Mystery in Room 813

Summary

48 Hours – “Mystery in Room 813”

Episode Date: November 13, 2025
Podcast Host: CBS News
Case: The death of Sandra Orellana, Sheraton Hotel, Los Angeles, 1996

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Overview

This episode of “48 Hours” delves into the mysterious death of Sandra Orellana, a 27-year-old woman from Houston who fell to her death from a hotel balcony in 1996 during a business trip with her boss, Robert Salazar. The case haunts investigators, devastates Sandra’s family, and exposes the complexities of seeking justice when evidence is circumstantial, and motives are tangled. Through gripping interviews, emotional testimony, and meticulous police work, the podcast reconstructs the night of Sandra’s death and the six-year journey to trial.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Discovery and Initial Investigation

[00:59–06:03]

• Initial Scene:
  Sandra Orellana was found deceased, naked except for a camisole, 104 feet below her hotel balcony ([02:17]).
• Detective Ray Rodriguez:
  Recalled the trauma at the scene, noting it was unusual for a suicide to be naked.
  “It’s only been like once or twice that I’ve ever encountered a naked suicide.” ([02:17])
• Robert Salazar's First Story:
  Told police he left Sandra drunk in her room and had no further contact, but this conflicted with evidence found in the room (men’s underwear and a shoe).
  “Now I’m thinking the story that he gave Deputy Gonzalez was a bunch of bull.” (Rodriguez, [04:39])
• Salazar's Reaction:
  Upon learning Sandra was dead, he collapsed and cried ([03:44]).

2. Shifting Stories and Police Suspicion

[06:11–08:24]

• Evolving Statements:
  Salazar initially denied intimacy but admitted to sex after police confronted him with evidence.
  “Did you have sex with her? Yes, I did. And I’m married. And that’s why I didn’t want to say it.” (Salazar, [05:51])
• He then claimed they were intimate on the balcony, and Sandra accidentally fell over ([07:01]).
• Detective Rodriguez's Theory:
  Salazar assaulted Sandra while she was intoxicated; she resisted and was fatally injured.
  “I think she clawed at him and got him.” ([07:55])
• Salazar’s Post-Incident Actions:
  Rather than call authorities, he left two voicemails for Sandra after she had already died.
  “How does anybody call a dead woman and tells her to wake up? And not once, twice.” (Rodriguez, [09:09])

3. Family’s Perspective and Sandra’s Background

[10:36–15:52]

• Loved One’s Grief:
  Sandra’s family struggles with her loss and is convinced of Salazar’s guilt.
  “It’s comforting to be out here, but it’s hard for me...I don’t like to see the tombstone. I don’t like to see her name. It’s just...it’s too much.” (Katherine Orellana, [10:41])
• Past Complaints:
  Sandra had reported unwanted advances and sexual harassment by Salazar before her death.
  “She told me on several occasions he’d made passes at her.” (Katherine Orellana, [13:47])
• Character Contradiction:
  Sandra’s fear of heights and her discomfort around Salazar make his version of the events implausible to family.
  “She was afraid of heights. She didn’t even like balconies.” (Katherine Orellana, [14:50])

4. Obstacles to Prosecution

[15:59–21:45]

• Initial Release:
  Salazar was arrested but released after 48 hours when the DA declined to prosecute, citing insufficient evidence ([16:11]).
• Impact of the O.J. Simpson Case:
  DA’s office was hesitant after high-profile loss, delaying the case ([18:00]).
• Detective Rodriguez’s Tenacity:
  Traveled to Houston for Salazar’s DNA and organized forensic experiments to dispute Salazar’s story ([19:11–19:31]).
• Civil Suit:
  Family pursued a wrongful death claim when criminal action stalled.
  “If he could be found guilty in a civil court, then maybe the criminal courts would take notice.” (Katherine Orellana, [20:56])

5. Breakthrough and Trial

[21:45–37:56]

• Case Revival:
  New DA allows the case to be re-examined; almost five years after the incident, Salazar is charged ([21:45]).
• Salazar’s On-Record Account:
  Salazar gives a detailed version, admitting to intimacy but adamantly denying murder.
  “Yeah, I did some things wrong… but I didn’t cause her to fall off that balcony.” (Salazar, [24:39]) He describes the night as drinking, intimacy initiated by Sandra, an accidental fall ([25:41–28:59]).
• Failure to Call 911:
  Salazar admits running to his room and not calling for help out of fear and shame.
  “I made a horrible, horrible decision. And I did nothing.” ([29:40])
• Physical Evidence Debated:
  Prosecution argues evidence of a violent struggle; defense and their experts counter physics disproved a push ([34:50–36:13]).
• SALAZAR ON THE STAND:
  Maintains innocence, acknowledges bad decisions but denies any violent act ([36:23–37:26]).

6. Verdict and Aftermath

[37:56–39:47]

• Jury Decision:
  After two days, the jury finds Salazar not guilty of murder ([38:32]).
• Mixed Emotions:
  Relief for Salazar’s family, devastation for Sandra’s.
  “It’s been a long six years…It’s devastating. Our family will always maintain that he was responsible for her death.” (Katherine Orellana, [39:28])
• Detective Rodriguez’s Final Word:
  Continues to believe Salazar “got away with murder,” underscoring the pain and ambiguity of the outcome ([39:47]).

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Detective Ray Rodriguez on the Crime Scene:
  “The only thing that I've ever seen close to that is when someone has been hit by a train.” ([02:17])

• On Salazar’s Reaction to News of Death:
  “That's when he collapses and starts crying and collapses in the hallway.” (Rodriguez, [03:44])

• Salazar Admitting to Affair:
  “Yes, I did. And I’m married. And that’s why I didn’t want to say it.” (Salazar, [05:51])

• Salazar’s Changing Story:
  “She grabbed the balcony and pushed herself up…And when she did that, she just went over.” (Salazar, [07:01])

• Sandra’s Sister on Her Character:
  “She was afraid of heights. She didn’t even like balconies…That’s out of character. She would never have done that.” (Katherine Orellana, [14:50])

• Salazar On Not Calling for Help:
  “I made a horrible, horrible decision. And I did nothing.” ([29:40])

• Detective Rodriguez’s Confidence in Salazar’s Guilt:
  “There’s no doubt in my mind that Sandra Arellana did not go over that balcony on her own.” ([30:40])

• Salazar’s Denial:
  “God is my witness. I didn’t kill her.” (Salazar, [30:49])

• Juror After the Verdict:
  “While we didn’t believe some of Robert’s testimony, we do believe that it was a tragic accident.” ([39:08])

• Detective Rodriguez, Resigned:
  “I still think that he did it…You think he got away with murder? Yes. And that’s our system.” ([39:43]–[39:47])

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Timestamps for Important Segments

• Case Discovery and Initial Shock: [00:59–04:39]
• Salazar's Interrogation and Shifting Stories: [04:52–08:24]
• Sandra’s Family Testimonies and Workplace Harassment: [10:36–15:52]
• Salazar’s Release & DA Reluctance: [15:59–18:00]
• Forensic Testing & Persistence by Rodriguez: [19:11–21:45]
• Salazar’s Detailed Account & Reflections: [24:13–29:40]
• Physical Evidence and Trial Testimonies: [34:14–37:56]
• Verdict and Family/Cop Reactions: [38:32–39:47]

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Tone and Language

The episode leans heavily into the emotional toll of violent crime on families and investigators, balancing clinical analysis with intimate testimonies. The narrative is clear, often somber, but punctuated by moments of frustration, especially from Detective Rodriguez and Sandra’s grieving family. Both the prosecution and defense are represented, and Salazar stands by his assertion that Sandra’s death was a tragic accident rather than murder.

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Summary

“Mystery in Room 813” presents a haunting portrait of unresolved grief, tenacious investigation, and a justice system wrestling with ambiguity. The case of Sandra Orellana remains a lesson in how truth, evidence, and emotion battle in America’s courtrooms—and how closure can remain elusive, no matter the verdict.

Transcript

[Narrator]

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[Sandra's Sister (Katherine Orellana)]

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[Narrator]

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[Sandra's Sister (Katherine Orellana)]

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[Narrator]

Happened in the middle of the night in November 1996 at a Sheraton Hotel just east of Los Angeles. A woman went over a balcony and met her death. If she screamed, no one heard her. If it was murder, there were no witnesses. If it was an accident or suicide, the circumstances sure seem strange.

[Detective Ray Rodriguez]

When I first got on the scene, I knew that this was going to be a complex case.

[Narrator]

The young woman's death would be homicide detective Ray Rodriguez's last case in a long 33 year career. It was just after 8am the morning of November 13, 1996.

[Detective Ray Rodriguez]

A call came into the desk there that there was an apparent suicide at the Industry Hill Sheraton, that a woman had jumped from a hotel room balcony and that she was deceased.

[Narrator]

The woman lay in a pool of blood 104ft down from the balcony of her hotel room. That morning, another guest at the hotel saw the body from his balcony and called police. I don't mean to get in detail, but how did it, I mean, how did it appear to you? What did it look like had happened?

[Detective Ray Rodriguez]

The body appeared like a lot of trauma. There was a lot of trauma. The only thing that I've ever seen close to that is like when someone has been hit by a train. The body was naked except for a little camisole top that was on the body. That was kind of concerning to me right then and there at the initial time that I first saw the body. Why, it's only been like once or twice that I've ever encountered a naked suicide.

[Narrator]

And so the investigation began. Officers located the room, identified the victim as 27 year old Sandra Orellana, a single Woman from Houston, Texas. And then the officers waited for backup.

[Detective Ray Rodriguez]

Deputy Gonzalez comes outside the room and closes the door to secure it until homicide detectives can arrive. So nobody will disturb anything. Once that happens, he's outside, and then 8:15's door opens and out comes Robert.

[Narrator]

Robert Lee Salazar was 33 years old, an executive, also from Houston, a married man with two children. Salazar comes out the door. The investigator says, do you know this woman in the room? And does he react to it in any way?

[Detective Ray Rodriguez]

Yes. Yes.

[Narrator]

Salazar told police that Sandra Orellana worked for him. In fact, they were traveling together.

[Detective Ray Rodriguez]

The officer tells him he's been investigating an accident. He doesn't tell him that Sandra is dead.

[Narrator]

And what happened. And what does Salazar do?

[Detective Ray Rodriguez]

That's when he collapses and starts crying and collapses in the hallway.

[Narrator]

Robert Salazar told the deputy he did more than just work with Sandra Orellana on this business trip. He said they'd been out the night before to dinner and they had been drinking a lot.

[Detective Ray Rodriguez]

Denise tells Gonzalez that she was very, very drunk and that when they got up to the room around midnight, he let her in the room, put her in the room, closed the door, and that he left, and that was it. And that was the last he's seen of her.

[Narrator]

But as it turns out, that's the first version of his story.

[Detective Ray Rodriguez]

Correct? It's the first story that comes from Robert.

[Narrator]

But the police were suspicious. He doesn't know that the investigators have found a pair of men's underwear in that room.

[Detective Ray Rodriguez]

Correct. He hasn't been told anything of what they. What they saw or what they find.

[Narrator]

And now it's your turn to talk to him.

[Detective Ray Rodriguez]

Correct.

[Narrator]

And when you begin to question him, what does he say?

[Detective Ray Rodriguez]

Ask him, you know, hey, Robert, you know. Sure. None of your items are in the room? No. No personal items are in the room. Now, I'm thinking the story that he gave Deputy Gonzalez was a bunch of bull.

[Narrator]

Now, Detective Rodriguez was rapidly becoming convinced this wasn't a su.

[Detective Ray Rodriguez]

That time I started focusing on this as a murder.

[Narrator]

He went back to Sandra's room looking for more clues.

[Detective Ray Rodriguez]

So we end up finding a shoe, a male shoe. It's wrapped up in the bedding at the foot of the bed. So I know now that I have a men's underwear, and I know that I have a men's shoe, left shoe.

[Narrator]

Then he moved next door to Salazar's room.

[Detective Ray Rodriguez]

I find a men's black underwear, the same size, the same brand, the same style as the white underwear that's in the other room. And there's one right. Black shoe.

[Narrator]

The physical evidence shows he was in the room with her.

[Detective Ray Rodriguez]

Correct. So now it's time to go back to talk to Robert. The recorder was on the bed like this. And I was talking to Robert like this.

[Narrator]

On the audio tape of the meeting, Salazar began to change his story.

[Detective Ray Rodriguez]

You want to tell us what happened, Robert? Because it doesn't match up. Did you have sex with her?

[Robert Salazar]

Yes, I did. And I'm married. And that's why I didn't want to say it. I swear that was it.

[Detective Ray Rodriguez]

How did she come about being where she ended up?

[Robert Salazar]

I don't know. I don't know.

[Narrator]

So in the second version, he still doesn't see her fall. He leaves her behind in the room. And what happens after that? He doesn't know.

[Detective Ray Rodriguez]

Now we continue to press him even more. I want to know the whole truth about what happened. You know, if you had sex with her, if it was rough sex, something happened. If you strangled her or any of these things.

[Robert Salazar]

Swear to God, no. Swear to God, no.

[Narrator]

At this point, because he's changed his story once. Do you suspect that he killed her or do you still not know?

[Detective Ray Rodriguez]

No. I'm now leaning that this guy's hiding something. And something else happened on that balcony, and this woman went over, not wanting to go over.

[Narrator]

Does he then change his story again?

[Detective Ray Rodriguez]

Then we're gonna get the true story. Supposedly what really happened.

[Robert Salazar]

Robert, you were making out on the balcony?

[Detective Ray Rodriguez]

Yeah. You guys were making out on the balcony?

[Robert Salazar]

Rubbing on her. She was rubbing on me. She turned around to bend over the balcony, and I was that way. And then all of a sudden, she, she. She grabbed the balcony and pushed herself up to turn over. And when she did that, she just went over.

[Narrator]

Let's go inside. You've been in this room many times?

[Detective Ray Rodriguez]

Yeah, quite a few times. It's completely different now than it was on that night.

[Narrator]

Based on your investigation, what do you believe happened in this room that night?

[Detective Ray Rodriguez]

I believe that Robert Salazar made sexual advances on Tassandra. I think that she was on the bed and then that she pretty much passed out on the bed. I think that he started to make sexual advance on her. And I think that she woke up, she was startled by it, and I think that she fought him.

[Narrator]

That mark on his face you believe is a result of her struggling with him.

[Detective Ray Rodriguez]

I think she clawed at him and got him.

[Narrator]

The first policeman to talk to Salazar that morning noticed this mark on his face after she hit him or gouged him with a fingernail. You think he hit her back?

[Detective Ray Rodriguez]

Yes, I do.

[Narrator]

And knocked her out.

[Detective Ray Rodriguez]

I think that's it. I think that finally, Salazar. I don't know if I can account for his reasonings, but that was the option that was elected.

[Narrator]

Out on the balcony.

[Detective Ray Rodriguez]

Out on the balcony and over the balcony.

[Narrator]

Salazar never called anyone to report that Sandra Orellana had gone off that balcony up there and landed here, 104ft below. A fall no one could have survived. He did, however, make two other phone calls. Two chilling phone calls that, according to Detective Rodriguez, made him look even more guilty. Come on, Fanny, we're waiting on you. Come on, we gotta go. Let's go. Hurry up. It's after seven. Bye.

[Detective Ray Rodriguez]

Bye.

[Narrator]

Before the police arrived, Robert Salazar twice called Sandra's room, leaving messages on the hotel voicemail to a woman he knew was dead. Hello? Wake up. We gotta go.

[Detective Ray Rodriguez]

Come on. But when I hear those two tapes. How does anybody call a dead woman and tells her to wake up? And not once, twice.

[Narrator]

Ray Rodriguez arrested Robert Salazar and took him to jail. Open and shut case? Well, not exactly. It would take six years and many twists and turns before the sex on the balcony case would finally get to trial.

[Sandra's Sister (Katherine Orellana)]

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[Narrator]

Sandra Orellana's untimely death is more than just a tragedy for her sister, Katherine.

[Sandra's Sister (Katherine Orellana)]

I don't like to see the tombstone. I don't like to see her name. It just. It's too much.

[Narrator]

Her mother, her father, and her Aunt Olga also grieve. We love Mrs. A lot.

[Detective Ray Rodriguez]

And every time we come and see, it's so painful as the first time. I miss her very much.

[Narrator]

It's hard, very Hard for this close knit family. The circumstances that led to Sandra's death while on a business trip with her boss, Robert Salazar, simply made no sense.

[Sandra's Sister (Katherine Orellana)]

When I had heard that she had fallen off a balcony and then they were questioning him, I. I felt. I mean, I felt like he was responsible for something. Something had happened.

[Narrator]

Sandra, can you look here? Sandra Orellana was young and single, a college graduate who had begun a career at what she thought was a dynamic and growing company.

[Sandra's Sister (Katherine Orellana)]

She was just a woman who was full of life.

[Narrator]

Me giving you a kiss, you giving me a kiss.

[Sandra's Sister (Katherine Orellana)]

She was funny. Gross. Okay, close up from. Sandy had a lot of friends, loved her family, and just somebody he wanted to hang out with.

[Narrator]

She had a boyfriend who was working and living in Hong Kong.

[Robert Salazar]

I like to feel that she's with me. I like to feel that she's around somehow.

[Narrator]

They were considering a future together. She was going to Hong Kong to talk about getting married.

[Sandra's Sister (Katherine Orellana)]

She was going to Hong Kong, right, to visit him, to basically just go there, maybe stay and live.

[Narrator]

Sandra was four years older than her sister Katherine.

[Sandra's Sister (Katherine Orellana)]

She was my height. I mean, a lot of people said we looked alike.

[Narrator]

Sandy.

[Sandra's Sister (Katherine Orellana)]

A lot of people would look at.

[Narrator]

Me and see Sandy because they were so close. Sandra's death hit hard.

[Sandra's Sister (Katherine Orellana)]

I was upset. I was mad, I was angry. I couldn't believe he would do that.

[Narrator]

Katherine says she was especially upset because her sister had been complaining about Robert Salazar's unwanted sexual advances. After Sandra's death, Catherine had no doubt it was murder and that Robert Salazar was the one who killed her.

[Sandra's Sister (Katherine Orellana)]

I was scared. I was sad for my sister. I was trying to put myself in her position. Just the fear that she must have felt in her room alone and him coming onto her and him trying to rape her. I mean, I think I keep thinking about that, how she must have been so scared.

[Robert Salazar]

She worked in that one there, right.

[Narrator]

By where the light is at. Sandra's aunt Olga, just a few years older and also very close, said Sandra told her that Salazar often made suggestive comments to her at work.

[Sandra's Sister (Katherine Orellana)]

He mentioned, you know, about the way she was dressed.

[Narrator]

Sometimes, you know, you have nice legs.

[Sandra's Sister (Katherine Orellana)]

Or, you know, you look nice.

[Detective Ray Rodriguez]

But the way he looked at her.

[Narrator]

That was what made her feel uncomfortable. Olga says Sandra was ready to move on, trying to get away from Robert Salazar.

[Robert Salazar]

He was tired of this man and.

[Narrator]

You know, all the things that went around and she was gonna look for another job. Katherine agrees.

[Sandra's Sister (Katherine Orellana)]

She told me on several occasions he'd made passes at her.

[Narrator]

In your sister's mind, this was Harassment?

[Sandra's Sister (Katherine Orellana)]

Yeah, she did feel it was harassment. She. Well, he made a pass at her. He grabbed her once at work.

[Narrator]

Grabbed her how?

[Sandra's Sister (Katherine Orellana)]

He grabbed her ass. He grabbed her butt.

[Narrator]

So when the arrangements for the trip to California were made, they say Sandra wasn't happy. What did she say to you when she found out that Salazar was coming on this trip, too?

[Sandra's Sister (Katherine Orellana)]

She was upset that he was going. She felt that it was just another instance when he's trying to make a situation happen or looking for an opportunity to be alone with her.

[Narrator]

Because of that history, Catherine Orellana reacted strongly when she heard Robert Salazar's version of events that night.

[Sandra's Sister (Katherine Orellana)]

I didn't believe his story. He was already saying that they were having sex on a balcony. And from that minute, I knew it was wrong. I knew he was lying.

[Narrator]

Let me put it bluntly here. Is she the kind of woman who would have sex with somebody hanging off a balcony of a hotel?

[Sandra's Sister (Katherine Orellana)]

No. No. She was afraid of heights. She didn't even like balconies. And it's just. It's ridiculous to think that she would. You know, his story is that she would got up to go open up the window and grab some air in the nude or something. And it's just. That's not her. That's out of character. She would never have done that.

[Narrator]

Did you tell the police detectives what your sister had told you about Salazar?

[Sandra's Sister (Katherine Orellana)]

Yes, I did.

[Narrator]

Kathryn told Detective Ray Rodriguez, I worked.

[Detective Ray Rodriguez]

Homicide for nine years. I've seen a lot of victims family endure. And just like all those other victims, the Orellana family has endured a lot.

[Narrator]

Rodriguez says talking to Sandra's family reinforced his doubts about Salazar's story.

[Detective Ray Rodriguez]

From what I've learned about Sandra Orellana during this investigation, I don't believe that she would ever have been in a position of being out on a balcony, stripped down to a little camisole.

[Sandra's Sister (Katherine Orellana)]

It's important for us to clear my sister's name and that she would never have participated in something like that.

[Narrator]

But instead of clearing her name, Sandra's family was shocked when just two days after he was taken into custody, Salazar was released and no charges were filed.

[Robert Salazar]

I lied because I didn't want my wife to know. I didn't want to lose my job, and I didn't want to be blamed for murder.

[Narrator]

Robert Salazar went home, but he wasn't home free.

[Detective Ray Rodriguez]

To me, there's so many things pointing to guilt.

[Narrator]

Sandra Orellana had died falling off this balcony, and Robert Salazar had been arrested the next afternoon. But the Los Angeles District Attorney's office Said there wasn't enough evidence to prosecute Robert Salazar for murder. And so he was let go.

[Detective Ray Rodriguez]

You know, I knew that it was.

[Narrator]

Going to be a long road for Detective Ray Rodriguez. That was just a reason to work harder. You wanted to solve this case, though?

[Detective Ray Rodriguez]

Oh, I think the case is solved.

[Narrator]

You wanted to see Salazar in court?

[Detective Ray Rodriguez]

Definitely. Definitely I wanted to see Salazar in court.

[Narrator]

Salazar had admitted to police he'd been with Sandra Orellana in her hotel room and that she had fallen to her death while they were fooling around on the balcony. But after being held for 48 hours, he was released. When Robert Salazar was released, how did you feel?

[Detective Ray Rodriguez]

The job was just beginning.

[Narrator]

Then two months later, the Los Angeles county coroner ruled Sandra Orellana's death was a homicide. Sandra's family just couldn't understand why Robert Salazar wasn't in jail or at least on trial. What did you think when the authorities decided not to charge him?

[Sandra's Sister (Katherine Orellana)]

It was unbelievable. We couldn't believe it. Basically we asked questions. We didn't understand why they were letting him go.

[Narrator]

Robert Salazar was let go back in 1996 because prosecutors said they didn't have enough evidence to get a conviction. But something else was influencing the Los Angeles District Attorney's office. At that time, the DA had just lost one high profile murder case, O.J. simpson, and didn't want to risk losing another, the so called sex on the balcony case. We all have speculated that the fact that the OJ Verdict had come in just a year before that and had really impacted the District Attorney's office at that time. Deputy District Attorney Bob Fultz remembers those uneasy days. So what happens is a lot of people do, they get really, really cautious and they start writing things down and they tell the police to go out and investigate some more. And that's how these cases kind of get shifted off to the side. Ray Rodriguez wasn't going to allow this case to get shifted to the side. In fact, just a few days after Salazar was released, the detective was actually gathering bits of his suspect for evidence.

[Detective Ray Rodriguez]

Actually, I went to Houston to get a warrant for Robert Salazar so I could get his blood and hair and DNA for DNA comparisons to the blood that we had found at the scene.

[Narrator]

And then to understand the physics of the fall or the push, detectives made a fire hose dummy and in a highly publicized move, dropped it a number of times, times from the hotel balcony. They also consulted Hollywood stuntmen and biomechanical engineers.

[Detective Ray Rodriguez]

Their conclusion, that some force had to be applied beyond the railing to allow that body to Go from where? He said that she went over to where she landed, way over here on the left, a good 13ft beyond.

[Narrator]

Sandra Orellana's body was found directly below the left end of her eighth floor balcony and just a couple of feet from the facade of the hotel.

[Detective Ray Rodriguez]

I don't like going out on that balcony at all.

[Narrator]

What do you believe happened out here?

[Detective Ray Rodriguez]

I believe that he brought her out here, carried it over here, put her here, dumped on the rail and applied force from the right to the left. That's why she ends up over there.

[Narrator]

The lack of fingerprints or any disturbances on the rail that would support Robert Salazar's version of events was just more proof for Rodriguez.

[Detective Ray Rodriguez]

The rail was completely covered with dust and there was only two spots of disturbances. And it was what you did when you first walked out. You came out here and you just instinctively put your hands on the railing and you looked over.

[Narrator]

But even with the mounting evidence, months, then years passed with no action by the District Attorney. Still, Rodriguez couldn't drop the case.

[Detective Ray Rodriguez]

There was something about this case that kept it ever present.

[Sandra's Sister (Katherine Orellana)]

So many memories.

[Narrator]

And the Orellana family wouldn't drop the case either. They filed a wrongful death suit against Salazar.

[Sandra's Sister (Katherine Orellana)]

We felt that we would take this avenue and try to see, you know, if he could be found guilty in a civil court, then maybe the criminal courts would take notice and find merit in it.

[Narrator]

So you're pursuing him in civil court, but you really would like the DA to change his mind and pursue him.

[Detective Ray Rodriguez]

In criminal court, Right?

[Sandra's Sister (Katherine Orellana)]

Right, exactly.

[Narrator]

The civil case was dropped after a dramatic development here in Los Angeles. The District Attorney was voted out of office and a new DA was sworn in. And Detective Rodriguez, who had never let go of the case, seized the moment. You're hoping they're see it with a fresh pair of eyes, and that's because you believe that you can make this case? Yes. You've got the evidence?

[Detective Ray Rodriguez]

Yes.

[Narrator]

Motive?

[Detective Ray Rodriguez]

Motive, yes.

[Narrator]

You got the guy?

[Detective Ray Rodriguez]

Yes.

[Narrator]

You just want to see it in the system.

[Detective Ray Rodriguez]

Correct.

[Narrator]

The new DA said go ahead. And so four and a half years after Sandra Orellana had fallen to her death, Robert Salazar's nightmare came back. What was the first thought that went through your mind when you heard that after all this time, you were going to end up in court on trial for your life?

[Robert Salazar]

The first thought that went through my mind, I was going to get blamed for something I didn't do.

[Narrator]

Robert Salazar tells his side of the story. Shopping is hard.

[Sandra's Sister (Katherine Orellana)]

I can never find anything in my size. I don't even know my size. I buy my clothes the same place I buy my groceries. There's a better way.

[Narrator]

Make it easy with Stitch Fix.

[Detective Ray Rodriguez]

Just share your size, style, budget and done.

[Narrator]

Your personal stylist sends pieces picked just for you.

[Sandra's Sister (Katherine Orellana)]

That was easy. Stitch Fix online personal styling for everyone.

[Narrator]

Free shipping and returns.

[Sandra's Sister (Katherine Orellana)]

No subscription required. Get started today@stitch fix.com.

[Narrator]

Hey there.

[Sandra's Sister (Katherine Orellana)]

We're Corrine Vien and Sabrina D', Anaroga.

[Narrator]

Here to introduce our newest podcast, Crimes.

[Sandra's Sister (Katherine Orellana)]

Of a Crime House. Original Crimes of is a weekly series that explores a new theme each season from Crimes of the Paranormal, Unsolved Murders, and more. Our first season is Crimes of Infamy, the true crime stories behind Hollywood's most iconic horror villains.

[Narrator]

Listen to and follow Crimes of available.

[Sandra's Sister (Katherine Orellana)]

Now wherever you get your podcasts.

[Detective Ray Rodriguez]

To me, when she went over the railing, she deserved a 911 call if there was any chance of her being alive. Robert Salazar was full of deception and deceit right from the beginning.

[Narrator]

In March of 2001, Ray Rodriguez finally made the arrest he'd been waiting to make for four years.

[Detective Ray Rodriguez]

We filed a formal complaint, got the arrest warrant, and went to Houston and arrested Robert Salazar. We were out of Houston that same day on an airplane coming back to Los Angeles.

[Robert Salazar]

The first thought that went through my mind was that I was gonna get blamed for something I didn't do.

[Narrator]

Robert Salazar had never spoken about the events that took place in that hotel, on that balcony in November of 1996 until he spoke with us.

[Robert Salazar]

Every morning I wake up and I pray. I pray for Sandy. I pray for her family. I pray for my family. It was a horrible accident.

[Narrator]

In an exclusive interview while out on bail, he agreed to sit down with 48 hours, his wife Beth looking on to explain the events that have come back to haunt him and why he should not be found guilty of the murder of Sandra Orellana.

[Robert Salazar]

Yeah, I did some things wrong. I was with another woman. I was in a room I shouldn't have been in. I. I was with an employee, but I didn't cause her to fall off that balcony then.

[Narrator]

He was general manager at Skillmaster, a personnel agency in booming Houston, Texas.

[Robert Salazar]

I was responsible for operations and I was responsible for safety and health.

[Narrator]

People worked for you?

[Robert Salazar]

Yes, I had a staff of probably about 30 people.

[Narrator]

Sandra Orellana worked directly for him. He was her boss. What did she do for the company?

[Robert Salazar]

She handled all the workers comp claims.

[Narrator]

She was good at her work.

[Robert Salazar]

She was good at her work.

[Narrator]

What kind of relationship did you have.

[Robert Salazar]

With Sandy at work it was just an employee. Employee relationship.

[Narrator]

Salazar denies the accusations that he harassed Sandra. Were you attracted to her?

[Robert Salazar]

I wasn't attracted to her. I mean, I was a married man. I just got recently gotten married and recently had a baby.

[Narrator]

But on November 12, 1996, he and Sandra Orellana were on the road together in Los Angeles.

[Robert Salazar]

We were purchasing this company in California that had several offices. We needed to come and clean up their workers comp.

[Narrator]

The night began at a nearby restaurant, a business dinner. But it also happened to be Sandra's 27th birthday. By your account, you've had four drinks over dinner, correct?

[Robert Salazar]

We also had some champagne when we checked in.

[Narrator]

So how would you describe your mental acuity at that point?

[Robert Salazar]

Well, I was feeling. I was a little buzzed. Well, yeah.

[Narrator]

How drunk was she at that time?

[Robert Salazar]

She was intoxicated. I mean, she had several drinks. Just like me. I was intoxicated. I had several drinks. I mean, we are not.

[Detective Ray Rodriguez]

Let'S just.

[Robert Salazar]

Say we shouldn't be driving.

[Narrator]

They weren't. A business colleague who'd been with them at dinner drove them back to their hotel and dropped them off.

[Robert Salazar]

I walked in and you could hear the band playing in the bar. Sandy said, let's go down there and take a look at it.

[Narrator]

Why didn't you just go to your rooms and call it a night?

[Robert Salazar]

I wish I had done that a million times in my mind. Why didn't I just go to my room?

[Narrator]

But Salazar didn't go to his room. After ordering a few more drinks, he says things started to get complicated.

[Robert Salazar]

Started hugging. Started laughing. Started having a good time. Started kissing.

[Narrator]

They were kissing and William Boone was also a guest in the hotel that night. He says he saw the couple together twice.

[Detective Ray Rodriguez]

Hands around his neck, and he with his hands on her waist both times. They looked happy to be in each other's company.

[Narrator]

Did your feelings for her change in that moment?

[Robert Salazar]

We're talking about two adult people who were intoxicated and doing things they weren't supposed to be doing.

[Narrator]

And they didn't stop there. So now you're on the eighth floor. What did you do? We walked to our rooms, which were right next to one another. This was Robert Salazar's room, room 815. This was Sandra Orellana's room 813. He says they would end up going in there because she was the sexual aggressor that night.

[Robert Salazar]

She opens the door and pulls me in.

[Narrator]

So she took you by the hand and pulled you in the room?

[Robert Salazar]

Yes, sir.

[Narrator]

I need to hear your version of events. What Happened. Okay, now you're in the room.

[Robert Salazar]

I want to take a break just for a second.

[Narrator]

That's fine.

[Robert Salazar]

I want to talk to my wife.

[Narrator]

After a brief consultation with perhaps his most critical judge, Robert Salazar resumed his story.

[Robert Salazar]

We're becoming intimate with each other. Foreplay. And we do that for a few minutes. And then she says, it's hot. And she gets up and goes out to the balcony. And I get up and I follow her.

[Narrator]

Salazar says the time was just after midnight. So now the two of you are on this balcony?

[Robert Salazar]

Yes.

[Narrator]

What happens?

[Robert Salazar]

We get out on the balcony. She's facing outside. I come out in behind her. And she says, hold on. And she lifts her leg and turns around, puts it on the railing and lifts herself up. As she lifts herself up, she falls over. She falls over.

[Narrator]

Did you watch her fall?

[Robert Salazar]

Yes, I was right there between, like, me and you.

[Narrator]

Did you see her hit the ground?

[Robert Salazar]

No, I heard her hit the ground.

[Narrator]

Sandra orellana had fallen 104ft to her death when she went over the railing. What was the first thought that went through your mind?

[Robert Salazar]

Oh, my God. I have to get out of here. And I. I grabbed all my clothes and I ran to my room.

[Narrator]

Did you call 911?

[Robert Salazar]

No.

[Narrator]

Did you report this to anybody?

[Detective Ray Rodriguez]

No.

[Narrator]

Well, why didn't you?

[Robert Salazar]

If I call, I'm drunk. They may not believe me. And I'm gonna go to jail for something I didn't do. If I call, my wife's gonna find out. There goes. If I call, my job's gonna find out. There goes my job. And I made a horrible, horrible decision. And I did nothing.

[Narrator]

Detective Rodriguez thinks not making that call shows Robert Salazar's guilt. Maybe he's just guilty of having incredible bad judgment that he doesn't call when it happens and it is an accident. Isn't that possible?

[Detective Ray Rodriguez]

I don't think it's just the bad judgment. I think you have a calculated story. I think you have calculated deceit. You have calculated lies.

[Narrator]

Rodriguez believes Robert Salazar murdered Sandra Orellana. That he lied about it six years ago, and he's still lying today.

[Detective Ray Rodriguez]

There's no doubt in my mind that Sandra Arellana did not go over that balcony on her own.

[Narrator]

Did you kill Sandra?

[Detective Ray Rodriguez]

No.

[Robert Salazar]

Swear to God. God is my witness. I didn't kill her.

[Narrator]

Did you in any way help her over that balcony that night?

[Robert Salazar]

No.

[Narrator]

No. You murdered her. I did not murder.

[Robert Salazar]

Guys, my witness.

[Narrator]

I did that murder for her. Robert Salazar on trial for the murder of Sandra Orell. Attorneys will try to prove that Salazar had motive for killing Orellana. People of State of California versus Robert Lee Salazar, case number KA051534. Mr. Salazar is present. Nearly six years after Sandra Orellana plunged off this balcony to her death, Robert Salazar went on trial for her murder. Yes, you, Honor, for Ray Rodriguez and the Orellana family, this was their last, best hope for justice.

[Sandra's Sister (Katherine Orellana)]

I'm finally glad that this case is going to be inside a courtroom and that a jury can hear this. I mean, that's what we wanted all along. We just wanted a jury to see that, to hear the case.

[Narrator]

Do people wish to make an opening statement at this time? Yes, you, Honor, we do. If convicted, Robert Salazar would face a sentence of 25 years to life. That's what they see. But was there enough evidence to convince a jury he's the only witness? We have no one there to say exactly what happens from the eighth floor up here. Prosecutor Bob Fultz admits making the case against Salazar was a challenge. Turning this way would pull her body into the room, not over the railing. In those kind of cases, where it's built on circumstantial evidence, they're always extremely difficult. And he asked the deputy, what's going on? But Fultz also believe the series of lies told by the defendant exposed a significant truth. And Mr. Herrera says, Where's Sandra? Robert goes, I don't know. People only lie about what really happened when they have something to hide. And in this case, it was clear that he had a lot to hide. The prosecution theory is that Robert Salazar carefully orchestrated his move on Sandra Orellana that night. First he got her drunk, then he got her into this room. But when he tried to have sex with her, she fought back, scratched his face. That's when Robert Salazar became angry and retaliated. So do you believe he rendered her unconscious at that point? Somehow I do. Either by choking her or hitting her. Right. And then what happened? And then he simply decided to make it look like a suicide by taking her out and putting her over the rail. The evidence is going to show that she fell as a consequence of being a.22 blood alcohol and being sitting on the edge of the balcony. Defense attorney Mike Coghlund said both Sandra Orellana and Robert Salazar were drunk that night and that her own reckless actions led to her death. She lost her balance and fell accidentally before he was able to grab her or do anything to stop her fall. Were there any other homicide investigators already on site for the prosecution, the main witnesses were the investigators. Detective Rodriguez came out of retirement to assist Bob Foltz in the prosecution and to testify against Robert Salazar.

[Detective Ray Rodriguez]

I said, you know, Robert, the stories that you told Deputy Gonzalez doesn't match the physical evidence. You said that none of your items were in the room. Your underwear is in the room.

[Narrator]

Rodriguez told the jury about finding Salazar's underwear and shoes and how he confronted Salazar.

[Detective Ray Rodriguez]

Salazar, and if you're willing to tell me the truth, I'll take a tape statement from you as to the truth.

[Narrator]

The jury was played the tape.

[Robert Salazar]

She grabbed the balcony and pushed herself up. And when she did that, she just went over.

[Narrator]

Then Detective Rodriguez told the court how the day ended.

[Detective Ray Rodriguez]

I arrested Robert Salazar, charged him with murder, and he was held in jail for 48 hours pending his arraignment in court.

[Narrator]

There were large numbers of severely displaced rib fractures on both sides of the chest. Primarily. The county coroner, fingerprint experts and other experts testifying for the prosecution painted the picture of a violent crime. The affection that Sandra was showing for Robert continued at that. The defense said the fall was an accident and that Sandra Orellana wasn't fighting Robert Salazar at all. Clearly, they were standing a few inches apart at most. William Boone, the businessman, told his story. Did they appear happy and contented or angry and upset?

[Detective Ray Rodriguez]

Happy and contented.

[Sandra's Sister (Katherine Orellana)]

These are the bed sheets.

[Narrator]

And Heidi Robbins, a county criminologist who testified about the physical evidence, seemed to help make the defense case under cross examination. You examined these articles of clothing, I assume?

[Sandra's Sister (Katherine Orellana)]

Yes.

[Narrator]

Were any of them torn or damaged in any way?

[Robert Salazar]

No.

[Detective Ray Rodriguez]

Did any of those articles of clothing.

[Narrator]

Appear to you as though they might have been removed from the person wearing them without her permission or consent?

[Robert Salazar]

No.

[Narrator]

I'm a biomechanical engineer. Using sophisticated computer graphics, Dr. Carly Ward made the argument that because Sandra's body ended up so close to the hotel, she couldn't have been pushed or thrown. If she had, she would have landed farther out on the terrace.

[Robert Salazar]

She wasn't impelled in any way away from the balcony. She turned around.

[Narrator]

But undoubtedly, the star witness was the defendant himself, Robert Lee Salazar. Had you done anything to contribute to her fall on that balcony?

[Robert Salazar]

No, sir.

[Narrator]

He answered questions. Sometimes emotionally, sometimes not.

[Robert Salazar]

I don't think we were thinking like that.

[Narrator]

Observers in the court remarked how easily Salazar seemed to be able to shift emotional gears.

[Detective Ray Rodriguez]

Come on, Penny.

[Narrator]

We're waiting on you.

[Detective Ray Rodriguez]

Come on.

[Narrator]

We gotta go.

[Detective Ray Rodriguez]

Let's go.

[Narrator]

And when the court was played, those phone calls Salazar made to Sandra's room hours after she died. Hurry up.

[Detective Ray Rodriguez]

It's after seven.

[Narrator]

Bye. Bye. Salazar didn't seem to have a very good explanation.

[Robert Salazar]

I made a bad decision. I made an awful decision that I'll have to live with the rest of my life. But I know it's not a good answer. But it's the truth.

[Narrator]

Prosecutor Foltz challenged Salazar at every turn.

[Robert Salazar]

I wish she was alive more than.

[Narrator]

Anybody in this room. Well, you're praying that she's alive now. Because you murdered her. I did not murder.

[Robert Salazar]

As God as my witness, I did not murder her.

[Narrator]

And you don't want to pay for that act.

[Robert Salazar]

Mr. Fulton, this count is my witness.

[Detective Ray Rodriguez]

I did not murder her.

[Narrator]

That man is guilty of murder. The closing arguments from both sides were very direct. There is only one conclusion here. And that is that Robert Salazar murdered Sandra Orellana. I'm asking you not to destroy the life of Robert Salazar. I'm asking you to find Robert Salazar not guilty.

[Sandra's Sister (Katherine Orellana)]

I hope the jury finds him guilty. I hope they will prosecute him to the maximum penalty.

[Robert Salazar]

There is really no winner or loser in this case. Her family is going to hurt. My family's going to hurt. It's the worst thing in the world. I'm nervous. But I have faith in God.

[Narrator]

Texas businessman accused of pushing Pomona jury reaches a decision today about a murder. It took the jury nine hours over two days to reach its verdict.

[Robert Salazar]

Clerk would read the verdicts, please. Yes, you, Honor.

[Sandra's Sister (Katherine Orellana)]

We, the jury, in the above entitled action. Find the defendant, Robert Lee Salazar not guilty of the crime of second degree murder in violation.

[Narrator]

For Robert Salazar, there was happiness mixed with sorrow.

[Robert Salazar]

It's just a tragic accident. And we're real sorry about what happened.

[Narrator]

Even Beth Salazar, who had never spoken before, gave her reaction.

[Sandra's Sister (Katherine Orellana)]

It wasn't joy, because this was a tragedy.

[Narrator]

One juror summed up the difficulty of the case.

[Detective Ray Rodriguez]

While we didn't believe some of Robert's.

[Sandra's Sister (Katherine Orellana)]

Testimony, we do believe that it was a tragic accident. And it's been a very difficult few weeks for us.

[Narrator]

Robert Salazar has found a new job in sales. The Orellana family was left with nothing but pain.

[Sandra's Sister (Katherine Orellana)]

It's been a long six years. And to culminate in this. It's devastating. Our family will always maintain that he was responsible for her death.

[Narrator]

And for Ray Rodriguez, it was a bitter end to a long battle.

[Detective Ray Rodriguez]

I still think that he did it.

[Narrator]

You think he got away with murder?

[Detective Ray Rodriguez]

Yes. And that's our system.

[Narrator]

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[Robert Salazar]

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[Narrator]

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[Sandra's Sister (Katherine Orellana)]

Damn, I hate to fly.

[Narrator]

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[Sandra's Sister (Katherine Orellana)]

I felt like I met my guy.

[Narrator]

Just stop, stop, stop talking. God.

[Sandra's Sister (Katherine Orellana)]

But he's not even close to the person that I thought he was. When you do break up with Brandon, that is when the stalking begins. I just knew something. Something horrific was about to happen. I saw the devil in his eyes. We're gonna tell everyone what he did.

[Narrator]

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