Transcripts For MSNBC Dateline 20240916 : vimarsana.com

No one will get murdered in my family. That is in the movies. Who would want him dead . Someone came here with the intention to murder him. And that im thinking, this person is still on the loose. Are we safe. She was a southern bell. Fun. And he was a long time boyfriend. He adored her and she adored him. Reporter uniting in life, divided by murder. Nothing but blue lights. And that is not good. Reporter she was with him that night found bruce, crying and wrapped in Duct Tape. So what was the motive . Was It Money or maybe revenge. It was a thick file of Suspects. He could have a Laundry List of people who want to kill him. Reporter but was his killer an enemy or a friend. Those could be Fighting Words for someone. Strong words. Were someone to get upset. Reporter and the mystery that haunts a small southern town. Is a killer still walking three . I would say that clock is ticking. We are coming. And we aint giving up. Hello and welcome to dateline. Melvin roberts was a vip in his tightknit community. And Julia Phillips was the light of his life. The couple seemed inseparable. Then a murder shattered their Love Affair and exposed the dark underbelly of a Zip Code considered polite to smile at your friends, and your enemies. Here is In Tray with, death in the driveway. Reporter your, South Carolina. The town steeped in American HiStory and southern manners. It is time, is deeply embedded as the pride of the people who live here. It is and i southern town and very quiet. Reporter it is not the sort of place you would expect evil to come knocking. My whole life just changed forever. Reporter and these are not the sort of the people you would expect to be victims of a vicious crime. He is a prominent man in a small town. And a good, christian woman. Sweet southern belle. Reporter and in The End, what would forever hot this peaceful place, was the who and the why of it all. Shock. Complete shock. Reporter it all started around dinnertime, february 4th, 2010. On the Outskirts Of Town at The End of a long, winding driveway. It was 7 30 p. M. When the call came into police dispatch. Between sobs, a female caller described her brutal attack. She begged for help. Police on duty raced through the rainy night. Dashboard camera rolling, expecting to investigate robbery. What they found. I was called at home and i was told that i needed to come in and it was a robbery that occurred. Reporter when the detective went up the driveway to the back of the house, he discovered a woman huddled in her car. She had been bound in Duct Tape. I walk Up To the car and i noticed she had Duct Tape around her head. She also still had Duct Tape around her wrists. Reporter and not more than a few feet from this blueand white suburban, police found a bloodied and lifeless gray haired man. It was a bit of a shock for the detective, the victim was someone he knew well. It was real. Reporter the man on the ground was Melvin Roberts and everyone knew him. He was a former mayor of york, one of the towns wealthiest businessmen and a legendary defense attorney. I had a you Cases with him. Kind of the stern man but always family. Reporter and the woman who called police to the scene was Julia Phillips, melvins long time girlfriend. She was worried melvin was dead and she said she did not know what happened. Reporter investigators at the scene told julia the devastating News. Melvin had been murdered. Is that a jolt . Melvin roberts is the victim . Melvin is not the type of person to be a victim of anything. Reporter melvin was the longest Practicing Lawyer in South Carolina. He defended the rich and poor for 55 years. He a massage like a bit of a smalltown celebrity. Whether he liked it or not. The thing about melvin is he was into everything. Reporter he was so influential, The Street where he lived was named after him. Roberts avenue. A true Renaissance Man devoted to his family. He was everything to me. He was my best friend. He was my mentor. Reporter melvin had two sons. David and ronnie. He was instrumental in making the into who i am. Reporter the three men shared an unusually strong bond. Dad, david and myself, it was our normal routine to have lunch every day. You all sound thick as thieves the three of you. Absolutely. The last thing i did every day as i gave dad a big Hug And Kiss on the cheek and tell him i love him. He told me the same thing, every single day. He loved to take me out to the farm. Reporter melvins only grandchild, Emily Roberts Number recalled how her granddad had way of keeping his family close. We would always go vacationing two different countries. Fishing in costa rica. For my graduation from College Or Scuba diving and really bonding together. It was quite an amazing relationship. Reporter and then it was julia. She and melvin started dating 10 years earlier. He was divorced and she had recently been widowed. To the quickly become a fixture around town . Yes. Immediately. He adored her and she adored him. She loves to travel and she is spunky and fun. What he got was his perfect Match. Reporter she fit right into this tightknit family. She was bubbly. She was a good cook. That is a plus. A mans heart. Thats right. Reporter they became a Team Melvin even helped julia start her own business. He eventually bought her her own store so she could sell her cosmetics and womens clothing. Reporter she opened the store in a nearby town where she had grown up. She called it, julius. She started to become part of the family. Yet. We were happy for dad. Reporter but now everything changed as investigators work the Crime Scene, the Police Captain knocked on ronnie store. You said ronnie, i have to tell you something, your father is dead and i said, no tommy. That is not true. He said, no, ronnie. It is your father and i have known him most my life and it is him. Remix ronnie and his brother david drove to his Fathers House hoping it was a mistake. I look over to the side and i see corner written on the back. And that is when you know. That he aint coming back. Reporter as the News of Julius Attack and Melvins Murder spread, so did fear. If they could happen to this prominent couple, who might be next . Someone came here with the intention to murder him. And im thinking, this person is still on the loose. We safe. Coming up. Police said one thing going for them. A witness. But there is a lot investigators did not have. This would not be an easy murder to solve. Everything was taken from the scene. There was no cutting interment. No rolls of tape, no gun, nothing. It was all gone. When dateline continues. Ur skin from within. Serious allergic reactions can occur that can be severe. Tell your doctor about new or worsening Eye Problems such as Eye Pain or vision changes including blurred vision, Joint Aches and pain, or a parasitic infection. Dont change or stop asthma medicines without talking to your doctor. Ask your Eczema Specialist about dupixent. Nexium 24hr prevents Heartburn Acid before it begins. Get Allday And Allnight Heartburn Acid prevention with just one pill a day. Choose acid prevention. Choose nexium. Type 2 diabetes . Discover the ozempic trizone. I got the power of 3. I lowered my a1c, cv risk, and lost some weight. In studies, the majority of people reached an a1c under 7 and maintained it. Im under 7. Ozempic lowers the risk of major cardiovascular events such as stroke, heart attack, or death in adults also with known Heart Disease. Im lowering my risk. Adults lost Up To 14 pounds. I lost some weight. Ozempic isnt for people with type 1 diabetes. Dont share needles or pens, or reuse needles. Dont take ozempic if you or your family ever had medullary thyroid cancer, or have multiple endocrine Neoplasia Syndrome Type 2, or if allergic to it. Stop ozempic and get medical help right away if you get a Lump Or Swelling in your neck, severe stomach pain, or an allergic reaction. Serious Side Effects may include pancreatitis. Gallbladder problems may occur. Tell your provider about Vision Problems or changes. Taking ozempic with a Sulfonylurea Or Insulin may increase low Blood Sugar risk. Side effects like nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea may lead to dehydration, which may worsen kidney problems. Living with Type 2 Diabetes . Ask about the power of 3 with ozempic. Rsv can severely affect the lungs and lower airways. But im protected with arexvy. Arexvy is a vaccine used to prevent lower Respiratory Disease from rsv in people 60 years and older. Rsv can be serious for those over 60, including those with asthma, diabetes, copd and certain other conditions. But im protected. Arexvy is proven to be over 82 effective in preventing lower Respiratory Disease from rsv and over 94 effective in those with these health conditions. arexvy does not protect everyone and is not for those with severe allergic reactions to its ingredients. Those with weakened Immune Systems may have a lower response to the vaccine. The most common Side Effects are injection site pain, fatigue, muscle pain, headache, and joint pain. Arexvy is Number One in Rsv Vaccine shots. Rsv . Make it arexvy. One thing we know is true no matter race, gender, ethnicity. The need to screen when due. For Colon Cancers a priority. Indeed everyone 45 at average risk should screen for Colon Cancer. These folks are getting it done at home with me, cologuard. Cologuard is a oneofakind way to screen for Colon Cancer thats effective and noninvasive. Its for people 45 at average risk, not high risk. False positive and negative results may occur. Ask your provider for cologuard. I did it my way. The detective stood on the driveway that cold, february night, trying to figure out who called who killed prominent lawyer Melvin Roberts and brutally attacked his girlfriend , Julia Phillips. He got a close look. He had a couple of abrasions. One on his head and one next to his ear. Somebody lit him up pretty good with some sort of metal object. Reporter the detective to tell that melvin had been shot up the bullet had grazed his ear, Punching Holes through the back of his jacket. So what killed him . As a looked down at him. Reporter 79yearold Melvin Roberts had been strangled. Police quickly searched the scene and spotted their first clue. For the prosecutor, who would handle the Case, it was a big one. They were able to find footprints back to mr. Roberts house and the footprints were in mind and muddy water and they still had tread so that tells us they are super fresh. Reporter investigators believe the footprints most likely came from a man. They quickly caught in the k9 unit, hoping dr. Track down The Killer if he was still in the woods around Melvins House. The dogs have picked up on fresh scent and they go out to and enjoy neighborhood where the dog loses the scent, which implies the person got into a car and took off. Reporter and that is where the trail vanished, leaving little else for investigators. Everything was taken from the scene. There was no cutting instrument, no rules of tape. No Zip Ties, no gun. Nothing. It was all gone. Reporter Split Detectives had a witness. Maybe she could help solve the crime. Julia was gently escorted away. She had cuts on her Arm And Elbow and bruises on her hands and face. But despite all the trauma, julia told investigators she was ready to help find Melvins Killer. She is your best witness at this point. Correct. And are only witness. Reporter she took detectives through the details of the attack. It began here behind Melvins House in the large circular driveway. Surrounded by a red Brick Wall. She was getting groceries out of the back of her suv. When she realized she was not alone. And then he made a demand. He kept saying money. Money. Reporter the next thing he knew, she was tied with Duct Tape. She said he dragged her 60 feet to the back of the parking area, behind the Brick Wall. He drug me to the Brick Wall and pushed me down. Reporter lying on the wet ground, she heard Melvins Car pull up. A short time later, she heard a violent struggle. Reporter after that, julia did not hear Anything Else. She stayed behind the Brick Wall. Open The Killer was gone. Then made her escape. With Duct Tape lose, she said she was able to use a key to break free. Julia explained to police she wanted to get help for melvin, but a part of her knew it was too late. Still wet and muddy she told the police she would stay as long as they needed her. She was just grateful to be alive. She said at the Police Station for good bit into the night and i believe she left sometime between 1 00 to 3 00 in the morning. Reporter a few days went by and the cops are no closer to finding The Killer. So they do something unconventional. Since julie was ready and willing, they took her back to the Crime Scene. We believe if we take her back to the scene, that we could get a picture of what happened. Reporter they wanted julia to show where the assailant through her in the mud. Maybe they missed clues. He also wanted to revisit the sound of that pipe she heard. Detectives asked her to close her eyes and just listen. They were hoping it might unlock any suppressed memories from at night. She did remember more details about her attackers voice. The detective continued to gently guide julia through the Crime Scene but she often became emotional. It all seemed to be taking a toll and melvins fellow emily worried about her. I called julia on several occasions to check on her and she was shaken up a bit. She was worried that someone was still out there. Yes. To the point that at her store they would leave the Door locked it would not let anybody in until they saw who was at the Door. Reporter who couldve done this to julia and melvin . Detectives are about to discover that the number of possible Suspects was a daunting. It turns out melvin was a lot of friends and a lot of enemies. Coming up. Putting this together. Anything that anyone could of had a conflict with dad about over whatever. How long was the list . At least 75 names. Reporter was Melvins Killer on that list . When dateline continues. man mm, hey, honey. Looks like my Todo List grew. Paint the bathroom, give baxter a bath, get life insurance, hm. I have a few minutes. I can do that now. Oh, that fast . Remember that colonial Penn Ad . I called and i got information. They sent the simple form i need to apply. All i do is fill it out and send it back. Well, that sounds too easy man give a little information, check a few boxes, sign my name, done. They dont ask about your health . man no health questions. Physical exam . Dont need one. Its Colonial Penn guaranteed acceptance whole life insurance. If youre between the ages of 50 and 85, your acceptance is guaranteed in most states, even if youre not in the best health. Options start at 9. 95 a month, 35 cents a day. Once insured, your rate will never increase. A lifetime Rate Lock guarantees it. Keep in mind, this is lifetime protection. As long as you pay your premiums, its yours to keep. Call for more information and the simple form you need to apply today. Theres no obligation, and youll receive a free Beneficiary Planner just for calling. Why choose a mobile network built for places youll probably never be. Instead of for where you are most of the time . Xfinity mobile was designed for where you need it most. Xfinity internet customers, ask how to get a free 5g Phone and a second unlimited line free for a year. The attack on Julia Phillips and the murder of her boyfriend Melvin Roberts looked like a robbery gone wrong. But once investigators took a closer look, the clues at the Crime Scene told a different Story. No money was taken. The Money Bag Julia had brought with her had roughly 80 and it. Also, melvin i believe he had in the neighborhood of 400 in his wallet. Reporter the prosecutor believed this was a premeditated hit. We had to figure out who would have motive you had to really hone in on people that knew Melvin And Anybody that had a beef with him. Reporter that would not be easy because melvin was no ordinary man. As detective started looking into melvins relationships with people around town, they learned he had two sides. While he could be incredibly kind and generous, he also had an edge. He had no problem telling you what he thought of you or what you should do or what you could do better. He has known to have a little bit of a temper. Reporter police had wondered if the temper may have given someone a reason to kill. They also took a close look at Melvins Business dealings. Besides being a defense attorney, melvin owned multiple Rental Properties and a used car lot. Police asked melvin son, Ronnie And David to come up with a list of potential Suspects, anyone who might have a grudge. I had all the people who worked for dad, putting this together. Of clients that he represented or had a Case against him. blue lights.<\/a> And that is not good. Reporter she was with him that night found bruce, crying and wrapped in Duct Tape. So what was the motive . Was It Money or maybe revenge. It was a thick file of Suspects. He could have a Laundry List of people who want to kill him. Reporter but was his killer an enemy or a friend. Those could be Fighting Words for someone. Strong words. Were someone to get upset. Reporter and the mystery that haunts a small southern town. Is a killer still walking three . I would say that clock is ticking. We are coming. And we aint giving up. Hello and welcome to dateline. Melvin roberts was a vip in his tightknit community. And Julia Phillips was the light of his life. The couple seemed inseparable. Then a murder shattered their Love Affair and exposed the dark underbelly of a Zip Code considered polite to smile at your friends, and your enemies. Here is In Tray with, death in the driveway. Reporter your, South Carolina. The town steeped in American HiStory and southern manners. It is time, is deeply embedded as the pride of the people who live here. It is and i southern town and very quiet. Reporter it is not the sort of place you would expect evil to come knocking. My whole life just changed forever. Reporter and these are not the sort of the people you would expect to be victims of a vicious crime. He is a prominent man in a small town. And a good, christian woman. Sweet southern belle.<\/a> Reporter and in The End, what would forever hot this peaceful place, was the who and the why of it all. Shock. Complete shock. Reporter it all started around dinnertime, february 4th, 2010. On the Outskirts Of Town at The End of a long, winding driveway.<\/a> It was 7 30 p. M. When the call came into police dispatch.<\/a> Between sobs, a female caller described her brutal attack. She begged for help. Police on duty raced through the rainy night. Dashboard camera rolling,<\/a> expecting to investigate robbery. What they found. I was called at home and i was told that i needed to come in and it was a robbery that occurred. Reporter when the detective went up the driveway to the back of the house, he discovered a woman huddled in her car. She had been bound in Duct Tape. I walk Up To the car and i noticed she had Duct Tape around her head. She also still had Duct Tape around her wrists. Reporter and not more than a few feet from this blueand white suburban, police found a bloodied and lifeless gray haired man.<\/a> It was a bit of a shock for the detective, the victim was someone he knew well. It was real. Reporter the man on the ground was Melvin Roberts and everyone knew him. He was a former mayor of york, one of the towns wealthiest businessmen and a legendary defense attorney.<\/a> I had a you Cases with him. Kind of the stern man but always family. Reporter and the woman who called police to the scene was Julia Phillips, melvins long time girlfriend. She was worried melvin was dead and she said she did not know what happened. Reporter investigators at the scene told julia the devastating News. Melvin had been murdered. Is that a jolt . Melvin roberts is the victim . Melvin is not the type of person to be a victim of anything. Reporter melvin <\/a>was the longest Practicing Lawyer in South Carolina. He defended the rich and poor for 55 years. He a massage like a bit of a smalltown celebrity. Whether he liked it or not. The thing about melvin is he was into everything. Reporter he was so influential, The Street where he lived was named after him. Roberts avenue. A true Renaissance Man devoted to his family. He was everything to me. He was my best friend.<\/a> He was my mentor. Reporter melvin <\/a>had two sons. David and ronnie. He was instrumental in making the into who i am. Reporter the three men shared an unusually strong bond. Dad, david and myself, it was our normal routine to have lunch every day. You all sound thick as thieves the three of you. Absolutely. The last thing i did every day as i gave dad a big Hug And Kiss on the cheek and tell him i love him. He told me the same thing, every single day. He loved to take me out to the farm. Reporter melvins only grandchild, Emily Roberts Number recalled how her granddad had way of keeping his family close. We would always go vacationing two different countries. Fishing in costa rica.<\/a> For my graduation from College Or Scuba diving <\/a>and really bonding together. It was quite an amazing relationship. Reporter and then it was julia. She and melvin started dating 10 years earlier. He was divorced and she had recently been widowed. To the quickly become a fixture around town . Yes. Immediately. He adored her and she adored him. She loves to travel and she is spunky and fun. What he got was his perfect Match. Reporter she fit right into this tightknit family. She was bubbly. She was a good cook. That is a plus. A mans heart.<\/a> Thats right. Reporter they became a Team Melvin even helped julia start her own business. He eventually bought her her own store so she could sell her cosmetics and womens clothing.<\/a> Reporter she opened the store in a nearby town where she had grown up. She called it, julius. She started to become part of the family. Yet. We were happy for dad. Reporter but now everything changed as investigators work the Crime Scene, the Police Captain knocked on ronnie store.<\/a> You said ronnie, i have to tell you something, your father is dead and i said, no tommy.<\/a> That is not true. He said, no, ronnie. It is your father and i have known him most my life and it is him. Remix ronnie <\/a>and his brother david drove to his Fathers House hoping it was a mistake. I look over to the side and i see corner written on the back. And that is when you know. That he aint coming back. Reporter as the News of Julius Attack and Melvins Murder spread, so did fear. If they could happen to this prominent couple, who might be next . Someone came here with the intention to murder him. And im thinking, this person is still on the loose. We safe.<\/a> Coming up.<\/a> Police said one thing going for them. A witness. But there is a lot investigators did not have. This would not be an easy murder to solve. Everything was taken from the scene. There was no cutting interment.<\/a> No rolls of tape, no gun, nothing. It was all gone. When dateline continues. Ur skin <\/a>from within. Serious allergic reactions can occur that can be severe. Tell your doctor about new or worsening Eye Problems such as Eye Pain or vision <\/a>changes including blurred vision, Joint Aches and pain, or a parasitic infection. Dont change or stop asthma medicines without talking to your doctor. Ask your Eczema Specialist about dupixent. Nexium 24hr prevents Heartburn Acid before it begins. Get Allday And Allnight Heartburn Acid prevention with just one pill a day. Choose acid prevention. Choose nexium. Type 2 diabetes <\/a>. Discover the ozempic trizone. I got the power of 3. I lowered my a1c, cv risk,<\/a> and lost some weight. In studies, the majority of people reached an a1c under 7 and maintained it. Im under 7. Ozempic lowers the risk of major cardiovascular events such as stroke, heart attack,<\/a> or death in adults also with known Heart Disease. Im lowering my risk. Adults lost Up To 14 pounds. I lost some weight. Ozempic isnt for people with type 1 diabetes.<\/a> Dont share needles or pens, or reuse needles. Dont take ozempic if you or your family ever had medullary thyroid cancer,<\/a> or have multiple endocrine Neoplasia Syndrome Type 2, or if allergic to it. Stop ozempic <\/a>and get medical help right away if you get a Lump Or Swelling in your neck, severe stomach pain,<\/a> or an allergic reaction. Serious Side Effects may include pancreatitis. Gallbladder problems <\/a>may occur. Tell your provider about Vision Problems or changes. Taking ozempic with a Sulfonylurea Or Insulin may increase low Blood Sugar risk. Side effects <\/a>like nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea may lead to dehydration, which may worsen kidney problems.<\/a> Living with Type 2 Diabetes . Ask about the power of 3 with ozempic. Rsv can severely affect the lungs and lower airways. But im protected with arexvy. Arexvy is a vaccine used to prevent lower Respiratory Disease from rsv in people 60 years and older. Rsv can be serious for those over 60, including those with asthma, diabetes, copd and certain other conditions. But im protected. Arexvy is proven to be over 82 effective in preventing lower Respiratory Disease from rsv and over 94 effective in those with these health conditions.<\/a> arexvy does not protect everyone and is not for those with severe allergic reactions to its ingredients. Those with weakened Immune Systems may have a lower response to the vaccine. The most common Side Effects are injection site pain,<\/a> fatigue, muscle pain,<\/a> headache, and joint pain. Arexvy is Number One in Rsv Vaccine shots. Rsv . Make it arexvy.<\/a> One thing we know is true no matter race,<\/a> gender, ethnicity. The need to screen when due. For Colon Cancers a priority. Indeed everyone 45 at average risk should screen for Colon Cancer. These folks are getting it done at home with me, cologuard. Cologuard is a oneofakind way to screen for Colon Cancer thats effective and noninvasive. Its for people 45 at average risk, not high risk. False positive and negative results may occur. Ask your provider for cologuard. I did it my way. The detective stood on the driveway that cold, february night,<\/a> trying to figure out who called who killed prominent lawyer Melvin Roberts and brutally attacked his girlfriend , Julia Phillips. He got a close look. He had a couple of abrasions. One on his head and one next to his ear. Somebody lit him up pretty good with some sort of metal object.<\/a> Reporter the detective to tell that melvin had been shot up the bullet had grazed his ear, Punching Holes through the back of his jacket. So what killed him . As a looked down at him. Reporter 79yearold Melvin Roberts had been strangled. Police quickly searched the scene and spotted their first clue. For the prosecutor, who would handle the Case, it was a big one.<\/a> They were able to find footprints back to mr. Roberts house <\/a>and the footprints were in mind and muddy water and they still had tread so that tells us they are super fresh. Reporter investigators believe the footprints most likely came from a man. They quickly caught in the k9 unit,<\/a> hoping dr. Track down The Killer if he was still in the woods around Melvins House. The dogs have picked up on fresh scent and they go out to and enjoy neighborhood where the dog loses the scent, which implies the person got into a car and took off. Reporter and that is where the trail vanished,<\/a> leaving little else for investigators. Everything was taken from the scene. There was no cutting instrument,<\/a> no rules of tape. No Zip Ties, no gun. Nothing. It was all gone. Reporter Split Detectives had a witness. Maybe she could help solve the crime. Julia was gently escorted away. She had cuts on her Arm And Elbow and bruises on her hands and face. But despite all the trauma, julia told investigators she was ready to help find Melvins Killer. She is your best witness at this point. Correct. And are only witness. Reporter she took detectives through the details of the attack. It began here behind Melvins House in the large circular driveway. Surrounded by a red Brick Wall. She was getting groceries out of the back of her suv. When she realized she was not alone. And then he made a demand. He kept saying money. Money. Reporter the next thing he knew, she was tied with Duct Tape. She said he dragged her 60 feet to the back of the parking area,<\/a> behind the Brick Wall. He drug me to the Brick Wall and pushed me down. Reporter lying on the wet ground, she heard Melvins Car pull up. A short time later, she heard a violent struggle. Reporter after that, julia did not hear Anything Else. She stayed behind the Brick Wall. Open The Killer was gone. Then made her escape. With Duct Tape lose, she said she was able to use a key to break free. Julia explained to police she wanted to get help for melvin, but a part of her knew it was too late. Still wet and muddy she told the police she would stay as long as they needed her. She was just grateful to be alive. She said at the Police Station for good bit into the night and i believe she left sometime between 1 00 to 3 00 in the morning. Reporter a few days went by and the cops are no closer to finding The Killer. So they do something unconventional. Since julie was ready and willing, they took her back to the Crime Scene. We believe if we take her back to the scene, that we could get a picture of what happened. Reporter they wanted julia to show where the assailant through her in the mud. Maybe they missed clues. He also wanted to revisit the sound of that pipe she heard. Detectives asked her to close her eyes and just listen. They were hoping it might unlock any suppressed memories from at night.<\/a> She did remember more details about her attackers voice.<\/a> The detective continued to gently guide julia through the Crime Scene but she often became emotional. It all seemed to be taking a toll and melvins fellow emily worried about her. I called julia on several occasions to check on her and she was shaken up a bit. She was worried that someone was still out there. Yes. To the point that at her store they would leave the Door locked it would not let anybody in until they saw who was at the Door. Reporter who couldve done this to julia and melvin . Detectives are about to discover that the number of possible Suspects was a daunting. It turns out melvin was a lot of friends and a lot of enemies. Coming up.<\/a> Putting this together. Anything that anyone could of had a conflict with dad about over whatever. How long was the list . At least 75 names. Reporter was Melvins Killer on that list . When dateline continues. man mm,<\/a> hey, honey. Looks like my Todo List grew. Paint the bathroom, give baxter a bath, get life insurance, hm. I have a few minutes. I can do that now. Oh, that fast . Remember that colonial Penn Ad . I called and i got information. They sent the simple form i need to apply. All i do is fill it out and send it back. Well, that sounds too easy man give a little information, check a few boxes, sign my name, done. They dont ask about your health . man no health questions.<\/a> Physical exam . Dont need one.<\/a> Its Colonial Penn guaranteed acceptance whole life insurance. If youre between the ages of 50 and 85, your acceptance is guaranteed in most states, even if youre not in the best health. Options start at 9. 95 a month, 35 cents a day. Once insured, your rate will never increase. A lifetime Rate Lock guarantees it. Keep in mind, this is lifetime protection.<\/a> As long as you pay your premiums, its yours to keep. Call for more information and the simple form you need to apply today. Theres no obligation, and youll receive a free Beneficiary Planner just for calling. Why choose a mobile network built for places youll probably never be. Instead of for where you are most of the time . Xfinity mobile <\/a>was designed for where you need it most. Xfinity internet customers,<\/a> ask how to get a free 5g Phone and a second unlimited line free for a year. The attack on Julia Phillips and the murder of her boyfriend Melvin Roberts looked like a robbery gone wrong. But once investigators took a closer look, the clues at the Crime Scene told a different Story. No money was taken. The Money Bag Julia had brought with her had roughly 80 and it. Also, melvin i believe he had in the neighborhood of 400 in his wallet. Reporter the prosecutor believed this was a premeditated hit. We had to figure out who would have motive you had to really hone in on people that knew Melvin And Anybody that had a beef with him. Reporter that would not be easy because melvin was no ordinary man. As detective started looking into melvins relationships with people around town, they learned he had two sides. While he could be incredibly kind and generous, he also had an edge. He had no problem telling you what he thought of you or what you should do or what you could do better. He has known to have a little bit of a temper. Reporter police had wondered if the temper may have given someone a reason to kill. They also took a close look at Melvins Business dealings. Besides being a defense attorney, melvin owned multiple Rental Properties and a used car lot.<\/a> Police asked melvin son,<\/a> Ronnie And David to come up with a list of potential Suspects, anyone who might have a grudge. I had all the people who worked for dad, putting this together. Of clients that he represented or had a Case against him. Rental properties.<\/a> Evictions. Repose. Anything that anyone could of had a conflict with dad about over whatever. How long was the list . At least 75 names. At least. He has been an attorney for 55 years and has made people pay child support, who may not want to pay child support.<\/a> These are children. A divorce. There were people who may want to see harm to your dad, potentially. Potentially. Reporter working from that list, police began knocking on Doors and bringing people in for questioning. Detectives also pursued a promising lead from their only witness. Melvins girlfriend <\/a>julia. They focus on a key detail she had given them. The killers accent.<\/a> He could not speak good english. One of the descriptions that julia had given us was an indian type with an accent. Reporter that clicked with the detective. He learned about a couple who had rented a house for melvin with an indian accent and they had a nasty fight with melvin. I found out a week before they had an argument with a fairly large female tenant. Reporter she complained the floor was cracking in the kitchen sink.<\/a> Melvin said if she was not such a fat she would not be breaking the floor. Those could be Fighting Words for someone. Pretty strong words for he has been to take and i can see getting pretty upset with that. And maybe going overboard. Reporter when the detective went to the house to speak to the has been, the man said he was at work at the time of the murder. Investigators set out to check his Story. Police were also very interested in Someone Else. Melvins handyman, jean moss.<\/a> David city <\/a>walked in on his Dad And Moss having an argument on the night of the murder. That had been having some issues. And i thought they were having a private conversation and i said goodbye and i will see you tomorrow and that was when i walked out the Door. Reporter it was the last time David Saw his dad alive. Gene was not doing what dad wanted him to. Was he getting the boot . I thought so. I thought that was being hard on gene. Dad, you want to back it down a notch or two. If youre going to get rid of him, fire him.<\/a> He was one of the main Suspects. Reporter police got a break and they discovered J Dna on the Zip Tie found on melvins neck.<\/a> And immediately started swapping Suspects, hoping to find a Match. I have over 80 Dna Samples that i have collected from Anybody And Everybody connected to this Case. Did you interview this people . All this people have been interviewed by me or one of the other detectives that assist with the Case. 80 people. It is like finding a suspect in a haystack. In a stack of Suspects, probably. Reporter were they looking in the right haystack . Coming up.<\/a> A secret kept in a bedroom. We found a lot of empty Prescription Pill bottles and a lot of pharmacy receipts.<\/a> Reporter had the police found the motive for Melvins Murder . When dateline continues. D older. Rsv can be serious for those over 60, including those with asthma, diabetes, copd and certain other conditions. But im protected. Arexvy is proven to be over 82 effective in preventing lower Respiratory Disease from rsv and over 94 effective in those with these health conditions.<\/a> arexvy does not protect everyone and is not for those with severe allergic reactions to its ingredients. Those with weakened Immune Systems may have a lower response to the vaccine. The most common Side Effects are injection site pain,<\/a> fatigue, muscle pain,<\/a> headache, and joint pain. Arexvy is Number One in Rsv Vaccine shots. Rsv . Make it arexvy.<\/a> Thousands of Boeing Workers are on strike and it is not clear whether the Labor Stoppage will have an impact for the flying public.<\/a> The previous strike was in 2008 and lasted nearly 2 months. Just in time for college football,<\/a> Directv And Disney say they reached a deal that brings Disneys Espn and other channels back to customers. Both sides accused each other of holding up an agreement. For now, back to dateline. Welcome back to dateline. Melvin roberts was murdered outside his Secluded Southern Home and investigators believe he had been targeted. Police quickly learn melvin had plenty of enemies. Now they were about to uncover a Suspect Hiding in plain sight.<\/a> Here we are with death in the driveway. Reporter 40s after his murder, Melvin Roberts was laid to rest in the town he called home for the last 60 years. Did it feel like the whole town came to the funeral . It did. Everybody was there from all over. You need to figure something out or you needed help, he was not afraid to take on anybody. He never backed down. He always looked out for the little guy and because he saw himself as the little guy. Reporter says hundreds gathered to say goodbye to melvin, an odd feeling settled over them. Was it fear,<\/a> suspicion . Could someone amongst and be The Killer . Melvins granddaughter, emily, started looking over her shoulder. Who could this be . How could this have happened . Who would want him dead . Was putting the town on edge . There is a killer on the loose and we have to figure that out. Reporter detectives were working around the clock to narrow down the long list of potential Suspects. They learned that the angry tenant who fit the description of the man they were looking for could not possibly be The Killer. He was at work. Prosecutor you have to clock in and clock out and his employer verify the time he was there and he had not left and stayed until the shift was over. He had an airtight alibi. Reporter and then there was the handyman, gene moss.<\/a> You had an argument with melvin shortly before the murder. The detective question moss,<\/a> he said he was at home with his wife. That could be a shaky alibi. A Phone Call was made to him by another fellow that i interviewed and he said he had heard his wife in the background. On the Home Line . Correct. That was just after the motor. Reporter moss <\/a>was crossed off the list. Detectives are running into nothing but dead and they spent a lot of time delving into melvins life,<\/a> now detectives wanted to look for clues in julias background.<\/a> We took a ride 40 minutes west to check out her business. And as they poked around the store, things were not exactly what they seemed. It started out as a big fancy store and then basically it had declined to a thrift store.<\/a> Reporter perhaps more concerning to detectives was a Reason Julia Store was failing. Investigators learned that julia had a problem with pills. She was taking money out of the till. He was the love of her life. Reporter julia <\/a>said that was the Case right up till melvins death.<\/a> She told police she had planned a celebration for the night. It turns out it was her birthday. And julia had a few surprises for melvin. Melvin like a Matchbook covers and she had gotten a few of those and gotten him a present for her birthday. Reporter she also bought mikes hard lemonade and was wearing special notorious secret underwear. Julia painted a picture of two people in love. Sure enough, detectives found evidence to back that up. During the investigation we did locate a few items that suggested their sexual life was quite active. Reporter still, the Detectives Radar was up. He thought back to the first moment he saw julia huddled in her suv. Was something about the way she had been wrapped in the Duct Tape that did not sit right. The Duct Tape around her hands, it basically looked like she had held her arms out. And it all looked like it was placed on with care as to not hurt her. Right away you could tell this was not a typical wrap. It was odd. The amount of Duct Tape around her feet did not Match somebody who would be normally Duct Tape. It was just not enough of it. Reporter this got the detective wondering, was there Anything Else about Hire Case a tough one to prove. There is no evidence whatsoever linking julia to a hitman. That is right. Nothing. We Tractor Bank records and saw no exchanges of any type. She kept her phone clean. There were no odd calls. That was the hurdle that i felt like we faced, having an empty chair. You were trying julia in the Up To chair. Reporter after 3 1 2 <\/a>years working to build a Case, in august, 2013, Julia Phillips went on trial for murder. The once polished bill of york was now a shell of her old self. A year since her arrest had taken a toll. But they urged the jury not to be fooled by the free a woman in the courtroom. If you believe that the defendant is guilty of doing one thing, just one thing on the night Melvin Roberts was murdered, to aid in that murder, then she is guilty. Reporter the prosecutor began by showing the jurors julias interviews with police. He wanted them to hear one of the first things julia said on the night of the murder. They put a blanket on her and asked if they could take some photographs. The first Thing Woman says are these going to be used for playboy . I am like, no. That was totally inappropriate. Reporter in the prosecution dropped a bombshell. They found a witness to testify that this was not the first time julia had Melvins Murder on her mind. A Police Informant named Guy Blankenship, a man with a criminal past claimed that a few years before melvin died, julia tried to hire him to do the hit. We had an actual person who heard her say that and offered money. Reporter she built her Case leading to one main question most juries want answered. What was the motive . Melvins granddaughter <\/a>said it could be founded melvins will. What did he leave her . The building and any car that she wanted from his car lot.<\/a> Reporter the building was worth about 150,000 in houston or store, julias. In South Carolina in a small community, that would take you far. 150,000. Estate believed julia was worried she would never see the money. The reason, the relationship between julia and melvin was over, said prosecutors and she knew it. They put a friend of melvins on the stand to back up the claim. He was not paying her bills anymore and he was not having anything to do with her and would not even touch her. Reporter see what prosecutors believe was the final straw, that witness told the jury that melvin had the julia know he had booked a cruise with another woman. That must have really gotten under her skin. I would think. He made it very clear to her that she was being replaced. Reporter said it was no coincidence, they argued, that melvin was killed on her birthday. Do you think there is a possibility this was julias Birthday Present to julia . Absolutely. Reporter Melvins Family thought so also. Ronnie and David Sat in the courtroom every day, hoping for one thing. I wanted to your one word. I thought three and half years of work comes down to hearing one word. Guilty. Guilty. Reporter with the get their wish . Now it was the defense is term. They had an explanation for the Duct Tape, the mud, the Gunshot Residue. 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