>> IT'S A SMALL TOWN OF 4,800
PEOPLE.
MURDERS JUST DON'T HAPPEN THERE.
>> THE STORY WAS HORRIFYING.
A 10-YEAR-OLD BOY KILLED BY A
MASKED INTRUDER.
>> THE POLICE CAME, AND THEN
THEY SAID THAT...
JOEL WASN'T ALIVE.
>> POLICE DEVELOP THEIR OWN
THEORY.
>> THIS WAS A STAGED SCENE.
THERE WAS NO INTRUDER.
>> AND THEY REACHED A CHILLING
CONCLUSION.
>> A MOTHER KILLING HER OWN
CHILD -- UNBELIEVABLE, BUT ALL
THE EVIDENCE KEPT POINTING BACK
TO JULIE.
>> A MOTHER CHARGED WITH KILLING
HER OWN SON.
>> I DIDN'T DO IT.
WHY WOULD ANY MOTHER HURT HER
CHILD?
>> WHAT SHRED OF HOPE DID YOU
HAVE THAT YOU WOULDN'T BE
SPENDING THE REST OF YOUR LIFE
IN PRISON?
[ SIREN WAILS ]
-- Captions by VITAC -- www.vitac.com
HI, I'M PAULA ZAHN.
TONIGHT, WE'RE ON THE CASE IN
THE SMALL TOWN OF LAWRENCEVILLE,
ILLINOIS, WHERE A CHILD'S
BLOOD-CURDLING SCREAM IN THE
MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT WOULD LEAD
TO A TERRIFYING DISCOVERY AND A
LONG AND TWISTED JOURNEY TO FIND
JUSTICE.
OCTOBER 13, 1997.
28-YEAR-OLD SINGLE MOTHER
JULIE REA WAS JOLTED OUT OF A
DEEP SLEEP.
>> I HEARD A SCREAM, AND IT WAS
LOUD.
IT SOUNDED LIKE IT WAS FROM
OUTSIDE.
>> JULIE'S THOUGHTS QUICKLY TURN
TO HER 10-YEAR-OLD SON, JOEL,
WHOSE ROOM WAS DOWN THE HALL.
>> IT HIT ME THAT MAYBE IT'S NOT
OUTSIDE.
MAYBE IT'S JOEL.
I THROW MY COVER BACK, RAN
STRAIGHT IN HIS ROOM.
AND I LOOKED DOWN AT HIS BED.
HE WASN'T THERE.
I SCREAMED, "JOEL."
>> INSTEAD OF AN ANSWER FROM HER
SON...
JULIE SAYS A SHADOWY FIGURE
SUDDENLY JUMPED HER FROM OUT OF
THE DARKNESS, KNOCKED HER DOWN,
AND QUICKLY RAN OFF.
SHE GAVE CHASE.
>> I RACED AFTER HIM JUST
STRAIGHT, AND THERE WAS A BIT OF
A STRUGGLE, 'CAUSE I WAS TRYING
TO GET THEM, AND THEY WERE
TRYING TO GET AWAY.
IT JUST ALL HAPPENED SO FAST.
>> DID THAT PERSON SAY ANYTHING?
>> NO.
>> A TERRIFYING THOUGHT FLASHED
THROUGH JULIE'S MIND -- THAT
JOEL HAD BEEN KIDNAPPED, AND THE
INTRUDER HAD SOMETHING TO DO
WITH IT.
SHE SAYS SHE GRABBED HOLD OF THE
INTRUDER'S LEG, DESPERATE TO
STOP HIM.
HE WAS SLENDER BUT POWERFUL, AND
HE DRAGGED JULIE DOWN THE HALL
UNTIL HE MANAGED TO BREAK FREE
AND RUN TOWARDS THE BACK DOOR.
JULIE JUMPED UP AND RAN AFTER
HIM AGAIN.
>> WE GOT TO THE BACK DOOR, AND
THEY COULDN'T GET THE DOOR TO
OPEN.
IT KIND OF STUCK.
>> SEEMINGLY TRAPPED IN THE
HOUSE, THE STRANGER SMASHED THE
GLASS OF THE DOOR AND RAN OUT
INTO THE BACKYARD.
ONCE AGAIN, JULIE RACED AFTER
HIM.
>> THE NEXT THING I REMEMBER, WE
WERE IN THE BACKYARD WRESTLING.
AT THIS POINT, I WAS THINKING,
"OH, MY GOD.
JOEL'S GONE," BECAUSE HE WASN'T
IN HIS BED, AND THIS WAS THE
ONLY LINK TO JOEL.
AND I ASSUMED JOEL HAD BEEN
KIDNAPPED, SO I'M HOLDING ON TO
THIS PERSON AS HARD AS I CAN.
>> JULIE HAD BEEN A TRACK STAR
IN SCHOOL AND WAS STILL VERY
FIT, BUT HER ATTACKER WAS
GETTING THE BETTER OF HER.
SHE SAYS HE POUNDED HER HEAD
INTO THE GROUND.
>> I THOUGHT, "THIS PERSON'S
GONNA KILL ME."
AND THEN IT STOPPED.
>> JULIE'S ASSAILANT HAD BEEN
WEARING A MASK THAT COVERED HIS
FACE, BUT NOW HE TOOK IT OFF AS
HE ESCAPED INTO THE WOODS.
COULD YOU MAKE OUT HIS FACE?
>> I COULD SEE, LIKE, HIS FACE
UNDER THE LIGHT A LITTLE BIT.
AND I THOUGHT, "OKAY, I CAN'T
CATCH HIM AND I'M OBVIOUSLY NOT
STRONG ENOUGH TO STOP HIM, AND
SO I HAVE TO RUN AND GET HELP."
>> JULIE RAN TO HER NEAREST
NEIGHBOR AND BANGED ON THE DOOR,
SCREAMING THAT SOMEONE HAD
KIDNAPPED JOEL.
THE NEIGHBOR CALLED 911, AND
WITHIN MINUTES, A
LAWRENCE COUNTY SHERIFF'S DEPUTY
ARRIVED.
[ SIREN WAILS ]
>> SHE TELLS THE POLICE SHE
BELIEVES JOEL MUST HAVE BEEN
KIDNAPPED, THERE MUST HAVE BEEN
TWO PEOPLE, AND THAT SHE WAS
FOLLOWING THE SECOND INDIVIDUAL.
[ SIREN WAILS ]
>> WHILE JULIE STAYED WITH HER
NEIGHBOR, THE DEPUTY WENT TO
JULIE'S HOUSE TO INVESTIGATE,
BUT HE COULDN'T GET IN THROUGH
THE FRONT DOOR.
IT WAS LOCKED.
HE WENT AROUND THE BACK AND
ENTERED THE HOUSE THROUGH THE
DOOR WITH THE BROKEN GLASS.
IN THE HALLWAY, HE MADE AN
ALARMING DISCOVERY -- A BLOODY
KNIFE.
THEN HE MADE HIS WAY INTO JOEL'S
ROOM.
WHEN HE TURNED ON THE LIGHTS AND
WALKED INSIDE, HE CAME ACROSS A
GRUESOME SIGHT.
ON THE FLOOR BETWEEN THE BED AND
THE WALL WAS 10-YEAR-OLD
JOEL KIRKPATRICK.
>> IT'S A BLOODY SCENE.
JOEL WAS STABBED OVER 10 TIMES.
HE WAS CUT IN THE CHEST AREA.
THERE WAS BLOOD SPATTER ALL OVER
THE ROOM, ALL OVER THE BED.
>> THE DEPUTY THOUGHT HE FELT A
SLIGHT PULSE, BUT BY THE TIME
THE AMBULANCE ARRIVED, IT WAS
GONE.
>> THE POLICE CAME, AND THEN...
AND THEN THEY SAID THAT...
JOEL WASN'T ALIVE.
>> JULIE'S ONLY CHILD, THE LIGHT
OF HER LIFE, WAS DEAD.
>> JOEL WAS EXCEPTIONAL.
HE WAS WONDERFUL. HE WAS A JOY.
EVERYBODY LOVED JOEL.
[ SIREN WAILS ]
>> POLICE NOW HAD TO FIGURE OUT
WHO WOULD MURDER AN INNOCENT
CHILD AND WHY?
THEY TURNED TO THEIR ONLY
WITNESS, JULIE REA.
BY THIS TIME, SHE HAD BEEN TAKEN
TO THE HOSPITAL FOR THE INJURIES
SHE SUSTAINED WHILE FIGHTING HER
ATTACKER.
>> SHE HERSELF SUFFERED A NUMBER
OF INJURIES WHEN HE SLAMMED HER
HEAD ON THE GROUND IN THE
BACKYARD.
SHE HAD A SIGNIFICANT CONTUSION
OVER HER EYE.
SHE HAD SCRAPES ON HER SHOULDER
AND HER BACK.
SHE HAD PUNCTURE WOUNDS ON THE
TOP OF HER FEET.
SHE HAD RUG BURNS ON HER KNEES.
>> JULIE TOOK INVESTIGATORS
THROUGH EVERYTHING THAT HAD
HAPPENED.
SHE THEN GAVE THEM A DETAILED
DESCRIPTION OF HER ATTACKER.
A POLICE ARTIST DREW A SKETCH.
>> IT WAS A BOY SHE DESCRIBED
BETWEEN THE AGES OF 14 AND 17,
DEFINITELY A BOY OF SLENDER
BUILD.
>> THE DESCRIPTION OF A TEENAGED
BOY WITH A SLIGHT BUILD SEEMED
AT ODDS WITH THE HORRIBLE
VIOLENCE COMMITTED IN JOEL'S
BEDROOM, BUT THE MASKED INTRUDER
WAS NOW THE FOCUS OF AN INTENSE
MANHUNT.
WOULD POLICE BE ABLE TO TRACK
HIM DOWN?
>> JOEL KIRKPATRICK'S MURDER WAS
A VICIOUS CRIME THAT LEFT
INVESTIGATORS WITH MORE
QUESTIONS THAN ANSWERS.
WHO WAS THE MASKED INTRUDER?
AND WHY WOULD HE KILL AN
INNOCENT 10-YEAR-OLD BOY?
LAWRENCEVILLE, ILLINOIS, HAD
NEVER SEEN A CRIME THIS
HORRIFIC.
IT WAS ALL ANYONE COULD TALK
ABOUT.
>> IT'S A SMALL TOWN OF 4,800
PEOPLE.
MURDERS JUST DON'T HAPPEN THERE.
>> RUMORS BEGAN CIRCULATING
AROUND TOWN ABOUT WHO THE KILLER
MIGHT BE.
SOMEONE EVEN BOASTED THAT HE HAD
COMMITTED THE CRIME HIMSELF.
>> THERE WAS A TEENAGER WHO
CLAIMED AND BRAGGED THAT A BUNCH
OF THEM WERE HAVING A PARTY AND
THAT THEY, IN THE MIDDLE OF THE
NIGHT -- THEY WENT AND DID IT.
>> INVESTIGATORS QUESTIONED THE
TEEN AND HIS FRIENDS.
IT TURNED OUT HE WAS NOWHERE
NEAR JULIE'S HOUSE.
>> THE POLICE RAN ALL THAT DOWN.
THEY INTERVIEWED EVERYBODY THEY
COULD, AND IT TURNED OUT HE MADE
IT UP.
[ BEEPING ]
>> ONE OF MANY CALLS POLICE
RECEIVED WAS FROM LAWRENCEVILLE
RESIDENT ALAN BERKSHIRE.
HE TOLD INVESTIGATORS THAT THE
DAY BEFORE JOEL'S MURDER, HE HAD
A RUN-IN AT A DINER WITH AN
OUT-OF-TOWNER.
>> THIS DRIFTER COMES IN AND
SAYS, "I BET YOU'RE AFRAID OF
ME."
AND ALAN BERKSHIRE SAYS, "WELL,
AT THAT POINT, I PIPED UP I
SAYS, 'I'M NOT AFRAID OF YOU.'"
AND THIS PERSON SAYS, IN KIND OF
A HIDEOUS WAY, "WELL, MAYBE YOU
SHOULD BE.
MAYBE EVERYBODY SHOULD BE AFRAID
OF ME."
>> THE STRANGER'S BEHAVIOR
SEEMED OMINOUS AND SUSPICIOUS.
BUT WHEN BERKSHIRE DESCRIBED THE
MAN AS SOMEONE IN HIS 30s, THAT
DIDN'T SEEM TO MATCH THE PROFILE
OF THE SUSPECT POLICE WERE
LOOKING FOR.
>> THE EYEWITNESS TO THIS
INTRUDER WAS JULIE REA.
SHE DESCRIBED HIM AS A YOUNG
BOY.
THAT DID NOT FIT THE DESCRIPTION
ALAN BERKSHIRE GAVE.
>> WITHOUT A MATCH TO JULIE'S
DESCRIPTION AND WITH NO WAY TO
TRACK THE STRANGER FROM THE
DINER, THE PROMISING LEAD WAS
PUT ON THE BACK BURNER.
THEN POLICE GOT ANOTHER TIP,
THIS ONE FROM A GREYHOUND TICKET
AGENT WHO HAD SEEN THE POLICE
SKETCH OF THE SUSPECT.
SHE SAID THAT TWO DAYS AFTER
JOEL'S MURDER, SHE SOLD A BUS
TICKET TO SOMEONE WHO WAS ACTING
STRANGELY AND LOOKED JUST LIKE
THE SKETCH.
>> THIS INDIVIDUAL SAID THAT HIS
MOTHER WAS ILL AND HE NEEDED TO
BUY A BUS TICKET TO WINNEMUCCA,
NEVADA, AND HE DIDN'T HAVE
ENOUGH MONEY, SO SHE FELT SORRY
FOR HIM, AND SHE DISCOUNTED THE
FARE.
>> POLICE TRACKED THE BUS, WHICH
BY NOW HAD ALREADY MADE ITS WAY
TO DENVER, COLORADO.
THERE, TWO DETECTIVES BOARDED,
BUT THEY DIDN'T FIND ANYONE
RESEMBLING THE SKETCH.
THE TIP APPEARED TO BE A DEAD
END.
THE INVESTIGATION HAD GOTTEN OFF
TO A FRUSTRATING START.
[ SIREN WAILS ]
BACK IN ILLINOIS, POLICE
FOLLOWED UP ON A LEAD THAT CAME
FROM JULIE REA HERSELF.
>> SHE SAID, "YOU SHOULD CHECK
OUT LEN," WHO WAS HER FORMER
HUSBAND, THE FATHER OF JOEL.
HE LIVED SOME 40 OR 50 MILES
AWAY IN A TOWN CALLED
CHARLESTON, ILLINOIS.
>> AFTER THEIR MARRIAGE ENDED,
JULIE AND HER EX-HUSBAND, LEN,
HAD A LONG AND BITTER FIGHT FOR
CUSTODY OF JOEL.
>> HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE THE
CUSTODY BATTLE?
DID IT GET PRETTY UGLY?
>> WHEN YOU HAVE A MAN WHO SAYS,
"IT'S NOT ABOUT WHAT'S BEST FOR
JOEL -- IT'S ABOUT WHAT I WANT
AND WHAT'S BEST FOR ME," YOU
FIGHT FOR YOUR CHILD IN EVERY
LEGAL WAY POSSIBLE.
>> POLICE LEARNED THAT A FEW
MONTHS BEFORE THE MURDER, LEN
WAS GRANTED RESIDENTIAL CUSTODY,
MEANING JOEL WOULD LIVE WITH HIM
MOST OF THE TIME.
LEN HAD REMARRIED, AND THE JUDGE
FELT THAT JULIE, WHO WAS SINGLE
AND GOING TO SCHOOL FULL TIME TO
GET HER PhD, WAS SIMPLY TOO BUSY
TO BE THE PRIMARY CAREGIVER.
>> OBVIOUSLY, I WAS
DISAPPOINTED, AND I HURT
DESPERATELY FOR JOEL, BUT I FELT
CERTAIN THAT WITHIN THE NEXT
YEAR OR TWO, I WOULD HAVE FULL
CUSTODY.
>> IN THE MEANTIME, JOEL SPENT
MOST WEEKENDS WITH JULIE AND WAS
WITH HER THAT FATEFUL MONDAY
BECAUSE HIS STAY WAS EXTENDED BY
THE COLUMBUS DAY HOLIDAY.
NOW SHE WAS TELLING DETECTIVES
THEY SHOULD TAKE A LOOK AT LEN'S
WHEREABOUTS WHEN JOEL WAS
KILLED.
WHEN THEY FOLLOWED UP, LEN'S
ALIBI WAS AIRTIGHT.
THEY WERE ABLE TO CONFIRM HE WAS
MORE THAN AN HOUR'S DRIVE FROM
THE CRIME SCENE AT THE TIME OF
THE MURDER.
NO LEADS WERE PANNING OUT.
THE ONLY THING INVESTIGATORS
REALLY HAD TO WORK WITH WAS THE
STORY JULIE HAD TOLD THEM.
THEY WENT BACK AND LOOKED AT
EVERY DETAIL.
JULIE SAID THE MAN WHO ATTACKED
HER WAS AN INTRUDER, BUT WHEN
INVESTIGATORS SEARCHED HER HOME,
THEY FOUND THE BROKEN GLASS FROM
THE BACK DOOR WHERE HE HAD
EXITED BUT NO EVIDENCE OF FORCED
ENTRY.
HOW DID HE GET INSIDE THE HOUSE?
POLICE ALSO STARTED TO WONDER
ABOUT THE MURDER WEAPON, WHICH
WAS ONE OF JULIE'S OWN KITCHEN
KNIVES.
>> WHY WOULD A PERSON COME INTO
A HOME IN THE MIDDLE OF THE
NIGHT WITHOUT A WEAPON TO KILL A
YOUNG 10-YEAR-OLD BOY AND LEAVE
THE OTHER PERSON, THE ADULT,
ALIVE?
DIDN'T MAKE HARDLY ANY SENSE.
>> INVESTIGATORS THEN QUESTION
JULIE'S ACCOUNT OF A VIOLENT
STRUGGLE WITH HER ATTACKER.
WHERE WAS THE EVIDENCE?
>> NOTHING WAS KNOCKED OFF THE
WALL.
PICTURES WERE STILL THERE.
NOBODY HAD BUMPED INTO ANYTHING,
WHICH YOU WOULD EXPECT FROM TWO
PEOPLE STRUGGLING AND FIGHTING.
>> EVEN THE INJURIES JULIE
CLAIMED SHE HAD SUSTAINED DURING
HER STRUGGLE WITH THE INTRUDER
STARTED TO LOOK SUSPICIOUS TO
INVESTIGATORS.
>> SHE HAD SEVERAL WOUNDS, MOST
OF THEM SUPERFICIAL, IF NOT ALL.
SO THE POLICE THOUGHT THAT THESE
COULD HAVE BEEN SELF-INFLICTED
TO MATCH HER STORY OF STRUGGLING
WITH AN INTRUDER.
>> IT LOOKED LIKE JULIE'S STORY
WAS FALLING APART, AND
DETECTIVES STARTED CONSIDERING
AN APPALLING POSSIBILITY.
>> A MOTHER KILLING HER OWN
CHILD IS UNBELIEVABLE TO MOST
PEOPLE, BUT ALL THE EVIDENCE
KEPT POINTING BACK TO JULIE REA.
>> POLICE DECIDED TO QUESTION
JULIE REA AGAIN, BUT THIS TIME,
THEY WEREN'T LOOKING AT HER AS A
VICTIM.
>> THEY KEPT SAYING THINGS LIKE,
"WHAT HAPPENED WITH YOU AND
JOEL?" AND TRYING TO ASK ME
DETAILS ABOUT OUR INTERACTION.
AND THAT SEEMED ODD TO ME,
BECAUSE I LOVE JOEL.
I'M HIS MOM.
I PUT HIM TO BED. HE WAS FINE.
I WOKE UP, AND HERE'S THIS
HORRIFIC SCENE, AND THAT'S WHAT
YOU SHOULD BE FOCUSED ON.
>> JULIE DENIED ANY WRONGDOING
AND KEPT INSISTING THERE HAD
BEEN A MASKED INTRUDER IN HER
HOUSE.
POLICE ASKED HER TO TAKE A
POLYGRAPH.
SHE PASSED.
THEY ASKED HER TO TAKE ANOTHER
ONE.
SHE PASSED AGAIN.
BUT INVESTIGATORS WERE STILL
SUSPICIOUS OF HER.
>> I DIDN'T DO IT.
WHY WOULD ANY MOTHER HURT HER
CHILD?
>> POLICE WERE ASKING THE VERY
SAME QUESTION.
COMING UP, INVESTIGATORS MAKE
THE CASE THAT A MOTHER KILLED
HER ONLY SON.
>> I WAS INNOCENT.
>> WHAT WAS YOUR HOPE?
>> THE TRUTH WILL OUT.
>> POLICE WERE FOCUSED ON
JULIE REA AS THE LEAD SUSPECT IN
THE MURDER OF HER 10-YEAR-OLD
SON, JOEL.
BUT INVESTIGATORS DIDN'T THINK
THEY HAD STRONG ENOUGH EVIDENCE
TO BRING CHARGES.
THE CASE HAD STALLED.
BUT AN IMPORTANT NEW DEVELOPMENT
WAS ABOUT TO CHANGE EVERYTHING.
INVESTIGATORS CONTINUED TO
INCREASE THE PRESSURE ON
JULIE REA.
>> I HAD BEEN TAUGHT ALWAYS TO
BE RESPECTIVE OF AUTHORITY, BUT
THEY HAD BEEN DOING THINGS THAT
WERE NOT COOL.
I WAS SEVERELY TRAUMATIZED BY
WHAT HAPPENED, AND, GOSH, I
COULDN'T EVEN GO INTO THE
BATHROOM ALONE AND CLOSE THE
DOOR.
I COULDN'T SLEEP WITH THE LIGHTS
OFF.
>> JULIE SPENT THREE YEARS IN A
STATE OF LEGAL LIMBO.
PROSECUTORS HADN'T CHARGED HER
WITH A CRIME, BUT THEY WOULDN'T
CLEAR HER, EITHER.
>> THE PROSECUTOR OF
LAWRENCE COUNTY SAID, "THERE'S
NOT ENOUGH EVIDENCE TO ETHICALLY
INDICT ANYONE.
AND SO THAT'S A YEAR AND A HALF
AFTER JOEL WAS KILLED.
ANOTHER YEAR AND A HALF GOES BY.
A SPECIAL PROSECUTOR IS NOW
APPOINTED.
>> A SPECIAL PROSECUTOR REVIEWED
THE EVIDENCE AND CAME TO A
STARKLY DIFFERENT CONCLUSION.
HE BELIEVED JULIE'S ACCOUNT WAS
RIDDLED WITH INCONSISTENCIES.
>> THE POLICE DID A VERY
THOROUGH JOB RUNNING DOWN ALL
SORTS OF LEADS.
IT WAS A CIRCUMSTANTIAL CASE,
BUT EVERYTHING POINTED TO A
MADE-UP STORY.
>> THE SPECIAL PROSECUTOR
BELIEVED INVESTIGATORS HAD BUILT
A SOLID CASE.
JULIE REA WAS ARRESTED AND
CHARGED WITH MURDER.
THE TRIAL BEGAN IN THE SPRING OF
2002.
PROSECUTORS ARGUED THAT JULIE'S
STORY ABOUT AN INTRUDER WAS A
LIE.
THEY SAID IT WAS IMPOSSIBLE FOR
SOMEONE TO HAVE BROKEN INTO THE
LOCKED HOUSE WITHOUT LEAVING ANY
SIGN OF HOW THEY GOT IN.
THEY ALSO TOLD THE JURY TO THINK
HARD ABOUT THE FACT THAT IT WAS
A BLOODY CRIME SCENE, YET THE
INTRUDER JULIE DESCRIBED HAD
LEFT NO TRAIL.
>> IF THERE HAD BEEN AN
INTRUDER, AS SHE SAID, AND THE
INTRUDER WAS STANDING RIGHT
THERE WHERE JOEL'S BODY WAS, HE
WOULD BE STANDING RIGHT THERE IN
THAT BLOOD.
THERE WOULD THEN BE TRACKS OF
BLOOD NOT ONLY ON THE BED BUT
JUMPING ON HER, SMEARS OF BLOOD,
STEPS OF BLOOD ALL THE WAY DOWN
THE HALLWAY.
THERE WAS NONE, WHICH MEANS THAT
THERE WAS NO INTRUDER.
>> PROSECUTORS ARGUED JULIE
MURDERED HER SON AND THEN STAGED
THE SCENE TO MAKE IT APPEAR AN
INTRUDER HAD COMMITTED THE
CRIME.
THEY ALSO SAID HER INJURIES
WEREN'T REALLY SERIOUS AND COULD
EASILY HAVE BEEN SELF-INFLICTED.
>> THIS WAS A STAGED SCENE.
THERE WAS NO FORCED ENTRY.
THE ONLY PERSON WHO COULD HAVE
COMMITTED THIS CRIME WAS JULIE.
>> THE PROSECUTION VIEW WAS THAT
JULIE HERSELF BROKE THE GLASS ON
THE BACK DOOR AS PART OF AN
EFFORT TO STAGE THE SCENE.
THEY CLAIM THEY COULD PROVE THAT
JULIE'S STORY ABOUT A SCUFFLE
WITH AN INTRUDER WAS PURE
FICTION.
A POLICE OFFICER TESTIFIED THERE
WERE NO SIGNS OF A STRUGGLE IN
THE WET GRASS OF THE BACK LAWN,
WHERE JULIE SAID SHE HAD PUT UP
A FEROCIOUS FIGHT AGAINST HER
ATTACKER.
WHAT WAS GOING THROUGH YOUR MIND
AS YOU WERE LISTENING TO THE
PROSECUTION GO THROUGH ITS
ARGUMENTS IN THE COURTROOM?
>> LIKE IT WAS SURREAL.
I JUST COULDN'T BELIEVE THAT
THINGS COULD BE SAID THAT WERE
COMPLETELY UNTRUE AND THAT THE
ATTORNEY THAT WAS REPRESENTING
ME WASN'T STOPPING IT.
>> AND THINGS ONLY GOT WORSE FOR
JULIE.
THE PROSECUTION CALLED HER
EX-HUSBAND, LEN, TO THE STAND.
HE TOLD JURORS HE BELIEVED JULIE
WAS SO ANGRY ABOUT THE CUSTODY
BATTLE THAT SHE SNAPPED.
>> JULIE WAS SO UPSET THAT SHE
HAD LOST CUSTODY OVER JOEL THAT
SHE'D RATHER HAVE JOEL IN HEAVEN
THAN WITH THE EX-HUSBAND.
>> LEN PAINTED HIS EX-WIFE AS AN
ANGRY AND UNSTABLE WOMAN.
THE MOST PECULIAR PART OF HIS
TESTIMONY CAME WHEN HE SAID
JULIE HAD A BIZARRE OBSESSION
WITH THE NUMBER 13.
HE SAID IT WAS NO COINCIDENCE
JOEL HAD BEEN MURDERED ON THE
MORNING OF OCTOBER 13th.
>> JULIE WAS BORN ON DECEMBER
13th.
SHE INSISTED ON BEING MARRIED ON
THE 13th.
JOEL WAS BORN ON JULY 13th.
HE WAS KILLED ON THE 13th OF
OCTOBER.
>> LEN CLAIMED THERE WERE MANY
THINGS THAT MADE JULIE AN UNFIT
MOTHER.
IN FACT, HE SAID SHE NEVER
WANTED TO BE A MOTHER IN THE
FIRST PLACE.
>> HE TESTIFIED THAT JULIE
WANTED AN ABORTION WHEN SHE
FOUND OUT THAT SHE WAS PREGNANT
WITH JOEL.
>> BUT JULIE SAYS HER
EX-HUSBAND'S ALLEGATION WAS A
LIE.
>> I READ TO JOEL.
I SANG TO JOEL.
I LOVED JOEL FROM DAY ONE.
I'M A PERSON THAT BELIEVES THAT
WHEN THERE IS CONCEPTION, THERE
IS LIFE.
>> IN THE CONSERVATIVE REGION OF
SOUTHEASTERN ILLINOIS WHERE THE
TRIAL TOOK PLACE, ABORTION IS A
HOT-BUTTON ISSUE, AND JULIE
BELIEVES LEN'S TESTIMONY WAS
DESIGNED TO INCITE THE JURORS.
>> THESE WERE PEOPLE WHO WERE
DEFINITIVELY AGAINST ABORTION,
AND SO WHEN HE GOT SOMEBODY ON
THE STAND WHO SAID, "SHE WANTED
TO HAVE ABORTIONS WHEN SHE WAS
PREGNANT," THIS JURY HEARD, "SHE
WAS WILLING TO KILL HER BABY."
>> JULIE STUCK TO HER CLAIM THAT
AN INTRUDER HAD BROKEN INTO HER
HOME AND KILLED HER 10-YEAR-OLD
SON.
AS THE TRIAL UNFOLDED, WERE YOU
HOLDING OUT HOPE THAT YOU WOULD
BE ACQUITTED?
>> OUR DEFENSE WAS REASONABLE.
IT WAS STRONG.
WE HAD WITNESS AFTER WITNESS
TALKING ABOUT HOW GREAT MY
RELATIONSHIP WITH JOEL WAS, HOW,
YOU KNOW, THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE.
THERE WAS NOTHING FORENSICALLY.
I MEAN, THE PROSECUTION SAID,
"WE DON'T KNOW HOW SHE DID IT.
WE COULDN'T FIGURE IT OUT."
>> JULIE WAS ADVISED NOT TO TAKE
THE STAND IN HER OWN DEFENSE.
HER ATTORNEY FELT SHE WOULDN'T
HOLD UP UNDER THE PROSECUTOR'S
CROSS-EXAMINATION.
>> I WANTED TO. I ASKED TO.
MY ATTORNEY TOLD ME, "ABSOLUTELY
NOT."
>> AFTER TWO WEEKS OF TESTIMONY,
THE CASE WENT TO THE JURY.
>> I HELD OUT HOPE THAT BECAUSE
I WAS INNOCENT AND THERE WAS NO
EVIDENCE AGAINST ME AND THAT IT
WAS GONNA BE OKAY.
>> AFTER ONLY FIVE HOURS OF
DELIBERATION, THE JURY FOUND
JULIE REA GUILTY OF MURDER.
SHE WAS SENTENCED TO 65 YEARS IN
PRISON.
TAKE ME BACK TO THE MOMENT WHEN
THE JURY FOUND YOU GUILTY.
>> IT WAS JUST HORRIFICALLY
DEVASTATING.
I KNEW IT WAS WRONG, I KNEW IT
WAS UNFAIR, AND I KNEW THERE WAS
NOTHING I COULD DO TO CHANGE IT.
>> DO YOU THINK IT WOULD HAVE
MADE A DIFFERENCE HAD YOU
TESTIFIED?
>> ONE OF THE JURORS SAID THAT
SHE NEEDED TO HEAR ME SAY, "I
DIDN'T DO IT."
>> IT WAS THE RIGHT VERDICT.
I THINK THE CIRCUMSTANTIAL
EVIDENCE WAS VERY STRONG AND
THAT WE PUT ON A CASE THAT
SHOWED THAT ONLY ONE PERSON
COULD HAVE KILLED JOEL.
I FELT IT WAS PROPER.
>> JULIE MAINTAINED THAT
PROSECUTORS HAD IT ALL WRONG,
THAT SHE HAD NOT KILLED HER SON.
>> I WAS INNOCENT.
>> WHAT WAS YOUR HOPE?
>> THE TRUTH WILL OUT.
>> COMING UP, JULIE REA FIGHTS
FOR ANOTHER DAY IN COURT.
WHAT SHRED OF HOPE DID YOU HAVE
THAT YOU WOULDN'T BE SPENDING
THE REST OF YOUR LIFE IN PRISON?
>> WHAT SHRED OF HOPE DOES A
STARVING MAN HAVE THAT HE'S
GONNA FIND A PIECE OF BREAD?
>> JULIE REA WAS IN PRISON
FACING A 65-YEAR SENTENCE FOR
MURDERING HER SON, JOEL.
SHE CONTINUED TO FIGHT TO CLEAR
HER NAME, DESPERATE TO AVOID A
LIFETIME BEHIND BARS.
JULIE REA, AN EDUCATED
MIDDLE-CLASS WOMAN, WAS NOW IN A
PLACE SHE DESCRIBES AS A KIND OF
HELL.
>> IT'S A PLACE WHERE PEOPLE
LIVE IN A CULTURE THAT FUNCTIONS
BASED ON PUNISHMENT, DISRESPECT,
DISHONESTY, BITTERNESS, HATRED,
ABUSE, SHAME, AND CONTAINING
PEOPLE.
>> BUT EVEN AMONG A POPULATION
OF HARDENED CRIMINALS, JULIE WAS
A PARIAH.
>> SOMEBODY WHO HAS A CRIME
AGAINST A CHILD IS LIKE THE VERY
WORST, SO THERE WAS SOME HATRED
THAT CAME.
THEY DETESTED ME.
>> JULIE'S CASE HAD GENERATED
INTENSE MEDIA INTEREST, AND MANY
PEOPLE QUESTIONED THE LEGITIMACY
OF HER CONVICTION.
>> THIS IS ODD THAT THERE WAS
THIS MOTHER WHO EVERYBODY SAID
WAS A GOOD AND LOVING MOTHER
WITH NO MOTIVE TO KILL HER SON,
AND YET, SHE'S CONVICTED.
SOMETHING'S WRONG HERE.
>> CRIME WRITER DIANE FANNING
PAID CLOSE ATTENTION TO JULIE'S
STORY.
AT THE TIME, FANNING WAS IN THE
PROCESS OF FINISHING A BOOK
ABOUT TOMMY LYNN SELLS, A SERIAL
KILLER ON DEATH ROW IN TEXAS.
SELLS' M.O. WAS EERILY SIMILAR
TO JULIE'S STORY OF A HOME
INVASION AND MURDER BY A
STRANGER.
>> I STARTED THINKING, "WELL,
MAYBE SHE ISN'T GUILTY.
MAYBE SOMEONE LIKE
TOMMY LYNN SELLS COMMITTED THIS
CRIME."
>> FANNING WROTE A LETTER TO
SELLS IN PRISON.
HIS RESPONSE WAS SHOCKING.
>> HE WROTE BACK TO ME AND SAID,
"WAS THIS CRIME MAYBE A COUPLE
OF DAYS BEFORE THE ONE I DID IN
SPRINGFIELD, MISSOURI?
WAS IT MAYBE ON THE 13th OF THE
MONTH?
>> JOEL KIRKPATRICK WAS MURDERED
ON OCTOBER 13, 1997, JUST TWO
DAYS BEFORE A 13-YEAR-OLD GIRL
WAS KILLED ONLY A FEW HUNDRED
MILES AWAY IN MISSOURI.
SELLS HAD ALREADY CONFESSED TO
THAT CRIME.
WAS IT POSSIBLE HE HAD KILLED
JOEL AS WELL?
FANNING WROTE BACK, ASKING IF
SOMEONE HAD GIVEN HIM
INFORMATION OR IF HE HAD SEEN
ANYTHING ABOUT JOEL'S MURDER IN
THE EXTENSIVE MEDIA COVERAGE.
>> HE WROTE BACK AND SAID THAT
NO ONE HAD SAID ANYTHING TO HIM
ABOUT THE CRIME, THAT THERE WERE
A LOT OF MURDERS OUT THERE THAT
HE HAD COMMITTED, AND OTHER
PEOPLE WERE SITTING BEHIND BARS
FOR CRIMES THAT HE HAD DONE.
>> THE IMPLICATION OF SELLS'
WORDS WAS STUNNING.
AFTER HE WAS TAKEN INTO CUSTODY
IN 1999, HE HAD CONFESSED TO
DOZENS OF MURDERS.
AUTHORITIES WERE ABLE TO VERIFY
HIS GUILT IN MORE THAN 20 CASES.
BUT THERE WERE MANY CLAIMS THAT
COULDN'T BE CONFIRMED, AND HE
NEVER MENTIONED JOEL KIRKPATRICK
BEFORE.
WAS SELLS BEHIND THAT KILLING,
TOO, OR WAS THIS JUST THE
TWISTED BRAGGING OF A SERIAL
KILLER?
IN HIS LETTERS TO FANNING, SELLS
HADN'T ACTUALLY CONFESSED TO
KILLING JOEL, SO SHE WENT TO SEE
HIM IN PRISON TO TRY TO GET MORE
INFORMATION.
>> HE TALKED ABOUT STABBING THE
BOY REPEATEDLY AND LEAVING THE
BODY ON THE FLOOR.
HE TALKED ABOUT ENCOUNTERING
SOMEONE IN THE HALLWAY THAT WAS
ABOUT TO THE SAME HEIGHT AS HIM.
HE SAID, "AND THEN I REALIZED I
DROPPED THE KNIFE."
SO HE KNOCKED HER OUT OF THE
WAY, RAN OUT INTO THE BACKYARD,
BUT SHE WAS CHASING HIM.
AND HE HIT HER AGAIN AND KNOCKED
HER DOWN ON THE GROUND AND THEN
WENT OFF.
>> IT WAS A REMARKABLE DETAILED
CONFESSION, AND IT MIRRORED
JULIE'S ACCOUNT OF THE MASKED
INTRUDER ALMOST WORD FOR WORD.
BUT WAS HE TELLING THE TRUTH?
SELLS WAS FACING THE DEATH
PENALTY IN TEXAS, AND HE SURELY
KNEW THAT ANY NEW CONFESSION
WOULD REQUIRE AND INVESTIGATION
THAT COULD DELAY HIS EXECUTION.
>> HE COULD GET OUT OF HIS CELL
IN DEATH ROW IN TEXAS, WHERE
THEY ACTUALLY HAVE A DEATH
PENALTY, AND GET OUT AND TALK TO
SOMEBODY AND BECOME FAMOUS.
HE HAD ALSO CONFESSED TO OTHER
CRIMES THAT HE DIDN'T COMMIT.
>> DIANE FANNING BELIEVED THE
SPECIAL PROSECUTOR WAS SO
CONVINCED OF JULIE'S GUILT THAT
HE'D NEVER LISTEN TO THE
CONFESSION OF A SERIAL KILLER.
SO SHE DECIDED NOT TO CONTACT
THE PROSECUTOR OR ILLINOIS
POLICE BUT WOULD INSTEAD WRITE
ABOUT JOEL'S MURDER IN HER BOOK
ABOUT SELLS.
>> IF HE'S TELLING ME THE TRUTH,
IF JULIE REA IS AN INNOCENT
WOMAN SITTING IN PRISON FOR
KILLING HER SON, I HAD TO HAVE
THAT IN THERE, 'CAUSE SOMEONE
THAT KNOWS MORE THAN ME COULD
THEN TAKE THAT AND DO SOMETHING
AND FIND JUSTICE FOR
JOEL KIRKPATRICK.
>> THE BOOK CAME OUT 10 MONTHS
AFTER FANNING FIRST MADE THE
TOMMY LYNN SELLS CONNECTION, AND
IT SPARKED NEW INTEREST IN
JULIE'S CASE.
A TEAM OF INVESTIGATORS STARTED
WORKING ON HER BEHALF, AND AN
ATTORNEY OFFERED TO REPRESENT
JULIE WITHOUT CHARGE.
>> YOU HAVE A DEFENSE ATTORNEY
WHO'S VERY INEXPERIENCED, AND
YOU PUT HIM UP AGAINST A VERY
EXPERIENCED PROSECUTION TEAM.
HE WAS OVERWHELMED, AND THE
RESULT WAS ALMOST PREORDAINED,
EVEN THOUGH THERE IS NO EVIDENCE
OF JULIE'S GUILT.
>> WHAT SHRED OF HOPE DID YOU
HAVE THAT YOU WOULDN'T BE
SPENDING THE REST OF YOUR LIFE
IN PRISON?
>> WHAT SHRED OF HOPE DOES A
STARVING MAN HAVE THAT HE'S
GONNA FIND A PIECE OF BREAD?
YOU DON'T GIVE UP.
YOU NEVER GIVE UP.
>> DID YOU EVER COME CLOSE TO
GIVING UP?
>> EVERY DAY.
BUT YOU DON'T.
>> JULIE'S INVESTIGATORS WENT TO
WORK TRYING TO CORROBORATE
SELLS' STORY.
THEY WENT TO ALAN BERKSHIRE, THE
MAN WHO REPORTED SEEING A
SUSPICIOUS CHARACTER IN A DINER
A FEW DAYS BEFORE JOEL'S MURDER.
WAS THAT STRANGER
TOMMY LYNN SELLS?
>> HE HAS THE SAME TYPE OF HAIR,
THE SAME FACIAL FEATURES.
EVEN THE BUILD AND STUFF IS THE
SAME.
>> NEXT, THEY WENT BACK TO THE
GREYHOUND TICKET AGENT WHO HAD
SOLD THE TICKET TO SOMEONE SHE
SAID LOOKED LIKE THE POLICE
SKETCH OF THE ALLEGED INTRUDER.
LIKE ALAN BERKSHIRE, SHE
IDENTIFIED THE MAN AS
TOMMY LYNN SELLS.
THE CASE TO CLEAR JULIE REA WAS
PICKING UP STEAM.
THEN INVESTIGATORS FOLLOWED UP
ON THAT MAN'S DESTINATION -- A
NEVADA TOWN WITH A DISTINCTIVE
NAME WINNEMUCCA.
>> TEXAS RANGERS PLACED SELLS IN
WINNEMUCCA, NEVADA, ON DECEMBER
13, 1997, AT THE OVERLAND MOTEL
AFTER JOEL WAS MURDERED.
SO HE DID USE THAT TICKET.
HE DID TRAVEL ON TO WINNEMUCCA,
NEVADA.
>> INVESTIGATORS ALSO TRACKED
DOWN A DRIVER'S LICENSE OF
TOMMY LYNN SELLS FROM AROUND THE
TIME OF JOEL'S MURDER.
HIS YOUTHFUL APPEARANCE SEEMED
TO EXPLAIN HOW JULIE COULD THINK
IT WAS A TEENAGER WHO HAD
ATTACKED HER IN THE DARK.
>> YOU CAN COMPARE THAT PHOTO
WITH THE COMPOSITE SKETCH BASED
ON JULIE'S DESCRIPTION, AND IT'S
DEAD ON.
>> AND THERE WAS ANOTHER
STUNNING DEVELOPMENT.
EVEN BEFORE JULIE'S DEFENSE TEAM
COULD PRESENT ITS NEW EVIDENCE
IN COURT, A JUDGE THREW OUT HER
CONVICTION ON A TECHNICALITY
THAT HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH
TOMMY LYNN SELLS.
THE COURT SAID SPECIAL
PROSECUTOR ED PARKINSON HAD BEEN
IMPROPERLY APPOINTED TO THE
CASE.
IT MEANT THAT JULIE'S CONVICTION
HAD TO BE THROWN OUT.
AFTER MORE THAN TWO YEARS IN
PRISON, YOUR CONVICTION WAS
OVERTURNED DUE TO A
TECHNICALITY.
DESCRIBE THE MOMENT YOU FOUND
THAT OUT.
>> I WAS ON THE PHONE, AND IT
WAS SURREAL.
IT WAS, LIKE, TOO GOOD TO BE
TRUE.
>> JULIE HAD JUST HEARD SHE WAS
GOING TO BE SET FREE, BUT
PROSECUTORS STILL BELIEVED SHE
WAS GUILTY.
JUST MINUTES BEFORE SHE WOULD
HAVE BEEN ALLOWED TO WALK OUT OF
PRISON, JULIE WAS SENT RIGHT
BACK TO HER CELL.
>> WE WERE AT THE LAST MINUTE,
YOU KNOW?
IT WAS TIME TO GO.
I MEAN, LIKE FIVE MINUTES, THEY
WERE GONNA CALL ME, AND I WAS
GONNA GO HOME.
>> THE ONLY PLACE THE PROSECUTOR
WANTED TO SEE JULIE WAS BACK IN
FRONT OF A JURY ON TRIAL FOR THE
MURDER OF HER SON, AND THAT'S
EXACTLY WHERE SHE WAS HEADED.
THEY HAD DECIDED TO TRY HER CASE
ALL OVER AGAIN.
COMING UP, JULIE REA TAKES THE
STAND IN HER OWN DEFENSE.
>> COME WHAT MAY.
AT LEAST I HAD A CHANCE TO HAVE
A VOICE
>> WHAT WILL THE JURY DECIDE?
>> WANT MORE "ON THE CASE"?
GO TO...
...AND VIEW MORE EXCLUSIVE
INTERVIEWS AND BEHIND-THE-SCENES
VIDEO.
WITH HER CONVICTION THROWN OUT
ON A TECHNICALITY AND THE
KNOWLEDGE THAT SERIAL KILLER
TOMMY LYNN SELLS HAD CONFESSED
TO THE CRIME, JULIE REA THOUGHT
THAT HER NIGHTMARE WAS OVER, BUT
NOW SHE WAS ONCE AGAIN FACING
CHARGES THAT SHE HAD MURDERED
HER 10-YEAR-OLD SON, JOEL.
JULIE THOUGHT TOMMY SELLS'
CONFESSION WAS HER TICKET TO
FREEDOM.
SHE WAS STUNNED THAT PROSECUTORS
DECIDED TO TRY HER AGAIN.
>> THEY HAD THE PERSON WHO DID
IT, RIGHT?
I HAD WON.
AND REASON WOULD SUGGEST THAT
YOU'RE GOOD, RIGHT?
>> BUT PROSECUTORS DIDN'T SEE IT
THAT WAY.
THEY SAW NO REASON TO BELIEVE
SELLS' CONFESSION.
>> THE PROSECUTOR WAS QUICK TO
CALL TOMMY LYNN SELLS A SERIAL
CONFESSOR.
>> HE JUST WANTED TO -- "WHAT
THE HECK?
I'VE CONFESSED TO OTHERS.
I MIGHT AS WELL TELL ONE MORE
LIE."
>> JULIE'S CONVICTION HAD BEEN
OVERTURNED OVER THE TIMING OF
ED PARKINSON'S APPOINTMENT AS
SPECIAL PROSECUTOR, BUT NOW THAT
HE HAD BEEN REAPPOINTED
PROPERLY, HE MOVED AGGRESSIVELY.
JULIE'S DEFENSE TEAM WAS
SURPRISED BY THE DECISION.
HER ATTORNEY'S CLAIM SELLS'
CONFESSION INCLUDED INFORMATION
THAT HAD NOT BEEN MADE PUBLIC.
>> HE PROVIDES DETAILS THAT ONLY
THE KILLER WOULD KNOW.
HE DESCRIBES BEING IN THE
BEDROOM, AND A WOMAN ENCOUNTERED
HIM.
HE PUNCHED HER, AND THEN SHE
CHASED AFTER HIM.
AND HE DESCRIBES WHERE SHE
CATCHES UP WITH HIM SOMEWHERE IN
THE LIVING ROOM.
HE SAYS, "THEN SHE GRABBED AHOLD
OF MY LEG, AND I DRUG HER"
>> BUT THE PROSECUTOR WASN'T
MOVED.
AFTER ALL, JULIE HERSELF HAD
SAID THE MASKED INTRUDER WAS A
BOY.
SELLS WAS 33 YEARS OLD AT THE
TIME.
AND SINCE THE CASE HAD GARNERED
SO MUCH ATTENTION, IT WAS
POSSIBLE THAT SELLS COULD HAVE
LEARNED ACTUAL DETAILS OF THE
CRIME.
>> JULIE HAD HER OWN WEBSITE.
IT WAS VERY HIGHLY PUBLICIZED
THROUGHOUT HER FIRST TRIAL, SO
THERE WAS EVIDENCE OUT THERE
THAT SOMEONE COULD GET TO
TOMMY LYNN SELLS.
>> EVEN THOUGH HIS CONFESSION
INCLUDED SOME CORRECT DETAILS
ABOUT JOEL'S MURDER, THERE WERE
ALSO KEY FACTS THAT WERE DEAD
WRONG.
>> THE STATE POLICE ACTUALLY HAD
HIM DRAW A PICTURE OF WHAT THE
HOUSE LOOKED LIKE.
IT WAS NOWHERE CLOSE.
HE DESCRIBED PILLARS ON THE
FRONT OF THE HOUSE, A TWO-STORY
COLONIAL-TYPE HOME.
THAT'S NOT IT. IT WAS A RANCH.
HE DESCRIBED THE FRONT DOORS
WITH PANES OF GLASS.
HE EVEN DREW NINE PANES OF
GLASS.
THAT'S NOT THE WAY THE FRONT
DOOR LOOKS.
>> WHEN STATE POLICE PRESSED
SELLS ABOUT THOSE WRONG FACTS,
HE SUDDENLY REVERSED HIMSELF AND
RECANTED HIS CONFESSION.
>> HE TOLD ME IN A LETTER THAT
THE REASON HE RECANTED AFTER HIS
CONFESSION WAS BECAUSE HE WAS
MAD AT THE FOLKS THAT CAME DOWN
FROM ILLINOIS TO INTERVIEW HIM,
BECAUSE THEY ACTED LIKE THEY
DIDN'T BELIEVE HIM.
>> WHEN SELLS RECANTED, IT
BOLSTERED THE PROSECUTION'S
POSITION, BUT JULIE WAS STILL
OPTIMISTIC ABOUT HER CHANCES.
YOU BELIEVE WITH CERTAINTY THAT
TOMMY LYNN SELLS MURDERED YOUR
SON.
>> OH, I ADAMANTLY DO.
I KNOW HE COMMITTED THE CRIME.
>> AS THE SECOND TRIAL
APPROACHED, THE DEFENSE ARGUED
FOR THE JUDGE TO ALLOW SELLS'
ORIGINAL CONFESSION INTO
EVIDENCE.
HE AGREED.
IT WAS A CRUSHING BLOW TO THE
PROSECUTION.
THE JUDGE ALSO RULED THAT SOME
OF THE DAMAGING TESTIMONY USED
AGAINST JULIE IN THE FIRST TRIAL
WOULD NOT BE ALLOWED.
THE JURY WOULD NOT HEAR ABOUT
JULIE'S ALLEGED OBSESSION WITH
THE NUMBER 13, THE DATE OF THE
MURDER, NOR THE ASSERTION THAT
SHE WANTED TO HAVE AN ABORTION
EARLY ON IN HER PREGNANCY WITH
JOEL.
>> THE ONLY EVIDENCE THAT WAS
ALLOWED IN AT THE SECOND TRIAL
WAS EVIDENCE THAT WAS RELEVANT
TO WHETHER OR NOT JULIE
COMMITTED THE CRIME.
ALL OF THE INFLAMMATORY EVIDENCE
THAT HAD NO BEARING ON WHETHER
OR NOT SHE COMMITTED THE CRIME
WAS EXCLUDED.
>> IN JULY OF 2006, WHEN JOEL
WOULD HAVE TURNED 19, HIS
MOTHER'S RETRIAL BEGAN.
>> THE FACTS DID NOT CHANGE.
SOMEONE KILLED A LITTLE BOY WITH
A KNIFE FROM THE HOUSE WHERE
ONLY SOMEONE WHO LIVED THERE
WOULD KNOW WHERE THAT KNIFE CAME
FROM, AND THAT DOESN'T SOUND
LIKE THE WORKS OF AN INTRUDER.
>> ONCE AGAIN, THE PROSECUTION
SAID THERE WAS NO FORENSIC
EVIDENCE TO SUPPORT JULIE'S
CLAIM OF AN INTRUDER.
BUT JULIE'S DEFENSE TEAM TRIED
TO TURN THAT ARGUMENT UPSIDE
DOWN.
THEY TOLD JURORS THERE WAS NO
EVIDENCE BECAUSE THE POLICE
HADN'T DONE THEIR JOBS.
>> THEY DIDN'T FINGERPRINT THE
SCENE.
THEY DID NOT MAINTAIN FIBERS.
THEY DID NOT MAINTAIN HAIR
SAMPLES.
THEY DID NOT MAINTAIN CRITICAL
DNA EVIDENCE.
WHAT THEY DID DO WAS -- THEY
JUMPED TO THE CONCLUSION
IMMEDIATELY THAT JULIE HAD DONE
IT AND THEN WORKED BACKWARDS,
VIOLATING THE CARDINAL RULE OF
INVESTIGATION.
>> THE DEFENSE ARGUED THAT IF
JULIE HAD MURDERED JOEL, HIS
BLOOD WOULD HAVE BEEN ALL OVER
HER CLOTHING, BUT IT WASN'T.
>> WHOEVER IT WAS WHO KILLED
JOEL STABBED HIM MULTIPLE TIMES,
AND THERE'S BLOOD SPATTER ALL
OVER THE ROOM.
NONE. ZERO ON JULIE'S T-SHIRT.
THAT'S TESTIMONY FROM THE
STATE'S EXPERT.
>> UNLIKE THE FIRST TRIAL,
JULIE REA TOOK THE STAND IN HER
OWN DEFENSE.
WHAT DID IT FEEL LIKE TO TELL
THE JURY, IN YOUR OWN WORDS,
WHAT HAPPENED THE NIGHT JOEL WAS
MURDERED?
>> I DID AT LEAST GET THE CHANCE
TO SAY, "YOU KNOW, HERE'S THE
FACTS," AND THAT FELT GOOD.
COME WHAT MAY.
AT LEAST I HAD A CHANCE TO HAVE
A VOICE.
>> THE DEFENSE CLOSED BY READING
THE CONFESSION OF
TOMMY LYNN SELLS.
AFTER TWO WEEKS OF TESTIMONY,
THE CASE WENT TO THE JURORS.
THEY DELIBERATED FOR 12 HOURS
BEFORE RETURNING WITH A
VERDICT -- JULIE REA, NOT
GUILTY.
>> TAKE US BACK TO THE MOMENT IN
THE COURTROOM DURING THE SECOND
TRIAL WHEN THE "NOT GUILTY"
VERDICT CAME DOWN.
>> WOW.
YOU KNOW, IT WORKED.
THEY HEARD THE TRUTH.
THEY RESPONDED APPROPRIATELY.
IT'S OVER.
>> PROSECUTOR ED PARKINSON DOES
NOT BELIEVE JUSTICE WAS SERVED.
>> SHE WASN'T FOUND INNOCENT,
BUT SHE WAS FOUND NOT GUILTY.
THE SECOND JURY, I THINK, GOT IT
WRONG.
>> JULIE REFUSES TO PUT THE CASE
BEHIND HER.
HER FOCUS IS NO LONGER ON
CLEARING HER NAME.
A JURY DID THAT.
SHE STILL WANTS TO DO SOMETHING
FOR HER SON.
WHAT WOULD BE JUSTICE FOR JOEL?
>> THEY NEED TO OPEN UP AN
INVESTIGATION WHERE THEY
ACTUALLY INVESTIGATE AND ARE
OPEN TO TOMMY LYNN SELLS AND
LOOK AT HIM TRULY AS A SUSPECT.
>> DO YOU HAVE FAITH THAT WILL
HAPPEN?
>> I HAVE FAITH HE'S GONNA BE
PUT TO DEATH FOR OTHER CRIMES.
WHETHER OR NOT IT'S FOR JOEL,
THE MAN'S NOT GOING ANYWHERE.
HE'S NOT GONNA COMMIT ANY MORE
CRIMES.
BUT JOEL DESERVES JUSTICE FOR
JOEL.
[ SIGHS ] HE'S STILL WITH ME.
HE'S STILL MY SON.
[ Voice breaking ] I WASN'T ABLE
TO SAVE HIS LIFE THAT NIGHT.
BUT I LOVE HIM WITH ALL MY
HEART.
>> AFTER HER ACQUITTAL,
JULIE REA STARTED A
NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION CALLED
WOMEN AND INNOCENCE, WHICH HELPS
OTHER WRONGFULLY CONVICTED
WOMEN.
I'M PAULA ZAHN.
JOIN US NEXT TIME WHEN WE'RE
BACK ON THE CASE.