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- [00:00]
Narrator
Let's go.
- [00:01]
Barry Poltorak
Bravo's the Real Housewives of Salt Lake City are back.
- [00:04]
Narrator
Here we are, ladies.
- [00:05]
Jessica Thomas
I don't like it.
- [00:06]
Detective
And they're taking things to the next level. You know, some people just get on your nerves.
- [00:11]
Jessica Thomas
You questioned every single thing I have.
- [00:13]
Eric's Co-worker
You're supposed to be my sister.
- [00:14]
Narrator
I am your sister.
- [00:15]
Jessica Thomas
No, you're not.
- [00:15]
Investigator/Reporter
We have to be honest about this. I'm afraid you should pay the lawsuits off. No one sues the bottom. They all go for the top.
- [00:22]
Narrator
Can I have the crazy pill that y' all took?
- [00:23]
Investigator/Reporter
Apparently, you're already taking it.
- [00:25]
Barry Poltorak
The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City. All new Wednesdays watch Bravo on Peacock.
- [00:30]
Friend of Eric
It's time.
- [00:32]
Narrator
Streaming now only on Peacock. How to train your dragon.
- [00:36]
Detective
Everything we know about dragons is wrong.
- [00:39]
Narrator
Peacock brings the adventure of dragons home.
- [00:43]
Investigator/Reporter
Toothless, you ready?
- [00:45]
Michael Thomas (or related inmate)
Experience one of the biggest movies of the year.
- [00:49]
Legal Expert/Commentator
You have something none of us have.
- [00:52]
Investigator/Reporter
It's you and me, bud.
- [00:55]
Narrator
How to Train youn Dragon. Rated pg. Streaming now only on Peacock.
- [01:03]
Investigator/Reporter
Halloween. On the night Los Angeles celebrates its dark side. One man's revelry turns into a nightmare.
- [01:13]
Eric's Co-worker
This person wearing this costume and this hooded robe coming out of the rose bushes. I mean, you would have thought it came out of a scary movie, but this was real life.
- [01:23]
Investigator/Reporter
Did a passion for fringe interests lead to murder?
- [01:27]
Barry Poltorak
He got into alien cultures, ancient cultures, ancient civilizations.
- [01:33]
Detective
And he had this business where he sold spirit animal furs to adults.
- [01:39]
Barry Poltorak
One of his favorite venues. It's a gothic S and M club.
- [01:44]
Investigator/Reporter
Police eventually discover the truth is even more frightening than alien ancestors or snm.
- [01:52]
Detective
Halloween did provide a great setting for the shooter, in this case, to disguise his appearance.
- [01:59]
Narrator
All murders are bad. Some are more heinous than others. And this was about as bad as it gets.
- [02:05]
Detective
You think you realize where the bottom of society is, and then you realize that whatever that bar was was lower.
- [02:12]
Investigator/Reporter
It's a mystery that proves on Halloween some monsters are real.
- [02:19]
Michael Thomas (or related inmate)
I'm like Dr. Frankenstein. I'm sorry, but.
- [02:38]
Eric's Co-worker
In Los Angeles, Halloween is crazy.
- [02:44]
Investigator/Reporter
Most people are dressed in Halloween costumes.
- [02:47]
Eric's Co-worker
People are all in masks.
- [02:50]
Narrator
West Hollywood is really the epicenter of partying on Halloween. In Southern California. Hollywood's been a Halloween party night for decades.
- [03:02]
Eric's Co-worker
It's a fun time, but it's also a scary time.
- [03:04]
Detective
You have your ghosts.
- [03:04]
Eric's Co-worker
You have your goblins. You have your devils. No one's thinking that the ghost or goblin, the person dressed up in those costumes, would ever think to actually commit a crime until it happens.
- [03:24]
Investigator/Reporter
November 1, 2012. It's the morning after another wild Halloween in LA, for one Angeleno, the party is coming to an end. All morning she's been trying to reach her friend and coworker, 42 year old Eric Poltorak.
- [03:46]
Eric's Co-worker
She had called him multiple times that morning, but he wasn't picking up.
- [03:50]
Investigator/Reporter
Just after 11am, his worried co worker decides to head to Eric's residence in the Fairfax district.
- [04:01]
Michael Thomas (or related inmate)
What happened there, ma'?
- [04:02]
Investigator/Reporter
Am? I just came to see my friend. I pulled into his driveway, I go.
- [04:06]
Jessica Thomas
To his door to ring the bell and he's there laying on the floor in blood. And somebody killed him. He's cold and dead and covered in blood.
- [04:18]
Investigator/Reporter
When officers rush to the scene, they confirm her fears.
- [04:24]
Detective
The injury to Eric's head was very clearly a high powered firearm. It was clear that where the injury was to the back of the head is not something that he could have survived.
- [04:36]
Narrator
The body is exhibiting that it's been dead for some time. It did not occur recently, probably 10 plus hours since he was assaulted.
- [04:48]
Investigator/Reporter
This is a brutal crime, even for seasoned LA cops. But the fact that it seems to have taken place on Halloween is even more concerning.
- [04:59]
Detective
Halloween could provide a great setting for the shooter in this case to disguise his appearance and to be able to get close to Eric's doorstep. In Eric's home without much suspicion.
- [05:12]
Barry Poltorak
Everyone spoke very, very well of him and that he would really give them the shirt off his back. What happened? Who would go after E?
- [05:29]
Investigator/Reporter
Eric Poltorak was born in Los Angeles in 1970 one of two sons raised by Henry and Delia Poltorak.
- [05:38]
Barry Poltorak
I was the older brother, he was the younger brother, and there were just the two of us and Eric was maybe a little bit of the darling of the family. After high school he started doing a number of different jobs. He was an entrepreneur. He was doing some unique sales, was selling costume jewelry and he was selling clothing and fashion stuff, high end stuff. He was also doing some financial planning and insurance sales. He was very successful with that.
- [06:14]
Investigator/Reporter
As Eric's business ventures grew, so did his circle of friends and business partners.
- [06:27]
Friend of Eric
We were best friends. He was such a good listener. He was very bright, he was very accomplished, he worked hard. He was very accepting of everybody. He took people as they are.
- [06:42]
Eric's Co-worker
He kind of led an alternate lifestyle in a certain way. I mean, yes, he had the jewelry business, but he was also the executive in a very popular fashion business as well, called Role Play Fashion.
- [06:54]
Detective
Eric had this business where he sold spirit animal furs to adults.
- [07:01]
Investigator/Reporter
In addition to outfitting the alternative community, he also catered to the crowd at clubs and EDM Venues.
- [07:10]
Friend of Eric
There was also a lingerie business where they were selling lingerie too. There was bras everywhere.
- [07:14]
Barry Poltorak
I was surprised to find out one of his favorite venues to sell at was an old bar up in Hollywood, a gothic S and M club. And he was a regular, selling his wares, selling his jewelry, selling his lingerie stuff. That was fun for him because he was a people person.
- [07:40]
Investigator/Reporter
As Eric entered his 30s, his business ventures were going strong and he was ready to settle down.
- [07:48]
Barry Poltorak
Eric met a girl named Nikki through her mother. She introduced him to Nikki, her daughter, and eventually they got married.
- [07:59]
Investigator/Reporter
In 2003, Eric and Nikki had a daughter together. And as she grew up, Eric was a dedicated parent.
- [08:07]
Barry Poltorak
Eric became a father, and he loved it. He doted over his daughter, and he was spending every minute he could with her.
- [08:17]
Friend of Eric
He wanted to teach her about all the stuff he knew about history, you know. He was excited to pass on his knowledge when she was ready.
- [08:26]
Investigator/Reporter
The bond between Eric and his daughter was strong. But in 2008, after six years of marriage, he realized he and his wife Nikki, were on different paths.
- [08:39]
Barry Poltorak
Nikki got very involved with Scientology and was pushing Eric to also get involved with Scientology. Eric did not believe that, and that caused a big rift between them, and eventually they ended up separating.
- [09:00]
Investigator/Reporter
The divorce gave Eric a chance to start over. He moved into a nearby house he inherited from his grandmother and stayed involved as his daughter grew up.
- [09:12]
Barry Poltorak
They were amicable in the divorce as far as their daughter was concerned. They split custody. Eric had her very often, and they were always doing something together. They loved amusement parks, they loved Star wars, they loved space science, you name it.
- [09:31]
Investigator/Reporter
When he wasn't spending time with his daughter, Eric threw himself into his work and his friendships.
- [09:39]
Barry Poltorak
Eric's house was always open. He was always having people over and coming and going. He was doing his business out of the house. He was selling his wares and preparing and doing photo shoots and whatever.
- [09:53]
Friend of Eric
Everybody always liked to hang out there. They just loved going over there.
- [10:03]
Investigator/Reporter
But on November 1, 2012, Eric's co worker has discovered him murdered on his doorstep. Officers check the surrounding area to make sure there are no other victims.
- [10:18]
Detective
When the police looked inside Eric's house, they did not find anything to suggest any kind of crime or anything happened inside the house.
- [10:29]
Investigator/Reporter
After clearing the scene, homicide detectives responded.
- [10:34]
Narrator
When we arrived, I met with the police officers that were at the scene who told us what they knew at that point. The victim was wearing a costume at the time, Halloween type costume.
- [10:46]
Barry Poltorak
It was kind of like a 1920s gangster kind of thing.
- [10:52]
Narrator
So we didn't know if he had just got home from partying. We didn't know if it was a random act of violence.
- [10:57]
Detective
He had a shotgun blast to the back of the head and he had a graze wound to his face. It was clear that there were two shots fired. To an experienced investigator, it would look as if it was firing at close range because there were other indicators like soot and stippling. There were no casings left behind. There were no items taken from his person. If it's not a robbery, then clearly this, the only crime that was sought to be committed that day was to murder Eric. Why would they want to murder him in this way at this location on this date?
- [11:42]
Friend of Eric
Everything happened really quickly. We were just trying to figure out what happened. He never hurt a soul. There's so many unanswered questions. I just wanted to know who did it. Who would do such a thing?
- [12:01]
Investigator/Reporter
Coming up, investigators discover this isn't the first time Eric's been attacked.
- [12:08]
Jessica Thomas
Yeah, I was just the victim of a break in.
- [12:11]
Investigator/Reporter
And they zero in on a real life monster.
- [12:16]
Eric's Co-worker
It was as if he feared nothing and nobody from the cradle to the grave.
- [12:21]
Friend of Eric
Nope.
- [12:30]
Investigator/Reporter
The morning after Halloween 2012, Los Angeles detectives are piecing together what happened before 42 year old Eric Poltarak was gunned down in front of his home.
- [12:45]
Narrator
Responding to a crime scene like that, you're trying to think of any knowledge of the neighborhood that had a previous problem. Is there a crime problem going on there? Is there a gang problem? Is there a violent crime assault problem in that area?
- [13:01]
Investigator/Reporter
If the crime occurred the night before when the streets were filled with revelers, detectives hope to find someone who witnessed the horror.
- [13:11]
Narrator
Eric did have a nice network of neighbors that he knew, but where he was positioned in the house, unless you came up to his door, you would not see him.
- [13:23]
Eric's Co-worker
But some neighbors told them that they did hear something that could have been gunshots. But I mean, keep in mind, it's Halloween. This could have been anything. So no one thought enough to call police.
- [13:35]
Investigator/Reporter
Investigators do spot an important detail.
- [13:40]
Detective
There were surveillance cameras set up, and one was pointed directly in the area of where Eric Poltrap was shot and later located.
- [13:51]
Narrator
When we saw the cameras, we were hopeful that we were going to get footage of the actual crime. But you don't know if they're being recorded, if they're dummy cameras. You don't know what the value is going to be.
- [14:05]
Detective
Something caused him enough fear to have him go. Then install cameras to different parts of the house.
- [14:17]
Investigator/Reporter
As police continue their investigation, they learn they have a difficult notification to make to one of their own.
- [14:25]
Barry Poltorak
At the time, I was working for the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department as a deputy sheriff. We were doing some training for the Homicide Bureau and we did our training, we finished it up, we wrapped up and my sergeant got a phone call and he says, I have some bad news. Your brother was killed. Disbelief went through my mind because I hadn't put it together yet. I definitely disassociated a little bit and went into that unemotional cop mode where just get the facts, take a motion out of it, get the job done. I met with the LA Police Department detectives and they started filling me in on, on the story, on what happened. They take me into the house and they show me the scene and the patio and then it starts to sink in because the house was very quiet in a weird kind of way, and the house felt very empty. That's where it happened. That's where he was killed.
- [15:59]
Investigator/Reporter
To find out if their victim had enemies, detectives talked to Eric's co worker and his brother.
- [16:07]
Narrator
We Talked to the 911 caller that called in what they had discovered, debriefed them the best we could. She was very upset about her friend and business partner, but in control and able to really share the information that she had about what may have happened to him.
- [16:26]
Investigator/Reporter
While some of Eric's entrepreneurial endeavors were a little unconventional, his personal beliefs were even more unique.
- [16:35]
Eric's Co-worker
He was heavily interested in the exploration of humanity and the origins of humanity.
- [16:42]
Investigator/Reporter
Eric was a devotee of Zecharia Sitchin, an author who argued humans were descended from extraterrestrials.
- [16:52]
Barry Poltorak
Zechariah was his mentor and kind of his teacher in a lot of these ancient cultures, ancient civilizations. And Eric also became his webmaster and started managing his knowledge portfolio. Eric would travel to Mexico, the Yucatan Peninsula, study the Mayans and those even more ancient cultures. He traveled to Egypt several times. I thought it was a little far fetched, but when Eric would bring up different bits and pieces of evidence, he was very passionate about it and very emotional about it and very convincing. It was fun. I mean, it was fun debating the theories.
- [17:37]
Friend of Eric
It was kind of weird, but he was really into it. He was doing all the research with Professor Zachariah. They were learning about Sumerians. It made him happy.
- [17:50]
Detective
A thorough investigation like the one that happened here would look at those things and then look at everything they can about Eric, but they looked at who the victim was and they investigated his background and there was nothing there to suggest that he had any enemies.
- [18:14]
Investigator/Reporter
But Barry tells investigators Eric did have enemies, just not from his businesses or his beliefs. Berry thinks the shooting is related to a scary experience Eric had the year before.
- [18:34]
Barry Poltorak
I knew that he had a home invasion robbery, but he was very hush hush about it.
- [18:41]
Detective
In fall of 2011, Eric was at his home and he got a knock on his door and there were two men outside, one African American male and another white. They said they had a document from court that they needed to serve Eric with.
- [18:57]
Barry Poltorak
So he said, the guy's got some papers to serve, whatever, and he let them in.
- [19:05]
Detective
Once the two suspects entered Eric's apartment, the African American suspect produced a firearm, pointed it at Eric, and told him, where's all the money? Give us all the money. And when Eric said, there is no money, the African American suspect hit Eric on the head with the firearm.
- [19:23]
Narrator
Eric was pistol whipped, tied up, and then the house was ransacked and robbed.
- [19:33]
Investigator/Reporter
The assailants fled with the computer, two phones, a camera, and $600 in cash.
- [19:43]
Detective
Once Eric realized that the suspects had left, he was able to loosen himself from the electrical cord and he was.
- [19:50]
Jessica Thomas
Able to call 911-911-emergency operator 416. Yeah, I was just the victim of.
- [19:58]
Michael Thomas (or related inmate)
A break in in my house.
- [19:59]
Jessica Thomas
An assault on me. Do you know who this person is?
- [20:03]
Friend of Eric
Have you ever met him?
- [20:04]
Jessica Thomas
There was two people. No, I did not know who they are. I would recognize them if I saw them.
- [20:13]
Investigator/Reporter
Responding officers realized Eric's attackers left a crucial piece of evidence behind.
- [20:20]
Detective
The police arrived, they confiscated the supposed court document, and they took that into evidence.
- [20:28]
Narrator
Our lab personnel were able to get fingerprints from that paperwork. They were lifted by technicians from our LAPD lab. Those fingerprint cards were entered into the fingerprint database, and we got a hit.
- [20:50]
TV Show Announcer
Law and Order Thursday on NBC.
- [20:53]
Jessica Thomas
Go police.
- [20:55]
Detective
Freeze.
- [20:56]
TV Show Announcer
First on Law and Order. Justice hangs in the balance.
- [20:59]
Jessica Thomas
Are we going to let a killer walk free?
- [21:01]
TV Show Announcer
Then on svu, Kelly Gittish is back as sergeant Rollins.
- [21:05]
Jessica Thomas
I'm ready to work.
- [21:06]
TV Show Announcer
And Benson means business.
- [21:08]
Investigator/Reporter
My job is taking care of victims.
- [21:11]
TV Show Announcer
And on organized crime, Stabler infiltrates a dangerous gang. I'll do what needs to be done. Law and Order Thursday on NBC. Wednesday on NBC One Chicago is back with three can't miss hours.
- [21:27]
Jessica Thomas
Let's roll.
- [21:28]
TV Show Announcer
Chicago mid fire and pd. We run toward the danger, not away from it. With everyday heroes risking it all and unforgettable emotional moments on and off the job. You don't want to miss Chicago. Wednesday, we made a vow to protect this city. One night, one family, one Chicago. Gear up.
- [21:47]
Barry Poltorak
We're going in hard.
- [21:48]
TV Show Announcer
Wednesday on NBC.
- [21:52]
Investigator/Reporter
Detectives investigating the Halloween murder of Eric Poltorak learn about a previous home invasion and analyze the evidence to determine if it could be related to his murder.
- [22:04]
Narrator
A year later, suspects in that case, one of them left fingerprints behind on some documents. The list came back to a Michael Thomas. He was a crook, the bad guy with a rap sheet.
- [22:20]
Detective
Michael Thomas is familiar with the criminal justice system. He was on felony probation at the time that the home invasion robbery had occurred. He's had prior convictions, he's had cases of evading police. He's had drug possession convictions.
- [22:42]
Eric's Co-worker
After his fingerprints matched those false documents, they showed Eric poltoroc a lineup of men. And Eric was easily able to identify Michael Thomas.
- [22:54]
Barry Poltorak
And my understanding is that they had targeted him thinking that this jewelry, this costume jewelry was real and that someone had targeted him from his online store.
- [23:07]
Detective
But law enforcement was unable to identify this other suspect who did the home invasion.
- [23:16]
Investigator/Reporter
Thomas was arrested and charged with robbery. On August 30, 2012, almost exactly one year after the home invasion, Eric agreed to testify in court.
- [23:32]
Friend of Eric
I was 100% against him testifying. I said, it's a revolving door. Don't get involved, forget it. He knows where you live. What are you doing?
- [23:42]
Barry Poltorak
He was very paranoid about being robbed again. On the Sunday before he died, Eric was talking to me about testifying in open court and would the defendant know who was testifying against him, where he lived, and if he was entitled to witness protection and all of that.
- [24:05]
Investigator/Reporter
The pre trial hearing was scheduled to take place after Halloween on December 2nd, but Eric was murdered before it could happen. Barry tells investigators the experience convinced his brother to up his home security.
- [24:26]
Barry Poltorak
He was also afraid that they would come back again and do another home invasion because now they know what he's got.
- [24:37]
Investigator/Reporter
That afternoon, investigators finally get access to the password protected security system.
- [24:44]
Narrator
So when we found the hard drive for the security system and got into it, the footage we pulled up occurred just after about 2 in the morning.
- [24:56]
Investigator/Reporter
As investigators watch a nightmarish scenario unfolds.
- [25:02]
Eric's Co-worker
The video that police witnessed, I mean, you would have thought it came out of a scary movie, but this was real life.
- [25:10]
Barry Poltorak
I knew he was out in west Hollywood at the Halloween carnival with a couple of his friends. They had come back to the house, said their goodbyes. So Eric had walked his girlfriends out to their car, got them safely into their car, said goodnight, and he was coming back into his house.
- [25:29]
Detective
And once he gets to the front door at that same time the shooter comes up.
- [25:38]
Eric's Co-worker
This person wearing this costume and this hooded robe coming out of the rose bushes. They fired twice and you could see the blast, but you just couldn't see the impact. But what police could see was Eric feeling that impact and falling to the ground.
- [26:03]
Narrator
All murders are bad. Some are more heinous than others. And this was about as bad as it gets.
- [26:10]
Eric's Co-worker
Knowing that Eric Poltarak was supposed to be the key witness in this pretrial hearing for Michael Thomas, police now have a suspect. Right, because that would have been the motive to get rid of him.
- [26:24]
Investigator/Reporter
However, there are two major problems with the theory. For one, Michael Thomas does not seem to fit the description of the very large man who killed Eric. And he's in no position to shoot anyone.
- [26:40]
Detective
Michael Thomas was in custody at the time that the murder was committed. So he was not the shooter.
- [26:49]
Investigator/Reporter
Even if Michael wasn't the shooter, his behavior proves that he is still dangerous even behind bars.
- [26:59]
Eric's Co-worker
When it came to Michael Thomas, it was as if he feared nothing and nobody. I mean, he would threaten police officers and while he was in jail, he stabbed someone with a shank.
- [27:10]
Narrator
At the LA County Jail, inmates can use a payphone and all of those phone calls are recorded. In this particular investigation, we worked with the sheriff's department to pull all phone calls related to Michael Thomas.
- [27:30]
Investigator/Reporter
Detectives sift through hundreds of recorded calls and find one that's very suspicious.
- [27:39]
Michael Thomas (or related inmate)
You ready to put in some work? Yeah, what's up? But since I'm not out there, then somebody else, somebody else has got to fight this case for me on the street. They gotta make this, all this gotta disappear.
- [27:54]
Narrator
They were communicating in code, trying to leave out keywords and phrases. The motive behind this crime could be to prevent a witness, the victim in this case, Eric, from appearing in court and testifying against Michael Thomas.
- [28:11]
Michael Thomas (or related inmate)
If a person doesn't come, then, you know, if the person's not there, then it goes away. That's the only way. That's the only way I'm gonna be clear.
- [28:22]
Investigator/Reporter
Detectives use visitor logs to determine the man on the recording is Allen Williams, Michael's friend and the man dating Michael's niece, Jessica. On another suspicious recording five days before Eric's murder, Thomas seems to coach his girlfriend, Yvonne Keith, on what to say if police show up asking questions.
- [28:46]
Michael Thomas (or related inmate)
You have the right to remain silent.
- [28:49]
Jessica Thomas
The right to remain silent. Uh huh.
- [28:56]
Michael Thomas (or related inmate)
From the cradle to the grave. Got it. That's under any of all circumstances.
- [29:06]
Investigator/Reporter
And on the morning after Halloween, there is a final call that is chillingly celebratory.
- [29:13]
Michael Thomas (or related inmate)
Hey, baby, what's going on? Everything good?
- [29:17]
Jessica Thomas
Everything is Wonderful.
- [29:19]
Michael Thomas (or related inmate)
I love you.
- [29:20]
Jessica Thomas
I love you too. They look right.
- [29:24]
Michael Thomas (or related inmate)
That's enough.
- [29:24]
Friend of Eric
That's enough.
- [29:26]
Michael Thomas (or related inmate)
Okay.
- [29:27]
Jessica Thomas
That's enough.
- [29:28]
Michael Thomas (or related inmate)
Everything is great.
- [29:28]
Jessica Thomas
We love us. Everything is great. Okay.
- [29:34]
Investigator/Reporter
Coming up, a mastermind reveals the true source of his power.
- [29:41]
Michael Thomas (or related inmate)
But I always remember first. The first ever.
- [29:56]
Investigator/Reporter
Recorded prison phone calls have given detectives reason to believe inmate Michael Thomas orchestrated the Halloween murder of Eric Poltorak from behind bars. Those same calls also reveal an upcoming visit from his possible co conspirators.
- [30:17]
Detective
The three individuals that came to visit Michael Thomas were identified as Vaughn Keith, Jessica Thomas and Alan Williams. Yvonne Keith was Michael Thomas girlfriend. Jessica Thomas was Michael Thomas niece that Michael Thomas let live with him. Allen Williams was the boyfriend of Jessica Thomas.
- [30:47]
Investigator/Reporter
When they arrive three days after the killing, police are listening in. From the image on Eric's security cameras, investigators know his killer was a giant of a man. And Thomas's first visitor fits the description. Alan Williams, a 300 pound man nicknamed the Beast.
- [31:15]
Detective
They start talking and the conversation begins like Michael Thomas asking him, you good? You all right?
- [31:25]
Michael Thomas (or related inmate)
Yeah, yeah. But I always remember first mother. The first bit ever.
- [31:34]
Detective
Throughout the conversation, they're both laughing. It was a very kind of cold and callous response to what had occurred.
- [31:50]
Investigator/Reporter
Michael's conversation with his niece Jessica Thomas is equally damning.
- [31:57]
Michael Thomas (or related inmate)
How you feel good. But you up close and personal, you confirm it. Really you did.
- [32:06]
Detective
Michael Thomas kind of adopted her as his daughter and would refer to her as such. He said, well, now that this is done, you know, we'll go to Vegas for your birthday.
- [32:25]
Investigator/Reporter
Michael's final visitor is his girlfriend, Yvonne Keith.
- [32:29]
Michael Thomas (or related inmate)
I knew what I had in my hand. Everybody that I have, sweetie, I know what I'm doing with him. I know you as well. I'm like, what are you doing with me? I'm like Dr. Frankenstein. I'm sorry, but I am. I'm like Dr. Frankenstein, you know.
- [32:50]
Investigator/Reporter
But detectives are just as interested in the moments where no one is talking as they're speaking.
- [32:57]
Eric's Co-worker
There are different pauses. You can hear silences throughout.
- [33:02]
Detective
And it's at that time that we suspect he was putting up written notes on the glass partition that could be read. And that way he didn't have to say them.
- [33:14]
Narrator
Very conscientious sheriff's deputies monitored visitation. They saw where they ripped up and threw away some documents in the trash. When his visitors left, the deputies recovered those documents.
- [33:30]
Investigator/Reporter
One note written by Yvonne informed Michael that Eric's murder was on the news. Another is written by Michael Thomas himself.
- [33:42]
Detective
If anyone asks you questions, say that you're not talking without a lawyer and that you were on that day playing Zombies, which is a video game, all night.
- [33:57]
Investigator/Reporter
The day after their visit, investigators arrest all three of Michael's accomplices. A search of the home they shared with Michael reveals a visitor's pass, dated two weeks before Halloween, and a notebook containing the instructions Michael dictated over the phone.
- [34:18]
Detective
It included writing related to double aught buck, which is the size of the buckshot that was ultimately used to murder Eric Poltorak.
- [34:31]
Investigator/Reporter
It doesn't take long for police to get Thomas's henchmen to do the one thing he warned them not to do, talk.
- [34:42]
Narrator
Tactically. We interviewed Michael's niece, Jessica first. Always trying to interview the weakest link first to obtain the most information we can. She essentially broke and laid out all the circumstances of what occurred with Eric being killed. She laid out herself as being a lookout while they were at the location. She had described that Alan was the person who shot Eric and killed him. And essentially spelled everything out to us of what happened to Eric. They mentioned the fact that Halloween is a busy night in Los Angeles on the west side. They would fit in if they were wearing masks and disguises. And that was a perfect night to have a mask or a disguise.
- [35:44]
Eric's Co-worker
She told police that Michael had them case the house. She told them how they got the shotgun and how they threw it in the ocean after the crime.
- [35:55]
Investigator/Reporter
Allen later confirms the story when he confides in a jailhouse informant.
- [36:02]
Detective
First he told him that he was arrested because he had conducted a hit for the homie. Michael Allen Williams went on to say that the shooting happened on Halloween. The general location of where the shooting was, the fact that they ditched the gun at the beach, and that the reason for the murder was because the witness, Eric Poltarak, was going to testify against Michael Thomas. After the arrest, Jessica and Yvonne Keith were put in a cell together. And that cell was recorded so they could capture their conversation. In that recording, you can hear Jessica repeatedly getting emotional.
- [36:54]
Jessica Thomas
I can't believe you did. I didn't cry so much, Jessica. I'm done, Cly. I'm done. No, I'm not for me. I'm for him.
- [37:09]
Investigator/Reporter
Listening to Thomas conspirators, it's clear that Thomas had a hold over them.
- [37:15]
Jessica Thomas
I should have said, but we all trying to please your uncle. Cause we all love him. Don't want to see him in there for the rest of his life. And we got caught up like that. That's what gets me. Like I told this man, like, you know, I feel like I didn't have a Dad. I feel like you're my dad. He promised Alex a Ben promised me a house and I was just keeping it real.
- [37:45]
Legal Expert/Commentator
I feel like she was manipulated into something that is not her character. I was thinking money's is not in jail for nothing serious because she, she's not capable of really doing too much.
- [37:59]
Detective
From my perspective, Michael Thomas is an evil human being that took advantage of individuals that he knew he could manipulate.
- [38:12]
Investigator/Reporter
Coming up, a chilling courtroom reenactment.
- [38:16]
Friend of Eric
To this day, like when I come to my door, I still think about it.
- [38:20]
Investigator/Reporter
And Dr. Frankenstein is betrayed by one of his own creations.
- [38:26]
Legal Expert/Commentator
She was a respectful person and her uncle manipulated her.
- [38:40]
Investigator/Reporter
Less than a week after Eric Poltorak was killed at his Los Angeles home, prosecutors charge Michael Thomas and three others for conspiring in a fiendish Halloween murder plot.
- [38:54]
Detective
Eric's final moments were clearly moments of fear. And to have it happen in front of his own house probably was, I'm sure, more terrifying because that's your safe place. And if you're not safe in your safe place, then where are you safe?
- [39:18]
Investigator/Reporter
It takes nearly two years for the case to make it to court. The alleged gunman, Alan Williams and Thomas girlfriend Yvonne Keith, plead not guilty and are the first to stand trial in September 2015.
- [39:36]
Detective
Allen Williams, in my eyes, would be the second most culpable person because he's a shooter. Right before you squeeze that trigger, you have to really think about what you're doing. And if it's the right decision, you need to be determined to do it. And he was. Yvonne Keith is a very close third because none of this would not happen without her. She organized everything she planned. She helped carry out exactly what Michael Thomas told her to do.
- [40:18]
Investigator/Reporter
In October 2015, the jury finds them both guilty.
- [40:25]
Detective
Yvonne Keith was convicted of murder. And that sentence gave Yvonne Keith life without the possibility of parole. The same was found true for Allen Williams.
- [40:40]
Investigator/Reporter
Almost a year later, in August 2016, Michael Thomas trial begins. As the alleged mastermind, he faces the death penalty.
- [40:54]
Detective
My viewpoint is that Michael Thomas is the worst and the worst of the worst. You think you've realized where the bottom of society is and then you see the Michael Thomases of the world and you realize that whatever that bar was, was lower. He never showed any kind of remorse.
- [41:17]
Investigator/Reporter
The prosecution's star witness is the last of the conspirators, 24 year old Jessica Thomas.
- [41:26]
Detective
Jessica said that she wanted to help Michael because she thought that doing that was the right thing. Jessica was offered a leniency agreement where she essentially pled to a Second degree murder. So that sentence gave Jessica life with the possibility of parole.
- [41:47]
Legal Expert/Commentator
After her mother passed away, she moved to Los Angeles. It was pretty sad when she moved away because was like that side of the family was almost gone. She was a respectful person, and her uncle manipulated her to doing a crime. He was the one to put up such young people to such things.
- [42:13]
Investigator/Reporter
To emphasize the terrifying nature of the crime, prosecutors show jurors footage from Eric's security camera.
- [42:26]
Friend of Eric
To this day, like when I come to my door, I still think about it because he was trying to open his door, and I think how frightened he must have been. It's like a bad nightmare.
- [42:41]
Detective
The evidence showed that Michael Thomas was involved in every detail related to this murder, including when it was to happen, the type of costumes to buy, what type of firearms to use, what type of ammunition to use, what to say to the police after the murder was committed. Michael Thomas was the architect of every part of it.
- [43:13]
Investigator/Reporter
On September 8, 2016, the jury finds Thomas guilty.
- [43:20]
Detective
Michael Thomas was found by a jury that his appropriate sentence was the death penalty.
- [43:33]
Investigator/Reporter
While Eric's killers were brought to justice, his loved ones still struggle with the loss.
- [43:40]
Barry Poltorak
I think about all the time and his daughter and his ex wife. And it's kind of sad that, you know, he's missing his daughter growing up and going to high school and graduating and college and the whole thing.
- [43:59]
Friend of Eric
I felt like something was stolen from me. I still do.
- [44:13]
Investigator/Reporter
What was once a fun holiday, Halloween will never be the same for Eric's community.
- [44:20]
Detective
Every Halloween, I look around and I see kids in costumes and parents and think, on this day back in 2012, this happened to Eric Poltorak. You can't not remember it.
- [44:33]
Friend of Eric
I don't really celebrate Halloween anymore, and I don't decorate my house. It's hard. Takes a lot of fun out of it. You know.
- [44:44]
Barry Poltorak
Halloween is definitely a reminder of Eric and fun times that he had with all of his friends. Even up to the last night he was alive, he said goodbye, and that was it.
- [45:01]
Investigator/Reporter
Susan is serving her sentence at the California Institution for women. In 2019, Susan was denied parole and will not be eligible for parole again until 2029. Abuse is never okay.
- [45:13]
Eric's Co-worker
If you or someone you love is.
- [45:15]
Investigator/Reporter
In an abusive relationship, there is help available. Call the domestic violence hotline at 1-800-799-SAFE.