Your Worst Nightmare (2014–…): Season 1, Episode 5 - The Bad Son - full transcript
Matthew Heikkila has always had a rocky relationship with his parents, but he has a plan on how to deal with them. On a cold November day, he murders them in their own home - and is determined to keep the nightmare going for his own girlfriend.
HONEY, I'M HOME!
SWEETIE?
WHERE ARE YOU?
HONEY?
I HAVE TO SHOW THAT HOUSE
ON CRESTWOOD IN LIKE AN HOUR,
SO THIS BETTER BE GOOD SINCE YOU
MADE ME DRIVE ALL THE WAY HERE.
HELLO?
WHAT ARE YOU DOING?
NO!
YOU DON'T
HAVE TO DO THIS!
NOOOO!
THANKS.
MATT,
THIS PLACE IS JUST...
WOW.
I'M AFRAID TO ASK, BUT HOW
ARE YOU ABLE TO AFFORD THIS?
ANYTHING
FOR MY BIRTHDAY GIRL.
LINDA WAS THE DAUGHTER OF
A VERY HARD-WORKING IMMIGRANT.
SHE WAS ABLE TO GET
INTO THE COLLEGE OF SAINT
ELIZABETH ON SCHOLARSHIPS.
VERY, VERY BRIGHT GIRL.
VERY, VERY INNOCENT GIRL.
GIVE ME YOUR HAND.
I LOVE YOU.
YOU KNOW THAT, RIGHT?
MATT,
YOU'RE SO SWEET.
AND IF I HAVEN'T SAID SO YET,
THAT LIGHT, THAT DRESS,
YOU LOOK... LIKE A STAR.
MATT, YOU HAVE SAID SO
LIKE A HUNDRED TIMES.
YOU'RE SO BEAUTIFUL.
I'M GLAD
YOU THINK SO.
THANK YOU.
MATTHEW WAS
A VERY CHARISMATIC PERSON.
HE WAS VERY FRIENDLY.
HE IS YOUR CLASSIC TALL,
DARK-HAIR,
GOOD-LOOKING, YOUNG MAN,
SO MATTHEW'S ATTENTION TO LINDA
WAS INCREDIBLY FLATTERING
FOR SOMEONE FROM HER BACKGROUND.
SHE THOUGHT SHE WAS ACHIEVING
THE AMERICAN DREAM.
BABY, I KNOW WE'VE GONE THROUGH
SOME ROUGH PATCHES
WITH THE CHEATING.
MATT.
I'VE TOLD YOU A HUNDRED TIMES
I DID NOT CHEAT ON YOU.
THAT WAS
ALL IN YOUR HEAD.
ABOUT A WEEK
BEFORE HER BIRTHDAY,
LINDA HAD GONE WITH SOME FRIENDS
DOWN TO MEXICO,
AND WHEN SHE CAME BACK,
ALL HE DID WAS ACCUSE HER
OF SLEEPING WITH OTHER GUYS,
AND SHE KEPT TELLING HIM,
"MATTHEW, NOTHING IS FURTHER
FROM THE TRUTH."
BABY, IT'S JUST -- IT'S JUST
THAT I LOVE YOU SO MUCH
THAT I ALWAYS WANT
TO BE AROUND YOU.
AND WHEN I'M NOT WITH YOU --
I DON'T KNOW.
MY MIND GOES SPINNING.
"WHERE IS SHE?
WHO IS SHE WITH?"
YOU'RE SO HOT.
I MEAN, CAN YOU BLAME ME?
LOOK,
ALL I'M SAYING
IS THAT I'M GLAD
WE COULD PUT THAT IN THE PAST,
AND NOW
I CAN JUST FOCUS ON YOU.
JUST YOU.
MATTHEW WAS THE FIRST BOY
SHE HAD EVER SLEPT WITH,
AND THIS WAS SIGNIFICANT
TO MATTHEW.
HE TOOK GREAT PLEASURE
IN REMINDING HER
THAT HE HAD "TAKEN HER CHERRY,"
SO TO SPEAK.
NOW, I HAVE ANOTHER
BIRTHDAY SURPRISE FOR YOU.
WH-- MATT,
YOU ARE TOO MUCH.
AND IT IS ABSOLUTELY
GOING TO BLOW YOU AWAY.
AFTER YOU.
AFTER THEIR FIVE-STAR DINNER
ATOP NEW YORK'S
WORLD TRADE CENTER,
MATTHEW HEIKKILA
AND HIS GIRLFRIEND, LINDA PEREZ,
HEAD FOR MATTHEW'S HOUSE
IN NEW JERSEY,
WHERE THE 20-YEAR-OLD BIRTHDAY
GIRL'S NEXT SURPRISE AWAITS.
WAIT, LINDA.
DAMN IT.
I THINK I LEFT
THE PARKING TICKET ON THE TABLE.
I THOUGHT I HAD IT.
I...
WELL,
DID YOU CHECK YOUR POCKETS?
"DID YOU CHECK YOUR POCKETS?"
YES,
I CHECKED MY POCKETS.
HOW ELSE WOULD I KNOW
I DIDN'T HAVE THE STUPID TICKET?
I'M SORRY.
HEY,
I'M SORRY.
I DIDN'T MEAN
TO SNAP AT YOU.
I...
I JUST WANT THINGS
TO BE SO PERFECT TONIGHT.
I'M SORRY.
LOOK.
HERE,
I'LL TELL YOU WHAT.
YOU GO START THE CAR.
I'M GONNA RUN INSIDE
AND CHECK THE RESTAURANT.
I'LL BE RIGHT BACK.
WELL,
LET ME GO WITH YOU.
I SHOULD BE
ONE MINUTE.
JUST GO START THE CAR.
ONE MINUTE.
BE RIGHT BACK.
OKAY.
AAH!
MY GOD.
YOU SCARED ME.
BABY,
DID I SCARE YOU?
SORRY.
ALL RIGHT,
LET'S GET OUT OF HERE.
LET ME SEE THE KEYS.
IT'S A 45-MINUTE DRIVE
FROM NEW YORK CITY
TO THE HEIKKILA'S HOUSE
IN BASKING RIDGE, NEW JERSEY.
20-YEAR-OLD MATTHEW
HAS LIVED HERE
ALONE WITH HIS PARENTS,
DAWN AND RICHARD,
EVER SINCE HIS YOUNGER BROTHER,
JOSH, GOT INTO COLLEGE.
WELL, ON THE SURFACE,
THE HEIKKILA FAMILY
LOOKED LIKE
THE PERFECT ALL-AMERICAN FAMILY.
YOU HAD THE PROFESSIONAL FATHER,
THE VERY INVOLVED,
YOU KNOW, VIVACIOUS MOTHER.
YOU HAD JOSH, WHO WAS DOING
VERY WELL IN SCHOOL,
AND THEN YOU HAD MATTHEW.
SINCE GRADUATING
FROM HIGH SCHOOL,
MATTHEW'S STRUGGLED
THROUGH A SERIES OF ODD JOBS
AND DABBLED IN DRUGS.
JUST OPEN IT ALREADY.
GEEZ.
JOSH,
DON'T YOU DARE OPEN THIS
UNTIL YOUR DAD
GETS DOWN HERE.
DR. RICHARD HEIKKILA WAS
A VERY WELL-RESPECTED RESEARCHER
WHO WAS LAYING THE GROUNDWORK
FOR CURING PARKINSON'S DISEASE.
DAWN HEIKKILA WAS THE REALTOR
IN BASKING RIDGE.
SHE WAS A TYPICAL BASKING RIDGE
MOTHER THAT LOVED HER SONS.
WE ALREADY KNOW WHAT
IT'S GONNA SAY, SO JUST OPEN IT.
BIG-BRAIN JOSH
GOT INTO DARTMOUTH.
YEAH, JOSH.
MATTHEW WAS ADOPTED,
AND JOSH WAS A BIOLOGICAL CHILD
OF THE HEIKKILAS.
THE HEIKKILAS GOT NEWS
THAT DAWN WAS PREGNANT WITH JOSH
THE WEEK AFTER
THEY HAD ADOPTED MATTHEW.
THEY THOUGHT, "ISN'T THIS GREAT?
WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TWO SONS."
OKAY, I'M HERE!
LET'S GO! LET'S GO!
LET'S GO, BUDDY!
OPEN IT UP ALREADY.
GREAT.
HERE YOU GO.
HERE GOES NOTHING.
JOSH WAS A BRIGHT BOY,
VERY EASY-GOING.
HE WAS VALEDICTORIAN
OF HIS CLASS.
MATTHEW WAS SORT OF
TAKING THE OTHER PATH
DOING SOME PETTY THINGS
AS A JUVENILE,
GETTING INVOLVED NEGATIVELY
WITH THE POLICE.
"DR. MR. HEIKKILA, GREETINGS
FROM THE ADMISSIONS DEPARTMENT."
"BLAH, BLAH,
BLAH, BLAH, BLAH.
"WE ARE HAPPY
TO INFORM YOU
YOU'VE BEEN ACCEPTED
TO DARTMOUTH."
I'M SO EXCITED.
I LOVE YOU,
MOM.
- CONGRATULATIONS.
- WAY TO GO.
MATTHEW
WAS ALWAYS TELLING HIS FRIENDS
THAT BECAUSE HE WAS ADOPTED
AND JOSH
WAS THEIR NATURAL-BORN CHILD
THAT JOSH GOT
ALL OF THE ATTENTION.
IF ANYTHING, MATTHEW WAS THE ONE
WHO WAS THE CENTER OF ATTENTION,
AND WHEN HE WASN'T, HE MADE
HIMSELF THE CENTER OF ATTENTION.
CONGRATULATIONS.
WAY TO GO.
YOUR SURPRISE AWAITS.
AT AROUND 11:00 P.M.,
MATTHEW AND LINDA ARRIVE
AT THE HEIKKILA HOUSE.
WHAT'S THE SURPRISE?
IF I TOLD YOU
WHAT THE SURPRISE WAS,
IT WOULD RUIN
THE SURPRISE.
What about your parents?
TRUST ME.
YOU DON'T HAVE TO WORRY
ABOUT MY PARENTS.
JUST GO UPSTAIRS.
AND, BABY,
COVER YOUR EYES.
OKAY.
DON'T WORRY.
I GOT YOU.
I DON'T WANT YOU
TO HURT YOURSELF.
* FOR SHE'S
A JOLLY GOOD FELLOW *
* FOR SHE'S
A JOLLY GOOD FELLOW *
ALMOST THERE.
* FOR SHE'S
A JOLLY GOOD FELLOW *
* WHICH NOBODY
CAN DENY *
HAPPY BIRTHDAY,
LINDA.
YOU CAN LOOK NOW.
AAAAH!
IT'S JANUARY 29, 1991,
THE NIGHT
OF LINDA PEREZ'S 20th BIRTHDAY.
AFTER TREATING HER
TO AN EXQUISITE DINNER
IN NEW YORK CITY,
LINDA'S BOYFRIEND,
MATTHEW HEIKKILA,
HAS BROUGHT HER BACK TO
HIS PARENTS' HOUSE IN NEW JERSEY
FOR ONE MORE SURPRISE.
AND, BABY,
COVER YOUR EYES.
AND THIS ONE
IS A REAL BOMBSHELL.
AAAAH!
MY GOD!
MY GOD! MY GOD!
MY GOD!
MY GOD.
NOT WHAT YOU EXPECTED?
MATT, THAT'S YOUR MOTHER!
YEP, THAT'S WHAT A SHOTGUN
WILL DO TO YOU, BABY.
CLICK, CLICK, BOOM.
BYE-BYE, MOM.
WHAT?
NO.
I TAKE IT
YOU DON'T LIKE IT.
WELL,
DON'T WORRY.
THERE'S MORE.
HOLD OUT YOUR HANDS.
I SAID
GIVE ME YOUR HANDS!
NO!
YOU'RE GONNA RUIN
THE NEXT SURPRISE.
I DON'T...
* SHE'S A JOLLY GOOD FELLOW *
* FOR SHE'S
A JOLLY GOOD FELLOW *
* FOR SHE'S
A JOLLY GOOD FELLOW *
* WHICH NOBODY CAN DENY *
MR. HEIKKILA.
MR. HEIKKILA.
AAAH!
MY GOD.
AAAH!
THAT'S YOUR FATHER.
BINGO.
THE BIG-SHOT DOCTOR.
BUT LOOK AT YOU NOW,
DAD.
NOT SO SMART ANYMORE,
YOU WANT TO KNOW
WHAT SURPRISE NUMBER THREE IS?
NO. NO.
COME ON.
NO. NO.
WHY NOT?
NO.
SURPRISE NUMBER THREE.
NO, STOP.
NO, STOP.
YOU'RE NEXT.
NOOOO!
MATTHEW HEIKKILA WAS IN TROUBLE
FROM A VERY YOUNG AGE.
HE WAS THE QUINTESSENTIAL BULLY.
WE GOT A CALL,
OFFICER.
YOU HAVE OUR SON HERE.
HE WAS A KID
THAT PEOPLE REALLY DIDN'T LIKE,
BUT BECAUSE THEY LIKED
THE HEIKKILAS SO MUCH,
THEY ACCEPTED MATTHEW.
I'M RICHARD HEIKKILA.
THIS IS HIS MOTHER,
DAWN.
MATTHEW WAS WELL-KNOWN
TO THE POLICE FORCE
IN BASKING RIDGE.
HE HAD SEEN OUR DETECTIVES,
MYSELF INCLUDED,
FOR MINORS ACTS OF DELINQUENCY.
DID YOU BRING
THOSE CHARGING DOCS?
YEAH.
HERE YOU GO.
ALL RIGHT, YEAH,
JUST HAVE A SEAT,
AND I'LL GET HIM READY
FOR YOU.
ALL RIGHT. THANKS.
OKAY.
DAWN AND RICHARD
WERE VERY CONCERNED
ABOUT THE WAY MATTHEW WAS GOING.
WELL, I DON'T EVEN
KNOW WHAT TO SAY, MATT.
YOU TOOK $3,000
FROM THE SAFE AT WORK.
YOU KNOW
WHAT THAT MEANS?
THAT'S FELONY THEFT.
YOU CAN GET FIVE YEARS IN JAIL
FOR THAT.
BUT YOU'RE FORGETTING
ONE THING, DAD.
WHAT'S THAT?
I HAD NOTHING TO DO
WITH THIS.
NOTHING.
YEAH.
YOU KNOW WHAT?
FORGET IT.
IT'S LIKE NO MATTER
WHAT HAPPENS, I GET BLAMED.
YOU KNOW
WHAT WOULD BE NICE?
IF -- IF ONCE,
JUST FOR ONCE,
YOU LOOKED
AT THE FACTS
INSTEAD OF BUYING
WHATEVER SOME STRANGER --
MATT!
I AM
LOOKING AT THE FACTS,
AND THE FACT IS
THAT YOU ARE CONSTANTLY,
ONE WAY OR ANOTHER,
CONSTANTLY IN TROUBLE.
THE BREAK-IN
AT THE RODGERS' HOUSE,
THE JEEP YOU FLIPPED OVER
LAST MONTH, THE CREDIT CARDS.
RICHARD, STOP!
JUST WHATEVER.
HE'S BEEN IN JAIL
FOR THE LAST 10 HOURS.
LET'S JUST GET HOME.
THAT'S RIGHT,
DAD.
DON'T YOU EVEN CARE
THAT I'VE BEEN LOCKED UP
FOR SOMETHING
I DIDN'T EVEN DO?
MATT, HONEY...
I KNOW IT'S HARD,
BUT MAYBE IT'S TIME
WE GO BACK TO COUNSELING.
WHAT ABOUT THAT DOCTOR
WE TALKED TO
AT THE WARM SPRINGS CENTER?
YOU LIKED HER.
REMEMBER?
MOM,
ARE YOU FORGETTING
THAT WARM SPRINGS
IS AN INSANE ASYLUM?
IS THAT
WHAT YOU WANT?
YOU WANT ME LOCKED AWAY
IN ONE OF THOSE -- THOSE PLACES?
DO YOU -- DO YOU KNOW
WHAT GOES ON IN THERE?
NO, THAT'S NOT
WHAT I'M SAYING.
MATT, COME ON.
YOUR MOTHER AND I JUST WANT
WHAT'S BEST FOR YOU.
YEAH.
YOU KNOW THAT.
OF COURSE.
IT WOULD BE EASIER IF --
IF I JUST WENT AWAY.
IT WOULD BE EASIER
FOR THE TWO OF YOU,
FOR YOUR REAL SON,
JOSH.
THEN THE THREE OF YOU
COULD HAVE YOUR PERFECT,
LITTLE FAMILY...
WITHOUT ME.
MATTHEW HEIKKILA ALWAYS HAD
SOMEBODY ELSE TO BLAME.
HE'S INCREDIBLY MANIPULATIVE,
BUT RICHARD AND DAWN THOUGHT
BY SHOWING HIM
HOW MUCH THEY CARED ABOUT HIM
THAT COULD DEAL
WITH THE PROBLEMS THEMSELVES.
BUT NOW IT'S ALL TOO CLEAR
THAT THE HEIKKILAS COULDN'T
FIX MATTHEW'S PROBLEMS,
AND LINDA IS TERRIFIED THAT SHE
MIGHT NOT GET OUT OF THIS ALIVE.
NOOOO!
NOOOO!
MATT, NO!
WHERE ARE YOU
TAKING ME?
WHY ARE YOU
DOING ALL THIS?
"WHY?" WHY?
BECAUSE
I CAN'T LET YOU GO
NOW THAT
YOU'VE SEEN EVERYTHING.
THAT'S WHY.
SIT ON THE BED.
SIT ON THE BED!
YOU KNOW THERE ARE OTHER REASONS
I HAVE TO KILL YOU, LINDA.
I LOVED YOU,
AND YOU NEVER LOVED ME BACK.
IT WAS ALL LIES.
NO, MATTHEW,
I DID LOVE YOU.
I'M SORRY.
WHAT -- WHAT WAS THAT
YOU JUST SAID?
WHAT?
YOU LOVED ME?
AS IN "LOVED ME"
PAST TENSE?
AS IN NOT ANYMORE?
YEAH,
I GUESS THAT'S TRUE.
IT IS PAST TENSE.
OTHERWISE,
YOU WOULDN'T HAVE CHEATED ON ME
WHILE YOU WERE IN MEXICO
LAST MONTH.
NO, MATTHEW,
I DIDN'T CHEAT ON YOU!
I TOLD YOU
A THOUSAND TIMES!
IT WAS A TRIP
WITH MY SCHOOL.
DON'T.
I DIDN'T CHEAT EVER!
DON'T, DON'T,
DON'T SIT THERE AND LIE TO ME!
I KNOW YOU DID!
I KNOW IT!
WHERE ELSE
WOULD YOU HAVE BEEN
WHEN I CALLED THE HOTEL
AT 2:00 IN THE MORNING
AND THEN AGAIN
AT 3:00 IN THE MORNING
AND THEN AGAIN
AT 4:00 IN THE MORNING?
WHERE ELSE
WOULD YOU HAVE BEEN?
TELL ME WHERE!
TELL ME!
I DIDN'T CHEAT.
PLEASE.
STOP LYING!
IT DOESN'T MATTER ANYMORE.
I HAVE TO KILL YOU.
YOU SAW
WHAT I'VE DONE.
I CAN'T LET YOU GO.
THEY SAID
THEY LOVED ME.
THEY LIED.
SAME AS YOU.
NO.
MATTHEW,
WHAT ARE YOU DOING?
OHHHH!
WHAT DOES IT LOOK LIKE
I'M DOING, LINDA?
NO, PLEASE!
PLEASE!
PLEASE!
ON HER 20th BIRTHDAY,
LINDA PEREZ'S BOYFRIEND,
MATTHEW HEIKKILA,
PROMISED HER
A NIGHT TO REMEMBER.
I HAVE ANOTHER BIRTHDAY SURPRISE
FOR YOU.
NOW BACK AT HIS PARENTS' HOUSE
IN NEW JERSEY,
SHE FINDS HERSELF IN A FIGHT
FOR HER LIFE.
NO. MATTHEW,
WHAT ARE YOU DOING?
WHAT DOES IT LOOK LIKE
I'M DOING, LINDA?
NO, STOP!
NOOO!
THERE WERE THREE THINGS
THAT MATTHEW WANTED TO IMPRESS
ON LINDA THAT NIGHT,
THREE SURPRISES
THAT HE HAD FOR HER.
THE FIRST WAS THAT
HE HAD KILLED HIS MOTHER,
THE SECOND
THAT HE HAD KILLED HIS FATHER,
AND THE THIRD THAT HE WAS GOING
TO KILL HER, TOO.
NO.
WERE YOU HAPPY AT THAT FANCY
RESTAURANT TONIGHT, LINDA?
I HOPE SO.
'CAUSE I WANT YOU
TO DIE WITH A GOOD MEMORY.
PLEASE,
DON'T KILL ME.
YOU KNOW ME.
YOU KNOW
I'M A GOOD PERSON.
YOU DON'T
HAVE TO DO THIS.
MATT.
I LOVE YOU.
LOVE.
PRESENT TENSE.
YOU KNOW THAT.
THERE HAS NEVER BEEN
ANYONE ELSE BUT YOU.
JUST YOU.
THIS IS WHERE THE CORE STRENGTH
OF THIS YOUNG GIRL CAME THROUGH,
TRYING TO FIGURE OUT A WAY,
"HOW AM I GOING TO LIVE?",
AND SHE RESOLVED TO HERSELF THAT
SHE WAS NOT ABOUT TO GIVE UP.
CAN YOU JUST
PUT THE GUN DOWN?
PLEASE,
JUST PUT IT DOWN.
IT'S SCARING ME.
THANK YOU.
THOUGH SHE'S MANAGED
TO DISTRACT MATTHEW
FOR THE MOMENT,
SHE HAS NO IDEA
WHAT HE MIGHT DO NEXT.
GIVE ME YOUR HANDS.
LIE DOWN.
I NEED TO SLEEP.
SO DO YOU.
TOMORROW'S GONNA BE
A BIG DAY.
AND, BABY, CAN YOU REACH
OVER AND TURN OUT THAT LIGHT?
MATTHEW...
WHAT HAPPENS TOMORROW?
YOU JUST DON'T WANT
TO GET ON MATTHEW'S BAD SIDE.
ONCE THAT HAPPENS,
ONCE HE'S TURNED ON YOU,
YOU SEE THIS FACE OF AN ANGEL
LITERALLY IN FRONT OF YOU
TRANSFORM
INTO THE SOUL OF SATAN.
DO YOU HEAR THE WORDS
THAT ARE COMING OUT OF MY MOUTH?
THIS LETTER PROVES IT,
DAD.
IT PROVES EVERYTHING THAT
I'VE BEEN SAYING RIGHT HERE.
MATT,
YOUR BROTHER WAS AWAY AT CAMP,
AND WE WROTE HIM
A LETTER.
THAT'S ALL.
THAT'S ALL IT WAS.
OKAY, OKAY, OKAY,
HERE, HERE.
"JOSH, YOUR FATHER AND I
WANT YOU TO KNOW
THAT WE ARE SO HAPPY THAT YOU
MADE NATIONAL HONOR SOCIETY."
SEE, THIS PART RIGHT HERE,
RIGHT HERE.
THIS MIGHT BE
MY FAVORITE PART.
MATTHEW,
THAT LETTER --
DON'T INTERRUPT ME!
"...BUT WHAT
WE ARE MOST PROUD OF
"IS THE FACT
THAT YOU ARE TURNING OUT TO BE
A CARING, RESPONSIBLE,
AND KIND PERSON."
SEE, THIS IS EVERYTHING
I'VE BEEN SAYING FOR YEARS
RIGHT HERE
IN BLACK AND WHITE.
IT'S JOSH, JOSH,
JOSH, JOSH.
WHERE'S MY LETTER,
DAD?
MATT.
WHERE'S MY LETTER?
WHERE?
MATT, IF YOU
WOULD HAVE BEEN AWAY AT CAMP,
WE'D HAVE WRITTEN YOU
A LETTER, TOO.
JUST FACE IT,
DAD.
YOU DON'T CARE ABOUT ME.
MATT, LISTEN TO ME.
YOU DON'T LOVE ME.
MATT, LISTEN TO ME.
YOU NEVER HAVE.
MATT, LISTEN TO --
STOP INTERRUPTING ME!
YOU LISTEN TO ME!
OKAY, OKAY, OKAY,
I'M LISTENING.
STOP.
MATT, PLEASE.
I LOVE YOU,
AND YOUR MOTHER LOVES YOU,
AND JOSH
LOVES YOU, TOO.
I SWEAR TO GOD.
YOU SAY HIS NAME
ONE MORE TIME...
OKAY,
I WON'T SAY HIS NAME.
...AND I WILL BLOW
YOUR HEAD OFF.
I WON'T
SAY IT ANYMORE.
BETTER YET,
MAYBE I'LL JUST KILL MYSELF.
NO, NO, NO, NO.
MATT, MATT, NO, MATT.
HOW WOULD THAT BE,
DEAR, OLD DAD?
ISN'T THAT
THE HEIKKILA HOUSE?
ISN'T THAT WHERE THAT KID
MATTHEW KILLED HIMSELF?
MY SON HAS A GUN.
HE'S THREATENING ME,
AND HE'S THREATENING
TO KILL HIMSELF.
JUST THINK ABOUT IT.
JOSH AND MOM
HAVING TO EAT IN THIS KITCHEN,
KNOWING THAT
MY BRAINS --
OR MAYBE YOUR BRAINS
ARE ALL OVER THE PLACE.
STOP.
WE'RE AT 20 ADDISON DRIVE.
MATT. MATT,
WHERE ARE YOU GOING?
MATT. MATT!
MATT.
HE JUST FIRED.
MY -- MATT!
MATTHEW PUT SOMETHING LIKE 13
BULLETS INTO HIS FATHER'S CAR.
WE CHARGED MATTHEW
WITH POSSESSION OF A WEAPON
AND ALSO TERRORISTIC THREATS.
BAIL WAS SET AT $25,000.
AS PART OF THE BAIL CONDITION,
WE TOOK HIM TO SOMERSET HOSPITAL
AND HE WAS COMMITTED.
BUT MATTHEW ONLY STAYS
AT SOMERSET FOR A FEW DAYS.
WITH THEIR YOUNGER SON JOSH
AWAY AT SCHOOL,
DAWN AND RICHARD HEIKKILA
ARE CONVINCED
ALL MATT NEEDS IS SOME
ONE-ON-ONE ATTENTION AT HOME,
BUT WHAT THEY DON'T REALIZE
IS THAT THIS
IS JUST THE BEGINNING.
THE POLICE HAD THEIR EYE
ON MATTHEW HEIKKILA.
THE FRIENDS
OF DAWN AND RICHARD HEIKKILA
HAVE HAD THIS FEELING THAT
SOMETHING -- SOMETHING BAD --
WOULD HAPPEN EVENTUALLY
WITH THEM.
SO REALLY, THE ONLY PEOPLE
WHO WERE ABSOLUTELY SHOCKED
AT THE MURDERS
OF DAWN AND RICHARD HEIKKILA
WERE DAWN AND RICHARD HEIKKILA.
MATTHEW FELL ASLEEP
VERY QUICKLY,
AND LINDA
SPENT THE REST OF THE HOURS
TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW
COULD SHE POSSIBLY STAY ALIVE?
DID I WAKE YOU?
I DIDN'T MEAN TO.
IT'S JUST THAT
MY ARM HURTS.
IT'S ALL TWISTED
'CAUSE OF THE HANDCUFFS.
THANK YOU.
MATTHEW.
YES?
YOU DON'T HAVE TO KILL ME,
YOU KNOW.
YES, I DO.
YOU KNOW
WHAT I DID.
YOU SAW.
I HAVE TO KILL YOU,
AND THEN I HAVE TO GET AWAY
FROM THIS PLACE FOR GOOD.
I KNOW YOU HAVE TO GET AWAY
FROM HERE.
I-I COULD GO
WITH YOU.
WHAT DO YOU MEAN
GO WITH ME?
WE COULD GO
TO JAMAICA.
Y-YOU LIKED JAMAICA WHEN
WE WENT THERE LAST YEAR, RIGHT?
WE COULD GO THERE.
NO ONE
KNOWS US THERE.
WE COULD START OVER,
JUST YOU AND I.
JAMAICA'S BEAUTIFUL.
I DON'T KNOW,
THOUGH.
I'LL LET YOU KNOW
IN THE MORNING, OKAY?
CAN YOU IMAGINE
LAYING THERE NEXT TO A PERSON
WHO'S GOT A SHOTGUN ON ONE SIDE
AND YOU ON THE OTHER SIDE?
AND HE FALLS ASLEEP,
AND YOU'RE WONDERING,
AT ANY MINUTE, THIS CRAZY PERSON
COULD WAKE UP AND JUST DECIDE,
"YOU KNOW WHAT? IT'S OVER.
"I DID IT TO MY MOM AND DAD.
NOW I'M GONNA DO IT TO YOU."
HAIL MARY, FULL OF GRACE,
THE LORD IS WITH THEE.
BLESSED ART THOU...
HERE.
HOLD UP YOUR HAND.
MATTHEW.
MATTHEW.
YOU KNOW, I THOUGHT ABOUT
WHAT YOU SAID LAST NIGHT
ABOUT THE TWO OF US
GOING TO JAMAICA.
YOU WANT TO KNOW
WHAT I DECIDED TO DO?
AFTER SPENDING
THE NIGHT OF HER BIRTHDAY
HANDCUFFED TO HER MURDEROUS
BOYFRIEND, MATTHEW HEIKKILA,
NEW YORK COLLEGE STUDENT
LINDA PEREZ
IS AMAZED SHE'S STILL ALIVE WHEN
THE SUN RISES THE NEXT MORNING.
I'M TELLING YOU,
THAT GIRL DID NOT GET
ONE WINK OF SLEEP THAT NIGHT.
AFTER YOU'VE MURDERED
YOUR MOTHER AND FATHER
AND YOU'VE THREATENED
YOUR GIRLFRIEND,
YOU WANT
TO SLEEP ON IT OVERNIGHT
TO SEE
IF YOU'RE GONNA MURDER HER
WHEN YOU WAKE UP IN THE MORNING?
IF THAT IS NOT MONSTER,
TELL ME THE DEFINITION.
DO YOU WANT TO KNOW
WHAT I DECIDED TO DO?
MATTHEW, PLEASE.
I DECIDED THAT WE SHOULD GO
TO JAMAICA... TOGETHER.
MATTHEW HAD STOLEN HIS FATHER'S
CREDIT CARD ONCE BEFORE
AND FLED TO JAMAICA,
SO, IN HIS MIND,
HE HAD FRIENDS THERE,
AND HE THOUGHT, "WHAT
A GREAT PLACE TO GO BACK TO."
WE'LL LEAVE TODAY.
WE'LL JUST HEAD
TO THE AIRPORT
AND CATCH THE FIRST FLIGHT
TO JAMAICA.
MATTHEW, YOU HAVE NO IDEA
HOW HAPPY YOU JUST MADE ME.
IT'S THE BEST THING
FOR US TO DO.
I JUST KNOW IT.
YOU'LL SEE.
ALL THE TIME, IN HER HEAD,
THE ONLY THING
SHE'S TRYING TO DO
IS STAY ALIVE LONG ENOUGH
TO FIGURE OUT,
"HOW IN THE HELL
AM I GONNA GET OUT OF HERE?"
YEAH.
IF THIS IS A TRICK,
YOU KNOW YOU'RE DEAD.
BABY,
OF COURSE NOT.
I WANT
TO BE WITH YOU.
BUT ONE THING --
WE HAVE TO GO TO MY HOUSE
BECAUSE I HAVE TO GET
MY PASSPORT.
I CAN'T FLY WITHOUT IT.
IT -- IT WILL ONLY TAKE
A MINUTE.
OKAY. OKAY.
OKAY, UM, YEAH, WE'LL, -
WE'LL SWING BY YOUR HOUSE.
YOU CAN PACK A FEW THINGS,
GRAB YOUR PASSPORT,
AND THEN WE'LL GO.
O-OKAY.
YOU GO GET CLEANED UP.
I'LL GRAB A FEW THINGS,
AND WE'LL LEAVE IN, SAY,
LIKE, I DON'T KNOW,
10 MINUTES.
OKAY.
10 MINUTES.
AND, LINDA...
...DON'T TRY ANYTHING.
I THINK SHE REALLY UNDERSTOOD
THAT FOR THE NEXT
10 OR 15 MINUTES,
HER LIFE HUNG IN THE BALANCE.
LINDA?
IS EVERYTHING OKAY?
YEAH,
JUST GIVE ME A SECOND, PLEASE.
OKAY,
BUT IT'S GETTING LATE.
LINDA,
WHY IS THIS DOOR LOCKED?!
BECAUSE, M-MATTHEW, I-I'M TRYING
TO USE THE BATHROOM, OKAY?!
OKAY.
JUST HURRY.
OKAY, I...
GOING AS FAST
AS I CAN.
THERE'S NO WAY OUT.
LINDA'S ONLY OPTION IS TO RETURN
TO HER ORIGINAL PLAN.
SHE MUST HAVE GONE
INTO TOTAL SURVIVAL MODE,
AND SHE WAS LOOKING
FOR ANY EXCUSE POSSIBLE
JUST TO STAY ALIVE.
AT 8:00 A.M.,
AFTER A 45-MINUTE DRIVE,
THE COUPLE ARRIVES
AT LINDA'S PARENTS' HOUSE.
OKAY, SO, GREAT.
YOU GET
YOUR PASSPORT,
GRAB SOME THINGS
YOU NEED TO TRAVEL,
AND THEN
WE'LL HEAD TO THE AIRPORT.
BE ON THE BEACH IN JAMAICA
BY 3:00.
OKAY, JUST, UM,
LET ME GO UPSTAIRS.
FIVE MINUTES.
MY STUFF'S UP THERE.
WAIT, NO, NO,
NO, NO, NO, NO.
CAN'T LET YOU DO THAT.
LINDA? IS THAT YOU?
YEAH, MOM, IT'S ME.
MATTHEW DID NOT WANT
TO CONFRONT LINDA'S MOTHER.
HE WANTED TO WALK IN,
GET THE PASSPORT, AND LEAVE.
WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE?
YOU SHOULD BE IN CLASS,
NO?
HER MOTHER,
WHO WAS ALL OF ABOUT 4-FOOT-11,
LOOKED AT THIS
BEAUTIFUL DAUGHTER OF HERS,
WHO WAS SUPPOSED TO BE IN CLASS
AT THE UNIVERSITY,
AND SAW
THAT SHE HAD BAGS UNDER HER EYES
AND KNEW SOMETHING WAS WRONG.
MATTHEW,
WHAT IS THIS?
WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE?
IT'S 8:00
IN THE MORNING.
WE'RE GOING ON A TRIP,
MRS. PEREZ.
LINDA AND I
ARE GOING TO JAMAICA.
JAMAICA?
WHAT?
WHAT ARE YOU
TALKING ABOUT?
LINDA,
GO GET YOUR PASSPORT.
I NEED TO TALK TO YOUR MOM
FOR A SECOND.
PASSPORT?
YOU'RE NOT GOING ANYWHERE,
YOUNG LADY.
NO ONE
IS GETTING ANYTHING.
Mom, don't.
MATTHEW,
I-I THINK YOU SHOULD LEAVE.
MATTHEW,
I ASKED YOU TO LEAVE.
NOW. PLEASE.
LINDA'S MOTHER WHIRLED HER
LITTLE FRAME AROUND,
OF COURSE NOT KNOWING
WHERE THEY HAD JUST COME FROM.
YOU KEEP
YOUR MOUTH SHUT.
MATTHEW!
YOU KNOW, I SHOULD HAVE
BLOWN YOUR HEAD OFF
WHEN I HAD THE CHANCE.
MATTHEW!
PLEASE LEAVE NOW!
LINDA'S MOTHER IS PROBABLY
ONE OF THE FIRST PEOPLE
WHO EVER STOOD UP TO MATTHEW,
REALLY GOT UP IN HIS FACE,
AND, LIKE MANY COWARDS,
HE CRUMBLED IN THE FACE
OF SUCH A STRONG PERSONALITY.
CALL THE POLICE!
CALL THE POLICE!
ONCE SHE TOLD HER MOTHER
WHAT HAD TRANSPIRED...
IT HAD TO BE JUST ABJECT FEAR.
THE REASON HE WAS GOING TO
KILL HER IN THE FIRST PLACE
IS TO COVER UP HIS CRIME, AND
NOW HE'S GOT TO FEEL BETRAYED.
SO, WHAT'S TO STOP HIM
FROM TURNING AROUND,
COMING BACK WITH THE GUN,
AND KILLING THEM BOTH?
AAH!
AFTER NARROWLY ESCAPING DEATH
AT THE HANDS OF SOCIOPATHIC
BOYFRIEND, MATTHEW HEIKKILA...
PLEASE,
DON'T KILL ME.
...COLLEGE STUDENT LINDA PEREZ
HAS MIRACULOUSLY
MADE IT BACK HOME TO HER MOM.
YOU KNOW, I SHOULD HAVE
BLOWN YOUR HEAD OFF
WHEN I HAD THE CHANCE.
STILL,
THE THREAT IS FAR FROM OVER.
THE MINUTE THE DOOR CLOSED,
HE WAS ON THE PHONE TO LINDA,
AND HE SAID, "DON'T YOU
SAY A WORD TO YOUR MOTHER
OR I'LL KILL HER,
YOUR WHOLE FAMILY, AND YOU."
MEANWHILE, 35 MILES AWAY,
AFTER RECEIVING CALLS
FROM SEVERAL OF DAWN HEIKKILA'S
CONCERNED CO-WORKERS,
POLICE ARRIVE
AT THE HEIKKILA RESIDENCE.
DAWN DID NOT SHOW UP FOR WORK,
WHICH WAS VERY STRANGE,
SO WE RESPONDED TO THE HOUSE
TO SEE WHAT WE COULD FIND OUT
ABOUT THE HEIKKILAS.
BUT TO THEIR HORROR,
DETECTIVES DISCOVER
THEY'RE TOO LATE.
WE FOUND MRS. HEIKKILA
ON THE SECOND FLOOR
AND MR. HEIKKILA, RICHARD,
DOWNSTAIRS.
SHOTGUN SHELL.
YEAH.
LOOK WHAT'S ON IT.
THEY FOUND TWO SHOTGUN SHELLS.
ONE OF THEM WAS MARKED "MOM,"
AND THE OTHER ONE
WAS MARKED "DAD."
CAN'T SAY
IT WASN'T PREMEDITATED.
THE AUTHORITIES HAD NO QUESTION
WHO THEIR
NUMBER-ONE SUSPECT WAS.
IT WAS MATTHEW HEIKKILA.
THOUGH POLICE ARE CONVINCED
THEY KNOW WHO THE KILLER IS,
THEY STILL HAVE NO IDEA
WHERE MATTHEW HEIKKILA COULD BE.
THAT IS,
UNTIL THEY RECEIVE A CALL
FROM MATTHEW'S
TRAUMATIZED GIRLFRIEND, LINDA.
WE HAVE TWO OFFICERS
OUTSIDE YOUR HOUSE.
THEY'RE GONNA STAY OUTSIDE
UNTIL WE GET HIM IN CUSTODY.
BUT, LINDA,
RIGHT NOW WE NEED YOUR HELP.
IT'S BEEN HOURS SINCE MATTHEW
LEFT LINDA'S HOUSE,
AND BY NOW POLICE KNOW
HE COULD BE ANYWHERE.
DID HE SAY WHERE HE WAS GOING,
WHERE HE'S HEADED?
JAMAICA.
I TOLD HIM WE SHOULD
GO AWAY TOGETHER TO JAMAICA.
I WOULD HAVE
SAID ANYTHING.
LINDA, WHO BASICALLY TOLD THEM
EVERYTHING THAT HAD GONE ON
BETWEEN HER AND MATTHEW,
SO THE MANHUNT BEGAN
FOR MATTHEW HEIKKILA,
AND NOT JUST HERE
BUT IN JAMAICA.
ROOM SERVICE.
I ORDERED CHAMPAGNE.
- YOU LIKE CHAMPAGNE?
- LOVE CHAMPAGNE.
GOOD.
TURN AROUND!
PUT YOUR HANDS UP IN THE AIR!
ALL RIGHT, ALL RIGHT!
GET DOWN! GET DOWN!
MATTHEW HEIKKILA,
YOU'RE UNDER ARREST
FOR THE MURDER OF DAWN
AND RICHARD HEIKKILA
AND FOR THE KIDNAPPING
OF LINDA PEREZ.
FOR WHAT?!
COME ON, MAN. HEY!
WHILE HE WAS IN JAMAICA,
HE RENTED A SCOOTER AND GOT INTO
A MINOR TRAFFIC ACCIDENT,
AND THE CONSTABLE --
HE RECOGNIZED HIM
AS A GUY THAT THE FBI
WAS LOOKING FOR.
AND SO, HE NOTIFIED THE FBI.
HE HAD BEEN LIVING THERE,
AND NOBODY KNEW THAT ANYTHING
HAD BEEN WRONG WITH HIM.
HE DIDN'T -- HE WASN'T BROODING.
HE WAS HAVING A GOOD TIME.
HE WAS SMILING,
GOING OUT AT NIGHT.
SO, CONSCIENCE?
MATTHEW HEIKKILA?
THEY DON'T BELONG
IN THE SAME SENTENCE.
ON FEBRUARY 15, 1991,
MATTHEW IS HEIKKILA IS CHARGED
WITH CAPITAL MURDER.
18 MONTHS LATER,
HIS CASE GOES TO TRIAL.
MATTHEW STUNNED EVERYBODY
WITH A DEFENSE CALLED
"THE ADOPTED CHILD SYNDROME."
HE SAID HE HATED THEM
BECAUSE HE WAS ALWAYS TREATED
AS AN ADOPTED SON,
BUT YOU LOOK
AT ALL OF THESE THINGS,
AND YOU REALLY HAVE TO WONDER,
WAS HE SO SELF-CENTERED
THAT HE COULD NOT SEE THE LOVE
AND THE CARE
AND ALL OF THE NURTURING
THAT WENT INTO HIM
OVER THE YEARS?
THE PROSECUTION BELIEVED
THAT BECAUSE MATTHEW
HAD GONE OUT BEFOREHAND,
PURCHASED A GUN,
MARKED SHOTGUN SHELLS
WITH "MOM" AND "DAD" ON THEM
THAT HE HAD EVERY INTENTION OF
KILLING HIS MOTHER AND FATHER...
AND DOING IT IN THE VERY STYLE
IN WHICH HE DID IT.
AND... THE EVIDENCE, TO ME,
PROVES THAT
THEY WERE ABSOLUTELY ON POINT.
MATTHEW HEIKKILA IS SENTENCED
TO TWO 30-YEAR TERMS WITHOUT
THE POSSIBILITY OF PAROLE.
AFTER SERVING
AS A KEY WITNESS IN THE TRIAL,
LINDA PEREZ DOES ALL SHE CAN
TO SEPARATE HERSELF
FROM THE NIGHTMARE SHE LIVED.
MATTHEW'S BROTHER, JOSH,
STRUGGLES TO DO THE SAME.
JOSH HAS NEVER TALKED TO ANYBODY
ABOUT THIS,
AND NOW I UNDERSTAND
HE'S A MISSIONARY IN AFRICA,
AND HE'S TRIED
TO GET AWAY FROM THIS WORLD
AS MUCH AS HE POSSIBLY CAN,
BUT NO MATTER HOW FAR HE GOES,
HE'LL NEVER BE ABLE
TO ESCAPE WHAT HAPPENED TO HIM
AND AND WHAT HAPPENED
TO HIS MOM AND DAD.
IT IS A NIGHTMARE SITUATION
THEY BECAME INVOLVED IN
TOWARD THE END WITH MATTHEW.
THERE'S NO DOUBT ABOUT IT.
THEY TRIED AND DID THE ABSOLUTE
BEST THAT THEY POSSIBLY COULD,
AND NONE OF THEIR EFFORTS
WORKED.
HERE HE IS,
THIS GREAT-LOOKING KID,
AND HE'S GOT
THIS INCREDIBLE FAMILY.
WHY ARE YOU SO ANGRY
THAT YOU WOULD MURDER TWO PEOPLE
THAT DID NOTHING BUT LOVE YOU
AND WERE NOTHING
BUT GOOD TO YOU?
TO THIS DAY
AND FOR THE REST OF MY LIFE,
I'LL NEVER UNDERSTAND IT.
SWEETIE?
WHERE ARE YOU?
HONEY?
I HAVE TO SHOW THAT HOUSE
ON CRESTWOOD IN LIKE AN HOUR,
SO THIS BETTER BE GOOD SINCE YOU
MADE ME DRIVE ALL THE WAY HERE.
HELLO?
WHAT ARE YOU DOING?
NO!
YOU DON'T
HAVE TO DO THIS!
NOOOO!
THANKS.
MATT,
THIS PLACE IS JUST...
WOW.
I'M AFRAID TO ASK, BUT HOW
ARE YOU ABLE TO AFFORD THIS?
ANYTHING
FOR MY BIRTHDAY GIRL.
LINDA WAS THE DAUGHTER OF
A VERY HARD-WORKING IMMIGRANT.
SHE WAS ABLE TO GET
INTO THE COLLEGE OF SAINT
ELIZABETH ON SCHOLARSHIPS.
VERY, VERY BRIGHT GIRL.
VERY, VERY INNOCENT GIRL.
GIVE ME YOUR HAND.
I LOVE YOU.
YOU KNOW THAT, RIGHT?
MATT,
YOU'RE SO SWEET.
AND IF I HAVEN'T SAID SO YET,
THAT LIGHT, THAT DRESS,
YOU LOOK... LIKE A STAR.
MATT, YOU HAVE SAID SO
LIKE A HUNDRED TIMES.
YOU'RE SO BEAUTIFUL.
I'M GLAD
YOU THINK SO.
THANK YOU.
MATTHEW WAS
A VERY CHARISMATIC PERSON.
HE WAS VERY FRIENDLY.
HE IS YOUR CLASSIC TALL,
DARK-HAIR,
GOOD-LOOKING, YOUNG MAN,
SO MATTHEW'S ATTENTION TO LINDA
WAS INCREDIBLY FLATTERING
FOR SOMEONE FROM HER BACKGROUND.
SHE THOUGHT SHE WAS ACHIEVING
THE AMERICAN DREAM.
BABY, I KNOW WE'VE GONE THROUGH
SOME ROUGH PATCHES
WITH THE CHEATING.
MATT.
I'VE TOLD YOU A HUNDRED TIMES
I DID NOT CHEAT ON YOU.
THAT WAS
ALL IN YOUR HEAD.
ABOUT A WEEK
BEFORE HER BIRTHDAY,
LINDA HAD GONE WITH SOME FRIENDS
DOWN TO MEXICO,
AND WHEN SHE CAME BACK,
ALL HE DID WAS ACCUSE HER
OF SLEEPING WITH OTHER GUYS,
AND SHE KEPT TELLING HIM,
"MATTHEW, NOTHING IS FURTHER
FROM THE TRUTH."
BABY, IT'S JUST -- IT'S JUST
THAT I LOVE YOU SO MUCH
THAT I ALWAYS WANT
TO BE AROUND YOU.
AND WHEN I'M NOT WITH YOU --
I DON'T KNOW.
MY MIND GOES SPINNING.
"WHERE IS SHE?
WHO IS SHE WITH?"
YOU'RE SO HOT.
I MEAN, CAN YOU BLAME ME?
LOOK,
ALL I'M SAYING
IS THAT I'M GLAD
WE COULD PUT THAT IN THE PAST,
AND NOW
I CAN JUST FOCUS ON YOU.
JUST YOU.
MATTHEW WAS THE FIRST BOY
SHE HAD EVER SLEPT WITH,
AND THIS WAS SIGNIFICANT
TO MATTHEW.
HE TOOK GREAT PLEASURE
IN REMINDING HER
THAT HE HAD "TAKEN HER CHERRY,"
SO TO SPEAK.
NOW, I HAVE ANOTHER
BIRTHDAY SURPRISE FOR YOU.
WH-- MATT,
YOU ARE TOO MUCH.
AND IT IS ABSOLUTELY
GOING TO BLOW YOU AWAY.
AFTER YOU.
AFTER THEIR FIVE-STAR DINNER
ATOP NEW YORK'S
WORLD TRADE CENTER,
MATTHEW HEIKKILA
AND HIS GIRLFRIEND, LINDA PEREZ,
HEAD FOR MATTHEW'S HOUSE
IN NEW JERSEY,
WHERE THE 20-YEAR-OLD BIRTHDAY
GIRL'S NEXT SURPRISE AWAITS.
WAIT, LINDA.
DAMN IT.
I THINK I LEFT
THE PARKING TICKET ON THE TABLE.
I THOUGHT I HAD IT.
I...
WELL,
DID YOU CHECK YOUR POCKETS?
"DID YOU CHECK YOUR POCKETS?"
YES,
I CHECKED MY POCKETS.
HOW ELSE WOULD I KNOW
I DIDN'T HAVE THE STUPID TICKET?
I'M SORRY.
HEY,
I'M SORRY.
I DIDN'T MEAN
TO SNAP AT YOU.
I...
I JUST WANT THINGS
TO BE SO PERFECT TONIGHT.
I'M SORRY.
LOOK.
HERE,
I'LL TELL YOU WHAT.
YOU GO START THE CAR.
I'M GONNA RUN INSIDE
AND CHECK THE RESTAURANT.
I'LL BE RIGHT BACK.
WELL,
LET ME GO WITH YOU.
I SHOULD BE
ONE MINUTE.
JUST GO START THE CAR.
ONE MINUTE.
BE RIGHT BACK.
OKAY.
AAH!
MY GOD.
YOU SCARED ME.
BABY,
DID I SCARE YOU?
SORRY.
ALL RIGHT,
LET'S GET OUT OF HERE.
LET ME SEE THE KEYS.
IT'S A 45-MINUTE DRIVE
FROM NEW YORK CITY
TO THE HEIKKILA'S HOUSE
IN BASKING RIDGE, NEW JERSEY.
20-YEAR-OLD MATTHEW
HAS LIVED HERE
ALONE WITH HIS PARENTS,
DAWN AND RICHARD,
EVER SINCE HIS YOUNGER BROTHER,
JOSH, GOT INTO COLLEGE.
WELL, ON THE SURFACE,
THE HEIKKILA FAMILY
LOOKED LIKE
THE PERFECT ALL-AMERICAN FAMILY.
YOU HAD THE PROFESSIONAL FATHER,
THE VERY INVOLVED,
YOU KNOW, VIVACIOUS MOTHER.
YOU HAD JOSH, WHO WAS DOING
VERY WELL IN SCHOOL,
AND THEN YOU HAD MATTHEW.
SINCE GRADUATING
FROM HIGH SCHOOL,
MATTHEW'S STRUGGLED
THROUGH A SERIES OF ODD JOBS
AND DABBLED IN DRUGS.
JUST OPEN IT ALREADY.
GEEZ.
JOSH,
DON'T YOU DARE OPEN THIS
UNTIL YOUR DAD
GETS DOWN HERE.
DR. RICHARD HEIKKILA WAS
A VERY WELL-RESPECTED RESEARCHER
WHO WAS LAYING THE GROUNDWORK
FOR CURING PARKINSON'S DISEASE.
DAWN HEIKKILA WAS THE REALTOR
IN BASKING RIDGE.
SHE WAS A TYPICAL BASKING RIDGE
MOTHER THAT LOVED HER SONS.
WE ALREADY KNOW WHAT
IT'S GONNA SAY, SO JUST OPEN IT.
BIG-BRAIN JOSH
GOT INTO DARTMOUTH.
YEAH, JOSH.
MATTHEW WAS ADOPTED,
AND JOSH WAS A BIOLOGICAL CHILD
OF THE HEIKKILAS.
THE HEIKKILAS GOT NEWS
THAT DAWN WAS PREGNANT WITH JOSH
THE WEEK AFTER
THEY HAD ADOPTED MATTHEW.
THEY THOUGHT, "ISN'T THIS GREAT?
WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TWO SONS."
OKAY, I'M HERE!
LET'S GO! LET'S GO!
LET'S GO, BUDDY!
OPEN IT UP ALREADY.
GREAT.
HERE YOU GO.
HERE GOES NOTHING.
JOSH WAS A BRIGHT BOY,
VERY EASY-GOING.
HE WAS VALEDICTORIAN
OF HIS CLASS.
MATTHEW WAS SORT OF
TAKING THE OTHER PATH
DOING SOME PETTY THINGS
AS A JUVENILE,
GETTING INVOLVED NEGATIVELY
WITH THE POLICE.
"DR. MR. HEIKKILA, GREETINGS
FROM THE ADMISSIONS DEPARTMENT."
"BLAH, BLAH,
BLAH, BLAH, BLAH.
"WE ARE HAPPY
TO INFORM YOU
YOU'VE BEEN ACCEPTED
TO DARTMOUTH."
I'M SO EXCITED.
I LOVE YOU,
MOM.
- CONGRATULATIONS.
- WAY TO GO.
MATTHEW
WAS ALWAYS TELLING HIS FRIENDS
THAT BECAUSE HE WAS ADOPTED
AND JOSH
WAS THEIR NATURAL-BORN CHILD
THAT JOSH GOT
ALL OF THE ATTENTION.
IF ANYTHING, MATTHEW WAS THE ONE
WHO WAS THE CENTER OF ATTENTION,
AND WHEN HE WASN'T, HE MADE
HIMSELF THE CENTER OF ATTENTION.
CONGRATULATIONS.
WAY TO GO.
YOUR SURPRISE AWAITS.
AT AROUND 11:00 P.M.,
MATTHEW AND LINDA ARRIVE
AT THE HEIKKILA HOUSE.
WHAT'S THE SURPRISE?
IF I TOLD YOU
WHAT THE SURPRISE WAS,
IT WOULD RUIN
THE SURPRISE.
What about your parents?
TRUST ME.
YOU DON'T HAVE TO WORRY
ABOUT MY PARENTS.
JUST GO UPSTAIRS.
AND, BABY,
COVER YOUR EYES.
OKAY.
DON'T WORRY.
I GOT YOU.
I DON'T WANT YOU
TO HURT YOURSELF.
* FOR SHE'S
A JOLLY GOOD FELLOW *
* FOR SHE'S
A JOLLY GOOD FELLOW *
ALMOST THERE.
* FOR SHE'S
A JOLLY GOOD FELLOW *
* WHICH NOBODY
CAN DENY *
HAPPY BIRTHDAY,
LINDA.
YOU CAN LOOK NOW.
AAAAH!
IT'S JANUARY 29, 1991,
THE NIGHT
OF LINDA PEREZ'S 20th BIRTHDAY.
AFTER TREATING HER
TO AN EXQUISITE DINNER
IN NEW YORK CITY,
LINDA'S BOYFRIEND,
MATTHEW HEIKKILA,
HAS BROUGHT HER BACK TO
HIS PARENTS' HOUSE IN NEW JERSEY
FOR ONE MORE SURPRISE.
AND, BABY,
COVER YOUR EYES.
AND THIS ONE
IS A REAL BOMBSHELL.
AAAAH!
MY GOD!
MY GOD! MY GOD!
MY GOD!
MY GOD.
NOT WHAT YOU EXPECTED?
MATT, THAT'S YOUR MOTHER!
YEP, THAT'S WHAT A SHOTGUN
WILL DO TO YOU, BABY.
CLICK, CLICK, BOOM.
BYE-BYE, MOM.
WHAT?
NO.
I TAKE IT
YOU DON'T LIKE IT.
WELL,
DON'T WORRY.
THERE'S MORE.
HOLD OUT YOUR HANDS.
I SAID
GIVE ME YOUR HANDS!
NO!
YOU'RE GONNA RUIN
THE NEXT SURPRISE.
I DON'T...
* SHE'S A JOLLY GOOD FELLOW *
* FOR SHE'S
A JOLLY GOOD FELLOW *
* FOR SHE'S
A JOLLY GOOD FELLOW *
* WHICH NOBODY CAN DENY *
MR. HEIKKILA.
MR. HEIKKILA.
AAAH!
MY GOD.
AAAH!
THAT'S YOUR FATHER.
BINGO.
THE BIG-SHOT DOCTOR.
BUT LOOK AT YOU NOW,
DAD.
NOT SO SMART ANYMORE,
YOU WANT TO KNOW
WHAT SURPRISE NUMBER THREE IS?
NO. NO.
COME ON.
NO. NO.
WHY NOT?
NO.
SURPRISE NUMBER THREE.
NO, STOP.
NO, STOP.
YOU'RE NEXT.
NOOOO!
MATTHEW HEIKKILA WAS IN TROUBLE
FROM A VERY YOUNG AGE.
HE WAS THE QUINTESSENTIAL BULLY.
WE GOT A CALL,
OFFICER.
YOU HAVE OUR SON HERE.
HE WAS A KID
THAT PEOPLE REALLY DIDN'T LIKE,
BUT BECAUSE THEY LIKED
THE HEIKKILAS SO MUCH,
THEY ACCEPTED MATTHEW.
I'M RICHARD HEIKKILA.
THIS IS HIS MOTHER,
DAWN.
MATTHEW WAS WELL-KNOWN
TO THE POLICE FORCE
IN BASKING RIDGE.
HE HAD SEEN OUR DETECTIVES,
MYSELF INCLUDED,
FOR MINORS ACTS OF DELINQUENCY.
DID YOU BRING
THOSE CHARGING DOCS?
YEAH.
HERE YOU GO.
ALL RIGHT, YEAH,
JUST HAVE A SEAT,
AND I'LL GET HIM READY
FOR YOU.
ALL RIGHT. THANKS.
OKAY.
DAWN AND RICHARD
WERE VERY CONCERNED
ABOUT THE WAY MATTHEW WAS GOING.
WELL, I DON'T EVEN
KNOW WHAT TO SAY, MATT.
YOU TOOK $3,000
FROM THE SAFE AT WORK.
YOU KNOW
WHAT THAT MEANS?
THAT'S FELONY THEFT.
YOU CAN GET FIVE YEARS IN JAIL
FOR THAT.
BUT YOU'RE FORGETTING
ONE THING, DAD.
WHAT'S THAT?
I HAD NOTHING TO DO
WITH THIS.
NOTHING.
YEAH.
YOU KNOW WHAT?
FORGET IT.
IT'S LIKE NO MATTER
WHAT HAPPENS, I GET BLAMED.
YOU KNOW
WHAT WOULD BE NICE?
IF -- IF ONCE,
JUST FOR ONCE,
YOU LOOKED
AT THE FACTS
INSTEAD OF BUYING
WHATEVER SOME STRANGER --
MATT!
I AM
LOOKING AT THE FACTS,
AND THE FACT IS
THAT YOU ARE CONSTANTLY,
ONE WAY OR ANOTHER,
CONSTANTLY IN TROUBLE.
THE BREAK-IN
AT THE RODGERS' HOUSE,
THE JEEP YOU FLIPPED OVER
LAST MONTH, THE CREDIT CARDS.
RICHARD, STOP!
JUST WHATEVER.
HE'S BEEN IN JAIL
FOR THE LAST 10 HOURS.
LET'S JUST GET HOME.
THAT'S RIGHT,
DAD.
DON'T YOU EVEN CARE
THAT I'VE BEEN LOCKED UP
FOR SOMETHING
I DIDN'T EVEN DO?
MATT, HONEY...
I KNOW IT'S HARD,
BUT MAYBE IT'S TIME
WE GO BACK TO COUNSELING.
WHAT ABOUT THAT DOCTOR
WE TALKED TO
AT THE WARM SPRINGS CENTER?
YOU LIKED HER.
REMEMBER?
MOM,
ARE YOU FORGETTING
THAT WARM SPRINGS
IS AN INSANE ASYLUM?
IS THAT
WHAT YOU WANT?
YOU WANT ME LOCKED AWAY
IN ONE OF THOSE -- THOSE PLACES?
DO YOU -- DO YOU KNOW
WHAT GOES ON IN THERE?
NO, THAT'S NOT
WHAT I'M SAYING.
MATT, COME ON.
YOUR MOTHER AND I JUST WANT
WHAT'S BEST FOR YOU.
YEAH.
YOU KNOW THAT.
OF COURSE.
IT WOULD BE EASIER IF --
IF I JUST WENT AWAY.
IT WOULD BE EASIER
FOR THE TWO OF YOU,
FOR YOUR REAL SON,
JOSH.
THEN THE THREE OF YOU
COULD HAVE YOUR PERFECT,
LITTLE FAMILY...
WITHOUT ME.
MATTHEW HEIKKILA ALWAYS HAD
SOMEBODY ELSE TO BLAME.
HE'S INCREDIBLY MANIPULATIVE,
BUT RICHARD AND DAWN THOUGHT
BY SHOWING HIM
HOW MUCH THEY CARED ABOUT HIM
THAT COULD DEAL
WITH THE PROBLEMS THEMSELVES.
BUT NOW IT'S ALL TOO CLEAR
THAT THE HEIKKILAS COULDN'T
FIX MATTHEW'S PROBLEMS,
AND LINDA IS TERRIFIED THAT SHE
MIGHT NOT GET OUT OF THIS ALIVE.
NOOOO!
NOOOO!
MATT, NO!
WHERE ARE YOU
TAKING ME?
WHY ARE YOU
DOING ALL THIS?
"WHY?" WHY?
BECAUSE
I CAN'T LET YOU GO
NOW THAT
YOU'VE SEEN EVERYTHING.
THAT'S WHY.
SIT ON THE BED.
SIT ON THE BED!
YOU KNOW THERE ARE OTHER REASONS
I HAVE TO KILL YOU, LINDA.
I LOVED YOU,
AND YOU NEVER LOVED ME BACK.
IT WAS ALL LIES.
NO, MATTHEW,
I DID LOVE YOU.
I'M SORRY.
WHAT -- WHAT WAS THAT
YOU JUST SAID?
WHAT?
YOU LOVED ME?
AS IN "LOVED ME"
PAST TENSE?
AS IN NOT ANYMORE?
YEAH,
I GUESS THAT'S TRUE.
IT IS PAST TENSE.
OTHERWISE,
YOU WOULDN'T HAVE CHEATED ON ME
WHILE YOU WERE IN MEXICO
LAST MONTH.
NO, MATTHEW,
I DIDN'T CHEAT ON YOU!
I TOLD YOU
A THOUSAND TIMES!
IT WAS A TRIP
WITH MY SCHOOL.
DON'T.
I DIDN'T CHEAT EVER!
DON'T, DON'T,
DON'T SIT THERE AND LIE TO ME!
I KNOW YOU DID!
I KNOW IT!
WHERE ELSE
WOULD YOU HAVE BEEN
WHEN I CALLED THE HOTEL
AT 2:00 IN THE MORNING
AND THEN AGAIN
AT 3:00 IN THE MORNING
AND THEN AGAIN
AT 4:00 IN THE MORNING?
WHERE ELSE
WOULD YOU HAVE BEEN?
TELL ME WHERE!
TELL ME!
I DIDN'T CHEAT.
PLEASE.
STOP LYING!
IT DOESN'T MATTER ANYMORE.
I HAVE TO KILL YOU.
YOU SAW
WHAT I'VE DONE.
I CAN'T LET YOU GO.
THEY SAID
THEY LOVED ME.
THEY LIED.
SAME AS YOU.
NO.
MATTHEW,
WHAT ARE YOU DOING?
OHHHH!
WHAT DOES IT LOOK LIKE
I'M DOING, LINDA?
NO, PLEASE!
PLEASE!
PLEASE!
ON HER 20th BIRTHDAY,
LINDA PEREZ'S BOYFRIEND,
MATTHEW HEIKKILA,
PROMISED HER
A NIGHT TO REMEMBER.
I HAVE ANOTHER BIRTHDAY SURPRISE
FOR YOU.
NOW BACK AT HIS PARENTS' HOUSE
IN NEW JERSEY,
SHE FINDS HERSELF IN A FIGHT
FOR HER LIFE.
NO. MATTHEW,
WHAT ARE YOU DOING?
WHAT DOES IT LOOK LIKE
I'M DOING, LINDA?
NO, STOP!
NOOO!
THERE WERE THREE THINGS
THAT MATTHEW WANTED TO IMPRESS
ON LINDA THAT NIGHT,
THREE SURPRISES
THAT HE HAD FOR HER.
THE FIRST WAS THAT
HE HAD KILLED HIS MOTHER,
THE SECOND
THAT HE HAD KILLED HIS FATHER,
AND THE THIRD THAT HE WAS GOING
TO KILL HER, TOO.
NO.
WERE YOU HAPPY AT THAT FANCY
RESTAURANT TONIGHT, LINDA?
I HOPE SO.
'CAUSE I WANT YOU
TO DIE WITH A GOOD MEMORY.
PLEASE,
DON'T KILL ME.
YOU KNOW ME.
YOU KNOW
I'M A GOOD PERSON.
YOU DON'T
HAVE TO DO THIS.
MATT.
I LOVE YOU.
LOVE.
PRESENT TENSE.
YOU KNOW THAT.
THERE HAS NEVER BEEN
ANYONE ELSE BUT YOU.
JUST YOU.
THIS IS WHERE THE CORE STRENGTH
OF THIS YOUNG GIRL CAME THROUGH,
TRYING TO FIGURE OUT A WAY,
"HOW AM I GOING TO LIVE?",
AND SHE RESOLVED TO HERSELF THAT
SHE WAS NOT ABOUT TO GIVE UP.
CAN YOU JUST
PUT THE GUN DOWN?
PLEASE,
JUST PUT IT DOWN.
IT'S SCARING ME.
THANK YOU.
THOUGH SHE'S MANAGED
TO DISTRACT MATTHEW
FOR THE MOMENT,
SHE HAS NO IDEA
WHAT HE MIGHT DO NEXT.
GIVE ME YOUR HANDS.
LIE DOWN.
I NEED TO SLEEP.
SO DO YOU.
TOMORROW'S GONNA BE
A BIG DAY.
AND, BABY, CAN YOU REACH
OVER AND TURN OUT THAT LIGHT?
MATTHEW...
WHAT HAPPENS TOMORROW?
YOU JUST DON'T WANT
TO GET ON MATTHEW'S BAD SIDE.
ONCE THAT HAPPENS,
ONCE HE'S TURNED ON YOU,
YOU SEE THIS FACE OF AN ANGEL
LITERALLY IN FRONT OF YOU
TRANSFORM
INTO THE SOUL OF SATAN.
DO YOU HEAR THE WORDS
THAT ARE COMING OUT OF MY MOUTH?
THIS LETTER PROVES IT,
DAD.
IT PROVES EVERYTHING THAT
I'VE BEEN SAYING RIGHT HERE.
MATT,
YOUR BROTHER WAS AWAY AT CAMP,
AND WE WROTE HIM
A LETTER.
THAT'S ALL.
THAT'S ALL IT WAS.
OKAY, OKAY, OKAY,
HERE, HERE.
"JOSH, YOUR FATHER AND I
WANT YOU TO KNOW
THAT WE ARE SO HAPPY THAT YOU
MADE NATIONAL HONOR SOCIETY."
SEE, THIS PART RIGHT HERE,
RIGHT HERE.
THIS MIGHT BE
MY FAVORITE PART.
MATTHEW,
THAT LETTER --
DON'T INTERRUPT ME!
"...BUT WHAT
WE ARE MOST PROUD OF
"IS THE FACT
THAT YOU ARE TURNING OUT TO BE
A CARING, RESPONSIBLE,
AND KIND PERSON."
SEE, THIS IS EVERYTHING
I'VE BEEN SAYING FOR YEARS
RIGHT HERE
IN BLACK AND WHITE.
IT'S JOSH, JOSH,
JOSH, JOSH.
WHERE'S MY LETTER,
DAD?
MATT.
WHERE'S MY LETTER?
WHERE?
MATT, IF YOU
WOULD HAVE BEEN AWAY AT CAMP,
WE'D HAVE WRITTEN YOU
A LETTER, TOO.
JUST FACE IT,
DAD.
YOU DON'T CARE ABOUT ME.
MATT, LISTEN TO ME.
YOU DON'T LOVE ME.
MATT, LISTEN TO ME.
YOU NEVER HAVE.
MATT, LISTEN TO --
STOP INTERRUPTING ME!
YOU LISTEN TO ME!
OKAY, OKAY, OKAY,
I'M LISTENING.
STOP.
MATT, PLEASE.
I LOVE YOU,
AND YOUR MOTHER LOVES YOU,
AND JOSH
LOVES YOU, TOO.
I SWEAR TO GOD.
YOU SAY HIS NAME
ONE MORE TIME...
OKAY,
I WON'T SAY HIS NAME.
...AND I WILL BLOW
YOUR HEAD OFF.
I WON'T
SAY IT ANYMORE.
BETTER YET,
MAYBE I'LL JUST KILL MYSELF.
NO, NO, NO, NO.
MATT, MATT, NO, MATT.
HOW WOULD THAT BE,
DEAR, OLD DAD?
ISN'T THAT
THE HEIKKILA HOUSE?
ISN'T THAT WHERE THAT KID
MATTHEW KILLED HIMSELF?
MY SON HAS A GUN.
HE'S THREATENING ME,
AND HE'S THREATENING
TO KILL HIMSELF.
JUST THINK ABOUT IT.
JOSH AND MOM
HAVING TO EAT IN THIS KITCHEN,
KNOWING THAT
MY BRAINS --
OR MAYBE YOUR BRAINS
ARE ALL OVER THE PLACE.
STOP.
WE'RE AT 20 ADDISON DRIVE.
MATT. MATT,
WHERE ARE YOU GOING?
MATT. MATT!
MATT.
HE JUST FIRED.
MY -- MATT!
MATTHEW PUT SOMETHING LIKE 13
BULLETS INTO HIS FATHER'S CAR.
WE CHARGED MATTHEW
WITH POSSESSION OF A WEAPON
AND ALSO TERRORISTIC THREATS.
BAIL WAS SET AT $25,000.
AS PART OF THE BAIL CONDITION,
WE TOOK HIM TO SOMERSET HOSPITAL
AND HE WAS COMMITTED.
BUT MATTHEW ONLY STAYS
AT SOMERSET FOR A FEW DAYS.
WITH THEIR YOUNGER SON JOSH
AWAY AT SCHOOL,
DAWN AND RICHARD HEIKKILA
ARE CONVINCED
ALL MATT NEEDS IS SOME
ONE-ON-ONE ATTENTION AT HOME,
BUT WHAT THEY DON'T REALIZE
IS THAT THIS
IS JUST THE BEGINNING.
THE POLICE HAD THEIR EYE
ON MATTHEW HEIKKILA.
THE FRIENDS
OF DAWN AND RICHARD HEIKKILA
HAVE HAD THIS FEELING THAT
SOMETHING -- SOMETHING BAD --
WOULD HAPPEN EVENTUALLY
WITH THEM.
SO REALLY, THE ONLY PEOPLE
WHO WERE ABSOLUTELY SHOCKED
AT THE MURDERS
OF DAWN AND RICHARD HEIKKILA
WERE DAWN AND RICHARD HEIKKILA.
MATTHEW FELL ASLEEP
VERY QUICKLY,
AND LINDA
SPENT THE REST OF THE HOURS
TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW
COULD SHE POSSIBLY STAY ALIVE?
DID I WAKE YOU?
I DIDN'T MEAN TO.
IT'S JUST THAT
MY ARM HURTS.
IT'S ALL TWISTED
'CAUSE OF THE HANDCUFFS.
THANK YOU.
MATTHEW.
YES?
YOU DON'T HAVE TO KILL ME,
YOU KNOW.
YES, I DO.
YOU KNOW
WHAT I DID.
YOU SAW.
I HAVE TO KILL YOU,
AND THEN I HAVE TO GET AWAY
FROM THIS PLACE FOR GOOD.
I KNOW YOU HAVE TO GET AWAY
FROM HERE.
I-I COULD GO
WITH YOU.
WHAT DO YOU MEAN
GO WITH ME?
WE COULD GO
TO JAMAICA.
Y-YOU LIKED JAMAICA WHEN
WE WENT THERE LAST YEAR, RIGHT?
WE COULD GO THERE.
NO ONE
KNOWS US THERE.
WE COULD START OVER,
JUST YOU AND I.
JAMAICA'S BEAUTIFUL.
I DON'T KNOW,
THOUGH.
I'LL LET YOU KNOW
IN THE MORNING, OKAY?
CAN YOU IMAGINE
LAYING THERE NEXT TO A PERSON
WHO'S GOT A SHOTGUN ON ONE SIDE
AND YOU ON THE OTHER SIDE?
AND HE FALLS ASLEEP,
AND YOU'RE WONDERING,
AT ANY MINUTE, THIS CRAZY PERSON
COULD WAKE UP AND JUST DECIDE,
"YOU KNOW WHAT? IT'S OVER.
"I DID IT TO MY MOM AND DAD.
NOW I'M GONNA DO IT TO YOU."
HAIL MARY, FULL OF GRACE,
THE LORD IS WITH THEE.
BLESSED ART THOU...
HERE.
HOLD UP YOUR HAND.
MATTHEW.
MATTHEW.
YOU KNOW, I THOUGHT ABOUT
WHAT YOU SAID LAST NIGHT
ABOUT THE TWO OF US
GOING TO JAMAICA.
YOU WANT TO KNOW
WHAT I DECIDED TO DO?
AFTER SPENDING
THE NIGHT OF HER BIRTHDAY
HANDCUFFED TO HER MURDEROUS
BOYFRIEND, MATTHEW HEIKKILA,
NEW YORK COLLEGE STUDENT
LINDA PEREZ
IS AMAZED SHE'S STILL ALIVE WHEN
THE SUN RISES THE NEXT MORNING.
I'M TELLING YOU,
THAT GIRL DID NOT GET
ONE WINK OF SLEEP THAT NIGHT.
AFTER YOU'VE MURDERED
YOUR MOTHER AND FATHER
AND YOU'VE THREATENED
YOUR GIRLFRIEND,
YOU WANT
TO SLEEP ON IT OVERNIGHT
TO SEE
IF YOU'RE GONNA MURDER HER
WHEN YOU WAKE UP IN THE MORNING?
IF THAT IS NOT MONSTER,
TELL ME THE DEFINITION.
DO YOU WANT TO KNOW
WHAT I DECIDED TO DO?
MATTHEW, PLEASE.
I DECIDED THAT WE SHOULD GO
TO JAMAICA... TOGETHER.
MATTHEW HAD STOLEN HIS FATHER'S
CREDIT CARD ONCE BEFORE
AND FLED TO JAMAICA,
SO, IN HIS MIND,
HE HAD FRIENDS THERE,
AND HE THOUGHT, "WHAT
A GREAT PLACE TO GO BACK TO."
WE'LL LEAVE TODAY.
WE'LL JUST HEAD
TO THE AIRPORT
AND CATCH THE FIRST FLIGHT
TO JAMAICA.
MATTHEW, YOU HAVE NO IDEA
HOW HAPPY YOU JUST MADE ME.
IT'S THE BEST THING
FOR US TO DO.
I JUST KNOW IT.
YOU'LL SEE.
ALL THE TIME, IN HER HEAD,
THE ONLY THING
SHE'S TRYING TO DO
IS STAY ALIVE LONG ENOUGH
TO FIGURE OUT,
"HOW IN THE HELL
AM I GONNA GET OUT OF HERE?"
YEAH.
IF THIS IS A TRICK,
YOU KNOW YOU'RE DEAD.
BABY,
OF COURSE NOT.
I WANT
TO BE WITH YOU.
BUT ONE THING --
WE HAVE TO GO TO MY HOUSE
BECAUSE I HAVE TO GET
MY PASSPORT.
I CAN'T FLY WITHOUT IT.
IT -- IT WILL ONLY TAKE
A MINUTE.
OKAY. OKAY.
OKAY, UM, YEAH, WE'LL, -
WE'LL SWING BY YOUR HOUSE.
YOU CAN PACK A FEW THINGS,
GRAB YOUR PASSPORT,
AND THEN WE'LL GO.
O-OKAY.
YOU GO GET CLEANED UP.
I'LL GRAB A FEW THINGS,
AND WE'LL LEAVE IN, SAY,
LIKE, I DON'T KNOW,
10 MINUTES.
OKAY.
10 MINUTES.
AND, LINDA...
...DON'T TRY ANYTHING.
I THINK SHE REALLY UNDERSTOOD
THAT FOR THE NEXT
10 OR 15 MINUTES,
HER LIFE HUNG IN THE BALANCE.
LINDA?
IS EVERYTHING OKAY?
YEAH,
JUST GIVE ME A SECOND, PLEASE.
OKAY,
BUT IT'S GETTING LATE.
LINDA,
WHY IS THIS DOOR LOCKED?!
BECAUSE, M-MATTHEW, I-I'M TRYING
TO USE THE BATHROOM, OKAY?!
OKAY.
JUST HURRY.
OKAY, I...
GOING AS FAST
AS I CAN.
THERE'S NO WAY OUT.
LINDA'S ONLY OPTION IS TO RETURN
TO HER ORIGINAL PLAN.
SHE MUST HAVE GONE
INTO TOTAL SURVIVAL MODE,
AND SHE WAS LOOKING
FOR ANY EXCUSE POSSIBLE
JUST TO STAY ALIVE.
AT 8:00 A.M.,
AFTER A 45-MINUTE DRIVE,
THE COUPLE ARRIVES
AT LINDA'S PARENTS' HOUSE.
OKAY, SO, GREAT.
YOU GET
YOUR PASSPORT,
GRAB SOME THINGS
YOU NEED TO TRAVEL,
AND THEN
WE'LL HEAD TO THE AIRPORT.
BE ON THE BEACH IN JAMAICA
BY 3:00.
OKAY, JUST, UM,
LET ME GO UPSTAIRS.
FIVE MINUTES.
MY STUFF'S UP THERE.
WAIT, NO, NO,
NO, NO, NO, NO.
CAN'T LET YOU DO THAT.
LINDA? IS THAT YOU?
YEAH, MOM, IT'S ME.
MATTHEW DID NOT WANT
TO CONFRONT LINDA'S MOTHER.
HE WANTED TO WALK IN,
GET THE PASSPORT, AND LEAVE.
WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE?
YOU SHOULD BE IN CLASS,
NO?
HER MOTHER,
WHO WAS ALL OF ABOUT 4-FOOT-11,
LOOKED AT THIS
BEAUTIFUL DAUGHTER OF HERS,
WHO WAS SUPPOSED TO BE IN CLASS
AT THE UNIVERSITY,
AND SAW
THAT SHE HAD BAGS UNDER HER EYES
AND KNEW SOMETHING WAS WRONG.
MATTHEW,
WHAT IS THIS?
WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE?
IT'S 8:00
IN THE MORNING.
WE'RE GOING ON A TRIP,
MRS. PEREZ.
LINDA AND I
ARE GOING TO JAMAICA.
JAMAICA?
WHAT?
WHAT ARE YOU
TALKING ABOUT?
LINDA,
GO GET YOUR PASSPORT.
I NEED TO TALK TO YOUR MOM
FOR A SECOND.
PASSPORT?
YOU'RE NOT GOING ANYWHERE,
YOUNG LADY.
NO ONE
IS GETTING ANYTHING.
Mom, don't.
MATTHEW,
I-I THINK YOU SHOULD LEAVE.
MATTHEW,
I ASKED YOU TO LEAVE.
NOW. PLEASE.
LINDA'S MOTHER WHIRLED HER
LITTLE FRAME AROUND,
OF COURSE NOT KNOWING
WHERE THEY HAD JUST COME FROM.
YOU KEEP
YOUR MOUTH SHUT.
MATTHEW!
YOU KNOW, I SHOULD HAVE
BLOWN YOUR HEAD OFF
WHEN I HAD THE CHANCE.
MATTHEW!
PLEASE LEAVE NOW!
LINDA'S MOTHER IS PROBABLY
ONE OF THE FIRST PEOPLE
WHO EVER STOOD UP TO MATTHEW,
REALLY GOT UP IN HIS FACE,
AND, LIKE MANY COWARDS,
HE CRUMBLED IN THE FACE
OF SUCH A STRONG PERSONALITY.
CALL THE POLICE!
CALL THE POLICE!
ONCE SHE TOLD HER MOTHER
WHAT HAD TRANSPIRED...
IT HAD TO BE JUST ABJECT FEAR.
THE REASON HE WAS GOING TO
KILL HER IN THE FIRST PLACE
IS TO COVER UP HIS CRIME, AND
NOW HE'S GOT TO FEEL BETRAYED.
SO, WHAT'S TO STOP HIM
FROM TURNING AROUND,
COMING BACK WITH THE GUN,
AND KILLING THEM BOTH?
AAH!
AFTER NARROWLY ESCAPING DEATH
AT THE HANDS OF SOCIOPATHIC
BOYFRIEND, MATTHEW HEIKKILA...
PLEASE,
DON'T KILL ME.
...COLLEGE STUDENT LINDA PEREZ
HAS MIRACULOUSLY
MADE IT BACK HOME TO HER MOM.
YOU KNOW, I SHOULD HAVE
BLOWN YOUR HEAD OFF
WHEN I HAD THE CHANCE.
STILL,
THE THREAT IS FAR FROM OVER.
THE MINUTE THE DOOR CLOSED,
HE WAS ON THE PHONE TO LINDA,
AND HE SAID, "DON'T YOU
SAY A WORD TO YOUR MOTHER
OR I'LL KILL HER,
YOUR WHOLE FAMILY, AND YOU."
MEANWHILE, 35 MILES AWAY,
AFTER RECEIVING CALLS
FROM SEVERAL OF DAWN HEIKKILA'S
CONCERNED CO-WORKERS,
POLICE ARRIVE
AT THE HEIKKILA RESIDENCE.
DAWN DID NOT SHOW UP FOR WORK,
WHICH WAS VERY STRANGE,
SO WE RESPONDED TO THE HOUSE
TO SEE WHAT WE COULD FIND OUT
ABOUT THE HEIKKILAS.
BUT TO THEIR HORROR,
DETECTIVES DISCOVER
THEY'RE TOO LATE.
WE FOUND MRS. HEIKKILA
ON THE SECOND FLOOR
AND MR. HEIKKILA, RICHARD,
DOWNSTAIRS.
SHOTGUN SHELL.
YEAH.
LOOK WHAT'S ON IT.
THEY FOUND TWO SHOTGUN SHELLS.
ONE OF THEM WAS MARKED "MOM,"
AND THE OTHER ONE
WAS MARKED "DAD."
CAN'T SAY
IT WASN'T PREMEDITATED.
THE AUTHORITIES HAD NO QUESTION
WHO THEIR
NUMBER-ONE SUSPECT WAS.
IT WAS MATTHEW HEIKKILA.
THOUGH POLICE ARE CONVINCED
THEY KNOW WHO THE KILLER IS,
THEY STILL HAVE NO IDEA
WHERE MATTHEW HEIKKILA COULD BE.
THAT IS,
UNTIL THEY RECEIVE A CALL
FROM MATTHEW'S
TRAUMATIZED GIRLFRIEND, LINDA.
WE HAVE TWO OFFICERS
OUTSIDE YOUR HOUSE.
THEY'RE GONNA STAY OUTSIDE
UNTIL WE GET HIM IN CUSTODY.
BUT, LINDA,
RIGHT NOW WE NEED YOUR HELP.
IT'S BEEN HOURS SINCE MATTHEW
LEFT LINDA'S HOUSE,
AND BY NOW POLICE KNOW
HE COULD BE ANYWHERE.
DID HE SAY WHERE HE WAS GOING,
WHERE HE'S HEADED?
JAMAICA.
I TOLD HIM WE SHOULD
GO AWAY TOGETHER TO JAMAICA.
I WOULD HAVE
SAID ANYTHING.
LINDA, WHO BASICALLY TOLD THEM
EVERYTHING THAT HAD GONE ON
BETWEEN HER AND MATTHEW,
SO THE MANHUNT BEGAN
FOR MATTHEW HEIKKILA,
AND NOT JUST HERE
BUT IN JAMAICA.
ROOM SERVICE.
I ORDERED CHAMPAGNE.
- YOU LIKE CHAMPAGNE?
- LOVE CHAMPAGNE.
GOOD.
TURN AROUND!
PUT YOUR HANDS UP IN THE AIR!
ALL RIGHT, ALL RIGHT!
GET DOWN! GET DOWN!
MATTHEW HEIKKILA,
YOU'RE UNDER ARREST
FOR THE MURDER OF DAWN
AND RICHARD HEIKKILA
AND FOR THE KIDNAPPING
OF LINDA PEREZ.
FOR WHAT?!
COME ON, MAN. HEY!
WHILE HE WAS IN JAMAICA,
HE RENTED A SCOOTER AND GOT INTO
A MINOR TRAFFIC ACCIDENT,
AND THE CONSTABLE --
HE RECOGNIZED HIM
AS A GUY THAT THE FBI
WAS LOOKING FOR.
AND SO, HE NOTIFIED THE FBI.
HE HAD BEEN LIVING THERE,
AND NOBODY KNEW THAT ANYTHING
HAD BEEN WRONG WITH HIM.
HE DIDN'T -- HE WASN'T BROODING.
HE WAS HAVING A GOOD TIME.
HE WAS SMILING,
GOING OUT AT NIGHT.
SO, CONSCIENCE?
MATTHEW HEIKKILA?
THEY DON'T BELONG
IN THE SAME SENTENCE.
ON FEBRUARY 15, 1991,
MATTHEW IS HEIKKILA IS CHARGED
WITH CAPITAL MURDER.
18 MONTHS LATER,
HIS CASE GOES TO TRIAL.
MATTHEW STUNNED EVERYBODY
WITH A DEFENSE CALLED
"THE ADOPTED CHILD SYNDROME."
HE SAID HE HATED THEM
BECAUSE HE WAS ALWAYS TREATED
AS AN ADOPTED SON,
BUT YOU LOOK
AT ALL OF THESE THINGS,
AND YOU REALLY HAVE TO WONDER,
WAS HE SO SELF-CENTERED
THAT HE COULD NOT SEE THE LOVE
AND THE CARE
AND ALL OF THE NURTURING
THAT WENT INTO HIM
OVER THE YEARS?
THE PROSECUTION BELIEVED
THAT BECAUSE MATTHEW
HAD GONE OUT BEFOREHAND,
PURCHASED A GUN,
MARKED SHOTGUN SHELLS
WITH "MOM" AND "DAD" ON THEM
THAT HE HAD EVERY INTENTION OF
KILLING HIS MOTHER AND FATHER...
AND DOING IT IN THE VERY STYLE
IN WHICH HE DID IT.
AND... THE EVIDENCE, TO ME,
PROVES THAT
THEY WERE ABSOLUTELY ON POINT.
MATTHEW HEIKKILA IS SENTENCED
TO TWO 30-YEAR TERMS WITHOUT
THE POSSIBILITY OF PAROLE.
AFTER SERVING
AS A KEY WITNESS IN THE TRIAL,
LINDA PEREZ DOES ALL SHE CAN
TO SEPARATE HERSELF
FROM THE NIGHTMARE SHE LIVED.
MATTHEW'S BROTHER, JOSH,
STRUGGLES TO DO THE SAME.
JOSH HAS NEVER TALKED TO ANYBODY
ABOUT THIS,
AND NOW I UNDERSTAND
HE'S A MISSIONARY IN AFRICA,
AND HE'S TRIED
TO GET AWAY FROM THIS WORLD
AS MUCH AS HE POSSIBLY CAN,
BUT NO MATTER HOW FAR HE GOES,
HE'LL NEVER BE ABLE
TO ESCAPE WHAT HAPPENED TO HIM
AND AND WHAT HAPPENED
TO HIS MOM AND DAD.
IT IS A NIGHTMARE SITUATION
THEY BECAME INVOLVED IN
TOWARD THE END WITH MATTHEW.
THERE'S NO DOUBT ABOUT IT.
THEY TRIED AND DID THE ABSOLUTE
BEST THAT THEY POSSIBLY COULD,
AND NONE OF THEIR EFFORTS
WORKED.
HERE HE IS,
THIS GREAT-LOOKING KID,
AND HE'S GOT
THIS INCREDIBLE FAMILY.
WHY ARE YOU SO ANGRY
THAT YOU WOULD MURDER TWO PEOPLE
THAT DID NOTHING BUT LOVE YOU
AND WERE NOTHING
BUT GOOD TO YOU?
TO THIS DAY
AND FOR THE REST OF MY LIFE,
I'LL NEVER UNDERSTAND IT.