Luis Mata Jr.

On top of that, the officer de la Cruz found a needle on the stairwell, and he found a wrapper, kind of like what you find syringes at a hospital facility.

On top of that, the officer de la Cruz found a needle on the stairwell, and he found a wrapper, kind of like what you find syringes at a hospital facility.

He was punching walls. He was kicking furniture. And he was screaming. We were afraid he was going to scare neighbors. And then once we found that syringe, we were like, hey, relax. Have a seat here. Detectives are going to talk to you. We can't have you all over the place either. It's still a crime scene. But we emphasize that, obviously, and I go there. He wasn't detained at any point.

He was punching walls. He was kicking furniture. And he was screaming. We were afraid he was going to scare neighbors. And then once we found that syringe, we were like, hey, relax. Have a seat here. Detectives are going to talk to you. We can't have you all over the place either. It's still a crime scene. But we emphasize that, obviously, and I go there. He wasn't detained at any point.

He was initially told that, hey, this, you know, we are completely sympathetic and understanding, but we still have a job to do.

He was initially told that, hey, this, you know, we are completely sympathetic and understanding, but we still have a job to do.

What threw a curveball was I couldn't exactly do a walkthrough of the home. And the reason is because, remember, as much of a death investigation consists of the first thing that we have to do as investigators is we have to obtain that we have legal authority to be in that home. So when I arrived, Joel was already outside in the back of a squad car. So my first thing was I went up to him.

What threw a curveball was I couldn't exactly do a walkthrough of the home. And the reason is because, remember, as much of a death investigation consists of the first thing that we have to do as investigators is we have to obtain that we have legal authority to be in that home. So when I arrived, Joel was already outside in the back of a squad car. So my first thing was I went up to him.

I introduced myself. I expressed my condolences. And then I asked the routine question was, do we have legal authority to be in your home?

I introduced myself. I expressed my condolences. And then I asked the routine question was, do we have legal authority to be in your home?

He says, why do you need legal consent? What are you going to do? Can't you just pick up the body and go on your way? I said, no, it doesn't work like that. And I explained to him, for example, if she overdosed, she has pills next to her. We need your permission to be in there and get the pills because it is your home. You have a right to your home.

He says, why do you need legal consent? What are you going to do? Can't you just pick up the body and go on your way? I said, no, it doesn't work like that. And I explained to him, for example, if she overdosed, she has pills next to her. We need your permission to be in there and get the pills because it is your home. You have a right to your home.

And then I asked him why, what the issue was, is if he was scared. And he said, no, I live a very private life. All I need you to do is just, you know, get her body and get out of here. So that's fine. I said, that is absolutely right. Nobody's going to go inside. We're going to secure the crime scene while we apply for a search warrant.

And then I asked him why, what the issue was, is if he was scared. And he said, no, I live a very private life. All I need you to do is just, you know, get her body and get out of here. So that's fine. I said, that is absolutely right. Nobody's going to go inside. We're going to secure the crime scene while we apply for a search warrant.

I had been doing that by that time almost three and a half, four years. And obviously at that time, I had been in law enforcement 15 years. I completely understand most of the time it's a grieving spouse. And I'm respectful of that. But there's a difference between a grieving spouse and someone that has something to hide.

I had been doing that by that time almost three and a half, four years. And obviously at that time, I had been in law enforcement 15 years. I completely understand most of the time it's a grieving spouse. And I'm respectful of that. But there's a difference between a grieving spouse and someone that has something to hide.

So I told the officer, let's get the kids out. Nobody goes in. Put yellow tape around it. It is now a crime scene. And he said, well, what happens if the sun comes up? And I go, well, if the sun comes up, Joel, well, the sun comes up. He goes, well, are neighbors going to see everything? And I said, yes, because this is going to put a delay in it. I mean, you're delaying it. That's fine.

So I told the officer, let's get the kids out. Nobody goes in. Put yellow tape around it. It is now a crime scene. And he said, well, what happens if the sun comes up? And I go, well, if the sun comes up, Joel, well, the sun comes up. He goes, well, are neighbors going to see everything? And I said, yes, because this is going to put a delay in it. I mean, you're delaying it. That's fine.

But if we have to hold the crime scene for a couple of hours and your neighbors see, I mean, we can't control that. No, no, no, no. I live a very private life. I don't want as much attention on this. I'll sign it. I'll sign. I'll give you the consent. So he changed his mind and he signed the written consent.

But if we have to hold the crime scene for a couple of hours and your neighbors see, I mean, we can't control that. No, no, no, no. I live a very private life. I don't want as much attention on this. I'll sign it. I'll sign. I'll give you the consent. So he changed his mind and he signed the written consent.