DNA SPEAKS: Deadly Web of Lies

Summary

Cold Case Files Episode: DNA SPEAKS: Deadly Web of Lies Release Date: November 26, 2024 Host: Marissa Pinson
Produced by: Jeff Deray
Distributed by: PodcastOne

Summary:

DNA SPEAKS: Deadly Web of Lies delves into the harrowing 2006 murder of Scott Martinez in La Mesa, California, and the relentless pursuit of justice by his family and dedicated investigators. This episode meticulously unpacks the complexities of the case, highlighting the advancements in forensic technology that ultimately led to solving one of America's enduring cold cases.

---

Introduction to the Tragic Case

The episode opens with the heart-wrenching account of Scott Martinez’s daughters, Angelina and Marissa Panek, who were left orphaned after their father’s brutal murder. Angelina shares her emotional turmoil upon learning about her father's death:

"Early in the morning, there was a knock at the door, and my mom was standing there, and she said, I need to talk to you. And my mom said, angie, your daddy's dead, that he was killed. And I just fainted on the spot. I just kept saying over and over, you're lying. You guys are lying. You're wrong." (06:54)

Marissa echoes the family's anguish, describing her loss and the profound impact it had on her life:

"I was five going on six when my dad died. I always remember getting in his car when he had picked me up from school. I just tell him about my day." (06:29)

Discovery of the Crime Scene

On February 18, 2006, Martinez’s fiancée, Karen Stacy, reported him missing, prompting a 911 call that led police and fire personnel to his La Mesa apartment. Detective Ryan Grumelian recounts the shocking scene they encountered:

"He was stabbed over 30 times. Mr. Martinez did not go down easy. He did fight for his life." (01:28)

The apartment revealed signs of a violent struggle, with extensive blood spatter and a bent sword found at the scene, suggesting a personal motive behind the attack.

Initial Investigation and Leads

Detective Grumelian details the initial investigative steps, including the discovery of blood evidence leading to a preliminary DNA profile. Despite efforts to match the DNA through the CODIS database, no matches were found:

"We were very glad to have what appeared to be the suspect's blood... but there was no match." (08:33)

A significant lead emerged when a neighbor identified a white couple in a yellow Volkswagen Beetle near the crime scene. However, tracking them proved challenging, leaving investigators without a concrete suspect and the case going cold after over a year.

Reopening the Case: Breakthrough with Genetic Genealogy

Fast forward to February 2016, Detective Grumelian is assigned to cold cases and revisits Martinez’s murder. With advancements in DNA technology, genetic genealogy becomes a pivotal tool. This method allows investigators to upload unidentified DNA into public databases to find relatives of the suspect. Inspired by the Golden State Killer’s arrest using this technique, Detective Grumelian leverages genetic genealogy to identify two potential suspects: Rick Collette and Zachary Bunny.

After eliminating Collette due to lack of connection, focus shifts to Zachary Bunny, whose reluctance to provide a DNA sample initially raised suspicions. Persistent investigation reveals Bunny’s connection to Scott Martinez’s babysitter, Adira Roth, and establishes a possible motive rooted in jealousy and personal vendetta.

Arrest and Resolution

On January 10, 2019, after 13 years, Bunny is apprehended in Hillsboro, Oregon. Detective Grumelian describes the tense arrest:

"He was very calm. He looked a little bit defeated, but he did not seem surprised in any way." (32:42)

Further DNA analysis confirmed Bunny’s involvement, leading to his guilty plea of voluntary manslaughter on November 13, 2019. The episode captures the emotional closure felt by Martinez’s family, particularly Angelina, who finally sees justice served:

"As soon as they called me and told me that it was going into a cold case file, it was discouraging. There was still nothing. This guy was out on the loose." (22:11)

"I just felt like this black cloud I had been carrying around for years was just gone. I felt I could breathe again." (34:16)

Impact on the Family and Community

The resolution of the case brings a sense of relief and closure to the Martinez family, allowing them to begin healing from years of uncertainty and grief. Angelina reflects on the lasting pain of her father’s absence and the bittersweet vindication of justice:

"I didn't just lose him. I lost everything I could have had with him." (37:05)

Detective Grumelian emphasizes the importance of perseverance and the transformative power of modern forensic techniques in solving cold cases, offering hope to other families still seeking answers.

Conclusion

DNA SPEAKS: Deadly Web of Lies is a poignant testament to the enduring quest for truth and justice. Through detailed storytelling and insightful interviews, the episode underscores the significant role of DNA evidence and genetic genealogy in resolving cases that once seemed unsolvable, providing closure to those left behind.

---

Notable Quotes:

• Angelina Panek on discovering her father's death:
  "I just kept saying over and over, you're lying. You guys are lying. You're wrong." (06:54)

• Detective Grumelian on the crime scene:
  "He was stabbed over 30 times. Mr. Martinez did not go down easy. He did fight for his life." (01:28)

• Marissa Pinson on the impact of her father's death:
  "I was five going on six when my dad died. I always remember getting in his car when he had picked me up from school." (06:29)

• Angelina on her feelings after Bunny's arrest:
  "I just felt like this black cloud I had been carrying around for years was just gone. I felt I could breathe again." (34:16)

• Detective Grumelian on solving the case:
  "Now that I know that he is a match, it's a satisfying feeling that all the hard work and effort that I put into years in this case, that you finally have found your suspect in a cold case." (32:20)

---

This episode of Cold Case Files not only highlights the emotional toll of unresolved crimes on families but also celebrates the advancements in forensic science that breathe new hope into the darkest of mysteries.

Transcript

[Marissa Pinson]

Gifting is hard, but here's a Give the gift of connection from US Cellular. Not sure what that means. Here's a slightly more specific hint. You can choose four free phones and get four lines for $90 a month from US Cellular. Your family wants new phones. How do we know? They told us. The good news is that compared to wrapping presents, you're great at getting hints. So take the hint and get them four free phones and four lines for $90 a month US Cellular built for us.

[Ryan Grumelian]

What's the five dollar meal deal at McDonald's?

[Detective Grumelian]

You pick a McDouble, or a McChicken. Then get a small fry, a small.

[Marissa Pinson]

Drink and a four piece McNuggets.

[Angelina Panek]

That's a lot of McDonald's for not.

[Marissa Pinson]

A lot of money.

[Detective Grumelian]

Price and participation may vary. For a limited time only.

[Marissa Pinson]

Hi Cold Case listeners, I'm Marissa Pinson and before we get into this week's episode, I just wanted to remind you that episodes of Cold Case Files as well as the A and E classic podcast, I Survived American justice and City Confidential are all available ad free on the new A and E Crime and Investigation channel on Apple Podcasts and Apple plus for just $4.99 a month or $39.99 a year. And now onto the show. The following episode contains intensely disturbing accounts of violence. Listener discretion is advised.

[Angelina Panek]

My mom said, angie, your daddy's dead, that he was killed. I just kept saying over and over, you're lying. You guys are lying. You're wrong.

[Ryan Grumelian]

It was a very shocking and grisly scene. There was a lot of blood.

[Detective Grumelian]

He was stabbed over 30 times. Mr. Martinez did not go down easy. He did fight for his life.

[Marissa Pinson]

I don't think I really understood that I was really never going to see him again.

[Ryan Grumelian]

It became more and more frustrating that we still had not been able to solve the murder.

[Detective Grumelian]

He was the first one to ever deny giving me DNA. He was very suspicious of that.

[Ryan Grumelian]

It was important to me to find.

[Detective Grumelian]

That closure that these people desperately need.

[Angelina Panek]

I was not gonna give up. I wanted justice for my dad.

[Marissa Pinson]

There are over 100,000 cold cases in America. Only 1% are ever solved. This is one of those rare stories. It's February 18, 2023 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Angelina Panek is about to see her sister Jessie Martinez for the first time in 17 years. They were torn apart by the murder of their father. One night in 2006 in La Mesa, California would change their lives forever. Greg Runge is a captain with the La Mesa Police Department.

[Ryan Grumelian]

The La Mesa Police department received a 911 call from somebody identifying themselves as Karen Stacy, and she was concerned for the welfare of her fiance, Scott Martinez, who was at his apartment in La Mesa. She said he was not answering her phone calls and she thought that he may be suffering a medical emergency. Police officers and fire personnel were dispatched to the scene and arrived in about 10 minutes.

[Marissa Pinson]

Ryan Grumelian is a former detective with the La Mesa Police Department.

[Detective Grumelian]

The front door was locked. The firefighters used a ladder to look through Mr. Martinez's second floor living room window. And from that vantage point, they were able to see that Mr. Martinez was on the ground on his back. They immediately requested first responders forced entry into the residence.

[Marissa Pinson]

Firemen break down the front door and realize this is much more than a simple welfare check.

[Ryan Grumelian]

Walking up the staircase for the first time, not really knowing what to expect. It was a very shocking and grisly scene. It appeared as though a very serious and violent struggle had occurred.

[Detective Grumelian]

They immediately see Mr. Martinez lying on his back. He had numerous defensive wounds to his hands, stab wounds along his chest, to his thighs and his shoulders. Mr. Martinez is eviscerated, so his intestines are out on top of his body.

[Ryan Grumelian]

We learned that he had been stabbed over 30 times. It was a very brutal and violent homicide.

[Detective Grumelian]

There was blood from Mr. Martinez throughout the living room. His fingers and his hands had many deep cuts. One of his fingers was almost severed. Mr. Martinez did not go down easy. He fought for his life.

[Ryan Grumelian]

There was a sword on the ground next to Mr. Martinez's body. It appeared to be about three feet in length.

[Detective Grumelian]

The sword was bent completely in half and there was blood on the blade. So it was obvious that that weapon had been used in the murder of Mr. Martinez.

[Ryan Grumelian]

Mr. Martinez was a collector of edged weapons. There were literally knives and swords everywhere in the apartment, which led me to believe that maybe a fight happened that got out of hand. This sword was probably found in the apartment and then used in the struggle to kill Mr. Martinez. There was no forced entry to the apartment. The injuries were violent. They were intended to caused pain and injury, which indicated to us that the suspect in this case likely knew Mr. Martinez and had a very personal reason for wanting to attack him.

[Marissa Pinson]

The 47 year old's murder leaves two daughters without their father.

[Angelina Panek]

My dad was an amazing father. We had just a great bond from the very beginning. I was daddy's little girl. Our Saturday ritual was getting up and turning on all the Saturday morning cartoons. And we would just sit there for hours watching cartoons. He was my best friend and even all through my 20s, he just was constant in my life. My parents were only together for a couple years. I never expected my dad to have any more kids. We had had girlfriends, but I was an only child for 21 years. So finding out that Jesse was coming along was a complete shock to me, and he was just thrilled. He could not wait to have another baby.

[Marissa Pinson]

I was five going on six when my dad died. I always remember getting in his car when he had picked me up from school. And I would just tell him about my day. I'd tell him all the new friends I would make at school. You could talk to him forever. My dad would always tell me not to talk to boys because they're liars and they pick their noses.

[Angelina Panek]

Early in the morning, there was a knock at the door, and my mom was standing there, and she said, I need to talk to you. And my mom said, angie, your daddy's dead. And I just fainted on the spot. And I came to a couple minutes later, and she's like, do you remember anything I just said to you? And I said, no. And she goes, angie, your dad's dead, that he was killed. And I just burst into tears. I just kept saying over and over, you're lying. You guys are lying. You're wrong.

[Marissa Pinson]

While processing Scott's apartment, crime scene technicians find something that could point them to the killer.

[Ryan Grumelian]

In the bathroom, there were some blood drops in the sink and near the toilet. When somebody is attacked with a knife, it is very common for the attacker to also become injured themselves. Blood is very slippery. Your hand can slip, and then you become injured yourself.

[Detective Grumelian]

There was an empty toilet paper roll. Looked like the suspect went into the bathroom and used that toilet paper to attempt to bandage himself.

[Ryan Grumelian]

Also in the bedroom, there were some blood drops that were found on the windowsill. And the bedroom window was open and the screen was ripped out. It definitely indicated that this was a potential exit for the suspect.

[Detective Grumelian]

Directly underneath the bedroom window, there was a large amount of tissue paper that was stuck in a small branch of a tree. It appears to have been when the suspect jumped out of that second floor window, that impromptu bandage got stuck in the tree. The blood evidence collected from the scene is immediately sent to the San Diego Sheriff's crime Laboratory for the DNA testing.

[Ryan Grumelian]

We were very glad to have what appeared to be the suspect's blood. The crime scene, we knew that this could very likely be the evidence that convicts whoever committed this murder.

[Marissa Pinson]

While they're still on the scene, investigators get what could be a case breaking clue.

[Ryan Grumelian]

One neighbor told us that they had seen a white male and a white female in the parking area for the apartment building In a yellow volkswagen beetle. After being there a short time in the area of Mr. Martinez's door, they left.

[Detective Grumelian]

Because of the close proximity of when the homicide could have occurred, these two individuals in that vehicle Definitely were thought to be involved. This vehicle seemed like it could be leaving the crime scene.

[Ryan Grumelian]

We definitely needed to identify them, get them tracked down so we can find out what they know. This couple were likely to be the last people to see Mr. Martinez alive. This couple and the volkswagen beetle Were potentially suspects. And at this point, Our best lead in figuring out what had happened at the apartment. It was extremely difficult to try and identify this couple because we didn't know their names, we didn't know the license plate number of the vehicle. So we were starting from scratch and trying to figure out who they were.

[Marissa Pinson]

Investigators hunt for the volkswagen and try to learn more about their victim, Scott martinez.

[Ryan Grumelian]

As we began Looking into Mr. Martinez's background, we found that he was a family man who had two daughters. He had a fiance. And we learned that Mr. Martinez was a prolific gambler. He enjoyed playing high limit slot machines. He had a lot of betting receipts in his apartment that indicated he oftentimes won large jackpots in the 10, 20, $30,000 range.

[Marissa Pinson]

Carrying around cash from jackpot prizes Might have made Scott a target.

[Detective Grumelian]

Nothing seemed out of place except for the clear struggle that occurred in the living room. There was a jacket that Mr. Martinez had in his closet that had several thousand dollars in one of the pockets. But the cash that was there Was not visible. It was hidden in a jacket. And also the scene kind of indicated that the suspect was interrupted Based off the grabbing an available weapon found in Mr. Martinez's apartment, fleeing out the second floor window. If the motive was robbery, There may not have been enough time.

[Ryan Grumelian]

One thing we noticed as we spoke with family and friends and associates of Scott's Is that he had a lot of women in his life that he dated that would help him around his house, that would help him with babysitting.

[Detective Grumelian]

The women that Mr. Martinez did date, Some of them were married, had boyfriends. Jealousy is definitely something that could easily translate into the violent struggle that took place with Mr. Martinez. It was very possible that the other men could be jealous of Scott and want to hurt him.

[Marissa Pinson]

Detective runge looks for a possible jealous husband or boyfriend. Meanwhile, Scott's own fiance changes her story about the morning Scott was found dead.

[Ryan Grumelian]

Karen stacy told me that the 911 call she had Made asking for the police and the fire department to check on Scott's welfare was fabricated. She already knew that Scott was either severely injured or deceased, knowing that there was no forced entry. Now we had a fiance telling us that they had already lied to investigators. I am immediately thinking that Karen has more involvement in Scott's murder than we had previously assumed.

[Marissa Pinson]

Despite Karen's lies, investigators listened to her new account of what happened that morning.

[Ryan Grumelian]

What Karen told me was that there was a man and a woman, John and Kelly, who went to Scott's apartment to visit him.

[Detective Grumelian]

John and Kelly were friends of Scott Martinez, and Kelly was also sometimes a babysitter for Scott's youngest daughter. They had plans to meet with him that evening. When they arrived, they found that the door was locked, and they got no response from inside. They hear what sounds like maybe moaning or some noises from inside. So Kelly uses her key to go inside the apartment. She finds Martinez lying on his back at the top of the steps. And while she's up there, she hears a noise that comes from the back of the apartment. This noise startles her because she can see that Martinez is injured, and now she knows that there's potentially someone in the back of the apartment. Her and John flee the apartment.

[Ryan Grumelian]

Karen told me they left in the yellow Volkswagen Beetle. They drove away and contacted Dino. Dino Heath was one of Mr. Martinez's best friends. Kelly told Dino what they had found. Nobody between Dino, John and Kelly wanted to be involved. They felt that their criminal histories would perhaps lead law enforcement to suspect them. So they decided that they would contact Karen and that she should call the police.

[Detective Grumelian]

Dino was a good friend of Mr. Martinez, was close to him for most of his life. So why is he telling Karen Stacy to call 911? And even if a friend told you to call police, why would a fiance lie about that? It was very suspicious at the time. This case quickly became complicated due to people being deceitful, and it led to multiple suspects kind of all over the place. When John and Kelly leave Scott's apartment, obviously they've seen something traumatic. Their friend is likely dead. They did not call the police.

[Ryan Grumelian]

However, there were ways that you could call the police anonymously and report that there was somebody that was hurt. We wanted to know exactly why John and Kelly didn't do that. We don't know at this point if John or Kelly are capable of committing a crime like this or had a motive to do so. So we wanted to get their stories nailed down so that we could prove or disprove the things they were telling us. When we met in person with John and Kelly, we checked their hands and looked at their bodies to see if there were any injuries that indicated they were involved in a violent struggle or fight, and there were none. John and Kelly both gave us their DNA samples and we sent them to be compared to the suspect's DNA.

[Marissa Pinson]

You know what I love about gift giving? It's finding that perfect little something someone would never buy for themselves. That unexpected touch of luxury that makes them feel truly special. And my secret to nailing it every time is Quince. Quince lets me treat my loved ones and myself to everyday luxury without breaking the bank. For example, their iconic Mongolian cashmere sweaters start at just $50. Seriously. They're buttery, soft, cozy and perfect for anyone on your list. But it doesn't stop there. Quince has gorgeous 14 karat gold jewelry, Italian leather handbags and even European linen sheet sets. Gifts that feel high end but are totally affordable in Quint prices their pieces 50 to 80% less than similar brands. How do they do that? They partner directly with top factories, cutting out the middleman and passing the savings on to us. And they only work with factories that use safe, ethical and responsible practices so you can feel good about what you're gifting. Personally, I've been eyeing their cashmere sweaters in every color for myself and I love to gift their linen sheet sets to my family. Nothing says I care like helping someone sleep. Like Royalty Gift luxury this holiday season without the luxury price tag. Go to quince.com coldcase for 365 day returns plus free shipping on your order. That's Q U I n c e.com coldcase to get free shipping and 365 day returns. Quince.com coldcase you know, when it comes to criminally good sales, the spotlight is often on brands with killer products and scary good marketing like Death Wish coffee or everyone's favorite murder mystery star Selena Gomez's rare beauty. But the real mastermind behind their success? It's the business behind the business for millions of brands. That's Shopify. Nobody does selling better than Shopify. It's the home of the number one checkout on the planet. And here's the not so secret secret. Their shop pay feature boosts conversions by up to 50%. That's a way fewer abandoned cards and way more sales. And whether your customers are scrolling online, scrolling through your store or shopping directly from their feedback, Shopify makes sure you're ready to sell everywhere. The secret's out. If you want to grow you need Shopify. So what are you waiting for? Start selling like a pro today. Upgrade your business and get the same checkout Selena Gomez uses. Sign up for your $1 per month trial period at shopify.com coldcase all lowercase go to shopify.com coldcase to upgrade your selling today. Shopify.com coldcase Investigators received the lab report on the bloody toilet paper found at the crime scene.

[Ryan Grumelian]

From the blood evidence, we were able to develop a DNA profile of the suspect.

[Marissa Pinson]

Brian Erickson is a deputy District Attorney in San Diego County.

[Ryan Grumelian]

So now they can load the DNA profile into a CODIS database. And a CODIS database is all known suspects, people arrested, people convicted of crimes, and then they can directly compare it to it. The police did that, loaded it up, and there was no matches.

[Marissa Pinson]

Police tracked down Scott's old friend Dino, the man who persuaded Martinez's fiance to make the false 911 call.

[Ryan Grumelian]

When we first spoke with Dino, he wanted to meet with us outside and was adamant and very, very serious about us not coming into the. He was not very forthcoming with a lot of information about Scott. So we felt that there was a lot of things that he wasn't telling us.

[Detective Grumelian]

Scott owned one full size sedan and a motorcycle that were in Dino's name. Mr. Martinez at the time had a suspended license. So we learned that he had a plan with Dino that if anything ever happened with the police, he didn't want his vehicles to be impounded. So if they were under Dino's name, he would be able to get those vehicles back.

[Ryan Grumelian]

Dino went to Karen's house to gain possession of Mr. Martinez's Harley Davidson motorcycle, which was suspicious to us because on a day where he was supposedly mourning the loss of his friend, his first priority was to get possession of that motorcycle.

[Detective Grumelian]

When Dino was first interviewed by the detectives in the preliminary stages, he was asked to give his DNA voluntarily. So this would be just a cotton swab within the mouth. Reasonably easy for a witness, a friend, to give. But Dina was not interested in giving that DNA swab to them.

[Ryan Grumelian]

When we have somebody who's a close friend of a murder victim and they're refusing to give their DNA, it definitely raises a lot of questions for us. We want to know the reasoning behind that. Is it because they think that we're going to discover they're the ones who did it?

[Detective Grumelian]

If someone is a friend of Mr. Martinez, why would they lie? What was a red flag for Dino that he could be involved?

[Ryan Grumelian]

We did a full background check on Dino. He had been arrested for some low level crimes throughout his life. But there was nothing that would indicate that he was the type of criminal that would conduct a violent assault on somebody. We were looking at Dino's hands to see if he had any injuries, and he did not have any injuries.

[Detective Grumelian]

Just because he did not have the injuries did not completely rule him out as being involved. If he had potential motive, let's say, for the vehicles or Martinez's property, he could still be involved in setting up Martinez. He knew Martinez. He could be the one that got access into the house.

[Ryan Grumelian]

Although Dino refused to do so for the first several interviews we had with him, he did eventually consent to providing us with a DNA sample.

[Angelina Panek]

I sent Jessie to live with her mom in Utah because I couldn't take care of her. I was grieving horrifically. I could barely even take care of myself. I just sat with Jessie and I said, you know that dad's gone, you know, and he's not going to be coming back. And she said, yes. Mom told me she was so young, she only got a handful of years with him.

[Marissa Pinson]

As a six year old, you don't really understand what death is. I don't think I really understood that I was really never going to see him again.

[Angelina Panek]

It broke my heart to have to send her away to her mom's because I didn't know when I would see her again.

[Marissa Pinson]

Detectives determined that although Scott's fiance, Karen, initially lied, she was at her home at the time of Scott's murder, and she is ruled out as a suspect.

[Ryan Grumelian]

We sent them to be compared to the suspect's DNA, and unfortunately, they all came back negative.

[Marissa Pinson]

They then processed the DNA samples of John and Kelly, who claimed to have found Scott's body, and the DNA samples of his emotional, evasive friend, Dino.

[Ryan Grumelian]

As we proceeded with this investigation, we tracked down every lead that we possibly could. Nothing was giving us that key piece of information that pointed towards any one individual being the person that committed this murder.

[Marissa Pinson]

After more than a year, leads dry up and the case of the murdered father of two goes cold.

[Angelina Panek]

As soon as they called me and told me that it was going into a cold case file, it was discouraging. There was still nothing. This guy was out on the loose.

[Marissa Pinson]

It's now February 2016 in La Mesa, California, 10 years after Scott's murder.

[Detective Grumelian]

In 2016, I was assigned full time to work cold cases at La Mesa pd. And one of the first cases I began working was the Martinez homicide. I had no experience working cold case prior to this, so I'm trying do something that all the detectives before me had not been successful. I did have at least a clear sense of what I needed to do. We have our suspect DNA on that toilet paper. It was someone whose DNA was not in codis. I knew the DNA belonged to a male. I created a list of all males that were witnesses, friends, family that could be involved, hoping for a new potential suspect, someone whose DNA was not collected at the time. Every witness that I spoke with was compliant, would give me a DNA sample, cooperated with me, but it never came back as a match.

[Marissa Pinson]

In 2018, an emerging DNA technology called genetic genealogy offers investigators a new option when CODIS comes up empty.

[Detective Grumelian]

The arrest of the Golden State killer occurred in 2018. As an investigator at time, I learned that this case was solved using a genetic genealogy.

[Ryan Grumelian]

What genetic genealogy does is it can take the DNA evidence from a crime scene that's unidentified, upload it into this public database, and if this unidentified person who left their DNA at a crime scene had an aunt, let's say, that had uploaded her DNA into the system looking for other relatives or looking to build their family tree, this will connect.

[Marissa Pinson]

Investigators submit their suspect's DNA and the lab surprises them with quick answers.

[Detective Grumelian]

They did it in a weekend, providing me with two different suspects. The two individuals that they believe could be involved was a Rick Collette and a Zachary Bunny. Rick Collette and Zachary Bunny. So it's a nephew uncle relationship. I immediately started looking for a connection to the case.

[Marissa Pinson]

This episode is brought to you by iqbar. The holiday season is upon us. And if your home is like mine, heading into the holidays means more chaos and more unhealthy snacks around the house. From turkey gravy and pie to honey ham, mashed potatoes and eggnog, wellness takes a backseat during the holidays. That's why I love IQ Bar. It tackles this period of festive excess with delicious treats that are actually good for you. Their protein packed bars, mood lifting, hydration sticks and brain boosting coffee will keep you full and focused all day long. Plus, everything's ultra clean, ultra functional, ultra low sugar and ultra delicious. Refuel smarter, hydrate harder, Energize larger with iqbar. Start each day right with iqbar's brain and body boosting bars, hydration mixes and mushroom coffees. Their ultimate sampler pack includes all three. And right now, Iqbar is offering our podcast listeners an exclusive deal. 20% off all Iqbar products plus get free shipping snack smarter with Iqbar, more fiber, less sugar and carbs in the alternatives and with nine satisfying flavors, you're sure to find the right flavor for you. I love the mint chocolate chip and with all the extra work around the house keeping things in order as family and friends come and go this holiday season, iqbar is a healthy and convenient way for me to have a snack when I need it. Iqbar makes the number one brain and body nutrition bar, hydration mix and instant coffee in the US. They have over 15,000 five star reviews and counting. And right now IQ Bar is offering our special podcast listeners 25% off all Iqbar products plus get free shipping. To get your 20% off, just text cold to 64,000 text cold to 64,000 that's cold C O L D to 64,000 message and data rates may apply. See Terms for details. Cold Case Files is brought to you by Progressive Insurance. Most of you listening right now are probably multitasking. Yep, while you're listening to me talk, you're probably also driving, cleaning, exercising, or maybe even grocery shopping. But if you're not in some kind of moving vehicle, there's something else you can be doing right now. Getting an auto quote from Progressive Insurance. It's easy and you could save money by doing it right from your phone. Drivers who save by switching to Progressive save nearly $750 on average, and auto customers qualify for an average of seven discounts. Discounts for having multiple vehicles on your policy, being a homeowner and more. So just like your favorite podcast, Progressive will be with you 24 7, 365 days a year. So you're prot no matter what. Multitask right now. Quote your car [e-mail] to join the over 28 million drivers who trust Progressive, Progressive Casualty Insurance Company and affiliates. National average 12 month savings of $744 by new customers surveyed who saved with Progressive between June 2022 and May 2023. Potential savings will vary. Discounts not available in all states and situations. It's now October 1, 2018, 12 years and four months after Scott Martinez's murder.

[Detective Grumelian]

I did some work in looking at Rick Collette. He had mild criminal history. Nothing that stood out as kind of a red flag or an immediate concern. What was interesting is at the time we believed he was likely living in the city of Carlsbad, about 45 minutes away from in the city of La Mesa, and he was of similar age to Martinez. It was possible he could be in the same social circles. But doing all my checks on Ric Collette, I found no connection between himself and Scott Martinez or any of the associates of Scott Martinez. So I immediately switched into focusing now on Zachary Bunny. I found that at the time, he was likely living in la Mesa in 2006 when Scott was murdered. La Mesa is a reasonably small city, so clearly that jumped out of the page I found. Zachary Bunny at the time had been in a dating relationship with Adira Roth. Adara Roth was documented as one of Martinez babysitters and also had previously turned in a key to Scott's apartment that she had. So now that I have the connection between Zachary Bunny and Adara Roth and the key, it definitely played a part with. Going back to. There was no forced entry.

[Marissa Pinson]

Detective Grumelian reviews Adara's 2006 statement.

[Detective Grumelian]

The only initial interview of Adara Roth was when she returned her key to the police department. And she was never interviewed about her relationship with Scott or anything like that. It was like a one paragraph report that she turned in her key. That was it. After doing the checks on Zachary Bunny and then finding those connections to Scott Martinez, it seemed like the best information that we'd had on this case in years that could be our suspect. I was very interested at that point in reviewing Zachary Bunney's criminal history. It was very minimal. Small drug infractions, nothing major, nothing that stood out as violent criminal history that could relate to potentially a homicide. Through records checks, I was able to find that he was now living in Hillsboro, Oregon. He was a jet engine mechanic at a local small airfield. So I planned to bring a group of investigators to go in person and try to collect a DNA sample from him.

[Marissa Pinson]

It's now January 9, 2019, 13 years after Scott Martinez's murder.

[Detective Grumelian]

I traveled with a team of two La Mesa detectives and two U.S. marshals up to Hillsboro, Oregon, with the main focus of trying to collect DNA sample secretly from Zachary Bunny. We were watching Zachary Bunny's apartment. A couple hours into the surveillance, we see him exit his apartment carrying what looks to be a six pack of beer bottles in his right hand. He walks to the nearby dumpster for the apartment and sets the beer bottles down. One of my partners is immediately able to get out, collect those beer bottles secretly and come back to the vehicle. We take those items immediately to mail them back overnight to La Mesa Police Department to have them test at the San Diego Sheriff's Crime Lab. So for us immediately, this was great news. Within a few hours, we have good potential items of evidence that we've shipped off for DNA. Now we're just waiting for those results. After two days, I was in my hotel room when I got the phone call from the lab that the results from the beer bottles that we sent in were not a match to our evidence. When I got that news, it didn't make any sense to me. It felt like it was kind of all falling apart. I was left trying to figure out what exactly happened here. Either Zachary Bunny is not the suspect in this case or that the beer bottles had someone else's DNA on them.

[Ryan Grumelian]

In the meantime, I was working on getting search warrants for his DNA and.

[Marissa Pinson]

Search warrants for the apartment that he.

[Ryan Grumelian]

Lived in at that time.

[Detective Grumelian]

So I immediately get the search warrant and was able to be waiting for Zachary Bunny when he came home from work. I asked him several questions. He was visibly nervous. He was scanning around the parking lot. He looked like he was at any point ready to run. He said that he did not know Scott Martinez, had never been to his house. And then when I asked him for consent for his DNA, he didn't want to do that. At this point, I felt 100% certain that I had the right guy. The main thing running through my mind at that point was his visible reaction to us. Clearly nervous, scanning the parking lot, looking for ways out. This was what I had been looking for this entire time.

[Marissa Pinson]

Using a search warrant, Detective Gramillion obtains a DNA sample from Zachary Bunny. Crime techs immediately compare it to the DNA found at the crime scene. This time, it's a match.

[Detective Grumelian]

Now that I know that he is a match, it's a satisfying feeling that all the hard work and effort that I put into years in this case, that you finally have found your suspect in a cold case.

[Marissa Pinson]

On January 10, 2019, after 13 years without answers, Zachary Bunney is arrested and charged with the murder of Scott Martinez.

[Detective Grumelian]

Myself and my partner were able to meet with Zachary Bunny in an interview room. Just so we're clear is that a case has been issued by our San Diego DA for homicide. If I really want to ask you questions or anything like that, I just got to read you this first and.

[Ryan Grumelian]

We can go from there.

[Detective Grumelian]

You have the right to remain silent. Do you understand? He was very calm. He looked a little bit defeated, but he did not seem surprised in any way. I'm looking at June of 2006. Do you know where in June of 2006 you were living at that time?

[Ryan Grumelian]

I answered that one. Okay, no problem. Did you used to be a clerk.

[Detective Grumelian]

At ampm in Claremont? I don't want to answer that one.

[Marissa Pinson]

Okay.

[Detective Grumelian]

You want to answer any questions I have?

[Ryan Grumelian]

No.

[Detective Grumelian]

Okay. He did say he didn't want to speak with us and asked for a lawyer, but during that, I was able to take photographs of his hands and he had significant scarring across both his palms and his fingers. That looked like to me is that he never went to the hospital and received treatment for that injury and it most likely healed incorrectly. My immediate next move is to notify Angie of the good news.

[Angelina Panek]

He was like, are you sitting down? I said, what's going on? And he was like, we got him. I just handcuffed him ten minutes ago. I was like, are you serious? I just started bawling my eyes out. I just felt like this black cloud I had been carrying around for years was just gone. I felt I could breathe again.

[Marissa Pinson]

I was 17 years old and working at McDonald's. And my mom called me. When she told me what happened, I was pretty shocked that my babysitters boyfriend killed my dad. I don't remember him at all. Zachary Bunny wasn't a suspect back in 2006. But when detectives re interview a witness, a friend of Adara Roth gives police a missing puzzle piece. A motive.

[Ryan Grumelian]

She told me Zach had told her.

[Detective Grumelian]

He knew she was cheating on him.

[Marissa Pinson]

She told me she was cleaning Scott's.

[Detective Grumelian]

House and that he told her he followed her there. And he said that he had been stalking her. And he said he knew who the guy was she was cheating on him with, so he knew where he lived.

[Ryan Grumelian]

That puts him right there at the crime scene and gives him the motive to want to do this.

[Detective Grumelian]

I don't believe Zachary Bunny went to Scott Martinez's house with the intent to kill. But I do believe it's very likely that he went there to steal from him. Or he went there with jealousy and anger to confront Scott Martinez. And the fight ensues, and he kills Scott Martinez with that sword.

[Marissa Pinson]

With a murder trial looming, Bunny's attorneys ask prosecutors for a plea deal. On November 13, 2019, Bunny pleads guilty to voluntary manslaughter. He is sentenced to 12 years in prison. During his sentencing, Bunny speaks directly to Scott's family.

[Detective Grumelian]

I'm sorry for the pain that this has caused the Martinez family. I know that words cannot bring back a life, but I am truly sorry.

[Angelina Panek]

I think Zachary Bunny apologized because he got caught. I wanted Zachary Bunny to acknowledge what he did and why. Look at me. Look at what you did to our family, to our dad. Show me that you have some remorse, that you feel guilty at all. But I got none of that from him.

[Marissa Pinson]

Seeing Angie for the first time in 17 years and letting her meet my baby was amazing.

[Angelina Panek]

Hi.

[Detective Grumelian]

There you go.

[Angelina Panek]

There's your Auntie Angie.

[Marissa Pinson]

Make sure you keep the binky in her mouth. Cause she will drive you. Take it out. My dad doesn't get to meet my baby. But I'm so glad that somebody from that side of my family gets too.

[Angelina Panek]

Is she getting sleepy?

[Marissa Pinson]

Yeah.

[Angelina Panek]

I know he's seen what Jesse and I are doing with our lives and how far we've come and how close of a bond we still have.

[Marissa Pinson]

Crazy how much she likes you. Just first thing.

[Angelina Panek]

Yeah. It's like she knew I was your sister.

[Marissa Pinson]

I definitely think he would be proud too, to see what both of us have done with our lives. Especially to have a little grandbaby.

[Angelina Panek]

He would have been a great grandpa.

[Marissa Pinson]

I didn't just lose him. I lost everything I could have had with him.

[Angelina Panek]

I miss my dad every day. All day, every day.

[Marissa Pinson]

Cold Case Files is hosted by Marissa Pinson, produced by Jeff deray and distributed by Podcast one. The Cold Case Files TV series was produced by Curtis Productions and hosted by Bill Curtis. Check out more Cold Case [e-mail] For years, Tim Ballard has been championed as a modern day superhero.

[Detective Grumelian]

The first time I saw one of.

[Ryan Grumelian]

The kids from the video and it.

[Detective Grumelian]

Like, changed my life.

[Marissa Pinson]

He was the face of Operation Underground Railroad, a movement that inspired hope around the world by rescuing children from human traffickers. However, Ballard's crusade to save innocent lives has always hidden a darker secret.

[Ryan Grumelian]

Oh, I think he's a pathological.

[Marissa Pinson]

Beneath the accolades and the applause, a.

[Angelina Panek]

Dark storm has been brewing.

[Detective Grumelian]

I mean, I can't find a time.

[Ryan Grumelian]

That he's told the truth about anything.

[Marissa Pinson]

Shocking allegations of sexual misconduct have surfaced, casting a shadow over his once unquestioned reputation. I am Host Sarah James McLaughlin and in this new season of the Opportunist, we explore the rise and the fall of Tim Ballard. Join us this October for Tim Unmasking a hero. Subscribe to a new season of the Opportunists now. Wherever you get your podcasts. Did you know you can watch all your favorite crime shows for free on Pluto tv?

[Angelina Panek]

Totally free.

[Marissa Pinson]

Totally free. They've got csi, New York, ncis, Criminal Minds, Blue Bloods Tracker, FBI swat, all for free. There's something suspicious going on here. Nothing suspicious, just hundreds of free crime shows on Pluto tv. Crime never pays.

[Angelina Panek]

And neither do I. Pluto TV stream now.

[Marissa Pinson]

Pay never.