Murder Uncut

Zombicon was one of the most popular celebrations in southwest Florida, attracting tens of thousands of attendees dressed in Zombie costumes. But the festival turned violent, when shots were fired in the crowd leaving a 20 year old killed and 5 others wounded. Authorities say the investigation was complicated by the fact that many festival goers were wearing masks, had fake weapons, and were covered in fake blood. But one asset to police were the numerous security cameras and cell phones videos. Diligent police work, hundreds of interviews combined with forensic examination of the videotaped evidence led to the arrest of 23-year-old Jose Bonilla, one of the costumed participants. Bonilla negotiated a plea deal and was sentenced to 30 years.

At first no one was suspicious when more than two dozen elderly women died in their beds at upscale retirement homes in Texas. Due to their age, the deaths all seemed like natural events. But all that changed when Mary Bartel, 91, miraculously survived an attempt by an intruder who attempted to smother her with a pillow. Her pacemaker kicked in and saved her, and the strong willed, savvy senior citizen was able to give detectives a detailed account of what happened. A stranger identifying himself as a maintenance man pushed the door open to her apartment when she answered. The intruder told her to lie down on her bed. Then he picked up a pillow and smashed it down over her head and chest so intensely that Bartel blacked out. Police later realized while Mary was unconscious, the man rifled through her jewelry boxes, took gold crucifixes and a distinctive gold locket with her dead husband's photo inside — then removed her diamond rings. A tip led detectives to focus on a man seen in the parking lot of Bartel's retirement community. Police surveillance would find Billy Chemirmir tossing an empty jewelry box into a dumpster. Detectives began to investigate reports of stolen jewelry and began to realize they had arrested a serial killer.

Keith Johansen frantically called police to report that his young wife Brandi Celenza, had shot herself inside their bedroom. He claimed that he was taking a shower when he heard two "pops" and then found his wife on the floor, dead. Police bodycam footage of the initial investigation shows the devastated husband seemingly unable to process the tragic event. But once Johansen is brought in for questioning, investigators notice him changing his story constantly and acting skittish. In an 8 hour interrogation, Johansen tries to outsmart the detectives and paints a picture that he and Brandi had the picture perfect marriage. When law enforcement notes that the evidence at the crime scene doesn't match a suicide, they begin to comb the home for any clues. Detectives found hidden cameras inside the house that revealed a shocking scene of domestic abuse, showing Johansen as a controlling and jealous husband, threatening his wife with a gun. The camera that would have filmed the shooting was conveniently missing. Johansen was convicted of his wife's murder and sentenced to life in prison.

The small community of Titusville, Florida was turned upside down Labor Day weekend when after hosting a barbecue, later that night, 2 neighbors were shot dead in their driveway, with one other neighbor miraculously surviving. The attack was caught on video tape. Even more shocking, was the identity of the shooter. Police found their next door neighbor, a former close friend, William Woodward, kneeling in the street, waiting to be apprehended. Security cameras recovered by detectives showed the shocking attack. Woodward, a retired veteran, had waited until nightfall, then dressed in combat gear, crawled across the lawn to shoot them. Once in custody, Woodward told detectives that he "ended the war" between him and his neighbors. In the weeks leading up to the murders, the former close friends had exchanged verbal harassment and threats all caught on surveillance and security cameras that became key evidence at Woodward's trial. The neighbors had sought restraining orders but were denied. Despite attempts to argue that his actions fell under self defense, a jury found Woodward guilty of murder and attempted murder.