In 1990, 11-year-old Robin Cornell and 32-year-old Lisa Story were brutally assaulted and murdered in their Cape Coral home. For over two decades, the case remained unsolved, leaving their families and community desperate for closure. Then, a single piece of evidence—a DNA match—finally brought an answer. But with that answer came an even deeper question: Are we all born free of evil, is it something that can grow within us over time?
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Sword and Scale contains adult themes and violence and is not intended for all audiences. Listener discretion is advised.
The last 30 years I've been violent. I am un-violent, you know? LATVIA
The house on Byron Avenue was typical of the quiet north Fort Myers neighborhood in Florida. A simple, weather-worn home of only about 500 square feet. This quiet residential home is where Bonnie Nicely had been living with her boyfriend, Joseph Zeiler, since 1990. Their 25-year-old son had also lived on the property. On the night of August 26, 2016, the household erupted into an argument.
Bonnie was used to the strained relationship between Joseph and their son. Arguments between them had escalated recently, and she could hear them shouting at each other in the hallway. They had all three been drinking. But Bonnie was plenty sober enough to know where this yelling was headed. It was getting out of control.
Bonnie nicely gave her account of the night's events in her recorded statement, which was taken at 3.33 a.m. on August 27, 2016. She said her 25-year-old son and his girlfriend spent time drinking at a local pool hall. And after they got home, Joseph and their son began arguing. According to Bonnie, the two men, both drunk, started swinging and grabbing at each other.
Bonnie's account was that Joseph followed their son to the bedroom, where he pressed his left forearm against his son's neck, pinning him down on the bed while repeatedly striking him in the face with his right hand. Their son fought back, biting Joseph on the left forearm and right fingers to break free.
while Bonnie, desperate to stop the assault, scratched Joseph's face as she tried to pull him away. When their son managed to get loose, Joseph retreated to his bedroom, seemingly ending the altercation. Joseph's version was slightly different. It was a more complete version that started at the beginning, long before the night of the attack.
I've been with my girl 26 years. I love her. I got her pregnant. I've done my best with him. I really try to do my best with him. He just drinks nonstop. Just nonstop. I mean, it's all the time. And I understand I'm guilty too. I drink, but I don't drink every day. And it's just gotten too much, man. Their son and his girlfriend both worked, so the income was appreciated.
But the bickering wasn't. Well, this is his very first girlfriend since high school, and she's 45. She's a lot older. She's been working with him, trying to tell him, you know, right from wrong and how you're supposed to treat your parents, you know, but he berates her, and he's mean to her, and he don't hit her, but he is very verbally abusive to her mostly.
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