Deadly Divorce, Part 1

Summary

48 Hours: Deadly Divorce, Part 1 – Detailed Summary

Overview of the Case

In the gripping two-part series titled "Deadly Divorce, Part 1", CBS News' 48 Hours delves into the tumultuous and tragic story of Darren Mack and his ex-wife Charla Mack. This episode unravels the complexities of their volatile marriage, the ensuing bitter divorce battle, and the dramatic events that led to murder and a nationwide manhunt.

Background on Darren and Charla Mack

Amanda Robb introduces the Mack family, highlighting the allure and public persona of Darren Mack:

"[01:13] Amanda Robb: The Charla and Darren Mack story is a story of explosive love."

Darren Mack, described as "handsome, larger than life, very charismatic," came from a wealthy Reno family involved in the gaming industry. Charla Mack, his striking 39-year-old wife, was celebrated for her positivity and beauty:

"[01:29] Host: Darren."
[01:30] Darren Mack: Yes.
[01:30] Narrator: Wait.
[01:31] Amanda Robb: ...Charla was a stop and stare, beautiful brunette, absolutely gorgeous woman."

The Volatile Marriage and Divorce Battle

From the onset, Darren and Charla's marriage was marked by intense passion and volatility. Their relationship was a blend of high emotion and adventurous lifestyles, including participation in swinger conventions:

"[02:10] Charla Mack: That's why we've been here for 40 years..."
"[10:31] Amanda Robb: ...they actually went to swinger conventions in California, Arizona, and Mexico where there'd be group sex parties."

The birth of their daughter, Erica, in 1997 began to strain their relationship. Charla's disinterest in their swinger lifestyle contrasted sharply with Darren's obsession with self-improvement and financial success. This disparity fueled escalating conflicts:

"[11:25] Narrator: She was a petite, tiny woman and he was a very big, buff guy, strong."
"[12:02] Michael Small: Well, I think that's ridiculous..."

As their marriage deteriorated, Darren claimed to be a victim of abuse, while evidence suggested a different narrative. The divorce proceedings under Judge Chuck Weller became a focal point of intense animosity:

"[13:16] Darren Mack: Family court judge Chuck Weller ordered Darren to pay Charla $10,000 a month until the divorce was settled."
"[24:16] Darren Mack: ...Judge Weller wasn't listening to him."

The Shooting of Judge Chuck Weller

Tensions reached a breaking point on June 12, 2006, when Darren Mack was implicated in the shooting of Family Court Judge Chuck Weller. The incident unfolded swiftly:

"[15:02] Darren Mack: It was just after 11 on that bright sunny day in June 2006 in downtown Reno when bystanders heard a loud bang echo off the buildings."

Surveillance footage captured a silver Ford Explorer entering the parking garage near the courthouse shortly before the shooting. At approximately 11:05 AM, Weller was critically injured by gunfire:

"[16:37] Host: Possibly shot originally at the parking garage."
"[21:10]...Darren Mack: The fallout from this horrifying day one shooting."

The Murder of Charla Mack

Shortly after the shooting, Darren Mack's wife, Charla Mack, was found stabbed to death in their garage. The discovery heightened the urgency of the investigation:

"[19:16] Amanda Robb: She was found in his garage wearing no shoes or socks, with seven stab wounds."
"[21:59] Darren Mack: Darren Mack is now being sought in connection with these heinous crimes."

Evidence such as a to-do list outlining violent acts and DNA from bloodstains tied Darren directly to the murders:

"[19:38] Darren Mack: A search of Darren's condo turned up incriminating evidence... the media dubbed it Darren's to do list."
"[40:58] ...DNA profile matches that of Charla Mack."

The Manhunt for Darren Mack

Following the murders, a nationwide manhunt ensued. Darren fled to Mexico, evading capture for nearly three weeks. During this period, friends and family grappled with the gravity of the situation:

"[23:12] District Attorney Dick Gammick: This is not a violent man."
"[32:51] Michael Small: Should we all be huddling somewhere and hiding?"

The search intensified with international cooperation between Reno investigators and the FBI, leading to unverified sightings in resorts frequented by Darren:

"[34:00] Host: Low, we've highlighted those areas of La Paz."
"[35:18] Detective Ron Chalmers: They conducted several interviews and canvases... unable to determine if it was Darren Mack."

Surrender and Legal Proceedings

After extensive negotiations, Darren Mack surrendered at a U.S. consulate in Puerto Vallarta on June 22. His surrender was facilitated by District Attorney Dick Gammick and high-profile defense attorneys David Chesnoff and Scott Freeman:

"[35:38] ...Darren Mack quietly turned himself in at a luxury hotel in Puerto Vallarta."
"[36:24] Darren Mack's attorneys acknowledged the dispute surrounding the case, emphasizing his belief that he acted in self-defense."

Key evidence against Darren included eyewitness accounts, forensic evidence, and the aforementioned to-do list, painting a picture of premeditation:

"[41:01] Detective Ron Chalmers: The DNA profile matches that of Charla Mack."
"[43:12] Darren Mack: ...the defense will need to work around that so-called to-do list which could show premeditation."

Reflections and Impact

The tragic downfall of the Mack family has left enduring questions about the influence of the judicial system on personal lives. Friends and family reflect on Darren's transformation from a charismatic millionaire to a fugitive:

"[25:05] Charla Mack: I think I understand what he's going through inside of him better than anyone out there."
"[36:55] Darren Mack's emails portrayed him as a martyr striving to expose perceived injustices within the family court system."

The case has also impacted the father's rights movement, with both Darren and his friend Michael Small blaming Judge Weller for their personal and legal struggles:

"[44:17] Interviewer: What has this case done to the father's rights movement in this country?"
"[44:27] Darren Mack: Released from jail and back home with his new wife and family, Michael Small would learn more about the case and eventually withdraw his support from Darren."

Conclusion

As 48 Hours concludes Part 1 of "Deadly Divorce", the narrative remains fraught with unanswered questions and unresolved tensions. Darren Mack awaits trial for the murders of his wife and attempted murder of Judge Weller, while their daughter, Erica, becomes the center of custody disputes. The story promises further revelations and deeper exploration in the upcoming second part.

Notable Quotes:

• "[01:13] Amanda Robb: The Charla and Darren Mack story is a story of explosive love."
• "[12:11] Charla Mack: We're so much more stronger than women. They can't believe that we'll be physically abused."
• "[24:03] Charla Mack: He felt Judge Weller wasn't listening to him."
• "[37:32] Interviewer: What does that say to you? What does that suggest to you?" — Highlighting the need for psychiatric evaluation.
• "[42:35] Amanda Robb: Period." — Emphasizing the finality of Michael Small's defense of Darren.

Key Takeaways

• Explosive Marriage: Darren and Charla Mack's relationship was marked by intense passion and volatility, leading to frequent conflicts.

• Bitter Divorce: The divorce battle under Judge Weller became increasingly contentious, with both parties feeling wronged.

• Violent Crimes: Darren Mack was implicated in the murder of his wife Charla and the attempted murder of Judge Weller.

• Nationwide Manhunt: Darren fled to Mexico, sparking an international manhunt before surrendering.

• Legal and Personal Fallout: The case has profound implications on the Mack family, their daughter, and broader societal views on the judicial system and father's rights.

Stay tuned for Part 2 of "Deadly Divorce" to uncover the final chapters of this harrowing case.

Transcript

[Narrator]

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[Host]

Now a special two part edition of 48 Hours.

[Amanda Robb]

You can get married and divorced in Reno probably in the same week and lose everything you have in a matter of minutes.

[Host]

Darren.

[Darren Mack]

Yes.

[Narrator]

Wait.

[Amanda Robb]

The Charla and Darren Mack story is a story of explosive love.

[Host]

Smile, honey.

[Amanda Robb]

It's really good looking people. A lot of money.

[Narrator]

Woo. Look at these.

[Amanda Robb]

A lot of sex and high, high, high emotion. And eventually. I'm Amanda Robb and I'm a writer and I grew up in Reno, Nevada. Darren Mack is handsome, larger than life, very charismatic, was an extraordinarily wealthy man. He worked in and around gaming in that he owned a pawn shop.

[Charla Mack]

That's why we've been here for 40 years. And if you don't believe us, just ask anybody who's done business with us. Everyone loved Darren. He had that personality that you wanted to be around.

[Amanda Robb]

Darren Mack was married to a 39 year old woman named Charla. She was a stop and stare, beautiful brunette, absolutely gorgeous woman.

[Narrator]

She was the most positive, upbeat, friendly, happy human being you would ever meet.

[Amanda Robb]

I would say that Darren and Tarla Mack were a pretty explosive cocktail.

[Michael Small]

Passion and volatile and passion and volatile and. And not a whole lot in between.

[Narrator]

She admitted that she did some things that she wasn't proud of in an effort to save her marriage.

[Amanda Robb]

They got increasingly into adventurous sex during their marriage.

[Michael Small]

It was a roller coaster. When it went wrong, it went really wrong.

[Amanda Robb]

So when his wife left him, it was a terrible blow. In a state known for divorce, this was about as nasty as a divorce can get anywhere. It was ugly, it was vicious, it was meaningless, mean. Judge Weller was hearing their divorce case.

[Charla Mack]

Felt Judge Weller wasn't listening to him. He was angry at the court system.

[Detective Ron Chalmers]

The shooter entered the parking garage shortly after 10:30 on June 12th. That vehicle was captured on the video surveillance system inside of the parking garage, which is how we know what time the vehicle arrived and left.

[Amanda Robb]

Darren is somebody who doesn't like to lose.

[Michael Small]

Losing is unacceptable.

[Charla Mack]

She was going to take all his money and everything that he owned.

[Detective Ron Chalmers]

Shooter's vehicle drove up to the fifth floor.

[Amanda Robb]

We all have the, you know, means to murder somebody every day. 99.9% of us will never, ever do it.

[Detective Ron Chalmers]

We know that. The judge was shot at about 11:05. And the vehicle flees the parking garage immediately.

[Amanda Robb]

SWAT teams locked down around 10 square blocks of downtown.

[Detective Ron Chalmers]

The judge was rushed to the hospital in critical condition.

[Amanda Robb]

As police after Judge Weller was shot, suspicion almost immediately fell on Darren because Darren had been so contentious with the judge.

[Charla Mack]

It could have been anyone who shot Chuck Weller.

[Amanda Robb]

If Darren was capable of shooting a judge, what did that mean for his wife, Charla?

[Darren Mack]

Smile, honey. Caught in the crossfire. Tonight's 48 Hours Mystery.

[District Attorney Dick Gammick]

Now seeking Darren Mack.

[Host]

M A C K. I'll never forget.

[Narrator]

That day and how it felt.

[Darren Mack]

June 12, 2006.

[District Attorney Dick Gammick]

He has not been found yet. He has not been arrested yet.

[Narrator]

Just the panic that hit me immediately when I heard that they were looking for Darren Mack.

[Michael Small]

The minute his face was on the news, I knew the story is unfolding.

[Host]

Almost by the minute.

[Darren Mack]

The people of Reno were glued to their televisions following the brazen shooting of Family Court judge Chuck Weller.

[Narrator]

My thoughts immediately turned towards Charla and her whereabouts. And I thought, we have to find her.

[Darren Mack]

Anne Mudd and Christine Liebert desperately tried to reach their friend Charla Mack.

[Michael Small]

And immediately I got that little feeling in my stomach.

[Darren Mack]

They were convinced Charla was in danger.

[Michael Small]

You're just pacing because what are you going to do?

[Narrator]

Perhaps she could still be alive. Then they announced on the radio that they've also found a body.

[Host]

That victim is now identified as Sharla Mack, the estranged wife of Darren.

[Michael Small]

That was probably the scariest moment in my entire life just to realize that my. That my beautiful friend wasn't. Wasn't there anymore.

[Amanda Robb]

They had two really big, big personalities.

[Darren Mack]

Darren and Charlamac were married in 1995. And from the beginning, everyone says they had a chemistry that was undeniable.

[Amanda Robb]

I think when you saw the two of them walk into a room, they were explosive together. Charlie just fired him up. You know, she was more explosive than he was. You know, she was, she was fire.

[Darren Mack]

Writer Amanda Robb reported on the Mac case for Marie Claire magazine.

[Amanda Robb]

They were high profile in the community. They knew everybody. Everybody knew them.

[Darren Mack]

Amanda and Charla went to the same High school in Reno.

[Amanda Robb]

She wanted to be famous more than anything. That really was her dream, was to be famous.

[Host]

Her body was found at the fleur de lis apartments.

[Narrator]

I don't think this is how she imagined being famous, though.

[Darren Mack]

Long before Charla ever met Darren Mack, she pursued her dream of an acting career. Leaving Reno behind, the teenager moved to.

[Amanda Robb]

Los Angeles, got herself two roles in two films. One was a film with drew Barrymore.

[Darren Mack]

That's charla pushing the gurney.

[Amanda Robb]

And one was a documentary with Diane keaton.

[Narrator]

God has helped me through everything. God is wonderful.

[Darren Mack]

Charla eventually gave up acting and moved back to Reno. When she began dating Darren, they seemed a perfect match.

[Amanda Robb]

Darren mack is a handsome, charismatic millionaire. He takes very good care of himself.

[Darren Mack]

Friends say they also shared an interest in a self awareness training group called the landmark education.

[Amanda Robb]

He liked going to seminars about improving himself all the time achieving his goals, which is money, money, money, money.

[Darren Mack]

Darren Mack is the oldest son of a wealthy and prominent Reno family. His parents owned one of the largest pawn shops in the city. When his father was killed in a plane crash in 1986, Darren became half owner of the family business. And according to court records, he was said to be worth almost $10 million.

[Amanda Robb]

They live large. She drove a lexus. He drove a hummer. Had fancy things, fancy jewelry. Oh, it was fabulous.

[Darren Mack]

But Darren Mack had been down the aisle before.

[Amanda Robb]

I knew his first wife, Debbie.

[Interviewer]

And what was she like?

[Amanda Robb]

Oh, she was a lovely girl. She was very quiet, very sophisticated.

[Darren Mack]

Darren and Debbie had two children together, but the marriage did not end well.

[Amanda Robb]

He would not stop fighting with Debbie. She spent more than a quarter of a million dollars in legal fees. You know, just responding to him.

[Host]

Smile, Charla.

[Amanda Robb]

And Charla was on his side at the time.

[Darren Mack]

Darren had joined custody, and for a while at least, he, he, Charla and his kids seemed to be one big happy family.

[Amanda Robb]

Darren liked to seem to be a devoted father, devoted husband. He liked having a beautiful wife, a beautiful home. He liked looking very all American, squeaky clean.

[Darren Mack]

But their clean cut family image was a far cry from their private lives.

[Michael Small]

Charlie was a very sexual person. She did not have sexual inhibitions. And that was something that she shared with her husband and how great for her husband.

[Amanda Robb]

They became sort of a fixture on the strip club circuit in around Reno. Then it moved up into swinging Charla.

[Host]

Smile.

[Amanda Robb]

Then they actually went to swinger conventions in California, Arizona, and Mexico where there'd be group sex parties. They called it sexing.

[Interviewer]

I'm sorry, what does that mean? Sexing.

[Amanda Robb]

Sexing is when you go to these swinging clubs.

[Darren Mack]

But things change. After their daughter Erica was born in.

[Narrator]

1997, Erica had a very normal life with her mother. Movies, play dates, sleepovers, parties. That was Charla's life.

[Darren Mack]

Charla told Darren she was no longer interested in swinging.

[Amanda Robb]

She didn't like this lifestyle. She did it for a while because it was really important to Darren, but that she tired of it.

[Darren Mack]

As the marriage began to crumble, letters and emails we obtained document an increasingly abusive relationship.

[Narrator]

She was a petite, tiny woman and he was a very big, buff guy, strong.

[Darren Mack]

But it wasn't Charla who claimed to be the victim. It was Darren, fifth place winner in the Mr. Nevada bodybuilding contest.

[Amanda Robb]

He kept a diary in which he said that she kicked him in the testicles but missed that she scratched his car. She yelled at him on the phone. She belittled him in front of his friends, Went on and on and on for six pages like this.

[Interviewer]

He claimed to be afraid of her.

[Michael Small]

Well, I think that's ridiculous. He's this guy that goes to the gym, works out and is muscular. And it just seems ridiculous to me.

[Charla Mack]

We're so much more stronger than women. They can't believe that we'll be physically abused. Darren was physically abused by his wife.

[Darren Mack]

Darren's friend Michael Small says that despite his imposing stature, Darren Mack lived in fear.

[Charla Mack]

He was very scared of her. I was with him a couple of times when she called and threatened him.

[Interviewer]

So he wanted to end the marriage because he was battered.

[Charla Mack]

That's a big part of it. It's a known fact. He carried a gun because he was worried she was going to come and kill him.

[Darren Mack]

But Charla was apparently looking over her shoulder too.

[Narrator]

One time he showed up at the house where she and Erica were and they had some kind of confrontation and he had her by the neck and was trying to strangle her. He was so angry with her.

[Darren Mack]

In the end, it was Charla who filed for divorce. Darren moved out. The couple fought constantly over Erica, but fought even more over money, which Darren claimed was running out.

[Amanda Robb]

He was cutting her off. He canceled the credit cards. He wouldn't pay the utilities at their home. She had to keep warm by fire because they had no heat.

[Darren Mack]

Family court judge Chuck Weller ordered Darren to pay Charla $10,000 a month until the divorce was settled. But Darren thought the ruling and the judge were unfair and wouldn't give an inch.

[Michael Small]

Anything that she got was something that he lost, and he just wasn't going to lose.

[Darren Mack]

The new KFC dunk it bucket with Juicy original recipe tenders. New mashed potato poppers, Crispy fries. Plus three sauces that fit right on top of the lid. So you can dunk anywhere.

[Host]

You can dunk at the game. Dunk while security points to the no outside food sign.

[Darren Mack]

And dunk as 20,000 people watch you and your Dunkit bucket get removed from the stadium.

[Host]

Dunk almost anywhere with the new $7.

[Darren Mack]

KFC Dunkit Bucket or get the Double.

[Host]

Dunkit Bucket for 25. Prices and participation vary. While supplies last. Taxes, tips and fees extra.

[Narrator]

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[Darren Mack]

It was just after 11 on that bright sunny day in June 2006 in downtown Reno when bystanders heard a loud bang echo off the buildings.

[Narrator]

Rail.

[Host]

911.

[Narrator]

There's been a gunshot. The construction worker said he heard the shot go kind of over his head. I've just been advised that we have shots fired.

[Host]

Possible sniper. This is breaking news. We're in a place on the hunt right now for a sniper. There's reports of at least one shot fired and maybe four or five. Northwest corner of the justice building. We have one window shot out.

[Detective Ron Chalmers]

We saw the glass, the window actually.

[Host]

Vibrating back and forth. Looked like an earthquake.

[Detective Ron Chalmers]

The dispatch call came out of a sniper style shooting at the courthouse. Shortly after 1106.

[Darren Mack]

Detective Ron Chalmers joined hundreds of police officers to shut down the city while SWAT teams fanned out searching for the sniper.

[Host]

The shooting came from the other side. Side of the river. Judges down in here.

[Darren Mack]

Reno Gazette reporter Martha Belleisle hurried to the scene.

[Narrator]

There were people who were hiding in different businesses and restaurants trying to get. They were trying to get people off the street because they didn't know if the shooter was still going to be shooting. They didn't know where he was.

[Host]

Heavily armed police quickly made their way through nearby buildings.

[Detective Ron Chalmers]

You're looking up, you're checking buildings. We could at least narrow down the area the shot came from because the bullet went through a glass window.

[Narrator]

I'm in the room where the judge was actually shot.

[Host]

The trajectory looks like it could be.

[Narrator]

That parking garage at first and Sierra Possibly.

[Host]

Possibly shot originally at the parking garage. Any units at the parking garage?

[Narrator]

Advice?

[Darren Mack]

It turned out only one bullet was fired that morning, exploding through the window of Judge Chuckweller's chambers, spraying him and his assistant with shrapnel.

[Narrator]

Family Court Judge Chuck Weller shot while.

[Darren Mack]

Working in his chambers at about 11. It was just minutes after the shooting when police got a break.

[Detective Ron Chalmers]

Darren's friend said that he was very concerned for Charla and felt that a.

[Darren Mack]

Childhood friend of Darren Mack's met with police and had a disturbing story to tell. Dan Osborne told police he had been at Darren's home that morning when Charla dropped off their daughter. He and Erica stayed upstairs while Darren spoke to Charla privately.

[Amanda Robb]

Somehow, Darren lured Charla into his garage. The daughter upstairs heard a dog yelping and told Darren's friend, I think your dog is yelping.

[Darren Mack]

After the frantic barking went on for a while, Osborne told police he went to check on his dog. That's when he ran into Darren, who was coming up from the garage. Osborne said Darren brushed past him with his hand wrapped in a towel with a weird look on his face, not saying a word.

[Detective Ron Chalmers]

A few moments later, the dog came in covered in blood.

[Amanda Robb]

And he became incredibly frightened and said to the little girl, we have to leave.

[Darren Mack]

They left Osbourne, put Erica in his car and started driving. Minutes later, his cell phone rang. It was Darren.

[Amanda Robb]

And Darren says, meet me at Starbucks. The friend, who's completely flipped out at this point, meets him at Starbucks with a little girl.

[Darren Mack]

Mack took his daughter aside and spoke to her for a few minutes.

[Detective Ron Chalmers]

Darren Mack may have realized that that was going to be the last time he'd see his daughter, at least as a free man.

[Darren Mack]

He then drove off on his own.

[Interviewer]

If he thought that maybe Charla had been injured that morning, why would he allow Darren Mack to see the little girl?

[Detective Ron Chalmers]

Well, I think that Dan Osborne felt that he probably owed the Mack some gratitude. He was an employee for the Mack family. Whether it's poor judgment or not, whether it's fear or not, he chose to allow Darren to see his daughter.

[Darren Mack]

Based on Osborne's story, police rushed to Darren's condo.

[Detective Ron Chalmers]

As we looked around the property a little bit closer, we found three droplets of blood in the driveway near the garage door.

[Darren Mack]

Behind that garage door was Charlamac's lifeless body.

[Amanda Robb]

She was found in his garage wearing no shoes or socks, with seven stab wounds. When you're being stabbed or you're dying, you curl into fetal position to try to protect your core. This was a desperate woman who was curled up like a baby trying not to die.

[Darren Mack]

A search of Darren's condo turned up incriminating evidence. A note that on closer inspection, police believed to be a chilling step by step guide to the day's bloody events. The media dubbed it Darren's to do list.

[Detective Ron Chalmers]

It refers to ending the problem and then it also referred to certain weapons that he would need to fulfill those plans.

[Darren Mack]

Police also found a rental contract for a silver Ford Explorer and a crucial piece of the puzzle that tied everything together. The to do list had the phrase parking garage. If yes, police reviewed surveillance video of the garage across from Weller's office. And sure enough, at 10:46am just 20 minutes before Weller was shot, a silver Ford Explorer is photographed entering the parking garage. We retrace the path police believe the Explorer took that day.

[Detective Ron Chalmers]

The shooter's vehicle pulled into the parking garage, drove up to the fifth floor. Moments later, the vehicle made a three point turn and backed in so that the rear of the vehicle was facing the Mills Lane Justice Center. I think he knew what he set out to do on June 12 and he followed his plan piece by piece.

[Interviewer]

So this wasn't just an explosion of violence?

[Detective Ron Chalmers]

Well, I believe it was a calculated explosion of violence. We know that the judge was shot at about 1105. The video surveillance camera shot shows the Ford Explorer's rear hatch being closed at 1105. And the vehicle flees the parking garage immediately.

[Interviewer]

How far is the courthouse from this parking structure?

[Detective Ron Chalmers]

This is approximately 170 yards.

[Interviewer]

It would take some skill as a marksman to shoot that distance and to.

[Detective Ron Chalmers]

Hit your target, it would take some skill. But Darren Mack has an extensive history in hunting and I believe for somebody with his firearms background, this would be a very reasonable shot.

[Darren Mack]

The fallout from this horrifying day one shooting.

[Detective Ron Chalmers]

Judge Weller is recovering from gunshot wounds under guard in an undisclosed location.

[Darren Mack]

One murder.

[Interviewer]

Did she fear for her life?

[Narrator]

Yes, it's a homicide investigation. Right now, the prime suspect, Darren Mack.

[Darren Mack]

And one disturbing question.

[Michael Small]

I absolutely was afraid.

[Darren Mack]

Where is Darren Mack?

[Michael Small]

He's a scary human being.

[Host]

Police say federal and local agencies are looking for Mack all over the western United States states. The judge is reportedly under guard in a local hospital.

[Detective Ron Chalmers]

Police aren't giving out many details.

[Darren Mack]

Day 2, 45 year old Darren Mack is a hunted man. With a nationwide search underway, he is heading south and flying under the radar.

[District Attorney Dick Gammick]

This is not a violent man.

[Host]

He is a good person.

[Darren Mack]

His cousin Jeff Donner goes on television to make an impassioned plea.

[District Attorney Dick Gammick]

If Darren is listening, if he's Watching.

[Host]

We love him.

[District Attorney Dick Gammick]

We care about him.

[Darren Mack]

Darren called Donner just minutes after Judge Weller was shot.

[District Attorney Dick Gammick]

If he is responsible for this, he snapped.

[Host]

He broke.

[District Attorney Dick Gammick]

The press needs to ask what went on in that courtroom that would make a good, loving, caring person like this possibly snap to this extent.

[Darren Mack]

That courtroom belonged to Judge Chuck Weller. And what went wrong in Darren Mack's mind was just about everything.

[Interviewer]

Tell me about Darren's frustration with the family court system, specifically with Judge Weller.

[Charla Mack]

He felt Judge Weller wasn't listening to him. He also felt that Sharla's attorney was lying about everything that he was filing, but Weller was letting him get away with it.

[Darren Mack]

Michael Small was one of Darren's closest friends.

[Interviewer]

You're not uncomfortable saying out loud that Darren Mack is my friend?

[Charla Mack]

No, I love Darren.

[Interviewer]

Even in light of these charges, these heinous crimes that he's charged with.

[Charla Mack]

Innocent until proven guilty.

[Darren Mack]

Small and Mack had a lot in common. Both men were in the midst of bitter custody fights.

[Charla Mack]

We sat side by side, really trying to do right by kids and family.

[Darren Mack]

And both men appeared before Judge Weller. Small says his own experience in Weller's courtroom sheds light on Darren's intense frustration.

[Charla Mack]

I think I understand what he's going through inside of him better than anyone out there.

[Host]

I want to talk right now about how this child is going to be delivered.

[Darren Mack]

Weller ordered Small to return his son to Florida, where his ex wife lives, an arrangement Small said would put the child at risk. But a Florida judge had already rejected that claim.

[Charla Mack]

I'm not a lawyer. I don't confess to know the law. All I know, I will do anything to protect my children.

[Darren Mack]

Judge Weller's hands were tied.

[Host]

This court does not have jurisdiction in this case.

[Darren Mack]

When When Small missed the deadline to return the boy, a Florida judge threw him in jail for 45 days. The former actor was leftistew about family court in general and Weller in particular, a sentiment shared by Darren Mack. Both men were losing. Both men blamed Judge Weller, and both men started a campaign against him.

[Charla Mack]

We felt something big did have to happen in order for people to know what is going on in order for light to be shed on the situation.

[Interviewer]

Something big. Like what? Like a judge being shot?

[Charla Mack]

No, we never talked about that. We never thought about that. We never wanted anyone to get hurt.

[Darren Mack]

Clearly, Weller was not a popular judge. According to a tally kept by the county bar association, lawyers, when given the choice, chose to get Weller off their case.

[Narrator]

Judge Weller had twice as many peremptory challenges as the other family court judges.

[Darren Mack]

Martha Belial specializes in legal affairs for her newspaper.

[Interviewer]

What kind of criticism have you heard about Judge Weller?

[Narrator]

That he tended to make decisions quickly, wouldn't hear both sides.

[Darren Mack]

But being unpopular and having a bias are two different things.

[Interviewer]

Did he have a reputation of making rulings that were more favorable to women in his court?

[Narrator]

I don't know that that's been shown.

[Interviewer]

To the best of your knowledge, he didn't have any clear bias?

[Narrator]

I don't know that he had a bias.

[Darren Mack]

Just two weeks after the shooting, Judge Weller had recovered and held a press conference. But he wouldn't address the Mack case.

[Host]

In every case, as much as we try to avoid it, oftentimes there are winners and losers. I can say that my job is to go into the courtroom and decide cases without bias, and that's what I.

[District Attorney Dick Gammick]

Have striven to do the entire time.

[Host]

That I've been on the bench.

[Interviewer]

What did Darren Mack say to you about Judge Weller?

[District Attorney Dick Gammick]

Well, he said he was an anti father's rights judge.

[Darren Mack]

Dean Tung was part of Darren Mack's divorce legal team. He says Darren was a difficult client.

[District Attorney Dick Gammick]

He seemed like a guy who would have trouble listening to others. He wanted to basically call the shots.

[Darren Mack]

Tong, who specializes in custody issues, warned Darren, there are certain things that just won't sit well with any judge when it comes to deciding who gets custody.

[Host]

Smile, y'all.

[District Attorney Dick Gammick]

He wanted to still continue to do what he was doing, which was the sex winging on the side.

[Interviewer]

Did you explain to him in very clear terms that he could jeopardize this case?

[District Attorney Dick Gammick]

Absolutely.

[Interviewer]

And what did he say to you?

[District Attorney Dick Gammick]

He, you know, he took a deep breath and said, well, we'll address it. We'll talk about it.

[Darren Mack]

Apparently, Darren didn't take the warning seriously.

[Host]

Thank you for calling the world famous Moonlight Bunny Ranch.

[Darren Mack]

In fact, he later took a trip to the famous Moonlight Bunny ranch to celebrate his impending divorce.

[Narrator]

Oh, we all flocked to the parlor.

[Host]

We all want a shot at that one.

[Michael Small]

Hello, I'm Kitten.

[Host]

Hi, I'm Brooke Taylor.

[Narrator]

Hi, I'm Mia Morgan. His friends brought him out here to.

[Host]

Play and have a good time, and.

[Narrator]

He was like, you know what?

[Host]

I'm getting a divorce.

[Narrator]

I'm having fun.

[Host]

I don't have no reason to worry about it. To hell with her, you know, I don't need her.

[Michael Small]

I got these girls here.

[Host]

And it was your average everyday divorce party.

[Darren Mack]

But back at home, the party was over.

[District Attorney Dick Gammick]

When it comes, you know, to court, people are very naive in this country. They don't understand until it hits them on paper that a judge can alter your life. In a New York minute.

[Darren Mack]

Judge Weller had asked Darren and Charla to try to reach some kind of.

[Interviewer]

Financial agreement on their own so he.

[Host]

Wouldn'T be forced to do it for them.

[Darren Mack]

They did hammer out a deal, but when that fell apart, the judge stepped in and ordered Darren to pay up.

[Amanda Robb]

He had to pay her a lump sum of $480,000, out of which she was supposed to buy a home and a car. And then over the next five years, she was supposed to receive $10,000 a month in spousal support.

[Interviewer]

What was his state of mind?

[Charla Mack]

Disillusionment. Frightened. Could not believe this was happening. I mean, he was about to lose a lot of his money.

[Darren Mack]

Darren was ordered to make that payment up. Close to half a million dollars to Charla. But soon after that hearing, Charla Mack was dead.

[Interviewer]

Do you think Judge Weller's rulings against Darren Mack pushed him over the edge?

[Charla Mack]

I can't say Darren did this. Do I think Judge Weller's rulings, attitude, all that is enough to push someone over the edge? 100%? Yes, sir.

[Interviewer]

Is Darren Mack capable of murder?

[Charla Mack]

We all are.

[Narrator]

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[Host]

Do you know about Jerry Lee Lewis wanting to murder Elvis? Or the hip hop star who cannibalized his roommate? What about the murders AC DC was blamed for? Or the suspicious deaths of Brittany Murphy in River Phoenix? Or about Anthony Bourdain's wild lust for life and untimely demise. These stories and more are told in the award winning Disgraceland podcast hosted by me, Jake Brennan, every Tuesday, where I dive deep into subjects from the dark side of music, history and entertainment. So follow and listen to Disgraceland on the free Odyssey app or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Narrator]

Meghan Trainor Laundry retrainer Meghan Trainor. You're tossing out my gunky laundry detergent bottle. Ooey.

[Charla Mack]

It's got that booty, that juicy boom.

[Narrator]

Boom that don't hide alive. Arm and hammer power sheets toss like this. It's a no mess Laundry Bliss arm and hammer power sheets. More power to you.

[Michael Small]

Should we all be huddling somewhere and hiding? Should our kids be walking in front of the windows?

[Darren Mack]

It's been four days since Charlemak's body was discovered inside Darren Mack's garage.

[Narrator]

I was very frightened.

[Darren Mack]

And there's still no sign of Darren.

[Narrator]

If he murdered Charla with his daughter in the house, you don't know what he's capable of.

[Darren Mack]

Darren's daughter Erica was now safely in hiding with family. But Charla's friends were still on edge.

[Interviewer]

Were you afraid that Darren Mack was gonna come after you?

[Host]

Yes.

[Interviewer]

You were?

[Host]

Yes.

[Interviewer]

Thought you were the next target.

[District Attorney Dick Gammick]

Mm.

[Darren Mack]

Mark Phillips was Charla's boyfriend at the time of her death.

[Interviewer]

What did you do to protect yourself?

[Detective Ron Chalmers]

I always had the shades drawn in.

[Host]

My house and walked through the backyard.

[Detective Ron Chalmers]

To see if any disturbances in windows.

[Host]

Or anything like that before I went inside. I always had everything double locked. I just don't understand why she went in there. She knew better than that.

[Darren Mack]

While Charla's friends and family were lying.

[Host]

Low, we've highlighted those areas of La Paz.

[Darren Mack]

The search for Darren Mack was now an international manhunt. Reno investigators working with the FBI were tracking possible Deramac sightings in Mexico. A couple of unverified reports came in at this resort in San Jose del Cabo, Mexico. It would have been familiar territory for Darren since he'd been here the year before for a swingers convention.

[Narrator]

People would walk around without any clothes on. They would have sex freely in the open.

[Darren Mack]

Newspaper reporter Martha Belle Isle went to Mexico trying to retrace Darren's steps and met hotel employee Virginia Delgadillo, who claimed she met a man fitting Darren's description.

[Narrator]

He was looking at, like, just standing here and just like, what is your name? Or something.

[Darren Mack]

And an airline pilot staying at the same resort also reported he thought he had seen the millionaire fugitive. FBI agents soon descended on the Mexican hotel.

[Detective Ron Chalmers]

They conducted several interviews and canvases. However, they were unable to ultimately determine if it was Darren Mack that was at that resort.

[Darren Mack]

Then, exactly one week after he disappeared, came the shocking announcement that Darren Mack, hiding somewhere in Mexico, wanted to surrender.

[Narrator]

A break tonight in the Darren Mack case.

[Host]

Earlier this week, Mac contacted district attorney Dick Gammick by telephone and expressed a desire to surrender.

[Darren Mack]

Dick Gammick, a longtime Mac family friend, is Reno's district attorney.

[District Attorney Dick Gammick]

He did express to me that he called me because I'm the only one he trusts in the system.

[Darren Mack]

While he was still in hiding, Darren's family had retained two high priced defense attorneys.

[Host]

There's no question about the fact that.

[District Attorney Dick Gammick]

We have our work cut out for us.

[Darren Mack]

David Chesnoff and Scott Freeman took over the surrender negotiation.

[Interviewer]

Let's be clear on what we're dealing with here. Your client Darren Mack did kill his ex wife Charla.

[District Attorney Dick Gammick]

You won't get me to tell you that.

[Interviewer]

Nor me my son and to dispute is it.

[District Attorney Dick Gammick]

I think everything in the case is in dispute.

[Darren Mack]

But what's not in dispute is they see Darren as a man pushed to the limit.

[District Attorney Dick Gammick]

I mean if I had a dollar for every time somebody said to me this guy must have just snapped.

[Interviewer]

Do you think he went temporarily insane that morning?

[Michael Small]

He's a completely capable human being who makes bad choices and excuses.

[Darren Mack]

But a series of emails Darren sent while on the run reveal a disturbing picture of this man. For example, in one message he holds himself up as a martyr for the father's rights movement, saying, remember, they want me as a sacrificial lamb. They want the pleasure of executing me. In the same vein, he later writes that his story must get attention to save the hundreds of thousands yet to go through little Nazi Germany in the divorce industry.

[Interviewer]

What does that say to you? What does that suggest to you?

[District Attorney Dick Gammick]

And if that isn't a clear example to a lawyer or my colleague to have psychiatric analysis of our client, that's what that says to me.

[Darren Mack]

After days of negotiations, Darren finally agreed to surrender the next morning at the U.S. consulate in Puerto Vallarta. But will he go peacefully?

[Narrator]

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[Host]

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[Narrator]

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[Host]

Reno Police officials have been working with the FBI inside of Mexico to facilitate the return of Mac.

[District Attorney Dick Gammick]

To the United States.

[Darren Mack]

June 22nd. Eleven days after that violent rampage that shook the city of Reno, police anxiously await the surrender of the man they believe responsible, Mack, who is believed to.

[District Attorney Dick Gammick]

Also have been using the names of.

[Host]

Darren Stone and John Smith.

[Darren Mack]

There was a question whether Darren Mack would give up without a fight. But in the end, the millionaire fugitive quietly turned himself in at a luxury hotel in Puerto Vallarta.

[Narrator]

He walked in around midnight and walked by the front desk, went to the phone bank, called his lawyer, walked back to the desk, and the officials came over and said, I think we're the people you're looking for.

[Darren Mack]

Darren's last night was spent in this stark Mexican jail cell, a dramatic reversal of fortune for a man who was accustomed to living the high life.

[Host]

And Darren Mack has now stepped out of the vehicle.

[Charla Mack]

We can hear some of the press photographers.

[Interviewer]

What prompted Darren Mack to surrender?

[Detective Ron Chalmers]

The only thing that I can think is that he was obsessed with exposing what he believed were Judge Weller's injustices.

[Darren Mack]

Darren Mack was carrying $36,000 in cash, 20 credit cards and a suitcase full of evidence.

[Detective Ron Chalmers]

A pair of shoes with some blood spatter were in the suitcase. Some other clothing with what appeared to be blood stains or in.

[Interviewer]

Did you analyze the blood stains on the clothing?

[Detective Ron Chalmers]

Yes.

[Interviewer]

And who do they belong to?

[Detective Ron Chalmers]

The DNA profile matches that of Charla Mack.

[Darren Mack]

Darren Mack was charged with the murder of his wife and the attempted murder of Judge Weller.

[Host]

This case had all the hallmarks of overwhelming evidence.

[Darren Mack]

Las Vegas special prosecutor Christopher Lally is handling the case.

[Host]

When you look at the DNA evidence.

[Darren Mack]

The eyewitness evidence, the fingerprint evidence, all.

[Host]

The forensic things that people look for.

[District Attorney Dick Gammick]

In a case this one had.

[Darren Mack]

Darren has pled not guilty to both crimes.

[District Attorney Dick Gammick]

I believe that he's not guilty of these crimes.

[Interviewer]

You do admit, though, you have your work cut out for you.

[District Attorney Dick Gammick]

People need to remember that Mr. Mack came back voluntarily so that he could present his defense.

[Darren Mack]

From the sound of it, Daramack's attorneys may be making a case for self defense.

[District Attorney Dick Gammick]

Our investigation shows that this woman was violent and could get angry and do things that were inappropriate that may actually raise the question of self defense.

[Darren Mack]

Darren hinted at this in an email he sent to Reno DA Dick Gamut while negotiating his surrender, claiming it was Charla who was the aggressor in that garage.

[Michael Small]

She would never try to attack Darren or do anything like that. Even if she would, which I don't think she ever would, she would certainly have never even considered it with her daughter around, ever.

[Amanda Robb]

Period.

[Michael Small]

It just wouldn't have happened.

[Darren Mack]

Darren Mack's attorneys may also raise questions about his state of mind is immensely incompetent.

[District Attorney Dick Gammick]

It's not for lawyers or prosecutors to decide. It's for experts.

[Darren Mack]

Co prosecutor Robert Daskas thinks insanity will be a hard sell.

[District Attorney Dick Gammick]

You look at the object, if you will, of his hostility. He went after the two people he had a motive to kill. He went after Charlemak, with whom he was having a bitter divorce and a custody battle.

[Host]

And he went after judge Weller, someone.

[District Attorney Dick Gammick]

At least in Darren Mack's mind, who was treating him unfairly.

[Darren Mack]

And the defense will need to work around that so called to do list which could show premeditation.

[Host]

What do you make of this?

[District Attorney Dick Gammick]

I'd have to know who wrote it.

[Interviewer]

Cryptic list here.

[District Attorney Dick Gammick]

I'd have to know who wrote it before.

[Interviewer]

You don't think Darren wrote this?

[District Attorney Dick Gammick]

I didn't say that, but I don't know who wrote it, and it hasn't been established. And until I knew who wrote it, how could I possibly speculate as to what the meaning of it was?

[Darren Mack]

As they gear up for trial, Darren's attorneys say they'll spare no expense to defend their client. But apparently it won't be easy.

[Interviewer]

What is your client's net worth?

[District Attorney Dick Gammick]

As we speak, it's zero. He has no money.

[Interviewer]

Yeah, how is that? I understand that he was worth anywhere from 9 to $12 million.

[District Attorney Dick Gammick]

No, he's in bankruptcy.

[Interviewer]

So you're taking this case on pro bono?

[District Attorney Dick Gammick]

No. He has a lot of friends and family that care about him a great deal.

[Darren Mack]

After the violent events of that June morning, many still wrestle with the fallout. Custody litigation expert Dean Tong.

[Interviewer]

What has this case done to the father's rights movement in this country?

[District Attorney Dick Gammick]

It certainly slapped me in the face, you know? How dare you be a martyr for this, for what we've worked so hard for.

[Darren Mack]

Released from jail and back home with his new wife and family, Michael Small would learn more about the case and eventually withdraw his support from Darren. As Darren awaits trial for the murder of his wife Charla, their daughter Erica is now the center of a new custody dispute between her grandmothers.

[Interviewer]

Does she know about the circumstances surrounding her mother's death?

[Amanda Robb]

Yes.

[Host]

Yes.

[Interviewer]

She knows that her father has been charged with her mother's murder.

[Amanda Robb]

Yes.

[Narrator]

But she also hears a lot of comments from Darren's friends and family that try to instill doubt in her mind and so now she has made the comment, well, we don't know if my daddy killed my mommy. She said, maybe the cat did it.

[Darren Mack]

So Darren Mack sits in jail waiting to tell his side of the story. The twists and turns of this case are just beginning. Stay tuned for part two tomorrow.