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00:09the world's creepiest birthday present let's just say it wasn't picked from the bestseller list
00:15by accident a somewhat suspicious class reunion he tells her that his name is kevin
00:22and that they went to high school together and a hitman who's a little too by the book
00:30every detail is extremely planned he's following that hitman manual like a recipe book
00:45in virginia beach virginia lois blois and christopher schmidt are poised to change each
00:52other's lives it's the year 2000 a new millennium perfect for starting over for finding something
01:02new and exciting lois is 25 years old she's newly divorced from the father of her three-year-old son
01:11jonathan in his late 20s christopher has never been married but when he and lois meet their
01:21romance is a whirlwind the kind where you blink and you're suddenly exchanging wedding vows
01:27and that's exactly what happened by 2001 the first year of their marriage is full of changes for the
01:37schmidt's
01:40in the summer of 2002 christopher gets a job as a computer salesman in deltona florida near orlando
01:48the couple decide to trade their life in virginia beach for the sunshine state
01:54when you have a young child being near family can be a huge help
01:59in virginia lois and christopher have her parents and her brother morgan to lean on
02:06so moving to florida is a bit like cutting off a lifeline
02:10but it's also an exciting new start to their life together
02:17amidst their move comes even more exciting news
02:20right away they find out lois is pregnant and by march of next year she gives birth to a healthy
02:28baby girl and just like that the schmidt's are a family of four
02:37but it isn't the happily ever after they had hoped for
02:47lois and christopher struggle to adjust to being a married couple with two children
02:53a lot of people find that going from one child to two children is a huge difference
02:58one is manageable while two sometimes feels completely out of control
03:05any tensions or underlying issues that you have in the relationship can become huge stressors
03:11lois and christopher got together so quickly that they didn't really get a chance to know each other
03:18the way that you should know someone that you're going to marry and have kids with
03:23it's the whole love is blind thing
03:25you don't always notice the more negative attributes of the person that you're in love with
03:31at least not at first
03:34then you turn around and wonder who is this person i'm supposed to spend my life with
03:41and why are they such a jerk
03:46within a few short months after the arrival of their new bundle of joy
03:50the blinders have fallen off
03:53lois realizes that christopher isn't just stressed
03:57he's got some seriously scary anger issues
04:00it's not just yelling and swearing at her and in front of their little boy
04:05it's also physical
04:08in june 2003 lois files a petition for an injunction against christopher
04:14in the volusia county court
04:16in florida the courts often first issue a temporary restraining order
04:22and then in cases of ongoing domestic violence the abused spouse can apply for a permanent injunction to be put
04:30into place
04:31that type of injunction can only be put in place against a family member in the same household
04:37and is used to prevent any further injury to the applicant
04:41in the petition lois gives examples of christopher spitting in her face
04:46and pushing her against walls
04:47she's also terrified of the fact that he has so many guns in the house
04:52three handguns a rifle
04:54and two bb guns
04:57their house has more guns than it does people
05:00on top of that
05:02christopher has a permit to carry a concealed weapon
05:05all of which makes lois concerned not only for her safety
05:08but for the safety of her children
05:12in her petition lois states that she doesn't trust her husband
05:16and doesn't want to be alone with him
05:19the fact that lois is isolated in florida away from her family
05:24is a common theme in domestic abuse situations
05:28lois has only been in florida for a year
05:31and has no family or friends to turn to in case anything should happen
05:38in july before any abuse allegations are proven
05:42lois drops the petition and makes a crucial decision
05:46she packs up her two young children
05:48and moves back to virginia beach
05:51and into her parents house
05:52where her younger brother morgan also lives
05:57being back surrounded by loved ones
05:59is exactly what lois needs to get back on her feet again
06:02and seven-year-old jonathan is thrilled
06:06to be reunited with the rest of his family
06:08home can be more than just an address
06:11for lois and jonathan
06:13that virginia beach house
06:15with the grandparents and uncle morgan
06:18is the lifeline
06:20over the next several months
06:22lois and jonathan settle into a new routine
06:27lois finds work at an insurance agency
06:29and jonathan becomes a tiger scout
06:34jonathan is a happy well-adjusted little boy
06:38like a lot of kids he loves to help his mother out
06:42his favorite chore is vacuuming
06:44although he's not very good at it
06:47on family movie nights
06:49lois's pick is gone with the wind
06:51jonathan is a huge fan of toy story
06:54jonathan bonds with his extended family
06:57and thrives in the stable environment
06:59of his grandparents house
07:01in the fall
07:02lois enrolls jonathan in school
07:04and takes him to church every sunday
07:07life is back to normal
07:13but while one of lois's children is now settled
07:17the other is at the center of a fiery custody battle
07:21christopher files for divorce
07:23a month after lois leaves florida with the kids
07:26and though the divorce part of their divorce
07:29is settled in less than six months
07:31the custody part is a whole other matter
07:37on june 19th 2004
07:39christopher drives to virginia beach
07:41to pick up his one-year-old daughter
07:43for an extended two-month visit
07:47both lois and christopher are fighting hard
07:50for the custody of their little girl
07:52but the fact that they live in different states
07:54is a complication
07:57lois manages to have the jurisdiction
07:59for the custody matter assigned to virginia beach
08:02which is a huge disadvantage for christopher
08:06now he's stuck traveling from florida to virginia
08:09to see his daughter
08:10and all the costs associated with that
08:13on top of the child support
08:15he's not happy about it
08:19at the exchange
08:20christopher surprises lois with a gift
08:24it's just a week before lois's 29th birthday
08:27and the last thing she's expecting
08:30is a gift from her ex
08:34it might be a sign
08:36that things are turning a corner
08:41then again
08:41it might not be
08:50the gift is a copy of ann rule's best-selling book
08:53every breath you take
08:55the true story of a woman's murder
08:57orchestrated by her ex-husband
09:01let's just say
09:02it wasn't picked from the bestseller list
09:04by accident
09:05after enduring an abusive marriage
09:07and finally breaking free
09:09the last thing lois wants to do
09:12is think about a woman
09:13who was murdered by her ex
09:15whether christopher intends the book
09:18to be a threat
09:19or just a sick joke
09:20it's ill-advised
09:22and it's a disturbing thing to do
09:24lois confides in a friend
09:26that she's worried
09:27something might happen to her
09:29if christopher was hoping
09:31to throw her off her balance
09:33or make her paranoid
09:34mission accomplished
09:37on june 28th
09:39lois gets another surprise
09:40for her birthday
09:42lois's big day
09:43is june 27th
09:44her family takes jonathan out
09:46so she can relax
09:48and sleep in
09:49the next morning
09:51lois answers
09:52a knock at the door
09:53to find an old high school
09:55friend of hers
09:56named kevin
09:56on her doorstep
09:58there's only one problem
10:01lois doesn't recognize him
10:04at all
10:11christopher and lois schmidt
10:13try to make their marriage work
10:16but lois's dislike of christopher's
10:18alleged aggression
10:19gets in the way
10:23lois moves her two kids
10:25out of her husband's home
10:26in florida
10:28and back in with her parents
10:29and brother morgan
10:30in virginia
10:33when christopher comes
10:35to pick up their one-year-old daughter
10:36for an extended visit
10:38he gives lois
10:39the world's worst
10:40birthday present
10:41a book about a wife
10:43killed by her ex
10:46whether christopher intends
10:48the book to be a threat
10:49or just a sick joke
10:51it's ill-advised
10:53and it's a disturbing
10:54thing to do
10:56they say
10:57trust your gut
10:58when lois tells a friend
11:00she's worried
11:01something might happen
11:01to her
11:02that's not just
11:03anxiety talking
11:07just before 7 a.m
11:09on june 28th
11:102004
11:11the day after
11:13lois's 29th birthday
11:15there's a knock
11:16at the front door
11:17of the family home
11:19lois opens the door
11:20to a man who looks
11:22about her age
11:23dressed all in black
11:26which
11:26isn't a typical outfit
11:29for a morning visit
11:33he tells her
11:34that his name is kevin
11:35and that they went
11:36to high school together
11:41for lois
11:42something is wrong
11:43about the whole thing
11:44she doesn't recognize
11:46him at all
11:46so she shuts the door
11:48in his face
11:50when a stranger
11:51shows up
11:52claiming to be
11:53an old classmate
11:54and something
11:55feels off
11:56that's the kind
11:57of thing
11:57you run
11:58by your brother
12:01lois wakes up
12:02a still sleeping
12:03morgan
12:03to tell him
12:04all about
12:05the strange
12:06encounter
12:07it's early
12:08it's early in the morning
12:09so early
12:10that jonathan
12:11hasn't even gone
12:12to school yet
12:13he's just playing
12:14in the living room
12:15so morgan
12:16is going to listen
12:17but he's not
12:18gonna get up
12:19there doesn't seem
12:20to be any reason
12:20for concern
12:23but less than half
12:24an hour later
12:25the power
12:26goes out
12:26in the house
12:29lois goes
12:30to the garage
12:30to check
12:31the fuse box
12:35when she opens
12:36the door
12:36she's shocked
12:37to find the so-called
12:39kevin
12:39lying in wait
12:40with a pistol
12:41when the family dog
12:42senses danger
12:43and rushes past
12:45lois into the garage
12:46barking
12:46it turns the tables
12:48the dog's sacrifice
12:50buys lois
12:51a few precious moments
12:52to run back
12:53into the house
12:55regaining his composure
12:56the gunman
12:57pursues lois
12:59in the hallway
13:00the gunman
13:01shoots lois
13:02in the chest
13:03center mass
13:04as if he's
13:05had training
13:06he then fires
13:07a shot
13:08into the doorframe
13:10when he stops
13:11to reload his weapon
13:14morgan emerges
13:15from the bedroom
13:17it's a case
13:18of wrong place
13:19worst possible time
13:22morgan is wounded
13:23in the shoulder
13:23the gunman
13:25then pursues him
13:26back into his bedroom
13:27where he fires
13:28an additional
13:29two shots
13:32morgan is cornered
13:33there's nowhere
13:34for him to run
13:36the gunman
13:37then re-emerges
13:38into the hallway
13:39where he shoots
13:40lois a second time
13:43this shot is fatal
13:45he then turns
13:46his attention
13:47to seven-year-old
13:48jonathan
13:48who's in the living room
13:51he silences him
13:53with a fatal shot
13:53as well
13:54it's horrific
13:56and it's all over
13:58in the blink
13:58of an eye
14:00after murdering
14:01the occupants
14:02of the house
14:02the gunman
14:03retrieves a gas can
14:04from the garage
14:05this isn't just
14:07a shooting
14:07the killer
14:08has a clean-up plan
14:09he douses
14:11the house
14:11with gasoline
14:12then plays
14:14amateur chemist
14:15with brake fluid
14:16and a chlorine
14:17tablet
14:18setting a time-delayed
14:20fire
14:20to allow himself
14:21to escape
14:23on his way
14:24out the door
14:24the killer
14:25grabs a souvenir
14:26he spots a little
14:28porcelain figurine
14:30and pockets it
14:31before he leaves
14:32the house
14:33sometimes killers
14:34take a memento
14:35a souvenir
14:36of their crime
14:37it can be a disturbing
14:39way for them
14:40to relive
14:40the experience
14:42in this instance
14:43it's not clear
14:44why he takes it
14:45it's a devastating
14:47tragedy
14:48but there's
14:49one bright spot
14:50despite being
14:52shot
14:52three times
14:53Morgan manages
14:55to make his way
14:56out of the house
14:57and gets a neighbor
14:58to call
14:58911
15:00paramedics
15:01fire
15:01and the police
15:02arrive just before
15:038am
15:04they find Morgan
15:05still alive
15:06on the front lawn
15:07in the house
15:09they find
15:09Lois and Jonathan's
15:10bodies
15:11and they manage
15:12to extinguish
15:13the fire
15:13before it spreads
15:14media quickly
15:16descend
15:17on the chaotic
15:18scene
15:18where neighbors
15:19are terrified
15:23police say
15:23there were
15:24three victims
15:24all shot
15:25inside the house
15:26neighbors say
15:27it was the
15:27homeowner's son
15:28who survived
15:29and collapsed
15:29in the front yard
15:30and his sister
15:31and her son
15:32who were shot
15:33to death inside
15:34all I'm concerned
15:35about now
15:35is his gunman
15:36is on the loose
15:37and somebody
15:38needs to find him
15:38police said
15:39they were looking
15:40for additional
15:41suspects
15:41but wouldn't say
15:42who was behind
15:43the attack
15:43later they said
15:44they didn't have
15:45a line on any
15:46one person
15:46forensic detectives
15:48meantime
15:48are having
15:49a tougher time
15:49gathering clues
15:50the killer
15:51apparently set
15:52fire inside
15:53the house
15:53possibly to
15:54cover his tracks
16:01from an
16:02investigative
16:03perspective
16:03it doesn't seem
16:04like your average
16:05home invasion
16:06the methodical
16:07nature of the
16:08attack
16:08and the precision
16:10of the shots
16:11makes it seem
16:12like there's
16:12something more
16:13police will need
16:14to pursue
16:15the possibility
16:16that it might
16:17be a professional
16:17job
16:20only an hour
16:21later
16:21police in
16:23Deltona Florida
16:23are at
16:24Christopher Schmidt's
16:25door
16:27the police
16:28inform Christopher
16:29about the death
16:30of his ex-wife
16:31and his stepson
16:32he's disturbingly
16:34cavalier
16:34about the news
16:38but their visit
16:39has an
16:40investigative
16:41motive
16:41as well
16:42police learn
16:44from neighbors
16:44in Virginia
16:45about the
16:45animosity
16:46between
16:46Lois and
16:47her ex-husband
16:48so he needs
16:49to be excluded
16:50as the possible
16:51shooter
16:51the fact that
16:53they confirm
16:53that he was
16:54in Florida
16:54with his
16:55daughter
16:55at the time
16:56of the shooting
16:56accomplishes
16:57that goal
16:59later
17:00a detective
17:01from Virginia
17:02Beach
17:02also questions
17:03Schmidt
17:06when they
17:06asked him
17:07if he was
17:07involved
17:08with the
17:08murders
17:09his smart
17:10Alec
17:10response is
17:11I couldn't
17:12afford it
17:12not exactly
17:14the words
17:14of a grieving
17:15ex-husband
17:21over the next
17:22few days
17:23the police
17:24appeal to the
17:24public for
17:25any information
17:26that might
17:27aid in the
17:27investigation
17:29the FBI
17:30released a
17:31poster
17:31seeking
17:31information
17:32about a
17:33six foot
17:33one inch
17:34male
17:34possibly
17:35white
17:35or
17:36Hispanic
17:36wearing
17:37black
17:37clothing
17:38they are
17:39also looking
17:40for the
17:40driver
17:40of a
17:41pickup truck
17:41seen in
17:42the area
17:43on the
17:43morning
17:43of the
17:44murders
17:44it's not
17:45a lot
17:46to go
17:46on
17:46but in
17:47these
17:48cases
17:48sometimes
17:49that's
17:50how it
17:50works
17:50all you
17:51need
17:51is one
17:52solid
17:52lead
17:53and you
17:53never
17:54know
17:54where
17:54you're
17:54going
17:54to get
17:55that
17:55a week
17:57after the
17:57murders
17:58the police
17:58take a
17:59closer look
18:00at
18:00Christopher
18:01Schmidt
18:03that
18:04calling
18:04card
18:04of a
18:05creepy
18:05present
18:05that
18:06Christopher
18:07gave
18:07to
18:07Lois
18:08just
18:08before
18:08her
18:08murder
18:09is
18:10either
18:10a
18:10huge
18:11coincidence
18:11or
18:12disturbingly
18:13prophetic
18:14and
18:15homicide
18:16investigators
18:17don't really
18:18believe in
18:18coincidence
18:19the
18:20authorities
18:21execute a
18:22search
18:22warrant
18:22at
18:23Schmidt's
18:23home
18:23in
18:24Florida
18:24police
18:25seized
18:26Christopher's
18:26computer
18:27for
18:27forensic
18:28examination
18:28what
18:29they
18:29find
18:30is
18:30a
18:31red
18:31flag
18:31what
18:33they
18:33find
18:34is
18:34surprising
18:34disturbing
18:36and
18:37confusing
18:37all
18:38at
18:38once
18:38investigators
18:40discovered
18:41that
18:41Schmidt
18:41has been
18:42using
18:42an
18:42email
18:43account
18:43under
18:43an
18:44entirely
18:44different
18:45name
18:46Richard
18:47Stoner
18:53A
18:54stranger
18:55at
18:55the
18:55door
18:55of
18:56a
18:56Virginia
18:56beach
18:57home
18:57leads
18:58to
18:58tragedy
18:59when
19:00Lois
19:01Schmidt
19:01her
19:02young
19:03son
19:03Jonathan
19:05and
19:06a
19:06beloved
19:06family
19:07pet
19:07are
19:08viciously
19:09murdered
19:09when
19:11Lois's
19:11ex-husband
19:12Christopher
19:13has a
19:14surprisingly
19:14cavalier
19:15reaction
19:16to
19:16the
19:16news
19:16it
19:18raises
19:18eyebrows
19:20and
19:21police
19:21sees
19:21his
19:22computer
19:22for
19:23a
19:23closer
19:23look
19:30as
19:30detectives
19:31begin
19:31to dig
19:32into
19:32Christopher's
19:33digital
19:33life
19:33there's
19:34almost
19:34nothing
19:35there
19:35that's
19:36not
19:36suspicious
19:38leading
19:39up to
19:39the
19:39murders
19:40Christopher
19:40had been
19:41doing
19:41internet
19:41research
19:42on
19:42Makaroff
19:43handguns
19:44the same
19:44weapon
19:45used
19:45to kill
19:46Lois
19:46and
19:46Jonathan
19:48he had
19:49also
19:49been
19:49doing
19:49searches
19:50on
19:51converting
19:51a
19:51Makaroff
19:52to a
19:52380
19:53auto
19:53and
19:54swapping
19:55out
19:55the
19:55barrel
19:57a
19:57barrel
19:58swap
19:58like
19:58that
19:59is
19:59done
19:59to
19:59confuse
20:00the
20:00forensic
20:00examination
20:01of
20:02a
20:02weapon
20:02this
20:03isn't
20:03casual
20:04research
20:05it's
20:06somebody
20:06trying
20:06to
20:06learn
20:07how
20:07to
20:07cover
20:07their
20:08ballistic
20:08tracks
20:10when
20:11someone's
20:11googling
20:12how
20:12to
20:12modify
20:13a
20:13Makaroff
20:14pistol
20:14and
20:14swap
20:15barrels
20:15they're
20:16not
20:16doing
20:16research
20:17for a
20:17gun
20:17collecting
20:18hobby
20:19they're
20:20trying
20:20to
20:20make
20:20sure
20:21that
20:21those
20:21bullets
20:22can't
20:23be
20:23traced
20:25detectives
20:26detectives
20:26also
20:27uncover
20:27multiple
20:28searches
20:28about
20:29the
20:29statute
20:30of
20:30limitations
20:30on
20:31murder
20:31in
20:32virginia
20:32homicide
20:33investigators
20:34don't
20:35believe
20:35in
20:35coincidences
20:38strangely
20:38strangely
20:39Christopher
20:39Christopher
20:39has
20:39also
20:40logged
20:40into
20:40an
20:40email
20:41account
20:41multiple
20:42times
20:42under
20:43the
20:43name
20:44Richard
20:44Stoner
20:46specifically
20:46there was
20:47a
20:47login
20:48at
20:481130
20:49on the
20:49night
20:49of the
20:50murder
20:50and then
20:51again
20:51at
20:52330
20:52the
20:53next
20:53morning
20:59using
21:00an
21:00alias
21:01isn't
21:01illegal
21:01but it
21:03is
21:03kind
21:04of
21:04suspicious
21:04there's
21:05no
21:05reason
21:06to
21:06use
21:06an
21:06alias
21:07unless
21:08you
21:08have
21:09something
21:09to
21:09hide
21:12but
21:13when
21:14investigators
21:14look
21:15into
21:15the
21:15name
21:15Richard
21:16Stoner
21:16they
21:18discover
21:18he's
21:19actually
21:20a
21:20real
21:20person
21:21Richard
21:22Stoner
21:23is a
21:23US
21:23army
21:24ranger
21:24living
21:25in
21:25Cottondale
21:26Florida
21:26and he's
21:27married
21:28to
21:28Christopher
21:28Schmidt's
21:29cousin
21:33under
21:34questioning
21:36Stoner
21:37denies
21:37any
21:37involvement
21:38in the
21:39Virginia
21:39Beach
21:39murders
21:41there's
21:42really
21:42nothing
21:43to link
21:43Richard
21:44Stoner
21:44to the
21:44shooting
21:45but the
21:46fact that
21:46Christopher
21:47has been
21:47logging in
21:48to
21:48Stoner's
21:49email
21:49address
21:50multiple
21:50times
21:50is
21:51definitely
21:52suspicious
21:52police
21:53believe
21:54the
21:54two
21:54men
21:54have
21:55been
21:55ghost
21:55emailing
21:56which
21:56means
21:56they've
21:57been
21:57communicating
21:57with
21:58each
21:58other
21:58without
21:59actually
21:59sending
21:59any
22:00emails
22:01one
22:02of them
22:02would
22:02log
22:02into
22:02the
22:03account
22:03and
22:04leave
22:04a
22:04draft
22:04in
22:05the
22:05draft
22:05folder
22:05then
22:06the
22:06other
22:07one
22:07would
22:07log
22:07into
22:07the
22:08account
22:08read
22:09the
22:09draft
22:09and
22:10compose
22:11a
22:11reply
22:11for
22:11the
22:12first
22:12one
22:12to
22:12find
22:13it's
22:14old
22:14school
22:15trade
22:15craft
22:15leaving
22:16no
22:16electronic
22:17trail
22:18but
22:19despite
22:19their
22:20suspicions
22:20of
22:20Richard
22:21Stoner
22:21and
22:22Christopher
22:22Schmidt
22:23investigators
22:24have
22:25nothing
22:25actionable
22:26to move
22:26on
22:27sometimes
22:28you hit
22:28a brick
22:28wall
22:29you can't
22:30manufacture
22:30evidence
22:31what you know
22:32is different
22:33than what you
22:33can prove
22:35the
22:36appeal
22:36for
22:36witnesses
22:37hasn't
22:38panned
22:38out
22:38and
22:39the
22:39fire
22:40inside
22:40the
22:40house
22:41destroyed
22:41much
22:42of
22:42the
22:42physical
22:42evidence
22:43of
22:44the
22:44crime
22:44scene
22:46so
22:46police
22:47only
22:47have
22:48some
22:48suspicious
22:49activity
22:50but
22:51that's
22:52not
22:52enough
22:54after
22:54several
22:55years
22:55without
22:56any
22:56progress
22:58the
22:58case
22:59is
22:59turned
22:59over
22:59to
23:00the
23:00cold
23:00case
23:00division
23:01of
23:01the
23:01Virginia
23:02Beach
23:02Police
23:02Department
23:04Investigators
23:05keep
23:05picking
23:05at
23:06threads
23:06hoping
23:07one
23:07of
23:07them
23:08finally
23:08unravels
23:09the
23:09whole
23:09ugly
23:10sweater
23:11Eventually
23:12the
23:13focus
23:13turns
23:14to
23:14the
23:14murder
23:14weapon
23:15a
23:159mm
23:16Makarov
23:17pistol
23:18A
23:19Makarov
23:20is an
23:20old
23:20Soviet
23:21era
23:21pistol
23:22they're
23:22still
23:23common
23:23in
23:23Eastern
23:24Europe
23:24but
23:25not
23:25so
23:25much
23:26in
23:26the
23:26United
23:26States
23:27When
23:28one
23:28is
23:28used
23:29in
23:29homicide
23:29it
23:30can
23:30mean
23:30that
23:30someone
23:31went
23:31out
23:31of
23:31their
23:31way
23:32to
23:32get
23:32it
23:34The
23:34detective
23:35discovers
23:35that
23:36Richard
23:36Stoner's
23:37mother-in-law
23:37purchased
23:38a
23:389mm
23:39Makarov
23:39online
23:40for
23:40$150
23:41just
23:42six
23:43weeks
23:43before
23:44the
23:44murders
23:44Two
23:46days
23:46after
23:47she
23:47filled
23:47out
23:47the
23:47paperwork
23:48Stoner
23:49bought
23:49accessories
23:50for
23:50the
23:50same
23:51type
23:51of
23:51gun
23:51including
23:52a
23:52suppressor
23:53and
23:53a
23:54different
23:54barrel
23:54homicide
23:56investigators
23:57don't
23:58believe
23:58in
23:58coincidences
23:59did
24:00I
24:00say
24:00that
24:01already
24:03armed
24:03with
24:04the
24:04new
24:04evidence
24:05investigators
24:06take
24:06another
24:07crack
24:07at
24:08Richard
24:08Stoner
24:10In
24:112012
24:11Richard
24:12Stoner
24:12is now
24:13living
24:13in
24:13North
24:13Carolina
24:14and
24:15he's
24:15no
24:15longer
24:15a
24:16U.S.
24:16Army
24:16ranger
24:17During
24:18questioning
24:19he admits
24:19that he
24:20had his
24:20mother-in-law
24:21by the
24:21pistol
24:22form
24:22He has
24:23a felony
24:24conviction
24:24as a
24:24juvenile
24:25so he
24:26can't
24:26purchase
24:27any
24:27firearms
24:27himself
24:32But
24:32that
24:33gun
24:33was
24:33bought
24:34years
24:34ago
24:34and
24:35he
24:35has
24:35no
24:35idea
24:36where
24:36it
24:36is
24:36now
24:38Richard
24:39Stoner
24:39also
24:40has
24:40an
24:40alibi
24:40for
24:41the
24:41day
24:41of
24:42Lois
24:42and
24:42Jonathan's
24:43murders
24:44One
24:44of his
24:45wife's
24:45relatives
24:45claims
24:46he was
24:46in
24:46Florida
24:47at
24:47the
24:47time
24:50But
24:50a
24:51search
24:51of
24:51Stoner's
24:52home
24:52and
24:52truck
24:53tells
24:53a
24:54different
24:54story
24:56During
24:57the
24:57search
24:58police
24:58find
24:59multiple
24:59firearms
25:00and
25:01parts
25:01that
25:01are
25:01consistent
25:02with
25:02a
25:02Bulgarian
25:03Makarov
25:04pistol
25:05They
25:06also
25:06find
25:06the
25:06frame
25:07of
25:07the
25:07gun
25:07that
25:08Stoner's
25:09mother-in-law
25:09purchased
25:10for him
25:10back in
25:112004
25:12So much
25:13for not
25:13knowing
25:14where that
25:14gun
25:14is
25:15Police
25:16are
25:16unable
25:16to
25:17identify
25:17the
25:17frame
25:18they've
25:18recovered
25:18as
25:19the
25:19murder
25:19weapon
25:19because
25:20the
25:20barrel
25:20is
25:21missing
25:21making
25:22forensic
25:22testing
25:23impossible
25:24But
25:25he
25:25lied
25:25about
25:25the
25:25location
25:26of the
25:26weapon
25:26and as
25:27a
25:27convicted
25:28felon
25:28he's
25:29not
25:29allowed
25:29to
25:29possess
25:30any
25:30firearm
25:35stoner
25:36is
25:36incarcerated
25:37for
25:37two
25:38months
25:38for
25:39illegal
25:39possession
25:40of
25:40a
25:40firearm
25:42over
25:47the
25:48following
25:49years
25:49cold
25:50case
25:50investigators
25:51continue
25:52to
25:52keep
25:52the
25:53case
25:53alive
26:08eventually
26:14investigators
26:14catch
26:14a
26:15lucky
26:15break
26:15a
26:16man
26:17who
26:17was
26:17a
26:17cell
26:17mate
26:17of
26:18stoners
26:18during
26:19his
26:192012
26:19stint
26:20in
26:20prison
26:20comes
26:21forward
26:21as
26:22an
26:22informant
26:23he
26:24claims
26:25that
26:25Richard
26:25stoner
26:26confessed
26:26to him
26:27that he
26:27had been
26:27hired to
26:28kill a
26:28woman
26:28in
26:29Virginia
26:29beach
26:31and
26:31had
26:32also
26:32shot
26:33her
26:33son
26:33and
26:34another
26:34man
26:37jailhouse
26:38confessions
26:38are always
26:39controversial
26:40but they
26:41can provide
26:42crucial
26:42leads
26:43in
26:43cold
26:43cases
26:44the
26:45confined
26:45environments
26:46and
26:46psychological
26:47stress
26:48of
26:48incarceration
26:49can
26:50sometimes
26:51lead
26:51individuals
26:52to
26:52reveal
26:52information
26:53that
26:54they've
26:54long
26:54kept
26:54hidden
26:55the
26:56informant
26:56provides
26:57specific
26:57details
26:58of the
26:58crime
26:59such as
27:00the
27:00fact
27:00that
27:00stoner
27:01wore
27:01all
27:01black
27:02turns
27:03out
27:03stoner
27:04couldn't
27:04resist
27:05a little
27:05jailhouse
27:06bragging
27:07he
27:08tells
27:08his
27:08cell
27:09mate
27:09that
27:09when
27:09the
27:09cops
27:10searched
27:10his
27:10house
27:10in
27:112012
27:11they
27:12missed
27:12a box
27:13full
27:13of
27:14evidence
27:14including
27:15the
27:16gloves
27:16he
27:16wore
27:17and
27:17a
27:17porcelain
27:18figurine
27:18he
27:19swiped
27:19from
27:19the
27:19crime
27:20scene
27:20it
27:21really
27:22was
27:22a
27:23souvenir
27:24by
27:252018
27:26investigators
27:27finally
27:28have
27:28enough
27:28to
27:28bring
27:29stoner
27:29in
27:30at
27:31this
27:31point
27:32richard
27:32stoner
27:33is
27:33divorced
27:33and
27:34living
27:34in
27:34logan's
27:35port
27:35indiana
27:37detective
27:37murphy
27:38of the
27:38cold
27:38case
27:39division
27:39meets
27:40with
27:40stoner
27:40on
27:41june
27:4121st
27:42detective
27:43murphy
27:44knows
27:44they
27:44finally
27:45have
27:45their
27:46shooter
27:46but
27:47what
27:48she
27:48wants
27:48is
27:49the
27:49person
27:49who
27:50hired
27:50him
27:51the
27:52detective
27:52offers
27:52stoner
27:53a deal
27:53the
27:54prosecutor
27:55has agreed
27:55not to
27:56seek the
27:56death penalty
27:57against him
27:57in exchange
27:58for his
27:59cooperation
27:59in the
28:00investigation
28:01but
28:02before he
28:03even looks
28:03at the
28:04offer
28:04on the
28:04table
28:05stoner
28:06walks
28:07out
28:07of the
28:07interview
28:1314
28:14years
28:15after the
28:15cold-blooded
28:16murder
28:17of 29
28:17year old
28:18Lois Schmidt
28:19and her
28:207 year old
28:20son
28:20Jonathan
28:21the
28:22cold case
28:23division
28:23in Virginia
28:24Beach
28:24finally has
28:25enough
28:25to make
28:26an arrest
28:28they've
28:28been
28:29investigating
28:29Richard
28:30stoner
28:30a former
28:31U.S.
28:32army ranger
28:32for years
28:33and they
28:34suspect
28:35stoner
28:36was working
28:36as a
28:37hitman
28:37for Lois's
28:38estranged
28:39husband
28:39Christopher
28:40the
28:41detective
28:41offers
28:42stoner
28:42a deal
28:43the
28:43prosecutor
28:44has agreed
28:45not to
28:45seek the
28:46death penalty
28:46against him
28:47in exchange
28:48for his
28:48cooperation
28:49in the
28:49investigation
28:52detective
28:53Murphy
28:53presents
28:54stoner
28:54with an
28:55offer
28:55but he
28:56doesn't
28:57even look
28:57at it
28:57he just
28:58walks
28:59right out
28:59the door
29:05but
29:06sometimes
29:07a little
29:07time to
29:08think
29:08can
29:08change
29:09everything
29:09and a
29:11couple
29:11of days
29:11later
29:12stoner
29:12is back
29:13at the
29:13police
29:14station
29:15detective
29:16Murphy
29:17once again
29:18presents
29:18stoner
29:19with the
29:19proffer
29:19letter
29:20the
29:21proffer
29:22letter
29:22is an
29:23agreement
29:23between
29:24a
29:24prosecutor
29:24and a
29:25potential
29:25suspect
29:26or witness
29:27it allows
29:28a suspect
29:29to come
29:29forward
29:30with
29:30information
29:31about a
29:31crime
29:31while also
29:33limiting
29:33the
29:34prosecutor's
29:34ability
29:35to use
29:35that
29:35information
29:36against
29:36them
29:38it can
29:39be a
29:39useful
29:40tool
29:40for
29:40prosecutors
29:41when
29:41they're
29:41dealing
29:41with
29:42multiple
29:42defendants
29:43and they
29:44want to
29:44gather
29:44evidence
29:45from one
29:45of them
29:45that can
29:46be
29:46potentially
29:47used
29:47against
29:47the
29:47others
29:49the
29:50prosecutor
29:50is
29:51offering
29:51not to
29:52seek
29:52the
29:52death
29:52penalty
29:53against
29:53Richard
29:54stoner
29:54for the
29:55murders
29:55if
29:56stoner
29:57agrees
29:57to
29:57cooperate
29:58and
29:59testify
29:59against
30:00the
30:00man
30:00who
30:00hired
30:01him
30:03detective
30:04murphy
30:04gets
30:04the
30:04prosecutor
30:05on
30:05the
30:06phone
30:06because
30:07stoner
30:07isn't
30:08willing
30:08to
30:08agree
30:08right
30:09away
30:09he
30:10has
30:10his
30:11own
30:11list
30:11of
30:11demands
30:12so
30:13they
30:13negotiate
30:22once
30:22he's
30:23sufficiently
30:23reassured
30:24stoner
30:25stoner
30:26agrees
30:26to
30:26take
30:26the
30:27deal
30:30stoner
30:31says
30:31i think
30:32i'm
30:32down
30:32i'll
30:33tell
30:33you
30:34whatever
30:34you
30:34want
30:34to
30:35know
30:35and
30:36then
30:36he
30:36opens
30:37the
30:37flood
30:37gates
30:38the
30:39hitman
30:40is
30:40officially
30:40placed
30:41under
30:41arrest
30:4214
30:43years
30:44after
30:44the
30:44murders
30:45of
30:45lois
30:45schmidt
30:45and
30:46jonathan
30:46vetrano
30:47in
30:48his
30:48confession
30:49richard
30:49stoner
30:50describes
30:50his
30:51own
30:51actions
30:51and
30:52christopher
30:53schmidt's
30:53as
30:53well
30:56stoner
30:57claims
30:57that
30:57the
30:57first
30:57time
30:58he
30:58met
30:58christopher
30:59schmidt
30:59was
31:00at
31:00a
31:00family
31:00christmas
31:01party
31:01in
31:012003
31:03christopher
31:04was his
31:04wife's
31:05cousin
31:05and the
31:05two
31:06hit it
31:06off
31:08according
31:08to
31:09stoner
31:09christopher
31:10started
31:10visiting
31:11him
31:11regularly
31:12at
31:12his
31:12florida
31:12panhandle
31:13home
31:13where
31:14target
31:14practice
31:15was
31:15their
31:16game
31:16of
31:16choice
31:17christopher
31:18was
31:18going
31:19through
31:19a
31:19contentious
31:20divorce
31:20with
31:20lois
31:21and
31:21needed
31:21to
31:22blow
31:22off
31:22steam
31:25stoner
31:26describes
31:27how
31:27after
31:28congratulating
31:28his
31:29buddy
31:29on a
31:29particularly
31:30good
31:30round
31:31schmidt
31:32responded
31:32that
31:32he wished
31:33it was
31:33lois
31:34being
31:34shot
31:37when
31:37stoner
31:38claimed
31:38to have
31:38friends
31:39who
31:39could
31:39take
31:40care
31:40of
31:40that
31:41schmidt
31:42was
31:42interested
31:44stoner
31:44admits
31:45to the
31:45detective
31:46that
31:46he
31:46really
31:47didn't
31:47know
31:47anybody
31:48who
31:48could
31:48take
31:49care
31:49of
31:49it
31:49it
31:50was
31:50just
31:51something
31:51he
31:51said
31:52but
31:53when
31:53christopher
31:54jumped
31:54on the
31:54idea
31:55so
31:55did
31:56he
31:57according
31:58to
31:58stoner
31:58after
31:59his
31:59offer
31:59to
32:00take
32:00care
32:00of
32:00christopher's
32:01ex
32:01the
32:02visits
32:02became
32:03more
32:03frequent
32:04in
32:05may
32:052004
32:06christopher
32:08handed
32:08stoner
32:09one
32:09thousand
32:09dollars
32:10in
32:10sequential
32:10one
32:11hundred
32:11dollar
32:11bills
32:12to
32:12get
32:12the
32:13ball
32:13rolling
32:14stoner
32:15claims
32:15that christopher
32:16also highlighted
32:17passages
32:18from a book
32:18with useful
32:19tips
32:21hitman
32:22a technical
32:22manual
32:23was an
32:24ill-advised
32:25book written
32:25in the
32:251980s
32:26by a
32:27true crime
32:27writer
32:28it was
32:29published
32:29under the
32:30guise of
32:30a how-to
32:31manual
32:32for aspiring
32:33hitmen
32:33you can
32:35imagine
32:35how well
32:36that went
32:37and guess
32:38what
32:38when people
32:39died
32:40for real
32:40the publisher
32:41lost a lot
32:42of money
32:43to
32:43lawsuits
32:45the tips
32:46included
32:47wearing the
32:47wrong size
32:48shoes
32:48to throw
32:49off
32:49footprint
32:49analysis
32:50and changing
32:51the barrel
32:52of the gun
32:52to interfere
32:53with ballistic
32:54testing
32:56stoner
32:57used some
32:57of the
32:58down payment
32:58money
32:58to get
32:59his mother-in-law
33:00to buy
33:00the type
33:00of gun
33:01that was
33:01recommended
33:02for the
33:02job
33:03a nine
33:03millimeter
33:04makaroff
33:05pistol
33:05on june
33:0627th
33:072004
33:08it's go
33:09time
33:09stoner
33:10is fully
33:11prepped
33:12for the
33:12job
33:13he wraps
33:14his cell
33:15phone
33:15in aluminum
33:16to prevent
33:16tracking
33:19the would-be
33:20hitman
33:20prepares to
33:21leave his
33:21home in
33:22cottondale
33:22florida
33:23to drive
33:23the 12
33:24hours to
33:25virginia
33:25beach
33:27he has
33:28an old
33:28school
33:28paper map
33:29so he
33:30doesn't have
33:30to use
33:30gps
33:32every detail
33:33is extremely
33:34planned
33:35he's following
33:36that hitman
33:37manual
33:38like a
33:38recipe book
33:40early in
33:41the morning
33:41on june
33:4228th
33:42stoner
33:43parks in
33:43front of
33:44lois's
33:44house
33:45he sits
33:46and watches
33:46for more
33:47than half
33:47an hour
33:48trying to
33:49make sure
33:49she's home
33:50alone
33:50according to
33:52stoner
33:52christopher
33:53had told
33:53him that
33:54nobody else
33:55was going
33:55to be in
33:55the house
33:56that day
33:56morgan
33:57would be
33:58out
33:58and jonathan
33:59would be
33:59with his
34:00father
34:00the surveillance
34:01phase ends
34:02when stoner
34:03makes his
34:04approach
34:05after lois
34:06slams a
34:06door in
34:07his face
34:07stoner
34:08parks the
34:09car down
34:09the street
34:10and walks
34:10back to
34:11the house
34:11in the
34:12garage
34:13he cuts
34:13the power
34:14and waits
34:16the family
34:17dog throws
34:18a wrench
34:18into his
34:19carefully
34:19crafted
34:20plan
34:23stoner
34:24is there
34:25to kill
34:25lois
34:25schmidt
34:26when he
34:27finds a
34:27full house
34:28he is
34:29forced to
34:29improvise
34:31stoner
34:31claims that
34:32he only
34:32killed
34:33jonathan
34:33because he
34:34thought the
34:34boy would
34:35be too
34:35traumatized
34:36after witnessing
34:37his own
34:37mother's
34:38murder
34:40it's a
34:41shockingly
34:42tragic
34:42loss of
34:43life
34:44after leaving
34:45the scene
34:46of the
34:46crime
34:46stoner
34:47continues to
34:48follow the
34:49manual's
34:49instructions
34:50faithfully
34:51he stops
34:52off at a
34:53church parking
34:54lot to
34:54dispose of
34:55the evidence
34:56in a
34:56dumpster
34:57including the
34:58guns magazine
35:02according to
35:03stoner's
35:03statement
35:03he then
35:04follows that
35:05old school
35:05map
35:06all the
35:07way to
35:07christopher's
35:07house in
35:08deltona
35:08florida
35:09when stoner
35:11finally arrives
35:12in deltona
35:12it's already
35:14the next
35:14day
35:15at that
35:16point
35:16christopher
35:17is freaking
35:18out
35:18the police
35:20have already
35:20been there
35:21he wants
35:22to know
35:22what happened
35:23stoner claims
35:25that the two
35:25of them
35:26dispose of
35:26the gun
35:27barrel
35:27in a
35:28nearby
35:28body
35:28of water
35:29then stoner
35:30takes a
35:31nap
35:31while christopher
35:32attempts to
35:33use software
35:34to scrub his
35:34computer hard
35:35drive clean
35:36clearly the
35:38software is not
35:39successful
35:39considering all
35:40the suspicious
35:41dirt the police
35:42find in christopher's
35:43computer after they
35:45seize it the
35:46following week
35:51the full statement
35:53that richard stoner
35:54gives to the
35:54police is detailed
35:56and damning
35:57two days later
36:00they arrest
36:01christopher schmidt
36:02at his home
36:02in florida
36:03and charge him
36:04with first degree
36:05murder
36:07both men
36:08are extradited
36:09back to virginia
36:10to face
36:11charges
36:13stoner testifies
36:14against christopher
36:15at his preliminary
36:16hearing on
36:17november 29th
36:182018
36:21officers arrested
36:22stoner and schmidt
36:23in 2018
36:2414 years after the
36:25murders of lois
36:26schmidt and
36:27jonathan vetrano
36:28stoner testified
36:29that schmidt asked
36:30him to kill his wife
36:31saying the schmidt's
36:32were in the middle
36:32of a divorce
36:33and fighting over
36:34custody of their
36:34one-year-old daughter
36:35stoner an army
36:37veteran also testified
36:38that he shot lois's
36:39brother killed a dog
36:41and set the virginia
36:42beach house on fire
36:43after stoner's
36:45testimony the judge
36:46determines there's
36:48enough evidence to
36:49take the case to a
36:50grand jury the next
36:52month the grand jury
36:54indicts christopher
36:55schmidt for murder
36:59after completing a plea
37:01agreement in december
37:022019 richard stoner is
37:05set to testify against
37:06schmidt at his upcoming
37:08trial but a change in
37:11the virginia law throws
37:12the entire case into
37:14chaos and stoner's
37:16testimony into doubt
37:22lois schmidt and her son
37:24jonathan vetrano are
37:26gunned down in their
37:27home in a case with all
37:29the hallmarks of a
37:30professional job
37:32after an epic confession
37:3414 years in the making
37:36hitman richard stoner
37:39executes a plea deal in
37:41december 2019 prosecutors
37:43agree not to seek the
37:45death penalty against
37:46stoner and in exchange
37:48stoner agrees to testify
37:50against lois's estranged
37:52husband christopher schmidt
37:54the man he claims hired him
37:56for the job after richard
37:59stoner's testimony at
38:00christopher's preliminary
38:02hearing the judge rules that
38:04the murder case against
38:06christopher will go to trial
38:07that trial is set for march
38:102020
38:12the wheels of justice grind
38:15slowly and sometimes they
38:17just get completely stuck
38:18between legal motions and
38:21endless reports everything
38:23gets pushed back
38:24christopher's day in court is
38:26postponed until september 27
38:282021
38:31nearly 16 years after the
38:34murders it finally looks like
38:36pieces are falling into
38:37place but justice isn't just
38:41blind sometimes it's got a
38:43twisted sense of humor in
38:45march 2021 virginia's governor
38:48signs historic legislation to
38:51abolish the death penalty the
38:53change in the law goes into
38:55effect in july less than three
38:57months before the trial is set to
39:00start richard stoner's plea deal
39:03was put in place specifically so that
39:05he could avoid the death penalty but
39:08with the threat of capital punishment
39:10off the table stoner's lawyers argue
39:13that the plea agreement should be null and
39:15void and the judge agrees the
39:18unprecedented development rips the
39:21prosecutor's case wide open now the
39:25prosecutors face a very different richard
39:27stoner so different from the one years earlier who spilled his guts now he's not
39:34talking the local media tries to make sense of the complicated case
39:40with a plea off the table prosecutors will likely seek a jury trial for richard
39:45stoner a judge may decide on friday if prosecutors can use stoner's testimony from 2018
39:51and christopher schmidt's upcoming trial richard stoner originally pleaded guilty in part
39:56to avoid getting the death penalty now that there's no death penalty in virginia a judge
40:01ruled the plea agreement contract is invalid and he allowed stoner to withdraw his plea
40:05it's the first case like this in virginia beach and stoner's attorney matt morris says
40:10it could lead to similar cases across the commonwealth at stoner's hearing today prosecutors said they
40:16were in a lose-lose situation as they can't seek the death penalty and can't force stoner
40:21to give testimony at schmidt's upcoming trial stoner warns that if he's called to testify
40:27he'll refuse leaving prosecutors with few options stoner's confession can't be used in court
40:34against christopher as that would be considered hearsay his testimony from the
40:40preliminary hearing would do the trick but there are limits on how and when such testimony can
40:47be used prosecutors ask the judge to agree to admit stoner's previous testimony if he gets on the stand
40:54and takes the fifth ultimately the judge rules that he can't make that determination in advance
41:03prosecutors would have to call stoner to the stand during the trial and see what happens in the
41:08moment the prosecution decides that they just can't take that chance without stoner's testimony
41:15they don't have enough to ensure a conviction if they start the trial and have to call it off partway
41:21through then double jeopardy will apply and they won't be able to try again in the future when they
41:28have more evidence on september 21st 2021 less than a week before the trial is set to begin
41:35the charges against christopher schmidt for the murder of his ex-wife lois are withdrawn and
41:41he's released from jail christopher christopher spent three years behind bars for a crime that he was
41:47never even tried for let alone found guilty of it's a complicated end to a complicated case
41:55prosecutors continue to pursue their case against the hitman richard stoner ultimately stoner once
42:03again pleads guilty in february 2023 the 12 counts include aggravated murder two counts of first degree murder
42:16aggravated malicious wounding burglary
42:23conspiracy arson using a firearm in the commission of a felony
42:29and the torture of a dog causing death at his sentencing hearing he's given the maximum possible
42:37punishment four life sentences plus 63 years the case of lois schmidt and jonathan vetrano
42:46serves as a reminder of how the pursuit of justice can be a long and winding road
42:53your job is to gather the evidence and put together the best case that you can once you close that
42:59cell
42:59door it's in the court's hands from phones wrapped in tinfoil and time delayed fires to ghost emails
43:09and guns with missing barrels the murder for hire of lois schmidt and jonathan vetrano proves you can't plan
43:17your way out of a conviction for aspiring hitmen don't follow the manual better yet aspire to something
43:27else instead
43:28so
44:00so
44:03so
44:12you
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