Dennis Murphy

Miami Beach police told him he'd have to file his missing persons report with the city of Miami, a different jurisdiction. That's where Club Space was located. But the cops wouldn't take his report till 24 hours had passed.

Miami Beach police told him he'd have to file his missing persons report with the city of Miami, a different jurisdiction. That's where Club Space was located. But the cops wouldn't take his report till 24 hours had passed.

Returning to his hotel room in the sleepless night that followed, he got an idea. Call a private detective. He went online and started calling some numbers. The next morning, Monday now, one of them, a private investigator named Dave Wasser, called Kevin back.

Returning to his hotel room in the sleepless night that followed, he got an idea. Call a private detective. He went online and started calling some numbers. The next morning, Monday now, one of them, a private investigator named Dave Wasser, called Kevin back.

After filing a missing persons, Kevin returned to the hotel while Wasser, the private eye and a Miami police detective went to club space and talked to the manager and two of the bouncers who'd worked the door that early Sunday morning. The people at the club said Paula left the club alone shortly after Kevin. Club policy, they say, is to remove both parties after a fight.

After filing a missing persons, Kevin returned to the hotel while Wasser, the private eye and a Miami police detective went to club space and talked to the manager and two of the bouncers who'd worked the door that early Sunday morning. The people at the club said Paula left the club alone shortly after Kevin. Club policy, they say, is to remove both parties after a fight.

Mike Samuels is the front door manager.

Mike Samuels is the front door manager.

While his private detective followed up wafer-thin leads, Kevin decided to call the medical examiner's office.

While his private detective followed up wafer-thin leads, Kevin decided to call the medical examiner's office.

The detectives asked Kevin, did Paula have any body piercings? Yes, he said, she did.

The detectives asked Kevin, did Paula have any body piercings? Yes, he said, she did.

Detectives then checked out some photos of Paula on Kevin's iPhone. They studied an earring.

Detectives then checked out some photos of Paula on Kevin's iPhone. They studied an earring.

The earring, Paula's earring, had been found at the scene of a burning dumpster. And inside the dumpster, they found the charred body of a person they thought was a female. And it turned out to be gruesome beyond relief.

The earring, Paula's earring, had been found at the scene of a burning dumpster. And inside the dumpster, they found the charred body of a person they thought was a female. And it turned out to be gruesome beyond relief.

Kevin was driven to the police station in North Miami, near where Paula's remains had been found, about 10 miles north of the dance club. They had questions for him, intense ones. How was he going to explain what police were learning about a violent domestic history with his now-murdered girlfriend, the woman found in a burning dumpster?

Kevin was driven to the police station in North Miami, near where Paula's remains had been found, about 10 miles north of the dance club. They had questions for him, intense ones. How was he going to explain what police were learning about a violent domestic history with his now-murdered girlfriend, the woman found in a burning dumpster?

And how was he going to explain that lover's quarrel at the club the very night of the murder?

And how was he going to explain that lover's quarrel at the club the very night of the murder?