Living with a Stranger

Summary

48 Hours: "Living with a Stranger" – Episode Summary

Release Date: June 16, 2025
Host: Anne-Marie Green
Producer: CBS News

---

Introduction

In the gripping episode titled "Living with a Stranger," CBS News' award-winning series "48 Hours" delves into the mysterious disappearance of Jamie Laity, a promising University of Michigan graduate, and the unraveling of her seemingly perfect relationship with her boyfriend, Brian Stewart. This detailed investigation uncovers secrets, deceit, and ultimately leads to a shocking revelation that alters the course of justice.

---

Case Overview

Jamie Laity, a vibrant and independent woman, vanished in March 2010 from Phoenix, Arizona. Her disappearance puzzled friends and family, especially given her respected standing and close-knit social circle. The episode meticulously traces Jamie's last known months, revealing her growing isolation and the strains in her relationship with Brian Stewart.

• Gwyneth Newman reflects on the personal impact:
  "Jamie lost. We don't know where she is and it's really sad. She was a good person and she didn't deserve this." (00:00)

---

Disappearance and Initial Signs

Jamie moved to Phoenix post-graduation to carve out her own identity. Despite her success in a high-paying job, the economic downturn in 2009 led to her unemployment, causing significant distress.

• Brian Stewart expresses concern:
  "I believe Jamie was murdered because there's no clear explanation as to where she is now, what happened to her..." (02:55)

Jamie became increasingly reclusive, and her friends initially overlooked her absence, attributing it to her desire for privacy.

• Gwyneth Newman shares her disbelief:
  "I think people were just respecting her privacy and her space. And that was unfortunate." (11:18)

---

Investigation Unfolds

Marlena Buffa, the president of Jamie's University of Michigan alum club in Phoenix, became suspicious when Jamie failed to show up, prompting her friends to hire a private investigator, Burke Files. Their investigation revealed unsettling details about Brian Stewart's past, including his association with a man named Rick Wayne Valentini.

• Marlena Buffa remarks on Brian's behavior:
  "He had a warrant for his arrest for driving on a suspended license for a traffic offense." (12:24)

Detectives soon discovered inconsistencies in Brian's identity, including mismatched Social Security numbers and birth dates. Further investigation uncovered that Brian Stewart was, in fact, Rick Wayne Valentini, who had forged a new identity to escape his troubled past.

• Detective Moffatt confronts Brian:
  "You have to be very careful because you only get one chance." (15:00)

---

Trial and Revelation

In October 2011, Rick Wayne Valentini (alias Brian Stewart) stood trial for Jamie's murder and fraud. The prosecution built a case based on circumstantial evidence, including Jamie's missing wallet, driver's license, and Brian's unauthorized use of her credit cards.

• Prosecutor Juan Martinez states:
  "This is a really telling piece of evidence." (25:26)

During the trial, testimonies revealed Brian's deceit, including his false claims of a military background and fabricated personal history. A jailhouse informant provided crucial testimony, asserting that Brian had confessed to Jamie's murder.

• Andrea Aardsma, a witness, testified about Brian's negative remarks:
  "Whiny, naggy bitch. Sugar mama. Nothing. Nothing positive at all." (32:29)

In a pivotal moment, Brian chose to take the stand, appearing confident yet evasive. His testimony failed to provide clarity, only deepening suspicions.

• Brian Stewart (Rick Valentini) declares:
  "I am the only human being who knows what happened. I'm the only human being who knows why things happened when they happened." (37:16)

Despite lacking a body or direct evidence, the jury convicted Brian of second-degree murder and fraudulent schemes based on the amassed circumstantial evidence.

• Jury Verdict:
  "We, the jury...do find the defendant guilty." (41:24)

---

Conclusion and Aftermath

Rick Wayne Valentini was sentenced to 54 years in prison. However, the mystery lingered until 2018, when Jamie Laity's remains were discovered in a construction yard in Chandler, Arizona, providing closure to her unsettling disappearance.

• Gwyneth Newman poignantly states:
  "Every time they mention her name, it hurts me so much. I think that I'm not going to see her anymore." (36:38)

The episode underscores the complexities of identity, trust, and the relentless pursuit of truth in the face of deception.

---

Key Takeaways

• Identity Deception: The case highlights how forged identities can conceal heinous crimes and complicate investigations.

• Circumstantial Evidence: Demonstrates the power of thorough investigative work in building a compelling case without direct evidence.

• Personal Impact: Reflects on the profound effects of disappearance and loss on friends and family, emphasizing the emotional toll of unresolved cases.

---

Notable Quotes

• Gwyneth Newman on Jamie’s disappearance:
  "How can one of my best friends have been missing for 10 weeks? How did it come to this that she could be gone so long and nobody reported it?" (01:15)

• Marlena Buffa on the investigation:
  "There's no smoking gun in this case, but there is a lot of burning matchsticks." (02:25)

• Detective Moffatt analyzing Brian's inconsistencies:
  "I have no friggin clue who's sitting in front of me. And it's extremely uneasy for me as I'm investigating a case of this magnitude." (15:16)

• Rick Wayne Valentini on his new identity:
  "Everybody takes their name for granted. Your name is the very core essence of who you are... and then you find out that it's all a lie." (19:00)

• Prosecutor Juan Martinez on the evidence:
  "This is a really telling piece of evidence. Oh my gosh. In this many pieces." (25:26)

---

Final Thoughts

"Living with a Stranger" serves as a compelling narrative on the depths of human deceit and the relentless pursuit of justice. Through meticulous reporting and in-depth interviews, "48 Hours" brings to light the intricate web surrounding Jamie Laity's disappearance and the ultimate downfall of her deceitful partner. This episode not only recounts a tragic story but also underscores the importance of vigilance and integrity in both personal relationships and the justice system.

Transcript

[Gwyneth Newman]

I've never felt like this before. It's like you just get me. I feel like my true self with you. Does that sound crazy? And it doesn't hurt that you're gorgeous. Okay, that's it. I'm taking you home with me. I mean, you can't find shoes this good just anywhere. Find a shoe for every you from brands you love like Birkenstock, Nike, Adidas and more at your DSW store or dsw.com@new balance. We believe if you run, you're a runner, however you choose to do it. Because when you're not worried about doing things the right way, you're free to discover your way. And that's what running's all about. Run your [e-mail] Running this is a wonderful, bubbly, confident, independent woman and she's missing.

[Brian Stewart]

Jamie Laity disappeared. Doesn't make any sense. She's a college graduate from the University of Michigan, respected within her community. People of her background and stature don't just come up missing for 10 weeks and nobody hears from them.

[Gwyneth Newman]

How can one of my best friends have been missing for 10 weeks? How did it come to this that she could be gone so long and nobody reported it? I couldn't believe that it had been that long that nobody had noticed. It was absolute craziness.

[Marlena Buffa]

Phoenix in the metropolitan area is the sixth largest city in the country. It's a big valley and it's surrounded by desert on all four sides.

[Brian Stewart]

I believe Jamie lady came to Arizona to establish her own identity.

[Marlena Buffa]

Jamie was a very private person. She kept to herself. She wasn't close with her family.

[Gwyneth Newman]

She just kind of had a don't ask me about my parents kind of thing.

[Marlena Buffa]

So the only person that saw her on a daily basis was her live in boyfriend, Brian Stewart.

[Rick Valentini]

Jamie and I dated for nearly three years. She's always refused to talk about her past or her family. Every time that Jamie saw her parents, she was terrified.

[Marlena Buffa]

It was a very different case than just about everything else that we work. There was no blood, there was no body, there was no evidence of a crime scene. There's no smoking gun in this case, but there is a lot of burning matchsticks.

[Gwyneth Newman]

Jamie's lost. We don't know where she is and it's really sad. She was a good person and she didn't deserve this.

[Brian Stewart]

I believe Jamie was murdered because there's no clear explanation as to where she is now, what happened to her and.

[Rick Valentini]

Why Jamie Lydy is alive. She took $100,000 of Daddy's money. And she left the state of Arizona.

[Marlena Buffa]

He's a very convincing liar.

[Rick Valentini]

Bring it on. I know she's alive.

[Erin Moriarty]

I'm Erin moriar. Tonight on 48 Hours. The Stranger beside me. When Jamie Laody disappeared in March of 2010, none of her closest friends noticed for weeks. The truth is, Jamie had been fading from their lives for nearly two years.

[Gwyneth Newman]

After your friend stops making an effort, you kind of stop too. But I never thought Jamie would have been the one to stop making an effort.

[Erin Moriarty]

It was completely out of character for the sweet California girl. They all met as freshmen at the University of Michigan.

[Gwyneth Newman]

She was a good friend. We were a support network for each other.

[Erin Moriarty]

Gwyneth Newman, Sheila Dubes, and Jennifer Langoot say they quickly formed a lasting bond with Jamie.

[Gwyneth Newman]

Kind of like we had this rock, we had this family of friends that we were so connected with. And I remember leaving Michigan, it was just so reassuring that you were just a phone call away from feeling like you belong somewhere again.

[Erin Moriarty]

They call themselves the 516 girls, referring to the address of a house they shared in Ann Arbor their senior year and where they were passionate supporters of Michigan's Big Ten football team.

[Gwyneth Newman]

We were obsessed with U of M football.

[Erin Moriarty]

No one was a greater booster than Jamie, I think.

[Gwyneth Newman]

Just I always picture her in my mind on football Saturdays, you know, charging out to the stadium.

[Erin Moriarty]

Sheila says that she and Jamie had a special connection.

[Gwyneth Newman]

We were both from immigrant families and.

[Erin Moriarty]

Both were under heavy pressure to succeed.

[Gwyneth Newman]

I think our fathers were kind of the same. They put a lot of pressure on us to do really well in school, but I think she just wanted to make it on her own.

[Erin Moriarty]

Vani and Jimmy lady came to the US From Thailand in search of a better life. They admit they pushed Jamie to go to medical school. You think that because you were pushing her to go back to school, she might have pulled away a bit.

[Gwyneth Newman]

She said. She's a big girl.

[Erin Moriarty]

After graduation, Jamie landed in Phoenix, Arizona. The big valley was booming. The perfect place to blend in and make her own way. She eventually found a high paying job selling medical supplies. And while it consumed her time, she managed to maintain her now long distance friendships.

[Gwyneth Newman]

We emailed each other a lot. Even though we all ended up in different locations, I think we still looked to each other for support. The weddings were the big thing that kind of kept us together.

[Erin Moriarty]

But far away in Arizona, Jamie was lonely. So she joined a local University of Michigan alum club where she found friends who shared her deep love of Michigan football. Marlena Buffa was the group's president.

[Gwyneth Newman]

She was enthusiastic, but still, she was reserved and quiet.

[Erin Moriarty]

But when she caught the eye of a handsome young fellow, Michigan fan, Jamie found romance.

[Rick Valentini]

She was hot. I mean, how else do you put it?

[Erin Moriarty]

Brian Stewart says the attraction was immediate.

[Rick Valentini]

She had a really good smile and really got enthusiastic about the football games and would jump up and cheer and would sing with the fight song.

[Erin Moriarty]

They started dating in the fall of 2007. About a year later, Brian moved into the home that Jamie owned in the trendy Phoenix suburb of Chandler. She was the breadwinner, making well over $100,000 a year. Brian, a personal trainer, made much less. Did she pay most of the bills?

[Rick Valentini]

Most of the big ones, yeah. But it's not like I was dependent upon her.

[Erin Moriarty]

Did you love Jamie?

[Rick Valentini]

I still love Jamie. You know, I just want Jamie to be happy. It's hard because I don't know if Jamie knows what it takes to make her happy.

[Erin Moriarty]

In August 2009, Jamie suffered a crushing setback. When the economy took a big downturn, she lost the thing she valued most, her high powered job.

[Gwyneth Newman]

Her career had been going so well for so long, and I think this was a pretty major blow to her.

[Erin Moriarty]

She searched for months in Arizona, Florida, New Jersey. But Jamie couldn't find another job. When the real estate crash hit Chandler and her property value plunged, Brian says she became despondent and even more withdrawn.

[Rick Valentini]

You know, it was like, when it rains, it pours. For Jamie, it was pouring.

[Erin Moriarty]

Brian says all of it took a toll on their relationship. So he rented an apartment in Scottsdale and planned to break things off. And on the night of March 17, he said he was going to tell Jamie he was moving out. Instead, he says, she surprised him.

[Rick Valentini]

She came in, asked me to take a week off from work, and she's like, we're going to go to Denver. We're going to get a house. You know, I've got a job offer up there. It's time to go. I want to go. I want to get out of this state. Basically, I told her, no, I'm not leaving Arizona. I'm not going to marry you.

[Erin Moriarty]

Brian admits Jamie was upset and that they argued. Still, he says that when they went to bed, things had settled down. At the crack of dawn the next morning, Brian left for work.

[Rick Valentini]

She was laying in bed and I gave her a kiss, told her I loved her, and got in the truck and drove to work.

[Erin Moriarty]

But later that morning, Brian emailed Marlena Buffa and told her a different story.

[Gwyneth Newman]

And said, jamie dumped me. She moved to Colorado.

[Erin Moriarty]

Did that surprise you? At all?

[Gwyneth Newman]

No. I thought good for her.

[Erin Moriarty]

Did he seem upset?

[Gwyneth Newman]

A little bit. He was more angry that she left him alone.

[Erin Moriarty]

At any point, did it even cross your mind that something could have happened to Jamie?

[Gwyneth Newman]

No. I knew she had means. If she wants to pick up and leave, good for her.

[Erin Moriarty]

That day and for weeks to come, no one realized that Jamie had disappeared. When is the last time you saw.

[Rick Valentini]

Jamie, physically saw her? 3:15am March 18, 2010.

[Gwyneth Newman]

There she is.

[Erin Moriarty]

Jamie Liety had always been fiercely private, but by the summer of 2009, she was practically reclusive, cutting herself off from nearly everyone except her live in boyfriend, Brian Stewart.

[Rick Valentini]

We never had anybody over for dinner. We never had any parties. Nobody came over to watch television or to just hang out.

[Erin Moriarty]

Why not?

[Rick Valentini]

So one of the great mysteries, I don't know.

[Erin Moriarty]

Even Jamie's parents say she was more distant than ever.

[Gwyneth Newman]

My husband said, well, you know, she's a busy girl. Don't bother her.

[Erin Moriarty]

That's why. It took nearly three months for anyone to notice that Jamie was missing.

[Gwyneth Newman]

I think people were just respecting her privacy and her space. And that was unfortunate.

[Erin Moriarty]

Then on May 28, Marlena got a call from Brian.

[Gwyneth Newman]

He said, you know, I'm starting to get worried about Jamie.

[Erin Moriarty]

Marlena was also worried. So she and another member of the Michigan alum club called a private investigator, Burke Files Files, did a background check on Brian and found nothing. Although one thing did stand out. About 10 years earlier, at two different addresses in Michigan, Brian had lived with a man named Rick Wayne Valentini.

[Rick Valentini]

It could be a roommate, it could be a close friend, it could be a relative.

[Erin Moriarty]

And then Burke files went on to trace Jamie's credit to see where she was now living and working. He came up empty.

[Rick Valentini]

And nothing. There was no activity. All nothing.

[Erin Moriarty]

Jamie had disappeared into thin air. So files sounded the alarm. Marlena urged Brian to call Jamie's parents, who then called the police.

[Brian Stewart]

I immediately thought something was wrong. People of her background and stature don't just come up missing for 10 weeks and nobody hears from them.

[Erin Moriarty]

That afternoon, Chandler police got a warrant to search Jamie's house, home and started calling Brian. But he seemed to be ignoring them.

[Marlena Buffa]

To me, that was alarming. It just showed a lack of concern.

[Erin Moriarty]

Later that same night, when detectives were searching for Jamie's missing Ford escape, they found it in Scottsdale with Brian behind the wheel.

[Marlena Buffa]

The detective said, well, I'm here in regards to your girlfriend. And the first thing he did was say, my ex girlfriend.

[Erin Moriarty]

The detective felt that Brian was being evasive and seemed nervous When Brian asked to use the bathroom in his own apartment, the answer was no.

[Marlena Buffa]

We didn't want to risk losing any evidence. If there was something in there, his luck would have it. He had a warrant for his arrest for driving on a suspended license for a traffic offense.

[Erin Moriarty]

So the detective used that warrant to take Brian into custody.

[Rick Valentini]

Brian? Yes.

[Marlena Buffa]

Hey, I'm Nate Moffat.

[Rick Valentini]

How are you, man?

[Marlena Buffa]

It's B R Y a N, right?

[Erin Moriarty]

Yes.

[Marlena Buffa]

Last name is Stuart.

[Erin Moriarty]

Detective Moffat interrogated Brian.

[Marlena Buffa]

How long have you and Jamie been dating?

[Rick Valentini]

Give or take three years.

[Marlena Buffa]

Okay. When did you guys move in together?

[Rick Valentini]

Honestly, I don't know.

[Gwyneth Newman]

Okay.

[Marlena Buffa]

Were you cheating on Jamie at all before?

[Gwyneth Newman]

No.

[Erin Moriarty]

While Detective Spielman searched Jamie's home for clues.

[Marlena Buffa]

Walk me through what happened around March.

[Rick Valentini]

It was simple, really. She hated everything about the state. She wanted out. Now. She'd been up there for interviews. I suspected that she would get the Denver offer.

[Brian Stewart]

So, you know, he's saying she went to Colorado, yet all of her suitcases are there and her passport's there. All these things that she would need to travel are there at the house.

[Erin Moriarty]

But Jamie's wallet and driver's license were missing.

[Marlena Buffa]

I was concerned, but the possibility did exist that, you know, she just left and she doesn't want to be found.

[Erin Moriarty]

But at Chandler pd, Moffatt smelled a rat and started pressing Brian.

[Marlena Buffa]

Did you hurt Jamie?

[Gwyneth Newman]

Okay.

[Marlena Buffa]

Did you have anything to do with her disappearance? You have nothing to hide?

[Gwyneth Newman]

No.

[Erin Moriarty]

But things just didn't add up for Moffatt. There were just too many inconsistencies. Brian gave a birth date to the arresting officer which didn't match the date on his Arizona id.

[Marlena Buffa]

I have no friggin clue who's sitting in front of me. And it's extremely uneasy for me as I'm investigating a case of this magnitude.

[Erin Moriarty]

Moffitt had no idea how right he was until the next day when Brian was in a jail cell and detectives were searching his apartment.

[Marlena Buffa]

While we were searching his new residence, we located a manila envelope with a Michigan driver's license in the name of Rick Wayne Valentini. And that picture was Brian Stewart.

[Erin Moriarty]

You're not really Brian Stewart at all, are you?

[Gwyneth Newman]

This episode is brought to you by. State Farm Insurance may all seem the same on the surface, but having insurance isn't the same as having State Farm. It's like getting a speech from your third cousins, plus one at your wedding when you needed a speech from your best man, you wouldn't settle for just any speech. So don't settle for just any insurance. When it comes to Getting the help you need. State Farm is the real deal. Like a good neighbor, State Farm is there. This episode is brought to you by Amazon's Blink Video Doorbell. Get more at your door with the easy to install Blink Video Doorbell. Get more connections. Hey, I'm here for our first date. More deliveries. Hi. I have tacos for two. Oh, thanks. We'll be right down. And more memories, babe. Come D. I have a surprise. All new Blink video doorbell with two year battery. Head to toe, HD view and simple setup. Shop now at Amazon.com blink for just $69.99.

[Erin Moriarty]

On the night of May 29, 2010, as he interrogated Brian Stewart about his missing girlfriend, Jamie Laity, Detective Moffatt knew that Brian wasn't telling the truth.

[Marlena Buffa]

I mean, you're talking to a woman who's been gone for two months now. And I have a person in front of me that has different Social Security numbers, a couple different dates of birth.

[Erin Moriarty]

You're not really Brian Stewart at all, are you?

[Rick Valentini]

To me I am.

[Erin Moriarty]

But not legally, are you?

[Rick Valentini]

Well, legally, I'm not anything.

[Erin Moriarty]

Actually, legally, Brian is Rick Wayne Valentini. Remember the roommate that private investigator Burke Files noticed in Brian Stewart's credit history? Well, there was no roommate, just this guy, Rick Valentini, who was preparing to change his identity.

[Gwyneth Newman]

In our modern world with the databases.

[Rick Valentini]

You just can't turn on a new name, a new taxpayer ID number, a Social Security number.

[Marlena Buffa]

You have to age it.

[Rick Valentini]

You have to season it.

[Erin Moriarty]

In October 2001, when the name Brian Stewart had enough of a credit history, Rick Valentini disappeared from Michigan. Days later, a man named Brian became a resident of Phoenix.

[Rick Valentini]

Driving from Michigan to Arizona. That's all I did. Brian Stewart. Brian Stewart. Brian Stewart. Brian Stewart. I was always saying, listening for Brian Stewart, Brian Stewart. Because it's a new name, A new.

[Erin Moriarty]

Name and a new man, according to Rick, the kind of man he always wanted to be. And he insists that whether legal or not, he is now Brian Stewart and would only agree to an interview if we would use that name.

[Rick Valentini]

And if you don't want to accept that I don't want you around, I don't want you in my life, why.

[Erin Moriarty]

Not change your name legally? Why go to the trouble of forging a birth certificate?

[Rick Valentini]

Well, it was my understanding that to change your name legally would take years.

[Erin Moriarty]

Brian claims he wasn't running from the law, just leaving behind what he describes as a tragic childhood.

[Rick Valentini]

Everybody takes their name for granted. Your name is the very core essence of who you are, of what you are. And you find out that it's all a lie. And then you find out that your own father doesn't even know you exist because your own mother didn't bother to tell him.

[Erin Moriarty]

His mother was 18 when he was born. His real father reportedly walked away.

[Rick Valentini]

He just wasn't loved.

[Gwyneth Newman]

Just didn't have love. That's why he loved us, because we loved him.

[Erin Moriarty]

His aunt Donna says she believes he was physically and emotionally abused.

[Gwyneth Newman]

I think the other children were, too, but not like him. He always knew there was something different about him, and he didn't know.

[Erin Moriarty]

What, do you think? That he created this different name, different Persona, because he just didn't want to be who he was.

[Gwyneth Newman]

Exactly. Exactly.

[Erin Moriarty]

But when detectives started looking into Rick Valentini's background, this is what else they found. Three ex wives and two daughters. Hello? Hi.

[Gwyneth Newman]

Is this Cynthia? This is. Hi, Cynthia. Detective Dave Selvage from Chandler Police Department.

[Erin Moriarty]

One of his exes told Chandler police she thinks Rick is just a deadbeat dad on the run. He owed, from what I understand, quite a bit of back child support from Wendy, his first wife. His oldest daughter, Amy, was a baby when he left.

[Gwyneth Newman]

He never called. He's never talked to me, never contacted me.

[Erin Moriarty]

When your mom finally told you about your dad, what did she say about him? What kind of guy? He was a really bad guy. A liar.

[Gwyneth Newman]

She told me that he always lied. All the time. He lied about lots of things.

[Erin Moriarty]

In Phoenix. His whole life was a lie. He told everyone, including Jamie, that his parents were killed by a drunk driver. He pretended to be eight years younger than he is and boasted a hero's military record. That was complete fiction. When you talked to Detective Moffat, when he sat you down, he asked you about your military record, and you said you'd been to Iraq and Afghanistan. You hadn't, had you?

[Rick Valentini]

Mm. Mm.

[Erin Moriarty]

No. You lied.

[Rick Valentini]

I was.

[Erin Moriarty]

You lied.

[Rick Valentini]

Yeah.

[Erin Moriarty]

Rick Valentini, AKA Brian Stewart, was an enlisted man, but he was dishonorably discharged after going AWOL and stabbing two military officers in the hand and leg. He served two years in a military prison. He never mentioned that to anyone either.

[Brian Stewart]

Freeze it.

[Gwyneth Newman]

Breathe it.

[Erin Moriarty]

You tell a lot of stories, though, don't you?

[Rick Valentini]

I have a lot of stories to tell.

[Erin Moriarty]

But you tell a lot of lies.

[Rick Valentini]

Um, lies mixed in with the truth.

[Erin Moriarty]

Like the lie that ultimately made Jamie Laity trust Brian with her life. You never actually went to the University of Michigan, did you?

[Rick Valentini]

No. Mm. Mm.

[Erin Moriarty]

But you let people think you did.

[Rick Valentini]

Sure.

[Erin Moriarty]

Why?

[Rick Valentini]

It was just a tie in to my home state. And it was just part of the pride that I had. I've been a Michigan fan since I was a little boy.

[Gwyneth Newman]

He was right in there, and, boy, he was a Michigan man.

[Erin Moriarty]

And it wasn't just that fanaticism that conned the alumni group in Phoenix for four years. Brian also had a fanatic fake diploma.

[Gwyneth Newman]

He's fooled all of us. We're talking hundreds of people here and 20 or so board members, many of them attorneys and judges.

[Erin Moriarty]

News of Jamie's boyfriend's double life went viral and made her disappearance even more alarming.

[Gwyneth Newman]

This doesn't happen to your friends. No. This does not happen to people you went to college with that you call your sister. This doesn't happen to your family. You don't have friends who meet people who. Who have double identities.

[Erin Moriarty]

Did you begin to think that maybe Jamie was dead?

[Gwyneth Newman]

Yes.

[Erin Moriarty]

And did you think he might have killed her?

[Gwyneth Newman]

Mm.

[Erin Moriarty]

Did you kill Jamie?

[Rick Valentini]

No. I've never killed anybody in my life. Not ever.

[Erin Moriarty]

Did you two fight that night? Were you angry with her?

[Rick Valentini]

No. She told me that she was gonna be leaving the next day.

[Erin Moriarty]

And where was she going?

[Rick Valentini]

It was my impression Denver.

[Erin Moriarty]

But detectives who had already discovered several suitcases in Jamie's home couldn't find any evidence of Jamie ever leaving for or arriving in Denver. Brian says that's because Jamie didn't want to be found.

[Rick Valentini]

I taught Jamie how to create a whole new life for herself that included a new identification, a whole new Persona, a whole new way of looking at things.

[Erin Moriarty]

Are you saying that you helped Jamie change her identity?

[Rick Valentini]

Yeah. I showed her how to do it. The only thing that she ever lived for was to be free of her family. She wanted to be on her own.

[Gwyneth Newman]

He's too smart. Why would he have stayed there for 10 weeks if he killed her? Why wouldn't he have just left? He'd done it before. Why wouldn't he do it again?

[Erin Moriarty]

Isn't it possible that Jamie's doing the same thing that Brian did, just vanished the same way, and no one's been able to track her down?

[Marlena Buffa]

Are you asking me today if I believe that's possible? Absolutely not. I wholeheartedly believe Bryan Stewart, Rick Valentini, whoever you want to call him, murdered Jamie Lighty on the night of March 17.

[Erin Moriarty]

But a year and a half after Jamie disappeared, there is still no body, no blood, no sign of a struggle, no physical evidence of a murder.

[Brian Stewart]

We just didn't have what you would consider a traditional crime scene. So we went with more of a virtual crime scene.

[Erin Moriarty]

They started investigating the digital record of Jamie's life, and this little White envelope contains several pieces of the puzzle. Prosecutor Juan Martinez says it was enough to convince him that Brian Stewart should be charged with murder. This is a really telling piece of evidence. Oh my gosh. In this many pieces.

[Gwyneth Newman]

Your burger is served. And this is our finest Pepsi. Zero sugar. Its sweet profile perfectly bal is the savory notes of your burger.

[Erin Moriarty]

That is one perfect combination. Burgers deserve Pepsi.

[Gwyneth Newman]

Now Streaming.

[Erin Moriarty]

Hi again.

[Gwyneth Newman]

TV's quirkiest crime solver.

[Erin Moriarty]

I'm Elspeth Tasiomi. I work with the police.

[Gwyneth Newman]

It's on the case.

[Erin Moriarty]

I like my outlandish theories with a.

[Gwyneth Newman]

Heavy dose of evidence and ready to go toe to toe with a cavalcade of guest stars.

[Rick Valentini]

Are you saying that this is now a murder investigation?

[Erin Moriarty]

It's starting to look that way.

[Gwyneth Newman]

Don't miss a moment. Of the critically acclaimed hit Elsbeth. All episodes streaming on Paramount and return CBS fall.

[Erin Moriarty]

That sounds like fun.

[Marlena Buffa]

Obviously, murder's not fun.

[Rick Valentini]

Ryan Reynolds here from Mint Mobile. With the price of just about everything.

[Gwyneth Newman]

Going up, we thought we'd bring our prices down. So to help us, we brought in a reverse auctioneer, which is apparently a thing Mint Mobile Unlimited premium wireless. How many? Better get 30. 30. Better get 30.

[Erin Moriarty]

Better get 20.

[Marlena Buffa]

20.

[Gwyneth Newman]

20. Better get 20. 20. Everybody get 15. 15.

[Rick Valentini]

15, 15.

[Gwyneth Newman]

Just 15 bucks a month. Sold.

[Rick Valentini]

Give it a [e-mail] Switch upfront payment.

[Gwyneth Newman]

Of $45 for three month plan equivalent to $15 per month. Required new customer offer for first three months only. Speed slow after 35 gigabytes of network's busy taxes and fees extra.

[Erin Moriarty]

See mint mobile.com In June 2010, Bryant Stewart was charged with fraud for forging a new birth certificate and changing his name illegally.

[Rick Valentini]

If you think using the name Brian Stewart is fraudulent, hey, we're going to fight it out in court.

[Erin Moriarty]

But while detectives suspected he was responsible for the disappearance and death of his girlfriend Jamie lady, they couldn't charge him with her murder. What did the two of you think happened that night?

[Brian Stewart]

I think they had a fight.

[Erin Moriarty]

But wouldn't there be some sign of that in her home?

[Marlena Buffa]

Not necessarily. I mean, strangulation or suffocation or anything like that. There's going to be virtually no blood.

[Erin Moriarty]

With no physical evidence. They would have to build a strong circumstantial case to prove that Jamie was dead and Brian was the one who killed her.

[Marlena Buffa]

We literally dissected all of Jamie's financial affairs, all of her accounts, all of the transactions, his email, her email.

[Erin Moriarty]

What they saw was a very responsible woman.

[Brian Stewart]

I mean, she Was a person that stayed up on her emails. She returned phone calls, she paid all of her bills on time until March 17th. Then she didn't do any of those things.

[Erin Moriarty]

For the next three months, detectives realized that the only person who appeared to be using Jamie's credit cards was Brian Stewart.

[Marlena Buffa]

The only transactions on one of Jamie's accounts were Internet purchases and dating websites.

[Erin Moriarty]

He used her cards to meet other women.

[Rick Valentini]

That's right. Basically, he said the same thing. He was a graduate of the University of Michigan, never been married, didn't know if he wanted kids or not.

[Erin Moriarty]

That's nervy, isn't it? Yeah, it's pretty nervy and pretty insensitive, too, isn't it? Um, yeah.

[Rick Valentini]

You know, a little. Because. Well, let me. Let me explain.

[Erin Moriarty]

You used her credit cards to go on dating sites to meet other women?

[Rick Valentini]

Well, you know what? Look. Jamie was leaving.

[Erin Moriarty]

But nothing alarmed prosecutor Martinez more than what detectives found when they searched Brian's apartment in Scottsdale.

[Brian Stewart]

Her wallet was lying on his desk. There was a number of her credit cards there on the desk. And then on the back filing cabinet was her personal telephone that he said she had with her.

[Erin Moriarty]

So was this small white envelope. And when police got a warrant to open it, they found pieces of cut up ID and credit cards. When they put them together, they had Jamie Laity's driver's license, her Michigan University alum card, and several credit cards. Why did you cut up her driver's license?

[Rick Valentini]

I didn't cut them up.

[Erin Moriarty]

Bryan claims it was Jamie who cut up the cards after she changed her identity and ran away. But when Chandler police tested the envelope to see who sealed it, the DNA belonged to Brian. Even when you had that envelope, it still took a year before you brought murder charges against him.

[Rick Valentini]

We were tying up all the loose ends. When you don't have a body, you have to be very careful because you only get one chance.

[Erin Moriarty]

That chance came when an inmate at the jail where Brian was born being held agreed to testify that Brian had confessed to killing Jamie.

[Rick Valentini]

He went to this particular individual and said, do you think that they can charge me if they can't find the body?

[Erin Moriarty]

On March 24, 2011, a grand jury indicted Brian on charges of second degree murder of his girlfriend, Jamie Laity. He was also charged with the fraud for using Jamie's credit cards without her permission. Who is technically, legally on trial here?

[Rick Valentini]

An individual by the name of Rick Valentini, also known as Brian Stewart.

[Erin Moriarty]

But isn't this a little odd? Because even through the trial, you're calling Him. Brian Stewart.

[Rick Valentini]

That's the name that he preferred. I'll use whatever name he wants to convict him.

[Erin Moriarty]

In October of 2011, Rick Wayne Valentini, aka Brian Stewart, went on trial.

[Gwyneth Newman]

State's first witness.

[Erin Moriarty]

The first witness to testify for the state was Andrea Aardsma.

[Rick Valentini]

What does your husband do for a living?

[Gwyneth Newman]

He is a professional baseball player.

[Erin Moriarty]

Back in 2010, she and her husband David, then ace pitcher for the Seattle Mariners, were in Scottsdale during the off season. Andrea worked out at Gold's Gym five days a week and her personal trainer was Brian.

[Rick Valentini]

And did he tell you whether or not he had a girlfriend?

[Gwyneth Newman]

Yes, he had a girlfriend.

[Rick Valentini]

And did he tell you her name?

[Gwyneth Newman]

Jamie.

[Erin Moriarty]

Andrea testified that for months before Jamie disappeared, Brian had complained about his souring relationship and what he really thought of his girlfriend.

[Gwyneth Newman]

Whiny, naggy bitch. Sugar mama. Nothing. Nothing positive at all. I don't know if he just thought I was a good listener or if he really did think that I was stupid and that he could tell me all these things and nothing would come of it.

[Erin Moriarty]

In one of the trial's most disturbing moments, Andrea stood up and reenacted Brian sharing his nickname for Jamie.

[Gwyneth Newman]

Jamie the Gut. Jamie the Gut. I'm like, man, if you hate her so much, just, just break up with her.

[Erin Moriarty]

The jury also heard from Jamie's parents.

[Rick Valentini]

Have you received any emails from her?

[Gwyneth Newman]

No.

[Rick Valentini]

Has she shown up at your house?

[Gwyneth Newman]

No.

[Rick Valentini]

Have you been hiding her just so that Mr. Stewart won't find her?

[Gwyneth Newman]

No.

[Erin Moriarty]

But some of the mother. Significant testimony revealed that Jamie had found a new job and not in Denver, but right here in Phoenix.

[Marlena Buffa]

She's very excited about her new job.

[Gwyneth Newman]

And we're looking forward to working together.

[Erin Moriarty]

On March 18, David Beauchamp, a lawyer and friend, testified that he helped Jamie negotiate the contract for that job. What's more, he saw Jamie two days before and testified that he saw bruises.

[Gwyneth Newman]

She was exhibiting many, many of the characteristics of a battered woman.

[Erin Moriarty]

And she absolutely broke down on day seven of the state's case.

[Gwyneth Newman]

Thank you. Please be seated.

[Erin Moriarty]

The jailhouse snitch took the stand.

[Gwyneth Newman]

The whole truth and nothing but the truth.

[Rick Valentini]

So I'll be God, I do.

[Gwyneth Newman]

Thank you.

[Erin Moriarty]

At his request, the judge ordered us not to reveal his identity. He also got a deal for testifying. A two year sentence for fraud was reduced to one.

[Rick Valentini]

He was very agitated, talking about how the police know that I killed her.

[Gwyneth Newman]

That he needed to get it off his chest.

[Erin Moriarty]

By the time the state rested, prosecutor Martinez and Detective Nate Moffatt were sure they would get a conviction on the fraudulent schemes charge. But had they convinced the jury that Brian had committed murder, I think a.

[Gwyneth Newman]

Lot of people would have a hard time convicting. With no body, we really had to be careful and listen to both sides.

[Erin Moriarty]

Knowing his life was on the line, Bryan was about to do something that would shock the entire courtroom. Were you expecting the defendant to take the stand?

[Gwyneth Newman]

I don't. Absolutely not. But I was glad that he did. This episode is brought to you by Greenlight. Get this. Adults with financial literacy skills have 82% more wealth than those who don't. From swimming lessons to piano classes, us parents invest in so many things to enrich our kids lives. But are we investing in their future financial success? With Greenlight you can teach your kids financial literacy skills like earning, saving and investing. And this investment costs less than that. After school treatment start prioritizing their financial education and future. Today with a risk free [e-mail] Spotify greenlight.com Spotify PMS, pregnancy, menopause. Being a woman is a lot. Ollie supports you and yours with expert solutions for every age and life stage. They just launched two new products exclusively at Walmart. Period. Hero combats bloat, mood swings and more during PMS and balance perimeno to support hormonal balance, mood and metabolism during perimenopause. Grab [e-mail] these statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.

[Erin Moriarty]

Pieces of a driver's license and credit cards. A closet filled with shoes and purses. The evidence at trial is a daily reminder of what Jamie laity parents have lost so hard.

[Gwyneth Newman]

Every time they mention her name, it's hurt me so much. I think that I'm not going to see her anymore. Then.

[Erin Moriarty]

And as the defense begins, Jamie's mother has one wish.

[Gwyneth Newman]

The whole time I've been praying that I hope he take this stand.

[Erin Moriarty]

Why?

[Gwyneth Newman]

Because then they can see through him.

[Erin Moriarty]

Her prayer is granted. Despite his fifth amendment right to remain silent and very much against his lawyer and most any lawyer's advice. Stand up.

[Gwyneth Newman]

Raise your right hand.

[Erin Moriarty]

Brian Stewart boldly and defiantly takes the stand.

[Rick Valentini]

I am the only human being who knows what happened. I'm the only human being who knows why things happened when they happened.

[Gwyneth Newman]

What was your relationship like?

[Rick Valentini]

It was I would say 95% great.

[Gwyneth Newman]

Did you argue?

[Rick Valentini]

No, not really.

[Erin Moriarty]

He appears confident and relaxed. But after all it is his lawyer asking the questions.

[Gwyneth Newman]

Did you kill Jamie to use her credit cards?

[Rick Valentini]

Absolutely not.

[Gwyneth Newman]

Did you have general Permission to use her credit cards?

[Rick Valentini]

Yes.

[Erin Moriarty]

Brian insists he didn't need to steal from Jamie.

[Gwyneth Newman]

Why do you feel that you had permission to use the cards?

[Rick Valentini]

Even from our first date, it was literally an instruction to use them.

[Erin Moriarty]

And then he drops a bombshell, claiming that long after Jamie disappeared, she was still in Phoenix and would visit the house they shared and his new condo when Brian wasn't around.

[Rick Valentini]

Because I would get back to my condo and things would be moved around or things would be left behind.

[Gwyneth Newman]

Okay. Now, how did she get into your. Into your apartment?

[Rick Valentini]

She had a key.

[Erin Moriarty]

But that's not all. He also claims he continued to communicate with Jamie long after that morning in March 2010 when she vanished.

[Gwyneth Newman]

How did she communicate with you?

[Rick Valentini]

Email and telephone.

[Gwyneth Newman]

Okay.

[Erin Moriarty]

You have told people that if you had a computer, you could find her. I've got a computer here. You want to try? I've got my iPad here. How would you find her?

[Rick Valentini]

I would have to look on mine.

[Erin Moriarty]

I mean, if I got this whole thing set up, could you. I mean, if you could find her.

[Rick Valentini]

No, because I need to get in a. Because there's a special email site that we were working through.

[Erin Moriarty]

You must know, Brian, that that sounds a little crazy that you would have given this information to your attorneys and they wouldn't go looking for the one person who could save you from going to prison for life.

[Rick Valentini]

You know, I told them that, and I never heard anything.

[Gwyneth Newman]

Did you murder Jamie, lady?

[Rick Valentini]

No. Jamie Lydy is a liar.

[Erin Moriarty]

She would just let you go on trial for murder, go to prison for the rest of your life?

[Rick Valentini]

I don't know. I don't think that. I don't think either one of us ever expected it to get this far.

[Gwyneth Newman]

Would you be at all surprised if I told you that she was about to walk through that door?

[Rick Valentini]

No.

[Erin Moriarty]

But prosecutor Juan Martinez wasn't buying any of it.

[Rick Valentini]

You didn't actually talk to her in that condo, did you? No. You have not seen her at any time, and she hasn't walked in now, right? Right. And she won't walk in because you killed her, right? Wrong.

[Gwyneth Newman]

I don't have anything else. Thank you.

[Erin Moriarty]

One day before Thanksgiving, 2011, more than a year and a half after Jamie Laity disappeared, the prosecution and defense rested after presenting two very different stories. It was now up to the jury to decide, and foreman Leon Lead was worried.

[Gwyneth Newman]

As we were moving to deliberation, I wondered how difficult of a decision this is going to be for the 12 of us, knowing that there's no body.

[Erin Moriarty]

But just four hours later, the jury returned with a verdict. Did any of you look at him when you walked in?

[Gwyneth Newman]

No, I did not. No. Thank you. Please be seated.

[Erin Moriarty]

Brian Stewart was reassured by deputy sheriffs guarding him.

[Rick Valentini]

Oh, yeah. They're like, yeah, you're good. Anytime a jury comes back that quick. And I was like, okay, well, wow. All right. That's pretty good.

[Gwyneth Newman]

We, the jury, duly empanelled and sworn in the above entitled action upon our oaths as to count one, second degree murder, do find the defendant guilty.

[Erin Moriarty]

Guilty. Jamie's parents were overcome.

[Rick Valentini]

Are these your true verdicts?

[Gwyneth Newman]

So say you want guilty. That's all I heard. And I just. I lost it. I was so happy.

[Erin Moriarty]

And then there was more.

[Gwyneth Newman]

As to count two, fraudulent schemes and artifices, do find the defendant guilty. Sign four person.

[Erin Moriarty]

Brian Stewart couldn't believe his ears.

[Rick Valentini]

I just sat there. Like, to me, my life was over with. I just couldn't understand, you know? I mean, if I would have killed her, I would have admitted to it.

[Erin Moriarty]

Do you think Brian Stewart, Rick Valentini, is a dangerous man?

[Gwyneth Newman]

Yes. Yes, yes.

[Erin Moriarty]

Absolutely. No question in your mind?

[Gwyneth Newman]

None. None at all. The first 10 minutes of his testimony, any doubt I had that he was solely responsible for the murder of Jamie had been sealed at that moment in time.

[Erin Moriarty]

You've told so many stories, it's hard to believe you.

[Rick Valentini]

Let's look at the army, okay?

[Erin Moriarty]

No, let's look at what happened to Jamie. That's what really matters.

[Rick Valentini]

Jamie took $100,000, and she left the state of Arizona. I've said it for 18 months. I say it now, and I'm gonna say it for the next 18 years.

[Erin Moriarty]

But investigators say there was no money and his story is just another lie. And for her friends and family.

[Gwyneth Newman]

I just feel so bad that we weren't there.

[Erin Moriarty]

The one remaining question may never be answered. Is it hard because you don't really know where she is? You've never been able to bury her.

[Gwyneth Newman]

That's right. That's right. I still have what they call the receiving blankets of Jamie from the hospital. And I carried it with me all the time. And I intend to use that blanket to carry her home. It'd be fine, too.

[Erin Moriarty]

In 2011, Rick Valentini, aka Brian Stewart, was sentenced to 54 years for murder and other charges. In 2018, Jamie Laity's remains were found in a construction yard in Chandler, Arizona.

[Gwyneth Newman]

Summer on the south side of Chicago is heating up. You planning revenge on here? The shy is back on Paramount. It's the season of the women. Women. This is our chance. It's time to get to work. But the men aren't giving up without a fight.

[Erin Moriarty]

Street's always gonna have a villain.

[Gwyneth Newman]

No one is backing down in the Showtime original series from Emmy award winner Lena Waithe. Why do black women always have to save the day? If we don't do it, who else will? The shy new season now streaming on the Paramount with Showtime plan this summer, Pluto TV is exploding with thousands of free movies presenting summer of cinema stream hits like Good Burger. Can I take your order? Four Brothers the Wood, Paid in full. And Beverly Hills Cop 1, 2, and 3.

[Rick Valentini]

How you doing?

[Gwyneth Newman]

All for free. Get ready to feel the free with all the blockbusters one summer can handle. And keep up with the action from virtually any of your devices. Summer will never be the same. Pluto TV stream now pay Never.