Inside the Brandon Pettit investigation and his defense | Forensic Files

when scott and janet pettitt were found dead after their bedroom had gone up in flames police soon discovered it was no
accident police quickly eyed the couple's son brandon after one of the neighbors said
he was strange the alleged motive to inherit his parents money but his sister says there was no motive
for him to kill their parents adding brandon loved them and actually benefited more with their parents alive
she even said brandon had an alibi the night of the fire working the graveyard shift as a security guard
but investigators were soon tipped off to another suspect by brandon himself felix valverde
in his first interview with police brandon mentioned other friends but failed to mention felix as they searched
felix's apartment police found keys to the pet at home their wallets a box of ammunition and seven spent shell casings
in his second interview with police brandon admitted he had given felix bullets in the weeks leading up to the
murders and had also given him a hundred dollars just days after the murders but brandon denied it had anything to do
with the murders and brandon also made a stunning admission he said a month before the fire felix threatened to kill
his parents unless he paid him ten thousand dollars so he tells you he has killed his
parents you give him ammunition and then you give him a hundred bucks he said he had paid his bills and needed
some money i had a hundred bucks so i figured i'd help him out until he got paid to the
guy that just was threatening to kill your parents you didn't pay money you're helping them out
in fact you're hanging out with him afterwards oh buddy buddy i didn't believe he would actually do it
police quickly arrested felix and brandon for the murders but martha carlton magana an attorney appointed to
represent brandon after his arrest suggests police should have handled the interview differently pointing to
brandon's asperger's diagnosis which he received in high school do you believe they were taking
advantage of his condition i think they were doing what they always do and because of brandon's condition he was
more vulnerable to that kind of interrogation everything in that second interview
needs to be taken with a grain of salt even though the physical evidence connected felix valverde to the murders
of scott and janet pettit prosecutors argued that brandon was the mastermind a former federal prosecutor 48 hours hired
to look at the case says the totality of the evidence shows brandon planned his parents murders the keys were given to
him by brandon and that was so that he could access the house so he'd get into the house and kill his parents easily

Is the evidence in the case against Brandon Pettit -- a suspect in the murder of his parents -- strong enough to convict?

(Editor's note: On October 19, 2022, Brandon Pettit's conviction was overturned after an appeals court found that his statements to police should not have been admitted at his trial. Prosecutors say they plan to retry the case.)

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.

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Brief Summary

Scott and Janet Pettitt's deaths lead to suspicions of their son Brandon and friend Felix Valverde, revealing a complex case of motives and evidence.

Key points

Mysterious Deaths. Scott and Janet Pettitt found dead in a fire, leading to a police investigation.
Suspicion Falls on Brandon. Police suspect the couple's son, Brandon, after a neighbor's comment.
Brandon's Alibi. Brandon claims he was working during the fire, providing him an alibi.
Felix Valverde Emerges. Brandon tips off police about another suspect, Felix Valverde.
Threats and Payments. Brandon admits to giving Felix ammunition and money, raising suspicions.

Episode highlights

Episode quotes

I didn't believe he would actually do it.

Brandon reflects on Felix's threats.

1:40WatchJun 18, 2022

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