Larry Mendonca

Because what seemed like great evidence to the cops did not to the newly elected prosecuting attorney, Shailene Aseri. For one simple reason, the DNA did not exclusively match Darren.

Because what seemed like great evidence to the cops did not to the newly elected prosecuting attorney, Shailene Aseri. For one simple reason, the DNA did not exclusively match Darren.

Larry, though, refused to be discouraged.

Larry, though, refused to be discouraged.

But 2009 ended as it had begun, with the case in stasis. No breaks, no leads, no arrests. And 2010 was no different. Same for 2011. Nothing. It's fair to say Sandra's murder investigation was very much cold. So, 2012 now, six years after the murder, and three years after that DNA test, Chief Perry gave the case to a new detective named Bryson Poncey.

But 2009 ended as it had begun, with the case in stasis. No breaks, no leads, no arrests. And 2010 was no different. Same for 2011. Nothing. It's fair to say Sandra's murder investigation was very much cold. So, 2012 now, six years after the murder, and three years after that DNA test, Chief Perry gave the case to a new detective named Bryson Poncey.

who reexamined the physical evidence, like Sandra's car, undisturbed since the day she was murdered.

who reexamined the physical evidence, like Sandra's car, undisturbed since the day she was murdered.

And so Ponce circled right back to those original two suspects, husband Darren, boyfriend Ryan. But which one? From the file, Ponce learned Ryan, in addition to being a drug trafficker, had also been convicted of domestic violence. And was there something fishy about how he found Sandra's body? He told the cops he went to Sandra's house. Doors were locked.

And so Ponce circled right back to those original two suspects, husband Darren, boyfriend Ryan. But which one? From the file, Ponce learned Ryan, in addition to being a drug trafficker, had also been convicted of domestic violence. And was there something fishy about how he found Sandra's body? He told the cops he went to Sandra's house. Doors were locked.

Said he peered through these ventilation slats at the base of her garage wall. Said he saw Sandra in her car.

Said he peered through these ventilation slats at the base of her garage wall. Said he saw Sandra in her car.

Called a friend to help him find a body? Wouldn't be the first time a guilty party did that. And did Ryan remain here at the scene, wait for the police officers and talk to them there? Was there anything in the report about his demeanor that night?

Called a friend to help him find a body? Wouldn't be the first time a guilty party did that. And did Ryan remain here at the scene, wait for the police officers and talk to them there? Was there anything in the report about his demeanor that night?

Yeah, he was holding back a little. Yeah, and maybe he was a little bit nervous. But Ryan had an alibi, right? He was at work when Sandra was killed. Well, Fonse found out the estimated time of Sandra's death was really more of a rough guess. And that Sandra could just as well have been murdered hours earlier, when Ryan wasn't at work.

Yeah, he was holding back a little. Yeah, and maybe he was a little bit nervous. But Ryan had an alibi, right? He was at work when Sandra was killed. Well, Fonse found out the estimated time of Sandra's death was really more of a rough guess. And that Sandra could just as well have been murdered hours earlier, when Ryan wasn't at work.

And then there were the results from Ryan's 2006 polygraph exam. What was the result of that?

And then there were the results from Ryan's 2006 polygraph exam. What was the result of that?

Which didn't look good for Ryan. Except Darren's polygraph result didn't look so great either. How'd he do?

Which didn't look good for Ryan. Except Darren's polygraph result didn't look so great either. How'd he do?