Introducing: The First 48 | From Crime House and A&E

Summary

Podcast Summary: Scams, Money, & Murder –

"Introducing: The First 48 | From Crime House and A&E"

Date: July 16, 2026
Host/Production: Crime House & A&E, narrated by Vanessa Richardson and team
Episode Theme:
A gripping, documentary-style investigation into the murder of Mark “Smalls” Lake—a member of Tulsa's unhoused community—tracing the initial 48 hours of the case. Combining real audio, interviews, and detective dialogue, the episode focuses on the fast-moving, high-stakes choices homicide detectives must make with limited evidence and a shrinking window for leads.

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Main Theme Overview

The episode is a feature-length adaptation of A&E's renowned “The First 48” series, taking listeners inside the intense, time-critical environment of homicide investigation. Using the 2020 murder of Mark Lake in a Tulsa homeless encampment as a case study, the episode showcases how detectives work under pressure to identify suspects and gather evidence before trails go cold.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

Setting the Scene (01:41–03:00)

• Location: Grassy field behind a gas station in Tulsa, serving as a home for several unhoused people.
• Victim: Mark “Smalls” Lake, described by wife Georgette as “an amazing man,” striving to create stability for his family despite homelessness.
  • Quote:
    “Think you can ever find a man that would make you just come out here to this and be like, okay, babe, I love you. I'm happy and comfortable. This is my home.” – Georgette Lake (02:08)

The Murder & Initial Investigation (06:01–08:44)

• 911 Call: Reports of gunshot at the encampment behind the gas station; officers respond and the “first 48” window begins.
• Victim ID: Mark Clifford Lake, aka Smalls.
• Initial Evidence:
  • Two bicycles, a couple of knives, and a backpack at the scene; none directly point to the killers.
• Witnesses:
  • Mark’s wife, Georgette, and camp resident Rowdy Peterson.

Eyewitness Accounts (08:44–13:13)

• First Interview – Rowdy Peterson:

  • Mark and Georgette were away; Rowdy hears commotion and spots two men with guns approaching Mark’s tent.
  • Belief that Mark was targeted for drug-related reasons (“Smalls sells dope out there in the woods, and they knew it… I think they came to rob the guy.” – Rowdy, 10:07)
  • Descriptions:
    • Main suspect “Benny” in a tank top, blue rag
    • Second suspect: “Dark skin, dark clothing.”

• Motivations & Tragedy:

  • Mark and Georgette selling drugs in hopes of getting off the street and regaining custody of their kids.
    • Quote:
      “They’re trying to get money to get a house so they don’t lose their kids.” – Rowdy Peterson (12:42)

Second Interview – Georgette Lake (13:19–15:33)

• Family Background: Mark not biological father but together for eight years; raising Georgette’s kids.
• Her Account:
  • Mark and Georgette return to camp after doing laundry, are ambushed—Mark tackled and pleads for his life before being shot.
  • Georgette believes the attackers were strangers but under pressure, admits partial knowledge.

Identifying Suspects (17:39–22:17)

• Detective Process:
  • Detectives press Georgette; she reveals one suspect’s nickname: “AJ,” identified as Andres J. Martinez.
  • Key Details:
    • Grim reaper tattoo on AJ’s shoulder
    • Lives off Latimer Place in Tulsa (19:07)
  • Police find AJ’s info in database; Georgette confirms identity from a photo.

Motive and Escalation (21:08–22:01)

• Backstory:
  • AJ ‘fronted’ drugs but didn’t pay, so Mark took AJ's bike. “My husband made him empty his pockets and leave his bike.” – Georgette Lake (22:01)
  • Possible retaliation motive.

Investigation Expands: Second Suspect and Gang Involvement (23:41–26:06)

• Second Suspect: Officer Myers spots a man matching “Loco” (Jason Enrique Arce), a known member of the Serenos gang.

  • Arrested and brought in for questioning
  • “You got some serious tattoo work, man. Serious.” – Detective White to Arce (27:07)

• Corroborative ID:

  • Both Rowdy and Georgette tentatively identify Jason “Loco” Arce as the second suspect. Low visibility at crime scene complicated IDs.

The Interrogations & Contradictions (26:56–35:23)

• Arce’s Claims:

  • Admits arguing with girlfriend, being near scene, but denies knowledge or involvement.
  • Agrees to gunshot residue test.

• Detectives’ Next Steps:

  • Call Arce’s girlfriend for verification; she is cagey (“Honestly, bro, look at his phone for his friend. I don't like his friend. I don’t even like him being around that shit. I knew the stupid was gonna happen.” – Arce’s girlfriend, 33:19)
  • Surveillance footage contradicts Arce’s story (seen kissing girlfriend, not fighting, before getting out of the car near the scene at the time of the murder).

Connecting the Dots (35:44–37:24)

• Video Evidence:

  • Two suspects seen running from the scene after the gunshots.
  • AJ’s number confirmed in Arce’s contacts, location data links the two.

• Interview Confrontation:

  • Detective: “You didn’t tell us that there was a guy in the car with you… You were with a guy that goes by AJ.”
  • Arce: “I don’t know AJ.” (37:07)

The Culmination: Arrests & Confessions (38:41–44:01)

• Arce Arrested:

  • Arce realizes the case is major, even quipping, “So I’m probably going to be on First 48, huh?” (38:41)

• AJ Located:

  • Found sleeping outside a house by patrol, brought in and questioned by Detective White.
  • Denies involvement, but gunpowder tests taken for both suspects.

• Crucial Evidence:

  • Both men test positive for gunshot residue.
  • Surveillance, witness accounts, and forensics close the case.

Aftermath & Reflections (46:17–48:29)

• Detective White on the Case:
  • Praises Georgette’s courage:
    • “For her to have the courage to step up. I’m extremely proud of her, and I think that she did the right thing for her husband…”
• Georgette’s Journey:
  • Shares about recovery and attempts to rebuild after Mark’s death.
    • “About a week after he had passed, my mom…she was like, well, you can come stay…But then my son called me…” (47:00)
    • Trying to regain custody and make amends; Mark remembered as “the only actual father figure” to her oldest child.
    • Ongoing struggle to adjust to new life and honor Mark’s wishes: “I know that Mark didn’t like me being out there at all. All he ever wanted was best for me. So I’m trying, little steps at a time.” (48:15)

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Memorable Quotes

• “Feels like this place just devours everything that touches it. And he knew it was coming.” – Georgette Lake (02:31)
• “My husband made him empty his pockets and leave his bike.” – Georgette Lake (22:01)
• “I’ve got two witnesses that watched you do it.” – Detective Jason White (41:56)
• “I don’t see that she would have a motivation to basically make up that he did this.” – Detective Jason White (45:05)
• “What I love about this interview is…he corroborates basically everything that the victim’s wife had talked about…” – Detective Jason White (45:01)
• “For her to have the courage to step up. I’m extremely proud of her…” – Detective Jason White (46:17)
• “Smalls is the only actual father figure I’ve ever had. It’s been different. I actually got out and started working…” – Georgette Lake (47:16)

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• 01:41 – Opening narration; crime scene context
• 06:01 – 911 call & discovery of the body
• 08:44 – First witness interview (Rowdy Peterson)
• 13:19 – Georgette’s interview
• 17:39 – Detectives dig deeper into suspect “AJ”
• 21:08 – Revealed motive: bike/drug deal dispute
• 24:25 – Jason Arce (“Loco”) enters the investigation
• 27:07 – Detective White interviews Arce
• 33:19 – Detective confronts contradictions using surveillance footage
• 37:07 – Detectives confront Arce with evidence
• 38:41–39:21 – Arce arrested, police hunt for AJ
• 40:39–44:01 – AJ interrogated, denies involvement
• 45:01–46:35 – Detective White reflects on the case and Georgette’s role
• 47:00–48:29 – Georgette discusses rebuilding after Mark’s death

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Conclusion

This episode offers a raw, unflinching portrait of crime, addiction, struggle, and loss through the lens of real police work. The case’s swift resolution hinged on the relentless pursuit of the detectives and the unwavering, if conflicted, cooperation of those closest to the victim. As Detective White notes, “this was a challenging case straight out of the gate,” but teamwork and community courage led to justice.

For listeners drawn to true crime, “The First 48” podcast brings unfiltered immediacy and depth to the cases behind the headlines, underscoring both the heartbreak and hope found in every investigation.

Transcript

[Vanessa Richardson]

Hi, listeners, it's Vanessa. Before today's episode, I want to take a brief moment to tell you about a show from Crime House's sister studio Rewind, that I know you'll love. It's called Government that Doesn't Suck, hosted by professors Lindsay Cormack and Greg Jackson from History that Doesn't Suck. Ever wonder how the weather forecast on your phone is so accurate? Or how your mail still gets across the country for less than a dollar? Or who actually built the highway you drove on this morning? Each episode tells the surpr of an American institution that you'll never look at the same way again. Listen to and follow Government that Doesn't Suck every other Monday on Apple Podcasts and Spotify, or watch video episodes on YouTube. Hi, Crime House community. It's Vanessa. I have something exciting to share with you today that I know you'll love. Crime House and A and E are teaming up for the official podcast version of the famous true crime series the First 48. Each week, Carter Roy will take you inside the critical first 48 hours of a homicide case. The interrogations, the dead ends, and the breakthroughs that crack a case wide open. Real detectives, real cases, real stakes. I've got an episode of the show for you to listen to now. If you like what you hear and want more, make sure to follow the First 48 on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, or wherever you listen to podcasts. There's also a link to the show in this episode's description.

[Narrator]

This is Crime House. There's a large grassy field behind a gas station in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Around its overgrown edges, unhoused people find shelter from the elements. Georgette Lake is one of those people, and so is her husband, Mark, AKA Smalls. She reflects on what brought them to this place.

[Georgette Lake]

We're right to the entrance of the field. Over the years we've been together, me and Smalls always end up back over in this area. He was an amazing man. Think you can ever find a man that would make you just come out here to this and be like, okay, babe, I love you. I'm happy and comfortable. This is my home.

[Narrator]

But while the field gives them a place to stay, it's also full of danger.

[Georgette Lake]

Feels like this place just devours everything that touches it. And he knew it was coming. He'd tell me a week before that something, something was about to change. Something's about to happen. Out here is where I lost my best friend, my heart. I lost my whole world.

[Narrator]

For homicide detectives, their chance of solving a murder is cut in half if they don't get a lead within the first 48. Welcome to the first 48 presented by a and E Global Media, ITV America and Crime House Studios. Adapted from the hit TV show, Every episode features a high stakes homicide investigation in the critical hours that define it. Today's episode brings us to Tulsa, Oklahoma, when an unhoused man is shot dead near his shelter. Homicide detectives have to work fast to solve the case before his killers disappear. With little evidence and only a couple of witnesses, it's a race against the clock, counting up to 48 hours. A note this program documents actual homicide investigations. Criminal charges are often dropped or reduced and all suspects covered on this podcast are presumed innocent unless proven guilty. In some episodes, certain details have been changed to protect the identities of witnesses or the integrity of the investigation. Listener discretion is advised. This case is called the Dark Trail.

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[Detective Jason White]

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[Sergeant Nathan Schilling]

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[Detective Jason White]

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[Narrator]

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[Sergeant Nathan Schilling]

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[Detective Jason White]

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[Narrator]

At 9:15pm on August 29, 2020, a 911 dispatcher in Tulsa Oklahoma receives a call.

[Georgette Lake (interview responses)]

911. Jeannie, please.

[911 Dispatcher / Other Interviewees]

Fire. Medical Police. Directly behind me, I heard the scream, and then my dog was barking like crazy. They just fired a gunshot. Did you see it happen or just hear it? I heard it, but I seen the flash from the gunshot. Some woman is screaming, and I went out there to see what was going on. We'll get officers out there.

[Narrator]

Officers rush to the crime scene, a field behind a gas station. When they arrive, the count to 48 hours begins. After the area is cordoned off and the evidence is documented, homicide detective Jason White inspects the scene.

[Detective Jason White]

Hey.

[Narrator]

Detective White ducks under the police tape and heads down a darkened path, using his flashlight to illuminate the surroundings. After a short walk, he spots the victim lying face up on the ground. He suffered a gunshot wound to the chest. The victim's name is Mark Clifford Lake, also known as Smalls. Described as a good hearted guy, Mark and his wife Georgette called this encampment home while they searched for a permanent place to live. Aside from getting off the streets, Mark wanted to create a stable environment for himself, Georgette, and his three stepchildren. But before he got the chance, someone took Mark's life. And now it's up to Detective White and his team to solve his murder. Around the crime scene, they find some evidence. Two bicycles, a couple knives, and a backpack. But none of it is conclusive. However, two people witnessed the crime. Mark's wife, Georgette, and one of the camp's other residents, Rowdy Peterson. Detective White asks them to go down to the station so he can talk to them. But before he leaves, he has another idea.

[Detective Jason White]

We may have video of these guys. At a quick trip, we might get video of the actual suspects potentially coming down the trail. They got officers in there working on that right now. All right, well, I definitely want that footage. I'm gonna start going downtown and start interviewing these people.

[Narrator]

It's been one hour and 14 minutes. Detective White arrives at the station and begins his questioning. He wants to talk to Rowdy Peterson first. Detective White figures he'll be a little less emotional and can break down what happened.

[Detective Jason White]

Hi, buddy. I'm the detective that's handling this case. All right. Where are you living? In the trees, where you kind of stand up there. We're in that field. All right, just tell me what happened.

[Georgette Lake (interview responses)]

Earlier.

[Rowdy Peterson]

They asked me if I could save you for 20 minutes to wash the dog because there's amp had been getting pilferings. People are still in the dove.

[Narrator]

According to Rowdy, Mark and Georgette had asked him to keep an eye on their things while they went on an errand. And everything was quiet until it wasn't.

[Rowdy Peterson]

I heard some wrestling in by the seat. I thought it was the dogs and can't come out of nowhere with gun.

[Narrator]

He says two men approached Mark's tent.

[Rowdy Peterson]

They both had guns. He had to clasp up my face. Kept asking me questions about, is he going to come back soon, who's he got with him, where'd he go? I just know he went to a friend's house in the neighborhood. And now he'd be back 20 minutes.

[Detective Jason White]

Who knew what they asking for?

[Narrator]

For Smalls, if you recall. Smalls was Mark Lake's nickname.

[Rowdy Peterson]

Small sells dope out there in the woods, and they knew it. And then I think they came to rob the guy.

[Detective Jason White]

Did you see them shoot tonight?

[Rowdy Peterson]

I did not see them shoot. I heard the men's hugs. I took off running.

[Detective Jason White]

Those guys over there right before this happened.

[Rowdy Peterson]

Yeah, I see him. They have families off in that neighborhood not too far away.

[Narrator]

Rowdy says he's seen the two men in the area before and that right before Mark and Georgette came back, he overheard one of the suspects on the phone with a woman. The conversation was heated.

[Rowdy Peterson]

They were very upset that his wife was there talking about William. For sure they were going to kill them. They were probably not killing him, and they might have to kill the wife.

[Narrator]

In the end, it seems like they decided to only go after Mark and leave Georgette alone. Sergeant Nathan Schilling asks Rowdy more about the murder itself.

[Sergeant Nathan Schilling]

Between the time they pointed the guns at you and Smalls got shot, did you see or hear from Smalls?

[Rowdy Peterson]

I heard these. Like, what the you doing out here? I jumped up. I took off running, man. I was scared. I thought they were gonna kill me. I heard you pop, pop, pop. I heard about five yards. I came close to them, shot their weapons.

[Detective Jason White]

Can you describe them for me? One at a time.

[Rowdy Peterson]

Easiest. Benny. He was wearing the tank top and a blue rag on his face. Okay.

[Detective Jason White]

Did he have any tattoos?

[Rowdy Peterson]

I don't know.

[Detective Jason White]

What about the other guy?

[Rowdy Peterson]

Another guy's dark skin. Dark. Dark brown, Dark clothing, blue jeans, I believe.

[Detective Jason White]

Would you be able to identify either one of these guys?

[Rowdy Peterson]

Yes.

[Detective Jason White]

They live up in that neighborhood?

[Rowdy Peterson]

Yep, they live in that neighborhood. I don't know where.

[Narrator]

Even though Rowdy doesn't know where the possible suspects live, he thinks he knows someone who does. Mark's wife, Georgette.

[Rowdy Peterson]

The wife, though, is. She's saying she doesn't. She's gonna lie. She's Giving sure she's gonna want to do something to these guys. She knows who goes to in law. She knows where they live. She knows her family. Yeah, yeah. So hopefully you do the right thing.

[Detective Jason White]

I appreciate you being forthcoming with us. That's a lot of really good information for me to work with. So glad you.

[Narrator]

Before they finish the interview, Rowdy has one more thing to tell Detective White. Something that adds an additional heartbreaking element to this case.

[Rowdy Peterson]

Smalls in your life, they're trying to get money to get a house. Every two weeks you get a house where they lose their kids. Their kids, indeed. Just because of your waiver. It's sad. They lost the kids because of drug sales, and they try and sell drugs to give a house so you don't lose your kids.

[Jason Enrique Arce]

Uh huh.

[Rowdy Peterson]

Waste y'.

[Georgette Lake (interview responses)]

All.

[Rowdy Peterson]

They're doing what they gotta do.

[Detective Jason White]

Just two hours in, we've got a pretty decent description.

[Narrator]

The team puts out a BOLO on the suspects, while White turns to the victim's wife, Georgette.

[Detective Jason White]

You know my heart goes out to you.

[Jason Enrique Arce]

I know.

[Detective Jason White]

His wife changing. So you and your kids, how old are your kids?

[Narrator]

She says the oldest is 15, then 10 and 11.

[Detective Jason White]

So you guys have been together a long time.

[Georgette Lake (interview responses)]

He's not the birth father of the kids, but we've been together eight and a half years.

[Detective Jason White]

Okay. I gotta be able to get these people off the streets, and that's starting with that. Okay. And then we can get you in touch with somebody to try to get you in line to get you in a better position in your life. Does that sound like a pretty good idea?

[Narrator]

Georgette agrees to tell Detective White what she knows.

[Detective Jason White]

All right, tell me what happened.

[Georgette Lake (interview responses)]

My husband thought about our clothes being over at a friend's house.

[Narrator]

She says she and Mark, who she calls Baby, rode their bikes over to a friend's house to get their laundry. When they returned to their encampment, they heard their dog barking.

[Georgette Lake (interview responses)]

Someone's there. I was like, maybe there's nobody there. So he zoomed in front of me. And then I look up and two guys come running out from the tent area and baby's screaming. And he like, tackles baby off the bike. And he fell on the ground and started saying, I'm sorry, bro. No, no, no, please. 10 people. 1. I guess I was supposed to laugh. My grandpa looked at me and he pointed right at me. But nothing happened. And the guys both started running.

[Detective Jason White]

Who are these guys?

[Georgette Lake (interview responses)]

I don't know. They're just people that were walking down the street. And it always helped everybody.

[Narrator]

Georgette said she didn't know who they were. But Detective White remembers what Rowdy said. He still isn't sure if Georgette is telling him everything.

[Detective Jason White]

Listen to me. Rowdy seems to think that you're not going to be completely honest with us because he thinks that you're going to want to take care of business on your own. I think you know more than that.

[Narrator]

It's been two hours and nine minutes and Detective White is still searching for a lead.

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[Narrator]

On August 29, 2020, 32 year old Mark Clifford Lake was shot dead at his encampment in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Following his death, homicide detective Jason White takes charge of the investigation. So far, he's learned from one witness, a man named Rowdy Peterson, that two men shot Mark. Rowdy knows the two men live somewhere nearby, but he's not sure where, but the witness says that Mark's wife Georgette does. Detective White sits down to talk to her, hoping that she'll tell him everything she knows.

[Detective Jason White]

Rowdy cares a lot about you, and he cares a lot about your husband. He tells me that you know them pretty well. I need to know who these guys

[Georgette Lake (interview responses)]

are, AJ I don't know who the other guy was, where he came from, who he looked like. A little miniature knockoff version of AJ I guess.

[Detective Jason White]

Where do they live?

[Georgette Lake (interview responses)]

Latterburg.

[Detective Jason White]

Okay, but you know who AJ Is, and AJ Was there, period.

[Jason Enrique Arce]

Okay.

[Detective Jason White]

Do you know any more to his name?

[Georgette Lake (interview responses)]

No. He just came up from California.

[Detective Jason White]

Does he have any tattoos?

[Georgette Lake (interview responses)]

A grim reaper on his shoulder.

[Narrator]

Thankfully, Georgette provided Detective White with three pieces of valuable information. One of the Suspects is named A.J. he has a tattoo of the Grim reaper on his shoulder, and he lives off a street called Latimer Place. He passes this information along to Sergeant Nathan Schilling.

[Sergeant Nathan Schilling]

Search our database for AJ Latimer. It'll search all our reports and field interviews, and maybe we'll get get lucky. Where someone mentions his nickname, This holds some promise. Andres J. Martinez. So we will find him in traces. And there we are. And he lists the address in East Latimer Place. So he just got arrested like three weeks ago and claims to be homeless.

[Narrator]

37 year old Andres J. Martinez grew up in Riverside County, California. He has no prior convictions. Based on what the investigators have Learned so far, Sergeant Schilling thinks this may be the A.J. georgette is referring to. He wants to see if she recognizes him. Sergeant Schilling brings this information to Detective White, who's still in the interrogation room with Georgette. Detective White shows her a photo of Andres Martinez.

[Detective Jason White]

Is that him?

[Georgette Lake (interview responses)]

Yes. Check the shoulder.

[Detective Jason White]

Okay, so this is the guy that's got the grim reaper tattoo on his shoulder.

[Sergeant Nathan Schilling]

The individual you referred to as A.J.

[Narrator]

mm.

[Georgette Lake (interview responses)]

We have literally only known him about maybe a week and a half. He's supposed to go get stuff from any store that we choose, anything we want. He's supposed to be able to do it.

[Detective Jason White]

Was he getting dope in exchange for bringing you guys stuff?

[Georgette Lake (interview responses)]

Yeah, but he would never show up with the stuff. He would just show up himself. Everything's in the car, Everything's in the garage. And they ended up arguing, bickering. There's a kid ambush that Baby took from AJ Made him walk home.

[Detective Jason White]

What did he take?

[Georgette Lake (interview responses)]

A can't ambush. It's a bike.

[Narrator]

She says that AJ Was supposed to pay Mark for drugs, that he'd Been fronted. But when AJ failed to come through, Mark took his bike.

[Detective Jason White]

Is that why AJ came back? Probably pissed off.

[Georgette Lake]

Probably.

[Georgette Lake (interview responses)]

My husband made him empty his pockets and leave his bike.

[Detective Jason White]

Does your husband have a knife?

[Georgette Lake (interview responses)]

He has a knife that slides in and out, but I think he left it at the tent. When we left, I had my knife on.

[Detective Jason White]

What kind of knife do you have?

[Georgette Lake (interview responses)]

I have a, like, switchblade type knife. It's black and silver.

[Detective Jason White]

All right, so let's talk about the second guy. Describe him for me.

[Georgette Lake (interview responses)]

I was like a high five. He can't talk.

[Detective Jason White]

Did you happen to notice any tattoos on that guy?

[Georgette Lake (interview responses)]

No.

[Detective Jason White]

Did you get a decent look at him?

[Georgette Lake (interview responses)]

No.

[Detective Jason White]

But you definitely got a good look at aj?

[Georgette Lake (interview responses)]

I try to remember what they were looking like.

[Narrator]

If you didn't catch that. She said, usually if someone pulls a gun in my face, I try to remember what the f they were looking like.

[Detective Jason White]

All right, sit tight.

[Georgette Lake (interview responses)]

Thank you.

[Narrator]

Although they still have to identify the second suspect. Detective White has enough to get a warrant for AJ's arrest, but he and Sgt. Schilling aren't sure where to find him. According to a recent incident report, AJ's address on Latimer Place is vacant.

[Sergeant Nathan Schilling]

AJ shows to be homeless in our database. So I was trying to figure out his address on Latimer. On the 10th, a call went in of a burglary at the location. The tenants moved out. So that address is probably. Probably not going to be good anymore.

[Detective Jason White]

We'll find him.

[Narrator]

Three hours in, the case takes a turn. Officer Dylan Myers was patrolling the area around the crime scene when he spotted a man fitting the description of the second suspect, AJ's unnamed friend. Officer Myers pulled him over to talk to him and he could sense something was off. He tells Detective White about their interaction with and why he decided to bring the man in for questioning.

[Detective Jason White]

So how did tattoo guy come into this situation? He was like looking around really nervously,

[Jason Enrique Arce]

so I stopped him.

[Detective Jason White]

He was like, man, I just came

[Jason Enrique Arce]

from a quick trip over there on Sheridan.

[Detective Jason White]

He was super nervous.

[Narrator]

It's been 2 hours and 44 minutes. Detective White looks up the suspect. 38 year old Jason Enrique Arce, also known as Loco, is from Compton, California. He has a prior conviction for assault and battery with a dangerous weapon. And he's listed as a known member of the Serenos gang, which originated in Southern California and has spread across the country.

[Detective Jason White]

I've had a little contact with the Serenos in a previous case. You have the Mexican Mafia below the Mexican mafia, you're gonna have the Serenos here in Tulsa. I know that you're gonna have a variety of different serenos cliques or sets. For him to be certified as a gang member in the city of Tulsa, that says something right there in and of itself. He's been certified for a reason. He's got a motherload of tattoos on his face. I don't know specifically if there's any significance to those tattoos. It's impressive. It's kind of scary. We don't run across hardcore people like him.

[Narrator]

Detective White shows Mark's friend Rowdy a photo of Jason Loco Arce to see if Rowdy recognizes him. He shares the result of that conversation with Sergeant Schilling and another police officer.

[Detective Jason White]

I'm thinking tattoo is not gonna be, you know, nothing. So I take it into Rowdy. I'm like, hey, dude, do you know this guy? The moment I show him a picture, I mean, that's him. But he didn't say nothing about any tattoos on this guy's face.

[911 Dispatcher / Other Interviewees]

No.

[Detective Jason White]

This guy's got freaking tattoos all over the place.

[Narrator]

It's been 2 hours and 54 minutes. Detective White decides to show Georgette a photo of Jason Enrique Arce as well.

[Detective Jason White]

I want to see what her reaction's going to be when I show her the photo of this guy. You know, that guy.

[Narrator]

White shows the victim's wife a photo of Jason Arce.

[Detective Jason White]

Are you sure?

[Georgette Lake (interview responses)]

He kind of looks almost like the guy the same way as Horse Cut. I don't know. His face. I mean, everything else about him seemed familiar, but it makes sense why I didn't see how dark his hair was looking.

[Narrator]

Now Georgette says it makes sense why she couldn't see him clearly with how dark it was out there. Detective White decides he needs to talk to Arce himself. From his dealings with other gang members, he knows the way to get respect is to give respect. And then hopefully, Arce will tell Detective White and Sergeant Schilling the truth.

[Detective Jason White]

All right, well, first of all, I'm Detective White. This is Sergeant Schilling over here. You from California?

[Jason Enrique Arce]

Yes. We're at I was born ladies today.

[Detective Jason White]

You got some serious tattoo work, man. Serious. Here's what I want to talk to you about. So you were over there at the Quick trip, Is that right?

[Jason Enrique Arce]

I always just happened to be out there because my girl was picking up. I don't know if it was her cousin or her friend or something.

[Narrator]

He says he rode with his girlfriend to the gas station earlier that night.

[Detective Jason White]

What kind of car was it?

[Jason Enrique Arce]

BMW.

[Georgette Lake (interview responses)]

Cheap.

[Jason Enrique Arce]

And I was drunk and me started arguing. I took her out by the trash can.

[Narrator]

He says after they got in a fight, he stormed out of the car. And she drove off.

[Jason Enrique Arce]

There's like a field all right there, like grass and stuff and brush went towards that room.

[Detective Jason White]

Okay.

[Jason Enrique Arce]

And I came back out and I called her up. I was back and forth. I was waiting for her. She can come back realizing.

[Detective Jason White]

So did you see anybody or see anything go on while you were in that field?

[Jason Enrique Arce]

Got a bunch of homeless people.

[Detective Jason White]

Did you hear any gunshots?

[Jason Enrique Arce]

Gunshots?

[Detective Jason White]

Yeah.

[Narrator]

He shakes his head no.

[Detective Jason White]

You didn't hear anything like that?

[Jason Enrique Arce]

Not when I was there. I didn't know.

[Detective Jason White]

Well, there's a. We had a situation where there was a. There was kind of an incident that happened with a homeless person. Not saying you were involved than that in any way, shape or form. Okay. Did you happen to meet up with a friend of yours that was a male, like a. Like a homeboy or anything like that over there earlier?

[Jason Enrique Arce]

Not there, though.

[Detective Jason White]

Okay. Who would that. Who would that be?

[Jason Enrique Arce]

I call him Junior.

[Detective Jason White]

How about aj?

[Narrator]

Detective White shows Arce a photo of Andres AJ Martinez. Arce doesn't show any emotion either way.

[Detective Jason White]

Like that guy. You know him?

[911 Dispatcher / Other Interviewees]

Nah.

[Detective Jason White]

You don't know him?

[Jason Enrique Arce]

No. No.

[Detective Jason White]

Have you fired a gun today?

[Narrator]

Again, Arce shakes his head no.

[Detective Jason White]

Perfect. I've got a test that I want to. Basically rub your hands to tell me whether or not you fired a gun. Is that cool?

[Jason Enrique Arce]

And what are you saying, it was shooting or something? Because you're asking about gunshots.

[Detective Jason White]

Yeah. Yeah, there was a shooting. Yeah. When you said you ran into some homeless people back in the back. How far back?

[Jason Enrique Arce]

Right there. Right where? That parking lot of North Philly.

[Detective Jason White]

Did you go down the trail at all?

[Jason Enrique Arce]

No, it was dark. Hell, no. They're gonna go down the trail. It's dark.

[Narrator]

Arce says not far, just by the parking lot. He didn't go down the trail to the encampment. It was too dark. And he agrees to take the gunpowder residue test. It will take some time for the results to come back.

[Detective Jason White]

Let me see your hand right quick.

[Jason Enrique Arce]

So that's what this is all about?

[Detective Jason White]

Yeah. So if you don't got nothing to do with it, you got nothing to worry about.

[Jason Enrique Arce]

Somebody got hurt or something?

[Detective Jason White]

Unfortunately, yeah. What's your girlfriend's phone number?

[Jason Enrique Arce]

It's on my phone.

[Detective Jason White]

Okay. What's her name?

[Narrator]

Arce tells Detective White and Sergeant Schilling her name, which we aren't disclosing, but he doesn't want them to call her.

[Detective Jason White]

We're gonna call your girl. We're gonna verify that with her. We'll look at your phone. You've given me your gunshot residue test. That's pretty helpful.

[Jason Enrique Arce]

I mean, I really don't think you calling her is gonna solve this.

[Detective Jason White]

I think it's gonna help us out big time.

[Jason Enrique Arce]

Feel like harassing her, like, at which time you said it was 12 or whatever. Me and her already been arguing and calling her up and bugging her or whatever, or just harassing her over that type of shit.

[Detective Jason White]

We just need to call her just to verify we were your story. Sit tight.

[Narrator]

As they exit the interrogation room, Detective White says he has a feeling that Arce is involved. And if he can't find the answer soon, time could be running out. It's been 3 hours and 39 minutes. Detective Jason White is making progress in Mark Lake's murder case. He has one of the two suspects in custody, a man named Jason Enrique Arce. But he also needs to find Arce's suspected accomplice, Andres A.J. martinez. Sergeant Nathan Schilling agrees. But Arce isn't telling them what they need to know. So Sergeant Schilling calls Arce's girlfriend to try and learn more. Detective White listens in on the call, along with Lieutenant Brandon Watkins.

[911 Dispatcher / Other Interviewees]

What is he being pushing for? If you don't mind reacting?

[Sergeant Nathan Schilling]

There was a incident that happened over there behind the quick trip.

[911 Dispatcher / Other Interviewees]

Please don't tell me he's in trouble because he didn't do nothing. Honestly. But I'd unknown if he went to go take a walk because we got into that quick trip and that's it.

[Sergeant Nathan Schilling]

Was there anyone else with him?

[911 Dispatcher / Other Interviewees]

He had a friend with him, but I don't know his friend. I don't get along with his friend. Me and his friend don't get along for.

[Sergeant Nathan Schilling]

Who's his friend?

[911 Dispatcher / Other Interviewees]

I don't know his name. I know it's not a Mexican fool.

[Sergeant Nathan Schilling]

How long was he in the car with you guys?

[911 Dispatcher / Other Interviewees]

He don't understand the car with me. Whenever we got into it, he freaking like with Jason.

[Sergeant Nathan Schilling]

You know that you can get in trouble if you lie to the police to hinder an investigation, correct?

[911 Dispatcher / Other Interviewees]

Yes, I understand that and I'm not lying to you. Me and his friend don't get along.

[Sergeant Nathan Schilling]

Did he tell you anything about what happened while you were gone?

[911 Dispatcher / Other Interviewees]

I don't even know what the is going on, honestly. And that's the honest, bizarre truth.

[Sergeant Nathan Schilling]

Someone was shot tonight. And if you're lying for him.

[911 Dispatcher / Other Interviewees]

Oh no, I ain't for him.

[Sergeant Nathan Schilling]

What's his Friend's nickname. Come on.

[911 Dispatcher / Other Interviewees]

Don't. Don't be.

[Sergeant Nathan Schilling]

Don't play dumb.

[911 Dispatcher / Other Interviewees]

Honestly, bro, look at his phone for his friend. I don't like his friend. I don't even like him being around that shit. I knew the stupid was gonna happen. I know this brand new, but I didn't know they were going to do something.

[Sergeant Nathan Schilling]

So they weren't talking about being mad or looking for somebody?

[911 Dispatcher / Other Interviewees]

No, sir. I didn't know.

[Sergeant Nathan Schilling]

All right, but

[Detective Jason White]

she's saying just enough to make it sound like she's telling the truth. And she said the word honestly 14 times. She's lying,

[Narrator]

Detective. Detective White and Sergeant Schilling agree with Lieutenant Watkins.

[Detective Jason White]

He's involved, isn't he?

[Sergeant Nathan Schilling]

Yeah, he's number two. Okay, I figured he was Tim and aj.

[Detective Jason White]

She told us that.

[Sergeant Nathan Schilling]

No, no, but she does say his friend's in the car. A male friend that she doesn't like. That's nothing. But trouble is in the car with him. They get out and they walk away. And then she leaves.

[Narrator]

Four hours after Mark's murder, surveillance video from the gas station comes in. Detective White and Sergeant Schilling take a look at it. The video shows a white BMW pulling into a parking spot, the same car the suspect, Jason Arce, described. A moment later, a large man in dark clothes matching AJ's description gets out of the back seat. After that, Jason Arce gets out of the front passenger seat and follows him. Detective White spots something else in the video, a contradiction. From what he's been told, both Arce and his girlfriend said they were fighting. But in the video, Detective White sees something that brings that into question.

[Georgette Lake (interview responses)]

Hang on.

[Detective Jason White]

Go back a little bit. Real quick. See, right there, they just kiss.

[Sergeant Nathan Schilling]

That's a little contrary to what he was telling you.

[Detective Jason White]

So he said that they had a big fight, but then they just kiss in the car. And he's getting out of the car 8:45.

[Sergeant Nathan Schilling]

So 18 minutes before the 911 call.

[Detective Jason White]

Yeah. He claims that he just went right over into the field and that was it. And then he left. Okay, so let's look at the south view of that.

[Sergeant Nathan Schilling]

Like 903?

[Detective Jason White]

Yeah, probably. The 911 call initially comes in at 9:02.

[Narrator]

They check the footage from just a minute or two after the shooting. Two men come running into the frame. They're in the distance, but it looks like Jason Arce and his friend, the man they believe is AJ Martinez.

[Detective Jason White]

That's gonna be them. That's gonna be aj. So they're together. That's. That's huge. Huge.

[911 Dispatcher / Other Interviewees]

Video.

[Detective Jason White]

I guess we could see if AJ's phone number's in his phone.

[Narrator]

Using a phone number they have for AJ. From a prior report, Sergeant Schilling searches Jason Arce's contacts.

[Sergeant Nathan Schilling]

He confirms AJ's number is in Arcee's phone.

[Detective Jason White]

All right, that's good. That's good.

[Sergeant Nathan Schilling]

And I was looking at his location data, and it puts him at AJ's house on Latimer. So he was back at the house doing something after he no longer lives there.

[Detective Jason White]

That's good. Now we're cooking.

[Narrator]

It feels like they're on the verge of cracking this case. So they return to the interrogation room and confront Jason Arce, you didn't tell

[Detective Jason White]

us that there was a guy in the car with you. You said it was a chick, man. Yeah, yeah. You were in there with a guy that goes by AJ.

[Jason Enrique Arce]

I don't know AJ.

[Detective Jason White]

You've got AJ's number in your phone, man. You were lying to me about being with this guy, and it's causing you some problems. That's three people. Aj, AJ and ajj.

[Jason Enrique Arce]

I mean, Chicago. It's gonna be all women answering phone.

[Detective Jason White]

Well, maybe, but. But it's the same number that we have for AJ. Andreas Martinez.

[Narrator]

It's been five hours and 49 minutes.

[Detective Jason White]

And then the other problem is the fact that I've got you on video running from that field with the other dude. The information that we've got from the witnesses that were up there at the scene with. That you were with this other guy was that you both were shooting.

[Jason Enrique Arce]

Okay?

[Detective Jason White]

That's what we were told.

[Jason Enrique Arce]

There was a charge.

[911 Dispatcher / Other Interviewees]

Murder.

[Jason Enrique Arce]

Are you serious, man?

[Detective Jason White]

Yeah, I'm dead serious. These guys are going to take your clothes. It is a homicide. The guy did die. So we're going to talk to aj. You know, we're going to find him and we'll talk to him as well. Best of luck. Okay? We're going to book Jason rc. These are two violent individuals, so it's going to be nice to be able to get these people off the street for this victim's wife. In large part, this is because of that alert police officer, Officer Myers, noticing this guy walking down the street. And sure enough, you know, he's one of the two suspects.

[Jason Enrique Arce]

So I'm probably going to be on first 48, huh?

[Detective Jason White]

Yeah. The next thing is we're going to be looking for aj, who is going to be Andres Martinez. My hope is, is that we're going to be able to locate him relatively quickly.

[Narrator]

They decide to arrest Arce for killing Mark Lake. And the search for his accomplice, AJ Is on patrol. Officers scan the neighborhood for AJ and the area around his old address on latimer place. Just 13 hours in, AJ is brought down to Homicide. Detective White is running on fumes. He talks to the officer who brought AJ In.

[Detective Jason White]

All right, tell me what happened. This morning.

[Narrator]

We drove by Glamour Place.

[Detective Jason White]

He was asleep in a chair outside the house.

[Jason Enrique Arce]

Okay.

[Detective Jason White]

If he's man of character, then he's going to step up for his buddy, and he's going to. He's going to tell me what really was going on.

[Narrator]

This is the final piece of the puzzle, the key to closing the book on Mark Lake's murder. Detective White conducts the interrogation with Lieutenant Brandon Watkins.

[Detective Jason White]

All right, buddy. My name is Jason White. This is Lieutenant Watkins over here next to us, and I'm one of the detectives that's up here.

[Jason Enrique Arce]

Okay.

[Detective Jason White]

Where were you last night? Do you know a guy that has a street name of Loco?

[Rowdy Peterson]

I heard of him.

[Narrator]

And then Detective White shows AJ Pictures of Jason Arce and Jason's girlfriend. AJ doesn't betray much emotion.

[Jason Enrique Arce]

Okay.

[Detective Jason White]

Would it be that guy? Have you ever seen that girl before? Long, long time. Did she happen to give you a ride with her boyfriend? Dropped you off over to Kwiktrip, which has cameras everywhere. She had another girl with her.

[Narrator]

He says she had another girl with her.

[Detective Jason White]

Well, here's the problem with that, because we've already talked to her, and she's told us that both you and him were together in the car, and then the two of you guys got out. I was there with her, and

[911 Dispatcher / Other Interviewees]

I

[Georgette Lake (interview responses)]

told him that's it.

[Rowdy Peterson]

I just want him.

[Narrator]

He claims he was there with her in the car. Then he walked home. That's it. All he did was walk home.

[Detective Jason White]

There's a guy by the name of Mark Lake. Him and his wife, they live in a tent along the trail from. Along that quick trip. All right?

[Narrator]

Confirmation. He walks down that trail.

[Detective Jason White]

I know. So you know the trail? Yes.

[Narrator]

He knows there are unhoused people who stay there, and he says hi to them.

[Georgette Lake (interview responses)]

Him?

[Detective Jason White]

Well, Marco's dead. I had nothing to do with this situation.

[Narrator]

AJ Says he had nothing to do with this situation.

[Detective Jason White]

Were you around somebody that fired a gun? But that's you, and that's Loco? Yeah.

[Narrator]

He was running.

[Detective Jason White]

Okay. This is called a gunshot residue test. It allows me to basically scrub your hands. Does that sound agreeable to you? I don't want him.

[Georgette Lake (interview responses)]

Why are you going to shoot anybody?

[Narrator]

AJ Says he doesn't mind because he didn't shoot Anyone?

[Detective Jason White]

Well, I've got two witnesses that watched you do it.

[Narrator]

Detective White is close to finishing this interrogation, and then he can make his final arrest. It's been 13 hours and 44 minutes. Detective Jason White has already arrested White one suspect, Jason Enrique Arce, for the death of Mark Lake. Now he's focusing on the second suspect, Andres AJ Martinez.

[Jason Enrique Arce]

How?

[Detective Jason White]

How would I do that?

[Narrator]

AJ Says he didn't kill somebody. How would he do that?

[Detective Jason White]

You pulled out a gun and you shot. I don't have any. Do you have any tattoos? Yeah, I have tattoos. Is one of them a grim reaper on the side of your shoulder?

[Georgette Lake]

Yes.

[Detective Jason White]

Let me see it, if you don't mind.

[Narrator]

AJ Shows him. It's just like Georgette described. AJ Tells him he saw Mark riding a bicycle on the trail at some point before the shooting. He says they bumped into each other, but that's it. However, as Mark's wife, Georgette, already told Detective White, it went well beyond that.

[Detective Jason White]

So essentially, there was a situation that happened over there a few days ago where they accused you of stealing something or some weed. Ring a bell? Yeah, he told me that when I was walking by. He accused you of being a thief, he took your bike, he made you empty your pockets, and he sent you home, like, get out of here. I was like, I know how to.

[Georgette Lake]

He was wrong.

[Narrator]

A.J. says he wasn't even worried about it. He's not worried because he knows he didn't do anything wrong.

[Detective Jason White]

Essentially, that's kind of. That falls in the category for me, that he was being disrespectful to you.

[Rowdy Peterson]

I don't know.

[Detective Jason White]

Why would I kill this guy for a bike? Yeah. There's no sense in that. I don't have no guns at all. I don't. That's not what I do.

[911 Dispatcher / Other Interviewees]

I don't kill people.

[Narrator]

Detective White isn't buying it. He officially places AJ under arrest.

[Detective Jason White]

Okay. Loco got charged with murder, so you're gonna get the same thing. Why are you charged with murder for him? The only people that were close to Mark when the gun went off was you and Loco. Yeah, but I did not do anything. That's what I'm telling you. If you didn't do it, then who does that leave? Another person is. Which is who? I don't know.

[Georgette Lake (interview responses)]

I can't.

[Narrator]

Lt. Watkins presses him further on it.

[Detective Jason White]

You've got one opportunity to tell the truth, and you're just pissing that away. Are you scared of Loco? He's a Sirenius from East Los Angeles. Are you scared of the man?

[911 Dispatcher / Other Interviewees]

No.

[Narrator]

The interrogation is over for now. Detective White, person performs the same gunshot residue test he did on Jason Arce. Now they just have to wait for the results. He shares his thoughts on how the investigation has unfolded so far.

[Detective Jason White]

What I love about this interview that we did is he corroborates basically everything that the victim's wife had talked about, everything up until the part where this happens, which tells me she's telling the truth. She watches this go down. So I don't see that she would have a motivation to basically make up that he did this. He's there in their world. I think he felt like he got disrespected, and so he probably was telling. Telling his buddy about it. And his buddy, you know, being the strenuous gang member that he is, he's like, man, you're gonna have to do something about it and prove yourself.

[Narrator]

It's been 14 hours and 14 minutes, and this case is closed. The gunshot residue tests came back positive for both men. In the face of all the evidence, Andres AJ Martinez pleaded guilty to first degree manslaughter and was sentenced to 40 years in prison. Jason Arce fought the charges and was convicted of first degree murder. He was sentenced to life in prison. When it was all said and done, Detective White reflected on the tricky nature of this case.

[Detective Jason White]

You know, this was a challenging case straight out of the gate. Just because you're dealing with the homeless population, for starters, sometimes they're. They're afraid. They're afraid to talk. For her to have the courage to step up. I'm extremely proud of her, and I think that she did the. The right thing for her husband on his behalf.

[Narrator]

Not only did Georgette play a crucial role in solving her husband's murder, she managed to turn her life around after experiencing this horrific tragedy. It's a testament to her resilience and strength and a powerful way to honor Mark's memory. About a year later, she talked about her journey following her husband's death.

[Georgette Lake]

About a week after he had passed, my mom, she was like, well, you can come stay and, you know, whatever you need. And I didn't want to do it. I don't like accepting help from people. But then my son called me on the phone, and he's like, mom, you need to go stay with Mimi. I was like, well, that's just Smalls right there telling me to hurry up and get into a place. So I stayed over here last five, six months. There's three kids all together, and the two youngest were taken away. They're just all the way in Missouri. My oldest, she's the one that has seen, you know, our life. She actually come up to me just the other day and she was like, you know, Smalls is the only actual father figure I've ever had. It's been different. I actually gotten out and started working. I'm still trying to readjust to living indoors or living with other people or having to adjust that to being just respectful, normal person, you know, because with Mark, it was living in each other's moment rather than the world. I see his face all the time. I know that Mark didn't like me being out there at all. All he ever wanted was best for me. So I'm trying little steps at a time.

[Narrator]

Thank you so much for listening to this episode of the First 48. Join us next week for another high stakes homicide investigation and the crucial early hours that define it. To learn about how you can help the families of homicide victims, go to www.aetv.com 48Resources thanks for listening to this

[Vanessa Richardson]

episode of the First 48. To hear more, follow the First 48 on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, or wherever you listen to podcasts. There's also a link to the show in this episode's description.