[ GLASS SHATTERS ]
THE CAR ENDED UP CLEAR OUT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE RIVER.
Zahn: A VIOLENT CRASH KILLS A PASTOR'S WIFE.
I WAS IN SHOCK. IT DIDN'T MAKE SENSE.
Zahn: IT WAS A TRAGEDY WITH MANY UNANSWERED QUESTIONS.
HOW DID THIS HAPPEN? WHY IS SHE ON THAT ROAD?
Zahn: THEN ANOTHER MEMBER OF THE CONGREGATION DIED.
THIS ONE WAS NO ACCIDENT.
WE HAD A DEAD MAN
SHOT THREE TIMES IN THE BACK OF THE HEAD.
Zahn: THE INVESTIGATION UNEARTHED A LURID SCANDAL.
I WAS FOOLISH. I WAS SINFUL. I WAS WRONG.
Zahn: A FALL FROM GRACE, A TEST OF FAITH,
AND A SEARCH FOR JUSTICE.
Grismer: I WANTED TO KNOW WHAT HAPPENED TO MY CHILD.
I WANTED TO KNOW THE TRUTH.
[ SIREN WAILS ]
-- Captions by VITAC -- www.vitac.com
CAPTIONS PAID FOR BY DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS
HI. I'M PAULA ZAHN.
AND TONIGHT WE ARE ON THE CASE IN EMPORIA, KANSAS.
A SMALL TOWN IN THE HEARTLAND,
WHERE PEOPLE TAKE PRIDE IN CHURCH, FAMILY, AND COUNTRY.
BUT A MYSTERIOUS DEATH
WOULD LEAD TO ACCUSATIONS OF AN ADULTEROUS PLOT
AND SHAKE THIS TIGHT-KNIT COMMUNITY TO ITS CORE.
SATURDAY, JULY 16, 1983.
IT WAS A WARM SUMMER NIGHT.
PASTOR TOM BIRD WAS AT CHURCH, WAITING FOR HIS WIFE, SANDY.
THEY HAD PLANNED ON MEETING NO LATER THAN 10:30 P.M.
I WAITED AND WAITED AND SHE NEVER CAME.
AT WHAT POINT DID YOU BECOME WORRIED?
WHEN IT GOT TO BE AFTER 11:00
AND, YOU KNOW, I SAID, YOU KNOW, "THIS IS TOO LATE.
SHE'S GOT HERSELF TOO WRAPPED UP IN SOMETHING."
Zahn: TOM THOUGHT SANDY,
A MATH TEACHER AT EMPORIA STATE UNIVERSITY,
MUST HAVE BEEN WORKING LATE AT SCHOOL.
Bird: I CALLED THE CAMPUS POLICE
AND ASKED THEM IF SECURITY WOULD GO UP TO THE COMPUTER LAB ROOM,
AND THEY WENT UP, CHECKED, CAME BACK, CALLED ME,
AND SAID THEY DIDN'T FIND HER IN THERE.
Zahn: TOM TRIED TO THINK OF ANYTHING
THAT WOULD EXPLAIN HIS WIFE'S ABSENCE.
HE KEPT REPLAYING THE DAY'S EVENTS.
THINGS HAD STARTED OFF ON A HIGH NOTE.
SANDY HAD JUST GOTTEN A PROMOTION AT WORK.
SHE HAD BEEN PROMOTED FROM A TEACHING ASSISTANT
TO MORE OF A LECTURER POSITION, WHICH MEANT ADDITIONAL CLASSES
AND IT MEANT THAT SHE WAS MOVING UP IN THE UNIVERSITY ATMOSPHERE.
SHE MUST HAVE BEEN VERY HAPPY ABOUT THAT. SHE WAS VERY HAPPY.
Zahn: TOM AND SANDY DECIDED TO CELEBRATE.
SANDY MET ME AT THE CHURCH AND THEN WE WENT TO A MOVIE.
WHAT HAPPENED AFTER THE MOVIE?
WE WENT HOME.
I PULLED IN THE DRIVEWAY,
SANDY RAN UP, GOT A BOTTLE OF WINE,
AND THEN WE WENT BACK TO THE CHURCH.
WE HAD A DRINK AT THE CHURCH.
Zahn: THE CELEBRATION CONTINUED AT A NEARBY BAR.
WE DANCED AND ENJOYED THE EVENING.
Zahn: BUT TOM REALLY WASN'T HAPPY
ABOUT HIS WIFE'S BLOSSOMING CAREER.
IN ADDITION TO RAISING THEIR THREE SMALL CHILDREN,
SANDY WAS ALSO WORKING ON HER SECOND MASTERS DEGREE
IN COMPUTER MATH.
TOM THOUGHT HER NEW JOB WOULD GIVE HER ADDED RESPONSIBILITIES
AND MAKE IT IMPOSSIBLE FOR HER TO PERFORM WHAT HE SAW
AS A MORE IMPORTANT ROLE AS THE PASTOR'S WIFE.
Grismer: HIS CAREER WAS EVERYTHING TO TOM.
HIS BELIEF WAS THAT SANDY WAS A TEACHER/PROFESSOR
AND SHE MIGHT BE VERY BRIGHT, BUT HE WAS THE MAN OF THE HOUSE.
I EXPRESSED FRUSTRATIONS WITH, YOU KNOW,
HOW OUR TIME IS BEING USED UP.
HOW DID ALL THIS EXTERNAL PRESSURE OF BOTH OF YOUR CAREERS
IMPACT YOUR MARRIAGE?
IT WAS A MATTER OF MAYBE TAKING EACH OTHER FOR GRANTED,
THAT SHE THREW HERSELF INTO TEACHING,
I THREW MYSELF INTO PARISH MINISTRY,
AND WHEN WE GOT HOME, IT WAS ALL ABOUT THE KIDS.
Zahn: TOM AND SANDY HAD MOVED TO EMPORIA FROM ARKANSAS
THE YEAR BEFORE,
WHEN TOM WAS ASSIGNED TO LEAD THE FAITH LUTHERAN CONGREGATION.
HE WAS PASSIONATE ABOUT HIS NEW POSITION.
Bird: MY CHURCH IS GROWING,
I'M HAVING MORE AND MORE COUNSELING,
MORE AND MORE PROGRAMS GOING ON.
I WAS NOT SATISFIED
WITH JUST A CONGREGATION WHERE PEOPLE COME ON SUNDAY.
Zahn: NOW TOM WAS TELLING SANDY HIS REAL FEELINGS
ABOUT HOW HER NEW JOB WOULD MAKE THEIR LIVES MORE DIFFICULT.
Bird: I WAS CONCERNED ABOUT IT,
SO WE TALKED ABOUT THE FRUSTRATIONS.
AND IT WAS A LITTLE BIT OF A DOWNER.
Zahn: THE CELEBRATION HAD TURNED SOUR.
TOM TOLD SANDY HE NEEDED TO GET BACK TO THE CHURCH
TO COMPLETE HIS SERMON FOR THE NEXT MORNING.
Bird: I THINK THAT SANDY WAS DISAPPOINTED
'CAUSE SHE WANTED US TO GO HOME TOGETHER.
SHE SAYS, "WELL, IF YOU'RE GONNA GO BACK TO CHURCH
"AND WORK SOME MORE,
"THEN I'M GONNA GO BACK DOWN TO THE COLLEGE
AND GET IN THE COMPUTER LAB A LITTLE BIT MORE."
Zahn: IT WAS AN ABRUPT ENDING TO THEIR EVENING TOGETHER.
TOM AND SANDY LEFT THE BAR SEPARATELY.
TAKE ME THROUGH THE NEXT COUPLE OF HOURS.
I WENT BACK TO MY OFFICE, WORKED ON MY SERMON,
COMPLETED THE CONCLUSION TO IT, THEN I WENT JOGGING.
YOU'D RUN AT NIGHT?
OH, YES.
I WOULD GO AND JOG
AND RUN THROUGH THE MESSAGE WHILE I'M JOGGING.
WAS IT A NORMAL THING FOR YOU TO DRINK
BEFORE YOU WOULD GO JOGGING?
I NEEDED THE RUN TO MAYBE CLEAR MY HEAD.
Zahn: DID SANDY NEED SOME TIME ALONE TO CLEAR HER HEAD, TOO?
WAS THE TENSION BETWEEN THE TWO AT THE BAR
MORE SERIOUS THAN TOM REALIZED?
DIDN'T SANDY SEEM HURT WHEN SHE LEFT YOU THAT NIGHT?
SHE SEEMED LIKE IT WAS WEIGHING HEAVY ON HER.
SHE WAS NOT HAPPY THAT I DIDN'T GO HOME.
DO YOU THINK IT WAS A POSSIBILITY
THAT MAYBE SHE'D GONE OUT
WITH A FRIEND FROM SCHOOL AFTER WORK?
WELL, I HOPED, YOU KNOW?
WHEN YOU'RE WAITING,
EVERYTHING GOES THROUGH YOUR MIND AS POSSIBILITIES.
I KIND OF HOPED FOR THAT.
I KNEW SHE WENT TO DRIVING TO RELAX.
JUST LIKE I JOGGED TO RELAX, SHE DRIVES TO RELAX --
WINDOWS DOWN AND FEELING THE COOL BREEZE.
IT CLEARS HER HEAD.
SANDY NEVER HAD BEFORE BEEN GONE THIS LONG.
Zahn: AFTER WAITING AND WORRYING FOR MORE THAN TWO HOURS,
TOM WENT HOME AND CALLED THE EMPORIA POLICE.
AT 3:00 IN THE MORNING, AN OFFICER CAME TO THE HOUSE.
I WAS APPROACHING IT FROM THE POINT OF VIEW OF,
"HEY, LET'S GO LOOKING FOR HER. LET'S DO SOMETHING," YOU KNOW?
AND HE WAS FROM THE POINT OF VIEW OF,
"WELL, WERE YOU GUYS ARGUING? DID YOU HAVE A FIGHT?
DID SHE GO TO SOME FRIEND'S HOUSE?"
AND HE KIND OF, YOU KNOW, SLOUGHED IT OFF AS,
YOU KNOW, "THIS HAPPENS."
YOU KNOW, "WE'LL CALL IN THE MORNING," KIND OF THING.
Zahn: THE OFFICER SAID HE WAS SURE SANDY WOULD BE HOME SOON,
BUT NOT LONG AFTER HE LEFT,
TOM BIRD WOULD GET ANOTHER KNOCK ON THE DOOR
THAT WOULD CHANGE HIS LIFE FOREVER.
IT WAS A TYPICAL, QUIET SUNDAY MORNING IN EMPORIA, KANSAS,
BUT NOT FOR PASTOR TOM BIRD.
HE HADN'T SEEN HIS WIFE, SANDY, SINCE THE NIGHT BEFORE.
TOM WOULD NORMALLY BE PUTTING THE FINISHING TOUCHES
ON HIS SERMON AND PREPARING FOR SERVICES,
BUT THIS SUNDAY MORNING,
THE PASTOR WAS PRAYING FOR THE SAFE RETURN OF HIS WIFE.
IT HAD BEEN THE LONGEST NIGHT OF TOM BIRD'S LIFE.
HE KEPT CHECKING THE DRIVEWAY,
HOPING TO SEE SANDY'S PEUGEOT STATION WAGON PULL UP.
IT NEVER DID.
BUT LATER THAT MORNING, TWO POLICE CARS ARRIVED.
TOM BRACED HIMSELF.
Bird: THEY STARTED COMING UP TO THE HOUSE
AND ONE OFFICER WAS CARRYING SANDY'S PURSE
AND THAT'S WHEN MY HEART FELL.
WHAT DID THE POLICE TELL YOU?
THEY TOLD ME THAT THEY HAD DISCOVERED THE PEUGEOT
TURNED UPSIDE DOWN IN THE COTTONWOOD RIVER
AND SANDY'S BODY WAS THERE WITH IT,
AND MY HEART SANK FURTHER.
THE NEWS WAS OVERWHELMING.
TOM'S VIVACIOUS WIFE,
THE MOTHER OF THREE BEAUTIFUL CHILDREN, WAS GONE.
I WAS CONFUSED AND I HAD -- I DIDN'T UNDERSTAND.
WHAT AM I GONNA DO?
I'VE GOT MY CHILDREN TO TELL
AND THAT'S GONNA BE A DEVASTATING THING TO DEAL WITH.
AND THEN I HAVE A CONGREGATION TO DEAL WITH.
I WAS GRIEVING AND HURTING,
AT THE SAME TIME SAID, "WELL, YOU GOT TO BE STRONG."
Zahn: IT WAS PART OF TOM'S JOB
TO BE A COMFORT TO OTHERS IN THEIR TIME OF NEED,
BUT THIS WAS DIFFERENT.
HE CALLED SANDY'S MOTHER WITH THE TERRIBLE NEWS.
I THOUGHT, "THIS CAN'T BE. THIS DOESN'T -- NOT SANDY."
I JUST COULDN'T BELIEVE THIS.
TO THINK THAT I WOULD NEVER SEE HER AGAIN OR HEAR HER VOICE.
Zahn: TOM SAYS HE COULDN'T HELP THINKING
ABOUT HIS LAST CONVERSATION WITH SANDY,
WHEN HE COMPLAINED ABOUT HOW MUCH TIME AND EFFORT
SHE WAS PUTTING INTO HER CAREER.
I TOOK HER FOR GRANTED
AND DIDN'T GIVE HER THE REASSURANCES
AND DIDN'T GIVE HER THE TIME THAT I SHOULD HAVE.
I THINK I MADE THE ASSUMPTION THAT SHE WAS A PASTOR'S WIFE
AND SHE WOULD, YOU KNOW, HAVE TO ACCEPT GOD'S WORK.
Zahn: NEWS OF THE CRASH SPREAD QUICKLY.
EMPORIA RESIDENT DENNIS ARB HEARD ABOUT IT FROM HIS SISTER,
WHO WAS LISTENING TO A POLICE SCANNER.
WELL, I KNEW ABOUT EVERYBODY IN THE AREA OUT THERE AT THE TIME,
WITHIN A TWO- OR THREE-MILE RADIUS,
SO I GOT CURIOUS AND JUST GOT ON MY MOTORCYCLE
AND WANTED TO GO OUT AND SEE IF IT WAS ANYBODY I KNEW.
Zahn: DENNIS ARRIVED
WHILE POLICE WERE STILL PROCESSING THE ACCIDENT SITE.
Arb: THERE WAS HIGHWAY PATROL AND SHERIFFS' CARS HERE.
IT LOOKED LIKE THE CAR HAD JUST MISSED THE CURVE.
THE CAR WENT ALL THE WAY DOWN THROUGH HERE
AND ENDED UP CLEAR OUT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE RIVER THERE,
ON ITS TOP.
Zahn: DENNIS SPOKE WITH THE OFFICERS AT THE SCENE.
Arb: THEY SAID THE BODY WAS FOUND BY THE CAR,
BUT RIGHT NEXT TO THE CAR.
IT SOUNDED LIKE SHE WAS THROWN FROM THE CAR.
Zahn: WHILE THE OFFICERS ANALYZED THE CAR DOWN BELOW,
DENNIS NOTICED SOMETHING UNUSUAL ON THE BRIDGE.
WE NOTICED THAT THERE WAS
A PRETTY LARGE POOL OF BLOOD RIGHT HERE.
AND IT WAS PROBABLY ABOUT SO BIG.
THERE WAS MORE INDIVIDUAL DROPS ON THE RAILING RIGHT HERE.
AND THEN THIS METAL GIRDER, THERE WAS DROPS OF BLOOD ON IT.
Zahn: DENNIS NOTIFIED THE OFFICERS WORKING THE SCENE.
THEY TOOK SAMPLES OF THE BLOOD,
BUT DIDN'T THINK IT WAS SUSPICIOUS.
Arb: HE SAID, "OH, IT'S FISH-BAIT BLOOD."
MAYBE IT WAS FISH-BAIT BLOOD, BUT IT JUST DIDN'T LOOK RIGHT.
Zahn: POLICE MIGHT NOT HAVE BEEN ALARMED BY THE BLOOD,
BUT THEY DID WONDER WHY SANDY WAS DRIVING ALONE
ON AN ISOLATED GRAVEL ROAD SEVEN MILES FROM HOME.
COULD YOU EVEN IMAGINE
WHY SANDY WOULD HAVE BEEN DRIVING
THAT PARTICULAR STRETCH OF THE ROAD?
NO.
HAD THE TWO OF YOU EVER DRIVEN
THAT STRETCH OF THE HIGHWAY BEFORE?
NEVER. NEVER BEEN OUT THERE.
I DON'T KNOW WHY SHE WAS THERE.
I DON'T KNOW WHY SHE CHOSE THAT ROAD.
I KEPT THINKING, "HOW DID THIS HAPPEN?
HOW DID THIS HAPPEN?"
YOU'RE THINKING, "WHY IS SHE ON THAT ROAD?
WHY -- WHAT IS GOING ON?"
Zahn: THE SCENE AT THE BRIDGE
SEEMED TO RAISE MORE QUESTIONS THAN IT ANSWERED.
IF SANDY HAD SWERVED OFF THE UNFAMILIAR DIRT ROAD,
OFFICERS SPECULATED THE TIRES WOULD HAVE LEFT SKID MARKS,
BUT THERE WERE NONE AT THE SCENE.
AND THERE WERE OTHER THINGS ABOUT THE CRASH
THAT SEEMED CURIOUS,
LIKE THE POSITION OF THE DRIVER'S SEAT.
THE CAR SEATS WERE ALL THE WAY BACK.
THE SEAT WORKED FINE,
BUT IT WAS JUST PUSHED ALL THE WAY BACK.
Zahn: POLICE ALSO DETERMINED
THAT SANDY WAS NOT WEARING HER SEATBELT,
A FACTOR IN HER BEING THROWN FROM THE CAR.
DID SANDY WEAR A SEATBELT WHEN SHE DROVE?
WHEN SHE DROVE ALONE, NO.
WHEN SHE DROVE WITH THE CHILDREN, YES.
AN UNUSED SEATBELT, NO SKID MARKS,
A DRIVER'S SEAT IN THE WRONG POSITION --
THE EVIDENCE MADE IT NECESSARY
TO ASK AN UNCOMFORTABLE QUESTION.
WHAT CONDITION WAS SANDY IN WHEN SHE PLUNGED INTO THE RIVER?
A BLOOD ALCOHOL TEST WAS ORDERED.
THE RESULTS WERE CLEAR.
SANDY WAS NOT DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE.
THOSE WHO KNEW HER BEST
WOULD HAVE BEEN SHOCKED BY ANY OTHER RESULT.
SANDY WAS A GOOD DRIVER -- SAFE DRIVER.
Zahn: MARTY ANDERSON, TOM'S FRIEND FROM THE CORONER'S OFFICE,
GAVE HIM THE OFFICIAL WORD ON HOW SANDY DIED.
HE WAS AN OLD FRIEND OF YOURS.
YES, AND A MEMBER OF MY CONGREGATION.
HE SHARED WITH ME HOW SHE DIED.
IT WAS FROM A TRANSECTED LEFT KIDNEY
AND THAT SHE BLED INTERNALLY.
WHEN THE RESULTS OF THE AUTOPSY WERE REPORTED,
AN OFFICIAL RULING WAS MADE.
SANDY'S DEATH WAS THE RESULT OF AN ACCIDENT.
I WAS SO UPSET WITH GOD.
SANDY DIDN'T HAVE A MEAN BONE IN HER BODY.
WHY WAS SHE DEAD?
WHY WAS SHE IN HER CAR AND IN A WRECK?
Zahn: BUT SOME PEOPLE WERE TROUBLED BY THAT RULING,
AND UNEASY QUESTIONS STILL LINGERED
ABOUT WHAT REALLY HAPPENED
ON THE BRIDGE THAT NIGHT THAT SANDY BIRD DIED.
Arb: THE BLOOD AND EVERYTHING OUT HERE --
THERE'S NO WAY THAT COULD HAVE BEEN AN ACCIDENT.
SOMETHING WAS WRONG.
Zahn: COMING UP...
A SECOND TRAGEDY HITS TOM BIRD'S CONGREGATION.
I WAS IN SHOCK. IT DIDN'T MAKE SENSE.
Zahn: AND THIS ONE WAS NO ACCIDENT.
SANDY BIRD HAD BEEN KILLED
WHEN HER CAR PLUNGED OFF A BRIDGE JUST MILES FROM HER HOME.
HER TRAGIC DEATH WAS A DEVASTATING BLOW
TO HER HUSBAND, PASTOR TOM BIRD, AND HIS ENTIRE CONGREGATION.
NOW THE SMALL, TIGHT-KNIT COMMUNITY
THAT HAD RALLIED TO SUPPORT HIM THROUGH HIS PERSONAL NIGHTMARE
WAS ABOUT TO RECEIVE MORE TERRIBLE NEWS.
FOUR MONTHS AFTER SANDY BIRD'S DEATH,
THE FAITH LUTHERAN CONGREGATION WAS STRUCK AGAIN BY TRAGEDY.
Deppish: I GOT THE CALL THAT THERE WAS A DEAD PERSON
ALONG K-177 HIGHWAY.
Zahn: IT LOOKED LIKE A COLD-BLOODED MURDER.
SOMEONE HAD BEEN SHOT -- EXECUTION STYLE.
THE SCENE WAS GRUESOME IN THE FACT THAT WE HAD
A DEAD MAN SHOT THREE TIMES IN THE BACK OF THE HEAD.
Zahn: THE VICTIM WAS A WELL-KNOWN FIGURE IN EMPORIA --
MEDICAL EXAMINER MARTIN ANDERSON.
HIS WIFE, LORNA, TOLD POLICE A HORRIFYING STORY.
SHE SAID IT ALL BEGAN WHEN SHE WAS DRIVING HOME WITH MARTIN
AND THEIR FOUR DAUGHTERS.
LORNA SAID SHE HAD BEEN FEELING NAUSEOUS,
SO SHE PULLED OVER AND GOT OUT OF THE CAR.
SHE SAID SHE THREW UP.
WHEN SHE BENT OVER, SHE DROPPED THE VAN KEYS.
Zahn: LORNA TOLD POLICE THAT WHEN SHE RETURNED TO THE CAR,
SHE ASKED HER HUSBAND TO GET THE KEYS SHE'D DROPPED.
AS SHE WAS SEARCHING FOR THEM,
A MASKED GUNMAN APPEARED OUT OF NOWHERE
AND DEMANDED HIS WALLET.
THAT'S WHEN HE WAS SHOT AND KILLED.
[ GUNSHOTS ]
Zahn: LORNA SAID THE GUNMAN TOOK HER HUSBAND'S WALLET
AND DISAPPEARED INTO THE NIGHT.
SHE RAN BACK TO THE ROAD
AND FLAGGED DOWN A PASSING CAR FOR HELP.
IT WAS A SHOCKING STORY.
A FATHER OF FOUR GUNNED DOWN BY A ROADSIDE ROBBER.
BILL DEPPISH AND A TEAM OF INVESTIGATORS
STARTED SEARCHING THE AREA.
WE WERE FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO FIND SOME CASINGS
THAT WE DETERMINED LATER ON
HAD CAME FROM A SEMI-AUTOMATIC .22 PISTOL.
HIS BILLFOLD AND ALL IDENTIFICATION WAS MISSING.
Zahn: MARTIN WAS NOT ONLY A PROMINENT MEMBER
OF THE FAITH LUTHERAN CHURCH,
HIS WIFE, LORNA, WAS PASTOR TOM BIRD'S ASSISTANT.
IRONICALLY, IT WAS MARTIN WHO TOLD TOM THE CAUSE
OF HIS WIFE'S DEATH JUST FOUR MONTHS BEFORE.
TOM WAS AT A CHURCH SEMINAR IN TOPEKA
WHEN HE GOT THE TERRIBLE NEWS ABOUT HIS FRIEND.
YOU FOUND OUT THAT MARTY ANDERSON WAS MURDERED
JUST FOUR MONTHS AFTER SANDY DIED.
WHAT WAS IT LIKE TO LIVE WITH THE REALITY
OF THIS DOUBLE DOSE OF TRAGIC NEWS?
Bird: I WAS IN SHOCK.
DIDN'T MAKE SENSE.
AND VIOLENT DEATH DIDN'T MAKE SENSE.
IT DIDN'T MAKE SENSE TO INVESTIGATORS, EITHER.
IF THE INCIDENT WAS REALLY A PETTY ROADSIDE ROBBERY,
WHY DID THE SHOOTING LOOK LIKE THE WORK
OF A PROFESSIONAL HIT MAN?
HE WAS ACTUALLY KILLED AS THE MAFIA KILLS PEOPLE.
HE WAS DOWN ON HIS KNEES
AND SHOT THREE TIMES IN THE BACK OF THE HEAD.
Zahn: IT WASN'T LONG BEFORE INVESTIGATORS
STARTED QUESTIONING LORNA'S STORY.
IT'S JUST SUCH A COINCIDENCE THAT THEY WOULD STOP
AT AN ISOLATED PLACE ON A RURAL HIGHWAY
AND SOMEONE WOULD COME OUT AT RANDOM AND SHOOT HIM
WERE JUST UNBELIEVABLE.
WE BECAME VERY SUSPICIOUS THAT SOMETHING'S REALLY FISHY.
Zahn: INVESTIGATORS THOUGHT LORNA'S BEHAVIOR WAS SUSPICIOUS, TOO,
THAT SHE WAS HARDLY ACTING LIKE A GRIEVING WIDOW.
THEY LEARNED THAT THE MORNING AFTER THE SHOOTING,
SHE HAD CALLED HER INSURANCE AGENT
ABOUT HER HUSBAND'S LIFE-INSURANCE POLICY.
SHE HAD ASKED IF EVERYTHING WAS OKAY --
HOW SOON IT WOULD TAKE HER TO GET THE MONEY.
Zahn: WITH MARTIN DEAD,
LORNA STOOD TO RECEIVE A HEFTY INSURANCE PAYOFF OF $270,000.
HER BRAZEN PHONE CALL CHECKING ON THE POLICY
RAISED A HUGE RED FLAG
AND QUICKLY MADE HER THE PRIME SUSPECT
IN HER HUSBAND'S KILLING.
Zahn: WHEN DID YOU FIND OUT
LORNA WAS A SUBJECT OF A MURDER INVESTIGATION?
THERE WAS RUMORS,
BUT I DIDN'T PUT MUCH FAITH IN RUMORS.
WHAT WAS YOUR REACTION?
I THOUGHT IT WAS BIZARRE THAT SHE WOULD HAVE MARTY KILLED.
DID YOU BELIEVE LORNA WHEN SHE TOLD YOU WHAT HAPPENED
THE NIGHT MARTY WAS MURDERED?
YES, I BELIEVED HER. I SURE DID.
YOU THOUGHT IT WAS POSSIBLE
THAT SOMEONE WOULD JUST HAPPEN TO BE THERE
AT THE TIME THAT SHE HAD GOTTEN SICK
AND PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD?
I SAW IT AS A POSSIBILITY THAT,
UM, THAT SOMEBODY MAY HAVE BEEN AN OPPORTUNIST
AND SAW A STRANDED VAN ALONG THE HIGHWAY
AND WAS GOING TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THAT.
IN THE MONTHS PRIOR TO THE SHOOTING,
MARTIN AND LORNA WERE HAVING MARITAL PROBLEMS.
SHE HAD BEEN UNFAITHFUL.
TOM SAYS HE STARTED COUNSELING LORNA
AND THEY DEVELOPED A DEEP FRIENDSHIP.
DID YOU CONTINUE YOUR RELATIONSHIP
ONCE SHE BECAME A SUSPECT IN HER HUSBAND'S MURDER?
YES, I DID.
THIS WAS MY SECRETARY, THIS WAS MY FRIEND,
THIS IS SOMEBODY I'D BEEN COUNSELING A LONG TIME,
AND THIS IS SOMEBODY THAT WAS EMOTIONALLY DEPENDENT UPON ME.
AND, SO, YEAH. I STUCK BY HER.
I KIND OF FELT LIKE
MAYBE I'D BE A KNIGHT IN SHINING ARMOR.
AS THE INVESTIGATION CONTINUED,
AN EX-BOYFRIEND CAME FORWARD WITH AN INCREDIBLE STORY.
HE SAID THREE MONTHS BEFORE THE ROADSIDE MURDER,
LORNA HAD GIVEN HIM $5,000
TO FIND A HIT MAN TO KILL HER HUSBAND.
HE SAYS HE HANDED THE MONEY OVER TO SOMEONE
WHO SAID HE'D HANDLE THE JOB,
BUT INSTEAD OF KILLING MARTIN, HE RAN OFF WITH THE MONEY.
THE MAN ALSO SAID HE DIDN'T KNOW WHO HAD ACTUALLY KILLED MARTIN.
AUTHORITIES HAD HEARD ENOUGH.
THEY STARTED PREPARING CHARGES AGAINST LORNA
FOR SOLICITING SOMEONE TO KILL HER HUSBAND.
Deppish: BY THAT TIME, SHE HAD LAWYERED UP,
AND, SO, OF COURSE,
HER ATTORNEY WOULDN'T LET US TALK TO HER ANYMORE.
Zahn: THE REVELATIONS ABOUT LORNA WERE STUNNING
AND MANY PEOPLE STARTED TO WONDER WHY HER BOSS,
THE RESPECTED PASTOR, REMAINED SO LOYAL TO HER,
EVEN AFTER SO MUCH DAMAGING EVIDENCE HAD BEEN UNCOVERED.
THERE WERE A LOT OF PEOPLE IN TOWN
WHO FELT THAT YOU RUSHED TO DEFEND LORNA.
I STOOD BESIDE HER AND I WAS GONNA STICK WITH HER,
YOU KNOW, UNTIL SHOWN OTHERWISE.
Zahn: COMING UP...
RUMORS SWIRL ABOUT A SHOCKING MOTIVE
BEHIND MARTIN ANDERSON'S MURDER.
IT WAS DESCRIBED AS ELECTRICITY IN THE AIR
WHEN WE WERE IN THE ROOM.
SHE WAS IN LOVE WITH HIM.
HE WAS IN LOVE WITH HER. NO QUESTION ABOUT IT.
JUST WEEKS AFTER HER HUSBAND WAS GUNNED DOWN EXECUTION STYLE
ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD,
LORNA ANDERSON WAS CHARGED
WITH CONSPIRACY TO COMMIT FIRST-DEGREE MURDER.
INVESTIGATORS HAD A STRONG CASE,
BUT ONE MAN CONTINUED TO PASSIONATELY DEFEND HER --
PASTOR TOM BIRD.
AND EVERYONE BEGAN TO WONDER WHY.
THERE WAS SOME GOSSIP ABOUT HER AND HIM,
AND THINGS JUST DIDN'T LOOK KOSHER.
Zahn: INVESTIGATORS INTERVIEWED
EVERYONE WHO WORKED AT THE CHURCH WITH TOM AND LORNA,
AND WHAT THEY HEARD ABOUT THEM MADE THEM WONDER
ABOUT THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE PASTOR AND HIS SECRETARY.
ONE OF YOUR COLLEAGUES DESCRIBED THE STRONG CHEMISTRY
SHE WOULD SEE WHEN YOU AND LORNA WERE TOGETHER.
IT WAS DESCRIBED AS ELECTRICITY IN THE AIR
WHEN WE WERE IN THE ROOM.
I DIDN'T OBSERVE THAT,
BUT THERE WAS A COMFORTABLENESS
AND THERE WAS A GOOD WORKING RELATIONSHIP
AND THERE WAS A CLOSENESS.
BUT POLICE BEGAN TO SUSPECT
THAT IT WAS FAR MORE THAN A CLOSE WORKING RELATIONSHIP.
SOMEONE REPORTED SEEING LORNA AND TOM AT A MOTEL,
AND THIS TRIGGERED MORE SPECULATION.
ONE OF THE BABYSITTERS SAY REVEREND BIRD
LAYING ON A COFFEE TABLE AND LORNA LAYING ON TOP OF HIM.
ANOTHER YOUNGER GIRL IN THE CHURCH
DESCRIBED SEEING HIM KISS HER RIGHT ON THE LIPS.
Zahn: AND AS INVESTIGATORS DUG DEEPER,
THEY UNCOVERED NOTES TOM HAD WRITTEN TO LORNA --
NOTES THAT SEEMED VERY INTIMATE.
HOW DO YOU EXPLAIN
THAT WHEN INVESTIGATORS SEARCHED LORNA'S HOME,
THEY FOUND TWO CARDS ADDRESSED FROM YOU TO HER
AND ONE OF THEM SAID, "I LOVE YOU
"AND I'M CONFIDENT OF THE FUTURE
AND THAT MAKES THE PRESENT OKAY,"
AND ANOTHER ONE READ, "YOU ARE SO VERY SPECIAL.
I LOVE YOU SO MUCH, AND THAT'S FOREVER"?
THERE'S A BIG DISTINCTION
BETWEEN BEING IN LOVE WITH SOMEBODY
AND LOVING SOMEBODY,
AND I CERTAINLY EXPRESSED MY LOVE TO LORNA,
AS I EXPRESSED MY LOVE TO A LOT OF PEOPLE.
I'D SAY B.S.
SHE WAS IN LOVE WITH HIM. HE WAS IN LOVE WITH HER.
NO QUESTION ABOUT IT.
Zahn: POLICE BELIEVED PHONE RECORDS REVEALED
JUST HOW INTENSE THE RELATIONSHIP REALLY WAS.
WHEN TOM WAS STAYING WITH HIS MOTHER-IN-LAW
IN THE DAYS BEFORE HIS WIFE'S FUNERAL,
HE STILL TOOK TIME OUT TO CALL LORNA.
Grismer: THE WEEK OF THE FUNERAL,
THERE WERE AT LEAST SIX OR SEVEN PHONE CALLS A DAY
MADE FROM OUR TELEPHONE
TO LORNA ANDERSON'S TELEPHONE NUMBER.
WERE YOU IN LOVE WITH LORNA?
NO.
NO. CARED A GREAT DEAL ABOUT HER
AND THERE WAS AN EMOTIONAL ATTACHMENT.
Zahn: TOM SAYS IT WAS A CASE OF TWO PEOPLE BONDING
AFTER SUFFERING THE TRAUMATIC LOSS OF THEIR SPOUSES.
SHE NEEDED ME AND I NEEDED TO BE NEEDED
AND THAT GOT TO BE UNHEALTHY,
BUT I WAS NOT IN LOVE WITH LORNA, NO.
Zahn: INVESTIGATORS BELIEVE
THE EVIDENCE OF AN AFFAIR WAS CLEAR CUT
AND THAT THE ROMANCE PROVIDED AN OBVIOUS MOTIVE
FOR THE MURDER OF MARTIN ANDERSON.
BUT THEY STILL HAD NOTHING TO CONNECT TOM TO THE CRIME.
BUT THEN A MAN NAMED DARREL CARTER CAME FORWARD
WITH A STORY THAT POLICE BELIEVED
TIED ALL OF THE LOOSE ENDS TOGETHER.
CARTER SAID HE HAD MET WITH THE PASTOR AND LORNA AT THE CHURCH,
AND THEY ASKED FOR HIS HELP
IN FINDING SOMEONE TO KILL MARTIN ANDERSON.
THEY DISCUSSED HAVING HIM KILLED --
MARTIN ANDERSON KILLED FOR $5,000.
Zahn: DARREL CARTER WAS THE SECOND PERSON TO COME FORWARD
WITH A STUNNING ALLEGATION OF A MURDER PLOT,
BUT THIS TIME, THE ACCUSER SAID
TOM BIRD WAS NOT ONLY INVOLVED IN THE DISCUSSION,
HE ACTUALLY PROVIDED THE MONEY.
POLICE CONFRONTED THE PASTOR WITH DARREL CARTER'S STORY.
DID YOU EVER HAVE A MEETING WITH DARREL CARTER WITH LORNA
ABOUT CONCEIVING A MURDER-FOR-HIRE PLOT?
NO, I DID NOT.
I DID MEET WITH DARREL CARTER.
HE OWNED TWO FIRECRACKER STANDS,
AND I MET WITH HIM ON LORNA'S BEQUEST
BECAUSE I WAS LOOKING FOR A FUNDRAISER
FOR OUR YOUTH TO GO ON A CAMPING TRIP.
I STILL DON'T UNDERSTAND
WHY DARREL CARTER WOULD TARGET YOU
IF YOU WEREN'T INVOLVED WITH IT.
I THINK I WAS CONVENIENT.
HE TOOK ADVANTAGE OF THE RUMORS THAT WERE IN TOWN.
DARREL SAID HE NEVER AGREED TO TAKE PART IN THE PLAN
AND CUT OFF CONTACT WITH TOM AND LORNA.
INVESTIGATORS WEREN'T SURE WHAT OR WHO TO BELIEVE.
THEY SET UP A STING OPERATION WHERE DARREL CARTER WORE A WIRE
TO SECRETLY RECORD A CONVERSATION WITH THE PASTOR.
DURING THE TAPED CONVERSATION, TOM OFFERED HIS OPINION
OF INVESTIGATORS LOOKING INTO THE CASE.
HE ALSO TALKED ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE
OF BEING CONSISTENT ABOUT THE FIRECRACKER STORY.
INVESTIGATORS BELIEVE THE 40-MINUTE CONVERSATION
REVEALED A CLEVER AND DEVIOUS MAN CAREFULLY PREPARING AN ALIBI
WITH SOMEONE HE THOUGHT WAS ON HIS SIDE.
THEY WERE NOW MORE CONVINCED THAN EVER
THAT TOM WAS PART OF A PLOT TO KILL HIS FRIEND MARTIN ANDERSON.
FOUR MONTHS AFTER THE MURDER, PASTOR TOM BIRD WAS ARRESTED
FOR HIS ROLE IN HELPING TO PLOT THE CRIME.
THE OFFICIAL CHARGE WAS CRIMINAL SOLICITATION.
THE ARREST CREATED AN UPROAR.
MANY PEOPLE STILL SUPPORTED THE POPULAR PASTOR.
THE CHURCH PEOPLE IN EMPORIA
DIDN'T BELIEVE THAT TOM HAD ANYTHING TO DO WITH IT.
Zahn: FOR PROSECUTORS, THE CASE WAS SIMPLE.
IT ALL CAME DOWN TO MOTIVE.
TOM AND LORNA WERE HAVING AN AFFAIR
AND MARTIN ANDERSON WAS SIMPLY IN THE WAY.
WHEN THE TRIAL BEGAN,
THEY LAID OUT THE EVIDENCE FOR THE JURY --
THE PHONE RECORDS, THE LOVE LETTERS,
THE CLANDESTINE MEETINGS,
AND DARREL CARTER'S STATEMENT THAT TOM HAD ASKED HIM FOR HELP
IN CARRYING OUT THE HIT.
WHEN THE PROSECUTION RESTED,
TOM BIRD TOOK THE STAND IN HIS OWN DEFENSE,
TESTIFYING FOR FIVE LONG HOURS.
NOT A ROMANTIC TYPE OF LOVE.
I HAD A GREAT CARING FOR HER.
TOM TRIED TO SHOOT DOWN THE PROSECUTION THEORY
THAT HIS LOVE FOR LORNA MOTIVATED THE CRIME.
HE WAS STEADFAST IN DENYING HAVING AN AFFAIR
AND INSISTED HE HAD NOTHING TO DO
WITH THE MURDER OF MARTIN ANDERSON.
HE HAD ALL KINDS OF EXCUSES FOR ALMOST EVERYTHING.
TOM'S CHARACTER WASN'T THAT OF A MINISTER.
HE WAS MORE OF A, YOU KNOW, ALMOST A SHOE SALESMAN.
Zahn: AFTER MORE THAN TWO WEEKS OF TESTIMONY,
THE JURY CAME BACK WITH A VERDICT.
TOM BIRD, GUILTY OF CRIMINAL SOLICITATION.
HE WAS SENTENCED TO PRISON FOR A TERM
OF TWO AND A HALF TO SEVEN YEARS.
LORNA ANDERSON WOULD PLEAD GUILTY
FOR HER ROLE IN THE PLOT TO KILL HER HUSBAND.
SHE WAS SENTENCED
TO FIVE AND A HALF TO 18 YEARS IN PRISON.
THE SHOCKING CASE MADE POLICE WONDER --
IF THE SEEMINGLY PIOUS PASTOR
WAS CAPABLE OF PLOTTING A FRIEND'S MURDER,
THEN MAYBE HIS WIFE'S TRAGIC DEATH
WASN'T AN ACCIDENT AFTER ALL.
THEY DECIDED TO TAKE A FRESH LOOK AT THE SANDY BIRD CASE.
COMING UP...
Grismer: I WANTED JUSTICE FOR SANDY.
I WANTED TO KNOW WHAT HAPPENED TO MY CHILD.
Zahn: WERE YOU RESPONSIBLE
FOR SENDING HER CAR DOWN THE HILL INTO THE RIVER?
Zahn: WANT MORE "ON THE CASE"? GO TO...
...AND VIEW MORE EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEWS
AND BEHIND-THE-SCENES VIDEO.
TOM BIRD WAS IN PRISON,
SERVING TIME FOR PLOTTING TO KILL HIS SECRETARY'S HUSBAND.
IT WAS A REMARKABLE FALL FROM GRACE
FOR A MAN WHO HAD BEEN THE RESPECTED MINISTER
OF A GROWING CONGREGATION,
BUT PASTOR BIRD'S TROUBLES WERE FAR FROM OVER.
INVESTIGATORS WERE NOW QUESTIONING
IF FOUL PLAY WAS INVOLVED IN HIS WIFE, SANDY'S, TRAGIC DEATH.
MARTIN ANDERSON MIGHT HAVE BEEN MURDERED BY A HAIL OF BULLETS,
BUT IN TOM BIRD'S CONSPIRACY TRIAL,
THE PROSECUTION'S STAR WITNESS TOLD THE JURY
THAT THE PASTOR HAD ORIGINALLY WANTED TO KILL MARTIN
BY SENDING HIS CAR OFF A CLIFF ON A REMOTE ROAD
TO MAKE IT LOOK LIKE AN ACCIDENT.
THE DETAILS OF THAT PLOT WERE EERILY SIMILAR
TO WHAT HAPPENED TO TOM'S WIFE, SANDY,
WHO DIED WHEN HER CAR PLUNGED INTO THE COTTONWOOD RIVER.
WAS IT JUST A COINCIDENCE? INVESTIGATORS DIDN'T THINK SO.
SANDY'S CASE WAS REOPENED WITH TOM AS THE PRIME SUSPECT.
Bird: THEY STARTED POINTING IN THE WRONG DIRECTION
AND THEY APPEARED TO BE MOVING WITH BLINDERS ON.
IT WAS TOTALLY CIRCUMSTANTIAL,
AND EVEN THE CIRCUMSTANTIAL EVIDENCE
WAS VERY NARROW AND VERY MINIMAL.
Grismer: I KEPT WANTING TO THINK IT WAS UNTRUE.
SHE LOVED HIM.
I COULDN'T IMAGINE IT.
HE WAS THE ONLY MAN SHE'D EVER LOVED.
SHE WAS CRAZY ABOUT HIM.
Zahn: BUT SANDY'S MOTHER DID WANT ANSWERS.
SHE GAVE HER CONSENT TO HAVE HER DAUGHTER'S BODY EXHUMED
FOR A SECOND AUTOPSY.
Grismer: I WANTED TO KNOW THE TRUTH.
LET THE COINS DROP WHERE THEY'RE GOING TO.
I WANTED TO KNOW WHAT HAPPENED TO MY CHILD.
I DON'T BELIEVE THAT SHE WAS IN A CAR AND DROVE OFF THE BRIDGE.
Zahn: A NEW FORENSIC PATHOLOGIST WAS BROUGHT IN.
HE STARTED BY ANALYZING PHOTOS FROM THE INITIAL AUTOPSY.
HE REVIEWED THE PICTURE
AND SAID, "THIS ISN'T AN ACCIDENT,"
AND POINTED OUT SOME LIGATURE MARKS ON HER WRIST.
Zahn: THOSE MARKS HAD NEVER BEEN NOTED IN THE FIRST AUTOPSY REPORT.
THE FACT THAT SANDY'S WRISTS HAD BEEN BOUND
LOOK LIKE PROOF OF FOUL PLAY.
SUDDENLY, EVERYTHING ABOUT THE ORIGINAL INVESTIGATION
WAS CALLED INTO QUESTION.
DETECTIVES DECIDED TO TAKE ANOTHER LOOK AT THE EVIDENCE.
Deppish: THERE WAS BLOOD ON THE DECK OF THE BRIDGE.
THERE WAS ALSO A TREE BELOW THE BRIDGE
AND ABOVE WHERE THE CAR WENT INTO THE RIVER
AND THERE WAS SOME BLOOD ON THERE.
Zahn: IF SANDY DIED WHEN HER CAR CAREENED OFF THE ROAD
AND INTO THE RIVER,
THEN HOW DID THAT BLOOD GET ON THE BRIDGE?
POLICE BELIEVED THEY FOUND THE ANSWER IN ANOTHER FINDING
FROM THE SECOND AUTOPSY,
THAT THE ACTUAL CAUSE OF DEATH
CAME FROM REPEATED BLOWS TO THE HEAD.
THAT'S WHAT KILLED HER --
THE BLOWS TO THE BACK OF THE SKULL.
Zahn: THE SECOND AUTOPSY REPORT
CONCLUDED THAT SANDY HAD BEEN MURDERED.
AND INVESTIGATORS BELIEVED THE FRESH LOOK AT THE EVIDENCE
SUPPORTED A NEW THEORY ABOUT HOW SHE REALLY DIED,
THAT TOM BIRD BLUDGEONED HIS WIFE,
THREW HER BODY OVER THE BRIDGE,
AND THEN DROVE HER CAR INTO THE WATER.
THE CASE HAD COME FULL CIRCLE.
A YEAR AND A HALF AFTER HIS WIFE'S DEATH,
BIRD WAS CHARGED WITH FIRST-DEGREE MURDER.
AND EVEN THOUGH HE WAS ALREADY SERVING TIME
FOR PLOTTING TO KILL A MEMBER OF HIS OWN CONGREGATION,
THE PASTOR STILL RECEIVED REMARKABLY STRONG SUPPORT.
Deppish: HE HAD SO MANY FOLLOWERS IN HIS CHURCH.
THE FACT THAT HE WAS THEIR MINISTER,
THEY JUST DIDN'T BELIEVE THE STORIES.
Zahn: WHEN THE SECOND TRIAL BEGAN,
PROSECUTORS TOLD THE JURY THAT TOM BIRD HAD THE MOTIVE,
THE MEANS, AND THE OPPORTUNITY TO KILL HIS WIFE.
WITNESSES DESCRIBE THE LOVE AFFAIR WITH LORNA ANDERSON
THAT PROSECUTORS SAID LED TO THE PASTOR'S DOWNFALL.
I TESTIFIED ABOUT THOSE LOVE LETTERS.
THEY WERE ESSENTIAL BECAUSE IT PROVED
ALMOST BEYOND A REASONABLE DOUBT
THAT THERE WAS A LOVE AFFAIR GOING BETWEEN THE TWO.
Zahn: ONE OF THE MOST DAMAGING WITNESSES WAS DARREL CARTER,
A MAN WHO HELPED PUT TOM BEHIND BARS AT HIS FIRST TRIAL.
CARTER REPEATED HIS STORY ABOUT HOW TOM APPROACHED HIM
WITH THE PLAN TO KILL LORNA'S HUSBAND.
I THOUGHT, "WOW.
"HOW HORRENDOUS IS THIS THAT NOT ONLY IS HE LYING,
"SAYING THAT I WAS CONSPIRING TO KILL SOMEBODY,
"BUT THAT THIS MADE IT LOOK LIKE THE WAY SANDY DIED
WAS THE WAY I WAS GONNA PLOT TO HAVE MARTY KILLED?"
Zahn: PROSECUTORS HAMMERED HOME THE SIMILARITIES
BETWEEN TOM'S PLOT TO KILL MARTIN ANDERSON
AND THE ACTUAL CIRCUMSTANCES OF SANDY'S DEATH.
THEY FOLLOWED THAT WITH A LAUNDRY LIST OF OTHER EVIDENCE.
THERE WAS THE BLOOD FOUND ON THE BRIDGE,
THE FACT THAT THE DRIVER'S SEAT WAS PUSHED TOO FAR BACK
FOR SANDY TO REACH THE FLOOR PEDALS...
...AND THEN PROSECUTORS COUNTERED TOM'S STATEMENT,
THAT SANDY OFTEN DROVE WITHOUT USING A SEATBELT,
SOMETHING THAT LED TO THE ORIGINAL FINDING
THAT SHE HAD BEEN THROWN FROM THE CAR DURING A CRASH.
Grismer: SHE NEVER GOT IN A CAR WITHOUT PUTTING A SEATBELT ON.
SHE ALWAYS WORE A SEATBELT.
Zahn: FINALLY, THE JURY HEARD THAT WHEN TOM RETURNED HOME
THE NIGHT SANDY DISAPPEARED,
HE WAS PERSPIRING HEAVILY
AND HAD THE HARRIED LOOK OF A GUILTY MAN.
THE IMPLICATION WAS THAT I RAN EIGHT MILES,
DISCARDED A BLOODY JOGGING SUIT.
THERE'S NO WAY I COULD HAVE RUN EIGHT MILES.
I WAS NOT IN SHAPE TO RUN EIGHT MILES.
AND YOU DENY YOU EVER DISPOSED OF ANY OF YOUR CLOTHES...
THERE WAS NO --
...ALONG THE ROUTE THAT WOULD HAVE LED YOU HOME
FROM WHERE SANDY DIED.
NO. THAT DIDN'T HAPPEN.
THIS TIME, TOM BIRD DIDN'T TESTIFY ON HIS OWN BEHALF,
BUT HIS DEFENSE REMAINED CONSISTENT --
SANDY'S DEATH WAS A TRAGIC ACCIDENT.
DID YOU BLUDGEON SANDY ON THE BRIDGE
THE NIGHT OF HER MURDER?
OH, ABSOLUTELY NOT. NO, I DID NOT KILL SANDY.
WERE YOU RESPONSIBLE FOR SENDING HER CAR
DOWN THE HILL INTO THE RIVER?
NO, I DID NOT.
HE HAS AN ANSWER FOR EVERYTHING.
IT'S JUST DISGUSTING. [ CHUCKLES ]
HE MAY TALK A GOOD GAME,
BUT I DON'T SEE HOW ANYBODY COULD THINK HE WAS INNOCENT.
Zahn: FOR THE SECOND TIME IN LESS THAN TWO YEARS,
A PASTOR'S FATE WAS IN THE HANDS OF A JURY.
AFTER DELIBERATING FOR SIX HOURS,
JURORS RETURNED WITH A VERDICT.
TOM BIRD,
GUILTY OF THE FIRST-DEGREE MURDER OF HIS WIFE, SANDY.
HE WAS SENTENCED TO LIFE IN PRISON.
WHY DO YOU THINK A JURY CONVICTED YOU
NOT ONCE BUT TWICE?
THERE WAS NO DEFENSE EXCEPT FOR DENIAL,
AND THAT'S A TOUGH DEFENSE.
WHAT DO YOU THINK
WAS THE MOST COMPELLING PIECE OF EVIDENCE
THE PROSECUTION HAD AGAINST YOU IN THE SECOND TRIAL?
THE RELATIONSHIP WITH LORNA,
BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT THEY SPENT THE MOST TIME ON,
ACTUALLY DWELLED ON.
IN 2004, TOM BIRD CAME UP FOR PAROLE.
SANDY'S FAMILY SPOKE OUT AT THE HEARING.
PLEASE DO NOT LET THE MAGICIAN IN TOM BIRD
TRICK YOU INTO THINKING THAT HE IS ABLE AND IS WILLING
TO FULFILL THE OBLIGATIONS OF LAW-ABIDING CITIZENS.
WHY HAVE A TRIAL IF YOU'RE GONNA TURN HIM LOOSE?
I THINK THERE'S SOMETHING WRONG WITH THAT SYSTEM.
Zahn: DESPITE THE FAMILY'S PLEAS, THE BOARD VOTED TO RELEASE TOM.
HE ENDED UP SERVING 20 YEARS OF HIS LIFE SENTENCE.
I WANTED JUSTICE FOR SANDY.
THE INJUSTICE IS THEY LET HIM OUT.
HE MURDERED HER. THIS MAN MURDERED MY CHILD.
I WAS HEARTSICK -- ABSOLUTELY CRYING.
Zahn: FOR TWO DECADES, TOM ADAMANTLY DENIED HAVING AN AFFAIR,
INSISTING HIS RELATIONSHIP WITH LORNA WAS LOVING,
BUT THAT IT NEVER CROSSED THE LINE INTO A ROMANCE.
BUT NOW, ALMOST 30 YEARS LATER,
HE ADMITS THEY DID, IN FACT, HAVE A PHYSICAL RELATIONSHIP.
THE BUZZ IN TOWN
WAS THAT YOU AND LORNA WERE ROMANTICALLY INVOLVED,
AND THAT GOSSIP, YOU SAY,
WHICH WAS GOSSIP AT THE TIME, TURNED INTO REALITY.
WHAT CHANGED IN THE RELATIONSHIP?
WHAT HAPPENED?
SANDY HAD DIED SIX MONTHS EARLIER.
I WAS STRUGGLING, YOU KNOW, EMOTIONALLY.
LORNA HAD BEEN, WHAT I THOUGHT,
GRIEVING HER HUSBAND'S DEATH,
AND WE ENDED UP HAVING SEX,
AND THAT WAS THE FIRST TIME WE'VE HAD SEX.
AND THIS WAS, AGAIN, AFTER THE DEATH OF OUR SPOUSES,
AND IN A MOMENT OF WEAKNESS ON MY PART.
Zahn: TOM SAYS THAT WAS THE ONE AND ONLY TIME
HE WAS INTIMATE WITH LORNA.
TODAY, THE FORMER PASTOR LOOKS IN A MIRROR
AND SAYS HE SEES A SINNER, NOT A KILLER.
Bird: I WAS FOOLISH. I WAS SINFUL.
I WAS WRONG.
NOTHING DESERVING 20 YEARS IN PRISON,
BUT I FELL SHORT OF THE STANDARDS
THAT THE LORD HAS PLACED UPON US.
Zahn: JANE GRISMER SAYS HER DAUGHTER, SANDY,
A VIVACIOUS AND ACCOMPLISHED MOTHER OF THREE,
MEASURED UP TO EVERY STANDARD IN HER LIFE
AND DESERVED A MUCH BETTER FATE.
BEING MAD OVER HER BEING GONE HAS NEVER GONE AWAY.
I WOULD STILL LOVE TO SEE HER WALK IN THAT DOOR.
[ SNIFFLES ] YOU JUST KNOW IT'S NOT GONNA HAPPEN.
SHE WAS A HAPPY PUMPKIN
AND MADE OTHER PEOPLE AROUND HER HAPPY.
AND I HAD TO ACCEPT THE FACT
THAT I WOULD NEVER SEE HER IN THIS LIFE AGAIN.
AFTER BEING CONVICTED OF HIS WIFE'S MURDER,
PROSECUTORS ALSO CHARGED TOM BIRD
WITH ACTUALLY PULLING THE TRIGGER
IN THE MURDER OF MARTIN ANDERSON.
HE WAS FOUND NOT GUILTY IN THAT CASE.
I'M PAULA ZAHN.
JOIN US NEXT TIME WHEN WE'RE BACK ON THE CASE.