"48 Hours: NCIS": The Sting

NCIS" WILL BE RIGHT BACK. >> Narrator: ONCE BOYD SMITH HAD CONFIRMED TO INVESTIGATORS THAT NORMA WAS THE FORCE BEHIND SONNY'S KILLING, EVEN IF JOEL FULLER PULLED THE TRIGGER, POLICE HAD HER IN THEIR SIGHTS. >> Narrator: AFTER 18 YEARS, 13 INTERROGATIONS, AND FOUR UNDERCOVER STINGS, NORMA WAS ARRESTED. >> MY SISTER CALLED ME, BECAUSE SHE WAS LIVING IN KANSAS AT THE TIME, AND SAID, " MOM'S BEEN ARRESTED ." AND I'M LIKE, " WHAT ?" AND IT'S LIKE, " OH, MY GOD ", FOR THE MURDER OF DAD ." AND I'M LIKE, " HOLY CRAP ." >> Narrator: AS AGENTS BEGAN INTERROGATING NORMA, WHY? >> I COULDN'T UNDERSTAND WHY BECAUSE DAD WAS ALWAYS SUCH A NICE PERSON. HE NEVER RAISED HIS VOICE. HE NEVER RAISED A HAND. IT'S NOT LIKE HE WAS ABUSIVE OR BEING MEAN. ANY TIME SHE WANTED ANYTHING, SHE GOT IT. >> WHEN THE HOMICIDE OCCURRED, IT WAS CLEAR THAT IT WAS-- THAT IT WAS BECAUSE SONNY WAS GETTING READY TO RETIRE FROM THE NAVY AND WAS GOING TO BE MOVING BACK HOME TO MAINE AND WOULD BE THERE ALL THE TIME, AND THAT THE LIFESTYLE THAT SHE HAD DEVELOPED-- WHETHER IT WAS THE RUNNING AROUND, THE INVOLVEMENT IN DRUGS, THE SOCIAL LIFE THAT SHE SEEMED TO LIKE-- THAT JUAN GOINGS WASN'T GOING TO HAPPEN ANYMORE. SO, SHE HAD HIM KILLED. >> MY FEELINGS ON NORMA WERE KIND OF DISBELIEF. WHEN WE TRIED TO DISCUSS WITH HER THE MOTIVE FOR DOING THIS, WHAT YOU AND I WOULD NORMALLY DEAL WITH THROUGH A DIVORCE, A BREAKUP, SHE DEALT WITH THROUGH MURDER. >> THE INFORMATION THAT WE DEVELOPED WAS SHE OFFERED $ 10, 000 TO KILL SONNY GROTTON. THERE WAS ENOUGH UNACCOUNTABLE CASH FROM HER BANK ACCOUNTS TO INDICATE THAT SHE COULD'VE PAID SOMEBODY. >> Narrator: IT WAS MONEY SHE'D GOTTEN FROM HER HUSBAND'S PENSION. >> THE BEST WAY TO DESCRIBE NORMA IS JUST COLD. >> THEY SHOWED US PART OF HER INVESTIGATION, AND THEY ASKED HER, " WELL, HOW DO YOU THINK YOUR CHILDREN ARE GOING TO FEEL ABOUT THIS ?" >> AND SHE JUST NONCHALANTLY SAYS, " THEY'LL UNDERSTAND ." AND I'M TOTALLY APPALLED AND ABOUT READY TO LOSE MY LUNCH, TO SAY THE LEAST. I COULDN'T BELIEVE IT. WE'RE JUST LOOKING AT EACH OTHER, MY BROTHER AND ME, " WHO IS THIS WOMAN ?" >> Narrator: BUT THERE WAS ONE BIG PROBLEM WITH

SHE INSISTED SHE NEVER HAD ANY CONTACT WITH JOEL FULLER. >> Narrator: EVEN WITHOUT EVERY LINK OF THE MURDER CHAIN ESTABLISHED, IN 2002, NORMA SMALL, BOYD SMITH, AND JOEL FULLER EACH WENT ON TRIAL SEPARATELY FOR THE MURDER OF SONNY GROTTON. >> AND WHEN THE JURY CAME BACK-- SHOCK! I MEAN, JUST TOTAL DISBELIEF. S >> I GREW UP IN A MILITARY FAMILY. ANYTIME THAT I SEE A MILITARY MEMBER HURT BY SOMEBODY, IT DOES PUSH ME TO RESOLVE THAT INCIDENT. >> Narrator: AND INVESTIGATORS WERE NEAR THE FINISH LINE IN THE SONNY GROTTON MURDER, BRINGING THE THREE ACCUSED CONSPIRATORS TO TRIAL. AND THOUGH EVERYONE BELIEVED JOEL FULLER WAS THE TRIGGER MAN-- >> HE ALWAYS SIGNS THE LETTER, " A FRIEND FROM THE OTHER SIDE ." >> Narrator: FORMER SHERIFF AND UNLIKELY PEN PAL, JOHN FORD HAD SOME DOUBTS. " JOHN, LISTEN TO ME WORDS, IF I AM LYING TO YOU WHEN I TELL YOU THAT I DID NOT KILL SONNY GROTTON ." MAY THE LORD STRIKE MY MOM AND SISTER ZONA DEAD RIGHT NOW, AND THEY BOTH LIVE IN HELL EVERY SINGLE DAY FOR ETERNITY ." >> JOEL DENIES HE DID IT, AND ALL YOU CAN DO IS JUST LOOK AT ALL THE EVIDENCE AND MAKE YOUR OWN DETERMINATION. I THINK THE STRONGEST PIECE OF EVIDENCE IS THE DETAIL THAT JOEL GAVE LARRY PHILLIPS. >> Narrator: REMEMBER, LARRY PHILLIPS WAS FULLER'S FRIEND WHO WENT TO POLICE AFTER FULLER BRAGGED ABOUT THE MURDER AND SHOWED HIM THE WEAPON. >> THAT IS INFORMATION THAT NOBODY SHOULD KNOW, EXCEPT FOR THE SHOOTER. NORMA HAD SAID THAT BOYD SMITH WAS THE ONLY OTHER ONE WHO KNEW, BUT I THINK BOYD'S PERSONALITY-- I DON'T THINK HE HAS THE GUTS TO SHOOT SOMEBODY IN THAT MANNER. >> IT LOOKED LIKE AN EXECUTION. SOMEBODY'S LYING IN WAIT. HE BACKS IN. HE GETS OUT OF HIS VEHICLE. HE'S WALKING TO HIS HOME, AND SOMEBODY SHOOTS HIM EXECUTION STYLE. >> I MEAN, THAT'S AN UP- CLOSE- AND- PERSONAL THING. IT MAKES MORE SENSE THAT JOEL WOULD BE CAPABLE OF SOMETHING LIKE THAT. JOEL WAS AN AVID HUNTER. HE'S USED TO SHOOTING. HE'S USED TO KILLING THINGS. HE HAS DONE OTHER MURDERS IN KIND OF THE SAME MANNER. BOYD, I JUST DON'T SEE THAT KILLER INSTINCT IN HIM. >> Narrator: JOEL FULLER'S TRIAL WAS TOUGH FOR THE PROSECUTION. >> SOME OF OUR KEY WITNESSES WERE A BIT FRAZZLED. TESTIMONY WAS PROBABLY NOT AS STRONG AS I HOPED IT WOULD BE. THERE WERE SOME DECISIONS MADE REGARDING ADMISSIBILITY OF SOME EVIDENCE. >> Narrator: FULLER TOLD JOHN FORT THE TESTIMONY OF LARRY PHILLIPS, WAS WEEK. >> THEY KNEW HE WASN'T TELLING THE TRUTH. >> LARRY PHILIPS DID A TERRIBLE JOB TESTIFYING. I THINK HE WAS INTIMIDATED BY JOEL, AND HE HAD SMOKED SOME POT BEFORE HE CAME IN TO TESTIFY TO TRY TO RELAX HIMSELF. AND HE WAS JUST A MESS BY THE TIME HE GOT UP ON THE STAND. >> Narrator: FULLER WAS BROUGHT FROM HIS JAIL CELL TO COURT BUT DID NOT TESTIFY. >> THE EVIDENCE WAS THERE. ALL THE TESTIMONY WAS THERE. >> Narrator: BUT THE JURY SAW NO DIRECT LINK BETWEEN FULLER AND SONNY GROTTON. HE WAS ACQUITTED. >> AND WHEN THE JURY CAME BACK AND FOUND JOEL NOT GUILTY, SHOCK. I MEAN, JUST TOTAL DISBELIEF. >> Narrator: FULLER REMAINS IN PRISON SERVING A LIFE SENTENCE FOR THOSE TWO OTHER MURDER CONVICTIONS. >> I HAVE A TENDENCY TO BELIEVE THAT HE REALLY DIDN'T DO IT. HE CLAIMS THAT BOYD SMITH IS THE MURDERER. >> BOYD'S ROLE IS THAT OF A MIDDLEMAN. >> Narrator: BOYD DOES NOT DENY HIS ROLE AS THE MIDDLEMAN. >> WE FELT THAT HE COMMITTED A CONSPIRACY TO COMMIT MURDER. BECAUSE THIS CASE WAS AS OLD AS IT WAS, THE STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS ON CONSPIRACY TO COMMIT MURDER HAD RUN, AND THE ONLY CHOICE THAT THE A. G. HAD TO CHARGE HIM WITH WAS MURDER. >> BOYD'S TRIAL WAS INTERESTING. HE CONFESSED DURING THE UNDERCOVER. >> HE CONFESSED DURING THE POST- ARREST INTERROGATION. >> AND HE ACTUALLY TESTIFIED ON THE STAND TO WHAT HE DID. HE CONFESSED ON THE STAND. SO, YOU HAVE THREE CONFESSIONS. >> THE JURY HAD SENT OUT A QUESTION TO THE EFFECT " CAN WE CONVICT BOYD OF ANYTHING ELSE EXCEPT FOR MURDER, LIKE SOLICITATION OR SOME OTHER CRIME ?" AND, OF COURSE, THE JUDGE SAID, " NO, THE CHARGE IS MURDER ." >> HIS DEFENSE WAS THAT HE REMOVED HIMSELF FROM THE CONSPIRACY BEFORE THE CRIME WAS ACTUALLY COMMITTED. >> I THINK THE JURY FELT A LITTLE SORRY FOR HIM. THAT'S WHAT IT SEEMED. >> HE WAS ACQUITTED. >> Narrator: A FEW MONTHS LATER, ON JULY 29, 2002, NORMA SMALL WENT ON TRIAL FOR THE MURDER OF HER HUSBAND. >> WE GAINED BOYD SMITH'S COOPERATION IN THE TRIAL OF NORMA SMALL. NORMA WAS CHARGED WITH MURDER AND RECEIVING THE DEATH BENEFITS THAT RESULTED FROM SONNY'S DEATH. BOYD'S TESTIMONY WAS CRITICAL IN THAT CASE. >> Narrator: AS WAS DAVE TRUESDALE'S UNDERCOVER STING. >> THERE'S PROBABLY NOT A DAY THAT GOES BY THAT SHE DOESN'T THINK ABOUT TONY, WHOEVER THE HECK HE WAS, THAT UNDERCOVER GUY. NORMA WOULD'VE SEEN ME IN THE GALLERY. >> Narrator: NORMA TOOK THE STAND AND SAID SHE HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH SONNY'S DEATH. INCREDIBLY, SHE SAID SHE HAD JUST TOLD INVESTIGATORS WHAT THEY WANTED TO HEAR. >> SHE GOT UP ON THE STAND AND TESTIFIED, AND I THINK THE JURY COULD SEE THAT SHE WASN'T REALLY BEING TRUTHFUL. >> Narrator: ESPECIALLY WHEN THEY HEARD NORMA'S OWN WORDS ON TAPE. >> NORMA WAS CONVICTED ON BOTH CHARGES. >> DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING TO SAY? >> NO COMMENT. >> I WAS IN COURT WHEN NORMA WAS FOUND GUILTY. IT WAS A SENSE OF RELIEF. >> SHE RECEIVED A TOTAL OF 70 YEARS IN STATE PRISON. >> SHE WAS THE ONE, THE ONLY ONE OUT OF ALL THREE, THAT WAS FOUND GUILTY. >> I THINK JUSTICE WAS SERVED. YOU HAVE THE PERSON THAT STARTED THIS WHOLE THING. IF IT HADN'T HAVE BEEN FOR THIS ONE PERSON, SONNY WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN MURDERED. >> HOMICIDE IS THE ULTIMATE CRIME. THERE'S NOTHING ELSE ABOVE HOMICIDE. AND WHEN YOU RESOLVE SOMETHING LIKE THAT, IT'S A TREMENDOUS FEELING OF SUCCESS. >> MY DAD, SONNY GROTTON, WAS THE GREATEST DAD IN THE WORLD. I COULD JUST USE JUST ABOUT EVERY GOOD ADJECTIVE THAT THERE IS KNOWN IN THE DICTIONARY TO DESCRIBE HIM. ANY TIME YOU NEEDED ANYTHING, HE WAS RIGHT THERE. HE WAS JUST SUPER WONDERFUL. HE REALLY WAS. MY DAD HAS BEEN SIX FEET UNDER SINCE 1983, AND SHE'S STILL LIVING. SHE'S STILL BREATHING. SHE IS WATCHING TV, SHE'S EATING FOOD, AND MY TAX DOLLARS ARE PAYING FOR HER MEDICINE. AND IT REALLY PISSES ME OFF BECAUSE IT SHOULDN'T BE LIKE THAT. I BELIEVE IN AN EYE FOR AN EYE. I'M SORRY, BUT WHEN YOU DO SOMETHING LIKE THAT, THE SAME THING SHOULD BE DONE TO YOU. JUST LET IT BE OVER. IT'S NOT REALLY OVER UNTIL SHE'S GONE. I THINK THAT'S THE BIGGEST PART IS IT'S NOT GOING TO BE OVER UNTIL SHE'S GONE, THE WHOLE CHAPTER, THE WHOLE BOOK. AND I WANT IT TO BE OVER. DADDY, I LOVE YOU. >>\ CBS NEWS, ORIGINAL REPORTING.