Fifteen: Inside the Daniel Marsh Murders

Episode 3: "A Strange Tip"

Original air date: September 10, 2025 | Host: Erin Moriarty (CBS News)

Overview

This gripping episode of "Fifteen: Inside the Daniel Marsh Murders" centers on the pivotal moment when an anonymous tipster comes forward, ultimately leading police to the shocking suspect in the murders of Claudia Maupin and Chip Northup—a 15-year-old boy, Daniel Marsh. Through police audio, interviews, and firsthand testimony, host Erin Moriarty reconstructs the events leading to the break in the case, exploring both the criminal investigation and the psychological unraveling of a troubled teenager.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Anonymous 911 Tip (00:44 – 04:09)

• Event: After two months of dead-ends, police received an anonymous call about the unsolved double homicide.
• Anonymous Tipster’s Claim: "The person who did it, he told me everything. Told me everything he did, step by step." (Corporal, 01:56)
• Critical Details: The caller described specifics of the attack not publicly known, convincing authorities of his credibility and prompting further action.

2. The Police Interview with Alvaro Garabe (04:09 – 06:10)

• Introduction of Tipster: Alvaro Garabe, a 17-year-old former friend of Daniel Marsh, is revealed as the caller, though police initially consider him as a potential suspect.
• Alvaro’s Reflection: "I'm like some random kid saying that this person committed a crime. I'm like, you know, kind of freaked out." (Alvaro Garabe, 05:59)

3. The Friendship & Early Warnings (06:10 – 11:14)

• How They Met: Daniel and Alvaro were outcasts who bonded over music and video games.
• Signs of Anger: Daniel expressed a deep hatred toward his mother’s partner after his parents’ divorce, sometimes using violent language.
  • "He [Daniel] would tell me that...I just want to, like, strangle her to death." (Alvaro, 07:40)
• Escalation: Daniel’s fascination with online violence grew over time, culminating in watching graphic torture videos.
  • Alvaro: "That's how I took it. I never thought in reality, this person was actually going to go do something about it, you know?" (09:42)

4. Daniel’s Deteriorating Mental State (11:14 – 12:58)

• Behavior Changes: Daniel became severely underweight, obsessed over death, and was prescribed antidepressants.
• Journals & Dark Fantasies: Police shared pages from Daniel’s journals—filled with violence, references to serial killers, and explicit plans.
  • "There's one that's like, kill, kill, kill." (Alvaro, 12:48)

5. Direct Confessions & Confrontations (13:21 – 20:43)

• Communication with Daniel: After the murders, Daniel repeatedly approached Alvaro, wanting to "talk about something important."
  • "Like, he started off by, like, telling me that he killed two people. And then I told him, I don't want to hear about it." (Alvaro, 15:04)
• Emotional Fallout: Alvaro was horrified by Daniel’s detailed, proud confession—so much so that he felt physically ill.
  • “I felt like throwing up. I felt like I couldn't feel anything. Felt very numb.” (Alvaro, 19:01)

6. Alvaro’s Dilemma and Delayed Action (19:30 – 21:57)

• Inertia and Fear: Alvaro did not immediately go to police, fearing repercussions and not knowing whom to trust.
  • "I'm, like, freaking out about what's going to happen. What if I call the police? How's this going to affect me? Is this going to follow me my whole life?" (Alvaro, 20:14)
• Attempt to Alert Family: He confided in Daniel’s father, Bill, who refused to believe the accusation.

7. Escalation and Breaking Point (22:13 – 24:32)

• Threats and Stalking: Daniel became angry and threatening toward Alvaro at school. Daniel’s violent behavior then extended to breaking into his ex-girlfriend’s house.
  • "She texted me. Dan just broke into my house... through the doggy door." (Alvaro, 23:34)

8. Alvaro Calls 911 and Cooperates with Police (24:01 – 26:19)

• The Decisive Action: Spurred by fear for his safety and that of others, Alvaro finally made the anonymous police call, initiating an investigation that would soon focus on Daniel Marsh.
• Police Strategy: Investigators had Alvaro recount Daniel’s confession and attempt a monitored phone call to record Daniel implicating himself, but Daniel didn’t respond.

9. Police Interrogate Daniel Marsh (26:36 – 26:53)

• Daniel’s Denial: When confronted, Daniel dismisses the accusation:
  • "That you did those murders. Me?... That's ridiculous... I'm a kid." (Police and Daniel, 26:34-26:53)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Realization and Regret:
  • "Now I'm, like, 22 looking at this. It blows my mind that I, like, didn't even, like, think about what could happen."
    — Alvaro Garabe reflecting on Daniel’s journal, (12:29)
• On Adolescent Moral Paralysis:
  • "You're in high school. How do you... How do you approach this?" — Alvaro Garabe on not going to the police, (20:08)
• On Daniel’s Chilling Calm:
  • "He seemed very, like, content and, you know, took a lot of... I mean, it sounded like he took a lot of pleasure out of it." — Alvaro Garabe, describing Daniel's attitude after confessing, (18:30)
• On Horror and Physical Reaction:
  • "I felt like throwing up. I felt like I couldn't feel anything. Felt very numb. And I just walked out." — Alvaro Garabe, after hearing Daniel's confession, (19:01)

Important Timestamps

• 00:44: First 911 tip call audio.
• 04:14: Alvaro enters the station for questioning.
• 06:26: Alvaro recounts meeting Daniel and his background.
• 08:52: Discussion of Daniel’s obsession with violent online content.
• 12:29: Alvaro revisits Daniel’s disturbing journals.
• 15:04: Daniel confesses murders to Alvaro.
• 19:01: Alvaro describes emotional aftermath of the confession.
• 20:29: The moment Alvaro decides to cut off Daniel.
• 21:20: Alvaro tries alerting Daniel’s father.
• 23:34: Daniel breaks into ex-girlfriend’s house, triggering Alvaro's final decision to call police.
• 24:32: Alvaro becomes the crucial anonymous tipster.
• 26:34: Police interrogate Daniel Marsh, who denies involvement.

Conclusion

This episode masterfully details the psychological and emotional contours of a crime that shocked a community. Through the perspective of Alvaro Garabe, it explores the wrenching dilemmas faced by young people in the crosshairs of violent secrets, and the painstaking process by which truth comes to light. The narrative balances sensitive, disturbing content with careful reporting, highlighting the fraught path that ultimately connected Daniel Marsh to two lives lost and a community forever changed.