Courtney Brown (5:19)

Trigger warnings from the stories we cover may include violence, rape, murder and offenses against children.

Colin Brown (5:26)

This podcast is not for everyone. You have been warned.

Courtney Brown (5:32)

To 54 year old Peter Porco, November 15, 2004 was just another morning. He woke up next to his wife of 30 years and the stunning home they had built together in the quaint town of Del Mar, New York. From there, like every morning, he got up, made a pot of coffee, unloaded the dishwasher, and went into the bathroom to get ready for the day. But his reflection in the mirror posed a problem. Peter Porco was covered in blood. Parts of his scalp were missing. His teeth were fully exposed. His jaw was hanging off. You see, this was anything but a normal morning, because hours earlier, as Peter slept, someone had snuck into his room and delivered 16 ax wounds to his head, face, torso and arms. But despite that, Peter was alive. And as he stared in the mirror, he didn't see anything wrong. The wound that had destroyed part of his brain had taken away all reasoning, leaving nothing but autopilot behind. As Peter Porco got his coffee, did chores, and got ready for the day, he had no idea that he was a walking dead man. The trail of blood he left in his wake with every turn meant nothing to him, because to Peter, he had a job to get to, a wife to kiss good morning, a paper to grab out of the mailbox, A paper that for the next several years would feature articles unveiling the dark secrets of his family and showing the world that sometimes the people closest to you can hurt you the most. This is the story of the Porco family. I'm Courtney Brown.

Colin Brown (7:20)

And I'm Colin Browen, and you're listening.

Courtney Brown (7:23)

To Murder in America. Sam.

Colin Brown (8:25)

Peter Porco's life began along the coast of the Atlantic Ocean in Norwalk, Connecticut. He was born on August 22, 1952, into an Italian immigrant family who instilled a hard work ethic and love of community in him from a young age. It's a work ethic and passion for connection that followed him through his years at Joel Barlow High School, where he was on the honor roll every quarter and was a lead member of the school band playing the trumpet. He was smart, and everyone who knew him suspected he had a bright future ahead of him, which is why it was no surprise to anyone that upon his graduation from high school in 1970, he was accepted into the University of Connecticut in Stamford. There he continued to excel, earning a spot on the Dean's list every quarter. Now, Peter was a family man, and he liked Stamford. But after his freshman year, he was ready to spread his wings. In fall of 1971, he transferred two hours north to the University at Albany. He didn't know it, but a chance encounter on that campus would change his life forever. On a warm Autumn afternoon in 1972, as he made his way across campus, he heard a voice behind him.

Courtney Brown (9:33)

Excuse me, could you point me to the library?

Colin Brown (9:36)

When he turned to face the gentle voice, he met the eyes of the most beautiful woman he had ever seen. Her name was Joan Balzano. Born Oct. 28, 1950, in Montauk, N.Y. she had done well in school and just arrived at the university that semester to pursue a master's degree in speech pathology. She was new, uncertain of the campus, and much like the man she was talking to, she had a kind, soft soul. Maybe in wandering across the campus, she had felt that in him, she had seen a kindred spirit and leaned into him, hoping for a connection. And very quickly, she found it. Immediately, Peter offered to walk her to the library. On the stroll through campus, awash with the orange and red leaves of autumn, sparks flew between the two. That one walk to the library spiraled into walks around town, walks to each other's Dorms, and on June 8, 1974, a walk down the aisle as husband and wife. After a two year romance full of excitement, passion and grief. You see, just three months before their wedding, Joan received devastating news from one of her siblings. Her beloved mother had died. Less than a month after that, tragedy struck again. Still grieving the loss of her mother, she picked up the phone to learn that her father had died of a heart attack at just 63. In the painful haze of her loss, Peter was there to comfort her and pick up the pieces. Saying yes to marrying him, knowing he had already been there in some of her darkest moments, was the easiest thing she had ever done.

Courtney Brown (11:04)

Experiencing the loss of both of her parents before she was even 25 set Joan on a course in life where she was entirely focused on what mattered most. Her family. So she and Peter got to work building a happy, healthy life for themselves, planning to grow their family and give their future children the best life possible. After graduating from Albany Law School and getting admitted to the bar, Peter worked as a public defender for Albany County. Meanwhile, Joan worked as a speech therapist for Jefferson Elementary School, which only cemented her desire to have children of her own. And in 1981, that long awaited dream became a reality. Joan and Peter welcomed their first baby, Jonathan, into their family. And soon after, on July 9, 1983, his little brother Christopher followed with their second baby boy. The family they had always longed for was complete. Holding their newborn son in their arms, they never could have imagined that he would one day betray them, that he would destroy their family that they had worked so hard to create. Because in those early years, the porcos had everything they ever wanted. They had good jobs, a nice home, a loving family. They were picture perfect. According to anyone who knew them, Joan and Peter were phenomenal parents, never the type to even raise their voices at their kids. In November, inside the Chris Porco case, Steve Ference writes, quote, joan had an air of intelligence, a confidence about her. She took pride in her family, of protecting her boys and tried to keep surprises at bay through organization and planning. This meant that at home, Peter and the boys had nothing to worry about. Joan was always on top of logistics, shepherding the boys from activities, tutoring them and putting beautiful home cooked meals on the table. Both of the parents exuded warmth and kindness. Peter, so much so that people called him Gentle Peter at work and within the community. From all of that and everything else we read, it seemed like both Christopher and Jonathan were given an ideal childhood. Yet like any family, they had their secrets. Especially when it came to Christopher. The first signs that things weren't quite right didn't begin until high school. Like his older brother, Chris attended Bethlehem High School. And while there, he was a popular student who got average grades. He had a large group of friends, a pretty girlfriend. Annie served as co captain of the swim team. From a young age, he was no stranger to the local party scene. And at those parties, tasting freedom as a young adult for the first time, Chris would brag about his wealth, often exaggerating just how much money his family had. At one party, while his friends talked about their plans for the future, Chris laughed, telling one of his buddies, I.

Colin Brown (14:11)

Got nothing to worry about. I've seen my parents will. I'm never gonna have to stress over bills.

Courtney Brown (14:16)

At the time, being teenagers and seeing Chris as a good guy, his friends asked what he meant. Chris said this.

Colin Brown (14:25)

Oh, I know where my parents keep their will. I've looked at it a couple times. When they're gone, I'm probably going to be a millionaire.

Courtney Brown (14:33)

Even before he graduated high school, Chris was already thinking about what he could get from his parents in the long run. And by looking at his life, that makes sense. Because Chris never knew what it was like to struggle. He didn't have to save money or budget or be responsible with his spending. When he was overdue on payments for his car or credit card, his parents would always take care of it. If he sped down the street and got a ticket, his parents would give him a speech about his behavior and then pay it off with no lasting problems. For Peter and Joan, they were just doing their best, trying to take care of their son. With the money they had worked their whole lives for. But in doing so, Christopher began to learn that he didn't have to pay for the consequences of his actions because his parents would do it for him.

Colin Brown (15:24)

We all hear stories about rich kids who take advantage of their parents success, kids who are entitled, who feel invincible, like the rules don't apply to them. And over time it became increasingly clear that Chris was one of those kids, which really was a shame in so many ways. You see, Chris's older brother John was the exact opposite. He took his parents support, both financial and emotional, and used it to excel as an independent young man. Right after graduating high school, John joined the US Navy, dedicating himself to his country. By the time he was 23, he was a lieutenant on a Navy submarine serving out of South Carolina, where he had made a whole life for himself. One that his parents were immensely proud of. Meanwhile, they struggled to find that same pride in Chris. Upon his graduation from high school in the spring of 2001, Chris made plans to attend the University of Rochester as an economics major. He was set to embark on a very exciting journey. For the first time he would be all by himself. He'd be making decisions of his own, living on his own and taking on adult responsibilities away from the watchful eyes of his parents. The University of Rochester was over 230 miles away from his family, a four hour drive. So this was a huge adjustment for someone whose life was essentially managed by his mother and father. Surely Peter and Joan were excited for their son as they helped pack up the family van to drive him to campus, to the dorm that was meant to be his home for the next four years. Chris hadn't always been the easiest child, but now, with some distance and a taste of the real world, they expected him to gain some independence and become the man they knew he could be. That first year of college, after all, is a wake up period for a lot of young adults. It's time of transformation and growth. Chris's parents hoped that each time their son came home, they would see glimpses of him maturing into a good, hard working man. Sadly though, that never happened.

Courtney Brown (17:22)

Your first week at college can be an exciting experience. It's a level of freedom that you've never felt before. And it often comes with testing boundaries, going to parties, avoiding responsibilities and breaking the rules. It's a route that a lot of new students take. However, most people grow out of it. They level out when they realize that their actions have consequences and that frankly, hangovers aren't worth it. But Chris didn't do that. Instead, from the get go, he embarked on his college experience with the intent to have as much fun as possible. And that continued regardless of anything that stood in his way. Even his parents. Now, right off the bat, Chris joined the fraternity Sigma Phi Epsilon. And the party surrounding his frat quickly became more important to him than his studies. The most important thing of all to Chris, however, seemed to be how people viewed him. Specifically how wealthy they thought he was. You see, for Chris, money wasn't just currency. It was the ultimate measure of what made a man a man. Every chance he got, at every party, he would tell everyone around him about how wealthy his family was. Sometimes the lies would be little.

Colin Brown (18:43)

Yeah, my dad is like the richest lawyer in New York. He's a huge deal.

Courtney Brown (18:47)

Sometimes they'd be big.

Colin Brown (18:49)

This summer I'm going to one of the vacation properties my family owns. It's going to be sick. All I have to do is choose between the Outer Banks and the Caribbean.

Courtney Brown (18:58)

And then there was the biggest lie of all.

Colin Brown (19:01)

Oh, I'm set, dude. When I turn 21, I'm inheriting $2.8 million. I don't even really have to be here.

Courtney Brown (19:10)

Of course, that $2.8 million didn't exist. Neither did the vacation homes or his father's all powerful position as the richest lawyer in the state. Now sure, his parents were more well off than most, but they weren't ones to flaunt their wealth. Their home, while beautiful, is only worth about a half a million today, Just above the nation's average. The Porcos didn't drive fancy cars or go on elaborate vacations. The money they made wasn't intended to spend on themselves. It was money they had saved so that their children could follow their dreams. Unfortunately for them, it seems that Chris only goal in life was to be rich without doing any work, or at the bare minimum, to have people assume he was rich. Because throughout college, he wore luxury clothing, he ate out as often as possible, and he even showered his fraternity brothers and girls he was interested in in expensive gifts. From the outside, he. He appeared to be everything he told people he was wealthy, successful, intelligent and destined for greatness.

Colin Brown (20:21)

But underneath the nice clothes, bragging and lavish gifts was a college kid who was digging himself deeper and deeper into debt and despair. While Chris handed out gifts like candy, he was charging thousands upon thousands of dollars to his credit card, often well beyond his credit limit. When he was emailing his parents, telling them about what good grades he was getting, he was actually oversleeping, going to parties and drinking instead of attending his classes. And when he was going on and on about that $2.8 million he was set to earn, it seems he was thinking of nefarious ways to come up with it. Instead. Christopher was so obsessed with this extravagant lifestyle, he was willing to do whatever it took to maintain it, Even if that meant hurting the people closest to him. In November of 2002, his sophomore year of college, he made the long drive home to spend Thanksgiving break with his parents. They laughed, ate good food, and caught up with each other. At this point, Chris parents didn't know that he was regularly skipping classes or running up his credit card. So as they sat across from him and his older brother John at dinner, they surely felt a sense of pride. Both of their boys were doing well. They were both becoming men. Little did they know, as they enjoyed their meal together, Chris had something else in mind. That night, as his family slept, bellies full and worries far away, Chris crept outside into the freezing night air. In his hand, he felt the cold steel of a knife. With one slice, he cut a slash across the screen of the living room window. Then he went inside and opened it, making it appear as if a burglar had slipped into the home in the dead of night. But a burglar from outside would be the least of the family's worries. The real threat was already inside.

Courtney Brown (22:05)

At just 19 years old, Chris slipped into his parents office and stole some of their electronics, including laptops and a camera. Now, Chris stashed the laptops in his car for safekeeping, but the camera he stole was actually dropped in the front lawn. It's unclear if he did this on purpose or if he accidentally dropped it. But the following morning when his parents woke up, they were horrified to feel the freezing winter breeze rolling in from the open window in the living room. The sliced screen rippled, painting a picture that made Joan sick to her stomach. Sure enough, when they walked through their house, they saw that a number of their valuable electronics were missing. Chris even helped them look around the house, pretending to be shocked and devastated for his parents. Eventually, in addition to the missing laptops, they found that camera sitting in the front lawn. The Porcos thought they lived in a safe neighborhood. Nothing ever happened to them here. But now they were faced with a horrible thought. Someone had been creeping around their home, their safe place, stealing from them while they slept. They were so scared following this incident that they actually installed a nice security system. One that required a code to gain entry into their house. Their code was only given to immediate family members and Apparently Joan's brother. It was only for people they trusted. However, as we know, the person responsible for the robbery was none other than their own son, 19 year old Chris. And just two days later, Joe Chris posted both of his parents laptops on ebay, selling them as barely used. It was clear that Chris had no regard for the people closest to him. He viewed his family and friends as mere resources to fuel his greed. And very quickly, that greed spiraled completely out of control.

Colin Brown (24:05)

As the school year carried on, Chris grades slipped further and further. By this point, he was attending classes so infrequently that many of his professors didn't even know who he was. Instead, he spent his time sleeping, buying expensive gifts and food, and going on trips with his fraternity brothers. All activities that were funded by his parents. But the summer of his sophomore year was the first time he was almost caught for his deviant behavior. Because this time, he didn't just target his parents for a robbery, he targeted his job. You see, off and on since his teens, whenever Chris was home, he worked as an assistant at a veterinary clinic owned by family friends. Late into the night, sometime In July of 2003, Chris told his parents that he was going to visit friends. Instead, he pulled up to the vet clinic and parked in the back. In the darkness, he slunk to a back door and disarmed the security system, one he knew well, being an employee there. Then, with no fear of alarms ruining his plan, he snuck inside. Slipping in through an employee door in the back. There he filled his backpack with as many things as he could carry. Digital cameras, pocket computers and cell phones. With his bag full, he disappeared back into the night. The following morning, the owners of the small town clinic walked into an absolutely horrific scene. They felt violated. Chris even came into work that day. And he played along, acting like he was shocked someone had robbed them. Perhaps the worst part of this isn't just that he robbed a business trying to help animals. But he robbed family friends who had given him a chance, who had always made sure there was a job waiting for him when he needed it, even if they didn't need the help. But betrayal was no stranger to Chris. In fact, he was just getting started with it.

Courtney Brown (25:52)

By September of 2003, the University of Rochester began their fall semester. At the time, Peter and Joan thought Chris was doing well in school after all, that's what Chris had been telling them. But soon enough, Chris's carefully crafted story about his life in college would begin to crumble. And it all began with a letter. Peter Porco walked outside to his mailbox and saw an envelope from the University of Rochester. Upon opening it, he read that his son Chris had been placed on academic probation for his poor grades. Now, academic probation means that you're just one step away from being dismissed from the school altogether. Looking at the letter, they were stunned. Peter and Joan had been under the impression that Chris was doing well in school. And in an instant they were questioning everything that Chris had ever told them. Immediately they reached out to him, asking Chris to explain himself. But of course, Chris had an explanation.

Colin Brown (26:54)

Oh, that's a mistake. A professor hasn't put my grades in yet.

Courtney Brown (26:58)

When the Porco is followed up with him again, Chris had another excuse.

Colin Brown (27:02)

That letter wasn't even supposed to get sent to you. It's for another student. Their student ID number's close to mine. We get mixed up all the time.

Courtney Brown (27:10)

For the rest of that semester, Chris seemed to have convinced his parents that being on academic probation was just a mistake. But it wasn't. Chris was on academic probation, and if he didn't get his grades up, he was going to be dropped from his university. Now, one would think that throughout that semester he would work as hard as he could to get good grades. But that didn't seem to be the case. In fact, in three of his classes he received D's and soon enough his parents would find out. It was January 10, 2004, when Peter Porco received an email from the University of Rochester. This time they reported that Chris was officially dropped from the university. Immediately after Peter forwarded the email to his son, the subject line read, urgent you call home.

Colin Brown (28:02)

And it read, chris, regret to inform you that you've been academically separated from the U of R. Go to your campus mailbox to obtain a copy of the Dean's letter and enclosures explaining withdrawal and tuition refund your grades for the fall semester. Principles of Economics D Intermediate Microeconomics D Leadership and Management 2B General Physics 1D. Your current GPA 1.14. Mom will be arriving with the van on Tuesday, January 13, 2004, between 3:30 and 4:00pm to pack you up and bring you home. Please call as soon as possible. Dad.

Courtney Brown (28:45)

Finally, the truth was out. And though Chris's parents were rightfully devastated, their reaction, at least in that email, was much kinder than most parents reaction would be. At the end of the day, they just wanted Chris to succeed. That week, Joan drove to Rochester and helped her son move out. When they arrived back home, instead of being angry with him for throwing his education away, they helped Chris come up With a plan. For now, he would move back in with them and transfer to Hudson Valley Community College, just a few miles away from the family home. While there, he would work hard to get his grades back up and hopefully after that, the University of Rochester would allow him back in. For now, this was the best option for Chris. But it was difficult for him. He loved his friends and the party scene at U of R. He told his parents that he would do anything to go back. So that semester he signed up for classes at the community college and he vowed to do better. And luckily for him, by March, Chris came to his parents with the good news. He had all A's and one B. His parents were understandably delighted. Chris even thanked them One day on a drive with his dad. He smiled over at him and said.

Colin Brown (30:06)

Thanks for the tough love, Dad. I really needed it.

Courtney Brown (30:08)

For any parent hearing that is like winning a lottery. After years of lying awake at night worrying about their son, they finally felt like he was going to be alright. They were proud of him. So proud, in fact, that they paid for Chris to go on a spring break vacation with his friends. And it wasn't just any trip. It was a tour of Europe. As their son took off, destined for a beautiful European adventure, his parents slept well, knowing that Chris had finally taken control of his life. Unfortunately, that relief was short lived. On March 19, 2004, Peter stepped out into the fresh spring air. He made his way down to his mailbox through the manicured yard and waved to his neighbors as he grabbed the paper and the mail for the day. And sitting right on top, there was a letter from Hudson Valley Community College, the school that supposedly Chris was excelling at. Smiling, his father opened the letter and inside discovered Chris's midterm grades. They were supposed to be all as and one B like Chris told them. But instead, what was staring back at Peter took his breath away. He raced inside, rage and disappointment boiling inside of him. And he began to type out an email to his son. The subject line in all caps, failing grades. You did it again. The email that followed just left and.

Colin Brown (31:40)

I can't believe my eyes as I look at your midterm grade report. Fffip. How could you lie to us like you did? You know what they say? Three strikes and you're out. Explain yourself, mom and dad.

Courtney Brown (31:54)

The betrayal his parents must have felt looking at those grades, knowing how easily their son lied to them yet again was surely overwhelming. And to add insult to injury, they had just poured their hard earned money into a trip for Chris. Congratulating him on all of his supposed progress. At home, they sat around angry, waiting for a response. Finally, more than 24 hours later, they got one.

Colin Brown (32:21)

Hi, I'm in London. I've been touring around with Sarah a bit. I don't know why my grades would say that. I assure you I didn't do it again. One reason they may say that is when I registered, my teachers initially had no record of me in their classes. I would assume that is all that needs to be fixed. Although it shouldn't have been a problem. I have been getting grades. Maybe it just hasn't been reflected in the computer for some reason, but obviously they are incorrect. My lowest grade that I've gotten anything is a B on a physics test. My grade in that class should be a low A though, because I got an A on the first test. I'm emailing the registrar now and I'll see what they say. Don't jump to conclusions. I'm fine. London is wonderful. I've seen most of the major sites today. The Cathedral, Big Ben, Parliament, the Bridges, Westminster Abbey. Some other stuff. I'll try to call you tonight. Love you, Chris.

Courtney Brown (33:09)

Once again, Chris was taking no responsibility for his actions and instead putting the blame on his parents, telling them not to jump to conclusions. The reality was he hadn't been attending his classes. In fact, one of his professors said that they never recalled him stepping foot in his classroom. So not only was Chris not trying, but he was going elsewhere when his parents believed he was in class. Class that, of course, they were paying for. Now, at this point, it may be hard to believe that his parents would believe him at all. But surprisingly, Chris had a surprise up his sleeve. This time he didn't just manipulate his parents with stories and accusations of his own. He decided to give them evidence that supported his lies. On his way home from a trip of a lifetime, Chris created a completely fake transcript for his classes at Hudson Valley Community College. On it, he awarded himself the grades he originally told his parents all A's and one B. When he showed the document to his parents, they weren't sure exactly what to think. They wanted to believe their son. But after years of lies, even with this supposed proof in their hands, it was hard to trust him. However, as summer rolled around, it became hard not to trust it. Because not only did Chris show that transcript to his parents, but he sent the fake transcript to the University of Rochester requesting to be readmitted as a student. And believe it or not, they actually accepted the transcript and allowed Chris back into the U of R. If his parents had any doubts, they were erased when they held the letter announcing Chris readmittance to them. It seemed like once again Chris was on the right track.

Colin Brown (35:04)

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For a limited time, get 40% off your first box. Plus get a free item in every box for life. Go to hungryroot.com mia and use code mia that's hungryroot.com mia codemia code to get 40% off your first box and a free item of your choice for life. I know things were worse than ever. Remember all those laptops and electronics that Chris had been stealing? Well over the course of 2003 and 2004, he was selling the stolen products on ebay. And eventually he decided he didn't even need to bother stealing the items. He could just sell items that didn't even exist. In July, he posted four Apple laptops for sale. Laptops that he didn't have. In total, he made $8,200 and quickly transferred half of that money to his bank. Account. When customers came to him asking where the laptops were and accusing him of fraud, his response was so far one of the most twisted yet. He sent the victims he robbed an email stating that his name was David and that his brother Chris Porco, who was selling the laptops, had died in a tragic car accident. That's right. He sold non existent laptops, posed as his brother and faked his own death in order to scam strangers. Heading into the fall, ebay opened an investigation into him, demanding that he refund the money he had stolen. But Chris had bigger fraud problems to deal with. Ones that would ultimately culminate in his heinous actions. On November 15, 20, 2004, heading into.

Courtney Brown (40:27)

The fall, after Chris re enrolled into the University of Rochester, he once again started spending all of his parents money. Peter and Joan had given him their mobile speedpass key fob to pay for his gas. But Chris started using it for a number of other things. That September, his mother emailed him expressing her concerns with his behavior. The email read. Hi Christopher, please call us tonight. I got a call from mobile speedpass. You charged over $60 in food snacks for three days straight. Do you have any money on your card or food at school? Please take note, I have just temporarily stopped the use of your speedpass device. I can reactivate it when I'm assured that you will only use it for gas. When you're unable to pay for it yourself, that is Once in a while, please call us and let us know what is happening with classes as well. Love you. And I am concerned with these behaviors. Mom xo Then just two weeks later, another email popped up in his inbox.

Colin Brown (41:31)

Chris, we received mail on the weekend indicating that your car loan payment was overdue and that you had five days to pay it before they begin collection activities. You need to take immediate action on this, dad.

Courtney Brown (41:43)

In response, Chris had nothing but the usual excuses.

Colin Brown (41:48)

Yo Pops, I paid it last week. I'm sure there is some delay and that's why you got a notice. I was waiting for my new credit card to come through. The payment is now set up on automatic deduction so there shouldn't be any problems. If I could, could I have you and mom's Social Security numbers and your New York State driver's license numbers? I need them for paperwork related to financial info for next semester. Hope you're having a good day. Love, Chris.

Courtney Brown (42:12)

Obviously this wasn't the case and by this point his parents had absolutely no doubt that their son was lying to them. Just a week later, after repeatedly trying to get in contact with Chris and failing. Joan sent Chris an hi Chris, it worries me when you have not communicated with us. There is no short changing the important things in your life which I see it are number one academics number two NROTC number three your family, father, mother and brother four other family and friends. If you are spending the weekend with number four you will be in trouble. Learn to say no Priorities. If they are good friends, they will want you to do what you need to do first. Please call this weekend and answer our emails the best of your ability as soon as you get them. If you are procrastinating, you are in trouble. Paradigm shift today before it's too late. We love you and we're hoping that you find success this semester. If not, plan on transferring to suny. Love you Mom.

Colin Brown (43:22)

Clearly, Chris carefully crafted web of lies was starting to unravel and the writing was on the wall. If he didn't get his act together, he was going to have to transfer to a university back home. On top of that, he was running out of excuses. His mom emailed a few days later with even more bad news.

Courtney Brown (43:39)

Chris, another problem. Today your license is going to be suspended because you did not answer a ticket. It was in Saratoga. Violation Date July 3, 2004 Please call us after 9:30. The pile is getting deep, your credit in shambles.

Colin Brown (43:57)

But the worst fraud, debt and betrayal was yet to come. And once again the news came from a letter in the mail. On November 3rd. Peter stepped outside to grab the mail just like he did every single morning before work. He walked beneath the lush trees in his yard, the same trees his kids had played under what seemed like an eternity ago, and grabbed a pile of letters awaiting him. They were the usual letters from foundations he was a part of, from their mortgage lender, junk mail, and most concerning, a letter from the University of Rochester. And what was inside that letter changed his life forever. His heart thudded in his chest. For a moment he hoped that it was a mistake, but deep down he knew it wasn't. The letter, which was from the financial advisor, told him that the $31,000 loan Peter had applied for to pay for Chris tuition had been accepted. But there was a problem with that. Peter hadn't applied for a loan.

Courtney Brown (44:57)

Chris told his parents weeks earlier that his tuition was being covered by the school. All but $2,000 initially. When Peter heard that he was delighted. He gave Chris the information he needed to pass on to the financial advisor. And that was so, he thought, the end of it. But really it was just the Beginning furious, Peter emailed his son, sending the following message.

Colin Brown (45:24)

Did you forge my signature as a cosigner? What the hell are you doing? You should have called me to discuss it. I'm calling Citibank this morning to find out what you have done. And I'm going to tell them I'm not to be on it as a co signer.

Courtney Brown (45:36)

Hours later, Chris came back with an excuse.

Colin Brown (45:39)

Hey, dad. The school and Citibank talk to each other to figure out how much the school will be getting. The final loan amount will be $2,000. The amount was given a ceiling of $31,000. But not all of that will be used. I haven't signed anything yet either. I assume that we both sign when the loan amount is all figured out. Chris. But after years of being lied to, Peter wasn't buying it. He responded. I'm calling the bursar. I need to know what the truth is about all of this. What you're Saying about the $2,000 is ridiculous. Citibank has already electronically sent $15,000 to the school. That's either to pay for next semester or it's to pay for the current semester. In which case, you haven't been truthful with us about free tuition for this semester.

Courtney Brown (46:21)

After this crushing realization, Peter decided to look into things further. If his son was willing to steal $31,000 without his knowledge, what else had he stolen? That day, Peter meticulously went through his bank accounts and credit history, checking every single loan linked to his name. For the second time in just an hour, his heart shattered. Staring back at him on the screen was a $16,000 loan through Citibank for a brand new Jeep Wrangler. Now, Peter had seen Chris with his bright yellow Jeep the last time he came home for a visit. He knew that Chris couldn't afford a car, so he asked where he got it. Chris smiled at his Jeep and told his parents excitedly.

Colin Brown (47:06)

I traded a bunch of my electronics with one of my ebay customers in Florida. He's a collector, so I got a good deal.

Courtney Brown (47:12)

But now, staring at his computer screen, Chris knew that that, too had been a lie. He and Joan had already given Chris so many chances, and finally they had had enough. That evening, Peter sat down at his computer and he sent his son a final ultimatum. A line drawn in the legal sand. He told Christopher that this.

Colin Brown (47:36)

I found out yesterday that you also obligated me on the car loan by signing my name to the check used to purchase the Jeep. I got the paperwork from Citibank and confirmed it With a check of my credit history. That being the case, I immediately paid the October and November 2004 payments to bring the loan current so that no default is reported on my credit history. I want you to know that if you abuse my credit again, I will be forced to file forgery affidavits in order to disclaim liability. And that applies to the Citibank college loan. If you attempt to reactivate it or use my credit to obtain any other loan without my express knowledge and permission. Things are obviously spinning out of control with you. I think you should come home so we can talk. We may be disappointed in you, but your mother and I still love you and care about your future. We can't help you problem solve without information and input from you. Dad.

Courtney Brown (48:31)

Peter and Joan made it clear that this was the last straw. They weren't going to clean up his mistakes anymore. In fact, if this behavior continued, they were going to take legal action. And to most people, this is a reasonable reaction. But not to Chris. When his father threatened to file the forgery affidavits, he wasn't just putting Chris's money at risk. He was threatening to dismantle the entire carefully constructed lie that Chris's life was built on. To Chris, this was the ultimate betrayal by his parents. An attack on his inherent right to their money and to his privileged life. Backed into a corner, he believed that the only path forward was to eliminate the source of that threat.

Colin Brown (49:20)

Are you ready to have your mind blown? I want you now to imagine that in front of you was a locked door symbolizing all that you know. Everything you've been taught in your time on earth, the lies your government has fed you with my podcast, the Conspiracy Files. I now give you the door's key. And once you've listened to the show, you finally unlock this door and step inside. Beyond the door is another dimension. A dimension of false narratives, a dimension of hidden evidence, a dimension of truth, lies and murders. You're moving into a land of both shadow and substance, of deadly secrets and explosive ideas. You've just crossed over into the conspiracy zone. I'm your host, Colin Brown. Join me now on this journey into the world of secret pedophile rings, government cover ups and suspicious suicides on my new show, the Conspiracy Files, available now on all streaming platforms.

Courtney Brown (50:13)

On the Evening of Sunday, November 14, 2004, Chris got into his yellow Jeep Wrangler. He put the keys in the ignition and he began the nearly four hour drive to Del Mar, New York. It was just after midnight when Chris pulled up to his childhood home. The streets were dead quiet. His breathing, his footsteps all seemed far too loud. But he couldn't stop now. He walked up to the security system, the same one he had used for years, and he typed in the family code. 4416. With that, he was inside. Next, Chris went to the garage and grabbed a weapon. An axe that the family used to chop wood, keeping themselves warm during long winter nights. Then slowly, he made his way up the stairs and walked towards his parents bedroom. Standing in front of it, he carefully turned the knob and opened the door. There, in what little moonlight was streaming in through the window, laid his parents, fast asleep. He had every chance in that moment to look at them and see them for what they were. Two people who loved him more than anything. Two people who only wanted what was best for him. But instead he saw nothing but an obstacle getting in the way of the life he he felt he deserved. The axe felt heavy in his hands. He walked to his father's side of the bed and tightened his grip. Fueled by his anger and selfishness, Chris was ready to end Peter's life. At that very moment. He lifted it into the air and savagely brought it down. Cracking open his father's skull. He struck him again. And again and again. One merciless strike after the next. With each blow, the blood was flying off the axe and painting the room red. In all, he struck his father 16 deliberate times. The blows crushed Peter's cranium and facial structure, causing massive blunt force trauma. Throughout the whole ordeal. It's unknown if Peter woke up. It's unclear if he even knew what was happening or if who was attacking him. But sadly, that wasn't the case for Joan. She had been sleeping peacefully when suddenly she was awoken by the most horrific sound you can imagine. The swoosh of an ax. The putty like sound of muscle tissue and brain matter resisting a blow. Confused, Joan opened her eyes to see a sight that no one should have to see. There in her bedroom, standing over them, was her son, attacking her husband with an axe. The son she brought into the world and loved with her whole heart. The sight was absolutely horrific. But Chris wouldn't stop at his father. After delivering several blows to Peter, Chris raised the axe and started the attack on his mother. Joan felt the axe strike her face once, twice, three times. Her skull was cracked open, exposing her brain tissue. During the attack, hoping to save herself, she threw her arm up to shield her head. Chris slammed the axe down on it several times and by the end of it all Joan's jaw was split in half by such a violent blow that half of her jaw was lying on her chest. Her left eye was hanging out of her skull, also sliced in half. And then all was silent. The only sound in the bedroom was the tick of Peter's alarm clock and the sound of blood dripping against the floor. Whose blood it was didn't matter to Chris, because spilling that blood had, in his twisted mind, earned him his freedom. From there, Chris tossed the axe onto the bed beside his mother. And then he walked out as if nothing happened. It's believed that he then cleaned himself up. He washed off his parents blood and changed clothes. Then, wanting to cover his tracks, he decided to make the scene look like a robbery. He smashed open his mother's jewelry box. He scattered his parents belongings all over the room. Next, just like he had on the warm summer night two years ago, he sliced open the screen on the window, trying to make it look like that's how the killer entered the house. Once he was finished, Chris made his way outside. But before leaving, there was still one thing he had to do. Chris walked over to his parents security system, the one he used to gain entry into the home. And he smashed it. Chris knew that once investigators started looking into things, it would show that the family code was used to get inside. And there were only a handful of people who knew that code. So hoping to erase any evidence, he destroyed it. And then he left. As Chris drove away from his family home, he left a horrific scene in his wake. Back inside his parents bedroom, Peter and Joan lay side by side in bed, just like they had every single night for the past 30 years. But tonight would be the last. Though shockingly, they weren't dead just yet. Both had catastrophic head wounds and were profusely bleeding. But they were breathing. They were alive. So there they remained, lying in pools of blood as the moon dipped down over the horizon. And soon enough, the first beams of warm sunlight splashed in their window. Eventually, Peter's alarm went off and somehow, despite his injuries, he woke up. Then he did what he always did. He reached over groggily and turned the alarm off as he put his feet on the floor. He had 16 brutal axe wounds to the head. His brain was exposed, his jaw hanging on by a thread. But still he got up and began his morning routine, completely unaware of what happened. He even walked into his bathroom and stood before the mirror. He looked at himself, at his horrific state. But it seems as if he couldn't comprehend that it was him. In a chilling act of domestic ritual, Peter attempted to wash his face. He grabbed a towel to wipe himself off. And when he noticed blood pooling on the counter, he attempted to wipe it up, seemingly unaware that the blood belonged to him. Then, like he would on any other morning, he slowly descended the staircase. Only this time, he left a massive blood trail on the stairs, walls and railing. In the kitchen, he packed a lunch for work. He started a pot of coffee. He loaded dishes into the dishwasher, all while bleeding profusely from his wounds. Peter then made his way to the front door to grab the newspaper. As soon as he stepped out, the door locked automatically behind him. But this too was routine. Unbothered. Chris grabbed the morning paper, grabbed the hidden spare key from under a flower pot, and he opened the door to his home for the very last time. As he stepped inside, the blood loss became too much. And finally, after hours of bleeding out, he collapsed at the foot of the stairs and took his final breath.

Colin Brown (57:51)

For the next several hours, Peter and Joan sat undiscovered while the rest of Delmar woke up and started their day. Eventually, all of Peter's co workers would pile into the office. Everyone except Peter Porco. That morning, as the minutes ticked by, they all anxiously waited for him to walk through the door. But he never did. And they all felt a ping of anxiety. Peter was objectively the most loved person in the office. Not only was he easy to talk to, but he was reliable. The kind of reliable person that would send a charming email to let his co workers know he's working from home for the day. But on this morning, no one had heard from him. Worried, one of his co workers called the home, but there was no answer. She tried again and again and again until finally that concern turned to panic. Everyone who knew and loved Peter in that office knew without a shadow of a doubt that something was deeply wrong. So they called a court officer, Officer Hart, who worked alongside them, to go and check on Peter. When he arrived, the home was eerily quiet. He parked in the driveway and from his car phone called Peter's cell phone, hoping that this was some kind of misunderstanding. Disturbingly, when he stepped out of the car, he could hear the phone ringing from inside the home. Ringing and ringing and ringing until finally it went to voicemail. It was here, where Officer Hart knew that he had to try and make his way inside. But as he reached for the doorknob, he froze. The spare key was still stuck in the lock. And on that key was a smear of blood. Officer Hart's heartbeat thudded faster. The worry cemented his feet to the steps, where he called out, peter? Pete, are you in there? Hello?

Courtney Brown (59:37)

But there was no response. As he hovered there, frozen, with his hand on the doorknob, he noticed that the blood wasn't just on the key and the doorknob. There were droplets peppering the steps at his feet. Summoning all his strength, he pushed the door open. And what he saw sucked the air out of his lungs. His brain fired at rapid speed, trying to make sense of what he was looking at. Despite being an officer, it was too horrible to comprehend.

Colin Brown (60:07)

Peter Porco lay at the base of the stairs, one hand reaching overhead, as if at his very last moment, he had tried to make it upstairs to be beside his wife. His eyes were wide open and glassy. What remained of his face was covered in a crust of dried blood. The sheer brutality of the attack was immediately apparent. Officer Hart knelt beside him to check for a pulse. But there was none. He told his supervisor over the phone, quivering, this is a crime scene. Call an ambulance. Peter isn't breathing. Minutes later, Bethlehem police arrived to find a scene of unthinkable violence, one that defied the peace of the surrounding neighborhood. But they still had to make their way through the rest of the home. As officers carefully made their way upstairs, they learned that Peter wasn't the only victim. By chance, Officer Hart was the first person to walk into the master bedroom. At trial, he choked up as he recalled, and then I walked into that bedroom. I will never forget what I saw. What he saw was the total destruction of a human being. Joan laid still in her blood soaked bed. The sight of her was staggering. The blows were so fierce that they had split her forehead open, exposing her brain tissue. Her jaw was shattered and split in half, and her left eye was missing. Entangled in the bedsheets beside her was the apparent murder weapon, a blood soaked axe.

Courtney Brown (61:28)

All Officer Hart could do for a moment as Bethlehem police officer swarmed around him was stare. He later recalled, quote, her face was black. End quote. He had never seen a human so disfigured. And yet she moved. In the midst of the horror, Joan made a slow, deliberate movement by raising a bloodied hand, urging officers closer to her. Somehow she was alive, and she was not only breathing, but she was conscious and alert. Now she was far too injured to speak, but as paramedics worked on her, it became clear that she understood her surroundings. Clothed in just an oversized T shirt, she yanked at it, trying to protect her modesty. Joan was also following specific orders. For example, the first responders asked her to straighten her arm. And she did it. They asked if she could stop moving her legs, and she listened. To everyone's surprise, Joan was alert. For now, at least. Detective Bowdish of the Bethlehem Police Department knew that given her injuries, she might not survive this. So he took a chance and asked her a question.

Colin Brown (62:42)

Can you hear me, Mrs. Porco?

Courtney Brown (62:45)

To his shock, she nodded a very clear yes.

Colin Brown (62:48)

Did a family member do this to you?

Courtney Brown (62:51)

Once again, Joan nodded a deliberate yes. Now, Detective Bowdish knew the family. He was actually the detective who came to the Porco house years earlier when their home was robbed. So he knew that Peter and Joan had two sons named Jonathan and Chris. So right there in that bedroom, he.

Colin Brown (63:10)

Asked joan, did Jon do this to you?

Courtney Brown (63:13)

There was a pause. She then shook her head no. Detective Bowdish took a deep breath. Was it Chris this time? There was no pause. Joan nodded. Yes. The energy in the room shifted. It seemed like a victory to get an answer, but it wasn't one they could trust just yet, given her injuries. So he asked her several more times, changing up the wording slightly each time. First he asked if it was John, then Chris. Then he asked out of order the second time. And each time Joan's reaction was the same. A nod yes for Chris, a shake of her head no for John. There were three first responders in the room named Kevin Robert, Jim Reagan, and Dennis Wood, who all witnessed this as well. Dennis Wood would later say, quote, I've never seen anybody with this massive of facial and head trauma and still be alive and actually able to communicate like she was. End quote. Everyone in the room was in complete shock. For Detective Bowdish, there was a feeling of relief having the key to solve the case, yet at the same time a deep sadness. It was a realization that beneath the case, beneath his job, there was a woman who had been betrayed in the most despicable way imaginable. So, his voice quiet, his mind racing, he stood up from Joan's bedside and he looked down at her with one last thing to say.

Colin Brown (64:46)

I'm sorry.

Courtney Brown (64:48)

When he was later asked why he said this to her, his response was simple. I'm human. But with those final words to Joan, Detective Bowdish descended the staircase, ready to hunt for evidence that would lead them to their culprit. A culprit that he knew he likely already knew the name of. As Joan was transported to the hospital, detectives went room by room, walking through the crime scene with forensic experts to pinpoint what happened. The trail of blood that Peter left in his wake was Baffling. Even with all of the years of experience between them, none of them had ever seen someone go about their daily routine after sustaining injuries like that. But the evidence didn't lie. They saw the blood in the sink and on the towel from Peter washing his face. They saw the droplets of blood inside the dishwasher, on his lunchbox, near the coffee machine, and on the key outside. Peter's movements were etched around the home in his own blood. But the killer's movements, well, that would be a lot tougher to track. Now, downstairs, they found the family dog locked away. On the door, they found a partial fingerprint, likely from whoever had put the dog down there. But that fingerprint, along with the one on the telephone box outside, proved to be some of the only evidence left behind. However, as they were about to learn, the circumstantial evidence in this case was overwhelming. At first glance, this looked like a robbery gone wrong. There was a sliced window screen, a smashed jewelry box. But as investigators took a closer look, there were things that caught their eye. For one, the window where the killer had sliced the screen open. It still had dust all around. If the killer had used this window to gain entry into the home, that dust would have been disturbed. Additionally, the jewelry box that had been smashed still had dozens of pieces of expensive jewelry in it. If this was a robbery, why didn't they take it? They also saw that Joan's purse was still sitting right there in the dining room. There were expensive electronics all around the house. The more investigators looked around, the more this looked like a staged robbery rather than a real one. But there were other elements that didn't match the robbery theory either. It soon became known that the ax used in the crime belonged to Peter Porco. Usually when someone comes into a house and kills someone, they'll use their own weapons, not ones they find just lying around. But more than anything, the thing that stood out the most was the extreme act of overkill. By looking at the scene, it was clear that this was the case of intense personal rage. Usually in overkill cases, the perpetrator is close to the victims. And this was confirmed even further when investigators looked at the home alarm. Despite having been smashed, it still gave detectives all the information they needed. Because its data wasn't stored in the system, it was stored online. Soon enough, the police would learn that someone had used the family code to gain entry into the house. A code that only a few people knew. And it wouldn't take long for the investigation to zero in on Christopher Porco. Not only did his Mother Joan implicate him in the crime. But interestingly, as investigators started canvassing the neighborhood, they also learned from a neighbor that Chris's yellow Jeep was spotted outside of the home around 4 o' clock that morning. Things weren't looking good for Chris, and he was about to learn that he wasn't as good of a liar as he thought he was now.

Colin Brown (68:48)

Hours earlier, after murdering his parents, Chris immediately got into his car and drove nonstop back to Rochester. He was racing against the clock. He had to be seen back at the dorm, and the sooner the better. At 8:45am a fellow student spotted him running toward his dorm. But he wasn't going to class. He was rushing to stage the perfect alibi. He bypassed his own room and went straight to the student lounge, collapsing onto a couch where he closed his eyes. It's been theorized that he wanted people to see him sleeping there so they would confirm his alibi. And to try and cover his tracks even more, he began sending messages to friends telling them that he was so worried because he hadn't heard from his parents all day. In reality, however, he was waiting anxiously for the call that they were dead. And by late afternoon, his phone began to ring. He answered, preparing himself to act surprised, and was hit with a real surprise instead. The caller wasn't with the police. She was with the Times Union newspaper. She was calling to see if Chris had a statement for the attack of Peter and Joan. Upon hearing this, Chris tried to act surprised, like he had no idea what she was talking about. For the reporter, hearing, this was horrifying. She had been told that the family was previously notified. She apologized profusely and urged him to speak with the Bethlehem police. And sure enough, after this phone call, he called them. Hi, my name is Chris Borgo. I was just called by the Times Union saying that my parents were found dead this afternoon. I was wondering if you had any information. Where else are you? I'm at school in Rochester, New York. Okay, you're gonna go right to Albany Med? I don't know. I don't even know where my mom is. But yeah, she is at Albany Med. Okay. Do you know her condition? No, because I haven't talked to her. Because when you get there, I'll come and see if there's anything I can do for you. Okay? All right. Yeah. Okay, thanks. The officer on the phone confirmed that his father was dead, but let him know that his mother was in critical condition at the Albany Medical Center. They also called Chris's brother Jonathan, who was at his Navy base in North Carolina to deliver him the news. But at the time, no one knew that Chris was a person of interest. In fact, that morning, Chris, Chris's uncle, actually drove to the University of Rochester to pick him up and bring him to the hospital. By the time he arrived, Joan had already gone through one emergency surgery and she was about to go in for her second when Chris walked into the room. Chris would later say, I saw her, she was swollen and covered in tubes, and my reaction was I burst into tears. I fell on the floor right there. But it seemed as if the police weren't buying his tears, because once Joan was rushed into her second emergency surgery, they asked Chris to come in for questioning. And right away they asked him, did you do this to your parents? Christopher replied, you know, I can't say enough. Absolutely no. I would never do anything like that to anyone, let alone my parents, who I love dearly. According to Detective Bowdish, if that was true, if Chris wasn't responsible, then he needed to explain his whereabouts that morning. Chris said that he was on campus all night, four hours away from home. He said that he was sound asleep on the student lounge couch in his dorm. Now, during his questioning, detectives noted that he didn't seem to be overly concerned that his father had been murdered and that his mother was still clinging to life. During his six hour interrogation, he didn't ask about his mother's surgery or how she was doing. It seemed that the only thing he was concerned about was whether she was capable of talking or not. Chris had no idea that she had already pointed the finger at him without saying a single word. But that wasn't enough to arrest him. Not yet, at least. The Bethlehem Police Department also searched Chris Jeep and his dorm, but there was no evidence there that could lead to an arrest either. So after six long hours of interrogation, Christopher was released.

Courtney Brown (72:48)

For the next several months, investigators worked to build a damning case against him. But that was easier said than done. For starters, after nearly a month in a coma, Joan finally woke up. But unfortunately, she claimed to have absolutely no memories of the incident. When police asked her why, she nodded. When they asked if Chris was the culprit, she denied that he was the killer, instead insisting that she hadn't known what she was saying at the time. Fortunately, over the course of hundreds, if not thousands of hours, detectives were able to collect all of the evidence they needed to put Chris behind bars, even without his mother's statement. On November 5, 2005, Christopher Porco was indicted for the murder of his father, Peter Porco. And for the attempted murder of his mother, Joan. Sadly, despite these heinous charges, Chris was released weeks later after posting his $250,000 bail, which was raised by his large group of supporters. And if you're like us, hearing that word supporters probably made you stop in your tracks. But there's no other way to put it. Chris had a huge group of friends and family members rallying around him. So much so that while out on bail, he seemed to be attending more parties and having more fun than ever. And through it all, his mother stood by his side. On Chris birthday that year, she even threw him a party and baked him a cake. Now, his brother John, however, seemed less willing to pretend things were normal. Later on, John testified that his relationship with his brother was strained. We can only imagine how difficult it must have been for him to see his mother supporting Chris after he was charged with murdering their father and attempting to murder their mom. But Chris was determined to fight these charges, and both his defense team and the prosecution worked hard to build their cases.

Colin Brown (74:55)

On June 28th of 2006, everyone piled into the Orange county courtroom. The prosecution was claiming that Christopher Porco murdered his father and attempted to murder his mother. After this carefully crafted life began falling apart. They showed the jury the emails exchanged between Chris and his parents. Emails that proved he was not only failing in school, but he was taking out loans in his parents name, stealing tens of thousands of dollars from them. They showed the jury the ultimatum where Peter Porco told Chris that if his behavior didn't stop, they were going to file forgery affidavits against him. Christopher Porco's lies and manipulation had been building for years. And finally it all came to a head. On November 14, 2004, the prosecution said that Chris left the University of Rochester that night and drove four hours back home to murder his parents. After using the family code to get into the house, he grabbed his father's axe, crept upstairs and violently attacked them while they slept. Afterwards, he cleaned up, staged the scene to look like a robbery, and then sped back to campus to establish his alibi. Now at trial, the medical examiner's testimony painted a horrific and chilling picture of Peter Porco's final moments. After 16 blows to the head, Peter made his way through the house performing his morning routine. The forensic reconstruction of his movements that morning was a very moving part of the prosecution's case. It showed a haunting image of Peter's life, how normal it was until it simply wasn't. Medical professionals said that after the attack, Peter experienced what they described as A neurological automation where his deep rooted muscle memory took over. Despite his injuries, this period of zombie like activity lasted for several minutes until finally he succumbed to his injuries.

Courtney Brown (76:41)

But according to the defense, Chris was innocent. They pointed to the fact that there was no physical evidence inside the home that proved Chris did it. Now, they did find that fingerprint on the basement door where the family's dog had been locked away. But the defense claimed that that was Chris's childhood home. Of course his fingerprints would be there. They also pointed to the fact that there was no blood evidence in Chris's Jeep or his dorm, and that there were no fingerprints on the axe that was left at the scene. Now, the prosecution claimed that Chris likely put on gloves before he attacked his parents, which would explain the lack of fingerprints. And there were actually latex gloves in the house that Joan kept under the sink. The prosecution also said that Chris had a closet full of clothing in that home. They believe that he likely cleaned himself up and changed into different clothing before he left the house, which is why there was no evidence in his car. But to the defense, this lack of physical evidence proved that Chris was innocent. They claimed that he wasn't this criminal mastermind. If Chris had attacked his parents that night, there would be evidence of that. So if it wasn't Chris, then who did the defense think was responsible? Well, at trial, they suggested that it could have been the work of the Mafia. They talked about a man named Frank Porco, Peter Porco's uncle. Frank Porco was the captain of the Bonanno crime family in New York City. He had served two years in prison for loan sharking and extortion. And the defense claimed that perhaps the Porcos had been attacked in retaliation against Peter's uncle. To them, that explained exactly why there was no evidence left at the scene, because it was done by professionals. Now, during the investigation, detectives actually did follow this lead, but according to them, it led to nowhere. And throughout everything, there were two main things that kept leading them back to Christopher Porco.

Colin Brown (78:54)

The first was the fact that his own mother implicated him in the crime multiple times before she was rushed into surgery. The prosecution told the jury that on the morning of the attack, four different first responders saw with their own two eyes that Joan Porco nodded her head yes when asked if Chris was the one who attacked them. They asked her three different times, and every time she nodded her head that it was Chris. But Joan would actually take the stand for the defense where she claimed that her son was innocent. At the time she was 55 years old. It had been two years since the attack that left her disfigured and blind in one eye. She suffered a traumatic brain injury, and she admitted that she couldn't remember a thing from that night. Now, this kind of amnesia is pretty common. Usually for people with traumatic brain injuries, the time around the injury is a big blur, which was the case for Joan. But even so, she was certain that her youngest son was incapable of hurting her. I'm sure for Joan, if her memory was blurred around that time, it would have been impossible for her to come to terms with the fact that her son was responsible. But for the defense, this was a victory, not just because Joan was on their side, but because they couldn't prove that her nodding had actually meant anything. At trial, neurologists and trauma specialists testified that a patient suffering from that level of blunt force head trauma would not be able to reliably answer any of those kinds of questions. So this actually was a win for the defense. Joan's head nods meant nothing. And during her testimony where she supported her son, she maintained she had no memory of anything that happened that night, including any police questioning. And she denied ever identifying Christopher. But the prosecution argued that her claim that her son was innocent was a textbook example of psychological trauma and denial. They said that Joan not only lost her husband and nearly lost her life, but she was faced with the unbearable truth that her son was responsible. They claimed that instead of coming to terms with that, she chose to believe her son to try and preserve the last piece of family she had left.

Courtney Brown (80:57)

Now, Joan's other son, Jonathan, testified at trial, and he claimed that after the attack, his mom even talked to him about another possible suspect, apparently while Joan was recovering from her injuries. She talked about this instance where a stranger approached their home a few weeks before the attack. She said they pulled into the driveway, causing their motion sensor lights to activate, and then they left. She suggested that maybe that was the attacker. The defense even claimed that maybe this strange person had a vendetta against Peter, since he worked in the court system. And just to be safe, the police actually talked to 200 people around their neighborhood, seeing if anyone had seen this stranger lurking around. But no one had. Once again, it seemed as if Joan was doing everything in her power to come up with another explanation on who could have done this. Anyone other than her son. As heartbreaking as Joan's testimony was, the prosecution was confident that Christopher Porco committed this crime. And to back that up, they told the jury about the security system. Clearly, whoever did this didn't want the Police to know that the family Code was used that night, which is why they smashed the system, thinking it would erase any evidence. But as we know, that wasn't the case. When investigators found the data, they learned that the family code 4416 was typed into the system that night. And there were only six people who knew the code. Their immediate family, Peter, Joan, Jonathan and Christopher. And two other people, Joan's brother and a family friend. Everyone on that list had been cleared as a suspect. Everyone except Christopher. Now, in addition, the Porco's neighbor, a man named Marshall Jokey, saw Christopher's yellow Jeep parked outside of the home at 4 o' clock that morning. He would later say, quote, I have no doubt in my mind whatsoever that was Chris Porco's Jeep, end quote. To the prosecution, all of this proved without a shadow of doubt that Christopher was responsible. But just in case that wasn't enough, they also introduced some security footage.

Colin Brown (83:27)

Now, Chris claimed that he was asleep in the lounge of his dorm hall for that entire night. However, not a single witness out of dozens of fraternity members could confirm that he was indeed in Rochester the night that his parents were attacked. In fact, that night, his friends had an impromptu movie night and watched Shrek in the lounge until sometime around 2 or 3 in the morning. If Chris had been there, they would have seen him. So Chris wasn't where he said he was. And through some overwhelmingly hard work, detectives were able to show that he had made the three hour drive home that night.

Courtney Brown (84:01)

Security cameras captured a yellow Jeep traveling from Rochester to Del Mar shortly after midnight on the morning of the murders. Then, several hours after the murders, a yellow Jeep was captured on a highway camera leaving Del Mar and making its way back to a dorm room. Now, of course, the prosecution knew that the defense would have a rebuttal. Sure, it might have been Chris's car, but if there wasn't any concrete proof he was in it, then the sighting of a yellow Jeep meant nothing. Fortunately, that's where DNA came in. To get from Rochester to Albany and back, Chris would have had to pass through several toll booths. So detectives asked the workers if they had seen a yellow Jeep on the night of the murder. And surprisingly, a few had. Now, at the time, upon entering the thruway, drivers would get this ticket that they stamped at each booth, indicating how far they were driving. When they would get off, they would surrender the ticket and pay however much they owed for the distance they drove. When detectives went through these tickets, hunting down the ones that matched the distance that Chris drove on the Day of the murders, they came up with about 10 tickets. After sending them for DNA analysis, they got the confirmation they needed. One of those tickets contained Chris's DNA. He was almost undeniably the person driving the Jeep. For the jury, it was damning evidence. Ultimately, after a seven week trial, the jury left for deliberation and six hours later, they came back with a verdict. On August 10, 2006, Christopher Porco was found guilty of second degree murder and attempted second degree murder. A few months later, on December 12, 2006, he faced the consequences for his actions for the very first time. Chris was sentenced to 50 years to life in prison, the maximum sentence allowed by law. At the hearing, the judge, Justice Jeffrey Berry, delivered a powerful statement. In part, it read, Christopher Porco, you.

Colin Brown (86:16)

Are a very intelligent young man. You come from two wonderful parents. Your brother is a credit to our society. You come from a very close knit family. I look at that family now and I see it torn apart in many ways. As a child, I loved my parents and most everybody does love their parents. And that's the way it's supposed to be. And your mother, to her credit, is a loving, strong person. She has undergone so much in this matter and now she grasps very, very tightly to you. It is without a doubt she has no memory of the events which occurred in the early morning hours of November 2004. It's very understandable that she is upset with the system. It is very understandable to me that she feels that the police didn't do enough. That's because it would be the most difficult thing in the world for a parent to believe that their child, who she gave birth to and raised, took care of, would be capable of being the perpetrator of these violent, heinous acts. My job here today is to impose a sentence upon you. It is not an easy job. It is something that I have thought over for a substantial period of time. Since the jury rendered their verdict. I've read a number of letters in your favor and letters that weren't so much in your favor. I've listened to everybody today. But now the sentence must be pronounced. When I sentence you today, I just want you to understand that all sentences that I impose, I never permit myself to get angry or upset because quite obviously if I did that, then I would be abdicating my job to be a fair and impartial jurist. However, in sentencing you today, I've got to explain to you and make you understand that the sentence that's being imposed upon you is a sentence because I fear very much that what happened in the early morning hours of November 2004 is something that could happen again. And because of that, I would be abdicating my role and responsibility as a judge of this state court system in permitting someone that could do such a vicious, terrible act to the persons that that person should have loved, should have sacrificed themselves for, because they did that for you. Instead, these acts were perpetrated upon innocent, kind, loving persons who were public servants, people who dedicated themselves instead of private enterprise and making tons of money. Your parents wanted to educate people, take care of people, help them, and they did such a great, great job of doing that.

Courtney Brown (88:35)

From there, Christopher Porco was taken to the Sullivan Correctional Facility in Fallsburg, New York, to serve out his sentence. He won't be eligible for parole until 2042, when he's over 70 years old. But over the years, the people of New York would never forget about this crime. To this day, there are people out there who say whenever they see a yellow Jeep, they think of the Porco family. When people talk about true crime cases that keep them up at night, they reference this one. Not only because of Peter Porco's medical anomaly, where he performed his morning routine after 16 axe wounds to the head, but also because of Joan Porco's unwavering support of her son. Even after his conviction. Throughout everything, she is still convinced of his innocence. Over the years, Chris has appealed his conviction, and every time, his mom is right there by his side.

Colin Brown (89:34)

Chris actually sat down with John gray with News 10, and he said that his mother had been his biggest supporter. It sounds like your mom is still very much in your corner and very much. She's the toughest person you ever meet. We speak every day. She has borne the brunt of this, without a doubt. So we've gotten through this together, really. We're the support system for each other. But she's endured much more than I ever will.

Courtney Brown (90:03)

Now, Chris hasn't had any luck with his appeals over the years, but just recently, in 2023, he actually hired a new team of attorneys who were hoping to overturn his conviction. They claimed that the jury should have never been able to hear the fact that Joan nodded when the police asked if Chris did it. Because medical professionals said that it isn't reliable evidence. They believe it shouldn't have been at trial. In addition to this, the information that investigators received from the Portgo Security System, well, they got that information without a warrant. They didn't get a warrant for it until 10 days after they already got it. So Chris's new counsel is claiming that that shouldn't have been used at trial either. They also said that one of the investigators in the case was Chris ex girlfriend's father, a man who didn't like him. They said that that was a conflict of interest. And then finally they even suggested that there is evidence that Chris was using a computer to chat with a girl online around midnight on the night of the murders. And at midnight, if the prosecution story is right, Chris should have been in his Jeep at the time on that four hour drive back home. Now, this motion to overturn his conviction was filed back in 2023 and so far nothing has happened. So maybe there's nothing to it. If anything does move forward in the near future, we will definitely be following along. But throughout everything all these years later, Christopher Porco has maintained his innocence. He admits that the prosecution presented a hell of a good story and he understands why the jury would side with them. Here is Chris in 2023 talking with John Gray from News 10.

Colin Brown (91:56)

I'll ask you the obvious question again, Chris. Did you do this crime? I didn't. I had nothing to do with this. I've said that from day one and it's the truth. I don't blame the police for initially suspecting me. I don't blame them for prosecuting me. Even though they knew there were real problems with the case, Porco never took the stand at his trial. So 18 years and two months after the horrific crime, I asked him the question the jury never got to hear. Did he do it? No. I had nothing to do with this whatsoever. It's abhorrent, it's inconceivable.

Courtney Brown (92:32)

Now, I am very curious on what his brother Jonathan believes besides his comment atrial, where he said that he and his brother's relationship was strained. I haven't found anything about where he stands. But as we know, Joan Porco, who in the eyes of the law is a victim of her son's attack, well, she believes that they convicted the wrong man. Which begs the question, is Joan right or is she simply a mother who can't accept the reality that her son was holding that axe?

Colin Brown (93:08)

For today's episode, we will be making a donation to the National Network to End Domestic Violence, or nnedv, a non profit organization that provides resources and support to victims and survivors of domestic violence and family crime across the country. Hey everybody, thank you so much for listening to this week's episode of Murder in America. We are so thankful to have so many people that tune in every week and we're just so blessed to have been given this platform so that we can raise the alarm surrounding issues that we believe need to be talked about more in today's society. And if you guys haven't checked out the Conspiracy Files, our other show, I've been posting almost every single day about the Epstein files and going through everything relating to Epstein and man, that is one twisted story. It's a rabbit hole that really has no end. But anyways, if you want to help support the work that we do here on the show on Murder in America, please consider joining us on Patreon. On Patreon, you can get early ad free access to every episode here on the main feed. So if you don't like the ads and you want to listen a day or two early, you can join us on Patreon and get access to that. We also have an entire library of bonus episodes available there on the Patreon as well. So if you're completely out of the show and you need more episodes, more Murder in America, you can get access to that library by signing up for Patreon. There are over 150, I don't even know how many 155 plus full length bonus episodes with the same editing Courtney and I, the same storytelling that you hear on the main feed. But those episodes will only ever live on Patreon. So if you want to get access to those, please consider joining joining us on there. Also, don't forget to follow us on Instagram at Murder in America. We are so close to 100,000 followers on Instagram and I know that we are going to celebrate when we finally hit that milestone. And yeah, don't forget to leave us a five star review. Wherever you listen to the show, wherever you get your podcasts, whether that's Apple Podcasts or Spotify, those reviews really help. But anyways, y', all, thank you so much for listening this week. Have a blessed amount, amazing weekend. Courtney and I wish all of y' all a very happy Valentine's Day. Whether you are celebrating alone in a group or with your partner, have a drink on us, spread the love and yeah, catch y' all on the next one.