Killer Story | 6. Perfect for Television

Summary

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Killer Story | Episode 6: “Perfect for Television”

Podcast: The Binge Cases: Killer Story
Host: Steve Fishman (Sony Music Entertainment)
Date: March 9, 2026

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Episode Overview

The final episode of "Killer Story" brings listeners into the courtroom for the long-awaited trial of Tom Preston, alleged murderer of 17-year-old Sabrina Kidd in Las Vegas. The episode threads together the high-stakes drama of the trial, the tangled, often unreliable witness accounts, and the personal journey of Lyndal Marks—the tabloid reporter who helped bring the case back into the public eye. It also dedicates time to the emotional fallout for Lyndal, her past trauma, and the ripple effects for her family.

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Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. The Trial of Tom Preston

[06:18–13:45]

• The Prosecution’s Case:
  Prosecutors describe Sabrina’s murder as a violent strangulation inside Tom Preston’s home, presenting a narrative that unfolds “perfect for television.” The evidence, primarily circumstantial, is built on timelines and witness statements.

  “This is a case where a young woman was choked around the neck until she became lifeless.” — Prosecutor [07:03]

• Defense Strategy:
  Preston is painted as a grandfatherly, humanitarian figure, undermined only by “media sensationalism.” The defense attacks the role of shows like A Current Affair, suggesting the trial wouldn’t exist but for TV ratings.

  “If not for A Current Affair, this poor older man would be free to support his family.” — Defense Attorney [07:34] “He had good defence and he had the gift of the gab and he gave his own testimony.” — Lyndal [09:05]

• Preston's Testimony:
  Unusually, Preston takes the stand himself, touting his community involvement—citing everything from law enforcement experience to being a “mascot for cheerleaders.” He describes his devotion to his troubled son, Tommy.

  “I was the humanitarian of the year in Las Vegas. I saved single handedly a bus from being hijacked. I was mascot for the cheerleaders. Everybody loved me.” — Tom Preston, quoted by Steve Fishman [09:19]

2. Competing Narratives and Witness Testimony

[13:45–33:48]

• The Life Insurance Motive:
  Bobby Sue, Sabrina’s mother, provides emotional testimony, confronting Preston about a suspicious $400,000 life insurance policy he tried to secure on Sabrina’s life after knowing her less than a month.

  “I asked him, how did he come about making a $400,000 life insurance policy on my daughter since he hadn’t even known her for a month?” — Bobby Sue [16:39]

• Key Witness – Denise Day:
  The prosecution's most dramatic evidence comes from Denise, Tommy’s on-and-off girlfriend, who recounts a chilling story of helping dump Sabrina’s hogtied body in the Colorado River. Denise’s credibility is, however, deeply questioned:

  “I lied on my testimony. The part where I said I didn’t know anything?” — Denise Day [19:06]
  “She was hog tied with her hands and legs tied behind her back...They headed down to the rocks into the river. They put her face down in the water and took the ropes off and pushed her down into the water.” — Denise Day [24:34, 25:57]

• Alternate Account – Kathy Simmons:
  Denise’s cellmate, Kathy, testifies for the defense, claiming Denise admitted deeper involvement—including wanting 30% of the insurance money and that it was a “planned murder by all three of them.”

  “Tom Sr., Tom Jr., and Denise Day.” — Kathy Simmons [29:03]
  “She was alive the whole way there. And when she got out... she tried to ask Denise for a cigarette.” — Kathy Simmons [32:15]

3. The Verdict

[33:48–36:11]

• The jury deliberates for eight hours; Tom Preston is convicted of premeditated murder.
• The judge, referencing Preston’s amiable courtroom persona, delivers a scathing sentence:

  “You appear to be very friendly and jovial. You look rather grandfatherly and like a nice guy. But... you are an evil, heartless predator.” — Judge [34:59]

• Preston receives life without parole and dies in prison. Further victims come forward, revealing Preston as a serial predator.

4. Lyndal Marks: Closure and Family Legacy

[37:43–43:53]

• Fishman probes whether Lyndal found emotional closure after helping solve Sabrina’s case—a personal quest linked to her own attack decades before in Australia.
• Lyndal's daughters, Ellie and Molly, reflect on learning about their mother's trauma and how it drew their small family closer.

  “Mum is truly in every way, shape or form, absolutely my hero. The most incredible human on the planet.” — Molly [39:13] “I think it made us become closer as a little family unit... we appreciated and understood Mum more than we had before.” — Molly [43:10]

• Lyndal admits the case didn’t bring closure, but sharing her secret with her daughters provided its own kind of healing.

  “It didn’t give me any emotional closure.” — Lyndal [42:43]
  “In a way, it was a great relief sharing it with the two people that mean more to me than anybody else on this planet.” — Lyndal [43:35]

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Memorable Quotes & Moments

• Preston's Narcissism:

  “If I were to kill somebody, I surely wouldn’t include Denise Day in a conspiracy.” — Tom Preston [26:41]

• On the Power of TV:

  “He used to get my name wrong and he called me that Lynn Dal Marks.” — Lyndal [11:21]

• Raw Grief in the Courtroom:

  “Her hands were trembling. They were clasped very, very tightly. And her face was barely composed. Her grief just kept breaking through.” — (about Bobby Sue, Sabrina’s mother) [13:45]

• Defense’s Bluster:

  “Excuse me, sir. I heard again. Kiss my—” — Tom Preston’s attorney, to the TV crew [36:07]

• Daughters' Perspective:

  “The thought of anyone hurting my mom just like makes me so furious.” — Ellie [41:34]

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Important Timestamps

• [06:18] — Explanation: Courtroom and trial begin, starting on Valentine’s Day 1994.
• [09:05] — Lyndal recalls her fear of an acquittal due to Preston’s testimony.
• [16:39] — Bobby Sue confronts Preston about the life insurance policy.
• [19:06] — Denise Day admits on the stand to lying previously.
• [24:34–25:57] — Denise’s graphic testimony about what she saw at the Colorado River.
• [29:03] — Kathy Simmons testifies, implicating Denise as more than a bystander.
• [33:48] — Jury deliberations and verdict.
• [37:43–43:53] — Lyndal and daughters on family, trauma, and closure.

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Conclusion

“Perfect for Television” closes the saga with a multi-layered exploration of justice, memory, media, and personal reckoning. Preston is revealed as both a predator and a manipulator of his public persona, ultimately convicted of murder. The case’s conclusion, while a relief for many, cannot erase the devastation for those left behind—especially for reporter Lyndal Marks, for whom the chase for justice was always deeply personal.

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Note: The episode teases more about the mysterious circumstances of Tommy Preston’s death, implicating further unresolved threads, but closes on the affirmation that sometimes meaning is found not in answers, but in the bonds forged by telling the truth—and surviving together.

Transcript

[A]

So I've noticed this pattern lately in my life. I'll be shopping online. Doesn't matter if it's clothes, something for the house or something I absolutely don't need, but suddenly deeply want. And I'll get to the checkout and think, okay, Here we go. 15 steps, passwords. Okay, where's my wallet? And then I see it, that purple shop pay button, and I genuinely feel relieved. I'm like, hallelujah. Because I know in about 3 seconds I will be done. One tap, no login spiral, no typing. My entire address for the 10,000th time is just done. That button is powered by Shopify, which is the commerce platform behind millions of businesses worldwide and about 10% of all E commerce in the U.S. that's right. And what's cool is Shopify isn't just making checkout easier for shoppers. It's making easier for people to actually start and run their own businesses. You can build a beautiful online store with ready to use templates that match your brand. And Shopify even has AI tools that help write product descriptions, create headlines, and enhance your photos so you don't have to do everything all by yourself. You know you got some help. They also help you find customers with built in email and social media tools and manage everything in one place from inventory to payments to analytics. I mean, it's amazing. It's basically like having a whole team behind you. So whether you're shopping or selling, Shopify just makes things smoother. See, less carts go abandoned and more sales go with Shopify and their shop pay button. Sign up for your one per month trial today at shopify.com cases. Go to shopify shopify.com cases that's shopify.com cases.

[B]

Listen to all episodes of Killer Story ad free right now by subscribing to the binge. Visit the binge channel on Apple podcasts and hit subscribe at the top of the page or visit getthebinge.com to get access. Wherever you listen, the binge feed your true crime obsession.

[A]

The binge.

[B]

Previously on Killer Story.

[A]

A dusty missing person file was quickly turned into a murder investigation with one suspect, Tom Preston. I can't help to think, man, that he's got something to do with both of these. I was scared to death.

[B]

There was no witness to the murder.

[A]

I got a phone call. She just said, I know that man hurt Sabrina.

[B]

It's one thing to arrest a person for murder, another thing entirely to prove that person is a murderer beyond a reasonable doubt. And that's where we are now. We're in court. The State of Nevada vs Thomas Lancourt Preston Jr why are we here? Because Thomas Lancourt Preston Jr insists he's not guilty. He is not the person he's been taken for. I've never lied in my life. The case had been entirely circumstantial, but then a call came in from a woman who claimed she was there the night Sybrina was pushed into the Colorado River.

[A]

Yeah, just her arms and legs were tied together behind her back.

[B]

This is our final episode and we're going to get to the bottom of some things, like how Sabrina ended up floating in a clear, cold river. And also, how did Lindell get the revenge she was seeking? This is killer story. I'm Steve Fishman. Episode six. Perfect for television.

[A]

I want to tell you guys about a podcast that is near and dear to my heart. And I cannot believe it already came out a year ago. And you can all go listen to it ad free by subscribing to the binge podcast channel. What podcast, Corinne? Tell us. Oh, it's called Blink Jake Handle story. I created it about a man named Jake who I met who is the only survivor of a terminal brain illness brought on by heroin use. But there is a lot of mystery and medical malpractice and true crime elements that are very shocking and surprising and even some supernatural elements. So this is definitely an amazing story and very unique. Did such an incredible job telling the story and sharing it with the world. So if you have not listened to it yet, my goodness, where have you been? Because Blink is so freaking good. Thank you. Search for Blink wherever you listen and subscribers to the binge will get the entire season ad free. Plus you'll get exclusive access to the over 60 other true crime stories on the binge podcast channel. Hit subscribe on Apple podcasts or head to getthebinge.com Sabrina Corinne, I have been listening to a new show from the binge called Fatal Fantasy. I am obsessed. Oh my. Wait, I need to know more. Tell me. Tell me everything. Okay, I will. It's very shocking. It's this like ultra weird crime story of a murder for hire plot that. Yeah, wait for it. Leveraged the dynamics of the underworld and underworld being a medieval fantasy game. Wait, so it's live action role playing gone wrong? Horribly wrong. And you can binge all episodes now? Oh my God. That sounds so good. I know what I'm doing on my drive home today. Search for Fatal fantasy and subscribe to the binge podcast channel on Apple podcasts [e-mail] and then once you're done, you can listen to one of the over 60 true crime and investigative podcasts a part of the channel while you wait for the next month's drop. I really need to know what happens. Selfishly you do, so that we can talk about it. So whenever you listen, search for Fatal Fantasy and hit subscribe to the binge to get all episodes all at once ad free.

[B]

A note before we start. Actors reenact some court proceedings. All right, let's have a trial. Nevada versus Preston starts on Valentine's Day 1994. Yeah. The wheels of justice turn slowly. It's seven years since Sabrina disappeared. Three years since Lindell got on the case. Today is supposed to be a day devoted to love. But no one in the courtroom is feeling much love. The prosecutor wants the jury to think about a grisly scene about how a defenseless Sabrina met a violent end.

[A]

This is a case where a young woman was choked around the neck until she became lifeless.

[B]

Choked until she became lifeless. Preston's team, the defense isn't feeling much love either. Their view is that the case has been concocted for the benefit of TV viewers.

[A]

A very, very disappointed of Metro Public

[B]

Police Department allowing this program for affairs

[A]

to be the tale to wag the dog of Metro.

[B]

The tail wagging the dog of Metro. As in Metro Police. The attorney goes on. If not for A Current Affair, this poor older man would be free to support his family. Okay, let's start with this poor older man, 53 year old Tom Preston, the defendant. Now you know defendants don't usually testify. It opens them up to too many questions on cross examination. But a self confident Preston is bucking the conventional wisdom. He lumbers to the stand. He's been in jail awaiting trial for almost two years and has lost £50. He's £300 now, still in terrible health. On the stand, Preston looks comfortable. He sports a graying shaggy goatee and wears business attire, a dark blue suit. He has a deep gentle voice. He's clearly someone who believes in his powers of persuasion. As far as I can tell, the defense strategy is to paint Preston as an endearing character. Likable, helpful, grandfatherly Tom Preston. He just isn't the type to do something dastardly. Lindell is sitting in the spectator section and she's worried.

[A]

He had good defence and he had the gift of the gab and he gave his own testimony. And if you were a jury member that believed him, only one of them had reasonable doubt. This guy would not have gone to Jail.

[B]

She means that if even one juror believes Preston's story, there won't be a guilty verdict. This is how Preston presents himself in court. First, as a selfless member of the community. I'm quoting from Preston's statements here. I was the humanitarian of the year in Las Vegas. I saved single handedly a bus from being hijacked. I was mascot for the cheerleaders. Everybody loved me. Then he presents himself as highly trained. He was a surgical nurse, worked in law enforcement for the District Attorney. He brought along a badge to show the jury he worked for the U.S. department of the treasury as well. And he's a respected businessman. When Sabrina lived with him, he was managing sales across five states and overseeing security for an international company. All this from the comfort of a couch in his own home. So this is Preston's version of who he is. Preston also talked about his devotion to his troubled son, Tommy. He'd raised Tommy since kindergarten, mostly on his own. But Tommy became a monster on drugs. And Preston's second wife said, it's Tommy or me. To which Preston said, I couldn't bring myself to throw my son out. Preston's wife left and Tommy was all I had. Is it really possible that this devoted father is a heartless killer? Lyndall stared at Preston.

[A]

I looked at him and I absolutely hated him. I looked at him and he made

[B]

me feel ill. Preston tells the jury that the only reason he's in the courtroom, the only reason this whole thing is happening, is because of A Current Affair. This sleazoid electric tabloid, as he refers to it, was hunting for ratings.

[A]

What he was saying was that it was all about me wanting to, you know, advance my career or some bullshit like that. And he used to piss me off because he used to get my name wrong and he called me that. Lynn Dal Marks.

[B]

Next, the prosecutor gets turned with the accused. He opens with a trap, Mr. Preston, that if you had killed Sabrina Kidd, would you tell us in this courtroom

[A]

that said, yes, sir? Why would, why, why wouldn't I, sir?

[B]

I've never lied in my life. Never. Seems to me Preston fell into the prosecutor's trap not to get too far ahead. But the facts may be unfriendly to Preston's view. The prosecution contends that Sabrina was strangled to death in Preston's house in the hour between 8:30 and 9:30 on the morning of September 18th. So between the time her friend Jennifer says she dropped her off at Preston's and the time her friend Crystal says she stopped by to pick her up for work. Where were you at that time, Mr. Preston? His response? Something we haven't heard before. Preston claims he was not at home that morning. He was at a clinic for his heart. His bad ticker, as he calls it. But that's not the version Jennifer told us, nor the version she tells the court. He claims he wasn't there that morning.

[A]

Yeah, well, he was. We both know he was. That's why me and Crystal were like, he's fucking lying.

[B]

The prosecution believes the facts will convict Preston. But a murder isn't a dry math problem. The prosecution needs the jury to feel the case. And so they call Bobby Sue, Sabrina's mother, to testify. The prosecutor picks up a blue bag marked personal belongings. It contains Sabrina's clothes, those she was wearing when she was fished out of the river. He places the dark pants, the bra in Bobby's hands, asks her to identify them.

[A]

She was so fragile and sad and just, you know, really a mess. Her hands were trembling. They were clasped very, very tightly. And her face was barely composed. Her grief just kept breaking through.

[B]

Bobby sue regains her composure. And here's the story she tells the jury about the time she banged on Preston's door, demanding answers. It's November, 1987, two months after Sabrina disappeared. No one yet knows she's dead. One evening, she shows up at Preston's home unannounced. She comes with reinforcements. Sabrina's grandmother, her aunt, her friends Jennifer and Crystal, and Crystal's mom. Preston wasn't expecting them, but he's hospitable. He invites them in. Then he notices Jennifer and gets furious. That lying bitch. He says. Jennifer leaves. Preston leads Bobby sue and the rest of her troupe to the living room, which is just a dozen or so feet from where, according to the prosecution, Sabrina was strangled. Tommy's there and sits next to his dad, but doesn't say much. Bobby sue comes to the point. What happened to my daughter?

[A]

He just told me that he didn't know what happened to Sabrina.

[B]

But Bobby sue has come for some answers.

[A]

What's an old man like you trying to take care of a young girl like that? And he said that he just wanted to be her model agent and her father friend.

[B]

Cue the resume. Preston claimed experience in nursing, security, law enforcement. And now he adds, he had vast theatrical experience. That's his phrase. Vast theatrical experience. He claims he'd been in the TV business, in the motion picture business. He'd owned studios. He'd been a theatrical agent, a casting agent. And Bobby sue, he owned modeling agencies, plural. Bobby Hsu's reaction on the stand.

[A]

She was not a model. She was just a kid, a lost kid.

[B]

One of the things Preston didn't mention was some experience he may have had in photography. He'd been investigated in the 70s for creating and distributing pornography. Makes me think of those photos of Sabrina in lingerie.

[A]

Hmm.

[B]

And then the prosecutor moves Bobby sue to the main point of her story, something he wants the jurors to focus on. She tells the jury of a question she put to Preston in his living room.

[A]

I asked him, how did he come about making a $400,000 life insurance policy on my daughter since he hadn't even known her for a month? And why did he think he could have that large sum of money on my daughter when she was only 17? Then he said, well, that she took a lot of chances, that she rode on the back of motorcycles, and that she was daring, and he just wanted to make sure he was covered in case there was an accident or something with her.

[B]

Preston had his own explanation. I said, you know, it takes a

[A]

lot of money to launch somebody's career if you're gonna. You know, I don't care who it is. And I said, can't put out anything, and. And. And. And have you busted up in little pieces on the back of somebody's motorcycle, and everything is poof.

[B]

That was a. Certainly a.

[A]

A logical, basical thing. If you're gonna have a pretty girl, you don't want her wiped out.

[B]

But to Bobby Sue, Preston's explanation seemed suspicious. After all, he'd only collect if Sabrina died. Facing Preston in the living room, Bobby sue won't let it go.

[A]

And I kept asking him over and over, well, how could you take such a large sum out on my daughter? And he didn't really answer me. He just talked about how beautiful she was one time. The next time, what a slut she was.

[B]

A grim irony. Two weeks after Sabrina went missing, State Farm denied the application for life insurance. The insurance, if it was a motive for murder, was misguided. Bobby Zu's testimony offers the jury a different side of Preston. That sudden, angry outburst at a teenager, plus, he seemed evasive. And that insurance policy. Why would he apply for insurance? The jury has to wonder. And then the prosecution calls its key witness, the one who claims to know exactly how Sabrina's body got in the Colorado River. But is she to be believed? She does have some challenges. Like, for instance, she's an admitted liar. She will tell the court as much.

[A]

I lied on my testimony. The part where I said I didn't Know anything?

[B]

The prosecution star witness is Denise Day, Tommy's girlfriend. Denise is a jailbird. She'd visited jail more than a dozen times. In fact, she was in the TV room of Mojave County Jail when she caught Lindell's segment on A Current Affair, the segment that reported Tom Preston was in custody, the segment which freed her to come forward. The prosecution has a lot riding on Denise, maybe everything in court transcripts. Her testimony is cinematic. The words she speaks are emotional, dramatic. Though when I asked Lindell, she said Denise's tone didn't match the words.

[A]

She's not very comfortable with authority. So she was very, I don't know, almost robotic in her responses. She spoke like someone completely haunted.

[B]

The prosecution situates the action. Denise is in Preston's home. She explains she was living there with Tommy one night. She says she overheard an extraordinary conversation. Preston and his son were hatching a plan, a plan to kill Sabrina. A question from the defense attorney. What do you remember being said about the house and the fire?

[A]

That he could set Sabrina on fire and catch the home on fire.

[B]

Who was making the statement about catching her on fire?

[A]

Big Tom.

[B]

Preston has three mortgages on his house. He's in a money crunch.

[A]

He was losing his house.

[B]

The prosecution moves to the events of the day Sabrina disappeared. September 18th. Preston allegedly strangled Sabrina in the morning. Denise says she and Tommy returned home in the afternoon.

[A]

First thing we walked in the door, he said Sabrina hadn't come home last night and that we needed to file a missing person's report on her, that he didn't want to be responsible if she got in trouble.

[B]

Did you file the reports in person?

[A]

I told you, I don't know. I don't remember. I believe we filed reports with them.

[B]

Keep in mind, this case could hinge on Denise's testimony. And yet at times, her memory seems iffy. At times her testimony doesn't seem coherent. At one point, the defense attorney asks, are you on drugs now? Denise says she isn't. Here are the details as Denise recalls them. It's evening, dark out, and Preston comes into their bedroom and asks her and Tommy a question.

[A]

Mr. Preston asked us if we wanted to go to Laughlin, that he had to meet somebody down there.

[B]

Laughlin is on the Colorado River, 95 miles to the south of Las Vegas. That's a 90 minute drive, minimum. Laughlin is a gambling center, second only to Vegas. Why did Denise and Tommy agree to accompany Preston on that long drive on the spur of the moment? In court, Denise tries out a few answers.

[A]

We just Agreed. Because we like the river. We'd live there for a while or for no reason.

[B]

The pleasure of a long car ride.

[A]

We just agreed, you know, yeah, we'd like to go. It was unanimous, you know, to go.

[B]

And then a third try. Denise mentions gambling as a reason. Denise was a big fan of gambling. In any case, Preston drove his Oldsmobile and Tommy followed in his pickup truck. Denise was in the truck's passenger seat. She says she and Tommy didn't talk, apart from Tommy complaining about his dad's slow driving. Preston cruised by the Laughlin exit, turned off the main road at a Budweiser sign.

[A]

It was light. There was a full moon. We drove for a ways to reach the water, and we drove along the river on a dirt road. By this time, I was wondering what was going on. Preston stopped his car and we stopped behind him. He got out of his car and he went to the trunk. As he was opening it, he said, tom, come help me.

[B]

Tommy got out of the truck to help his dad.

[A]

And there was a girl in the trunk, and she was tied up.

[B]

And then the prosecutor asks, Ms. Day, what did you see happen next?

[A]

I seen him pick up a girl out of the trunk.

[B]

The prosecutor continues. Who pulled the girl out of the trunk?

[A]

Mr. Preston and Tom started to help him. She was hog tied with her hands and legs tied behind her back. And they scooped her out of the trunk. And she was wearing something dark. Her head was on the defendant's side, and little Tom had her legs part. And they prosecute her.

[B]

Was she on her back or face down?

[A]

Face down. She had something on her mouth. It looked like tape, but I wasn't sure.

[B]

Ms. Day, could you see the sex or gender of the body?

[A]

She was. I could tell it was a girl.

[B]

The prosecutor, did you recognize who it was?

[A]

I believe it was Sabrina Kidd.

[B]

Prosecutor, again, why do you believe it was Sabrina Kidd?

[A]

Because of the haircut.

[B]

What do you mean?

[A]

The haircut she had on one side of her head was. Her hair was shorter on one side. The hair is what made me think it was Sabrina Kidd.

[B]

Prosecutor, Ms. Day, could you tell whether or not the young woman you believed to be Sabrina Kidd was alive or dead?

[A]

No, I didn't. I did not know if she was or not.

[B]

Preston and Tommy scooped the body out of the trunk. Preston on the head, Tommy on the feet.

[A]

They headed down to the rocks into the river. They put her face down in the water and took the ropes off and pushed her down into the water.

[B]

Maybe they didn't take the current into account.

[A]

The defendant pushed her out. He just pushed her and she didn't float. She kind of. She didn't float out. She came back in. So he had to push her out further and let her go. I just. After that I was. My mind was elsewhere. I didn't pay attention to that. I was just praying to God.

[B]

Preston denies this entire story. He denies the murder, denies disposing of the body. He says he knew Denise well and she wasn't trustworthy. She got his son into drugs. She was a thief and a liar. Preston says Denise had it in for him after he reported her for credit card fraud. And then Preston says pointedly, if I were to kill somebody, I surely wouldn't include Denise Day in a conspiracy. It's a reasonable assertion, though cold blooded. Who brings any outsider along to a body disposal? Was Denise really great company? In Denise's telling, Preston regretted her presence. She says he offered her $5,000 to keep quiet and also threatened to kill her if she didn't.

[A]

He threatened me and his son that the same thing would happen to us.

[B]

The same thing that happened to Sabrina. Tommy was murdered the next year, just as he seemed about to confess to his best friend. Denise took that as a warning. That's why she'd initially told Detective Leonard she knew nothing. By the way, Denise says she didn't take the 5,000 from Preston. So do we believe Denise? Denise's credibility may well determine if there's a conviction in this case. To me, for all her flaws as a witness, her memory troubles her checkered past. Denise told a tale of such detailed horror and told it up close. And naming names. To me, it doesn't seem possible she made it all up. And yet could Denise be so close to the crime and not involved? Here's the question I have. Was Denise telling the whole truth? The next witness addresses my question directly. She claims Denise omitted key details. This witness is called by the defense. The defense attorney asks, who were you referring to when you said it was a planned murder by all three of them?

[A]

Tom Sr. Tom Jr. And Denise Day.

[B]

Was that statement based upon things that Denise Day said to you?

[A]

Yes, it was.

[B]

This is Kathy Simmons. How does Kathy know Denise? They moved in the same circles, followed similar paths. In other words, Kathy spent time in jail too. After Denise saw Lindell's current affairs segment on the Jailhouse tv, she supposedly opened up to her cellmate. Denise's cellmate at the time, Kathy Simmons. Preston's lawyers hope Kathy's testimony will show that the prosecution's star witness, Denise Day, is a Fabulous. A fancy way to say liar. If they succeed, then nothing, Denise says should be taken as credible. Right? That, anyway, is their hope. On the stand, Kathy seems confident. She's used to conflict with authorities and isn't easily intimidated. Kathy calls Denise her dear friend. At one point, though, it's pretty clear she doesn't like Denise much.

[A]

She moved in with all different people. She's never been real stable. Denise was selling drugs.

[B]

So a drug dealer and drifter. And Kathy adds, always on the grift. Kathy says Denise grifted Sybrina's jewelry after she disappeared. According to Kathy, after the current affairs segment aired, Denise had a crisis in the cell.

[A]

She started getting hysterical and crying for, I thought, no reason. And I said, what's wrong with you? And she just started talking about it.

[B]

Over time, Kathy says Denise's story evolved.

[A]

In the beginning, when she first started talking about it, she actually told me she wasn't so involved. But then I guess her conscience was bothering her and she just said how she was involved and she felt bad and Denise was crying.

[B]

According to Kathy, Denise then talks about the plot to set the house on fire and with it, Sabrina.

[A]

In the middle of the conversation, she said, and I was supposed to be the one to do it. Burn her in the house. He wanted me to burn her in the house. And I said, who? And she said, tom, Tommy's dad.

[B]

I said, oh, why would Denise even consider doing that? Well, Kathy says Denise told her straight out.

[A]

Denise was saying that she was supposed to get 30% of the insurance money.

[B]

But Denise didn't set the house on fire. She couldn't bring herself to do it. But the most important thing Kathy claims Denise told her had to do with Sybrina's actual murder. Kathy says Denise saw much more than she told the jury. Denise had testified she didn't know if Sybrina was dead or alive in the trunk.

[A]

Well, she was alive the whole way there. And when she got out, they had her mouth taped and she tried to ask Denise for a cigarette. When they took her out of the trunk, that's what Denise said. She looked at her and she tried to ask for a cigarette. And Denise said, I felt bad and I just walked away and I stood away while they did it.

[B]

Quick question. Would Sabrina, hogtied and with tape over her mouth, have as her first utterance, you got a cigarette? Maybe in a David lynch movie on what happened next, Kathy's version and Denise's version, a line up to a point.

[A]

All she can remember is Sabrina coming back up out of the water, looking at her. Her eyes were still open. And that. That's what keeps flashing in her mind.

[B]

So Preston and Tommy fished Sybrina out of the water. Now the two versions diverge.

[A]

He got upset because she kept floating back in and he wanted her to drown. And he snapped her windpipe.

[B]

They then threw her back into the water. Kathy says Sabrina's murder is about money. Preston wants Sabrina dead so he can collect insurance, and Denise wants in. Which apparently is where Kathy draws the line.

[A]

She was a dear friend of mine, but it's got to be greedy to do something like this. You got to be greedy.

[B]

According to Kathy's version, Denise is not just a spectator. She's a trusted member of the inner circle. Which would explain why she's allowed to witness Sabrina's body being dumped in the river. So where do I think this leaves us? Preston's defense team brought in Kathy, hoping she'd discredit Denise. But even if Kathy's version is 100% accurate, and who knows, what's the bottom line? In both Kathy's version and Denise's version, Preston is the murderer. Whether he did it at river's edge or in the house, whether he did it in sight of Denise or in the privacy of his own bedroom, both versions agree Preston murdered Sabrina, and that's what's important. It's up to the jury now. The jurors will deliberate for about eight hours until ten of one in the morning. I'm going to read what the judge said as I sit here and listen to you. You are very articulate. You appear to be very friendly and jovial. You look rather grandfatherly and like a nice guy. But under that facade, the jury believed and the evidence presented here shows you are an evil, heartless predator.

[A]

We did during the Biottle case by defendant Tom Lancour Preston Jr. Aka Tom Lancour Preston, guilty of murder of the first degree.

[B]

So Preston is convicted of premeditated murder. A good outcome for A Current Affair. The company won't be sued now, but Lindell has more immediate concerns. Lindell, the producer, hustles down the hallway, chasing Preston's lawyers for the reaction shot.

[A]

There was little reaction from Tom Preston, so we asked his attorney, Roy Woofer, to comment on the verdict. Excuse me, sir. I heard again. Kiss my.

[B]

You're the instrumental part of this whole situation.

[A]

My reaction to that was, no, thank you. And did we get that on tape?

[B]

They did, and it was perfect for television. The verdict marked the end almost of a long journey for the characters in this story. Preston received a sentence of life without parole and died in prison protesting his innocence. For years after the verdict, other victims came forward with reports of sexual assault. Turned out the supposed humanitarian of the year was a serial sexual predator. For me, the big remaining question is Lindell. In a way, her involvement in this saga began with a violent attack on a porch in Australia when she was 19 years old. Getting justice for Sabrina was supposed to help her avenge that attack by proxy. Her attacker had gotten away unpunished. Sabrina's wouldn't. And that was supposed to help heal Lindell, to help her find emotional closure. Well, did it? I called on some experts to weigh in.

[A]

I'm Ellie. I'm Lyndall's daughter. I'm the youngest. I'm 24 years old. Grew up my whole life in Sydney, Australia. I want to go to medical school, so I'm applying to that this year. I'm Molly. I am Lyndall's oldest daughter. I'm 28 years old. I work in media and production, kind of following in mum's footsteps. And I train full time as an elite CrossFit athlete.

[B]

The Nerd and the athlete is the family shorthand. All three. Lindell and her two daughters live together in Los Angeles now. We brought them into the studio. Lindell and Dan broke up after seven years of marriage. She hasn't been in a serious relationship since. So Lindell and her girls are a self contained trio. Luckily for the girls, mom is perfect.

[A]

We had home cooked like pasta salad lunches every single day with a love note from kindergarten through year 12. Mum would drive us all around Sydney and beyond for softball tournaments every weekend. And it was all just kind of done, you know, we'd get there on time. Everything would just be sorted.

[B]

Some kids rebel against parents like Sabrina. Their heroes are outside the home. Not these two.

[A]

I want to start by saying that mom is my hero. Mom is truly in every way, shape or form, absolutely my hero. The most incredible human on the planet.

[B]

They were enthralled by her stories of journalism.

[A]

Sabrina is the number one favorite. I feel like that story has been such a huge part of this family because I've just known that story for as long as I can remember. How many people can say that their mum solved a murder and has done all this?

[B]

But for a long time, the daughters didn't know about Sabrina's connection to their mom's own experiences. The attack was Lindell's secret. She kept it from her daughters until they were in college.

[A]

I've always been very honest and open with them both. And that was the one thing I had never told them.

[B]

Lyndall, the TV producer, produced the Encounter with Care.

[A]

I wanted to tell them in an intimate setting where it was just the three of us. We were out of Sydney, we're down south in this cute little kind of country town. I didn't want it to be anywhere that they would recognize that and, you know, combine that with this story.

[B]

She sat them down at a cafe.

[A]

I remember it was really cold outside, so I remember she was wearing one of her big beautiful coats and she looked fabulous, as she always does.

[B]

Lyndal told them she had a history they didn't know.

[A]

Actually there's a big area that's been missing that you guys don't know about. And I think things kind of started to slow down as she started telling the story.

[B]

Lyndal was calm. She told them methodically about her ex boyfriend, about the attack, about her face beaten to a pulp.

[A]

She remained really composed. I think Molly and I were just like wide eyed, jaw on the floor, like, what is happening right now? It was just like, how dare someone do this to our mum. I was kind of upset, like, oh, I don't know, this massive part of you.

[B]

Ellie was crying, not Molly.

[A]

The thought of anyone hurting my mom just like makes me so furious.

[B]

Since Dan Lindell has been the plus one, which was fine with her. She knew herself. She knew she couldn't bring herself to trust men. The girls had always wondered why their mom seemed closed to intimate partnerships. And then they found out and now they have an idea for their mom.

[A]

We both advocate strongly for therapy and how much it helps. I do not. That's for a different podcast. Yeah. We have tried to get mum into therapy and what happens when I've spoken to someone? She thinks she's too smart for everyone, because she is. But that's not the attitude we need to have when we're going into therapy. We need to be open minded. Even though she's such a catch. Like I think, see, did you see that face she just made when Ellie said she's such a catch? That's the self doubt. She is such a catch and she doesn't realize it.

[B]

And so Lyndall, how about the emotional closure that seemed pretty promised when you jumped into the hopeless case of Sabrina Kidd?

[A]

It didn't give me any emotional closure.

[B]

No, but what it did give Lindell was something else. Maybe something more important. Does a person really ever recover from the murder of a child or a vicious assault? Those things lurk inside. Grief is endless. But Lindell did find something. Molly said it first.

[A]

I think it made us become closer as a little family unit. Because, you know, we knew everything and we knew more about Mum and we appreciated and understood Mum more than we had before.

[B]

Imagine that kind of closeness, that little community, even of just three. That's where meaning and compassion reside. And healing too.

[A]

In a way, it was a great relief sharing it with the two people that mean more to me than anybody else on this planet.

[B]

This is the end of our story.

[A]

Almost.

[B]

One last issue. There are those in our series who believe that Preston had something to do with the murder of his son Tommy. We have new information to share. It's after the credits. Please stick around. Unlock all episodes of Killer Story ad free right now by subscribing to the Binge Podcast channel. Not only will you immediately unlock all episodes of this show, but you'll get binge access to an entire network of other great true crime and investigative podcasts. All of them ad free. Plus, on the 1st of every month, subscribers get a binge drop of a brand new series. That means all episodes all at once. Search for the binge on Apple podcasts and hit subscribe at the top of the page, not on apple. Head to getthebinge.com to access wherever you listen. Killer Story is a production of Orbit Media in association with Signal Company. Number one creator and host is me, Steve Fishman, executive producers Arlindo Marks, Kevin Wardes and Jonathan Hirsch from Sony Music Entertainment, producers Jackie Pauley, Hannah Beale and Austin Smith. Production coordinator and engineer is Austin Smith, series consultant Emil Klein, sound designer, Brit Spangler. Fact check, Ryan Alderman. Our lawyers are at Clarislaw. Special thanks to Emily Racik, Steve Ackerman, Katherine St. Louis, Sammy Allison, Alison Haney, Fisher Stevens and the glamorous Rhea Julian. We also thank our agents at wme, Evan Krasic, Marissa Hurwitz, Ben Davis, and a special thanks to Shelly Shenoy for voiceover casting. Our voice actors for our final episode are Raven Dunham as Denise Day, Ava Julian as Kathy Simmons and Lindsay Smart as Bobby Sumay. And a special special thanks to the inimitable Emil Klein. Tommy Preston is one of the saddest figures in this story. The troubled young man who loved a dad who was a psychopath. Jim and Denise thought that Tommy's father arranged for his murder once Tommy started to talk about the crime. But there's a twist. Someone else pleaded guilty to the murder. A man named Randy Waddell. He's dead. But we do have his court papers and what they say leads us to a mystery. Waddell took an unusual guilty plea. It's called an Alford plea. In this plea, you're not admitting guilt to the crime. You are admitting that you'd probably be found guilty if you went to trial. Waddell took an Alford plea to avoid facing the death penalty. But in his allocution to the judge accepting his plea, Waddell insisted on one thing. His lawyer put it this way. My client maintains that he was not the one who killed Tommy. We'll leave you to ponder that. Have a nice day. Lindell says she's on the hunt for answers. This episode is brought to you by

[A]

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[B]

Stock the fridge for tip off with

[A]

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