1 00:00:05,806 --> 00:00:07,406 Producer: Go right ahead, ted. 2 00:00:07,475 --> 00:00:09,041 Gunderson: Helena, judge franklin dupree 3 00:00:09,143 --> 00:00:11,377 Of raleigh, north carolina, u.S. District court 4 00:00:11,479 --> 00:00:14,079 Said that you are, quote, 5 00:00:14,181 --> 00:00:17,216 "one of the most tragic figures he has ever seen, 6 00:00:17,318 --> 00:00:20,686 "simply cannot attach any credibility to you. 7 00:00:20,788 --> 00:00:24,056 You are in a constant state of hallucination." 8 00:00:24,158 --> 00:00:27,092 Yes, I'm a fabricator. 9 00:00:27,194 --> 00:00:28,927 Let's see, what else? 10 00:00:29,030 --> 00:00:32,865 Fabricator, liar, 11 00:00:32,967 --> 00:00:35,467 Publicity seeker. 12 00:00:35,569 --> 00:00:37,536 And what have I been doing? I've been trying to run 13 00:00:37,638 --> 00:00:39,972 To keep away from publicity. 14 00:00:40,074 --> 00:00:43,375 And still they say that's all I want. 15 00:00:43,544 --> 00:00:44,443 Isn't that what I've been doing? 16 00:00:44,545 --> 00:00:47,813 I've been trying to stay away. 17 00:00:47,915 --> 00:00:49,515 Uh, you've given mr. Beasley and me 18 00:00:49,617 --> 00:00:51,316 A voluminous amount of information 19 00:00:51,419 --> 00:00:53,485 About the murders and so forth. 20 00:00:53,587 --> 00:00:56,155 Going back to the trial-- did you divulge 21 00:00:56,257 --> 00:00:59,158 Any of the information you've given us here tonight? 22 00:00:59,260 --> 00:01:00,592 No, sir. 23 00:01:00,694 --> 00:01:04,329 -You didn't? -No. I perjured myself then. 24 00:01:04,432 --> 00:01:06,265 But if you'd come forth with this information, 25 00:01:06,367 --> 00:01:09,334 He may not have gone to... To, uh, prison? 26 00:01:09,437 --> 00:01:12,304 And at that point I could have gone myself. 27 00:01:12,406 --> 00:01:14,873 So, you basically were trying to keep yourself 28 00:01:14,975 --> 00:01:15,941 From going to prison? 29 00:01:16,043 --> 00:01:17,676 Yes, sir. 30 00:01:17,778 --> 00:01:19,945 Aren't you concerned about being on television, then? 31 00:01:20,047 --> 00:01:23,749 No, sir, I feel that, uh, captain jeffrey macdonald 32 00:01:23,851 --> 00:01:27,286 Should be freed once and for all, 33 00:01:27,388 --> 00:01:28,754 And not to have to go through 34 00:01:28,856 --> 00:01:30,289 All of what he's been going through 35 00:01:30,391 --> 00:01:32,391 For the last several years. 36 00:01:34,728 --> 00:01:36,995 The wife and two young daughters of an army doctor 37 00:01:37,098 --> 00:01:40,499 Were found dead in their home in fort bragg, north carolina. 38 00:01:40,601 --> 00:01:42,935 Sam donaldson: You may remember the crime back in 1970. 39 00:01:43,104 --> 00:01:45,003 One of america's most sensational murder cases. 40 00:01:45,106 --> 00:01:46,538 One of the most bizarre murder cases. 41 00:01:46,640 --> 00:01:48,407 Dan rather: The most complicated murder case 42 00:01:48,509 --> 00:01:50,008 -In history. -Macdonald says the murderers 43 00:01:50,111 --> 00:01:52,444 Were three men and a woman shouting, 44 00:01:52,546 --> 00:01:55,881 "acid is great. Kill all the pigs." 45 00:01:55,983 --> 00:01:58,484 It's a baffling story the more you begin to look into it. 46 00:01:58,586 --> 00:02:00,352 Jeffrey macdonald's life became the subject of a book. 47 00:02:00,454 --> 00:02:02,254 Barbara walters: A popular miniseries. 48 00:02:02,356 --> 00:02:05,190 A television movie called fatal vision. 49 00:02:05,292 --> 00:02:07,192 Reporter: The best-seller portrayed macdonald 50 00:02:07,294 --> 00:02:08,594 As a cold-blooded killer. 51 00:02:08,696 --> 00:02:10,429 Reporter 2: Today, macdonald was sentenced 52 00:02:10,498 --> 00:02:11,864 To three life terms in prison. 53 00:02:13,634 --> 00:02:16,368 Man: Something really, really bad happened here. 54 00:02:16,470 --> 00:02:17,836 It was a miscarriage of justice. 55 00:02:17,938 --> 00:02:20,506 I cannot overcome fatal vision. 56 00:02:20,608 --> 00:02:22,441 Morris: What happens when a narrative 57 00:02:22,543 --> 00:02:24,877 Takes the place of reality? 58 00:02:24,979 --> 00:02:27,679 It's almost as if nothing really happened in history 59 00:02:27,781 --> 00:02:31,550 Unless it has been recorded in a movie 60 00:02:31,652 --> 00:02:33,218 Or in a television series. 61 00:02:33,320 --> 00:02:35,487 Woman: A new book by acclaimed author and filmmaker 62 00:02:35,589 --> 00:02:37,356 Errol morris says that the case 63 00:02:37,458 --> 00:02:39,558 May be more complicated than previously thought. 64 00:02:39,660 --> 00:02:42,828 Macdonald: I did not hurt my wife or my children. 65 00:02:42,997 --> 00:02:44,563 Helena: That evening I was wearing 66 00:02:44,665 --> 00:02:46,932 A blonde wig and a floppy hat. 67 00:02:47,034 --> 00:02:49,668 -Man: An innocent man is in jail today. -Mildred: The man is guilty 68 00:02:49,770 --> 00:02:51,803 -As can be. -I am innocent. 69 00:02:51,906 --> 00:02:53,672 He's lucky I haven't gone out and killed him. 70 00:02:53,774 --> 00:02:55,607 Macdonald: I am not that monster. 71 00:02:55,709 --> 00:02:57,743 ♪ ♪ 72 00:03:12,593 --> 00:03:13,992 Testing, testing. 73 00:03:14,094 --> 00:03:17,396 Jeff to joe, side two on tape three. 74 00:03:19,333 --> 00:03:21,300 I'm not trying to be dramatic, 75 00:03:21,402 --> 00:03:24,236 But I can tell you that there's no feeling as deep 76 00:03:24,338 --> 00:03:26,638 As the feeling of suddenly being locked up 77 00:03:26,740 --> 00:03:29,841 In a solitary steel cell... 78 00:03:29,944 --> 00:03:32,844 Alone from the world, and being told 79 00:03:32,947 --> 00:03:36,615 That you're spending the rest of your natural life there. 80 00:03:36,717 --> 00:03:38,884 The best I can say is... 81 00:03:38,986 --> 00:03:42,187 It's a feeling that must be very close to death. 82 00:03:45,392 --> 00:03:48,560 I hope you understand the depth of my despair and anguish. 83 00:03:50,464 --> 00:03:53,865 If you have a distinct need for more questions at this time, 84 00:03:53,968 --> 00:03:55,367 Fire them off, 85 00:03:55,469 --> 00:03:57,970 And I'll get going on it. 86 00:03:58,072 --> 00:04:00,639 Keep the writing going on your end. 87 00:04:00,741 --> 00:04:03,041 Jeff. 88 00:04:03,143 --> 00:04:05,811 Ladies and gentlemen, will you welcome, please, joe mcginniss. 89 00:04:05,913 --> 00:04:08,747 (applause) 90 00:04:08,849 --> 00:04:11,383 Walters: In 1969, 91 00:04:11,485 --> 00:04:13,619 A 26-year-old journalist named joe mcginniss 92 00:04:13,721 --> 00:04:16,021 Saw his book, the selling of the president, 93 00:04:16,123 --> 00:04:18,490 Soar to the top of the best-seller list. 94 00:04:18,592 --> 00:04:21,360 Doherty: I was working for simon & schuster, 95 00:04:21,495 --> 00:04:23,562 Which published joe's book. 96 00:04:23,664 --> 00:04:25,130 He was having a party. 97 00:04:25,232 --> 00:04:26,365 I crashed the party, 98 00:04:26,467 --> 00:04:28,400 And, uh... 99 00:04:28,502 --> 00:04:30,469 Our eyes met across the crowded room, 100 00:04:30,571 --> 00:04:32,871 And it was just one of those things. 101 00:04:32,973 --> 00:04:35,874 ♪ ♪ 102 00:04:35,976 --> 00:04:38,677 He was a star at that point. 103 00:04:38,779 --> 00:04:40,312 People would actually recognize him, 104 00:04:40,414 --> 00:04:42,314 Which was amazing for a writer. 105 00:04:43,684 --> 00:04:46,752 Fast-forward nine years to 1979, 106 00:04:46,854 --> 00:04:50,155 And joe was dying to find the next book. 107 00:04:55,129 --> 00:04:56,895 He was pretty excited. He thought it was 108 00:04:56,997 --> 00:04:59,531 An amazing story that, uh, 109 00:04:59,633 --> 00:05:02,768 Jeff had to tell about what he'd been through. 110 00:05:02,870 --> 00:05:05,370 He was very charmed by jeff. 111 00:05:05,472 --> 00:05:08,940 Jeff and bernie were looking for a writer. 112 00:05:09,043 --> 00:05:12,411 They liked joe, and joe had a reputation. 113 00:05:12,513 --> 00:05:15,280 Jeff told me joe's gonna be 114 00:05:15,382 --> 00:05:17,316 Part of the defense team. 115 00:05:19,720 --> 00:05:21,386 I didn't like that. 116 00:05:21,488 --> 00:05:23,055 I just instinctively 117 00:05:23,157 --> 00:05:26,191 Didn't want to have non-lawyers 118 00:05:26,293 --> 00:05:28,393 Poking around what we're doing. 119 00:05:28,495 --> 00:05:30,529 Doherty: In just about three weeks, 120 00:05:30,631 --> 00:05:33,031 Joe flew down to raleigh, north carolina. 121 00:05:33,133 --> 00:05:35,267 They rented a fraternity house 122 00:05:35,369 --> 00:05:37,302 On the campus of, uh, 123 00:05:37,404 --> 00:05:39,604 North carolina state university, 124 00:05:39,707 --> 00:05:41,840 And he moved in with the defense team. 125 00:05:45,913 --> 00:05:47,879 Doherty: Yeah. Yeah. 126 00:05:50,884 --> 00:05:53,085 (typewriter carriage turning) 127 00:05:53,187 --> 00:05:54,586 (click) 128 00:05:57,624 --> 00:05:59,591 (typing) 129 00:05:59,693 --> 00:06:01,827 Mcginniss: Dear jeff... 130 00:06:01,929 --> 00:06:04,129 There cannot be a worse nightmare 131 00:06:04,231 --> 00:06:06,765 Than the one you're living through now. 132 00:06:06,867 --> 00:06:09,134 Total strangers can see within five minutes 133 00:06:09,236 --> 00:06:12,771 That you did not receive a fair trial. 134 00:06:12,873 --> 00:06:15,173 Joe was almost always around jeff, 135 00:06:15,275 --> 00:06:18,477 And they seemed to be big buddies. 136 00:06:18,579 --> 00:06:22,347 Doherty: Joe was very invested in being one of the guys. 137 00:06:22,449 --> 00:06:25,150 Buying three-piece suits. (laughs) 138 00:06:25,252 --> 00:06:27,252 Going out on beer runs. 139 00:06:27,354 --> 00:06:29,321 It was not a fly-on-the-wall situation. 140 00:06:29,423 --> 00:06:31,022 Let's put it that way. 141 00:06:31,125 --> 00:06:32,190 (typing) 142 00:06:32,292 --> 00:06:33,825 Mcginniss: Goddamn, jeff, 143 00:06:33,927 --> 00:06:35,827 One of the worst things about all this 144 00:06:35,929 --> 00:06:39,164 Is how suddenly and totally all your friends-- self included-- 145 00:06:39,266 --> 00:06:42,701 Have been deprived of the pleasure of your company. 146 00:06:42,803 --> 00:06:45,237 He was as big a cheerleader as bernie was. 147 00:06:45,339 --> 00:06:48,874 Bernie, at some point, knew things weren't going so well. 148 00:06:48,976 --> 00:06:52,611 But joe was always, you know, "oh, don't worry, 149 00:06:52,713 --> 00:06:55,247 Everything's gonna be okay." 150 00:06:55,349 --> 00:06:58,083 Mcginniss: Spend a summer making a new friend 151 00:06:58,185 --> 00:07:00,819 And then the bastards come along 152 00:07:00,921 --> 00:07:02,554 And lock him up. 153 00:07:02,656 --> 00:07:03,922 Roger mudd: In raleigh, 154 00:07:04,024 --> 00:07:05,223 North carolina, today, 155 00:07:05,325 --> 00:07:07,426 A jury convicted dr. Jeffrey macdonald 156 00:07:07,528 --> 00:07:10,929 For murdering his wife and two children nine years ago. 157 00:07:11,031 --> 00:07:13,031 Macdonald, a former green beret captain, 158 00:07:13,133 --> 00:07:15,567 Was sentenced to three life terms in prison. 159 00:07:15,669 --> 00:07:17,836 (continuing in distance): The jury convicted him of first degree murder 160 00:07:17,938 --> 00:07:19,371 In the bludgeoning and stabbing slaying 161 00:07:19,473 --> 00:07:21,039 Of his two-year-old daughter 162 00:07:21,141 --> 00:07:23,208 (fades out): And the second degree murder... 163 00:07:27,881 --> 00:07:30,715 Doherty: After macdonald was convicted, 164 00:07:30,818 --> 00:07:32,818 Joe came home. 165 00:07:34,321 --> 00:07:37,022 Joe and jeff had to have a way to communicate. 166 00:07:37,124 --> 00:07:39,991 They decided that jeff was going to send joe 167 00:07:40,093 --> 00:07:41,793 Tape recordings. 168 00:07:50,270 --> 00:07:52,103 Macdonald: Dear joe, 169 00:07:52,206 --> 00:07:55,607 I made myself a promise not to question you on the book. 170 00:07:55,709 --> 00:07:57,809 I still have to go with that. 171 00:07:57,911 --> 00:07:59,845 I'm looking for any way out 172 00:07:59,947 --> 00:08:02,581 And was hoping to be encouraged by you. 173 00:08:03,984 --> 00:08:05,817 We have to trust our gut feelings 174 00:08:05,919 --> 00:08:08,887 And try as best we can to ignore the inherent paranoia 175 00:08:08,989 --> 00:08:10,989 In this situation. 176 00:08:12,593 --> 00:08:16,094 Hope you, nancy and the kids are all okay. 177 00:08:16,196 --> 00:08:17,529 Jeff. 178 00:08:19,366 --> 00:08:20,565 Then the obsession began. 179 00:08:23,704 --> 00:08:26,004 He brought himself up to date on everything 180 00:08:26,106 --> 00:08:27,772 That had happened previously-- 181 00:08:27,875 --> 00:08:31,276 Testimony from the article 32, newspaper reports, transcripts, 182 00:08:31,378 --> 00:08:35,247 Psychological reports-- going over and over every detail. 183 00:08:35,349 --> 00:08:37,282 Macdonald: Dear joe, you know, 184 00:08:37,384 --> 00:08:39,217 In here everyone thinks... 185 00:08:39,319 --> 00:08:40,619 Mcginniss: Dear jeff, 186 00:08:40,721 --> 00:08:41,920 They wince a little when they... 187 00:08:42,022 --> 00:08:43,255 Doherty: It gave him more distance 188 00:08:43,423 --> 00:08:46,224 From the jeff that he felt close to. 189 00:08:46,326 --> 00:08:47,859 Macdonald: Side one, tape 11... 190 00:08:47,961 --> 00:08:49,561 Doherty: One of his... 191 00:08:49,663 --> 00:08:53,064 Biggest discoveries was he found jeff's notes 192 00:08:53,166 --> 00:08:57,002 From right after the night of the murders. 193 00:08:57,104 --> 00:09:00,138 He was advised to write down everything that he remembered, 194 00:09:00,240 --> 00:09:01,973 And he'd written down 195 00:09:02,075 --> 00:09:05,610 That he'd been taking a drug called eskatrol. 196 00:09:08,248 --> 00:09:11,316 Mcginniss: Among the side effects of this drug are, 197 00:09:11,418 --> 00:09:14,553 When taken to excess by susceptible individuals, 198 00:09:14,655 --> 00:09:16,354 Temporary psychosis, 199 00:09:16,456 --> 00:09:19,391 Often manifested as a rage reaction. 200 00:09:20,827 --> 00:09:22,561 Doherty: That was something that seemed 201 00:09:22,663 --> 00:09:24,963 Really significant to joe, 202 00:09:25,065 --> 00:09:27,065 And... 203 00:09:27,167 --> 00:09:29,301 He started to just get... 204 00:09:29,403 --> 00:09:31,403 More and more... 205 00:09:33,273 --> 00:09:35,607 ...Alienated and scared. 206 00:09:41,815 --> 00:09:43,815 Malley: I kept in touch with joe mcginniss 207 00:09:43,884 --> 00:09:45,450 For a year afterwards. 208 00:09:45,552 --> 00:09:46,885 (doorbell rings) 209 00:09:48,655 --> 00:09:51,623 In fact, I went to see him. 210 00:09:51,725 --> 00:09:53,792 I said, you know, "how's the book coming?" 211 00:09:53,894 --> 00:09:56,027 He said, "oh, it's getting tough." 212 00:09:56,129 --> 00:09:57,829 Um, and I said, "what does that mean?" 213 00:09:57,931 --> 00:10:00,131 He said, "well, you know, what I told you before." 214 00:10:00,233 --> 00:10:01,967 I said, "the endings are really tough." 215 00:10:06,306 --> 00:10:08,640 Doherty: Joe thought he was having a heart attack. 216 00:10:08,742 --> 00:10:11,209 We wind up going to the emergency room 217 00:10:11,311 --> 00:10:13,244 With mike malley, um, in tow. 218 00:10:13,347 --> 00:10:15,747 And it turned out he was having a panic attack. 219 00:10:15,849 --> 00:10:18,183 It was the first time he ever had a panic attack. 220 00:10:18,285 --> 00:10:19,784 Mcginniss: To put it simply, 221 00:10:19,886 --> 00:10:21,386 It was a conflict between my... 222 00:10:21,488 --> 00:10:23,288 -W-what my head told me had to be true -man: Yeah. 223 00:10:23,390 --> 00:10:24,889 And what my heart told me couldn't be true. 224 00:10:24,992 --> 00:10:26,992 ♪ ♪ 225 00:10:28,962 --> 00:10:30,962 Mcginniss: Dear jeff, 226 00:10:31,064 --> 00:10:32,897 I hear you're gloomy. 227 00:10:33,000 --> 00:10:34,733 No surprise. 228 00:10:34,835 --> 00:10:37,469 Waiting is bad enough, but here you'll never know 229 00:10:37,571 --> 00:10:39,804 How long you have to wait. 230 00:10:39,906 --> 00:10:43,642 Anyway, when I do get the new treatment finished-- 231 00:10:43,810 --> 00:10:46,645 When and if-- I still can't send it to you 232 00:10:46,747 --> 00:10:49,948 Because I don't ever show anybody anything I'm working on 233 00:10:50,050 --> 00:10:52,751 Until it's ready for publication. 234 00:10:52,853 --> 00:10:55,453 The title was finally one which I chose mainly 235 00:10:55,555 --> 00:10:58,690 On instinct and gut feeling: 236 00:10:58,792 --> 00:11:00,792 Fatal vision. 237 00:11:15,676 --> 00:11:17,942 (music playing over tv) 238 00:11:24,151 --> 00:11:25,950 Announcer: And now, the movie some people 239 00:11:26,053 --> 00:11:27,652 Don't want you to see-- 240 00:11:27,754 --> 00:11:30,655 The most controversial true crime story of the decade, 241 00:11:30,757 --> 00:11:33,758 Based on today's best seller, fatal vision. 242 00:11:35,595 --> 00:11:38,997 Smerling: What's it like to see this extremely personal story 243 00:11:39,099 --> 00:11:41,633 Made into a teleplay? 244 00:11:41,735 --> 00:11:43,902 That must be strange. 245 00:11:44,004 --> 00:11:47,639 Everything was dead-on. 246 00:11:47,741 --> 00:11:50,341 Everything was right. 247 00:11:53,313 --> 00:11:55,080 Kimberley (dramatized): Daddy! 248 00:11:55,182 --> 00:11:57,115 Bryant gumbel: Nbc has presented a dramatization 249 00:11:57,217 --> 00:11:59,551 -Of the macdonald case and titled it fatal vision, -daddy! 250 00:11:59,653 --> 00:12:01,319 Based on the best-selling book of the same name 251 00:12:01,421 --> 00:12:02,921 By joe mcginniss. 252 00:12:03,957 --> 00:12:05,490 Anchor: Like the book, 253 00:12:05,592 --> 00:12:08,059 The miniseries fatal vision is joe mcginniss' search 254 00:12:08,161 --> 00:12:10,528 For the truth of what happened before, 255 00:12:10,630 --> 00:12:14,032 After and on that night in 1970. 256 00:12:14,134 --> 00:12:15,233 Macdonald (dramatized): You're sitting here telling me 257 00:12:15,335 --> 00:12:18,236 That I killed my wife and kids? 258 00:12:18,338 --> 00:12:20,572 Doherty: Nbc wanted to make a miniseries 259 00:12:20,674 --> 00:12:22,540 Of fatal vision pretty much right away. 260 00:12:22,642 --> 00:12:23,675 You think now you can get ahold 261 00:12:23,777 --> 00:12:25,343 Of that article 32 transcript for me? 262 00:12:25,445 --> 00:12:27,045 I'd like to read everything that was said at that hearing. 263 00:12:27,147 --> 00:12:28,713 Well, look, freddy, I'm really busy right now. 264 00:12:28,815 --> 00:12:30,715 -I got the television... -Sure. I understand. 265 00:12:30,784 --> 00:12:32,117 Doherty: Seeing it, it had a different kind of impact 266 00:12:32,219 --> 00:12:33,651 Than reading about it. 267 00:12:33,754 --> 00:12:37,155 It certainly boosted sales of the book. 268 00:12:38,925 --> 00:12:41,025 Millions of viewers watched the two-part series 269 00:12:41,128 --> 00:12:44,929 Of fatal vision here on nbc, 60 million on Sunday alone. 270 00:12:45,031 --> 00:12:47,198 Look, the guy was on a 24-hour shift 271 00:12:47,300 --> 00:12:48,767 The night before the murders. 272 00:12:48,869 --> 00:12:51,402 Then he put in a full day at the office. 273 00:12:51,505 --> 00:12:54,939 So maybe he was taking pills to keep himself going. 274 00:12:55,041 --> 00:12:56,307 Masewicz: I was 275 00:12:56,409 --> 00:12:58,576 Glued to the tv. I couldn't believe it. 276 00:12:58,678 --> 00:13:01,546 And back then, we had the old vhs, 277 00:13:01,648 --> 00:13:03,815 And I recorded it. (laughs) 278 00:13:03,917 --> 00:13:05,950 So th... I can't tell you how many times 279 00:13:06,052 --> 00:13:07,785 I've watched that movie. 280 00:13:07,854 --> 00:13:10,722 There are at least four people running around out there 281 00:13:10,824 --> 00:13:12,390 Who have, uh... 282 00:13:13,460 --> 00:13:17,128 ...Murdered three people. 283 00:13:17,230 --> 00:13:19,097 Larry king: Karl malden had you down 284 00:13:19,199 --> 00:13:21,466 -To a t, didn't he? -Absolutely. 285 00:13:21,568 --> 00:13:23,535 Woman: Is the defendant jeffrey r. Macdonald 286 00:13:23,637 --> 00:13:26,604 Guilty or not guilty 287 00:13:26,706 --> 00:13:29,974 Of murder in the first degree? 288 00:13:30,076 --> 00:13:31,910 All: Guilty. 289 00:13:32,012 --> 00:13:35,413 (echoing): Guilty. Guilty. 290 00:13:41,855 --> 00:13:44,923 When you learned of this, t-to you, betrayal, 291 00:13:45,025 --> 00:13:46,324 What was your first reaction? 292 00:13:46,426 --> 00:13:48,159 I was devastated, larry. 293 00:13:48,261 --> 00:13:51,663 It was one of the five or six... 294 00:13:51,765 --> 00:13:55,667 M-most destructive days to my psyche ever, 295 00:13:55,769 --> 00:13:58,503 Following the murders and then the false accusation. 296 00:13:58,605 --> 00:14:01,139 -This was-this was an awful thing. -He was your friend. 297 00:14:01,241 --> 00:14:03,942 H-he acted as my best friend, not just my friend. 298 00:14:04,044 --> 00:14:06,010 My best friend. My confidante. 299 00:14:06,112 --> 00:14:09,781 We talked for four years. He lived in my condominium. 300 00:14:09,883 --> 00:14:12,951 My girlfriend at the time was cooking him dinner. 301 00:14:16,423 --> 00:14:18,156 Jane pauley: You, um, 302 00:14:18,258 --> 00:14:20,592 Never let on to him that you had-had found him, 303 00:14:20,694 --> 00:14:22,961 In your own heart of hearts, guilty. 304 00:14:23,063 --> 00:14:24,929 Did that pose an ethical problem for you? 305 00:14:25,031 --> 00:14:27,265 Should you have told him and pulled out of the project? 306 00:14:27,367 --> 00:14:29,601 Well, no, because, uh, when I got into the project, 307 00:14:29,703 --> 00:14:31,436 Uh, my only ambition 308 00:14:31,538 --> 00:14:34,138 Was to learn as much of the truth as I could 309 00:14:34,241 --> 00:14:36,641 And then to tell it as well as I could. 310 00:14:43,483 --> 00:14:46,417 Morris: My gripe with joe mcginniss 311 00:14:46,519 --> 00:14:48,653 Is not that he... 312 00:14:48,755 --> 00:14:52,090 Lied to jeffrey macdonald. 313 00:14:53,126 --> 00:14:54,292 My gripe is that 314 00:14:54,361 --> 00:14:56,895 He took something that was 315 00:14:56,997 --> 00:14:59,163 Horribly complex 316 00:14:59,266 --> 00:15:01,332 And he turned it into something 317 00:15:01,434 --> 00:15:04,269 Incredibly simple. 318 00:15:11,544 --> 00:15:14,445 You have the crusading in-laws... 319 00:15:17,150 --> 00:15:18,850 ...And a villain. 320 00:15:20,253 --> 00:15:21,552 A self-centered, 321 00:15:21,655 --> 00:15:25,290 Narcissistic... Liar. 322 00:15:27,027 --> 00:15:30,028 Fatal vision was perhaps even more damning 323 00:15:30,130 --> 00:15:33,231 Than the trial itself. 324 00:15:33,333 --> 00:15:34,666 People saw 325 00:15:34,768 --> 00:15:38,770 Jeffrey macdonald killing his family. 326 00:15:40,006 --> 00:15:42,440 What more proof do you need? 327 00:15:48,882 --> 00:15:50,915 What happens when a narrative 328 00:15:51,017 --> 00:15:53,151 Takes the place of reality? 329 00:15:53,253 --> 00:15:55,553 Tonight, nbc concludes its rebroadcast 330 00:15:55,622 --> 00:15:57,255 -Of the movie fatal vision. -...Television movie called fatal vision. 331 00:15:57,357 --> 00:15:59,657 Dr. Jeffrey macdonald's life became the subject 332 00:15:59,793 --> 00:16:01,426 -Of a book and tv miniseries... -If you think he's guilty, call 1-900... 333 00:16:01,528 --> 00:16:02,994 You might remember the story 334 00:16:03,096 --> 00:16:05,129 From the book and tv movie fatal vision. 335 00:16:05,231 --> 00:16:07,565 Macdonald's conviction for killing his wife and children 336 00:16:07,667 --> 00:16:10,468 -More than a decade ago... -...Fatal vision. 337 00:16:10,570 --> 00:16:12,003 Morris: Jeffrey macdonald disappeared 338 00:16:12,105 --> 00:16:14,272 Into the f-fun house 339 00:16:14,374 --> 00:16:16,274 Of television. 340 00:16:16,376 --> 00:16:18,276 Macdonald: I can never overcome fatal vision. 341 00:16:18,378 --> 00:16:21,746 I cannot prove to the millions of people 342 00:16:21,848 --> 00:16:25,316 Who have watched the reruns over and over and over 343 00:16:25,418 --> 00:16:27,819 That I am not that monster. 344 00:16:38,765 --> 00:16:40,398 Nbc's presentation of fatal vision has been 345 00:16:40,500 --> 00:16:42,333 Roundly praised by the critics and roundly criticized 346 00:16:42,435 --> 00:16:44,802 By macdonald's attorneys, one of whom joins us 347 00:16:44,904 --> 00:16:46,804 This morning from our studios in burbank. 348 00:16:46,906 --> 00:16:48,806 He is brian o'neill, and good morning to you, mr. O'neill. 349 00:16:48,908 --> 00:16:51,976 -Good morning, bryant. -This drama, uh, this docudrama, 350 00:16:52,078 --> 00:16:54,612 Wasn't titillating, it wasn't sensationalized. 351 00:16:54,714 --> 00:16:57,915 -What was your problem with the airing of it? -Uh, two problems. 352 00:16:58,018 --> 00:17:00,184 Number one, the timing of it was highly inappropriate. 353 00:17:00,286 --> 00:17:02,787 Uh, as, uh, we had advised nbc 354 00:17:02,889 --> 00:17:04,555 Some months before they ran it, 355 00:17:04,657 --> 00:17:07,225 Uh, there are pending in the federal court in north carolina 356 00:17:07,327 --> 00:17:10,695 Several motions, uh, seeking a new trial. 357 00:17:10,797 --> 00:17:14,399 Uh, those motions address the subject of the crime, 358 00:17:14,501 --> 00:17:17,068 And, uh, in great detail prove who did it. 359 00:17:17,170 --> 00:17:18,736 And it wasn't dr. Macdonald. 360 00:17:18,838 --> 00:17:20,538 It's our concern that when we get a new trial, 361 00:17:20,640 --> 00:17:21,939 We're not gonna have a fair audience, 362 00:17:22,042 --> 00:17:23,608 Uh, before whom to present it. 363 00:17:23,710 --> 00:17:25,610 That is to say, we're not gonna have a... Be able 364 00:17:25,712 --> 00:17:27,812 To pick a fair jury because everyone will have seen 365 00:17:27,914 --> 00:17:30,448 That movie in that neighborhood, and will have, uh, 366 00:17:30,550 --> 00:17:34,052 Formed a belief which is gonna be very nigh unshakeable. 367 00:17:34,154 --> 00:17:35,686 I forget how I learned about 368 00:17:35,789 --> 00:17:38,089 The tv show coming out, but I remember 369 00:17:38,191 --> 00:17:39,357 We were concerned about it, 370 00:17:39,459 --> 00:17:42,193 So I contacted nbc. 371 00:17:42,295 --> 00:17:44,796 I said, "you know, uh, there may be other interests involved. 372 00:17:44,898 --> 00:17:46,464 "you might think about, like, f-fairness 373 00:17:46,566 --> 00:17:48,166 In the criminal justice system." 374 00:17:48,268 --> 00:17:50,201 That was the only argument I could make, 375 00:17:50,303 --> 00:17:51,702 And it was unavailing. 376 00:17:56,976 --> 00:17:59,210 Smerling: Fatal vision shows jeffrey... 377 00:18:00,747 --> 00:18:02,246 Oh, yeah. Yeah. 378 00:18:06,519 --> 00:18:08,820 A new trial, basically, had to be new evidence 379 00:18:08,922 --> 00:18:11,355 Either unavailable or reasonably unavailable. 380 00:18:11,458 --> 00:18:14,358 I forget the standard, but that-that's what you had to do. 381 00:18:15,895 --> 00:18:18,262 I got the case files from bernie segal. 382 00:18:18,364 --> 00:18:20,798 Looking through them, helena stoeckley's story 383 00:18:20,900 --> 00:18:22,633 Seemed to be a good place to start. 384 00:18:22,735 --> 00:18:25,336 So I had to get an investigator. 385 00:18:25,438 --> 00:18:27,438 Ray shedlick was from queens, 386 00:18:27,540 --> 00:18:30,274 Spoke like from he was queens, looked like he was from queens. 387 00:18:30,376 --> 00:18:32,310 Cigarette smoke 388 00:18:32,412 --> 00:18:33,711 Like a halo. 389 00:18:33,813 --> 00:18:35,480 He really did this great job on the ground 390 00:18:35,582 --> 00:18:38,282 Chasing down all these other leads. 391 00:18:39,919 --> 00:18:42,019 Shedlick: I ran an ad in a fayetteville paper 392 00:18:42,122 --> 00:18:45,189 And I began to receive telephone calls. 393 00:18:45,291 --> 00:18:47,592 Some of them, of course, were crazy calls. 394 00:18:47,694 --> 00:18:49,227 I had to screen out people 395 00:18:49,329 --> 00:18:51,262 Who were obviously deranged from those who 396 00:18:51,364 --> 00:18:53,865 Might have had decent information. 397 00:18:53,967 --> 00:18:56,767 Some of these witnesses did come forward pretrial. 398 00:18:56,870 --> 00:19:00,171 They were... They came forward 1970 to the cid. 399 00:19:00,273 --> 00:19:01,606 And some to the fbi, 400 00:19:01,708 --> 00:19:04,375 Who never followed up on those leads. 401 00:19:04,477 --> 00:19:07,512 -Producer: Reload, please. -Helena: God, it's hot in here. 402 00:19:07,614 --> 00:19:08,913 Producer: This will be helena stoeckley 403 00:19:09,015 --> 00:19:10,748 And ted gunderson 404 00:19:10,817 --> 00:19:13,084 And prince beasley. 405 00:19:18,625 --> 00:19:21,526 O'neill: Ted had been the head of the fbi office 406 00:19:21,628 --> 00:19:23,060 Here in los angeles. 407 00:19:23,163 --> 00:19:25,062 Producer: You'll be looking at me, right, ted? 408 00:19:25,165 --> 00:19:26,898 O'neill: He was the one who did have a connection 409 00:19:27,000 --> 00:19:30,535 To prince beasley, and prince brought 410 00:19:30,637 --> 00:19:33,538 Helena stoeckley to the party, and that was critical, yeah. 411 00:19:33,640 --> 00:19:37,341 Producer: Rolling. Go right ahead, ted. 412 00:19:37,443 --> 00:19:39,210 Gunderson: Helena, the night of the murders, 413 00:19:39,312 --> 00:19:41,045 How were you dressed? 414 00:19:42,348 --> 00:19:44,315 Helena: That evening, I was wearing 415 00:19:44,417 --> 00:19:47,618 A blonde wig that belonged to my roommate. 416 00:19:49,622 --> 00:19:51,622 And a floppy hat. 417 00:19:54,294 --> 00:19:57,195 I had on boots. 418 00:19:57,297 --> 00:20:00,097 Gunderson: What time did you enter the macdonald residence? 419 00:20:02,635 --> 00:20:06,537 -Approximately 2:00 in the morning, yeah. -About 2:00. 420 00:20:06,639 --> 00:20:10,374 Helena: We went in, there were three members in there already, 421 00:20:10,476 --> 00:20:13,778 Talking to dr. Macdonald. 422 00:20:13,880 --> 00:20:16,080 I thought they were simply asking for drugs 423 00:20:16,182 --> 00:20:17,615 Or something like that. 424 00:20:17,717 --> 00:20:19,584 Things got out of hand. 425 00:20:20,987 --> 00:20:22,720 Someone knocked him unconscious. 426 00:20:22,822 --> 00:20:24,922 (phone ringing) 427 00:20:25,024 --> 00:20:27,024 The phone rang. 428 00:20:32,966 --> 00:20:36,534 I picked it up and someone asked for dr. Macdonald. 429 00:20:40,473 --> 00:20:42,206 Shedlick: Jimmy friar was a soldier, 430 00:20:42,308 --> 00:20:45,743 And on February the 17th, 1970, 431 00:20:45,845 --> 00:20:47,845 He had become sick. 432 00:20:47,947 --> 00:20:49,647 His doctor of treatment was dr. Mcdonald. 433 00:20:49,749 --> 00:20:52,483 That's m-c-d-o-n-a-l-d, not dr. Macdonald. 434 00:20:53,820 --> 00:20:55,653 He called the base hospital 435 00:20:55,755 --> 00:20:57,521 Asking for dr. Mcdonald. 436 00:20:59,559 --> 00:21:00,925 Shedlick: They ultimately gave him 437 00:21:01,027 --> 00:21:04,061 The home phone of dr. Macdonald. 438 00:21:04,163 --> 00:21:06,731 Friar: Uh, I called, I said, "may I speak to dr. Mcdonald?" 439 00:21:06,833 --> 00:21:10,134 And a lady or some girl, whoever it was, 440 00:21:10,236 --> 00:21:11,836 Just laughed into the telephone, 441 00:21:11,938 --> 00:21:14,605 Was just laughing and giggling, just carrying on. 442 00:21:14,674 --> 00:21:16,107 Well, by that time, 443 00:21:16,209 --> 00:21:18,909 I was pretty high on mescaline. 444 00:21:19,012 --> 00:21:20,911 And I just giggled and said he wasn't there 445 00:21:21,014 --> 00:21:22,647 Or something like that. 446 00:21:22,715 --> 00:21:25,116 In the background, I could hear someone breaking something, 447 00:21:25,218 --> 00:21:27,251 Or the table being turned over, or 448 00:21:27,353 --> 00:21:28,719 There was some kind of... 449 00:21:28,821 --> 00:21:30,221 You know, like, there was, 450 00:21:30,323 --> 00:21:32,089 A scrimmage or something going on. 451 00:21:33,559 --> 00:21:35,426 Someone said, "hang up the goddamn phone," 452 00:21:35,528 --> 00:21:37,595 And about that time, the phone either went dead 453 00:21:37,697 --> 00:21:38,729 Or was hung up. 454 00:21:38,831 --> 00:21:42,667 That's basically what happened. 455 00:21:44,904 --> 00:21:47,004 Helena: After I hung up the phone, 456 00:21:47,106 --> 00:21:49,206 I went into the back bedroom. 457 00:21:49,309 --> 00:21:52,043 That's when I saw two other members in there. 458 00:21:52,145 --> 00:21:55,346 Colette was struggling with them. 459 00:21:56,416 --> 00:21:58,382 I said... (sighs) 460 00:21:58,484 --> 00:22:00,384 "let's leave her alone," 461 00:22:00,486 --> 00:22:02,820 That this was unnecessary, 462 00:22:02,922 --> 00:22:05,323 And I suggested we leave. 463 00:22:05,425 --> 00:22:07,058 And that was it. 464 00:22:51,738 --> 00:22:54,972 And I responded, "he deserved to die." 465 00:23:06,853 --> 00:23:09,286 Tonight-- is one of america's most notorious killers, 466 00:23:09,389 --> 00:23:13,157 Dr. Jeffrey macdonald, really an innocent man? 467 00:23:13,259 --> 00:23:16,193 If so, his journey to freedom may have begun. 468 00:23:16,295 --> 00:23:18,896 This afternoon, in a u.S. District court, 469 00:23:18,998 --> 00:23:21,832 Macdonald's attorney filed a motion for a new trial. 470 00:23:21,934 --> 00:23:24,068 Reporter: Macdonald insists there were intruders that night, 471 00:23:24,170 --> 00:23:26,370 Including this woman: Helena stoeckley. 472 00:23:26,472 --> 00:23:28,839 O'neill: People who had every reason in the world to be afraid 473 00:23:28,941 --> 00:23:30,975 Of being caught, nonetheless confessed to their involvement. 474 00:23:31,077 --> 00:23:33,010 And it happened that their detailed statements, 475 00:23:33,112 --> 00:23:35,913 Uh, are consistent with what dr. Macdonald said. 476 00:23:36,015 --> 00:23:37,314 The woman was seen in the boots 477 00:23:37,417 --> 00:23:38,983 That I saw in my house that night. 478 00:23:39,085 --> 00:23:42,153 They were on barbiturates, they were on lsd, 479 00:23:42,255 --> 00:23:43,888 They were on heroin. 480 00:23:44,056 --> 00:23:47,358 We have definitely found out who murdered my family. 481 00:23:47,460 --> 00:23:49,126 Eventually, the truth has to out. 482 00:23:49,228 --> 00:23:51,061 It has some sort of power on its own. 483 00:23:51,164 --> 00:23:53,798 And the government is gonna have to give the case up. 484 00:23:57,570 --> 00:24:00,404 Dr. Jeffrey macdonald was discussed as early 485 00:24:00,506 --> 00:24:04,141 As October of 1969. 486 00:24:04,243 --> 00:24:06,944 At that time, they were requiring 487 00:24:07,046 --> 00:24:09,380 People on the base 488 00:24:09,482 --> 00:24:11,048 To roll up their sleeves, 489 00:24:11,117 --> 00:24:13,617 And if they had needle marks on their arms, 490 00:24:13,719 --> 00:24:15,419 They would be arrested 491 00:24:15,521 --> 00:24:18,289 Or put into the hospital or something like that. 492 00:24:18,391 --> 00:24:22,092 And macdonald, it seems, was, uh... 493 00:24:22,195 --> 00:24:25,896 Named as one of the instigators of that. 494 00:24:25,998 --> 00:24:29,400 It was suggested that someone approach him 495 00:24:29,502 --> 00:24:31,469 And try to... 496 00:24:31,571 --> 00:24:33,971 Make him realize, you know, 497 00:24:34,073 --> 00:24:35,439 That he had to help us. 498 00:24:35,541 --> 00:24:37,908 They said if he didn't cooperate, 499 00:24:38,010 --> 00:24:39,643 Something would be done. 500 00:24:39,745 --> 00:24:41,045 Gunderson: Meaning? 501 00:24:41,147 --> 00:24:43,214 It was understood what would be done. 502 00:24:48,721 --> 00:24:50,855 Conner: I met helena on the street. 503 00:24:53,025 --> 00:24:55,826 She was only 16. But I thought 504 00:24:55,928 --> 00:24:58,462 "oh, this is a smart chick. You have to watch her 505 00:24:58,564 --> 00:25:01,131 Because she's sly and she's tricky." 506 00:25:05,271 --> 00:25:07,004 She talked the good talk. 507 00:25:07,106 --> 00:25:08,772 She'd brag about all the 508 00:25:08,875 --> 00:25:11,175 Stuff she did-- taking acid 509 00:25:11,277 --> 00:25:13,010 And doing pills 510 00:25:13,112 --> 00:25:15,179 And whatever, you know, and... 511 00:25:15,281 --> 00:25:17,114 Hey, this isn't a race. (laughs) 512 00:25:19,886 --> 00:25:21,585 But she had pretty much already 513 00:25:21,687 --> 00:25:25,256 Established herself around, by then. 514 00:25:25,358 --> 00:25:29,093 She had contacts I knew nothing about. 515 00:25:29,195 --> 00:25:31,462 She knew a lot of people on base. 516 00:25:31,564 --> 00:25:34,498 ♪ ♪ 517 00:25:34,600 --> 00:25:37,334 Reporter: Army officials estimate more than half of the 40,000 men 518 00:25:37,436 --> 00:25:39,436 Stationed at fort bragg are users of narcotics. 519 00:25:41,874 --> 00:25:44,608 Conner: These guys were into heavy-duty stuff, you know? 520 00:25:44,710 --> 00:25:47,945 Crystal methamphetamine, heroin. 521 00:25:48,047 --> 00:25:50,614 They needed help. 522 00:25:50,716 --> 00:25:53,417 And they can't get the help they need. 523 00:25:53,519 --> 00:25:55,819 ♪ ♪ 524 00:25:55,922 --> 00:25:58,022 No. No. 525 00:25:58,124 --> 00:26:00,157 -No! -Conner: Could these guys have done it? 526 00:26:00,259 --> 00:26:02,560 (colette whimpering) 527 00:26:02,662 --> 00:26:04,828 If you can m-murder 528 00:26:04,931 --> 00:26:08,666 And napalm villages and women 529 00:26:08,768 --> 00:26:11,268 And children and men, 530 00:26:11,370 --> 00:26:14,838 Do you just forget that when you come back here? 531 00:26:16,309 --> 00:26:19,476 Does it all just go away? 532 00:26:21,180 --> 00:26:22,880 No. 533 00:26:32,425 --> 00:26:33,991 O'neill: In one of her interviews, 534 00:26:34,093 --> 00:26:36,427 Helena told us that the guy 535 00:26:36,529 --> 00:26:38,729 Who'd inflicted the wounds on colette 536 00:26:38,831 --> 00:26:40,831 Was named greg mitchell. 537 00:26:40,933 --> 00:26:43,400 I figured... That's pretty good. 538 00:27:10,896 --> 00:27:13,931 Conner: Greg mitchell did three or four terms 539 00:27:14,033 --> 00:27:16,800 In vietnam. 540 00:27:16,902 --> 00:27:19,003 He had a wild look in his eye. 541 00:27:19,105 --> 00:27:21,238 You know, somebody that had been 542 00:27:21,340 --> 00:27:23,340 To hell and back. 543 00:27:25,211 --> 00:27:27,244 One day, we were at his house, 544 00:27:27,346 --> 00:27:30,848 And he brought out his favorite pictures. 545 00:27:30,950 --> 00:27:33,450 "you want to see what went on there?" you know? 546 00:27:33,552 --> 00:27:36,220 I don't if it was that he was so disgusted 547 00:27:36,322 --> 00:27:38,389 In the things that happened 548 00:27:38,491 --> 00:27:41,992 Or if he was just crazy. 549 00:27:42,094 --> 00:27:43,627 (short laugh) 550 00:27:43,729 --> 00:27:46,964 Uh, pictures of ears cut off. 551 00:27:47,066 --> 00:27:48,232 You know? 552 00:27:48,334 --> 00:27:50,334 And fingers. 553 00:27:50,436 --> 00:27:53,504 A necklace of fingers. 554 00:27:54,507 --> 00:27:56,040 I was scared. 555 00:27:56,142 --> 00:27:59,777 That actually scared me and I had to go. 556 00:28:01,814 --> 00:28:03,881 Interviewer: Did he ever seem violent 557 00:28:03,983 --> 00:28:06,950 Or that he could be capable of murder? 558 00:28:09,155 --> 00:28:10,387 You know, yeah. 559 00:28:10,489 --> 00:28:13,724 I'm not gonna lie about that. Yeah. 560 00:28:17,063 --> 00:28:19,296 O'neill: Greg mitchell went to some church-related 561 00:28:19,398 --> 00:28:21,632 Rehab center. They had taken over an old house 562 00:28:21,734 --> 00:28:23,233 Out in the outskirts, kind of in the country, 563 00:28:23,335 --> 00:28:25,335 Outside fayetteville. 564 00:28:27,339 --> 00:28:29,973 Shedlick: I interviewed ann cannady sutton. 565 00:28:30,076 --> 00:28:33,444 She was involved in what she called the manor house. 566 00:28:34,980 --> 00:28:37,414 She told me that greg mitchell 567 00:28:37,516 --> 00:28:39,883 Said he was a drug addict but he had no place to go. 568 00:28:39,985 --> 00:28:42,453 So the manor took him in. 569 00:28:46,125 --> 00:28:49,226 That Saturday night, they had their prayer meet, 570 00:28:49,328 --> 00:28:52,563 Where people were confessing to various crimes. 571 00:28:52,665 --> 00:28:54,898 This young man became so excited 572 00:28:55,000 --> 00:28:57,101 He had to be restrained. 573 00:28:57,203 --> 00:28:59,636 He confessed to being a drug addict. 574 00:28:59,739 --> 00:29:01,872 And, among other things, 575 00:29:01,974 --> 00:29:03,707 He confessed to killing people. 576 00:29:07,480 --> 00:29:10,614 The following day, as she came up the driveway, 577 00:29:10,716 --> 00:29:14,351 Ann cannady sutton saw a man run from the back of the house. 578 00:29:18,157 --> 00:29:21,091 When they went into the house, painted on the wall, 579 00:29:21,193 --> 00:29:23,427 Still r... Dripping, in red paint 580 00:29:23,529 --> 00:29:25,429 Were the words: 581 00:29:25,531 --> 00:29:28,565 "I killed dr. Macdonald's wife and children." 582 00:29:32,071 --> 00:29:35,372 We have sworn affidavits that a subject 583 00:29:35,474 --> 00:29:38,609 Who came into that house in 1971 584 00:29:38,711 --> 00:29:41,044 Was, in fact, gregory mitchell. 585 00:29:41,147 --> 00:29:44,615 And the fellow who ran from the back of the manor house 586 00:29:44,717 --> 00:29:47,017 Out in the country was gregory mitchell. 587 00:29:47,119 --> 00:29:50,354 And the writings on the wall in the manor house 588 00:29:50,456 --> 00:29:53,123 Obviously were written by gregory mitchell. 589 00:30:06,005 --> 00:30:08,372 -Mm-hmm. -Um... 590 00:30:10,543 --> 00:30:14,111 Mm-hmm... Mm-hmm. 591 00:30:14,213 --> 00:30:16,213 Mm-hmm. 592 00:30:20,052 --> 00:30:22,119 They... Somebody-somebody went out there, 593 00:30:22,221 --> 00:30:23,754 -But not immediately, -right. 594 00:30:23,856 --> 00:30:25,255 And the wall had been painted over. 595 00:30:25,357 --> 00:30:27,324 Yeah, yeah. 596 00:30:30,029 --> 00:30:32,696 -...Um... -O'neill: Phone call. Mm-hmm. 597 00:30:39,371 --> 00:30:41,839 I don't. I have no idea, no. 598 00:30:44,210 --> 00:30:46,944 Keeler: This is August 22, 1979. 599 00:30:47,046 --> 00:30:49,713 "macdonald defense offers a new witness. 600 00:30:49,815 --> 00:30:51,348 "defense attorneys face two problems 601 00:30:51,450 --> 00:30:52,816 "in trying to have the man appear 602 00:30:52,918 --> 00:30:55,519 "at the former green beret doctor's trial. 603 00:30:55,621 --> 00:30:57,120 "the prisoner, jimmy friar, 604 00:30:57,223 --> 00:30:59,089 "is serving a ten-year sentence 605 00:30:59,191 --> 00:31:01,325 "for using a false name and address on a check 606 00:31:01,427 --> 00:31:05,028 "he used to buy men's clothing in 1976. 607 00:31:06,265 --> 00:31:08,599 "the judge who sentenced friar 608 00:31:08,701 --> 00:31:09,833 "recommended that he be treated 609 00:31:09,935 --> 00:31:12,202 For any mental condition he might have." 610 00:31:12,304 --> 00:31:16,273 So that didn't really do a lot for friar's credibility. 611 00:31:19,578 --> 00:31:22,145 A north carolina judge today ruled out a new trial 612 00:31:22,248 --> 00:31:24,281 For dr. Jeffrey macdonald. 613 00:31:24,383 --> 00:31:25,983 Rather: ...Green beret dr. Jeffrey macdonald 614 00:31:26,085 --> 00:31:28,452 A new trial in the so-called fatal vision case. 615 00:31:28,554 --> 00:31:30,354 He was denied for the third time 616 00:31:30,456 --> 00:31:32,022 A request for a new trial 617 00:31:32,124 --> 00:31:34,424 In the fourth circuit court of appeals. 618 00:31:34,526 --> 00:31:36,526 ♪ ♪ 619 00:31:54,813 --> 00:31:56,346 Let me back up just a moment. 620 00:31:56,448 --> 00:31:59,516 Did helena stoeckley believe 621 00:31:59,618 --> 00:32:01,618 That she was in the house that night? 622 00:32:05,057 --> 00:32:08,058 Was helena stoeckley in the house that night? 623 00:32:10,162 --> 00:32:13,130 And if she wasn't in the house that night... 624 00:32:15,301 --> 00:32:17,734 ...What's going on here? 625 00:32:21,941 --> 00:32:25,242 Was she an attention-seeker? 626 00:32:25,344 --> 00:32:26,643 Did she just want to believe 627 00:32:26,745 --> 00:32:29,746 That she was the femme fatale? 628 00:32:31,817 --> 00:32:35,218 She had a story to tell in 1979. 629 00:32:35,321 --> 00:32:38,322 She never really told it in the courtroom. 630 00:32:41,994 --> 00:32:44,728 Who is helena stoeckley? 631 00:32:49,668 --> 00:32:52,970 Smerling: What's the difference in age between you and helena? 632 00:32:53,072 --> 00:32:55,639 Clarence: I was, uh, I was trying to think that out. 633 00:32:55,741 --> 00:32:57,374 I think it's two years. 634 00:32:57,476 --> 00:32:59,376 I've heard rumors you were twins. 635 00:32:59,478 --> 00:33:01,211 I've heard that rumor, too. 636 00:33:01,313 --> 00:33:03,647 I know better. 637 00:33:07,219 --> 00:33:10,220 Smerling: Your dad was a colonel, right? Or a lieutenant colonel. 638 00:33:10,322 --> 00:33:12,289 Ltc, s... Yes, sir. 639 00:33:14,193 --> 00:33:16,126 He was assistant camp commander 640 00:33:16,228 --> 00:33:18,895 At two different army posts in France. 641 00:33:18,998 --> 00:33:22,032 We went to french schools. 642 00:33:22,134 --> 00:33:25,836 After a year, basically, all of us spoke fluent french. 643 00:33:27,373 --> 00:33:30,907 After he retired, we were his troops. 644 00:33:31,010 --> 00:33:33,210 He kept a standard. 645 00:33:33,312 --> 00:33:37,147 And you had to adhere to it. 646 00:33:41,687 --> 00:33:44,087 Eugene: Helena always doted on me as her baby brother. 647 00:33:44,189 --> 00:33:47,324 Always felt special when she'd take me places 648 00:33:47,426 --> 00:33:49,926 'cause she made me feel special, like I was, 649 00:33:50,029 --> 00:33:52,629 You know, her little brother and she was proud of it. 650 00:33:55,034 --> 00:33:58,535 She was smart and engaged, she loved school. 651 00:34:01,473 --> 00:34:05,042 We just knew that she was destined to do good things. 652 00:34:07,046 --> 00:34:10,847 In high school, she was involved with all kinds of clubs. 653 00:34:10,949 --> 00:34:12,015 French club, drama club, 654 00:34:12,117 --> 00:34:14,551 The senior high singers. 655 00:34:15,587 --> 00:34:17,354 ♪ ♪ 656 00:34:17,456 --> 00:34:19,589 She did have this desire 657 00:34:19,691 --> 00:34:21,691 To be in the spotlight. 658 00:34:24,229 --> 00:34:26,530 Clarence: She had a nice voice. 659 00:34:26,632 --> 00:34:29,766 Until she got this idea she was gonna emulate 660 00:34:29,868 --> 00:34:32,903 Janis joplin, with that gravely voice. 661 00:34:37,443 --> 00:34:40,277 She fell away from her high school friends 662 00:34:40,379 --> 00:34:44,281 And she started hanging out on the street. 663 00:34:44,383 --> 00:34:46,550 Eugene: And it all just changed. 664 00:34:46,652 --> 00:34:49,419 Uh... 665 00:34:49,521 --> 00:34:52,923 It didn't seem like there was anything could stop it. 666 00:34:53,025 --> 00:34:55,358 Clarence: She'd be high and... 667 00:34:55,461 --> 00:34:58,728 Parents would tell her, "no, you're not-not coming here. 668 00:34:58,831 --> 00:35:00,564 "you're not bringing these... 669 00:35:00,666 --> 00:35:03,533 "friends that, you know, devil worshipers 670 00:35:03,635 --> 00:35:07,037 Or cult, whatever, around." 671 00:35:07,139 --> 00:35:10,240 You know, for your own security, 672 00:35:10,342 --> 00:35:13,076 You had to-had to say, "okay," you know, 673 00:35:13,178 --> 00:35:16,379 "you either clean up or sh-ship out." 674 00:35:19,485 --> 00:35:21,017 Conner: Her father 675 00:35:21,120 --> 00:35:23,487 Wanted her to be a proper lady, 676 00:35:23,589 --> 00:35:25,989 Not a... 677 00:35:26,091 --> 00:35:28,758 Dirtbag hippie on the streets, 678 00:35:28,861 --> 00:35:32,195 Hanging around with a bunch of dope addicts. 679 00:35:33,765 --> 00:35:36,867 She needed people to love her. 680 00:35:36,969 --> 00:35:39,236 She craved attention. 681 00:35:39,338 --> 00:35:41,338 That's what she wanted. 682 00:36:10,102 --> 00:36:12,402 Conner: Prince beasley. 683 00:36:12,504 --> 00:36:15,071 I never knew that was his first name. 684 00:36:15,140 --> 00:36:16,840 He acted like he thought 685 00:36:16,942 --> 00:36:19,242 He was a prince. (laughs) 686 00:36:22,915 --> 00:36:25,215 Helena would talk about him all the time, 687 00:36:25,317 --> 00:36:28,685 That he was always harassing her for information. 688 00:36:30,689 --> 00:36:34,291 But I know that, you know, when she was in trouble, 689 00:36:34,393 --> 00:36:36,393 He would help her out. 690 00:36:38,263 --> 00:36:41,264 Maybe she had a father fixation for him. 691 00:37:10,729 --> 00:37:14,130 I guess you want to know about the night 692 00:37:14,233 --> 00:37:17,067 Of the macdonald case. 693 00:37:19,071 --> 00:37:21,371 I-I imagine that's why I'm here. 694 00:37:21,473 --> 00:37:23,240 (chuckles) 695 00:37:29,147 --> 00:37:32,015 Helena had borrowed my floppy hat 696 00:37:32,117 --> 00:37:34,951 And my roommate's boots. 697 00:37:38,423 --> 00:37:42,058 She came back around 4:30 in the morning. 698 00:37:45,831 --> 00:37:47,364 But she didn't have 699 00:37:47,466 --> 00:37:49,466 My floppy hat. 700 00:37:50,535 --> 00:37:52,535 She didn't have the boots. 701 00:37:54,139 --> 00:37:56,039 And she had no doughnuts, either. 702 00:37:56,141 --> 00:37:58,642 (laughs) 703 00:37:59,845 --> 00:38:01,378 It rained that night. 704 00:38:01,480 --> 00:38:02,912 She looked kind of like 705 00:38:03,015 --> 00:38:04,381 A drenched rat, you know? 706 00:38:04,483 --> 00:38:05,815 Like she'd been out in the rain, 707 00:38:05,884 --> 00:38:08,051 Like she was walking around out in the rain. 708 00:38:09,655 --> 00:38:11,554 She came in and she said, 709 00:38:11,657 --> 00:38:14,758 "did you know there was a murder downtown last night?" 710 00:38:14,860 --> 00:38:17,560 I said, "what?" she said, "yeah, at fort bragg, 711 00:38:17,663 --> 00:38:19,596 There was a murder last night." 712 00:38:19,698 --> 00:38:21,898 I said, "what are you talking about, helena?" 713 00:38:22,000 --> 00:38:25,735 You know, the morning news wasn't even out yet. You know? 714 00:38:25,837 --> 00:38:28,872 She said, "well, beasley told me. 715 00:38:30,809 --> 00:38:32,142 "he came to get me right away 716 00:38:32,244 --> 00:38:35,011 Because he thinks I did it." 717 00:38:42,521 --> 00:38:45,822 And then she said, "I did mescaline. I don't remember." 718 00:38:45,924 --> 00:38:47,957 And I said, "well, you would remember 719 00:38:48,060 --> 00:38:49,859 If you killed somebody, helena." 720 00:38:49,961 --> 00:38:53,830 You definitely would remember. It's... You know... 721 00:38:53,932 --> 00:38:55,932 Something you don't forget. 722 00:39:13,051 --> 00:39:16,853 Morris: During the time she was waiting to appear 723 00:39:16,955 --> 00:39:20,490 At the 1979 trial, 724 00:39:20,592 --> 00:39:23,727 Helena stoeckley wrote this poem. 725 00:39:24,963 --> 00:39:27,197 "I'm a bad actor 726 00:39:27,299 --> 00:39:30,533 "in a hard-to-act-in play 727 00:39:30,635 --> 00:39:33,236 "written by a lot of callous people... 728 00:39:34,773 --> 00:39:36,539 "...Who sit in the audience and laugh 729 00:39:36,641 --> 00:39:40,443 "because I forget my lines. 730 00:39:42,180 --> 00:39:45,682 "when, in the end, I finally fall off the stage, 731 00:39:45,784 --> 00:39:47,817 "they all cheer 732 00:39:47,919 --> 00:39:51,788 And go out to buy more popcorn." 733 00:39:51,890 --> 00:39:54,491 What do you think she's trying to say there? 734 00:39:56,395 --> 00:39:59,863 She's been in court. She's been on the stand. 735 00:39:59,965 --> 00:40:02,632 She's being asked to... 736 00:40:04,136 --> 00:40:07,804 ...Essentially perform a play 737 00:40:07,906 --> 00:40:10,673 That is being scripted by all kinds 738 00:40:10,776 --> 00:40:12,375 Of different people. 739 00:40:12,477 --> 00:40:16,012 I said, "acid is groovy, kill the pigs, hit him again." 740 00:40:16,114 --> 00:40:18,248 Morris: Nevertheless, the claim is repeated 741 00:40:18,350 --> 00:40:20,950 Again and again and again. 742 00:40:21,052 --> 00:40:22,952 What is the claim? 743 00:40:23,054 --> 00:40:26,956 "I was there! I was in the macdonald house 744 00:40:27,058 --> 00:40:29,259 The night of the murders." 745 00:40:33,465 --> 00:40:35,064 And if stoeckley 746 00:40:35,167 --> 00:40:37,901 Is telling the truth, 747 00:40:38,003 --> 00:40:39,402 Well, then, 748 00:40:39,504 --> 00:40:42,205 Macdonald is innocent. 749 00:40:42,307 --> 00:40:45,542 Reporter: New book by acclaimed author and filmmaker errol morris 750 00:40:45,644 --> 00:40:48,244 Says that the case may be more complicated 751 00:40:48,346 --> 00:40:50,380 -Than previously thought. -What makes you believe 752 00:40:50,482 --> 00:40:52,615 That jeffrey macdonald might be innocent? 753 00:40:52,717 --> 00:40:54,284 Evidence. 754 00:40:54,386 --> 00:40:56,686 Macdonald's lawyers say they have new testimony. 755 00:40:56,788 --> 00:40:59,255 A statement from a federal marshal who said 756 00:40:59,357 --> 00:41:02,125 Helena stoeckley told prosecutors she was involved 757 00:41:02,227 --> 00:41:04,360 And was threatened to be charged with murder." 758 00:41:04,463 --> 00:41:06,629 Morris: It's wrong to convict a man 759 00:41:06,731 --> 00:41:09,065 Under these circumstances, 760 00:41:09,167 --> 00:41:12,068 And if I can help correct that, 761 00:41:12,170 --> 00:41:15,805 I will be a happy camper. 762 00:41:15,907 --> 00:41:17,707 Norah o'donnell: This morning, jeffrey macdonald's lawyers 763 00:41:17,809 --> 00:41:19,209 Are going back to court 764 00:41:19,311 --> 00:41:21,444 In the so-called fatal vision murders. 765 00:41:21,546 --> 00:41:24,047 40 years later, he's getting another chance 766 00:41:24,149 --> 00:41:26,616 To tell a court once again he's innocent. 767 00:41:26,718 --> 00:41:29,052 I believe that when all of the evidence 768 00:41:29,154 --> 00:41:32,722 Of this case is presented, this man will be set free. 769 00:41:32,824 --> 00:41:34,824 This guy may be getting out of jail, folks. 770 00:41:43,201 --> 00:41:46,202 Captioned by media access group at wgbh access.Wgbh.Org