Law & Order Special Victims Unit s08e17 Episode Script
Sin
In the criminal justice system, sexually-based offenses are considered especially heinous In New York City, the dedicated detectives who investigate these vicious felonies are members of an elite squad known as The Special Victims Unit.
These are their stories.
We got a young male, mid 30s, laid out between the graves, covered in the chaff.
Laid out? He's on his back with his hands crossed across the chest, just like he's in a coffin.
Who found him? The gardener came in to clear the path.
No clothes, no ID, no eyes.
And he was sodomized.
It's got ritual killing written all over it.
Pluck out the eyes, arrange the limbs, cover the body, then dump him in a church yard.
Could be a Satanic cult.
Or someone who wants us to think it is.
We'll start a canvass.
Let us know if you get anything off the body.
First, help me catch some of those crows.
See those scratches? Birds did that? I found human skin in their claws.
They gripped the sockets while they had his eyes for breakfast.
Well, the birdies didn't rape him.
I don't know who did.
No DNA, just spermicide and lubricant.
Okay, so you got a cause of death? He was suffocated with this.
The killer shoved this bag of pills down his throat.
That's crystal meth.
The tablets have writing on them.
"UWSA" "UWSA" United Wa State Army.
That a new rap group? It's a rebel group based out of southeast Asia.
One of the biggest drug producers in the world.
Someone killed our John Doe to send a message? Well, if it was shut up and spread them, he got it loud and clear.
What do you want with the DEA, Fin? How about the Wa State Army? You've got my attention.
What's up? shoved down a corpse's throat.
I haven't seen Wa State product around here since 2005, when we busted up their heroin and meth import racket.
Maybe you didn't bust them that good.
Who's, uh, who's the victim? No ID.
So who are these Wa State freaks? They call themselves an Army, but they're just down and dirty narco traffickers.
Produce 200 tons of heroin a year out of northern Myanmar.
They usually fly under the radar.
Not this time.
Our corpse was sodomized and suffocated, then dumped in a churchyard.
What church? Blessed virgin of Guadalupe.
She's a popular saint in the Mexican and Columbian communities.
Sounds more like the Mexican and Columbian cartels wanted the Wa State off their turf.
So who's our dead white guy, and what's he doing with a State meth? Even money he's a local dealer.
I'll run him through our database.
DEA ran our victim's photo to every agency from secret service to homeland security.
Nada.
The canvass was a wash.
Nobody in the neighborhood knows him.
No hits on his prints or DNA.
Missing persons came up empty, and so did VICAP.
So all we got left is the media.
Well, let's be smart about it.
Photoshop this to make it look like he's alive.
Release it to the press, and say we have a man in a coma at st.
Mark's.
Request the public to help ID him.
Yeah, and invite his killers to come and finish him off.
Well, that's why you'll all be playing doctor at st.
Mark's.
Elliot, Olivia, take the first shift.
Saint Mark's Hospital 263 West I'm sorry, there's nothing I can do about it.
Yeah.
Bye.
Something wrong? Kathy.
We were supposed to have a drink tonight.
I'm moving back home.
When? We haven't decided.
That's why we were gonna have a drink.
John Doe's got a visitor.
Police, don't move.
Don't shoot! Who are you? Rhona Antrim.
I'm looking for my son.
Th, this this is Richard.
What's going on here? Is this some kind of sick joke? Where's my boy? Why don't we go grab a cup of coffee? I haven't spoken to Richard in two years.
Why? He dropped out of medical school to become an actor.
I told him I would cut him off, but he didn't care.
Did he have any drug problems? What, what did he get himself into? We think that Richard may have been selling drugs.
Oh, God.
- Do you know where he lived? - Yes.
He sent me a birthday card.
I was going to write to him.
He lives in Washington heights, half a block away from blessed virgin of Guadalupe.
Collection notices, unpaid bills.
If Richard was dealing, he wasn't very good at it.
Nick Benchley.
Must be his stage name.
This place has got to be sanitized.
There's no computer, phone's missing.
I can't find an answering machine.
This connects to a camcorder.
- Hidden behind the books.
- And the book shelves.
So what do you think? He was recording drug deals to blackmail the buyers? Until somebody got tired of paying him, and whacked him.
Works for me.
I stepped on something.
Cell phone.
It was until you crushed it.
Whoever cleaned out the place must have missed it.
Hopefully, Morales can put this back together.
Technical Assistance Response Unit One Police Plaza Tuesday, February 20 Liv's twinkle toes did quite a number on this.
Sim card's corrupted.
Lost all the stored data, but I was able to restore the last text message.
"Pick up tonight at 2836 Astoria blvd.
" Message received yesterday morning.
Can you check the number that message came from? Pre-paid cell phone.
Untraceable.
You got an address? A warehouse in Jackson heights, Queens.
That's a Columbian neighborhood.
I asked a patrol car to do a drive-by.
The warehouse has boarded-up windows, and security cameras on the door.
Pickup's at the stash house.
Police department, search warrant! Let me see your hands! Hands in the air! Police, get your hands up in the air! Get your hands up in the air! - Turn down the music! - What are you doing to her? Nothing.
We're rehearsing.
We open next week.
This is our Satan's house.
- Your what? - It's a play.
People walk through it like a haunted house, to show them what happens if they lead a sinful life.
- What was your sin? - Having a partial-birth abortion.
- You dream this stuff up? - No, I'm not a writer.
We buy the Satan's house kit.
It tells us how to do everything.
Like using raw meat for the dead baby.
Wow.
Isn't it great? Oh, this coffin over here, it's for an AIDS victim.
Satan dances around it, singing, "I tricked him into thinking he was born gay.
" We're not afraid to use humor.
You think AIDS is funny, huh? No.
Why do you do this? To lead young people back to the righteous path, and get them involved in our church.
New Souls.
This guy was supposed to be here last night.
Did you see him? - No, I've never seen him before.
- How about you? No.
But we get a lot of volunteers, I don't know them all.
That was Munch.
He's got something.
While you were raiding the righteous, I was wallowing in depravity.
I googled in Richard Antrim's alias, Nick Benchley.
Look what popped up.
It's his own personal porn site.
It's more than porn, he was an escort.
"Young stud looking to party with hot guys.
" "You pay, we play.
" PNP, party and play.
It's gay code for sex on crystal meth.
So much for the Wa State connection.
He wasn't dealing drugs.
He was using it to fuel his sex life.
How much you wanna bet that missing camcorder has got some X-rated footage on it? No wonder the perp sanitized the apartment.
I ran Tricky Dick's cell phone records and got us a lead.
Most of the calls come from hotels and payphones.
John's looking to hook up.
Who did Richard call? A lot of people for a minute or two, but he had some long chats with someone from New Souls church on Long Island.
That's the same church that does the Satan house thing.
You're gonna love this.
New Souls church, founded by the reverend Jeb Curtis.
He's one of the loudest anti-gay voices in America.
And someone in his flock is screwing a male prostitute.
I'm sorry, detectives, reverend Curtis is not available.
I'm Trent Labette, the church's financial director.
- Can I help you? - Yeah, do you know this man? - Name's Richard Antrim.
- No.
He was also known as Nick Benchley.
Uh, I don't think so.
Well, someone here talked to him.
There must be some mistake.
Our congregation is diverse, but it's not that diverse.
- What is this about? - Murder.
He's dead.
I had no idea.
I was glib, I'm sorry.
Well, you can do penance.
Whose extension is 3131? I can't give out that information.
Fine, we'll just come back with a search warrant.
It's reverend Curtis' private line.
Where's the reverend now? Preparing for the funeral of his eldest son, Jonathan.
He was killed in Afghanistan.
I was so proud of Jonathan when he enlisted.
He knew the dangers of serving his country during a time of war.
But his faith made him strong.
I draw my strength from the Lord, and from my family, as he blessed me with.
Hannah, kids, come and join me.
Who has ten kids nowadays? Not even Catholics.
"The beauty of Israel is slain upon Thy high places.
" "How are the mighty fallen " Two of those kids were at Satan's house last night.
Another connection to Curtis.
Why don't we wait till tomorrow to talk to Curtis? He's a murder suspect.
Richard Antrim's mother also lost a son.
Fine.
First thing in the morning then.
Curtis Residence, 317 Bell Boulevard Queens, New York Thursday, February 22 Mrs.
Curtis, we'd like to talk to your husband alone.
Hannah and I don't have any secrets.
Okay, do you know this man? No.
Can you explain why he called your office four times in the last three weeks? Strangers call my office for counseling all the time.
Okay, so where were you two nights ago? Are you accusing my husband of something? Honey, it's okay.
Please.
I was speaking at a prayer meeting in Manhattan.
And what time did that end? Arriving when? Oh, I don't know.
After midnight.
Two hours.
Why'd it take so long? I went to the beach.
To pray for my son.
I feel close to God there.
Did anybody see you? No.
It was cold.
No one else was around.
My husband's answered your questions.
What's this about? Richard Antrim, also known as Nick Benchley, was murdered two nights ago.
He was a male prostitute.
You can't possibly think my husband had something to do with that.
Mom, dad, there are reporters outside.
And there's more coming.
Can they do that, just, just come to our door? There's nothing to be afraid of, Hannah.
Reverend Curtis, we need you to come down to our station, make a statement, please.
Let's go.
Here he comes! Reverend Curtis, reverend Curtis, are you a friend of Nick Benchley, sir? Did you know he was a prostitute? Sir, what about your children? Do they know, sir? - Were drugs involved? - Did you know he was murdered, sir? What was the nature of your relationship, reverend? What will you tell your congregation? Who the hell tipped them off? Were you doing drugs, reverend? Did your children know, sir? Was he the only man you've been having sex with, sir? Can we get a statement, sir? Do you need a lawyer, reverend? No.
Did you have a sexual relationship with this man? How could I if I never met him? That's how we found him, dumped in a graveyard.
The birds had gotten a hold of him.
I had nothing to do with his death.
You know, our crime scene techs are the best in the business, and they're gonna find a fingerprint or a hair or a speck of dandruff that puts you at Richard Antrim's apartment.
No, they won't.
I was never there.
You have nothing to connect me with this unfortunate man.
We've got four phone calls from Richard to your office.
I get many anonymous calls, lots of them from gay men seeking a way back to a healthy life.
Look at yourself, reverend.
I mean, maybe you need counseling.
Hiding behind your wife and kids while you sleep with male prostitutes, and preach against gays.
Homosexuality is a crime against God, and I am his servant.
I would never violate His law.
Forensics are back.
Well, reverend, guess we'll find out the truth now.
I thought shoving the bag of drugs down the victim's throat suffocated him.
I was wrong.
These are Richard Antrim's teeth.
The small brown particles on his incisors are fragments of leather.
Which I matched to a sofa in the victim's apartment.
Microscopic analysis show the abrasions on the pillow match Richard's front teeth.
You used this pillow to suffocate him, and then you shoved meth down his throat to make it look like a drug deal gone bad.
Your theory might prove what happened, but it doesn't implicate me.
That's where you're wrong.
DNA doesn't lie, reverend.
Richard fought hard.
The killer had to use all his strength to subdue him.
He worked up a real sweat.
Sweat on the pillow that matches your DNA.
We got a sample from your handkerchief.
Even has your monogram on it.
Your test must be wrong.
Here's your DNA, here's a sample from the pillow.
Six alleles from the pillow sample are a perfect match to you.
What about the others? Why are they missing? The tanning solution in the leather partially degraded the DNA.
But the six alleles are more than enough to arrest you for murder.
A six-allele match is not gonna hold up in court.
I know, we're just trying to rattle him.
We'll need a confession.
I think there's a way.
Many evangelicals believe that the Bible is the literal word of God.
That's why Curtis has ten kids.
I'm not following the connection.
Curtis and his wife are probably part of the replenish movement.
The name comes from Genesis.
"And God said," "Thou shalt be fruitful and multiply and replenish the Earth.
'" They believe that they should save America from the evils of feminism, birth control, abortion.
They want their children to become soldiers of the Lord.
That's why so many of them join the military.
Like Curtis' three oldest boys.
If he takes the Bible so seriously, what's he doing having an affair with a male prostitute? 'cause he suppressed his sexual desires, and channeled them into having as many children as he could.
But the problem with repressed desires is that they eventually explode.
So let's play the religion card.
Work on his guilt.
Are you ready to tell me what happened, reverend? We live in different worlds, detective.
In my world, God's word is infallible.
In yours, you worship science.
No, I just turn to science for some answers, and to God for others.
You can't serve two masters.
I am a Catholic.
I go to church.
- Well, then, we have a lot in common.
- I believe that.
I also believe sin will be punished.
- And forgiven.
- Well, the sinner has to repent.
Now, the evidence proves you committed this crime.
God knows that I'm innocent.
I understand why you need to say that.
To keep your good name, spare your family and your church from the humiliation of a scandal.
But what I don't understand is how you can sit there and refuse to confess to a sin.
My sins are between me and God.
Let's go.
Why did you bring me here? 'cause the evidence says you killed Richard Antrim.
That means nothing to you, so I want you to tell me in front of God that you're innocent.
God forgives all sinners, but there's no forgiveness without repentance.
Oh, my God.
I am heartily sorry for having offended Thee.
I detest all my sins 'cause I dread the loss of heaven and the pains of hell.
But most of all 'cause they have offended Thee, my God, who art all-good.
I firmly resolve, with the help of Thy grace, to confess my sins, to do penance and to amend my life, amen.
I will take responsibility.
God forgive me.
I killed him.
Docket ending 4038.
One count of murder in the second degree.
ADA Casey Novak for the people, your honor.
Barry Moredock for reverend Curtis.
How does the defendant plead? Not guilty, your honor.
I'll hear the people on bail.
- Remand.
- That's unnecessary, your honor.
It's hard to imagine a defendant with deeper ties to the community than a preacher with a wife, nine children, and the full support of his congregation.
He murdered a gay prostitute, with whom he was having a clandestine affair.
He led a secret life that was condemned by his own preachings.
No one here knows the real Jeb Curtis or what he's capable of.
We'll split the difference.
Bail is set at a half-million dollars.
Your honor, New Souls church will post the bond today.
And reverend Curtis will be back in the pulpit tonight giving thanks for his deliverance.
But he never should have been subjected to this ordeal in the first place.
He confessed.
Well, now, that's going to be quite a problem for miss Novak.
The confession is the sole underpinning of the case.
And you're going to throw it out.
I am? The confession was obtained improperly.
In violation of my client's rights.
I beg your pardon.
The defendant was advised of his rights, and signed a Miranda card waving his right to counsel.
Looks good to me.
My client signed that before he was coerced into confessing.
With what, a rubber hose? Not physical force, psychological.
Oh, please! What did he do? did he hurt your feelings? Detective Stabler forced me to go to my church.
Reverend, I'll take it from here.
In Ashcraft vs.
Tennessee, the supreme court ruled that an improper interview environment renders a confession inadmissible, 'cause it violates the "free and voluntary" rule.
So you're saying it was the church that made him confess.
Your detective intimidated my client, manipulated him by using his faith.
Reverend Curtis was threatened with the loss of his immortal soul in a house of God.
For a devout Christian, that threat is far worse than any physical act of violence.
What's next, flushing the Bible down the toilet? You're not in a pulpit, Mr.
Moredock.
And your detective's behavior isn't exactly righteous.
The church is not an interrogation room.
Now, I'll research the case law, and issue my ruling on Monday.
Elliot, looks like judge Cohen's gonna throw out Curtis' confession.
What are you talking about? How'd that happen? There was your little stunt at the church.
It violated the 5th and 14th Amendments.
I didn't verbally or physically abuse that guy.
Yeah, but you did imply that he was gonna be grilled for an eternity on the devil's barbecue if he didn't confess.
/ No, I didn't! Casey, I took him to his church, and I said a prayer.
- That's all I did.
- I'm sorry, Elliot, but the supreme court still calls it coercion.
Okay, so we don't have a confession.
What do we have? Richard Antrim's phone calls to Curtis.
Only proves that they knew each other.
We have Curtis' DNA on the pillow in Richard's place.
Yeah, but it doesn't prove that he killed him, only that he got all hot and bothered while they were having sex on the sofa.
What about the text message Richard got the night he died, talking about the pickup? It came from a pre-paid cell.
It doesn't help.
I'm talking about the actual message, "pick up.
" What if Curtis was meeting Richard to pay him blackmail? Follow the money.
I'll draw up a subpoena to search his bank records.
I don't think the reverend would like you snooping through our finances.
That's a subpoena, not a party invitation.
So get us the records or go to jail for contempt.
On second thought, you should see how we spend our money.
Every penny put in the collection plate helps reverend Jeb do the Lord's work.
And does that include supporting the meth habit of a gay hooker? We don't turn our backs on any sinner.
Judge not, lest ye be judged.
Great, then why don't we leave it to the courts? The reverend is innocent.
He would never commit sins of lust and deviance.
Then why does he keep a love nest? Monthly checks to landers realty corp for $2,400.
Those funds were drawn on the reverend's discretionary account.
Landers realty just happens to own the building where Richard Antrim lived.
What kind of outreach do you think the reverend was doing there? If he was supporting Mr.
Antrim, I'm sure it was to cure him of his unnatural desires.
We're gonna need this ledger and all your bank statements for the past two years.
No telling what unnatural transactions our forensic accountant will uncover.
Detectives, Trent told me you were here.
Mrs.
Curtis, you okay? I, I told my husband I was going grocery shopping.
I've never lied to him before.
Well, you must have felt that you had to.
I've been praying about this all night.
And then Trent called and told me what you found.
It's a sign.
I knew I had to tell you.
Tell us what? Can we go inside? Jeb and I built this church from nothing.
Just the two of us.
When he first started his ministry, there were 20 members.
Now we have to hold two services on Sunday to accommodate the congregation.
You have a lot to be proud of.
Now it's all falling apart.
I don't know what to do.
I, I want to be loyal to my husband, but I I can't let him tear my whole family apart.
What is it, Mrs.
Curtis? Last week, Jeb and I were working late in the sanctuary.
The phone rang, and I ran to get it.
The call was for Jeb.
I didn't realize that the answering machine had already picked up.
Jeb took the call in his office.
And so the next morning, I played the messages, and their conversation was recorded.
- This is Jeb Curtis.
- It's Richard.
I told you not to call anymore.
It's an emergency.
I need more money.
For drugs.
I told you, I won't support your habit.
- You said you'd take care of me.
- Not like this.
You'll be sorry.
Did you ask your husband about the call? He told me it was a lost soul from our street ministry.
Mentally ill, a very sad case.
I believed him.
Jeb was the only man I ever kissed.
The Lord gave us ten beautiful and innocent children.
But he betrayed me.
He betrayed us all.
Taking drugs, and having sex with a man.
How, how could he do this? I'm sure that he never meant to hurt you.
He always preached against homosexuality.
And then he changed.
Suddenly, he started to preaching acceptance and tolerance.
He was only trying to justify his own depravity.
He must have been fighting his feelings his whole life, and just couldn't do it anymore.
What am I supposed to tell my children? They love their father.
I'm sure he loves them.
He's a sodomite and a murderer.
And what am I supposed to do? Smile and play the adoring wife while they drag my whole family through the mud? We are on the cover of every tabloid, and it's only gonna get worse once the trial starts.
Won't it? Won't it? - You said you'd take care of me.
- Not like this.
You'll be sorry.
Plead guilty, reverend.
Spare your wife and children.
Appealing to a man's love for his family.
Casey Novak must realize what a weak case she has, putting you up to such a cheap trick.
She didn't.
Your wife loves you.
Do you really want to put her through the humiliation of a trial? What about your kids? Your congregation? Do they deserve this? Even if your confession is thrown out, we've got the tape and bank records showing you were paying Richard Antrim's rent, and your DNA on the pillow that you used to smother him with.
Reverend, you're going to jail.
So why not face the facts now, and make this a whole lot easier on everyone? - All right, I'm responsible.
- Reverend, don't.
Please, let me speak.
I am responsible for Richard Antrim's death, but I will answer to God for my actions, and not an earthly judge.
And God will not find me guilty.
How can a man of God confess to murder, and think God's not gonna have a problem with it? A man of God is no different from anyone else.
God forgives us, if we repent.
So the reverend Curtis can commit murder, then say a prayer, hallelujah, his sins are forgiven, huh? Don't be a wiseass, Elliot.
Say you come to confession, admit to lusting after another woman.
I give you penance, your sin is forgiven.
How's that any different? And if I commit murder, what are you gonna tell me? Say five hail marys, we'll call it a day? I'm gonna tell you to take responsibility for your actions.
That's what he keeps saying.
"I am responsible," but not that "I murdered him.
" Is there any evidence that someone else was involved? The evidence is circumstantial.
Even the DNA's a partial match.
You think he's covering for someone? Sometimes the very devout hold themselves accountable for sins they haven't committed.
Excuse me, Father.
Stabler.
I'll be right there.
Curtis has been shot.
Reverend Curtis took two rounds to the gut.
He's touch and go.
We found the gun in Curtis' office.
He was shot there, somehow found the strength to crawl in here, then ended up over there.
- Any prints on the gun? - No, sorry.
There's blood on the lectern.
He wanted to die on holy ground.
I don't think so.
There's blood on the Bible.
The song of Solomon? "Thou hast ravished my heart, my sister, my spouse.
" "Thou hast ravished my heart with one of Thine eyes.
" "How fair is Thy love, my sister, my spouse.
" Love poem from a man to his wife.
Mrs.
Curtis.
I've been expecting you.
You're gonna need to come with us.
What are you doing? You can't take her away.
It's all right, Paul.
Lucy, take care of your brothers and sisters.
Okay.
Do you want a lawyer? No.
Tell us what happened.
Is he dead? He's still unconscious.
Hannah, why did you do it? I had my first child when I was 19, and my tenth when I turned 40.
Every moment that I had, I gave to them, and to my husband.
My family is my life.
I made a vow for richer, for poorer in sickness and in health, till death do us part.
This is my confession.
"I tried with all my heart to forgive my husband.
" "Lord, forgive me.
" "My anger and my pride are stronger than my faith in you.
" "I shot my husband 'cause he betrayed me," "our children, our church.
" "I hope his death takes him from this world of sin and into Thy kingdom, oh, Lord.
" You know what is screwed up about this? There's too much begging the Lord for forgiveness after the crime, - not enough mercy before it.
- I blame religion.
What else kept Curtis in the closet? Having all these kids just to try to convince himself that he's straight? I think he is.
The song of Solomon.
The guy's dying, but he's reading a love poem to his wife? Or he's trying to tell us that his wife shot him.
Okay, but I've been to Catholic school, and believe it or not, I've read the Bible a couple of times.
If he wanted to point the finger at her, he'd have chosen Delilah, Salome? Okay, so if he's not gay, why was his DNA at the crime scene? We've been thinking it was contaminated 'cause we had a partial match.
Now, what if there's another reason? You mean, like, if it was one of his sons? He's got five of them.
They were all in town at the time.
Could be any one of them.
Well, even if Curtis lives, he's never gonna give that up.
Although sometimes, brothers share their secrets with their sisters.
I can't talk right now.
I have to get lunch ready.
It won't take long.
Hey, kids, we just need to speak to Lucy for a minute alone.
Okay? Thomas, Margaret, Ruth, can you take Abi outside and play? What's wrong? Is my dad worse? No, no, he's doing all right.
Actually, we're here to talk about your brothers.
Is someone in trouble? You tell us.
No.
You know, Lucy, I know your family's very close.
And I bet your brothers tell you things they don't tell your parents.
Like what? Like being gay.
That's crazy.
Crazier than your father being gay? No.
I don't know.
I don't want to talk about this.
Lucy, we're just trying to help you.
It's okay.
But we need for you to tell us the truth.
Which one of your brothers is it? He needs your help.
It's, it's Paul.
He told me he had those feelings a year ago.
He was scared.
He didn't know what to do.
Does your father know? He found out.
I don't know how.
I didn't tell him.
What did your father do? He sent Paul away to be cured.
Paul said it worked.
He didn't have those feelings anymore.
I don't think you can change who you are.
Oh, my God.
Paul Paul killed that man.
Where's Paul now? At the Satan's house show.
They're closing it down 'cause of what's happened.
Paul.
Sorry you can't put on your show.
It's okay.
Must have been hard, having to laugh at a gay man burning in hell.
What do you mean? She means we know.
You know what? That you're gay.
I'm not.
Richard Antrim was your lover.
And you have no reason to be ashamed.
We met at last year's Satan's house auditions.
We got together.
I was happy.
So what went wrong? - My dad found out.
- How? I don't know.
But he sent me away to this clinic.
He paid Richard off to never see me again.
Well, that didn't work.
I couldn't stop thinking about him.
So we started seeing each other again.
You sent a text message to him the day he died.
I asked him to pick me up after the Satan's house rehearsal.
We went back to his place.
And did you murder him 'cause you felt guilty? I loved him.
When I left to come back here, Richard was still alive.
Well, if you didn't murder him, then who did? You know who.
My dad.
He must've found out I was seeing Richard again.
It's all my fault.
I wanted to be cured.
I didn't want to hurt my dad, but I couldn't change the way I feel.
I mean, how can it be a sin if God made me this way? Why couldn't my dad understand? Why did he have to kill Richard? I want to see him.
I need to tell him that I'm sorry, but I can't change who I am.
I know you can't change.
Maybe a year ago I didn't.
But I do now.
You're not angry? You're my son.
It wasn't Richard's fault.
I wanted to go to his apartment, dad.
I wanted to see him Stop, stop.
Don't say anything more in front of the detectives.
You think I killed Richard? I swear I thought you did, 'cause you found out we were seeing each other again.
Oh, my God.
I was trying to protect you.
I thought I failed.
I already lost one son.
I couldn't bear to lose another.
If you didn't kill Richard, who did? Reverend.
Who else knew about the relationship? Trent Labette.
He saw Paul and Richard at last year's Satan's house show.
He followed them.
He saw them kissing in a car.
He said the scandal would destroy our church.
He insisted I intervene.
Trent was the only person who knew we were going to your home the day after your son's funeral.
Reverend, he called the media.
He was trying to take you down.
I have never been anywhere near this man's apartment.
Well, our techs are searching your house, Trent.
What do you think they'll find? Richard's computer, his answering machine? His camcorder? You don't want to talk to us now? Reverend Jeb's gonna have an awful lot to say to you.
He, he's all right? Yeah, he's with his son Paul right now.
You know, a crazy thing.
He's accepted Paul for who he is.
A gay man.
"If a man lie with man as he lieth with woman," "both of them have committed an abomination.
" "They shall surely be put to death.
" And that's what you did.
"Their blood shall be upon their own heads.
" Richard had done nothing to you.
I was doing God's will.
So why not claim credit for it? Why let Curtis take the blame? His faith was weak.
He deserved to be punished.
Hannah I asked them to bring me to see you.
I should have talked to you.
Told you everything.
We didn't trust each other enough.
Can you ever forgive me? I already have.
These are their stories.
We got a young male, mid 30s, laid out between the graves, covered in the chaff.
Laid out? He's on his back with his hands crossed across the chest, just like he's in a coffin.
Who found him? The gardener came in to clear the path.
No clothes, no ID, no eyes.
And he was sodomized.
It's got ritual killing written all over it.
Pluck out the eyes, arrange the limbs, cover the body, then dump him in a church yard.
Could be a Satanic cult.
Or someone who wants us to think it is.
We'll start a canvass.
Let us know if you get anything off the body.
First, help me catch some of those crows.
See those scratches? Birds did that? I found human skin in their claws.
They gripped the sockets while they had his eyes for breakfast.
Well, the birdies didn't rape him.
I don't know who did.
No DNA, just spermicide and lubricant.
Okay, so you got a cause of death? He was suffocated with this.
The killer shoved this bag of pills down his throat.
That's crystal meth.
The tablets have writing on them.
"UWSA" "UWSA" United Wa State Army.
That a new rap group? It's a rebel group based out of southeast Asia.
One of the biggest drug producers in the world.
Someone killed our John Doe to send a message? Well, if it was shut up and spread them, he got it loud and clear.
What do you want with the DEA, Fin? How about the Wa State Army? You've got my attention.
What's up? shoved down a corpse's throat.
I haven't seen Wa State product around here since 2005, when we busted up their heroin and meth import racket.
Maybe you didn't bust them that good.
Who's, uh, who's the victim? No ID.
So who are these Wa State freaks? They call themselves an Army, but they're just down and dirty narco traffickers.
Produce 200 tons of heroin a year out of northern Myanmar.
They usually fly under the radar.
Not this time.
Our corpse was sodomized and suffocated, then dumped in a churchyard.
What church? Blessed virgin of Guadalupe.
She's a popular saint in the Mexican and Columbian communities.
Sounds more like the Mexican and Columbian cartels wanted the Wa State off their turf.
So who's our dead white guy, and what's he doing with a State meth? Even money he's a local dealer.
I'll run him through our database.
DEA ran our victim's photo to every agency from secret service to homeland security.
Nada.
The canvass was a wash.
Nobody in the neighborhood knows him.
No hits on his prints or DNA.
Missing persons came up empty, and so did VICAP.
So all we got left is the media.
Well, let's be smart about it.
Photoshop this to make it look like he's alive.
Release it to the press, and say we have a man in a coma at st.
Mark's.
Request the public to help ID him.
Yeah, and invite his killers to come and finish him off.
Well, that's why you'll all be playing doctor at st.
Mark's.
Elliot, Olivia, take the first shift.
Saint Mark's Hospital 263 West I'm sorry, there's nothing I can do about it.
Yeah.
Bye.
Something wrong? Kathy.
We were supposed to have a drink tonight.
I'm moving back home.
When? We haven't decided.
That's why we were gonna have a drink.
John Doe's got a visitor.
Police, don't move.
Don't shoot! Who are you? Rhona Antrim.
I'm looking for my son.
Th, this this is Richard.
What's going on here? Is this some kind of sick joke? Where's my boy? Why don't we go grab a cup of coffee? I haven't spoken to Richard in two years.
Why? He dropped out of medical school to become an actor.
I told him I would cut him off, but he didn't care.
Did he have any drug problems? What, what did he get himself into? We think that Richard may have been selling drugs.
Oh, God.
- Do you know where he lived? - Yes.
He sent me a birthday card.
I was going to write to him.
He lives in Washington heights, half a block away from blessed virgin of Guadalupe.
Collection notices, unpaid bills.
If Richard was dealing, he wasn't very good at it.
Nick Benchley.
Must be his stage name.
This place has got to be sanitized.
There's no computer, phone's missing.
I can't find an answering machine.
This connects to a camcorder.
- Hidden behind the books.
- And the book shelves.
So what do you think? He was recording drug deals to blackmail the buyers? Until somebody got tired of paying him, and whacked him.
Works for me.
I stepped on something.
Cell phone.
It was until you crushed it.
Whoever cleaned out the place must have missed it.
Hopefully, Morales can put this back together.
Technical Assistance Response Unit One Police Plaza Tuesday, February 20 Liv's twinkle toes did quite a number on this.
Sim card's corrupted.
Lost all the stored data, but I was able to restore the last text message.
"Pick up tonight at 2836 Astoria blvd.
" Message received yesterday morning.
Can you check the number that message came from? Pre-paid cell phone.
Untraceable.
You got an address? A warehouse in Jackson heights, Queens.
That's a Columbian neighborhood.
I asked a patrol car to do a drive-by.
The warehouse has boarded-up windows, and security cameras on the door.
Pickup's at the stash house.
Police department, search warrant! Let me see your hands! Hands in the air! Police, get your hands up in the air! Get your hands up in the air! - Turn down the music! - What are you doing to her? Nothing.
We're rehearsing.
We open next week.
This is our Satan's house.
- Your what? - It's a play.
People walk through it like a haunted house, to show them what happens if they lead a sinful life.
- What was your sin? - Having a partial-birth abortion.
- You dream this stuff up? - No, I'm not a writer.
We buy the Satan's house kit.
It tells us how to do everything.
Like using raw meat for the dead baby.
Wow.
Isn't it great? Oh, this coffin over here, it's for an AIDS victim.
Satan dances around it, singing, "I tricked him into thinking he was born gay.
" We're not afraid to use humor.
You think AIDS is funny, huh? No.
Why do you do this? To lead young people back to the righteous path, and get them involved in our church.
New Souls.
This guy was supposed to be here last night.
Did you see him? - No, I've never seen him before.
- How about you? No.
But we get a lot of volunteers, I don't know them all.
That was Munch.
He's got something.
While you were raiding the righteous, I was wallowing in depravity.
I googled in Richard Antrim's alias, Nick Benchley.
Look what popped up.
It's his own personal porn site.
It's more than porn, he was an escort.
"Young stud looking to party with hot guys.
" "You pay, we play.
" PNP, party and play.
It's gay code for sex on crystal meth.
So much for the Wa State connection.
He wasn't dealing drugs.
He was using it to fuel his sex life.
How much you wanna bet that missing camcorder has got some X-rated footage on it? No wonder the perp sanitized the apartment.
I ran Tricky Dick's cell phone records and got us a lead.
Most of the calls come from hotels and payphones.
John's looking to hook up.
Who did Richard call? A lot of people for a minute or two, but he had some long chats with someone from New Souls church on Long Island.
That's the same church that does the Satan house thing.
You're gonna love this.
New Souls church, founded by the reverend Jeb Curtis.
He's one of the loudest anti-gay voices in America.
And someone in his flock is screwing a male prostitute.
I'm sorry, detectives, reverend Curtis is not available.
I'm Trent Labette, the church's financial director.
- Can I help you? - Yeah, do you know this man? - Name's Richard Antrim.
- No.
He was also known as Nick Benchley.
Uh, I don't think so.
Well, someone here talked to him.
There must be some mistake.
Our congregation is diverse, but it's not that diverse.
- What is this about? - Murder.
He's dead.
I had no idea.
I was glib, I'm sorry.
Well, you can do penance.
Whose extension is 3131? I can't give out that information.
Fine, we'll just come back with a search warrant.
It's reverend Curtis' private line.
Where's the reverend now? Preparing for the funeral of his eldest son, Jonathan.
He was killed in Afghanistan.
I was so proud of Jonathan when he enlisted.
He knew the dangers of serving his country during a time of war.
But his faith made him strong.
I draw my strength from the Lord, and from my family, as he blessed me with.
Hannah, kids, come and join me.
Who has ten kids nowadays? Not even Catholics.
"The beauty of Israel is slain upon Thy high places.
" "How are the mighty fallen " Two of those kids were at Satan's house last night.
Another connection to Curtis.
Why don't we wait till tomorrow to talk to Curtis? He's a murder suspect.
Richard Antrim's mother also lost a son.
Fine.
First thing in the morning then.
Curtis Residence, 317 Bell Boulevard Queens, New York Thursday, February 22 Mrs.
Curtis, we'd like to talk to your husband alone.
Hannah and I don't have any secrets.
Okay, do you know this man? No.
Can you explain why he called your office four times in the last three weeks? Strangers call my office for counseling all the time.
Okay, so where were you two nights ago? Are you accusing my husband of something? Honey, it's okay.
Please.
I was speaking at a prayer meeting in Manhattan.
And what time did that end? Arriving when? Oh, I don't know.
After midnight.
Two hours.
Why'd it take so long? I went to the beach.
To pray for my son.
I feel close to God there.
Did anybody see you? No.
It was cold.
No one else was around.
My husband's answered your questions.
What's this about? Richard Antrim, also known as Nick Benchley, was murdered two nights ago.
He was a male prostitute.
You can't possibly think my husband had something to do with that.
Mom, dad, there are reporters outside.
And there's more coming.
Can they do that, just, just come to our door? There's nothing to be afraid of, Hannah.
Reverend Curtis, we need you to come down to our station, make a statement, please.
Let's go.
Here he comes! Reverend Curtis, reverend Curtis, are you a friend of Nick Benchley, sir? Did you know he was a prostitute? Sir, what about your children? Do they know, sir? - Were drugs involved? - Did you know he was murdered, sir? What was the nature of your relationship, reverend? What will you tell your congregation? Who the hell tipped them off? Were you doing drugs, reverend? Did your children know, sir? Was he the only man you've been having sex with, sir? Can we get a statement, sir? Do you need a lawyer, reverend? No.
Did you have a sexual relationship with this man? How could I if I never met him? That's how we found him, dumped in a graveyard.
The birds had gotten a hold of him.
I had nothing to do with his death.
You know, our crime scene techs are the best in the business, and they're gonna find a fingerprint or a hair or a speck of dandruff that puts you at Richard Antrim's apartment.
No, they won't.
I was never there.
You have nothing to connect me with this unfortunate man.
We've got four phone calls from Richard to your office.
I get many anonymous calls, lots of them from gay men seeking a way back to a healthy life.
Look at yourself, reverend.
I mean, maybe you need counseling.
Hiding behind your wife and kids while you sleep with male prostitutes, and preach against gays.
Homosexuality is a crime against God, and I am his servant.
I would never violate His law.
Forensics are back.
Well, reverend, guess we'll find out the truth now.
I thought shoving the bag of drugs down the victim's throat suffocated him.
I was wrong.
These are Richard Antrim's teeth.
The small brown particles on his incisors are fragments of leather.
Which I matched to a sofa in the victim's apartment.
Microscopic analysis show the abrasions on the pillow match Richard's front teeth.
You used this pillow to suffocate him, and then you shoved meth down his throat to make it look like a drug deal gone bad.
Your theory might prove what happened, but it doesn't implicate me.
That's where you're wrong.
DNA doesn't lie, reverend.
Richard fought hard.
The killer had to use all his strength to subdue him.
He worked up a real sweat.
Sweat on the pillow that matches your DNA.
We got a sample from your handkerchief.
Even has your monogram on it.
Your test must be wrong.
Here's your DNA, here's a sample from the pillow.
Six alleles from the pillow sample are a perfect match to you.
What about the others? Why are they missing? The tanning solution in the leather partially degraded the DNA.
But the six alleles are more than enough to arrest you for murder.
A six-allele match is not gonna hold up in court.
I know, we're just trying to rattle him.
We'll need a confession.
I think there's a way.
Many evangelicals believe that the Bible is the literal word of God.
That's why Curtis has ten kids.
I'm not following the connection.
Curtis and his wife are probably part of the replenish movement.
The name comes from Genesis.
"And God said," "Thou shalt be fruitful and multiply and replenish the Earth.
'" They believe that they should save America from the evils of feminism, birth control, abortion.
They want their children to become soldiers of the Lord.
That's why so many of them join the military.
Like Curtis' three oldest boys.
If he takes the Bible so seriously, what's he doing having an affair with a male prostitute? 'cause he suppressed his sexual desires, and channeled them into having as many children as he could.
But the problem with repressed desires is that they eventually explode.
So let's play the religion card.
Work on his guilt.
Are you ready to tell me what happened, reverend? We live in different worlds, detective.
In my world, God's word is infallible.
In yours, you worship science.
No, I just turn to science for some answers, and to God for others.
You can't serve two masters.
I am a Catholic.
I go to church.
- Well, then, we have a lot in common.
- I believe that.
I also believe sin will be punished.
- And forgiven.
- Well, the sinner has to repent.
Now, the evidence proves you committed this crime.
God knows that I'm innocent.
I understand why you need to say that.
To keep your good name, spare your family and your church from the humiliation of a scandal.
But what I don't understand is how you can sit there and refuse to confess to a sin.
My sins are between me and God.
Let's go.
Why did you bring me here? 'cause the evidence says you killed Richard Antrim.
That means nothing to you, so I want you to tell me in front of God that you're innocent.
God forgives all sinners, but there's no forgiveness without repentance.
Oh, my God.
I am heartily sorry for having offended Thee.
I detest all my sins 'cause I dread the loss of heaven and the pains of hell.
But most of all 'cause they have offended Thee, my God, who art all-good.
I firmly resolve, with the help of Thy grace, to confess my sins, to do penance and to amend my life, amen.
I will take responsibility.
God forgive me.
I killed him.
Docket ending 4038.
One count of murder in the second degree.
ADA Casey Novak for the people, your honor.
Barry Moredock for reverend Curtis.
How does the defendant plead? Not guilty, your honor.
I'll hear the people on bail.
- Remand.
- That's unnecessary, your honor.
It's hard to imagine a defendant with deeper ties to the community than a preacher with a wife, nine children, and the full support of his congregation.
He murdered a gay prostitute, with whom he was having a clandestine affair.
He led a secret life that was condemned by his own preachings.
No one here knows the real Jeb Curtis or what he's capable of.
We'll split the difference.
Bail is set at a half-million dollars.
Your honor, New Souls church will post the bond today.
And reverend Curtis will be back in the pulpit tonight giving thanks for his deliverance.
But he never should have been subjected to this ordeal in the first place.
He confessed.
Well, now, that's going to be quite a problem for miss Novak.
The confession is the sole underpinning of the case.
And you're going to throw it out.
I am? The confession was obtained improperly.
In violation of my client's rights.
I beg your pardon.
The defendant was advised of his rights, and signed a Miranda card waving his right to counsel.
Looks good to me.
My client signed that before he was coerced into confessing.
With what, a rubber hose? Not physical force, psychological.
Oh, please! What did he do? did he hurt your feelings? Detective Stabler forced me to go to my church.
Reverend, I'll take it from here.
In Ashcraft vs.
Tennessee, the supreme court ruled that an improper interview environment renders a confession inadmissible, 'cause it violates the "free and voluntary" rule.
So you're saying it was the church that made him confess.
Your detective intimidated my client, manipulated him by using his faith.
Reverend Curtis was threatened with the loss of his immortal soul in a house of God.
For a devout Christian, that threat is far worse than any physical act of violence.
What's next, flushing the Bible down the toilet? You're not in a pulpit, Mr.
Moredock.
And your detective's behavior isn't exactly righteous.
The church is not an interrogation room.
Now, I'll research the case law, and issue my ruling on Monday.
Elliot, looks like judge Cohen's gonna throw out Curtis' confession.
What are you talking about? How'd that happen? There was your little stunt at the church.
It violated the 5th and 14th Amendments.
I didn't verbally or physically abuse that guy.
Yeah, but you did imply that he was gonna be grilled for an eternity on the devil's barbecue if he didn't confess.
/ No, I didn't! Casey, I took him to his church, and I said a prayer.
- That's all I did.
- I'm sorry, Elliot, but the supreme court still calls it coercion.
Okay, so we don't have a confession.
What do we have? Richard Antrim's phone calls to Curtis.
Only proves that they knew each other.
We have Curtis' DNA on the pillow in Richard's place.
Yeah, but it doesn't prove that he killed him, only that he got all hot and bothered while they were having sex on the sofa.
What about the text message Richard got the night he died, talking about the pickup? It came from a pre-paid cell.
It doesn't help.
I'm talking about the actual message, "pick up.
" What if Curtis was meeting Richard to pay him blackmail? Follow the money.
I'll draw up a subpoena to search his bank records.
I don't think the reverend would like you snooping through our finances.
That's a subpoena, not a party invitation.
So get us the records or go to jail for contempt.
On second thought, you should see how we spend our money.
Every penny put in the collection plate helps reverend Jeb do the Lord's work.
And does that include supporting the meth habit of a gay hooker? We don't turn our backs on any sinner.
Judge not, lest ye be judged.
Great, then why don't we leave it to the courts? The reverend is innocent.
He would never commit sins of lust and deviance.
Then why does he keep a love nest? Monthly checks to landers realty corp for $2,400.
Those funds were drawn on the reverend's discretionary account.
Landers realty just happens to own the building where Richard Antrim lived.
What kind of outreach do you think the reverend was doing there? If he was supporting Mr.
Antrim, I'm sure it was to cure him of his unnatural desires.
We're gonna need this ledger and all your bank statements for the past two years.
No telling what unnatural transactions our forensic accountant will uncover.
Detectives, Trent told me you were here.
Mrs.
Curtis, you okay? I, I told my husband I was going grocery shopping.
I've never lied to him before.
Well, you must have felt that you had to.
I've been praying about this all night.
And then Trent called and told me what you found.
It's a sign.
I knew I had to tell you.
Tell us what? Can we go inside? Jeb and I built this church from nothing.
Just the two of us.
When he first started his ministry, there were 20 members.
Now we have to hold two services on Sunday to accommodate the congregation.
You have a lot to be proud of.
Now it's all falling apart.
I don't know what to do.
I, I want to be loyal to my husband, but I I can't let him tear my whole family apart.
What is it, Mrs.
Curtis? Last week, Jeb and I were working late in the sanctuary.
The phone rang, and I ran to get it.
The call was for Jeb.
I didn't realize that the answering machine had already picked up.
Jeb took the call in his office.
And so the next morning, I played the messages, and their conversation was recorded.
- This is Jeb Curtis.
- It's Richard.
I told you not to call anymore.
It's an emergency.
I need more money.
For drugs.
I told you, I won't support your habit.
- You said you'd take care of me.
- Not like this.
You'll be sorry.
Did you ask your husband about the call? He told me it was a lost soul from our street ministry.
Mentally ill, a very sad case.
I believed him.
Jeb was the only man I ever kissed.
The Lord gave us ten beautiful and innocent children.
But he betrayed me.
He betrayed us all.
Taking drugs, and having sex with a man.
How, how could he do this? I'm sure that he never meant to hurt you.
He always preached against homosexuality.
And then he changed.
Suddenly, he started to preaching acceptance and tolerance.
He was only trying to justify his own depravity.
He must have been fighting his feelings his whole life, and just couldn't do it anymore.
What am I supposed to tell my children? They love their father.
I'm sure he loves them.
He's a sodomite and a murderer.
And what am I supposed to do? Smile and play the adoring wife while they drag my whole family through the mud? We are on the cover of every tabloid, and it's only gonna get worse once the trial starts.
Won't it? Won't it? - You said you'd take care of me.
- Not like this.
You'll be sorry.
Plead guilty, reverend.
Spare your wife and children.
Appealing to a man's love for his family.
Casey Novak must realize what a weak case she has, putting you up to such a cheap trick.
She didn't.
Your wife loves you.
Do you really want to put her through the humiliation of a trial? What about your kids? Your congregation? Do they deserve this? Even if your confession is thrown out, we've got the tape and bank records showing you were paying Richard Antrim's rent, and your DNA on the pillow that you used to smother him with.
Reverend, you're going to jail.
So why not face the facts now, and make this a whole lot easier on everyone? - All right, I'm responsible.
- Reverend, don't.
Please, let me speak.
I am responsible for Richard Antrim's death, but I will answer to God for my actions, and not an earthly judge.
And God will not find me guilty.
How can a man of God confess to murder, and think God's not gonna have a problem with it? A man of God is no different from anyone else.
God forgives us, if we repent.
So the reverend Curtis can commit murder, then say a prayer, hallelujah, his sins are forgiven, huh? Don't be a wiseass, Elliot.
Say you come to confession, admit to lusting after another woman.
I give you penance, your sin is forgiven.
How's that any different? And if I commit murder, what are you gonna tell me? Say five hail marys, we'll call it a day? I'm gonna tell you to take responsibility for your actions.
That's what he keeps saying.
"I am responsible," but not that "I murdered him.
" Is there any evidence that someone else was involved? The evidence is circumstantial.
Even the DNA's a partial match.
You think he's covering for someone? Sometimes the very devout hold themselves accountable for sins they haven't committed.
Excuse me, Father.
Stabler.
I'll be right there.
Curtis has been shot.
Reverend Curtis took two rounds to the gut.
He's touch and go.
We found the gun in Curtis' office.
He was shot there, somehow found the strength to crawl in here, then ended up over there.
- Any prints on the gun? - No, sorry.
There's blood on the lectern.
He wanted to die on holy ground.
I don't think so.
There's blood on the Bible.
The song of Solomon? "Thou hast ravished my heart, my sister, my spouse.
" "Thou hast ravished my heart with one of Thine eyes.
" "How fair is Thy love, my sister, my spouse.
" Love poem from a man to his wife.
Mrs.
Curtis.
I've been expecting you.
You're gonna need to come with us.
What are you doing? You can't take her away.
It's all right, Paul.
Lucy, take care of your brothers and sisters.
Okay.
Do you want a lawyer? No.
Tell us what happened.
Is he dead? He's still unconscious.
Hannah, why did you do it? I had my first child when I was 19, and my tenth when I turned 40.
Every moment that I had, I gave to them, and to my husband.
My family is my life.
I made a vow for richer, for poorer in sickness and in health, till death do us part.
This is my confession.
"I tried with all my heart to forgive my husband.
" "Lord, forgive me.
" "My anger and my pride are stronger than my faith in you.
" "I shot my husband 'cause he betrayed me," "our children, our church.
" "I hope his death takes him from this world of sin and into Thy kingdom, oh, Lord.
" You know what is screwed up about this? There's too much begging the Lord for forgiveness after the crime, - not enough mercy before it.
- I blame religion.
What else kept Curtis in the closet? Having all these kids just to try to convince himself that he's straight? I think he is.
The song of Solomon.
The guy's dying, but he's reading a love poem to his wife? Or he's trying to tell us that his wife shot him.
Okay, but I've been to Catholic school, and believe it or not, I've read the Bible a couple of times.
If he wanted to point the finger at her, he'd have chosen Delilah, Salome? Okay, so if he's not gay, why was his DNA at the crime scene? We've been thinking it was contaminated 'cause we had a partial match.
Now, what if there's another reason? You mean, like, if it was one of his sons? He's got five of them.
They were all in town at the time.
Could be any one of them.
Well, even if Curtis lives, he's never gonna give that up.
Although sometimes, brothers share their secrets with their sisters.
I can't talk right now.
I have to get lunch ready.
It won't take long.
Hey, kids, we just need to speak to Lucy for a minute alone.
Okay? Thomas, Margaret, Ruth, can you take Abi outside and play? What's wrong? Is my dad worse? No, no, he's doing all right.
Actually, we're here to talk about your brothers.
Is someone in trouble? You tell us.
No.
You know, Lucy, I know your family's very close.
And I bet your brothers tell you things they don't tell your parents.
Like what? Like being gay.
That's crazy.
Crazier than your father being gay? No.
I don't know.
I don't want to talk about this.
Lucy, we're just trying to help you.
It's okay.
But we need for you to tell us the truth.
Which one of your brothers is it? He needs your help.
It's, it's Paul.
He told me he had those feelings a year ago.
He was scared.
He didn't know what to do.
Does your father know? He found out.
I don't know how.
I didn't tell him.
What did your father do? He sent Paul away to be cured.
Paul said it worked.
He didn't have those feelings anymore.
I don't think you can change who you are.
Oh, my God.
Paul Paul killed that man.
Where's Paul now? At the Satan's house show.
They're closing it down 'cause of what's happened.
Paul.
Sorry you can't put on your show.
It's okay.
Must have been hard, having to laugh at a gay man burning in hell.
What do you mean? She means we know.
You know what? That you're gay.
I'm not.
Richard Antrim was your lover.
And you have no reason to be ashamed.
We met at last year's Satan's house auditions.
We got together.
I was happy.
So what went wrong? - My dad found out.
- How? I don't know.
But he sent me away to this clinic.
He paid Richard off to never see me again.
Well, that didn't work.
I couldn't stop thinking about him.
So we started seeing each other again.
You sent a text message to him the day he died.
I asked him to pick me up after the Satan's house rehearsal.
We went back to his place.
And did you murder him 'cause you felt guilty? I loved him.
When I left to come back here, Richard was still alive.
Well, if you didn't murder him, then who did? You know who.
My dad.
He must've found out I was seeing Richard again.
It's all my fault.
I wanted to be cured.
I didn't want to hurt my dad, but I couldn't change the way I feel.
I mean, how can it be a sin if God made me this way? Why couldn't my dad understand? Why did he have to kill Richard? I want to see him.
I need to tell him that I'm sorry, but I can't change who I am.
I know you can't change.
Maybe a year ago I didn't.
But I do now.
You're not angry? You're my son.
It wasn't Richard's fault.
I wanted to go to his apartment, dad.
I wanted to see him Stop, stop.
Don't say anything more in front of the detectives.
You think I killed Richard? I swear I thought you did, 'cause you found out we were seeing each other again.
Oh, my God.
I was trying to protect you.
I thought I failed.
I already lost one son.
I couldn't bear to lose another.
If you didn't kill Richard, who did? Reverend.
Who else knew about the relationship? Trent Labette.
He saw Paul and Richard at last year's Satan's house show.
He followed them.
He saw them kissing in a car.
He said the scandal would destroy our church.
He insisted I intervene.
Trent was the only person who knew we were going to your home the day after your son's funeral.
Reverend, he called the media.
He was trying to take you down.
I have never been anywhere near this man's apartment.
Well, our techs are searching your house, Trent.
What do you think they'll find? Richard's computer, his answering machine? His camcorder? You don't want to talk to us now? Reverend Jeb's gonna have an awful lot to say to you.
He, he's all right? Yeah, he's with his son Paul right now.
You know, a crazy thing.
He's accepted Paul for who he is.
A gay man.
"If a man lie with man as he lieth with woman," "both of them have committed an abomination.
" "They shall surely be put to death.
" And that's what you did.
"Their blood shall be upon their own heads.
" Richard had done nothing to you.
I was doing God's will.
So why not claim credit for it? Why let Curtis take the blame? His faith was weak.
He deserved to be punished.
Hannah I asked them to bring me to see you.
I should have talked to you.
Told you everything.
We didn't trust each other enough.
Can you ever forgive me? I already have.