1 00:00:03,160 --> 00:00:06,920 Speaker 1: In the Hearts of Omaha, Nebraska, I truly loved. Bright 2 00:00:06,960 --> 00:00:10,880 Speaker 1: eyed teenage Dollar embarks on her college journey, filled with 3 00:00:11,080 --> 00:00:15,240 Speaker 1: dreams and excitement. Just as she starts to step into 4 00:00:15,360 --> 00:00:21,320 Speaker 1: this new chapter, love unexpectedly sweeps her off her feet. Initially, 5 00:00:21,520 --> 00:00:26,600 Speaker 1: everything feels magical as the relationship flourishes, but soon the 6 00:00:26,720 --> 00:00:30,639 Speaker 1: tide begins to turn what could have gone wrong to 7 00:00:30,760 --> 00:00:35,920 Speaker 1: transform a promising romance into a source of heartache. What 8 00:00:36,120 --> 00:00:41,440 Speaker 1: happens when love becomes fatal? This is a fatal Attraction 9 00:00:41,640 --> 00:00:45,320 Speaker 1: podcast with grave consequences. 10 00:00:52,680 --> 00:00:58,320 Speaker 2: August fifteenth, twenty thirteen. It's Thursday morning in Omaha, Nebraska, 11 00:00:58,760 --> 00:01:01,360 Speaker 2: a sprawling city of almost one million. 12 00:01:02,280 --> 00:01:05,960 Speaker 3: It is a large place, but it still feels really 13 00:01:06,000 --> 00:01:06,959 Speaker 3: really small. 14 00:01:07,840 --> 00:01:13,039 Speaker 4: Very family friendly, very welcoming. Overall, it's just a great place. 15 00:01:14,280 --> 00:01:17,640 Speaker 5: Yeah, great downtown as well as the zoo. Our zoo 16 00:01:17,680 --> 00:01:18,679 Speaker 5: is known around the world. 17 00:01:19,880 --> 00:01:24,640 Speaker 2: Unfortunately, a world class zoo and a skyscraper studded downtown 18 00:01:25,040 --> 00:01:27,680 Speaker 2: aren't the only surprising things about Omaha. 19 00:01:28,480 --> 00:01:30,800 Speaker 6: There is a lot of violence here, a lot of shootings. 20 00:01:32,280 --> 00:01:36,240 Speaker 3: The majority of the crimes have been associated with gang violence. 21 00:01:37,800 --> 00:01:40,800 Speaker 2: It's a little after nine that morning when a groundskeeper 22 00:01:40,840 --> 00:01:45,080 Speaker 2: at Omaha's Graceland Park Cemetery is dealing with the aftermath 23 00:01:45,120 --> 00:01:46,000 Speaker 2: of that violence. 24 00:01:46,440 --> 00:01:50,240 Speaker 5: He is preparing a grave for a recent murder victim. 25 00:01:50,480 --> 00:01:53,480 Speaker 7: The grave had been dug the day before, but now 26 00:01:53,560 --> 00:01:55,440 Speaker 7: it was time to set up for the funeral. 27 00:01:57,120 --> 00:02:00,360 Speaker 2: But as he approaches the grave, the worker makes a 28 00:02:00,480 --> 00:02:05,160 Speaker 2: startling discovery. It's already occupied. 29 00:02:05,600 --> 00:02:07,279 Speaker 8: Ma'am, are you okay? 30 00:02:08,320 --> 00:02:12,600 Speaker 9: He realized that she was dead, and at that point 31 00:02:12,639 --> 00:02:15,079 Speaker 9: he called the police. That one what. 32 00:02:16,840 --> 00:02:20,600 Speaker 2: When the police arrived, they confirm that the young woman 33 00:02:20,960 --> 00:02:21,440 Speaker 2: is dead. 34 00:02:22,240 --> 00:02:26,160 Speaker 4: They're trying to identify the body inside the grave, but 35 00:02:26,440 --> 00:02:29,800 Speaker 4: there's nothing on her that can identify her. 36 00:02:30,560 --> 00:02:34,959 Speaker 2: Despite having no wallet or driver's license, police are able 37 00:02:35,000 --> 00:02:37,040 Speaker 2: to learn the young woman's identity. 38 00:02:37,840 --> 00:02:40,919 Speaker 7: That same morning, a family that lived just a few 39 00:02:40,960 --> 00:02:44,560 Speaker 7: blocks away from the cemetery had reported their daughter missing. 40 00:02:46,000 --> 00:02:48,280 Speaker 8: She had a tattoo on her side that was like 41 00:02:48,320 --> 00:02:51,760 Speaker 8: a cross with like a woven ribbon around it. 42 00:02:53,080 --> 00:02:55,560 Speaker 4: They get a description of the missing person, and then 43 00:02:55,919 --> 00:02:58,560 Speaker 4: it clicks that the person I sing is the same 44 00:02:58,600 --> 00:03:01,639 Speaker 4: person that they're trying to identify in the graveyard. 45 00:03:06,720 --> 00:03:10,320 Speaker 2: Nineteen year old Melissa Rodriguez grew up in the midst 46 00:03:10,320 --> 00:03:12,560 Speaker 2: of a loving Mexican American family. 47 00:03:13,360 --> 00:03:16,720 Speaker 8: Melissa was the middle daughter. From the time she was born. 48 00:03:16,919 --> 00:03:19,519 Speaker 8: She just had a sparkle in her eyes. 49 00:03:20,280 --> 00:03:21,600 Speaker 9: We did everything together. 50 00:03:22,080 --> 00:03:23,680 Speaker 10: We were inseparable. 51 00:03:26,840 --> 00:03:29,079 Speaker 11: Yeah, Gawa Yamato and Esperando. 52 00:03:30,520 --> 00:03:34,880 Speaker 3: Pa. Melissa was a daddy's girl. She loved her dad. 53 00:03:36,080 --> 00:03:38,040 Speaker 2: Melissa also loved school. 54 00:03:39,160 --> 00:03:41,840 Speaker 8: Her academics were always number one to her. 55 00:03:43,040 --> 00:03:46,160 Speaker 12: She was a hard worker. She always knew what she wanted. 56 00:03:47,600 --> 00:03:51,360 Speaker 9: Melissa wanted to become a lawyer so she could help 57 00:03:51,680 --> 00:03:53,320 Speaker 9: people who couldn't help themselves. 58 00:03:54,320 --> 00:03:58,080 Speaker 8: I'd go to school conferences and that was the first 59 00:03:58,120 --> 00:04:01,040 Speaker 8: thing that they would say. Her academic her great. But 60 00:04:01,640 --> 00:04:03,640 Speaker 8: she is such a kind soul. 61 00:04:04,760 --> 00:04:06,800 Speaker 13: I think she had so much love that she wanted 62 00:04:06,840 --> 00:04:09,000 Speaker 13: to spread it and give it to someone else. 63 00:04:11,440 --> 00:04:15,360 Speaker 2: And few people needed love more than Melissa's high school boyfriend, 64 00:04:15,880 --> 00:04:16,800 Speaker 2: Michael Lloyd. 65 00:04:17,400 --> 00:04:20,120 Speaker 5: Michael had a pretty rough upbringing when he was younger. 66 00:04:21,240 --> 00:04:24,039 Speaker 14: He didn't have the stable family and happy childhood that 67 00:04:24,080 --> 00:04:24,520 Speaker 14: she did. 68 00:04:25,600 --> 00:04:28,360 Speaker 3: He experienced a lot of trauma early on. His father 69 00:04:28,520 --> 00:04:32,159 Speaker 3: was a victim of gang violence and was murdered when 70 00:04:32,160 --> 00:04:35,080 Speaker 3: he was one year old, and after. 71 00:04:34,880 --> 00:04:37,280 Speaker 5: That he ended up moving towards the East Coast and 72 00:04:37,320 --> 00:04:39,840 Speaker 5: out of Nebraska. 73 00:04:40,120 --> 00:04:43,800 Speaker 2: Michael and his mom settled in North Carolina, but the 74 00:04:43,920 --> 00:04:45,680 Speaker 2: trauma followed them there. 75 00:04:46,640 --> 00:04:50,640 Speaker 4: It just kind of trickled down into his regular everyday life. 76 00:04:50,760 --> 00:04:55,359 Speaker 4: He was really looking for that love and attention. But 77 00:04:55,800 --> 00:04:59,240 Speaker 4: Michael and his mom did not have the best relationship. 78 00:05:00,040 --> 00:05:03,080 Speaker 4: He didn't get along with the men she dated, and 79 00:05:03,120 --> 00:05:05,000 Speaker 4: there was consistent issues there. 80 00:05:05,839 --> 00:05:10,120 Speaker 2: Eventually, his mother had sent Michael back to Nebraska. 81 00:05:10,520 --> 00:05:13,440 Speaker 5: Michael returned to Omaha when he was sixteen years old 82 00:05:13,839 --> 00:05:15,280 Speaker 5: to live with his grandmother. 83 00:05:17,920 --> 00:05:21,760 Speaker 2: That was when Melissa Rodriguez came into his life. 84 00:05:21,960 --> 00:05:24,520 Speaker 5: Michael and Melissa actually had a chance meeting after the 85 00:05:24,600 --> 00:05:26,520 Speaker 5: basketball game in high school. 86 00:05:27,600 --> 00:05:30,200 Speaker 8: She was on the dance team in high school. They 87 00:05:30,240 --> 00:05:32,239 Speaker 8: would perform at all the basketball games. 88 00:05:33,160 --> 00:05:36,960 Speaker 9: After basketball games or high school had a hangout spot. 89 00:05:37,360 --> 00:05:40,960 Speaker 9: We would all order tacos and just hang out in 90 00:05:41,000 --> 00:05:41,640 Speaker 9: the parking lot. 91 00:05:41,800 --> 00:05:42,719 Speaker 6: How long have you been decent? 92 00:05:43,040 --> 00:05:44,119 Speaker 15: Since I was a little girl. 93 00:05:45,800 --> 00:05:47,279 Speaker 14: He must be tired, I thought it. 94 00:05:48,640 --> 00:05:52,120 Speaker 9: I remember Melissa telling me she met a guy who 95 00:05:52,200 --> 00:05:53,919 Speaker 9: was funny, made her laugh. 96 00:05:58,360 --> 00:06:00,880 Speaker 2: Soon the young couple was inseparable. 97 00:06:02,040 --> 00:06:03,200 Speaker 12: I was excited for her. 98 00:06:03,400 --> 00:06:08,120 Speaker 13: I mean, seeing my older sister happy, that's all kind 99 00:06:08,120 --> 00:06:09,120 Speaker 13: of really wanted for her. 100 00:06:10,360 --> 00:06:13,719 Speaker 5: Melissa was a very nurturing and caring person and wanted 101 00:06:13,720 --> 00:06:15,280 Speaker 5: to help him better himself. 102 00:06:16,279 --> 00:06:19,480 Speaker 8: She felt like she could try to help him to 103 00:06:20,160 --> 00:06:22,280 Speaker 8: achieve some of those things that he didn't have. 104 00:06:23,520 --> 00:06:24,920 Speaker 6: It was a good relationship. 105 00:06:25,320 --> 00:06:30,479 Speaker 16: Michael seemed to always be there for Melissa. 106 00:06:28,680 --> 00:06:31,280 Speaker 2: But would Melissa always be there for Michael. 107 00:06:32,080 --> 00:06:33,400 Speaker 8: She had to set goals. 108 00:06:33,800 --> 00:06:37,240 Speaker 9: She had everything set up for college. 109 00:06:37,440 --> 00:06:39,640 Speaker 2: Michael, on the other hand, didn't. 110 00:06:40,080 --> 00:06:43,520 Speaker 3: Michael was trying to figure out what to do. Michael 111 00:06:43,520 --> 00:06:51,320 Speaker 3: didn't have the drive to want greater things for himself. 112 00:06:50,520 --> 00:06:54,600 Speaker 2: And by the summer of twenty twelve, their relationship had 113 00:06:54,680 --> 00:06:55,480 Speaker 2: run its course. 114 00:06:56,240 --> 00:07:00,840 Speaker 9: Mike and Melissa's relationship was just a sure high school 115 00:07:00,960 --> 00:07:04,679 Speaker 9: fling because they were on different paths. 116 00:07:05,560 --> 00:07:09,800 Speaker 3: She got to go to University Nebraska Lincoln, which is 117 00:07:10,320 --> 00:07:12,360 Speaker 3: one of the top schools in the state. 118 00:07:13,680 --> 00:07:17,040 Speaker 5: Michael goes back to North Carolina to rekindle his relationship 119 00:07:17,040 --> 00:07:17,480 Speaker 5: with his brother. 120 00:07:19,920 --> 00:07:23,200 Speaker 2: Settling into a new routine at college, it appeared that 121 00:07:23,280 --> 00:07:26,440 Speaker 2: Melissa had moved on. 122 00:07:25,560 --> 00:07:28,800 Speaker 3: Once they broke up. Melissa started to focus on her 123 00:07:28,920 --> 00:07:31,280 Speaker 3: dreams and her aspirations. 124 00:07:31,840 --> 00:07:34,080 Speaker 12: She was doing good in her classes. 125 00:07:37,120 --> 00:07:40,400 Speaker 2: But now just weeks away from the start of her 126 00:07:40,440 --> 00:07:45,120 Speaker 2: sophomore year. The police have identified Melissa's dead body at 127 00:07:45,120 --> 00:07:46,920 Speaker 2: the bottom of an open grave. 128 00:07:47,640 --> 00:07:50,280 Speaker 14: It just so happen that up the street, other officers 129 00:07:50,280 --> 00:07:52,760 Speaker 14: had just taken a report from Melissa's family saying that 130 00:07:52,800 --> 00:07:53,640 Speaker 14: she had gone missing. 131 00:07:54,920 --> 00:07:57,880 Speaker 5: One thing that Melissa's family had said is that she 132 00:07:58,000 --> 00:08:00,800 Speaker 5: had a tattoo that would help identify her. And that's 133 00:08:00,800 --> 00:08:02,720 Speaker 5: when police knew who they had found. 134 00:08:03,520 --> 00:08:07,840 Speaker 2: But how and why had she died? When homicide detectives 135 00:08:07,920 --> 00:08:12,960 Speaker 2: arrive at the scene, they make a chilling discovery. 136 00:08:13,600 --> 00:08:16,880 Speaker 4: Detectives realize that Melissa's underwear is missing. 137 00:08:18,200 --> 00:08:19,640 Speaker 5: Was she sexually assaulted? 138 00:08:20,080 --> 00:08:21,640 Speaker 10: We might have a sex one here. 139 00:08:27,400 --> 00:08:32,679 Speaker 1: Deception lurks around every corner. Stay tuned as detectives dive 140 00:08:32,840 --> 00:08:36,000 Speaker 1: deep into the mystery to uncover the truth. 141 00:08:42,559 --> 00:08:47,800 Speaker 2: Nineteen year old college sophomore Melissa Rodriguez was pursuing her dreams. 142 00:08:48,400 --> 00:08:51,520 Speaker 9: Melissa had set herself up to live the life that 143 00:08:51,559 --> 00:08:54,200 Speaker 9: she always streamed of, so she was going to become 144 00:08:54,240 --> 00:08:54,680 Speaker 9: a lawyer. 145 00:08:55,559 --> 00:09:05,400 Speaker 2: See Instead, detectives are trying to figure out how her 146 00:09:05,480 --> 00:09:08,800 Speaker 2: dead body ended up at the bottom of an open grave. 147 00:09:09,679 --> 00:09:12,439 Speaker 7: All they had at this point was the initial missing 148 00:09:12,480 --> 00:09:14,439 Speaker 7: person's report filed by the family. 149 00:09:16,280 --> 00:09:21,000 Speaker 2: Examining the body, detectives determined that Melissa had died shortly 150 00:09:21,120 --> 00:09:22,479 Speaker 2: after she disappeared. 151 00:09:23,120 --> 00:09:26,600 Speaker 4: Riga mortez had set in, which showed that Melissa had 152 00:09:26,600 --> 00:09:28,600 Speaker 4: been dead for at least twelve hours. 153 00:09:30,000 --> 00:09:32,480 Speaker 14: Based on the bruising around her neck, it appeared that 154 00:09:32,520 --> 00:09:33,520 Speaker 14: she had been strangled. 155 00:09:35,760 --> 00:09:38,240 Speaker 2: Other clues suggest a possible motive. 156 00:09:39,520 --> 00:09:41,360 Speaker 5: Melissa's underwear is missing. 157 00:09:42,280 --> 00:09:43,360 Speaker 10: You might have a sex crime. 158 00:09:47,040 --> 00:09:51,040 Speaker 2: Hoping the autopsy will reveal if that's the case. Detectives 159 00:09:51,040 --> 00:09:54,280 Speaker 2: release the body to the medical examiner and move on 160 00:09:54,360 --> 00:09:57,719 Speaker 2: to Melissa's parents' house to break the horrible news. 161 00:09:58,360 --> 00:10:00,400 Speaker 8: There was a knock at the door and it was 162 00:10:00,440 --> 00:10:00,839 Speaker 8: a woman. 163 00:10:01,240 --> 00:10:04,440 Speaker 10: Can I help you. We're sorry to have to inform you. 164 00:10:04,880 --> 00:10:09,000 Speaker 8: She introduced herself as a homicide detective, and at that 165 00:10:09,040 --> 00:10:28,640 Speaker 8: point I knew Melissa was gone. At that moment, nothing 166 00:10:28,679 --> 00:10:31,320 Speaker 8: else mattered. We have lost her baby. 167 00:10:33,120 --> 00:10:36,840 Speaker 2: Despite their grief, the Rodrigez family is able to tell 168 00:10:36,880 --> 00:10:40,040 Speaker 2: detectives they can only think of one person capable of 169 00:10:40,120 --> 00:10:44,319 Speaker 2: killing Melissa. I told her. I told her to stay 170 00:10:44,320 --> 00:10:45,040 Speaker 2: away from him. 171 00:10:45,600 --> 00:10:47,839 Speaker 10: I told her stay away from whom. 172 00:10:48,360 --> 00:10:51,560 Speaker 5: They tell police to look into her ex boyfriend, Michael Lloyd. 173 00:10:53,600 --> 00:10:56,679 Speaker 2: According to the family, what began as a high school 174 00:10:56,760 --> 00:11:01,640 Speaker 2: romance had turned sour as Melissa prepared for college. 175 00:11:01,840 --> 00:11:03,840 Speaker 5: It was kind of difficult to figure out where Michael 176 00:11:03,880 --> 00:11:05,280 Speaker 5: would fit into that future. 177 00:11:06,520 --> 00:11:09,120 Speaker 14: The family said there was no doubt that Michael resented it. 178 00:11:12,000 --> 00:11:15,680 Speaker 8: She had a graduation party at our house and Mike 179 00:11:15,840 --> 00:11:19,920 Speaker 8: just was acting really kind of strange, and you know, 180 00:11:20,080 --> 00:11:23,640 Speaker 8: she got checks, and then she had cash and everything 181 00:11:23,720 --> 00:11:26,959 Speaker 8: was in her bedroom. And then that evening she went 182 00:11:27,000 --> 00:11:28,880 Speaker 8: to go look in her bedroom and all her cash 183 00:11:29,000 --> 00:11:31,400 Speaker 8: was gone. 184 00:11:31,920 --> 00:11:35,480 Speaker 2: And after Melissa committed to the University of Nebraska and Lincoln, 185 00:11:36,040 --> 00:11:39,240 Speaker 2: her relationship with Michael soon sputtered out. 186 00:11:39,480 --> 00:11:43,679 Speaker 8: When Melissa went to the university, I was relieved. I 187 00:11:43,800 --> 00:11:46,520 Speaker 8: was very happy that he was out of the picture. 188 00:11:48,080 --> 00:11:50,760 Speaker 2: But at the end of her first semester away from home, 189 00:11:51,320 --> 00:11:54,360 Speaker 2: Melissa made the decision to return to Omaha. 190 00:11:54,679 --> 00:11:57,320 Speaker 8: She was a little bit homesick. A lot of her 191 00:11:57,400 --> 00:12:00,800 Speaker 8: you know, lifelong friends were still here in Omaha. 192 00:12:01,200 --> 00:12:04,160 Speaker 6: She did transfer back here to Omaha and went to. 193 00:12:04,200 --> 00:12:08,640 Speaker 2: You and know, But Melissa may have had an ulterior motive. 194 00:12:09,240 --> 00:12:12,600 Speaker 7: Michael also returned to Omaha from visiting his mom in 195 00:12:12,640 --> 00:12:15,400 Speaker 7: North Carolina. 196 00:12:16,040 --> 00:12:18,880 Speaker 9: They started to get back together about a month of 197 00:12:18,960 --> 00:12:21,360 Speaker 9: him being back in Omaha. 198 00:12:22,880 --> 00:12:25,800 Speaker 2: Melissa's mother says her daughter had been willing to overlook 199 00:12:25,840 --> 00:12:27,960 Speaker 2: what Michael had done in the past. 200 00:12:29,040 --> 00:12:31,400 Speaker 8: He had a bad life, he didn't have a family, 201 00:12:31,520 --> 00:12:33,480 Speaker 8: he didn't have all the things that Melissa had. 202 00:12:34,600 --> 00:12:39,000 Speaker 3: It is easy for Melissa to want to help fix Michael, 203 00:12:39,400 --> 00:12:41,720 Speaker 3: save Michael, to help Michael. 204 00:12:43,000 --> 00:12:47,240 Speaker 2: But according to Melissa's family, Michael didn't want help. He 205 00:12:47,320 --> 00:12:48,800 Speaker 2: wanted control. 206 00:12:50,760 --> 00:12:54,080 Speaker 9: He was just so envious of the life that she had, 207 00:12:54,160 --> 00:12:57,440 Speaker 9: and he knew what he could say to her and 208 00:12:57,520 --> 00:13:00,760 Speaker 9: what would bring her down, and he if he could 209 00:13:00,840 --> 00:13:04,920 Speaker 9: get her into his control, that he could steer her 210 00:13:04,960 --> 00:13:07,679 Speaker 9: off from the life that she had and planned out 211 00:13:07,720 --> 00:13:08,160 Speaker 9: for her. 212 00:13:09,679 --> 00:13:11,960 Speaker 2: Her sisters say it worked too. 213 00:13:12,760 --> 00:13:16,319 Speaker 9: She started believing that she was truly this person that 214 00:13:16,360 --> 00:13:17,600 Speaker 9: he was making her. 215 00:13:17,440 --> 00:13:18,000 Speaker 8: Out to be. 216 00:13:19,280 --> 00:13:22,480 Speaker 13: She wasn't as bubbly, she was starting to become more quiet, 217 00:13:22,480 --> 00:13:23,359 Speaker 13: more to herself. 218 00:13:24,600 --> 00:13:27,959 Speaker 2: But according to the family, that wasn't the worst of it. 219 00:13:28,960 --> 00:13:32,040 Speaker 6: A He's starting to get abusive, not only mentally but physically. 220 00:13:33,400 --> 00:13:37,880 Speaker 9: I noticed that Melissa would have little bruises here and there. 221 00:13:39,280 --> 00:13:41,960 Speaker 8: Be like, oh what happened, and She's like, oh, I 222 00:13:42,080 --> 00:13:43,559 Speaker 8: ran into the door handle. 223 00:13:46,120 --> 00:13:49,160 Speaker 2: The family says everything came to a head in June, 224 00:13:49,880 --> 00:13:51,679 Speaker 2: two months before her death. 225 00:13:52,440 --> 00:14:01,400 Speaker 10: What happened then she was living with him and she 226 00:14:01,480 --> 00:14:02,200 Speaker 10: came to visit. 227 00:14:03,080 --> 00:14:07,600 Speaker 8: She said she was just grabbing some clothes. I mean, 228 00:14:07,600 --> 00:14:09,920 Speaker 8: I wanted to just give her a hug because I 229 00:14:09,960 --> 00:14:13,520 Speaker 8: hadn't seen her for a while. And when I did that, 230 00:14:13,880 --> 00:14:18,680 Speaker 8: I just immediately saw she had bruises all over her neck. 231 00:14:19,280 --> 00:14:22,600 Speaker 2: Asah, it's nothing, what do you mean nothing. 232 00:14:23,920 --> 00:14:26,360 Speaker 8: I was just like, what is wrong? What happened? 233 00:14:26,440 --> 00:14:26,680 Speaker 12: You know? 234 00:14:26,760 --> 00:14:29,240 Speaker 8: And she's like, I, you know, I don't want to 235 00:14:29,280 --> 00:14:31,200 Speaker 8: talk about it. I can't talk about it. 236 00:14:31,640 --> 00:14:33,480 Speaker 10: Called the police. 237 00:14:34,240 --> 00:14:37,520 Speaker 2: The police had come, but no report was filed. 238 00:14:38,680 --> 00:14:41,840 Speaker 9: She'd didn press charges against him that day and we 239 00:14:42,000 --> 00:14:43,480 Speaker 9: couldn't do anything about it. 240 00:14:45,960 --> 00:14:49,160 Speaker 2: That afternoon, Melissa returned to Michael. 241 00:14:49,880 --> 00:14:53,200 Speaker 8: We hadn't had much contact with Melissa for almost a month, 242 00:14:53,760 --> 00:14:57,240 Speaker 8: very few phone calls. You just didn't know how she was. 243 00:14:58,880 --> 00:15:02,880 Speaker 2: But then at the end of July, Melissa finally reached 244 00:15:02,880 --> 00:15:05,880 Speaker 2: out to the family from a local hospital. 245 00:15:06,400 --> 00:15:09,800 Speaker 8: There was an altercation between Melissa and Mike. 246 00:15:10,960 --> 00:15:13,760 Speaker 14: Her injuries weren't super extensive, so her family was just 247 00:15:13,760 --> 00:15:16,000 Speaker 14: happy that she was okay. And then Michael seemed to 248 00:15:16,040 --> 00:15:16,720 Speaker 14: be gone. 249 00:15:17,640 --> 00:15:26,040 Speaker 9: And she needed to help herself at that point to 250 00:15:26,280 --> 00:15:30,200 Speaker 9: press their charges, and he wouldn't be able to do 251 00:15:30,240 --> 00:15:32,760 Speaker 9: anything about it once he was in jail. 252 00:15:33,720 --> 00:15:37,280 Speaker 5: The county attorney ultimately did issue a warrant for Michael Lloyd. 253 00:15:38,720 --> 00:15:41,800 Speaker 2: But the Rodriguez family's relief would be short lived. 254 00:15:42,880 --> 00:15:45,920 Speaker 13: Melissa hadn't been home maybe a couple of days, and 255 00:15:46,000 --> 00:15:47,640 Speaker 13: I'd gotten home from school and it was just me 256 00:15:47,720 --> 00:15:51,760 Speaker 13: and Melissa. She had received a text and I didn't 257 00:15:51,760 --> 00:15:52,600 Speaker 13: think it was anything. 258 00:15:53,080 --> 00:15:54,800 Speaker 15: I'm gonna step out, sorry, real quick. 259 00:15:54,600 --> 00:15:58,640 Speaker 12: Okay, she told me, Oh, Nicole, I'm gonna step out. 260 00:15:59,160 --> 00:16:04,440 Speaker 2: I was like, okay, But within minutes Melissa was gone. 261 00:16:04,720 --> 00:16:08,400 Speaker 13: That was the last time I saw Melissa. 262 00:16:09,840 --> 00:16:12,400 Speaker 8: We spent the rest of the evening trying to call 263 00:16:12,400 --> 00:16:16,360 Speaker 8: her cell phone to implement. 264 00:16:19,840 --> 00:16:23,320 Speaker 2: And now that they know Melissa is dead, the family 265 00:16:23,400 --> 00:16:25,240 Speaker 2: has no doubt who did it. 266 00:16:25,520 --> 00:16:28,360 Speaker 8: I was thinking Mike got a hold of her. 267 00:16:30,000 --> 00:16:34,520 Speaker 2: Given his history with Melissa. Detectives are inclined to agree. 268 00:16:35,040 --> 00:16:37,440 Speaker 4: Police are now looking for Michael. 269 00:16:38,200 --> 00:16:42,000 Speaker 2: But their search will lead them to a surprising discovery. 270 00:16:42,800 --> 00:16:44,560 Speaker 6: Michael was in the mental health facility. 271 00:16:45,280 --> 00:16:49,360 Speaker 5: Police actually placed him under a protective custody before she 272 00:16:49,520 --> 00:16:50,080 Speaker 5: was murdered. 273 00:16:53,760 --> 00:16:57,120 Speaker 1: Stay with us as we continue with more of the 274 00:16:57,120 --> 00:16:58,680 Speaker 1: Fatal Attraction podcast. 275 00:17:05,640 --> 00:17:10,360 Speaker 2: Detectives investigating the murder of nineteen year old Melissa Rodriguez. 276 00:17:10,720 --> 00:17:14,000 Speaker 2: I've just been given a very strong lead by her family. 277 00:17:14,760 --> 00:17:19,320 Speaker 7: The family was sure that Melissa's abusive ex boyfriend, Michael Lloyd, 278 00:17:19,680 --> 00:17:20,960 Speaker 7: was to blame for her death. 279 00:17:22,119 --> 00:17:25,639 Speaker 4: He has a recent arrest warrant, so he is already 280 00:17:26,040 --> 00:17:30,119 Speaker 4: wanted for a previous crime against. 281 00:17:29,480 --> 00:17:34,399 Speaker 2: Melissa, so their first task will be tracking him down. 282 00:17:35,480 --> 00:17:37,960 Speaker 8: They had to go find Mike because I believe she's 283 00:17:38,000 --> 00:17:38,800 Speaker 8: the one who did this. 284 00:17:41,080 --> 00:17:44,600 Speaker 2: However, once detectives returned to the station to gather background 285 00:17:44,600 --> 00:17:49,000 Speaker 2: information on Michael, their investigation hits an early snag. 286 00:17:51,160 --> 00:17:54,879 Speaker 4: According to Michael's foul, he had been placed under an 287 00:17:54,920 --> 00:17:58,479 Speaker 4: emergency protective custody order and he was taken to a 288 00:17:58,560 --> 00:18:01,120 Speaker 4: local mental health facility. 289 00:18:01,359 --> 00:18:05,480 Speaker 5: Police placed Michael under an emergency protective order prior to 290 00:18:05,520 --> 00:18:06,320 Speaker 5: Melissa's murder. 291 00:18:07,640 --> 00:18:10,400 Speaker 2: Michael had ended up in the facility almost a week 292 00:18:10,480 --> 00:18:13,920 Speaker 2: before the murder occurred, and it had nothing to do 293 00:18:13,960 --> 00:18:14,640 Speaker 2: with Melissa. 294 00:18:15,359 --> 00:18:18,800 Speaker 5: On August eighth, Michael actually walks himself into the Omaha 295 00:18:18,920 --> 00:18:22,679 Speaker 5: Police department to talk to somebody about his father's murder. 296 00:18:23,760 --> 00:18:26,280 Speaker 3: The murder was committed over eighteen years ago. 297 00:18:26,800 --> 00:18:27,680 Speaker 12: How can I help you. 298 00:18:27,800 --> 00:18:29,800 Speaker 5: At which time he was only one years old. 299 00:18:30,520 --> 00:18:33,480 Speaker 14: The investigation back in nineteen ninety five had determined that 300 00:18:33,520 --> 00:18:37,840 Speaker 14: his father's death was gang related, but. 301 00:18:37,920 --> 00:18:41,399 Speaker 2: When Michael sat down with the police, he said that 302 00:18:41,640 --> 00:18:43,240 Speaker 2: wasn't what really happened. 303 00:18:43,920 --> 00:18:48,040 Speaker 4: Michael goes into this long rant about how he thinks 304 00:18:48,080 --> 00:18:51,560 Speaker 4: his mother is responsible for his father's death and why 305 00:18:51,600 --> 00:18:52,120 Speaker 4: is that. 306 00:18:53,560 --> 00:18:56,880 Speaker 14: Because the way she acts, it's like she doesn't even 307 00:18:56,920 --> 00:18:58,840 Speaker 14: miss him. 308 00:18:59,040 --> 00:19:02,480 Speaker 4: After Michael law his dad, I think it was very 309 00:19:02,520 --> 00:19:06,520 Speaker 4: difficult for him to accept that his mom was giving 310 00:19:06,560 --> 00:19:10,040 Speaker 4: attention to other men instead of him. 311 00:19:10,320 --> 00:19:13,760 Speaker 10: Okay, something needs to be done about this. 312 00:19:14,560 --> 00:19:17,440 Speaker 5: He tells them that he has thoughts of harming his mother. 313 00:19:18,160 --> 00:19:22,440 Speaker 10: But I can't do this alone. What do you mean? 314 00:19:24,600 --> 00:19:27,080 Speaker 5: He even asked them to help him in killing his mother. 315 00:19:31,520 --> 00:19:35,680 Speaker 4: Based off of what he is saying, police immediately notice 316 00:19:35,760 --> 00:19:37,560 Speaker 4: that he's not stables. 317 00:19:38,840 --> 00:19:40,399 Speaker 5: That's when they figure out that he would be a 318 00:19:40,480 --> 00:19:43,240 Speaker 5: good candidate to have him admitted been to an emergency 319 00:19:43,240 --> 00:19:44,320 Speaker 5: protective custody. 320 00:19:44,880 --> 00:19:48,159 Speaker 3: When a person comes in and they are showing that 321 00:19:48,200 --> 00:19:52,280 Speaker 3: they are an immediate threat to self threat to someone else, 322 00:19:52,600 --> 00:19:55,520 Speaker 3: they will put an emergency hold so they can get 323 00:19:55,600 --> 00:19:59,240 Speaker 3: checked for mental and a psychiatric evaluation. 324 00:20:01,640 --> 00:20:04,399 Speaker 2: What the detective didn't know when she committed Michael for 325 00:20:04,480 --> 00:20:08,600 Speaker 2: evaluation is that he already had a long history of 326 00:20:08,680 --> 00:20:09,919 Speaker 2: mental health issues. 327 00:20:10,720 --> 00:20:15,480 Speaker 5: During his teenage years, Michael Lloyd had been diagnosed as schizophrenic, bipolar, 328 00:20:15,920 --> 00:20:17,400 Speaker 5: and dealing with ADHD. 329 00:20:18,760 --> 00:20:25,640 Speaker 3: He has hallucinations paranoia. He was also diagnosed with oppositional 330 00:20:25,680 --> 00:20:28,399 Speaker 3: defiance and with that comes aggressiveness. 331 00:20:29,520 --> 00:20:33,480 Speaker 2: Unable to deal with his outbursts, Michael's mother sent him 332 00:20:33,480 --> 00:20:34,360 Speaker 2: back to Omaha. 333 00:20:35,280 --> 00:20:39,240 Speaker 3: That opens the floodgate up for Michael's relationship with his mother. 334 00:20:39,560 --> 00:20:43,240 Speaker 3: You left me, You created these issues. You're the reason 335 00:20:43,280 --> 00:20:44,200 Speaker 3: why I'm like this. 336 00:20:45,560 --> 00:20:48,399 Speaker 7: Michael ended up back in Omaha with his grandmother. 337 00:20:49,680 --> 00:20:52,720 Speaker 3: She tried to understand him, She tried to support him, 338 00:20:52,880 --> 00:20:54,520 Speaker 3: and she tried to get him all the health that 339 00:20:54,600 --> 00:20:55,080 Speaker 3: she could. 340 00:20:58,640 --> 00:21:02,760 Speaker 2: That had been too late. After the incident that landed 341 00:21:02,760 --> 00:21:07,359 Speaker 2: Melissa in the hospital, Michael was finally facing charges he 342 00:21:07,400 --> 00:21:08,800 Speaker 2: hasn't warrant after his arrest. 343 00:21:10,160 --> 00:21:13,480 Speaker 14: While at the treatment facility, Michael had seemingly decided to 344 00:21:13,480 --> 00:21:16,080 Speaker 14: take some responsibility for assaulting Melissa. 345 00:21:17,000 --> 00:21:22,240 Speaker 2: On August twelfth, two days before Melissa's murder, Michael had 346 00:21:22,280 --> 00:21:24,600 Speaker 2: called the police from the treatment center. 347 00:21:25,200 --> 00:21:27,879 Speaker 5: Michael says that he wants to turn himself in on 348 00:21:27,920 --> 00:21:30,240 Speaker 5: the assault warrant for harming Melissa. 349 00:21:31,320 --> 00:21:33,880 Speaker 7: The police headed over to the treatment center to pick 350 00:21:33,960 --> 00:21:37,360 Speaker 7: him up on that warrant, but. 351 00:21:37,400 --> 00:21:40,480 Speaker 2: The staff at the treatment center refused to release him. 352 00:21:40,800 --> 00:21:42,840 Speaker 10: I'm here to transport Michael Lloyd to jail. 353 00:21:42,880 --> 00:21:42,920 Speaker 3: VI. 354 00:21:43,520 --> 00:21:46,320 Speaker 8: I'm sorry, I can't do that. He's under a mandatory 355 00:21:46,400 --> 00:21:47,000 Speaker 8: PYE cold. 356 00:21:47,720 --> 00:21:50,679 Speaker 3: He doesn't have a psychiatric evaluation does. 357 00:21:52,440 --> 00:21:54,560 Speaker 5: He hadn't been assessed by a doctor yet. 358 00:21:56,920 --> 00:22:00,520 Speaker 3: Their hands are tied. They can't do anything at all. 359 00:22:01,000 --> 00:22:04,480 Speaker 3: You have to have assessment done before you release anyone 360 00:22:04,600 --> 00:22:07,359 Speaker 3: from a mental health facility. It's the law. 361 00:22:10,800 --> 00:22:14,760 Speaker 2: And when detectives call the treatment facility on August fifteenth, 362 00:22:14,840 --> 00:22:17,520 Speaker 2: they discover Michael is still there. 363 00:22:18,320 --> 00:22:21,240 Speaker 7: Michael was their prime suspect, but if he was at 364 00:22:21,240 --> 00:22:24,919 Speaker 7: this treatment facility this whole time, he couldn't be the killer. 365 00:22:25,800 --> 00:22:27,880 Speaker 2: If not Michael, then. 366 00:22:27,760 --> 00:22:32,000 Speaker 5: Who Investigators decided to subpoena Melissa's phone records so they 367 00:22:32,040 --> 00:22:34,720 Speaker 5: can figure out who she was last in contact with 368 00:22:34,880 --> 00:22:35,879 Speaker 5: before she was killed. 369 00:22:36,440 --> 00:22:39,040 Speaker 14: The text message she received before leaving the house could 370 00:22:39,040 --> 00:22:39,879 Speaker 14: have been from the killer. 371 00:22:43,200 --> 00:22:46,959 Speaker 2: While waiting to hear back from melissa cell Provider, detectives 372 00:22:46,960 --> 00:22:49,040 Speaker 2: start talking to her circle of friends. 373 00:22:50,359 --> 00:22:54,120 Speaker 8: She had a lot of relationships and close friends with 374 00:22:54,200 --> 00:22:56,080 Speaker 8: a lot of the kids that she went to school with. 375 00:22:57,280 --> 00:23:00,600 Speaker 14: Several of them also suggested that detective should at Michael. 376 00:23:02,119 --> 00:23:06,440 Speaker 2: However, Michael's name isn't the only one that comes up. 377 00:23:06,800 --> 00:23:08,320 Speaker 10: Is there anyone else that you can think of? 378 00:23:10,400 --> 00:23:11,960 Speaker 8: Gordon? Maybe? 379 00:23:12,720 --> 00:23:15,560 Speaker 7: Melissa's friends said that Gordon was someone she met during 380 00:23:15,600 --> 00:23:19,040 Speaker 7: spring semester who asked her out several times and she 381 00:23:19,240 --> 00:23:20,000 Speaker 7: wasn't interested. 382 00:23:20,760 --> 00:23:25,360 Speaker 11: I don't know, I mean, not really, but she did 383 00:23:25,400 --> 00:23:26,639 Speaker 11: try to let him down easy. 384 00:23:27,960 --> 00:23:32,520 Speaker 10: Hey, I was wanting if you wanted to go upon listen. 385 00:23:32,560 --> 00:23:34,560 Speaker 15: You're a great guy, but I would hate to lose 386 00:23:34,600 --> 00:23:35,160 Speaker 15: her friendship. 387 00:23:40,760 --> 00:23:44,240 Speaker 1: Stay tuned for more of the Fatal Attraction podcast. 388 00:23:50,600 --> 00:23:55,879 Speaker 2: Homicide Detectives investigating Melissa Rodriguez's murderer. I've just learned that 389 00:23:55,960 --> 00:23:59,200 Speaker 2: a fellow student at the University of Nebraska may have 390 00:23:59,280 --> 00:24:03,760 Speaker 2: been in Fetcha with her. His name is Gordon Matthews. 391 00:24:04,320 --> 00:24:07,560 Speaker 14: According to Melissa's friend, Gordon was also a first year 392 00:24:07,600 --> 00:24:08,359 Speaker 14: commuter student. 393 00:24:08,880 --> 00:24:10,800 Speaker 12: We saw him in the student union all the time, 394 00:24:10,920 --> 00:24:12,119 Speaker 12: studying by himself. 395 00:24:12,920 --> 00:24:15,640 Speaker 8: The friend said. He seemed like a bit of a loner. 396 00:24:17,440 --> 00:24:20,400 Speaker 2: Until Melissa decided to do something about it. 397 00:24:21,680 --> 00:24:23,800 Speaker 15: Hey, she minded, was he here? 398 00:24:23,960 --> 00:24:25,080 Speaker 6: Oh, no, no problem. 399 00:24:25,480 --> 00:24:29,040 Speaker 16: Melissa was accepting of everybody. You know, whether you're a nerd, 400 00:24:29,440 --> 00:24:31,560 Speaker 16: you know, God thinks, and whatever type of group that 401 00:24:31,600 --> 00:24:34,000 Speaker 16: you're in. Melissa, she was very welcoming. 402 00:24:34,600 --> 00:24:37,360 Speaker 8: She always liked to get to know different people from 403 00:24:37,440 --> 00:24:38,720 Speaker 8: different backgrounds. 404 00:24:39,480 --> 00:24:42,800 Speaker 14: Turns out Gordon's family had just relocated to Omaha, so 405 00:24:42,840 --> 00:24:44,119 Speaker 14: he didn't really know many people. 406 00:24:45,480 --> 00:24:48,439 Speaker 2: Melissa's friend says she tried to drug Gordon out of 407 00:24:48,480 --> 00:24:49,000 Speaker 2: his shell. 408 00:24:50,200 --> 00:24:51,439 Speaker 10: But Gordon was just a friend. 409 00:24:52,240 --> 00:24:57,320 Speaker 2: That's what Melissa thought. Until halfway through spring semester. Gordon 410 00:24:57,400 --> 00:24:58,879 Speaker 2: made his feelings clear. 411 00:25:00,000 --> 00:25:03,919 Speaker 10: If you wanted to go out, Gordon, you're so sweet. 412 00:25:03,920 --> 00:25:06,840 Speaker 7: But Melissa didn't come right out and say it. But 413 00:25:06,880 --> 00:25:08,359 Speaker 7: Gordon had missed his chance. 414 00:25:09,240 --> 00:25:13,960 Speaker 9: At that point, she was talking to Michae again, can. 415 00:25:13,760 --> 00:25:14,560 Speaker 15: We still be friends? 416 00:25:18,800 --> 00:25:22,840 Speaker 2: But according to Melissa's friend, things changed after that. 417 00:25:23,200 --> 00:25:26,679 Speaker 12: He started avoiding her. You know, I never saw him 418 00:25:26,680 --> 00:25:27,640 Speaker 12: in the student union. 419 00:25:28,760 --> 00:25:31,120 Speaker 10: Do you know if he ever said anything about hurting her. 420 00:25:32,760 --> 00:25:34,000 Speaker 8: She never told me about it. 421 00:25:35,480 --> 00:25:39,360 Speaker 2: After talking to Melissa's friend, the detectives decide to take 422 00:25:39,400 --> 00:25:44,080 Speaker 2: a closer look at Gordon Matthews. Melissa's rejection could have 423 00:25:44,200 --> 00:25:49,239 Speaker 2: given him a motive, Although when detectives bring Gordon in 424 00:25:49,280 --> 00:25:53,200 Speaker 2: for questioning, he appears very distraught about her death. 425 00:25:53,840 --> 00:25:56,840 Speaker 14: He vehemently denied having anything to do with the murder. 426 00:25:57,359 --> 00:25:58,600 Speaker 6: Oh, never hurt Melissa. 427 00:26:00,000 --> 00:26:01,480 Speaker 11: Maybe was that guy she used to go out with. 428 00:26:02,080 --> 00:26:06,520 Speaker 10: She told you about him? Not much, but he sounds scared. 429 00:26:06,600 --> 00:26:11,800 Speaker 2: Though to detectives, Gordon seems awfully quick to point the 430 00:26:11,920 --> 00:26:13,639 Speaker 2: finger at someone else. 431 00:26:14,119 --> 00:26:14,960 Speaker 11: I think it is Gordon. 432 00:26:15,240 --> 00:26:16,119 Speaker 10: Michael couldn't have done this. 433 00:26:17,280 --> 00:26:17,800 Speaker 14: What do you mean? 434 00:26:19,000 --> 00:26:22,080 Speaker 7: The detectives didn't give Gordon any details, but they told 435 00:26:22,160 --> 00:26:23,640 Speaker 7: him that Michael had an alibi. 436 00:26:25,000 --> 00:26:28,080 Speaker 2: The question now is does Gordon have one? 437 00:26:28,520 --> 00:26:29,760 Speaker 10: Where were you Wednesday evening? 438 00:26:30,480 --> 00:26:30,840 Speaker 8: Working? 439 00:26:31,760 --> 00:26:33,120 Speaker 10: I took the dinner shit that night? 440 00:26:34,040 --> 00:26:36,520 Speaker 14: Gordon said he had a summer job at a restaurant 441 00:26:36,600 --> 00:26:37,720 Speaker 14: washing dishes downtown. 442 00:26:39,520 --> 00:26:43,760 Speaker 2: When the detectives follow up with the restaurant management, they 443 00:26:43,840 --> 00:26:47,000 Speaker 2: confirmed that Gordon was at work the night Melissa died. 444 00:26:48,119 --> 00:26:50,560 Speaker 2: But it's not an air tight alibi. 445 00:26:51,440 --> 00:26:54,120 Speaker 10: Yes, do you know what time he clocked in. 446 00:26:55,320 --> 00:26:58,800 Speaker 7: According to his time card, Gordon clocked in fifteen minutes 447 00:26:58,920 --> 00:27:02,600 Speaker 7: late and almost forty five minutes after Melissa left her 448 00:27:02,640 --> 00:27:04,040 Speaker 7: house prior to the murder. 449 00:27:04,440 --> 00:27:06,560 Speaker 10: I think that gives him enough time for opportunity. 450 00:27:07,800 --> 00:27:08,159 Speaker 11: I don't know. 451 00:27:08,680 --> 00:27:11,520 Speaker 5: He still got a stasher in the grave and get downtown. 452 00:27:13,520 --> 00:27:16,280 Speaker 10: It's tight, no, but it can be done. 453 00:27:16,640 --> 00:27:19,679 Speaker 14: The detectives were hoping that Melissa's phone records would reveal 454 00:27:19,720 --> 00:27:21,120 Speaker 14: whether or not Gordon was their. 455 00:27:21,080 --> 00:27:26,760 Speaker 2: Killer, or could it be someone else. Not long after 456 00:27:26,920 --> 00:27:32,760 Speaker 2: confirming Gordon's alibi, another detective with the Omaha PDE walks 457 00:27:32,840 --> 00:27:34,200 Speaker 2: into the squad room. 458 00:27:34,520 --> 00:27:35,520 Speaker 12: There the Rodriguez case. 459 00:27:35,600 --> 00:27:37,360 Speaker 10: Yet nope. 460 00:27:38,000 --> 00:27:41,560 Speaker 7: This detective wasn't actually assigned to the case, but she 461 00:27:41,920 --> 00:27:45,560 Speaker 7: was one of the investigators who'd spoken to Michael six 462 00:27:45,640 --> 00:27:47,479 Speaker 7: days prior to Melissa's murder. 463 00:27:48,000 --> 00:27:49,680 Speaker 10: Something that needs to be done about this. 464 00:27:50,640 --> 00:27:54,240 Speaker 4: He had been placed under an emergency protective custody order. 465 00:27:55,040 --> 00:27:58,080 Speaker 12: I thought the boyfriend had a salt worn it wasn't him. 466 00:27:58,560 --> 00:28:00,880 Speaker 14: They explained that Michael was still at the mental health 467 00:28:00,880 --> 00:28:02,920 Speaker 14: treatment facility when the murder occurred. 468 00:28:03,400 --> 00:28:04,359 Speaker 10: That's not what he told me. 469 00:28:05,320 --> 00:28:08,280 Speaker 12: When Wednesday he called and he said he was. 470 00:28:08,280 --> 00:28:10,200 Speaker 10: Out on Wednesday. 471 00:28:11,560 --> 00:28:15,439 Speaker 7: Wednesday the fourteenth was the day Melissa was murdered. 472 00:28:22,040 --> 00:28:25,399 Speaker 1: Stay with us as we continue with more of the 473 00:28:25,400 --> 00:28:27,000 Speaker 1: Fatal Attraction podcast. 474 00:28:32,440 --> 00:28:38,120 Speaker 2: Detectives investigating Melissa Rodriguez's murder have new information that may 475 00:28:38,200 --> 00:28:42,000 Speaker 2: blow the lid off her boyfriend, Michael Lloyd's alibi. 476 00:28:42,680 --> 00:28:44,880 Speaker 14: The police had been under the impression that Michael had 477 00:28:44,920 --> 00:28:47,800 Speaker 14: been at the mental health treatment facility when the murder occurred. 478 00:28:48,560 --> 00:28:51,840 Speaker 5: Michael had been held in emergency protective custody. 479 00:28:53,560 --> 00:28:57,120 Speaker 2: But now a fellow detective says that Michael called her 480 00:28:57,160 --> 00:29:01,920 Speaker 2: from outside the medical facility only a few hours before 481 00:29:02,080 --> 00:29:07,480 Speaker 2: Melissa went missing on Wednesday. He called you on myself 482 00:29:08,200 --> 00:29:09,040 Speaker 2: and said he was out. 483 00:29:09,880 --> 00:29:10,720 Speaker 10: That's what he said. 484 00:29:11,640 --> 00:29:15,400 Speaker 4: They don't know how or why, but Michael must have 485 00:29:15,840 --> 00:29:17,800 Speaker 4: been released from the center. 486 00:29:19,120 --> 00:29:22,520 Speaker 7: Everyone was confused at this point because the detectives had 487 00:29:22,600 --> 00:29:26,520 Speaker 7: called the facility on the fifteenth to confirm Michael was there. 488 00:29:26,680 --> 00:29:28,840 Speaker 7: After Melissa's body had been discovered. 489 00:29:29,640 --> 00:29:32,240 Speaker 14: It seemed like there was some kind of miscommunication somewhere 490 00:29:32,240 --> 00:29:33,080 Speaker 14: along the line. 491 00:29:37,240 --> 00:29:40,160 Speaker 2: Hoping to get to the bottom of it, detectives head 492 00:29:40,200 --> 00:29:43,520 Speaker 2: straight to the treatment center. We need to know what 493 00:29:43,760 --> 00:29:46,760 Speaker 2: day a particular patient was released in this facility. 494 00:29:46,720 --> 00:29:49,080 Speaker 10: Or maybe you just see if he's still here. Who 495 00:29:49,680 --> 00:29:55,280 Speaker 10: Michael Lloyd looks like? 496 00:29:55,360 --> 00:29:59,280 Speaker 4: He was released on the fourteenth. 497 00:29:58,160 --> 00:30:02,560 Speaker 2: Despite his active warrant. The center didn't inform police that 498 00:30:02,680 --> 00:30:07,400 Speaker 2: Michael had left, and they didn't warn Melissa. 499 00:30:08,440 --> 00:30:13,040 Speaker 3: There wasn't a requirement for the mental health facility to 500 00:30:13,280 --> 00:30:19,680 Speaker 3: contact the police nor contact Melissa's family because the purpose 501 00:30:19,920 --> 00:30:23,040 Speaker 3: of why Michael was in there had nothing to do 502 00:30:23,120 --> 00:30:26,200 Speaker 3: with Melissa. It was based upon the threats that he 503 00:30:26,240 --> 00:30:28,600 Speaker 3: had made on his mother's life. 504 00:30:28,880 --> 00:30:33,120 Speaker 2: However, based on the facility records, Michael had only left 505 00:30:33,120 --> 00:30:35,320 Speaker 2: the center for a few hours. 506 00:30:36,960 --> 00:30:39,680 Speaker 4: He checks himself back into the facility. 507 00:30:41,240 --> 00:30:44,160 Speaker 14: That's why when detectives called looking for him on the fifteenth, 508 00:30:44,520 --> 00:30:46,360 Speaker 14: the staff stated that he was there. 509 00:30:47,600 --> 00:30:50,080 Speaker 2: In fact, he's still there now. 510 00:30:50,800 --> 00:30:54,720 Speaker 5: Police laced him under arrest for that June incident involving 511 00:30:54,720 --> 00:30:56,840 Speaker 5: the domestic violence case against Melissa. 512 00:30:58,200 --> 00:31:00,760 Speaker 7: For the moment, they didn't have it enough to charge 513 00:31:00,840 --> 00:31:02,080 Speaker 7: him with Melissa's murder. 514 00:31:03,280 --> 00:31:04,200 Speaker 2: But for how long. 515 00:31:05,920 --> 00:31:08,840 Speaker 5: Now that Michael is incustody, detectives are able to question 516 00:31:08,960 --> 00:31:09,760 Speaker 5: him about. 517 00:31:09,480 --> 00:31:14,720 Speaker 2: Melissa's murder, and Michael is totally willing to talk. 518 00:31:15,520 --> 00:31:20,600 Speaker 4: Michael is calm, He is answering questions he's waived his 519 00:31:20,680 --> 00:31:27,120 Speaker 4: Miranda rights, and then he goes into detail about August fourteenth. 520 00:31:27,200 --> 00:31:30,600 Speaker 10: So why did you leave the treatment center? I wanted 521 00:31:30,640 --> 00:31:32,120 Speaker 10: to see Melissa. 522 00:31:32,200 --> 00:31:34,400 Speaker 5: Michael tells police that when he left, he took a 523 00:31:34,440 --> 00:31:35,959 Speaker 5: bus to Melissa's neighborhood. 524 00:31:36,720 --> 00:31:39,160 Speaker 14: On the way, he texted Melissa and asked her to 525 00:31:39,160 --> 00:31:42,000 Speaker 14: meet him at the park next to the cemetery. 526 00:31:43,120 --> 00:31:46,920 Speaker 2: Michael says he just wanted to talk to Melissa, but 527 00:31:47,080 --> 00:31:50,400 Speaker 2: he didn't like what she had. Just say, what do 528 00:31:50,440 --> 00:31:50,720 Speaker 2: you want? 529 00:31:50,760 --> 00:31:52,920 Speaker 15: Michael? I told you I don't want to see you anymore. 530 00:31:53,960 --> 00:31:55,360 Speaker 14: You don't mean that, Yes, I do. 531 00:31:56,080 --> 00:32:00,800 Speaker 13: The situation was bad, the relationship was unsafe and not healthy. 532 00:32:01,520 --> 00:32:03,560 Speaker 15: I don't I need to focus on my self, focused 533 00:32:03,600 --> 00:32:04,040 Speaker 15: on school. 534 00:32:04,560 --> 00:32:05,680 Speaker 6: But you said you love me. 535 00:32:06,360 --> 00:32:10,840 Speaker 9: Michael believe Melissa turned on him because Melissa was trying 536 00:32:10,920 --> 00:32:14,000 Speaker 9: to get away and better her life. 537 00:32:14,480 --> 00:32:16,960 Speaker 3: And when he realized that he no longer had the 538 00:32:17,000 --> 00:32:20,560 Speaker 3: control over Melissa that he wanted, he became enraged. 539 00:32:20,920 --> 00:32:22,080 Speaker 15: You need to get helped, Michael. 540 00:32:25,240 --> 00:32:27,320 Speaker 2: You don't tell me what's to continue. 541 00:32:30,640 --> 00:32:31,640 Speaker 12: He just snapped. 542 00:32:31,920 --> 00:32:32,680 Speaker 8: He lost it. 543 00:32:33,640 --> 00:32:36,640 Speaker 14: She killed my dad. I told you guys that I 544 00:32:37,360 --> 00:32:39,600 Speaker 14: wasn't Melissa, she. 545 00:32:39,560 --> 00:32:42,360 Speaker 10: Was just like her. She was already just like her. 546 00:32:44,360 --> 00:32:49,800 Speaker 4: The way Melissa was disrespecting him, he felt like she 547 00:32:50,600 --> 00:32:52,120 Speaker 4: reminded him of his mother. 548 00:32:52,480 --> 00:32:55,920 Speaker 2: And he says that because of that, his anger took over. 549 00:32:57,360 --> 00:33:02,640 Speaker 8: He starts attacking her. He said, he strangled her. 550 00:33:05,120 --> 00:33:06,200 Speaker 10: But I thought you loved her. 551 00:33:06,760 --> 00:33:11,240 Speaker 12: I do love her, but I'm just gonna stop. 552 00:33:12,160 --> 00:33:15,960 Speaker 3: Strangling someone is a crime of passion. I am applying 553 00:33:16,360 --> 00:33:18,440 Speaker 3: so much pressure because I want you to know and 554 00:33:18,600 --> 00:33:21,760 Speaker 3: understand that you are making me have this rage. 555 00:33:22,520 --> 00:33:26,959 Speaker 5: Michael strangles Melissa until she loses consciousness. 556 00:33:27,560 --> 00:33:31,760 Speaker 2: But that wasn't the end of it. 557 00:33:31,960 --> 00:33:36,440 Speaker 9: Mike strangled her multiple times. She would pass out, and 558 00:33:36,960 --> 00:33:40,800 Speaker 9: once she came back, he would be right there strangling 559 00:33:40,840 --> 00:33:41,720 Speaker 9: her again. 560 00:33:43,760 --> 00:33:45,880 Speaker 8: Until she finally didn't wake up. 561 00:33:54,320 --> 00:33:57,800 Speaker 1: Stay tuned for more of the Fatal Attraction podcast. 562 00:34:04,120 --> 00:34:09,360 Speaker 2: Confronted by detectives, Michael Lloyd has confessed to murdering his girlfriend, 563 00:34:09,680 --> 00:34:11,040 Speaker 2: Melissa Rodriguez. 564 00:34:11,560 --> 00:34:13,960 Speaker 8: Melissa and him meet at the park. 565 00:34:14,640 --> 00:34:21,160 Speaker 4: They start having arguments, and according to him, Melissa started 566 00:34:21,239 --> 00:34:24,520 Speaker 4: to disrespect him. 567 00:34:24,640 --> 00:34:28,040 Speaker 7: Michael said that led him to become enraged and that 568 00:34:28,080 --> 00:34:31,319 Speaker 7: he started strangling her until she lost consciousness. 569 00:34:32,200 --> 00:34:34,399 Speaker 5: She regains it Michael strangles her. 570 00:34:34,320 --> 00:34:39,520 Speaker 8: Again until she finally didn't wake up. 571 00:34:41,480 --> 00:34:44,440 Speaker 2: Michael says that once he was sure Melissa was dead, 572 00:34:45,000 --> 00:34:47,240 Speaker 2: he dragged her body out of the park. 573 00:34:48,960 --> 00:34:53,040 Speaker 5: Michael moves Melissa's body to Graceland Park cemetery undetected. 574 00:34:55,239 --> 00:34:58,640 Speaker 2: Then he dumped her body into a freshly dug grave. 575 00:34:59,400 --> 00:35:02,239 Speaker 14: He said he's earlier when he walked through the cemetery 576 00:35:02,280 --> 00:35:06,080 Speaker 14: on his way to meet Melissa. 577 00:35:04,680 --> 00:35:07,480 Speaker 5: And then he takes her belongings, including her cell phone 578 00:35:07,680 --> 00:35:08,600 Speaker 5: and her underwear. 579 00:35:09,560 --> 00:35:13,799 Speaker 3: I believe that Michael stripped Melissa up her underwear as 580 00:35:13,920 --> 00:35:16,719 Speaker 3: kind of a distraction. He wanted to make it look 581 00:35:16,840 --> 00:35:18,879 Speaker 3: like someone beat and raped her. 582 00:35:21,440 --> 00:35:26,080 Speaker 2: From there, he'd taken another bus back to the treatment facility. 583 00:35:26,239 --> 00:35:29,440 Speaker 5: Before he goes inside, he disposes of her cell phone 584 00:35:29,640 --> 00:35:30,560 Speaker 5: and her underwear. 585 00:35:32,040 --> 00:35:35,600 Speaker 7: Then he checked himself back into the facility, which is 586 00:35:35,640 --> 00:35:39,000 Speaker 7: where he was when police first went looking for him. 587 00:35:39,520 --> 00:35:42,600 Speaker 3: It was actually a brilliant move. 588 00:35:44,000 --> 00:35:47,160 Speaker 14: Checking back into the center appeared to give him an alibi. 589 00:35:48,080 --> 00:35:49,560 Speaker 2: But only for a while. 590 00:35:50,920 --> 00:35:53,440 Speaker 10: Michael Lloyd's stand up and now that. 591 00:35:53,560 --> 00:35:58,239 Speaker 2: Michael has confessed, detectives formally charge him with murder. 592 00:36:00,040 --> 00:36:04,239 Speaker 5: Prosecutors file charges against Michael Lloyd for first agree murder. 593 00:36:05,120 --> 00:36:08,480 Speaker 8: We were happy that they were arresting. 594 00:36:08,080 --> 00:36:15,520 Speaker 11: Him the mosquere ya ya. 595 00:36:20,400 --> 00:36:23,640 Speaker 9: I kind of felt some relief, but not much because 596 00:36:23,680 --> 00:36:27,120 Speaker 9: I knew my sister was gone. Her life could have 597 00:36:27,160 --> 00:36:32,040 Speaker 9: been saved if Mike would have been in jail as 598 00:36:32,080 --> 00:36:33,760 Speaker 9: he should have been with a warrant. 599 00:36:35,120 --> 00:36:39,120 Speaker 2: As the murder case moves towards trial, the family worries 600 00:36:39,160 --> 00:36:41,200 Speaker 2: that the system may fail them again. 601 00:36:41,920 --> 00:36:44,360 Speaker 12: Mike's mental health came into the picture. 602 00:36:45,440 --> 00:36:48,560 Speaker 5: The defense fouled the motion to plead not guilty by 603 00:36:48,600 --> 00:36:50,520 Speaker 5: reason of insanity. 604 00:36:51,960 --> 00:36:55,080 Speaker 2: Melissa's family doesn't believe it for a minute. 605 00:36:56,120 --> 00:36:59,440 Speaker 8: I'm not a psychiatrist, but I don't think he was 606 00:36:59,800 --> 00:37:04,400 Speaker 8: really mentally incapable of understanding what he did to Melissa. 607 00:37:05,160 --> 00:37:08,759 Speaker 9: He admitted to strangling her over and over again. If 608 00:37:08,760 --> 00:37:12,000 Speaker 9: he knew what he was doing those four or five times, 609 00:37:12,080 --> 00:37:13,480 Speaker 9: that he let her come back. 610 00:37:13,880 --> 00:37:21,399 Speaker 11: And fermo mentally no in the consequences. 611 00:37:23,320 --> 00:37:27,480 Speaker 2: It takes nearly two years, but in the end Michael 612 00:37:27,719 --> 00:37:28,440 Speaker 2: will pay. 613 00:37:29,239 --> 00:37:31,840 Speaker 5: Instead of going forward to trial and trying to prove 614 00:37:31,880 --> 00:37:35,120 Speaker 5: that he's not guilty by reason of insanity, Michael Lloyd 615 00:37:35,200 --> 00:37:37,520 Speaker 5: ends up pleading guilty to second degree murder. 616 00:37:38,640 --> 00:37:42,160 Speaker 3: If there would not have been documentation of his mental illness. 617 00:37:42,480 --> 00:37:44,880 Speaker 3: I'm sure there would not have been any type of 618 00:37:44,920 --> 00:37:45,399 Speaker 3: plea deal. 619 00:37:46,800 --> 00:37:49,640 Speaker 5: Prosecutors felt to his best to have him plead guilty 620 00:37:49,680 --> 00:37:52,759 Speaker 5: to a lesser crime of second degree murder than possibly 621 00:37:52,800 --> 00:37:55,000 Speaker 5: take it in front of a jury and have them 622 00:37:55,040 --> 00:37:57,480 Speaker 5: find him not guilty by insanity. 623 00:37:58,600 --> 00:38:00,920 Speaker 2: The family sees things differently though. 624 00:38:01,800 --> 00:38:06,000 Speaker 13: When he was sentenced, I think I was first introduced 625 00:38:06,040 --> 00:38:07,920 Speaker 13: to what injustice was. 626 00:38:09,160 --> 00:38:12,440 Speaker 5: A Douglas County judge sentenced Michael Lloyd to thirty to 627 00:38:12,520 --> 00:38:14,000 Speaker 5: thirty five years in prison. 628 00:38:15,200 --> 00:38:18,600 Speaker 14: He'll be eligible for parole in as little as fifteen years. 629 00:38:19,840 --> 00:38:32,120 Speaker 11: Geas he says, Casalle basala oke at Amilia and Nasa SENTENSI. 630 00:38:33,880 --> 00:38:36,160 Speaker 6: He killed somebody, he should get life. 631 00:38:37,719 --> 00:38:42,040 Speaker 2: Still, the family does find some solace in the outcome. 632 00:38:42,840 --> 00:38:45,520 Speaker 9: In the end, we may have not gotten the justice 633 00:38:45,600 --> 00:38:49,560 Speaker 9: that we wanted from Melissa, but fas were able to 634 00:38:49,640 --> 00:38:50,240 Speaker 9: be changed. 635 00:38:51,040 --> 00:38:54,880 Speaker 3: In twenty thirteen, police and mental health facilities weren't working 636 00:38:54,960 --> 00:38:55,680 Speaker 3: in conjunction. 637 00:38:56,880 --> 00:39:01,080 Speaker 5: After Melissa's death, Youma Police Department required men health facilities 638 00:39:01,160 --> 00:39:03,640 Speaker 5: to call nine to one one if somebody is being 639 00:39:03,760 --> 00:39:05,480 Speaker 5: released with a policehold. 640 00:39:06,760 --> 00:39:11,160 Speaker 3: That provides another layer of protection to make sure that 641 00:39:11,440 --> 00:39:15,120 Speaker 3: these people aren't immediately released back to society. 642 00:39:15,600 --> 00:39:19,359 Speaker 2: Which means that some good has come from Melissa's tragic death. 643 00:39:20,120 --> 00:39:22,320 Speaker 13: Alm Lissa wanted to do is be a good person 644 00:39:22,400 --> 00:39:24,920 Speaker 13: and to help people, and if this is the way 645 00:39:25,080 --> 00:39:28,600 Speaker 13: that she's meant to help people, I think she would 646 00:39:28,800 --> 00:39:29,360 Speaker 13: accept that. 647 00:39:30,719 --> 00:39:34,120 Speaker 2: Acceptance has been more of a struggle for the family. 648 00:39:34,760 --> 00:39:37,239 Speaker 9: To know that this beautiful young girl who had her 649 00:39:37,280 --> 00:39:39,880 Speaker 9: whole life ahead of her just got cut short in 650 00:39:40,840 --> 00:39:46,080 Speaker 9: such a horrific way. It just turned our world upside down. 651 00:39:46,920 --> 00:39:50,759 Speaker 9: She was my best friend and life is still hard 652 00:39:50,800 --> 00:39:51,880 Speaker 9: to this day without her. 653 00:39:53,080 --> 00:39:54,600 Speaker 8: Melissa will never be forgotten. 654 00:40:00,880 --> 00:40:04,960 Speaker 1: Love in all its forms, whether fresh or seasoned, can 655 00:40:05,040 --> 00:40:09,120 Speaker 1: sometimes captivate us, while at other times it may lead 656 00:40:09,200 --> 00:40:14,040 Speaker 1: us down perilous paths when it becomes unrecognizable, resulting in 657 00:40:14,200 --> 00:40:19,880 Speaker 1: heartbreak and tragedy. Michelle Rodriguez was a vibrant and intelligent 658 00:40:19,960 --> 00:40:23,719 Speaker 1: woman with a bright future ahead of her, but her 659 00:40:23,880 --> 00:40:27,440 Speaker 1: life tragically came to an end far too soon. She 660 00:40:27,600 --> 00:40:31,520 Speaker 1: left her family and friends with a bittersweet reminder of 661 00:40:31,640 --> 00:40:35,800 Speaker 1: the joy and warmth she brought into their lives. Michelle 662 00:40:35,960 --> 00:40:39,560 Speaker 1: will be cherished and remembered by all who loved her. 663 00:40:40,120 --> 00:40:43,839 Speaker 2: Abuse is never okay. If you are someone you love 664 00:40:44,000 --> 00:40:48,120 Speaker 2: is in an abusive relationship, there is help available. Call 665 00:40:48,200 --> 00:40:52,080 Speaker 2: the domestic violence hotline at one eight hundred seven nine 666 00:40:52,120 --> 00:40:53,160 Speaker 2: to nine Safe. 667 00:40:54,000 --> 00:40:58,040 Speaker 1: Coming up on the next episode of the Fatal Attraction Podcast. 668 00:41:04,400 --> 00:41:07,520 Speaker 2: She was a young mom forging her own path. 669 00:41:08,800 --> 00:41:10,600 Speaker 15: She had her uncles and ambitions. 670 00:41:11,560 --> 00:41:13,759 Speaker 6: She was working to advance her career. 671 00:41:15,080 --> 00:41:20,160 Speaker 10: She was the eight girl. Everybody loves her, Oh my god. 672 00:41:21,440 --> 00:41:25,560 Speaker 2: But when she's found viciously murdered, it's clear someone wanted 673 00:41:25,600 --> 00:41:26,160 Speaker 2: her to pay. 674 00:41:29,880 --> 00:41:33,040 Speaker 1: Just when a spirited and determined young mom is juggling 675 00:41:33,120 --> 00:41:36,120 Speaker 1: her studies and work in pursuit of a brighter future 676 00:41:36,520 --> 00:41:40,360 Speaker 1: and unexpected love interest suddenly knocks on her door, bringing 677 00:41:40,440 --> 00:41:45,040 Speaker 1: the past into her present. With new possibilities on the horizon, 678 00:41:45,600 --> 00:41:49,560 Speaker 1: life takes an unexpected turn. Tune in to the next 679 00:41:49,680 --> 00:41:54,040 Speaker 1: episode of the Fatal Attraction Podcast. We will see you 680 00:41:54,640 --> 00:41:55,719 Speaker 1: in the next episode.