Puppet Master

Summary

48 Hours: "Puppet Master" - Episode Summary

Title: Puppet Master
Host/Author: CBS News
Release Date: July 3, 2025
Description: “48 Hours” delves into the intricate murder case of Sandy Razzo, uncovering the complex relationships and manipulations that led to her tragic death. Through meticulous investigation, compelling interviews, and critical evidence, the episode explores how Tracy Humphrey and his young wife Ashley Barker orchestrated the crime to secure their own futures.

---

Introduction

The episode opens with heartfelt tributes to Sandy Razzo, painting a picture of a vibrant young woman whose life was tragically cut short. As the narrative unfolds, host Anne-Marie Green guides listeners through the events leading up to Sandy's murder, the ensuing investigation, and the courtroom drama that followed.

---

Background: Sandy Razzo and Her Relationships

Sandy Razzo was a 37-year-old model and barmaid in Tampa, Florida. Described by her sister Sandra Razzo as a "vivacious young woman devoted to her big dreams," Sandy balanced her daytime job with evening shifts at popular clubs. She was divorced with a teenage daughter, Giovanna, whom she loved dearly despite not having custody.

Notable Quote:
"Sandy will always be remembered as a vivacious young woman devoted to her big dreams and gorgeous body."
— Kristen Bell, [04:02]

---

Tracy Humphrey: The Accused

Tracy Humphrey, a 6'2" former underwear model and self-proclaimed ex-football player, became a central figure in the case. Known for his charm and physical prowess, Tracy worked as a personal trainer and quickly became entangled in Sandy's life.

Notable Quote:
"My name's Timothy Lee Humphrey. Everybody calls me Tracy. I'm charged with first-degree homicide."
— Tracy Humphrey, [02:59]

Tracy's history revealed a darker side, including past violent crimes against women, which police later used to build their case against him.

---

The Relationship Between Sandy and Tracy

Sandy and Tracy met at a nightclub where they both worked—she at the bar, he at the door. Their relationship was intense and physical, characterized by passionate moments that soon devolved into frequent arguments.

Notable Quote:
"At first, our relationship was passionate,"
— Tracy Humphrey, [08:23]

The tension peaked after an incident where Tracy and Sandy were caught by police in his boss's Mercedes, leading to a series of manipulative behaviors from Tracy.

---

The Assault Allegations

Sandy accused Tracy of physical abuse and rape, which she reported to friends and family. Due to fear and emotional distress, Sandy delayed filing official charges, leading to insufficient evidence at the time.

Notable Quote:
"He tried to physically force himself on her. He hit her. She had black eyes."
— Tracy Humphrey, [10:44]

Despite Sandy's allegations, Tracy maintained his innocence, asserting that the assault claims were fabricated.

---

Sandy Razzo's Murder

On July 5, 2003, just a day after Tracy and Ashley Barker's impromptu wedding at the gym, Sandy Razzo was brutally murdered. Tracy was initially a prime suspect due to his alibi and connections to Sandy.

Notable Quote:
"As Sandy was pulled into her garage, Ashley says Tracy was on the cell phone, peppering her with questions."
— Narration, [36:52]

Investigators discovered compelling evidence linking Tracy to the crime, including shell casings matching Ashley's mother's Ruger .22 caliber gun and cell phone records placing Ashley near the crime scene at the time of the murder.

---

Investigation and Turning Points

Detectives Scott Gozewski and Paul Andrews played pivotal roles in unraveling the case. The discovery of Ashley's altered cell phone records and her suspicious behavior led to her arrest as the primary suspect.

Notable Quote:
"The cell phone records were very damning."
— Tracy Humphrey, [23:37]

Further investigation revealed Ashley's extensive background research on Sandy and her involvement in the plot to kill her, orchestrated by Tracy.

---

The Role of Ashley Barker

Ashley Barker, Tracy's 23-year-old wife, appeared as a vulnerable young woman seeking love. However, her relationship with Tracy was fraught with control and manipulation, culminating in her involvement in Sandy's murder to protect Tracy from a prison sentence.

Notable Quote:
"I didn't want to lose him. They were willing to kill another human being because you loved him?"
— Ashley Barker, [37:50]

Under pressure and manipulation, Ashley confessed to the murder, admitting that Tracy was the mastermind behind the elaborate plan.

---

Courtroom Drama and Testimonies

The trial brought forth testimonies that painted Tracy as a manipulative "puppet master." Ashley's confession was crucial, but Tracy's defense highlighted inconsistencies and presented him as a victim of circumstance.

Notable Quote:
"He was the man pulling the strings."
— Prosecutors, [35:51]

Despite the overwhelming evidence, Tracy consistently denied his involvement, asserting that Ashley was the true perpetrator.

---

Verdict and Sentencing

After a swift four-hour deliberation, the jury found Tracy Humphrey guilty of first-degree murder. He received a life sentence without the possibility of parole, a conclusion met with mixed feelings by those involved.

Notable Quote:
"The defendant is guilty of murder in the first degree."
— Judge, [43:56]

Sandy's mother found solace in the verdict, believing that justice had been served and that Sandy's death would prevent future victims from falling into Tracy's manipulative grasp.

---

Impact and Reflections

The "Puppet Master" episode highlights the dangers of manipulation and the devastating effects of abusive relationships. It underscores the importance of timely intervention and the courage of individuals like Sandy Razzo's mother, who seek justice against overwhelming odds.

Notable Quote:
"She put her life on the line knowing what the consequences could be."
— Sandy's Mother, [44:52]

The case serves as a chilling reminder of how power and control can lead to tragic outcomes, emphasizing the need for vigilance and support systems for those caught in similar situations.

---

Conclusion

"48 Hours: Puppet Master" offers a gripping exploration of a heinous crime fueled by manipulation and control. Through detailed reporting and compelling storytelling, the episode not only recounts the events of Sandy Razzo's murder but also sheds light on the intricate dynamics that enable such tragedies.

Final Quote:
"Everything that happened here is Tracy's fault, right? No. I mean, I take complete responsibility for what I did, but I wouldn't never have done this if I hadn't even met him."
— Ashley Barker, [37:50]

The episode reinforces the show's commitment to unveiling the truth behind complex criminal cases, offering listeners a profound understanding of the human elements that drive such dark narratives.

Transcript

[Kristen Bell]

Hi, I'm Kristen Bell and if you know my husband Dax, then you also.

[Dax Shepard]

Know he loves shopping for a car. Selling a car, not so much. We're really doing this, huh?

[Kristen Bell]

Thankfully, Carvana makes it easy. Answer a few questions, put in your van or license and done. We sold ours in minutes this morning and they'll come pick it up and.

[Dax Shepard]

Pay us this afternoon. Bye bye Truckee. Of course, we kept the favorite. Hello other Truckee. Sell your car with Carvana today.

[Kristen Bell]

Terms and conditions apply.

[Dax Shepard]

This episode is brought to you by Progressive Insurance. Fiscally responsible financial geniuses, monetary magicians. These are things people say about drivers who switch their car insurance to Progressive and save hundreds. Visit progressive.com to see if you could save Progressive Casualty Insurance Company and affiliate potential savings will vary. Not available in all states or situations. Last night I was going through looking at pictures and stuff and I relived the whole life all over again. I could look at those pictures and tell you exactly what we were doing and what a happy little girl she was. Always had a smile on her face. She liked to work out. Part of her was having the nice body. When she was younger, she modeled a lot. My name is Tracy Havlicek.

[Kristen Bell]

I'm Sandra Razzo's sister.

[Dax Shepard]

Her heart was bigger than the earth.

[Kristen Bell]

Always wanting to help somebody any way she ever could.

[Dax Shepard]

I still think she's gonna call. When the phone rings, I always hope it's her saying, ah, ha ha, I'm here. It was a hot, humid fourth of July weekend. This is the Park Place Condominiums where the homicide occurred. Right there in that garage. I am Paul Andrews, Pinellas Park Police Department. Sandra drives into her complex in her black BMW and pulls into the garage. There is a smack on the window that scares her. She turns and sees the shooter. Muzzle flash, shards of glass flying everywhere. The shooter then proceeds to shoot eight rounds into the car and ultimately into our victim. It was an ambush murder. Somebody wanted her dead. This wasn't a random act. Who does she know who could possibly want this done? I said, I know who did this. Pretty quickly, Tracy Humphrey's name came up as someone who would definitely have an interest in having her dead. There was just something about him from.

[Kristen Bell]

The minute that I even looked at.

[Dax Shepard]

Him that was very, very creepy. He threatened to kill her and all of the family. My name's Timothy Lee Humphrey. Everybody calls me Tracy. I'm charged with first degree homicide. The minute I found out that that girl was dead to me in my heart I felt like he did it. I knew that he had to have been involved. She was so fun and she was so beautiful. He repeatedly told her he was going to kill her. I am being charged for a crime that I did not commit. Who else would do this? The evidence led us in a way we did not expect. That was the shock of the century. He had an alibi. We know exactly where he was. There's no way he shot her.

[Kristen Bell]

Sandy Rozzo will always be remembered as a vivacious young woman devoted to her big dreams and gorgeous body.

[Dax Shepard]

She's been doing modeling off and on since she was in high school.

[Kristen Bell]

Sandy's mom, she was into weightlifting, Always.

[Dax Shepard]

Caring about her body.

[Kristen Bell]

And her younger sister Tracy. If she could help anybody in any way, that's how she wanted people to.

[Dax Shepard]

Remember her and be proud of her. She wanted to get him to some movie starring. She had the body, she had the face. She was perfect.

[Kristen Bell]

Sandy spent her days looking for her next big modeling gig. By night she tended bar at some of the hottest clubs in Tampa.

[Dax Shepard]

She was just absolutely beautiful, just very vibrant, very full of life.

[Kristen Bell]

Heather Ursini worked with Sandy.

[Dax Shepard]

It was fun. Sandy was beautiful. So a lot of men would flaunt to her because of how beautiful she was.

[Kristen Bell]

She was divorced with a teenage daughter, Giovanna, but her ex husband had custody.

[Dax Shepard]

Her daughter was her life. She hated the fact that Giovanna wasn't with her all the time.

[Kristen Bell]

At 37 years old, Sandy had never given up on finding someone special to share her life with.

[Dax Shepard]

She was just doing what most single girls do, trying to find Mr. Wright.

[Kristen Bell]

Mitch Eubanks, Sandy's friend and hairstylist, was her confidant.

[Dax Shepard]

We would always talk about, you know, guys and I'd give her my guy advice. You know, I think she always just wanted that kind of like storybook thing and like you know, the little picket fence in the house and the kids and everything.

[Kristen Bell]

And then one day into Sandy rozzo's life walked Mr. Wright. Tracy Humphrey, a 6 foot 2, buffed out muscle man who told everyone that he was a former underwear model and pro football player.

[Dax Shepard]

I played some semi pro football. I did model for the in house photographer for Armani. I did a couple of shows. I kind of describe him as Mr. Clean with a goatee was what he kind of looked like.

[Kristen Bell]

Kelly Terrell met 20 Tracy at a gym. He had a reputation as a top personal trainer. Popular with his clients, especially his female clients.

[Dax Shepard]

He was very gentle and he was really good at what he did. A lot of girls thought he was really, really good looking.

[Kristen Bell]

Sandy and Tracy Met at a nightclub where they both worked. She at the bar, he at the door.

[Dax Shepard]

Men definitely were intimidated by him. Women all over him. Tracy, of course, if he saw a pretty woman walk in, he'd open that rope and there she goes.

[Kristen Bell]

Tracy's close friend, Hector Adorno.

[Dax Shepard]

Nice, charming, masculine. Everything that every woman would want in a man. Knew exactly how to look at a woman and say, God, you're beautiful. He definitely had charisma and knew how to play the field.

[Kristen Bell]

Sexy.

[Dax Shepard]

Oh, yeah.

[Kristen Bell]

Charismatic.

[Dax Shepard]

Yes. He told me that he was supposed to be Vin Diesel's stunt double or something in some movie.

[Kristen Bell]

Vin Diesel's stunt double?

[Dax Shepard]

Yeah. You know, he constantly bragged about who he was, what he's done in his lifetime, and that, to a lot of people, was interesting. Model in Italy for a while.

[Kristen Bell]

Underwear model, wasn't it?

[Dax Shepard]

Yeah, underwear model. And was Tom Cruise's bodyguard for while.

[Kristen Bell]

But Tracy says Sandy knew nothing about his colorful resume. That actually he was attracted to her beauty.

[Dax Shepard]

She caught my attention right away. She was so much fun to be around. Not like most people. She was a great lady.

[Kristen Bell]

How long did you date?

[Dax Shepard]

Just like three or four months. But it was a real intense experience. His relationship with Sandy, from what I understand, was very physical as far as the bedroom's concerned.

[Kristen Bell]

Sex?

[Dax Shepard]

Yes, sex. He said that she liked violent sex, that she liked rough sex.

[Kristen Bell]

At first, their relationship was passionate, says Tracy. But soon they began arguing. Tracy says the trouble all started one wild night here in Tampa's party district, Ybor City. Allegedly, he and Sandy got caught by the cops fooling around in his boss's Mercedes.

[Dax Shepard]

Tampa police caught us in the suv and I was laughing. I thought it was funny. But they saw her naked and that made her mad.

[Kristen Bell]

That embarrassing incident led to another big argument, and Sandy and Tracy went home with other dates that night.

[Dax Shepard]

Over the next week, I paraded around a couple other girls that I hooked up with in front of her and made her pretty mad.

[Kristen Bell]

The relationship spiraled downhill from there.

[Dax Shepard]

She started being cruel, making fun of me, ridiculing me.

[Kristen Bell]

Just more game playing.

[Dax Shepard]

Yeah, exactly. I said that I thought we needed to take a break and really look at this and maybe spend some time apart.

[Kristen Bell]

But unwilling to give up a good thing. A couple of days later, Tracy went home with Sandy again.

[Dax Shepard]

We went back to her apartment. We did what we did most of the time. We had sex. She liked to be roughed up during sex, so we had what was normal between us.

[Kristen Bell]

But a bruised and battered Sandy told friends and family a different story. Apparently, they started Drinking.

[Dax Shepard]

He got angry. They got into an altercation of some sort. He tried to physically force himself on her. He hit her. She had black eyes.

[Kristen Bell]

Sandy also told Heather that Tracy had raped her and threatened to kill her and her daughter. She wasn't really sure what to do.

[Dax Shepard]

Because she was so distraught over the situation.

[Kristen Bell]

But because Sandy was so afraid, she waited a week before going to the police to file charges. Were you surprised then when you were arrested?

[Dax Shepard]

Absolutely.

[Kristen Bell]

Did you have any idea it was coming?

[Dax Shepard]

No.

[Kristen Bell]

Tracey insists he. He did nothing wrong.

[Dax Shepard]

She threw a pillow at me and I swung it at her. It hit her in the side of the eye and it knocked her contact out. She fell face down on the bed.

[Kristen Bell]

Was there any question in your mind that she had been raped and attacked, beaten?

[Dax Shepard]

Oh, no, no. He beat her.

[Kristen Bell]

He squeezed her head between his legs while he was straddling her and punching her face several times.

[Dax Shepard]

He did beat her up. She did have a black eye.

[Kristen Bell]

Detective Scott Gozewski.

[Dax Shepard]

There was also allegations of sexual battery.

[Kristen Bell]

But there was no DNA or medical evidence because Sandy had waited too long to report Tracy to police. Instead, he was charged with assault, which carried a 10 year prison sentence, a prospect that utterly terrified him.

[Dax Shepard]

Traci told me that before he went to jail, he'd commit suicide.

[Kristen Bell]

And that, police say, is when someone hatched a diabolical plan to make Tracie Humphrey's problems disappear.

[Dax Shepard]

I don't think she suspected that anybody was watching her. Then.

[Kristen Bell]

A plot that would involve seduction, manipulation and murder.

[Dax Shepard]

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[Kristen Bell]

If Tracy Humphrey was worried about his upcoming assault trial, he certainly wasn't showing it.

[Dax Shepard]

He was a player. He, you know, had a different girl. Seemed like every month he was dating somebody new. He wanted to go out and sleep with other women.

[Kristen Bell]

And he was attracted to this sort of sexier, outgoing.

[Dax Shepard]

Absolutely. He wanted them to look like that. Sexy and always, you know, in high fashion.

[Kristen Bell]

But in autumn of 2002, Tracy had his eye on a different kind of girl. A girl just out of high school.

[Dax Shepard]

Ashley was a little scared girl. She was not a sexy girl. She was not pretentious, stuck up.

[Kristen Bell]

Ashley laney was just 19.

[Dax Shepard]

She was very fit, very bubbly, very vibrant, little ditzy. She was very cute.

[Kristen Bell]

She was just so boy crazy.

[Dax Shepard]

And she wanted someone to love her so bad.

[Kristen Bell]

Charlie Williams is one of Ashley's best friends.

[Dax Shepard]

I liked Ashley the first time I met her. We had a lot in common. We used to go rollerblading together, and we had the same taste in music.

[Kristen Bell]

The girls worked together at a frozen yogurt shop across the street from the gym where Tracy Humphrey was head trainer.

[Dax Shepard]

So I came in and I met her, and I was kind of taken with her right away. She has that girl next door kind of a thing going. She was nice. She was fun. She was eager. She was very eager. Ashley wasn't a bartender. Ashley wasn't a topless dancer. Flip flops, jeans, and a regular T shirt. As far as fashion, very simple girl.

[Kristen Bell]

She was a bright girl. As and Bs in high school. But at home, Ashley led a troubled life.

[Dax Shepard]

Her mom was horrible and her family was terrible. Her dad spent pretty much his whole life in prison.

[Kristen Bell]

And Ashley's friends say that background left her insecure, vulnerable. She aggressively looked for love, and that played right into Tracy's hands.

[Dax Shepard]

Traci's really good about making sure he feeds your insecurities by making you feel better about them. If they felt ugly, he'd make them feel beautiful.

[Kristen Bell]

In no time, Ashley and Tracy had moved in together.

[Dax Shepard]

She was A blast. She'd do anything that she thought would make me happy. And that's how our relationship grew. We. We got to be really good friends. I always got a bad vibe off of him.

[Kristen Bell]

Ashley's best friend, Charlie, thought Tracy was a bad influence.

[Dax Shepard]

I knew something was wrong because she wasn't normal Ashley, but he definitely took over her life.

[Kristen Bell]

You could just tell that Ashley, there's.

[Dax Shepard]

Something wrong with her.

[Kristen Bell]

Like, she went into, like, almost zombie. Soon, Ashley was shedding her old friends, taking on a new job with Tracy at the gym. And eventually, the couple started their own personal training business. Did you fall in love with her?

[Dax Shepard]

Oh, yeah.

[Kristen Bell]

But Charlie says Tracy was cheating on Ashley.

[Dax Shepard]

I just knew there was something not right. Always started hearing, you know, about all the different girls he was with.

[Kristen Bell]

And did the two of you talk about that?

[Dax Shepard]

Yeah.

[Kristen Bell]

But when you think you're in love.

[Dax Shepard]

You'Re not gonna listen to what anybody else has to say.

[Kristen Bell]

In fact, more and more, the only person Ashley listened to was Tracy. By springtime, he confessed that he was potentially facing serious time in prison because of what he claimed was a bogus assault case involving his ex girlfriend, Sandy Rozzo. How did she feel about the case?

[Dax Shepard]

I think she found a way to hate Sandy.

[Kristen Bell]

Because Sandra was the one making the accusations, right?

[Dax Shepard]

Essentially, she would lose everything if she lost me. I told you she had a bad life. She struggled, and now we were starting a business together. She was an equal partner. If she lost me, she lost all that. She goes back to mom in the trailer park life.

[Kristen Bell]

Then, just a month before Tracy's trial in the Sandy Rozzo assault case, the couple surprised everyone and got married.

[Dax Shepard]

I thought it was the craziest thing I had ever heard Tracy do.

[Kristen Bell]

And whose idea was it to get married?

[Dax Shepard]

That was mine.

[Kristen Bell]

How did you propose?

[Dax Shepard]

We had this running joke that as soon as I bought her boobs that we'd get married.

[Kristen Bell]

That's an interesting gift. You know, ring or, you know, her boots.

[Dax Shepard]

Yeah, yeah, There you go.

[Kristen Bell]

Tracy and Ashley got married at the gym. No minister, no rings, just a marriage license and some unusual wedding gifts.

[Dax Shepard]

They got tattoos of each other's names in large letters on their back.

[Kristen Bell]

There would be no romantic honeymoon to make up for the less than romantic impromptu wedding at the gym. A day after Tracy got married, the woman who had accused him of rape was murdered. Sandy Roza was shot eight times at point blank range while she sat defenseless in her car.

[Dax Shepard]

I was overwrought. I was. I. I shared time with Sandy. You know, I loved her. There was a significant amount of glass.

[Kristen Bell]

Lead investigator Paul Andrews.

[Dax Shepard]

Absolutely. A tremendous amount of blood and multiple shell casings that you could see on the floor of the garage and just outside the garage. Somebody had it out for her. This wasn't a random act.

[Kristen Bell]

With Sandy's death, the assault charges against Tracy were dropped. But his troubles were far from over. He was now the prime suspect in her murder.

[Dax Shepard]

He threatened from day one that if my daughter reported him or turned him in, that he would kill her and all of her family.

[Kristen Bell]

Almost from the start, police were convinced that Tracy Humphrey was behind the murder of Sandy Rozzo. The trouble was, at the time of the murder, he was at home eating pizza.

[Dax Shepard]

We spoke to the pizza delivery man. We described Tracy Humphrey to him, and he remembered going there.

[Kristen Bell]

Shortly after the murder, Detective Scott Golzewski went to the gym where Traci worked. When Tracy refused to speak with him, Galzewski decided to stop by Tracy's apartment and talk with his new wife, Ashley.

[Dax Shepard]

She was very nervous, very scared. She almost threw up twice when I was interviewing her.

[Kristen Bell]

However, it wasn't long before Traci showed up and the interview. What did you think when you walked out of that apartment?

[Dax Shepard]

I said, she's definitely involved. She definitely knows something.

[Kristen Bell]

The trail to finding out just what Ashley knew began when Galzewski and his partner, Paul Andrews, got a tip from the fire department who had heard about the case.

[Dax Shepard]

May 31, her car was found on fire in Tampa.

[Kristen Bell]

The fire department told the homicide detectives they had found Ashley's car in flames. A month before the murder. Ashley had reported it stolen. Investigators suspected arson and turned over a background check they'd run on her to Andrews and Golzewski, who noticed some unusual purchases.

[Dax Shepard]

She had purchased a couple of computer software programs that would enable her to look for somebody. One of them actually was a search that she paid for on her credit card for Sandra Raza.

[Kristen Bell]

Trying to track down where she lived.

[Dax Shepard]

Yes.

[Kristen Bell]

And any sort of background information she could get on her.

[Dax Shepard]

Yes.

[Kristen Bell]

Another break came when they spoke with the co signer of Ashley's car loan, David Abernathy, her mother's boyfriend.

[Dax Shepard]

As we were leaving, I just asked him if he has any firearms, and he said he used to.

[Kristen Bell]

Abernathy told them he no longer had a gun because he had loaned it to Ashley. It was explosive evidence. The shell casings from Abernathy's gun, a Ruger.22 caliber, matched the type found in Sandy's garage.

[Dax Shepard]

It did open up the investigation to we're looking at Ashley a lot Harder.

[Kristen Bell]

Ashley's cell phone records on the day of Sandy's murder sealed their case.

[Dax Shepard]

The cell phone records were very damning.

[Kristen Bell]

Cell phone towers picked up Ashley's car in Sandy's neighborhood at the exact time of the murder. Now, with a mountain of evidence against her, police arrested Ashley for the murder of Sandy Razzo.

[Dax Shepard]

Do you understand what you're being arrested for? They said the murder of a woman, so I don't know. I told her in the interview, there's no more going to the malls. There's no more going to the gym, working out. This is it for you. You'll have to enter to the charge of murder the first degree. Get my turn. What do you mean, get him? I mean bring him here.

[Kristen Bell]

Her tough talk didn't last long. After three weeks behind bars, Ashley cracked. She confessed to gunning down Sandy Rozzo, telling police she did it because she was afraid of losing Tracy.

[Dax Shepard]

She shot Sandra because, quote, she's telling lies that are going to put him in prison.

[Kristen Bell]

It turned out that Sandy's murder was the culmination of a plan far more elaborate than anyone had imagined. The day that Sandra was killed, that was not the first attempt in her life.

[Dax Shepard]

No.

[Kristen Bell]

Detectives learn that weeks before Ashley Barker the ruger.22 from her mother's boyfriend, she had snuck into their home and stolen a rifle.

[Dax Shepard]

Going hot. She stole a Chinese SKS assault rifle almost identical to this one. A little girl or anybody could take a weapon like this and shoot fairly accurately with it, even as a novice shooter.

[Kristen Bell]

And with that rifle, Ashley began stalking Sandy Rozzo. Donning elaborate disguises, she painted her face.

[Dax Shepard]

Up to look dark skinned and had baggy clothes on and shoes too big for her feet.

[Kristen Bell]

Then, one month before the murder, Ashley drove her blue VW Beetle to a parking lot outside the bar where Sandy worked.

[Dax Shepard]

When Sandra left work, leaning out the window, looking through the scope right at Sandra, she pulled the trigger. Sandra ducked like she heard the shot, but apparently didn't realize it was a gunshot, nor that it was anything aimed at her, and got back in her car and left. Shortly thereafter, Ashley realized that she had shot her own driver's side. Or rather, she had shot her own passenger mirror. It's actually a mistake that a lot of inexperienced snipers make make. Not realizing that the barrel is lower than the scope.

[Kristen Bell]

With a bullet hole in her car's mirror, Ashley panicked. She tossed the rifle into a wooded area off the highway. She took the car to an empty lot and set fire to it. That's when she borrowed her mother's boyfriend's gun. Within six weeks of that failed attempt, there would be that wedding and another plot. Less than 48 hours after Tracy and Ashley were married at the gym, instead of relaxing on their honeymoon, Ashley was staked out in the parking lot of a bar with a gun in her hand, waiting for Sandy again.

[Dax Shepard]

She was supposed to catch her in the parking lot and make it look like a robbery.

[Kristen Bell]

But once again, things went wrong.

[Dax Shepard]

As it turned out, she fell asleep briefly right at the time Ms. Raza was getting to her car.

[Kristen Bell]

Ashley woke up just in time to see Sandy's black BMW pulling out. Determined to get it over with, she followed Sandy 25 miles to her home. And this time, there were no follow ups. Traci says the news of Sandy's murder shocked him.

[Dax Shepard]

It hit me hard, you know?

[Kristen Bell]

And he was stunned when Ashley confessed to him.

[Dax Shepard]

I said, ashley, what did you do? You got to tell me what you did. You got to tell me what you did.

[Kristen Bell]

But police say Tracy already knew exactly what Ashley did.

[Dax Shepard]

There's no way in my mind that I can believe somebody like you would commit that type of crime. Unless someone was pushing, manipulating. You know that one friend who somehow knows everything about money? Yeah. Now imagine they live in your phone. Say hey to Experian, your big financial friend. It's the app that helps you check your FICO score, find ways to save, and basically feel like a financial genius. And guess what? It's totally free. So go on, download the Experian app. Trust me, having a BFF like this is a total game changer. Now Streaming.

[Kristen Bell]

Hi again.

[Dax Shepard]

TV's quirkiest crime solver.

[Kristen Bell]

I'm Elspeth Tasioni.

[Dax Shepard]

I work with the police. It's on the case.

[Kristen Bell]

I like my outlandish theories with a.

[Dax Shepard]

Heavy dose of evidence and ready to go toe to toe with a cavalcade of guest stars. Are you saying that this is now a murder investigation?

[Kristen Bell]

It's starting to look that way. Don't miss a moment.

[Dax Shepard]

Of the critically acclaimed hit Elsbeth. All episodes now streaming on Paramount and return CBS fall. That sounds like fun. Obviously, murder's not fun. What is? Daddication. The thing that drives me every day as a dad is Dariona. We call him Dae Date for short. Every day he's hungry for something, whether it's attention, affection, knowledge. And there's this huge responsibility in making sure that when he's no longer under my wing that he's a good person. I want him to be able to sit back one day and go, we worked together we did a good job. That's dedication. Find out [e-mail] brought to you by the U.S. department of Health and Human Services and the Ad Council.

[Kristen Bell]

As police saw it, Tracy Humphrey planned to get rid of Sandy Ron. But he couldn't commit the crime himself.

[Dax Shepard]

So his only alternative was to get somebody else to do the homicide for him.

[Kristen Bell]

That somebody, according to police, was Tracy's young girlfriend, Ashley, whom he had conveniently married the day before the murder. And in the state of Florida, one spouse cannot be forced to to testify against the other.

[Dax Shepard]

Now, he felt she couldn't be compelled to testify against him because he told.

[Kristen Bell]

Her, if we're married, you don't have to.

[Dax Shepard]

Exactly.

[Kristen Bell]

Detectives believed it was highly unlikely Ashley had come up with the murder plan on her own. Especially as they learned more about Tracy Humphrey's background and his double life.

[Dax Shepard]

He was a very good friend to me. I was a very good friend to him.

[Kristen Bell]

Just friends?

[Dax Shepard]

Well, let's just say I don't go around kissing my friends.

[Kristen Bell]

A life that was full of tall tales. Did you tell people that you played in the Rose Bowl?

[Dax Shepard]

I told people that I went to the Rose bowl with University of Iowa.

[Kristen Bell]

And did you?

[Dax Shepard]

No. Who doesn't pad their resume a little bit?

[Kristen Bell]

Turns out there was something else that Tracy had left off his resume. And he was an ex con, and he had done serious time, mostly for violent crimes against women. Just like the brutal beating Sandy Rozzo had accused him of.

[Dax Shepard]

It's trace.

[Kristen Bell]

Police were now convinced that Tracy was the mastermind behind the murder.

[Dax Shepard]

Obviously, they've got something to bring me back in.

[Kristen Bell]

But they needed more evidence, so they enlisted one of his clients, Toby White, to go undercover.

[Dax Shepard]

So what am I supposed to say about him? Well, we've talked about it a million times here.

[Kristen Bell]

With Ashley beside him, he's asking Toby to lie by telling police she saw Ashley with him at the time of the murder.

[Dax Shepard]

They're just hanging out over my house, you know, refereeing an argument.

[Kristen Bell]

Armed with that tape, Humphrey's rap sheet, and those cell phone records which revealed Ashley and Tracy had called each other 22 times the night Sandy died. Police charged Humphrey with first degree. Murphy.

[Dax Shepard]

Who's gonna believe that I wasn't involved? What do I do? Where do I turn? What am I gonna. I'm gonna tell on this woman who says that she loved me so much that she couldn't lose me? I wasn't guilty of doing anything besides not telling on her.

[Kristen Bell]

In February 2006, just before Tracy Humphrey's trial was set to Begin. The prosecutors struck a deal with Ashley, and if she would plead guilty and agree to testify against her husband, the state would recommend she be sentenced to just 25 years in prison instead of seeking the death penalty. You may call your next witness. The prosecution painted Tracy Humphrey as a man with a history of violence and wheeled out an ex girlfriend.

[Dax Shepard]

He also hit me and tried to choke me, held me hostage.

[Kristen Bell]

And Toby White, who had gone undercover for police during my workout session that Saturday, he threatened to kill me if.

[Dax Shepard]

I was working with the police.

[Kristen Bell]

But it was the testimony of this woman.

[Dax Shepard]

Please have a seat in a witness chair.

[Kristen Bell]

That Sandy's friends and family had anxiously awaited.

[Dax Shepard]

Will you please state your full name? Ashley Christine Humphrey. How old are you? 23.

[Kristen Bell]

Ashley Humphrey, after more than two years in custody.

[Dax Shepard]

This was you right before you went in custody? Yes.

[Kristen Bell]

Was barely recognizable. She had gained more than £30. And gone were the fresh faced good looks of a girl who just a few years earlier had chased after boys with her best friend, Charlie Williams.

[Dax Shepard]

She looks horrible. I hate to say it, but she was beautiful. And she's.

[Kristen Bell]

Not anymore. Ashley told the jury that she had gone out with plenty of guys but had fallen head over heels in love with Tracy.

[Dax Shepard]

I was very attracted to his body. He was about 220 pounds, very muscular. He seemed older and more mature. I thought he had his act together.

[Kristen Bell]

But it wasn't long, she said, before he began to dominate and control her.

[Dax Shepard]

I wasn't allowed to go anywhere without telling him. I wasn't allowed to have any friends.

[Kristen Bell]

Possessiveness turned to pain and violence.

[Dax Shepard]

We had fights often.

[Kristen Bell]

Ashley said Tracy hit her and he.

[Dax Shepard]

Swung around and hit me in the.

[Kristen Bell]

Face and frequently threatened to throw her out.

[Dax Shepard]

And I was begging to stay with him.

[Kristen Bell]

One night, she says he knocked her unconscious. When she woke up, Ashley says she agreed to do the unthinkable.

[Dax Shepard]

And I told him that if you let me stay with you, I'll kill Sandra for you. Did he accept that? Yes.

[Kristen Bell]

Ashley told the jury that once she agreed to kill Sandy, it was Traci who hatched the murder plan.

[Dax Shepard]

He was the mastermind.

[Kristen Bell]

It was his idea to get a gun.

[Dax Shepard]

He wanted it to be a big gun.

[Kristen Bell]

His idea for her to stalk Sandy.

[Dax Shepard]

He wanted me to stalk her.

[Kristen Bell]

His idea to use the disguise.

[Dax Shepard]

He wanted me to paint my face black so I would look like a black man.

[Kristen Bell]

And when that first attempt failed, he was furious.

[Dax Shepard]

And he said, if you still want to live with me, you still have to do this. Don't think that this is a way out of it.

[Kristen Bell]

Then just a few weeks later, on the night of July 5, 2003, instead of enjoying her honeymoon, Ashley set out to keep her husband from going back to prison.

[Dax Shepard]

I timed it so that I would be behind her when she pulled out of the parking lot. And I got behind her and discovered she was driving in the direction of her home.

[Kristen Bell]

As Sandy Razzo pulled into her garage, Ashley says Tracy was on the cell phone, peppering her with questions.

[Dax Shepard]

How many steps away was I? Could I run up to her and shoot her?

[Kristen Bell]

At 11:15pm Ashley became a cold blooded killer.

[Dax Shepard]

I went into the garage and I slammed with the butt of the gun on her window and she saw me and she started screaming and then I just shot her repeatedly till I thought she was dead. And I looked in her eyes and she was dead.

[Kristen Bell]

Finally, Ashley says there was one last conversation.

[Dax Shepard]

I called him and I said, it's done. And he said, get rid of everything and call me when you're done. I think the question you all want to know is why? I loved him very much and I did not want to lose him. They were willing to kill another guy human being because you loved him? Yes. Everything that happened here is Tracy's fault, right? No. I mean, I take complete responsibility for what I did, but I wouldn't never have done this if I hadn't even met him.

[Kristen Bell]

But Ashley's husband insists he is innocent and says his wife is the true manipulator.

[Dax Shepard]

Ashley's a lot smarter and a lot more cunning than anybody's given her credit for. Even me. Rated T for teen. Each year, thousands of adults lose their shred. It's an epidemic simply known as shred loss. But it doesn't have to be this way.

[Kristen Bell]

Because rekindling your shred is as easy.

[Dax Shepard]

As playing the new Tony hawk's Pro Skater 3 and 4.

[Kristen Bell]

With new parks, cross platform, multiplayer and.

[Dax Shepard]

Sick new game modes, we can put.

[Kristen Bell]

An end to shred loss everywhere.

[Dax Shepard]

Hit the new Tony hawk's Pro Skater.

[Kristen Bell]

3 and 4 and show the world that the shred's not dead. Pre order Tony hawk's Pro Skater 3 and 4 and play the Foundry demo.

[Dax Shepard]

I've never felt like this before. It's like you just get me.

[Kristen Bell]

I feel like my true self with you. Does that sound crazy? And it doesn't hurt that you're gorgeous.

[Dax Shepard]

Okay, that's it. I'm taking you home with me.

[Kristen Bell]

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.

[Dax Shepard]

Defense calls Timothy Humphrey.

[Kristen Bell]

Facing the death penalty. Tracy Humphrey says the jury has only heard one side of the story. Ashley's.

[Dax Shepard]

They say that I had all this control over her. I couldn't even get her to clean the house.

[Kristen Bell]

He insists Sandy Rozzo's murder was all Ashley's idea.

[Dax Shepard]

Did you tell her you were afraid of returning to prison for 10 years on the charges San Darazo had placed against you? I don't know if I said exactly that, but I said I'd rather die than go back to prison.

[Kristen Bell]

And to keep him from going to prison. Traci says it was Ashley who hatched the plan.

[Dax Shepard]

The first thing that she said was, what if she doesn't come to court? And I said that I kind of hope that's what happened. And then she said, well, what if somebody kept her from coming to court? And that was the first time that I said to her, don't ever even joke like that. That's not funny.

[Kristen Bell]

Humphrey claims all he ever wanted from Ashley was that she tried to dig up dirt on Sandy. Did you demand, tell or ask Ashley to harm or murder, shoot or do anything to Sandra Rozzo?

[Dax Shepard]

I asked her to do background research to help discredit her. That's it.

[Kristen Bell]

So yes or no, did you ask her to kill Sandra Roszo?

[Dax Shepard]

Absolutely not.

[Kristen Bell]

Mendy also has an explanation for one of the most incriminating elements of the state's case. Those 22 cell phone calls he and Ashley exchanged in the hours leading up to and after the murder.

[Dax Shepard]

We like to talk to each other. We were still in the stage of our relationship where you watch the phone like it's the tv.

[Kristen Bell]

Humphrey said they spent most of those phone calls arguing about Ashley's jealousy over one of his female clients.

[Dax Shepard]

Well, was there anything in your phone calls to suggest she was fixing to murder somebody, according to you? That. No. She was frantic. She was upset.

[Kristen Bell]

In an effort to prove just how manipulative Humphrey could be, the prosecution presents letters he wrote to ex lovers after his arrest.

[Dax Shepard]

And in fact, hadn't you written other women telling them you love them? I think I wrote, yeah.

[Kristen Bell]

So you're declaring love for one and saying, I dream of having children with you and moving to New York. And then I thought it was kind of nervy that she asked her for 150 bucks at the end of it.

[Dax Shepard]

That was kind of the only reason I wrote it.

[Kristen Bell]

That doesn't bode well for your credibility. I know But Tracy still claims he is simply a victim of circumstance. You've been called a manipulator, a liar, someone who beats women, puppet master. I mean, are you basically just a good guy who got screwed by his young wife?

[Dax Shepard]

A lot of wrong places at the wrong times, a lot of stupid decisions. He was the man pulling the strings.

[Kristen Bell]

Hoping that Tracy Humphrey has finally run out of time. The prosecution takes one final shot at him. During closing arguments, Timothy Humphrey had a firearm.

[Dax Shepard]

And that firearm that he pointed at Sandra was Ashley Humphrey. And he pulled that trigger on Ashley Humphrey. And he fired eight times and took care of his problem.

[Kristen Bell]

The jury deliberated just four hours. The jury has reached a verdict.

[Dax Shepard]

Yes, you, Honor. The defendant is guilty of murder in the first degree. Who did he think he was that he think that he could get away with this? Did he think he was so high and mighty that he could do something like this and get away with this?

[Kristen Bell]

His sentence, life in prison without parole. Feel like justice has been served.

[Dax Shepard]

Yes, that's better. I think that's better than the death penalty. Because he's got to suffer every day and think every day what he did.

[Kristen Bell]

Tracy's punishment aside, Sandy's mother says she has finally found some peace. Knowing that her daughter's death has likely saved other women from Tracy Humphrey's deadly grip.

[Dax Shepard]

She put her life on the line knowing what the consequences could be. To put a message out there to not let anybody do something like this to you and get away with it and stop it before they can hurt you. Get ready to laugh until it hurts. You're gonna love this. Novocaine is now streaming on Paramount. Plus, I've got this condition. I don't feel pain. You're a superhero. Yeah. It's an adrenaline. Adrenaline rush of fun. This is the best.

[Kristen Bell]

And a bloody good time.

[Dax Shepard]

Almost forgot the best part. It's the first great action comedy of the year. Let the magic happen. That's good. Looking forward to it. Novocaine. Rated R. Now streaming on Paramount. Summer on the south side of Chicago is heating up.

[Kristen Bell]

You planning revenge?

[Dax Shepard]

The shy's back on Paramount. Plus, 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. Trees are always gonna have a villain. 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? Don't miss the shy new season. Now streaming on the Paramount premium plan.