>> david and alicia say that when lajoya disappeared, josé told the kids she had abandoned them. >> you've told them the truth about what happened to her? >> they ask in certain ways. when i tell them i won't hide anything from you, i'll tell you as much as i can -- let me, the oldest son, he told me, my dad tricked us? >> i said, yeah, he did. >> your dad and tell you the truth, but we will? >> yes. yes. >> the truth about a woman who never gave up on herself for the future she wanted. >> that is all for this edition of dateline. andrea canning. thank you for watching. you for watching >> i'm andrea canning, and this is dateline. >> you get a knock at your

door. that would change your life? >> yeah. it was a pretty dark time. >> she was shocked, the last thing that you expect to hear is a police officer telling you that somebody is trying to kill her husband. >> it's a murder for hire. very serious. >> he offered me $50,000 to do this. i was not gonna let this happen. >> you are an undercover officer? >> the undercover hit man. i had to totally change how i acted, talked, everything. >> you sure you want this done? >> i'm positive. >> i am positive. i won it. >> one mistake could blow this whole of operation up? >> absolutely. >> the seconds or taking away. >> it was all or nothing. >> this is an important criminal. this is a soccer mom. >> hands. put your hands in the air. >> it was held. it was hell. ♪ ♪ ♪ >> hello and welcome to dateline, memorial day weekend in the town of east lake ohio is blissfully traditional. barbecues, boating, parades. but in 2011 there was something evil lurking beneath the service and it began with a startling 9-1-1 call. the caller had a hot tip about

an active murder for hire plot. but that was hardly the only surprising news that he had to share. here is the eastlake conspiracy! ♪ ♪ ♪ along the shores of majestic, lake erie. not far from cleveland. lies a little known city near east lake ohio. >> it's a suburb. decent size yards. >> and gorgeous waterfront views. it's a kind of place that folks settled to raise a family. quiet, and safe. >> you never hear about murder stuff like that. >> but that wholesome image was about to be shattered. >> basically, the gist of it was that he wants this guy dead. >> someone had murder on their mind and a deadly plot was brewing.

>> it's one of the things that you see on tv. >> you have to be evil to want to murder somebody else. >> it would all come crashing down on one family. >> it was hell. it was hell. >> but with those responsible slip through the detectives fingers? >> put your hands in the air. put your hands in the air, or you're both dead! ♪ ♪ ♪ >> it all began memorial day weekend, 2011. >> it's like police, stephanie. >> it was a friday evening when an unusual 9-1-1 call came into dispatch. >> i would approach at the club to, murder someone for $50,000. so, i need somebody out here. >> a murder for hire? in east lake? it was hard to believe. >> okay, what is your name. >> patrick. >> the dispatcher recognize the guy's name. he had lived in east lake for years. was a former army ranger and

was known to everyone at the station including the chief of police larry. >> how did you know the caller? >> he has been involved in a couple of minor incidents in our city. he was never a big problem but he is just somebody that we had dealt with in the past. and we knew him by face. >> so police were surprised what about the reason that he was calling. he wanted to report that somebody was planning a murder. >> and who approach to? you do you know? >> it's the father of one of my high school friends. >> how bizarre is that? for your police department? to get a call like that? >> it is extremely bizarre.

were pretty surprised by it. >> this is the land of soccer moms and children, and families? not something that you would expect. >> correct. we don't deal with stuff like that on a normal basis. >> did you believe it?

did you think that this was possible? >> well we definitely knew that it was worth looking into. >> police knew him well enough to know that he was not lying. so the dispatcher wanted to know more about this man offering pat money to kill someone. >> what's his name patrick? >> i'm not sure of his first name. but his last name is -- . >> sunbury? whoever he was just this desire to have somebody killed was a moment of anger. or jog taken wrong. but investigators needed to be sure. >> we definitely didn't want to ignore, and got from bed let something that happen. >> that's no joke, when you hear something like that happen on 9-1-1. >> no it's not. >> detective christopher now retired, was assigned the case. and swung into action. police called patrick sabo to come back to the station. >> i interviewed him. >> all right, today's dates is may 27 2011. >> he recorded the audio. >> i want you to tell me about how this transpired. the >> detective wasn't sure about what to expect but patrick believe that zombary was serious about the offer. >> he flat out offered me money to kill him. >> kill who? pat said that he was given a few details about the target. >> the subject that h

was so detailed. it seemed clear that this was no hoax. so they had to move fast, a man's life could be in danger. >> if we delay our own investigation and it would be carried out by a third or fourth party, then, it would just be tragic. >> you wanted to take control of the situation? >> absolutely. >> and that man finding the targ>> spite. hate. venom. vitriol. >> when dateline continues! >> if we delay our own investigation and it would be carried out by a third or fourth party, then, it would just be tragic. >> you wanted to take control of the situation? >> absolutely. >> and that man finding the target before it was too late. >> the first piece of the puzzle falls into place. but just how swiftly could detectives assemble all of the clues? coming up! >> we found out that he was a prominent businessman. >> target identified. a devoted husband. and dedicated dad of sex. >> just completely selfless. he was gonna do whatever it took to make sure that they

were okay. and they were taken care of. >> why would anybody want him dead? >> spite. hate. venom. vitriol. >> when dateline continues! ♪ ...by, you know how i feel. ♪ if you're tired of staring down your copd,... ♪ it's a new dawn, ♪ ♪ it's a new day... ♪ ...stop settling. ♪ ...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.

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believe that a man's life was at risk. but they needed more evidence

to be sure. >> it's a murder for hire. it is very serious. >> serious and also a puzzle. investigators were missing key pieces about the target. >> i was never given his name, or anything. he gave me a picture and his address. >> detectives ran a background check. and they learned the person who lived at that address was named, david. david was the target. >> we found out that he was a prominent businessman. a businessman who lived nearly 1000 miles away in gwinnett county, georgia. >> from what detectives could tell, david seem to have it all. a good job, a nice house. and a happy marriage with a new wife. >> it was a small wedding. intimate wedding. >> they had been married less than a year. but lonnie already felt like she had met her soulmate. >> and we had a really nice

connection. >> it was a second marriage for both lonnie and david. and the each had kids. david, for girls. lonnie, a son and daughter. >> where you both in the six children club. not always easy, but a lot of fun? >> yeah. i'll tell you. super fun. i loved having kids. >> lonnie described her love with david as wonderful. but said she never could've imagined the challenges that they would face together as a couple. how >> did you make david? >> we met at a work function. >> they both worked in the automotive industry and were attending a conference in las vegas with a neutral friend suggested they meet. >> there was an interesting connect. >> it was a bit shocking. i'll tell you, i have been on my own for just about two years. and was pretty well settled in that. >> you knew early on that david could be the one? >> yes. i knew early on. >> not to mention that i'm sure that you must have found him handsome. >> oh super handsome. i wasn't sure if i could talk about that. yes.

very much so. great smile, great eyes. but just an instant soulmate. >> but once the conference ended, reality quickly set in. >> if you look at a map and you go oh, you live in baltimore. i live in it manta. how does that work? >> david was also separated. going through a messy divorce. and figuring out a custody arrangement for his girls. who still lived with his acts. >> you had been through a divorce yourself? >> i had. >> did that help in giving him, david, advice about how to navigate these waters? >> i think so. early on in the friendship. i can remember encouraging him to try to try again. to do everything that they could to fight for the marriage. >> but lonnie said david assured her that there was no

hope for a reconciliation. so the next time that he was in atlanta for business, they went on the first date. >> we went to my church,. >> wow! that's a very wholesome first date! >> yeah. i knew that if that was not a connect it would be very difficult for us. >> it was a match made in heaven. a year and a half later, david and lonnie got engaged. >> my ring, was very special. he and the kids all went to pick it out. there are six diamonds around the center to represent each of the kids because it's not just a marriage for us, it's a marriage of our families. >> after they married, david and lonnie moved in together in georgia. david won custody of his oldest daughter. but his three other girls continue to live out of state with their mom. >> visitation in general was difficult from day one. >> things weren't easy with david's acts. but lonnie says that david flew to ohio to see his daughters whenever they could. >> he still went for every school event, every weekend

that he could get time with them. >> did that make you fall in love with him more? his dedication to his children? >> oh yeah. yeah. just completely selfless. and, he was gonna do whatever it took to make sure that they were okay. and that they were taking care of. supported. and loved. absolutely. >> great father. loving husband. successful businessman. it also seemed ideal. so why did david have a price on his head? that was a question that the police were asking. and patrick had the answers. he was about to tell detectives the rest of the story. including, why the man named zombary, want to david dead. >> just fight. hate. then. i'm vitriol. coming out of him. >> coming up! >> he wanted him dead! he didn't care how i did it, he didn't care what it was gonna cost. >> did he bring up how you are going to be paid and how much? >> yeah. he offered me the $50,000. >> who was this mysterious man named zombary? >> and who else was in on this murderous plot? >> this isn't an harvard criminal. this is a soccer mom! >> yes this is a someone who goes about their day like anybody else. she just wanted him dead. >> when dateline continues!

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he had been outside today

unthinkable and was still trying to wrap his head around. it >> i was like i cannot believe that this is going down. >> a man named zombary had offered him $50,000 to fly to georgia and kill david. but he was no hit man. >> i could not let anything happen to this man. they were serious. and no, it wasn't going down like that. >> he said that is why he called the police. >> if i said nothing, and did nothing, and saw tomorrow that david was on the tv dead because i did not do anything. it would be just as bad as me pulling the trigger. >> pat wanted to save david. not hurt him. and as he continued his interview with detectives. it was clear that there was much more to the story. especially when it came to zombary. >> i had never met this man. there was no reason for me to meet this man. >> nevertheless, pat told detectives that he agreed to the meetings as a favor to an old classroom mate named chrissy. al zombary was her dad. a 67 year old widower. in fact, he lived with his daughter and her children. >> how good friends were you with chrissy?

>> not very. we did not run in the same groups. >> so it was no surprise when they lost touch after graduation. pat joined the army and became a ranger. while she went to college, got married, and had children. >> she was fine. she had a contagious laugh. she was just somebody that i wanted to be around. >> karen was one of her closest friends. for years, they had lived on the same cul-de-sac and lay raise their kids together. >> how is she is a mom? >> she was awesome. >> and she was also a compassionate friend. karen says christie was a shoulder to cry on when her marriage fell apart. >> i would call her crying and she would come over. and she was just my rock through the whole thing. >> kristie, now a divorced mom of four girls needed a rock of her own. so she reached out to pat on facebook. and it had been 20 years since they had last seen each other. the chrissy that he talked to online seem to be unraveling. >> it would always turn into a poor me pity party. >> pat said that she spent most of the chats venting about her ex. >> every conversation would end up with her complaining about

how much her ex abused her, mentally, physically. pat told detectives that he did not know much about the acts. >> but he did know her married name. christine zombary meadow. turns out david was her ex husband. >> my advice to her was to move on. but she never wanted to listen. >> she says that the continued bitterness started to great on his nerves. my ex-husband. this >> my ex-husband. that he's this. he's that. blah blah. even in a joking matter. i said seek a your money, hire a hitman! when >> you have a six sense of humor? >> a little bit. it >> had assumed she got the joke. but this time she asked him to meet her father for lunch. and when he picked up pat for the meeting. >> before we could get out of the parking lot. he looked me dead in the eye. and he said, if i could shoot straight i would've killed the guy already. >> if there was any serious thought given to it because of what i said? i have to know? >> pat told police that his worst fears were confirmed at the restaurant when he offered money to kill him. >> he was nothing but despite, hate, venom, vitriol. coming out of him.

he wanted him dead. and he did not care how he did it, he did not care how it cost. >> did he bring up how you would be paid and how much? >> yes, he offered me the $50,000 to do this. and he offered this from the life insurance settlements that is payable to chrissy upon his death. >> did he say why you wear the chosen one? >> he they knew i was hurting for money. >> did she know that you are a former army ranger? >> yeah. i was pretty proud of getting into the rangers battalion. >> an army ranger is trying to kill. do you think that chrissy looked at your background and thought. maybe this is the right guy? >> she knew i had the capabilities to do it. her biggest mistake was thinking that i would. >> i mean this isn't a thug. this is not a hardened criminal. this is a soccer mom. >> yeah this is somebody who goes about their day like anybody else. she just wanted him dead. >> but the only prove that police had was password. and that wasn't enough to

arrest chrissy or her dad. >> we did not have enough evidence to go forward. >> so investigators came up with a clever plot to catch chrissy and her dad conspiring to kill david. and they had to act fast. the father and daughter wanted him killed right away. >> what we want to do is get a conversation on tape. that is the most important thing. >> but that could be difficult because chrissy's dad wasn't just some guy angry with his ex son in law. he had spent 26 years in law enforcement. he was a policeman! >> must have been surprising to you to learn that he was a former police officer? >> surprising is a good word. but, a little bit worried.

because he could see through what other people could not see-through. so, we had to really be careful and how we handled the investigation. >> one mistake, and the entire case could be ruined. or worse. someone could get hurt. would detectives be able to pull this off? >> it's time for police to flip the script. a new hitman enters the scene and take center stage. coming up!

>> this guy. he's done this before. >> who was the hitman going to be? the new hitman? >> that would be me. >> so, detective and playing the role of hitman? >> yes. >> one mistake could blow this whole operation. >> absolutely! something said wrong. an action done wrong. i had to totally change how i acted, talked, everything. >> when dateline continues! to help heal your skin from within. it helps block a key source of inflammation inside the body that can cause eczema. so adults can have long-lasting clearer skin and fast itch relief. serious allergic reactions can occur that can be severe. tell your doctor about new or worsening eye problems such as eye pain or vision changes including blurred vision, joint aches and pain, or a parasitic infection. don't change or stop asthma medicines without talking to your doctor. healing from within is a powerful thing. ask your eczema specialist how dupixent can help heal your skin from within. sometimes, the lows of bipolar depression feel darkest before dawn. with caplyta, there's a chance to let in the lyte.

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fatal police shooting of his 17-year-old boy. the mayor of a paris suburb also said he and his family were the targets of another fascination attempt when a car rammed into his home. meanwhile, the atf and d.c. police are offering a 20,000 dollar reward for information on suspects who targeted three businesses with explosives on sunday. now back to dateline. welcome back to dateline. i'm andrea canning. david, a devoted father of sex. was the target of a murder for hire plot. or at least that was the tip handed to investigators who believe that there was more to this unusual story. now, to unmask the people at

the core of the diabolical plot. police were about to launch a daring, undercover operation. continuing now with the eastlake conspiracy. >> it's like detectives needed to catch chrissy and her dad on tape. planning the murder of her ex. and they knew that the only person who could record that conversation was pat. >> how important was path to your plan? >> patrick was instrumental. >> was there a risk putting him in the middle of this? >> absolutely. there is always a risk. >> but pat made it clear to investigators, it was a risk that he was willing to take. >> i've jumped out of planes, what is the difference? you hop in your car. you've got a danger of dying. at least this way if i go, doing this. and went doing something pretty interesting. >> no longer just a concerned citizen calling 9-1-1. he was now a police informant. and his mission was clear. with the recording device in hand, keep chrissy and her dad talking about the murder plot. >> you need to record everywhere that is spoken? >> yes ma'am. >> and you're doing this on your own? >> yeah.

and then i just call them when i have a recording and they can pick it up. >> but before patrick did anything, detectives needed to be sure that david was safe. so they asked police in georgia to check on him. >> we had been contacted by the east lake police department and they notified us that they were midway through an investigation. >> stephen, a major with the police department sent officers to the house to observe from a distance. david was alive and well. but investigators did not want him to know that there was a threat against his life. not yet anyway. they had more work to do. >> they were concerned that notification of family would have at some point, have gotten back to christine. and the case would've been concluded prematurely. >> so they did not say a word. and kept an eye on david. >> it was very important for us to get the information at the right time, and make contact with him. >> before they launch their staying. detectives felt that there was still one thing that they had to do.

replace path as the hitman. police wanted one of their own on the inside. working undercover. >> and who is the hitman going to be? the new hit band. >> me. that would be me. >> so, detective and playing the role of hitman? >> yes. >> detective would play the role of vincent. a hit man with mob affiliations. >> like a movie script? >> it is a movie script. everything has to be laid out. you have to know what you are going to say before you say it. >> one mistake could blow this whole operation? >> absolutely. something said wrong. an action done wrong. anything that makes you look like a policeman? i had to totally change everything, how i acted. how i talked. oh my mannerisms. everything. >> it was now up to path to convince chris and her dad to outsource this murder to a professional hitman. armed with a recording device, pat says he scraped chrissy and told him all about vincent and the fee.

>> it really implicated her. >> but when he handed the recording over to the detective, there was a problem. >> i forgot to hit record. [laughs] >> it was a disappointing setback. but he rallied and called again. the very next day. >> kristie. >> hello? hey. >> hey. >> i'm at the airport. what's up? >> okay. remember that guy told you about? >> yeah. >> okay, well, i talk to him. so it's, now it's no longer a hypothetical situation. it's a real situation. >> okay. >> chrissy seemed unfazed by the idea of a new hitman. and when pat mentioned that he wanted to meet her elderly dad. that seemed fine too. >> all right, so that still gonna call me tonight at like, or he's gonna skate me? >> yeah. it will have to be him skipping you. >> okay, we'll sky plater. and i will talk to him. and we will set something up to meet me and vince. >> okay.

>> later that night, pat spoke with her dad and played up all the of the reasons that vince was the perfect person to carry out the plan. >> this guy, vince. he is, he's done this, he's done this before. i mean, he spent time in prison in california. he is, put it this way. the dude scares out of me. i told chrissy, this guy wants to be tomorrow. okay? >> okay. >> and just like that. vince was in. they discussed his retainer. >> like i told chrissy, he wanted to a bid from 2000 down to 3000 down. will that be a problem? >> a little bit. >> i'm, well how much could you get tomorrow? >> tomorrow? i probably could get 3000 tomorrow if i had to. >> so far, everything was going

to according to plan. the detective was about to meet crises that face to face as vince, the hitman. everything had to be realistic. even his appearance. >> you look very nice and clean cut right now. how did you look? >> i was in, you know, carly davidson t-shirt. pair of jeans. >> you look like a hit man? >> yeah. i think i was pretty convincing on my look. >> power stock needs to convince her dad. enough that is on board to implicate himself on tape. the pressure was on. >> all right. what's going on here? >> coming up! >> are you sure you want this done? this is the father of your grandchildren. you understand? >> i understand. fully. >> okay. >> you've got the money. god bless. have fun. >> he saying have fun? >> basically.

yeah. he wanted to have me do it. >> a high wire staying. with sky-high stakes. >> he wants you to pretend that you are dead? >> yeah. i'm thinking to myself. i can't make this believable. how do i act dead? i'm not sure what i would look like dead. >> when dateline continues! this is what you want for your family portrait? good point. we bundled the boat with our home and auto first. -hey, team, get on in here. -team? oh. fun. now everyone say "24/7 financial protection with progressive"! 24/7 financial protection with progressive! okay. let's get some singles of me on the bike. honey. yeah. [ leaf blower whirring ] detective chris had set the

stage for his undercover

operation. he was about to meet crises that for the first time. posing as vince, the hitman. and he needed two things to happen. >> the first element was to meet with al zombary, to make the head for hire. the second one was the transfer of money to me. to solidify the deal >> the meeting was in detectives car. which was wired, and parked in an empty lot. >> so a meeting with suspect al zombary, on a murder for hire. >> pat arrived with zombary to make the introduction. then stepped away to make the two man talk alone. >> all right, so what's going on here? he gives me a picture of some guy named david. >> he divorce my daughter. and he is pulling some real stuff on her. okay? he took one kid. >> okay. >> he's threatening to take the rest of them. >> zombary only focus was finalizing the contract on david's life. >> i've got three grand here. >> are you sure you want this done?

because once you give it to me. this is the father of your grandchildren. right here >> i've got three grand here. >> are you sure you want this done? because once you give it to me. this is the father of your grandchildren. >> yes. >> yeah, but this is the father of your grandchildren. you understand? >> i understand. fully. more so than you think. >> what made you think of killing this guy? >> what made me? >> yeah. >> why not is the only answer that i have. he's such a scumbag. >> okay. >> is that it? >> that's it. >> you've got the money. god bless. have fun. >> the father of his grandchildren and he's saying have fun? >> basically, yeah. he just wanted to have me do it. >> why not arrest him right then and there? >> the case was not as solid as i wanted it. i wanted chrissy because chrissy is the one that set this up. >> you believe that chrissy was the mastermind? >> there is no doubt in my mind. >> but the time to prove it was running out.

chrissy and her dad wanted david killed in the next few days. both had agreed to meet with vince once it was done. >> they had to establish proof that he had been killed. and that the contract had been completed. >> detectives knew that there was only one person who could make it happen, david himself. east lake police sent major shock when they took him home to break the news that there was price on david's head. but there was a problem. >> i said, i'm sorry, he's out of town. he's gone to florida for business. >> at that point, we were forced to loop her into what was going on in order for her to make contact with david for us. >> she called david immediately and told him the horrifying story. and it was horrifying, just ask david. >> why would my ex-wife ever do this? i know that she hates me. but i can't imagine being hated so much that something like this could be real.

>> david's 17-year marriage to chrissy flashed before his eyes, a once happy household that had turned so bitter. >> where we started to falter was when my career started really taking shape, and i had opportunities to leave ohio. >> chrissy hated living far from her parents, and the marriage eventually fell apart. david says that they separated and that's when things turned ugly. >> i am immediately became a wifebeater, a child beater, and pretty much anything else that she could accuse me of. >> david says her accusations against him are completely untrue. according to david, she was the one who tormented him. he recalls a phone call from her at the height of their divorce and custody battle. it's a call that still haunts him to this day.

>> i was living in this apartment building that was up on the tenth floor. i remember the words that came out of her mouth during this conversation. we don't miss you. the girls don't need you. and you're worth more to us dead then you are alive. you should just jump. >> wow. >> i fell on my knees. i remember praying and hoping for something to change. >> david remarried. by then, chrissy had moved back to ohio with the kids. but david says that the problems with his ex got worse, especially between chrissy and her daughters. so he and lonnie decided to fight for primary custody. >> i told her that there was a high likelihood that i was going to get the girls. >> now, david was left to wonder, was the murder for hire some sort of custody revenge? with the clock ticking, there was no time to process.

major shawn needed david to do something crazy, stage his own death. >> the detective gets on the phone and his words were i need you to take pictures of yourself. >> pictures the police plan to photoshop to make it look that david had been shot in the head. >> he wants you to pretend that you are dead? >> right. i'm thinking to myself, i can't make these believable. how do i act dead? i'm not sure what i would look like dead. >> we needed to expose certain parts of his head to place the gunshot wound on it. >> david needed to hurry. chrissy and her dad were supposed to meet the hitman, vince, in a few hours. so david snapped a few photos and sent them to major shawn. it was then up to a csi take to make it believable. >> we have a crime analyst who is able to make it sufficient. >> they added a gunshot wound and blood spatter to the

pictures, but it was far from perfect. major shaw's on the multi easily police. >> were they happy with it? >> i don't know if they had a choice. they were scheduled to meet. >> back in ohio, adrenaline was high as detectives prepared for their final undercover sting. >> this was high stakes. this had to work. >> yes. this had to work. >> but bowersock says chrissy got cold feet. she told pat she wanted to back out of the meeting. >> this is a huge problem. my job is to make sure that she is there. now she doesn't want to be there. >> what kind of guidance do you give him to get things back on track, to get chrissy there? >> to make her believe that one, she hired some buddy to kill somebody who just dead. and this killer is telling her she better show up. >> put the fear of jesus in her. why not put the fear of vinnie in her? and she's like, yeah you're right. >> the plan was back on track. unmarked cars were stationed

near the parking lot. >> i'm already posted at the end of the drive. >> ready to swoop in, if needed. >> and it's all coming down to this moment? >> one moment. and i was holding my breath in the car. >> would chrissy show? or would she slipthrough the detective's fingers? coming up -- >> does it look like an accident? >> the big photo finish. would this picture convince anyone? >> do you worry that he's gonna look at this and say, no? >> yeah. he's seen crime scenes before. so i did it as quick as i possibly could. >> just let me see it. >> i was holding my breath in the car. >> when dateline continues. tool that gives you a mop and bucket clean in half the time. our new cleaning pad has hundreds of scrubbing strips- that absorb and lock dirt away, ( ♪♪ ) and it has a 360-degree swivel head- that goes places a regular mop just can't. so, you can clean your home faster than ever. don't mop harder, mop smarter, with the new swiffer powermop.

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an elaborate sting was underway, chrissy believed she was meeting with hired assassin vince to attain proof that her husband was dead. what she didn't know was that vince was an undercover policeman posing as a hitman. though risky operation held in the balance, and it hinged on a single photoshop selfie. now, the conclusion of the eastlake conspiracy. >> it was the moment of truth for eastlake detectives, the final undercover meeting with chrissy and our. detectives had plenty of evidence on chrissy's dad, but in order to get chrissy, they needed her to show up too.

>> i was holding my breath in the car, when they were showing up, and making sure that i could see three heads in the car. >> father and daughter had already been told david was dead. and they arrived at the parking lot with pat to see the proof, that doctored photo of david. >> as soon as we pull in. i say, well, look over there. you guys do what you're gonna do. >> chrissy and her dad got into the car. it was the first time that the detective was meeting her. >> how are you guys doing? >> good morning. >> police needed chrissy to admit that she was the one who would pay the rest of the hitman's fee. so right off the bat, bauer asked her about the life insurance policy that she had on david. >> how much is the policy for? 1.5 million? i'm just kind of curious. especially for you. this is your father.

this is the father of your kids. i went over this with your dad. >> how want to see the photo, the proof that david was dead. >> do you worry that he's going to look at this and say no? >> well, yeah. he's seen crime scenes before. so i did it as quick as i possibly could. >> okay. >> the photo worked. zombary believed his former son-in-law was dead. he didn't want his daughter to look at the picture. chrissy was interested in the details of the murder. >> does it look like an accident? >> no. >> i mean does it look like he was mugged? >> no, no. don't even bring it up. she doesn't want to see it. >> i shot him in the head, like you guys wanted me to. >> okay. >> he's done. >> he's done, and with those two words the sting was over and the calvary rushed in. >> put your hands in the air! >> puts the hands in the air or your both dead! >> what did you guys do? >> did you set me up? >> no. no. >> chrissy and her dad were

handcuffed and taken to the station. and when they sat down with investigators, al started talking. >> you are here for conspiracy to commit aggravated murder. >> who? >> what do you mean who? >> you're saying you got everything figured out. who? >> ihow about your ex son in law. how does that sound? >> well, he should have been murdered. >> that interview quickly ended after zombary asked for a attorney. and when it was chrissy's turn, she acted oblivious to it all. >> do you know why you're being charged? >> and being charged. >> with conspiracy to commit murder. but it's first degree. >> i understand. >> in the state of ohio? >> i don't need to tell you anything. >> but seven months later, when it became time for chrissie's trials, the defense strategy was simple.

chrissy blamed her father. judge eugene presided over the trial. >> the defense tried to show that this was all al's doing. he snooped in christine's unsecured laptop. >> the defense said zombary saw the facebook conversation between chrissy and pat, the one where he joked about hiring a hitman. they said it was zombary who wanted to arrange the meeting with pat. >> christine said she did not know the purpose of the meeting. and all she was doing was her father's bidding. >> chrissy took the stand to tell the jurors exactly that, and that she never wanted to meet the hitman, but was pressured by pat. >> it was him telling me to do something that i did not want to do. he was getting forceful with it, telling me vince knew where i lived.

>> if chrissy sounded guilty and that undercover recording, she says she was playing along out of fear of what vince might do. >> i started getting scared. that this man was going to show up at my door, that this man will kill, that this man will hurt my children. >> you want david killed? >> never. >> but prosecutors said that chrissy knew exactly what she was doing, they said that the proof was in that undercover recording from the final sting. >> does it look like an accident? >> no. no. >> what does vinnie tell her? i shot him in the head like you wanted me to. what does this woman say? okay. >> the state closed with this, killing david was a win-win for chrissy. she would get the proceeds of his insurance policy, and something else. custody, she would get to keep the four girls. >> were you concerned that there was a chance that chrissy would be found not guilty? >> we were still both very

anxious. >> after weeks of testimony, the jury started deliberations. and in just a few hours, the verdict was in. >> we the jury find the defendant guilty. >> guilty of two counts of conspiracy to commit aggravated murder. >> what is that moment like for you after everything that you have been through? >> it was vindication. >> relief. >> she scared us. and she wasn't gonna be able to do that for a long time. >> nor was al. he took a plea deal, and died in prison after serving five years. chrissy declined our request for an interview. but in a statement that unexpectedly read like a confession, she wrote, in part, i was very wrong in my actions and i am paying dearly. anyone who has been through a divorce that never ends can understand that i was at the end of my rope. she was sentenced to ten years, her approaching release date seem to weigh on david and lonnie. >> my hope is that the prison

system has done its job. and she will try to be real acclimated into a normal life. >> lonnie, you are getting upset just talking about it. >> yeah. i don't think that she has learned anything. from this experience. >> chrissy was released from prison in 2021. lonnie and david aren't dwelling on this chapter of their past. they know the challenges they faced are unusual, but they use their story to council other couples facing obstacles. and they said that they are stronger today as a couple and as a family. >> when you talk with each one of the girls, their mother's lonnie. >> after the trial, david had christie's protect parental rights terminated. >> lonnie, you go on to adopt these girls. and welcome them into your heart with open arms. >> yeah, i mean. i always actually wanted a lot of kids. and here i get to have four more. >> david and lonnie say this

chapter of their lives may not have been possible without pat. >> i think the best way that i can show thanks to patrick's to show how our family has risen far above this. from a moment in time that he had control of. >> i have seen the beauty of these two people. especially lonnie. she adopted those girls. good people, does my heart good to see that, knowing i did the right thing. >> that's all for this edition of dateline. i'm andrea canning. thank you for watching. >> i'm andrea canning, and this is dateline. >> i walk in the front door,