Vengeance in Vegas | Full Episode

Full Episodes | "48 Hours"
2 Apr 202442:03

Summary

TLDRThe tragic story of Shauna Tia, a Las Vegas cocktail waitress, unfolds as her life is brutally cut short in her own home. The investigation reveals a complex web of relationships and deceit, pointing to her husband, George Tif, as the mastermind behind her murder. With the help of key witnesses and a dramatic turn of events, the truth behind the perfect crime unravels, leading to a gripping courtroom drama and a quest for justice.

Takeaways

  • 🎰 Las Vegas is often referred to as the 'adult Disneyland', a city of glitz, glamour, and entertainment.
  • 👥 Behind the scenes, there is a community of hardworking individuals who keep the city running, often overshadowed by the flashy lifestyle.
  • 💔 The story revolves around the tragic murder of Shauna T., a beloved cocktail waitress, in her own home.
  • 🕵️‍♂️ The investigation is led by detectives Dan Long and Terry Miller from the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, who initially see George, Shauna's husband, as the prime suspect.
  • 🛑 George has an airtight alibi, as he was at work during the time of the murder, leading the detectives to explore other leads.
  • 📞 A crucial tip comes from William Penx, also known as 'Big Will', who claims that his friend 'Greyhound' confessed to the murder.
  • 🔍 The detectives follow the lead and discover evidence linking Greyhound, whose real name is Nol Stevens, to the crime, including a bloody pair of pants and a matching hammer.
  • 💬 Nol Stevens confesses to the murder but implicates George T. as the mastermind behind the plot, claiming George paid him to commit the crime.
  • 💭 The trial focuses on the credibility of Nol Stevens as a witness, given his criminal background and mental health issues.
  • ⚖️ Despite the challenges, the jury finds George T. guilty of conspiracy to commit murder and first-degree murder, and he is sentenced to life in prison without parole.
  • 🌟 The case highlights the importance of thorough investigation, the pursuit of justice, and the impact of violence on families and communities.

Q & A

  • What was the relationship between George and Shauna?

    -George and Shauna were married, and they had a daughter named Maddie. Their relationship was initially strong, but it began to deteriorate after George lost money in the housing market crash, leading to jealousy, control, and criticism towards Shauna.

  • What was Shauna's occupation and how did it affect her relationship with George?

    -Shauna worked as a cocktail waitress at a casino, which brought in a significant income. However, George became jealous and controlling when she would get dressed for work, causing tension in their relationship.

  • How did George's financial situation influence his behavior towards Shauna?

    -After losing money in the housing market crash, George became jealous, controlling, and critical of Shauna. He would make hurtful comments about her appearance when she got dressed for work, which caused emotional distress for Shauna.

  • What was the significance of the homeless man that George brought into their lives?

    -The homeless man caused friction in the TFA marriage. Shauna and her friends found him creepy, and his presence in their home was a source of conflict between Shauna and George.

  • What event led to the police becoming involved in Shauna's life before her murder?

    -Shauna's townhouse was burglarized weeks before her murder. Her wedding ring was stolen, and a pair of her bathing suit bottoms were taken, while a pair of size small boxer shorts was left behind.

  • Who was the key witness in the murder investigation and how did he come forward?

    -The key witness was William Penx, also known as Big Will. He came forward after a friend confessed to him about murdering a woman. Big Will felt compelled to report this information to the police, leading to the eventual arrest of the murderer.

  • What was the motive behind Shauna's murder?

    -The motive behind Shauna's murder was believed to be financial. Shauna was a spender, enjoying new floors, carpets, and home renovations, while George preferred to save money. This difference in spending habits may have driven George to the extreme measure of murder.

  • How did the police initially react to Big Will's information about the murder?

    -Initially, the police were skeptical about Big Will's information. However, they felt compelled to investigate, leading them to the suspect, Greyhound, and eventually uncovering evidence that supported Big Will's claims.

  • What was the relationship between George and the man accused of murdering Shauna, Nol Stevens?

    -Nol Stevens was a homeless handyman who had a complicated relationship with George. Stevens idolized George and believed they were close friends. However, detectives believed that George manipulated Stevens, possibly using him as a pawn in the murder plot.

  • What evidence was found at Nol Stevens's campsite that linked him to Shauna's murder?

    -At Nol Stevens's campsite, detectives found a pair of bloody pants belonging to Stevens, which tested positive for Shauna's blood. They also found a barcode tag that matched the style of hammer used in the murder.

  • How did George TFA react when he was arrested for the murder of his wife?

    -When George TFA was arrested for the murder of his wife, he simply looked up from his hospital bed and said 'okay.' He maintained his innocence throughout the trial.

  • What was the outcome of George TFA's trial?

    -George TFA was found guilty of conspiracy to commit murder and first-degree murder. He was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.

Outlines

00:00

🎰 Las Vegas: Playground and Community

Las Vegas is described as the adult Disneyland, a place where people come to play and have fun. However, behind the glitz and glamour, there's a hardworking community that services this environment, running banks, police departments, and fire stations. The paragraph introduces George, a kind and generous person who is well-liked and admired by his peers. It also introduces Shauna, a fun-loving and hardworking woman who met George in the casino environment. Their daughter, Maddie, completes their family, making them a beloved trio. The paragraph takes a dark turn when it discusses Shauna's tragic murder in her own home, highlighting the fear and concern this event caused within the community.

05:03

💔 The Tragic Love Story of George and Shauna

This paragraph delves into the relationship between George and Shauna, detailing their meeting at the Palms and their subsequent marriage. It paints a picture of a seemingly perfect couple, with Shauna being a successful cocktail waitress and George being a charismatic and handsome West Point graduate. However, the narrative takes a grim turn, revealing that their marriage started to deteriorate after the housing market crash, with George becoming controlling and critical of Shauna. The paragraph ends with the separation of George and Shauna and the decision to seek marriage counseling, just before the tragic events leading to Shauna's murder.

10:05

🕵️‍♂️ The Investigation: A Complex Web of Clues

The focus of this paragraph is the investigation into Shauna's murder. It introduces William 'Big Will' Penx, who receives a confession from the actual murderer, a man known as 'Greyhound'. The paragraph details the efforts of the investigators, Dan Long and Terry Miller, as they follow leads and uncover crucial evidence. This includes the discovery of Shauna's wedding ring missing after a burglary, the identification of Greyhound, and the connection between Greyhound and George, who had previously caused friction in Shauna and George's marriage. The paragraph ends with the police closing in on Greyhound, building a strong case against him.

15:08

📞 The Fateful Call: A Break in the Case

This paragraph focuses on the pivotal moment when Big Will decides to call the police after hearing Greyhound's confession. Initially skeptical, detectives Long and Miller decide to investigate, leading them to Greyhound's campsite. Here, they find bloody pants and a barcode tag that matches the hammer used in the murder. The paragraph also reveals the complex relationship between Greyhound and George, with numerous phone calls between them before the murder. The detectives' discovery of a video showing George and Greyhound shopping for hammers together provides a definitive link between the two men, solidifying the case against George.

20:13

🚔 The Arrest and the Aftermath

The paragraph describes the dramatic arrest of George after his sister's call to the police. George's attempt to flee and subsequent car crash, which the police believe was a suicide attempt, is detailed. He survives the crash and is arrested at the hospital. The paragraph also covers the charges against both George and Greyhound, and the emotional turmoil experienced by Shauna's family and friends. The narrative highlights the relief felt by Shauna's loved ones upon George's arrest, but also the uncertainty and fear about the upcoming trial and its outcome.

25:13

🎭 The Trial: A Battle of Evidence and Character

This paragraph focuses on the trial of George TFA, presenting the challenges faced by both the prosecution and defense. The defense argues that there is only circumstantial evidence, while the prosecution emphasizes the numerous phone calls between George and NL Stevens. The paragraph also discusses the character of George, his inability to cope with the crumbling marriage, and his desire for control. The prosecution's key witness, NL Stevens, is described as an unreliable witness due to his mental health and criminal history, but the jury ultimately finds George guilty on all counts.

30:16

🏆 Justice Served: The Verdict and Sentencing

The paragraph details the tense moments leading up to the verdict in George's trial. The family's anticipation and anxiety are palpable as they await the jury's decision. The verdict finds George guilty on seven counts, including conspiracy to commit murder and first-degree murder. The sentencing phase follows, with the jury deciding on life in prison without the possibility of parole. The reactions of both Shauna's family, who find closure in the verdict, and George's supporters, who continue to stand by him, are highlighted. The paragraph concludes with a focus on the impact of the verdict on Shauna and George's daughter, Maddie.

35:17

🌈 Hope and Healing: The Future for Maddie

This final paragraph centers on Maddie, Shauna and George's daughter, who has lost both parents. It discusses the concerns of Shauna's family, Paula and John, who worry about Maddie's well-being and future. Maddie currently lives with George's mother, and Paula and John visit her often. They express their intention to explain the truth about her parents when she is older. The paragraph ends with a poignant moment where Maddie reflects on her mother, Shauna, with laughter and joy, capturing the deep bond they shared.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Las Vegas

Las Vegas is depicted as a city of contrast in the video. Known as the 'adult Disneyland,' it represents a place of entertainment and glamour where people come to escape and have fun. However, the video also highlights the darker side of the city, where the murder of Shauna T. took place, showing that beneath the glitz and glamour, there lies a more sinister and dangerous reality.

💡Casino environment

The casino environment is a central setting in the video, serving as both a place of employment and social interaction for the characters. It is where Shauna T. worked as a cocktail waitress and met her future husband, George T., but it also becomes associated with the fear and danger that emerged after her murder, as the characters suspect that someone might be targeting casino workers.

💡Murder

The murder is the central event around which the narrative of the video revolves. It is a tragic and violent act that results in the loss of a life and has profound emotional and legal consequences for the victim's family, friends, and the community. The term 'murder' in this context refers to the premeditated and unlawful killing of Shauna T., which sets off a complex investigation and legal proceedings.

💡Investigation

The investigation is the process of gathering evidence, interviewing witnesses, and following leads to uncover the truth behind a crime. In the video, the investigation is portrayed as a meticulous and challenging endeavor, involving the police and detectives who work tirelessly to piece together the events leading up to the murder and identify the perpetrator.

💡Alibi

An alibi is a form of evidence or a circumstance that demonstrates that a person was not present at the scene of a crime when it occurred, thereby making it impossible for them to have committed the crime. In the context of the video, George T.'s alibi is crucial as it initially rules him out as a suspect in his wife's murder, as he was at work at the fire station at the time of the crime.

💡Marriage counselor

A marriage counselor is a professional who helps couples navigate through relationship issues and provides guidance and strategies to improve their marriage. In the video, the mention of a marriage counselor indicates that Shauna T. and George T. were attempting to resolve the problems in their relationship before her tragic death.

💡Homeless handyman

The term 'homeless handyman' refers to a person who, despite being without a permanent residence, offers services such as repairs and maintenance work. In the context of the video, the homeless handyman is Nol Stevens, who becomes a pivotal character as he is accused of being involved in the murder plot and is later revealed to have been hired to commit the crime.

💡Justice

Justice refers to the concept of fairness and the administration of the law, ensuring that the rights of individuals are upheld and that wrongdoers are held accountable for their actions. In the video, the pursuit of justice is a central theme as it details the efforts made by law enforcement and the legal system to bring the perpetrator(s) of Shauna T.'s murder to trial and secure a conviction.

💡Family dynamics

Family dynamics refer to the relationships, interactions, and behaviors within a family system. In the video, the family dynamics are complex and fraught with tension, particularly within the T. family, as they grapple with the aftermath of Shauna's murder and the suspicion cast on George T.

💡Mental illness

Mental illness refers to a wide range of mental health conditions that affect a person's mood, thinking, and behavior. In the context of the video, the mention of mental illness is significant as it pertains to Nol Stevens, the man accused of committing the murder. His mental state is a critical aspect considered during the trial, as it may impact the credibility of his testimony and the jury's perception of his involvement in the crime.

Highlights

Las Vegas is often referred to as the adult Disneyland, attracting people from all over the world seeking entertainment and excitement.

Behind the glamorous facade of Las Vegas lies a community of hardworking individuals who keep the city running, often overshadowed by the glitz and glamour.

George T. was known to be an all-around great guy, generous and kind, who helped others get jobs done efficiently.

Shauna T. was a fun-loving, hardworking cocktail waitress who was adored by her friends and family, and was described as always making people laugh.

Shauna and George met in the casino environment, and their relationship blossomed into a family with the birth of their daughter, Maddie.

Tragedy struck when Shauna was brutally murdered in her own home, beaten to death with a hammer by a killer who snuck up on her.

The investigation into Shauna's murder revealed a complex web of relationships and potential motives, including the involvement of a homeless man named Greyhound.

Greyhound, also known as n Stevens, was a friend of George's who was later identified as the murderer, acting allegedly under George's orders.

George T. had a strong alibi, as he was at work during the time of the murder, which initially made him less of a suspect.

The case took a dramatic turn when Big Will, a maintenance man who had been trying to live a straight life, came forward with crucial information about Greyhound's confession to the murder.

Detectives found evidence at Greyhound's campsite, including a bloody pair of pants and a hammer that matched the murder weapon.

Phone records showed a suspicious number of calls between George and Greyhound before the murder, indicating a possible conspiracy.

George was suspected of orchestrating the murder due to financial disagreements with Shauna and his desire for control over his daughter.

Despite the mounting evidence, George's family remained in staunch denial of his involvement in the crime.

In a shocking twist, George attempted to take his own life by crashing his truck at high speed, an act believed to be a suicide attempt due to the overwhelming evidence against him.

Greyhound, now a key witness for the prosecution, took the stand and detailed his relationship with George and the events leading up to the murder.

The defense attempted to discredit Greyhound's testimony due to his mental health issues and criminal history, but the jury ultimately found George guilty.

George was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole, a decision that was met with mixed reactions from those involved in the case.

The tragic story of Shauna's murder and the subsequent trial highlighted the complex dynamics between the victim, her husband, and the perpetrator, and the search for justice.

The case brought to light the importance of community and the actions of individuals like Big Will, who played a pivotal role in bringing the truth to the surface.

The impact of the murder extended beyond the immediate family, affecting the community and first responders who worked tirelessly to solve the case.

Transcripts

00:06

[Music]

00:10

Las Vegas is the adult Disneyland of the

00:13

world people come here to play adults

00:16

come here to play the other side of that

00:18

is there is a community

00:22

here that services that Glitz and

00:26

glamour that go to work 9 to5 run the

00:29

banks run the police department run the

00:31

fire department and have just steady

00:37

jobs that's George you know an

00:39

all-around great guy to hang out with he

00:41

and help you get the job done just a

00:43

very very kind generous and giving

00:46

person and that's the George T I

00:50

[Music]

00:51

know well Sean was so young at heart and

00:54

she was so fun and she always made me

00:56

laugh she looks like Barbie you know

00:59

blunt

01:00

beautiful always had the long hair you

01:04

know just looked perfect like a little

01:05

china

01:11

doll while George and Shauna met in the

01:14

casino environment he saw this blonde

01:18

person whizzing past him all the time

01:20

she was such a hard worker that he

01:22

really admired that she was his world

01:26

that was his his life and then when

01:28

their daughter came around they're just

01:30

the the cutest Trio ever at the beach

01:33

okay's first time at the beach turning

01:35

everybody around turning us around

01:37

Maddie was just the light of her life it

01:40

was really her number one

01:42

priority she was just all in you know

01:46

100% there and then a baby they were

01:49

like a little cocoon George was so

01:51

protective he waited on them hand and

01:53

foot he really

01:58

did

02:01

in the early morning hours on September

02:03

29th 2012 Shauna TF would have gotten

02:07

off work from being a cocktail waitress

02:09

at a local casino she went

02:12

home parked her car in the garage

02:15

entered her

02:17

house a killer snuck up behind her and

02:20

beat her to death with a

02:23

hammer inside her own living

02:26

room were you worried that someone was

02:29

targeting

02:30

Casino women

02:32

yes we were all so scared that you know

02:37

this person was still out there was

02:40

somebody stalking her was somebody

02:42

obsessed with

02:43

her maybe they're going to you know come

02:46

after one of

02:51

us I'm Peter vanand tonight on 48 Hours

02:56

Vengeance in

02:58

Vegas

03:01

[Music]

03:08

[Music]

03:22

Shauna Tia loved to laugh and sing with

03:26

her

03:28

daughter when she was with Maddie it was

03:31

like nothing else was going on around

03:34

her so dedicated and so

03:39

concerned Shauna's murder has been a

03:41

devastating loss for her sister Paula

03:44

Stokes Richards and her husband John she

03:48

just laughed at life you know she had

03:50

this innocence it's sad because I just

03:52

miss her and for something like this to

03:55

happen to her is just it's

03:58

unimaginable

04:01

[Music]

04:04

Shauna TFA a Mormon born in Salt Lake

04:07

City was 28 when she moved here to Las

04:10

Vegas but to Shauna Vegas was more than

04:13

one big glitzy party it was a city of

04:16

opportunity and it wasn't long before

04:19

she got a glamorous job as a cocktail

04:21

waitress at one of the hottest casinos

04:24

in

04:25

[Music]

04:28

town

04:30

she loved the Palms I think she really

04:33

felt like the Palms was a a family

04:36

environment which might sound contrary

04:38

to what you would think but I think the

04:40

the people that worked there were really

04:42

like family and they looked after each

04:44

other I never hardly saw like shaa with

04:46

a frown or anything she's just so bubbly

04:50

and laughing at everything Cindy Randy

04:53

and Sienna all worked alongside shaa for

04:56

about 10 years she love her job though

04:59

mhm she loved cocktailing and customers

05:02

love Shauna she made close to $100,000 a

05:06

year in salary and tips often paid in

05:09

casino chips which in Vegas is the same

05:12

as money in 2002 Shauna hit the jackpot

05:16

when she met George Tif at the Palms

05:19

George was a star athlete and homecoming

05:23

King at his California high school just

05:25

to look at him he's very handsome very

05:28

charismatic what more could you ask for

05:31

in fact George is a West Point graduate

05:34

who served in the Army Corps of

05:36

Engineers Maria and bernardet are

05:38

George's sisters he likes to serve

05:41

people that's what attracted him to

05:43

being a

05:44

fireman and George is so handsome he was

05:48

even featured in this firefighter pinup

05:50

calendar the old American Boy sounds

05:53

like yes he was he looked like it he

05:56

acted like it he was that guy his

05:59

sisters also say George is a devoted

06:02

family man who sent money home to help

06:04

their mom care for their disabled

06:07

younger sister if you need a helping

06:09

hand there he is George and shaa started

06:12

dating George was in love oh yeah Head

06:16

Over Heels yeah yeah she was his world

06:19

that was his life and life only got

06:22

better for George and

06:24

Shauna just one year into their

06:26

relationship Maddie was born hey there's

06:30

daddy there's Daddy and Mama and little

06:35

baby that's all of

06:37

us 3 years later they were married in

06:40

Hawaii Mama and Dad just got married

06:43

there's shaa

06:44

Castleton now she's TF look at that

06:47

dress on Mama woo what a smoking body

06:50

they really suited each other it was

06:52

really nice they're both hardworking

06:55

people they're both good-look people

06:57

they made a lovely couple but looks as

07:00

they say can be deceiving after two

07:03

happy years of marriage things started

07:06

to change when George lost money in the

07:08

housing market crash Shauna told friends

07:11

he had become jealous controlling and

07:14

critical of her he would tell her that

07:17

she dressed like a when she would

07:20

get dressed for work in front of Maddie

07:22

which of course would tear Shauna apart

07:26

you know for her little girl to hear

07:27

these things shaa also complained when

07:30

George brought a homeless man into their

07:32

lives who he paid to do odd jobs around

07:35

the house her friend Stephanie Vargas

07:39

she would call him creepy God he's so

07:40

creepy why is he around my house but

07:43

George's friend from West Point Rock

07:45

riter says he was as kind-hearted as he

07:48

was handsome and befriending the

07:50

Homeless was something he had done for

07:53

years every Thanksgiving he he'd be

07:55

serving soup to the homeless people just

07:57

a very very kind generous and giving

08:00

person but even though he had a gracious

08:03

heart the strains continued in the

08:05

marriage and after nearly 10 years of

08:07

being together she had enough and moved

08:10

into this townhouse they shared custody

08:13

of Maddie but Shauna was reluctant to

08:17

file for a divorce she was

08:19

sad her family was breaking up and this

08:22

isn't something that she wanted she

08:24

wanted the picket fence and the husband

08:27

and the

08:28

daughter she wanted the fairy tale and

08:32

the fairy tale was falling

08:35

[Music]

08:38

apart determined to save their marriage

08:41

shaa and George both agreed to start

08:44

seeing a marriage counselor I think

08:46

Shauna was an eternal optimist you know

08:48

she just kept hoping that things were

08:51

going to get

08:52

better then weeks before her murder

08:55

Shauna's townhouse was

08:57

burglarized her wedding ring was

09:00

missing strangely a pair of her bathing

09:03

suit bottoms were taken and strangest of

09:07

all the robber left something

09:10

behind a pair of boxer shorts size small

09:14

this Burg did it shake her up it did but

09:17

I just don't think that in her mind she

09:20

ever thought that any harm would come to

09:24

her but in an ominous twist of fate just

09:27

3 weeks later someone was back in her

09:30

house this time waiting for

09:35

her it is now the early morning hours of

09:38

September 29th

09:40

2012 this is Shauna seen on Casino

09:43

surveillance video clocking out at 3:01

09:47

a.m. these are the last images of her

09:50

life after a 30-minute Drive shaa

09:53

arrives home letting herself in through

09:56

the garage she enters in the a hallway

09:59

it's dark there's no light Dan long and

10:02

Terry Miller are investigators with the

10:04

Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department

10:07

she moves towards the stairway to go

10:09

upstairs to her bedroom when

10:13

suddenly shaa was attacked by someone

10:16

wielding a hammer her hands were up at

10:19

some point uh to protect her head in her

10:22

face her fingers were broken and she was

10:25

savagely beaten with this metal head of

10:29

that hammer until she was

10:32

dead at approximately 9:00 a.m. George

10:35

and Maddie arrived to pick something up

10:38

when they walked in and he discovered

10:40

Shauna's badly bludgeon

10:42

body George immediately called 911 911

10:47

emergency I think I need to report a

10:49

Breakin and a murder my

10:52

wife my wife is uh on the floor

10:57

bloody stiff not moving naturally George

11:01

is going to be our number one suspect a

11:04

woman that he's separated from he finds

11:07

dead inside of an apartment detective

11:08

Miller interviewed George in a police

11:11

car at the scene she was lying on the

11:14

floor she was covered in blood I just

11:17

want to die and she was surprised with

11:20

what he told her what shift did you work

11:23

yesterday a 24-hour shift he said he was

11:25

on call at the firehouse before he

11:28

picked mty up Maddie had spent the night

11:31

at her grandmother's house while Shauna

11:33

went to work he had an alibi and what

11:36

did that tell you he's not our

11:40

[Music]

11:54

[Music]

11:57

killer

11:59

it's not just Dan and I you want a full

12:02

mag in the weapon yeah we had our entire

12:04

team with

12:08

this muzzle Down lead detectives Terry

12:12

Miller and Dan Long of the Las Vegas

12:15

Metro Police had their work cut out for

12:21

them the obvious initial suspect in a

12:24

case like this is the husband but George

12:27

TFA had that airtight

12:31

Alibi they learned right away that he

12:34

was at work at the fire station and was

12:37

not the man that killed

12:42

Shauna Shauna's murder was brutal and

12:46

chilling I remember thinking do we have

12:49

a sexual predator and you got to be

12:52

wondering to yourselves do we have some

12:54

sort of monster out there on the streets

12:57

yes uh we're like who who are we looking

12:59

for are we looking for a male are we

13:01

looking for a

13:03

female but 48 hours into the

13:05

investigation detectives get a crucial

13:08

tip from an unlikely Source William penx

13:12

known as Big will I've been trying to

13:15

live a straight life under the hands of

13:17

the

13:18

Lord big will had lived in Las Vegas for

13:21

years working as a maintenance man at an

13:24

apartment

13:25

complex he got an urgent call from

13:29

friend he said uh big will I need to

13:31

talk to

13:32

you the friend came to see him and

13:35

dropped a

13:36

bombshell he just murdered a

13:40

woman when he told you that he had

13:43

killed this woman what was the

13:45

expression on his face he was happy

13:48

happy like he just completed a mission a

13:51

mission to where he's going to get paid

13:53

a lot of money he's going to leave town

13:56

and live a happy life like that did he

13:59

tell you how he killed this woman yeah

14:03

yeah he told me that he was laughing

14:06

when he said it he said

14:09

uh I hit this woman with a hammer over

14:12

and over and over and over until a

14:14

hammer broke the man who called Big will

14:17

was nicknamed Greyhound because he was

14:19

lean and fast and lived in a tent in the

14:22

Foothills far from the glittering lights

14:25

of downtown Greyhound was an excon and

14:28

big will was helping him straighten his

14:30

life out but after the two men spoke big

14:33

Will's Mission became bringing Greyhound

14:36

to Justice this is a damn

14:39

tragedy I said so if I hear this on the

14:43

news tomorrow morning the best thing I

14:46

can do is follow his tracks try to hunt

14:51

him

14:52

down so that I can try to bring some

14:56

kind of closure to This Woman's family a

14:58

gorgeous cocktail waitress a mother

15:01

brutally murdered in her own home that

15:04

was it a woman murdered and big will

15:07

knew exactly what he had to do he called

15:11

police at first detectives long and

15:14

Miller were skeptical initially I was

15:17

thinking to myself you've got to be

15:19

kidding me he is giving the story about

15:23

this man who lives up in the mountains

15:26

in a tent who is homeless and it's kind

15:29

of a crazy

15:30

story crazy but cops felt they had to

15:34

check it out big will told them

15:37

Greyhound often walks miles from his

15:39

desert tent to this Albertson's grocery

15:42

store where he'd been spotted before

15:45

stealing food so right away they went

15:48

with big will to look for him I got out

15:51

of the vehicle and went into to talk to

15:53

the Albertson's employees in hopes that

15:55

they would know who somebody named

15:57

Greyhound that matches this description

16:00

is Big will knew Greyhound sometimes

16:03

sold drugs at the Chevron station right

16:06

next door then a stroke of luck I see

16:12

Greyhound he says Hey Big will what you

16:14

doing over here so I said wait one

16:17

minute I'll be right back big will then

16:20

Whispers into my ear and goes that's

16:22

Grayhound we got lucky to the grace of

16:25

God he was there I'm like this can't be

16:27

happening I walk outside I want to get

16:30

as close as I can to him before he

16:31

identifies me as a police officer cops

16:34

identified themselves and immediately

16:36

find drugs in Greyhound's possession so

16:39

they take him to Police Headquarters and

16:42

he's volunteered to come to our office

16:44

and help us with their investigation

16:46

Greyhound's real name is n Stevens he

16:50

denies he has anything to do with Shauna

16:52

tfa's murder I have nothing to do with

16:55

it's not me you have the wrong guy he

16:57

tells us that he does live in the desert

16:59

he has a tent all right meet you there

17:01

all right while Greyhound is held on

17:04

drug charges a massive police searches

17:07

launched to find his

17:09

campsite Terry and I walked it that

17:12

fence we had to climb through that fence

17:13

that was

17:15

tough this case came down to shoe

17:17

leather we ran it all down right on top

17:20

of that little Hill was where his tent

17:25

was it was out here in these Rocky

17:29

Desert Foothills about 8 miles from the

17:32

Vegas Strip which is behind me the

17:34

detectives making their way through this

17:36

treacherous landscape discovered some

17:39

important evidence we brought a

17:41

helicopter with us and a bunch of people

17:43

to search and we searched every one of

17:45

these Hills remote remote yes I walked

17:49

past a small shrub and rolled up

17:51

underneath the shrub was a pair of pants

17:53

and looked out of place detective Sam

17:56

Smith had found a crucial piece of

17:58

evidence near the campsite a pair of

18:01

Stevens pants they were bloody police

18:04

tested them on the spot and what did you

18:07

learn later about the blood on those

18:09

jeans whose blood was it uh that was uh

18:11

Shauna tfa's

18:14

blood back at headquarters police

18:17

confronted no Stevens with what they had

18:19

found then they used an old trick to pry

18:23

more information out of him a lot of

18:26

people don't know this investigators are

18:28

allowed I'll use this word to mislead a

18:30

suspect no we're allowed to lie they

18:33

bluffed Greyhound saying someone

18:35

fingered him for the

18:38

murder Steven stuns the detectives by

18:41

admitting he killed Shauna TFA but why

18:46

more clues were found when police

18:48

examined nol Stevens's cell phone what

18:52

kind of numbers do you find on that

18:53

phone we find a guy by the name of

18:55

George in his cell phone and when we ask

18:58

him who's George he says that's my

19:00

friend the

19:01

firefighter George was George Tia

19:04

Shauna's husband and nol Stevens was

19:08

that Homeless handyman who had caused

19:10

friction in the TFA

19:13

marriage we looked at each other and

19:15

bing bing bing bing bing you hit this is

19:17

Vegas you just hit the all sevens right

19:20

yes exactly

19:24

[Music]

19:27

we

19:29

[Music]

19:38

there's mama she looking hot with the

19:39

shades on as soon as she heard about the

19:43

tragic murder of her beautiful sister

19:45

Paula Richards and her husband John

19:48

immediately had one suspect in mind look

19:51

at

19:53

everybody we all thought that George was

19:56

involved but we couldn't figure out

19:59

how he did it so they decided to call

20:02

George who was still standing outside

20:04

Shauna's townhouse with

20:07

police so I thought we need to record

20:12

this hello George yes' this this is

20:16

Paula can you tell me what's going

20:19

on son passed away and what did they do

20:23

to

20:26

her I don't no she's laying on the floor

20:29

with blood on her

20:31

head how is she still is Shauna's body

20:35

still

20:36

there yes I think

20:41

so there's Daddy and Mama George then

20:45

hands his cell phone to a grief

20:48

counselor no one else can hear what I'm

20:50

saying correct correct Paula then makes

20:53

a startling

20:56

accusation I have my suspicions that her

20:59

husband may be involved in this based

21:03

on you know many many conversations I've

21:05

had with my sister um I I highly suspect

21:10

that he may be

21:13

involved the day after the murder the

21:16

couple caught the first flight to Las

21:17

Vegas from Nashville when we landed on

21:22

the flight out to Las Vegas we had both

21:25

shifted into this investigator mode

21:27

while John and Paula were conducting

21:29

their amateur

21:32

investigation detectives Miller and long

21:34

were continuing their professional one

21:37

you see the telephone poles right along

21:40

there armed with a good luck charm a

21:43

casino chip that belonged to Shauna and

21:46

I said I want you to hold on to this

21:47

because this has allowed me to feel like

21:50

Shauna is near us and uh you can give it

21:53

back to me when you get an arrest soon

21:57

into their investig ation detectives had

21:59

discovered dozens of phone calls between

22:02

no and George before the

22:06

murder you said 87 calls that's that's

22:10

correct 87 phone calls in one month

22:13

that's more than IAL to my

22:15

husband TFA and Stevens met years

22:18

earlier when both were living on this

22:21

middle class Street NL at his sister's

22:23

house this house right here is the

22:25

sister's house which where NL was living

22:27

and the tifas down the block right down

22:30

here yes n got to know George asked him

22:32

if he could do yard work for George cops

22:35

soon learned from NL Stevens their

22:37

relationship was complicated NL idolized

22:41

George he genuinely thought that he and

22:45

George were very very close and would

22:49

never turn on one another but detectives

22:51

believed George was manipulating his

22:54

friend who may have suffered from mental

22:57

illness he he has a pawn he has an

22:59

Implement a tool in in the in N Stevens

23:03

and he's going to use that tool big will

23:06

told detectives that George gave nol

23:08

Stevens $600 in cash to kill Shauna with

23:13

the promise of thousands more to

23:18

come he said well uh he gave me a

23:21

key to get in this lady's house and I

23:24

murdered

23:26

her and my heart dropped and I said what

23:30

I said you just signed yourself a death

23:32

warrant you don't know if this man is

23:34

going to try to kill you or what when

23:37

cops were scouring nol Stevens's desert

23:40

campsite another intriguing clue they

23:42

found was a barcode tag they scanned it

23:46

it matched the style of hammer used to

23:49

kill Shauna we figure out that low sells

23:52

those hammers that launched

23:54

investigators on a tedious Mission

23:57

reviewing hundreds of hours of video

23:59

surveillance

24:01

tape finally they hit Pay Dirt when they

24:05

spotted George and nol Stevens shopping

24:09

together for

24:13

hammers we have our definite connection

24:16

between null and George Stevens was

24:19

singing to Cops like a canary so he gave

24:22

you a road map and you're following it

24:24

and you're finding exactly what he said

24:26

you'd find absolutely

24:28

even leading them to where he had buried

24:30

the murder

24:32

weapon this Hammer which broke in two

24:35

during the brutal attack and um there

24:38

was blood on it they also discover a

24:42

possible motive for murder

24:45

money new floors new carpet new bathtub

24:48

new sink new dish Bo Mama's happy about

24:50

that

24:52

huh Shauna liked to spend it and George

24:55

liked to save it there's some Financial

24:59

transactions that appear like he's

25:01

trying to hide money uh through his mom

25:04

with the news tightening on George TFA

25:07

detectives meet with his family 9 days

25:10

after Shauna's murder so at the end of

25:13

the interview I tell mom and sister that

25:16

George is involved in killing Shauna how

25:19

do they react to that it's traumatic to

25:23

them no no no they're crying they're

25:26

telling us that we are absolutely 100%

25:29

wrong minutes after that conversation

25:32

police who had George under surveillance

25:35

and were monitoring his phone calls

25:38

overhear his sister calling them

25:41

suddenly George jumped back into his

25:43

truck and took off quote unquote like a

25:46

bat out of

25:47

heal George weaves erratically through

25:50

City traffic and onto the Summerland

25:53

Parkway he accelerates to 90 mph and

25:57

smashes his head on into a

26:01

barrier cops believe it was a suicide

26:05

attempt he's trying to end his life

26:09

right now because he can't face the fact

26:12

of what's going to come amazingly George

26:16

survived the crash because cops say he

26:19

was wearing a seat belt he was rushed to

26:22

a local hospital where detectives later

26:25

arrested him and I said George you're

26:28

under arrest for the murder of your wife

26:30

Shauna TFA and his reaction was simply

26:34

to look up from his hospital bed and say

26:38

okay that's when police also charged NL

26:41

Stevens with Shauna's

26:46

murder oh look at this there's shaa

26:50

Castleton B now she's

26:53

TF wow she it was um a feeling of relief

26:59

um all we wanted was Justice for

27:03

Shauna are we ready to arrain Mr

27:06

TF detectives believe George Tif was

27:10

just one step away from getting away

27:13

with it all commit the murder and then

27:16

do away with null if he can get that

27:18

done in the right way he's going to

27:21

commit the perfect crime but George is

27:24

steadfastly maintaining his innocence n

27:28

Stevens and prosecutors are worried

27:30

about their key Witness n

27:33

Stevens he's at the heart of the murder

27:35

conspiracy right he is a very important

27:39

factor in the case he he's mentally ill

27:41

right he has a violent criminal history

27:45

and he's your star

27:47

witness you know the defense wants him

27:49

to be our star

27:56

Witness

28:00

[Music]

28:02

George tfa's defense attorney Robert

28:05

Langford knows how to take command

28:08

whether is an actor in front of a live

28:10

theater

28:12

audience

28:15

man or before a jury in a Sin City

28:18

courtroom there's circumstantial

28:20

evidence and there's direct evidence and

28:24

now Langford is front and center in a

28:26

case that even a playright would find

28:30

difficult to imagine it's a good story

28:33

it's real interesting but it's not

28:35

evidence yet in the case who is

28:38

responsible for the murder of Shauna

28:41

Tia n

28:43

Stevens n stev says he is n

28:47

Stevens beat her to death with a hammer

28:51

was he hired by George TFA to do that

28:54

there's no evidence of that it's been

28:57

three years since the murder and

28:59

Shauna's family and friends like Lacy

29:02

Green are apprehensive I'm not confident

29:06

it's very scary not knowing what's going

29:08

to happen I fear that he will be found

29:12

innocent at no point during the

29:14

communication with the police does

29:16

George TFA ever mention n Stevens in his

29:20

opening statement prosecutor Mark dejo

29:23

knows he has to make NL Stevens and

29:25

George TF partners in crime he calls n

29:29

Stevens 87 times in the month of

29:32

September the prosecutor's biggest

29:35

challenge will be getting a jury to

29:37

believe George TFA is capable of murder

29:41

you're going up against an All-American

29:43

boy that's a tough challenge it is as a

29:46

prosecutor it's highly unusual to have

29:49

the resume of George TFA and then him be

29:52

a murder suspect I think George TFA is

29:55

someone who had numerous successes in

29:58

his life Pam weckerly assistant Clark

30:01

County DA has scrutinized what she

30:04

thinks makes TFA tick and what may have

30:07

driven him to murder when his marriage

30:10

is crumbling I think that's something

30:12

that he just can't cope with the idea

30:15

that he wouldn't have complete control

30:18

over his daughter and shaa ultimately

30:21

unraveling the complicated tale of

30:23

George tfa's intertwined relationship

30:26

with n Stevens is left to prosecution

30:30

witnesses big will panx remembers

30:32

exactly what Stevens told him the day

30:35

Shauna was killed he said I got

30:37

something to tell you and I said well

30:39

what is it he said uh I just uh murdered

30:43

a woman and right then and there I said

30:47

you got to be a damn fool did you

30:49

believe everything that no Stevens

30:52

Greyhound told you uh it depends on the

30:56

the day yet pennx admits under defense

31:00

questioning that trusting what Stevens

31:02

has to say is a dubious Prospect at best

31:06

at a scale of 1 to 10 I would put him at

31:09

a scale of maybe one and a half 10 being

31:12

very honest and zero one and a half

31:16

million not honest at all that's

31:18

correct and prosecutors admit that

31:21

Honesty may be the least of NL Stevens's

31:24

problems he's an alcoholic he's told the

31:27

tunnel lie before and no and he's a

31:29

multiple Time Felon on top of it despite

31:32

all that the courtroom Falls silent as a

31:35

very different looking n Stevens perhaps

31:38

the most unlikely star prosecution

31:41

witness in Clark County History takes

31:44

the stand he looks like a maniac I I

31:46

literally felt like my heart dropped

31:49

into my stomach when I saw him walk

31:51

through that door Stevens who pleaded

31:53

guilty in 2013 to Shauna's murder a

31:57

agreed to testify against TFA once

32:00

prosecutors in a pre-trial deal promised

32:03

not to seek the death penalty against

32:06

him where did you grow

32:10

up all

32:12

California when you get nervous do you

32:15

have sometimes a little trouble speaking

32:17

I better and you guys are you thinking

32:19

to each other are we nuts yes I don't

32:22

know we're thinking it to each other

32:24

we're we're saying it to each how did

32:26

you meet Geor stens soon settles in and

32:29

proed by djo recites details of his

32:32

relationship with TFA are you just doing

32:35

work for him or is they're friends what

32:38

kind of things have you done together we

32:40

worked out stuff like that he recounts

32:44

breaking into Shauna's townhouse 3 weeks

32:46

before her murder and admits he's the

32:49

one who left behind those size small

32:53

boxers who told you to make it look like

32:55

a Rober George

32:57

and without a hint of remorse Stevens

33:00

coldly describes how he killed Shauna

33:03

with that hammer I hit her in the hand

33:06

what happens when you come out that door

33:09

and you're holding that hammer she tells

33:11

me why I'm doing this she says why are

33:14

you doing this yes who told you to kill

33:16

shaa

33:17

George he

33:20

is a zombie parrot in that he had a

33:25

response which was

33:27

always George George did it George told

33:32

me George itching to cross examine

33:35

Stevens Langford rips right into him

33:38

getting the state star witness to admit

33:41

he not only hears voices but has Visions

33:45

cuz I hallucinate what kind of

33:48

hallucinations I see uh sh sometimes

33:53

sometimes yes you see other people

33:56

sometimes do You Hear Voices yes no

34:00

Stevens is the craziest person I've ever

34:04

seen take the stand what is reasonable

34:07

doubt if not NL Stevens I think the more

34:11

NL talks uh the more believable he is it

34:15

seemed impossible to me that he could

34:18

have fabricated this notion of a

34:20

conspiracy with that level of detail uh

34:24

unless it really

34:25

happened Pro computers replace some of

34:28

the most damning evidence that footage

34:31

of George TFA and NL Stevens buying

34:34

hammers knives and other items you have

34:38

this defendant buying two hammers in

34:42

five days TFA himself sits calmly

34:46

through the trial showing no emotion he

34:49

never takes the stand Rel they have to

34:52

prove the case Beyond A Reasonable Doubt

34:55

and they didn't so there's no reason to

34:58

put George on the stand the only defense

35:01

witness tfa's sister Maria and all the

35:05

years that you've known

35:06

George Have you ever known him to be a

35:09

violent person never ever

35:11

ever I've no fur the questions along

35:14

with tfa's family friends from his

35:17

childhood and West Point days are in

35:19

court to show their support I'm here

35:22

because I'm willing to stand behind and

35:24

defend George's character George is not

35:28

the person that is being depicted by the

35:32

prosecutor after a week-long trial

35:34

hearing from some 40 Witnesses and with

35:37

400 exhibits in evidence 12 jurors will

35:41

now decide the fate of George Tif juror

35:45

Roy Wright had questions were they just

35:48

buying these things for n to be a

35:50

handyman with or were they bind him for

35:51

a murder my fear is that that the

35:54

defense is able to discredit know enough

35:57

that it causes Reasonable

36:05

[Music]

36:07

Doubt so

36:10

cute oh

36:12

look you can get good

36:18

girl it has been 3 years since Shauna

36:21

Tia was found brutally murdered and

36:24

today her family hopes their long

36:26

ganizing weight will end

36:31

Injustice I'm just on pins and needles

36:34

you know my stomach has been in knots

36:35

for days and I don't think I've ever

36:37

been so nervous a jury will decide if

36:40

George TFA was The Mastermind behind his

36:44

wife's murder George TFA is the evil one

36:47

on one side of the courtroom sits

36:49

Shauna's family some are dressed in her

36:52

favorite color pink on the other side

36:55

sit George's supporters his sister

36:58

bernardet takes a moment to pray he's

37:01

been called a

37:02

monster people call him a

37:05

monster it's just

37:07

ridiculous and

37:10

shocking after three long

37:13

days finally a verdict the clerk will

37:16

read the verdict defendant will rise we

37:19

the jury in the ab title case find the

37:21

defendant George mtfa as follows count

37:25

one conspiracy commit murder

37:29

guiltyy guilty of conspiracy to commit

37:32

murder and first-degree murder seven

37:35

counts in all George stands silent with

37:38

the same emotionless stare he has had

37:41

throughout the entire trial guilty of

37:43

robbery with a deadly his family is

37:46

simply devastated murder with in your

37:48

opinion was an injustice done here yes

37:51

because I believe that the evidence

37:54

showed Reasonable Doubt Paula who knew

37:58

from day one that George was behind her

38:00

sister's murder is humbled it was almost

38:03

3 years ago that Shauna was brutally

38:06

murdered and we're so happy that Justice

38:09

was served prosecutor Mark tacamo says

38:12

he never lost sight of his good luck

38:15

charm that casino chip that belonged to

38:17

Shauna and given to him by her family

38:21

and for you what did that chip represent

38:23

it represented their hope of justice and

38:26

you know it sat on my computer for 3

38:28

years and uh when I walked over for the

38:30

verdict I put it in my pocket

38:32

everyone deserves Mercy at his

38:35

sentencing a jury must decide George's

38:38

fate life in prison or life with the

38:41

possibility of Parole in as soon as 20

38:44

years we hope he gets the maximum

38:46

penalty George is a controller

38:49

manipulator and I think the worst hell

38:51

for him will be staying in prison the

38:53

rest of his life and not being able to

38:55

control anything Paul takes the stand to

38:57

remind the jurors of her loss Shauna's

39:01

greatest joy in this world was being a

39:04

mother I remember her always running her

39:07

fingers through Maddie's ponytail and

39:09

she would call her a little monkey I

39:11

would call a George's family and friends

39:14

also speak hoping their words will

39:17

persuade the jury to show Mercy George

39:20

is one of the best of us he's

39:21

hardworking compassionate you will not

39:23

find a better firefighter on the job

39:25

than than George I'm George's brother

39:27

that's pretty much who I am how did you

39:29

feel about that that's

39:31

proud clerk will read the decision the

39:34

sentence impose a sentence of life

39:37

without the possibility of parole George

39:39

Tia will spend the rest of his life in

39:42

prison next

39:44

one juror Roy Wright says that while NL

39:48

Stevens is troubled they never doubted

39:51

his story I think the general consensus

39:53

was he wasn't really smart enough to

39:55

make up a elaborate story

39:57

that would fit the timeline so

39:59

perfectly and the jury also believed

40:02

this witness I said praise the Lord

40:06

justice has been

40:07

served big will who jumpstarted the

40:11

investigation is big will a hero in this

40:13

case to you he is and he doesn't believe

40:15

in being an individual who turns a

40:18

friend in uh but when he heard the story

40:21

from null he felt the moral conviction

40:23

to make the phone call and for that you

40:25

know he is a

40:26

hero with the trial behind them Paula

40:29

and John Richards worry about Shauna's

40:32

daughter Maddie who is now 11 years old

40:35

she has lost both of her parents Maddie

40:39

lives with George's mom but Paula and

40:41

John visit her often I'm sure she was

40:44

hoping her daddy would come home but

40:47

when she's old enough I'll explain to

40:49

her why that's not the case and why it

40:51

shouldn't be the case oh

40:55

f this is her first big dress she's

40:58

sometimes when we're talking about shaa

41:00

with Maddie I can tell when Maddie's

41:02

reflecting in her face that she laughed

41:06

a lot with her mom I can't explain it

41:08

but I know that Maddie found a lot of

41:11

laughter you know with shaa you're so

41:14

pretty what a pretty

41:17

[Music]

41:25

girl

41:30

[Music]

Rate This

5.0 / 5 (0 votes)

Связанные теги
TrueCrimeMurderMysteryLasVegasInvestigationJusticeServedFamilyDramaCasinoEnvironmentFirefighterInvolvementManipulationTrialDrama
Вам нужно реферат на русском языке?