True-crime investigations concluding in stunning trials | "48 Hours" Full Episodes

Key Concepts

• Attempted Murder: The act of trying to kill someone.
• Domestic Battery: Physical abuse within a domestic relationship.
• False Imprisonment: Unlawfully restraining someone's freedom of movement.
• Tampering with Evidence: Interfering with evidence to obstruct justice.
• Forensic Analysis: The scientific examination of physical evidence.
• Blood Spatter Analysis: The study of bloodstains to reconstruct events.
• DNA Profiling: Using genetic material to identify individuals.
• Genetic Genealogy: Using DNA to trace family relationships for investigative purposes.
• Cold Case: An unsolved crime that has gone dormant due to lack of leads.
• Conspiracy: A secret plan by a group to do something unlawful or harmful.
• Malice of Forethought: Premeditated intent to kill.
• Aggravated Assault: A more serious form of assault involving intent to cause serious harm.
• No Contest Plea (Nolo Contendere): A plea where the defendant does not admit guilt but accepts the conviction.
• Overkill: Excessive force used in an assault, suggesting a personal motive.
• Defensive Wounds: Injuries sustained by a victim while trying to defend themselves.
• Secondary Transfer: The movement of DNA from one person to another, and then to a surface.

The Relle Case: A Tale of Betrayal and Violence

This case centers on the alleged attempted murder of Susan Relle by her husband, Michael Relle, on February 3rd, 2018. The initial report to authorities described a home invasion and robbery where both Michael and Susan were stabbed by an intruder. However, Susan's testimony after surgery contradicted this narrative, implicating Michael as her assailant.

The Incident and Initial Investigation

• Date and Time: February 3rd, 2018, approximately 4:00 AM.
• Location: The Relle residence in Hail Plantation, Gainesville, Florida.
• Initial Report: Michael Relle called 911 reporting a home invasion and that an intruder had stabbed him and his wife, Susan. He claimed to have scared the intruder away.
• Scene Observations: Detective David Viscanti noted the absence of forced entry (no broken windows or doors) and a lack of disarray typically associated with a violent home invasion (no overturned furniture or damaged walls).
• Security Footage: The house was equipped with security cameras, which would have likely captured an intruder fleeing the premises.
• Susan's Testimony: Upon regaining consciousness after surgery, Susan Relle informed investigators that there was no intruder and that Michael Relle was responsible for her injuries.

The Relle Marriage: A History of Conflict

The prosecution argued that Michael Relle's motive was financial, stemming from his desire to avoid a costly divorce and the division of his fortune. The defense, however, presented a narrative of Susan Relle being the aggressor, citing her alleged alcohol abuse and violent outbursts.

• Michael Relle's Background: A successful businessman who made millions in the technology sector.
• Susan Relle's Background: A hospice nurse.
• Marriage Details: Married in August 2007. Text messages revealed Michael referred to Susan as his "trophy bride" during happier times.
• Daughter Caroline's Testimony: Caroline Relle, Michael's daughter from a previous marriage, testified about conflict between Susan and herself, admitting to telling Michael she hated Caroline and calling her a derogatory term. She also stated that Susan tried to isolate her from her father.
• Allegations of Abuse:
  • Michael's Claims: Michael alleged Susan had been physically abusive towards him for years, citing incidents of her throwing objects, punching him, scratching his face, and bending his glasses. He provided photos of injuries, including one of his face "gushing blood."
  • Susan's Claims: Susan testified that Michael attacked her, pinning her arms and stabbing her multiple times. She claimed he said, "Sue, we're not getting a divorce."
• Domestic Battery Incident (December 2017): Shortly after Caroline's wedding, an argument escalated, leading to Susan's arrest for domestic battery. Susan admitted to pushing Michael, but claimed he attacked her. Mike did not call 911; Susan did. The charges were later dropped when Mike declined to pursue them. Susan stated she moved to their beach condo and sought counseling for alcohol and anger management.
• Caroline's Wedding: The wedding, held in November 2017, was reportedly over budget by $150,000, which contributed to marital tension. Susan allegedly helped Caroline pick out an $11,000 wedding dress.
• Dating Sites: Prosecutors pointed to Michael's activity on dating sites as evidence he was not seeking reconciliation.

The Night of the Incident: Divergent Accounts

• Susan's Account: Susan stated that after an argument at a steakhouse, she returned home alone via Uber. She continued to send angry texts to Michael, stating, "I am filing for divorce. I will leave in the morning." She claims Michael entered the guest room where she was alone, hopped on top of her, and stabbed her. She described being stabbed in the stomach, neck, and wrist, feeling like she was being "mutilated." She also stated Michael said, "Sue, it's going to lay here until you die." She offered not to divorce him if he put the knife down. She claims he only agreed to call for help if she agreed to the intruder story.
• Michael's Account: Michael claimed he entered the guest room and found Susan kneeling on the bed holding a knife. He stated he tried to get the knife from her, and during a struggle on the bed, the knife penetrated Susan's stomach. He denied stabbing her in the neck or thumb and claimed he calmed her down within a minute. He stated Susan refused to go to the hospital for fear of being arrested again, and they "laid together bleeding for several hours" discussing future vacations. He also claimed that around 3:00 AM, their dog Susie wandered in, and he got up to deal with the dog, at which point Susan allegedly sliced her own wrist with her left hand, stating she didn't want to go to jail. He then claims he turned off security cameras to stage a break-in.

Forensic Evidence and Expert Testimony

• The Knife: The knife used in the incident was presented as evidence. The bending in the blade was attributed to hitting bone.
• Blood Evidence:
  • Prosecution: Argued that Michael's blood-soaked pajamas and the amount of blood at the scene supported Susan's account of him attacking her. Their expert stated the blood indicated Michael was on top of her while stabbing her. They also argued that blood stains on the nightstand were "castoff" flung from the knife, not from Sue cutting her own wrist.
  • Defense: Presented blood stain pattern analyst Michael Berkeland, who testified that arterial spur patterns on the pillowcase and nightstand suggested the blood came from an artery in Susan's wrist, supporting Michael's timeline of her cutting herself later. He argued that if Sue's wrist was cut before 11:00 PM, she would have died before help arrived.
• Defense Expert Credibility: Prosecutors challenged Berkeland's credibility, noting his medical license had been suspended and he had been arrested for storing body parts.
• Susan's Wrist Wound: Prosecutors argued the severity of Susan's wrist wound, cut down to the bone, indicated it was inflicted by Michael, not self-inflicted.
• Michael's Injuries: Michael sustained minor cuts on his fingers and stomach. Susan claimed he inflicted larger cuts on his forearms himself.

The Trial and Verdict

• Prosecution's Argument: The prosecution argued that Michael Relle staged the home invasion to cover up his attempted murder of Susan, motivated by his desire to avoid a costly divorce.
• Defense's Argument: The defense maintained that Susan was the aggressor and Michael acted in self-defense.
• Jury Deliberations: The jury deliberated for just over 4 hours.
• Verdict: Michael James Relle was found guilty of attempted first-degree murder, false imprisonment, and tampering with evidence.
• Sentencing: Michael Relle was sentenced to 30 years imprisonment.

Post-Conviction Allegations

While awaiting trial, an informant claimed Michael Relle attempted to hire a hitman to kill Susan, a charge he vehemently denied.

The Irene Garza Case: A Decades-Long Pursuit of Justice

This case chronicles the investigation and eventual conviction of former priest John Fe for the murder of Irene Garza in 1960. The case was a cold case for nearly 60 years, hampered by alleged obstruction from the Catholic Church and law enforcement.

The Crime and Initial Investigation

• Victim: Irene Garza, a 25-year-old second-grade teacher, crowned prom queen and a trailblazer in her community.
• Date of Disappearance: Holy Saturday, April 16th, 1960.
• Location: Sacred Heart Church in McAllen, Texas, where she went for confession.
• Discovery of Body: Irene's body was found five days later in an irrigation canal.
• Autopsy Findings: She had been sexually assaulted, physically assaulted, and died of suffocation.
• Initial Clues: An imprint of Irene's petticoat on the canal bank and a partial heel print. A photo slide viewer found in the drained canal was identified as belonging to Father John Fe.
• Father John Fe's Inconsistent Statements: Fe initially claimed he did not hear Irene's confession, then changed his story to say he heard it in the rectory. He also made multiple suspicious trips between the rectory and his pastoral house.
• Injuries to Father Fe: Assistant pastor Father Joseph O'Brien noted scratches on Fe's hands and arms, which Fe attributed to climbing to a second-floor balcony after being locked out.
• Alleged Church Cover-up: The prosecution argued that the Catholic Church hierarchy protected Fe, preventing his arrest and hindering the investigation. A letter from a church official to another suggested concerns about the case's impact on the church and John F. Kennedy's presidential campaign.
• Maria America Gara Attack: Three weeks prior to Irene's murder, Maria America Gara was attacked in a nearby church by a man she identified as Fe. He was later fined $500 after pleading no contest to aggravated assault, rather than facing a second trial for attempted rape.

Key Witnesses and New Evidence

• Dale Tashnney: A former monk who testified that Father Fe confessed to him in 1963 about murdering a woman after confession, assaulting her, binding and gagging her, and leaving her to suffocate in a bathtub. Tashnney's testimony was crucial, though defense attorneys questioned its accuracy and timing.
• Father Joseph O'Brien: Recorded statements indicated Fe admitted to killing Irene by gagging her.
• Daryl Davis: A former reporter who testified about an off-the-record meeting with the district attorney in 1962, where the DA allegedly stated Fe killed Irene and that an arrangement was made with the church to send him to a monastery.
• Anna Maria Hollingsworth: Testified that Fe had previously pulled Irene out of the confessional and taken her to the rectory.
• Beatatrice Garcia: Recounted a bizarre encounter with Fe weeks before the murder, where he asked to take her picture by a cemetery, suggesting a pattern of predatory behavior.

The Trial and Verdict

• Prosecution's Argument: Mike Garza argued that Fe was a "wolf in priest's clothing" who preyed on Irene.
• Defense's Argument: The defense questioned the reliability of witnesses and the lack of forensic evidence directly linking Fe to the crime. They also suggested other priests could have been suspects.
• Jury Deliberations: The jury deliberated for 6.5 hours.
• Verdict: John Fe was found guilty of murder with malice of forethought.
• Sentencing: Fe was sentenced to life imprisonment.

The Michelle Martino Case: A Cold Case Solved by DNA and Genealogy

This case details the investigation into the 1979 murder of Michelle Martino, an 18-year-old high school senior, whose killer remained unknown for nearly four decades. The case was solved through advancements in DNA technology and genetic genealogy.

The Crime and Initial Investigation

• Victim: Michelle Martino, an 18-year-old high school senior.
• Date of Murder: December 19th, 1979.
• Location: The parking lot of Westdale Mall in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
• Circumstances: Michelle was stabbed 29 times in the front seat of her car after leaving the mall. The attack was described as personal and involving "overkill."
• Initial Suspects: Michelle's ex-boyfriend, Andy Sidell, and another former boyfriend, Mike Hayrick, were investigated. Sidell had a possessive nature, and his mother provided an alibi. Hayrick was out of town but was questioned.
• Lack of Evidence: Investigators found no fingerprints, witnesses, or clear motive. The cash Michelle had with her was not taken, suggesting robbery was not the primary motive. Rubber glove indentations were found on the car, indicating the killer attempted to conceal their identity.
• Case Goes Cold: By 1986, the case was considered cold with no viable leads.

The Breakthrough: DNA and Genealogy

• DNA Discovery: In 2005, Detective Doug Larrison discovered blood scrapings on the car's gearshift and Michelle's dress that contained male DNA.
• CODIS Search: A search of the CODIS (Combined DNA Index System) database yielded no matches.
• Extensive DNA Testing: Investigators collected DNA from over 100 individuals, including former suspects like Andy Sidell, who was exonerated.
• Genetic Genealogy: In 2015, Detective Matt Deninger, son of an original investigator, took over the case. He utilized genetic genealogy, working with Parabon NanoLabs, to analyze the DNA profile.
• Suspect Profile: The DNA analysis provided a genetic profile suggesting a white male with blonde hair and blue eyes.
• Family Tree Construction: Parabon searched public DNA databases, eventually identifying a distant relative, Brandy Jennings. Deninger then painstakingly built a family tree, narrowing down potential suspects to three brothers living in Iowa: Donald, Kenneth, and Jerry Burns.
• DNA Match: DNA samples collected covertly from the brothers confirmed Jerry Burns as the source of the DNA found at the crime scene.

The Suspect: Jerry Burns

• Background: Jerry Burns had no criminal record and was a respected businessman with a wife and children. He had no apparent connection to Michelle Martino.
• Interview: During an interview on the 39th anniversary of the murder, Burns denied involvement but made statements about "blocking stuff out" and "traumatic events."
• Defense Arguments: Jerry's attorney, Leon Spees, argued that the DNA evidence was not conclusive and that a secondary transfer of DNA was a plausible explanation. He also highlighted the lack of motive and connection between Burns and Martino.
• Prosecution's Argument: Prosecutor Nick Maybanks argued that the DNA evidence was irrefutable and that Burns's DNA on the gearshift and dress could only have come from him committing the murder.

The Trial and Verdict

• Venue Change: Due to local interest, the trial was moved to Davenport, Iowa.
• Key Evidence: The prosecution's case hinged on Jerry Burns's DNA.
• Witness Testimony: Michelle's friends and ex-boyfriends testified. A jailhouse informant, Michael Allison, testified that Burns made cryptic remarks about taking someone to the mall if he kept losing at cards.
• Defense Witness: Dr. Michael Spence, a molecular biologist, testified about the possibility of DNA transfer.
• Jury Deliberations: The jury deliberated for 3 hours.
• Verdict: Jerry Lynn Burns was found guilty of first-degree murder.
• Sentencing: The jury assessed a sentence of life imprisonment.

Lingering Questions

The case raised questions about whether Jerry Burns may have been involved in other unsolved crimes, particularly the disappearance of Jodie Husen Troop, a blonde news anchor who vanished in 1995. However, no DNA evidence connected him to other cases. The investigation concluded that Michelle's own fight for her life, which resulted in her killer cutting himself and leaving DNA, ultimately led to her murderer's capture.