Anastasia Nicolazzi

Retired detective Michelle Amacone worked in law enforcement for 29 years, 20 of which were spent as a homicide detective in Southern California. And it is no exaggeration to say that she was a trailblazer.

Retired detective Michelle Amacone worked in law enforcement for 29 years, 20 of which were spent as a homicide detective in Southern California. And it is no exaggeration to say that she was a trailblazer.

The caller was a 12-year-old child. He and his mother were asleep in his bedroom when they were awakened by the sound of multiple gunshots from inside the house.

The caller was a 12-year-old child. He and his mother were asleep in his bedroom when they were awakened by the sound of multiple gunshots from inside the house.

Sheriff's deputies were the first to arrive. When they entered the primary bedroom, they were met with a horrific scene. Lisa's husband and the 12-year-old's father, Kevin James, was lying lifeless under blankets stained with a massive amount of blood.

Sheriff's deputies were the first to arrive. When they entered the primary bedroom, they were met with a horrific scene. Lisa's husband and the 12-year-old's father, Kevin James, was lying lifeless under blankets stained with a massive amount of blood.

The James home was located in a middle-class neighborhood, not an area with a particularly high crime rate. So with the arrival of police on the quiet suburban street, neighbors were understandably alarmed.

The James home was located in a middle-class neighborhood, not an area with a particularly high crime rate. So with the arrival of police on the quiet suburban street, neighbors were understandably alarmed.

So no immediate signs of a break-in, no broken glass, overturned furniture, or rummaged drawers. Nothing out of the ordinary, but in the primary bedroom, that was a different story.

So no immediate signs of a break-in, no broken glass, overturned furniture, or rummaged drawers. Nothing out of the ordinary, but in the primary bedroom, that was a different story.

Not only were there no signs of a struggle, it appeared that Kevin had been shot point blank in the head, likely while he was still asleep.

Not only were there no signs of a struggle, it appeared that Kevin had been shot point blank in the head, likely while he was still asleep.

There were no signs that Kevin ever had a chance to defend himself or pose any threat at all to the shooter, so the theory that he might have surprised a home invader in the act of a robbery seemed unlikely.

There were no signs that Kevin ever had a chance to defend himself or pose any threat at all to the shooter, so the theory that he might have surprised a home invader in the act of a robbery seemed unlikely.

By all accounts, Kevin was an easygoing family man with no enemies. And so far, the crime scene itself was not offering investigators any clues about who might have wanted him dead.

By all accounts, Kevin was an easygoing family man with no enemies. And so far, the crime scene itself was not offering investigators any clues about who might have wanted him dead.

And so Lisa had fallen asleep in the same room of her 12-year-old son. But shortly before 11, she had woken up in a panic.

And so Lisa had fallen asleep in the same room of her 12-year-old son. But shortly before 11, she had woken up in a panic.

Not only had no one come in through the sliding door, there was no sign anyone could have accessed the second floor at all.

Not only had no one come in through the sliding door, there was no sign anyone could have accessed the second floor at all.