A Detective Tricks Guilty Suspect Into Confession | Forensic Files

Where is she? I don't know where she is. Where is Savannah? No. No. No. Why did you go with her? I
know you're not that cruel inside. I'm begging you, Lee. Just tell us. I don't know where she is.
This is Lee Rodarte, a man taken into custody for being suspected of kidnapping and killing his coworker,
Savannah Gold. With no ideas of where Savannah could be, the cops knew getting this interrogation wrong could mean they
might never catch the killer. What's even worse is that Lee had a foolproof story that was going to make sure
Savannah was never to be found. Lee, however, is under the impression that he is smarter than the detectives. Little
did he know this would be a massive mistake for him. On the 2nd of August, 2017, Savannah's family received text
messages stating she was running away and quitting her job. The messages were riddled with errors causing her family
to panic and report her as missing immediately. Throughout the investigation, the police were grasping
at straws until they were suddenly sent the CCTV footage from the Bonefish Grill
where Savannah worked. The video shows her getting into a silver car in the parking lot before it began to shake
violently with the door being thrust open and pulled shut three times. The car then drove out of the parking lot
and Savannah was never seen again. After a series of interviews, they discovered
the car was identical to Lee Rodarte's, a manager at the Grill and boyfriend to Savannah for around 2 months. Lee was
immediately arrested on suspicion of murder and brought into the interrogation room. However, he was told
by police it was for an unimportant traffic warrant. And that's when the following happened.
I'll sit right here for a little bit. You can go have have a seat for me real quick. I'll be right back, okay?
Yes, sir. Being told the detective will be right back obviously implies to Lee that he
won't have to wait long to be seen. But it actually be 90 minutes before anyone enters the room again. Only a few days
ago, Lee was interviewed about the disappearance of a girl he kidnapped and now he's been handcuffed and taken into
a police interrogation room. Lee will be feeling incredibly anxious now, but remember, he's confident that there's no
way the cops have enough evidence to take him down. But unfortunately for him, the facade the detectives put up is
all about to be ripped away. Hey, man. How you doing, man? Good, good. You remember me from the other day?
Detective Reeves. Um This is my partner, Detective Salas. The detective that enters isn't the same one
that brought him in. It's the one who interviewed him about Savannah 3 days prior. Any comfort he found in thinking
this was all unrelated has now been completely taken away and replaced with pure panic. But Lee's plan remains the
same, so he tries to keep himself composed as he prepares for the onslaught of questions he's about to be
hit with. So, um Savannah, you said that you knew her and you guys had um you knew her from work. I mean, just kind of
fill me in with that. How long have you known her? Um like I said, I've known her obviously
since she worked since she started working there. Um I would say probably about 8 months ago we started hanging
out outside of work. And at the time I had a girlfriend. But I kind of, you know, we kind of connected, me and
Savannah. So we hung out a little bit here and there. Got pretty close. Uh we come from, I guess,
somewhat similar backgrounds, I guess you should say. The question Lee was given was, "How long have you known
Savannah?" A question that shortly merits a fairly simple answer. When hit with a question like this, people who
have nothing to hide keep their responses short, taking the questions at face value. But people who feel
pressured will usually extend their answers to questions in an effort to seem as though they know what they're
talking about, something Lee will fall victim to. All right, so we kind of connected, hung out for a little while.
Uh I'd probably say a period of two, three months. Okay. Um and then she started using uh drugs Okay. a lot.
I did them with her a couple times and then she started to get heavy into them and
Oh, got you. Okay. Um so I kind of just uh tried to take a step back and, you know,
put things off. And then probably a month or so ago, I saw Savannah at work and she looked healthy again, you
know, she gained a little bit of weight. Uh we kind of were talking, you know, here and there. We hung out a couple
times. Um she came over to the house and, you know, we just kicked back, drank a couple beers, watched movies,
stuff like that. In total, Lee spoke for over 5 minutes in response to a single simple question, going so far as to
detail specific encounters between the pair. Now that the detectives have even more reason to suspect that he may be
hiding something, they decide to call him out on something small to gauge his reaction. In the first interview, Lee
had told investigators he hadn't seen Savannah in a while. But if the CCTV footage is to be believed, this is a
bold-faced lie. as we hung out, you know, after a couple times, she brought drugs over. I told
her, I was like, "You know, you're doing really good. You can't, you know, you shouldn't be doing it again. You I think
we moved too fast. Split mutual ways." Right. Yeah. And that was the last time that we text. Okay. When was that? When
was that? Uh it was probably a couple two, three weeks ago. Okay. Sometime in July. Right, right. Yeah, and then I
think that's one of the things you said was that was the last time that you had contact with her as far as I I don't
want to put words in your mouth, so I mean, you you correct me if I'm wrong. time that I text her. Yeah, text or
phone call or messenger or anything like that. Two to three weeks ago. Yeah. Okay. And um
and then the last time, when was the last time you saw her? This is what I was a bit
I didn't tell you the truth when we talked at Bonefish. Okay. Last time I saw her was Wednesday
afternoon. Okay. I heard that she has been basically telling a lot of people at work that
we hooked up a bunch like couple days before that. Yeah. So I met her in the parking lot uh at Bonefish.
When was this? Wednesday afternoon. Okay. What day you know what time or about? Um it was about 5:30. Okay.
Without realizing it, Lee has already provided us with enough evidence to assume he's guilty. We know he knew
Savannah. He had the same vehicle seen in the footage and he was present at the scene of the crime when it happened.
Remember, Lee has no idea the cops have footage of the event. If he knew about it, he would have tried to provide an
alibi that put him somewhere completely different. Unfortunately though, this isn't quite enough evidence for the cops
to get a guaranteed conviction. Instead, they need to push further to try and extract a full confession, something
that will not come easy at all. I parked uh and I said, "Hey, can I talk to you for a second?" And she
said, "Yeah, what's up?" And I was like, "I heard you've been saying some things
about me and you continuing to hang out and, you know, that we're boyfriend and girlfriend."
And she asked me, she said, "Can I come sit in the car because I just did some heroin and I'm a little paranoid." It
was never confirmed that Savannah did do heroin. Nobody in her life mentioned seeing or suspecting she used it. And
even if she did, she was headed to a shift at her job as this conversation was taking place. If she was able to do
that without getting paranoid, it seems strange she couldn't simply have a chat in the parking lot.
So she came and sat in the car and I explained to her the situation. I told her that servers
at Bonefish were coming to me and telling me that you're telling people when you're out that we're boyfriend and
girlfriend and I said, "I need you to stop because for one it's jeopardizing my job. We agreed to, you know, split,
stop talking mutually and just move on. Um but it was nothing more than that." And she said, "I'm going to do what I
want. I didn't tell anybody anything." At that point, I got out and I punched through the hole in the tire. And I
said, "Now stop." And I said, "Don't do it again or next time it's going to be worse. It's going to be your windows."
At that point, she had her phone in her hand, she got out of the car and walked towards the main entrance from San Jose.
Obviously, this entire explanation was crafted to try and create an alibi as close as possible to what actually
happened. But the few small inaccuracies are actually glaring windows directly into the truth. We know that Savannah
never left the vehicle in the parking lot and that she drove away with him just minutes after getting in. Lee is
unwittingly constructing a mountain of evidence against him in the form of lies that he thinks he's getting away with.
And he's not finished yet. And it looked like she was either texting or calling somebody. Okay. Um because as she
started walking towards the there's an entrance to Bone to the plaza, but she was walking maybe
towards this way. Mhm. And I was seeing older model Ford pickup, Mhm. green, Okay. uh drove past me and
around and she got in. Okay. How long do you think it was between the time that she
got out and started using her phone till that green truck pulled up? Um maybe 5 minutes.
Okay. So wow, so if she called somebody, they got there in 5 minutes to pick her
up? Well, I mean, like I said, she she it looked like she was going to call somebody and that's when the green truck
came around and she got in. So she gets in the truck. What what happened at that
point? Um they drove back around, kind of looped around a little bit. they drive? So
I guess they exited that way and at that point I left. Lee doubles down on the lie again,
thinking that this puts him completely in the clear as he wouldn't have been the last person to see Savannah, but his
decisions continue to work against him. Had he decided to stick closer to the truth, he might have been able to argue
that he took Savannah somewhere else and then parted ways with her. But without the knowledge of what police have
against him, Lee is left simply guessing and forced to make up stories on the fly. This is why it's so important to
call a lawyer, innocent or not. In an interrogation, detectives are allowed to both lie and withhold evidence from you,
putting you in a very difficult situation where you're at the mercy of their tactics and games.
However, the second you bring an attorney into the mix, things get exponentially easier as police are
forced to turn over all of the evidence in their possession so they can put together a fair and sound defense for
you. Calling a lawyer isn't just having a wingman at the interrogation room. It's an unlocked door that bypasses
almost all of the police's tricks. It goes from them interrogating you to a legal battle. But, needless to say,
Lee hasn't called a lawyer and has been left at a disadvantage from the beginning. If Lee was as smart as he
thinks he is, he wouldn't have waived this right and likely would be in a much better position. What happened to your
neck? That was self-inflicted actually. Why? I just have been having kind of a hard
time. To your neck? Yeah, I did. And What did you use? A knife. When did you do that? Um
some time in July. You did that in July and it's still Yeah. bloody? Well, it's I
kind of peel the scab here and there at work, hitting it on stuff like that. I peeled it last night working. Okay. Um
and it was coming off a little bit. So, that's why I peeled that off. All right. Let me see.
But this and this was the same night. This one was just a lot worse Yeah. than this one was. Okay. Um And that was in
July? Yeah. Okay. Um Like a few weeks back? Yeah. Okay. It doesn't take a genius to
realize how brazen of a lie this is. Aside from his incredibly unconvincing delivery of his excuses, Lee has no
history with self-harm and was reported to have been in good spirits in the weeks leading up to this event.
Furthermore, Lee becomes visibly anxious here. Most people have a tell that shows
when they're lying or feeling uncomfortable. For many, this is crossing their arms or slouching in
their chair, but Lee keeps his posture and position fairly consistent throughout the interview. Instead, Lee
is prone to subconscious jittery movements in his limbs. Earlier in the interview, while being caught in his
first lie, he bounced his leg repeatedly the entire time. Well, here, he moves his hand and fingers unnaturally every
time he tells a lie. In fact, it's almost comical how perfectly it lines up with the false statements. I met her in
the parking lot uh at Bonefish. When was this? Wednesday afternoon. What happened to your neck?
That was self-inflicted actually. What did you use? A knife. It's also interesting to note
that the detectives almost certainly noticed these marks just seconds into the interview.
The decision to mention it now was a conscious one done to try and build pressure. Lee would likely have anxiety
regarding his last big lie about Savannah exiting his vehicle. Catching him so suddenly in a second lie right
after will likely amplify these feelings and cause him to feel even more paranoia
as the detectives continue. This is also likely why they immediately flip back to
talking about the truck right after. Did could you see who the person in the truck was? Um the truck had tinted
fairly tinted windows. I saw um a baseball cap. Yeah. You see a guy, girl, white, black?
really tell if it was a guy or a girl. Okay. Um I just remember seeing the truck drive
and her get in. Yeah. Um and all of a sudden I'm sitting in front and truck drives right past me. Yeah. And I saw a
baseball cap through the passenger window. Okay. Um but So, it seemed like she knew the person? I mean, she got
right in. Lee, why didn't you mention this before since we've been looking for this girl? I mean, don't you think that
information is important? it definitely does. Um and I regret obviously not saying
anything before. Um So, I when I come up and talk to you yesterday, I'm not threatening.
I'm just I'm talking to everybody up there. What? Well, I just you know, I I freaked out
to be honest with you. I mean, The this girl's missing? Yes. Okay. But you know she's been
missing. I mean, you had to know something. you know, I was the last one to see her.
So, I was a little bit scared at that. How do you know you're You You just said you weren't the last one to see her. You
just said somebody in a truck. Well, I mean, the last one to see her at Bonefish.
Okay. That the last one she's heard from. Right. I had contact with that anybody knows of. Sure. The detective
knows he's starting to catch Lee on the back foot, so decides to keep the pressure up. So, where is Savannah right
now? I don't know. Where would I find her? I don't know. That's my my prime objective is to find
her. Definitely. And here's a couple reasons I need to find her. One is um I'm hoping that that she's still alive.
Um and and that's really I I really do I'm holding out for that. Um and if she's not alive, then I think she and
her family are are are due that knowledge. I I I think they need some closure. So, where is she?
know where she is. Where is Savannah? I don't know. I need to know where Savannah is so I can let her family
know. she is. You don't know because you had something done with her and you weren't
involved in that part. I I don't know. Tell me something. What can I work with? I told you the last time I saw her.
That's not true because we have proof. We have We have proof. And that's why we're sitting here, Lee. At this point,
we need this for her. I mean, I look at that little girl and I think of my little girl, my little girl who's her
age. That's who I think about. That was my little girl. I couldn't imagine. I don't care what she said
about you or whatever, but my little girl is that age. Uh maybe And you're not telling the truth. Maybe something
gets out of hand in the car. do anything. Okay, you didn't do anything, but she was in your car. She never got out of
your car. She never got out of your car, Lee. This is where the true genius of these
detectives start to shine. The initially quiet female detective suddenly starts to speak up. The male detective had a
very deadpan, professional demeanor throughout the interrogation, so having that suddenly contrasted by a
vulnerable, emotional-looking person being thrust in front of him will likely come as even more of a shock to him,
especially as she starts to become more emotive and even starts to beg him. never gets out of that car.
And you drive off, she never gets out of that car. There is no green truck and that's not right to her. We're
fact-finders, Lee. I don't have anything personal against you. No, no. Not at all. I mean, it's it's
it's over. We're just doing our job. No. No. No. Where did you go with her? Where did you go with her, Lee? Be
human. You're a human. You're a man. Why did you go with her? I know you're not that cruel inside. Maybe you Maybe you
don't know where she is now. Where did you go with her? Please. I'm begging you, Lee.
I know you're not an evil person. I don't see that in you. I don't see that in your history. I
don't hear those things about you at work. Is she still at your house? No. Okay. Is she still in your car? No.
Okay. Well, where is she? What was going on in the backseat for the doors to be kicked open?
She kicked open that door three times, Lee. She kicked it. We saw it. And you know And you know I'm
not making it up because I wouldn't know this cuz I wasn't there unless we had video of it, correct? Yes, correct. I'm
not trying to trick you. I'm just a fact-finder. I mean, she was upset. She tried to slap
me. I slapped her. She went to get out. I grabbed her around her waist. She said, "Where are you going?" "Why
are you hitting me?" She calmed down and we left. Why would she be with you after that? Why would she
we've gotten arguments plenty of times where she says she doesn't care what happens or anything like that.
All right. Sometimes people do wrong things. Right? Some people people make mistakes.
It's what you do afterwards. You got a family that needs closure. They're now coming to the reality that
she's no longer with us. You want people to remember you as a guy who said, "Okay, look.
I'm going to do the right thing." Or do you want her family and everybody else to think that you're some evil,
heartless person who won't tell us where she is? I don't think you're that kind of guy. I don't think you're evil. Just
tell us where she is. Closure for her family. She was hitting me. She wouldn't stop and I I just
squeezed back. I just squeezed her. You squeezed her around her neck or around her body?
She was screaming and I let go. And then I let go. Where is she now? Please tell us where she is.
All I want to do I left her on the west side of the club clay. Club Du Clay? Yeah. Okay.
at Longchamp. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Okay. Just a few days later, a dive team recovered the remains of Savannah Gold,
burned and almost unrecognizable. So much so that her cause of death couldn't even be determined. Livaudais
Arte pleaded guilty to the second-degree murder of Savannah, and in March of 2021
was sentenced to 40 years behind bars.

This is the case of Lee Rodarte, who infamously was smarter than the detectives but still fell short.

Brief Summary

Lee Rodarte confesses to killing Savannah Gold during interrogation after inconsistencies in his story.

Key points

The Interrogation Begins. Lee Rodarte is taken into custody for the suspected kidnapping and murder of Savannah Gold.
CCTV Footage Revealed. Police receive CCTV footage showing Savannah getting into a car before disappearing.
Detectives Apply Pressure. Detectives confront Lee with evidence and emotional appeals to elicit a confession.
Recovery of Savannah Gold. A dive team recovered the remains of Savannah Gold, burned and almost unrecognizable.
Guilty Plea. Livaudais Arte pleaded guilty to the second-degree murder of Savannah Gold.
Sentencing. In March 2021, Livaudais was sentenced to 40 years in prison for his crime.

Episode highlights

Episode quotes

I know you're not that cruel inside. I'm begging you, Lee.

0:02WatchJun 5, 2023

Tension

85/ 100High tension

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