1 00:00:00,840 --> 00:00:03,720 Speaker 1: In the heart of Fort Lauderdale, Florida, A night that 2 00:00:03,880 --> 00:00:07,800 Speaker 1: began like any other takes the tragic turn as gunshots 3 00:00:07,880 --> 00:00:12,000 Speaker 1: pierced the air, bringing unimaginable sorrow to a young mother 4 00:00:12,160 --> 00:00:16,880 Speaker 1: and her family. In an instant, their lives are forever transformed. 5 00:00:17,360 --> 00:00:21,319 Speaker 1: What occurred that fateful evening and who would put this 6 00:00:21,520 --> 00:00:25,680 Speaker 1: cherished mother in such a harrowing situation, leaving her loved 7 00:00:25,720 --> 00:00:30,960 Speaker 1: ones grappling with fear and anglish. What happens when love 8 00:00:31,200 --> 00:00:38,760 Speaker 1: becomes fatal? This is a Fatal Attraction podcast with Intercepting. 9 00:00:38,000 --> 00:00:38,960 Speaker 2: A Killer. 10 00:00:44,760 --> 00:00:48,720 Speaker 3: May third, nineteen ninety eight. It's a pleasant Sunday night 11 00:00:48,760 --> 00:00:52,960 Speaker 3: in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, a coastal metropolis known as the 12 00:00:53,080 --> 00:00:54,160 Speaker 3: Venice of America. 13 00:00:55,120 --> 00:00:58,960 Speaker 4: Fort Lauderdale has hundreds of miles of inland waterways that 14 00:00:59,080 --> 00:01:01,080 Speaker 4: crisscrossed meaning different city streets. 15 00:01:02,320 --> 00:01:05,639 Speaker 5: There's probably home to more yachts than any other place 16 00:01:05,680 --> 00:01:08,720 Speaker 5: in South Florida. You go downtown, you walk out of 17 00:01:08,760 --> 00:01:11,480 Speaker 5: the courthouse, you see boats going down the canal. 18 00:01:12,600 --> 00:01:15,680 Speaker 6: It's a beautiful area surrounded with palm trees. 19 00:01:16,880 --> 00:01:19,280 Speaker 7: It's nice and quiet. 20 00:01:19,160 --> 00:01:22,840 Speaker 3: But tonight, that languid serenity is about to be broken. 21 00:01:22,959 --> 00:01:25,360 Speaker 3: For one pair of Lorderdale's parents. 22 00:01:26,120 --> 00:01:30,000 Speaker 8: They're winding down for the night, and unfortunately what they 23 00:01:30,080 --> 00:01:33,520 Speaker 8: hear outside is something that changes their life forever. 24 00:01:34,720 --> 00:01:38,240 Speaker 5: All of a sudden, they hear loud noises. 25 00:01:40,880 --> 00:01:41,399 Speaker 3: What was that? 26 00:01:44,600 --> 00:01:46,920 Speaker 6: She looks out of her windows just in time to 27 00:01:47,000 --> 00:01:52,920 Speaker 6: see a car speeding away. She ran and got her husband, 28 00:01:53,000 --> 00:01:54,480 Speaker 6: who was asleep in the bed. 29 00:01:55,560 --> 00:01:58,000 Speaker 9: Ranny, Anny, get out, something's going on. 30 00:02:00,480 --> 00:02:03,760 Speaker 3: The worried couple Russias outside to see what's going on, 31 00:02:05,160 --> 00:02:13,000 Speaker 3: but are stunned by what they find. Oh my god, 32 00:02:14,280 --> 00:02:16,840 Speaker 3: there's a young woman sprawled on their sidewalk. 33 00:02:18,280 --> 00:02:21,959 Speaker 8: She's laying face down in a pool of her own blood. 34 00:02:25,080 --> 00:02:32,000 Speaker 5: It appears that she has been shot. They are in 35 00:02:32,080 --> 00:02:33,639 Speaker 5: a total state of shock. 36 00:02:34,200 --> 00:02:42,200 Speaker 3: But it's a young woman's identity that shocks them the most. 37 00:02:42,320 --> 00:02:48,040 Speaker 10: Please hello, that's the problem my daughter. 38 00:02:52,720 --> 00:02:55,520 Speaker 3: Ever since she was a kid, twenty three year old 39 00:02:55,600 --> 00:02:58,400 Speaker 3: Shavella Thomas inspired those around her. 40 00:02:59,240 --> 00:03:00,840 Speaker 8: She wanted to make people feel great. 41 00:03:01,919 --> 00:03:06,240 Speaker 10: She was a giver, she was a doer. She loved 42 00:03:06,320 --> 00:03:07,720 Speaker 10: have far, she loved people. 43 00:03:08,919 --> 00:03:11,919 Speaker 11: She was always trying to find a human and everything, 44 00:03:12,320 --> 00:03:16,519 Speaker 11: always joking, and she definitely connected with kids. That type 45 00:03:16,560 --> 00:03:19,720 Speaker 11: of person. If kids see her they'd be drawn towards her. 46 00:03:23,400 --> 00:03:27,680 Speaker 3: So after graduation in nineteen ninety, Chavella turned her neck 47 00:03:27,720 --> 00:03:30,080 Speaker 3: for connecting with kids into a career. 48 00:03:31,200 --> 00:03:34,760 Speaker 8: Chavella worked for Broward County School District. 49 00:03:35,800 --> 00:03:39,760 Speaker 11: With her having that kind of silly personality, it allowed 50 00:03:39,880 --> 00:03:42,960 Speaker 11: her to really flourish because kids like to be playful 51 00:03:43,000 --> 00:03:46,520 Speaker 11: and things like that. So having that type of personality 52 00:03:46,920 --> 00:03:47,960 Speaker 11: she fit right into that. 53 00:03:49,160 --> 00:03:53,040 Speaker 12: She started as a teacher assistant, and then she went 54 00:03:53,080 --> 00:03:55,000 Speaker 12: on to do child care. 55 00:03:56,160 --> 00:03:59,320 Speaker 8: When you're working with young children, it takes a huge 56 00:03:59,320 --> 00:04:02,400 Speaker 8: amount of pati love and concern. 57 00:04:05,480 --> 00:04:08,320 Speaker 3: It was also through the school system that Savilla first 58 00:04:08,360 --> 00:04:10,480 Speaker 3: set us on Vernon Thomas. 59 00:04:11,600 --> 00:04:15,160 Speaker 6: Vernon Thomas also worked for Broward County Public Schools. He 60 00:04:15,400 --> 00:04:16,880 Speaker 6: was a security guard. 61 00:04:17,960 --> 00:04:22,080 Speaker 5: He was working security at one of the educational facilities 62 00:04:22,120 --> 00:04:26,800 Speaker 5: that she visited. Hey, I don't believe we mist think 63 00:04:26,839 --> 00:04:27,520 Speaker 5: you're right about that. 64 00:04:27,560 --> 00:04:28,000 Speaker 13: We haven't. 65 00:04:28,080 --> 00:04:29,240 Speaker 5: I definitely would have remember you. 66 00:04:30,320 --> 00:04:33,760 Speaker 9: He was a very attractive man and he was very charming. 67 00:04:34,600 --> 00:04:37,440 Speaker 5: Are you a teacher, I'm just security. 68 00:04:38,040 --> 00:04:40,800 Speaker 3: Well I feel safer already. 69 00:04:41,440 --> 00:04:45,720 Speaker 6: He was over six feet two inches tall, over two 70 00:04:45,800 --> 00:04:47,360 Speaker 6: hundred and fifty pounds. 71 00:04:47,680 --> 00:04:49,360 Speaker 9: He had a powerful build. 72 00:04:50,720 --> 00:04:52,960 Speaker 5: He had been an athlete in college. He had played 73 00:04:53,000 --> 00:04:58,040 Speaker 5: football and he played semi pro for the Broward Outlaws, and. 74 00:04:58,040 --> 00:05:03,000 Speaker 6: He definitely had the confidence to go along with his physique. 75 00:05:03,320 --> 00:05:06,240 Speaker 5: Chavella's a beautiful young lady and they hit it. 76 00:05:06,200 --> 00:05:11,040 Speaker 3: Off soon the teaching assistant and security guard were meeting 77 00:05:11,120 --> 00:05:12,320 Speaker 3: up off campus. 78 00:05:13,240 --> 00:05:16,680 Speaker 6: They fell in love very quickly. It was a whirldwin 79 00:05:16,839 --> 00:05:21,520 Speaker 6: relationship and they looked like the perfect couple. 80 00:05:24,120 --> 00:05:27,200 Speaker 3: After a short courtship, they were soon ready to take 81 00:05:27,240 --> 00:05:28,159 Speaker 3: the next step. 82 00:05:28,600 --> 00:05:31,040 Speaker 9: The next thing we know, they were getting married. 83 00:05:32,120 --> 00:05:34,520 Speaker 10: It was kind of shocking, like, wow, she's getting married 84 00:05:34,560 --> 00:05:35,279 Speaker 10: like so fast. 85 00:05:36,560 --> 00:05:40,600 Speaker 6: Vernon and Schambella got married at a church in Fort Lauderdale. 86 00:05:40,600 --> 00:05:44,159 Speaker 6: It was a beautiful, lavish wedding where they were surrounded 87 00:05:44,200 --> 00:05:45,920 Speaker 6: by family and friends. 88 00:05:47,040 --> 00:05:49,880 Speaker 12: We had family members that was in the wedding, participated 89 00:05:50,040 --> 00:05:52,719 Speaker 12: and everything, so it was nice. 90 00:05:53,040 --> 00:05:55,640 Speaker 9: Just was a beautiful day for Shavella. 91 00:05:57,320 --> 00:06:00,560 Speaker 3: Within a year of the wedding, Chavella was pregnant. 92 00:06:01,480 --> 00:06:04,360 Speaker 5: You know, if they say, first come loves, then comes marriage, 93 00:06:04,400 --> 00:06:06,800 Speaker 5: then comes a baby in the baby carriage. 94 00:06:07,000 --> 00:06:09,480 Speaker 10: When she got pregnant with her child, she was happy. 95 00:06:10,880 --> 00:06:15,200 Speaker 8: Chavella definitely had hopes of starting her own family. She 96 00:06:15,320 --> 00:06:20,000 Speaker 8: did have dreams of being a wife, being a mother, and. 97 00:06:19,920 --> 00:06:23,400 Speaker 3: When Shavella gave birth to the couple's daughter, it appeared 98 00:06:23,440 --> 00:06:25,800 Speaker 3: that all her dreams were coming true. 99 00:06:26,360 --> 00:06:28,560 Speaker 7: She absolutely loved being a mom. 100 00:06:29,839 --> 00:06:33,039 Speaker 5: She was working her way up in the education system. 101 00:06:33,200 --> 00:06:35,920 Speaker 5: She had new love in her life and a new child, 102 00:06:36,320 --> 00:06:38,240 Speaker 5: and she was excited for what the future will hold. 103 00:06:41,240 --> 00:06:45,240 Speaker 3: But now Chavella's been gunned down near the doorstep of 104 00:06:45,279 --> 00:06:46,279 Speaker 3: her parents' home. 105 00:06:47,120 --> 00:06:50,960 Speaker 8: They hear gunshots, they rush outside, and then they see 106 00:06:50,960 --> 00:06:51,560 Speaker 8: their daughter. 107 00:06:52,080 --> 00:06:54,200 Speaker 9: Oh my good work. 108 00:06:57,080 --> 00:07:01,320 Speaker 3: When first responders arrived, there's nothing they can do for Shavella. 109 00:07:02,200 --> 00:07:05,320 Speaker 8: She had been shot in her head twice. 110 00:07:06,600 --> 00:07:09,640 Speaker 14: The paramedics pronounced Savella deceased unseen. 111 00:07:10,680 --> 00:07:14,240 Speaker 9: She's gone. 112 00:07:17,080 --> 00:07:20,480 Speaker 5: Your child, being killed in cold blood right outside of 113 00:07:20,520 --> 00:07:24,280 Speaker 5: your home. I can't imagine what her parents must. 114 00:07:24,040 --> 00:07:24,600 Speaker 2: Have gone through. 115 00:07:28,280 --> 00:07:32,320 Speaker 3: However, as Chavella's parents anguish over the realization that their 116 00:07:32,440 --> 00:07:36,880 Speaker 3: daughter is dead, police at the scene make a surprising discovery. 117 00:07:37,880 --> 00:07:39,440 Speaker 13: They had a second victim. 118 00:07:40,000 --> 00:07:44,240 Speaker 3: Police find the young man several feet from Chavella around 119 00:07:44,280 --> 00:07:45,680 Speaker 3: the corner of the house. 120 00:07:46,520 --> 00:07:48,160 Speaker 5: He had also been shot. 121 00:07:48,600 --> 00:07:51,840 Speaker 14: He was still alive and semi conscious, and we didn't 122 00:07:51,840 --> 00:07:52,720 Speaker 14: know if he was gonna survivor. 123 00:07:52,760 --> 00:07:59,960 Speaker 1: I get ready because the story is about to tell 124 00:08:00,320 --> 00:08:03,760 Speaker 1: a thrilling turn as a web of betrayal and mystery 125 00:08:04,000 --> 00:08:08,400 Speaker 1: unfolds on the horizon. Stay tuned for more of the 126 00:08:08,400 --> 00:08:15,200 Speaker 1: Fatal Attraction podcast. 127 00:08:15,240 --> 00:08:18,600 Speaker 3: Teacher's Aid Chavella Thomas had found her calling. 128 00:08:19,560 --> 00:08:22,600 Speaker 11: She was such a caring person. She had a natural 129 00:08:22,600 --> 00:08:26,400 Speaker 11: ability to be able to care about the welfare of kids, 130 00:08:26,680 --> 00:08:31,040 Speaker 11: care about seeing them prosper in whatever their dreams were. 131 00:08:32,240 --> 00:08:34,480 Speaker 8: She had a heart for giving back to kids, and 132 00:08:34,559 --> 00:08:37,240 Speaker 8: so she loved working with kids. 133 00:08:37,600 --> 00:08:41,400 Speaker 3: And after marrying Vernon Thomas in nineteen ninety six, she'd 134 00:08:41,440 --> 00:08:43,400 Speaker 3: given birth to a child of her own. 135 00:08:44,679 --> 00:08:47,720 Speaker 8: It was a fairy tale. He was the ultimate person 136 00:08:47,800 --> 00:08:48,760 Speaker 8: to start a family with. 137 00:08:50,440 --> 00:08:56,920 Speaker 3: But now someone has gunned Shavella down outside her parents 138 00:08:57,000 --> 00:08:58,280 Speaker 3: Fort Morderdale home. 139 00:09:00,080 --> 00:09:01,440 Speaker 2: Did we have beste on the way? 140 00:09:01,480 --> 00:09:02,520 Speaker 13: Who wasn't that stunner? 141 00:09:03,080 --> 00:09:03,520 Speaker 3: I don't know. 142 00:09:04,800 --> 00:09:08,439 Speaker 5: They're not exactly sure what happened. They're not exactly sure 143 00:09:08,559 --> 00:09:09,920 Speaker 5: who was involved. 144 00:09:11,679 --> 00:09:14,920 Speaker 3: All the police know for sure is that Shavella isn't 145 00:09:14,920 --> 00:09:16,880 Speaker 3: the only person who's been shocked. 146 00:09:18,080 --> 00:09:22,040 Speaker 13: When he did an airy canvas, they found a second victim. 147 00:09:22,320 --> 00:09:25,880 Speaker 5: He's bleeding and he is in and out of consciousness. 148 00:09:26,960 --> 00:09:30,520 Speaker 3: The police identify the second victim as Arthur J. C. 149 00:09:30,880 --> 00:09:34,040 Speaker 6: Knight, So he had already lost a lot of blood, 150 00:09:34,120 --> 00:09:37,719 Speaker 6: so immediately he was rushed to brow At General Hospital 151 00:09:37,880 --> 00:09:40,920 Speaker 6: to try and save his life, but. 152 00:09:40,960 --> 00:09:43,720 Speaker 13: The fact that he was still alive gave the police 153 00:09:43,960 --> 00:09:46,240 Speaker 13: hope that they possibly had a witness to this incident. 154 00:09:47,280 --> 00:09:52,160 Speaker 3: Well paramedics work to save Jc's life. Homicide detectives arrive 155 00:09:52,240 --> 00:09:53,840 Speaker 3: and begin their investigation. 156 00:09:55,080 --> 00:09:57,000 Speaker 14: When I arrive on a scene, I look at the 157 00:09:57,160 --> 00:09:59,480 Speaker 14: entire scene as an unknown. I don't know if it's 158 00:09:59,520 --> 00:10:02,959 Speaker 14: involving any type of dry by shooting. Is it domestic related? 159 00:10:03,120 --> 00:10:05,320 Speaker 14: Is it a drug rip off? Is it a mistaken identity? 160 00:10:05,559 --> 00:10:06,760 Speaker 14: Have to keep an open mind. 161 00:10:07,720 --> 00:10:11,520 Speaker 3: In the street, detectives find several shell case things. 162 00:10:12,480 --> 00:10:15,040 Speaker 13: It appeared from where thedications were located that it was 163 00:10:15,080 --> 00:10:16,959 Speaker 13: initial a drive by shooting. 164 00:10:18,080 --> 00:10:22,240 Speaker 3: But examining Chavella's body tells a more complicated story. 165 00:10:23,480 --> 00:10:26,640 Speaker 14: Based on my initial observation of her body, it appeared 166 00:10:26,679 --> 00:10:29,160 Speaker 14: that the shooter was shooting from the sidewalk. 167 00:10:30,200 --> 00:10:32,439 Speaker 5: She had been shot twice in the back. 168 00:10:34,559 --> 00:10:39,000 Speaker 4: Detective suspect that Shabella saw the shooter and turned to run, 169 00:10:40,520 --> 00:10:41,880 Speaker 4: but she didn't get. 170 00:10:41,760 --> 00:10:45,920 Speaker 14: Far after being shot in the back. 171 00:10:46,200 --> 00:10:46,760 Speaker 2: She fell. 172 00:10:48,480 --> 00:10:50,720 Speaker 13: Then it appeared the shooter went up to the victim 173 00:10:50,760 --> 00:10:53,200 Speaker 13: and shot her twice in the back of the head. 174 00:10:54,240 --> 00:10:58,520 Speaker 5: The killer stood over her and shot her twice execution style. 175 00:11:01,240 --> 00:11:04,280 Speaker 14: The bullets that went through her head actually impacted the 176 00:11:04,440 --> 00:11:06,120 Speaker 14: sidewalk in front of her parents'. 177 00:11:05,760 --> 00:11:11,480 Speaker 5: House directly underneath Chevella's body. There are indentations in the 178 00:11:11,520 --> 00:11:13,480 Speaker 5: concrete from where she was shot. 179 00:11:14,679 --> 00:11:16,840 Speaker 13: It wasn't just a drive by shooting. That they were 180 00:11:16,880 --> 00:11:19,400 Speaker 13: dealing with somebody that actually came up to the victim 181 00:11:19,400 --> 00:11:19,880 Speaker 13: as shot her. 182 00:11:21,360 --> 00:11:25,480 Speaker 3: Detectives believe the other victim, JC Knight, was hit in 183 00:11:25,559 --> 00:11:30,640 Speaker 3: the original volley of shans. 184 00:11:28,720 --> 00:11:33,600 Speaker 12: Based on where the police found him. The detectives believe 185 00:11:34,200 --> 00:11:38,920 Speaker 12: he ran around the corner of the house before collapsing 186 00:11:39,080 --> 00:11:40,160 Speaker 12: from his injuries. 187 00:11:41,160 --> 00:11:44,960 Speaker 3: For detectives, the fact that JC didn't suffer the same 188 00:11:45,040 --> 00:11:48,439 Speaker 3: fate suggests he wasn't the shooter's main target. 189 00:11:49,240 --> 00:11:51,720 Speaker 14: Whoever did this, I had no idea, but it appeared 190 00:11:51,720 --> 00:11:54,199 Speaker 14: to be very personal towards Shavella. 191 00:11:53,880 --> 00:11:57,480 Speaker 3: Thomas, and it doesn't appear to be a robbery. 192 00:11:58,720 --> 00:12:02,400 Speaker 8: Her purse, her key's, the money in her wallet, everything 193 00:12:02,800 --> 00:12:05,000 Speaker 8: all of her possessions were accounted for. 194 00:12:06,200 --> 00:12:09,040 Speaker 14: If there's personal properties still attached to or near the 195 00:12:09,120 --> 00:12:11,040 Speaker 14: victim that most like, it's not gonna be a robbery. 196 00:12:12,480 --> 00:12:16,920 Speaker 3: Beyond that, the crime scene has little else to tell detectives. 197 00:12:18,080 --> 00:12:21,280 Speaker 5: They found five nine millimeters shell cases. 198 00:12:22,480 --> 00:12:24,480 Speaker 13: That was the only other physical evidge they were able 199 00:12:24,480 --> 00:12:25,200 Speaker 13: to come up with. 200 00:12:26,720 --> 00:12:30,640 Speaker 3: But who was the killer? The detective's hope that JC 201 00:12:30,840 --> 00:12:34,880 Speaker 3: survives and can provide them with an eyewitness identification. But 202 00:12:34,960 --> 00:12:39,120 Speaker 3: in the meantime, they start knocking on doors around the neighborhood. 203 00:12:39,920 --> 00:12:44,319 Speaker 8: It is imperative that police find witnesses so they can 204 00:12:44,440 --> 00:12:47,040 Speaker 8: begin to build their investigation. 205 00:12:48,240 --> 00:12:52,680 Speaker 12: They also wanted to talk to Chivella's parents, but wanted 206 00:12:52,720 --> 00:12:56,720 Speaker 12: to give them some time to collect themselves before making 207 00:12:56,760 --> 00:12:57,360 Speaker 12: a statement. 208 00:12:59,320 --> 00:13:02,320 Speaker 14: I feel bad for Sheavella's parents. I feel bad for 209 00:13:02,400 --> 00:13:04,560 Speaker 14: parents that have to go through this with the tragedy 210 00:13:04,640 --> 00:13:05,720 Speaker 14: of the loss of their child. 211 00:13:06,920 --> 00:13:10,400 Speaker 13: It was a horrific sight for parents to see it. 212 00:13:10,520 --> 00:13:13,960 Speaker 14: They're very distraught, traumatized, as to be expected. 213 00:13:15,400 --> 00:13:19,040 Speaker 3: Their neighbors were also frightened by what had happened. 214 00:13:19,320 --> 00:13:21,840 Speaker 13: Shooting. It became very tramatic to them. 215 00:13:22,640 --> 00:13:25,840 Speaker 6: Was quite unusual for something of this nature. To be 216 00:13:25,960 --> 00:13:29,680 Speaker 6: happening in that particular area of Ladder Hill. 217 00:13:30,840 --> 00:13:33,959 Speaker 3: The first woman detective speak to says she was standing 218 00:13:34,040 --> 00:13:37,959 Speaker 3: at her dining room window when she heard someone's scream. 219 00:13:38,360 --> 00:13:39,320 Speaker 2: I didn't know what it was. 220 00:13:40,360 --> 00:13:43,440 Speaker 3: By the time she looked out the window, she says, 221 00:13:43,520 --> 00:13:45,480 Speaker 3: Chavella was already down. 222 00:13:46,120 --> 00:13:49,000 Speaker 2: I saw the girl. I've been playing on the ground 223 00:13:49,000 --> 00:13:53,000 Speaker 2: to hear gunshots, and I just remember spars. Okay, so 224 00:13:53,040 --> 00:13:55,760 Speaker 2: you recall seeing the sparks. I think I maybe somebody 225 00:13:55,840 --> 00:13:58,520 Speaker 2: had shot her, that is what I'm gonna say. But 226 00:13:58,559 --> 00:13:59,920 Speaker 2: I did not feel gone. 227 00:14:00,880 --> 00:14:04,080 Speaker 4: According to the witness, there was someone standing over Shavella, 228 00:14:05,320 --> 00:14:05,920 Speaker 4: and then. 229 00:14:06,160 --> 00:14:09,480 Speaker 8: She says that he gets back into the vehicle and 230 00:14:09,520 --> 00:14:12,200 Speaker 8: then he leaves the scene. 231 00:14:12,440 --> 00:14:14,200 Speaker 2: And do you remember the type of vehicle that was? 232 00:14:17,920 --> 00:14:20,120 Speaker 3: She says, it all happened too fast. 233 00:14:21,440 --> 00:14:24,080 Speaker 12: All she could tell was that it was a four 234 00:14:24,240 --> 00:14:25,160 Speaker 12: door car. 235 00:14:26,560 --> 00:14:30,640 Speaker 8: Each witness that they spoke to after that had the 236 00:14:30,760 --> 00:14:32,400 Speaker 8: same general story. 237 00:14:33,720 --> 00:14:36,160 Speaker 14: The only thing we knew is that the shooter was 238 00:14:36,200 --> 00:14:39,040 Speaker 14: a black man that got out of and back into 239 00:14:39,120 --> 00:14:42,120 Speaker 14: a savanne that left the scene. 240 00:14:42,720 --> 00:14:45,880 Speaker 3: None of the witnesses have any idea why something like 241 00:14:45,920 --> 00:14:48,400 Speaker 3: this would happen in their quiet community. 242 00:14:49,200 --> 00:14:51,840 Speaker 14: Shavella Thomas had no run ins with the law. She 243 00:14:52,000 --> 00:14:54,600 Speaker 14: was a teacher at a local school and had no 244 00:14:55,080 --> 00:14:58,680 Speaker 14: insidious background that rose suspicion to us as investigator. 245 00:15:02,320 --> 00:15:05,720 Speaker 3: However, when the detectives returned to the station and run 246 00:15:05,760 --> 00:15:10,000 Speaker 3: a background check on their other victim, JC Knight, there 247 00:15:10,040 --> 00:15:11,800 Speaker 3: are plenty of red flags. 248 00:15:12,480 --> 00:15:17,320 Speaker 13: He'd been arrested multiple times, he's a corrected fellow, and 249 00:15:17,400 --> 00:15:18,800 Speaker 13: went to prison for carrying a gun. 250 00:15:19,800 --> 00:15:24,480 Speaker 8: With that, police started to think, maybe there's something different here. 251 00:15:25,240 --> 00:15:26,840 Speaker 13: Was he the actual target that night? 252 00:15:27,360 --> 00:15:39,600 Speaker 1: Hi, stay with us as we dive deeper into the 253 00:15:39,640 --> 00:15:44,440 Speaker 1: mystery of what happened at that faithful day. This is 254 00:15:44,480 --> 00:15:49,280 Speaker 1: the Fatal Attraction podcast. Hey, True Crime listeners, We'd like 255 00:15:49,400 --> 00:15:52,840 Speaker 1: to introduce you to something new from TV one. Follow 256 00:15:52,920 --> 00:15:57,240 Speaker 1: the dark journey when admiration turns into resentment and resentment 257 00:15:57,480 --> 00:16:01,880 Speaker 1: turns into murder. Take a look to Fatal Attraction, I'd 258 00:16:02,000 --> 00:16:07,960 Speaker 1: Kill to Be You. Don't miss a chilling new series 259 00:16:07,960 --> 00:16:08,720 Speaker 1: on TV one. 260 00:16:08,960 --> 00:16:12,080 Speaker 15: Fatal Attraction I'd Kill to Be You airs every Monday 261 00:16:12,160 --> 00:16:15,200 Speaker 15: night at ten on True Crime Mondays. What would you 262 00:16:15,280 --> 00:16:18,320 Speaker 15: do if someone wanted your life? If your rival didn't 263 00:16:18,400 --> 00:16:21,000 Speaker 15: just want what you had, they wanted to be you. 264 00:16:21,440 --> 00:16:25,360 Speaker 15: When obsession ignits and jealousy spirals out of control, the 265 00:16:25,480 --> 00:16:28,680 Speaker 15: price can be deadly of new crime drama. You don't 266 00:16:28,680 --> 00:16:31,480 Speaker 15: want to miss fatal attraction. I'd kill to be You. 267 00:16:31,920 --> 00:16:35,160 Speaker 15: All New Every Monday at ten on TV. 268 00:16:35,080 --> 00:16:43,040 Speaker 3: One, Detectives investigating the shooting that killed Shavella Thomas suspect 269 00:16:43,120 --> 00:16:46,040 Speaker 3: the gunman's intended target may have been the man who 270 00:16:46,080 --> 00:16:50,360 Speaker 3: was with her that evening, twenty four year old JC Knight. 271 00:16:51,200 --> 00:16:55,200 Speaker 12: JC was also wounded in the shooting and was currently 272 00:16:55,320 --> 00:16:57,400 Speaker 12: in surgery at a nearby hospital. 273 00:16:58,480 --> 00:17:02,400 Speaker 6: He had an extensive criminal background. He had even spent 274 00:17:02,520 --> 00:17:03,840 Speaker 6: some time in prison. 275 00:17:05,280 --> 00:17:10,400 Speaker 5: He had convictions for possessing firearms, for carrying concealed firearms. 276 00:17:11,520 --> 00:17:16,560 Speaker 6: Gun possession could be connected to gang activity or drug dealing, 277 00:17:16,840 --> 00:17:19,960 Speaker 6: so they really don't know what they have on their hands. 278 00:17:21,000 --> 00:17:23,280 Speaker 14: Could have been something to do with firearms, or a 279 00:17:23,320 --> 00:17:25,879 Speaker 14: gun deal or a drug deal. We had no idea. 280 00:17:26,840 --> 00:17:31,280 Speaker 5: Whenever, as an investigator you have someone who has been 281 00:17:31,720 --> 00:17:34,480 Speaker 5: shot and they're part of the crime scene and they 282 00:17:34,520 --> 00:17:38,679 Speaker 5: have the extensive criminal history that JC Knight had, you 283 00:17:38,760 --> 00:17:40,160 Speaker 5: have to seriously consider that. 284 00:17:41,320 --> 00:17:45,520 Speaker 8: They start to wonder maybe this happened because JAC was here. 285 00:17:45,680 --> 00:17:47,640 Speaker 8: Someone was targeting him. 286 00:17:48,320 --> 00:17:52,320 Speaker 3: It also leaves detectives wondering why JC was with Shavella 287 00:17:52,440 --> 00:17:52,920 Speaker 3: that night. 288 00:17:54,040 --> 00:17:55,280 Speaker 9: When you look at. 289 00:17:55,119 --> 00:17:58,320 Speaker 6: The background in the lifestyle of Chevella, she was an 290 00:17:58,400 --> 00:18:03,280 Speaker 6: upstanding citizen. She had an upbringing that was predicated on 291 00:18:03,400 --> 00:18:08,159 Speaker 6: Christian values. Everything in her background was the straight and narrow. 292 00:18:08,520 --> 00:18:11,600 Speaker 6: But when you look at the background of JC, you 293 00:18:11,680 --> 00:18:16,240 Speaker 6: looked at an individual that lived a high risk lifestyle. 294 00:18:17,520 --> 00:18:20,639 Speaker 4: Detectives decided at this point they couldn't wait any longer 295 00:18:20,680 --> 00:18:22,639 Speaker 4: to get a statement from Chavella's parents. 296 00:18:26,119 --> 00:18:29,639 Speaker 3: When they sit down with Chavella's parents, her mother tells 297 00:18:29,720 --> 00:18:32,760 Speaker 3: detectives the shots weren't all she heard that night. 298 00:18:33,520 --> 00:18:37,560 Speaker 5: Chavella's mother says she did here, arguing, I. 299 00:18:37,520 --> 00:18:39,800 Speaker 9: Thought I heard Shavella outside. 300 00:18:40,240 --> 00:18:41,919 Speaker 7: What did that conversation sound like? 301 00:18:43,040 --> 00:18:43,800 Speaker 3: Very heated. 302 00:18:45,119 --> 00:18:49,160 Speaker 5: Police asked her parents about Chevella's relationship with JC. Her 303 00:18:49,200 --> 00:18:52,359 Speaker 5: father didn't know and her mother didn't know JC either, 304 00:18:52,600 --> 00:18:55,439 Speaker 5: so they had to figure out what the nature of 305 00:18:55,480 --> 00:18:56,719 Speaker 5: that relationship was. 306 00:18:58,040 --> 00:19:00,879 Speaker 3: However, she doesn't think it was J see that her 307 00:19:01,000 --> 00:19:02,359 Speaker 3: daughter had been arguing with. 308 00:19:04,600 --> 00:19:10,280 Speaker 14: According to Chavella's mother, male's voice yelled out, that's my wife. 309 00:19:11,440 --> 00:19:15,120 Speaker 12: It was obviously no mystery. Who would yelled something like that? 310 00:19:16,040 --> 00:19:19,480 Speaker 15: So your daughter was married, Yes, her husband name is 311 00:19:19,560 --> 00:19:20,560 Speaker 15: Vernon Thomas. 312 00:19:22,960 --> 00:19:27,439 Speaker 3: However, according to her parents, Shavella and Vernon's marriage was 313 00:19:27,520 --> 00:19:28,360 Speaker 3: on the rocks. 314 00:19:29,440 --> 00:19:34,919 Speaker 5: The detectives discovered that Schavella and Vernon were separated, she 315 00:19:35,040 --> 00:19:36,960 Speaker 5: left them and she moved back on with her parents. 316 00:19:37,720 --> 00:19:38,920 Speaker 13: Do you know why they split up? 317 00:19:39,640 --> 00:19:42,840 Speaker 12: She didn't really tell me everything, but I know they 318 00:19:42,840 --> 00:19:43,719 Speaker 12: were having trouble. 319 00:19:44,760 --> 00:19:48,240 Speaker 8: She advised police to talk to Chavella's brother, Karl. 320 00:19:49,480 --> 00:19:52,680 Speaker 12: Carl was her older brother. He looked out for as 321 00:19:52,760 --> 00:19:53,520 Speaker 12: much as he could. 322 00:19:54,640 --> 00:19:57,560 Speaker 5: They talked often and were open about their lives with 323 00:19:57,640 --> 00:19:58,080 Speaker 5: each other. 324 00:20:02,520 --> 00:20:06,399 Speaker 3: When detectives sit down with Carl, it's clear he's no 325 00:20:06,640 --> 00:20:07,640 Speaker 3: fan of Vernon. 326 00:20:08,720 --> 00:20:10,520 Speaker 4: Well, I first met him a couple months before they 327 00:20:10,560 --> 00:20:14,040 Speaker 4: got married, but I have no idea what she saw 328 00:20:14,080 --> 00:20:16,240 Speaker 4: on them Cory and Craft. 329 00:20:16,280 --> 00:20:18,439 Speaker 14: He really didn't like Vernon Thomas. 330 00:20:19,800 --> 00:20:23,280 Speaker 6: He described Vernon as very domineering. 331 00:20:24,400 --> 00:20:29,760 Speaker 5: From Carl's perspective, Vernon was overbearing, he was controlling. He 332 00:20:29,800 --> 00:20:34,680 Speaker 5: would continually try to get Chevella to do things the 333 00:20:34,760 --> 00:20:37,960 Speaker 5: way he wanted to, and he would become upset if 334 00:20:38,040 --> 00:20:41,040 Speaker 5: Chavella wasn't around. I told her that it wasn't right, 335 00:20:41,080 --> 00:20:44,360 Speaker 5: but she didn't want to listen. So what did you do? 336 00:20:45,480 --> 00:20:47,720 Speaker 7: Well, after a while, I just kept my mouth shut. 337 00:20:48,400 --> 00:20:50,560 Speaker 13: Carl in his interview said that he tried to get 338 00:20:50,600 --> 00:20:51,480 Speaker 13: along with Vernon. 339 00:20:52,720 --> 00:20:56,119 Speaker 3: However, Carl also says that Chavella had eventually come to 340 00:20:56,200 --> 00:21:00,000 Speaker 3: agree that Vernon wasn't everything she'd hoped for when she married. 341 00:21:00,040 --> 00:21:01,760 Speaker 3: Read him from. 342 00:21:01,640 --> 00:21:04,400 Speaker 13: What Schevella was telling him their relation who was going 343 00:21:04,440 --> 00:21:06,560 Speaker 13: south pretty quickly after the baby was born. 344 00:21:07,880 --> 00:21:10,480 Speaker 4: Not long after she left Vernon and moved back to 345 00:21:10,520 --> 00:21:11,320 Speaker 4: her parents' house. 346 00:21:12,640 --> 00:21:14,120 Speaker 9: She couldn't take any more. 347 00:21:15,000 --> 00:21:19,840 Speaker 3: But according to her brother, Chavella and Burning separation was 348 00:21:19,960 --> 00:21:22,879 Speaker 3: only the beginning of his sister's troubles. 349 00:21:23,600 --> 00:21:24,520 Speaker 5: He had been following her. 350 00:21:25,520 --> 00:21:27,760 Speaker 13: He would be calling her all times of the day 351 00:21:27,760 --> 00:21:29,080 Speaker 13: and night, checking up on her. 352 00:21:30,080 --> 00:21:34,800 Speaker 8: When you begin to stalk, there's a heightened level of jealousy. 353 00:21:35,960 --> 00:21:39,399 Speaker 13: If the fact that Vernon possibly sure his wife with 354 00:21:39,520 --> 00:21:42,119 Speaker 13: another man, he may not have been able to handle him. 355 00:21:48,600 --> 00:21:52,320 Speaker 1: Stay with us for more of the Fatal Attraction podcast. 356 00:22:00,040 --> 00:22:04,240 Speaker 3: After speaking to Shavella, Thomas's family, detectives have learned that 357 00:22:04,320 --> 00:22:07,800 Speaker 3: in the months leading up to her murder. Chavella's marriage 358 00:22:07,840 --> 00:22:10,159 Speaker 3: to Vernon Thomas had fallen apart. 359 00:22:11,119 --> 00:22:16,440 Speaker 12: According to Schavella's brother, Vernon had become obsessive and controlling. 360 00:22:17,119 --> 00:22:22,080 Speaker 13: Because of Vernon's overbearing relationship with his wife. She called 361 00:22:22,080 --> 00:22:23,399 Speaker 13: the quits and moved back home. 362 00:22:24,400 --> 00:22:31,920 Speaker 6: After the separation, his erratic behaviors began escalating. Vernon had 363 00:22:31,960 --> 00:22:36,440 Speaker 6: been following Shavella almost everywhere she went. He followed her 364 00:22:36,760 --> 00:22:41,400 Speaker 6: to her friend's house, he followed her to the supermarket. 365 00:22:40,640 --> 00:22:42,879 Speaker 14: So whatever she was doing, Vernon wanted to know. 366 00:22:44,160 --> 00:22:47,439 Speaker 5: Chavella did not feel safe around Vernon. She felt that 367 00:22:47,840 --> 00:22:49,440 Speaker 5: he was liable to do anything. 368 00:22:50,600 --> 00:22:51,840 Speaker 10: She was afraid for her life. 369 00:22:52,119 --> 00:22:56,800 Speaker 3: First, it was a fear. Carl says he knew firsthand. 370 00:22:57,000 --> 00:23:03,120 Speaker 6: After the separation, and began coming by Carl's house sometimes 371 00:23:03,160 --> 00:23:05,600 Speaker 6: in the middle of the night, banging on the door, 372 00:23:05,640 --> 00:23:09,600 Speaker 6: tapping on the windows, crying and begging Carl to tell 373 00:23:09,680 --> 00:23:11,520 Speaker 6: Chavella to go back home. 374 00:23:12,280 --> 00:23:14,480 Speaker 5: Maybe one day he showed up with a gun. 375 00:23:16,640 --> 00:23:19,280 Speaker 6: Vernon came to Carl's house telling him that he had 376 00:23:19,320 --> 00:23:22,480 Speaker 6: purchased a new nine millimeter pistol. 377 00:23:23,880 --> 00:23:26,119 Speaker 13: Vernon said, well, the neighborhood's getting bad. 378 00:23:26,840 --> 00:23:29,879 Speaker 6: After while, there had been some burglaries in the area. 379 00:23:30,200 --> 00:23:30,960 Speaker 5: I have no idea. 380 00:23:31,000 --> 00:23:33,800 Speaker 3: Carl says he was unnerved by Vernon's behavior. 381 00:23:35,080 --> 00:23:37,879 Speaker 6: He wamed the gun and called it his baby, so 382 00:23:38,000 --> 00:23:40,000 Speaker 6: he was becoming unhinged. 383 00:23:41,320 --> 00:23:43,040 Speaker 5: This may Carl very uncomfortable. 384 00:23:43,800 --> 00:23:47,320 Speaker 3: Detective suspect that's exactly what Vernon wanted. 385 00:23:48,280 --> 00:23:53,080 Speaker 8: With Vernon showing Schavella's brother his gun, that was a 386 00:23:53,320 --> 00:23:56,760 Speaker 8: clear message to the brother. Maybe her brother will see 387 00:23:56,760 --> 00:24:00,320 Speaker 8: this and go straight to Schavella and say, hey, I 388 00:24:00,320 --> 00:24:03,640 Speaker 8: think you may need to give him another chance, coercing 389 00:24:03,680 --> 00:24:06,679 Speaker 8: her to come back by any means necessary. 390 00:24:08,560 --> 00:24:11,600 Speaker 3: According to her brother, it didn't work. 391 00:24:12,320 --> 00:24:14,680 Speaker 4: He said that Chavella was in the process of taking 392 00:24:14,680 --> 00:24:16,320 Speaker 4: out her strainer order against Vernon. 393 00:24:17,600 --> 00:24:21,080 Speaker 5: They felt that Vernon was dangerous and they were concerned 394 00:24:21,080 --> 00:24:23,000 Speaker 5: about what he was capable of doing. 395 00:24:23,880 --> 00:24:27,640 Speaker 3: Between what Chavella's mother overheard and what her brother told 396 00:24:27,680 --> 00:24:31,879 Speaker 3: them about Vernon owning a nine milimeter pistol, detectives figure 397 00:24:31,960 --> 00:24:33,480 Speaker 3: they'd been right to worry. 398 00:24:35,520 --> 00:24:39,600 Speaker 6: A nine millimeter pistol was the same gun that was 399 00:24:39,800 --> 00:24:41,720 Speaker 6: used to take Chavella's life. 400 00:24:42,720 --> 00:24:45,320 Speaker 13: Just that statement along the spouse now goes to the 401 00:24:45,320 --> 00:24:46,320 Speaker 13: top of the list. 402 00:24:47,280 --> 00:24:51,720 Speaker 5: To tell is all as time a jealous husband being 403 00:24:51,720 --> 00:24:53,080 Speaker 5: the number one suspect. 404 00:24:54,240 --> 00:24:58,639 Speaker 3: However, well, Vernon may be the number one suspect, the 405 00:24:58,720 --> 00:25:01,399 Speaker 3: detectives will still need to track him down. 406 00:25:02,280 --> 00:25:04,400 Speaker 5: They couldn't find him at work, they couldn't find him 407 00:25:04,400 --> 00:25:05,320 Speaker 5: where he lived. 408 00:25:06,119 --> 00:25:07,439 Speaker 13: He's pretty much nowhere. 409 00:25:08,560 --> 00:25:12,560 Speaker 3: Detectives aspect he may be hiding out or even on 410 00:25:12,640 --> 00:25:13,199 Speaker 3: the run. 411 00:25:14,000 --> 00:25:17,399 Speaker 5: It's nineteen ninety eight. Technology is not the way that 412 00:25:17,480 --> 00:25:20,760 Speaker 5: it is today. They're not triangulating cell phones, they're not 413 00:25:21,000 --> 00:25:23,239 Speaker 5: using your movement to track you. 414 00:25:24,040 --> 00:25:27,920 Speaker 9: There is no social media. 415 00:25:26,520 --> 00:25:28,280 Speaker 13: Pretty much if you want to be off the grid, 416 00:25:28,280 --> 00:25:29,320 Speaker 13: and you could be off the grid. 417 00:25:31,320 --> 00:25:33,600 Speaker 5: So they started talking to people that knew him to 418 00:25:33,640 --> 00:25:37,040 Speaker 5: get information about where he could be, what they might 419 00:25:37,160 --> 00:25:41,840 Speaker 5: know about his relationship with Chavella. 420 00:25:41,960 --> 00:25:45,600 Speaker 3: They don't find much until they track down a teammate 421 00:25:45,760 --> 00:25:47,240 Speaker 3: on Vernon's football team. 422 00:25:48,280 --> 00:25:50,560 Speaker 14: Verne Thomas was part of a semi pro football team 423 00:25:50,600 --> 00:25:51,159 Speaker 14: here locally. 424 00:25:52,240 --> 00:25:54,040 Speaker 13: How long have you known him? 425 00:25:54,640 --> 00:25:57,680 Speaker 2: Loman for about about five years old. 426 00:25:58,600 --> 00:26:02,000 Speaker 12: His teammates said he was a good guy who got 427 00:26:02,000 --> 00:26:04,480 Speaker 12: along well with everyone. 428 00:26:05,160 --> 00:26:06,480 Speaker 9: From the outside looking in. 429 00:26:06,840 --> 00:26:11,040 Speaker 6: He was just this easy going, mellow guy that everybody 430 00:26:11,119 --> 00:26:11,960 Speaker 6: knew and loved. 431 00:26:13,119 --> 00:26:17,720 Speaker 3: He happy to go look the guy, but something about 432 00:26:17,840 --> 00:26:21,600 Speaker 3: Vernon had changed. On the night of May second, the 433 00:26:21,720 --> 00:26:22,520 Speaker 3: night before. 434 00:26:22,280 --> 00:26:25,239 Speaker 5: The murder, he says, there was a game that they 435 00:26:25,240 --> 00:26:29,720 Speaker 5: had played and he was acting really strange, and. 436 00:26:29,800 --> 00:26:34,919 Speaker 2: She was acting standoffice to herself. You know, he was 437 00:26:35,000 --> 00:26:41,520 Speaker 2: exacting different. Wasn't the same old, you know, cheerful, playful person. 438 00:26:43,560 --> 00:26:45,840 Speaker 5: He was withdrawn from the others. 439 00:26:46,760 --> 00:26:51,040 Speaker 2: What had me? You seemed the real depressed just wasn't 440 00:26:51,119 --> 00:26:53,560 Speaker 2: the same person. During the game, he was like in 441 00:26:53,600 --> 00:26:55,520 Speaker 2: the middle of the field, just playing with the dirt 442 00:26:55,560 --> 00:26:59,879 Speaker 2: on his knees. I think, I think I could we 443 00:27:00,000 --> 00:27:01,040 Speaker 2: remember he was crying. 444 00:27:02,000 --> 00:27:05,280 Speaker 8: This is the playoffs, and Vernon is sticking out like 445 00:27:05,320 --> 00:27:07,320 Speaker 8: a sore thumb. He's not in it to win it. 446 00:27:08,119 --> 00:27:10,080 Speaker 2: Some of the guys are trying to cheer him up, 447 00:27:10,200 --> 00:27:10,640 Speaker 2: talk to. 448 00:27:10,640 --> 00:27:15,560 Speaker 3: Him, But according to his teammate, Vernon's behavior had gone 449 00:27:15,560 --> 00:27:17,840 Speaker 3: from strange to frightening. 450 00:27:18,720 --> 00:27:20,760 Speaker 2: She was talking about doing something crazy. 451 00:27:22,000 --> 00:27:24,560 Speaker 13: He was making statements that something bad is gonna happen. 452 00:27:26,600 --> 00:27:28,360 Speaker 2: He was talking about killing this. 453 00:27:28,440 --> 00:27:36,520 Speaker 1: My get ready because the story is about to take 454 00:27:36,640 --> 00:27:40,040 Speaker 1: a thrilling turn as a web of betrayal and mystery 455 00:27:40,320 --> 00:27:44,719 Speaker 1: unfolds on the horizon. Stay tuned for more of the 456 00:27:44,720 --> 00:27:46,320 Speaker 1: Fatal Attraction podcast. 457 00:27:52,400 --> 00:27:57,600 Speaker 3: Fort Lauderdale detectives investigating Shavella Thomas's murder have just learned 458 00:27:57,600 --> 00:28:00,840 Speaker 3: from a teammate of her estranged husband, Veron, and that 459 00:28:00,920 --> 00:28:04,760 Speaker 3: the semi pro football player had been threatening her life. 460 00:28:05,440 --> 00:28:10,480 Speaker 8: One of the teammates told the detectives that Vernon said 461 00:28:10,520 --> 00:28:13,480 Speaker 8: that he was going to kill Schabella. 462 00:28:14,400 --> 00:28:17,680 Speaker 2: I'm gonna kill the kildev Okay, now you heard him 463 00:28:17,760 --> 00:28:18,119 Speaker 2: say that. 464 00:28:18,400 --> 00:28:22,639 Speaker 5: Yeah, in hindsight, we say, well, why didn't they say something, 465 00:28:22,680 --> 00:28:25,879 Speaker 5: Why didn't they do something. I think it's very realistic 466 00:28:25,920 --> 00:28:28,520 Speaker 5: that that person just thought, hey, he's going through a lot. 467 00:28:28,680 --> 00:28:31,320 Speaker 5: I don't think they thought that their teammate, the guy 468 00:28:31,359 --> 00:28:34,040 Speaker 5: that they played with all the time, was going to 469 00:28:34,119 --> 00:28:35,240 Speaker 5: go out there and hurt someone. 470 00:28:36,600 --> 00:28:38,200 Speaker 2: I'm telling to just keep your head up, man, you 471 00:28:38,240 --> 00:28:40,200 Speaker 2: don't go on and don't worry about that, and just 472 00:28:40,240 --> 00:28:42,200 Speaker 2: trying to get him back into the game so we 473 00:28:42,240 --> 00:28:43,800 Speaker 2: could play because it was a playoff game. 474 00:28:45,080 --> 00:28:47,920 Speaker 3: However, when the detectives ask if he knows where they 475 00:28:47,960 --> 00:28:51,040 Speaker 3: might find Vernon now, he says no. 476 00:28:52,080 --> 00:28:55,000 Speaker 4: He says he has no idea what Vernon maybe now, 477 00:28:55,160 --> 00:28:56,880 Speaker 4: but he may know somebody who does. 478 00:28:58,200 --> 00:29:01,120 Speaker 2: I heard what happened if Joe Wallas Joe Wallace was 479 00:29:01,160 --> 00:29:03,280 Speaker 2: in school. It's really I think on the team that 480 00:29:03,360 --> 00:29:03,720 Speaker 2: I knew. 481 00:29:05,520 --> 00:29:07,760 Speaker 13: He said, a person you ain't even want to talk to. 482 00:29:07,760 --> 00:29:11,240 Speaker 13: It was Joseph Wallace, somebody that's known Vernon for years. 483 00:29:12,120 --> 00:29:16,160 Speaker 5: So that's what the detectives did. They tracked down Joseph Wallace. 484 00:29:19,480 --> 00:29:24,120 Speaker 6: Joseph Wallace was a substitute teacher for Broward County Public Schools. 485 00:29:25,240 --> 00:29:27,680 Speaker 14: This is sworn taine reporter statement to mister Joseph Wallace 486 00:29:27,800 --> 00:29:29,200 Speaker 14: at his place of employment. 487 00:29:29,520 --> 00:29:31,840 Speaker 2: Does evern Thomas that we're going to be seeking about. 488 00:29:32,600 --> 00:29:36,360 Speaker 12: He told the detectives that they're not as close as 489 00:29:36,360 --> 00:29:37,200 Speaker 12: they once were. 490 00:29:38,400 --> 00:29:40,080 Speaker 2: We shouldn't pull it out stuff together. 491 00:29:40,680 --> 00:29:44,480 Speaker 10: But once he got married, it was like we sort 492 00:29:44,520 --> 00:29:49,480 Speaker 10: of drifted apart and he never really like discussed, you know, 493 00:29:49,560 --> 00:29:51,000 Speaker 10: his mass with community. 494 00:29:50,760 --> 00:29:51,440 Speaker 2: And thing like that. 495 00:29:53,160 --> 00:29:57,000 Speaker 6: He acts like he didn't know of any problems that 496 00:29:57,160 --> 00:29:59,120 Speaker 6: Chavella and Vernon were having. 497 00:30:00,440 --> 00:30:03,840 Speaker 3: He also denies knowing anything about the murder. 498 00:30:04,680 --> 00:30:07,040 Speaker 14: Did hear her talk to you about how he felt 499 00:30:07,040 --> 00:30:10,400 Speaker 14: and maybe how he wanted to hurt his wife? Do 500 00:30:10,480 --> 00:30:11,600 Speaker 14: you ever talk to you about how you wanted to 501 00:30:11,680 --> 00:30:12,280 Speaker 14: kill his wife? 502 00:30:14,480 --> 00:30:18,280 Speaker 3: Joseph's answers make the detectives suspicious. 503 00:30:18,680 --> 00:30:21,640 Speaker 4: Based on what the other teammates said. Vernon was openly 504 00:30:21,680 --> 00:30:22,960 Speaker 4: talking about killing Schabelle. 505 00:30:24,320 --> 00:30:26,760 Speaker 3: Does Joseph know more than he's letting on? 506 00:30:28,640 --> 00:30:32,680 Speaker 13: And it's like this, It happened so fast that you 507 00:30:32,720 --> 00:30:36,720 Speaker 13: would actually believe that somebody may have been a driver. 508 00:30:37,000 --> 00:30:38,720 Speaker 13: And then all the shooter had to do was jump 509 00:30:38,720 --> 00:30:39,600 Speaker 13: in the car and take off. 510 00:30:40,880 --> 00:30:46,560 Speaker 14: Did you see or hear from Vernon Thomas on that Sunday. 511 00:30:47,000 --> 00:30:49,600 Speaker 2: Before the murder or after the murder? 512 00:30:50,320 --> 00:30:52,840 Speaker 14: And he has Vernon make contact with your ol feet 513 00:30:52,840 --> 00:30:56,600 Speaker 14: tell you every thing about the murder being saved. 514 00:30:57,840 --> 00:30:58,320 Speaker 3: Anything. 515 00:31:01,880 --> 00:31:06,080 Speaker 5: Is he being untruthful to hide what he has done 516 00:31:06,760 --> 00:31:09,200 Speaker 5: or to protect Vernon in some way? 517 00:31:09,800 --> 00:31:11,840 Speaker 14: I had a deep feeling in my bones that he 518 00:31:11,880 --> 00:31:13,800 Speaker 14: wasn't being completely cooperative with me. 519 00:31:14,880 --> 00:31:17,680 Speaker 3: But since that's based on little more than a hunch, 520 00:31:18,280 --> 00:31:20,960 Speaker 3: they have no choice but to end the interview. 521 00:31:21,840 --> 00:31:26,240 Speaker 12: At that point, the detectors were no closer to finding Vernon. 522 00:31:30,200 --> 00:31:34,960 Speaker 3: Until a few days later they catch a lucky break homicide. 523 00:31:35,280 --> 00:31:38,280 Speaker 14: You see the tip that led us to the location 524 00:31:38,480 --> 00:31:41,560 Speaker 14: of the vehicle used as a getaway vehicle in the 525 00:31:41,680 --> 00:31:45,200 Speaker 14: murder of Chabelle Thomas. We located the vehicle, towed it, 526 00:31:45,440 --> 00:31:48,120 Speaker 14: and subsequently learned that it was in fact registered to 527 00:31:48,200 --> 00:31:49,760 Speaker 14: a close friend of Vernon Thomas. 528 00:31:50,960 --> 00:31:53,600 Speaker 3: His name is Russell Beinnabee. 529 00:31:54,400 --> 00:31:56,440 Speaker 9: That is a bombshell in this case. 530 00:31:59,480 --> 00:32:03,360 Speaker 3: Suspect he may be an accomplice. The detectives bring Russell 531 00:32:03,440 --> 00:32:04,520 Speaker 3: in for questioning. 532 00:32:05,800 --> 00:32:08,360 Speaker 13: They were straightforward with the facts and said, okay, your 533 00:32:08,400 --> 00:32:10,920 Speaker 13: car was involved, to see if he puts himself in 534 00:32:10,960 --> 00:32:11,320 Speaker 13: his car. 535 00:32:12,320 --> 00:32:15,040 Speaker 3: Russell doesn't put himself in the car on the night 536 00:32:15,080 --> 00:32:18,240 Speaker 3: of the murder, but he does put Vernon in it. 537 00:32:20,600 --> 00:32:23,720 Speaker 6: He did ad meant that Vernon asked him to borrow 538 00:32:23,760 --> 00:32:24,120 Speaker 6: his car. 539 00:32:25,280 --> 00:32:28,640 Speaker 13: Benaby knew Vernon from past school history. They were fat 540 00:32:28,640 --> 00:32:30,600 Speaker 13: brothers together, and. 541 00:32:30,640 --> 00:32:33,760 Speaker 14: These types of investigations, it's not shocking to see connection 542 00:32:33,880 --> 00:32:37,200 Speaker 14: between friends and family because friends and family typically want 543 00:32:37,240 --> 00:32:37,640 Speaker 14: to help. 544 00:32:37,800 --> 00:32:40,400 Speaker 13: He said, so he gave Vernon the keys. 545 00:32:41,320 --> 00:32:45,080 Speaker 3: However, Russell says it wasn't Vernon who returned the car 546 00:32:45,240 --> 00:32:46,480 Speaker 3: a few hours later. 547 00:32:51,000 --> 00:32:53,560 Speaker 14: According to Russell, he didn't know who it was, but 548 00:32:53,640 --> 00:32:56,560 Speaker 14: the person that returned the car said something the fact 549 00:32:56,560 --> 00:32:58,200 Speaker 14: that we lost somebody tonight. 550 00:32:59,440 --> 00:33:00,680 Speaker 5: He said, what I remember by that? 551 00:33:01,640 --> 00:33:04,200 Speaker 4: No, but I figured it was Ryan though he seen 552 00:33:04,240 --> 00:33:05,600 Speaker 4: really down sent Shavella up. 553 00:33:06,840 --> 00:33:10,920 Speaker 5: He thinks maybe Vernon may have committed suicide. That's what 554 00:33:11,000 --> 00:33:12,000 Speaker 5: he tells detectives. 555 00:33:13,320 --> 00:33:14,959 Speaker 3: But is he telling the truth? 556 00:33:16,160 --> 00:33:17,840 Speaker 13: The police ste fld a lineup. 557 00:33:18,320 --> 00:33:20,360 Speaker 5: Did any of these guys return the vehicle? 558 00:33:22,800 --> 00:33:24,600 Speaker 2: Was him? He was the guy. 559 00:33:26,480 --> 00:33:31,440 Speaker 6: Russell identified, the very person that they had already interviewed, 560 00:33:32,120 --> 00:33:33,760 Speaker 6: Joseph Wallace. 561 00:33:35,600 --> 00:33:39,240 Speaker 14: That was great evidence for my investigation to close the gap. 562 00:33:40,400 --> 00:33:43,280 Speaker 5: It's as if the case is coming together right before 563 00:33:43,320 --> 00:33:44,520 Speaker 5: the detective's eyes. 564 00:33:45,640 --> 00:33:48,160 Speaker 6: At this point, police knew beyond the shadow of a 565 00:33:48,200 --> 00:33:51,959 Speaker 6: doubt that Joseph knew more than he was actually saved. 566 00:33:53,680 --> 00:33:57,000 Speaker 3: But just how much was he trying to hide? 567 00:33:57,400 --> 00:34:00,640 Speaker 13: Was Joseph the actual shooter or was he accomplished in 568 00:34:00,680 --> 00:34:01,080 Speaker 13: the case. 569 00:34:01,960 --> 00:34:05,360 Speaker 3: Before detectives can bring Joseph Finn for a second time, 570 00:34:05,840 --> 00:34:09,360 Speaker 3: police receive a call from the doctors at Brower General 571 00:34:09,440 --> 00:34:10,440 Speaker 3: Medical Center. 572 00:34:11,320 --> 00:34:12,799 Speaker 5: They get some good news. 573 00:34:13,680 --> 00:34:18,720 Speaker 14: Jasey was now conscious, alert and wanted to talk, and. 574 00:34:18,680 --> 00:34:21,800 Speaker 8: He's aware enough to id the shootout. 575 00:34:28,480 --> 00:34:31,920 Speaker 1: Stay with us as we dive deeper into the mystery 576 00:34:32,080 --> 00:34:34,600 Speaker 1: of what happened at that fateful day. 577 00:34:35,560 --> 00:34:37,960 Speaker 7: This is the Fatal Attraction podcast. 578 00:34:38,800 --> 00:34:41,680 Speaker 1: Hey, True crime listeners, we'd like to introduce you to 579 00:34:41,800 --> 00:34:45,200 Speaker 1: something new from TV one. Follow the dark journey when 580 00:34:45,239 --> 00:34:51,080 Speaker 1: admiration turns into resentment and resentment turns into murderer. Take 581 00:34:51,120 --> 00:34:54,279 Speaker 1: a listen to Fatal Attraction, I'd Kill to Be You. 582 00:34:57,760 --> 00:35:00,560 Speaker 15: Don't miss a chilling new series on TV one. Fatal 583 00:35:00,600 --> 00:35:03,560 Speaker 15: Attraction I'd Kill to Be You airs every Monday night 584 00:35:03,600 --> 00:35:06,759 Speaker 15: at ten On True Crime, mondays, what would you do 585 00:35:06,960 --> 00:35:09,759 Speaker 15: if someone wanted your life? If your rival didn't just 586 00:35:09,840 --> 00:35:12,919 Speaker 15: want what you had, they wanted to be you. When 587 00:35:13,000 --> 00:35:17,040 Speaker 15: obsession ignits and jealousy spirals out of control, the price 588 00:35:17,120 --> 00:35:18,279 Speaker 15: can be deadly. 589 00:35:18,280 --> 00:35:19,360 Speaker 7: Of new crime drama. 590 00:35:19,480 --> 00:35:22,480 Speaker 15: You don't want to miss Fatal Attraction I'd Kill to 591 00:35:22,520 --> 00:35:29,120 Speaker 15: Be You, All new every Monday at ten on TV one. 592 00:35:30,760 --> 00:35:33,880 Speaker 3: Shooting victim JC Knight has just woken up in the 593 00:35:33,960 --> 00:35:37,520 Speaker 3: hospital and is ready to talk to the detectives. But 594 00:35:37,680 --> 00:35:40,400 Speaker 3: will he be able to identify the man who shot 595 00:35:40,480 --> 00:35:42,160 Speaker 3: him and Shabella Thomas. 596 00:35:42,840 --> 00:35:46,120 Speaker 8: His role in this investigation is extremely important. 597 00:35:47,000 --> 00:35:50,480 Speaker 14: He would be our only eyewitness to the actual shooter. 598 00:35:53,440 --> 00:35:56,279 Speaker 3: And when the detectives speak to jac in the hospital, 599 00:35:56,840 --> 00:35:59,279 Speaker 3: he has no doubt who put him there. 600 00:36:00,440 --> 00:36:03,480 Speaker 13: Mister Knight IDs Vernon as the shooter that night. 601 00:36:03,840 --> 00:36:04,759 Speaker 5: Are you sure about that? 602 00:36:05,600 --> 00:36:05,839 Speaker 3: Yes? 603 00:36:06,480 --> 00:36:08,520 Speaker 5: Absolutely, Vernon Thomas. 604 00:36:09,560 --> 00:36:13,000 Speaker 14: He was angry as to what Vernon did to Schavella 605 00:36:13,120 --> 00:36:13,760 Speaker 14: and himself. 606 00:36:14,960 --> 00:36:19,479 Speaker 5: Vernon had been jealous of his relationship with Chavella, even 607 00:36:19,480 --> 00:36:22,879 Speaker 5: though Chavella and Vernon had been separated. 608 00:36:24,040 --> 00:36:27,600 Speaker 4: Although according to JC, he had Chevella with just friends. 609 00:36:28,800 --> 00:36:33,880 Speaker 5: There's no intimate relationship between the two. 610 00:36:33,800 --> 00:36:36,040 Speaker 3: But try telling that to Vernon. 611 00:36:36,640 --> 00:36:38,880 Speaker 5: Even though they were just friends who believed there was 612 00:36:38,920 --> 00:36:40,040 Speaker 5: something more going on. 613 00:36:41,640 --> 00:36:45,279 Speaker 3: According to JC, things that come to a head on 614 00:36:45,360 --> 00:36:46,720 Speaker 3: the night of May third. 615 00:36:48,120 --> 00:36:51,040 Speaker 14: JC told me that he was at a party with 616 00:36:51,200 --> 00:36:54,439 Speaker 14: Chevella near where Chavelle's parents lived. Sometime during the night, 617 00:36:54,680 --> 00:36:55,520 Speaker 14: Vernon showed up. 618 00:36:56,520 --> 00:36:58,840 Speaker 5: What you're doing with my wife, man, j. 619 00:36:58,960 --> 00:37:02,440 Speaker 3: C says he and exchanged a few words. 620 00:37:02,880 --> 00:37:04,600 Speaker 14: Pointed JC very leaves. 621 00:37:06,160 --> 00:37:10,640 Speaker 12: He said that Chavella had really been shaken up by 622 00:37:10,840 --> 00:37:11,880 Speaker 12: Vernon's behavior. 623 00:37:14,719 --> 00:37:15,880 Speaker 9: Can you want me home tonight? 624 00:37:18,080 --> 00:37:18,440 Speaker 3: Thank you? 625 00:37:19,120 --> 00:37:19,400 Speaker 2: JC? 626 00:37:19,719 --> 00:37:22,680 Speaker 14: Doing the generally thing, escorted her home to her parents' house. 627 00:37:22,760 --> 00:37:27,600 Speaker 3: Mah happened, but they never made it to Chavella's front door. 628 00:37:29,440 --> 00:37:32,279 Speaker 13: I hy man, that's my wife, man, that's my part. 629 00:37:32,400 --> 00:37:32,719 Speaker 6: My god. 630 00:37:33,400 --> 00:37:36,040 Speaker 5: J C says. He tried to get Chavella out of 631 00:37:36,040 --> 00:37:38,520 Speaker 5: the way and he tried to run, but he was 632 00:37:38,560 --> 00:37:43,480 Speaker 5: too late. He was shot and Chavella was shot. 633 00:37:44,440 --> 00:37:47,280 Speaker 3: JC managed to escape around the corner of the house 634 00:37:47,680 --> 00:37:52,280 Speaker 3: before he collapsed from loss of blood, but Shavella wasn't 635 00:37:52,320 --> 00:37:53,440 Speaker 3: so lucky. 636 00:37:54,239 --> 00:37:57,279 Speaker 10: Shot her in the back of her head, just thock 637 00:37:57,320 --> 00:37:57,960 Speaker 10: it was nothing. 638 00:38:02,320 --> 00:38:04,879 Speaker 14: He believed that, well, if I can't have her, then 639 00:38:04,920 --> 00:38:05,839 Speaker 14: no one's going to have her. 640 00:38:07,480 --> 00:38:07,800 Speaker 13: Thank you. 641 00:38:11,440 --> 00:38:14,080 Speaker 3: Well. Waiting for a judge to swear out a warrant 642 00:38:14,080 --> 00:38:18,160 Speaker 3: for Vernon's arrest, the detectives bring his friend Joseph Wallace 643 00:38:18,239 --> 00:38:20,520 Speaker 3: back in for another round of questioning. 644 00:38:21,800 --> 00:38:25,719 Speaker 13: When police go back to confront him, Wallace stated that yes, 645 00:38:25,840 --> 00:38:27,879 Speaker 13: he was the one who brought the car back. 646 00:38:30,120 --> 00:38:33,040 Speaker 4: However, that's not all Joseph told the detectives. 647 00:38:34,160 --> 00:38:37,160 Speaker 6: He actually threw Russell under the bus and told the 648 00:38:37,200 --> 00:38:39,719 Speaker 6: police that this guy is not as innocent as he 649 00:38:39,800 --> 00:38:43,000 Speaker 6: claimed he was. His role was not only loaning his car, 650 00:38:43,520 --> 00:38:49,000 Speaker 6: but he was very detailed and specific in telling Joseph 651 00:38:49,440 --> 00:38:51,160 Speaker 6: how to dispose. 652 00:38:50,760 --> 00:38:51,600 Speaker 3: Of this gun. 653 00:38:52,719 --> 00:38:55,480 Speaker 13: Bennaby gave him a plastic bag and says, put it 654 00:38:55,520 --> 00:38:57,719 Speaker 13: in this and clean off the fringing, fresh and throw 655 00:38:57,719 --> 00:38:59,480 Speaker 13: it in water. So nobody will be able to trace 656 00:38:59,520 --> 00:39:02,040 Speaker 13: him back law enforcement. 657 00:39:02,280 --> 00:39:05,160 Speaker 5: They do everything to find the firearm, but they never 658 00:39:05,239 --> 00:39:05,680 Speaker 5: find it. 659 00:39:06,840 --> 00:39:10,359 Speaker 3: Even without the gun, Joseph's story is more than enough 660 00:39:10,400 --> 00:39:14,520 Speaker 3: for detectives to charge both him and Russell as accessories 661 00:39:14,560 --> 00:39:15,320 Speaker 3: to the murder. 662 00:39:16,600 --> 00:39:19,840 Speaker 5: Everyone knows what's going on and they're working in concert 663 00:39:20,040 --> 00:39:22,360 Speaker 5: to cover up this violent and hainous crime. 664 00:39:23,600 --> 00:39:28,000 Speaker 3: But it's Vernon the detectives really want, and they won't 665 00:39:28,040 --> 00:39:30,920 Speaker 3: have to look very far to find him. 666 00:39:31,400 --> 00:39:34,480 Speaker 14: I received a phone call from the Brown County Central 667 00:39:34,480 --> 00:39:39,440 Speaker 14: Intake Jail that individual had presented himself to intake identicify 668 00:39:39,520 --> 00:39:42,120 Speaker 14: himself as Vernon Thomas. 669 00:39:42,840 --> 00:39:46,359 Speaker 3: Vernon may have turned himself in, but that didn't mean 670 00:39:46,400 --> 00:39:49,080 Speaker 3: he was ready to cooperate with the investigation. 671 00:39:50,440 --> 00:39:53,279 Speaker 5: Vernon didn't say anything to the police when he was. 672 00:39:53,360 --> 00:39:56,759 Speaker 3: Arrested, and it's only when Vernon goes on trial for 673 00:39:56,880 --> 00:40:00,080 Speaker 3: murder in March of two thousand that his version of 674 00:40:00,120 --> 00:40:02,000 Speaker 3: events finally comes out. 675 00:40:02,960 --> 00:40:07,560 Speaker 14: Vernon Thomas's defense was self defense, to the effect of 676 00:40:08,160 --> 00:40:11,960 Speaker 14: Vernon arrives at Chevelle's parents' house to talk to her, 677 00:40:12,160 --> 00:40:16,000 Speaker 14: at which point in time Vernon Thomas alleges that j 678 00:40:16,239 --> 00:40:19,320 Speaker 14: C pulled out a gun pointed it at Vernon. 679 00:40:20,640 --> 00:40:24,799 Speaker 12: Naturally, Vernon had pulled out his gun and fired at. 680 00:40:24,760 --> 00:40:30,640 Speaker 14: JC, unintentionally, striking his wife four times by accident. 681 00:40:34,520 --> 00:40:38,319 Speaker 3: To back up their claim, the defense points towards jc's 682 00:40:38,360 --> 00:40:39,360 Speaker 3: criminal history. 683 00:40:40,200 --> 00:40:45,680 Speaker 6: J C had a background dealing with illegal gun possession, 684 00:40:46,239 --> 00:40:50,520 Speaker 6: and the defense actually used that against him. 685 00:40:50,880 --> 00:40:54,560 Speaker 3: When the case goes to the jury, the defense's arguments 686 00:40:54,640 --> 00:40:56,800 Speaker 3: raised at least some reasonable doubt. 687 00:40:57,800 --> 00:41:01,480 Speaker 14: The verdict in this case was guilty murder in the 688 00:41:01,640 --> 00:41:04,560 Speaker 14: third degree, which is a lesser included offense of murder 689 00:41:04,600 --> 00:41:05,240 Speaker 14: in the first. 690 00:41:05,000 --> 00:41:09,480 Speaker 13: Degree, So clearly the jury did not buy the fact 691 00:41:09,520 --> 00:41:11,080 Speaker 13: that JAC was an armed. 692 00:41:12,480 --> 00:41:16,320 Speaker 3: Vernon sentence is a mere fifteen years. 693 00:41:17,080 --> 00:41:19,520 Speaker 10: We just wanted justice to be served and it was not. 694 00:41:19,960 --> 00:41:22,680 Speaker 10: It was not the law was wrong. 695 00:41:22,960 --> 00:41:25,839 Speaker 12: How could he just take someone life and they just 696 00:41:25,880 --> 00:41:27,239 Speaker 12: gave him minimum. 697 00:41:27,600 --> 00:41:32,400 Speaker 3: Vernon's accomplices, Joseph Wallace and Russell Bennebee, who pled guilty 698 00:41:32,440 --> 00:41:36,520 Speaker 3: to tampering with evidence, don't serve any present time. 699 00:41:37,480 --> 00:41:38,840 Speaker 14: They both receive probation. 700 00:41:40,040 --> 00:41:44,360 Speaker 3: It's a devastating conclusion for a family that suffered so 701 00:41:44,640 --> 00:41:45,480 Speaker 3: much pain. 702 00:41:46,400 --> 00:41:50,000 Speaker 10: It was like a whole in our family. She was 703 00:41:50,040 --> 00:41:52,480 Speaker 10: a very sweet girl. She was a very bubbly person, 704 00:41:52,480 --> 00:41:53,440 Speaker 10: and she didn't deserve that. 705 00:41:53,800 --> 00:41:58,759 Speaker 11: I think absolutely no one deserves what happened to her. 706 00:42:00,040 --> 00:42:02,799 Speaker 10: Miss her dearly, and it's difficult to just think of 707 00:42:02,880 --> 00:42:03,640 Speaker 10: what could have been. 708 00:42:10,520 --> 00:42:14,319 Speaker 1: The tragic ending of Shavella Thomas's life serves as a 709 00:42:14,360 --> 00:42:20,240 Speaker 1: poignant reminder that relationship challenges should never lead to deep 710 00:42:20,280 --> 00:42:25,520 Speaker 1: heartache or worse death. Her story highlights an important truth. 711 00:42:26,160 --> 00:42:30,560 Speaker 1: Love is meant to uplift and heal, not inflict pain. 712 00:42:31,520 --> 00:42:36,359 Speaker 1: This heartbreaking situation starkly illustrates that love should never hurt, 713 00:42:37,080 --> 00:42:40,760 Speaker 1: urging us to remain vigilant against those who may seek 714 00:42:40,840 --> 00:42:45,520 Speaker 1: to harm us. Shavella Thomas will be cherished and remembered 715 00:42:45,560 --> 00:42:48,320 Speaker 1: for the love she brought to those who knew her. 716 00:42:49,040 --> 00:42:49,920 Speaker 7: Coming up on. 717 00:42:50,000 --> 00:42:53,839 Speaker 1: The next episode of the Fatal Attraction podcast. 718 00:43:00,160 --> 00:43:03,000 Speaker 3: Were a beautiful couple living the American dream. 719 00:43:03,840 --> 00:43:06,960 Speaker 8: He had high profile entertainers that he's doing security for. 720 00:43:08,160 --> 00:43:09,640 Speaker 9: She's raising three boys. 721 00:43:10,480 --> 00:43:15,279 Speaker 3: They had a beautiful home. He's so proud, but it 722 00:43:15,360 --> 00:43:20,719 Speaker 3: all vanished in an instant. She just heard two loud gunshots. 723 00:43:21,480 --> 00:43:22,439 Speaker 7: He's at the front door. 724 00:43:23,280 --> 00:43:26,480 Speaker 9: He's laying in a pool of blood, keys in the door. 725 00:43:27,320 --> 00:43:30,680 Speaker 5: He was ambushed bushwack in front of his house. 726 00:43:32,200 --> 00:43:33,160 Speaker 3: Was it retaliation? 727 00:43:38,800 --> 00:43:42,520 Speaker 1: When the sharp sounds of gunfire pierced the tranquil air 728 00:43:42,640 --> 00:43:47,040 Speaker 1: in a Gwynette County, Georgia neighborhood, the peaceful life of 729 00:43:47,080 --> 00:43:50,920 Speaker 1: a devoted couple is shattered in an instant. In the 730 00:43:50,960 --> 00:43:54,840 Speaker 1: blink of an eye, their once calm world is transformed 731 00:43:54,880 --> 00:43:59,800 Speaker 1: into a chaotic scene filled with echoes of fear and shattered. 732 00:44:01,239 --> 00:44:05,080 Speaker 1: Tune in to the next episode of the Fatal Attraction podcast. 733 00:44:05,719 --> 00:44:11,120 Speaker 7: We will see you in the next episode.