Zahn: A REAL DADDY'S GIRL...
SHE REALLY WAS THE CENTER OF HIS UNIVERSE.
OF COURSE. SHE'S WHAT MADE HIM.
...SNATCHED IN THE DEAD OF NIGHT.
SHE WAS AFRAID OF THIS ONE INDIVIDUAL.
HE WAS OBSESSED WITH HER.
HIS NICKNAME WAS "PSYCHO."
Zahn: A FATHER WAS DESPERATE TO BRING HIS LITTLE GIRL HOME.
HE WOULD HAVE TRADED HIS HOUSE, HIS MONEY,
HIS LIFE TO GET KIMBERLY BACK.
WHO TOOK KIMBERLY, AND DID THEY TAKE HER LIFE?
[ SIRENS WAILING ]
HE REALLY BELIEVED THAT HE DIDN'T DO ANYTHING.
SICK.
DEPRAVED.
ABSOLUTELY SICK.
A STORY OF DECEIT, BETRAYAL,
AND A FATHER'S STRUGGLE FOR JUSTICE.
Joseph: I COULD TELL HE WAS CRUMBLING.
[ SIGHS ] YOU COULD SEE IT IN HIS HEART.
[ HORNS HONKING ]
[ HELICOPTER BLADES WHIRRING ]
ONCE YOU KNEW WHAT HAD HAPPENED TO YOU...
THE POLICE COME TO VISIT YOU.
[ CAMERA SHUTTER CLICKS ]
-- Captions by VITAC -- www.vitac.com
CAPTIONS PAID FOR BY DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS
HI, I'M PAULA ZAHN,
AND TONIGHT, WE'RE ON THE CASE IN NEW YORK CITY.
IT'S HARD TO SHOCK PEOPLE WHO'VE SEEN IT ALL,
BUT EVEN FOR VETERAN NEW YORK DETECTIVES,
THIS CASE WAS DIFFERENT.
IT'S THE EMOTIONAL AND HEART-WRENCHING STORY
OF A MISSING DAUGHTER AND HER DEVOTED FATHER
WHO WOULD STOP AT NOTHING TO FIND HER.
IT WAS A COLD, WINTER AFTERNOON, MARCH 1, 1995.
TOMMY ANTONAKOS RECEIVED WORD THAT HIS DAUGHTER, KIMBERLY,
NEVER MADE IT TO WORK.
HE FEARED THE WORST.
SHE NEVER MISSED WORK OR SCHOOL,
YOU KNOW, UNLESS SHE WAS HOME SICK,
AND HE WOULD KNOW THAT, SO HE KNEW SOMETHING WAS WRONG.
Zahn: AFTER HIS FRANTIC CALLS TO KIM WENT UNANSWERED,
TOMMY WENT TO THE POLICE TO REPORT HIS DAUGHTER MISSING.
Tricolla: SHE TOLD HIM EVERYTHING THAT SHE DID.
THEY SPOKE TWO OR THREE TIMES A DAY.
Zahn: FROM THE MOMENT THEY MET HIM,
DETECTIVES WERE MOVED BY THE DESPAIRING FATHER
AND THE WAY HE TALKED ABOUT HIS LITTLE GIRL.
HE WASN'T THE TYPICAL OVERCONCERNED FATHER.
HE BELIEVED THAT IF, NO MATTER WHAT, SHE WAS OKAY,
SHE WOULD HAVE CALLED AND LET HIM KNOW.
Zahn: KIM'S PARENTS DIVORCED WHEN SHE WAS VERY YOUNG,
BUT SHE ALWAYS HAD A SPECIAL RELATIONSHIP WITH HER FATHER.
YOU KNOW WHAT THEY SAY ABOUT DADDY'S LITTLE GIRL?
THAT WAS KIM AND HER FATHER.
THEY WERE VERY CLOSE, WEREN'T THEY?
VERY, VERY CLOSE.
VERY CLOSE.
SHE REALLY WAS THE CENTER OF HIS UNIVERSE.
OF COURSE. SHE'S WHAT MADE HIM.
I WOULD SAY TOM WAS ONE OF THE BEST FATHERS I'VE EVER SEEN.
TOMMY WAS A WEALTHY BUSINESSMAN,
AND HE HAD ALWAYS BEEN GENEROUS WITH HIS DAUGHTER.
SHE SEEMED TO BE VERY BLESSED
WITH THESE MATERIAL THINGS IN HER LIFE,
BUT IT SEEMED LIKE SHE HAD VERY GOOD VALUES.
SHE WAS TAUGHT WELL.
KIMBERLY WAS A GOOD, GOOD KID.
SHE WAS A SMART LITTLE GIRL.
BY THE TIME SHE WAS 20,
KIM HAD BLOSSOMED INTO A RESPONSIBLE YOUNG WOMAN.
SHE WAS A STUDENT AT THE COLLEGE OF STATEN ISLAND,
AND SHE HELD DOWN A PART-TIME JOB.
WHEN SHE ASKED TOMMY FOR HER OWN APARTMENT
NEAR SOME OF HER FRIENDS IN BROOKLYN,
HE DIDN'T LOVE THE IDEA, BUT HE AGREED.
Shevlin: SHE WANTED TO LIVE ON HER OWN.
HE WENT AND FOUND THE APARTMENT.
HE ALSO RENTED THE GARAGE
RIGHT ACROSS THE STREET FROM HER HOUSE,
THINKING IT WOULD BE SAFE.
Zahn: BUT NOW THE UNIMAGINABLE HAD HAPPENED.
KIMBERLY WAS MISSING.
THE DETECTIVES JUMPED ON THE CASE
AND QUESTIONED THE LAST PERSON KNOWN TO HAVE SEEN KIM --
A FRIEND WHO SAID THEY HAD HAD
A TYPICAL GIRLS' NIGHT OUT ON THE TOWN.
Tricolla: THEY WENT OUT TO A CLUB IN MANHATTAN,
MET A COUPLE OF PEOPLE, TALKED AND DANCED.
I ASKED HER, "DID ANYBODY THREATEN YOU?
ANYBODY FOLLOW YOU TO YOUR CAR?"
AND SHE SAID, "NO."
Zahn: INVESTIGATORS SCRAMBLE TO DEVELOP A THEORY
OF WHAT COULD HAVE HAPPENED.
Tricolla: ALL OPTIONS WERE ON THE TABLE.
TOMMY WAS A BUSINESSMAN. TOMMY HAD A LOT OF MONEY.
COULD HAVE BEEN SOMEBODY THAT TOOK HER FOR A RANSOM
FOR A KIDNAPPING.
I THOUGHT MAYBE WE'D RECEIVE A LETTER IN THE MAIL
OR SOMETHING DROPPED OFF.
NONE OF THAT EVER CAME.
Zahn: TOMMY WASN'T ABOUT TO SIT BACK
AND WAIT FOR NEWS FROM THE POLICE.
HE STARTED HIS OWN SEARCH.
WHEN KIMBERLY FIRST WENT MISSING, WHAT DID HER DAD DO?
HER DAD LOOKED EVERYWHERE. HER DAD WAS PUTTING UP POSTERS.
HE WAS LITERALLY ASKING PEOPLE ON STREET CORNERS,
"HAVE YOU SEEN HER?"
HE WAS OFFERING REWARDS.
HE WAS A FAIRLY WEALTHY PERSON.
HE WOULD HAVE TRADED HIS HOUSE, HIS MONEY, HIS CAR.
HE WOULD HAVE TRADED HIS LIFE TO GET KIMBERLY BACK.
TOMMY WENT TO LOOK FOR CLUES AT KIM'S APARTMENT.
TWO OF HER FRIENDS WERE ALREADY THERE --
APRIL AND HER BOYFRIEND, JOSH.
WE WERE STAYING AT KIM'S HOUSE
BECAUSE WE WAS REFURNISHING OUR APARTMENT FROM TOP TO BOTTOM.
Zahn: JOSH TOLD TOMMY THAT KIM NEVER CAME HOME
AFTER HER NIGHT OUT AT THE CLUB.
SO HER FATHER DECIDED TO CHECK OUT THE GARAGE.
JOSH WENT WITH HIM.
WE FOUND AN EARRING ON THE FLOOR.
HE PICKED IT UP AND CALLED THE DETECTIVES.
Tricolla: I THEN TOOK THAT EARRING BACK TO THE FEMALE FRIEND
THAT SHE WAS WITH THE NIGHT BEFORE,
AND SHE CONFIRMED THAT THE EARRING THAT WAS ON THE GARAGE FLOOR,
KIMBERLY WAS WEARING THAT NIGHT WHEN THEY HAD GONE OUT.
Zahn: FINDING JUST ONE EARRING
POINTED DETECTIVES IN AN OMINOUS NEW DIRECTION.
Tricolla: I THOUGHT THAT SHE WAS CARJACKED --
SOMEBODY FOLLOWED HER INTO THE GARAGE.
AS SHE WAS GETTING OUT OF THE CAR,
THERE WAS SOME SORT OF A STRUGGLE
THAT MADE HER EARRING FALL OFF.
Zahn: KIM HAD BEEN MISSING FOR LESS THAN 24 HOURS,
AND DETECTIVES WERE CONVINCED IF THEY COULD LOCATE HER CAR,
THEY MIGHT BE ABLE TO FIND HER BEFORE IT WAS TOO LATE.
THE BIG KEY WAS FINDING HER CAR.
IF WE FOUND HER CAR, THERE WOULD BE EVIDENCE IN THE CAR,
THERE WOULD BE CLUES IN THE CAR.
Zahn: ONCE AGAIN, KIM'S FATHER AND JOSH JOINED IN THE SEARCH.
Torres: ME AND HIM WENT OUT,
LOOKING FOR THE CAR FOR A LITTLE WHILE TOGETHER.
WE SEARCHED THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAYS,
CHECKED THE BACK OF THE PARK IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD --
JUST SEARCHING FOR THE CAR FOR THAT WHOLE TIME.
Tricolla: I DROVE FOR HOURS LOOKING FOR THAT CAR.
VERY FRUSTRATING NOT BEING ABLE TO FIND THAT CAR.
IT'S LIKE IT VAPORIZED. YOU KNOW, WHERE DID IT GO?
Zahn: DETECTIVES WERE FRUSTRATED, BUT TOMMY KEPT PUSHING.
HE HAD A JOB TO DO -- FIND KIM.
HE WAS A MAN OBSESSED.
HE EVEN CUT $50 BILLS IN HALF
AND HANDED THEM OUT ON THE STREET,
TELLING PEOPLE THEY'D GET THE OTHER HALF
IF THEY CAME BACK WITH INFORMATION ABOUT KIM.
BUT NOTHING PANNED OUT.
HE DID EVERYTHING HE COULD HUMANLY POSSIBLE
TO TRY AND FIND HIS DAUGHTER.
AND HE WOULDN'T STOP UNTIL HE FOUND HER.
COMING UP...
AS KIM'S FATHER DESPERATELY SEARCHES FOR HIS DAUGHTER,
THE HUNT FOR A SUSPECT BEGINS.
SHE WAS AFRAID OF THIS ONE INDIVIDUAL.
HE WAS OBSESSED WITH HER.
HIS NICKNAME WAS "PSYCHO."
TOMMY ANTONAKOS WAS FRANTICALLY SEARCHING
FOR HIS 20-YEAR-OLD DAUGHTER, KIM,
BUT THREE DAYS AFTER HER DISAPPEARANCE,
A LOCAL FIRE STATION GOT A CALL,
AND WHAT FIREFIGHTERS WOULD FIND IN THE RUBBLE OF THAT HOUSE
WOULD RAISE SOME VERY DISTURBING QUESTIONS.
THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED BY A NEIGHBOR WHO SMELLED SMOKE.
IT WAS AN ABANDONED ONE-FAMILY HOUSE
IN WOODHAVEN, QUEENS, ON A VERY QUIET STREET.
Zahn: FIREFIGHTERS QUICKLY QUELLED THE FLAMES
AND BEGAN TO EXAMINE THE BURNT WRECKAGE.
THEY PRETTY MUCH VERY QUICKLY DETERMINED THAT IT WAS AN ARSON.
ACCORDING TO FIREFIGHTERS,
THE BLAZE HAD ORIGINATED IN THE BASEMENT,
WHERE THEY WOULD MAKE A GRISLY DISCOVERY.
I ASKED THE OFFICERS, "WHAT DO WE HAVE?"
THEY SAID, "THERE'S SOMEBODY,
YOU KNOW, WHO IS, YOU KNOW, BASICALLY BURNT TO A CRISP."
AS SOON AS I STARTED GOING DOWN THE STAIRS,
IT WAS A SMELL.
IT WAS BURNT FLESH, AND IT WAS JUST ABSOLUTELY REVOLTING.
AS THE GRUESOME SCENE WAS PROCESSED,
DETECTIVES DETERMINE THE BODY WAS THAT OF A YOUNG WOMAN.
DESCRIBE TO US WHAT ELSE YOU SAW IN THE BASEMENT.
IT WAS CLEAR AS SOON AS YOU GOT THERE
THIS WAS A HOMICIDE.
THERE WAS NO DOUBT IN YOUR MIND. THERE WAS NO DOUBT.
Shevlin: THERE WAS DUCT TAPE AROUND HER EYES AND HER MOUTH
THAT WAS STILL THERE.
HER HANDS WERE NOT TIED ANYMORE,
BUT THEY REMAINED IN THE POSITION OF BEING TIED.
YOU CAN TELL SHE WAS IN A SITTING POSITION WHEN SHE DIED,
'CAUSE HER KNEES WERE STILL BENT.
THE FIRST THOUGHT WAS, YOU KNOW,
"I HOPE TO GOD THAT SHE WAS DEAD BEFORE SHE WAS LIT ON FIRE."
YOU HAD BEEN TO CRIME SCENES BEFORE,
AS HAD SOME OF THESE FIREFIGHTERS.
DESCRIBE TO US THEIR REACTION.
EVERY PERSON WHO WENT INTO THAT HOUSE
WAS WALKING OUT ABSOLUTELY, YOU KNOW, STUNNED --
UTTER DISBELIEF THAT A HUMAN BEING
COULD DO THIS TO SOMEBODY ELSE.
WHAT DID THE AUTOPSY REPORT CONCLUDE WAS THE CAUSE OF DEATH?
THE M.E. DECLARED THAT SHE WAS BURNED ALIVE.
OH, MY GOD.
INVESTIGATORS TRY TO FIGURE OUT A POSSIBLE MOTIVE
FOR SUCH A MONSTROUS CRIME.
AT FIRST, DETECTIVES THOUGHT THIS CRIME
MIGHT HAVE BEEN AS A RESULT OF A CRIME OF PASSION
OR A HATE CRIME.
DID THAT MAKE SENSE TO YOU BASED ON WHAT YOU SAW AT THE SCENE?
TO TIE SOMEONE'S HANDS AND LEGS AND BIND THEM
AND GET THEM INTO A BASEMENT OF AN ABANDONED HOUSE
AND LIGHT THEM ON FIRE AND THEN LEAVE
WOULD TAKE SO MUCH PLANNING.
YOUR IMMEDIATE REACTION INVESTIGATING THIS
IS IT HAS TO BE A CRIME OF PASSION.
THEY HAD TO HAVE KNOWN EACH OTHER.
IT'S SOMEBODY WHO WANTED TO SEE SOMEBODY ELSE SUFFER.
DETECTIVES SEARCH FOR CLUES
IN A CRIME SCENE RAVAGED BY FIRE.
WE WEREN'T ABLE TO GET ANY TYPE OF EVIDENCE
FROM THE CRIME SCENE AT THE TIME,
OTHER THAN THE DUCT TAPE ON HER FACE --
ON HER MOUTH AND HER EYES.
Zahn: MOST OF THE PHYSICAL EVIDENCE HAD GONE UP IN SMOKE,
BUT INVESTIGATORS WERE CONFIDENT
SOMEONE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD MUST HAVE SEEN SOMETHING.
THEY WERE WRONG.
WHAT WAS SHOCKING WAS THAT NONE OF THE NEIGHBORS
KNEW ANYTHING THAT WAS GOING ON.
THIS PERSON HAD TO HAVE BEEN TRANSPORTED INTO A BASEMENT.
IT CAN'T BE AN EASY THING TO TRANSPORT SOMEONE IN THERE.
NOBODY NOTICED.
NOBODY SAW. NOBODY HEARD.
WITHOUT ANY WITNESSES,
DETECTIVES FOCUSED ON IDENTIFYING THE YOUNG WOMAN
WHO WAS KILLED.
HOW WERE DETECTIVES
ULTIMATELY ABLE TO IDENTIFY THE VICTIM?
THE VICTIM HAD A TATTOO -- A SORT OF UNIQUE TATTOO.
AFTER SCOURING THE MISSING-PERSONS DATABASE,
INVESTIGATORS BELIEVE THEY LOCATED A MATCH
FOR THEIR UNIDENTIFIED VICTIM.
WE FOUND OUT THAT THERE WAS A MISSING PERSON FROM CANARSIE,
WHICH WAS BROOKLYN -- ANOTHER BOROUGH --
WITH A TATTOO OF THAT NATURE.
Zahn: THAT MISSING GIRL WAS 20-YEAR-OLD KIMBERLY ANTONAKOS.
HER FATHER, TOMMY, HAD BEEN SEARCHING FRANTICALLY FOR HER
FOR THE PAST THREE DAYS.
Shevlin: HIS WHOLE WORLD JUST CHANGED,
'CAUSE HE REALLY DID EXPECT TO FIND HER.
Zahn: TOMMY THOUGHT HE HAD JUST SPENT HE WORST THREE DAYS OF HIS LIFE
DESPERATELY SEARCHING FOR HIS ONLY CHILD
AND CLINGING TO THE HOPE THAT SHE WAS STILL ALIVE,
BUT NOW THERE WAS A VICTIM,
AND POLICE NEEDED HIM TO MAKE A POSITIVE I.D.
Tricolla: MY WEEK CAME TO A SCREECHING HALT,
AND ALLS I COULD THINK ABOUT IS, "OH, MY GOD.
"I HAVE HER FATHER SITTING OUT HERE,
AND HIS WORST NIGHTMARE IS ABOUT TO COME TRUE."
WERE YOU WITH YOUR BROTHER
WHEN HE FOUND OUT THAT A VICTIM HAD BEEN IDENTIFIED
IN THE BASEMENT OF THIS TORCHED-OUT HOME?
THEY TOLD HIM
WHEN I WAS THERE IN THE PRECINCT
THAT THEY NEED HIM TO GO INSIDE
TO TRY TO IDENTIFY A YOUNG LADY THAT THEY FOUND.
THEY'RE NOT SURE WHO SHE IS.
AND THAT'S ALL THEY SAID?
THEY NEEDED A POSITIVE I.D.
SO, I ASKED HIM, I SAID, "DO YOU WANT ME TO GO WITH YOU?"
HE SAID, "NO."
Zahn: IT WAS A JOB TOMMY ANTONAKOS FELT HE HAD TO DO BY HIMSELF.
AT THE MOMENT HE CONFIRMED THE YOUNG VICTIM
WAS HIS PRECIOUS DAUGHTER, SOMETHING DIED IN HIM, TOO.
Shevlin: IT'S TERRIBLE TO HAVE TO TELL SOMEONE
THAT YOUR CHILD HAS BEEN KILLED, ESPECIALLY IN THIS FASHION,
AND ESPECIALLY A GUY LIKE TOMMY ANTONAKOS.
WHEN HE CAME OUT, THAT WAS IT.
YOU KNEW FROM HIS FACE?
OH, SURE.
THAT IT WAS KIMBERLY?
OH, YEAH.
YOU COULD SEE IT IN HIS HEART.
IT'S GONE. THAT'S IT.
HE LOST HIS DAUGHTER.
YOU COULD SEE THE TEARS COMING OUT OF HIS EYES.
WE HUGGED.
STRONG GUY. HE STARTS CRUMBLING UNDERNEATH.
I COULD TELL HE WAS CRUMBLING.
Zahn: TOMMY GATHERED UP THE STRENGTH
TO TELL KIM'S FRIENDS TO CALL OFF THE SEARCH.
Torres: HE SAID, "THEY FOUND KIM."
AND THEN I WAS LIKE, "IS EVERYTHING ALL RIGHT?
SHE ALL RIGHT?"
AND HE WAS LIKE, "NO, SHE'S DEAD."
Zahn: THE SEARCH WAS OVER.
NOW THE MISSION WAS TO BRING KIM'S KILLER TO JUSTICE.
AND KIM'S FRIEND JOSH HAD COME UP WITH A PROMISING LEAD.
HE TOLD TOMMY HE HAD CALLED EVERYONE IN KIM'S PHONE BOOK
WHILE SHE WAS MISSING TO SEE IF THEY KNEW WHERE SHE WAS,
AND, SUSPICIOUSLY, ONE PERSON DIDN'T CALL BACK.
JOSHUA WAS TELLING US
THAT SHE WAS AFRAID HE WAS GONNA DO SOMETHING TO HER,
THAT HE WAS OBSESSED WITH HER.
HIS NICKNAME WAS "PSYCHO."
SHE WAS SCARED THAT HE WAS VIOLENT,
THAT SHE REJECTED HIM, THAT HE WAS IN THE RUSSIAN MOB.
AND DID THAT SEEM TO BE A PRETTY PLAUSIBLE LEAD TO YOU?
HE HAD MOTIVE.
HE HAD THE WHEREWITHAL.
Zahn: AND HE'D BEEN PURSUING KIM, BUT SHE WASN'T INTERESTED.
SO, WHY DIDN'T HE RETURN JOSH'S CALLS?
DETECTIVES TRACK DOWN THE MAN CALLED "PSYCHO."
Tricolla: WE WERE ABLE TO IDENTIFY HIM, AND I FOUND HIM.
I THOUGHT I HAD A GREAT BREAK IN THE CASE.
I'M LIKE, "ALL RIGHT, WE GOT HIM.
"THIS IS IT.
THIS CASE IS FINALLY UNRAVELING."
Zahn: COMING UP...
DETECTIVES TURN UP THE HEAT ON THEIR MYSTERIOUS SUSPECT.
YOU COULD TELL THIS WAS AN UNSAVORY CHARACTER.
CARRIED A GUN ALL THE TIME.
YOU KNOW, THE OLD "IF I CAN'T HAVE YOU, NOBODY CAN HAVE YOU."
IT LOOKED LIKE A SOLID LEAD --
A TIP ABOUT A MAN WHO WAS REJECTED BY KIM ANTONAKOS
NOT LONG BEFORE SHE WAS MURDERED.
POLICE THOUGHT THERE WAS A LOT ABOUT THE MAN
THAT SEEMED SUSPICIOUS, STARTING WITH HIS NICKNAME.
HE WAS KNOWN AS "PSYCHO."
Tricolla: HE WAS INFATUATED WITH THIS GIRL -- KIM.
HE COULD HAVE, YOU KNOW, SNATCHED HER UP IF --
YOU KNOW, THE OLD "IF I CAN'T HAVE YOU, NOBODY CAN HAVE YOU."
WHAT HAPPENED WHEN PSYCHO WAS BROUGHT IN FOR QUESTIONING?
YOU COULD TELL THIS WAS AN UNSAVORY CHARACTER.
PSYCHO HAD A GUN, CARRIED A GUN ALL THE TIME.
Shevlin: I WAS TOLD THAT HE HAD A TATTOO OF KIMBERLY.
HE DID HAVE A TATTOO ON HIS ANKLE OF HER --
A FRESH -- A NEW TATTOO.
Zahn: INVESTIGATORS THOUGHT THEY HAD THEIR MAN,
BUT PSYCHO'S REACTION TO KIM'S MURDER
WAS NOT WHAT THEY EXPECTED.
HE DIDN'T EVEN KNOW WHY HE WAS THERE.
HE THOUGHT HE WAS THERE BECAUSE HE KEPT CALLING HER,
NOT THAT ANYTHING HAPPENED TO HER.
HE WAS TOTALLY SHOCKED WHEN I DID BRING UP THE FACT
THAT KIMBERLY WAS NO LONGER WITH US.
I COULD TELL IT WASN'T A FAKE ACT OR ANYTHING.
HE JUST COULDN'T BELIEVE IT.
Zahn: STILL, THE VETERAN HOMICIDE DETECTIVES
TURNED UP THE PRESSURE,
TAKING PSYCHO TO THE CRIME SCENE TO SEE IF HE WOULD CRACK.
Tricolla: WE GOT TO THE SCENE. HE LOOKED AROUND.
HE'S LIKE, "WHAT'S GOING ON? THERE'S A LOT OF COPS.
IS EVERYTHING OKAY?"
AND HE WAS AS COOL AS A CUCUMBER.
I WAS CERTAIN HE HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH THIS.
I WAS 100% CERTAIN.
Zahn: POLICE CLEARED PSYCHO.
NOW THEIR BEST HOPE FOR FINDING KIM'S KILLER WAS GONE.
BUT DESPITE THE SETBACK,
TOMMY ANTONAKOS AND KIM'S FRIEND JOSH TORRES
WENT OUT SEARCHING DAY AND NIGHT FOR KIM'S CAR,
DESPERATE FOR A NEW LEAD.
Torres: WE WAS IN CONSTANT CONTACT WITH EACH OTHER
THROUGH THE WHOLE -- THROUGH THIS WHOLE ORDEAL.
I WANTED TO FIND HER CAR.
Zahn: AND THEN THE INVESTIGATION CAUGHT A BREAK.
FIVE DAYS AFTER KIM'S BODY HAD BEEN FOUND
IN THE BURNED-OUT BASEMENT IN QUEENS,
HER CAR WAS LOCATED 14 MILES AWAY FROM THE CRIME SCENE.
IT WAS FOUND IN LONG ISLAND, PARKED ON A QUIET STREET.
DEFINITELY GIVES YOU AN UPBEAT THING.
YOU'RE THINKING THAT THIS COULD HELP.
Zahn: INVESTIGATORS SEARCHED THE CAR AND FOUND AN IMPORTANT CLUE --
ONE OF KIM'S EARRINGS WAS IN THE TRUNK.
DEFINITELY WAS HER OTHER EARRING
OF THE ONE WE FOUND IN THE GARAGE.
Zahn: NOW THEY HAD FOUND THE MATCHING ONE
IN THE TRUNK OF HER ABANDONED CAR.
IT LED DETECTIVES TO A NEW THEORY.
KIM HAD BEEN ATTACKED IN HER GARAGE
AND THROWN INTO THE TRUNK OF HER OWN CAR.
DETECTIVES HOPE THE CAR MIGHT CONTAIN MORE EVIDENCE.
Shevlin: WE TOOK THE CAR BACK WITH US
AND HAD IT PROCESSED FOR FINGERPRINTS.
THEY WIPED IT CLEAN,
AND WE HAD NO WITNESSES TO ANYBODY DROPPING THE CAR OFF
OR COMING AND HANGING AROUND THE CAR,
SO IT REALLY DIDN'T HELP US.
Zahn: THE INVESTIGATION WAS BACK TO SQUARE ONE.
WHAT DO YOU REMEMBER ABOUT HOW TOMMY COPES
WHEN THE INVESTIGATION SEEMED TO BE AT A STANDSTILL?
TOMMY HAD THAT COACHING PERSONALITY IN HIM.
HE TRIED TO MOTIVATE, I WOULD SAY,
THE PEOPLE THAT WERE INVOLVED
TO KEEP PUSHING, TO GET THE ANSWERS,
TO GET WHERE WE HAD TO GO.
TOMMY'S FOCUS ON FINDING HIS DAUGHTER'S KILLER
SEEMED TO GIVE HIM A PURPOSE.
AND HE NEVER GAVE UP DURING THAT PROCESS,
NO MATTER HOW MANY ROADBLOCKS THE INVESTIGATION HIT?
ROADBLOCKS DIDN'T MEAN ANYTHING.
IT WAS JUST A LITTLE BIT OF A DELAY.
THAT'S ALL IT WAS.
OBVIOUSLY, YOU WERE ALL IMPACTED
BY THE CRUELTY OF THIS CRIME,
BUT THERE WAS SOMETHING VERY SPECIAL
ABOUT THE WAY TOMMY APPROACHED THE INVESTIGATION.
TOMMY WOULD SHOW UP TO OUR OFFICES.
HE WOULD BRING BAGELS. HE WOULD BRING COFFEE.
HE WANTED TO HELP IN ANY WAY HE COULD.
HE -- YOU KNOW, IF WE WOULD SAY,
"TOMMY, YOU NEED TO GO, YOU KNOW, TO UTAH RIGHT NOW,
DRIVE TO UTAH BECAUSE THERE MAY BE A WITNESS THERE,"
HE WOULD HAVE DRIVEN TO UTAH,
AND HE WOULD NOT HAVE STOPPED OTHER THAN FOR GAS.
BUT DETECTIVES SENSED IT WAS ALSO A WAY
OF AVOIDING THE PAIN HE WAS FEELING.
I EVEN SAID, "TOM, YOU KNOW, EVEN WHEN WE DO SOLVE THIS,
"IT'S NOT GONNA BRING HER BACK.
"IT'S NOT GONNA CHANGE THAT PART OF IT,
AND THAT'S THE PART YOU WANT CHANGED."
HE SAID, "WELL, LET'S GET THEM.
THAT'S WHAT I WANT. I WANT THEM CAUGHT."
Zahn: THEN, OUT OF THE BLUE,
DETECTIVES GOT AN ANONYMOUS TIP
THAT WOULD BLOW THE CASE WIDE OPEN.
Shevlin: WE DID GET A CALL.
THEY DID TELL US THAT, "I HEARD THREE GUYS,"
THEY SAID, "ON A CORNER.
"THEY WERE TALKING ABOUT HOW THEY HAD TO KIDNAP THIS GIRL,
AND IT WENT BAD, AND THEY HAD TO KILL HER."
ONE OF THEM WAS JOSHUA.
Zahn: JOSHUA?
HEARING THE NAME SENT CHILLS THROUGH THE DETECTIVES.
COULD IT REALLY BE KIM'S FRIEND,
THE YOUNG MAN WHO WAS TRYING SO HARD TO FIND HER?
DETECTIVES BROUGHT HIM IN FOR QUESTIONING.
Shevlin: JOSHUA SAID KIMBERLY WAS LIKE A SISTER.
SHE DID SO MUCH FOR THEM.
YOU KNOW, "SHE LET US STAY IN HER HOUSE, EAT HER FOOD,"
AND HE SAYS, "I WOULD DO ANYTHING
TO FIND THE PERSON THAT DID THIS."
HE GOES, "YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND.
SHE WAS A SISTER TO ME."
Zahn: IT SEEMED LIKE ANOTHER DEAD END,
AND THEN JOSH SAID SOMETHING THAT STUNNED INVESTIGATORS.
DURING THE INTERVIEW, THOUGH, I ASKED HIM DID HE DO IT.
I SAID, "DID YOU DO THIS TO HER?"
HE GOES, "YOU GUYS THINK I DID THIS?"
I SAID, "NO, I'M ASKING YOU. DID YOU DO IT?"
HE GOES, "IF I DID IT, I WOULD HAVE FED HER."
Zahn: HE DIDN'T REALIZE IT,
BUT WHEN JOSH SAID HE WOULD HAVE FED KIM,
HE STUMBLED INTO A WORLD OF TROUBLE.
NOBODY HAD TOLD HIM THAT KIM HAD NOT BEEN GIVEN ANYTHING TO EAT
DURING THE THREE DAYS SHE WAS HELD HOSTAGE.
Reibstein: NO ONE KNEW SHE WASN'T FED.
THE ONLY PEOPLE WHO KNEW THIS
WERE THE PEOPLE WHO DID THIS AND THE MEDICAL EXAMINER
WHOSE AUTOPSY HAD SHOWN SHE HAD NO FOOD IN HER BELLY
AND HADN'T HAD ANY IN A LONG TIME.
IT WAS REALLY ONE OF THE MOST DAMNING STATEMENTS
WHERE JOSH DIDN'T REALIZE WHAT HE GAVE US.
Zahn: THE DETECTIVES SAW AN OPENING,
AND THEY TURNED UP THE PRESSURE.
Torres: THEY JUST STARTED ACCUSING ME OF EVERYTHING.
THEY ASKED ME HOW DID I THOUGHT THIS CRIME OCCURRED.
I REALLY DIDN'T CARE TOO MUCH WHAT THE DETECTIVES WERE SAYING.
I-I DIDN'T HAVE NOTHING TO WORRY ABOUT.
I'M NOT A MURDERER AT ALL.
I'M NOT CAPABLE OF COMMITTING SUCH A CRIME LIKE THAT,
LET ALONE A FRIEND.
YOU KNOW, ON TELEVISION SHOWS, THAT'S OFTEN ENOUGH, YOU KNOW?
"OKAY, GEE, YOU JUST REVEALED SOMETHING
"THAT ONLY THE KILLER WOULD KNOW.
NOW WE GOT YOU."
BUT THAT'S NOT THE REAL WORLD, SO THAT ISN'T ENOUGH.
Zahn: JOSH TORRES HAD JUST TURNED HIMSELF
INTO THE LEAD SUSPECT IN THE MURDER OF KIM ANTONAKOS,
BUT HE CONTINUED TO MAINTAIN HIS INNOCENCE.
AND TO MAKE A CASE AGAINST HIM,
PROSECUTORS WOULD NEED MORE THAN A SLIPUP
DURING THE POLICE INTERROGATION.
THEY NEEDED HARD EVIDENCE.
COMING UP...
POLICE UNCOVER THE PLOT BEHIND KIM'S KIDNAPPING...
THIS IS THE GANG THAT COULDN'T SHOOT STRAIGHT.
...AND LEARN THE SICKENING DETAILS OF HER MURDER.
AFTER THE MURDER OF KIM ANTONAKOS,
JOSH TORRES BECAME ONE OF HER FATHER'S STRONGEST ALLIES,
WORKING AROUND THE CLOCK TO HELP HIM FIND HER KILLER.
BUT NOW TORRES WAS A SUSPECT IN THE CASE.
FOR KIM'S FATHER, IT WAS THE ULTIMATE BETRAYAL.
Zahn: YOU WATCHED HIM SUFFER FOR SO LONG.
IT HAD TO BE DEVASTATING.
IT WAS HARD.
HE WOULD GO TO THE CEMETERY BACK AND FORTH,
BUT THAT WAS ABOUT IT.
STOPPED DOING BUSINESS. HE DIDN'T EVEN LIVE FOR HIMSELF.
PROSECUTORS KNEW THERE WASN'T ENOUGH EVIDENCE
TO PIN KIM'S MURDER ON JOSH TORRES IN COURT.
THEN, SIX MONTHS AFTER KIM'S MURDER,
A WOMAN NICKNAMED "BLONDIE," WHO HAD RECENTLY DATED JOSH,
CAME FORWARD WITH A STATEMENT THAT WOULD CHANGE EVERYTHING.
WHAT DID SHE SAY JOSH TOLD HER
ABOUT WHAT HAD HAPPENED TO KIM?
Wise: THAT SHE WAS KIDNAPPED,
THAT THEY ASKED THE FATHER FOR RANSOM.
IT WAS A BOMBSHELL.
BLONDIE SAID JOSH HAD TOLD HER KIM WAS BURNED ALIVE
AFTER A FAILED KIDNAPPING AND EXTORTION PLOT
AND THAT HE WAS THE MASTERMIND.
WHAT DID YOU LEARN ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED TO KIMBERLY?
WE LEARNED THAT --
BASICALLY THAT THERE WERE FOUR PEOPLE INVOLVED IN THIS CRIME,
THAT JOSH, NICK, A PERSON NAMED JAY,
AND A PERSON NAMED JOEY WERE --
ALL FOUR OF THEM WERE INVOLVED IN THIS CRIME.
JOSH TORRES AND NICK LIBRETTI WERE TAKEN INTO CUSTODY.
TAKE US BACK INTO THE QUESTIONING OF JOSH AND NICK.
NICK BROKE EARLY ON.
IN A REMARKABLE VIDEOTAPE CONFESSION,
NICK LIBRETTI TOLD THE WHOLE SORDID TALE.
Wise: TAKE ME THROUGH IT, FROM, YOU KNOW, WHAT HAPPENED.
JOSHUA GAVE US THE IDEA THAT IF WE TAKE KIMBERLY,
WE'D BE ABLE TO GET MONEY FOR HER FROM HER FAMILY.
NICK ALSO TOLD POLICE
THAT SINCE JOSH WAS STAYING AT KIM'S APARTMENT,
HE KNEW WHEN SHE WOULD BE RETURNING HOME
AFTER HER NIGHT ON THE TOWN.
HE TOLD NICK AND JOSE TO WAIT FOR KIM TO GET HOME.
JOSE GRABBED HER MOUTH,
AND THEN GRABBED HER AND THREW HER IN THE CAR
AND TAPED HER UP --
HER HANDS AND HER EYES AND HER LEGS.
WHERE DID YOU TWO EVENTUALLY TAKE HER?
WE TOOK HER TO THE HOUSE.
NICK SAID THEY CARRIED HER DOWN INTO THE COLD BASEMENT
OF THE ABANDONED HOUSE.
HE SAT HER DOWN IN A CHAIR AND TAPED HER TO THE CHAIR
AND TO THE POLE.
WHEN YOU DID THIS, DID KIMBERLY --
WAS SHE, LIKE, TRYING TO SAY ANYTHING?
SHE WAS JUST SAYING THAT IF WE WERE GONNA MUG HER,
WHY WE WENT THROUGH SUCH A BIG HASSLE?
OKAY, SO YOU TOOK THE TAPE OFF HER MOUTH FOR A FEW MINUTES?
HE TOOK IT OFF, LIKE, FOR A FEW SECONDS.
THEN THEY LEFT,
LEAVING KIM BOUND, GAGGED, AND ALL ALONE.
AND THEN YOU WHAT,
YOU THOUGHT YOU WERE GONNA ASK THE FATHER FOR THE MONEY?
JOSHUA WAS SUPPOSED TO DO ALL OF THAT.
ACCORDING TO NICK, JOSH HAD PRERECORDED A RANSOM DEMAND
AND CALLED KIM'S FATHER.
JOSHUA TRY TO CONTACT HER FATHER,
AND NOTHING HAPPENED.
Shevlin: JOSHUA HAD A TAPE CASSETTE OF,
"WE HAVE YOUR DAUGHTER. WE WANT THIS MUCH MONEY."
HE CALLED TOMMY'S HOUSE, BUT THE ANSWERING MACHINE ANSWERED.
YOU KNOW WHAT? TOMMY HAD A PAUSE IN HIS ANSWERING MACHINE.
I'VE NOTICED IT, TOO, AND I CALLED IT.
"HI, THIS IS TOMMY." AND THEN THERE'S A PAUSE.
SO, AS SOON AS HE SAID, "HI, THIS IS TOMMY,"
HE PLAYED THE CASSETTE.
Zahn: INVESTIGATORS KNEW THAT THE RANSOM DEMAND
HAD NEVER BEEN RECEIVED.
NOW THEY UNDERSTOOD WHY.
WHOEVER HAD TRIED TO CONTACT TOMMY
HAD MISTAKENLY PLAYED THE TAPE
OVER TOMMY'S ANSWERING-MACHINE GREETING.
NONE OF IT HAD EVER BEEN RECORDED.
INCREDIBLY, WHOEVER HAD DONE THIS
MADE THE SAME MISTAKE SEVERAL TIMES.
Wise: HE WAS STUPID.
I MEAN, THIS IS THE GANG THAT COULDN'T SHOOT STRAIGHT.
THE ENTIRE TIME KIM WAS HELD CAPTIVE,
TOMMY NEVER GOT A SINGLE RANSOM DEMAND.
WHAT WAS HIS REACTION
WHEN HE HEARD THAT THIS RANSOM MESSAGE
HAD BEEN RECORDED
AND THAT THEY HAD ATTEMPTED TO SEND IT A NUMBER OF TIMES?
IF TOMMY ANTONAKOS RECEIVED A RANSOM MESSAGE,
TOMMY ANTONAKOS WOULD HAVE PAID ALL THE MONEY IN HIS BANK.
HE WOULD HAVE MORTGAGED HIS HOUSE.
HE WOULD HAVE DONE ANYTHING TO GET HER BACK.
BUT IT WAS NEVER TO BE.
NICK SAID THAT WHILE JOSH
ATTEMPTED TO MAKE THE RANSOM CALLS,
KIM WAS LEFT ALONE
FOR THREE LONG DAYS AND NIGHTS IN THE DEAD OF WINTER.
DID YOU GUYS GIVE HER A BLANKET OR ANYTHING?
NO. OKAY.
WAS SHE FED AT ALL DURING THE TIME?
DID YOU GUYS LEAVE HER ANY FOOD OR ANYTHING?
NO.
SINCE THEIR RANSOM PLAN HAD FAILED,
NICK CLAIMED THEY RETURNED TO THE ABANDONED HOUSE
WITH THE INTENTION OF LETTING KIM GO.
AND WHAT HAPPENED WHEN YOU WENT BACK?
AND WE WENT DOWN, AND WE SAW HER,
AND SHE APPEARED TO BE DEAD.
WHAT DID YOU GUYS DO?
WE -- WE FREAKED.
LIKE, WE PANICKED, AND WE LOOKED AT EACH OTHER,
AND WE WENT BACK UPSTAIRS,
AND WE DISCUSSED IT AMONGST ALL THREE OF US.
JOSHUA ENDED UP DECIDING
THAT HE THOUGHT WE SHOULD JUST BURN THE WHOLE HOUSE DOWN.
NICK SAID THEY ALL DROVE TO A GAS STATION,
BOUGHT A CAN OF GAS, AND RETURNED TO THE HOUSE.
JOSHUA WENT DOWN,
POURED THE GAS ALL OVER HER AND AROUND HER,
AND I WAS WAITING UPSTAIRS.
AND THEN HE JUST LIT IT UP.
DID HE PUT THE GASOLINE ON HER HEAD OR ON HER BODY?
DO YOU REMEMBER?
HE PUT IT, LIKE, ON HER HEAD.
SO, YOU GUYS DIDN'T LIGHT THE HOUSE ON FIRE.
YOU LIT HER ON FIRE.
BASICALLY.
WHEN NICK COMPLETED HIS GRISLY CONFESSION
OF KIM'S LAST MOMENTS ALIVE,
HE MADE A BIZARRE REQUEST.
NICK, AT THE END OF HIS VIDEOTAPE, ASKED ME FOR A TOKEN.
AND I SAID, "A WHAT?"
HE WANTED A TOKEN FOR THE SUBWAY FOR HIM TO GET HOME.
OH, COME ON.
HE HAD NO IDEA WHAT HE HAD JUST SAID.
HE REALLY BELIEVED THAT HE DIDN'T DO ANYTHING.
SICK.
SICK. DEPRAVED.
ABSOLUTELY SICK.
ARMED WITH NICK'S STUNNING CONFESSION,
DETECTIVES DECIDED IT WAS TIME TO CONFRONT JOSH.
AND THEN THEY CAME IN AND SAID, "WE HAVE NICK.
HE'S TALKING."
HE WAS SAYING I ORCHESTRATED IT AND I DID THE ACTUAL MURDER.
I SAID, "WHATEVER HE'S SAYING, HE'S LYING.
I DIDN'T DO ANYTHING."
Zahn: DETECTIVES DECIDED TO BLUFF,
TRYING TO CONVINCE JOSH THEY HAD HARD EVIDENCE AGAINST HIM.
WE TOLD HIM THAT THE GAS STATION
THAT HE BOUGHT THE GAS CAN AND GAS FROM --
WE HAVE HIM ON FILM.
Zahn: THERE WAS NO VIDEOTAPE, BUT JOSH BELIEVED THE STORY.
DO YOU THINK JOSH REALIZED,
WHEN HE ADMITTED THAT HE, IN FACT,
BOUGHT GASOLINE THE NIGHT OF KIMBERLY'S MURDER,
WHAT HE HAD SAID?
I DON'T THINK JOSH HAD ANY IDEA,
AND I THINK HE THOUGHT,
"THEY DON'T HAVE ANY EVIDENCE AGAINST ME.
"SO WHAT IF I BOUGHT GASOLINE?
PEOPLE BUY GASOLINE ALL THE TIME."
WERE DETECTIVES EVER ABLE
TO GET A WRITTEN STATEMENT FROM JOSH?
I WOULD SAY JOSH WAS MINUTES AWAY
FROM GIVING A FULL-FLEDGED CONFESSION,
AND A LAWYER CALLED THE POLICE PRECINCT
AND DEMANDED THAT THE QUESTIONING STOP.
Shevlin: ONCE A PERSON IS REPRESENTED, EVERYTHING STOPS.
BUT WE HAD ENOUGH AT THAT POINT TO, YOU KNOW, CHARGE HIM.
Torres: NEXT THING I KNOW,
I'M WALKING OUTSIDE AND CAMERAS IS EVERYWHERE.
I WAS PUTTING MY HEAD DOWN.
SOME REPORTER ASKED ME, "YOU DID THIS FOR LOVE OR MONEY?"
I DIDN'T KILL HER.
I DIDN'T TORCH HER. IT WASN'T ME.
I DIDN'T DO ANYTHING.
THEY JUST THREW ME RIGHT IN THE CAR, SAID,
"WE'RE READY TO SEND YOU BOOKING."
Zahn: JOSH TORRES AND NICK LIBRETTI
WERE CHARGED WITH ROBBERY, KIDNAPPING, ARSON,
AND THE MURDER OF KIMBERLY ANTONAKOS.
BUT THE CASE AGAINST JOSH WAS ANYTHING BUT AIRTIGHT.
THE STATE COULD NOT USE NICK'S CONFESSION IN COURT.
WHY COULDN'T YOU USE NICK'S STATEMENT AT JOSH'S TRIAL?
WELL, NEW YORK LAW DOESN'T ALLOW YOU TO USE A STATEMENT
OF ONE COCONSPIRATOR AGAINST ANOTHER.
THEN YET ANOTHER BAD TURN.
BLONDIE, THE PROSECUTION'S STAR WITNESS AGAINST JOSH TORRES,
DID SOMETHING THAT WOULD PUT EVERYTHING AT RISK.
WHAT HAPPENED TO JOSH'S EX-GIRLFRIEND?
I GOT A CALL FROM A U.S. ATTORNEY,
AND HE SAID, "WE HAVE A DEFENDANT DOWN HERE
WHO HAD BEEN ARRESTED FOR TRAFFICKING DRUGS."
AND THIS WAS BLONDIE? YES.
GETTING CAUGHT TRYING TO SMUGGLE DRUGS
WAS NOT SOMETHING PROSECUTORS WANTED A JURY TO HEAR
ABOUT THEIR STAR WITNESS,
SO THEY DECIDED TO GO TO TRIAL WITHOUT HER.
YOU HAD TO BE VERY CONCERNED
THAT THIS WAS GONNA DESTROY YOUR CASE.
WE LOST A HUGE AMOUNT OF EVIDENCE.
THIS IS JOSH'S -- ONE OF JOSH'S GIRLFRIENDS
WHO RECEIVED A STATEMENT DIRECTLY FROM JOSH
THAT HE MURDERED KIMBERLY.
I SAW MY ENTIRE CASE AGAINST JOSH DISAPPEAR.
COMING UP, A DRAMATIC CONFRONTATION
AT THE KIM ANTONAKOS MURDER TRIAL.
HE WAS SHOCKED.
YOU SAW ARROGANCE CHANGE TO FRIGHT.
Zahn: WANT MORE "ON THE CASE"? GO TO...
...AND VIEW MORE EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEWS
AND BEHIND-THE-SCENES VIDEO.
AFTER WORKING SO HARD TO BUILD A CASE AGAINST JOSH TORRES,
PROSECUTORS WERE WORRIED THINGS WERE FALLING APART.
BLONDIE, THE STATE'S STAR WITNESS,
WAS NOW COMPROMISED BY HER OWN ARREST ON A DRUG CHARGE,
AND ALL OF THE INCRIMINATING THINGS
SAID BY COCONSPIRATOR NICK LIBRETTI
WOULDN'T BE HEARD BY A JURY.
AS THE TRIAL WAS SET TO BEGIN,
JOSH TORRES BELIEVED HE'D WALK OUT OF COURT A FREE MAN.
DESCRIBE JOSH'S DEMEANOR DURING THE TRIAL.
JOSH WAS CLEARLY CONVINCED
THAT HE WAS GOING TO WALK OUT OF THAT COURTROOM,
AND HE WAS GONNA HEAR THE TWO WORDS "NOT GUILTY."
WHAT MADE HIM CONFIDENT?
JOSH DIDN'T THINK WE HAD, YOU KNOW, ENOUGH EVIDENCE.
ANOTHER REASON FOR TORRES' CONFIDENCE CAME FROM THE FACT
THAT HE THOUGHT HE'D PASSED A LIE-DETECTOR TEST
EARLY ON IN THE INVESTIGATION.
AT THE TRIAL, JOSH'S DEFENSE ATTORNEY
BROUGHT UP JOSH'S LIE-DETECTOR TEST.
THE DEFENSE ATTORNEY ACTUALLY OPENED THE DOOR
TO THE FACT THAT JOSH TOOK A LIE-DETECTOR TEST.
BUT RAISING THE ISSUE COMPLETELY BACKFIRED.
HE ASKED ME, "DETECTIVE SHEVLIN, DID MY CLIENT, JOSHUA TORRES,
"VOLUNTARILY COME INTO THE PRECINCT
AND TAKE A POLYGRAPH TEST ON THIS DAY?"
I SAID, "YES, HE DID, AND HE FAILED."
Zahn: THE COURTROOM ERUPTED.
IT WASN'T WHAT THE DEFENSE EXPECTED THEY WOULD HEAR.
JOSH HAD IMPLIED TO THEM THAT HE HAD PASSED.
BUT AFTER THAT DRAMATIC MOMENT,
THE MOOD TURNED SOMBER
WHEN KIM'S FATHER, TOMMY, TOOK THE STAND
AND COULDN'T HOLD BACK HIS TEARS.
IT MUST HAVE BEEN HEART-WRENCHING FOR YOU
TO HEAR THE TESTIMONY OF KIM'S FATHER.
WHAT DO YOU REMEMBER ABOUT WHAT HE SAID IN COURT?
I REMEMBER HE BROUGHT KIM ALIVE IN THE COURTROOM.
WHAT WAS THE PORTRAIT HE PAINTED OF KIM?
OF THIS YOUNG, HAPPY, VIBRANT, LOYAL DAUGHTER.
TOMMY ALSO TESTIFIED THAT WHILE SEARCHING FOR KIM,
JOSH CLAIMED TO HAVE CALLED EVERYONE IN HER PHONE BOOK.
WHAT DID THE TELEPHONE RECORDS REVEAL?
HAD HE MADE ANY OF THOSE CALLS?
JOSH DIDN'T CALL ANYONE.
BOTH THE PHONE RECORDS AND, YOU KNOW, INTERVIEWING WITNESSES,
IT TURNED OUT THAT JOSH DIDN'T CALL ANYONE.
IRONICALLY, IT WAS JOSH WHO HAD POINTED DETECTIVES
TO THEIR FIRST SUSPECT IN THE CASE --
THE MAN CALLED "PSYCHO."
HE HAD TOLD DETECTIVES
THAT PSYCHO WASN'T RETURNING HIS CALLS.
BUT THE PHONE RECORDS SHOWED
THAT JOSH WAS LYING ABOUT THAT, TOO.
THE FACT THAT JOSHUA WAS SENDING ME ON A WILD GOOSE CHASE
WAS A BIG PART OF HIS PROSECUTION.
HE WAS IN THE BEST SPOT TO BE A PERPETRATOR.
Zahn: THE PHONE RECORDS WERE USEFUL IN PROVING JOSH TORRES A LIAR,
BUT WOULD IT CONVINCE THE JURY HE WAS A MURDERER?
WITHOUT BLONDIE'S TESTIMONY
OR THE VIDEOTAPED STATEMENT OF COCONSPIRATOR NICK LIBRETTI,
THE PROSECUTION'S CASE WAS IN TROUBLE.
BUT ALL THAT CHANGED WITH THE DRAMATIC ANNOUNCEMENT
OF A SURPRISE WITNESS -- SOMEONE NAMED JAY.
WHO WAS IT, AND WHY WAS THE TESTIMONY SO CRITICAL?
WE HAD A PERSON NAMED JAY
WHO WAS INVOLVED IN THIS MURDER.
DESCRIBE THE LOOK ON JOSH'S FACE
WHEN HIS COCONSPIRATOR JAY WALKED INTO THE COURTROOM.
HE WAS SHOCKED. HE REALLY WAS SHOCKED.
YOU SAW ARROGANCE CHANGE TO FRIGHT.
JOSH HAD NO IDEA THAT JAY NEGRON HAD COME FORWARD
AND TOLD INVESTIGATORS EVERYTHING.
HE AGREED TO TESTIFY IN A PLEA DEAL FOR A REDUCED SENTENCE.
EVERYTHING JAY TOLD US WAS ABSOLUTELY CONSISTENT
WITH NICK LIBRETTI'S VIDEOTAPE AND ORAL STATEMENTS,
AND IT WAS CONSISTENT WITH ALL THE EVIDENCE WE HAD.
JAY SAID JOSH TOLD HIM ALL ABOUT HIS KIDNAP EXTORTION SCHEME.
HE TESTIFIED THAT HE HAD WAITED IN THE GETAWAY CAR
WHEN JOSH AND NICK COMMITTED THE MURDER.
HE WAS SAYING THAT I PHONED HIM THE DAY AFTER IT WAS DONE,
THAT I HAD HER KIDNAPPED SO I COULD RECEIVE A RANSOM DEMAND,
AND I ORCHESTRATED EVERYTHING,
I PLANNED EVERYTHING,
I MADE DECISIONS FOR EVERYTHING,
AND I DID THE MURDER.
Zahn: AND THEN JAY DESCRIBED
THE UNSPEAKABLE CRUELTY OF KIM'S LAST MOMENTS...
...AN ACCOUNT JAY SAID CAME FROM JOSH HIMSELF.
HE TOLD US HOW JOSH KISSED HER AND SAID, "LIFE SUCKS,"
AND LIT HER ON FIRE.
JAY'S TESTIMONY WAS RIVETING.
THE TENSION IN THE COURTROOM WAS PALPABLE.
AND THEN A STUNNING MOMENT.
JOSH TORRES JUMPED TO HIS FEET
AND STARTED SHOUTING AT THE WITNESS.
I SAID, "BUT THE KID IS LYING."
THE JUDGE WENT CRAZY IN THE COURTROOM, AND MY LAWYER'S LIKE,
"YO, YOU CAN'T BE DOING OUTBURSTS JUST LIKE THAT."
Zahn: WITH ORDER IN THE COURT BROKEN DOWN,
ONE OF THE PROSECUTORS CHALLENGED TORRES FACE-TO-FACE.
JUDGE DEMAKOS WAS NOT PLEASED WITH THE FACT
THAT THERE WAS CONVERSATION
BETWEEN THE PROSECUTOR AND THE DEFENDANT
AND TOLD US -- TOLD ME NOT TO DO THAT ANYMORE.
Zahn: THAT WAS THE ONLY MOMENT
WHEN TORRES WAS HEARD DURING THE TRIAL.
HE NEVER TOOK THE STAND IN HIS OWN DEFENSE.
THE DRAMATIC TRIAL CAME TO A CONCLUSION,
AND THE FATE OF JOSH TORRES WAS NOW IN THE HANDS OF THE JURORS.
AFTER DELIBERATING FOR 10 HOURS,
THEY RETURN WITH THEIR VERDICT.
JOSH TORRES -- GUILTY OF ARSON, KIDNAPPING, AND MURDER.
FOR KIM'S FATHER,
THE GUILTY VERDICT WAS A BITTERSWEET MOMENT.
THE NEXT DAY WOULD HAVE BEEN KIM'S 22nd BIRTHDAY.
YOU KNOW THAT SHE WAS THERE IN THAT COURTROOM LAST NIGHT,
WAITING FOR THAT GUILTY VERDICT.
Zahn: A MONTH LATER,
AT THE SENTENCING HEARING FOR JOSH TORRES,
THE STATE ASKED FOR THE MAXIMUM SENTENCE.
Reibstein: AND IT'S THE PEOPLE'S HOPE
THAT NOT ONE DAY ON THE PLANET EARTH
SHOULD EVER SEE JOSH TORRES OUTSIDE PRISON WALLS AGAIN
UNTIL HE'S INSIDE A COFFIN BEING BURIED.
Zahn: AND THEN JOSH TORRES SPOKE OUT ONE LAST TIME IN OPEN COURT.
...BY THE MEDIA
MADE IT IMPOSSIBLE FOR ME TO RECEIVE A FAIR TRIAL.
I SAID THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY MANIPULATED --
MANIPULATED WITNESSES TO CONVICT ME FOR PUBLIC NOTORIETY
AND WAS NEVER INTERESTED IN THE TRUTH.
Zahn: BEFORE HANDING DOWN HIS SENTENCE,
THE JUDGE SPOKE DIRECTLY TO TORRES.
WHAT REVOLTED ME THE MOST
WAS THE MANNER IN WHICH SHE WAS KILLED --
POURING GASOLINE OVER HER HEAD AND AROUND HER
AND IGNITING HER BY THE STRIKING OF THE MATCH.
I MUST ADMIT THAT HEARING THIS TESTIMONY
ALMOST BROUGHT ME TO TEARS.
WHAT CAN BE MORE INHUMANE AND DEPRAVED
THAN THE ACT OF BURNING SOMEONE ALIVE?
Zahn: THE JUDGE HANDED JOSH TORRES
THE MAXIMUM SENTENCE ALLOWED BY LAW --
58 YEARS TO LIFE.
INSTEAD OF THE DEATH PENALTY, THIS IS BETTER.
LET HIM SUFFER FOR THE REST OF HIS LIFE.
Zahn: NICK LIBRETTI WAS ALSO CONVICTED
AND RECEIVED THE MAXIMUM SENTENCE.
HE DIED IN PRISON TWO YEARS LATER.
JAY PLED GUILTY TO CRIMINAL FACILITATION
AND WAS RELEASED AFTER SERVING TWO YEARS BEHIND BARS.
TO THIS DAY, JOSH TORRES STILL INSISTS HE'S INNOCENT.
TELL ME WHAT HAPPENED TO YOUR BROTHER TOM
AFTER JOSH WAS CONVICTED.
DID THE CONVICTION BRING ANY SENSE OF RELIEF TO YOUR FAMILY?
Joseph: NO. NONE?
NONE AT ALL.
IT WAS HARD FOR HIM.
IT'S ONE THING FOR A PARENT
TO HAVE TO ACCEPT THEIR CHILD IS MURDERED.
IT'S ANOTHER THING FOR YOUR BROTHER
TO HAVE TO HEAR JUST HOW CRUEL HER MURDERERS WERE.
TO LEAVE HER IN A PLACE LIKE THAT THE WAY THEY DID
AND TO DO WHAT THEY DID IN THE END --
THE CRUELTY WAS THROUGH STUPIDITY.
DID THEY CARE ABOUT ANOTHER LIFE?
NO.
FOR KIMBERLY'S FATHER, THE TORMENT WOULD NEVER END.
TOMMY SAYS HE JUST KNOWS
THAT DURING THE THREE DAYS THAT KIMBERLY WAS DOWN THERE,
SHE WAS THINKING, "MY FATHER'S GONNA COME MAKE THIS RIGHT.
"MY FATHER'S GONNA GET ME.
MY FATHER WILL SAVE ME."
AND HE NEVER DID.
I DON'T KNOW THAT HE EVER GOT OVER THAT.
Zahn: FOR THE FATHER WHO DEVOTED
SO MUCH OF HIMSELF TO HIS BELOVED DAUGHTER,
THE LOSS WAS SIMPLY TOO MUCH TO BEAR.
SO, HIS HEART WAS TOTALLY CRUSHED.
YES.
AND HE FELT HE HAD NOTHING TO LIVE FOR.
IN FACT, HE SAID IT.
"I HAVE NOTHING TO LIVE FOR."
MM.
IN 2005, TOMMY ANTONAKOS DIED OF LUNG CANCER.
YOUR BROTHER DIED, ESSENTIALLY, WHEN KIM DIED.
YES. HE DIED OF A BROKEN HEART.
SICKNESS WAS CANCER,
BUT, BELIEVE ME, IT WAS A BROKEN HEART.
TOMMY ANTONAKOS IS NOW REUNITED WITH HIS BELOVED LITTLE GIRL.
HE'S BURIED NEXT TO KIMBERLY ON STATEN ISLAND.
I'M PAULA ZAHN.
PLEASE JOIN US NEXT TIME WHEN WE'RE BACK ON THE CASE.