Page 30 - Paperwork John News Today : Breaking News, Live Updates & Top Stories | Vimarsana

>> reporter: tonia wondered, what else did she not know about her soon to be ex-husband. like, why did he refuse to invite his family to their wedding? why not let her even meet them? she decided to call his mother. >> i said, "dolores, this is tonia. i'm married to your son, john." and the phone was quiet for a minute. and she said, "oh, tonia. i knew you'd call me some day." >> reporter: wow. >> and so then, of course, my heart was racing and my knees were shaking just to make the phone call. and then she just unloaded on me, you know, all the details of

Talking about how they met him. >> we're here to celebrate john. >> one of the groomsmen said -- >> john meehan's nickname is filthy john meehan. >> reporter: filthy john, over the years, became dirty john and the nickname stuck. >> reporter: you found out later on, there was a story to that. >> yes. he was basically conning little old women out of money for jobs that he didn't do. and also that he had a way with the ladies. >> reporter: luken discovered darker secrets as well. john supplied the opioids that killed his own addicted brother. he was alone with his sick father when the old man di...

And i found everything. >> this reporter made some unnerving discoveries, too. >> he scared a lot of people. he swindled a lot of people. >> the story of his "dirty deeds" riveted the nation in a hit podcast. >> announcer: this is dirty john. >> but dirty was about to turn dark. >> he's got duct tape, he's got all the tools ready to kidnap her. >> would this mom and her daughters learn the truth in time? >> she was in a panic. she said, "i saw john." "outside in a car." >> a story ending in savagery that would stun even police. >> there's no way he gets away with this unless he kills her.

Might charge her with something? >> yes. >> reporter: there's a process the law must follow. careful consideration. august became september, october, november. debra didn't know it, but the detective had discovered something in the trunk of john's car. >> we found a backpack with numerous other knives inside. we found zip ties. we found duct tape. we found his passport. >> it took some organization. it took thinking. he's planned this out. this was a revenge killing. >> reporter: orange county deputy district attorney matt murphy believed the evidence spoke for itself. >> there is an image of ...

News. you need to get your mother away from him." >> reporter: debra had bought a house near las vegas where john could live away from her family, she split her time between there and orange county, but the daughters went into rescue mode.