Zahn: LOVE AND MARRIAGE AT THE FBI.
I REALLY THOUGHT HE WAS THE PERFECT MATCH FOR ME.
BUT THESE AGENTS WERE LIVING A LIE.
I WAS JUST KIND OF NUMB.
I JUST WASN'T GIVING ANYTHING TO IT,
AND I WASN'T GETTING ANYTHING OUT OF IT.
THEN, AN AFFAIR WITH A FAMOUS AUTHOR...
EMOTIONS STARTED BUBBLING UP. THE ATTRACTION WAS THERE.
...PROVOKED A VIOLENT REACTION.
Clever: THIS MAN JUMPED OUT OF THE STAIRWELL WITH A SKI MASK ON,
SAYING, "DO YOU WANT TO LIVE?"
WERE YOU PLEADING FOR YOUR LIFE AT THAT POINT?
Zahn: A TWISTED TRIANGLE OF EMOTIONS
AND A STRUGGLE FOR SURVIVAL.
I THOUGHT I WAS GONNA DIE.
[ 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.
TONIGHT WE'RE ON THE CASE JUST OUTSIDE OUR NATION'S CAPITAL.
AS FBI AGENTS, MARGO AND GENE BENNETT
SWORE TO UPHOLD THE LAW.
AS HUSBAND AND WIFE, THEY VOWED TO LOVE EACH OTHER.
BUT WHEN ALL THOSE PROMISES WERE BROKEN,
IT LED TO A NIGHTMARE OF VIOLENCE AND REVENGE.
IT WAS ONE OF THOSE MUGGY VIRGINIA SUMMER NIGHTS.
MARGO BENNETT WAS ON HER WAY TO MEET HER PASTOR, EDWIN CLEVER.
BUT THE MOMENT SHE ENTERED THE CHURCH,
MARGO KNEW SOMETHING WAS WRONG.
Margo: I WENT TO THE FRONT DOOR, AND I CALLED OUT EDWIN'S NAME
AND ASKED IF HE WAS OKAY, AND HE SAID, "NO, NOT REALLY."
IT WAS A FRIGHTENING AND BIZARRE SCENE --
HER PASTOR, EDWIN CLEVER,
TIED TO A CHAIR WITH A CLOTH BAG OVER HIS HEAD.
THEN SHE HEARD A NOISE.
THE SANCTUARY DOORS POPPED OPEN,
AND A MASKED INDIVIDUAL CAME THROUGH
SAYING, "MARGO, DON'T FIGHT ME ON THIS."
MARGO IMMEDIATELY RECOGNIZED THE VOICE.
IT WAS HER ESTRANGED HUSBAND, GENE.
RIGHT AWAY, YOU KNEW IT WAS HIM.
OH, I KNEW IT WAS HIM. I KNEW IT WAS HIM RIGHT AWAY.
DID A CHILL GO DOWN YOUR SPINE?
I DIDN'T HAVE TIME FOR A CHILL TO GO DOWN MY SPINE
BECAUSE IT WAS LIKE, "REACT."
"REACT, AND REACT NOW, OR YOU'RE DEAD."
MARGO REALIZED SHE WAS IN A BATTLE FOR HER LIFE.
BOTH SHE AND GENE WERE FORMER FBI AGENTS,
AND NEITHER LEFT HOME WITHOUT THEIR GUNS.
THE ONLY WAY WE HAD ANY HOPE OF GETTING OUT OF THIS --
"WE" MEANING EDWIN AND I --
WAS FOR ME TO TAKE A SHOT.
MARGO RAISED HER GUN AND FIRED.
[ GUNSHOT ]
IT WAS THE FINAL CHAPTER
OF A LONG AND TORTURED STORY BETWEEN THE TWO.
MARGO MET GENE BENNETT IN 1982.
SHE WAS A NEW AGENT, FRESH OUT OF THE FBI ACADEMY.
THEY WERE BOTH STATIONED IN ATLANTA, GEORGIA.
HOW DID YOU MEET GENE AT THE ATLANTA FIELD OFFICE?
WHEN GENE WAS WORKING AN UNDERCOVER OPERATION
AND HE CAME INTO THE SQUAD ONE DAY, AND MY TRAINING AGENT SAID,
"YOU KNOW, MARGO, STAY AWAY FROM HIM.
HE'LL TRY TO GET IN YOUR PANTS."
Rother: GENE BENNETT TOOK A LIKING TO HER AND ASKED HER OUT,
AND SHE TRIED TO TURN HIM DOWN, BUT HE WAS VERY PERSISTENT,
AND SO HE ASKED HER OUT, AND THEY WENT OUT,
AND THEY HIT IT OFF RIGHT AWAY.
Zahn: THE CONNECTION BETWEEN MARGO AND GENE WAS INTENSE.
THEIR RELATIONSHIP PROGRESSED QUICKLY.
WOULD YOU SAY YOU FELL IN LOVE WITH GENE
ALMOST FROM THE FIRST DAY YOU MET?
I REALLY THOUGHT HE WAS THE PERFECT MATCH FOR ME.
IN FEBRUARY 1984, THE TWO WERE MARRIED
IN A BIG CHURCH CEREMONY IN ATLANTA.
THEY WERE IN LOVE. THEY BOTH HAD GOOD JOBS.
THEY WERE BOTH DOING SOMETHING THEY LOVED.
THEY STARTED WANTING TO HAVE A FAMILY.
Zahn: TWO YEARS LATER, A BABY GIRL.
HOW DID GENE REACT
TO THE BIRTH OF YOUR FIRST CHILD, ALLISON?
HE WAS VERY PROUD -- VERY PROUD INDIVIDUAL.
IT WAS ALMOST LIKE I WASN'T NEEDED AT THAT POINT.
HE WAS AT THE HOSPITAL. HE VIDEOTAPED THE WHOLE THING.
HE HAD THE VIDEO CAMERA, LOOKED IN THE MIRROR,
AND WAVED AT HIMSELF.
Rother: HE BARELY WANTED TO LET MARGO HAVE THE BABY.
HE WANTED TO KEEP HOLDING THE BABY AND TAKING THE BABY,
AND HE JUST REALLY LOVED THAT LITTLE GIRL.
Zahn: ON THE SURFACE, THEY WERE A HAPPY COUPLE.
BUT AFTER THE BIRTH OF THEIR DAUGHTER,
MARGO BEGAN TO SEE CHANGES IN HER HUSBAND.
GENE WORKED UNDERCOVER,
AND IT REQUIRED HIM TO TAKE ON DIFFERENT CRIMINAL PERSONAS.
SOME OF THESE CHARACTERS LIKED TO THROW MONEY AROUND,
WHICH GENE DID WITH PILES OF CASH, COURTESY OF THE FBI.
MARGO SAYS HE ENJOYED THE ROLE-PLAYING.
HE LIKED BEING ABLE TO GO OUT
AND SPEND THE MONEY ON THE ENTERTAINMENT
AND MAKING THE CASES AND DOING THAT SORT OF STUFF.
IT WAS WHAT GAVE HIM HIS HIGH, SO TO SPEAK.
MARGO SAYS GENE BECAME OBSESSED WITH THE LIFESTYLE
AND TURNED INTO A BIG SPENDER IN REAL LIFE,
SHOWERING HER WITH EXPENSIVE GIFTS.
WHAT KINDS OF THINGS WOULD HE BUY FOR YOU?
I HAD MORE JEWELRY
THAN ANY WOMAN, I WOULD THINK, WOULD WANT.
AT ONE POINT IN TIME,
I WAS ADDING UP THE VALUE OF THE JEWELRY THAT I WAS WEARING,
AND IT WAS AROUND $30,000.
MARGO SAYS SHE KNEW SOMETHING WASN'T RIGHT
BUT ADMITS SHE NEVER QUESTIONED HER HUSBAND ABOUT IT.
IF I'D FAULT MYSELF FOR ANYTHING,
IT WAS BEING NAIVE AND BEING TRUSTING
AND NOT ASKING QUESTIONS WHEN I SHOULD HAVE.
BUT WHEN THE FBI DECIDED TO RELOCATE THE FAMILY
TO WASHINGTON, D.C.,
MARGO COULD NO LONGER DENY THAT GENE HAD CROSSED A LINE.
HE TOLD HER THAT HE AND SOME OF HIS FRIENDS
HAD COME UP WITH A SCHEME TO MAKE QUICK CASH
OFF THE HOME-RELOCATION PROGRAM RUN BY THE BUREAU.
GENE WAS SUGGESTING THAT WE USE
THE RELOCATION SYSTEM IN THE FBI
AND MAKE SOME MONEY OFF OF IT.
AND I KNEW THAT WAS WRONG.
HE ESSENTIALLY TOLD ME,
"YOU KNOW WHAT? I'M GONNA DO THIS,
"AND IF YOU WANT TO RAISE ALLISON BY YOURSELF,
"HIT THE DOOR.
BUT THIS IS SOMETHING I'M GONNA DO."
AND I FOLDED.
IT WAS A SIDE OF GENE MARGO HAD NEVER SEEN BEFORE,
AND SHE DIDN'T LIKE IT.
BUT IN THE END, SHE WENT ALONG
AND EVEN SIGNED THE PAPERS THAT CLOSED THE DEAL.
THE ILLEGAL SCAM NETTED GENE AND MARGO $17,000.
GENE WAS WILLING TO DO WHAT HE DID FOR $17,000.
I MEAN, IT'S NOT WORTH DESTROYING YOUR FUTURE
FOR $17,000.
AFTER THEY MOVED,
MARGO TRIED TO PUT THE EPISODE BEHIND HER
AND HOPED THINGS WOULD RETURN TO NORMAL.
BUT HER LIFE WITH GENE WAS ABOUT TO SPIN OUT OF CONTROL.
AND WHEN IT DID, THINGS WOULD TURN VERY UGLY.
COMING UP...
DID YOU FALL IN LOVE WITH PATSY?
UM...
...A NEW ROMANCE COMPLICATES A TROUBLED MARRIAGE.
IT WAS, LIKE, THE THIRD AND FINAL WARNING SHOT.
"I HAVE TO GET OUT OF THIS."
THAT WAS IT. THAT WAS IT.
"FIDELITY, BRAVERY, INTEGRITY" --
THAT'S THE FBI MOTTO.
BUT TWO AGENTS WERE FALLING WELL SHORT OF THOSE LOFTY IDEALS.
MARGO AND GENE BENNETT HAD JUST COMMITTED FRAUD.
MARGO CLAIMED IT WAS GENE'S IDEA
BUT SAID SHE WENT ALONG IN AN EFFORT TO SAVE HER MARRIAGE.
NOW SHE WAS WORRIED SHE WAS IN OVER HER HEAD.
IT SEEMED AS IF
THE LINE BETWEEN GENE'S UNDERCOVER WORK WITH CRIMINALS
WAS BECOMING BLURRED WITH HIS REAL LIFE.
THERE'S A TIME WHEN YOU THOUGHT YOU HAD LOST
A VERY EXPENSIVE RING GENE HAD GIVEN YOU.
AND HE FILED AN INSURANCE CLAIM ON IT, RIGHT?
YES.
WHAT ULTIMATELY HAPPENED?
I HAD TO MAKE A POLICE REPORT ON IT.
THE INSURANCE COMPANY PAID OFF.
THE NEXT CHRISTMAS, I GOT A VERY, VERY, VERY SIMILAR RING
FOR CHRISTMAS.
WERE YOU WORRIED THAT MAYBE
HE HAD TAKEN THE RING, LIED ABOUT IT
SO HE COULD GET A CHECK FOR THE INSURANCE COMPANY?
I WAS CONCERNED ABOUT IT.
I WAS WORRIED THAT, "HERE WE GO AGAIN."
THE INSURANCE PAYOFF ON THE RING WAS BIG -- $12,000.
ALL OF IT WAS BEGINNING TO TAKE A TOLL ON MARGO.
SHE SAYS HER MARRIAGE
WAS STARTING TO FEEL LIKE A DEAD END.
I WAS JUST KIND OF NUMB.
I JUST WASN'T GIVING ANYTHING TO IT,
AND I WASN'T GETTING ANYTHING OUT OF IT.
I HAD TWO YOUNG CHILDREN.
I PRETTY MUCH FELT LIKE I WAS CAUGHT.
I WAS JUST KIND OF STUCK, AND MY THOUGHTS WERE,
"I'LL JUST STICK THIS OUT UNTIL THE KIDS ARE OLDER,
AND THEN I'LL LEAVE."
BUT THEN SOMETHING UNEXPECTED HAPPENED.
MARGO MET SOMEONE
WHO WOULD CHANGE THE WAY SHE LOOKED AT LIFE --
BEST-SELLING CRIME WRITER PATRICIA CORNWELL,
CREATOR OF THE CHARACTER KAY SCARPETTA,
ONE OF FICTION'S MOST POPULAR SLEUTHS.
HOW DID YOU MEET PATRICIA CORNWELL?
SHE WAS INTRODUCED TO ME BY ANOTHER AGENT AT THE ACADEMY.
WE SAW EACH OTHER QUITE A BIT.
AND WE TALKED A LOT. WE DEVELOPED A FRIENDSHIP.
AND WHEN DID YOU REALIZE THERE WAS MORE TO YOUR FRIENDSHIP?
EMOTIONS STARTED BUBBLING UP A COUPLE OF MONTHS INTO IT.
THE ATTRACTION WAS THERE.
AND MARGO BEGAN TO EXPLORE HER COMPLICATED EMOTIONS.
SEVERAL TIMES THAT PATRICIA CORNWELL CAME OVER
FOR DINNER AT MARGO'S HOUSE,
PATRICIA CORNWELL WOULD HOLD MARGO'S HAND,
AND THEN ONCE THEY GOT BACK TO PATRICIA'S ROOM, THEY WOULD HUG.
AND THE THIRD TIME, THEY HUGGED AND HUGGED,
AND THEN MARGO KISSED PATRICIA.
Zahn: THEIR FRIENDSHIP WAS GROWING INTO A LOVE AFFAIR.
SHE HAD GONE TO PATRICIA CORNWELL'S HOUSE,
AND THEY MADE LOVE
AND SPENT THE NIGHT TOGETHER AFTER A BOOK-SIGNING.
DID YOU FALL IN LOVE WITH PATSY?
NO, NO.
I WOULD SAY IT WAS PROBABLY MORE INFATUATION.
I HAD BEEN SO ASLEEP IN MY MARRIAGE.
ALL OF A SUDDEN, I REALIZED, "HEY, WAIT A MINUTE.
I'M KIND OF A SPECIAL PERSON."
Zahn: IT HAD BEEN A LONG TIME
SINCE GENE MADE MARGO FEEL SPECIAL.
AND NOW AN UNHAPPY MARRIAGE
HAD GOTTEN MUCH MORE CONFUSING.
ONCE YOUR FRIENDSHIP WITH PATRICIA CORNWELL GREW DEEPER
AND YOU HAD A PHYSICAL RELATIONSHIP,
HOW FEARFUL WERE YOU THAT GENE WAS GONNA FIND OUT ABOUT IT?
SHE WAS MORE FEARFUL OF THAT THAN I WAS.
WHAT WAS SHE AFRAID OF?
SHE WAS AFRAID THAT HE WOULD HARM HER...
AND/OR ME.
[ CAMERA SHUTTER CLICKING ]
MARGO AND PATRICIA DECIDED
IT WAS BEST TO END THEIR SHORT-LIVED ROMANCE.
I KNEW I NEEDED TO FOCUS ON DISMANTLING MY MARRIAGE,
AND I COULDN'T DO THAT AND HAVE THIS GOING ON ON THE SIDE.
AND SHE DIDN'T WANT IT EITHER,
AND SO IT WAS A MUTUAL UNDERSTANDING
THAT, YOU KNOW, "LET'S JUST BE FRIENDS."
FOR MARGO, THE RELATIONSHIP WITH ANOTHER WOMAN
WAS AN AWAKENING AND A REALITY CHECK.
SHE BEGAN TO FOCUS ON GETTING OUT OF HER MARRIAGE.
WHAT WAS THE BREAKING POINT IN YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH GENE?
IT WAS KIND OF LIKE A BUNCH OF THINGS WERE COMING AT ONE TIME.
THE RELATIONSHIP I HAD WITH PATSY
WAS FORCING RIGHT IN FRONT OF MY FACE
ME TO DEAL WITH "WHO AM I?"
IT WAS LIKE THE THIRD AND FINAL WARNING SHOT.
"I HAVE TO GET OUT OF THIS."
THAT WAS IT.
CONFIDENT SHE WAS MAKING THE RIGHT DECISION,
MARGO SECRETLY SOUGHT THE ADVICE OF A DIVORCE ATTORNEY.
GENE AND I HAD ALREADY TALKED DIVORCE,
AND HE HAD MADE IT CLEAR THAT IF I WANTED TO GO, FINE,
BUT THE KIDS WERE NOT GOING.
AND SO MY ATTORNEY HAD TOLD ME,
"YOU NEED TO LEAVE AND TAKE THE KIDS WITH YOU,
AND THAT WILL FORCE EVERYTHING INTO COURT."
MARGO RENTED A TOWNHOUSE
AND PREPARED TO MOVE THERE WITH HER DAUGHTERS.
BUT GENE FOUND OUT
AND WASTED NO TIME IN TURNING THE TABLES ON HIS WIFE.
HE FILED HIS OWN DIVORCE PAPERS, ACCUSING MARGO OF ABANDONMENT.
ON THE ADVICE OF HER ATTORNEY,
MARGO DIDN'T MOVE INTO THE TOWNHOUSE
AND CONTINUED LIVING WITH GENE.
THEIR LIFE TOGETHER QUICKLY TURNED INTO A NIGHTMARE.
IT WAS JUST ABUSIVE.
GENE WAS YELLING AT ME, CALLING ME NAMES.
HE WAS KEEPING ME UP ALL NIGHT LONG.
HE WAS ACCUSING ME OF TRYING TO STEAL HIS CHILDREN FROM HIM.
AT WORK, MARGO'S CLOSE FRIEND AND MENTOR JOHN HESS
SENSED SOMETHING WAS TERRIBLY WRONG.
I MEAN, SHE LOOKED JUST HAGGARD,
LIKE SHE HAD BEEN BEATEN WITH A STICK.
THERE WAS NO PHYSICAL ABUSE OR ANYTHING.
SHE JUST LOOKED EXHAUSTED.
JOHN HESS LOOKED AT ME AND THOUGHT,
"WHAT THE HELL'S HAPPENED WITH YOU, KID?"
Zahn: OVERTIRED AND OVERWHELMED,
MARGO BROKE DOWN AND TOLD HER FRIEND EVERYTHING,
ABOUT THE DETERIORATION OF HER MARRIAGE,
HER AFFAIR WITH ANOTHER WOMAN, AND THE RELOCATION SCAM.
SHE HAD INDICATED THAT SHE WAS NOT HAPPY,
THAT GENE HAD SUCKED HER INTO AN ILLEGAL OPERATION.
AND AS TIME WENT ON, SHE BEGAN TO REALIZE,
"I'M LIVING WITH A FELON."
JOHN WAS SAYING, "MARGO, YOU GOT TO STAND UP FOR YOURSELF.
YOU HAVE GOT TO TELL PEOPLE WHAT HE IS AND WHAT'S HAPPENED."
AND THAT'S WHEN I DECIDED, "OKAY, IT'S TIME TO COME CLEAN."
Zahn: MARGO DECIDED TO TELL THE FBI
ALL ABOUT THE FRAUD THAT HAD NETTED THEM $17,000.
WERE YOU WORRIED ABOUT WHAT THE CONSEQUENCES WOULD BE
OF BASICALLY TURNING YOUR HUSBAND IN TO THE FBI
FOR ILLEGAL ACTIVITY?
I WAS LOOKING AT IT FROM THE STANDPOINT OF,
"HERE'S WHY I CAN'T LIVE WITH THIS MAN ANY LONGER.
"IF I WIND UP TAKING A HIT FOR THIS, THEN SO BE IT,
BUT I'M NOT GONNA LIE ANYMORE."
AND EVEN THOUGH IT MEANT
ADMITTING HER OWN ROLE IN THE SCAM, MARGO TOOK A STAND.
SHE WAS GOING TO TAKE GENE DOWN.
FINALLY, SHE DECIDED,
"IF WE'RE GOING TO HAVE THIS WAR...
WE'RE GOING TO HAVE THE WHOLE WAR."
Zahn: COMING UP, MARGO'S DISPUTE WITH GENE ERUPTS IN VIOLENCE.
HE HAD ME DOWN, HE HAD ME PINNED,
AND HE WAS USING THE TASER ON MY HEAD.
I THOUGHT I WAS GONNA DIE.
MARGO BENNETT KNEW
HER MARRIAGE TO A FELLOW FBI AGENT WAS FALLING APART.
THE TWO HAD COMMITTED FRAUD,
AND MARGO COULDN'T LIVE WITH THE IDEA
THAT THEY WERE COMMON CRIMINALS.
SHE DECIDED TO TELL THE BUREAU EVERYTHING SHE KNEW.
SHE ALSO BRACED HERSELF FOR HER HUSBAND'S REACTION.
Rother: SHE JUST BASICALLY SAID,
"YOU KNOW, I'M MARRIED TO A LIAR AND A CHEAT AND A THIEF."
AND SO AFTER THAT, A WHOLE INVESTIGATION STARTED.
Zahn: THERE WAS NO TURNING BACK.
MARGO HAD ACCUSED HER HUSBAND OF FRAUD
AND HAD THE DOCUMENTS TO PROVE IT.
ON MARCH 24, 1993,
A FEDERAL GRAND JURY INDICTED GENE AND HIS ACCOMPLICES.
MARGO WORRIED ABOUT GENE SEEKING REVENGE.
HOW AFRAID WERE YOU AT THAT POINT?
I KNEW HE HATED ME FOR WHAT I WAS CAUSING IN HIS LIFE.
FOUR MONTHS AFTER THE INDICTMENT,
GENE WAS SUSPENDED FROM THE FBI.
HIS CAREER WAS OVER.
BY NOW, MARGO HAD MOVED OUT OF THE HOUSE.
BUT SINCE SHE SHARED CUSTODY OF THE KIDS,
THERE WAS NO AVOIDING GENE.
MARGO HAD HER GUARD UP, BUT NOTHING COULD PREPARE HER
FOR WHAT HAPPENED THE MORNING OF JUNE 19th,
WHEN SHE WENT TO PICK UP HER DAUGHTERS AT GENE'S HOUSE.
HE CAME OUT THAT DAY WITH THEIR BACKPACKS,
AND WHEN HE GOT TO ME, HE DROPPED THE BACKPACKS,
AND HE HAD A TASER IN HIS HAND.
IT WAS LIKE IN A FLASH, I KNEW THIS WAS GONNA BE BAD.
AND I TOOK OFF RUNNING,
BUT WITHIN A COUPLE STEPS, HE HAD ME.
SO, LITERALLY, WITHIN SECONDS
OF YOUR SEEING THAT HE HAD A TASER GUN, YOU WERE STRUCK.
YES.
HE GRABBED ME AND DRUG ME INTO THE GARAGE.
AND WE STRUGGLED. HE HAD ME DOWN.
HE HAD ME PINNED, AND HE WAS USING THE TASER ON MY HEAD.
MARGO WAS IN A FIGHT FOR HER LIFE,
STRUGGLING WITH EVERYTHING SHE HAD TO BREAK FREE.
BUT SHE WAS NO MATCH
AGAINST THE REPEATED STRIKES OF GENE'S TASER GUN.
SO, WITH EACH SUCCESSIVE HIT OF THE TASER,
YOU KNEW YOU WERE GETTING WEAKER,
AND YOU KNEW THERE WAS JUST NO WAY YOU COULD OVERPOWER HIM.
I COULDN'T OVERPOWER HIM.
BY THE TIME HE HIT ME THAT LAST TIME WITH THE TASER,
I HAD NOTHING LEFT IN ME.
I COULDN'T FIGHT HIM ANY LONGER.
MARGO COLLAPSED.
HE PUT A PAIR OF HANDCUFFS ON ME,
AND HE TOOK ME INTO THE HOUSE.
AND HE PUT ME ON THE KITCHEN FLOOR.
WERE YOU PLEADING FOR YOUR LIFE AT THAT POINT?
I WAS TELLING HIM, "GENE, DON'T DO THIS,"
AND ASKING HIM IF HE WAS GOING TO KILL ME.
HE HANDCUFFED MY LEGS TOGETHER, MY FEET,
AND HE TOOK ME OUTSIDE AND PUT ME IN THE TRUNK OF THE CAR.
AND WE LEFT.
INSIDE THE SWELTERING TRUNK, MARGO'S MIND WAS RACING.
I THOUGHT HE WAS GONNA TAKE ME SOMEWHERE
AND SHOOT ME AND DUMP ME SOMEWHERE.
I MEAN, I THOUGHT THAT THIS WAS IT.
YOU HAD TO BE TERRIFIED.
IT WAS... MORE THAN TERRIFYING.
I MEAN, HOW DO YOU DESCRIBE THAT?
IT WAS A POINT WHERE I THOUGHT I WAS GONNA DIE.
THEN, AS MARGO BRACED FOR DEATH,
GENE DELIVERED AN UNEXPECTED PIECE OF NEWS.
IT WAS ABOUT THEIR CHILDREN.
SHOCKINGLY, HE SAID HE DIDN'T WANT TO HURT HER
AND THEY WERE GOING TO HAVE TO WORK TOGETHER
BECAUSE THEIR DAUGHTERS HAD BEEN KIDNAPPED
BY HIS ACCOMPLICES IN THE HOME-RELOCATION SCAM.
HE DIDN'T KNOW WHERE THEY WERE
AND THAT THEY WERE GOING TO HURT THE KIDS
IF I TESTIFIED IN COURT.
GENE SAID THE KIDNAPPERS FORCED HIM TO ABDUCT HER
AND WERE WATCHING THEIR EVERY MOVE.
THEY WANTED GENE TO SILENCE HER.
HE SAID EITHER HE WAS GONNA HAVE TO KILL ME
OR THEY WERE GONNA HAVE TO STASH ME SOMEPLACE
THROUGH THE TRIAL
OR I WAS GONNA HAVE TO LIE ON THE STAND.
AND I TOLD HIM THAT I WAS QUITE WILLING TO LIE ON THE STAND
IF IT MEANT SAVING MY CHILDREN'S LIVES.
AFTER A LONG, HOT DAY
SPENT TIED UP AND ALONE IN THE VAN,
MARGO AGREED TO THE PLAN.
GENE REMOVED HER HANDCUFFS
AND TOOK HER TO A HOTEL TO AWAIT THE TRIAL.
DURING THE NIGHT,
MARGO WAS HORRIFIED WHEN GENE DEMANDED SEX.
HE WANTED TO HAVE SEX, AND I DIDN'T WANT TO,
AND HE...
INSISTED, AND I GAVE IN.
I JUST COULDN'T FIGHT. I HAD NO FIGHT LEFT IN ME.
I COULDN'T DO IT.
SO IT HAPPENED.
HOW DID THAT MAKE YOU FEEL?
LIKE DIRT.
TOTALLY WORTHLESS.
HE OWNED ME AT THAT POINT.
I HAD NOTHING LEFT.
GENE TOLD MARGO TO STAY IN THE HOTEL
FOR THE NEXT FEW DAYS
UNTIL PROSECUTORS NEEDED HER IN COURT.
HE SAID THE KIDNAPPERS WOULDN'T RELEASE THEIR DAUGHTERS
UNTIL AFTER SHE TESTIFIED.
DESPERATE, MARGO FELT SHE HAD NO CHOICE BUT TO OBEY GENE.
SHE THOUGHT HER DAUGHTERS' LIVES WERE IN DANGER
AND WOULD DO ANYTHING TO GET THEM BACK.
DAYS LATER, GENE'S FRAUD TRIAL BEGAN.
AS MARGO WALKED INTO THE COURTROOM,
SHE COULD FEEL HER HUSBAND'S GLARE.
SHE STARTED TO TREMBLE.
I WAS STILL UNDER THE CONTROLLED BELIEF
THAT I HAD TO DO THIS.
AS SHE TOOK THE STAND,
ALL MARGO COULD THINK ABOUT WAS,
"GET THROUGH THIS.
GET YOUR DAUGHTERS HOME SAFE AND SOUND."
WALK US THROUGH WHAT HAPPENED IN COURT.
I TOLD THEM THAT I MADE UP EVERYTHING I HAD SAID
AND THAT THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG
WITH THE TRANSACTION THAT HAD OCCURRED
AND THAT ALL OF THE INFORMATION I HAD PROVIDED THEM WAS FALSE.
EVERYONE IN THE COURTROOM WAS SHOCKED BY HER TESTIMONY.
THE JUDGE STOPPED THE PROCEEDINGS
AND TOLD MARGO TO CONSULT WITH HER ATTORNEYS.
BUT SHE REFUSED TO TALK.
FINALLY, MARGO AGREED TO SPEAK
WITH ONE PERSON AND ONE PERSON ONLY,
HER OLD FRIEND AND COLLEAGUE JOHN HESS.
AND I JUST TOLD HIM, "A" TO "Z,"
EVERYTHING THAT HAD HAPPENED.
AND I TOLD HIM, "I DON'T KNOW WHERE MY KIDS ARE.
I DON'T KNOW."
AND HE INTERRUPTED ME AND SAID,
"MY GOD, MARGO, LOOK AT WHAT HE'S DOING.
CAN'T YOU TELL WHAT HE'S DOING?"
I TRIED TO ASSURE HER, "THIS DID NOT HAPPEN.
IT MAKES NO SENSE AT ALL. HE'S LYING TO YOU."
SHE BOUGHT INTO THIS HOOK, LINE, AND SINKER
BECAUSE HE KNEW WHAT BUTTON TO PUSH.
IT WAS HER KIDS.
I STARTED TO REALIZE THAT,
"OH, MAN. WHAT IF GENE IS JUST MAKING ALL THIS UP?"
BUT I STILL DIDN'T KNOW WHERE MY KIDS WERE.
AND SO I WAS AT THIS POINT WHERE...
"WHAT DO I DO? YOU KNOW, WHAT DO I DO?
I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO HERE."
AND JOHN TOLD ME, "COME ON, KID.
YOU JUST GOT TO TELL THEM ABOUT THIS."
AND SO I DID.
Zahn: AFTER MARGO TOLD HER LAWYERS
ABOUT THE TWISTED TALE OF HER ABDUCTION,
SHE DISCOVERED THE HARD TRUTH.
WHEN DID YOU FIND OUT GENE HAD BEEN LYING ALL ALONG?
MY DIVORCE ATTORNEY TOLD ME
THAT THE GIRLS WERE STAYING AT THE BABYSITTER'S HOUSE,
THAT THEY HAD BEEN THERE ALL ALONG.
MARGO'S ATTORNEY SET UP A MEETING WITH THE FBI,
BUT THE AGENTS HAD A HARD TIME BELIEVING HER STORY.
NOBODY BELIEVED THAT GENE WOULD HAVE DONE SUCH A CRAZY THING.
Zahn: EVENTUALLY,
GENE PLED GUILTY TO THE HOME-RELOCATION SCAM
AND WAS SENTENCED TO ONE YEAR IN PRISON.
BECAUSE GENE DENIED THE KIDNAPPING HAD EVER HAPPENED,
THE INCIDENT BECAME A HE SAID/SHE SAID,
AND HE WAS NEVER CHARGED IN THE ATTACK.
BUT MARGO'S CHILLING TALE WAS NOT OVER.
SHE KNEW GENE WOULD SOON BE A FREE MAN
AND WAS CERTAIN HE'D BE LOOKING FOR REVENGE.
COMING UP, MARGO'S MOMENT OF TRUTH
IN HER LONG BATTLE WITH GENE.
I WAS GETTING SET TO FIGHT FOR MY LIFE
IF THAT'S WHAT I NEEDED TO DO.
MARGO BENNETT STAYED MARRIED TO HER HUSBAND, GENE,
DURING THE TIME HE WAS IN PRISON.
MARGO'S ATTORNEY ADVISED HER
NOT TO ASK FOR A DIVORCE WHILE HE WAS BEHIND BARS
BECAUSE IT COULD BACKFIRE IN A CHILD-CUSTODY HEARING.
NOW MARGO DREADED EACH PASSING DAY
AS SHE WAITED FOR HER HUSBAND'S RELEASE.
WHEN MARGO TOLD HER FRIENDS
THAT HER ATTORNEY ADVISED HER TO HOLD OFF ON DIVORCE PROCEEDINGS,
THEY BEGGED HER TO GET A NEW ATTORNEY.
YOU HAVE A GUY IN JAIL.
[ Chuckling ] YOU OUGHT TO BE ABLE TO OUTMANEUVER HIM
IN A DIVORCE PROCEEDING, FOR HEAVEN'S SAKES.
Zahn: BUT MARGO WAS DRIVEN BY THE FEAR OF LOSING HER CHILDREN.
GENE KNEW ABOUT HER AFFAIR WITH PATRICIA CORNWELL,
AND HE WAS PREPARED TO USE IT AGAINST HER.
SHE DIDN'T WANT TO TAKE ANY MORE RISKS,
SO SHE FOLLOWED HER ATTORNEY'S ADVICE.
THEN, RIGHT ON SCHEDULE, GENE WAS RELEASED.
ONCE GENE WAS RELEASED FROM PRISON,
HOW DID THE TWO OF YOU LIVE YOUR LIVES?
THERE WAS NO CHANGE
IN THE ORIGINAL CUSTODY AGREEMENT THAT WE HAD.
IT WAS A TEMPORARY CUSTODY AGREEMENT,
WHERE HE HAD THEM PART OF THE WEEK,
I HAD THEM PART OF THE WEEK.
WHEN SHE WOULD DROP OFF AND PICK UP HER GIRLS,
MARGO WAS FORCED TO COME FACE-TO-FACE
WITH THE MAN WHO HAD ATTACKED HER.
SO, AFTER THE ABDUCTION,
GENE NEVER SAID A SINGLE WORD ABOUT WHAT HE HAD DONE TO YOU.
NO. NO.
ALMOST AS THOUGH IT HADN'T HAPPENED.
CORRECT. THAT'S RIGHT.
BUT MARGO REMEMBERED IT ALL TOO WELL
AND WASN'T ABOUT TO LET HER GUARD DOWN.
I DIDN'T GO ANYWHERE
WITHOUT A GUN IN MY PURSE AND PEPPER SPRAY IN MY HAND.
IT WAS JUST CAUTION ALL THE TIME.
SHE ABSOLUTELY KNEW IN HER HEART
THAT IT WAS NOT IF HE WAS GONNA ATTACK HER, BUT WHEN.
Zahn: IN THE YEAR THAT GENE HAD BEEN IN PRISON,
MARGO HAD MADE CHANGES IN HER LIFE.
SHE WAS NO LONGER WITH THE FBI.
SHE NOW WORKED IN CAMPUS SECURITY AT A COMMUNITY COLLEGE.
SHE ALSO BECAME INVOLVED IN A CHURCH,
HELPING OUT IN A PROGRAM
THAT COUNSELS WOMEN HAVING MARITAL PROBLEMS.
THEY LISTEN AND JUST PROVIDE A COMFORT
AND AN OUTLET FOR THE PERSON.
Zahn: PASTOR EDWIN CLEVER
KNEW ABOUT MARGO'S HISTORY WITH HER HUSBAND.
SHE HAD CONFIDED IN HIM
WHEN SHE FIRST GOT INVOLVED WITH THE PROGRAM.
THE CHURCH ALSO OPERATED A FOOD PANTRY
THAT HANDED OUT GROCERIES TO THE NEEDY.
ONE DAY, A MAN CALLED IN SAYING HIS COMPANY WANTED TO DONATE.
AFTER MISSING AN APPOINTMENT, HE CALLED AND ASKED THE PASTOR
TO MEET HIM AT THE CHURCH AT 9:00 P.M.
EDWIN RELUCTANTLY AGREED TO MEET THE MAN
AND LEFT HIS TWO KIDS AT HOME.
Clever: I CAME IN THROUGH THE FRONT DOORS,
AND AS I WALKED IN,
I SAW THAT THERE WERE MAGAZINES ON THE FLOOR.
SO I PICKED THEM UP
AND TOOK THEM DOWN TO THIS END OF THE HALLWAY,
WHERE WE USED TO HAVE A LITERATURE RACK.
AND AS I WAS PUTTING THEM IN THE LITERATURE RACK,
THIS MAN JUMPED OUT OF THE STAIRWELL...
...WITH A SKI MASK ON AND WITH A GUN POINTED AT ME,
SAYING, "DO YOU WANT TO LIVE?"
Zahn: IT WAS A TERRIFYING MOMENT.
PASTOR CLEVER HAD NO IDEA WHO THE MAN WAS OR WHAT HE WANTED.
THE MAN CUFFED HIS HANDS AND ANKLES
AND STRAPPED A FANNY PACK AROUND HIM, SAYING IT WAS A BOMB.
HE THEN TIED THE PASTOR TO A CHAIR
AND PUT A BAG OVER HIS HEAD.
HE BEGAN TO TALK ABOUT MARGO,
ONLY HE DIDN'T USE THAT NAME. HE USED HER FULL NAME.
BUT HE BEGAN TALKING ABOUT MARGO,
AND THEN I BEGAN TO THINK, "OH, THIS IS HER ESTRANGED HUSBAND."
Zahn: THE ASSAILANT SAID HE HAD COME TO INVESTIGATE CHARGES
THAT MARGO WAS EMBEZZLING CHURCH FUNDS.
THE MASKED MAN WANTED THE PASTOR TO CALL MARGO
AND GET HER TO COME TO THE CHURCH.
THE PASTOR REFUSED
UNTIL HE OVERHEARD GENE TALKING TO SOMEONE ELSE ON THE PHONE
WHO WAS APPARENTLY AT HIS HOUSE.
HE SEEMED TO KNOW EVERYTHING THAT WAS HAPPENING AT MY HOUSE,
SO MY GREATEST FEAR WAS THAT HE HAD SOMEBODY WITH MY CHILDREN.
Zahn: WORRIED ABOUT HIS OWN KIDS' WELFARE,
PASTOR CLEVER RELUCTANTLY DID AS THE MAN SAID
AND CALLED MARGO A LITTLE AFTER 11:00 P.M.
HE SAID SOMEONE FROM THE CHURCH NEEDED HER COUNSEL
AND ASKED HER TO COME DOWN.
IT WAS AN ODD REQUEST TO MAKE SO LATE AT NIGHT,
BUT THE PASTOR WAS UNABLE TO WARN HER SOMETHING WAS WRONG.
BUT ALMOST IMMEDIATELY, SHE SAID, "SURE, I'LL COME,"
AND HUNG UP THE PHONE.
Zahn: BACK AT MARGO'S HOUSE,
SHE GRABBED HER PURSE, WHICH HAD HER GUN INSIDE.
BUT SHE COULDN'T FIND
THE PEPPER SPRAY SHE ALWAYS CARRIED WITH HER.
SHE ALMOST LEFT WITHOUT IT.
I KNEW EDWIN WAS WAITING, SO I WENT ON OUT TO THE CAR
AND THEN THOUGHT BETTER OF IT
AND CAME BACK INSIDE THE HOUSE AND LOOKED AGAIN,
AND THE PEPPER SPRAY WAS RIGHT THERE ON THE COUNTER,
WHERE I HAD FAILED TO SEE IT.
WHEN MARGO GOT TO THE CHURCH,
THE MASKED MAN SPRANG OUT OF THE SANCTUARY AND YELLED AT HER.
SHE IMMEDIATELY KNEW IT WAS GENE, AND SHE WAS READY.
I HAD THE PEPPER SPRAY IN MY HAND,
AND I JUST RAISED MY HAND, AND I SHOT IT IN HIS DIRECTION,
AND HE STAGGERED BACK.
SHE HIT HIM IN THE FACE WITH THE PEPPER SPRAY
AND LITERALLY DOVE INTO THE OFFICE
AND TOOK UP A SIEGE POSITION, IF YOU WILL,
BEHIND THE DESK IN THAT OFFICE.
Zahn: GENE KEPT TRYING TO COME INTO THE PASTOR'S OFFICE,
WHERE MARGO WAS NOW BEHIND A DESK.
SHE CONTINUED TO HIT HIM WITH PEPPER SPRAY,
TRYING TO KEEP HIM AT BAY
UNTIL SHE WAS FINALLY ABLE TO FISH HER GUN OUT OF HER PURSE.
HE WAS YELLING THAT ALL HE WANTED TO DO WAS TALK
AND THAT IF HE WANTED TO SHOOT ME,
HE COULD HAVE HAD ME ANYWHERE.
I WAS NOT COMING OUT, AND I KEPT TELLING HIM THAT --
"I AM NOT COMING OUT."
I WAS GETTING SET TO FIGHT FOR MY LIFE,
IF THAT'S WHAT I NEEDED TO DO.
MARGO TOOK A DEEP BREATH
AND PLACED HER FINGER ON THE TRIGGER OF HER GUN.
SHE THEN DESPERATELY CALLED OUT TO PASTOR CLEVER.
AND I TOLD HIM THAT I THOUGHT WE WERE GONNA DIE,
AND EDWIN -- EDWIN -- I CAN STILL HEAR HIM SIGH
AND SAY, "I WAS AFRAID OF THAT."
AND THE NEXT TIME GENE POPPED HIS HEAD AROUND THE CORNER,
I FIRED.
[ GUNSHOT ]
I ACTUALLY SAW THE FLASH, AND I THOUGHT,
"OH, THIS IS REALLY IT, ISN'T IT?"
Zahn: IT WAS KILL OR BE KILLED.
THE SHOT SEEMED TO RATTLE GENE. HE GOT VERY QUIET.
NOW MARGO HAD NO IDEA WHERE HE WAS.
SHE CALLED 911 ON SPEAKERPHONE.
I WAS YELLING, "GENE, ARE YOU STILL OUT THERE?
WHY DON'T YOU JUST LEAVE?"
AND I WAS YELLING,
"EDWIN, DO YOU HAVE EXPLOSIVES AROUND YOUR WAIST?"
I WAS TRYING TO TELL THE DISPATCHER
SOMETHING THAT WAS GOING ON
SO THEY WOULD HURRY UP AND GET SOME PEOPLE THERE.
EVENTUALLY, MARGO PICKED UP THE PHONE
AND SAID SHE WAS A FORMER FBI AGENT
BEING THREATENED BY A MAN
WHO WAS TRYING TO KILL HER AND HER PASTOR.
SHE MADE IT CLEAR THAT SHE WAS ARMED
AND WOULD USE FORCE IF NECESSARY.
SHE WAS VERY ADAMANT
THAT SHE WASN'T GOING TO PUT DOWN HER WEAPON
AND SHE WASN'T GONNA COME OUT OF THE CHURCH
UNTIL SHE WAS SATISFIED THAT THE GOOD GUYS WERE THERE.
Zahn: WHEN OFFICERS ARRIVED, THEY CALLED THE BOMB SQUAD
TO EXAMINE THE FANNY PACK
THAT HAD BEEN WRAPPED AROUND PASTOR CLEVER.
IT TURNED OUT TO BE NOTHING MORE THAN PLAY-DOH.
BUT GENE WAS NOWHERE TO BE FOUND,
AND THE POLICE NEEDED TO TRACK HIM DOWN
BEFORE HE COULD STRIKE AGAIN.
COMING UP, A DESPERATE, DANGEROUS MAN ON THE LOOSE.
Willett: 911 RECEIVED AN EMERGENCY CALL FROM HIM
CLAIMING IN A RATHER HYSTERICAL FASHION
THAT HE HAD BEEN ATTACKED BY HIS WIFE,
THAT SHE TRIED TO BLOW HIM UP.
Zahn: WANT MORE "ON THE CASE"?
GO TO...
...AND VIEW MORE EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEWS
AND BEHIND-THE-SCENES VIDEO.
GENE BENNETT HAD JUST AMBUSHED HIS WIFE, MARGO,
INSIDE HER CHURCH.
POLICE WERE NOW SEARCHING FOR GENE,
WHO THEY BELIEVED WAS ARMED, DANGEROUS, AND ON THE RUN.
THE MANHUNT FOR GENE BENNETT WOULDN'T LAST LONG.
LESS THAN AN HOUR AFTER THE SIEGE AT THE CHURCH,
A BIZARRE CALL CAME INTO 911.
IT WAS GENE BENNETT.
NOW HE HAD BARRICADED HIMSELF INSIDE HIS HOUSE.
OUR LOCAL 911 RECEIVED AN EMERGENCY CALL FROM HIM
CLAIMING IN A RATHER HYSTERICAL FASHION
HAT HE HAD BEEN ATTACKED BY HIS WIFE,
THAT SHE TRIED TO BLOW HIM UP.
Zahn: FOR THE NEXT THREE HOURS, GENE STAYED ON THE PHONE,
REFUSING TO COME OUT OF THE HOUSE.
THE CONVERSATION TURNED DOWNRIGHT BIZARRE
WHEN HE SAID HE HAD AN ALTER EGO.
HIS STORY IS THAT HIS MIND HAS SPLIT
AND THAT THIS EVIL PERSON NAMED ED HAS TAKEN OVER
AND HE WAS THE ONE WHO WAS TRYING TO KILL MARGO.
[ GUNSHOT ]
Zahn: GENE FINALLY SURRENDERED AND WAS ARRESTED.
MEANWHILE, BACK AT THE CHURCH,
POLICE STARTED COLLECTING EVIDENCE,
AND THE DETAILS OF GENE'S STRANGE PLAN BEGAN TO EMERGE.
WE GATHERED A NUMBER OF ITEMS OF PHYSICAL EVIDENCE
OUT OF THE CHURCH,
INCLUDING SEVERAL BAGS, OR SATCHELS,
THAT MR. BENNETT HAD BROUGHT WITH HIM TO THE CHURCH.
Zahn: THE BAGS CONTAINED RESTRAINTS, GAGS,
AND SOME KIND OF EXPLOSIVE MATERIAL.
INVESTIGATORS ALSO FOUND A SET OF KEYS TO LOCKERS
AT NORTHERN VIRGINIA COMMUNITY COLLEGE,
THE PLACE WHERE MARGO BENNETT WORKED AS A SECURITY OFFICER.
THEY IMMEDIATELY WORRIED
THAT GENE MIGHT HAVE HIDDEN MORE BAGS OF EXPLOSIVES
SOMEWHERE ON CAMPUS.
GIVEN HIS THREAT AND THE FINDING OF THIS EXPLOSIVE MIXTURE
IN THE BAG OUTSIDE OF THE CHURCH,
WE BELIEVE THAT MR. BENNETT HAD THE MEANS
AND POSSIBLY HAD FOLLOWED THROUGH
ON HIS THREAT TO USE EXPLOSIVES TO CARRY OUT HIS CRIMES.
Zahn: AND THEY WERE RIGHT.
STASHED INSIDE LOCKERS,
INVESTIGATORS DISCOVERED TWO MORE BAGS.
THE CONTENTS OF ONE OF THEM WAS VERY DISTURBING.
Willett: THAT BAG CONTAINED A PIPE BOMB.
IT HAD VARIOUS SEXUAL DEVICES STRAPPED TO THE OUTSIDE OF IT,
BUT IT WAS A FULL-BLOWN WORKING PIPE BOMB.
Zahn: INVESTIGATORS HAD A THEORY
THAT GENE WAS TRYING TO MAKE IT LOOK LIKE
MARGO HAD PLANTED THOSE BAGS AT THE COLLEGE WHERE SHE WORKED.
HE WAS SETTING MARGO UP TO LOOK LIKE THIS CRAZY PERSON
WHO WOULD PUT BOMBS IN THE LOCKERS OF HER OWN BUILDINGS.
Zahn: THEN, AT GENE'S HOUSE,
DETECTIVES FOUND MORE EXPLOSIVE MATERIAL, A GUN,
AND ANOTHER BIZARRE TWIST TO THE STORY.
WHEN POLICE TRACED THE GUN, THEY FOUND OUT IT WAS REGISTERED
TO A WOMAN BY THE NAME OF MARY ANN KHALIFEH.
HE SAID, "I WOULD LIKE YOU TO PURCHASE A GUN, HANDGUN,
'CAUSE YOU MAY NEED IT."
MARY ANN MET GENE BENNETT MONTHS BEFORE,
WHEN SHE ANSWERED A JOB AD IN A LOCAL NEWSPAPER.
BASICALLY, IT WAS A VERY SHORT AD.
THERE WASN'T ANY DETAILS TO IT.
AND I WAS LOOKING TO START A NEW CAREER.
Zahn: THE AD WAS FOR SOMEONE
WHO WANTED TO TRAIN TO BECOME A PRIVATE INVESTIGATOR.
MARY ANN MET WITH THE MAN WHO CALLED HIMSELF EDWIN ADAMS,
NOT KNOWING THAT HIS REAL NAME WAS GENE BENNETT...
...OR THAT SHE HAD JUST SIGNED ON
TO BE A PAWN IN GENE'S SICK GAME OF REVENGE.
HE TOLD HER HE NEEDED HELP
INVESTIGATING AN EMBEZZLEMENT CASE.
HE EVEN PROMISED HER $35,000 FOR HER WORK.
ONCE MARY ANN HAD AGREED TO THE TERMS,
GENE WASTED NO TIME GIVING HER SOME STRANGE ASSIGNMENTS.
Khalifeh: HE HAD ME GO INTO THE BOWLING ALLEY AND LOOK AROUND
AND THEN COME BACK OUT AND TELL HIM WHAT I SAW.
SO, HE WANTED ME TO SHOW HIM HOW OBSERVANT I WAS.
COULD I RETAIN SOMETHING I SAW
ONLY AFTER A FEW MINUTES OF BEING SOMEWHERE?
Zahn: GENE'S DIRECTIVES GOT VERY SPECIFIC.
HE ASKED MARY ANN TO OPEN UP FOUR BANK ACCOUNTS
AND TO USE THEM TO TAKE OUT
A LIFE-INSURANCE POLICY ON HERSELF,
NAMING MARGO AND MARGO'S DAUGHTERS AS THE BENEFICIARIES.
MARY ANN DIDN'T UNDERSTAND WHAT THE OPERATION WAS ALL ABOUT.
I MEAN, I'D NEVER BEEN INVOLVED WITH PRIVATE INVESTIGATING.
I DIDN'T KNOW JUST WHAT HE WAS LEADING UP TO.
Zahn: THE ODD REQUESTS CONTINUED
ON THE NIGHT OF THE CHURCH ATTACK.
GENE TOLD HER THAT SHE WOULD BE DOING SURVEILLANCE
ON THE HOME OF ANOTHER CHURCH EMBEZZLER,
PASTOR EDWIN CLEVER.
AND HE EXPECTED REPORTS FROM HER THROUGHOUT THE NIGHT.
I WOULD CALL HIM AND SAY, "WELL, OKAY, I'M HERE, AND I'M WAITING.
WHAT AM I DOING HERE?"
Zahn: IT TURNS OUT THAT MARY ANN WAS THE PERSON
THAT THE PASTOR OVERHEARD GENE TALKING WITH ON THE PHONE
ABOUT HIS CHILDREN.
UNKNOWINGLY, SHE WAS ALSO THE PERSON
THAT GENE HAD PLANNED TO TAKE THE RAP
FOR THE MURDER OF HIS WIFE.
MY VIEW OF ALL THAT
IS THAT MARY ANN WAS GOING TO BE THE FALL GUY IN ALL THIS,
THAT HE WAS GOING TO KILL MARGO.
HE WAS GOING TO MAKE IT LOOK AS IF MARY ANN DID IT.
AND I THINK HE WAS GONNA KILL MARY ANN
AND MAKE IT LOOK LIKE A SUICIDE
AND REAP THE BENEFITS OF THE INSURANCE POLICY.
I JUST THANK THE LORD THAT I WAS, YOU KNOW, SAVED,
I DIDN'T GET KILLED, LIKE THEY THOUGHT I WAS GOING TO BE.
WHEN POLICE STARTED TO SHARE WITH YOU
THE DETAILS OF WHAT HE HAD PLANNED TO DO TO YOU,
WHAT WAS YOUR REACTION?
I GET IT THAT GENE HATES ME,
BUT DRAGGING MY PASTOR AND A TOTAL STRANGER INTO THIS SCHEME,
I COULDN'T BELIEVE IT.
Zahn: ON JANUARY 28, 1997, GENE BENNETT'S TRIAL BEGAN
BEFORE A PACKED VIRGINIA COURTROOM.
HE WAS FACING KIDNAPPING AND ATTEMPTED-MURDER CHARGES.
THE PROSECUTION CALLED MARGO BENNETT TO THE STAND.
WHAT WAS IT LIKE TO TESTIFY AGAINST GENE?
FOR ALL THE PEOPLE WHO DOUBTED WHAT HAPPENED IN '93,
IT WAS...THE MOMENT WHEN THEY NOW BELIEVED
THAT WHAT I SAID HAPPENED HAPPENED.
IT WAS THE OPPORTUNITY TO STAND UP FOR MYSELF.
GENE'S DEFENSE -- NOT GUILTY BY REASON OF INSANITY.
Rother: HE WAS BASICALLY SAYING
THAT BECAUSE HE HAD BEEN IN UNDERCOVER WORK FOR SO LONG
AND ALL THE STRESS AND STRAIN OF THE DIVORCE
AND GOING TO PRISON AND ALL THAT STUFF,
YOU KNOW, HIS BRAIN JUST SPLIT...
SO, YOU KNOW,
THAT HE REALLY WASN'T RESPONSIBLE FOR HIS ACTIONS.
Zahn: THE DEFENSE CALLED TWO PSYCHOLOGISTS
AND PLAYED THE THREE-HOUR 911 TAPE
WHERE GENE BLAMED HIS ALTER EGO, ED, FOR ATTACKING HIS WIFE.
HIS ATTORNEYS NEVER DISPUTED
THE BIZARRE DETAILS OF WHAT HAPPENED AT THE CHURCH.
NOW IT WOULD BE UP TO THE JURY TO DECIDE GENE'S FATE.
DESCRIBE YOUR EMOTIONS
WHEN YOU WERE WAITING FOR THE VERDICT TO COME DOWN.
VERY TENSE, VERY STRESSFUL,
BECAUSE I KNEW THAT IF THE JURY DIDN'T BELIEVE ME
AND HE GOT ACQUITTED,
THEN I WAS DEAD.
FINALLY, AFTER 12 HOURS OF DELIBERATION,
THE JURY REACHED ITS VERDICT -- GUILTY ON ALL NINE COUNTS.
JURORS RECOMMENDED 63 YEARS IN PRISON.
I WAS VERY RELIEVED AND JUST REALIZING THAT,
"OKAY, WE CAN HAVE A LIFE NOW.
WE CAN HAVE A LIFE NOW."
BUT MARGO'S RELIEF WAS SHORT-LIVED.
THE JUDGE UNEXPECTEDLY REDUCED GENE'S SENTENCE
TO JUST 23 YEARS,
CLAIMING THAT HE WAS TAKING INTO ACCOUNT
HIS YEARS OF SERVICE WITH THE FBI.
GENE BENNETT IS SCHEDULED TO BE RELEASED FROM PRISON IN 2016.
WITH THE THREAT OF RETALIATION LOOMING,
MARGO WORRIES ABOUT WHAT HER FUTURE HOLDS.
WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU FACE DOWN THE ROAD?
I KNOW THAT, UNLESS GENE CHANGES,
I KNOW HE HATES ME MORE TODAY THAN HE HATED ME THEN.
DOES THAT SCARE YOU?
YOU KNOW, I'M NOT GONNA SAY IT SCARES ME,
BECAUSE THEN THAT MEANS HE CONTROLS ME,
AND I'M NOT GONNA DO THAT.
I THINK, INSTEAD,
I WOULD SAY IT ANGERS ME, TO A BIT,
TO STILL HAVE THAT OVERBEARING SENSE
THAT SOMETHING'S OUT THERE, WAITING.
BUT DO YOU THINK YOUR REALITY SOMEDAY WILL BE...
...THAT I HAVE TO DEAL WITH HIM AGAIN?
YEAH. YEAH.
I THINK THAT'S OUT THERE.
WHILE SHE REMAINS CONCERNED
ABOUT THE DAY GENE WILL BE RELEASED,
MARGO SAYS SHE'S FINALLY AT PEACE WITH HERSELF
AND HAPPY BEING A NEW GRANDMOTHER.
I'M PAULA ZAHN.
JOIN US NEXT TIME WHEN WE'RE BACK ON THE CASE.