Episode 355

Summary

Sword and Scale – Episode 355 (June 17, 2026)

The Fish Farm Murders: Family, Betrayal, and the Unthinkable

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Overview

This episode explores the shocking double homicide of Shirley and Virgil Best, beloved owners of a family-run fish farm in Riverview, Florida. What begins as a seemingly straightforward murder investigation quickly becomes a deep-dive into a close-knit but troubled family. As detectives sift through alibis and motives, attention falls first on the "black sheep" son, Robert Best, only for an unexpected confession to bring the case toward a haunting and perplexing conclusion.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Crime Scene and Initial Response (02:45, 10:23, 15:28)

• Setting: Riverview, Florida – a quiet suburb with routine, family, and church at its heart.
• On November 12, 2015, Shirley (69) and Virgil Best (70) are found dead in their home, shot in the head.
• Their oldest son, Robert Best, makes the grim discovery during what was allegedly an early-morning prayer visit before his court hearing.
• The close proximity of family homes and a strong sense of mutual support and routine intensify the shock.

"We've had a break at my parents house and both my parents are dead."
— Robert Best, 911 Call (12:16)

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2. The Best Family: Secrets and Dynamics (04:00, 04:53, 08:47)

• Family is described as tightly-knit, with properties connected, and all involved in the fish farming business and church.
• Family Background:
  • Devout Christians, second-amendment advocates, "preppers," and considered "good people" by neighbors and relatives.
  • No history of enemies; universally described as kind and loving.

"They're the sweetest damn people in the world, okay? Sweetest people in the world. They do anything for anybody."
— Derek (Michelle's Husband) (09:59)

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3. Early Suspicions: Robert Best's Troubled Past (22:13, 23:03, 24:09)

• Robert Best: History as a con artist, with 38 felony convictions, mostly for fraud. Notorious for once conning a blind woman out of over $1 million from inside prison.
• Family suspicion: Despite his apparent "cleanup" after marriage and children, most family members express a deep mistrust.
• Robert lacks a credible work history or plausible explanation for his lifestyle.

"He could be such a good salesman and make tons of money—the right way, the legal way. But he won't do it."
— Todd Best (29:20)

"Between you, me, and the recorder, I wouldn’t trust him as far as I could throw him."
— Derek (Michelle's Husband) (27:29)

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4. The Timeline and Alibis (19:10, 20:13, 20:45)

• Key window: Shirley's last Facebook message at ~8 pm, murders must have occurred between then and 6 am.
• All immediate family members, including Robert’s wife Marisol, offer only loosely verified alibis.
• Robert and Marisol claim to have been at home the evening before, both providing matching accounts.

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5. Investigation Twists: Robert or Marisol? (30:18, 36:29, 42:04)

• Attention remains on Robert due to his record and cold emotional response, but detectives note inconsistencies in all accounts, including Marisol’s.
• Marisol and Robert claim the early-morning visit was for a prayer session before his scheduled court appearance for alleged sexual assault of a minor (an underage babysitter).

"It was just a coffee and prayer. My husband was supposed to be going to trial today... they wanted to just sit with us and pray."
— Marisol Best (30:55)

• No other family member was aware of this “prayer meeting”; Robert resists requests to have his phone searched, raising further suspicion.

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6. The Interrogation and Confession (44:28 – 51:56)

• Breaking point: After initially standing by her alibi, Marisol unexpectedly requests a second interview.
• She confesses: the night before the bodies were found, she visited Virgil and Shirley’s home. During an emotionally charged conversation regarding Robert’s legal troubles and their harsh judgment, Marisol "snapped," left to retrieve a gun, and shot both Shirley and Virgil as they bowed their heads to pray.

"I just remember coming out of the bathroom, and I was… so frustrated. I said, 'OK, let's do the prayer.' … I remember them getting up off the couch and wanting to hold my hand… their heads bowed and their eyes closed, praying… I just remember pulling the gun... I just pointed."
— Marisol Best (48:01 – 49:17)

• Marisol staged the crime scene to look like a robbery, opening drawers and leaving the back door ajar.

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7. Motive: Resentment and Family Judgment (46:08, 58:08)

• Marisol details feeling overwhelmed by disappointment and negativity directed at her husband by his parents.
• She describes the lack of support as betrayal—her defense leverages “blind devotion” and spousal loyalty as the only possible motive.
• Robert, in later interviews, acknowledges his parents' criticism but claims never to take it personally.

"There’s nothing my parents could say to me that would make me even want to slap them, much less do something like that. And I can't imagine her either, doing that."
— Robert Best (57:02)

"As far as motives go, this one can be a bit difficult to wrap your head around… Not for money, not for revenge, not for self-preservation, but because someone said something nasty to your spouse."
— Narrator (57:23)

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8. Legal Outcomes and Reflections (53:04 – 58:34)

• Marisol is tried separately from Robert. The prosecution does not charge Robert in connection with his parents' murder.
• At trial, Marisol's defense claims she was simply protecting her husband or perhaps covering for him. The jury rejects this argument and finds her guilty on both counts of murder.
• Marisol is sentenced to two consecutive life sentences with no possibility of parole.

"Guilty on both counts of murder. She will now be sentenced at the end of this month."
— Narrator (56:52)

• Robert serves unrelated jail time on sex crime charges, takes a plea, and distances himself from Marisol after her arrest.

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Notable Quotes and Memorable Moments

• The moment of discovery:

"I looked and I could see my mom laying on the floor… I went to check her… I could tell she was dead. And I turned and I saw my father and there was blood everywhere."
— Robert Best (01:06, 17:38)

• On family reputation:

"My parents were very private. Not too many people go over there… very security conscious… constitutionalists, doomsday preppers."
— Robert Best (08:47)

• On Marisol’s confession:

"I don't get upset. I have two toddlers. I'm not allowed to be upset."
— Marisol Best (49:18)

• The narrator’s final reflection:

"Reality is messy, incomplete, and deeply unsatisfying. And people are petty, egotistical, self-centered. And some people are just shit."
— Narrator (59:00)

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Important Timestamps

• 03:13: Michelle Best recounts the call from her brother about the murder
• 12:16: Robert’s 911 call discovery
• 22:13 – 25:55: Family outlines Robert’s extensive criminal past
• 30:18: Family questions Robert’s presence that morning
• 37:30: Marisol admits the marriage was "rocky"
• 44:28 – 51:56: Marisol’s confession and details of the shootings
• 53:04 – 56:52: News coverage, charges, and Marisol’s conviction
• 57:02 – 58:34: Robert reflects on his parents’ criticism and the difficulty of the case’s motive

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Episode Tone & Language

• The episode maintains Sword and Scale’s signature tone: frank, unsentimental, and sometimes darkly sardonic.
• Family members, detectives, and commentators speak candidly, at times blending blunt sentiment with emotional detail.
• The narrative is chilling, layered, and resolutely focused on the complexity and tragic consequences of a “messy” family dynamic.

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For listeners and true crime followers, this episode is an unvarnished, haunting window into how resentment and unresolved family conflict—combined with opportunity and a loaded gun—can erupt into unthinkable violence.

Transcript

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[Narrator/Interviewer]

Sword and Scale contains adult themes and

[Narrator/Detective]

violence and is not intended for all audiences.

[Narrator/Interviewer]

Listener discretion is advised. And I looked and I could see my mom laying on the floor. I pushed the door open and I went to check her to see no, she was dead. And I turned and I saw my father and there was blood Everywhere.

[Narrator/Detective]

This is season 13, episode 355 of

[Narrator/Commentator]

Sword and Scale, a show that reveals that the worst monsters are real.

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[Narrator/Detective]

Riverview, Florida is a quiet suburb outside of Tampa that's built around routine workdays, church services and family businesses that have been passed down for decades. But In November of 2015, that routine was broken. Inside an interview room at the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office, homicide detectives spoke with a middle aged woman named Michelle Best.

[Michelle Best]

Derek and I get up regular time every morning and we were sitting there having coffee. We were just a few minutes away from getting up to go start getting ready for work and I got a I just picked up my cell phone to look at the time it was ringing in and when I answered it he was crying and said, you need to get over to mom and dad's now. And I said, what happened? He says, you need to go here now. And we live right across the street, so put some extra clothes on. And I walked over.

[Narrator/Detective]

Michelle told detectives that on the morning of November 12, she received a frantic phone call from her oldest brother Robert. He told her to hurry to her parents house, a house that sat just across the street from her own. Their parents were 69 year old Shirley Best and 70 year old Virgil Best.

[Detective/Interviewer]

They've been married 40, 45 years. Okay. Other than normal marital differences, any marital issues?

[Michelle Best]

Nope.

[Detective/Interviewer]

Did they grow up here in the Tampa Bay area?

[Michelle Best]

My father grew up very poor in Manatee county, like in the parish area. And then my mom grew up here in Gibsonton actually. Her father was a fish farmer for 30 some odd years, so.

[Detective/Interviewer]

So she's been in fish farming her whole life.

[Narrator/Detective]

Shirley and Virgil owned and operated Quality Fins Fish Farm, a family business that ran across the five acres of land between their home. They have fish ponds out here and

[Virgil and Shirley's Grandson]

they raise and sell fish.

[Narrator/Detective]

So this that I'm looking at in

[Narrator/Interviewer]

front of me, those are all. That's all his property?

[Narrator/Detective]

Yeah, all of that.

[Virgil and Shirley's Grandson]

It runs deep way back there into the width and length.

[Detective/Interviewer]

Okay.

[Narrator/Detective]

Virgil handled most of the day to day labor on the fish farm and he also employed his 21 year old grandson to keep it running.

[Virgil and Shirley's Grandson]

Him and Ani, my grandma, I call him Papa and Ani, they own the fish farm and Papa is normally out there working on it and Ani is counting up fish and helping them with it. But Papa does most of the work, so I work with him.

[Narrator/Detective]

Shirley and Virgil were also devout Christians who were heavily involved in their local church. They attended services every Wednesday and Sunday and Shirley sang in the church choir.

[Michelle Best]

They're big in the church. They go to Gibsonton Baptist. She's in the choir. They're always involved in the church. They have been for the last few couple years.

[Detective/Interviewer]

Okay. Did you see them coming and going last night to church?

[Michelle Best]

No, because we were in the house.

[Detective/Interviewer]

Okay.

[Narrator/Detective]

Alongside their faith, Shirley and Virgil were also firm supporters of the second amendment. They were comfortable with firearms and guns were common in their home.

[Detective/Interviewer]

Tell me about their guns.

[Virgil and Shirley's Grandson]

Papa always has guns near him. He has a gun on his nightstand and I'm pretty sure he has a gun not on his hip, but in, in the couch.

[Detective/Interviewer]

Where does she keep her gun?

[Virgil and Shirley's Grandson]

She, I think she just bought a gun, a brand new one and she keeps it in her purse.

[Detective/Interviewer]

Where does she keep it in the house?

[Virgil and Shirley's Grandson]

As soon as you walk in, as soon as you walk into your left, there's like Bibles sitting there and it's right next to the Bible. Those are people that practically sit with guns in their laps.

[Narrator/Interviewer]

Why?

[Marisol Best]

What happened?

[Detective/Interviewer]

Did something happen in the past?

[Virgil and Shirley's Grandson]

No, they're just really country. They, they are very old time believe in the second amendment people.

[Narrator/Detective]

While they had deep ties to their church and strong beliefs about guns, nothing mattered more to Virgil and Shirley than their three children, Robert, Todd and Michelle. Todd and Michelle lived close by. So close that all of their properties were connected.

[Todd Best]

My sister, myself and my parents, backyard come together.

[Sling Advertiser/Host]

Okay.

[Todd Best]

Go around the corner is my sister and then me.

[Sling Advertiser/Host]

Okay.

[Todd Best]

So all of our backyards.

[Sling Advertiser/Host]

Okay.

[Marisol Best]

Yeah.

[Narrator/Detective]

So when, when you leave the house, do you have, do you see their house every morning?

[News Reporter]

Every morning?

[Derek (Michelle's Husband)]

Every morning.

[Narrator/Detective]

So I want you to think about this morning. Was there anything this morning?

[Todd Best]

Yes. I left my house like I always do, same time. And I always look at their house. I don't, I just always look at the house. I noticed the, the living room light on. The living room light was on. I thought I was odd because they always, they always turn the lights off when they go to bed. And this was on. And my first thought was, okay, well, maybe they just couldn't sleep and they both got up early for some reason. You know, I didn't think too much of it at that time, and I still didn't until I, you know, my sister called me this morning.

[Detective/Interviewer]

Okay.

[Narrator/Detective]

Virgil and Shirley were also close to their children's spouses, especially Michelle's husband, Derek.

[Detective/Interviewer]

Any issues going on?

[Derek (Michelle's Husband)]

Oh, God, no. Love that man. I would do anything for him and vice versa. We just, we just worked on my Jeep about three weeks ago and he helped me. We do Jeep events together. We have no problems.

[Detective/Interviewer]

Okay, and what about their relationship as a husband and wife? Any issues?

[Derek (Michelle's Husband)]

They.

[Detective/Interviewer]

No.

[Derek (Michelle's Husband)]

They loved each other so much. She loved him.

[Narrator/Detective]

She adored him. The only one of Shirley and Virgil's children who didn't live right next to them was their oldest son, 49 year old Robert Best. Even so, he did live nearby, just about 10 minutes away.

[Narrator/Interviewer]

My parents are very private. There's not too many people that go over there. They're very security conscious. They're constitutionalists, you know, doomsday or preppers.

[Detective/Interviewer]

Any marital issues between them?

[Narrator/Interviewer]

I don't believe so. They seem very happy to me.

[Narrator/Detective]

As Shirley and Virgil looked ahead to life in their 70s, they started talking with their children about selling the fish farm and finally retiring.

[Michelle Best]

Their finances were fine. I mean, the farm has been slow. They've been talking the next couple years of retiring, selling the farm.

[Detective/Interviewer]

Both of your parents kind of very busy?

[Michelle Best]

They were. They worked very hard. Yeah, they worked very hard their whole life. Their very hard workers their entire life. They busted their butt. Nothing good people.

[Detective/Interviewer]

Do they have any enemies that you're aware of?

[Michelle Best]

No. My parents were very involved in church.

[Narrator/Detective]

Everyone loved them according to their children, grandchildren in laws and friends. Virgil and Shirley were kind, well liked people with no known enemies. Don't we hear that a lot?

[Detective/Interviewer]

To your knowledge, anybody had issues with.

[Derek (Michelle's Husband)]

No, sir, not to my knowledge at all. I mean, neighbors? No, they're the sweetest damn people in the world, okay? Sweetest people in the world. They do anything for anybody, okay.

[Todd Best]

I. I could sit here all day long and go on about how great they are and, and was loved by everybody. Absolutely everybody. Especially family, friends, neighbors, churchgoers.

[Narrator/Detective]

On the morning of November 12, 2015, Michelle Best was called to her parents house by her older brother Robert. Not long after that call, deputies arrived at the property and Michelle and her husband were left to deliver devastating news to Virgil and Shirley's grandson.

[Virgil and Shirley's Grandson]

Then I see mom and Derek start walking over here and you know, they can barely speak. I mean, they're flabbergasted. And they say. I say, what's going on? And Derek says, nothing, buddy, just you're not going to school today. And then right after he says that, mom says papa and Annie had been shot. And I say, oh my God. And then mom said, I gotta get back over there. So we all just got up and

[Narrator/Detective]

went over there that morning. The bodies of Virgil and Shirley were reportedly discovered by their oldest son Robert, who was quickly questioned by a detective at the scene.

[Detective/Interviewer]

What I'd like you to do is just kind of tell me, walk me through this morning and what we got going on here.

[Robert Best]

My parents had asked us yesterday if we could stop by this morning on our way into court. I have a court hearing today and they wanted to pray with us. So my wife and I came over. I got here, I saw that they were up, the lights were on and everything. I went around back because we always use the back door. And when I went to knock on the door, I noticed that it was just open a little bit and I could see through the curtains a little bit. And I saw my mom laying on the floor. I opened the door and went to

[Narrator/Interviewer]

check on her and I saw there was blood.

[Robert Best]

I wanted to take her pulse, but there was so much blood and I

[Narrator/Interviewer]

could tell she was dead.

[Robert Best]

And I turned around, I saw my father laying on the floor too. I left and I called you guys.

[Narrator/Detective]

Robert explained that after finding his parents dead on their living room floor, he quickly went outside, spoke briefly with his wife, called his sister, and then dialed 911.

[911 Operator/Interviewer]

911-What is your emergency? We've had a break at my parents house and both my parents are dead. Do you know how entry was made into the house, the name of the house, how entry was made? How did they get in? No, I don't. I don't know. I just came over. We were supposed to have coffee with my parents this morning. I came over and the back door is open. Do you want me to call EMS or. No, I checked them. Okay. Where are they in the house? The living room.

[Narrator/Detective]

During the 911 call and his interview with detectives, Robert described the scene as bloody. It was. Virgil and Shirley Best had been gunned down in their living room. And detectives quickly determined they were dealing with a double homicide. When the work on this case started, the detectives did what they always do. They looked at the people closest to the victims. In this case, they didn't have to look very far. The question wasn't whether the killer was close to Virgil and Shirley Best. It was which one of their children had committed this horrific crime.

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[Narrator/Detective]

By the morning of November 12th, 2015 two members of the Best family were dead and homicide detectives were left trying to understand how a quiet home in Riverview, Florida became a violent and bloody crime scene. The victims had reportedly been shot and found inside their living room by their oldest son Robert.

[News Reporter]

70 year old Virgil Best and 69 year old Shirley were found at 6:15am in their home by a family member who called 911. Crime scene techs arrived in droves to the five acre property that contains a fish farm out back. The Bests own quality fins, a tropical fish business. Deputies will only use the police speak of upper body trauma to say how they died.

[Grainger Advertiser]

Going to keep it very general right now because we're still very early in the investigation.

[News Reporter]

Deputies are trying to figure out who last saw the couple alive and when. For all the questions they say they don't believe the general public is in danger. Generally a sign they have at least a theory of what happened.

[Narrator/Detective]

After arriving at the scene, detectives quickly determined that Virgil and Shirley Best had been shot to death. Virgil had been shot once in the head, Shirley had been shot twice in the head and neck. There was absolutely no doubt this was a double homicide. Naturally the first person investigators wanted to speak with was the man who said he discovered the bodies, 49 year old Robert Best.

[Detective/Interviewer]

Tell me how we kind of got here this morning.

[Narrator/Interviewer]

I have a court case in Polk county and my parents had asked if we could stop over on our way this morning and they wanted to pray with us and I agreed. So I told them I'd be over there between 6, 6:30 and got over there this morning and I saw that

[Robert Best]

they were up or I thought that

[Narrator/Interviewer]

they were up because all the lights were on. When I knocked I noticed the door was nice, partially, you know, cracked open and I looked and I could see my mom laying on the floor.

[Narrator/Detective]

During this interview Robert described finding the bodies and even touching them to confirm that both of his parents were dead.

[Narrator/Interviewer]

I pushed the door open and I went to check her to see she was dead. There was blood everywhere. And I turned and I saw my father and I checked him and I just left. I walked back out and told my wife not to come in and hand me the phone and we waited till the police officer to get there. I called my sister and told her to call my Brother, get over there.

[Narrator/Detective]

Detectives also interviewed the rest of the immediate family, including the couple's middle child, Todd Best.

[Todd Best]

This is nuts. This is crazy. What happened here for this, this to happen to my parents. Something's not right here. Something's not right at all. Natural causes, you can understand. Heart attack, but this. I know they did something that did this.

[Narrator/Detective]

Detectives also spoke with Virgil and Shirley's grandson, whose account helped narrow the timeline of the murders.

[Virgil and Shirley's Grandson]

We were just talking about. Ani sent a message to her hairdresser. I guess her hairdresser had some surgery, I don't know. But said, I'm glad you're doing okay at 7:45 last night. So she was on Facebook.

[Detective/Interviewer]

How do you know that? The hairdresser said that?

[Virgil and Shirley's Grandson]

Yes.

[Detective/Interviewer]

At 7:45pm yes.

[Narrator/Detective]

Shirley's last known contact was a Facebook message she sent around 8pm and her son Robert called 911 just before 6am the following morning. That gave detectives a window of roughly 10 hours in which the murders could have occurred. From there, investigators started narrowing that window even further. The living room light had been left on, something family members said Virgil and Shirley never did before going to bed.

[Virgil and Shirley's Grandson]

They wouldn't answer the door, especially turn on a light to answer a door.

[Detective/Interviewer]

It happened before they got in bed is what to me.

[Virgil and Shirley's Grandson]

Yes, they have the light on. They're probably watching TV in the living room, and they always keep the light on when they're watching TV.

[Narrator/Detective]

Detectives believe the murders most likely occurred between 8pm and midnight. With that window in mind, they started asking a simple question. Where was everyone during that time?

[Todd Best]

And then yesterday, I didn't go over there. They were on the farm. I didn't see mom up there. She was in the house putting up decorations.

[Narrator/Detective]

About what time was that?

[Todd Best]

It was still daylight, so it was probably about 4, 4:30.

[Narrator/Detective]

Todd Bass told detectives he had last seen his father earlier that day and stayed home for the rest of the night until leaving for work the following morning. He had no alibi, and no one could confirm that he hadn't left his house during the window. When the murders occurred, Virgil and Shirley's daughter Michelle told investigators pretty much the same thing.

[Detective/Interviewer]

Okay.

[Narrator/Interviewer]

Did you go anywhere last night?

[Marisol Best]

No.

[Michelle Best]

We had dinner at home. Derek grilled out, and we ate there and dinner and got showers, got cleaned up, sat on the couch, and we were in the whole evening.

[Detective/Interviewer]

Okay. Did you see your mom and dad yesterday, or did you talk to him?

[Michelle Best]

No.

[Detective/Interviewer]

As it goes to from last night, what time did you go to bed? What did you say?

[Michelle Best]

We probably Retired to the bedroom a little early because we were tired. I guess it was probably around 8, 30, 45.

[Narrator/Detective]

Michelle explained that she, her husband and their son went to bed fairly early that night. Her husband confirmed the same account.

[Derek (Michelle's Husband)]

She came home, I grilled chicken, we made chicken Alfredo, and that was it. Spent the evening on the couch.

[Detective/Interviewer]

Okay, so you were home all evening?

[Derek (Michelle's Husband)]

Yes, sir. Yeah, we were both home all evening.

[Narrator/Detective]

Everyone in Michelle's household said they were home for the night. But realistically, any one of them could have slipped out without the others noticing. Just like with Todd Best. There were no airtight alibis for anyone. And this uncertainty naturally drew some attention to the grandson.

[Detective/Interviewer]

You're pretty close to them.

[Virgil and Shirley's Grandson]

I am. I work with them. The farm is my main source of income.

[Detective/Interviewer]

Okay. Do you have a key to get in?

[Virgil and Shirley's Grandson]

Me personally, no, but mom and Derek keep a key near the microwave in our house.

[Narrator/Detective]

While everyone in the family remained a potential suspect, one person stood out more than the rest. The oldest sibling, Robert Best.

[Michelle Best]

He found them on the floor and pull blood. And I asked him, I said, was the door. Was the door, you know, busted open? And he said, no, it was just kind of cracked open just a little bit.

[Marisol Best]

The back door.

[Michelle Best]

He said, I don't know what happened. I don't know. And then I guess he told the deputy that he had went in just to check him.

[Detective/Interviewer]

Did he say he was by himself?

[Michelle Best]

No, his wife was with him.

[Detective/Interviewer]

Did she walk in?

[Michelle Best]

I guess. Oh, no, I don't. I don't think so. He didn't say anything about Marisol.

[Narrator/Detective]

From the start, some family members felt there was something off about Robert, particularly the way he described finding the bodies and touching them. But it wasn't just that he was the one who discovered them. Robert also had a long criminal history.

[Michelle Best]

Ever since I was a teenager, he's always been in trouble. He spent about 11 or 12 years for conning. He's a con artist.

[Marisol Best]

Basically.

[Michelle Best]

Years ago, he was into, you know, he was. He stole a lot of stuff. He would be arrested for stealing from a baseball card shop.

[Detective/Interviewer]

I remember.

[Michelle Best]

Then he got into like credit card fraud.

[Narrator/Detective]

Robert had spent much of his adult life committing fraud and conning people out of money. By the time of his parents death, he had been convicted of 38 felonies.

[Todd Best]

My brother, he's involved in a lot of things and he's a white collar crime guy. He, you know, he's been in prison. He walked into a Cadillac dealership, and I was telling a detective about this. He portrayed that he was his dad Was a doctor and he's got money. And he had a friend of him portray my dad as being that doctor. And he ended up writing a check for 35 grand, driving out with a brand new Cadillac.

[Narrator/Detective]

Robert had spent years in prison for his various schemes. But his biggest con didn't happen on the outside. It happened while he was already behind bars.

[Michelle Best]

His big thing was while he was in jail for something, he had apparently conned a blind woman that lived out of state to send him, you know, all this money. It was like a million dollars or something, I don't know. And when he got out of jail that time, he come to the house full, fully suited and bought trucks and had a girlfriend already and he bought my parents a car and he was spending all this money. This was, how long ago Was this? Probably 20, 19, 20 years ago, because I have a 21 year old. And he was like 2 when all of this happened.

[Derek (Michelle's Husband)]

Okay.

[Narrator/Detective]

While incarcerated, Robert managed to con a blind woman he had never met out of more than $1 million. After his release, he went on a spending spree, including buying expensive gifts for his parents. Within months, federal authorities came a knockin seizing the assets, and Robert was sent back to prison.

[Derek (Michelle's Husband)]

He went out buying all this stuff, bought her kids all kinds of toys and stuff, Went and bought mom and dad a Lincoln, brand new Lincoln town car. And like, literally within a month or a couple weeks, I don't remember what it was, the feds came in and took it and he was hauled off back to prison.

[Michelle Best]

They got in with wire fraud. So he spent like 11 or 12 years, 10 or 11 years in federal prison. But like I said, you know, he spent his whole, from 18 years old all the way up till then, in and out, in and out, in and out of jail.

[Narrator/Detective]

Of course, when detectives asked Robert about his million dollar scam, he played it down as best he could, no pun intended.

[Narrator/Interviewer]

My charges were money laundering, four counts of, I think, wire fraud. It was a. It was a woman that I was with and she was in love with me and she had a bunch of money and she sent me money all the time and to start a business. And then I met somebody. She became psychotic. I mean, really, really psychotic. I met somebody. She found out about it and did

[Detective/Interviewer]

you give her money back? I mean, since you didn't want to

[Marisol Best]

be with her or what?

[Narrator/Interviewer]

Well, the thing is, I bought like, I bought a house, you know, so it was, it was things like that, you know.

[Narrator/Detective]

For this fraud, Robert was sentenced to several years in prison. And when he got out he seemed committed to living a law abiding life, at least for a while.

[Michelle Best]

And, you know, he got out a while back and got married and him and Marisol started having two babies and had cleaned up his life. I mean, you know, they've always moved from one house to the other. They've never stayed in one place more than a year. You know, he says he has a job. We love him because he's my brother. And, you know, they always come to our holidays and we always have birthday dinners and everything together. But my parents have always been guarded with him because of his past.

[Narrator/Detective]

Even though Robert had seemingly turned his life around, his parents were understandably hesitant to trust him again, as was the rest of his family.

[Derek (Michelle's Husband)]

Between you, me and the recorder, I wouldn't trust him as far as I could throw it. And I don't mean to throw anybody on the bus, but I just don't know it.

[911 Operator/Interviewer]

Okay.

[Derek (Michelle's Husband)]

You know, and what I do know of him, I wouldn't trust.

[Detective/Interviewer]

Okay.

[Derek (Michelle's Husband)]

I know he's ex con or felon, whatever. I know they had a Dateline episode on this guy. That's how good he is. And I'm sorry, I'm former Marine, so if I get blunt, but it's fine.

[Detective/Interviewer]

I. I prefer blunt.

[Derek (Michelle's Husband)]

If it smells like and looks like it's probably was coming around with a brand. Well, I say brand new. He had a Ford platinum edition pickup truck.

[Detective/Interviewer]

Is that the black one that was the house?

[Derek (Michelle's Husband)]

Yes.

[Detective/Interviewer]

Okay.

[Derek (Michelle's Husband)]

This is a man that doesn't have a job that I know of, per se. He apparently had just bought a Harley. I mean, he was cutting and it was kind of. I won't say it was a joke, but we all in the family said it's just a matter of time. It's just a matter of time. For he gets busted, because he will and it'll happen.

[Todd Best]

But what does he do? He don't have a job, but he's always going out to expensive restaurants and. And buying this. And he's always up to date with the new computer gadgets and new cell phones and iPads and tablets and. And we're all, how do you afford that? How can you? What do you do? And I know, I know my mom made a comment, your brother's back in it again. Doing. Back in what? He's doing something he's not supposed to be doing. I can know it. I can feel it.

[Narrator/Detective]

After several years of avoiding trouble with the law, it appeared that Robert was up to his old tricks somehow. He was supporting himself, his wife, and his two Kids without a legitimate job.

[Detective/Interviewer]

Do you know anything that he does?

[Derek (Michelle's Husband)]

No, I have no clue. He says that this is what he tells the family, that he sells medical equipment like MRI machines overseas to China.

[Detective/Interviewer]

Does he know anything? I mean, is he educated in medical devices or. Now that you know.

[Derek (Michelle's Husband)]

Yeah, he knows about as much as medical as I know about being a brain surgeon.

[Todd Best]

Talks, but I don't pay any attention because 99% of things come out of his mouth. Is not true. You know, it's a lie. It makes you think it's true, but it's not. He's good at talking very. And we, and we always told him if he. He could be a such a good salesman and make tons of money, you know, the right way, the legal way, and. But he won't do it.

[Narrator/Detective]

Within the family, there was a quiet assumption that Robert's freedom was temporary, that sooner or later he would end up back behind bars. Because of that, contact was limited. Outside of holidays and rare family gatherings, most of them kept their distance. Robert was the black sheep of the family. And on the morning of November 12, 2015, that black sheep claimed to have found his parents dead on their living room floor.

[Todd Best]

The first initial thought was why? Why is he there that early in the morning? He never goes there that early in the morning. Who's my brother? Yeah, my older brother. Okay. He's never there. Every time I've ever seen him. It's always been in the afternoon or late afternoon or something like that. So why. Why would he have been there that early in the morning?

[Narrator/Detective]

Strangely, investigators never pressed Robert on why he went to his parents house that morning. Instead, they turned to his wife and asked her to explain what the two of them were doing there.

[Detective/Interviewer]

What was the conversation about today with mom and dad?

[Marisol Best]

It was just a type of coffee and prayer. My husband was supposed to be going to trial today for his case, and they wanted to just sit with us and pray with us.

[Detective/Interviewer]

What was that case about?

[Marisol Best]

Alleged sex with a minor.

[Detective/Interviewer]

Do you know the minor?

[Marisol Best]

Yeah, they used to babysit for us.

[Narrator/Detective]

As if the situation wasn't already horrible enough, Robert was scheduled to be in court that same morning facing charges that he had sexually assaulted an underage babysitter. Robert and his wife told investigators that they had gone to Virgil and Shirley's house for what they described as a brief prayer visit. If you want to buy that shit. Of course, no one else could confirm that Virgil or Shirley were expecting them.

[Detective/Interviewer]

Did anyone hear this directly from Ani and Papa?

[Virgil and Shirley's Grandson]

I didn't. I. I just heard that Ani called and say, meet me for prayer before you go to church, before you go to court. Because he came over at like 6am to pray with them before he went into court. And then you found him.

[Detective/Interviewer]

Okay, so you're just repeating what you've heard?

[Virgil and Shirley's Grandson]

Yes.

[Detective/Interviewer]

Okay. Yeah.

[Narrator/Detective]

There was one more thing that troubled the family in the aftermath of the murders. Emotions ran high for everyone. Well, everyone except Robert. While the whole family wept, Robert appeared cold and mostly unaffected. I wonder why that was.

[Detective/Interviewer]

How did the Amira behave while you were there with him?

[Virgil and Shirley's Grandson]

Marisol was crying. I was hugging Marisol, but was teary eyed and. But he wasn't sobbing. But I was hugging Marisol. And mom and Derek were just sobbing. They. They could not believe what was going on. And I was sobbing with Marisol.

[Narrator/Detective]

After detectives spoke with the entire family, Todd Best put their concerns into words. They didn't believe Robert was capable of killing his own parents, but they did believe he was capable of bringing someone dangerous into their lives. Someone who could.

[Todd Best]

So basically what I'm getting at is, you know, is there. Is there somebody he pissed off or he borrowed money from that he can't pay and I know where you live and you know you're not going to give me the money. What was he doing there? It's six o'clock this morning. You know, I have no idea. I didn't know he had a court.

[Narrator/Detective]

By the time detectives finished working their way through the family, one thing was clear. Nothing about this case was clean. The timeline didn't line up, the alibis weren't solid, and the man who found the bodies carried a lifetime of baggage into the interview room with him. Even so, investigators had enough to act, and Robert Best was arrested. But what came next changed everything. Not long after Robert was taken into custody, detectives obtained a confession. And it was a confession that no one could have possibly seen coming.

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[Narrator/Detective]

On the morning of November 12, 2015, Virgil and Shirley Best were found dead inside their Riverview home. Both had been shot. And detectives were left with a narrow timeline, no clear alibis, and a family where nearly everyone had opportunity. Their initial focus settled on the person who found the bodies, the Victim's oldest son, 49 year old Robert Best. His criminal past, his emotional detachment, and the circumstances surrounding that morning raised immediate red flags. Investigators believed he was responsible, and they moved to arrest him. But as detectives worked to lock in their case, they still needed to account for everyone connected to that morning, and that included Robert's wife.

[Detective/Interviewer]

Speaking with amidst. Marisol, I have your spelling of your first name. M A r I, s o, l. Is that correct?

[Marisol Best]

Yes.

[911 Operator/Interviewer]

Okay.

[Detective/Interviewer]

And the last name of Best. B, e, s, t. And your date of birth of February 24, 1985.

[Marisol Best]

Correct.

[Detective/Interviewer]

All right.

[Narrator/Detective]

When detectives interviewed Marisol, they first focused on the morning Robert found his parents dead. Marisol told him that when they arrived, Robert went inside alone while she stayed outside.

[Marisol Best]

We got there in the morning. We were supposed to have coffee and have a little prayer together.

We got there.

My husband has long legs, so he

was ahead of me.

He went into the back, knocked on the door, and noticed the door was slightly open. When I didn't hear any response, I kind of stayed back. He went in. I didn't hear anything from him for the next couple minutes, and he came out crying and told me to stay where I was.

[Detective/Interviewer]

How long have you guys been married?

[Marisol Best]

Seven years. Going on seven years. We got married in 08.

[Detective/Interviewer]

Okay. And prior to that, how long did you guys know each other before we got married?

[Marisol Best]

Two or three years.

[Detective/Interviewer]

Two or three years. All right. And where'd you guys. How did you guys meet again?

[Marisol Best]

MySpace.

Okay.

[Detective/Interviewer]

That's horrible.

What's your age difference?

[Narrator/Detective]

When Robert and Marisol stood started dating, she was 23 and he was 42. The age gap was significant. And seven years into the marriage, the relationship was clearly strained. Divorce had already been discussed.

[Marisol Best]

We've been kind of on a rocky path lately, but we've been trying to work it out.

[Detective/Interviewer]

Okay. Have you been living in the same house together?

[Marisol Best]

Yeah.

[Detective/Interviewer]

Okay. Was there a divorce in the making?

[Narrator/Detective]

He was thinking about it over what was.

[Marisol Best]

Why not being the best housewife.

[Detective/Interviewer]

Okay.

[Marisol Best]

Yeah.

It's kind of hard to fill his mom's shoes, so.

[Detective/Interviewer]

Seriously, Due to the fact that you're not a good housewife and you're gonna be okay with that?

[Marisol Best]

Yeah, I was okay with it. I mean, we were still gonna be in touch. We're still best friends. That's my best friend.

[Narrator/Detective]

The next thing detectives wanted to know was where Robert and Marisol were on the night the murders happened.

[Detective/Interviewer]

So when did you get home?

[Marisol Best]

Yesterday, actually. I dropped off my kids yesterday afternoon. I got home after 8:30, 9:00 in the evening?

Yeah.

My parents live over in Orland in Winter Park.

[Detective/Interviewer]

So as far as you are aware, was at home yesterday from. Well, the entire time you were in Winter Garden?

[Marisol Best]

Yeah.

[Interviewer/Detective]

Okay.

[Marisol Best]

Yeah, he was on the phone.

I think he was playing Diablo.

[Narrator/Detective]

Marisol told detectives that she dropped her children off at her parents house that night, leaving Robert home alone. She said she spoke with him by phone and believed he never went anywhere. According to Marisol, he was at home all night playing video games. When detectives spoke to Robert, his account matched hers. He told him he never left the house.

[Detective/Interviewer]

How long had you been at your house by the time you went to bed?

[Narrator/Interviewer]

All day.

[Detective/Interviewer]

All day.

[Narrator/Interviewer]

We only left the house once. We took my. To my son's birthday today. We took him to the Village Inn to have lunch and we came back and I stayed there. We all took nabs. And when she got up, she took the kids to her parents house.

[Detective/Interviewer]

Okay, do you remember about what time that was?

[Narrator/Interviewer]

I want to say around five, five or six.

[Detective/Interviewer]

Okay. Can you think of anybody that would want to do harm to your family?

[Narrator/Interviewer]

I cannot imagine anybody. Everybody loves them.

[Narrator/Detective]

During this interview, Robert talked about the strained relationship he had with his parents. He admitted that his criminal past and the embarrassment of federal agents once showing up at their door meant they never fully trusted him again.

[Detective/Interviewer]

How was your relationship with him?

[Narrator/Interviewer]

It's good. I mean, I was a black sheep with a family. You know, I got in trouble early in life and stuff like that, but I've been, you know, trying to make it up and do right. I got kids now. I have responsibilities and everything, you know, and, you know, they've been very supportive.

[Narrator/Detective]

He claimed, despite his criminal past, his parents continued to support him. That raised questions. If Virgil and Shirley were so supportive, why weren't they planning to attend his upcoming criminal trial?

[Narrator/Interviewer]

Because my mom really didn't want to go, you know, reading text messages about sexual things and everything. My mom just. She almost had a nervous breakdown. So she asked my wife if we on our way, if we would stop over and just let them pray with us.

[Narrator/Detective]

Robert continued to insist that his parents wanted him to come by that morning to pray for him. But outside of Robert and Marisol, no one else knew anything about this supposed plan. For detectives, this raised a troubling possibility. Were they hearing the truth? Or were they being worked by a man who had spent much of his life conning people into believing whatever suited him at that moment?

[Detective/Interviewer]

What else is in your history? If I'm you Know, going, oh, yeah,

[Narrator/Interviewer]

just stupid kid stuff, you know, what does that. I mean, when I was like late teens and early 20s or whatever, I had burglary, you know, breaking in places and stuff like that.

[Detective/Interviewer]

Just. What, into homes or. Or into cars?

[Narrator/Interviewer]

It's a business. And a car. I. Mustang convertible and drove around that stupid.

[Detective/Interviewer]

Oh, you stole the car. Oh, so it was grand theft.

[Derek (Michelle's Husband)]

It was broke.

[Detective/Interviewer]

You broke in. You still had that piece of you inside of you.

[Narrator/Interviewer]

No, believe me, that's been excised. No doubt.

[Detective/Interviewer]

But you've tried to kind of be on the straight and narrow since then.

[Narrator/Interviewer]

I tried. I have been. I wanted, you know, my wife laughs at me or whatever because I won't jaywalk, you know.

[Narrator/Detective]

In an attempt to confirm or disprove Robert's account of the supposed early morning prayer meeting with his parents, detectives asked to review his text messages. Robert wasn't enthusiastic about this request and he flat out refused. Does that surprise you?

[Detective/Interviewer]

Would you allow me to look in your phone?

[Narrator/Interviewer]

To look in my phone for what?

[Detective/Interviewer]

Just to look in it. You can always tell me now.

[Narrator/Interviewer]

No, I'm not trying to be a jerk and I want to help you any way possible. There's nothing in my phone that's going to help you, though.

[Narrator/Detective]

Okay. For a man who claimed to be living a law abiding life to the point of saying he even avoided jaywalking, Robert appeared unusually guarded. He certainly came across as a man with something to hide. With that in mind, detectives made a controversial move. Robert was arrested for failing to appear in court, even though he had been with police all morning. Naturally, an elusive judge was blamed for that very shady decision.

[Detective/Interviewer]

So we can't control what the judge.

[Narrator/Interviewer]

I couldn't. I wasn't allowed to go.

[Marisol Best]

No, I. I agree.

[Detective/Interviewer]

But the judge, you know, once the judge, they put the warrant system away. We can clear it. You'll have to go and the judge

[Narrator/Interviewer]

can take it off. Well, I told them I agree, you guys are the quickest way to get that done. And we told no, it's not my fault. If you called up there, you could get in to talk to the judge.

[911 Operator/Interviewer]

Right.

[Narrator/Detective]

This arrest put an immediate end to Robert's cooperation. Once he was told he was being taken into custody, his demeanor changed and he refused to answer any more questions.

[Narrator/Interviewer]

I'm not cooperating anymore with you guys. Not after doing this to me on today.

[Detective/Interviewer]

Okay, well, Polk county did this, not us.

[Narrator/Interviewer]

Well, it's still.

[Robert Best]

You guys were supposed to make sure

[Narrator/Interviewer]

that it didn't happen, and I was

[Robert Best]

assured that it Was going to because I told them I wanted to go.

[Detective/Interviewer]

I know that they know. I know that Polk county knew that you've been with us.

[Robert Best]

Well, as it is now, I'm not giving permission to search. Nothing. I don't want none of my stuff.

[Marisol Best]

Nothing.

[911 Operator/Interviewer]

Okay.

[Marisol Best]

No.

[Robert Best]

This is bullshit, man.

[Narrator/Interviewer]

Of all times, you're gonna fucking do this shit.

[Narrator/Detective]

Robert was arrested buying detectives time to determine whether he was responsible for his parents murder. And they didn't have to wait very long. Less than 24 hours later, they had their answer.

[Detective/Interviewer]

I asked you if there was more that you needed to tell me, and you told me that you had gone to the house last night and you had some prayer time.

[Marisol Best]

Yes.

[Detective/Interviewer]

Okay. Talk to me about that.

[Marisol Best]

I had called earlier on my way

back just to see if I could

stop by, have a little prayer session.

I did. We talked for a good 20, 30 minutes. My blood dropped, honestly.

[Narrator/Detective]

In a surprising twist, Robert's wife, Marisol, requested another interview with detectives. During that conversation, she admitted to going to Virgil and Shirley's house on the night they were killed to pray with them. And she claimed to have blacked out while she was there.

[Interviewer/Detective]

So something must have happened or triggered you to black out.

[Marisol Best]

They were not happy with him, and

they haven't been since his mess up with the federal case years ago. They've never forgiven him for it. And the one time that he needed them to be with him, they weren't. None of his family was supportive, of course.

[Narrator/Detective]

Detectives weren't satisfied about Marisol's claim that she blacked out, because clearly, it's bullshit. And they pressed her for more details about what happened to Robert's parents.

[Marisol Best]

I don't know. I just. Hearing all that negativity and knowing that all he needed right now was family, to be with him and support him. Because we're going to trial the next day, and he had nobody except me.

[Interviewer/Detective]

What did they say exactly? Do you remember?

[Marisol Best]

They were just disappointed in him. They said that he has no excuse. You know, he's been dealing with this long enough. He should know better. And to have family just deny you loyalty is just heartbreaking. Especially a family like the husband is always so caring and loving.

[Narrator/Commentator]

Marisol claimed that instead of the encouraging prayer session she expected, Virgil and Shirley only criticized Robert. According to her, the conversation was harsh and escalated into insults. Then something inside of her snapped.

[Detective/Interviewer]

What happened inside the house? Did you guys start yelling and screaming at each other?

[Marisol Best]

No, that's the thing. They were frustrated and pissed off, and. I don't know. Something snapped. I'M not like that at all.

[Interviewer/Detective]

Do you know what was said that just made you snap?

[Marisol Best]

They were just disappointed always. He couldn't ever do right, and that he's always going to end up leading the same road, and that's why he's in trouble again with this. And it's like I said, you guys were always so happy because I married him and he's doing better. It's just almost so fake as far as that. As far as being religious and, you know, well, it's God's will, whatever happens. And, you know, he doesn't deserve to be going to jail in the first place.

[Narrator/Commentator]

Marisol told detectives that as the conversation devolved into criticism of Robert, she excused herself and stepped outside. She went to her truck, retrieved a gun, and then returned to the living room.

[Interviewer/Detective]

When you came back in, what happened then?

[Marisol Best]

I went to the bathroom, and that's about it. They kept talking to me as I was walking to the bathroom.

[Narrator/Detective]

It was more negativity.

[Detective/Interviewer]

Where did you put the gun at? Was it in your pants? Was it in your hand? Was it under your shirt?

[Marisol Best]

Like I said, I just was so angry. Okay, just remember coming out of the bathroom, and I was. As I was walking, I said, okay, let's do the prayer. That's about it. I was so frustrated.

[Narrator/Commentator]

With a handgun tucked in her pants, Marisol told Virgil and Shirley she was ready to pray. They complied, bowed their heads, and started praying for their son.

[Marisol Best]

I remember them getting up off the couch and wanting to hold my hand, and I didn't want to hold their hand, but they insisted.

[Detective/Interviewer]

Did they have their heads bowed and their eyes closed, praying?

[Marisol Best]

Do you want to say yes?

[Interviewer/Detective]

Did they see it coming? As far as the gun, I don't think so. And can you go back?

[Marisol Best]

They expected it from me.

[Narrator/Commentator]

While Virgil and Shirley had their heads bowed in prayer, Marisol drew the gun from her waistband. Then she aimed at Virgil's face and fired.

[Marisol Best]

And that's because he was the most negative. I mean, his mom. I expected it. She was always so judgmental. And when he started talking about he was always a disappointment to him and all that, it was just kind of upset. I don't get upset. I have two toddlers. I'm not allowed to be upset.

[Narrator/Commentator]

After shooting Virgil, Marisol turned the gun on his wife, Shirley, and fired two more shots.

[Detective/Interviewer]

Where did you shoot Papa?

[Marisol Best]

I just. I. I remember that. That's it. I just remember pulling the gun, and I know it was towards Papa. That's it. I just aimed. I don't know where I aimed. I just pointed.

That's it.

[Detective/Interviewer]

Okay. Where did you shoot Yanni, Bonnie?

[Marisol Best]

That again, I don't. No.

[Narrator/Commentator]

Virgil Best was shot once in the head. Shirley was shot twice, once in the head and once through the neck. It's likely they both died instantly.

[Interviewer/Detective]

After you pulled the trigger and shot them, did you stick around there for any period of time or did you immediately. Immediately leave or something else?

[Marisol Best]

I think I went. Just tried to open drawers, you know, just to kind of, I don't know, make it seem like something went wrong.

[Narrator/Commentator]

After killing her in laws, Marisol attempted to stage the scene as a robbery gone wrong. She left drawers open, knocked over a clock, and left the back door open. This level of deliberate action conflicted with her claim that she had just blacked out. Even so, detectives now had a confession. And in many ways, Marisol's account held together. But one question remained unresolved. They couldn't yet rule out Robert's involvement

[Interviewer/Detective]

in the killings because I'm not so sure that he wasn't there.

[Marisol Best]

He was at home the entire time. He couldn't track his phone calls. He was talking to his attorney most of the time. You would not be okay with this at all if I had told him or if he even knew about it or even attempted to think about something like that. He loved his parents. Regardless of what they thought of him and how they treated him. He may get upset with them and, you know, just want to move, but nothing like this ever. Okay, give us a. I promise you that.

[Detective/Interviewer]

Oh, I'll believe that.

[Narrator/Commentator]

Marisol insisted that Robert had no involvement in the murders and wasn't present when his parents were killed. She told detectives he had no idea they were dead until the following morning when the two of them discovered the bodies together.

[Interviewer/Detective]

How did it come about this morning when you guys go there and find them, how did that happen?

[Marisol Best]

He walked up and the door was open.

[Interviewer/Detective]

Did you stay in the car or did you go up to the door with him?

[Marisol Best]

This morning he beat me out of the car, per usual. So I was lagging behind a little bit.

[Interviewer/Detective]

Were you lagging because you knew what he was gonna find?

[Marisol Best]

No, I was just lagging behind. I was extremely exhausted and I was just lagging behind.

[Narrator/Commentator]

Detectives told Marisol they believed her and the record suggests they meant it. Prosecutors appeared to reach the same conclusion. Robert Best was never charged with any crime related to his parents murder. Marisol, however, was arrested immediately after giving her confession.

[News Reporter]

On Wednesday, 30 year old Marisol Best met with her in laws Virgil and Shirley Best at their Riverview home. Deputies say when she left, they were dead.

[Narrator/Detective]

She was upset about some of the

[Grainger Advertiser]

comments, negative comments that they were making

[Narrator/Detective]

about her son, and got angry and

[Grainger Advertiser]

unfortunately took out her anger on her in laws.

[News Reporter]

The argument was over her husband, their son. Robert Best's upcoming court date in Polk County. It involves sex acts with a minor. She apparently got so mad, she grabbed a girl gun and opened fire.

[Narrator/Commentator]

Marisol was charged with two counts of premeditated murder and pleaded not guilty. Robert's legal troubles followed a different path. In the separate case involving allegations of sex with a minor, he accepted a plea deal. He was sentenced to about a year in jail, followed by four years of probation. Prosecutors declined to explain why that deal was offered. About a week before Robert's release, detectives met with him one final time, this time to discuss his wife's upcoming murder trial. One of the first questions they asked was how Marisol had behaved on the night of the killings before Robert knew his parents were dead.

[Detective/Interviewer]

Once she arrived back home, what was her demeanor? What was she like?

[Robert Best]

I don't know. It's just in hindsight, you know, But, I mean, at the time, I'm thinking she was really nervous about the next day about going to trial. She seemed very distressed.

[Detective/Interviewer]

Did Marisol at any point tell you or allude to you at all what she had done?

[Robert Best]

That's one of the things that hurt, is that if she did this, that she knew what I was going to find and let me walk into that, you know, with no warning, what whatsoever.

[Narrator/Commentator]

Robert maintained that Marisol never told him what she had done. Whether that's true is something we'll probably never know for certain, if you want my opinion. Who knows, really? What do you think?

[Interviewer/Detective]

What.

[Detective/Interviewer]

What is your plan?

[Robert Best]

I'm staying here. I'm gonna stay here. And we're supposed to. We're supposed to get a place with my in law, so all of a, you know, I can be with the kids and stuff, stuff like that.

[Detective/Interviewer]

Okay. What's your plan with her?

[Narrator/Detective]

It's a tough one.

[Robert Best]

You know, we got kids and you

[Detective/Interviewer]

plan on divorcing her at some point or. The purpose of the recording, is that a yes?

[Robert Best]

Yes.

[911 Operator/Interviewer]

Okay.

[Marisol Best]

All right.

[Narrator/Commentator]

About two years after the murders in 2018, Marisol's case went to trial. Her defense team focused on creating reasonable doubt in the minds of the jury. And by pointing the finger at Robert Best.

[Marisol Best's Attorney]

Is this a case of blind devotion or cold blooded murder? Marisol Best's attorney floated one theory to the jury.

[Narrator/Detective]

The evidence will show that Marisol Best would Do anything, anything to protect her husband, Robert Best.

[Marisol Best's Attorney]

Even take the fall on a double murder charge.

[Narrator/Detective]

You're going to hear that.

[Grainger Advertiser]

Ms. Best.

[Narrator/Detective]

Husband Robert has been convicted of 38 felony charges. He has had a lot of problems.

[Marisol Best's Attorney]

Problems they say soured his relationship with his parents.

[Grainger Advertiser]

Shirley and Virgil Best were very unhappy

[Marisol Best's Attorney]

with their son Robert.

[Narrator/Commentator]

In the end, though, the jury rejected the defense's argument and cited with the prosecution.

[Marisol Best's Attorney]

But it's clear now that the jury did not buy the defense's theory. We just found out minutes ago that, in fact, the jury did come back with a verdict. Guilty on both counts of murder. She will now be sentenced at the end of this month.

[Narrator/Commentator]

Following her conviction, Marisol was sentenced to two consecutive life terms in prison without the possibility of parole.

[Detective/Interviewer]

Do you doubt that she did it?

[Robert Best]

I mean, obviously I think that she did it. You know, if she's gonna admit that she did it, I think that she did do it, why she would do it. That's the thing I want to know. That's what I want to ask her. You know, I want to know why there's nothing that my parents could say to me that would make me even want to slap them much. Let's do something like that. And I can't imagine her either, doing that.

[Narrator/Commentator]

As far as motives go, this one can be a bit difficult to wrap your head around. A brutal double murder, not for money, not for revenge, not for self preservation, but because someone said something nasty to your spouse. On its face, that explanation is absurd. People say hurtful things all the time. Families argue. I mean, have you ever been to Thanksgiving? None of that usually ends in gunfire. But motive isn't about what makes sense to us. It's about what mattered to the person who pulled the trigger.

[Robert Best]

My parents are very critical. You know, they're very opinionated. A lot of older people are. And, you know, they would get on to me about the situation that I was in and everything. If I hadn't been going to a real church instead of this church, it wouldn't have happened. And, you know, and I just let it go in one ear and out the other. You know, it's just them. I love them. And it's mom and dad. It's mom and dad, you know, but she would get very upset about it. You know, she'd take it very personally that they should be supportive.

[Narrator/Commentator]

And Robert described his parents as critical people, Judgmental, blunt, and often harsh. To him, it was mostly background noise, something he'd lived with his entire life. He'd learned to let it roll off his back. But Marisol was a different story.

[Narrator/Detective]

She didn't. She couldn't.

[Narrator/Commentator]

Her back held onto things. Apparently, when Robert could dismiss Marisol, absorbed what he heard as nagging, she experienced as condemnation. In her mind, the criticism wasn't just aimed at Robert. It was aimed at her and her ego. A rejection, a betrayal, a reminder that no matter how long she'd been part of the family, she would always be seen as the black sheep's wife. Sometimes the only explanation for a horrific crime is that someone couldn't tolerate the way they felt, felt, and chose violence to silence it. Virgil and Shirley Best never got the chance to explain themselves. They didn't get a final argument. They didn't get a moment of understanding. And sadly, the reason they died doesn't offer clarity or closure. It leaves the rest of the family and quite frankly, all of us sitting with an uncomfortable truth. Reality is messy, incomplete and deeply unsatisfying. And people are petty, egotistical, self centered. And some people are just shit.

[911 Operator/Interviewer]

Foreign.

[Narrator/Commentator]

That does it for another one.

[Narrator/Detective]

Hope you enjoyed it. If you did, you can head on over to swordandscale.com to find out more.

[Narrator/Commentator]

Download our app, iOS and Android and

[Narrator/Detective]

we'll see you right back here here next week for some more murder. Till then, stay safe.

[Todd Best]

Sa.