Caught in the Crossfire Part 2 | Full Episode | Forensic Files

this special two-part edition of 48 Hours continues [Music] multi-millionaire Darren Mack is facing
life in prison for the murder of his beautiful sexy wife Charla there is a mountain of incriminating
evidence against Aaron is this the end of the story not by a long shot when a sniper opened fire on the morning
of June 12th at 1105 in downtown Reno thank you the judge was rushed to the hospital in
critical condition no one could have imagined the horror that had taken place only a few miles away two hours earlier
[Music] in an upscale condominium complex a woman had been brutally stabbed to death
in a garage nobody knew what was going on and nobody had put the two events together
nobody disputes that Charlie was there that morning in Darren's garage to drop off her daughter
[Music] was so afraid of Darren so most people think he must have made some sort of
promise that he was going to end the fight over their divorce if she would just come in and talk to him that is the
only reason most people think she would have gone into that garage when I first heard that Charla had been
killed it was like somebody punched me in the chest and you're thinking it just happened and maybe
maybe somehow if you can get to her and and turn back time real fast it can save her
at one point I think the max were happily married couple they did enjoy an alternative sort of
Lifestyle they were swingers they went to sex clubs and sex parties they enjoyed swapping Partners they let
a wild life and by most accounts they both enjoyed it but there's absolutely no love in that
garage that morning there was bitter bitter hate she obviously died a very slow painful
and tortured death it was absolutely premeditated and we know that from the note that was left
well ending the problem was eliminating her was killing her we've heard the official version about what happened
that morning now we're going to hear Darren's story it's time to take a stand with we're not going to take this
anymore where where do we draw the line Darren's defense attorneys say that Charla was the aggressor Charla attacked
Aaron he was very scared of her I was with him a couple of times when she called and threatened him the Charlie
and Darren Mack story is far from over [Music] just one day before Charlie Mack was
murdered and judge Chuck Weller was shot by a sniper Alicia bidison was out Target practicing
with her new boyfriend and so we all loaded up in the cars and drove out to a place where people routinely go shooting
and and did a little Target practicing she noticed he was a pretty good shot how good of a marksman is he
excellent excellent his name Darren Mack they met online though not on a dating website but on a Blog filled with
scathing complaints about family court judge Chuck Weller we both had unique experiences in the Family Court Alicia
had her own run-ins with judge Weller I received an email from Darren as well as
many other people and we began corresponding that way what was it about Darren that that attracted you
probably first and foremost that he was respectful of me because he valued my opinion and then
probably a close second to that was the fact that he was a he's a family man especially being a single mom you want
to make sure that the person that you're dating is someone who has strong family
values did you fall in love with him I've I've I love him and I do they knew each other just three months
before the family man was accused of murdering his wife Charla you're the person that was closest to him in the
days leading up to the murder of Charlie Mac what was going through his mind what was
his mental state I can't begin to assess what Darren Max mental state was I can tell you that
my experience with him was was that of um a normal relationship yes he was frustrated
[Music] Alicia says that warning it never occurred to her that Darren could have
been involved nothing about anything about Darren conveyed that there was anything being planned
a first responder told us a shot hit judge Chuck Weller in the upper chest what came into my mind was I've got to
call Darren and tell him this this is unbelievable I mean we knew lots of people didn't like judge Weller and
rightly so there was a lot of people out there who really didn't like this judge
so you're you're at work and you hear that judge Weller had been shot and what was what was your reaction what did you
do picked up the phone call Darren and what did he say he just said he was really busy at the time and he'd call me
back that was the last time I spoke with when Garrett Idol spoke to Darren that morning he had no clue that within hours
there would be a massive Manhunt on for his friend the prime suspect Darren Mack
did you notice anything in his voice any kind of Panic or when I didn't reach him
I immediately text messaged him saying you know judge Weller's been shot call me Alicia never heard back from Darren
that day and by 4 30 that afternoon she knew why for the shooting of Judge Chuck Weller
we are now seeking Darren Mack this individual was a sniper foreign at that time did you also fear for your
own safety no no her only fear at that point was whether she too was Under Suspicion
since they've been together just the day before at the shooting range so there was a decision made to call a friend of
mine who is a sheriff a local sheriff and asked him well what do I do am I a suspect do I go home it was only then
she heard the most shocking news of all homicide invest Charlie Mack was found murdered on the
floor of Darren's garage and I said what what are you talking about and I I said I I don't know you know I
just I couldn't believe any of it this can't be happening the next time Darren and Alicia saw each
other was for a jailhouse visit several weeks after his return from Mexico it was a very emotional
uh kind of reunion I guess you would call it having you know seeing him again for the first
time and and realizing the full gravity of what what had happened and how life was never going to be the same
again Darren Mack plans to testify at his trial about what drove him to kill Charla I loved her as deeply as a man
can love a woman and when it wasn't that way it was as painful as anything I've ever
experienced Mr Mack I'll remind you that you're still on the road okay you will tell a jury as he told TruTV I went to
even The Battered Women's thing to get a temporary straining order that he lived
in fear of his own wife even at one point called my friend I went and got his bulletproof vest and started wearing
that anytime I was forced to meet with Charles alone and alone with Charla in that garage
it was she Darren says who attacked him [Music] since June of 2006 the murder of Charlie
Mac and the shooting of Judge Chuck Weller have been the talk of Reno and we have another major story to get to now
the Darren Mack murder trial finally got started today so when it came time for darumax trial more than a year later
the show went on the road to Las Vegas as this trial begins we're going to hear two versions of a terrible story a
terrible murder writer Amanda Robb followed the case for 48 hours we're going to hear Darren's story and we're
going to hear the prosecutor's story there goes going to be brutal and they're both going to be ugly
there's nothing that unusual unfortunately about a domestic violence homicide prosecutor Robert daskus opened
for the state like a lot of couples they grew apart and 10 years after the marriage Charla
and the defendant decided to get divorce what made this case somewhat unusual was
that Darren Mack also tried to kill a judge [Music] this became fairly contentious very
early in the divorce proceedings before judge Charles Weller a big part of the state's case would be these recordings
from Judge Weller's courtroom showing the bitterness of the max divorce over and over they lie lie lie this courtroom
battle went on for over a year and a half mostly about money Charlie needs some money immediately I don't have any
money what do you want me to do at one point judge Weller even threatened to throw
Darren in jail when he violated a court order my inclination now is to require you sir to give her ten thousand dollars
by Friday at five o'clock or if you don't do that to report to 911 Park Boulevard at that time for incarceration
Darren Mack is essentially a you know he's a spoiled brat I mean the kid was raised with a lot of money he got
everything he ever wanted and now he found himself in Family Court things weren't going his way he wasn't getting
what he wanted and he took matters into his own hands prosecutors believed the idea to kill
Charla may have been planted a couple of weeks earlier when Darren sat for this cable access interview with the father's
rights Advocate Mac railed against Weller that is the the family court system my experience of
it under judge Weller is it's it's it's it reminds me much more about what I've studied in school about Nazi Germany and
then there was this chilling remark from host William Wagner to Darren you're actually you know better off to murder
your your spouse and then plead insanity and you'll be out in seven years you'll
have your kids what was Darren Mack's reaction when that comment was made he didn't say anything but you could see
his uh his facial reaction it was almost like he absorbed it and uh and realized
it might be a good idea kind of almost as though a light went off at some point following this interview prosecutors say
Darren took this advice a step further and actually wrote a to-do list for his crime spree it's not every day that you
have a script basically laying out what's going to happen in a murder case friends and Christine say that morning
began like so many others when she got in her car with Erica that morning and the dog
her intention was to drive Erica and do the exchange and never in a million years did she leave her house that day
and think I should be worried about this Charlie was murdered in a very brutal way she clearly suffered defensive
wounds on her arms and on her legs she was clearly drugged from one area to another we see blood spatter on the
walls of the garage and on the floor of the garage although we don't know exactly what happened we know she put up
quite a fight ultimately she lost that fight Charlotte Mack was five four 120 pounds
Darren Mack was close to Six Feet 200 pounds charlamak didn't stand a chance less than two hours later Darren Mack
could check one more thing off that to-do list as judge Chuck Weller laid bleeding on
the floor of his Chambers the next question was who fired the bullet well if there's a common denominator
between Charlo Mack and judge Weller it's the defendant Darren Mack certainly that doesn't prove he fired
the shot several other things will ladies and gentlemen you've heard from the state now it was Darren's turn as
defense attorney Scott Freeman opened with scenes of a very troubled marriage he thought he'd hit the lottery with
this woman funny smart beautiful physically fit Darren was not aware of the dark side of
Charla prior to marriage she also was not aware of her ability to be physically violent and physically
abusive towards Darren the defense spared the jury no detail in describing the max marriage Charla had an unusual
sexual appetite she liked women she liked swing with men and women Charla do some poses she could be kind and giving
in public she could be violent and abusive at home it was too much for Darren to take
Darren told friends he started carrying a knife and a gun for protection yet in their last court appearance together it
was Charla who said she was afraid but he gets so angry and so whipped up that I just don't feel comfortable right now
knowing personally where I live and it's not about Erica it's really about me and
I just would like to wait until the whole thing is resolved Charlotte did want protection Darren did want
protection they both asked for it and they didn't get it and one person is still alive
yes that that I'm not denying that and one person defended his own life and now for the first time defense
attorneys revealed Darren's version of events the morning Charlie and Darren were face to face in that garage
arrived about 9 15. Charlie begins to threaten and the rubber band starts to pull
the name calling from Charla began the terrorists split personality reared its evil head
she transferred into pure hatred the rubber band is pulling according to Darren the fight escalated
and when he turned his back on her charland knocked him to the ground Darren says that's when the gun he was
carrying fell out of his pocket she was going to punch him on the left side of his face but Darren gets up and pushes
her back Darren says as Charles stumbled backwards she stepped on the gun he claimed she picked it up and aimed it
right at him Charla give me the gun Darren says with his left hand it's loaded Charlie looks the gun pulls the
hammer back smiles and fires just like that the rubber band breaks Darren claimed the gun had misfired
which may or may not explain why there was no evidence of gun play and this is the first time by the way
that prosecutors heard anything about a gun in the garage Darren's worst fears were realized at
that moment Charlie was really going to kill him according to Darren Charlie tried to
pull the trigger again but this time he was ready for her with his knife they are both struggling on the ground Darren
plunges the knife into her neck once Charles balance has stopped defense attorney David chesnov picks up
Darren's story from that morning's crime spray he's like a soldier he's a soldier for a just cause
that's how he sees this everything is happening basically on automatic pilot which is consistent
with somebody suffering from the delusions that Darren Mack was suffering from at the time that he went and shot
judge Weller the defense says Darren went into that delusional state of mind after Charla allegedly put the gun in
his face Darren thought that Sharla had slept with judge Weller a delusion I hope we'll ask judge Weller
when he comes here chesnel says they will prove Darren was still delusional when he managed to hit judge Weller in a
single shot from 170 yards away did Judge Weller fuel Darren's delusions you bet he did
Darren's attorneys were trying a unique defense strategy self-defense in the murder of Charlie
Mack an insanity for the attempted murder of Judge Chuck Weller is Darren mackinson no
no [Music] I think judge Waller has a lot to do with what happened to Darren that day
I think judge Weller should be up on the stand right next to Darren despite the horrible details revealed at
trial I mean if it wasn't for judge Weller none of this would have happened Darren Mack still has supporters like
Garrett Idol help me understand that line of thinking if it wasn't for judge Weller
Charlotte Mack would be alive today if judge Weller handled his courtroom with a little more human touch a little more
compassion I think that a lot of people wouldn't be so destroyed Garrett met Darren through a divorce support group
how were you treated by judge Weller like a piece of garbage he told me if uh you know I couldn't pay my child support
you know doing my career line of work now that I should go flip Burgers go flip Burgers excuse me Alicia bidison
claims judge Weller crossed the line with her too when she was before him for that custody dispute how did Judge
Weller conduct himself he was unprofessional he was rude and he made highly inappropriate
comments Alicia was then a captain in the Army and she says Weller accused her of being
upset because her child's father moved on I took offense to the statement that I was chasing a lieutenant colonel
and I was just bitter about not getting myself a lieutenant colonel and I needed to get over that and I
needed to get on with my life as his friends see it Darren's own frustrations led him to that parking
garage to send judge Weller a message and I think he just wanted to injure him and to expose his courtroom his
corruption you believe her if Darren wanted to kill judge Weller he could have done so
what do you make of Darren Mack's claim that he didn't intend on killing judge Weller
do you believe that no I just wanted to scare him no I wanted to send a message I think that's Darren Mack's ego because
he didn't kill him statement called an ex-witness thank you judge Charles Weller and a rare turn of
events judge Chuck Weller found himself on the witness stand in the couple of months before I was shot
there were blogs on a couple of websites and there were some just horrible attacks on me calling me Hitler saying
that I was unfair that I was biased that I was corrupt I I knew some people from nevadans for
equal parenting I had some sympathy for some of their views concerned judge Weller approached the head of the group
and asked him about the negative blogs why is this happening and he said I thought Daryl but perhaps he said
Darren Mack he told me that Darren Mack was behind it Weller remembered this conversation and
gave police the details from his hospital bed and what was the name he told the detective Daryl Mack when you provided
the name Daryl Mack who were you thinking of that man right there now is the defense's turn to
cross-examine the judge and they begin by questioning his knowledge of the divorce case you would agree that you've
become a lot more familiar with this particular divorce than you actually did when the divorce was occurring isn't
that fair judge Weller no well you didn't know Mr Mack's first name and he's been in front of you for over a
year sir because I didn't know his name doesn't mean that I was unfamiliar with the divorce I was very familiar with the
divorce I'm diligent about my job sir I review the file before I go to court well I think the defense recognized uh
what they had to do to push his buttons you treated Mr Mack differently than you
did other people who appeared before you didn't you judge me no and then the defense tried to show just how
delusional Darren was with this question I do apologize but I have an obligation
to Mr Mack to ask it you hadn't been sleeping with Charlotte Mack had you no sir okay that would be crazy
right objection there's no evidence to suggest there was any relationship between judge Weller and Charlie Mac no
I've never had my reputation attacked the way that you're attacking it sir it's unfair and it's unwarranted well
hold on now your honor I'm going to make a motion I'm going to make a motion I'm
going to strike it ladies and gentlemen you'll disregard that statement judge well you know better than that this
isn't a forum for that I'm sorry ask another question this case shouldn't have turned into
Family Court proceedings involving Judge Weller in other cases this was about Judge Weller being shot as he stood
defenseless in his Chambers did you think Chuck Weller was fair yes sir Darren Mack without question and I don't
think you just have to take our word for it I mean if you watch the videos yourself particularly the the last time
those two are in court Mr and Mrs Mack I'm sorry that I am going to have to rule in this case I've said over and
over today and I mean it that this is a terrible thing I can only pick one side or the other
and one of you has to lose but Garrett Idol says the tapes don't tell the whole story and unless you've been through it
you cannot truly appreciate how it can drive someone to the edge looking at the whole system from you know outside in it
almost makes sense almost how well why should one person have to just completely be bankrupt by a court
decision and you know have to spend all their assets on their EX it just it doesn't seem right so it
makes more sense to kill your spouse no I I'm not saying that but if you're looking for it almost makes sense it
almost makes sense I mean looking from the outside in it almost makes sense good
I'm not advocating murder no I'm not but you're telling me this that that almost
makes sense to you if you look at the system sure but even his number one supporter
concedes Darren's approach was probably not the best way to bring attention to their cause what do you think this case
has done to your efforts for judicial reform well it did create a huge speed bump
Alicia says that won't stop her fight to try and improve the family court system
and it definitely won't stop her from fighting for the man she loves why are you still standing by his side
after learning everything that's been put out there during the course of that trial you know about the
details of how charland Mack was slaughtered and you're still there you're still by his side Charlie
Mac was not slaughtered I'm sorry there is a difference between a stab wound and it wasn't just a stab wound
well I've seen the medical examiners I've seen the pictures as well you're still there I am because what I believe
in is truth and justice for all [Music] none of that changes the fact that this man brutally killed the mother
of his child he defended his life foreign [Music] [Music] it's been 16 months since Darren Mack
killed his wife Charla all I can see in my mind is how my daughter was slaughtered like an animal
and she was the mother of his children 16 long months that Darren says he spent anxiously waiting to tell his side of
the story I did everything I could so that that day wouldn't happen now the fun begins in our minds now we
get to hear Darren Mack hit the stand and try to sell his story state of Nevada versus Darren Mack record reflect
the presence of Mr Mac his family and friends gathered for the first day of the defense's case we were going to get
to hug Darren and encourage him because he was going to be testifying but over the weekend there had been a
change of plans so instead of taking the stand as to count one murder of the first
degree how do you plead Darren took a deal so I'm accepting the guilty plea it was what we were all just shocked
before I accept your plea I need to be satisfied that it's freely and voluntarily made is it yes he would
admit to murdering Charla and in return he would have a better shot of parole you willfully flown easily and without
authority of law stabbed add into the body of charlemak causing her death is that correct that's correct and that
that was done with premeditation and deliberation correct correct what we were being fed
is this is what's happening this is wide and we're trying to save Darren's life so we gotta take this we've given him
hope we've given him an opportunity for his family and his kids to feel that uh he's not going to be
locked away in a Max prison forever I have before me the written plea agreement as part of the plea deal
Darren also admitted there was enough evidence to find him guilty of the attempted murder of Judge Weller
shooting at the Judiciary is not the proper form of political redress but in the same breath and also I want
one other thing I'd like to tell you he also managed to take a parting shot at judge Weller by praising judge Herndon
and I really appreciate your honors Integrity I have much at stake it's been a pleasure to have somebody who really
takes their job seriously and in a private meeting he also thanked The Men Who were trying to convict him
Robert daskus and Christopher Lolly and Darren Mack shook our hands and thanked us for being professional for acting
like gentlemen what was that meeting like it's a little unusual it doesn't happen every day a bit surreal but
things were about to get even more surreal this is breaking news just three weeks later a strange turn of events in
the Darren Mack murder case Darren Mack announced he had fired his attorneys and
wanted to withdraw his guilty plea Darren Mack had buyers remorse that's the bottom line buyer's remorse buyers
remorse whenever you have somebody who basically signs up for spending just about the rest of their life in prison
it's not unusual for them just to start having second thoughts about that Darren
alleges his attorneys were just in it for the money it was money until they got the money and then it was take the
deal because you have no hope the high profile attorneys were out and local Reno attorney William roussis was
in his first order of business was to try and get Darren a whole new trial I think it's been one of the greatest
injustices that I have ever seen in the criminal justice system and I've been doing it for 17 years Russo's claims as
old attorneys chesnov and Freeman had coerced Darren into pleading guilty and that Darren had agreed because he
was confused sleep deprived and dehydrated it's time set for hearing on the motion
to withdraw please so two months later judge Herndon hauled everyone back into a Reno courtroom to hear Arguments for a
new trial and this time the star Witnesses were Darren's former attorneys they took the
stand to defend themselves and the Dual strategy of self-defense and Insanity you could bring in any competent expert
Darren Mack is not insane it's an absolute joke what they did you're not competent to argue self-defense if
you're insane but David chesnov explains that it was Darren who insisted on the split defense am I correct that Darren
Mack is the one that said I'm not going with an insanity defense on Charlotte this was self-defense yeah there's no
question about that and that you did not think that was a smart thing to do no because he came to the garage with a
knife and a gun in his pocket by calling his former lawyers to the stand Darren waved his right to attorney-client
privilege so what he had told them could now be used against him he had expressed
to you all that he previously thought about having Charla killed yes and I also had discovery that he had solicited
somebody to kill her there were actually police reports where Darren had solicited an individual in
Clark County to kill charlemak and a family court judge murder For Hire yes this was a incredibly difficult case to
defend the damning revelations from chesnov kept on coming Darren had told us that after he stabbed her he put his
knee on her head and she was gurgling when he told that to us in preparing for his testimony I got physically ill
Darren's case continued to unravel as his other former attorney reluctantly takes the stand this is horribly
disturbing situation I'm in right now when I learned something from my client I'm not telling anybody but under oath
Scott Freeman is forced to reveal that Darren never mentioned a gun in their initial conversation about what happened
in the garage so the second conversation he had indicated to me that he had meditated on what we had talked about
and described to me in Fairly significant detail what had occurred in the garage that included this gun
Darren told Freeman that he had thrown the gun into a dumpster but when Freeman went to look there was
no dumpster and therefore no gun I had two concerns the first concern was that perhaps Mr Mack was being less than
candid with me or alternatively the dumpster had been moved so I decided to go with the dumpster had
been moved as opposed to him being less encounted with me your honor the defense
will call Darren Matthew to the standard effect Darren Mack finally gets his chance on the witness stand
you have this very first meeting with Mr Freeman and Mr chesnov and you never mention a gun
correct that is correct you never mentioned a dumpster correct that is correct is there any evidence to support
his claim that she pointed a gun at him no no not at all nothing other than his word
Darren insists he acted in self-defense and was coerced and confused when he took the murder rap did I've been that
manipulated and got into a place where I actually they got me to say what I said
was so upsetting and horrifying it was like a psychological rape I mean I have a whole new compassion for women who are
raped it's not just the sex that's taken from them it's their will and that is like one of the most horrifying things
to have your will taken from you Gary Mack is always the victim in Family Court he believes he's the victim in the
criminal proceeding he thinks he was the victim you know Darren Mack is not always the victim he doesn't get what he
wants and then he tries to get himself out of the situation he finds himself if you two of your lawyers you were asleep
the prime did you yes I did you did yeah I didn't say in those words but I said I
wasn't getting much sleep you never told your lawyers you were heat exhausted did
you I did not you never told your lawyers you were dehydrated I told him I was very thirsty
after three days of testimony closing arguments I think what is abundantly clear from the testimony of Mr chesnov
and Mr Freeman is that they cared about this defendant they zealously represented him from the very very
beginning and defense attorney William rutzas makes a final plea to get Darren Mack another chance the truth will set
you free not the fear of the truth and that's what happened here judge they were afraid of their own case they tried
to tailor this man to an insanity defense and he is not insane [Music] Darren is a spoiled brat Darren is the
most selfish person I think I have ever come across in my years of reporting even from behind bars Darren Mack is
still trying to get his way there was his guilty plea his attempt to withdraw the guilty plea and the firings
of his own attorneys is the circus over the circus is closing down now it's out of Darren's hands and up to
the judge to decide if he gets a new trial the defendant wants a do-over I don't
think that's fair I don't think that's that's just and I don't think that's right the motion to withdraw The Plea is
going to be denied it's over for Darren Mack he now has to face the consequences for his crimes
one month later at his sentencing both families have a chance to speak nobody here has any clue how it feels to know
that your father is Innocent but have to look at through through glass and talk to him on the phone
Darren's son from his previous marriage begs the judge for leniency [Music] I love him with all my art and he loves
me and I cannot imagine going the rest of my life without my dad my mentor and my best buddy
I love you Dad then Charla's family has their turn Charlotte Mac was my sister I thank the court for the opportunity to
offer a statement as a victim of the murder of Charla Marie samsel I use her birth name
because she should no longer be associated with the name Mack let him never again breathe the air of a
free man let him forever remain caged until the day he dies may he die in prison I was
one of those lucky mothers to be best friends with my daughter when the phone rings I realize it will
never again be Charla now an indulgent cowardly man has interrupted our path of growth this man who thought he knew a
better plan so he decided to play God Darren is also given one last opportunity to speak and he does for
three hours still insisting he acted in self-defense what happened was is after she was
trying to kill me we both went to the ground she then got stabbed and you gotta understand the state of mind
that she's just trying to pull the trigger on me once we're in a fight for our life she's trying to pull the
trigger again I just stabbed her and it was an instinct I came up she still had the gun
in her hand I put my knee on her head that's the truth I didn't want to never choreographed the whole damn day
and at one point he even has the audacity to suggest that he is the one suffering
a lot of people don't recognize I lost a wife too and even though this has happened
I still love Charla I just couldn't live with her and I was afraid of her I don't I don't even know that there's
no words okay I just wish that that day you had never occurred [Music] throughout the course of the entire
trial Darren Mack never uttered the words so many had hoped to hear there was never a I am sorry charlemak
is dead [Music] I'm sorry I shot the judge and and saying you're sorry is not a magic word
you don't automatically get a certain sentence by expressing sorrow to the court for what you've done which leads
me to the conclusion Mr Mack that you're not sorry judge Herndon sentenced Darren Mack to
life in prison and Mr Mack your sentence needs to speak to you for your actions and leave no room for error
to the people of this community in this state the judge then offers advice to the
grandmothers who are left to raise the Lone Survivor of this terrible ordeal Erica Mack now 10 years old hopefully
you don't raise an angry and spiteful child who doesn't know who in her family to trust she needs to be raised with
hugs and kisses and not talking bad about each of those people a child without her mother and now
without her father for a great many years is going to need a whole lot from from both sides of the aisle and before
Darren is taken away there is one more voice and there was a song that she wanted to sing to Darren Charlie Max
this is a song she recorded after they split it's played for the entire courtroom
so you think you've got it [Music] ring the bank account it's Christmas morning [Music]
[Music] oh Darren Mack will be 83 years old before he is eligible for parole [Music]
[Music] thank you

A wife and judge get caught in the crossfire of an explosive divorce. "48 Hours Mystery" correspondent Troy Roberts reports. Watch more full episodes of "48 Hours" on Pluto TV.

Crime. Social justice. Impact. "48 Hours" investigates the most intriguing crime and justice cases that touch on all areas of the human experience including greed and passion. "48 Hours," which premiered in 1988, has developed a rich history of original reporting and impact journalism that has helped exonerate wrongly convicted people, caused cold cases to be reopened and solved, and along the way changed lives.

For video licensing inquiries, contact: licensing@veritone.com

Brief Summary

Darren Mack is sentenced to life for murdering his wife Charla and attempting to kill Judge Weller amid a bitter divorce battle.

Key points

Judge Weller's Controversial Role. Judge Chuck Weller's handling of the Mack divorce case comes under scrutiny during the trial.
The Brutal Murder of Charla Mack. Charla Mack was brutally murdered in a garage, leading to a complex investigation.
Darren's Defense Strategy. Darren Mack's defense claims he acted in self-defense against Charla's aggression.
Darren Mack's Trial Begins. The trial of Darren Mack, accused of murdering his wife Charla, begins amidst shocking revelations.
Darren's Delusional State. The defense argues that Darren was in a delusional state during the events leading to the shooting.
Darren Mack's Guilty Plea. Darren Mack pleads guilty to murder, admitting to stabbing his wife Charla.

Episode highlights

Episode quotes

There's absolutely no love in that garage that morning.

Describing the atmosphere of the murder scene

3:04WatchJun 16, 2023

Tension

75/ 100High tension

More from 48 Hours

Solve the Crime

Read a real case one clue at a time, then see how your call held up against the investigators.