Vanessa Cameron

Summary

Podcast Summary: Snapped: Women Who Murder

Episode Title: Vanessa Cameron
Host: Oxygen
Air Date: September 7, 2025

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Episode Overview

This episode follows the murder investigation of Samuel Johnson Jr., a promising young father found shot dead in a San Antonio cemetery in January 2010. What begins as a puzzling crime scene soon unravels into a tale of betrayal, greed, and manipulation, centering on Sam’s ex-partner Vanessa Cameron. The episode dives deep into Sam’s relationships, the love triangle that emerged, and the conspiracy that led to his tragic death.

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Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Discovery of the Body & Initial Investigation

• [01:19] Detective Miller: Quips about the oddity of finding a body "not in a grave" at a cemetery, setting the grim tone.
• [03:10] Details the tourist’s discovery: Sam appeared to be “sleeping,” but closer inspection revealed his death.
• [03:30] Medical Examiner: Notes visible blood on Sam’s chest and head before confirming, upon autopsy, he was shot multiple times.
• [04:18] Detective Miller: Explains the challenge of identifying Sam due to the absence of ID, leading to a missing persons report match for Samuel Johnson Jr.

2. Victim Background: Samuel Johnson Jr.

• [06:25] Family Member: Reflects on Sam’s childhood dreams—"Mom, I want to be a lawyer"—portraying him as a determined, responsible young man.
• [06:56] Recounts his relationship with high school sweetheart Erica Bridgeforth.
• [08:24] Meeting with Vanessa Cameron, a vivacious woman who later becomes the mother of his child.

3. Sam and Vanessa's Relationship

• [09:00] Vanessa’s background: Influenced by her police-officer mother and “fun-loving” father.
• [09:27] Relationship escalates quickly: Sam moves in, they have a son, but the bond frays after a 2009 house fire.
• [10:10] House fire is ruled accidental, Vanessa collects nearly $300,000 insurance.
• [11:08] Family Member: Reveals Vanessa keeps all insurance money; Sam receives nothing, fueling tension and eventual separation.

4. Events Leading to Sam’s Death

• [11:44] Sam reconnects with Erica, they get engaged, and she becomes pregnant again.
• [12:28] Sam goes missing on January 13, 2010.
• [13:06] Detective Miller: Details the lack of forensic evidence at the body site—no shell casings or prints.

5. Tracing Sam’s Last Hours

• [17:27] Detective Miller: Sam’s last known errand is dropping Vanessa and their son off at the airport for a trip to Mississippi.
• [18:13] Vanessa claims to have not seen Sam after the drop-off.
• [19:08] Erica, however, says Sam visited her afterwards to discuss picking up money (his share of the insurance) from Vanessa’s sister Susan.

6. Emergence of Suspects and Alibis

• [19:48] Medical Examiner: Erica suspects Vanessa would have motive to harm Sam.
• [20:00] Detective Miller: Scrutinizes possible suspects and motives.
• [21:07] Medical Examiner: Initially finds Erica's emotional reaction convincing and does not suspect her.

7. Breakthrough via Out-of-State Tip

• [24:24] Detective Miller: Receives a tip from Adrienne in Mississippi—Vanessa’s friend—regarding Vanessa’s bizarre behavior and statements about Sam’s death.
• [25:48] Vanessa allegedly hints her sister Susan and Susan’s boyfriend BJ might have killed Sam during an altercation.

8. Police Interrogations and Confessions

• [27:45] Vanessa questioned, attempts to cast suspicion on Erica, claiming “I think she is obsessed with Sam.”
• [29:09] Susan says Sam picked up money and left—denies knowledge; Vanessa blames Susan; Susan returns to “tell what really happened.”
• [32:13] Family Member: Susan confesses Vanessa orchestrated their house fire for insurance, then tried to manipulate family into murder for a life insurance payout.

9. Murder Plot Unveiled

• [33:18] Detective Miller: Discloses a $750,000 life insurance policy on Sam, which Vanessa eyed for herself.
• [34:09] Susan implicates herself, BJ, and Lakeisha Brown (BJ’s cousin), but says she ultimately couldn't go through with the murder. Vanessa "needed an alibi," so she left town.
• [37:04] Family Member (Lakeisha): Admits to hitting Sam, describes duct-taping, handcuffing, and eventual shooting at a ranch. Sam pleads for his life, is shot nine times.
  • [37:57] Detective Bauer: "He asked why. The response was, because this is what Vanessa wanted."
• [38:50] Medical Examiner: Physical evidence (shell casings, burnt clothing, handcuffs, rope) corroborates Lakeisha's narrative.

10. Investigation Conclusion and Arrests

• [39:43] Detective Bauer: Vanessa's final defense is that Sam wanted to die for a payout, claiming the murder was "his idea." Detectives don’t believe her—a murder motivated by greed.
• [40:19] Vanessa, Susan, BJ, and Lakeisha are arrested and charged.

11. Legal Proceedings & Aftermath

• [41:30] Detective Bauer: Reveals Vanessa attempted to collect Sam's last paycheck and insurance within 24 hours of the murder.
• [42:11] Narrator: Erica gives birth to Sam’s second son after his death.
• [42:21] Susan and Lakeisha plead guilty and testify against Vanessa.
• [43:47] Detective Miller: Prosecution highlights Vanessa’s motive and orchestration: “I would say three quarters of a million dollars is a whole lot of motive.”
• [44:17] Detective Bauer: Vanessa convicted, sentenced to 75 years.
• [44:28] Narrator: BJ Brown tried separately and acquitted due to lack of physical evidence.
• [45:20] Family Member: Emotional closure from Sam’s family: “Miss my baby. Miss him so much... the love is there.”

12. Final Outcomes

• [45:56] Narrator: Vanessa is serving a life sentence; Susan and Lakeisha receive 25 and 22 years respectively. Sam and Vanessa’s son is raised by Vanessa’s mother.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Detective Miller, on the cemetery call:
  “You’re at a cemetery. It’s full of dead bodies. But this one is not in a grave.” [01:19]

• Sam’s mother, reflecting on her son’s ambitions:
  “Mom, I want to be a lawyer.” [06:25]

• Detective Miller, on forensic challenges:
  “I'm not going to try to count bullet holes because you don't know what's entrance, you don't know what's exit. It's always better to just wait for the autopsy.” [03:38]

• Sam’s mother, on Vanessa’s character:
  “She’s evil. I know that. I'm gonna tell you everything.” [07:57] and [32:24]

• Detective Bauer, on Vanessa’s manipulation:
  “She very much is a master manipulator. From manipulating people around her to…help her carry out this murder and do her dirty work for her.” [43:13]

• Lakeisha (confession):
  “Sam kept saying, ‘No, BJ, don’t kill me.’” [37:48]
  “The response was, because this is what Vanessa wanted.” [37:57]

• Detective Bauer, on the aftermath:
  “After the murder, she went to the bus headquarters and she wanted to know how she could collect the insurance policy. She wanted to see if she could get his last paycheck.” [41:30]

• Sam’s mother, grief-stricken:
  “Miss my baby. Miss him so much.” [45:20]

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• Body Discovered at Cemetery: 01:19 – 04:14
• Background on Sam Johnson and Family: 06:10 – 09:38
• Relationship with Vanessa Cameron: 09:00 – 11:03
• Insurance Money & House Fire: 10:10 – 11:08
• Sam’s Disappearance: 12:28 – 13:20
• Final Hours and Links to Vanessa & Susan: 17:27 – 21:07
• Breakthrough via Out-of-State Tip: 24:24 – 27:18
• Police Interrogations & Confessions: 27:45 – 34:09
• Revelations about Murder Plot: 33:18 – 39:36
• Vanessa Arrested and Charges Filed: 39:43 – 40:19
• Legal Outcomes and Sentencing: 41:30 – 45:56

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Conclusion

This episode of Snapped uncovers a chilling conspiracy rooted in betrayal, financial desperation, and cold-blooded manipulation. At its heart is Vanessa Cameron, whose drive for money led her to orchestrate the murder of Sam Johnson Jr., involving close family members and friends. Through meticulous police work and the unraveling of lies and shifting stories, justice is eventually served—but the emotional devastation remains for Sam’s loved ones and children.

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For those seeking a gripping true crime story with layers of family conflict, financial motive, and calculated violence, this episode is a harrowing reminder of how trust can be destroyed from within.

Transcript

[Narrator]

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[Family Member (likely Sam's mother)]

Parlez tout francais Hablaspanol par l'? Italiano? If you've used Babbel, you would Babbel's.

[Narrator]

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[Detective Miller]

You're at a cemetery. It's full of dead bodies. But this one is not in a grave. He has no ID on him at all.

[Detective Bauer]

He was sort of just dumped there.

[Narrator]

The investigation reveals a love triangle that might have turned violent.

[Family Member (likely Sam's mother)]

I think that she is obsessed and he said he's gonna break up with her. I went to him and asked him, have you lost your mind?

[Narrator]

Detectives uncover a killer with a single minded need for more.

[Detective Bauer]

She wanted to see if she could get his last paycheck and the insurance policy.

[Medical Examiner]

It was all part of her cold, callous personality.

[Detective Bauer]

She is a master manipulator, manipulating people to do her dirty work.

[Family Member (likely Sam's mother)]

She's evil. I know that. I'm gonna tell you everything.

[Narrator]

On Sunday, 1-17-20 in 2010, detectives in San Antonio, Texas receive an unusual phone call from a patrolman making rounds in the city.

[Detective Miller]

About a quarter to five, the phone rang and the patrolman said, I'm out of the cemetery and there's a dead body. And I'm like, right, you're at a cemetery. It's full of dead bodies. And she says, yes ma', am, but this one is not in a grave. So I said okay. So I drove over to the cemetery.

[Narrator]

When Detective Miller arrives at the cemetery, she is briefed on the discovery.

[Detective Miller]

A tourist went out for a walk he said when he walked past the cemetery, he noticed someone he thought was sleeping. When he turned around to go back to his hotel, he looked again and noticed that the body had not moved.

[Narrator]

At first glance, Detective Miller doesn't see an obvious cause of death.

[Medical Examiner]

You could actually see that there was blood in the chest area and in the head area.

[Detective Miller]

So we called the medical examiner and as soon as they rolled him over, it was obvious that he had been shot multiple times at that time. I'm not going to try to count bullet holes because you don't know what's entrance, you don't know what's exit. It's always better to just wait for the autopsy.

[Narrator]

Given the condition of the body and lack of blood at the scene, investigators surmise that the victim was shot several days earlier.

[Medical Examiner]

I would say the body was in lividity. He was very rigid.

[Detective Bauer]

It was very clear that he was just sort of just dumped there.

[Narrator]

Where the victim was killed isn't the only mystery.

[Detective Miller]

He has no idea on him at all is going to be a John Doe. So we had to find out who he was. We started working to see if anybody had made a recent report of, you know, of a missing young, apparently healthy black male. Missing persons found a recent report that matched his general description. His name was Samuel Johnson.

[Narrator]

26 year old Samuel Johnson Jr. Had been reported missing by his parents after failing to come home from work on January 13.

[Detective Miller]

He was supposed to go to work and then he would be back. His mom was unable to get in touch with him. He's not answering his phone.

[Family Member (likely Sam's mother)]

Samuel was not the kind of person that just fell off the map, you know, he wouldn't just walk away and not tell you or tell somebody. Nobody's been able to contact him. He was missing. That was a sign that something was up. He is too responsible young man for that. The desk sergeant asked for the description. We filed a missing person report.

[Narrator]

It's been five days since Samuel went missing and his family is still holding out hope they will find him. Meanwhile, 40 miles away, a medical examiner is attempting to ID the John Doe.

[Family Member (likely Sam's mother)]

We went looking for him. At this point my mind is all over the place, you know, I just wanted to know where my son is.

[Narrator]

Samuel Johnson Jr. Was born in San Antonio on December 8, 1983 to his Stephanie and his father Sam Sr. The oldest of three siblings. Sam was smart and determined.

[Family Member (likely Sam's mother)]

When he was in junior high school, I think they took a field trip to the courthouse and he came home and he told, he says, mom, mom, I want to be a Lawyer. I said, okay, you know, that's going to take some time in school. And he says, yeah, I know, I know, but that's what I want to do.

[Narrator]

After Sam graduated high school, a chance encounter at his day job led him to Erica Bridgeforth.

[Family Member (likely Sam's mother)]

I met Sam January 1st of 2004. He was 19, I was 20. He was a check casher and that's where I met him. I remember specifically because I cashed my check. I said, well, you know, you can go ahead and write your phone number down on the receipt, which I still have that receipt to this day. I absolutely loved Erica. She would come over, we would sit, we would talk. It was so much fun being with Erica Samuel. He knew how to treat a lady when he was with her. Erica was like another daughter to me.

[Narrator]

Sadly, after four years together, 23 year old Sam worried he wasn't ready for something so serious.

[Family Member (likely Sam's mother)]

I went to him and asked him, what's going on with you? Have you lost your mind? And he's like, mom, mom, I just need to know if she's the right one. So he was trying to make sure.

[Narrator]

Sam took the time to focus on his dreams.

[Family Member (likely Sam's mother)]

He was doing law school for a little while and then he left to pick up a job to start making more money to pay for college.

[Narrator]

In 2007, Sam's day job once again brought love into his life when he met 26 year old Vanessa Cameron.

[Family Member (likely Sam's mother)]

Vanessa met Sam at her gym. He was the guy behind the counter. She was outgoing, she was fun. God, lots of guys liked her. She was Beautiful.

[Narrator]

Born in December 1980 and raised in San Antonio, Vanessa grew up with her older sister Susan.

[Family Member (likely Sam's mother)]

Her mother was a police officer and she was a serious woman who maintained a beautiful home. And her father, he enjoyed having a good time.

[Narrator]

Friends say Vanessa took after her mom. While Susan was more like her dad.

[Family Member (likely Sam's mother)]

Sue was more a free spirit. Vanessa always made A's and B's. She went to school. She ended up working for the San Antonio Housing Authority. She was helping children. She worked in like an impoverished apartment complex.

[Narrator]

When Vanessa met 23 year old Sam in February 2007, he was everything she was looking for in a partner.

[Family Member (likely Sam's mother)]

He carried himself in the way that she liked. He became an insta boyfriend. She purchased a home and he lived with her and they were, you know, basically playing house.

[Narrator]

In 2008, they welcomed a son.

[Family Member (likely Sam's mother)]

That child became his reason for getting up in the morning, his reason for breathing. I saw my son grow into a.

[Detective Miller]

Man.

[Family Member (likely Sam's mother)]

And I've never been more proud of him.

[Narrator]

In April of 2009 with their son, still a toddler, the family suffered a major trauma.

[Family Member (likely Sam's mother)]

Samuel told us that there had been a fire. We lost the house, we lost the stuff, but, you know, everybody's fine.

[Narrator]

The fire was ruled as an accident. Unfortunately, it wasn't a total loss for the family.

[Family Member (likely Sam's mother)]

When Vanessa purchased the house, she insured the house for its value.

[Detective Miller]

She got almost $300,000 for the damage to her house.

[Narrator]

As they figured out next steps, Vanessa, Sam, and their son moved in with Vanessa's sister Susan and her boyfriend, B.J. brown.

[Family Member (likely Sam's mother)]

Sue and Vanessa weren't close when they were younger. Their closeness came in once they were adults and Vanessa needed help.

[Narrator]

The stress of losing their home took its toll on Vanessa and Sam.

[Family Member (likely Sam's mother)]

I think that Vanessa was trying to work out their relationship and Sam was trying to separate. When she got the payout, she didn't give Samuel any of the money. His stuff that was there was burned up and destroyed, and Samuel got nothing.

[Narrator]

After two years together, they made the difficult decision to part ways. Vanessa remained with their child at her sister's home.

[Family Member (likely Sam's mother)]

We found out that Sam had left her and he was staying with his brother.

[Narrator]

It wasn't long before Sam reconnected with his high school sweetheart, Erica Bridgeforth.

[Family Member (likely Sam's mother)]

I realized Erica was still in the picture, which brought me joy and satisfaction like you wouldn't believe. I feel like we both grew up. He was taking classes, like night classes for bus driving. He was just so optimistic and happy about the life that we were building moving forward. We ended up becoming engaged and I found out we were pregnant at the end of November of 2009. He was excited about it.

[Narrator]

But the happiness is short lived When Sam goes missing on Wednesday, January 13. Five days later, a medical examiner confirms the family's worst fears.

[Detective Miller]

We got confirmation from the medical examiner's office through fingerprints, and it was Samuel Johnson.

[Narrator]

With confirmation, it is Sam. The official investigation into his murder gets underway. But detectives quickly realize they are limited on evidence.

[Detective Miller]

There was not a lot of evidence at that scene. There was no blood at the scene. There were no shell casings at the scene.

[Narrator]

Detectives reached Sam's father by phone to break the news.

[Family Member (likely Sam's mother)]

It was the worst day of my life. I dropped to my knees. You don't understand it, but you are trying to process it and nothing's making sense.

[Narrator]

Coming up, Sam's car unlocks. Chilling theories.

[Detective Miller]

There was a substance. It turned out to be human blood.

[Narrator]

But new questions arise as detectives trace back to his final hours.

[Medical Examiner]

He was headed to pick up some money.

[Detective Miller]

The biggest question was, did Sam show up to pick up the money.

[Narrator]

January 18, 2010. After five days missing, 26 year old Samuel Johnson Jr. Has just been identified as the body found in a downtown cemetery.

[Medical Examiner]

Sam's father, Sam's mother, they had been notified that their son had been murdered.

[Narrator]

Investigators speak with Sam's father who informs them that Sam's 2006 Dodge Stratus is also missing.

[Detective Miller]

We put the BOLO out on the vehicle and it was discovered the next day on the south side of San Antonio. Samuel's body was found on the east side.

[Detective Bauer]

The car was discovered about 40 miles away from the body.

[Medical Examiner]

We take it over to what we call 9th street pound and there it can be processed properly. CSI didn't find any prints in the car. Now there should have been prints. Obviously somebody purposefully wiped off all the prints.

[Narrator]

The trunk, however, is a different story.

[Detective Miller]

There was a substance that appeared to be blood. So they went ahead and swabbed it and it turned out to be, yes, it was blood, yes, it was human blood. We had a feeling that it was Sam's blood that was in the trunk of the car.

[Narrator]

It appears Sam was transported in his own vehicle after he was shot.

[Detective Miller]

There's no bullet holes in the car, so he wasn't shot in the vehicle. We're still looking for our murder scene, but we have a theory about Sam's murder. This looks like a carjacking. That's just what it looked like to us. People carjacked for all different reasons. They murdered him, they dumped his body, they used his car. When they were through using the car, they ditched it on the south side of town.

[Narrator]

If Sam was the victim of a random carjacking, detectives have their work cut out for them.

[Detective Miller]

So the next day, the Bexar County Medical Examiner's office performed the autopsy.

[Medical Examiner]

He had had a gunshot wound to his head, two gunshots to forearms and hands, and he had three in his torso, most likely a.22 caliber. So if you have, you know, a gunshot wound in your hand and your forearm, then his hand is up. So somehow knowing that, you know he is going to be shot. So that's a defensive wound. He had a contusion on his head. The wound was made while he was alive because it was swollen and it was bleeding. That told us that he was hit by something, but we didn't know what.

[Narrator]

Given the violent nature of the crime, investigators abandoned the carjacking theory, believing Sam had a personal connection to his killer. They reach out to Sam's family for help piecing together Sam's Final days, Sam.

[Medical Examiner]

Sr. Sam's mother and Sam's fiance Erica came in for statements.

[Detective Miller]

What we were looking for is who is the last person who saw.

[Narrator]

Said his father explains that he and his wife last heard from their son as Sam was preparing to take his ex, Vanessa and their son to the airport.

[Family Member (likely Sam's mother)]

He's telling me she's going out of town to Meridian, Mississippi, her and the baby. She's going to visit some friends.

[Narrator]

When they didn't hear from him for a few days, they assumed he was busy training for his new job as a bus driver.

[Family Member (likely Sam's mother)]

We called him, couldn't get a hold of him, so my wife and I assume, well, he's working.

[Narrator]

Samuel Senior tells investigators his wife reached out to Vanessa, who said she hadn't heard from Sam since he dropped them off.

[Medical Examiner]

She asked Vanessa, hey, do you know where Sam is? And while she was in Mississippi, you know, she said, no, I have no idea where he's at. I did go to Sam's employment to verify that Sam did not show up for work on Wednesday. He didn't show up for work, and he didn't call in.

[Narrator]

It appears that Vanessa may have been the last person to see Sam Jr. But when investigators speak to Erica, they learn that might not be the case. Erica reveals that she was with Sam after he dropped off Vanessa and his son.

[Family Member (likely Sam's mother)]

He had dropped her off at the airport. He came over to the house.

[Narrator]

Erica says Vanessa had finally agreed to leave Sam's cut of the insurance money from the fire at the home she shared with her sister Susan.

[Family Member (likely Sam's mother)]

He's like, she left the money with sue, so now I'm going to go pick up the money from Sue. He was trying to, like, rebuild his life, but they needed that support and the money because everything he lost in that house fire, he literally had nothing.

[Medical Examiner]

And then after that, he was headed to work. She would see him the next day.

[Narrator]

But Erica says she didn't see Sam the next day or ever again.

[Family Member (likely Sam's mother)]

When I woke up that morning, I grabbed my phone and I looked down at it, and I didn't have nothing. Like, nothing.

[Medical Examiner]

I then asked Erica, who do you think would have done this? She told me, if anybody murdered Sam, it would have been Vanessa.

[Detective Miller]

You know, when you look at your suspects, you're looking at motives, memes, and opportunities. Well, Vanessa didn't have an opportunity. She had an alibi.

[Narrator]

In Mississippi, Erica pointing a finger at Sam's ex raises another possibility for investigators.

[Detective Miller]

You try to get into the heads of these characters in your homicide investigation. Would Erica be jealous of Vanessa because Vanessa has a son with Sam.

[Narrator]

They question Erica on her whereabouts the night Sam went missing.

[Detective Miller]

Erica had an alibi for the night that he was last seen. She was at church choir practice with the entire choir.

[Narrator]

Erica's choir practice alibi only covers a short period of time that evening.

[Medical Examiner]

The last he had been seen was at 6:45 on Wednesday at Erica's. She was the last one to see him at that point.

[Detective Miller]

So we have a kind of a definitive parameter of time that he could have disappeared.

[Medical Examiner]

I'm not saying she wasn't still in play, but at that point, there just wasn't anything there to give credence that Erica was involved. Her emotions were appropriate. She was crying. I didn't get any feelings or vibes or the hair standing up on the back of my neck.

[Narrator]

As investigators wrap up Erica's interview, they seize on a detail from her statement. Erica claims Sam left her house the night he went missing to pick up money from Susan Sutton at the home she shared with Vanessa.

[Detective Miller]

The biggest question was did Sam show up to pick up the money? That was the question that needed to be asked.

[Narrator]

Coming up, Vanessa shares her theories.

[Family Member (likely Sam's mother)]

He said he's going to break up with her. I think she had something to do with this.

[Narrator]

But a tip leaves detectives with more questions.

[Family Member (likely Sam's mother)]

She tells me that they were supposed to meet at a gas station. He ended up hitting his head on a curb.

[Narrator]

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[Family Member (likely Sam's mother)]

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[Detective Miller]

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[Narrator]

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[Detective Miller]

She said, look, I got a really weird phone call from my daughter Adrienne, who's living in Mississippi. Adrienne said Vanessa came for a visit and some pretty odd things happened. While Vanessa was there, my mom talked.

[Family Member (likely Sam's mother)]

To this detective in San Antonio Police Department. She said, they want to ask you some questions.

[Detective Miller]

That's when Detective Bauer interviewed Adrienne over the phone.

[Narrator]

Adrienne says she is the friend Vanessa was visiting in Mississippi when Sam went missing.

[Family Member (likely Sam's mother)]

Vanessa and I were best friends. She showed up at my house to surprise me. My birthday was on the 16th of January, and she wanted to do something nice for me.

[Narrator]

During their visit, Vanessa took a phone call that left her visibly shaken.

[Family Member (likely Sam's mother)]

When she got off the phone with Sam, she said that they had been working on their relationship, but his attitude and the way that he was acting now that she was in Mississippi, she just wasn't thrilled about it. She told me that Sam was harassing her for money and she was just tired of it.

[Narrator]

A short time later, Adriane says, Vanessa received another phone call, this one from her sister's boyfriend, B.J. brown.

[Family Member (likely Sam's mother)]

She called me back into the bathroom and she said, girl, I think that they, they accidentally killed Sam. And I said, they? And she said, yeah, BJ And Sue.

[Detective Miller]

Vanessa told Adrian, Susan and her boyfriend and her boyfriend's cousin Lakesha had gotten into it with Sam.

[Family Member (likely Sam's mother)]

She tells me that they were supposed to meet at a gas station. He ended up hitting his head on a curb and they left. So they thought that he was dead. I told her that she was being overly dramatic because if they just beat him up and left him, then there's no way that they could confirm that he was dead. I was just like, girl, come on, there's no way.

[Narrator]

Adriane says she tried to blow it Off. But Vanessa kept returning to the topic.

[Family Member (likely Sam's mother)]

The next day, she kept bringing up the Sam situation. I would look at her like, you know, girl, stop. You're being overdramatic again. That Friday, Vanessa and I ended up having a falling out, and she left a few days early. After speaking with Detective Bauer, it was very clear that this murder wasn't an accident. I just felt betrayed by her.

[Medical Examiner]

Adrienne's information is firsthand straight from Vanessa, and we realized that this is probably the way it went down.

[Detective Miller]

I called Vanessa the next day. I said, hey, I need background investigation on Sam. Can you come in and talk to us? And by the way, will you just go ahead and bring Susan with you?

[Medical Examiner]

Vanessa and Susan came into the office to talk to us, so we split them up. I interviewed Vanessa in one interview room, and Lisa took Susan in another interview room.

[Narrator]

Vanessa confirms she was in Mississippi when Sam went missing and returned the day his body was found.

[Family Member (likely Sam's mother)]

How'd you get to the airport? He drove me.

[Medical Examiner]

And when did you come home?

[Family Member (likely Sam's mother)]

On Sunday the 17th.

[Narrator]

When asked about her relationship with Sam, Vanessa is eager to tell them that he was not getting back together with Erica.

[Family Member (likely Sam's mother)]

There was going to be no relationship. He said he's going to break up with her. I mean, we have to put it out there. I think she had something to do with this.

[Medical Examiner]

Okay, and what makes you think that Erica had something to do with this? Because why is it you suspect her?

[Family Member (likely Sam's mother)]

I think that she is obsessed with Sam.

[Narrator]

Vanessa says she was the only real love in Sam's life.

[Family Member (likely Sam's mother)]

I loved him more than these floozies, and that's kind of how I looked at it.

[Narrator]

In a separate room, Detective Miller presses Vanessa's sister Susan for information.

[Detective Miller]

Susan was very calm, very talkative, seemed to be very, very helpful.

[Narrator]

When asked about the night Sam disappeared, Susan admits he came by the house to pick up money. But she says she knows nothing about his death.

[Detective Miller]

Sam came. He knocked on the door. I gave him his money. He said he was going to go to work. He left. That's all I know about that night.

[Narrator]

Investigators turn up the heat, hoping that a bluff will lead to a confession.

[Detective Bauer]

Texas detectives are allowed to lie. They can go in and say, well, you know, your. Your friend over there has already given you up. They've already told us everything.

[Detective Miller]

How close is Vanessa to your boyfriend, to B.J.

[Family Member (likely Sam's mother)]

They'Ve gotten closer.

[Detective Miller]

Vanessa's telling Detective Bauer that she received.

[Family Member (likely Sam's mother)]

A phone call from BJ While she.

[Detective Miller]

Was at Adrian's house, where BJ Told her that he had accidentally killed Sam.

[Family Member (likely Sam's mother)]

No, she didn't. No, she didn't.

[Detective Miller]

Yeah, she did.

[Family Member (likely Sam's mother)]

Okay, I'm ready to go because I don't believe that. Thank you.

[Detective Miller]

She wanted to get the heck out of that interview room, and she did.

[Family Member (likely Sam's mother)]

I'm ready to go.

[Detective Miller]

I'm ready to go. Okay.

[Family Member (likely Sam's mother)]

I don't believe that.

[Narrator]

Detectives returned to the night Vanessa.

[Medical Examiner]

We decide that's when I'm going to tell her. I've talked to Adrian. You don't know what she's told me, so I need you to tell me what happened.

[Detective Miller]

When they confronted her, Vanessa's face fell.

[Narrator]

Vanessa shifts the blame from Erica to Susan.

[Family Member (likely Sam's mother)]

I'm not involved. My sister told me. She said that they. When did she take. The Same day. Same day it happened, and she said that he was dead. And I tried to hold it together, and I was just like, what did y' all do? Because it was just too much.

[Detective Miller]

Vanessa is telling us, I lied. It was my sister. So now we have her shifting gears and blaming Susan. All right, well, we have to prove or disprove all of those stories.

[Narrator]

During Vanessa's interview, Susan returns to the police station with something to get off her chest.

[Detective Miller]

It was about 10 minutes later. The lady who works in the lobby called me and said, hey, there's a. There's a woman here. She says she needs to talk to you. I went back out in the lobby, and it was Susan. She said, vanessa's trying to blame this all on me. I need to tell you what really happened.

[Narrator]

San Antonio detectives sit back down with Susan Sutton after she abruptly ended her own interview.

[Family Member (likely Sam's mother)]

I know that we were little kids. She used me every day of my life.

[Narrator]

Susan reveals that the fire in Vanessa's home was no accident.

[Family Member (likely Sam's mother)]

I'm gonna tell you everything, okay? So the fire happened. She was trying to set the fire in the trash can.

[Medical Examiner]

Vanessa had received almost $300,000 for that.

[Narrator]

The fire was ruled an accident, and Vanessa and Sam moved in with Susan and her boyfriend, B.J.

[Detective Miller]

She used that insurance money from the fire to control them. She doled that money out based on getting them to do what she wanted them to do.

[Narrator]

Within eight months, Vanessa had blown through most of the cash. Susan says that's when she formed a plan to replenish her funds.

[Detective Miller]

There was a life insurance policy on Sam in the amount of three quarters of a million dollars.

[Detective Bauer]

He wanted to do something to take care of his child, so he took out this large $750,000 life insurance policy and made the mistake of telling Vanessa because she was the baby's mother.

[Family Member (likely Sam's mother)]

The Original plan was for me to do it.

[Detective Miller]

What did she tell you she wanted you?

[Family Member (likely Sam's mother)]

She wanted me to get a gun and shoot Sam.

[Detective Miller]

Susan had some mental health issues that Vanessa was willing to kind of play up.

[Medical Examiner]

Vanessa had taken away her medication. That way if Susan went to to trial for Sam's murder, that she could claim that she wasn't on her meds and that that led to the murder.

[Narrator]

Susan says she had doubts about the plan but also felt she had no choice.

[Detective Miller]

Susan and her boyfriend were not working at this point. They were dependent on Vanessa, but Susan says, I couldn't do it. My boyfriend agreed to step up and do it for me.

[Narrator]

She claims her boyfriend BJ Brown recruited additional help from his cousin, 27 year old Lakeisha Brown.

[Detective Miller]

Lakesha agreed to cooperate and commit this murder and she said that she needed money because she was unemployed.

[Detective Bauer]

Vanessa offered to buy them all cars once she got the insurance money.

[Family Member (likely Sam's mother)]

She told us that we'd be taken care of.

[Narrator]

Susan tells investigators Vanessa bought a last minute plane ticket to visit Adrian.

[Detective Miller]

Vanessa was adamant that he had to be murdered while she had an alibi.

[Detective Bauer]

In Mississippi, after Samuel had taken Vanessa Cameron to the airport, he got a call from Susan saying she had some money for him.

[Detective Miller]

Susan said, sam came, he knocked on the door. I didn't want any part of it, so I ran back upstairs.

[Narrator]

Later, she claims BJ and lakeisha filled her in on what happened.

[Detective Miller]

She said they beat him up, they drove him out to a ranch and it was there that they actually killed him.

[Narrator]

Susan points the finger at BJ and lakeisha, but detectives aren't taking her word for it.

[Detective Miller]

I said, well, I'm going to need to talk to them. We'll call them and tell them we need him to come in. And they did.

[Narrator]

Investigators need to confirm if Susan's allegations have any merit. And when they sit down with Susan's boyfriend bj, he has a different story to tell.

[Detective Bauer]

My mom raised me up to don't be like that, you know, so that's.

[Family Member (likely Sam's mother)]

Not in my blood to do anything like that at all.

[Detective Bauer]

Okay, so you're telling me you got.

[Family Member (likely Sam's mother)]

Nothing to do with this? I didn't do nothing.

[Detective Bauer]

I didn't have nothing to do with this.

[Family Member (likely Sam's mother)]

I hardly even associate with Vanessa.

[Detective Miller]

The boyfriend sat in an interrogation room called crying like a little baby.

[Family Member (likely Sam's mother)]

Never in my life. I never killed nobody in my life.

[Narrator]

Lakeisha is another story.

[Medical Examiner]

We confronted her and said, you know, Susan's already told us everything. At that point, Lakesha was willing to give the story.

[Narrator]

The 27 year old says she met Sam at the door when he arrived at Susan's to pick up his money.

[Family Member (likely Sam's mother)]

He's so big, so I was scared, and I was like I was shaking. Then I hit him with a board, a small board. Okay. And then that was it. He went down.

[Medical Examiner]

She said that Susan's boyfriend handcuffed Sam, tied rope around his feet. He was duct taped over the mouth.

[Narrator]

Given the variation in lakeisha and bj's statements, investigators don't know what to believe and continue pressing for details.

[Detective Miller]

What happened after he got all tied up in the tapes on his mouth?

[Family Member (likely Sam's mother)]

He was put in his truck.

[Detective Miller]

She said they drove him out to the country. They got him out of the car.

[Family Member (likely Sam's mother)]

DJ took everything off, and Sam kept saying, no, dj, don't kill me.

[Detective Bauer]

Sam had begged for his life, and actually he asked why. The response was, because this is what Vanessa wanted.

[Family Member (likely Sam's mother)]

My back was to him. And next thing I know, I heard.

[Detective Miller]

The gun go off.

[Family Member (likely Sam's mother)]

How many times? Nine times.

[Detective Miller]

Then they put his body back in the trunk of the car and parked that vehicle with the keys still in it abandoned on the east side of San Antonio. Lakeisha said that on the way back to San Antonio, she had dismantled the gun and thrown pieces out. On the way back, I said, lakeisha, take us out to that ranch that you said sam was killed at. And she did.

[Medical Examiner]

Lakeisha led us to the show casings. There was nine show casings there.

[Detective Bauer]

There's a barbecue grill that had some burnt clothing in it. There were a pair of handcuffs and some rope.

[Narrator]

With the puzzle coming together, there is still one lingering question.

[Medical Examiner]

We asked lakeisha, why is the vehicle on the south side? She goes, well, we don't know. We didn't do that.

[Detective Miller]

We have a theory. Somebody came by, saw the keys in the car, started it up, and they took it for a ride. When they found Sam in the trunk, it was they who took him to the cemetery and dropped him off there and then abandoned the car. Later.

[Narrator]

On January 21, investigators confront Vanessa with the evidence.

[Detective Bauer]

She changed her story and said, yes, she did have him killed, but she did it because he wanted to be killed. He had taken out a large life insurance policy, and he wanted her and the baby to have that, and he didn't have the nerve to kill himself. She said it was really Sam's idea that this was essentially a very complicated assisted suicide.

[Narrator]

Investigators aren't buying it. All four are arrested and charged with murder.

[Medical Examiner]

Vanessa didn't really seem that upset about being arrested. There were no tears. She didn't really show a lot of emotion about it. She really didn't.

[Narrator]

Coming up, Vanessa throws one last curveball after the murder.

[Detective Bauer]

She wanted to see if she could get his last paycheck.

[Narrator]

And the verdict hangs in the balance.

[Detective Bauer]

The jury was not out long at all. That was worrisome for those of us on the prosecution team.

[Narrator]

San Antonio authorities have four people in custody for the shooting death of Sam Johnson Jr. Including his child's mother, Vanessa Cameron. Investigators work with prosecutors to build the case. When they speak to Sam's employer, they learn that Vanessa tried to cash in on Sam's death less than 24 hours after he was found.

[Detective Bauer]

After the murder, she went to the bus headquarters and she wanted to know how she could collect the insurance policy. She wanted to see if she could get his last paycheck. She claimed to be his common law wife.

[Medical Examiner]

I just think it was all part of a cold, callous personality.

[Narrator]

Seven months after the arrests, Sam's family celebrates a bittersweet milestone when Erica gives birth to a healthy baby boy.

[Detective Bauer]

His second son has never met his dad. He's been nothing but other people's memories.

[Narrator]

Prosecutors focus their efforts on holding Vanessa accountable. In 2012, they add two names to their witness list.

[Detective Bauer]

The two CO defendants, her sister Susan and lakeisha Brown, both pled guilty and made deals with the state, which, including their testifying against Vanessa.

[Narrator]

In February 2012, Vanessa's trial begins. Prosecutors present Vanessa as a greedy mastermind.

[Detective Miller]

The three things that you're looking at, Motives, means, and opportunities. Well, Vanessa didn't have an opportunity. How convenient. She was in Mississippi that weekend. Did she have a motive? I would say three quarters of a million dollars is a whole lot of motive. And did she have the means? She did not. But her sister and sister's boyfriend and cousin certainly did.

[Detective Bauer]

She very much is a master manipulator. From manipulating people around her to actually manipulating people to help her carry out this murder and do her dirty work for her.

[Narrator]

For her defense, Vanessa recants her previous statements and tosses blame to her co conspirators.

[Detective Bauer]

Her defense was this alibi she had set up that she was in Mississippi when it happened. It was all a shock to her.

[Narrator]

After a lengthy trial, it is left for the jury to decide.

[Detective Bauer]

The jury was not out long at all. It was a complicated case, and that was worrisome for those of us on the prosecution team.

[Detective Miller]

Vanessa's still confident that we have not tied her to this murder.

[Family Member (likely Sam's mother)]

She's sitting there looking in the mirror, putting on her makeup because she knew that she was going to walk out of there. But that never happened.

[Detective Bauer]

They convicted her. The judge who actually oversaw the case gave her 75 years.

[Narrator]

In October 2013, BJ Brown, the alleged trigger man, goes to trial.

[Detective Bauer]

There's a rule of law in Texas. If the primary evidence against you is accomplished witness testimony, there has to be some evidence. Other than that testimony, there was no evidence. Nobody ever found the gun. Again.

[Narrator]

Without corroborating evidence, the case against him flounders.

[Detective Bauer]

The individual who I think actually pulled the trigger was acquitted. That is by far something that I still can't totally wrap my brain around.

[Narrator]

But even complete justice wouldn't have filled the hole Sam left behind in his family.

[Family Member (likely Sam's mother)]

He was there when you needed him. He was always there. It was, mom, what do you need? Miss my baby. Miss him so much. The love is there. I feel Sam like through my son, through reminders of who I am and what I've grown from because of you. And I'm grateful for that.

[Narrator]

Vanessa Cameron is serving her life sentence at the Dr. Lane Murray Unit in Texas. Susan Sutton is serving a 25 year sentence at the Christina Melton Crane unit. Lakeisha Brown was sentenced to 22 years as a result of her plea. Vanessa and Samuel Sarah son is being raised by Vanessa's mother. Shopify's point of sale system helps you sell at every stage of your business. Need a fast and secure way to take payments in person? We've got you covered. How about card readers? You can rely on any anywhere you sell.

[Medical Examiner]

Thanks.

[Narrator]

Have a good one. Yep, that too. Want one place to manage all your online and in person sales? That's kind of our thing wherever you sell. Businesses that grow grow with Shopify. Sign up for your $1 a month trial at shopify.com listen shopify.com listen.