Dad Realizes His Daughter's Body Was Found In A Garbage Can

Summary

Podcast Summary: Dr. Insanity

Episode: Dad Realizes His Daughter's Body Was Found In A Garbage Can
Air Date: April 27, 2025
Host: Dr. Insanity

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Overview

This chilling true crime episode covers the disturbing disappearance and murder of Amber Zotto, as seen through police investigations, family interviews, and the eventual confession of her husband, Keith Zotto. Dr. Insanity reconstructs the story via recorded dialogue, police accounts, and narrative commentary, delving into family secrets, suspicious evidence, and the unraveling of a murder hidden in plain sight.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Initial Police Welfare Check (00:31–06:05)

• Officers arrive at the Zotto residence after Amber’s mother, Betty, reports Amber missing for two days.
• Only Amber and Keith’s children are home, with no sign of the parents. The situation quickly feels off to responding officers.
• Betty explains Amber’s truck, phone, and bank card are still at the house, deepening fears for her safety.
• Officers discuss standard protocol and the difficulties of entering a home without owner consent.

Notable Quote

• Officer Crowley, reflecting on the family’s history:
  “What I’d like to do is start where we always start. And that’s the last place she was seen.” (03:23)

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2. Suspicious Discoveries and Family History (06:05–10:13)

• Betty shares Amber regularly stayed at her house when upset, but never disappeared outright.
• Amber was active in her children’s lives and volunteered at school, making her absence even more concerning.
• A supposed suicide note is found, with troubling language and specific instructions that unsettle police.

Notable Quote

• From the note, as read by the narrator: “Make sure my mom has to identify my body. Everyone would be better off without me.” (08:07)

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3. The Note and Its Implications (10:13–13:27)

• Both Betty and officers feel the note's wording seems off—almost “performative,” as if Amber did not write it freely.
• The families discuss Amber’s history of depression, but neither Betty nor Keith believes she’d vanish or self-harm without warning.

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4. Keith Grants Access & The Truth Begins to Emerge (13:27–16:39)

• Officers finally reach Keith by phone and get permission to search the house.
• Keith recounts a night of heavy drinking and arguing; he claims Amber left after a fight and that she had a history of leaving home.
• Keith admits to past physical altercations but is evasive about the previous night’s events, raising suspicions.

Notable Quotes

• Keith Zotto:
  “Me and Amber drink a lot, we fight a lot...I took her keys so she couldn't drive away. She grabbed her purse, slammed her phone, and left.” (13:37)
  “We've been physical a couple times. I hope not, dude...but, yeah, there's a possibility.” (15:35)

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5. The Search and Discovery (16:39–19:14)

• Officers search the house and garage, noting a strong stench of decay.
• In a garage trash bin, they discover a gun and Amber’s body, concealed under debris.
• This transforms the case from a missing persons to a homicide investigation almost instantly.

Memorable Moment

• Officer Crowley, upon discovery:
  “She’s in there.” (18:49)

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6. Evidence of Foul Play (19:14–24:05)

• Betty insists she checked the trash bin earlier and saw nothing—prompting suspicion about whether the body was moved.
• Officers note Betty’s calm demeanor despite the gruesome scene and potential implications for Amber’s cause of death.
• Major Crimes Unit documents blood spatter, the gun, and attempts to hide the body—pointing toward homicide.

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7. Family Interviews & Growing Suspicions (24:05–28:59)

• Police interview family members, uncovering more details about Amber and Keith’s volatile relationship—infidelity, money troubles, and arguments.
• Annabelle (daughter) explains she and her sibling stayed at their grandparents’, clarifying absence during the incident.
• Betty’s insistence about the trash can’s cleanliness just hours before raises doubts about her involvement or awareness.

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8. Keith’s Confession and Arrest (28:59–32:43)

• Keith’s sister, Susan Ross, reveals Keith visited her, confessed to fighting with Amber, and claimed a blackout led him to “wake up and see her on the ground.”
• SWAT arrests Keith quietly at Susan’s house after this confession.

Notable Quote

• Susan recounting Keith’s words: “He said he blinked his eyes, Sue. And I opened them, and I see her on the ground.” (29:44)

• Officer Crowley, during arrest: “Just walk towards me, nice and easy. Okay?” (31:48)

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9. Case Resolution and Aftermath (32:43–end)

• Keith admits to killing Amber after a drunken argument but claims no memory of staging the scene.
• Investigators never resolve how Betty missed Amber’s body in the bin.
• Keith Zotto is convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to life without parole.

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Critical Timestamps

| Segment | Timestamp | |----------------------------------------------|-------------| | Police arrive at the Zotto home | 00:31 | | Discovery of the suspicious note | 07:46-08:20 | | Keith’s phone conversation and confession | 13:27-16:39 | | Discovery of Amber’s body in the trash can | 17:00-18:55 | | Major Crimes documents forensic evidence | 23:52-24:05 | | Susan recounts Keith’s visit and confession | 28:59-30:22 | | Keith’s arrest by SWAT | 31:15-32:43 |

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Notable Quotes

1. On the suspicious suicide note:

   • “Make sure my mom has to identify my body.” – (08:07, Narrator quoting the note)

2. Officer Crowley’s realization:

   • “These nice people killing each other.” – (04:06)

3. Keith’s admission:

   • “I hope you don't mind me asking your personal questions, but is it possible she’s seeing somebody else and she stays there?”
     “Oh, for sure she is. She’s been. That's why we fight all the time.” – (14:32-14:37)

4. Discovering the body:

   • “She’s in there.” – (18:49, Officer Crowley)

5. Susan recalls Keith’s state:

   • “He said he blinked his eyes, Sue. And I opened them, and I see her on the ground.” – (29:44, Susan Ross)

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Tone & Style

The episode maintains a tense, somber, and investigative tone, blending procedural police dialogue with emotional interviews and narration. The host delivers a blend of factual recitation and empathetic observation, emphasizing the horror of familial violence and the often-hidden burdens in ordinary lives.

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Conclusion

“Dad Realizes His Daughter's Body Was Found In A Garbage Can” is a harrowing exploration of a real-life murder investigation, spotlighting the confusion, pain, and deception that can exist within families. Through methodical police work and raw family testimony, Dr. Insanity’s episode documents the tragic unraveling of Amber Zotto’s last days and the shocking confession that finally brought the truth to light. The episode sensitively captures both the procedural mechanics and the emotional devastation surrounding an all-too-real family tragedy.

Transcript

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[Officer Crowley]

Whoa. She's in there.

[Narrator/Podcast Host]

Police are at the home home of Keith and Amber Zotto. Amber's mother, Betty had called 911 earlier that day, asking officers to check on her daughter. Amber hadn't responded to any calls or messages in two days, and Betty feared the worst. This episode is brought to you by White Claw Surge. Nice choice hitting up this podcast. No surprises. You're all about diving into tastes everyone in the room can enjoy. Just like White Claw Surge. It's for celebrating those moments when connections have been made and the night's just begun. With bold flavors and 8% alcohol by volume. Unleash the night. Unleash White Claw Surge. Please drink responsibly. Hard seltzer with flavors, 8% alcohol by volume. White Claw Seltzer Works, Chicago, Illinois. The officers arriving at the scene initially expected a routine missing persons call. But what set inside the house would be far more twisted and disturbing than anyone could have imagined. Show me your hand. I got the dog. Get off the ground. He's reaching.

[Betty (Amber's mother)]

Stop.

[Narrator/Podcast Host]

When police first arrive at the Zotto home, they encounter something strange. Only Keith and Amber's children answer the door, claiming their parents are gone and they don't know when they'll be back. This alarms the officers, so they decide to call Betty, the person who originally dialed 911, hoping she can shed some light on the situation. But what Betty reveals to officers would quickly transform this simple welfare check into one of the town's most disturbing mysteries yet.

[Betty (Amber's mother)]

Hello there.

[Officer Crowley]

He's up.

[Narrator/Podcast Host]

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[Officer Crowley]

Crowley Aurora Police Department. I'm at the Milan Circle address. I'm talking to the kids. What's your relation to this family? Just so I know, I'm their grandma.

[Betty (Amber's mother)]

She didn't take her truck because you can see it in the driveway.

[Officer Crowley]

Yeah, it was about that.

[Betty (Amber's mother)]

Her phone, the bank card is still in the house.

[Officer Crowley]

Yeah. Betty, how many times you think she's done that?

[Betty (Amber's mother)]

Well, she's come over to my house 34 times this year.

[Narrator/Podcast Host]

But it's always.

[Betty (Amber's mother)]

Been for a day.

[Officer Crowley]

What I'd like to do is start where we always start. And that's the last place she was seen. I. I don't want to ask these kids for permission to go in the house. So I may have to call your son in law, talk to him on the phone and see if he'll give me permission to go inside.

[Narrator/Podcast Host]

Betty would mention that she had been to the house earlier that day and noticed a few strange details. Amber's car was still in the driveway of.

[Narrator/Advertiser]

Hi, I'm here to pick up my son Milo.

[Betty (Amber's mother)]

There's no Milo here.

[Narrator/Podcast Host]

Who picked up my son from school? Streaming only on Peacock.

[Officer Crowley]

I'm gonna need the name of everyone.

[Narrator/Podcast Host]

That could have a connection.

[Betty (Amber's mother)]

You don't understand. It was just the five of us. So this was all planned? What are you gonna do? I will do whatever it takes to get my son back.

[Officer Crowley]

I honestly didn't see this coming. These nice people killing each other.

[Narrator/Podcast Host]

All her fault. A new series streaming now only on Peacock. The home and her phone was left inside the house, as well as all of her credit cards and important documents. These minute details would prove to be much more important later on. Shortly after this call, Betty and her husband Ronald arrived at their daughter's home to meet with the police. It's here. Where Betty would reveal what she believed really happened to her daughter.

[Officer Crowley]

Hey, I'm Officer Crowley. Thanks for coming out. So I called him and I left him a message. He didn't pick the phone up. So I can't just go inside. I need to do the warrant or permission to go inside the house, and that's not your residence and I can't ask you for permission. Obviously the kids are too young for me to ask for permission, so just want to do it the right way before anything else, if that makes sense. Yep. When's the last time that you saw the dog?

[Betty (Amber's mother)]

Saturday afternoon when I came to pick up the kids. They spent the night with me instead of eight hours.

[Officer Crowley]

Was there any problems at that point or was it just pick the kids up? The kids are gonna stay at her house for the weekend.

[Betty (Amber's mother)]

Everything was fine. She said, you feel better.

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[Officer Crowley]

Okay. Had there been any drinking at that point?

[Betty (Amber's mother)]

They drink in the evening.

[Officer Crowley]

Okay. Yeah. And then no sign that there'd been any argument or anything like that. Okay. As you can see, I'm not. I don't want you to think that I dropped any conclusions, but I'm just trying to put like a kind of a piece of timeline and kind of behavior as well, too.

[Narrator/Podcast Host]

According to Betty, the family typically had dinner together on the weekends. And although Keith and Amber occasionally argued, things never turned physical, at least not to her knowledge. But with no parents home officers still couldn't legally enter the residence. So they continued speaking with Betty, hoping she'd reveal something that could explain Amber's sudden disappearance. Betty explained that Amber was highly active in the community, volunteering at her children's elementary school as the treasurer of the parent organization. And everyone around town knew her as a family first mother, spending most of her time with her children. That's why Amber's disappearance was so puzzling. It simply wasn't like her to spontaneously leave her kids alone. But this confusion would only heighten when Betty showed officers something that made the case even more unsettling. Another note suggesting Amber might have harmed herself.

[Betty (Amber's mother)]

The note is.

[Narrator/Advertiser]

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[Officer Crowley]

Do you mind if I read that?

[Betty (Amber's mother)]

I don't have a problem with it.

[Officer Crowley]

Is this a copy of it or is this.

[Betty (Amber's mother)]

Yes, I made a copy. I don't know. This is the original.

[Officer Crowley]

Okay.

[Betty (Amber's mother)]

I didn't want to.

[Officer Crowley]

Just from a report. I'm gonna have to take the original for evidence for property at some point. Okay.

[Betty (Amber's mother)]

Okay.

[Officer Crowley]

But I'm gonna sit and read this. In the meantime.

[Narrator/Podcast Host]

The note Betty had discovered earlier read in part, I haven't.

[Narrator/Advertiser]

Been the best wife. I deserve everything. And all the horrible thoughts you think of me, I have always had in my mind. Make sure my mom has to identify my body. Everyone would be better off without me.

[Narrator/Podcast Host]

At first glance, the note appears as a tragic, heartfelt goodbye Amber. Seemingly years of self doubt, despair and emotional pain. But something about this note didn't align with what police knew about Amber. According to her mother, whenever Amber and Keith fought, Amber always stayed at her parents house and had never just disappeared, certainly not without contacting her family first. And although Betty clarified that her daughter had a history of self harm ideation and emotional struggles, the note's tone sounded off. Especially the disturbingly specific instructions for her own mother to identify her body, which seemed strangely cruel to investigators. These unusual details hinted at the chilling possibility that the note wasn't exactly what it appeared. They began to suspect Amber might not have written these words freely. Something wasn't right. So based on these signs, officers decided to speak with Betty again. This time on the oddities found inside the note.

[Officer Crowley]

Do you think it's something that would he harm her in any way? Would you have any either information or inkling that that might happen? No. Okay. If she had walked away, I mean, I'm. I'm just wondering where else or how far she could have gone.

[Betty (Amber's mother)]

She has walked to our house. We're in.

[Officer Crowley]

Yeah.

[Betty (Amber's mother)]

When she's been drinking.

[Officer Crowley]

I understand. Of course, I agree. That's why I'm so concerned.

[Betty (Amber's mother)]

And that's where. That's why I searched Sunrise park, because that's the closest park to here. And I don't know why, in my head it's, you're not gonna do it in your home.

[Narrator/Podcast Host]

Betty would also find the note strange, but doesn't think Keith would have anything to do with Amber's disappearance at this point. But nothing makes sense. So without any further clues, officers decide to move to the next step in their investigation, searching the property. As we know, without the homeowner's permission, officers still can't go inside the house without a proper search warrant. Fortunately, by using the kids, they were able to get on the phone with Amber's husband Keith, hoping to get the permission they needed.

[Betty (Amber's mother)]

The cops are here and they want to talk to you.

[Officer Crowley]

This is Keith.

[Keith Zotto]

Yes, this is Keith.

[Officer Crowley]

Keith is Officer Crowley with the Royal Police. How are you?

[Keith Zotto]

I'm all right, officer.

[Betty (Amber's mother)]

How are you?

[Officer Crowley]

I'd like to go over a couple series of events and then ask you for permission if I could go inside your house and where we start searches is the last place she was seen. And that would be your house. But I don't. I don't have a warrant. And I'm asking you for permission to come go inside your house too.

[Keith Zotto]

Go ahead, man.

[Narrator/Podcast Host]

Luckily, Keith seemed to have no problem letting officers search his home. While one officer continued his conversation with Keith, another would immediately begin searching the property, completely unaware they were both minutes away from uncovering the horrifying truth. But before we continue, it's worth noting that covering stories like this, you realize just how much people are forced to carry fear, trauma, even the day to day burden of surviving. And sometimes that weight shows up in other ways too. Like debt. Do you feel crushed by debt? Those high interest loans, that mountain of credit card debt? Or even the overwhelming medical bills, all the debt that has been keeping you up at night could be gone quicker than you think. Imagine being debt free not in 10 years, but in as little as just two years. Think about that relief you can finally feel free. PDS debt are experts at making this happen. They know precisely how to negotiate with the companies you owe, strategically working to get you a resolution where you owe them significantly less and can be relieved of your debt. They listen to your unique situation to create a personalized plan that works regardless of your credit score. There's no minimum required to see how they can help you. They tackle credit card debts, personal loans, collections, medical bills, finding the right solution to save you money and get you debt free faster, putting you back in control. And their results speak for themselves. PDS debt holds an a Better Business Bureau rating, boasts hundreds of five star reviews on Google and trustpilot. That's because they've helped tens of thousands of people break free of debt. Stop living in debt, get your free assessment and find the best option for you. Right [e-mail] insanity. You're just 30 seconds away from starting to get out of debt. That's pdsdebt.com insanity. With that said, let's get back to the investigation. One of the officers was about to search the family's home with no idea just how close they were to discovering the gruesome scene hidden in plain sight.

[Betty (Amber's mother)]

So Keith gave verbal consent for us to go in the house. I'm just gonna go in. If you want to come with me. I will, because I'd like you to show me. Okay. Where did you find the notebook? In the garage.

[Narrator/Advertiser]

In the garage.

[Betty (Amber's mother)]

They literally lived. Okay, let's start there then.

[Officer Crowley]

So, Keith, what's. I mean, in a bigger picture, what's going on, man?

[Keith Zotto]

Me and Amber drink a lot, we fight a lot. And she likes to walk away or actually drive away. And I took her keys from her so she couldn't drive away. She grabbed her purse, slammed her phone on the ground and left. And I have not seen her since.

[Officer Crowley]

Did you actually see her leave or you just assumed she left?

[Keith Zotto]

No, sir. I. I begged her to stay on the couch. We fought a little bit more and I said, well, whatever, Amber, you sleep out here on the couch. I'm going inside. And I went inside. I don't know, it was like 2, 3 in the morning. And then when I Woke up at 9, 10 o' clock Sunday morning, there was a letter on a coffee table.

[Officer Crowley]

Has she ever threatened to hurt herself in the past, or was this. Oh, she has.

[Keith Zotto]

The last five years, it's been her go to. And that's what I try to tell my grandma and grandpa, too. She does this to me all the time. Almost every weekend. She'll leave and then she won't come back to until Monday or Tuesday. And then my kids get all mad at me because I let her back in.

[Officer Crowley]

I hope you don't mind me asking your personal questions, but is it possible she's seeing somebody else and she stays there?

[Keith Zotto]

Oh, for sure she is. She's been. That's why we fight all the time. She's been seeing somebody for about five years now, and she don't pay our bills. We're always. That's why we always fight, man.

[Narrator/Podcast Host]

Based on Keith and Betty's statements, both were aware Amber had struggled emotionally in the past. But neither realized just how serious the situation had become or how tragically wrong their assumptions would soon turn out to be.

[Betty (Amber's mother)]

Where exactly was the book when you found it? Right there. Okay. And you recognized her handwriting? Yes. Okay. It's unmistakable. Okay.

[Officer Crowley]

Okay. This argument. I mean, you guys are arguing about. About her seeing somebody. Were you guys arguing about lots of stuff?

[Keith Zotto]

Well, that always comes into play. But this particular argument was about her not paying my mortgage for six. Six months. I give her all my money, I just cash my check, and she pays all the bills. And lately she hasn't been paying our bills.

[Officer Crowley]

Hey, Keith, did it get physical at all or was it just arguing?

[Keith Zotto]

We've been physical a couple times, but I want to say Saturday night.

[Officer Crowley]

No, you know, this is a fair question. Is there any chance that you. You heard her in any way?

[Keith Zotto]

I hope not, dude. I hope not. But, yeah, there's a possibility. I mean, I'm hoping not, but, like, I Said, I don't remember. Me and Amber go through this all the time and she always comes back.

[Officer Crowley]

Okay?

[Keith Zotto]

The only thing I'm worried about is she always goes to her fucking mom's house. She doesn't go anywhere. She does go somewhere else, but she always ends up at her mom's house.

[Narrator/Podcast Host]

Listening carefully to Keith's account, the officer initially found him credible as he described an argument about money and Amber's alleged infidelity. But the officer's concern grew when Keith admitted he'd been heavily intoxicated and couldn't remember if things turned physical. Suddenly, the possibility that Amber hadn't actually walked away became disturbingly real. Officers now suspected more clues were hidden inside the home. A drunken fight, maybe getting physical. Whatever happened, the answers were likely somewhere inside.

[Officer Crowley]

He gave me permission. I have it on my. My body camera recorded it. Okay. He gave me full permission to look. Look in the house. So.

[Betty (Amber's mother)]

These, they let them out.

[Officer Crowley]

Are they generally friendly?

[Betty (Amber's mother)]

Normally, yes.

[Officer Crowley]

Okay, good. Just kiss you. Did we look in there?

[Betty (Amber's mother)]

It doesn't. It doesn't look like it's been disturbed. Cuz there's debris on the top of it, but we. You want to work on opening it?

[Officer Crowley]

Yeah. Gloves.

[Narrator/Podcast Host]

As officers continued their search, their body language indicated something was off. Careful not to alarm the family, neither officers openly acknowledged it yet. But they both recognized the unmistakable stench hanging in the air. The odor of decay. At this point, the only thing they were looking for. Or was the source of that disturbing smell.

[Betty (Amber's mother)]

Kind of like a flat. No, it's just that right here.

[Officer Crowley]

Whoa.

[Betty (Amber's mother)]

Gun. Oh. Magazine. Okay.

[Officer Crowley]

Do you.

[Betty (Amber's mother)]

Do we want to call someone? Yeah. Okay. Yeah. We'll have you stay inside, please.

[Officer Crowley]

She's in there.

[Narrator/Podcast Host]

Inside the trash can in the garage was a gun. And underneath that was Amber's decaying body with a gunshot wound to the head, discarded with the rest of the garbage. This was now a crime scene. And police immediately began to suspect that this was far from self inflicted.

[Betty (Amber's mother)]

But when I searched the house, you know, something funky. I looked in that trash bin.

[Officer Crowley]

Okay.

[Betty (Amber's mother)]

There was nothing in it.

[Keith Zotto]

Okay.

[Officer Crowley]

When was that? When did.

[Betty (Amber's mother)]

I was here about 9am okay. There was not. I would have noticed that.

[Officer Crowley]

Okay.

[Betty (Amber's mother)]

The top was the carpets. And because of the smell, I literally. Forensic files. It was not there. So somebody's been here. Okay. And the kids were sleeping and they are unaware of being here. Okay, but. So somebody.

[Officer Crowley]

Okay.

[Betty (Amber's mother)]

Did that. Okay.

[Officer Crowley]

Ready, partner? What's your first name? Rowan. Can you get the kids and just go wait in your house?

[Narrator/Podcast Host]

Strangely, although Betty had noticed the same Foul odor of decay. Earlier, she didn't realize its implications, Instead believing, or perhaps choosing to believe, that all this concern Was simply because of the firearm police discovered in the trash can. Betty didn't know it yet, but her statement would soon cast serious suspicion on her, Making detectives question whether she herself had played a role in Amber's death. For now, though, officers had to secure the area and move Amber's family away from the gruesome scene.

[Betty (Amber's mother)]

I don't want the kids to see.

[Officer Crowley]

I mean, this isn't missed. So if you live to your. Obviously there's a gun there, but if you lift here, you can see her foot. She weighs about 160, 170 pounds.

[Keith Zotto]

Right.

[Officer Crowley]

There where your hand is. So I called reno. He's calling mcu, and I know he sent you two.

[Narrator/Podcast Host]

While officers waited for the major crimes unit to arrive and process the scene for forensic evidence, they began to grapple with several troubling inconsistencies, Distancies surrounding Amber's family. Keith had admitted to being heavily intoxicated the night Amber disappeared. He couldn't say for certain whether his argument with amber had turned violent, Only that things had gotten heated and that much of the night was a blur. But keith wasn't the only one officers considered a suspect. Amber's mother, Betty, claimed she had checked the trash can earlier that morning and had seen no sign of Amber's body or the gun. Yet just hours later, both appeared right there in plain sight, exactly where she swore she'd already searched. Even stranger to officers was Betty's demeanor. Despite the horrifying situation unfolding around her and the possibility that her daughter had taken her own life, she remained unusually calm. At times, even casual. And then there was the note Supposedly written by amber. Its wording struck investigators as strange, too. Composed, Almost performative. Still, in a situation as dark and desperate as contemplating suicide, People sometimes write in ways that defy logic or expectations. At this point, everyone's stories seemed suspiciously incomplete, and anyone could be responsible in the eyes of detectives. Investigators started realizing that Amber's murder Might be far more complicated than they initially thought. So to investigate these disturbing possibilities, Police knew they'd soon need to sit down with Amber's family and carefully interview each member to uncover who might be hiding something. But before doing that, Officers needed to finish one crucial step. A final, thorough search of the zotto home, Carefully looking for any signs of violence or attempted cover up. And sure enough, it didn't take long before they started noticing blood spatter throughout the house.

[Betty (Amber's mother)]

So a lot of these Carpet pieces meant. I wonder if the carpet went all the way back. Or can you see, like, spattered. So the book live right here. There was space open with the last page showing, and that bill was on top of it. No red pen. Get blood on the light switch. We've got a lot of blood on the sink.

[Officer Crowley]

Yeah, so we left. I mean, we left it the way we found it as well, too, the way the door was when we searched. But, yeah, she found a little bit of obvious blood in the kitchen and the sink as well, too.

[Narrator/Podcast Host]

So within minutes, officers found clear evidence that something violent had occurred before Amber's body ended up in the trash can. Their first sign that foul play was likely involved. Additionally, the Major Crimes Unit documented critical forensic evidence, including the silver revolver found over Amber's concealed body, blood spatter around the trash can, and debris deliberately placed to hide her remains. Despite these findings pointing towards foul play, detectives still needed clarity on whether Amber's death was a premeditated act or the result of a heated argument that spiraled violently out of control. But they had two major issues preventing them from answering this crucial question. First, Keith was nowhere to be seen, and his phone had gone completely unreachable. Second, and most important, detectives had yet to determine exactly who was responsible, because at this point, several people remained under suspicion, including Amber's mother and even her own children. Police didn't know it yet, but in the coming hours, these questions would be fully answered, and the case would take a completely unexpected turn. So to fill in these gaps, all of Amber's closest family members were transported to the police station for questioning. Detectives hoped they could uncover each member's potential motives, credibility, and who was hiding secrets, and finally reveal who might actually be responsible for Amber's murder.

[Officer Crowley]

I don't want to falsely alarm you, but I also believe in being as honest as we can with loved ones.

[Betty (Amber's mother)]

We may have found Amber.

[Officer Crowley]

No.

[Betty (Amber's mother)]

Yeah, but we're not.

[Officer Crowley]

But we're not.

[Betty (Amber's mother)]

We're not.

[Narrator/Podcast Host]

We're not completely sure yet.

[Officer Crowley]

Ron.

[Betty (Amber's mother)]

Just do it. Just do it.

[Officer Crowley]

We're not pointing fingers or making accusations.

[Narrator/Podcast Host]

At this time, but is there any.

[Officer Crowley]

Reason Keith would hurt her?

[Betty (Amber's mother)]

I don't know. I. I really don't. I. I wished I could tell you more. I don't.

[Officer Crowley]

Either accidentally or intentionally. Would he hurt or kill her? If he were to mistreat her, would she protect him?

[Betty (Amber's mother)]

She probably would. So I went out there and I seen the letter or the. It was a four and a half page note, and it's very important. I looked in that Trash bin.

[Officer Crowley]

Okay.

[Betty (Amber's mother)]

It had an ungodly trash odor, honestly. But I tried to. There's some carpet square around the top. I tried to lift up, make sure there was nothing under it, but I don't know what I was expecting, but I did. So I absolutely looked in that bin. I thought that'll be important and didn't see anything. And I went out. Let's talk a little bit about, I guess the fighting and what you do. You know why? I do know why. Okay. My mom cheats on my dad and like she's not good at it, I guess. And like so he finds out and then they just go at it because she like tries to lie about it but he has evidence of her doing it. And so like it's like.

[Officer Crowley]

Yeah.

[Betty (Amber's mother)]

Okay. And the last Saturday is in just a couple days ago? Yeah, last Friday was the last time I seen her. Okay. Did you talk to her at all on the phone or anything? No, she came over for dinner because my grandma was cooking dinner and she came over and we had dinner and then she left. And then. Yeah. And then you were there from Friday all the way to Sunday. Okay.

[Narrator/Podcast Host]

After speaking with Amber's family, investigators finally had some clarity. Betty remained adamant she'd checked that trash can that morning, insisting the gone and Amber's body weren't there, which made her case seem more suspicious. Meanwhile, Amber's father Ronald was trying to shocked by his daughter's death and found it was hard to believe Keith was capable of harming her. As for Amber's children, Annabelle explained they'd both been staying at their grandparents house during the weekend, clarifying why they didn't hear the gunshot that ended their mother's life. However, Annabelle's unusual calmness and detailed awareness of her parents unstable marriage raised some concerns about exactly what else the children might know or could still be protecting. After concluding the interviews, investigators were preparing to search for Keith Zotto, the one critical piece still missing. But just before they could act, they received unexpected news from Keith's sister, Susan Ross. It turns out Keith had visited her just hours earlier. And what he confessed would finally expose the horrifying truth behind Amber's murder.

[Betty (Amber's mother)]

I saw my brother park up there and so I got the dogs out and I didn't know the front door was open and he just came in and I seen it on his face and he goes, you know, I don't hate you. That was the first thing out of his mouth and said, I know. I love you. You're my best friend. Okay. And then I said, it's it Amber that's trying to keep us apart? Okay? And he just looked at me, started crying. He said, oh, my God, what do you do? Okay? And I asked him if Amber was okay. And then he looked at me and he said, you know what? I don't remember anything, okay? I just remember waking up and seeing her on the ground. Okay? I asked him what the hell happened to tell me what he did, okay? They had been drinking and fighting all night. Okay? It was over money, I guess. Keith opened some bills and found out that the house had been foreclosed on. Okay? Then Amber pulled out the gun, and he hit my brother with it. And then Keith said he took it away. It just happened like that. He said he blinked his eyes, and that was it. He said, I blinked my eyes, Sue. And I opened him, and I see her on the ground.

[Narrator/Podcast Host]

Susan's testimony finally cleared up everything for investigators. Keith himself admitted he'd woken up from a blackout to find Amber dead and openly acknowledged a violent confrontation that spiraled completely out of control. It was now clearer than ever that Keith Zotto was at the heart of Amber's murder, and it was time to track him down. Just a couple of hours after detectives left Susan's house, Aurora police received a call they never Keith Zotto had surfaced at his sister's house again, ready to surrender. By now, officers knew Keith had already killed once and for all they knew, he was still armed and dangerous, so they came prepared. A SWAT team descended upon the location, ready to take Keith down if he made even the slightest wrong move. It's got to be up. One more.

[Officer Crowley]

It's this one, right?

[Narrator/Podcast Host]

79.

[Officer Crowley]

79.

[Narrator/Podcast Host]

Is this one all right? Sorry. Ready?

[Officer Crowley]

Watch out, Bubb.

[Keith Zotto]

Show me your head.

[Narrator/Podcast Host]

Front door, ma'. Am. Come to me. I see him. I see him. Come to me. Point to me. Come to me.

[Officer Crowley]

I got a guy out.

[Narrator/Podcast Host]

Hands up. Everybody, hands up, please.

[Betty (Amber's mother)]

Very good.

[Narrator/Podcast Host]

Walk to my voice. Go. Hands up.

[Officer Crowley]

Just walk towards me, nice and easy. Okay?

[Betty (Amber's mother)]

All right.

[Officer Crowley]

We'll talk to you.

[Narrator/Podcast Host]

No, no, we're not. We're not.

[Officer Crowley]

We're not gonna hurt him. Okay? Walk towards me. No, no, no. Just keep walking. Walk towards this guy. Very good.

[Narrator/Podcast Host]

You're good, man. Very good. Very good.

[Officer Crowley]

Right here.

[Keith Zotto]

There you go.

[Betty (Amber's mother)]

Right there, man.

[Officer Crowley]

Yes, sir.

[Narrator/Podcast Host]

Long guns. Yeah. Feel free to go. Hold on.

[Officer Crowley]

It all looks normal, bro, if you.

[Narrator/Podcast Host]

Just want to hold an LB track with you guys.

[Betty (Amber's mother)]

Good.

[Narrator/Podcast Host]

Is that your mom?

[Officer Crowley]

And who else is the other lady?

[Narrator/Podcast Host]

Gotcha. Okay, man. Very good.

[Officer Crowley]

We appreciate you coming out, bud.

[Narrator/Podcast Host]

We'll explain it all to you.

[Officer Crowley]

Okay? Okay, buddy.

[Narrator/Podcast Host]

Okay.

[Officer Crowley]

Okay. There you go.

[Keith Zotto]

Remember much?

[Narrator/Podcast Host]

Finally, after hours of uncertainty, Keith Zotto surrendered to Aurora police without incident. He was immediately taken into custody and formally processed for the murder of his wife Amber. Keith would go on to admit to killing Amber late Saturday night, claiming his gun accidentally went off during a drunken argument over money and infidelity. Though he insisted he couldn't remember placing her body in the trash or concealing the crime, Keith accepted responsibility for her death. However, Betty's earlier statement surrounding the infamous trash can remained unclear, and investigators were never able to determine why she didn't see the gun or Amber's body that morning. In May of 2021, Keith Zotto was found guilty of first degree murder and sentenced to to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole. And Doug, here we have the Limu emu in its natural habitat, helping people customize their car insurance and save hundreds with Liberty Mutual. Fascinating. It's accompanied by his natural ally, Doug Limu. Is that guy with the binoculars watching us? Cut the camera. They see us. Only pay for what you need@liberty mutual.com savings. Very unwritten by Liberty Mutual Insurance Company affiliates excludes Massachusetts.