The After Show: Unholy Matrimony

Summary

Podcast Summary: 20/20 - The After Show: Unholy Matrimony

Episode Overview Released on March 31, 2025, "The After Show: Unholy Matrimony" delves into a gripping true crime story revolving around love, betrayal, and murder. Hosted by Debra Roberts of ABC News, the episode explores the enigmatic life and untimely death of Robert Limone and the subsequent unraveling of his seemingly perfect marriage to Sybrina Limone. With insightful interviews, including firsthand accounts from producer Gary Wynn, the episode provides an in-depth analysis of the case, community reactions, and the investigative hurdles faced by authorities.

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1. Introduction to the Limone Family

Debra Roberts sets the stage by introducing listeners to Robert and Sybrina Limone, an outwardly charming couple residing in Silver Lakes, California, with their two children. They were active members of a social group known as the "Wolf Pack," enjoying a vibrant party lifestyle.

"We'd become a part of a tight-knit group of couples who called themselves the Wolf Pack."
— Debra Roberts [01:03]

However, this facade shattered when Robert was found murdered in a remote industrial complex where he worked, prompting a deep investigation into their personal lives.

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2. The Murder and Initial Investigation

Robert Limone's murder sparked immediate police scrutiny. Investigators uncovered that the Limones were in an open marriage, with Sybrina having a relationship with Jonathan Hearn, a younger firefighter.

"The illusion of their perfect marriage and life just crumbled."
— Debra Roberts [01:03]

Detectives resorted to wiretapping Sybrina and Jonathan's phones, revealing conversations laden with discussions about faith and religion.

"They talk a lot about God. They talk a lot about faith."
— Gary Wynn [02:14]

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3. Religious Overtones and Suspicious Conversations

The wiretap recordings provided eerie insights into the couple's mindset post-murder. Sybrina expressed profound religious sentiments, suggesting a willingness to sacrifice for divine purposes.

"I want to be used for his glory. Whatever he wants me to do... I feel that like whatever I do too. I do too."
— Sybrina Limone [02:31]

Detective Grantham highlighted the twisted religious parallels drawn by Jonathan, likening their actions to the biblical story of David and Bathsheba.

"David is a lot like you and I, Sabrina. He was someone who committed adultery... he even went on to kill the guy."
— Sybrina Limone [03:00]

"It's a really twisted take on religion."
— Gary Wynn [03:26]

These conversations raised suspicions about their involvement in Robert's death.

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4. Arrests and Legal Maneuvers

Despite arrests, evidence against Sybrina was initially insufficient, allowing her release. A dramatic turn occurred when Jonathan Hearn agreed to testify against Sybrina in exchange for a manslaughter plea just days before her trial.

"Jonathan agreed to testify against the woman who was his lover in exchange for pleading guilty to manslaughter. And this all happened just days before the trial."
— Debra Roberts [03:29]

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5. Behind-the-Scenes: Reporting the Story

Producer Gary Wynn recounts the challenges faced while covering the case, including adverse weather conditions and logistical hurdles in the remote Tehachapi area.

"It was about like a moonscape when I was out there... and you brought the sunshine."
— Debra Roberts [05:27]

They navigated through a burst pipe at their hotel and harsh weather to secure footage critical to the narrative.

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6. Investigative Breakthrough: Surveillance Footage

A pivotal moment in the investigation was the discovery of a security camera capturing a figure with an exaggerated limp approaching the murder site.

"We found this video surveillance camera... captured the person walking through the complex with an exaggerated limp."
— Detective Grantham [07:08]

This footage was instrumental in identifying the perpetrator, later revealed to be Sybrina's lover, Jonathan Hearn.

"That security camera footage."
— Debra Roberts [08:04]

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7. Community Reaction and Aftermath

The Limone family's murder sent shockwaves through the small community of Silver Lakes. Initially, the community rallied in support, but as details emerged about Sybrina's affair, hostility grew.

"Sybrina started to get harassed... she had to homeschool her kids because they were getting harassed."
— Gary Wynn [15:16]

Forced to relocate to Camarillo, California, Sybrina sought a fresh start amid ongoing legal battles.

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8. Profiling Robert Limone: A Devoted Father and Husband

To humanize the victim, the podcast delves into Robert Limone's life, portraying him as a beloved husband and dedicated father.

"Robert Limone was just the greatest guy. He was a devoted dad... her daughter wanted to kiss her dad goodnight before her first day of school."
— Debra Roberts [16:57]

Interviews with his high school football coach revealed his humble beginnings and strong character, emphasizing his role as a caring and supportive individual.

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9. Production Insights: Bringing the Story to Life

Gary Wynn discusses the meticulous efforts in visually representing the crime scene and critical evidence. Utilizing drones and renting storage units within the industrial park allowed the team to capture authentic imagery critical for storytelling.

"We rented a motorcycle and had point of view shots so that we could actually take that motorcycle on the same route that Jonathan had taken that day."
— Gary Wynn [10:49]

These visual elements enhanced the narrative, providing listeners with a tangible sense of the environment and the sequence of events.

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10. Ongoing Developments and Conclusion

The episode concludes with an update on Sybrina Limone's legal status, noting that her federal petition challenging her conviction was denied, keeping her incarcerated. The team hints at future follow-ups on the case, promising continued coverage of this compelling true crime story.

"As for Sabrina Limone, her federal petition challenging her convictions was denied. So she's still in prison."
— Debra Roberts [18:30]

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Notable Quotes

• "It's a no miss laundry bliss."
  — Debra Roberts [00:00] (Skipped as it’s part of an advertisement)

• "Put the good in your morning."
  — Gary Wynn [13:36] (Skipped as it’s part of an advertisement)

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Closing Remarks

Debra Roberts and Gary Wynn exemplify the depth and dedication of the "20/20" team in uncovering and presenting complex true crime stories. By intertwining personal narratives with investigative journalism, they provide a comprehensive and empathetic portrayal of the victims and the intricate circumstances surrounding their untimely deaths.

Producers and Contributors:

• Producers: Cameron Chertavian, Sasha Aslanian, Gary Wynn, Joseph Rhee, Brian Mazersky, Alex Barenfeld
• Executive Producers: Janice Johnston, Laura Mayer
• Director of Podcasting: Josh Cohen

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Stay Connected

Tune in every Friday night at 9 PM to catch the latest "20/20" show on ABC or listen to the podcast version available on your preferred podcast platform. Engage with the team by submitting your questions for future episodes, ensuring that "20/20" continues to deliver the stories that matter to you.

Transcript

[Debra Roberts]

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[Debra Roberts]

Hi there everybody. It's Debra Roberts here and welcome to 20 20, the After Show. Today we're talking about one of our classic true crime tales that we bring you on 2020 on a regular basis. This one is a story of love, betrayal and murder. The episode was called Unholy Matrimony. The couple at the center of it, Robert and Sabrina Limone. They appear to be living an idyllic life with their two kids in Silver Lakes, California. And by all accounts, they were an outgoing couple. They loved to party. They'd become a part of a tight knit group of couples who called themselves the Wolf Pack. But then Robert was found murdered in a remote industrial complex where he had been working. The illusion of their perfect marriage and life just crumbled. As authorities investigated the death, they discovered that not only did the couple have an open marriage, but Sybrina was having a full blown relationship with a man who was much younger, a firefighter named Jonathan Hearn. After Robert's murder, detectives decided to wiretap Sybrina and Jonathan's phones to listen in. Let's hear a clip from the show.

[Gary Wynn]

In the days, weeks, months following the murder, Jonathan and Sybrina talked a lot on the phone. And through these wiretap recordings, we catch this glimpse into what they're discussing. And they talk a lot about God. They talk a lot about faith.

[Sybrina Limone]

I want to be used for his glory. Whatever he wants me to do. I mean, I would cut my arm off, I would shave my head. I would. If that's like what God would want for me, you know, like, I feel that like whatever I do too. I do too.

[Detective Grantham]

It was quite odd. And in these conversations, Jonathan actually at one point in time, talked about a passage in the Bible, talking about David and Bathsheba.

[Sybrina Limone]

I've been reading Psalms 51. The Psalms are so good. David is a lot like you and I, Sabrina. He was someone who committed adultery. Actually, that's what Psalm 51 is about. He had an affair and then he even went on to kill the guy. Like sent him into battle and pretty much had him killed off.

[Gary Wynn]

It's a really twisted take on religion.

[Debra Roberts]

Is this just a spiritual discussion or is it a roadmap to foul play? Well, police arrested Jonathan and Sabrina for the murder, but without enough evidence against her, Sybrina actually was able to walk free. Until. That's a big until. In a shocking twist, Jonathan agreed to testify against the woman who was his lover in exchange for pleading guilty to manslaughter. And this all happened just days before the trial. Wow. It was a doozy. I reported this story with producer Gary Wynn, whom I've had the pleasure of working with for years. Gary, this is so great to have you actually in the studio to talk like this.

[Gary Wynn]

Absolutely. Always a treat to work with you.

[Debra Roberts]

You and I have worked together over the years.

[Gary Wynn]

Yes, I remember we did some stuff at J, and this was our first opportunity to work together in 2020. And what a great story.

[Debra Roberts]

What a story. I remember when you came to me about it and we, you know, Joe Reed, the senior producer, was involved in it, and we were all talking about how bizarre this story was. And also the area, you know, out in this sort of remote part of California. You and I headed out to Tehachapi. I still have trouble pronouncing it Tehachapi. And I remember driving through the Mojave Desert and it was just so bizarre, Right, Absolutely.

[Gary Wynn]

And you were coming from Los Angele and it's about 90 miles from Los Angeles. So that morning we were going to a diner that we had rented to set up and do your interview with Detective Grantham. And coincidentally or horribly, the night before, there was a pipe burst in the hotel.

[Debra Roberts]

All these little behind the scenes moments.

[Gary Wynn]

So it was kind of like a waterfall in the room. And I, you know, and we're like, oh, gosh, I hope. We just need to get on site to make sure we're ready for Deborah. And of course we made it and we were there. But the best part was that we'd been there several days shooting around that complex where Rob Limone had worked. And the weather was awful. Yeah, Rained every day.

[Debra Roberts]

But then I show up and you brought the sunshine. The sun came out. Yeah. You know, people often ask about how we shot our stories and what it was like on the ground. And it is sort of interesting. I mean, obviously we were reporting on these very intense and tragic stories, but those little moments like your flood in the hotel and us, you know, and am I driving there and, you know, literally, it looked like a moonscape when I was out there, you know, and you. And I laughed a little bit about that. But this is a story that had mystery, infidelity, religion. I mean, it was one of those classics that almost felt like a TV show. Right. You've got a couple who seem to have, like, that great marriage. But, you know, there were challenges in trying to report this, too. I mean, the crime took place in an industrial park, private property. You know, people don't realize what we have to go through to kind of get these things going.

[Gary Wynn]

Absolutely. And that's a great point that, you know, it really is in the middle of nowhere. And if you did not know that that industrial park was there, you wouldn't stumble upon it. You wouldn't find it.

[Debra Roberts]

Which is part of the story later, too.

[Gary Wynn]

Absolutely. And so when we went actually to scout it on the first trip out there, we realized that there was no way to see where this happened.

[Debra Roberts]

And there were train tracks right next to it.

[Gary Wynn]

Exactly. It was next to a train that was running one of the BNSF trains. So I was able to get in contact with the owners of the industrial park where. Because the BNSF rented a space there, and that's where Rob Lamone was murdered, we rented a unit in that industrial park so that we could be in there and, you know, get shots of the exterior. We actually could see the unit where this took place.

[Debra Roberts]

Yeah. Because it was like a big storage unit. And sometimes these things aren't the most attractive things that we're shooting. So you have to find the producers. You have to find a way to sort of bring them to life and make it make sense to the audience. Because otherwise, you know, visually, it just doesn't. It doesn't tell the story.

[Gary Wynn]

You know, you can have a sit down interview, and that's gonna give you your information. But when you have an opportunity to be out there, you know, where this actually happened, so that we can help the audience sort of visualize. And that was, you know, not only where the crime happened, there was another key piece of evidence, which was that camera that you and Detective Grantham talked about. And that was in that Industrial Park. And this camera actually saw a figure limping across.

[Debra Roberts]

Yeah, the security camera.

[Gary Wynn]

Exactly. And that, as we later find out, you know, turned out to be the person who committed the crime.

[Debra Roberts]

Yeah, that played a big part in the story, that security camera footage. Yeah.

[Gary Wynn]

Being able to be there. You interviewed Detective Grantham out there, and he was able to explain to you exactly, you know, the significance of that and what that meant to see Jonathan.

[Debra Roberts]

Let's listen. You get on the case. You're looking at all the crime scene pictures, video, so forth. Now, when you're looking out here, many times, there's cameras everywhere. Did you even think that there might be surveillance cameras out here?

[Detective Grantham]

Sure. So, absolutely. Once we. The following day, during daylight hours, we came out and began canvassing the area. And upon doing so, we found this video surveillance camera right here. And this is the camera that actually captured the person walking through the complex with an exaggerated limp, walking towards the BNSF location where Rob was found dead.

[Debra Roberts]

You were just hoping that this would show you something. You didn't know what you were going to get.

[Detective Grantham]

Correct.

[Debra Roberts]

And he was quite a character. Not only was he thorough, but I just remember he had this sunburn on his face because he had these lines on his face. He had his sunglasses on, but that's how hot it was out where we were.

[Gary Wynn]

Absolutely. Yeah. It was red all around. And you just saw the white streak going above his ears.

[Debra Roberts]

Yeah, I noticed that as soon as we sat down. But what a police officer, though.

[Gary Wynn]

Yeah, terrific guy. And they were from Kern county, which is, you know, Bakersfield way.

[Debra Roberts]

He really knew the area.

[Gary Wynn]

You know, all of the detectives, him and Tommy Robbins, who we spoke to as well. Yeah, those guys just. They did not stop digging. And it was fascinating.

[Debra Roberts]

One of the things that our audience doesn't always know is even though they see all these, like, sweeping, interesting shots of the story, there's a going into putting all this together. And I remember you had drones out there. So, you know, I want to talk about the clues in solving this case, but let's also talk about how we brought it to the audience, because I remember being out there, and you. You're placing me in this place and that place, and try to make sure we captured the camera. And you even had the camera rolling to take shots of us while we're out walking. So talk about how you bring all of that together for the audience.

[Gary Wynn]

It really is just about trying to have as much production value as we can in every scene. So this is a scene where you are actually on, you know, where this crime happened where there's a key piece of evidence that that camera. And that is, you know, what we try to do is bring people in there so that it's one thing to have, you know, an interview and someone's telling you about what happened, but when we can get out there and you can actually visualize it and see and help the audience see, that makes, you.

[Debra Roberts]

Know, a big difference in a very creative way. Well, let's get back to the story then. So, Gary, the detect that the assailant actually fled on a motorcycle, it's a great visual, but we didn't have it. So how do you work to bring that part of the story to life?

[Gary Wynn]

On that road, Goodrich Road, going into where the industrial complex is, there was a business that had a camera, a surveillance camera, and they saw a motorcycle go by. Right. Which was, of course, Jonathan Hearn, as we learned later. So what we did is, okay, we need to show this motorcycle. You know, we need to worry about the visual things, you know, trying to illustrate, you know, what this looked like. So we rented a motorcycle and, you know, we had point of view shots so that we could actually take that motorcycle on the same route that Jonathan had taken that day when the murder took place.

[Debra Roberts]

And he rode a long time on that motorcycle to get to this location.

[Gary Wynn]

Absolutely. It was a good hour away. And. And then afterwards, there was more security footage that they saw him in a convenience store. You know, so, you know, that was for us, we wanted to be able to show visually, you know, what that. That's like the B roll, what we call a B roll, and be able to show the motorcycle and show how it came in here and show the whole route.

[Debra Roberts]

Then police learn, of course, this guy who's on the motorcycle was Sabrina's lover, Jonathan Hearn. And in the story, you learn how, as they start to untangle, they realize that she's having this affair, he owned a motorcycle. All the details matched up. And on that camera, it was so interesting, that security camera, the person that they saw was limping, and this guy was faking a limp on the way into the industrial park. And that was also something that was significant because they weren't sure was it a disabled person. And they went looking for people in the neighborhood, maybe somebody who was homeless. And that was a whole ordeal as.

[Gary Wynn]

Well, you know, and it was also strange because what would somebody be doing, doing there? You know, they. They thought it was probably just a transient. And yeah, you know that. Because it didn't make any sense, you know, why this person would, would be.

[Debra Roberts]

Out there picked up on that. Yeah, exactly. Yeah. Oh, so many great details. Well, when we come back, the kinds of small details that producers look for when they're out shooting a story for us that help tell the story of the victim and who they were in life. So stay with us.

[Gary Wynn]

Foreign.

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[Debra Roberts]

Hey, guys, it's George Stephanopoulos here. Hey, everybody, it's Michael Strahan here. Wake up with Good Morning America.

[Gary Wynn]

Robin, George michael, gma, America's favorite number one morning show. The morning's first breaking news. Exclusive interviews, what everyone will be talking about that day. Put some good in your morning and start your day with GMA.

Good Morning America.

Put the good in your morning. GMA 7A on ABC.

[Debra Roberts]

All right, we're back and I'm here with Gary Wynn, my partner in crime, as we can say, I guess when we're out shooting these stories. Let's get back to our story. Gary. So after Sybrina Limone was first arrested and then released because police didn't really have enough evidence to charge her, talk about the community's reaction because this was a small community, they were well known in this community and liked in this community. And they kind of led a little bit of a racy life there with the kind of open marriage and all of that. But what about the community?

[Gary Wynn]

Initially, after, in the aftermath, people were shocked, devastated, you know, really rallying around them. The funeral, I mean, it was overflowing with people. But as time went on a little bit and details start to come out about, you know, what might have been going on. Sabrina started to get harassed in Silver Lakes, according to her sister, her older sister who we spoke to and her friend when she moved away to Camarillo, California, Karen Hudgens said that people, they bumped her car, she had to homeschool her kids because they were getting harassed. So, you know, life for her and the children became untenable. And you know, this place that had been such an idyllic Spot for them. Yeah. So she moved to Camarillo, California, just.

[Debra Roberts]

To get away from all of that.

[Gary Wynn]

Exactly. She had a cousin there named Billy, who we interviewed. And basically, she just needed a fresh start, you know, and the irony is she's getting this fresh start. She's, you know, getting her kids connected in a new community. And Jonathan's in jail.

[Debra Roberts]

So let's talk about Robert Limone, because he was a very well loved guy. He was a devoted dad from everything that we heard. And the night that his daughter was calling him because she wanted to talk to him about the first day of school, the next day. But of course, when somebody dies, they're very much of an offstage character, so you have to work a little harder to paint a picture of who they are. And you went out of the way to find people who knew him to paint a nice picture of who this guy was as a dad and a husband.

[Gary Wynn]

Absolutely. And one of the other producers on this show booked his. Robert Limone's high school football coach, who really had just such incredibly nice things to say about what he was as a young man. He was, this coach said that, you know, Rob was one of his special players, and he was just that kind of a guy that, you know, would thrive with positive reinforcement. And they were humble. They were not wealthy. They were, you know, his father would make breakfast burritos and Rob would go out with his father and they would sell them. He would actually sell them at school to different, you know, kids at school and stuff. So everyone, every single person that you speak to and ask about Robert Lamont says that he was just the greatest guy. And I think, you know, you mentioned his daughter wanting to talk to him. I mean, that just gives you a glimpse into, you know, the kind of father he was. It was gonna be her first day of school and she wanted to kiss her dad goodnight.

[Debra Roberts]

Yeah. You know, those are the things, I think, that our viewers and of course here, our listeners really gravitate to. Because these are people, you know, we do these stories, and yes, they're crime stories, but these are real people. And I remember our producer, our executive producer was really touched by the football coach. And that was a little element that we found that we just thought would shed light. Because this is somebody that this guy knew long ago, but it told you a little bit about who they are. And somebody said to me the other day, one of the things they find so interesting about these stories of true crime is not the crime itself, but who the people were and how they got to that Point whether it's the victim or whether it might be the perpetrator. And the same thing with Sabrina Limone, too. Just trying to get to know her. And, you know, we did a. I think a good job of painting that picture of her, too, as a person.

[Gary Wynn]

Absolutely. And, you know, it's funny, I was thinking about this. We talked to her friend, Karen Hudgens. So that was when she, you know, went and started a new life in Camarillo, California. This woman met her after this crime happened. They became the best of friends. Their sons were born the same week. They were married on the same day. Karen knows everything that happened. You cannot tell that woman that Sybrina is guilty. You know, and she actually was such a good friend that she took in Sabrina's son.

[Debra Roberts]

Yeah, her son. Yeah. The human touch, I think, is what's so important. And that's what you and our producers do so well. And Gary, you did such a great job on the story.

[Gary Wynn]

Thank you. A treat to work with you again.

[Debra Roberts]

We're gonna do more of it, you and I. And as for Sabrina Limone, her federal petition challenging her convictions was denied. So she's still in prison. We'll do a follow up, I'm sure, on this at some point.

[Gary Wynn]

Absolutely.

[Debra Roberts]

Well, Gary, thank you so much for coming in. This is so rare that we actually get a chance to take a moment and breathe.

[Gary Wynn]

Absolutely.

[Debra Roberts]

And talk about these stories that we cover. But it's always a pleasure to work with you.

[Gary Wynn]

Same, same.

[Debra Roberts]

Well, we'll be back next Monday with a new 2020 after show just for you. And we're curious, what questions do you have about 2020 that you might want us to answer on this podcast? Because we're here to do that for you. Are there things you've always wondered about? We're planning a listener mailbag episode when we can answer your questions. So reach out to us. We want to hear what you have to say and make them interesting questions. Okay. Well, tune in on Friday nights at 9 to watch the latest 2020 show on ABC. Or, of course, you can listen Saturday in your 2020 podcast feed. 2020 After show is produced by Cameron Chertavian and Sasha Aslanian. And of course, we always have help from our producers like Gary Wynn, Joseph Rhee, who's here on this one, Brian Mazersky and Alex Barenfeld of 20 20. Janice Johnston is the executive producer of 20 20. Josh Cohen is the director of podcasting at ABC Audio. Laura Mayer is the executive producer. Hello, it's Robin Roberts here. Hey, guys, it's George Stephanopoulos here. Hey, everybody, it's Michael Strahan here. Wake up with Good Morning America.

[Gary Wynn]

Robin, George Michael, gma, America's favorite number one morning show. The morning's first breaking news. Exclusive interviews, what everyone will be talking about that bad day. Put some good in your morning and start your day with GMA.

Good Morning America.

Put the good in your morning. GMA 7A on ABC. On April 8th, the final season of the Handmaid's Tale arrives. This is the beginning of the end and the revolution.

[Debra Roberts]

What's happening?

[Gary Wynn]

Rebellion begins.

[Detective Grantham]

How many bodies are you gonna throw in the fire?

[Gary Wynn]

When is enough enough? When there's no one left to fight?

[Debra Roberts]

Where is June Osborne? Rise up and fight for your freedom.

[Gary Wynn]

The Hulu original series the Handmaid's Tale final season premieres April 8th. Streaming on Hulu.