Zahn: THEY MET IN A CHAT ROOM AND FELL IN LOVE.
THEIR ONLINE FANTASY BECAME A REAL-LIFE OBSESSION.
SHE WAS LIKE A DRUG,
AND I JUST BECAME ADDICTED TO IT.
Zahn: THEN SHE FOUND OUT THE TRUTH.
HER LOVER WAS A FRAUD.
SHE HAD BEEN LIED TO.
SHE WAS DISGUSTED,
AND SHE WAS OUT TO GET SOME REVENGE.
Zahn: A SECRET LOVE TRIANGLE
EXPLODES IN A DEADLY WEB OF LIES.
[ HORNS HONKING ]
[ HELICOPTER BLADES WHIRRING ]
ONCE YOU KNEW WHAT HAD HAPPENED TO YOU...
THE POLICE COME TO VISIT YOU.
[ CAMERA SHUTTER CLICKS ]
-- Captions by VITAC -- www.vitac.com
CAPTIONS PAID FOR BY DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS
HI, I'M PAULA ZAHN,
AND TONIGHT, WE'RE ON THE CASE IN CLARENCE, NEW YORK,
A SMALL TOWN OUTSIDE OF BUFFALO.
IT WOULDN'T BE THE FIRST TIME A DISILLUSIONED, MIDDLE-AGED DAD
TURNED TO THE INTERNET TO ESCAPE REALITY.
BUT THIS TIME, WHAT STARTED OUT AS FUN
BECAME A DEADLY WEB OF LIES.
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 2006.
THE EMPTY PARKING LOT AT DYNABRADE --
A POWER-TOOL FACTORY IN CLARENCE, NEW YORK --
BECAME THE SCENE OF GRISLY DISCOVERY.
AN EMPLOYEE BROUGHT A KID INTO THE PARKING LOT
TO DO SOME DRIVING LESSONS,
WHEN THEY REALIZED, "WHOA, THERE'S A TRUCK,
AND THE GLASS IS SHATTERED."
Zahn: INSIDE, A GRISLY DISCOVERY.
THE MAN CALLED 911.
POLICE RUSHED TO THE SCENE.
THE TRUCK, THEY DISCOVERED,
BELONGED TO A FACTORY WORKER NAMED BRIAN BARRETT.
BRIAN'S WINDOWS WERE SOMEWHAT REFLECTIVE AND TINTED.
WHEN THEY GOT THE 911 CALL,
THEY LITERALLY HAD TO GO RIGHT UP TO THE TRUCK
TO SEE BRIAN INSIDE THE TRUCK.
Zahn: WHAT POLICE SAW INSIDE WAS APPALLING --
22-YEAR-OLD BRIAN BARRETT WAS DEAD.
DEPUTIES FOUND HIM SLUMPED OVER ON THE DRIVER'S SEAT.
THERE WAS BLOOD EVERYWHERE.
HE HAD BEEN SHOT THREE TIMES.
DEPUTIES IMMEDIATELY BEGAN LOOKING FOR CLUES
AROUND THE TRUCK.
THEY FOUND SHELL CASINGS FROM A .30-CALIBER CARBINE RIFLE,
THEY FOUND A GUN CLIP WITH DOG HAIR ON IT,
AND THEY ALSO SPOTTED A PEACH PIT NEARBY.
THEN THEY NOTICED SOMETHING ELSE -- SOMETHING VERY CURIOUS.
ONE OF THE TIRES ON THE PASSENGER'S SIDE WAS FLAT.
IT LOOKED LIKE SOMEONE HAD LET THE AIR OUT.
THAT'S SOMEBODY THAT'S OBVIOUSLY RECEIVED SOME TRAINING
ON HOW YOU IMMOBILIZE YOUR VICTIM
AND MAKE THEM, YOU KNOW, AN EASY TARGET.
Zahn: SOMEONE WANTED BRIAN BARRETT DEAD.
[ GUNSHOTS ]
POLICE COULDN'T FIND ANY EYEWITNESSES,
BUT THEY DID LOCATE SOMEONE
WHO REPORTED HEARING SHOTS LATE FRIDAY NIGHT.
INVESTIGATORS STARTED DIGGING
AND WERE ABLE TO PIECE TOGETHER A TIMELINE
OF BRIAN'S LAST MOMENTS ALIVE.
DEPUTIES FOUND OUT
THAT BRIAN WAS ONE OF THE LAST TO LEAVE THE FACTORY
FRIDAY NIGHT AFTER THE LATE SHIFT.
HE LEFT AT 10:15 P.M. --
AROUND THE SAME TIME THE WITNESS REPORTED HEARING THOSE SHOTS.
HE'S GONNA GO OUT WITH SOME FRIENDS.
HE GOES TO HIS CAR, SITS IN THE CAR,
AND OUT OF THE BLUE,
THREE SHOTS, SIDE WINDOW.
Case: THE FIRST SHOT WAS FIRED FROM SOME DISTANCE,
AND THEN WHOEVER THIS WAS, YOU KNOW, MOVED CLOSER
AND SHOT TWO MORE TIMES.
Zahn: POLICE NOW FELT CONFIDENT
BRIAN BARRETT WAS MURDERED FRIDAY NIGHT,
AND NO ONE EVEN KNEW ABOUT IT FOR TWO DAYS.
HIS FAMILY HADN'T REPORTED HIM MISSING
BECAUSE THEY WERE AWAY ON VACATION.
WHEN THEY WERE NOTIFIED, THEY WERE DEVASTATED.
CAME FROM A GREAT FAMILY.
HE WAS A GREAT --
ONE OF THOSE ALL-AMERICAN, YOU KNOW, GOOD, YOUNG GUY.
Zahn: BRIAN HAD BEEN A STAR ATHLETE AT HIS HIGH SCHOOL.
AFTER GRADUATING, HE ENROLLED AT ERIE COMMUNITY COLLEGE
AND FOUND A JOB WORKING PART TIME AT DYNABRADE.
WHEN HE GOT HIS ASSOCIATE'S DEGREE,
HE TRANSFERRED TO BUFFALO STATE COLLEGE.
HE WAS GONNA BECOME A TEACHER.
HE HAD A GREAT FUTURE AHEAD OF HIM.
Zahn: A FUTURE CUT SHORT IN A FLASH OF VIOLENCE.
BUT WHY?
DETECTIVES BEGAN QUESTIONING
BRIAN'S CO-WORKERS AT THE FACTORY,
INCLUDING THOMAS MONTGOMERY.
WHAT WAS BRIAN BARRETT LIKE?
WHAT DO YOU REMEMBER ABOUT HIM?
HE WASN'T A BAD KID.
I MEAN, HE WAS A DIE-HARD SABRES AND BILLS FAN.
HE'D HELP YOU OUT.
THE TWO MEN WERE FRIENDS AT WORK,
AND THEY BECAME ONLINE BUDDIES, TOO.
THEY WOULD OFTEN PLAY ONLINE POKER TOGETHER.
BRIAN USED THE SCREEN NAME "BEEFCAKE."
MONTGOMERY, WHO ONCE SERVED IN THE MARINES,
CALLED HIMSELF "MARINESNIPER."
Schroeder: HE'D GET IN THERE AND PLAY GAMES AND TALK TO PEOPLE.
HE COULD SAY WHATEVER HE WANTED TO PEOPLE.
AND HE LIKED THE ATMOSPHERE, AND HE WAS RELAXED.
Zahn: BRIAN AND MONTGOMERY HAD BEEN CLOSE,
BUT CO-WORKERS TOLD POLICE
IT SEEMED LIKE THEY'D HAD A SERIOUS FALLING OUT
A FEW MONTHS BEFORE.
HIS RELATIONSHIP WITH BRIAN DETERIORATED,
THAT THEY HAD GOTTEN TO A POINT
THAT THEY DESPISED ONE ANOTHER,
ALTHOUGH I THINK IT WAS MORE MONTGOMERY TOWARDS BRIAN.
Zahn: ACCORDING TO INVESTIGATORS,
THE FRIENDSHIP STARTED TO UNRAVEL
OVER A SIMPLE INSTANT MESSAGE THOMAS MONTGOMERY RECEIVED.
HER SCREEN NAME WAS "TALHOTBLOND,"
AND SHE WAS ABOUT TO CHANGE THE LIVES
OF THOMAS MONTGOMERY AND BRIAN BARRETT FOREVER.
COMING UP, MEET TALHOTBLOND.
SHE WAS A BEAUTIFUL BLONDE.
SENDING PICTURE TO ME IN SWIMSUITS, SHORT SKIRTS.
SHE WAS LIKE A DRUG.
I COULDN'T LET GO.
POLICE INVESTIGATING BRIAN BARRETT'S MURDER
HAD A LEAD.
THEY LEARN THAT BRIAN HAD GOTTEN INTO A FIGHT
WITH HIS FRIEND AND CO-WORKER THOMAS MONTGOMERY.
WHEN DETECTIVES STARTED LOOKING MORE CLOSELY AT MONTGOMERY,
THEY BEGAN TO UNCOVER A BIZARRE TALE OF OBSESSION.
WHEN INVESTIGATORS STARTED LOOKING AT THOMAS MONTGOMERY,
HE SEEMED LIKE AN UNLIKELY FRIEND FOR BRIAN BARRETT.
THE 46-YEAR-OLD WAS MARRIED WITH TWO DAUGHTERS,
TAUGHT SUNDAY SCHOOL,
AND WAS THE VICE-PRESIDENT OF HIS GIRLS' SWIM TEAM.
THOMAS WAS A GREAT FATHER, A GREAT FAMILY MAN.
HE WAS A GREAT NEIGHBOR.
HE WOULD BRING ALL THE KIDS TOGETHER,
AND THEY'D ALL PLAY GAMES
AND HAVE BASEBALL GAMES IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
Zahn: FROM THE OUTSIDE,
PEOPLE WOULD HAVE LOOKED AT YOUR MARRIAGE AND YOUR FAMILY LIFE
AS THE "PERFECT" LIFE.
YOU WERE THE FATHER THAT WAS AT ALL THE SWIM MEETS.
YES.
YOU TOOK YOUR DAUGHTERS TO THE SWIM-TEAM PRACTICES.
YOU WERE VERY ENGAGED IN THEIR LIVES.
YES, I WAS.
AND, SEEMINGLY, A DEVOTED HUSBAND.
MY WORLD REVOLVED AROUND CINDY AND MY TWO GIRLS.
THAT WAS MY WHOLE LIFE.
Zahn: THE HAPPY, DEDICATED FAMILY MAN --
AT LEAST THAT'S HOW SOME PEOPLE SAW MONTGOMERY.
INSTEAD, INVESTIGATORS DISCOVERED A MAN
WHO WAS DEPRESSED AND WITHDRAWN.
WHEN I WAS A KID GROWING UP,
I WAS ALWAYS TOLD A MAN KEEPS HIS FEELINGS INSIDE.
HE DOESN'T ASK FOR HELP. HE HANDLES HIS OWN PROBLEMS.
HIS 17-YEAR MARRIAGE WAS SUFFERING.
HE WAS UNHAPPY ON A LOT OF LEVELS,
AND I THINK THAT'S WHAT LED HIM TO THE INTERNET
SO THAT HE COULD FIND SOME KIND OF HAPPINESS
AND SOME KIND OF FULFILLMENT
THAT HE WASN'T GETTING IN REAL LIFE.
Zahn: POLICE LEARN
THAT MONTGOMERY SPENT HOURS EVERY DAY ON THE INTERNET,
AND THERE WAS A CONNECTION
WITH HIS CO-WORKER BRIAN BARRETT.
THEY PLAYED ONLINE GAMES TOGETHER.
HAD SOMETHING HAPPENED ONLINE
THAT CAUSED THE CONFLICT BETWEEN THE TWO MEN?
WHEN POLICE DUG DEEPER, IT ONLY FUELED THEIR SUSPICIONS.
THEY DISCOVER MONTGOMERY WAS LEADING A DOUBLE LIFE.
IT ALL STARTED IN A CHAT ROOM WITH A CHANCE ENCOUNTER
THAT WOULD CHANGE HIS LIFE FOREVER.
HE GETS A MESSAGE FROM SOMEBODY NAMED TALHOTBLOND,
AND HE'S, "WHOA, WHO'S THIS?"
Zahn: TALHOTBLOND SAID HER NAME WAS JESSI,
A 17-YEAR-OLD HIGH-SCHOOL SENIOR FROM WEST VIRGINIA.
THE TWO STARTED INSTANT MESSAGING,
AND WITHIN MINUTES, THOMAS MONTGOMERY GOT AN E-MAIL.
Montgomery: SHE SENT ME ALL KINDS OF PICTURES.
I MEAN, I NEVER EVEN ASKED FOR THEM.
NEXT THING I KNOW, SHE'S SENDING PICTURES TO ME
IN A SWIMSUIT, SHORT SKIRTS.
HOW DID SHE LOOK TO YOU?
SHE LOOKED LIKE A HIGH-SCHOOL GIRL.
I MEAN, SHE WAS A BEAUTIFUL BLONDE.
AT THAT MOMENT, THOMAS MONTGOMERY DECIDED,
"I WANT TO TALK TO THIS GIRL.
"SHE'LL NEVER TALK TO A GUY
"WHO'S 46 AND BALDING AND MARRIED,
SO I'M GONNA PRETEND I'M 18."
Zahn: MONTGOMERY CREATED A NEW IDENTITY FOR MARINESNIPER --
AN 18-YEAR-OLD WHO WAS HEADING OFF TO BOOT CAMP.
MARINESNIPER SAID HIS NAME WAS TOMMY.
IT HELPED ME TO LIVE THE FANTASY I WANTED TO BE.
I ALWAYS WANTED TO BE A COMBAT MARINE,
AND TOMMY LET ME DO THAT.
Zahn: IN REAL LIFE,
THOMAS MONTGOMERY HAD BEEN A MARINE
BUT NEVER SAW LIVE COMBAT.
WHEN TALHOTBLOND WANTED TO SEE A PICTURE OF MARINESNIPER,
MONTGOMERY SENT HER A 30-YEAR-OLD PHOTO
FROM HIS DAYS IN THE SERVICE.
SHE BELIEVED HIM THAT HE WAS 18,
AND I THINK THAT GAVE HIM EVEN MORE MOTIVATION
AND MORE DESIRE TO KEEP LYING
AND TO KEEP THIS FAIRY TALE GOING.
Zahn: THE TWO BEGAN MESSAGING ONLINE EVERY DAY.
WHAT DID YOU LIKE ABOUT HER?
IT WAS JUST SOMEBODY I COULD TALK TO ABOUT HOW MY DAY WENT.
I MEAN, 'CAUSE I DIDN'T HAVE TO SEE HER FACE-TO-FACE.
IT WAS SOMEBODY I COULD VENT TO, AND SHE COULD VENT BACK TO ME
ABOUT HOW CRAPPY A DAY SHE HAD.
SO, TWO MONTHS INTO YOUR ONLINE-CHATTING RELATIONSHIP...
RIGHT.
...YOU KNEW SHE WAS 17 YEARS OLD.
17 OR 18, YES.
AND WEREN'T YOU BOTHERED BY THAT?
I FIGURED WE'RE JUST GONNA BE FRIENDS ONLINE,
AND THAT WAS GONNA BE IT.
BUT ONE LIE LED TO ANOTHER.
AS POLICE LOOKED INTO THE FANTASY LIFE
OF THOMAS MONTGOMERY,
THEY LEARNED HE WAS TELLING HIS NEW ONLINE FRIEND
STORIES LOOSELY BASED ON HIS REAL LIFE.
HE SAID HIS MOM HAD DIED WHEN HE WAS 12
AND HE HAD ENLISTED IN THE MARINES
AFTER BEING ACCUSED OF RAPING A GIRL.
SO, WHEN YOU WERE A TEENAGER,
YOU WERE ACCUSED OF RAPING A YOUNG WOMAN?
YES.
ONE OF THE CHEERLEADERS AT THE SCHOOL.
SO, YOU REALLY WERE BORROWING
FROM REAL PARTS OF YOUR LIFE
IN CREATING THIS TOMMY CHARACTER.
ANYTHING ABOUT THE MARINES, I LEARNED FROM MY --
WHEN I WAS A MARINE, EXCEPT FOR EVERYTHING --
THE WEAPONS AND ALL THE VEHICLES HAVE CHANGED,
SO I HAD TO IMPROVISE THERE.
MARINESNIPER TOLD TALHOTBLOND
THE MARINES HAD TURNED TOMMY'S LIFE AROUND,
AND NOW HE HAD A CHANCE TO BECOME A HERO.
HE WAS SLATED FOR DEPLOYMENT TO THE WAR ZONE IN IRAQ.
THERE WAS A PART OF HIM
THAT WAS BELIEVING IN THE CHARACTER THAT HE CREATED.
HE WAS BECOMING THIS CHARACTER, AT LEAST IN HIS OWN MIND.
Zahn: JESSI BELIEVED IN TOMMY, TOO.
SHE SAID SHE WAS PROUD OF HIM, DESPITE HIS MISTAKES.
THE AFFECTION BETWEEN TALHOTBLOND AND MARINESNIPER
WAS UNMISTAKABLE,
AND THEIR MESSAGES WERE GETTING MORE INTIMATE.
Talhotblond: YOU ARE WONDERFUL.
Marinesniper: NO, I'M NOT.
YES, YOU ARE.
WHY AM I?
THEY ALMOST SOUND LIKE A ROMANCE NOVEL
BECAUSE IT WAS VERY -- THERE WAS LOVING SUPPORT.
JESSI WAS SAYING, YOU KNOW,
"YOU'RE PROTECTING AMERICA, AND YOU'RE PROTECTING ME."
WASN'T THERE ANY RADAR
THAT WENT OFF TO SAY, "YOU KNOW WHAT?
"THIS IS WRONG. YOU GOT TO QUIT.
THIS IS STUPID"?
I TOLD HER I WAS GETTING READY TO GO INTO MARINE BOOT CAMP
IN JUNE -- JUNE 3rd,
WHICH WAS MY BIRTHDAY.
I SAID I WAS LEAVING FOR PARRIS ISLAND,
AND I FIGURED THIS WAS GONNA BE OVER.
Zahn: BUT IT DIDN'T SOUND LIKE THAT.
THE CONVERSATIONS BETWEEN THE 46-YEAR-OLD FATHER OF TWO
AND HIS 17-YEAR-OLD ONLINE FRIEND
BECAME SEXUAL AND GRAPHIC.
THE FIRST TIME WE MEET,
I WILL RUN UP AND WRAP MY LEGS AROUND YOU.
IT ULTIMATELY MORPHED INTO A SEXUAL RELATIONSHIP.
HOW GRAPHIC WAS THE SEX ONLINE?
IT WAS GRAPHIC,
ESPECIALLY BETWEEN HER AND TOMMY
ON WHAT THEY WERE GONNA DO WHEN HE CAME HOME FROM IRAQ.
TALHOTBLOND CALLED TOMMY
HER SWEET, SEXY MARINE
AND BEGAN SENDING HIM PACKAGES IN THE MAIL.
Case: SHE STARTED MAILING THINGS TO HIS HOME,
LIKE UNDERGARMENTS -- YOU KNOW, PANTIES.
AND SHE SENT HIM A NECKLACE
THAT HAD, YOU KNOW, THE HEART BROKEN DOWN THE MIDDLE,
AND IT SAID, "TOMMY AND JESSI FOREVER."
Zahn: THOMAS MONTGOMERY REALIZED HE HAD CROSSED THE LINE.
BUT HE SAYS, BY NOW, HE COULDN'T STOP HIMSELF.
THE DEPTH OF HIS OBSESSION WAS COMING INTO FOCUS
FOR THE DETECTIVES INVESTIGATING BRIAN BARRETT'S MURDER.
MONTGOMERY KNEW THAT THIS AFFAIR WOULD HAVE TO END,
AND HE COULDN'T DO IT ON HIS OWN -- HE TRIED.
AT ONE POINT, HE TRIED TO STAY AWAY FROM HER
FOR A COUPLE WEEKS, AND HE COULDN'T.
HE HAD TO GO BACK TO HER.
Zahn: HE LOVED THE ATTENTION JESSI WAS GIVING HIM
AND BECAME CONSUMED BY THE RELATIONSHIP.
WHEN I GOT INTO THIS FANTASY, IT WAS --
I COULDN'T LET GO.
IT WAS LIKE -- SHE WAS LIKE A DRUG.
I HAD TO ALWAYS TALK TO HER.
I MEAN, I'D BE UP TILL 2:00, 3:00 IN THE MORNING,
TALKING TO HER,
AND I JUST BECAME ADDICTED TO IT.
HIS VIRTUAL LIFE WAS HIS LIFE.
HIS REAL-TIME LIFE OFFERED NOTHING TO HIM.
Zahn: DESPITE BEING A MARRIED MAN IN REAL LIFE,
TOMMY, THE BOY WHO EXISTED ONLY IN MONTGOMERY'S IMAGINATION,
PROPOSED TO JESSI, A GIRL HE HAD NEVER MET.
HE SAID TO JESSI,
"WHEN I COME BACK AND I MEET YOU IN PERSON,
WE SHOULD GET MARRIED."
Zahn: JESSI WROTE BACK, "YES, I WILL MARRY YOU, TOMMY.
WON'T BE LONG TILL IT'S JESSICA BLAIR MONTGOMERY."
Schroeder: SHE'S A SMALL-TOWN GIRL FROM WEST VIRGINIA.
SHE'S TALKING TO THIS HOT, YOUNG MARINE WHO IS IN LOVE WITH HER,
AND SHE THINKS THIS GUY MIGHT BE HER TICKET OUT OF TOWN.
Zahn: THOMAS MONTGOMERY WAS SO INFATUATED
WITH HIS ONLINE LOVE AFFAIR
THAT HE SEEMED TO HAVE LOST A GRIP ON REALITY.
HE WROTE A LETTER TO HIMSELF
THAT SAID, "ON JANUARY 2, 2006,
"TOM MONTGOMERY, 46 YEARS OLD, CEASES TO EXIST
"AND IS REPLACED
"BY AN 18-YEAR-OLD BATTLE-SCARRED MARINE.
HE IS MOVING TO WEST VIRGINIA TO BE WITH THE LOVE OF HIS LIFE."
IT'S HARD TO KNOW WHAT HE WAS THINKING INSIDE HIS HEAD,
BUT IF I HEARD THAT OBJECTIVELY,
I WOULD SAY THE GUY WAS NOT IN REALITY,
AND HE WAS PSYCHOTIC.
Zahn: THOMAS MONTGOMERY'S FANTASIES AND HIS REAL LIFE
WERE ON A COLLISION COURSE,
AND SOMEONE WOULD BE CAUGHT IN THE MIDDLE --
HIS YOUNG FRIEND, BRIAN BARRETT.
COMING UP, THOMAS MONTGOMERY'S DOUBLE LIFE IS EXPOSED.
Schroeder: SHE WENT BALLISTIC.
SHE HAD BEEN LIED TO.
SHE WAS DISGUSTED.
POLICE DISCOVER THOMAS MONTGOMERY
WAS LEADING A SECRET LIFE.
HE WAS A MARRIED FATHER OF TWO,
BUT IN HIS ONLINE FANTASY WORLD, HE WAS AN 18-YEAR-OLD MARINE
IN LOVE WITH A GIRL FROM WEST VIRGINIA.
ONCE HIS CO-WORKER AND FRIEND BRIAN BARRETT BECAME INVOLVED,
THE ONLINE ROMANCE TURNED INTO A TWISTED INTERNET LOVE TRIANGLE.
THOMAS MONTGOMERY'S WIFE BECAME SUSPICIOUS,
AND THEN SHE FOUND A PACKAGE JESSI HAD SENT
CONTAINING PHOTOS, LETTERS, AND LINGERIE.
TAKE US BACK TO THE TIME
WHEN YOUR WIFE DISCOVERED YOUR OBSESSION WITH THE COMPUTER
AND ALSO DISCOVERED THAT YOU HAD BEEN COMMUNICATING
WITH A 17-YEAR-OLD GIRL IN AN INAPPROPRIATE WAY.
WELL, SHE COME IN,
AND SHE ASKED ME WHAT MY PROBLEM WAS AND ALL THIS,
AND I JUST PUSHED HER AWAY.
I WOULDN'T TALK TO HER.
I CLAMMED UP, YOU KNOW?
I TOLD HER, "IT'S MY BUSINESS. LEAVE ME ALONE."
BUT THERE WAS NO WAY
MONTGOMERY'S WIFE WOULD LEAVE IT ALONE.
SHE SAT DOWN AND WROTE A LETTER TO JESSI,
GIVING HER A VERY DIFFERENT PROFILE
OF THE MARINE SNIPER SHE'D FALLEN FOR.
Case: "HERE'S A PICTURE OF OUR FAMILY.
"THIS IS MY HUSBAND, THOMAS, WHO, AS YOU CAN SEE, IS 46.
AND THOSE ARE OUR TWO DAUGHTERS," YOU KNOW?
"THIS IS OUR DOG.
AND, YOU KNOW, "AS YOU CAN SEE, YOU'VE BEEN FOOLED,
AND YOU SHOULD MAYBE BE A LITTLE MORE CAREFUL ON THE INTERNET."
Zahn: WHEN TALHOTBLOND GOT THE LETTER,
SHE COULDN'T BELIEVE IT WAS TRUE.
SHE NEEDED TO FIND OUT FOR SURE.
UPSET, SHE REACHED OUT TO ONE OF TOMMY'S FRIENDS
SHE'D MET IN A CHAT ROOM.
HIS SCREEN NAME WAS BEEFCAKE.
HIS REAL NAME WAS BRIAN BARRETT.
Schroeder: WHEN MONTGOMERY'S COVER WAS BLOWN
AND SHE REALIZED SHE WAS TALKING TO AN OLDER GUY,
SHE QUICK GOT ONLINE, CONTACTED THIS GUY "BEEFCAKE,"
AND SAID, "IS IT TRUE? IS IT TRUE?
HAS HE BEEN LYING TO ME ALL THIS TIME?"
Zahn: BRIAN TOLD HER HE HAD NO IDEA
THAT THOMAS MONTGOMERY HAD BEEN PRETENDING
TO BE SOMEONE ELSE ONLINE.
HE CONFIRMED MONTGOMERY'S REAL AGE.
JESSI WAS DEVASTATED.
TOMMY WAS HER LIFE, AND NOW HE DIDN'T REALLY EXIST.
WHEN SHE FOUND OUT,
SHE SENT ME AN E-MAIL HOW SHE HATED ME
AND SHE DIDN'T WANT TO TALK TO ME ANYMORE.
AND I FIGURED, "WELL, YOU KNOW, THIS IS OVER."
SHE WENT BALLISTIC
BECAUSE SHE REALIZED SHE HAD BEEN LIED TO
FOR SIX OR SEVEN MONTHS.
SHE HAD BEEN PROPOSED TO
BY A 47-YEAR-OLD OVERWEIGHT, MIDDLE-AGED DAD.
SHE WAS DISGUSTED.
Zahn: JESSI WANTED TO GET REVENGE,
AND SHE CAME UP WITH A PLAN.
SHE BEGAN FLIRTING ONLINE WITH BRIAN BARRETT,
SENDING SEXY PICTURES OF HERSELF
AND TELLING HIM HOW MUCH SHE LIKED HIM.
Beefcake: STARING AT YOUR PICS.
Talhotblond: WHAT WERE YOU THINKING?
HOW BAD I WANT TO HOLD YOU AND KISS YOU.
SHE BRAGGED ABOUT HER RELATIONSHIP WITH BRIAN BARRETT,
FLAUNTING IT ONLINE TO MONTGOMERY.
Case: THE INTERNET WAS HIS WORLD. THAT'S WHERE HE WAS LIVING.
AND THAT WORLD BECAME MORE IMPORTANT TO HIM
THAN THE REAL WORLD.
HE COULDN'T HANDLE THE IDEA THAT THIS BEAUTIFUL GIRL
WAS GOING OFF WITH BRIAN INSTEAD OF HIM.
AND THAT WAS KILLING THE FANTASY.
IT WAS KILLING HIS WORLD.
Zahn: MONTGOMERY WAS UPSET,
BUT JESSI STILL WASN'T SATISFIED.
SHE AND BRIAN BEGAN TO RIDICULE HIM BEHIND HIS BACK.
WHAT SHOULD I SAY?
UP TO YOU, BABY.
I HAVE TO [BLEEP] WITH HIM.
YOU ARE BAD.
I'M STILL LAUGHING.
BRIAN AND JESSI BEGAN POSTING ON MESSAGE BOARDS,
CALLING MONTGOMERY A PREDATOR AND A LOSER.
THEY EVEN GOT HIM BANNED
FROM ONE OF HIS FAVORITE ONLINE GAMING SITES.
IN MONTGOMERY'S WORLD, THAT WAS A CRUSHING BLOW.
HE FELT VIOLATED AND ANGRY AND PROBABLY JEALOUS.
Zahn: BUT THEN BRIAN BARRETT RAISED THE STAKES.
AT WORK, HE STARTED TELLING COLLEAGUES
ABOUT MONTGOMERY'S SECRET LIFE ONLINE.
IT WAS HUMILIATING.
Marinesniper: HALF THE COMPANY KNOWS NOW.
KNOWS WHAT?
HOW YOU TOLD HIM I'M A [BLEEP] LOSER AND A PREDATOR.
I DON'T HAVE A LIFE.
HIS CHARACTER HAS BEEN SORT OF OUTED IN THE REAL WORLD,
AND HE -- HOW DO YOU EXPLAIN THAT?
YOU KNOW, HOW DO YOU EXPLAIN
THAT YOU'RE COMMUNICATING WITH A YOUNG GIRL
AND PRETENDING YOU'RE A YOUNG MAN?
HE MUST HAVE BEEN VERY EMBARRASSED AND VERY ASHAMED.
Zahn: THEN THE ULTIMATE BETRAYAL.
JESSI MESSAGED BRIAN ONLINE.
SHE WANTED BRIAN TO MEET HER IN WEST VIRGINIA,
AND THEY TOLD MONTGOMERY ABOUT IT.
MONTGOMERY WAS LIVID WHEN HE FOUND OUT
THAT BRIAN MIGHT ACTUALLY GET TO MEET THE VIRGIN
THAT MONTGOMERY HAD ALWAYS WANTED.
Zahn: THOMAS MONTGOMERY SENT AN ANGRY MESSAGE TO BRIAN BARRETT.
I CAN'T BELIEVE YOU CHOSE HER OVER OUR FRIENDSHIP.
GO [BLEEP] HER.
GOOD LUCK.
Beefcake: WHY DOES IT BOTHER YOU SO MUCH?
YOU'RE MUCH OLDER THAN HER.
YOU SENT MANY MESSAGES TO HIM,
TELLING HIM THAT YOU COULDN'T BELIEVE
THAT HE WOULD CHOOSE JESSI OVER YOUR FRIENDSHIP.
YOU CAN'T DENY THAT.
NO. NO, NO. I SENT THOSE.
I WAS JUST TRYING TO GET HIM TO STAY AWAY FROM HER, TOO.
THEY DON'T READ THAT WAY, THOUGH. NO, I KNOW.
THEY READ LIKE THE RAGE OF A JEALOUS, JILTED GUY.
HOW MAD AT HIM WERE YOU?
I DON'T THINK I WAS MAD AT HIM MORE THAN I WAS AT JESSI
BECAUSE SHE'S THE ONE THAT KEPT FLAUNTING IT.
BUT LIKE MONTGOMERY,
JESSI AND BRIAN HAD NEVER ACTUALLY MET.
THEN, RIGHT BEFORE THEY WERE SUPPOSED TO MEET,
JESSI ENDED THINGS,
CLAIMING THAT ALL BRIAN WANTED WAS SEX.
AND, INCREDIBLY,
SHE THEN WENT RIGHT BACK TO MESSAGING THOMAS MONTGOMERY.
MONTGOMERY WAS A LITTLE CONFUSED AT FIRST.
HE SAYS, "YOU STILL WANT TO TALK TO ME,
EVEN THOUGH YOU KNOW I'M A 47-YEAR-OLD DAD?
AND SHE SAID, "YEAH, BECAUSE THAT 'TOMMY'
LIVES INSIDE OF YOU."
Zahn: EVEN THOUGH MONTGOMERY
WAS STILL FEELING THE STING OF HUMILIATION,
JESSI WAS ABLE TO PULL HIM BACK INTO THEIR ONLINE ROMANCE.
WHY, JESSI? WHY?
WHY [BLEEP] ME OVER LIKE THAT?
Talhotblond: CAN WE START OVER AS FRIENDS?
WHY DO YOU WANT TO START OVER AS FRIENDS?
BECAUSE, TOM,
WE MEANT TOO MUCH TO EACH OTHER TO BE THE WAY WE ARE NOW.
YOU AND YOU ONLY ARE MY CONNECTION TO TOMMY,
AND I WILL LOVE HIM TILL I DIE.
I STILL FEEL TOMMY IN MY HEART.
GOODNIGHT, HONEY.
SHE WAS SO INSISTENT
AND OVER AND OVER AGAIN WOULD TOY WITH HIM
AND GET HIM TO COME BACK INTO THE FANTASY,
AND HE COULDN'T HELP HIMSELF.
Zahn: THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN JESSI AND MONTGOMERY
WAS BECOMING MORE AND MORE TOXIC.
JESSI LIKED TO TOY WITH HIM,
FLIRTING WITH OTHER GUYS IN CHAT ROOMS.
ONE MINUTE, THEY WERE PROFESSING THEIR LOVE TO EACH OTHER.
THE NEXT, MONTGOMERY WOULD EXPLODE IN A JEALOUS RAGE.
DO YOU GET A THRILL OUT OF HURTING ME?
WHY, JESSI? WHY CAN'T YOU JUST LET GO
IF YOU DON'T WANT ME IN YOUR LIFE?
I WANT YOU IN MY LIFE, TOM.
IS MY PAIN THAT IMPORTANT TO YOU
THAT YOU CAN'T LET GO?
TOM, I DON'T WANT YOU IN PAIN.
AND THEN MONTGOMERY FOUND OUT
THAT JESSI HAD ONCE AGAIN STARTED TALKING
WITH BRIAN BARRETT.
IT PUSHED MONTGOMERY OVER THE EDGE.
HE STARTED RANTING ABOUT BRIAN.
HE LOST A VERY GOOD FRIEND, JESSI.
HE MADE A VERY DEADLY ENEMY.
YOU HAVE DONE WHAT I FEARED MOST.
WHAT'S THAT?
TURNED MY HEART ICE-COLD.
I HATE HIM WITH A PASSION,
AND FOR 10 CENTS, I WOULD ELIMINATE HIM.
THAT'S A LITTLE DRASTIC, ISN'T IT?
PAYBACK IS A [BLEEP] JESSI.
I AM THE ULTIMATE WEAPON.
I AM A MARINE.
BRIAN WILL PAY IN BLOOD.
COMING UP, A DESPERATE PLEA FROM TALHOTBLOND.
I'M ASKING YOU TO LET ME GO.
WHAT WILL THOMAS MONTGOMERY DO?
MONTGOMERY WAS SOMEBODY WHO WAS ABOUT TO EXPLODE
AND COULDN'T CONTROL HIS ANGER.
[ GUNSHOT ]
THOMAS MONTGOMERY HAD BECOME A CRAZED MAN
CONSUMED WITH AN ONLINE LOVE AFFAIR
WITH A TEENAGER FROM WEST VIRGINIA.
BUT COULD MONTGOMERY'S OBSESSION HAVE LED TO MURDER?
IT SEEMED LIKE AN ONLINE SOAP OPERA
PLAYING OUT BEFORE THEM.
BUT POLICE HOPED THE LURID DETAILS
WOULD HELP THEM SOLVE BRIAN BARRETT'S MURDER.
IN THE LATE SUMMER OF 2006,
WHEN THOMAS MONTGOMERY LEARNED THAT JESSI
WAS ONCE AGAIN TALKING WITH HIS FRIEND BRIAN,
HE WENT BALLISTIC.
Marinesniper: I CAN HANDLE YOU WITH ANYONE BUT HIM.
ARE YOU BACK TOGETHER?
ANSWER ME, JESSI!
Talhotblond: WE TALKED, TOM, BUT, NO, WE ARE NOT TOGETHER.
WHAT DO YOU WANT FROM ME, JESSI?
I'M ASKING YOU TO LET ME GO.
YOU WILL PAY NOW [BLEEP]
YOU BETTER BE VERY AFRAID NOW.
I TOLD YOU WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF YOU AND BRIAN GOT TOGETHER.
YOU FELT LIKE MONTGOMERY WAS SOMEBODY
WHO WAS ABOUT TO EXPLODE AND COULDN'T CONTROL HIS ANGER.
Zahn: EVEN THOUGH TALHOTBLOND AND MARINESNIPER
HAD A SOMETIMES-VOLATILE RELATIONSHIP,
THESE MESSAGES ABOUT BRIAN CLEARLY CROSSED THE LINE.
JESSI FELT SHE HAD TO WARN BEEFCAKE --
BRIAN'S ONLINE NAME --
AND LET HIM KNOW WHAT WAS HAPPENING.
HEY, BRIAN, I JUST WANTED TO TELL YOU
I HAVE TOTALLY PISSED TOM OFF,
AND HE HAS IN HIS HEAD THAT YOU AND I ARE STILL TOGETHER.
Beefcake: IT'S ALL RIGHT.
I DON'T REALLY CARE WHAT HE THINKS.
BRIAN, HE THREATENED YOU.
DO YOU THINK I SHOULD TELL A BOSS OF MINE AT WORK
OR ANYONE ELSE?
BRIAN, I AM REALLY AFRAID OF HIM.
YEAH, ME TOO. HE'S CRAZY.
POLICE DISCOVER THAT BRIAN BARRETT
NEVER REPORTED THAT THREAT.
JESSI, MEANWHILE,
TOLD THOMAS MONTGOMERY IT WAS OVER.
JESSI FINALLY HAD SAID TO HIM, "THIS IS IT.
"I'M DONE. I'M OUT OF HERE.
GOODBYE, HONEY. THANKS, BUT IT'S DONE."
Marinesniper: YOU'RE NOTHING TO ME NOW BUT A LYING WHORE.
I'M ASKING YOU TO LOVE ME ENOUGH TO LET ME GO.
I KNOW THIS HURTS YOU,
AND I'M SO VERY DEEPLY SORRY.
I DON'T WANT TO KEEP HURTING YOU.
I'M LEAVING NOW.
SURE YOU ARE.
GOODBYE, BABY.
Zahn: FOR THE NEXT FEW DAYS,
MARINESNIPER TRIED TO GET BACK IN TOUCH WITH TALHOTBLOND,
BUT AS SOON AS SHE SAW HIM ONLINE,
SHE SIGNED OFF.
OKAY, PLAY YOUR GAME.
ARE YOU HERE?
ON THE THIRD NIGHT WHEN HE COULDN'T REACH HER,
THAT'S WHEN ALL HELL BROKE LOOSE.
[ GUNSHOT ]
Zahn: TO INVESTIGATORS, IT NOW SEEMED CLEAR.
THEY BELIEVE THOMAS MONTGOMERY
KILLED BRIAN BARRETT IN A FIT OF JEALOUSY AND RAGE.
IS THERE ANY DOUBT IN YOUR MIND
THAT THOMAS MONTGOMERY KILLED BRIAN BARRETT?
NO. NO DOUBT AT ALL.
BUT NOW THEY HAD TO PROVE IT.
INVESTIGATORS STARTED QUESTIONING HIM
ABOUT THE TRAIL OF ANGRY INSTANT MESSAGES, OR I.M.s.
FROM YOUR TRAIL OF I.M.s,
IT'S PRETTY CLEAR
THAT YOU WERE VERY ANGRY AT BRIAN FROM TIME TO TIME,
THAT YOU WERE JEALOUS
THAT HE SOMEHOW HAD EITHER POACHED JESSI
OR INTERJECTED HIMSELF INTO THIS RELATIONSHIP,
AND THERE WAS NOW A LOVE TRIANGLE.
DID YOU OR DID YOU NOT HAVE A MOTIVE TO KILL HIM?
ACCORDING TO THE I.M.s, YES.
BUT I WOULD NEVER DO THAT.
MY GIRLS ARE EVERYTHING.
I'M NOT GONNA JEOPARDIZE MY FAMILY
OVER SOMETHING LIKE THIS.
AS PROSECUTORS BEGAN TO BUILD A CASE AGAINST MONTGOMERY,
THEY WENT BACK TO THE EVIDENCE FOUND AT THE SCENE OF THE CRIME.
IMMEDIATELY, THEY GOT THEIR FIRST BREAK.
THE PEACH PIT DISCOVERED NEAR BRIAN'S TRUCK
IN THE FACTORY PARKING LOT CONTAINED MONTGOMERY'S DNA.
YOU SAY YOU DIDN'T MURDER BRIAN BARRETT.
NO.
AND YET INVESTIGATORS FOUND YOUR DNA
ON A PEACH PIT NOT FAR FROM THE MURDER SCENE.
RIGHT.
BUT IF I DIDN'T WORK THERE, THAT WOULD BE SOMETHING BIG.
THEY SHOULD HAVE FOUND MORE THAN ONE OR TWO PEACH PITS THERE.
SO, HOW DO YOU THINK THE PEACH PIT GOT THERE
WITH YOUR DNA ON IT?
IT'S PROBABLY WHEN I THREW IT OUT.
WHEN, THE NIGHT OF THE MURDER?
NO, THE MORNING. THE MORNING OF IT.
I USED TO TAKE PEACHES IN THE MORNING --
ON MY WAY TO WORK, AND ON MY WAY HOME FROM WORK.
HIS ARGUMENT IS YOU CAN'T PROVE
THAT HE ATE THE PEACH THAT DAY AND THAT HE WAS A PEACH EATER,
AND THAT HE COULD HAVE LEFT IT A WEEK BEFORE,
AND PEOPLE DO THROW OUT PITS OF PEACHES
IN PARKING LOTS ALL THE TIME.
IN A PARKING LOT WITH PROBABLY 400 PARKING SPACES,
THE PEACH JUST CONVENIENTLY HAPPENED TO BE
WITHIN ONE FOOT OF THE REAR FLATTENED TIRE.
THAT WOULD BE PRETTY COINCIDENTAL.
THAT REAR FLATTENED TIRE
WAS ALSO SOMETHING PROSECUTORS BELIEVE
POINTED AT THOMAS MONTGOMERY'S GUILT.
HE DID IT ON THE PASSENGER'S SIDE
SO THAT BRIAN WOULDN'T SEE IT,
GET INTO THE TRUCK, AND NOT BE ABLE TO DRIVE.
I MEAN, IT WAS COMPLETELY FLAT.
AND NOW HE BECAME VIRTUALLY A SITTING DUCK
FOR A MARINE SNIPER, I GUESS.
ALTHOUGH POLICE NEVER FOUND THE MURDER WEAPON,
THEY HAD FOUND SHELL CASINGS
FROM A .30-CALIBER CARBINE RIFLE,
A RIFLE USED MOSTLY IN MILITARY COMBAT.
ACCORDING TO PROSECUTORS,
A PERFECT WEAPON FOR A MARINE SNIPER.
[ GUNSHOT ]
AND WHAT'S MORE, A CO-WORKER TOLD POLICE
WHAT THOMAS MONTGOMERY HAD SAID TO HIM
TWO YEARS BEFORE BRIAN'S MURDER.
HE HAD, ON A PRIOR OCCASION,
EXPRESSED TO SOMEONE THAT IF HE EVER KILLED SOMEONE,
HE WOULD DO IT AS A SNIPER,
AND HE WOULD USE A CARBINE RIFLE.
WHO DID HE SAY THAT TO?
HE SAID THAT TO ONE OF HIS CO-WORKERS.
AND HE DENIED TO ME
THAT HE HAD EVER HAD ANY CONVERSATION LIKE THAT
WITH A CO-WORKER.
WELL, THE INTERESTING THING IS THAT CO-WORKER TOLD US THAT
WITHOUT HAVING ANY KNOWLEDGE
OF THE WEAPON THAT WAS USED IN THE MURDER,
SO THAT WOULD BE PRETTY COINCIDENTAL.
THOMAS MONTGOMERY, WHO ADMITS HE'S AN AVID GUN COLLECTOR,
DENIES EVER OWNING THAT TYPE OF GUN.
THE POLICE HAVE EVERY WEAPON THAT I OWN, SO...
THE ONE WEAPON THEY DON'T HAVE IS THE MURDER WEAPON.
IS A .30-CALIBER RIFLE THAT THEY SAID THAT I HAD.
BUT IF THEY WOULD HAVE LOOKED UP,
THEY SEE EVERY WEAPON I OWN HAS A RECEIPT AND IS REGISTERED,
SO -- AND I'VE NEVER OWNED A .30-CALIBER RIFLE.
THE POLICE ARE CONVINCED YOU DID HAVE ONE.
RIGHT.
POLICE ARE CONVINCED OF A LOT OF THINGS.
THEY'RE WRONG.
BUT WHEN POLICE SEARCH MONTGOMERY'S HOUSE,
THEY FOUND A PHOTOGRAPH TAKEN SEVERAL YEARS BEFORE
THAT SHOWED HIS GUN CASE WITH A .30-CALIBER RIFLE INSIDE.
I'VE GOT AN M-1 BB RIFLE AT HOME.
THAT'S WHAT THEY WERE LOOKING AT.
THOMAS MONTGOMERY TOLD ME IN HIS INTERVIEW
THAT WHAT THE PHOTOGRAPH REALLY SHOWED WAS A BB GUN,
NOT A .30-CALIBER RIFLE.
I'M SURE HE HAS LOTS OF ATTEMPTED EXPLANATIONS,
BUT, YOU KNOW, THE FBI BROKE THAT PHOTOGRAPH DOWN
TO THE MOST MINUTE DETAIL
TO MATCH IT UP AGAINST AN ACTUAL CARBINE RIFLE.
THE EVIDENCE AGAINST THOMAS MONTGOMERY WAS MOUNTING.
SEVERAL CO-WORKERS TOLD INVESTIGATORS
THAT MONTGOMERY HAD ASKED ABOUT BRIAN BARRETT'S WORK SCHEDULE
THE DAY HE WAS MURDERED.
AND WHEN PROSECUTORS CHECKED MONTGOMERY'S CELLPHONE RECORDS,
THEY FOUND THAT HE HAD MADE A CALL NEAR THE FACTORY
WITHIN MINUTES OF WHEN SHOTS WERE REPORTED.
TO BE ABLE TO PUT HIM AT THE SCENE
WITHIN 10 MINUTES OF THE TIME
WE BELIEVE THAT HE WAS MURDERED
WAS EXTREMELY COMPELLING.
BUT PROSECUTORS DIDN'T HAVE ENOUGH
TO ARREST THOMAS MONTGOMERY.
THEY REALIZED A BIG PIECE OF THE PUZZLE WAS STILL MISSING.
THAT WAS JESSI, THE TEENAGER FORM WEST VIRGINIA
KNOWN AS TALHOTBLOND.
THEY REALIZED THAT JESSI
WAS A PIVOTAL PART OF THIS INVESTIGATION.
Zahn: INVESTIGATORS NOT ONLY WANTED ANSWERS FROM HER,
THEY WERE ALSO WORRIED ABOUT HER SAFETY.
IF THOMAS MONTGOMERY WAS SO ANGRY
THAT HE WOULD KILL BRIAN BARRETT,
WHAT WOULD HE DO TO HER?
COMING UP, A FINAL STUNNING TWIST
IN THE STRANGE CASE OF THOMAS MONTGOMERY.
HE TURNED THE COLOR OF THE WALLS,
WHICH WAS BASICALLY A PASTY WHITE.
WERE YOU SHOCKED?
OH, BIG-TIME.
I WOULD HAVE NEVER THOUGHT OF IT IN MY WILDEST DREAMS.
Zahn: WANT MORE "ON THE CASE"? GO TO...
...AND VIEW MORE EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEWS
AND BEHIND-THE-SCENES VIDEO.
INVESTIGATORS NOW BELIEVE
THAT THOMAS MONTGOMERY KILLED BRIAN BARRETT
IN A JEALOUS RAGE OVER A TEENAGE GIRL
THEY BOTH HAD MET ONLINE.
SINCE MONTGOMERY STILL HADN'T BEEN ARRESTED,
POLICE KNEW THEY NEEDED TO FIND HER
BEFORE HE DID.
WHEN DETECTIVES FIRST WENT TO QUESTION THOMAS MONTGOMERY
ABOUT BRIAN BARRETT'S MURDER,
THEY COULDN'T FIND HIM.
NOW THEY WERE WORRIED THAT HE WAS ON HIS WAY TO WEST VIRGINIA
TO GO AFTER JESSI.
THE MESSAGING WAS SO DEROGATORY AND THREATENING
NOT JUST TOWARDS BRIAN, BUT TOWARDS JESSI AND HER FAMILY
THAT, YOU KNOW, AT ONE POINT, HE HAD SAID TO HER,
YOU KNOW, "I THINK YOU NEED TO LOSE SOMEBODY CLOSE TO YOU."
Zahn: INVESTIGATORS TRACK DOWN JESSI FROM HER MySpace PAGE
AND LEARN SHE LIVED IN OAK HILL, WEST VIRGINIA.
OAK HILL POLICE DISPATCHES AN OFFICER TO JESSI'S HOUSE,
AND THE OFFICER WALKS UP TO THE DOOR,
KNOCKS ON THE DOOR EARLY IN THE MORNING.
JESSI'S MOTHER OPENS UP THE DOOR.
AND THEY SAY, "WHERE'S JESSI?"
AND SHE SAYS, "I DON'T KNOW. WHY? WHAT'S WRONG?"
Zahn: POLICE TOLD HER THE WHOLE STORY --
ALL THE LURID DETAILS OF AN INTERNET LOVE TRIANGLE
THAT ENDED IN MURDER.
[ GUNSHOT ]
AND THEN THEY ISSUED A CHILLING WARNING.
JESSI WAS IN DANGER.
HER MOTHER STARTED TO CRY.
AND SHE LOOKS AT THE OFFICER,
AND SHE SAYS, "IT WAS ME.
I WAS PRETENDING TO BE MY DAUGHTER THE WHOLE TIME."
Zahn: IT WAS A SHOCKING TWIST TO AN ALREADY TRAGIC STORY.
46-YEAR-OLD MARY SHIELER HAD BEEN PRETENDING
TO BE HER 17-YEAR-OLD DAUGHTER, JESSI, ON THE INTERNET.
SHE'D BEEN USING REAL PICTURES OF JESSI AS BAIT
TO START A CONVERSATION.
SHE REALIZED FULL WELL
THAT THESE PICTURES OF HER BEAUTIFUL, YOUNG DAUGHTER
WERE LIKE CANDY TO THESE MEN.
I MEAN, WOULD THESE MEN HAVE TALKED TO HER
IF THEY KNEW THAT SHE WAS, YOU KNOW, OVERWEIGHT
AND 40-SOMETHING YEARS OLD AND A, YOU KNOW, SAD, SORRY MOTHER?
ABSOLUTELY NOT.
I BELIEVE SHE WAS JEALOUS, IN SOME WAY, OF HER DAUGHTER --
ALMOST IN COMPETITION WITH HER OWN DAUGHTER,
BECAUSE SHE CHOSE HER DAUGHTER.
SHE DIDN'T CHOOSE A NEUTRAL PERSON.
SHE CHOSE HER DAUGHTER'S IMAGES
TO PORTRAY THIS FANTASY AND THIS ROLE.
Zahn: A ROLE THAT THOMAS MONTGOMERY FELL FOR
IN A BIG WAY.
Schroeder: THOMAS MONTGOMERY WAS A LIAR INITIALLY,
BUT HE CAME CLEAN AND ADMITTED WHO HE WAS.
BUT IN THE END, HE WAS BESTED BY A LIAR
WHO WAS EVEN BETTER THAN HIM, AND THAT WAS "JESSI,"
A.K.A. MARY SHIELER, THE MOTHER.
Zahn: MARY TOLD POLICE THAT THE NIGHT BRIAN WAS KILLED,
MONTGOMERY HAD CALLED HER, THINKING SHE WAS JESSI.
HE SAID TO HER, "YOUR BOYFRIEND WAS EASY TO TAKE CARE OF."
THAT'S THE SAME CELLPHONE CALL AUTHORITIES HAD TRACED
TO LINK MONTGOMERY TO THE CRIME SCENE.
Case: HIS INFATUATION AND OBSESSION WITH THIS WOMAN
CAUSED HIM TO KILL SOMEBODY.
HE HAD TO CALL HER
WITHIN 10 MINUTES OF COMMITTING THIS MURDER.
Zahn: MARY FILLED IN CRITICAL DETAILS FOR INVESTIGATORS.
IT WAS THE LAST PIECE OF THE PUZZLE.
THOMAS MONTGOMERY WAS ARRESTED AND CHARGED WITH MURDER.
AT 9:00 THIS MORNING,
AN ARREST WAS MADE OF A THOMAS MONTGOMERY,
A 47-YEAR-OLD MAN FROM CHEEKTOWAGA, NEW YORK.
Zahn: MONTGOMERY STILL HAD NO IDEA ABOUT JESSI'S TRUE IDENTITY.
DETECTIVES BROKE THE NEWS TO HIM.
Case: THEY SHOWED HIM A PICTURE OF MARY SHIELER AND SAID,
"YOU WERE NEVER COMMUNICATING WITH JESSI,
"THIS BEAUTIFUL 18-YEAR-OLD GIRL.
"YOU WERE COMMUNICATING WITH HER MOTHER,
WHO'S 46 YEARS OLD, AND HERE'S A PICTURE OF HER."
HE TURNED THE COLOR OF THE WALLS,
WHICH WAS BASICALLY A PASTY WHITE.
WERE YOU SHOCKED? OH, BIG-TIME.
I MEAN, YOU COULD HAVE KNOCKED ME OVER WITH A FEATHER.
THAT'S HOW SHOCKED I WAS.
YOU HAD TO BE DISGUSTED WITH HER AND YOURSELF.
MORE WITH MYSELF THAN WITH HER.
Schroeder: IMAGINE THAT MOMENT WHEN MONTGOMERY'S SITTING THERE,
AND HE REALIZES THAT ALL THIS HAPPENED, YOU KNOW --
THE DEATH OF BRIAN BARRETT, THE AFFAIR, YOU KNOW,
THE LOSS OF MONTGOMERY'S FAMILY, WHAT HE PUT AT RISK --
ALL OF IT HAPPENED BECAUSE OF SOMEBODY THAT DIDN'T EXIST.
Zahn: IN JAIL,
MONTGOMERY DUG HIMSELF DEEPER INTO A HOLE.
UNAWARE PHONE CALLS ARE RECORDED,
HE MADE TWO IMPLICATING HIMSELF --
ONE TO HIS WIFE,
ADMITTING THE GUN CLIP FOUND AT THE CRIME SCENE WAS HIS,
THE SECOND TO HIS DAUGHTER,
ASKING HER TO GIVE HIM AN ALIBI FOR THE NIGHT OF THE MURDER.
ISN'T IT TRUE YOU HAD A CONVERSATION
THAT YOU DIDN'T KNOW WAS BEING RECORDED
WHERE YOU INDICATED TO YOUR DAUGHTER
TO MAYBE SHAVE THAT TIME A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENTLY
BECAUSE YOU COULD BE IN A WHOLE LOT OF TROUBLE
IF YOU WEREN'T HOME AT THAT TIME?
I DON'T REMEMBER THAT CONVERSATION.
IT WAS A RECORDED CONVERSATION.
WELL, THAT'S -- I DON'T RECALL THAT ONE.
THAT DOESN'T MAKE YOU LOOK GOOD. NO.
Molloy: YOU GET TO A CERTAIN POINT --
THE TIPPING POINT, IF YOU WILL --
WHEN, OKAY, WE CAN OVERCOME SOME THINGS.
WE CAN ARGUE AGAINST SOME FACTS,
BUT NOW IT'S GETTING TOO HIGH,
AND NOW WE REALLY, REALLY HAVE TO THINK SERIOUSLY
ABOUT SEEKING A PLEA TO MAKE THIS GO AWAY.
Zahn: PROSECUTORS OFFERED MONTGOMERY A DEAL
IF HE PLED GUILTY TO FIRST-DEGREE MANSLAUGHTER.
HE AGREED.
ONE OF THE REASONS A PLEA WAS TAKEN
IS HE DID NOT WANT TO PUT HIS DAUGHTERS
THROUGH THE ORDEAL OF THE MEDIA AND THE PRESS
AND BEING CALLED AS WITNESSES AT THE TRIAL,
WHICH IN ALL LIKELIHOOD, THAT WOULD HAVE HAPPENED.
Zahn: ON AUGUST 20, 2007,
A GAUNT AND DRAWN THOMAS MONTGOMERY
ADMITTED IN COURT THAT HE KILLED BRIAN BARRETT.
[ GUNSHOT ]
Judge: AND DID YOU INTENTIONALLY SHOOT THIS PERSON WITH A WEAPON?
YES.
WHAT KIND OF A WEAPON?
A .30-CALIBER.
AND HOW MANY TIMES WAS HE SHOT?
THREE.
Zahn: BUT JUST DAYS LATER, MONTGOMERY FIRED HIS ATTORNEY
AND TRIED TO WITHDRAW HIS PLEA, SAYING HE WAS INNOCENT.
DID YOU KILL BRIAN BARRETT?
NO, I DID NOT.
I DID NOT KILL HIM.
WHY DID YOU ADMIT IN COURT THAT YOU DID MURDER HIM?
MY LAWYER WAS IN THERE, SAYING THAT IF I DIDN'T DO THIS
THAT WE WERE GONNA LOSE,
AND THEN HE SAID, "YOUR KIDS ARE GONNA PAY FOR IT
WHEN THEY COME IN TO TESTIFY."
I DIDN'T FORCE HIM TO DO ANYTHING.
IT DOESN'T WORK LIKE THAT.
HE KNEW THE CONSEQUENCES.
HE KNEW THE CASE AGAINST HIM.
Zahn: MONTGOMERY'S REQUEST
TO HAVE HIS PLEA WITHDRAWN WAS DENIED.
HE WAS SENTENCED TO 20 YEARS IN PRISON.
I MADE A MISTAKE
GETTING INVOLVED IN THE COMPUTER,
ONLINE WITH SOMEBODY.
BUT THAT'S WHAT IT WAS.
I MEAN, IT WAS A MISTAKE THAT COST A YOUNG MAN HIS LIFE,
AND I PRAY FOR BARRETT'S FAMILY EVERY NIGHT.
YOU SAY IT'S A MISTAKE THAT COST A YOUNG MAN HIS LIFE.
YES.
IN SAYING THAT, YOU'RE CONCEDING
YOU HAD SOMETHING TO DO WITH IT
OR THAT THIS WHOLE LOVE TRIANGLE IN SOME WAY LED TO HIS DEATH.
IT MIGHT. I DON'T KNOW.
I'M NOT GONNA SIT HERE AND SAY, "YES," OR, "NO, IT DOESN'T."
I DON'T KNOW.
AS FOR MARY SHIELER,
THE WOMAN WHO POSED AS HER TEENAGE DAUGHTER, JESSI,
IN AN AUDIOTAPE INTERVIEW FOR THE BBC,
SHE SAID THAT WHEN SHE FOUND OUT THOMAS MONTGOMERY'S REAL AGE,
SHE CONTINUED ONLINE WITH HIM TO PROTECT REAL TEENAGERS.
MARY SAID SHE THOUGHT THOMAS MONTGOMERY WAS SCARY,
BUT NEVER IMAGINED THINGS WOULD END THE WAY THEY DID.
BUT PROSECUTORS BELIEVED MARY'S ACTIONS LED TO BRIAN'S MURDER,
AND THEY WANTED TO GO AFTER HER, TOO.
SHE IS CERTAINLY RESPONSIBLE TO SOME DEGREE FOR ALL OF THIS.
SHE SET THE WHEELS IN MOTION.
SHE'S DESTROYED HER FAMILY.
SHE DESTROYED THE MONTGOMERY FAMILY.
AND SHE DESTROYED, YOU KNOW, THE BARRETT FAMILY.
NO ONE IN THE BARRETT FAMILY DESERVED ANY OF THIS.
Zahn: BUT THERE WAS NOTHING PROSECUTORS COULD DO.
UNFORTUNATELY, UNDER NEW YORK STATE LAW,
THERE WAS NOTHING THAT WE COULD LEGALLY CHARGE HER WITH.
Schroeder: BRIAN BARRETT DIDN'T KNOW WHO SHOT HIM.
HE DIDN'T KNOW WHO JESSI REALLY WAS.
HE DIED AN UNBELIEVABLY TRAGIC AND UNNECESSARY DEATH.
THE BARRETT FAMILY IS PETITIONING FOR NEW LAWS
THAT WILL HOLD PEOPLE ACCOUNTABLE
FOR THEIR ACTIONS ON THE INTERNET.
THEY'RE HOPING THAT ONE DAY,
MARY SHIELER WILL BE HELD RESPONSIBLE
FOR HER PART IN WHAT HAPPENED TO THEIR SON.
I'M PAULA ZAHN.
PLEASE JOIN US NEXT TIME WHEN WE'RE BACK ON THE CASE.