVIOR.

I HONESTLY THOUGHT
THAT THIS WOULD BE

THE LAST TIME
WE HEARD OF MELISSA.

Narrator:
BUT SHE'S NOT FINISHED YET.

[ KNOCK ON DOOR ]

HELLO. I'M MELISSA.

♪

♪

Narrator: IN SEPTEMBER, 2012,

AT A CANADIAN
RETIREMENT COMMUNITY,

WIDOWER FRED WEEKS GETS A VISIT
FROM A NEW NEIGHBOR.

[ KNOCK ON DOOR ]

HELLO. I'M MELISSA.

IT'S FRED, ISN'T IT?

Narrator: MELISSA CLAIMED SHE'D
SEEN FRED AT THE TEA DANCES,

AND HE'D CAUGHT HER EYE.

MELISSA APPROACHED FRED IN --

IN THE RETIREMENT HOME
AND SAID THAT SHE WAS LONELY,

AND FROM WHAT SHE HAD HEARD,
HE WAS LONELY.

AND THAT THERE WAS NO NEED
THE TWO OF THEM

BEIN' LONELY TOGETHER.

WOULD YOU LIKE TO COME IN?

I MUST HAVE A BOTTLE
AROUND HERE SOMEWHERE.

Narrator: FRED'S BEEN A WIDOWER
FOR ALMOST 2 YEARS.

AND HIS 6 KIDS
LIVE OVER 200 MILES AWAY.

HE'S A RETIRED TEACHER
WITH A PENSION.

AFTER A WHIRLWIND ROMANCE,

FRED AND MELISSA
MARRY ON SEPTEMBER 25, 2012,

LESS THAN 2 WEEKS AFTER MEETING.

[ PILLS RATTLE ]

BUT 4 DAYS LATER,
FRED IS ADMITTED

TO A NEWFOUNDLAND HOSPITAL

AFTER FALLING ILL
DURING THEIR HONEYMOON.

MR. WEEKS' CONDITION WAS SERIOUS

WHEN HE WAS BROUGHT
INTO THE NORTHSIDE HOSPITAL.

MELISSA HAD TOLD STAFF THERE
THAT HE HAD NO FAMILY

AND THAT HE SUFFERED
FROM ALZHEIMER'S.

Narrator: FRED'S MEDICAL RECORDS
TELL A DIFFERENT STORY.

HE HAS AN EXTENDED FAMILY
AND NO HISTORY OF ALZHEIMER'S.

HOSPITAL STAFF CALL ONE
OF FRED'S SONS

LISTED AS NEXT OF KIN,

WHO IMMEDIATELY CALLS
THE POLICE.

HELLO, SIR. WE JUST WANNA
ASK YOU A COUPLE QUESTIONS.

HE WAS VERY LETHARGIC.

HIS SPEECH WAS SLURRED,
SLOW-MOVING.

UM, LACK OF COORDINATION.

UH, HE WASN'T ABLE
TO GET HIS SHOES ON.

HE ACTUALLY HAD NO RECOLLECTION

OF THE EVENTS THAT OCCURRED
IN CAPE BRETON.

HE HAD NO MEMORY
OF EVEN BEING TO NEWFOUNDLAND.

Narrator: SUSPICIOUS, THE POLICE
CHECK FRED'S BLOOD TEST RESULTS.

MR. WEEKS?

THE TESTS REVEAL ENORMOUS

LEVELS OF BENZODIAZEPINE
IN FRED'S SYSTEM.

CAN YOU UNDERSTAND ME?
CAN YOU HEAR ME?

MR. WEEKS WAS NOT
ON ANY MEDICATION.

SO, FOR HIM TO HAVE BENNIES
IN YOUR SYSTEM WAS NOT RIGHT.

Narrator: WHEN MELISSA APPEARS,

THE POLICE ATTEMPT
TO QUESTION HER.

TO LOOK AT MRS. WEEKS,
SHE LOOKED LIKE,

UH, ANYBODY'S GRANDMOTHER.

EXCUSE ME, MA'AM?

EXCUSE ME, MA'AM?

AND SHE BASICALLY
WALKED AWAY AND JUST --

YOU KNOW, SHE SAID,
"I'M NOT SPEAKING TO YOU."

AND SHE EXITED THE HOSPITAL.

I HAVE TO LEAVE, REALLY.
I HAVE NOTHING TO SAY TO YOU.

WE DIDN'T HAVE ANY GROUNDS
TO DETAIN HER.

BUT IT DEFINITELY
PUT FLAGS UP, FOR SURE.

Narrator:
WHEN DETECTIVE ROSS

HEARS WHAT'S HAPPENED
FROM HIS OFFICER

AT THE HOSPITAL,
HE GOES ONLINE.

A BACKGROUND CHECK GIVES UP

MELISSA WEEKS'
PREVIOUS MARRIED NAME.

AND THE SEARCH
OF MELISSA FRIEDRICH

YIELDS DOZENS OF HITS.

WHEN I LEARNED THAT MELISSA
WAS THE INFAMOUS BLACK WIDOW,

IT WAS SURREAL.

THIS WAS ALMOST A CARBON COPY

OF WHAT HAD HAPPENED
IN THE PAST TO OTHER PARTNERS.

THIS IS HER M.O.

Narrator: WITH NO SIGN OF
MELISSA AT THE HOSPITAL,

DETECTIVE ROSS PUTS OUT AN ALERT
FOR THE 77-YEAR-OLD.

MELISSA HAD BARELY
LEFT THE CITY

WHEN A POLICE CAR
PULLS HER OVER.

[ WHIRRING ]

DO YOU KNOW WHY
I'VE STOPPED YOU, MA'AM?

YOUR TAILLIGHT'S OUT.
YOU NEED TO GET THAT FIXED.

I WILL DO. THANK YOU.

WHERE ARE YOU
HEADIN' TODAY, MA'AM?

UH, NEW GLASGOW. I-I'VE JUST
BEEN VISITING

A SICK FRIEND IN THE HOSPITAL,
AND I'M HEADING HOME.

OKAY. DRIVE SAFE.

AND -- AND DON'T FORGET
ABOUT THAT TAILLIGHT.

[ CHUCKLES ]

Narrator: IT LOOKS LIKE MELISSA
HAS GOTTEN AWAY YET AGAIN.

BUT WHEN THE OFFICER CALLS
INTO THE STATION,

HE HEARS ABOUT THE A.P.B.
ON HER.

THE OFFICER ADVISES
THAT THE CAR WAS HEADING

IN THE DIRECTION OF NEW GLASGOW.

[ SIREN WAILING ]

MELISSA IS TRACKED DOWN
TO HER RETIREMENT COMPLEX

IN NEW GLASGOW,

WHERE POLICE DISCOVER HER LARGE
CACHE OF TRANQUILIZERS.

ROSS COULD HAVE
ENOUGH EVIDENCE

TO CONVICT HER
FOR ATTEMPTED MURDER.

BUT THE PROSECUTOR ACCEPTS
HER GUILTY PLEA

TO LESSER CHARGES
OF ADMINISTERING A NOXIOUS DRUG

AND FAILING TO PROVIDE
THE NECESSITIES OF LIFE.

MELISSA IS SENTENCED TO
JUST 31/2 YEARS IN PRISON.

HER LAST VICTIM, FRED WEEKS,
LIVES TO TELL THE TALE, BARELY.

Narrator: MELISSA FRIEDRICH,

THE KINDLY LOOKING
WHITE-HAIRED ELDERLY WOMAN,

IS RELEASED FROM PRISON
ON MARCH 18, 2016.

AS A CONDITION OF HER RELEASE,
THE COURT BARS

THE SO-CALLED
INTERNET BLACK WIDOW

FROM GOING ONLINE AND REQUIRES

THAT SHE INFORM THEM
OF ANY RELATIONSHIPS WITH MEN,

SO THEY CAN
WARN THEM OF HER PAST.

IT'S OKAY TO TRUST, BUT IT'S
JUST BETTER TO BE CAREFUL.

THERE'S AN AWFUL LOT OF PEOPLE

LIKE MY FATHER OUT THERE
WHO ARE LONELY,

SUSCEPTIBLE TO THESE PEOPLE

THAT'LL COME IN AND WEASEL
THEIR WAY INTO THEIR LIVES

WITH PROMISES OF LOVE
AND AFFECTION.

Narrator:
WITHIN MONTHS OF HER RELEASE,

MELISSA IS RE-ARRESTED
AFTER BEING SPOTTED

IN A PUBLIC LIBRARY... ONLINE.