The Puppet Master

A Woman Is Targeted For Execution. Who Pulled The Strings?

(CBS)  "Ron Samuels gave the instructions to Hugh Estess and Geoff Pollock," says assistant state attorney Al Johnson.

But Samuels is adamant he didn't solicit anyone to kills his ex-wife. "I’m from Brooklyn, New York. If I wanted to pay somebody to do this, I’d have gone to New York and the professionals would have come there…no, I didn’t want to do that and no, I did not pay anybody," he insists.

But Al Johnson says Samuels was the "puppet master."

But could this bizarre conspiracy story hold up in court? Investigators found no direct evidence linking Samuels to the crime, but they were sure he had a powerful motive - the costly custody fight that could see him lose his children, a fight Samuels was determined to win.

Asked what the children mean to him, Samuels tells Roberts, "I was willing to swap my life for theirs." And he was willing to put his children right in the middle of the fight. To document his claims that John Grossman was abusing the children, he had them examined by a psychologist.

Little Ronnie was just six years old when he accused John Grossman and Heather's parents of harming him.

"I said to them, 'You guys understand these are very serious things you’re saying. Very serious.’ ‘We promise, daddy. It’s the truth. We don't want to go back there,'" Samuels says.

But Heather Grossman says she never saw her husband John or her parents mistreat her child. And Ron Samuels says he never coached his children to lie about the abuse allegations.

"In order to gain the upper hand, it’s my belief that Ronald Samuels would call and make these child abuse allegations…they were investigated by the police in Minnesota, they were investigated by the police in Boca Raton, and they were found to be unfounded," prosecutor Al Johnson remarks.

The claims of child abuse were rejected by a Florida judge, and Heather was awarded permanent custody of the children, just eight days before she was shot.

While investigators were convinced that Samuels was the mastermind behind the attempted murders, they felt they just didn’t have enough evidence to bring a case against him. The key was getting the alleged co-conspirators to cooperate.

But at what cost?

The decision was to make a controversial and highly unusual deal: in exchange for truthful testimony about Samuels' lead role in the conspiracy, complete immunity from prosecution for everyone involved-everyone, that is, except for Ron Samuels.

"In a perfect world, all five would have done prison time for this. We live in a world of choices and we make the best choice we can," Johnson tells 48 Hours.

With the deal made, the investigators were ready to make a move. But before Ron Samuels could be arrested, he was gone. Five months after the shooting, and just days before he was to be arrested, Samuels was on the run.

[roscoezzz]

Ron Samuels really is a PUPPET MASTER. It seems that he wanted to control everything, his wives, kids, money and even what people think of him. He convinced his third wife of he is innocence. He even convinces himself that HE CHOSE THE WRONG WOMEN. But, those women loved him, bore his children etc.,
This sounds cliche, but real life and real people aren''t puppets. All because he lost control, didn''t want to be wrong, didn''t want to lose. He ruined so many lives. For 9 years he caused such grief and pain. He deserves to rot in that jail cell.
I admire his ex-wife who says she is happy after all that''s happened to her. She deserves so much more.

[carolcape]

I remember this matter being on before, but it is good to know this man will never get out of jail. He had everything including money. What happens to these people is unreal. Nobody wins in this case. What a tragedy for these people, especially the wife. How can so many people be so evil to do harm to one defenseless person. You think one of them would have had an ounce of goodness in them to turn him in before they killed this woman. God be with her to help her in the future.

[shoyt_2001]

Truth is in the actions, not the words. If the husband really wanted his ex-wife to be okay, then he would have paid child support rather than spending over half a million to deny it. Then he would have paid for her health care needs rather than fighting them.

He does not care about her, but says he does in the hope that people, including his children, will think well of him.

Idiot. He obviously failed in kindergarten when they teach you to play nice and tell the truth. He was probably selling spitballs in the classroom. His thinking has not moved on from those days.

[bickityboo]

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