casket or anything like that. >> because of how the military handle this? >> right. >> [speaking spanish] >> reporter: vanessa's family hopes her legacy will be about bringing change to the army, bringing voice to so many men and women who have suffered in silence. >> [speaking spanish] that's all for this edition of "dateline", i'm andrea canning, thank you for watching. >> i'm craig melvin >> and i'm natalie morales. and this is dateline.

this is the entrance to the park where richard was killed. the gunman laid in white in the secluded dark place at night. >> one way or another, that's an execution. >> absolutely. >> they were a busy married couple, meeting up for a romantic valentines night rendezvous. but that night, someone had other plans. >> he's been shot? >> he's been shot! >> before she even arrived, her husband was there. >> i just see him laying on the ground. >> i couldn't think of a soul who would want to harm this man. >> then, someone let a secret slip. soon, people were questioning a suspect with the motive. he suddenly changed his look.

>> and in fact, when he showed up that morning, he was fearless. >> there was only one problem, he had a rock solid alibi. >> where did that leave you? >> worried about my case. >> that is when the phone rang. a tip! a tire track! and a case one detective would never forget! >> there was a shot in the dark but i took it. >> hello and welcome to dateline. it was valentine's day. and a married couple near atlanta planned to celebrate with a secret rendezvous at a secluded spot. a way to relive their dating days. but when that spot became a crime scene, police would soon discover the rendezvous wasn't the only secret in this couples lives. here is keith morrison with a perfect spot. >> a winter's night in the southern forest. the ink black darkness parted briefly at the headlights. then closed around it like a straw, as they made their way in separate cars in the foggy overcast. but then, there was, the ragged clearing, the muddy patch of sand and dirt away from the whole world, the place in the valentines interest. as if they could see without the artificial life so much as a -- or the faith marking that day in the dark. waiting -- spreaand, so i kind of ask>> wad best thing. >> he wanted to adopt those kids because he loved those children. and, those children love >> there can be few things in

ragged clearing, the muddy patch of sand and dirt away from the whole world, the place in the valentines interest. as if they could see without the artificial life so much as a -- or the faith marking that day in the dark. waiting -- but, what a way to begin a love story. better, probably, then a hot air balloon. the man and so loved. and, the motorcyclists on which together, in daylight, they discovered their own special place, the remote forest clearing in the place called belton bridge park. the park is much too grim word for them to pull up beside the -- river in north atlantic georgia. >> i knew them both very well. >> they were richard and stacey schoeck. and it was another. love their scout -- their love of scouting. >> how did you meet him? >> both our sons were cub scouts.

>> with kids, boys especially, they were natural's. >> stacy was a ball of energy, full of ideas which literally dragged us to do things. >> the go getter? >> the go getter. and we also joked and called her mom a spreadsheet. because everything that she did had to be laid out in a spreadsheet. >> what a plan, or have? >> she was. >> scouting is how bill -- >> richard was a good motivator. and i saw how much fun he was having. and, so i kind of asked if i could tag along. and i got involved with scoutsmanship. >> stacy was a leader for the cub scouts. >> was she good with kids too? >> she was pretty good with the kids too, yeah, she was.

she and richard, they worked well together. >> as they did with her three sons. craig was surprised, she, said when they told her that biologically the kids -- >> i just naively thought that they were his children. >> because it looked like that. >> it looked like that. >> in the way that he treated them and they treated him. >> yeah. >> so when richard officially adopted the younger of the 3 boys, the cousin was thrilled. >> my heart melted. i was just, like that is the best thing. >> he wanted to adopt those kids because he loved those children. and, those children love them. >> richard, himself, marched to the beat of his own drum. >> my brother was always a big kid. >> as his sister was certainly not a sort of person that could not sit down behind a desk. >> he had to be out and about. he was a very good athlete. >> kind of like a pied piper to his knees. >> he would roller skate with us or throw a ball with us or color with us. he was our quantico. >> no wonder. how many uncles take their five-year-old niece and seven year old nephew for a ride in a

hot air balloon? >> i could barely see over the edge so it was just cool seeing skies, clouds all around you. >> pam martin was one of his--. >> people were fighting over him and saying, can i have richard today? he was just the best person. we just liked being around him because he was very eccentric and very funny. >> and, stacey? >> i liked her, she was friendly, she was nice. >> a happily blended family. or, as anybody could see it. stacy was primary breadwinner. she administered a sizeable medical practice. richard was a maintenance manager. but remained the main character for the kids. and, together, the two of them were -- people noticed. >> they always gave each other kisses, hugs. so, they seemed wonderful together. >> all of which may explain why on valentines night, 2010, richard and stacey decided to meet. maybe even make out a little. at the special place here in the woods. to say what would happen next was shocking was of course an understatement. >> hall county 9-1-1, what's the address of your emergency?

>> oh, my god! please! i need help right now! >> the voice on the 9-1-1 calls stacey's. >> -- of whatever happened here was her husband richard. he had arrived at the rendezvous for us. and, when she got there later he was lying on his back on the ground beside his truck. >> i'm at this little park on belton bridge road. my name is stacey schoeck and i pulled in, he's been shot. >> he's been what? >> he's been shot. he's dead. >> ben franklin of the hall county sheriff's department got the call. so, valentines night all but groping. as he drove in a dark road by the muddy going by the river. >> -- and, so that creates a special kind of dark that you just can't appreciate and tell you in the middle of it. >> detective franklin is an

experienced man. but this? >> this is one of the very few cases where the more i dug, the less sense that it made. >> no. nothing made sense about this. >> coming up, a murder so sudden and so brutal. was it a robbery gone bad? tire tracks, the mud that belong to neither richard nor stacey. >> you could see richardson pressure to pass over those, and then you could see those pass back over richards. that let's us know that that vehicle was here before they got here and likely left after a little bit. >> had to be the killer. when dateline continues. kn ow how i feel.♪ ♪breeze driftin' on by...♪ ♪...you know how i feel.♪ you don't have to take... [coughing] ...copd sitting down. ♪it's a new dawn,...♪ ♪...it's a new day,♪ it's time to make a stand. ♪and i'm feelin' good.♪ start a new day with trelegy. no once-daily copd...

...medicine has the power to treat copd... ...in as many ways as trelegy. with three medicines in one inhaler,... ...trelegy makes breathing easier for a full 24 hours, improves lung function, and helps prevent future flare-ups. trelegy won't replace a rescue inhaler... ...for sudden breathing problems. tell your doctor if you have a heart condition or high blood pressure before taking it. do not take trelegy more than prescribed. trelegy may increase your risk of thrush, pneumonia, and osteoporosis. call your doctor if worsened breathing, chest pain, mouth or tongue swelling, problems urinating,... ...vision changes, or eye pain occur. take a stand, and start a new day with trelegy. ask your doctor about once-daily trelegy... ...and save at trelegy.com. >> if there is such a thing as

a perfect spot for murder, then this just might be it. >> wild! this is remote. >> yeah, it's pretty secluded. >> if you didn't know what to look for, you'd miss that sign on your right. >> there was just a void on the side of the road. it's just a dark void. >> it was going on to 11 pm. 14th, 2010 when detective franklin found the place. >> and so, this is the entrance to the park where richard was killed. >> that night, the cops lit up the crime scene surrounded by a clearing of beer, soiled sand

and muddy dirt. >> we got this place lit up like it's christmas time. but, if these lights weren't on -- >> you can't see your hand in front of your face. >> it was like that, that night? >> yes, sir, it was. >> it was very gruesome, the photos of richard schoeck, like that beside his truck. suffice to say he'd been shot five times. three times through his body, twice through his face. laid on his back, with the open door of his truck. >> sounds like a pretty ugly crime scene, right? >> yes. >> it was particular what happened to him? >> yes, it was particularly gruesome. >> -- >> that is overkill, especially with the placement and amount of shots. >> also, it was pretty clear from the get-go that this was not a robbery. >> the fact that richard has on jewelry, he had his wedding ring on, he had a fairly expensive watch that he still had on, there was cash, in the

console of the truck that was undisturbed. the truck, itself was still here. the man was ripe for the taking, it was ready, the door was open. >> something else the detective confirmed from the track of the bullets that went to richard's body -- he must've gotten out of the truck and approached who ever shot him. >> when stacey found richard, his truck was running, the driver's door was open, the headlights were on. so, it appears that he just simply got up to his truck to approach the person that shot him which was a compelling thing from us. it was something that really got our attention. >> who was it?

who did richard approach? whoever it was, was long gone by the time stacey arrived. so, not much to go on. except, when the police technician trained his fights on the claim from the side, just so, a whole new picture certainly emerged. the story, tire tracks including a set of tracks that apply to richard's truck nor stacey's suv. >> you could see richard's pressure pass over those, and then you can see those passed back over richards. and so -- >> okay. >> that let's us know that that vehicle was here before richard got here, and likely left after he was dead. >> it had to be the killer. but, how could common tire tracks help us find whoever did

this? i, mean seeing what he could, detective franklin headed back to the sheriff's station to meet stacey and record her statement. it was after midnight by then. >> it feels so unreal. >> stacy explained it was her weekend to care for her grandparents. and richard plan to come by on sunday, valentine's day to cook dinner. he arrived around 5:30. >> and, i had my valentines stuff for him sitting on the desk. when he walked in the back door, he was like! oh! mine are out in the truck but i rather we do that in the park. >> because, they had already planned a brief romantic rendezvous at belton bridge park on the way home to see their kids. >> he was like, come meet me at the park. it was secluded. you know, it's where we could exchange our valentines. and maybe we could even make out a little bit. >> -- they both near the way. intimately. >> we'd driven by that park a gazillion --

i don't know, a lot, a lot of times. >> so, after dinner, richard went to the park for us, she said. and she followed a bit later. when a night nurse arrived to look after the grandparents. >> i think i probably pulled out of the driveway at about 9:20 or so. i called richard and it went to voice mail. and, i didn't know why. and, i didn't leave a message. and, i left -- >> and when she got there -- >> i knew something was wrong. i could see, i saw his truck immediately. and because the lights are -- on and, so i pulled down, i headed right towards his truck. but as soon as i could seem. i could see him laying on the ground. >> -- life is a complicated business, as everybody knows. even lovers aren't always straight with each other. at least, however the

investigators stacey was talking to, they knew a fair amount to secret sooner or later. right away, she came clean. >> i mean, i had been having an affair for several -- you know six or seven months. >> an affair. his name was juan reyes, he worked in stacey's office at a job that she had gotten from. >> you know, i'm in deep with juan. i know that. i am telling you. >> oh, yes! she certainly was. >> stacy and richard on the house that reyes lived in with the family. she met juan for sex at an apartment stacey mounted for that purpose. she paid himself phone bill, and she admitted that she had just taken him to vegas and discussed it as a work trip. >> did juan know that you are supposed to meet richard at the park? >> yes he did. >> how did he know that? >> i had told him. probably, tuesday night -- it was either tuesday or thursday. >> was stacy saying that juan may have been the killer? >> no, i just can't imagine -- i mean, because i've seen enough tv to know that strange things -- you know, things happen. but i can't imagine him doing that. >> but the detective certainly could. >> and so, we start getting some direction. and, we have this unknown set of impressions. so we have a third party at the scene. so, now we have to ask ourselves if it's want, because it was looking pretty good at that point. >> time to go and have a little chat with mr. juan reyes. even if it was 4:00 in the morning.

>> coming up-- >> we knocked for a while. we knocked the windows, we walked around. we can never get anybody to the door. >> where would somebody be at 4 am if not in bed? when dateline continues. this painful, blistering rash can disrupt your life for weeks. a pain so intense, you could miss out on family time. the virus that causes shingles is likely already inside of you. if you're 50 years or older, ask your doctor or pharmacist about shingles. before dexcom g6, my diabetes was out of control.

if you'ri was tired.r older, not having the energy to do the things that i wanted to do. before dexcom g6, i was frustrated. all of that finger-pricking and all of that pain, my a1c was still stuck. there is a better way to manage diabetes. the dexcom g6 continuous glucose monitoring system eliminates painful fingersticks, helps lower a1c, and it's covered by medicare. before dexcom g6, i couldn't enjoy a single meal. i was always trying to out-guess my glucose and it was awful. (female announcer) dexcom g6 is a small wearable that sends your glucose numbers to your phone or dexcom receiver without painful fingersticks. the arrow shows the direction your glucose is heading: up, down, or steady, so you can make better decisions about food, insulin, and activity in the moment. it can even alert you before you go too low or when you're high. oh, the fun is absolutely back. after dexcom g6, i can, on the spot, figure out what i'm gonna eat and how it's gonna affect my glucose. when a friend calls and says,

"hey, let's go to breakfast," i can get excited again. after using dexcom g6, my diabetes doesn't slow me down at all. i lead line dancing three times a week, i exercise, and i'm just living a great life now. i have eight grandchildren. now i'm able to keep up with them again. we're not afraid anymore. it's so easy to use. dexcom g6 has given me confidence and control that everything i need is right there on my phone. if you have diabetes, then getting on the dexcom g6 is the single most important thing you can do. once a patient gets on dexcom g6, it's like the lights come on. (david) within months, my a1c went down to 6.9. (earl) my a1c has never been lower. (donna) at my last checkup, my a1c was 5.9. (female announcer) dexcom g6 is the #1 recommended cgm system, and it's backed by 24/7 tech support. call now to get started. you'll talk to a real person. don't wait, this one short call could change your life. (bright music) >> richard schoeck, 46 years

old had been escorted suddenly from this life as he waited for his wife in a secluded georgia park on valentine's day. there was an outside chance, of course, that it would turn out to be a simple case of murder by mistaken identity. maybe richard showed up at the wrong place at the wrong time. maybe he witnessed something he wasn't supposed to see. but, when stacy told the story of her affair with this guy

named juan reyes, cops knew they were listening to a motive as old as time. jealous boyfriend gets rid of jealous competition. the cops showed up at juan the house that very night. >> we knocked for a while. we knocked the windows, walked around the house, never anybody came to the. >> when you say you went to the door, do you mean politely? >> no, law enforcement banging on the door and banging on the side of the house, that kind of thing. >> did he fled? runaway? later that morning, the detectives went to his workplace to see if each show there. he did, all right. but -- >> his appearances changed. from the information that we had gathered from different sources that showed that he had appeared. >> -- was chief a detective at the

time and work that the case with frank. >> and, in fact, when he showed up at work that morning he was brett bliss. >> or, at least, he had removed his formerly full beard and shrunk it to an appearance altering goatee. now, one found him self at the sheriff station. he agreed to talk without a lawyer. he said in the interrogation room for more than four hours. several detectives having a go at him, including franklin -- >> so, it's my understanding that you and stacey are romantically involved, right? >> yeah. >> he spilled all of that. the affair, the love-ness, the extra goodies stacey showed on him. then, they caught him on something. stacy had already told the detectives that she informed juan on tuesday or possibly thursday about the plans to meet richard that sunday night at valentine's day. >> when did she tell you that? >> she told me, friday. friday after work.

>> would you find it odd if i told you that she made the statement that she told you earlier than friday? >> no, i mean i remember the conversation friday. if she mentioned it before that i wasn't thinking about it or i did not pay attention to. well, listen, -- i'm forgetful sometimes. >> was he forgetful? or, was he hiding something. >> well, look, let me ask you something to have anything to do with what's happening to richard? >> no, no, not at all. >> do you know who did? >> no. >> and so, they asked him, where was he before and after dinner on valentine's day? >> me and my son went up to blockbusters. we ate dinner about, i would say around 7:30. around 10:30 i was in bed. i don't sleep much so, 24 hours later i'm up -- >> when a minute? if he was up tossing and turning, how did he not hear the cops banging on a store? >> i don't know what to tell you. i was in my bed.

>> we were there. we were ringing the doorbell, -- we knocked for about 15 minutes. >> i don't know. i didn't even realize. i guess i so tired. i was sleeping at -- pm just as i stated to you. >> you also said that you're a light sleeper, you tossed and turned last night. and maybe the four hours, that's it. >> right, i was up at around 4:00, tossing and turning. i looked at the clock again at five. >> we were there. >> i didn't hear you. i don't know what to say. >> juan reyes was like a brick wall about the murder. didn't know who did, it didn't know who did. >> the polygraph said former chief detective trip told a different story. >> the polygraph results indicated that he was not telling the truth. or, he was not being truthful to those relevant questions posed to him about the homicide.

>> question such as, did you shoot richard schoeck? do you know for sure of anyone who shot richard schoeck? were you present when richard schoeck was shot? >> you know, he knows where richard is going to be. he's in an affair with stacey. he is not at home at three, four in the morning the night of the murder. he shows up the next morning, altered his appearance. , so when you put all of that together, yeah, there's a lot of ringing bells there. >> juan reyes insist he was home with this family when richard schoeck was murdered. but, when juan wife backup his alibi when she finds out that he was cheating on her. >> coming up -- >> if she wanted to throw him on the the bus, that was the time. >> she had a great opportunity. >> when dateline continues.

did you know, unless you treat dandruff regularly, it will keep coming back. try head & shoulders shampoo. dandruff is caused by irritation to a germ that lives on everyone's scalp. unlike regular shampoo, head & shoulders contains zinc pyrithione, which fights the dandruff-causing germ and helps prevent it from coming back. it's gentle on hair and provides up to 100% dandruff protection, clinically proven. try head & shoulders shampoo and conditioner. for best results, use with every wash. this has been medifacts for head & shoulders. my active psoriatic arthritis can slow me down. now, skyrizi helps me get going by treating my skin and joints. along with significantly clearer skin, skyrizi helps me move with less joint pain, stiffness, swelling, and fatigue. and skyrizi is just 4 doses a year after two starter doses. skyrizi attaches to and reduces a source of excess inflammation that can lead to skin and joint symptoms.

with skyrizi, 90% clearer skin and less joint pain is possible. serious allergic reactions and an increased risk of infections or a lower ability to fight them may occur. tell your doctor if you have an infection or symptoms, had a vaccine, or plan to. with skyrizi, there's nothing like the feeling of improving my skin and joints... ...and that means everything. now's the time to talk to your doctor about how skyrizi can help treat your psoriatic arthritis- so you can get going. learn how abbvie can help you save. .

,. .

to on brown and leave picks, -- we isn't the pregnant again. and now, back to dateline. now, back to dateline. >> welcome back to dateline, i'm natalie morales, a husband was shot to death, the wife admitted to an affair and the boyfriend tells his story about the night of the murder. could it be that simple? that clichã©? it would take a police detective willing to plow through all of the clues to find the truth. here is keith morrison with more of a perfect spot. >> there can be few things in life as shocking as disorienting as the sudden death of a loved one. especially one so affectionate, so endearing, happy. and when they dreadful news came with the word murdered attached. >> i could not think of a soul who would want to hurt the man,

could not think of anyone. >> richard and his scouting buddy spent the evening together the night before richard was killed. and so bill heard him get the phone call from stacey about their plans for valentine's day. >> he said we are making plans to get together near her grandma's. >> she was staying out there for the weekend or something? >> that's correct, she was looking after her grandmother. >> was he happy about that? >> he thought that was great. >> a week later, it was at richards memorial. stacy asked bill to give the eulogy. >> was one of the most difficult things i've ever done, was to get up and talk about it. >> i remember looking down at the honorary pall bearers and

they were all scouts. there was not a dry eye there. >> the end of the service, everybody wrote messages to richard on balloons and released them into the air. all fond memories of his met nephew brian. >> everybody had their own personal story. richard helped me tie my first not in my tenth. richard helped me build my first fire. you could tell the cub scouts he was working with that he touched their lives like he had me in my sister's. meanwhile, the hall county sheriff's department was working on their only lead. >> we are focusing pretty hard

on one. >> juan reyes, the boyfriend. >> we thought he was the shooter, at the same time, he deserved for us to verify his story. >> remember, here is where juan said he was late in the day on february 14th. >> me and my son went up to a blockbuster, we ate dinner at i want to say around 7:30 and by 10:30 i was in bed. >> there are ways to check of course, they talked to juan reyes wife, ex-wife actually. he was living with him in an effort to reconcile. >> the first thing i told her was that one was having an affair with stacey for quite some time, she was not happy with that. >> no she was not, but listen to this. the woman scorned still confirmed his alibi. >> he had gone to blockbuster when i was cooking, between six and seven. when he came home, went in the room, i lay down and went to bed. >> what time is up? >> we are watching the 10:30 news. i believe it was 10:00. last i looked at the time is 10:37. >> if you want to throw murdered, just that was the time to do. it >> had a great opportunity, she didn't take. it >> maybe want to stop a guy

after? all >> correct. >> even though he failed to answer the door, even though the polygraph result was not in his favor, juan reyes was innocent. he did not do it. where did that leave you? >> worried about my case. >> a case that had become personal for detective franklin. he felt like he had known richard, like he was mourning him. somehow. >> i would sit at the scene, stand at the scene, reflecting just kind of stand there and just go for things in my head. and try to figure out what direction to take. >> how could he do? all franklin had to go on was this picture of tire tracks left in the soft soil in the clearing. could he use this to find his killer? not so easy. did not even know they make of the tire. >> we looked on the internet, we were coming up empty. we went to car dealerships, we went to retail tire establishments, we would pull up next to cars at traffic lights and look at the kinds of

tires they had on. >> anybody we talked, we looked at their tires, just to be sure. >> then one day yet another tire store, called into a stock area back. >> point to this tire and immediately i said that's it. >> said okay, it was in goodyear integrity. >> that will get down. billions of cars with goodyear integrity tires. just at the time franklin was contemplating that little problem. >> got a phone call from an i. t. technician at the medical center. >> just out of the blue? >> that is where the office was that stacey managed. the job there was clearing the drunken from employee email accounts. >> he noticed that stacey's inbox for friday, saturday, sunday had been completely cleaned out. >> curious, that was the very weekend of the murder. >> so he thought enough to give us a call. >> was stacy, the scrub house

leader hiding something? where did you hit the lee. >> of course, all of those deleted files had been backed up. so they got a warrant, collected all of stacey's emails, not just from that weekend, 4000 emails long. >> it was quite a task. >> a lot of it was spam. except to emails scene, they stood out. request from stacey to her bank to transfer something of a real estate account. >> a few weeks before the murder was the first transfer. 8009 or $2. second transfer was the friday before the murder, february 12th 2010, that was for 1100 dollars. >> both times the money went into the account of somebody named lynn each row ross. it turned out to be stacey's

friend, were colic and tenet who is running a house from stacey. they want to have a talk with lynitra. >> how did she react? >> very calm, very cool. >> didn't seem to be hiding anything? >> she seemed very collected. i asked her about the money transfer. >> made an audio recording of the interview. >> how much money did you get overall? >> it's been about, it was 89 at first hundred. >> why did stacey give her 80 $900? >> she transferred some money to me for some repairs and stuff. >> said she had read on the roof, the interior of the house, carpet, law, in that kind of thing. >> and the 1100 dollars? >> still rim or repairs. >> we got another leak, main water valve leak. >> story made sense. >> it made sense. she was always cooperative. >> a simple business transaction. detective franklin was right back where he started. >> took us to a point where you are still looking for ways to move forward. >> it was march by then. close to a month since the murder. they seem to be going nowhere. what to do now? how about grasp at straws. >> called a tower dump. it was a shot in the dark, but i took it. >> coming up, a killer with a

gun and a cell phone about to make a big mistake. >> my way of thinking was, if he is sitting there with waiting in this secluded dark place at night, maybe he will make a phone call. had no idea. >> when dateline continues. as early as 8 weeks. but your vet doesn't just prescribe it to her patients... ...she trusts nexgard to protect her own dog. and she knows its delicious beef flavor makes it #1 with dogs. use with caution in dogs with a history of seizures or neurologic disorders. ask your vet about nexgard, and why it's #1 with pretty much...everyone. need a backup plan? get plan b one-step. plan b helps prevent pregnancy before it starts by temporarily delaying ovulation—and you can resume your regular birth control right away. i've got this. ♪♪

plan a didn't work out? get plan b one-step. plan b helps prevent pregnancy before it starts,

and it won't impact your ability to get pregnant in the future. find it yourself in the family planning aisle no prescription, no id. i've got this. ♪♪ >> one month into his investigation in the murder of richard schoeck, detective franklin was stomping the weeds. >> i would sit down with my

supervisors and say that i'm working on this case. he would say, hang on, it takes very small piece of information to break this case. >> and, sure enough, what do you know? the detective got a phone call. >> during the crime, when it happened, the car was missing. >> the caller was stacey's cousin, connie. she had been troubled by something, she told the detectives. >> it took me a good three weeks contemplating, you know, should i call? should i not? >> after all, stacey was like a big sister said connie. but, there was just something wrong. like, the strange business about her grandparents 2009 impala -- stacey was supposed to sell it because they were having problems and they needed money for medical bills. >> but, after stacey took the car -- >> a couple of weeks later, it would be back at our house. and then, a couple of weeks later, it wasn't. then, it got to the point where

she said that she sold it for 16,000 -- >> again, cc never produced the money. >> the family was persistent about the car. and so, we said, fine it's likely it was years but we don't know-- >> they round the van number, found the car, stacey had sold it by then. and one behold, it's going to -- so, at that point, i was confident that i found the car that richard was killed for. >> which is great. except, who was in? no idea. the tech to franklin was still stuck. so, he took a long shot. he asked for something called a tower dump. an information dump, that, is from the cell tower on the form near the crime scene. >> i subpoenaed all calls that generated from the tower services in belton bridge park from the night of the murder, from about 7:30 pm tonight.

>> till 9:30, because, that is when stacey arrived and found richard. why start looking at 7 pm? >> it was apparent to me that the gunman laid in wait for richard. and so, my way of thinking, was if he sitting there waiting in the secluded dark place at, night he's gonna sit there and tell the -- or maybe he'll make a phone call. i had no idea. >> if the color called anybody, it should show up in the tower record of outgoing cell calls. four major carriers on the tower, thousands of calls. but, what number should look for? why not try hunch he had all along. >> stacey's involved somehow. you have this third vehicle at the scene, you have overkill with the way richard died. so, based on all of those things, a murder for hire starts crossing your. mine >> franklin's idea was to compare the numbers tower on the phone numbers on stacy's personal contactless. >> the best source of information, i felt i, had was stacey's contactless. it was 250 contacts, i think. >> so, if you can find any phone call coming from the crime scene that happened to be on her contactless, that would give you a big --

>> yes, that would give me some direction. >> a lot of numbers to compare. but then he got lucky. really lucky! maybe 150 numbers into a search, but there was. a match. >> it said, reggie. >> the call was placed at 8:20 pm. >> and it was a 22nd call. so, richard left the grandparents house at about 8:15. that's about a 50-minute drive from the grandparents house to the park. we got there around 8:30. we got 30, 30 he was killed as soon as he stepped out of his truck. so, you're looking at him dying sometime right around 8:30 to 8:45. so there's a call from reggie in stacey's contact-less at 8:40 pm on the night of the murder. >> but, who was ready? >> under reggie's company's name it said, mister results. >> so, franklin's next step, naturally --

>> and i simply googled, mr. results. and the first week was mr. results personal trading. >> his name was original coleman, former semi professional boxer. and he held workout sessions at stacey's office. and, detective franklin looked at the number reggie called. >> and i should've already recognized, because i already had in my notes, because it was -- >> the lynitra ross, the woman who claimed that she retrieved $10,000 from stacey for house repairs. within three weeks of the murder. now, the trolls warm. very warm. he pulled phone records for all three. reggie, lynitra and stacey. come through hundreds of calls and texts until -- >> a very interesting sequence of calls actually emerged from that. >> a sequence on february 14th. it went like this, at 6:42 pm reggie called lynitra. at 6:45 lynitra called stacey. at 6:48 lynitra called reggie back. >> in my mind, reggie called lynitra and said -- >> and then lynitra called stacey and confirming yes here, i don't have the money. and then lynitra calling back and saying yes, go back there. >> and after that, no more calls.

until 8:40 pm when reggie call two lynitra captured by the tower near the crime scene. >> the call at 8:40 pm to lynitra ross was reggie coleman saying, yes it's done. >> and, then this at 9 pm, lynitra sent stacy a text, happy valentine's day, it's said. >> is that a code? >> it was. >> quote for, it's done. he's dead. almost there now. all he needed was the money trail to prove murder for hire. so, bank records this time. >> it was the same tedious work as the cell phone records. >> guess what? that $10,000 that stacey transfer to lynitra supposedly from a real estate account for home repairs -- only 1800 when into. the rest one into lynitra ruckus, lynitra wrote reggie a check for $700. >> -- that's the whole thing that come together that. point reggie was a -- under lynitra ross. and the mastermind, stacey. >> three months after the valentine's day murder, richard schoeck, lynitra ross, reggie coleman, and stacey schoeck were arrested and charged with

murder. but then -- >> i told stacey, we could fight this-- >> the surprise was coming -- surprises, more than one. stacy had a story to tell. >> coming up -- is there ever an excuse for murder? >> having lived through that, i was never going to let it happen to my kids. >> when dateline continues. wow. i'm sorry, what was that? it's good. oh, the almond breeze i bought for you that you've never had before now? yes. that i got you last week, that you said you wouldn't try. and now you're drinking and enjoying, that almond breeze? what's happening, dad? oh i think we both know what's happening.

they get delicious taste and 50% more calcium. you get all the credit. blue diamond almond breeze. don't just milk it. almond milk it. mom. can we get a puppy, mom? please? girls, pets are a big expense. aww. [ audience cheers ] maybe try switching your car insurance to progressive. you could save hundreds. [ audience laughter ] thanks, tv dad. we'll think about it, okay? look what i found. -a puppy! -a puppy! oh, no, no. i wish tv dad was always in charge. [ dog barks, audience laughter ] listen to your tv dad. drivers who switch and save with progressive save nearly $700 on average. alice loves the scent of gain so much, she wished there was a way to make it last longer. say hello to your fairy godmother, alice.

and, long lasting gain scent beads. try gain odor defense. be gone, smelly everything! ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ voltaren. the joy of movement. ♪ ...i'm over 45. ♪ ♪ ♪ i realize i'm no spring chicken. ♪ ♪ i know what's right for me. ♪ ♪ i've got a plan to which i'm sticking. ♪ ♪ my doc wrote me the script. ♪ ♪ box came by mail. ♪ ♪ showed up on friday. ♪ ♪ i screened with cologuard and did it my way! ♪ cologuard is a one-of-a kind way to screen for colon cancer that's effective and non-invasive.

it's for people 45 plus at average risk, not high risk. false positive and negative results may occur. ask your provider for cologuard. ♪ (group) i did it my way! ♪ everything's changing so quickly. before the xfinity 10g network, we didn't have internet that let us play all at once. every device? in every room? why are you up here? when i was your age, we couldn't stream a movie when the power went out. you're only a year older than me. you have no idea how good you've got it. huh? what a time to be alive. introducing the next generation 10g network. only from xfinity. the future starts now. ♪ every search you make ♪ ♪ every click you take ♪ ♪ i'll be watching you ♪ - [narrator] the internet doesn't have to be so creepy, the duckduckgo app, lets you search and browse pria blocking most trackers all forf your search history is never tracked, so it can't be shared. and when you leave search, duckduckgo helps keep companies from watching you as you brows. >> three months after stacy

join tens of millions of people making the easy switch by downloading the app today. duckduckgo, privacy simplified. (upbeat music) found her husband's bullet perforated body in belton bridge park, she and her alleged confederates went on arrest for murder. it was just crazy, did not make sense. a mother of three, club scout leader. surely she would come up with a defense when she met with her attorney max hearst, but no, that is not what happened. far from it. >> she laid it all of, she did not hesitate, she didn't minimize, she told me exactly what the plan was. >> the plan for murder. >> her lawyer, no surprise, had his own plan.

>> i told stacy that i already know how we would defend this case. >> she looked me straight in the eye, without hesitation and said no. the gig is up. either this, when i did was, wrong normalize. >> stacy wanted to confess, it took a while to a range, but seven months after the murder, with the recorder running, confessed she did. >> i am not going to keep a line, i am don, i'm don. >> it all started over lunch with let nature said stacey when she told her friend that she wished her husband was dead. and she offered the services of her sometimes boyfriend reggie. >> i was like reggie, she was like, yeah that's what he does, that's with how he supplements his income, he does jobs. >> so said stacey, lynitra arranged for the three of them to meet and reggie agreed to kill richard. >> i was like how much cash, he was like i'm thinking around $10,000. i said okay.

>> that was the $10,000 that stacey transferred to lynitra. she gave money to reggie. stacey also agreed to give the grandparents 2009 impala. yes, that impala. and a house. that lynitra was renting from her. a week later, all three went to scout the crime scene. >> yeah, this is the perfect place. and even made a comment that might have to use this place more often. >> but the night of the murder said stacey, reggie bought the plan. >> it was supposed to be a robbery, as what he said, was supposed to be one shot to that. i said i don't want him to suffer, i don't want him to see anything. >> but why would she possibly want to have richard killed. but for that question, stacy offered the story.

things started clicking in my brain with what was happening to my kids and family. and i was convinced that my kids were being harmed. >> stacy said that she believed richard was molesting her sons. that they were acting out and there was something one of them told her. >> you don't know what he does to me when you are not here. that kind of stuff stuck in my brain for sure. >> to her, there was just one solution. i did not want please, i did not want to divorce, i just wanted him dead. and so here it was, her reason for murder. stacy said that she had been molested as a child repeatedly and ashley knew what it was like. >> having lived through that, i was never going to let it happen to my kids. >> did you ask the boys? >> not directly enough. not that. i have since. >> it was after her arrest, her sons asked her why, but would make you want to hurt him. and she explained. >> people touched me in a bad way when i was a kid and i reacted in certain ways and sometimes you're behaviors made me worried that you were getting touched on a bad. with >> the song that made that

earlier statement to his mother responded devastated. >> he said no, i'm sorry, i exaggerated. and i'm sorry i said those things, i blew things out of proportion mall. >> stacy was wrong, there was no abuse. >> that's a hard thing to deal with too, because now he has killed. >> but was the motive that she admitted real, it was a more venal truth still withheld. they would be an answer, just not quite yet. >> we asked for an interview with stacey, but prison rules will not allow it, so her attorney spoke on her behalf. >> she understands completely what she did, she understands it was her fault that richard

is dead. she does not have excuses. >> stacy pleaded guilty to murder and reggie did the same. lynitra stood trial and was found guilty and all were sentenced to life in prison without parole. the case solved. three convictions for the detective who poured through phone numbers and sniff down a murder for hire case. >> when your gut tells you something, you should go with it, and if it makes sense, then that is probably what it is. >> pretty obvious, asking where this fits in your catalog of cases. >> never been another one like it, i hope not. and now finally, the last omission. a few days after stacey was sent away, richard's sister karen went to see her, glare that stacey through the glass partition, she did not buy

stacey's story about a reason for killing richard. >> i said okay, stacy, this is a, i want to know, and i said no bull, no lives, i want to know why you had richard killed. >> it was a long pause, and then, i wouldn't game. >> she said, because of my actions back then and because of the way i was living my life, i knew that i could not divorce richard. because of ida forced richard, he would have enough of a chance to get custody of my kids, which he had adopted legally. and i could not let that happen. and i looked at her, and i said thank you, and i hung up the phone. >> but, if the answer satisfied

some need to know, the pain was and is no different. richard chirac is that, is quirkiness, adventurous spirit, devotion to those boycotts, all gone. >> we had a thing, it was called a richard file, if it wasn't stocked up and burning bright in the flames, almost leaking the treetops, it wasn't a good fire. so if you want a richard, fire that's the fire you've got to have. and when we are at scouting events, we have the big fire in the smoke coming up, we'll talk about richard. >> that is all for this edition of dateline, i'm natalie morales, thank you for watching. this sunday, skyfall. u.s. fighter jets shoot downmore mysterious high-flying