A Son's Pursuit of Justice

Summary

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48 Hours — "A Son's Pursuit of Justice"

Date: September 25, 2025
Host: CBS News
Correspondent: Anne-Marie Green (also features Detective Donna Velasquez, Judy Jackson, John Wolf, Michael Wolf, and others.)

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Overview

This gripping 48 Hours episode explores the decades-old disappearance and murder of David Jackson from his Florida home in 1988. Through relentless investigation, personal sacrifice, and unexpected confessions, the Jackson family’s long search for answers pivots on the unwavering determination of David’s son, John, and detective Donna Velasquez. The episode delves into the tangled web of family conflict, failed justice, and the emotional aftermath for those left behind.

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Key Discussion Points and Timeline

1. The Disappearance of David Jackson

• Family Alarm ([01:33]): David’s mother, Judy Jackson, describes her son:
  “He was my firstborn. He was a child that smiled all the time…a very good child.”
• Unanswered Calls ([01:51-02:01]): The family recognizes something is wrong when David doesn’t show up for work; they begin searching, passing out flyers, searching wooded areas, and swimming in canals.
• Pain and Desperation ([02:09]): Judy recounts the agony:
  “You just want to die.”

2. Cold Case Reopened: Detective Velasquez Enters

• Assignment & Initial Impressions ([02:22-03:16]): Detective Donna Velasquez is assigned to the case in 2003, her first detective role, emphasizing David was responsible and unlikely to have left voluntarily.
• A Shocking Connection ([03:16-03:56]): Police Explorers unit introduces John Wolf (David’s son), who reveals his identity to Velasquez in a stunning exchange:
  “That picture, well, that’s my father.”

3. Family History Unpacked

• Teenage Romance and Turbulence ([06:22-08:14]):
  • David (a Burger King manager) and Barbara Britton (employee) marry after an unplanned pregnancy.
  • Barbara’s father, Harry, is described as intimidating and disapproving.
  • The marriage unravels; Barbara initiates divorce and moves with their son, John, to Arizona, marrying Michael Wolf—20 years her senior.
• Custody Conflict ([08:46-09:02]):
  • Agreement for Barbara to bring John back to Florida in summer 1988 for a visit.

4. The Night of David’s Disappearance

• The Last Call ([09:02-09:25]): David receives a call (believed to be from Barbara), leaves for beer and cigarettes, and never returns.
• Mysterious Vehicle ([09:25-09:43]): David’s car is found abandoned, thoroughly cleaned—no fingerprints at the airport.
• Custody Adoption Motives ([10:03-10:24]): Within months of David’s disappearance, Michael Wolf moves to adopt John—raising suspicion.

5. Building a Case Amid Red Flags

• Suspicion Grows ([10:40-11:09]):
  • John is initially asked to wear a wire to incriminate Barbara but backs out after considering the familial implications:
    “Granted, I love her, but if someone did something bad, why should someone cover it?”
• Detective’s Determination ([11:38]):
  “That’s not normal…Mother, to come up and say, what are you trying to do, have me arrested?” — Velasquez notes suspicious behavior from Barbara.
• A Breakthrough: Google Search ([13:41]): Velasquez uses new technology to cross-reference missing persons and unidentified remains.

6. Remains Discovered & Case Turns to Homicide

• Family Confirmation ([15:06]): DNA testing using Judy’s sample provides a match—David’s remains are found, finally confirming the worst ([15:06-15:23]).
• A Mother’s Closure ([15:54]):
  “David, you’re home again. It was almost as if everything had lifted… That’s all they needed was him back.” — Judy Jackson ([15:54-16:30])

7. Barbara’s and Michael Wolf’s Interrogations

• Barbara’s Unusual Responses ([16:43-17:16]): Detective is unsettled by Barbara’s focus on "how many bones" were found rather than empathy or horror.
• Michael Wolf’s Bizarre Confession ([18:00-18:25]):
  “Harry and I had discussed this, David’s demise. I told him the type of weapon he used.”

8. Breakthrough From Wolf’s Ex-Wives

• Nancy and Carol’s Testimonies ([19:33-23:08]):

  • Nancy Graham (Wolf's ex-wife) describes Michael’s drunken confessions.
  • Carol Larson (another ex-wife) provides corroboration, describing Wolf’s admissions and the use of a silencer.

• Murder Plot Unraveled ([20:39-23:33]): Barbara and her father were heavily involved; Barbara lures David under pretense, Michael Wolf waits at Motel 6, and David is shot ([21:44-22:05]).

  “He came out and he shot David. … He had to get so drunk to do it.” — Nancy Graham ([21:44])

9. The Murder, Body Disposal, and Aftermath

• Graphic Details ([32:34-33:52]): Michael Wolf describes the shooting and disposal of David’s body, with Harry and Barbara assisting in transport, burial in a construction lot, and a later failed attempt to retrieve remains due to construction ([34:06-34:14]).
• Adoption Finalized & Fallout ([35:07]): A few months after the murder, Wolf adopts John, but Barbara soon leaves Michael, seeking child support.
• Wolf Convicted ([25:19-25:49]): Jury convicts Michael Wolf of first-degree murder after less than an hour of deliberation.

10. Legal Twist: Barbara’s Fate

• Barbara Arrested ([36:01]):

  • After Wolf confesses, Barbara is arrested and spends years in jail awaiting trial.

• Conflicting Accounts, No Physical Evidence ([37:53-39:09]):

  • Barbara’s defense claims lack of evidence, phone records suggest an alibi.
  • Wolf alleges the alibi call was faked, but Seltzer (defense attorney) says no answering machine existed at Wolf’s home.

• Plea Deal and Sentencing ([41:44-42:58]):

  • Barbara pleads guilty to being an accessory after the fact, only admitting to arranging a phone call with David.
  • No substantial prison time served; family believes justice falls short.

  “She finally said she’s guilty. If she wants to minimize it, that’s fine. God knows and David knows. And I know in my heart she lured David to the motel to murder him…” — Judy Jackson ([43:05])

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Judy Jackson (on the devastation of loss):
  “It was pure hell. It felt like my whole heart was just empty that you could put your hand through it. There was just nothing there.” ([04:59])

• Detective Donna Velasquez (on breaking the case):
  “My partner taught me how to do a Google search…It popped out about 50 matches. But one description jumped to the top of the list.” ([13:41])

• Michael Wolf (on Barbara’s and Harry’s involvement):
  “He and Barbara both had a very large part in organizing and setting this thing up.” ([27:39])

• Judy Jackson (finding closure):
  “I picked up the box and I said, ‘David, you’re home again.’ It was almost as if everything had lifted… That’s all they needed was him back.” ([15:54-16:30])

• Barbara Britton (maintaining innocence):
  “I did not kill David. I had nothing to do with it. I did not even have knowledge of it.” ([35:42])

• John Wolf (on choosing truth over family loyalty):
  “If you’re my son, daughter, wife, child, you do something wrong, have a good day.” ([11:07])

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• Opening family recollections & disappearance: [01:33-02:09]
• Detective joins the case; John’s surprise connection: [02:22-03:56]
• Backstory of Barbara & David's relationship: [06:22-08:14]
• David’s last known movements: [09:02-09:43]
• John Wolf’s involvement with police (wear the wire, etc.): [10:57-11:16]
• Use of Google for breakthrough: [13:41-14:10]
• DNA confirmation and return of remains: [15:06-16:30]
• Michael Wolf’s confessions/interviews: [17:46-18:25], [27:18-29:55], [31:45-33:52]
• Testimonies of ex-wives (Nancy & Carol): [19:33-23:33]
• Wolf’s trial, conviction: [25:19]
• Barbara’s trial, plea, and aftermath: [36:01-42:58]
• Closing: family closure, unresolved pain: [44:08-44:46]

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Conclusion and Legacy

• David’s family, especially his mother Judy and son John, found some measure of closure, but remain haunted by a sense of incomplete justice ([44:08-44:46]).
• Michael Wolf remains in prison for David’s murder.
• Barbara Britton’s plea and light sentence continue to generate anger and debate about the efficacy of the justice system.
• The story is a testament to the persistence of a grieving family and a determined detective — and how truth can eventually come to light, even decades later.

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This summary captures the critical elements and emotional landscape of the episode, providing insight and context for those seeking to understand the multi-layered pursuit of justice for David Jackson.

Transcript

[Judy Jackson]

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[John Wolf]

This episode is brought to you by Lifelock. When you visit the doctor, you probably hand over your insurance, your ID and contact details. It's just one of the many places that has your personal info. And if any of them accidentally expose it, you could be at risk for identity theft. LifeLock monitors millions of data points a second. If you become a victim, they'll fix it, guaranteed, or your money back. Save up to 40% your first [e-mail] podcast terms apply. I had a dream. In my dream, my brother was shot twice in the side of the head and he cried. I remember I called his apartment. His roommate answered the phone and said that he'd run out and got a pack of cigarettes. I hung the phone up and I turned to my wife and I said, something happened to my brother. And she says, well, what do you mean? And I said, I just felt it.

[Judy Jackson]

He was my firstborn. He was a child that smiled all the time. It was a very good child. Very good, just in so many ways.

[John Wolf]

Sunday, he didn't show up at the airport to pick me up. Monday, when he didn't show up to work, we knew something was wrong.

[Judy Jackson]

David always showed up to work. If he was gonna be late, he would have called. So I knew something bad happened. I called every hospital.

[John Wolf]

We passed out flyers, walked through wooded areas, and I would go in and swim through canals. Any place you think that something could.

[Judy Jackson]

Be hidden, Jelly pain got bigger and bigger. You just want to die.

[Detective Donna Velasquez]

David Jackson disappeared June 25th of 1988. I was assigned the Jackson case in 2003. This is my first tour in the detective bureau. I had not done any detective work before. And I'm scratching my head and I'm thinking to myself, where do I start? He was a very responsible young man. He was divorced from his wife, Barbara. Barbara and David shared a young child, John, at the time. The night before he disappeared, he sat down, he paid bills. So this is a man to me that when I look at it, there's no way he's planning on leaving. He just dropped off the face of the earth. I wanted to put the poster of what David looked like and I put it up above my desk. One night during the week was the meeting for the Explorer Post and Officer Wilson was in the office.

[John Wolf]

The Police Explorers unit is where young people come in and they shadow the police department and learn about law enforcement from inside. John Wolf was very shy. He was very quiet. And I was looking around, seeing the pictures that the officers have on their desk. This picture here, I had asked these individuals if you want to become famous, solved his case. And I was like, I can't help you find him, but I know him and I see the sincereness on his face. And I said, John, talk to me. He says, that picture, well, that's my father. And he goes, he goes, bull. I was totally blown away. I was totally shocked. I could not believe that he's telling me this.

[Detective Donna Velasquez]

I said, what? I was in shock. He said, I'm so excited that you're reopening my father's case. I want to know what happened to him. He said, I know my mom's not being truthful. I know that she's withhold. I know that she knows more than what she's saying. At that moment in time, bells and whistles started going off. I thought it was the fourth of July. And I'm thinking to myself this could be my first big break.

[John Wolf]

We had paid John's mom a visit. There is no doubt in my mind that I felt she was hiding something.

[Judy Jackson]

I really had nothing to hide. I still have nothing to hide. I'm totally upset about this.

[John Wolf]

We met with the Police Department about 6 o' clock and you slowly saw this puzzle come together. And in a matter of hours I knew who killed my brother. You try everything to keep that little bit of hope that just maybe he's going to knock on a door one day.

[Judy Jackson]

It was pure hell. It felt like my whole heart was just empty that you could put your hand through it. There was just nothing there.

[Narrator]

The disappearance of David Jackson from his Florida home in June of 1988 has haunted his family. But after 15 long years, his case has finally been reopened.

[Judy Jackson]

I was like, well good, that's a good thing that they're going to work on it.

[Narrator]

Barbara Britton says she was delighted police were intent on finding out what happened to her ex husband David.

[Judy Jackson]

David was my first love in my life and I always was hoping that David always would come back.

[Narrator]

And she was happy that her son John may finally learn what became of his father. But that's not how Detective Donna Velasquez.

[Detective Donna Velasquez]

Remembers it when John goes and tells his mom they've reopened the case. Well, Barbara says to her own son, I thought that was closed a long time ago. They need to leave it alone.

[Narrator]

Detective Velasquez recorded John talking about his mother's reaction.

[Michael Wolf]

She got very defensive and very touchy. I believe personally that she told him.

[Detective Donna Velasquez]

I got the information that sent up a red flag for me in that maybe I was going to have to fish in that pond and see just exactly what happened.

[Narrator]

The detective began digging through the cold case file. A story began to emerge. It begins with a teenage romance. 19 year old David Jackson, managing the local Burger King, falls in love with his employee, high school senior Barbara Britton.

[Judy Jackson]

I liked her very much. She was a pretty girl.

[Narrator]

David's mother, Judy.

[Judy Jackson]

I said, mom, we got something to tell you. Barbara's pregnant. And they both said that we'd been talking about marriage anyway, so they're going to go ahead and get married. It was nice. We had a very big wedding. My dad had to sign the paper for me to get married because I was so young. He got married on my spring break.

[Narrator]

When you were in high school?

[Detective Donna Velasquez]

Uh huh.

[Narrator]

But Barbara says her father wasn't thrilled with the union and David knew it.

[John Wolf]

One of the only people I know my brother was ever scared of always was her father.

[Narrator]

David's brother Mark remembers Harry terrified David here.

[John Wolf]

My brother got his daughter pregnant. My brother is very scared of him, scared of what he might do to him.

[Narrator]

And the pressure of being teenage parents would become very stressful. Barbara says David was immature and wanted to be with his friends, leaving her to care for a newborn alone.

[Judy Jackson]

He would just come over sometimes and be like, I'm going here, you know, and I would be like, okay, you know, wish I could go.

[Narrator]

Only Mark remembers it differently. He says Barbara never really gave his brother a chance, choosing to stay with her parents instead.

[John Wolf]

After the marriage, she refused to move into the house he bought. Nobody knows why, she just refused to. That's when things started going south, almost immediately after the marriage.

[Narrator]

Who initiated the divorce proceedings?

[Judy Jackson]

Barbara.

[Narrator]

Barbara?

[Judy Jackson]

Yes.

[Narrator]

What did David say to you about the divorce?

[Judy Jackson]

He said he was going to make sure he got visitation with his child.

[Narrator]

For two years, David and Barbara shared custody of John.

[Detective Donna Velasquez]

He paid his child support. He spent time with Johnny. He loved spending time with Johnny.

[Narrator]

And then Barbara announced she was moving on. She was marrying an older man, Michael Wolf, a former military police officer who was 20 years her senior. Barbara was taking John, leaving Florida and relocating to Arizona.

[Detective Donna Velasquez]

She gave David a three hour notice that she was moving to Tucson, Arizona with her new husband.

[Narrator]

Before a judge. David and Barbara hashed out an agreement. She would bring little Johnny back to Florida for a month long visit with David in the summer of 1988.

[Detective Donna Velasquez]

And he told his mother, he told his friends, I can't wait to have my son here.

[Narrator]

And then on Saturday, June 25, 1988, just days before Barbara was supposed to bring John to visit his father, David received a phone call. His roommate would tell police he believed it was Barbara on the phone. Whoever it was, David spoke for a bit and then left to buy beer and cigarettes. He never returned.

[Detective Donna Velasquez]

His vehicle was found parked in in the long term parking lot at the Fort Lauderdale airport.

[Narrator]

A find that suggested 24 year old David had just left town. But a closer look told a different story. That perhaps this was a murder.

[Detective Donna Velasquez]

The entire vehicle had been wiped down and it was clean. Not even to find David's fingerprints anywhere inside the vehicle or on the outside of the vehicle. That is very strange.

[Narrator]

As Detective Velazquez pieced together the case, she learned that David's son John, the police Explorer, didn't share his father's last name.

[Detective Donna Velasquez]

I said to him, how did you get the name John Wolf? And he said, well, Michael Wolf was my stepfather and he adopted me. I said, he adopted you? I said, when did that happen? He says, well, he says, I was probably four and a half, going on five.

[Narrator]

Only months after David went missing, Michael Wolf contacted a lawyer about adopting Barbara's son.

[Detective Donna Velasquez]

Another flag went up for me. Why would any person want their son adopted by a stepfather so quick after the biological father went missing?

[Narrator]

To Detective Velazquez, it was clear Barbara was hiding something incriminating. But if she was going to prove her theory, she needed help. That's when John agreed to secretly record his mother. You agreed to help the police build a case against your mother.

[John Wolf]

I'm a very strong believer in doing what's correct. So in other words, if you're my son, daughter, wife, child, you do something wrong, have a good day.

[Narrator]

But this is your mother.

[John Wolf]

Granted, I love her, but if someone did something bad, why should someone cover it?

[Narrator]

In the end, John changed his mind and didn't wear the wire. But he did say his mother asked him, what are you trying to do, have me arrested? Did you say it, Barbara? Did you say it to John? What are you trying to do, get me arrested?

[Judy Jackson]

No, but he says I did. I'm not gonna sit there and dwell on this. I'm just not for Someone, especially his.

[Detective Donna Velasquez]

Mother, to come up and say, what are you trying to do, have me arrested? That's not normal.

[Narrator]

For Detective Velasquez, it sounded like an admission.

[Detective Donna Velasquez]

I'm thinking that Barbara Britton is looking really good as a potential homicide suspect.

[Narrator]

But she still had to prove David was dead.

[John Wolf]

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[Narrator]

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[John Wolf]

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[Narrator]

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[John Wolf]

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[Judy Jackson]

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[John Wolf]

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[Narrator]

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[John Wolf]

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[Detective Donna Velasquez]

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[Narrator]

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[Detective Donna Velasquez]

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[John Wolf]

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[Narrator]

Excludes Massachusetts.

[Judy Jackson]

David.

[Detective Donna Velasquez]

I never believed that he ever decided to pick up and run away from his life. What we're seeing here are items that were recovered from David's vehicle.

[Narrator]

In 2003, just months into her cold case investigation, Detective Donna Velasquez was certain David Jackson was murdered and his ex wife had something to do with it. Only without a body, she couldn't prove anything. That is, until the search engine Google came to her aid.

[Detective Donna Velasquez]

My partner taught me how to do a Google search. I search unidentified remains, unsolved homicides.

[Narrator]

Google may seem like an odd place to begin looking for her body, but within minutes, the detective stumbled upon a database that could help her.

[Detective Donna Velasquez]

It allows you to fill in your criteria of your missing person and then it prompts you. So I put in David's age, height, weight, date of disappearance. Well, it popped out about 50 matches.

[Narrator]

But one description jumped to the top of the list.

[Detective Donna Velasquez]

It was a white male over 6 foot. And he was found in the city of Miramar, which is one city south of Pembroke Pines, where David lived.

[Narrator]

Construction workers found the bones in what was once this empty lot, now a Walmart shopping center.

[Detective Donna Velasquez]

So I went into my sergeant, I said, sarge, what do you think? And he said, I think you found David Jackson. So I go down to the medical examiner's office, and I meet with a forensic anthropologist, and she wheels out remains.

[Narrator]

There was no skull, but these bones had been sitting in the medical examiner's office for almost 15 years.

[Detective Donna Velasquez]

I said, is there any way that you could tell me that this is not David? She says, the only way we're going to be able to do that is through DNA.

[Narrator]

So using David's mother's DNA as a comparison, a forensic examiner ran the test.

[Detective Donna Velasquez]

She says, you're not going to believe this. She says, but I got a 100% match. And I kind of just sat there for a little while trying to absorb it, because, honestly, I was in shock over it, too, that we had actually found him. Now we move from a missing person to a homicide case.

[Narrator]

But first, Detective Velasquez needed to break the news to David's mother. What was her reaction?

[Detective Donna Velasquez]

She started crying right away, uncontrollably for a while. Then she got up. She walked around the table.

[Judy Jackson]

She gave me a hug.

[Detective Donna Velasquez]

She said, I knew you would do it.

[Judy Jackson]

They handed me this box that was pure white. It was about this wide and about this long, just pure white. I said, this is David. They put me in this room, and I set him down, and I started to cry. I only cried maybe 20 seconds. And I picked up the box and I said, david, you're home again. It was almost as if everything had lifted. I mean, I could actually feel like white doves flying and everything. It was that moment that it just summed everything up. That's all they needed was him back.

[Narrator]

But she also needed some answers. So did Detective Velasquez. She went to see Barbara. What was Barbara's reaction when you told her that you had identified her ex husband's remains?

[Detective Donna Velasquez]

Well, I got this look that was so strange and so cold. She asked me, where did we find them and how many bones did we have? Very odd. Very strange.

[Narrator]

Do you remember saying, how many bones did they find?

[Judy Jackson]

I don't remember saying that. I just kept saying, oh, my God. If that's her opinion and that's what she wants to say, then if that makes her feel good, let her say that, because that really upsets me. That upsets me. Why do you care where they found the bones? All I know is they found the bones and they had a match.

[Narrator]

So what was your gut telling you after you left that meeting with Barbara?

[Detective Donna Velasquez]

That she was involved. She knew exactly what happened.

[Narrator]

But Barbara insists she wasn't even in Florida when David went Missing. She was in Arizona, living with her then husband, Michael Wolf. The couple divorced in 1992. But if Barbara was involved in David's death, the detective thought Wolf may have been involved too. She tracked him to Kettering, Ohio, and had him brought to the local precinct. Stand there.

[John Wolf]

We're protect us from Florida, right?

[Narrator]

They wasted no time getting straight to the point.

[Michael Wolf]

Let me ask real quick.

[John Wolf]

Did you kill David Jackson?

[Michael Wolf]

Oh, hell no.

[Narrator]

But after hours of interrogation, Wolf made a bizarre statement. He told investigators Harry, Barbara's dad, hated David and wanted him dead and had turned to Wolf, the former military police officer, for advice.

[Michael Wolf]

Harry and I had discussed this David's demise. I told him the type of weapon he used.

[Narrator]

What type of weapon was that?

[Michael Wolf]

It was a.22 caliber. I told him it had to be.

[Judy Jackson]

Headshot, Shoot him in the head.

[Narrator]

When did you have this discussion with Harry?

[Michael Wolf]

Oh, my God. It was probably three or four months before the disappearance.

[Narrator]

Wolf continued to deny any further involvement. But Detective Velasquez wasn't done digging. She learned that Wolf had sold a gun to one of his ex wives, Nancy Graham.

[Detective Donna Velasquez]

And I placed a phone call to her.

[Judy Jackson]

It was a shock.

[Detective Donna Velasquez]

I told her I was a detective for the Pembroke Pines Police Department working in the homicide investigation of David Jackson. And did she know who David Jackson was?

[Judy Jackson]

She started asking me questions and I mean, it just freaked me out. I mean, it shocked me.

[Narrator]

Nancy immediately knew her ex husband, Michael Wolf, was in trouble.

[Detective Donna Velasquez]

She says, how much evidence do you have against him? Wow. I kind of bluffed her. And I said, I have enough to put him away right now. She goes, I need to call you back.

[Judy Jackson]

I didn't know what to do or what to say.

[Narrator]

For years, she held a secret.

[Judy Jackson]

It's the worst thing I've ever done in my life.

[Narrator]

Nancy knew the truth of what really happened to David Jackson.

[Judy Jackson]

Just going over it makes me feel like such a. For not saying something earlier.

[Narrator]

How did you first hear the name David Jackson?

[John Wolf]

From him.

[Narrator]

For Michael Wolfe's ex wife, Nancy, it was time to tell Detective Velasquez what she knew about the death of David Jackson.

[Judy Jackson]

I know how he was killed, what they did with him.

[Detective Donna Velasquez]

How did you gain this knowledge?

[Judy Jackson]

The night he told me he was drinking real bad every night, he would almost down a whole bottle of scotch.

[Narrator]

Nancy had married Michael Wolf just a year after he and Barbara divorced. And when Michael drank, he would oftentimes talk about David Jackson.

[Judy Jackson]

I really think his conscience was killing him. It was bothering him.

[Narrator]

He told Nancy that when he was married to Barbara, she and her father, Harry, had come to him.

[Judy Jackson]

They came to him about wanting to get rid of David.

[Narrator]

Nancy says Michael believed if he didn't agree to kill David, Barbara would leave him. So they hatched a plan. First, Barbara would pretend she wanted to rekindle her relationship with David. David's mother, Judy, remembers that shortly before he disappeared, her son was excited by the idea.

[Judy Jackson]

And he said, and guess what else? And I said what? He said, she told me that she loved me. That's the first time she said that.

[Narrator]

Then, using fake IDs, Barbara and Michael would fly to Florida from Arizona. Barbara would call David to lure him to a location where he would be killed.

[Judy Jackson]

Barbara contacted David. She let him believe that maybe there was a chance of them getting back together. And he was supposed to meet her at a Motel 6.

[Narrator]

When David arrived at the motel, Wolf was hiding with a gun in the bathroom.

[Judy Jackson]

He came out and he shot David. Okay. And told me he was so drunk, he had to get so drunk to do it.

[Narrator]

And Nancy says Barbara was right there when it happened.

[Detective Donna Velasquez]

Barbara was in the hotel room. That might tell you that she was in the hotel room when he fired.

[Judy Jackson]

The gun, killed David. Okay. She was there. They took his car to the airport, left his car at the airport. Then everything was okay. And they put in for the adoption for the little boy.

[Narrator]

Finally, Detective Velasquez had enough to arrest Michael Wolf for David Jackson's murder. Almost 16 years after David went missing, police slapped the cuffs on Michael Wolf.

[Detective Donna Velasquez]

They escort him over to the sidewalk. He's laying down on the sidewalk. I said, michael Wolf? And he said, yes. So I'm Detective Velasquez with the Pember Pines Police Department, and I'm damn glad to meet you. And he looked at me with such shock.

[Narrator]

How good did that feel?

[Detective Donna Velasquez]

Phenomenal. Phenomenal.

[Narrator]

But that was just the beginning of the detective's good fortune. Michael Wolfe had other ex wives, six of them. And Nancy Graham wasn't the only one he confided in. There was also Carol Larson. And what did Carol Larson tell you?

[Detective Donna Velasquez]

She proceeds to tell me that he started disclosing things to her, but he never would tell a name. He would say that I murdered someone. Barbara was involved. Her father was involved. This is how he did it. He told her that he used a silencer.

[Judy Jackson]

Couldn't believe it. Couldn't believe it. He had told Carol, too. So that really shocked me.

[Narrator]

And the story that Carol told was filled with even more gruesome details, including how Barbara tried to use a stun gun on David. To knock him out before Wolf could shoot him. But even with this information, the detective still couldn't arrest Barbara. What I don't understand is that the two ex wives also shared with you that Barbara and her father were involved in this plot. Why weren't they arrested immediately too?

[Detective Donna Velasquez]

It's hearsay at that point.

[Narrator]

And that meant what Nancy and Carol had heard about Barbara and her father from Wolf was inadmissible in court. Complicating matters, Harry was no longer alive to question, dying of cancer in 1998. So the detective focused her attention on putting Wolf behind bars. At Wolf's trial, Nancy and Carol would be star witnesses. And Nancy would come through face to face with David's family for the first.

[Judy Jackson]

Time, looking at his mother and his brother. And it was, it was hard.

[Narrator]

Nancy was filled with guilt for not turning Michael in years ago. But then David's mother embraced her.

[Judy Jackson]

She came up to me and she hugged me and she thanked me. I told her so, sorry for not coming earlier. I'm sorry. That was art. And it made me feel so.

[Michael Wolf]

Little.

[Judy Jackson]

So I can't imagine going that long and not knowing where your child was.

[Narrator]

After a week long trial, it took the jury less than an hour to convict Michael Wolf of David Jackson's murder. Within days, Wolf, facing life in prison, announced he was ready to talk. Believing he would get a deal, Wolf changed his story and promised to give prosecutors evidence that would put Barbara away for the rest of her life. Are you prepared to tell me the truth today?

[Michael Wolf]

Oh, yes.

[Judy Jackson]

This episode is brought to you by.

[Detective Donna Velasquez]

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[Judy Jackson]

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[John Wolf]

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[Judy Jackson]

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[Detective Donna Velasquez]

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[Michael Wolf]

I realized that I'm taking the fall for everybody here. I wasn't the one that came up with this idea.

[Narrator]

Within days of his conviction for the murder of David Jackson, Michael Wolf announced he wanted to now tell police the truth. Barbara and her father Harry, were deeply involved in killing David.

[Michael Wolf]

He and Barbara both had a very large part in organizing and setting this thing up.

[Narrator]

Who was the mastermind of this plot?

[Michael Wolf]

I would say it was Harry.

[Narrator]

Wolf says Barbara's father Harry was consumed with hatred for David. And Barbara herself fueled the fire, making terrible accusations. What did she tell you about David?

[Michael Wolf]

That he had beat her and he was abusive to his son.

[Narrator]

It was a story that Barbara repeated often. Detective Velasquez says Barbara told her terrible things that David did to little Johnny.

[Detective Donna Velasquez]

She said David put a cigarette out in his palm, that if you shaved John's head, you could probably see scars and marks.

[Narrator]

John says he heard the stories from his mother as well. Did she ever say that your father was abusive to you?

[John Wolf]

She told me that, but she told me that I also went to counselors to see why I acted certain ways when I was a child.

[Narrator]

Did you hear stories about being burned with cigarettes?

[John Wolf]

Yes.

[Narrator]

But Barbara never filed any charges to support the allegations. Did you ever see any signs of physical abuse?

[Michael Wolf]

No, I didn't. No, I didn't. I've given that a lot of thoughts since today.

[Narrator]

Wolf believes it was part of Barbara's plan to motivate him to help kill David.

[Michael Wolf]

I think that was all just a.

[Narrator]

Story back in 1988. Wolf says he would have done anything for Barbara. He was head over heels in love with her.

[Michael Wolf]

She was 21. I was 41.

[Narrator]

Was that appealing?

[Michael Wolf]

Of course, I was probably middle aged, crazy, but yeah, that was a drawing card for me, definitely.

[Narrator]

And in spite of her stories about David's abusive ways, Wolf says Barbara seemed okay with the idea that David would visit little Johnny. The problem was Harry.

[Michael Wolf]

Harry said, the only way I want to see David is face up in a box of Fred Hunters, which is a funeral home. He said that more than once. And Barbara said he wants to do something to David. He wants to get rid of David. He had asked Barbara to ask me if I knew anybody who would do it, like a hitman or A killer or something. I finally told him that I would take care of that.

[Narrator]

Why did you agree to kill David Jackson?

[Michael Wolf]

I thought I could do that. Keep peace in the family. Keep peace, keep the family together, this type of thing. I didn't want to lose Barbara. I thought we had a family together, and I thought that's the way it would be.

[Narrator]

Wolf says Harry, who lived in Florida, picked a motel near Fort Lauderdale where they could murder David. And to get David to the motel, Barbara made a date with him.

[Michael Wolf]

That was part of the ploy. That's how you were going to get David to the motel room.

[Narrator]

At the time, Wolf was working in Tucson, Arizona. He says he and Barbara used two expired driver's licenses in other people's names to fly to Fort Lauderdale.

[Michael Wolf]

I told Harry, I gave him the names. He made the reservations for us under those names. I gave one to Barbara. I kept one. And we went to the airport, picked up our tickets.

[Narrator]

And she knew why she was flying to Fort Lauderdale. Of course she knew she was flying to Fort Lauderdale to kill David, right?

[Michael Wolf]

Yeah, that was it.

[Narrator]

Before they arrived, Harry dug what would be David's grave.

[Michael Wolf]

We flew in on the 25th, the day that David disappeared. Harry had already had the hole dug. He had motel reservations made. He picked us up at the airport, went to his house. He had the stun gun, showed Barbara how to use it because he felt it would be easier to knock David out first and then go away with him.

[Narrator]

Then they headed to the motel. Michael doesn't remember exactly where it was or which one, but police believe it was this Motel 6. Once in the room, Michael says Barbara phoned David. She called his apartment under the pretense.

[Michael Wolf]

Under the pretense that she was in town. She wanted to meet him at the motel.

[Narrator]

So he arrives at the motel room, and what happens?

[Michael Wolf]

Well, I'm in the bathroom.

[Narrator]

Wolf says he was drinking heavily when David arrived.

[Michael Wolf]

I hear the front door, the knock. She opens the door. There was some chatter between the two of them. And then I hear this click, click, click, click, click. It's the loud snapping from the stun gun. This stun gun was about that long and about that big around. Didn't work. I came out and I had the pistol wrapped in a towel. Well, she looked at me, and I could tell she was scared. He looked at me, and that's when he said, what? What the hell's going on?

[Narrator]

Wolf says that's when he shot David. Where was he struck?

[Michael Wolf]

Side of the head, right here, above the ear. He started to fall he went down slowly. His head was leaning back like this, and fluid was running out of a wound. Harry came in and said, he's not dead. You have to shoot him in the heart. Shoot him in the heart. I picked up the gun and shot him in the head again. It was somewhere around in here again. And I checked David, he was gone. He was not breathing, no pulse. His eyes were fixed. They put him in the blankets, rolled him up and put him in the back of Harry's car. Harry backed up to the door.

[Narrator]

Wolf says he, Harry and Barbara then drove to the grave site.

[Michael Wolf]

David's head had rolled, I guess, and hit something in the back of the car. And she says, oh, this is so sick. And Harry says, what you wanted? And, well, nobody said anything else. And then we all three buried him. We went back to the room, cleaned up the room, all of us did.

[Narrator]

It was about a year later, he says, when Harry called. A Walmart was going to be built on the site where they had secretly buried David. Wolf needed to remove David's remains. So he flew back to Florida, rode.

[Michael Wolf]

Over to where the construction site was. I saw three white things sticking up out of the ground like this.

[Narrator]

Bones.

[Michael Wolf]

That's what they were. I said, that looks like rib bones. I still get chills when I think about it.

[Narrator]

But that night, Wolf didn't find these bones, which later led to the identification of David.

[Michael Wolf]

I was able to pull up the rib bones and spinal column and the pelvic bone came all up with it. I stuck it in a garbage bag.

[Narrator]

But you couldn't find the skull?

[Michael Wolf]

No.

[Narrator]

Where do you think the skull is?

[Michael Wolf]

I think it still has to be there.

[Narrator]

So what did you do with the remains?

[Michael Wolf]

Well, we put them in the back of Harry's car, drove back to the house, and Harry took the bag and set it out for the garbage. They were coming by to pick it up the next day.

[Narrator]

Primacabra.

[Michael Wolf]

Yeah.

[Narrator]

A few months later, the adoption of little Johnny was final. Then Barbara made a decision.

[Michael Wolf]

She.

[Narrator]

She left me and then asked for child support. You feel that Harry Britton and his daughter Barbara set you up to take the fall for this?

[Michael Wolf]

Yes. I realize I was the one that pulled the trigger. I understand that, you know, but still, for her part, she's out walking free, and I find that hard to believe.

[Narrator]

Do you think she's just as culpable as you are for the murder of David Jackson?

[Michael Wolf]

Yes.

[Judy Jackson]

I did not kill David. I had nothing to do with it. I did not even have knowledge of it. I mean, I loved him. I still love the guy. I still love David. I just. We had this special love.

[Narrator]

So Michael Wolf is a liar?

[Judy Jackson]

Yes.

[Narrator]

But police didn't think so. One month after Wolf's confession, Barbara Britton was under arrest and to tried charged with the murder of David Jackson. Unable to make bail, she spent the next three years in jail awaiting trial.

[John Wolf]

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[Detective Donna Velasquez]

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[Judy Jackson]

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[Detective Donna Velasquez]

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[Judy Jackson]

Liquid IV's new energy multiplier, sugar free hydrating energy. Tap the banner to learn more. I just cannot believe that I'm sitting here innocent and now you know, I've gone through all this. I just really can't believe it.

[Narrator]

Despite the tearful pleas proclaiming her innocence, Barbara Britton was now preparing to stand trial for the murder of her ex husband, David Jackson, almost 22 years after his disappearance.

[John Wolf]

I don't think Barbara's guilty of anything.

[Narrator]

Barbara's defense attorney, Keith Seltzer.

[John Wolf]

And there's no evidence to prove otherwise. She's just not that type of person.

[Narrator]

But David's mother, Judy, says she knows exactly what kind of person Barbara is.

[Judy Jackson]

She's a sociopath. She has no feelings. If she wants something, she will get it. That's how she is. It's all about Barbie. She calls me a lot of things. You know, it's her son. Being a mother. I probably call a person things and names too.

[Narrator]

While awaiting her trial, Barbara's son John, who had told police he suspected his mother was hiding information about his father, now says he never thought his mother was guilty of anything.

[John Wolf]

I didn't believe at any point of any time that she was capable or even would if could do this.

[Narrator]

Barbara admits her relationship with David was at times strained, but adamantly denies she was the source of Stories alleging that David abused Johnny. So let me just be clear, Barbara. Did you ever tell Johnny that when he was younger, David burned him with cigarettes?

[Judy Jackson]

No.

[Narrator]

So as far as you know, David did not mistreat your son?

[Judy Jackson]

As far as I know and what I want to believe, no. Because that was David. That was the man that I loved. That's the father of my baby.

[Narrator]

Barbara says it was her father, Harry, who believed David was hurting little Johnny. But she never imagined he would help kill David. That is, until now. Wolf's story has made her wonder.

[Judy Jackson]

I'll never know he did it. He took it to the grave with him when he passed away.

[Narrator]

Detective Donna Velasquez isn't buying any of it. She is sure Barbara is a cold blooded killer. I guess the question is why? Why was David Jackson killed?

[Detective Donna Velasquez]

She never wanted to share child custody with him. She wanted to have John all to herself. And I'm a firm believer that she groomed Michael Wolf to be a part of this.

[Narrator]

To Detective Velasquez, the case against Barbara was rock solid. That is until Barber's attorney, Keith Seltzer dropped a bombshell at a bond hearing.

[Detective Donna Velasquez]

Mr. Seltzer came into the courtroom and he was holding a piece of paper and he presented it to the judge. He said, judge, I can show you my client was in Arizona at the time of this homicide. She wasn't in Fort Lauderdale.

[Narrator]

Seltzer says phone records showed someone had called Barbara's apartment in Tucson on the night David disappeared in Florida. The call lasted four minutes.

[John Wolf]

So the question became, who answered it? Somebody had to be in Arizona to answer that phone, and we believe it was Barbara.

[Narrator]

Michael Wolfe calls it nonsense. He says that phone call was planned to help establish an alibi.

[Michael Wolf]

Harry said it'd be a good idea to call out there, let the answering machine pick up. That way it would look like somebody was out there and we weren't in Florida at all.

[Narrator]

But Seltzer says the Wolfs didn't own an answering machine.

[John Wolf]

I don't believe a single word that.

[Narrator]

Michael Wolf says, especially Seltzer says, because Wolf was looking for a deal.

[John Wolf]

Please have a seat.

[Narrator]

But Wolf's credibility would take a huge hit when a former cellmate came forward saying Wolf had told him that he was trying to frame Barbara for the.

[John Wolf]

Murder and Barbara didn't have any idea.

[Narrator]

He was going to shoot him. That's right. That's when prosecutors made a stunning decision.

[John Wolf]

We were ultimately offered a plea bargain to a reduced charge because the state Attorney's office recognized that there was not A likelihood of them obtaining a conviction for first degree murder.

[Narrator]

We're here this afternoon on State of.

[Michael Wolf]

Florida versus Barbara Britzen.

[John Wolf]

Yes.

[Narrator]

In order to avoid prison, the deal called for Barbara to plead guilty to being a necessary after the fact to first degree murder. She would only admit to making a call to David to arrange a meeting with her father. But not on the day of the murder.

[Judy Jackson]

In the later part of June 1988, I told David that my father wanted to meet with him. I did not make that phone call that day or that one that took him to the so called hotel that everybody's saying about. No, I will tell you. I knew that my dad wanted to talk to him and that's what I said.

[Narrator]

How would they manage to get David to come to the hotel without your help?

[Judy Jackson]

I don't know, okay? I really don't. I wish I could tell you.

[Narrator]

It's just really, it boggles the mind that your father and Michael Wolf would kill the father of your son without telling you.

[Judy Jackson]

Boggles people's mind. Well, how do you think I'm feeling? I have questions.

[Narrator]

But there's one question Barbara is forced to answer.

[John Wolf]

So then, on the one count that is before us today, Ms. Britton, how do you plead?

[Judy Jackson]

Guilty. I looked up and I said, God, David, we got justice. She finally said she's guilty. If she wants to minimize it, that's fine. God knows and David knows. And I know in my heart she lured David to the motel to murder him to get him out of her son's life.

[Narrator]

For David's brother Mark, seeing Barbara avoid prison was heartbreaking.

[John Wolf]

She got away with murder. But I still believe in karma. And eventually she'll get hers. She'll have to live her own hell someday. And we lived it for a long time.

[Narrator]

Barbara insists she's been living in her own hell for some time now. And for almost two and a half years, she was forced to wear a court ordered ankle bracelet that tracked her every move and reminded her of David's death. Judy wears a bracelet of her own, but one she treasures and she never wants to take off. It holds David's ashes.

[Judy Jackson]

They're on both ends. Some of the ashes. And then I have our birthstones on each end. I mean, he gives me strength that brings me just everything. I mean that God picked me out of all the mothers that had missing children and he picked me to give me my child back. I know he's here with me right now. I got no doubts about it. And that's what he was saying. Mom, I'm here. You know I'll keep you going. I'll keep you strong.

[John Wolf]

Michael Wolf's life sentence was not reduced. He remains in a Florida prison. Now streaming.

[Narrator]

Everyone who comes into this clinic is a mystery.

[Detective Donna Velasquez]

We don't know what we're looking for.

[Narrator]

Their bodies are the scene of the crime. Their symptoms and history are clues.

[Judy Jackson]

You saved her life.

[Narrator]

We're doctors and we're detectives.

[Judy Jackson]

I kind of love it, if I'm being honest.

[John Wolf]

Solve the puzzle.

[Narrator]

Save the patient, Watson.

[John Wolf]

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[Michael Wolf]

Plus.

[Narrator]

An exclusive Paramount plus original documentary.

[Michael Wolf]

This war was a total disaster.

[John Wolf]

It's completely at odds with what the.

[Narrator]

Public have been told.

[John Wolf]

We have liberated village after village.

[Narrator]

We broke the Taliban's momentum.

[John Wolf]

We are winning responsibly and safely.

[Narrator]

But our government, government's biggest deception, they.

[John Wolf]

Didn'T care about what the reality of this war was. They cared about their narrative was going to be upset by somebody speaking to the press.

[Narrator]

Bodyguard of Lies now streaming on Paramount plus.