Page 44 - John Sutton News Today

The tip of his ring finger was blown off. other shots hit his thumb and shoulder. >> there were six pretty good sized bullet holes. >> reporter: when he was well enough to talk to detectives, sutton told them what he could. the story of a man who barely witnessed the attack that killed his wife and almost killed him. he was a former college swimmer, so he was watching an olympic diving event in the master bedroom, he said. >> next thing i know, somebody was standinghe hat or visor, black shirt, ...

John sutton had time to think and remember. one event in particular which perhaps he suppressed. it happened nine years earlier when christopher was 16. it was the deciding factor in sending him off to samoa. >> susan was going through christophers room. and found a handwritten note planning our murder. >> reporter: what did it say? >> well it talked about killing us for insurance. >> reporter: a week after a warrant was taken out for his arrest, police found christopher and brought him to the m...

Dorm life in southern florida, unaware of what happened to her parents the night before unaware that her mother was dead unaware doctors were fighting to save her life. >> reporter: who told you and how? >> i actually got a call from a friend who, said i hope your dad is going to be okay? i just went what? like, maybe, he had a heart attack or something. >> reporter: just out of the blue? >> out of the blue. >> reporter: frantically, melissa called every number she could back home. >> i called m...

Garrett kopp and christopher sutton while ripping up bloody carpets actually called detectives to tell them they found new evidence at the crime scene. a bullet casing under the carpet. >> helpful handy man. by the way, i found another casing. i mean, come on. >> an indication maybe they didnt do it. >> i didnt think so. >> reporter: thats what any good defense attorney is going to point out. >> sure, sure. the casing was underneath something. i dont know how we missed it. we missed it. >> we we...

Scientists we can put behind the problem to solve it. >> so sutton told the doctors he would somehow help make it happen. he whoet checks. he joined the board of directors. >> john sutton. >> he offered himself as a voice of hope for desperate patients. >> even though it may never help as long as he lives. hes okay with that? >> theres a chance that we may not be able to restore his vision. there is a chance, on the other hand, that we may, but if he doesnt get behind it, he does know that were ...

The hallway? >> proceeded to shoot. >> who did you shoot at first? >> john. >> is that mr. sutton? >> yes. >> where was mr. sutton when you shot at him initially? >> on the bed. >> and what did you see mr. sutton do when you shot him? >> flip off the bed. >> after you fired at mr. sutton, what did you to? >> proceeded to shoot another room. >> who was the person you were in a plan to shoot john and susan sutton. >> christopher sutton. >> what do you remember the defendant telling you how much mo...

Verdict. john and melissa sutton took their seats in the front row. christopher sutton stood stone-faced as jurors filed in. >> thank you, you may be seated. >> were those tears from some members of the jury? >> ladies and gentlemen, i understand you have reached the verdict? >> judge stanford read the verdict. >> christopher sutton, we the jury, the 21st day of july, 2010, find the defendant, christopher patrick sutton, as to count one, guilty of first-degree murder as charged in the indictment...

Girlfriend and the hit man, but even with that the case was as the prosecutor knew all too well, rather weak. >> this was a circumstantial case, extremely circumstantial, really based on motive. >> john sutton wanted the law to convict his son of murder, but was christopher actually guilty? coming up, in court the killer returns to the scene of the crime. >> what did you do at the end of the hallway? >> proceeded to shoot. >> who did you shoot at first? >> john. >> and what did you see mr. sut...

There and knew kbbl where john sutton was. >> coming up, unfortunately, police had no idea where the killer was. >> everyone is somewhat of a suspect. you start with the family and keep working your way out. >> when "dateline" continues. and after work. he does it all with dr. scholls. only dr. scholls has massaging gel insoles that provide all-day comfort. to keep him feeling more energized. dr. scholls. born to move. happiness is powerful flea and tick protection from nexgard. nexgard kills fl...

Fiance, a young woman from boston named juliet driscoll. juliet moved to miami and quickly became a member of the family. john sutton even got her a job at his law firm. >> she was, you know, what i would imagine if someone was going to marry gnat foomly. my mother embraced her. juliet was a great influence. >> christopher got his act together, enrolled in college, started working. his parents helped out by buying him a $300,000 condo. >> he started up his own company, which in retrospect lookin...