Transcripts For KTIV Dateline NBC 20160229

Even, say, in the Amish Country of western michigan, where Authorities Say x box live was used to hatch a monstrous crime. One that had detectives seeing double and a father scared to death and loaded for bear. We were sort of prepared for the worse, because i was sleeping with a. 9 millimeter loaded on my nightstand. Cold sweats are not the way nights are meant to pass in the small towns of st. Joseph county, michigan. Its definitely the kind of place where you would expect people to leave their doors open at night and not really worry y no se proeceocupan de este tipo about thins like this happening. A homicide is not an every day occurrence. Its country out here, cornfields everywhere. Twolane roads. And its where a cheerful kid named venus was growing up with her family. The youngest child of larry and theresa, venus, a goddess to her mom even before she was born. Beautiful little girl with big, dark eyes. When she came out, i looked at her and said venus, i couldnt tell you how much i loved her. Who spoiled her . You or theresa . She did. But she came over to our house, she sat in her moms lap like she was a little girl. As a grownup. 32 years old, she sat in her moms lap. She sure loved her mom. Was she more trusting than she should have been in it was her naivete that worried her parents. She came home and said that she had met this young man. We laughed, she said, venus, if theyre in the mafia, they dont tell you. He worked at mcdonalds and was she was a soon to be College Graduate with a degree in criminal justice. She found out that she doesnt like guns, so that didnt work. What did work and instantly was her attraction to a marine she just met named doug stewart. No sooner than hello, my name is, and they were inseparable. What did you see in her . She was smart, beautiful. Four days later we were married. Pretty fast. A lot of people would go on a second date before getting hitched hitched. To say that venuss marriage was a surprise to her parents is a bit of an understatement. She showed up, and she was married. And we were dumbfounded. We were like, this is so out of character for her to do this. So this had to be big news for you. Oh, yeah. By the way, im getting i already am hitched. But her older brother got along okay with his new brotherinlaw. They both liked outdoorsy stuff. We went hunting together and fishing together. It was a year after their quickie wedding that doug left the marines to keep his bride happy. She had this fear that something was going to happen to me. So she wanted me to get out of the military in 2003. Were you okay with that . I love my wife very much, and i wasnt willing to choose the military over my wife. So in 2003, venus and doug began civilian life together. They moved into this house in school craft, michigan, not far from where they both grew up. Venus worked at a bank and doug at applebees and pizza hut. A year later, a daughter came along. Then a year later a second baby. Hoped and played for two healthy babies, and we both got our wish. So did venus like being a mom . Oh, she loved being a mom. That was like her number one priority. But stayathome mom wasnt in the picture for venus, not right away. They were too reliant on her check from the bank, and she was the familys bigger bread winner. So you became mr. Mom. Absolutely. And it was the best years of my life. Change the diapers, do all the tuff stuff . You bet. Its what truly makes a man a man. If they had a second place passion after their daughters, doug said it was playing games on x box, just like the blowem up games. She didnt like the First Person Shooter games as much. But as doug blasted away day after day and seemed to look for work less and less, the marriage began to crack. He was very immature. And she wanted to be a mom. So a few years along, things werent going so well. Thered be screaming, in your face arguments between doug and venus, followed by time outs, trial separations and shared custody arrangements. But venus wasnt ready to throw in the towel. Lets start someplace new. She wanted to go to Miami Florida or houston, texas. Why did she want to go to far farflung places . Theres bush gardens. Six flags. Hi, mom. Newport news turned out to be the place . That was it. It put us 30 miles from Virginia Beach and approximately 25 miles away from bush gardens in opposite directions, smackdab in the middle of everything that we wanted. Isnt it . Theres the carousel, i told you if the home videos are to be believed, the move from michigan to virginia was working. Doug had found a job as a truck driver, and home was an apartment on the ninth floor of this building. It was the best year of our marriage. The best year of our life. But doug and venuss problems ran deeper than anything an Amusement Park ride could paper over. And a year later, there were screaming arguments again and venus had enough and bolted to her parents place in michigan. Doug was left alone in virginia more than 700 miles away. Big surprise to you. Very big surprise. Two months later, a chilly monday morning started like any day at venuss parents house. Her dad was sleeping, and venus and the kids were slowly getting up. Then, about 8 00, venus dad, also a truck driver, was groggy from a late shift on the road. He was startled awake. I heard the girls being really loud in the front room. And i thought why isnt venus quieting them down . She knows im in here asleep. He got up to see what was going on. Venus wasnt in the house, but her cell phone and keys and purse were. He immediately called 911. Shes just not there . No. Anything . No. Now, im scared and went outside and looked for her. She wasnt there either. Venus, wearing nothing but her thin pajamas, had vanished where had she gone . When we come back, the search for venus begins. We might have a crime scene here. Signs of a struggle, and a light bulb went off, and i knew exactly what happened. And. But hurry, 0 financing for 60 months on ford suvs is a limited time offer. See your ford dealer today. Ive been claritin clear for 14 days. When your allergy symptoms start. Doctors recommend taking one claritin every day of your allergy season. For continuous relief. With powerful, 24 hour. Nondrowsy claritin, live claritin clear. Every day. Enamel is your teeths first line of defense. But daily eating and drinking can make it weak. Try colgate enamel health. It replenishes weak spots with natural calcium to strengthen enamel four times better. Colgate enamel health. Sfx ziploc bag opening sfx ambient School Cafeteria sounds, children talking life doesnt cry over spilled milk. It cheers. Life needs ziploc. 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Mmm dannon you can help prevent blindness in undernourished children all over the world. When you get your vitamins at walgreens, you help give lifechanging vitamins to kids across the globe. Get vitamins here. Change lives everywhere. This woman had gone up and disappeared in her pajamas. The disappearance of Venus Stewart, the mother of two, in april 2010 was the first big story that reporter Danny Carlson covered for nbcs affiliate in michigan. Left her phone, her purse, her identification. The vehicle is here, the kids are here, and she is gone. Have you tried calling her or anything . Yeah, we cant get ahold of her. Larry also called his wife theresa who was already at her restaurant job. Her coworkers tried to calm her down. And they said oh, she probably went around the block. And i just looked at them and said get a grip. My daughter doesnt do that stuff. And i said, im out of here, and i went out the door and was shaking the whole way home. The Michigan State police was on scene. Missing, police customarily ask the family to wait 2448 hours for things to shake out. But right away shall the officer suspected this might have been someone who took a hike of her own volition. We might have a crime scene here. So thats why we cordoned it off. Venuss dad showed the patch of gravel that was scuffed up. It looked like a struggle had taken place. The father also pointed out a pink hair tie on the ground and Something Else he hadnt spotted earlier. A tarp cover, a piece of plastic wrapping with the bar i didnt realize what it was or anything. I just said thats out of place. Crime scene of techs were able to lift what they believe was a fingerprint off the plastic wrapper and send it of o for analysis. And detectives at the scene made notes about the wrapper and bar immediately, officer steinsman got an earful from her parents about their trouble marriaged. Blaming everything on their soninlaw. With venus and him living in separate states, they were battling over custody of their kids. Venus had won custody. Doug was granted phone contact. I think the hair on the back of my neck stood up. After speaking to the mccombs. Larry and Theresa Mccomb believed in their bones that doug had abducted venus, maybe in a wrongheaded attempt to have more time with the kids. A light bulb went off, and i knew exactly what happened. Doug, doug got my daughter. And then larry decided to take matters into his own hands. I put a gun in my hand and went looking for doug stewart. He drove down back country roads and came up empty handed in his oneman search to find doug and venus. So your working theory going in is foul play. By this time, one of been brought up to speed about the marriage on the rocks. And, as he put it, didnt look good. And there was a history between them, wasnt there. Yes. Law enforcement had contact with them. Yeah, Domestic Violence issues. They had received Domestic Violence investigations from both venus and doug. Him on her, her on him. Where was he right now . Knew he was living g virginia. Yes, newport, news. The day venus went missing, her mother and father repeatedly dialed dougs cell phone. I kept dialing over and over, doug, where is venus. Finally, detective scott reached him that night. What did he say to you. That hed been in virginia all day. Youre in virginia receiving this call. Yes, im about 20 minutes away from my apartment. And he goes, doug, your wifes missing, and my first reaction is, is i, is my wife pulling he gave knee a couple locations to support where he was to support he was in virginia. One of those being at his Lawyers Office in newport news, virginia. The fbi was asked to run down his story and it checked out. Two women confirmed it. They said think saw him come in that day. A bit shocking when they said, we checked it out, and he has an alibi. What were the investigators to do . The parents accusation that doug had come and snatched venus away made some sense after they heard of the trouble between the two. But eyewitnesses were putting him in newport news, virginia, more than 700 miles away. And there was surveillance camera video in his apartment building, in his garage, and his car, to back up his story. How could doug be in two places at once . I couldnt be. Coming up. He called me, are you sitting down . A tiny piece of paper is when dateline continues. M. Wow. Yep, geicos mobile app works like a charm. Geico. Expect great savings and a whole lot more. Hey steven stay strong whats that . You. You want me to eat you . Honey, he didnt say that dont fight your instincts with each for 150 calories or less, try our lemon bars, brownies, and cheesecakes. Stewart went missing, shed found religion. Jesus, you are the only way her brother was the devout one in the family, and he was thrilled with venus was baptized in 2009 at the age of 30. In the first days after her disappearance, dustin would need his faith to believe shed be found soon and alive. Police searched miles of rolling farm country and thick, wooded areas throughout western michigan. Helicopters came out. Yeah. Dogs. Dogs. Immediately after her disappearance, lead detective mike scott had zeroed in on the on vows, the husband. But when fbi agents verified dougs story that he had been in virginia, scott had to start thinking bigger picture. Your person of interest has an alibi. So then you need another theory . A couple theories. Either Douglas Stewart enlisted michigan, abduct and kill his wife or we had either a stranger abduction or someone that venus was having a problem with type of thing. A woman goes out the front dor in her pajamas and is never seen again. Someone would be rightfully fearful, is there somebody crazy on the loose abducting people . Yes. And people saying they saw somebody. They worked around the clock but found nothing. It was miserable conditions. I didnt hear anybody complain once. Friends and family, meanwhile, were looking for venus on their own. In her car just in case. Living in newport news in virginia. A weekend he gave a Television Reporter an interview. Im getting very worried and very concerned. Marital battles, doug insisted he still cared about her. I dont know what is next, to be honest with you, i keep watching the news and braypray and hope for the best. And even though he had an alibi, police went down to newport news to talk to him. So we went down there to investigate the disappearance of Venus Stewart. A detective with the state police rolled in with his own forensics team. What were you expecting to do and hoping to find there . We knew we wanted to search his apartment for her clothes. Thats the last thing she was seen in. We wanted to find her clothes if possible. Any signs of venus being around that apartment . No, nothing. But the forensic investigators kept looking. Then they went outside to search dougs truck. The truck looked like a sty. It had not been cleaned. Fries and a crumpled receipt. They were able to locate a receipt in there for the purchase of a tarp, a shovel, gloves and a hat. They couldnt believe their eyes or their luck. We thought they were joking, because who leaves that in their truck . An investigator on the Forensic Team immediately called detective scott back in michigan. When he called me, he says are you sitting down . In all the garbage, heres this receipt, huh . Yeah. The receipt was from ohio, about two hours from where venus disappeared. We realized those items were purchased the evening before venus went missing. This is a buryyourwife kit. Yes. Investigators were now holidaying a couple of ace cards, but they still couldnt knock down dougs alibi that hed been in virginia, 715 miles by the fbi. Nonetheless, chief prosecutor mcdonough was itching to arrest him. I said all right, lets charge him now. You know, i had to listen to chuck and detective scott telling me, calm down. Lets get everything ready to go. Fact was, they were still missing key evidence, not least, a body, a major hole for any wouldbe prosecution. Venuss family and friends prayed she was alive but were intent on finding her body if she wasnt. Meanwhile, investigators still hadnt cracked dougs alibi, so detective krooeger focussed on dougs cell phone records. The biggest part was two or three days prior to venuss disappearance, there were numerous calls to and from doug to one particular number. But the detectives also noticed a gap. The day before venus went missing the cell phone was it didnt go back on until the next night. And all of a sudden the calls start coming to and from this other number. The question is who is on the other end of the phone call. Right. It was quick work. They were traced to bear, delaware. In june, they got in the car and headed east. During the drive, detectives wondered who the man from delaware was and what he might know about venus. Then they arrived at the house of the man on all those phone logs. They were about to find out. Coming up. Something peculiar about this mystery caller. How do you know doug stewart . That no one saw coming. Are you ready . Are you ready . Youve got to be ready. I mean, really ready. Are you ready to open . Ready to compete . Ready to welcome . The floors, mats, spotless. The uniforms clean and crisp. Do your people have the right safety gear . Are they protected . Im ready you think your customers cant tell the difference between whos ready and whos not . Of course they do. Millions have switched and discovered the Sprint Network really is faster. Plus, its more reliable with better coverage than ever. To celebrate, were extending our offer so you can save 50 on most rates from verizon. No more overpaying . At t. Bye bye big bills . 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Tell your doctor if you have Liver Disease or are taking other medications, because these may increase the amount of xifaxan in your body. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant, plan on becoming pregnant, or are nursing. The most common side effects are nausea and an increase in liver enzymes. If you think you have ibs with diarrhea, two momohs in, heres where things sto in the investigation into the disappearance of Venus Stewart. The western michigan mother of two had gone out to the mailbox in her pajamas one morning in april 2010 and hadnt been seen again. Investigators suspected her behind it somehow. But he had a solid alibi. On the day she went missing, he was seen in newport news, virginia. Now investigators were driving from m mhigan to an upscale e neighborhood in bear, delaware to question a Young College student. Weve got a guy who i believe is of interest. Hes making a lot of calls to doug. Phone pal was a person named Ricky Spencer. On june 21st, 2010, the detectives made an unannounced visit to his home. We did not want him to know we were coming. Just knock, knock, knock . Rickys sister and mother came to the door. I explained we wanted to talk to ricky, we thought he might have infnfmation to help us on a case we were working on over in michigan. Without any thoughts, ricky accompanied the detectives to a his presentation of himself . Very shy, very quiet. Any talk in the car . No. Small talk . Nothing about the case. In an interview room, the two cops appraised ricky. 20 years old, polite, clean cut. How do yoyoknow doug stewart . Through x box live. He said theyd been friends in the Virtual World, playing shootem up, talking Long Distance for a year and a half. Then they met facetoface for the first time during rickys spriri break from college. Ril fools day. He said he was invited by a man ten years his senior to stay at his place. Ricky was there for a week. He was a chill guy. But it was awkward, you know . Hes like, close to his 30s, and im like in my 20s. Him . My spring break, uh, might be the beginning of april. Okay. But the denttectives suspected that wasnt true. By then theyd stitched together a solid timeline of the Rick Ricky Doug communications. They both t tned off their phones, except rick eyey briefly turned his back on, good for the investigatio bad for ricky. His phone hit off a tower north of dougs apartment. So hes not in delaware. Hes in coastal virginia. Right. But doing what . Remember doug saying that hed popped into his Lawyers Office in virginia that same day to sign some papers . Fbi agents had run the story down. And the story seems to be, yeah, he was here. Yes, the fbi did go and speak to them, and they initially did sasayeah, we think so. Day and left. They didnt really push it. They didnt ask any other followup. But kreger and other investigators remained suspicious. A couple weeks later they sent this newport news detective over to the law office to check again. He pressed the staff at the front desk, are you sure you saw him, doug stewart . This time they gave different answers. He was wearing a hood, sunglasses, it may not have been him. Ahha. It wasnt him. The detectives were sure it was ricky. So lieutenant chririianson got blunt. Ill be blunt. Doug stewart abducted and killed his wife, okay . We also know that somebody went into a legal office down there pay a legal bill for him. R rky sighed and started to unspool his story. A spellbounding thriller involving deaccept with doug stewart as its master mind. What did he say he was going to do . Get rid of her. Lieutenant christianson called detective scott in michigan. Theyd broken it. Hes our guy, and mikes reaction was something to the effect of holy cow. Mike scott, whod preached patience with the prosecutor before immediately dispatched officers to apprehend doug stewart. This trooper was part of the team that tailed him to this convenience store. We walked in, said Douglas Stewart, youre under arrest. Big developments tonight inin the case of a missing west michigan m mher. How did you learn that doug habeen arrested . The police came to the house and told us. The same day they told us venus police had declared her dead, even without finding her body. And prosecutors were preparing to file a first degree murder charge. But as doug stewart got ready to stand trl for murder, venuss family trials were far from over. Coming up. He was very good at kind of presenting himself as the allamerican guy. Allamerican guy or coldblooded killer . The case begins with some White Knuckle moments. You could tell that she was just terrified of this guy. When dateline continues. You get to relive the moment. Because it teleports you through space and time. Im kidding. To turn knorr rice sides into something new, just saut\ some chicken. 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And we think we get the best fish filet sandwich because of that. This is the best fish sandwich in america. Welcome to delicious well show you how its using beer baths to get rid of insomnia. And a kitten abandoned in california was taken in by an animal shelter. February 2011, a courtroom in centerville, michigan, in st. Joseph county. People of the state of michigan versus dodolas stewart. Had been nearly a year since Venus Stewart disappeared in her pajamas. Her husband was now on trial for murder even though her body was never found. Doug pleaded not guilty and said he was surprised he was even arrested. The responsibility for convicting doug stewart fell to babyfaced John Mcdonough. He caused the death of Venus Stewart. Chuck herman said the more they leaeaed about venus, the e more motivated they were. Everyone talked about her being a mother and that was the most important thing in the world to her. That was the person i came to know throughout this investigation. Seated at the defense table, doug stewart, wearing casual guy sweaters and sweater vests. Courtroom demeanor. What did you see . He was very good as presenting himself as the allamerican guy. Youre on trial for murdering your wife and none of this seemed to affect him one bit. As the prosecutor began his case, he focussed on april 26, 2010, the day venus vanisheded the state trooper first on the scene testified that he believed he was looking at a crime as soon as he talked to venus parents. I pulled in the drove way and was met by a female who was and what did you do next . She told me that he took her. He took her, he took her. He said venuss father pointed out a plastic wrapper on the ground for a tarp that wasnt his. Then this crime scene tech explained how he inspected the packaging and nonoced a smudge that could have been a fingerprint. The bar code and lettering from the wrapper, walmart. Com. And was that piece of evidence sent to the crime lab . Yes. Early on, mcdonough wanted the jury to meet venus parents, to see them at stable, decent and loving people they were. Venus wasnt some sort of wild child bad mother. Was it odd that your daughter would have left her children alone . It was more than odd. It was something that would not hahaen. She was my best friend. When was the last time you when i kissed her goodbye the day, that day, the 26th. After sketching out the last day that things might ever be normal for venus papants, the prosecutor turned the clock back 24 hours and moved the scene from msh mesh to northwest ohio. April 25th had been a chilly night in ohio. As the man who walked into the front door of the walmart was easy to o member according to the security officer. Despite the weather, he was wearing a loud shirt and flowery hawaiian shorts. Jurors watched intently as the video showed doug marching through the aisles. At the defendants table, the accused knew what was coming next, an inventory of the items he bought that night. He picked up a shovel, gloflves, a tarp and a hat. This appears to be a shovel and the tarp in his left hand. The clerks at walmart had n trouble remembering the stomer. Shorts at that time. Donna stiffler, a cashier in the lawn and garden section remembered a aroaching the customer who looked like he was going to a lu. The first thing he asked for was lime. Why would he ask for lime . You throw lime on anything thats decaying, thats probably what he was thinking, the lime to cover it up so somebody isnt led to the body by the smell. Donna told the shopper, sorry, they didnt sell lime. He gruntsd and kept on moving. Moments later he was back to the check out line. A tarp, a shovel, shiny, silver, duct tape. And gloves. Do you see that person in the courtroom today . Yeah. What was that . Yes. Describe what hes wearing . Im nervous. What is he wearing . A white vest. I remembmb his eyes more than anything else. You could tell that she was just terrified of this guy. My god, you know, i sold this guy these things that helped him kill his wife. Remember, police learned about the allimportant shopping trip to walmart only because doug had been foolish enough to keep the receipt. Truck, rather than throwing it away. Doug stewart thinks that he is the most intelligent person in the world. And i think he honestly thought he was outsmarti everyone. And there was Something Else that tripped doug up. A credit card blunder. Before he went to michigan, doug called a tracfone, which normally ensures anonymity. But he bought it with a credit card. And that made it traceable through electronic records. He could then follow the path of tpat particular tracfone through gps technology. Just like a regular cell phone. Technologically, theyre doing the same thing. Yes. At 5 48, this was made just southeast of van wert. And the purchases was made. It was now located somewhere in western michigan. Using the phones, how close can you get him to his wifes driveway . Pretty close. Within five to seven miles. But by now, Something Else put him even closer, oldfashioned forensics. Plastic tarp wrapper . It was a fingerprint, turned out, doug stewarts fingerprint, placing him at the scene of venus disappearance. Prosecutors believed it was damning evidence, but to close the case theyd have to put on the college student. Would it be too incredible to believe . Coming up. He said i want you to come in here. I want you to do my alibi. Ricky spencer lays it all out. A plan to murder. It was like a game. He was a part of this game. Whadda ya want hannibal . I want to pay with my phone. Dont look at the cameras mike you ready . It doesnt work. Watch me. Boom oh hey this is lloyd. To prove to you that the better choice for him is aleve. Hes agreed to give it up. Ok, but i have 30 acres to cover by sundown. ll be with him all day as he goes back to taking tylenol. Yeah, i was ok, but after lunch my knee started hurting again so. More pills. Yep. Another pill stop. Can i get my aleve back yet . For my pain. I want my aleve. Get all day minor arthritis pain relief with an easy open cap. Hmmm. Apple pie with only fruits nutsand spices. This makes the rest of my life feel very complicated. Ricky spencer, i believe, is the largest piece of the puzzle. Enter Ricky Spencer. How big of a development is this . Huge. Would you have a case had there not been a Ricky Spencer . No. And the rest of the evidence that you hear chief prosecutor John Mcdonough called on his star witness who would tell one of the most mindboggling stories ever heard in this st. Joseph call Ricky Spencer. Ricky, now 21, seemed like a young boy in a grownup world. His dress shirt, not his customary tee, ran big in the sleeves. How do you know mr. Stewart . I met him on x box live in december of 08. How often did you play x box live with mr. Stewart . Anywhere from six to ten hours. A day . Yeah, on a daily basis. This was his life. Some people might sit and read. And he played x box. Even though he never met him, ricky told the jury he felt a strong tie to the former marine. Would you say he was your best friend . Yes. He called us brothers from another mother. This was his idol. One of the very few people he had social contact with. He admired doug. He told him he was a sniper. They didnt meet in person disappeared. Doug living alone had invited ricky down for spring break. Ricky had term papers due, but it was an offer he couldnt refuse. We can party, drink and i can help you with your papers. He was asked to look at surveillance camera footage and confirm that he was in virginia during spring break. Thats doug looking at his mail. Ricky testified for the first three days they went to the Busch Gardens park. They hung out like frat had you done any of your homework yet . No. On day four, the prosecution asserts doug got down to business. You want to play something thats really important. Let me finish before you interrupt me. Ricky testified that doug began to vent on his estranged wife. A good family with good parents had never heard the likes of this melodrama. Ricky was told he needed to do something desperate. He was telling me that he was going to kill his wife. He was telling you this, what were you thinking . I was shocked. I couldnt believe what i was hearing. And he said this is where i want you to come in, ricky. I want you to be my alibi. Pretend to be me and live in my apartment. How is that again . Youre going to kill your wife and you want me to stay here and play you . Rickys reaction was an emphatic no. [ bleep ] i dont want to hear anything about this. And i didnt talk about it for the rest of the day. But doug kept at it over the next two days. Despite everyone elses portrait doug pushed negative venus stuff on ricky, telling him how she smacked around their older daughter. How did that make you feel . Felt bad for him. He was saying like, you know, if someone could be my alibi. Im like, no, dude, i cant do this. So hes giving him the sob story. Yeah, hes making her into the demon in rickys eyes. All lies, the prosecutor said. I think he had ricky convinced that if i dont do something, theyre going to end up dead. Doug kept ratcheting up his stories of abuse, concluding with the most graphic one. Venus had tried to choke one ofricky, if i wasnt there at that moment, she would have died. I asked you to help him kill his wife . Yes. And what did you say . I said okay, dude, ill be your alibi. And according to the prosecution, doug had a plan. He took his recruit to a park for a crash course in how to get away with muffrder. I told him not a gun. He said right, not a gun. Not a knife, that leave the evidence. He says right. So doug says you choke somebody. And right there in the park, doug demonstrated on ricky his military chokehold. He puts me down, im like out of breath. He says if you do that to somebody for ten seconds, they pass out. Over 30 seconds, it will end their life. But ricky wasnt a perfect double for doug. They were about the same height and coloring, but ricky was slimmer. To pull off this double vision ruse, here was the plan. Doug made sure ricky made sunglasses and a ball cap and he gave him a credit card and coached him to be aware of surveillance cams. If everything worked out exactly right, acquaintances would be fooled into thinking theyd just seen doug in newport news. Ricky then went back to delaware and waited for the green light that the mission was a go. The day turned out to be april 15, 2010. Doug drove up from virginia, ricky from delaware, and they met at a gas station in bethesda, maryland. Thats where doug gave him the things he needed to turn into doug. His clothing, cell phones, keys to his apartment and a credit card. This is the parking space area where i met with doug stewart. Where did you go . I went, i drove to virginia. Where did doug tell you he was going . To michigan. What was he going to do there . He didnt say kill his wife, but he said to take care of business. Sure enough, surveillance cam pictures taken april 15th show ricky izeeasing into dougs life. Heres the hoodie, the paper sticking out of my pocket. With dougs credit card, ricky had bought a double cheeseburger and fries at wendy wendys wendys. Why did he want you to use a credit card . To make it look like he was in virginia. He had a number of details that flabbergasted detectives. Here he says hes on the cell phone with doug. He kept on over and over telling me where the cameras were, to make sure i keep my head down. Somewhere deep down, did ricky, a little slow on the uptake think this was all pretend . Act like youre me. Dont look at the camera, keep 14ir9 shirt. It was like a game. This was rickys little mission. But the mission, mortgage tal mission one in game box speak had gone amis. Doug had to hit the reset button. He had been pulled over in the wee hours by a state trooper who said i was weaving lanes. The traffic some was indisputable proof that i wasnt in virginia. I was relieved to hear it. But doug wasnt ready to call it quits after one bump in the road. He kept on talking. I told him i didnt want to. It was like a onetime deal. And i didnt want to do it the first time. Then according to ricky, doug upped the pressure. He told ricky if he didnt get on board with the original plan he was going to wipe out everyone, a massacre. He was talking about going there and killing anyone that was inside the house. Besides his kids. I told him, okay, dude, well do it again, ill be your alibi again. There would be a Mortal Mission two. Coming up. A drop of blood came from her noise. A Virtual World turned suddenly violently real. And a spill bound courtroom hears the most harrowing part of the story. He was going to go bury her. When dateline continues. Why . You get a little cranky when youre hungry. Better . Much better. This scene will never make the cut, morons. Its easy to love your laxative wh that lax loves your body back. Only miralax so you have peace of mind from start to finish. Love your laxative. Miralax. Brandon thinks hellmanns is heaven in a jar. Thats because our ingredients come from. Farmers committed to responsibly sourced oils. Blended with ingredients like cagefree eggs. Mmm. Heaven. Real ingredients. Thats how were working to bring out the best. You wake up in the night and think about her. You wake up in the morning and think about her. You go to sleep at night and courtroom rules prohibited venus parents from attending the trial. They testified and were subject to being called back to the stand, but their son was there on many days, getting a bench seat within good staredown range of the accused. Doug stewart. He never made eye contact with me. I think he was too ashamed. But on the stand, shame didnt seem to figure into the boldest story about doug that Ricky Spencer was telling the jury. How after the first run to michigan was a bust, doug called ricky again. He said hey, dude, i killed her. And im like, what . And he said no, im just kidding. I told him that wasnt funny. He said he was kidding and you told him it wasnt funny . Yeah. Rickys second day on the stand as the star witness. The questioning picked up with the description of Mission Number two, the assault on Venus Stewart. Did you attempt it again . It was deja vu all over again. This time, sunday, april 25th. I went down to virginia. He went back to michigan. Later that day, ricky said he pretending to be doug under the weather. I was in a voice like hey, this is me, im feeling like [ bleep ]. I cant get to work. He was like, all right. So he didnt have to go to work on monday. Monday would be venuss last day alive as he would explain in his chilling story. It began, the prosecutors said with doug in a field across from venus parents house. He parked there in his truck watching things, id say probably 500 yards from venus parents house. Doug called ricky at 7 00 from a tracfone and gave instructions. I want you to leave anywhere from 8 00 to 8 15. Nothing later. The house, police said, hiding behind this woodpile. Back in virginia, ricky was establishing the alibi. Did you recognize that photograph . Its me leaving the apartment. Like a good soldier, ricky was following dougs orders, buying security cam cover for his best bud eye on a Deadly Mission in michigan. Thats dougs car. And im in the car. Im going it make a left turn. His next instructions were to wait for dougs call that came just before 9 00. What did he say . He said, okay, dude, its done. I was kind of shocked to hear that. I said what happened. He said he called venus parents house in michigan and said that he was the mailman. He had a package for her, and she came outside. Just like that, rickys Virtual World had turned real. Game over. Stand for the first time. Doug was showing nothing. And ihe jumped out. He said there was a scream. She only screamed once and tried putting up a fight, but he was able to get her in a head lock, and a drop of blood came from her nose, and that was it. I asked him if it was worth it, and he said it was to protect his kids and give them some type of future. And he told me that, he told me later. Because he was going to go it it it to bury her. Did he understand the consequences, ricky . I dont think so. I know that sounds strange. Ive been doing this over 30 years. I think when it was over, it finally hit him. This really was a homicide. Someone actually died here. Its not on the x box. Its not somebody blowing up, cartoon figure. This is a real person. Later monday, ricky continued in the supporting actor role. He went to dougs Lawyers Office dressed in the hat, hood eye and sunglasses. Doug told him to make a payment to one particular secretary he said shes not all there in the head. Hand her the envelope, say who you are and tell her youre in a hurry and tell them to mail you the receipt. Did you do that . Later that day, ricky and doug drove to their meetings spot in maryland to exchange clothing, cell phones, keys and the credit card. They talked briefly. Ricky piped up to express a newfound fear. I was asking, hey, dude, are you going to kill me . He said no. And i said good, if you did that would suck. And i asked why i asked that and i said because i know what you did. Rickys internal alarm system hadnt gone off when it would have mattered when he could have called the police and brought it to a screeching halt, but something was telling him to be careful of doug from here on out. That was the first thing that came to my mind, why in the heck didnt doug kill this kid . Why did he leave this witness out there for somebody to find . This is one of his mistakes where doug thought, my plan is going to find ricky. The prosecutors fully expect their case with the jury would rise or fall on the shoulders of Ricky Spencer. And yet, youve got to worry on cross examination whether the defense is going to rattle his cage and undo him. Thats the worry. He probably could hold his own, but we didnt know. His testimony was so bizarre. Was his a true tale or a tall one . Ricky spencers story under scrutiny. What evidence do you have that Venus Stewart is dead . Multicar and joey fatone. Savin you five hundred im savin you five hundred we have autotune, right . 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I believe at the end of this case, the prosecutors going to ask you to guess. After Ricky Spencers riveting testimony, anticipation was building. Would the defense be able to rock the story from the socalled double. The defense attorneys, a married team were poised to more than rock rickys testimony, they were going after his character and the deal hed made with the prosecution. My defense, my story had to do with ricky evading life in prison. Ricky being an accomplished liar. Cross examination strategy number one was to muss up the clean cut young man image he projected from the stand. They started with the xrated screen name, the tag he picked for himself when he played x box live. Your game tags is dark [ bleep ], isnt it . Whats the [ bleep ] . It means a bunch of guys. Ricky explained to the jury the overt and very explicit connotations of his online name. The defense wanted the jury to look at ricky as an unsavory young man without a moral compass. And if you believe his testimony, he decided to help commit murder rather than deciding to call the authorities. Of course you dont want the jury to believe that story, but there is a moral issue that hands over the testimony here. Right. This guy could have thrown a wrench in the works and stopped it. Right. If you believe his testimony, and i think thats one of the reasons why his testimonys unbelievable. Evidence that ricky could be shifty with the truth. Hed already admitted in direct testimony that hed lied to his parents about what he was doing over spring break. Did you want them to know that you were going to visit mr. Stewart . No. Why . Because it seemed kind of strange to go meet up with box live with whos a lot older than you. But the defense took a mostly handsoff approach on challenging ricky on all those detailed recollections of his story, what he did which day in virginia, what he bought with a credit card, what cams he played to. A lot of detail here, buff its all a fantasy from a young man trying to save his own skin. After only 20 minutes of less than explosive cross examination, they got him off the stand. Quite honestly, his testimony was so bizarre. Its a strange story, isnt it. Its a very a story spun so he could make a deal. He would not face murder charges and spend no more than a year in county jail. I think he was coached many, in the way that he gave it. He was taught to become a good witness, you think. I think so. He had to do a good job. If he didnt bring the case home for the prosecutor, its my belief that he thought he would be facing those charges. The defense called no witnesses. Defense rests. Were ready for closing arguments your honor. Doug stewart didnt take the stand, but he talked to dateline in an exclusive interview. After hearing everything ive heard, seeing all ive seen, i still havent seen anything showing that my wife is hurt, harmed. What did he make of the star witness, the sensational testimony of Ricky Spencer, his young x box buddy . I dont understand any of his testimony. He got locations right as far as he came down, he was on spring break. Why does ricky come down . He mentioned to me, ive got spring break coming up from college. Im coming down to Busch Gardens with friends. Almost there, i said where . And he said to your apartment. Now youre the host and hes the uninvited guest, is that whats happening . I felt comfortable with him enough that i was like, okay i get the idea. You can stay here. So the story that he would tell authorities and testify to it almost like a spy move eye plot movie plot, none of that is true . The whole idea of hurting my wife, none of that sh true. He hopes he can convince one juror without a body there was reasonable doubt. What evidence in this case do you have to demonstrate to you that Venus Stewart is dead . So what about all those purchases at walmart . Doug stewart seen walking the aisles in wild shorts. They asked rhetorically, would a man about to commit a murder be so dumb to call that kind of is he trying to hide things . Hes wearing hawaiian shorts, asking people where things are. Does that sound like somebody whos going to use it in a crime . And he bought a shovel, the defense attorney noted. So what . What evidence have they shown you . That a shovel was used in the killing of Venus Stewart . They havent. Schroeder summed it up for the jury. He claimed the prosecution had an illusion of evidence, a circumstantial case woven together the with rick eyey spencers tall tale. They havent proved their case, and you have a duty to do. And thats to find doug stewart not guilty. Coming up. What would the jury do . The clerk will read the verdict. Continues. You help give lifechanging vitamins to kids across the globe. Get vitamins here. Change lives everywhere. Walgreens. At the corner of happy and healthy. 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I could never forgive her. The jurys indicated theyve reached a verdict. The moment had arrived. Venuss mother and brother knew a guilty verdict would be small consolation, but they wanted to hear it anyway. A few feet away stood the accused. Eye the blinking, face twitching. The clerk will read the verdict. Members of the jury find douglas harrie stewart, as to degree premeditated murder. He would spend the rest of his life in a michigan prison without the possibility of parole. Jurors clearly believed the star witness Ricky Spencers story of being the alibi and the double. But they also determined that dougs fingerprint found at the crime scene on the plastic wrapper was powerful evidence. Its a scheme, a conspiracy, only one other person who knows whats going on, and thats ricky. Is he lucky to be alive in your opinion . Yes. And if doug had killed him it would be very difficult to prove this case without ricky. Outside the courtroom, the young prosecutor hugged venus mother. I was so happy to be able to reach out and say to her, you know, we got him. We promised you we would do it, and we did it. What ditchfference does it make . My daughter isnt here. They went right back to looking for her remains in this expansive countryside of fields, woods and barns. But without a map, its all needles and haystacks. If we can find her body, we can give her body a proper burial. Dougs mandatory life sentence was a triumph for the prosecution, but it also meant the state lost any incentive for him to cooperate. Still, venus brother gave it one more shot at the formal sentencing hearing. Its not too late for doug to do theheight thing. Tell us where my sisters body is. Sweater vest gone, shackled at the legs and hands, doug wasnt giving an inch. I am innocent, i did not do these crimes. His story rejefkted by a jury that needed only three hours to convict him was nothing if consistent. Our interview. You say you didnt do it and you dont know where she is. Absolutely not. If were talking about why youre here, theres the evidence of the fingerprint on that tarp cover, the material seen on the video in walmart and the receipt found in your truck. Do you have anything to counter that evidence . I believe weve already done everything in court, and i dont want to talk about evidence specifically related in to court. The most sensational witness in court, like him or not, was Ricky Spencer. And he was still a divisive figure after trieshlgsal. Mcdonough made what some feel was a lenient deal. Ricky regrets everything that happened and the role he played in this matter. He got to plead to a lesser charge, conspiracy to commit he served his one year sentence in the st. Joseph county jail and went back to work with his father. Why isnt he an accomplice to murder . Rickys not a killer. He is a tremendously impressionbling kid who made a horrible, horrible, horrible mistake. He bought in to dougs crap, hook, line and sinker. Doug stewart preyed on this boy. This plea agreement reflects the value of rickys testimony. Because without it, doug stewart would probably not be convicted. He didnt murder my daughter directly, but i think ricky should sure get a lot more than a year in the county jail. My daughters dead, rickys alive. Her family was pushing for at least a 10year sentence, but the lawyers wouldnt budge. They pushed for a conspiracy charge against ricky, but they didnt. He could have saved my sister. Authorities know. They could have been waiting for him at my parents house and it would have been over. Of on april 26th, 2011, a year to the day since venus disappeared from her parents house, the family held a memorial service. They watched a Video Tribute to her spirit and her smile. Played a gospel songs she would have liked. And they spoke from the heart. I just want to say how much i miss my sister. I mean, i love her so much. Its going to be tough to not see her around anymore. She just was awesome. Shes a character. When do you miss her the most, theresa . Every day. Every single day. Venus two girls are being raised by her mom and dad. They say everyones doing as well as can be expected. I talk about venus a lot. I talk about how she was my little girl just like theyre her little girls. Thanks for joining us. [ man narrating ]it has been said that magic. Vanished from our worlda long time ago, and that humanity canno longer fulfill its desiresthrough the power of wishes. To those who have lostthe wondrous visionof childhood eyes, submitted hereis the story of a little boy. And a Magical Christmas wishthat changed his life forever. It began in 1985,in a town just outside boston. It was christmas eve,and all the childrenwere in high spirits that special time of yearwhen boston childrengather together. And beat up the jewish kids. Hey, greenbaum uhoh. Get him [ boy ] yeah, get him yeah get him, guys get him, guys [ all shouting ] but there wasone child who wasntin such good spirits