Josh Mankiewicz

But if there are no cars on the street, but there's a surveillance van, you are going to pay attention to it.

But if there are no cars on the street, but there's a surveillance van, you are going to pay attention to it.

They wanted Pamela Romero because she spoke Spanish. And also because of sort of, I mean, the thing about her is that she'd never done a homicide investigation before. And that kind of worked to their advantage because this wasn't the sort of Hollywood idea of, you know, the cop sitting across from you and banging on the table and saying, If you talk to me, I'll help you out with the DA.

They wanted Pamela Romero because she spoke Spanish. And also because of sort of, I mean, the thing about her is that she'd never done a homicide investigation before. And that kind of worked to their advantage because this wasn't the sort of Hollywood idea of, you know, the cop sitting across from you and banging on the table and saying, If you talk to me, I'll help you out with the DA.

I mean, there was none of that. She's soft spoken and she's empathetic. And that apparently did work with him to the point where there was another officer in the room with them at the beginning, a man. And he was the suspect was directing everything. Yeah. Just wanted her to Romero. And so finally, the other guy was just like, you know what, I'm going to leave.

I mean, there was none of that. She's soft spoken and she's empathetic. And that apparently did work with him to the point where there was another officer in the room with them at the beginning, a man. And he was the suspect was directing everything. Yeah. Just wanted her to Romero. And so finally, the other guy was just like, you know what, I'm going to leave.

And, you know, he was the Miranda thing later became a huge issue. But, you know, they kept saying to him, I think a bunch of times they said to him, you're not in custody. You can you can go. You know, and they point the doors right there. And that, I think, also gave him sort of a sense that, OK, this doesn't really count if I'm not being arrested. If I just keep denying it, I'll be OK.

And, you know, he was the Miranda thing later became a huge issue. But, you know, they kept saying to him, I think a bunch of times they said to him, you're not in custody. You can you can go. You know, and they point the doors right there. And that, I think, also gave him sort of a sense that, OK, this doesn't really count if I'm not being arrested. If I just keep denying it, I'll be OK.

But, you know, look, one of the things, again, that we learn in Dateline is that. Telling a lie is much harder than people think it is. And sticking with it is much harder than people think it is, particularly when the person you're talking with has some evidence that you don't know they have, and they are also kind of rolling it out bit by bit by bit. So you can't just be saying, I don't know.

But, you know, look, one of the things, again, that we learn in Dateline is that. Telling a lie is much harder than people think it is. And sticking with it is much harder than people think it is, particularly when the person you're talking with has some evidence that you don't know they have, and they are also kind of rolling it out bit by bit by bit. So you can't just be saying, I don't know.

I didn't do it. I wasn't there. I don't know. I don't know what happened. I wasn't there. Then they're like, well, wait a minute. Why is your phone and her phone in the same place? That kind of thing, right? First, he said, I wasn't there. I don't know what you're talking about. Then he said, OK, well, I did see her. OK, well, you know, I did stop. You know, I mean, you know, she was cute.

I didn't do it. I wasn't there. I don't know. I don't know what happened. I wasn't there. Then they're like, well, wait a minute. Why is your phone and her phone in the same place? That kind of thing, right? First, he said, I wasn't there. I don't know what you're talking about. Then he said, OK, well, I did see her. OK, well, you know, I did stop. You know, I mean, you know, she was cute.

I mean, all this stuff that he didn't want to say at the beginning. And eventually, as Officer Romero keeps talking to him, it just sort of starts coming out.

I mean, all this stuff that he didn't want to say at the beginning. And eventually, as Officer Romero keeps talking to him, it just sort of starts coming out.

It's just I mean, it's it's just the most gigantic error. And I know she's super regretted that. Fortunately, I mean, and the result was, I think, like six hours of his interrogation went out the window. The judge ruled they couldn't use that. Fortunately, he got remorandized, which was so brilliant.

It's just I mean, it's it's just the most gigantic error. And I know she's super regretted that. Fortunately, I mean, and the result was, I think, like six hours of his interrogation went out the window. The judge ruled they couldn't use that. Fortunately, he got remorandized, which was so brilliant.

He led them to her body and then he made another confession there. So, I mean, that ended up not being as big a deal as it otherwise might have been.

He led them to her body and then he made another confession there. So, I mean, that ended up not being as big a deal as it otherwise might have been.

When it is custodial or when the person believes it is custodial, in other words, I can't leave. I'm being questioned. I don't have the option to leave. That's where you need to advise somebody of their rights.

When it is custodial or when the person believes it is custodial, in other words, I can't leave. I'm being questioned. I don't have the option to leave. That's where you need to advise somebody of their rights.