Mom Shocked After Learning Teen Sons Are Wanted Killers | Forensic Files

This is Tiffany, mother of Tyler and Eli Chaffen. Just hours earlier, her two sons brutally killed a man and left his
body by the side of the road. >> I felt I had to shoot wheels to make sure my brother didn't get hurt. This
police are always trying to protect the children. >> As Tiffany listens in horror, the
brothers insist they were only protecting each other. But the truth is far darker.
>> Over the next 24 hours, Tiffany will face the worst day of her life as she slowly pieces together the horrifying
truth that she's raised two terrifying killers. >> And your brother, your brother murdered
somebody. >> I love you very much. >> Some people have a [ __ ] up way of looking at things.
>> But the killer is a killer is a killer, right? The Chaffen Brothers Sunday begins like
any other morning in their parents' remote home near Aztec, New Mexico. They're sitting in the living room
watching gun YouTubers and playing video games. A young woman is with them. She turns to the brothers and asks if they
would kill for her. But just then, her phone buzzes and in that moment, something in her snaps. She stands up,
looks at the brothers, and tells them they're going for a ride and to bring guns.
Two hours later, in a quiet trailer park, residents hear four sharp gunshots echo through the area. When they rush to
their windows, they see a man lying motionless in a puddle of blood and a car speeding away from the scene.
Seconds later, 911 calls begin pouring in from terrified witnesses, marking the start of a multi-hour manhunt unlike
anything this town has ever experienced. >> Uh there's just a shootout. Somebody got
shot over here and I think somebody's either dead or bleeding across the street. One of the two he was walking
out of the house and they just started to open fire on him. It's like a white SUV.
>> Uh I'm the neighbor. I do not want my name. used gunshots. Less than 5 minutes
ago, he hopped into a white looked to be like a Ford Escape. >> Within minutes, multiple officers rushed
to the scene with no idea what they're up against or if the shooter is still somewhere nearby. The following footage
has never been seen before until now. Viewer discretion is advised. >> You guys can leave. Go ahead and leave.
Good. >> He's uh obviously 107. Officers find the victim lying face down in the grass while nearby residents
begin gathering outside, oblivious to the danger still nearby. And before officers can secure the scene, something
catches their attention. A white SUV parked just 100 yards away, matching the description of the suspect's vehicle.
With guns drawn, they move in cautiously, fully expecting to confront the gunman.
>> Out of the vehicle. >> Get out of the car. >> Get out of the vehicle. >> Is there anyone else in your car?
>> Just your dog? >> Yes. >> Okay, just keep walking to me. >> You have any weapons on you?
>> No, sir. No weapons in the car. No weapons on a friend. >> Put your hands on top of your head for
me, please. >> Sure. I I I went to the dollar store and got bought cigarettes. I came to see if
my buddy was one. He turns around right there and you guys were right there. >> The driver appears unarmed and at first
glance seems like more of a witness than a suspect. Officers clear him, then move
on to search his vehicle, but they find no guns or anything that connects him to
the shooting. That leaves police with almost nothing to go on, and they still don't even know the victim's identity.
But that's about to change because the driver is about to give officers their first rail lead of the day. When I
pulled in there, there was a blazer almost like this. Only a bigger one. We got on the highway, he turned towards
the Aztec highway. You >> pull my open air real quick. >> No, go ahead. >> Okay. Just to make sure.
>> Yeah. >> Witness said he saw a white uh Chevy Blazer and then eastbound on 38.
>> He said he saw it turning going really quick on the back road and then turning
to more than likely probably. With the help from witnesses, police now have a clearer picture of what they're
looking for. Specifically, a white Chevy blazer with gold trim that sped away immediately after the gunshots. After
the scene is secured, officers return to the body to examine it closely and determine the victim's identity. What
they document here will become critical evidence detectives later use to secure a conviction.
>> He's got a blood spot on his head. He may have one in his He may have one in his head right there.
Unless then one shoulder here. Unless this is that part, you know, when like when
>> something caused him to fall forward, though. >> That's that's the thing. If this was the
first shot and he was forward, you know, >> that can't be the first shot though cuz
that's on the back of his leg. He was standing up facing this way and the car was out here.
>> He turned around to take off running. Maybe >> he was walking out. He >> fired the rounds from the road.
>> Oh, okay. >> He was walking this way. >> What if he was down? Somebody walked
over, got to the edge and popped him in the head. As officers study the wounds, something
troubling starts to stand out. This doesn't look like a chaotic shooting, but it's more in line with a calculated
execution. The shot pattern is brutal, hinting at a violent, twisted killer on the loose. The victim appears to be in
his early 40s with at least four gunshot wounds. And with no gun in sight, it's likely he was unarmed. At this point,
the officers still don't know his identity or what would drive someone to kill him so brutally. But that's when
they notice something crucial. A trail of fresh footprints leading straight to a nearby house. With guns drawn,
officers move in cautiously. After searching the home, officers find no one inside, but they do notice
women's clothing and drug paraphernalia tucked inside the cupboards along with family photos of a man who resembles the
deceased victim, leading them to believe this is his residence. With the house cleared, officers step back outside to
regroup and figure out their next move. They still don't know the victim's name,
and they're no closer to identifying who shot him. So, they split up to gather information from nearby residents, where
they'll learn the victim's name and hear some concerning details about his life.
>> Hi. >> Hey, by chance, do you hear anything? >> Yes. Three shots. >> Who lives in this this last trailer over
here? >> Johnson. >> William Johnson. >> Yeah. He's 6 months ago, Mr. >> Earlier. Sir, did you hear anything over
here? Yes, sir. I heard three shots. How many people come and go from that house
that you're aware of? >> Quite a few. >> Do they ever have any issues over there?
>> Oh, fighting. Who? Who fights? >> Steel and William. >> After speaking with several more
neighbors, officers finally confirm the victim's identity. 37-year-old William Johnson, a father of two daughters known
around the area as Bubba. They also learn about a 23-year-old girl named Sierra who'd been living with William
and often was seen arguing with him, but no one seems to know her last name, something police now need to track down.
Coincidentally, one of the officers canvasing the area encounters a driver parked along the roadside who claims to
be Sierra's friend and knows exactly how to find her. >> How's it going? >> Good. Did you know her because you
worked with her? >> I know her because I worked with her. She was also a friend of my daughter. Is
he are him and Sierra still together? >> For some dumb reason after I told him do
not give back and it's not going to work out for him. He got you know if Will had
bad blood with anybody. >> I'm sure he had bad blood or just the whole missed. How do you know he was Dylan?
>> I see I witnessed it to to sell the who >> Sierra's friend would go on to provide
officers with her full name and phone number. 23-year-old Sierra Collins, Williams ex-girlfriend. When detectives
arrived to begin their homicide investigation, they quickly realized they're already familiar with Sierra.
Her record includes several drugrelated offenses and even a restraining order she filed against William himself. She
had recently completed a rehab program, was trying to regain custody of her son,
and was working towards becoming a teacher. With her name confirmed, the investigator decides to call her. At
this point, all the detective knows about Sierra is that she's William's ex-girlfriend. He simply wants to ask
her about William and has no reason to believe she's involved in anything. But that will change quickly once she
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network doctor today. With that said, let's get back to the investigation where the detective is about to call
Sierra and discover she may know exactly how William ended up dead. >> I'm sorry. Is this Sierra?
>> Yeah. Who's this? >> This is Detective Dr. Sheriff's Office. I was trying to get a hold of you. Are
you available right now? >> Um, for what? >> I just have some questions. I'd like
>> I I really would like to speak with you. It involves William. >> Oh, [ __ ] >> Um,
>> like it's very very important. You can't meet with me for like literally like 20 minutes cuz I really
need your help >> right now. >> Yeah, if you can. >> Um, can I call you back? >> Yeah. How long do you think roughly?
>> I'll call you back in like 10 minutes. >> Sierra hangs up but calls back shortly
after, ultimately agreeing to come to the station. Unknowingly, the upcoming interview with Sierra will blow the case
wide open, but the Chaffen brothers on the run as armed fugitives and trigger a dangerous multi-hour manhunt.
keep your right hand up with your left hand only. Open the door and get out. >> So,
>> I don't think I could help you not today anyway. >> Okay. And as her um do you know he who
he dealt with on the on that drug whole drug side of things? Like who kind of his person was? That was like his queen.
>> The reason I asked you is that's a motive. That's a great motive. >> I mean, he bought dirt from a lot of
[ __ ] people. You know what I mean? >> Did he owe any of them? >> Yes. >> Okay. Who did he owe?
>> He owed the landlord money. >> Well, I know he owed the landlord. I talked to him this morning. I mean,
anybody to the point where you think they would want to kill him? Like, why would someone want to murder him? Like,
we're not here to play games. We're not here like maybe he's dead, maybe he's not. He was murdered this morning and
I'm calling you trying to so that you can help me. Okay? I'm not here to get you in trouble. I obviously he's not in
trouble. He can't be in trouble because regardless of whether you agree with what he was doing or not or trying to
help him or whatever. >> Why did you guys break up? Cuz he was anger. >> Was he abusive to you?
>> No, but it was good. It was good. Sierra starts crying almost immediately, but
the detective can quickly tell it isn't genuine grief, more like someone afraid of getting into trouble. Seeing this, he
shifts the conversation to William's phone. Officers had found it at the crime scene earlier, believing it might
contain crucial evidence. The detective brings it up to see whether Sierra is willing to help unlock it, something she
would do without hesitation if she truly cared about William. >> What's the passcode for William's phone?
Don't tell me you don't know cuz I know that you do. >> I know that you do. >> And I I know that you know. And listen,
I'm going to tell you something right now. The the chain of events that took place, if I can access that phone, that
will help me huge. >> Honestly, he didn't even have one. >> No, he does. There's a code on it. What
is it? >> I haven't been on his phone a long time. >> You're not in trouble. You're here to
help me. >> In trouble. >> You are here to help me. That's why I called you. >> Yeah, I know. But then I'm going to get
in trouble. >> How? For what? >> I don't know. Probably the [ __ ] on his phone. Why would you be in trouble for
what I see on his phone? >> I probably said anything. >> I brought you here because I know that
in your relationship I know you love him. >> 11128. >> Like how do you know that? Cuz
>> that's the thing that we met. >> Sierra's reaction here is concerning to say the least. Outright refusing to help
unlock the phone because she's worried it might contain something incriminating is a major red flag for the detective.
and her lack of cooperation is doing nothing to help her case. But things don't stop there. As the interview
continues, Sierra soon reveals the real reason she won't talk. >> I just feel like I'm going to get in
trouble if I say something wrong and I don't >> like for what? I mean, I guess what do
you what do you think? I mean, did you shoot him? >> So, what do you I mean, what do you
think? >> I can't go to jail. I'm trying to study to get a teacher, you know? Like, I just
drama. You're not going to jail for anything. >> I just wish we could go for a walk and
make you didn't have to use. >> Well, let's go. I'll leave my [ __ ] in here right now. We'll go walk down the
street right now. >> Fancy pins with the [ __ ] microphone. Probably. I don't know.
>> This is a regular This isn't the [ __ ] FBI on TV. >> Okay. So, I just paranoid.
>> I This camera right here, this is the only camera. My phone's right. I will leave all my [ __ ] right here. We going
for a walk right here. >> Even though Sierra admits she knows who killed William, she refuses to say it
inside the interrogation room. So, the two agree to go for a walk, and the detective leaves his body camera behind
as he escorts her outside, hoping she'll finally talk. Outside, Sierra explains that her friend
Tyler Chaffen, whom she met in rehab, and his brother Eli were the killers, and insists she had no part in the
murder, claiming the brothers were unstable and the younger one simply wanted to murder someone. This, however,
is only Sierra's version of events, a version that conveniently leaves out the week-long plan she set in motion to get
William killed while letting someone else take the blame. For now, the detectives take her statements at face
value, though he does confiscate her phone to search for any incriminating evidence. Following this, investigators
begin digging into the Chaffen brothers and discover that the older brother, Tyler, is a convicted felon with a prior
arrest for assaulting a peace officer. To make matters worse, they find several firearm purchases, including rifles and
pistols registered to the Chaffen household. With this information in mind, the brothers are officially
considered armed and extremely dangerous, prompting SWAT to join the multi-county manhunt. At the same time,
across town, the brothers are already pecking their guns and getting ready to flee. Convinced that Sierra has already
betrayed them, SWAT teams move toward the Chaffen's residence, planning to ambush the brothers at their parents'
home. The goal is clear. Apprehend the suspects with no casualties. However, nothing about what happens next will go
according to plan. >> Nice and easy. THE VEHICLE JUST LEFT, SO SEND YEAH, we're just going to be
cutting along. >> Armed and ready, SWAT races to the address. They set up surveillance on the
road surrounding the residence, waiting for the suspects to either arrive or make a run for it. Once officers arrive,
they immediately surround the home and begin attempts to draw the brothers out. Ready. Got it.
>> Open and empty. Do it now. >> All of the share office with your hands open and empty. Do it now.
>> After several unsuccessful attempts to get the brothers to surrender, SWAT begins preparing to breach the
residence. >> Yeah, this door should be easy to breach. >> It wiggles a lot. If you just [ __ ]
boot it, go ahead and got the two steps here. >> Lovado command successful breach.
>> Looks like a den goes into a dining room. Possibly kitchen one. One >> shotgun.
>> Yeah. Yep. >> This is weird. Yeah. Let's move shed to the right and then there's the
barn to the left through and through plywood here. >> Yeah, you're good to right here. Come
here. Good. After searching the entire home, no Chaffen brother is found, but whoever
lives here has left half a dozen guns behind, meaning they could return at any moment. Just then, a white SUV matching
the exact description of the suspect's car is spotted approaching the house. Officers draw their guns immediately,
closing in on the vehicle as they brace for a shootout. 41 is not stopping. Okay,
>> keep your right hand up with your left hand only. Open the door and get out. >> Put your hands up.
>> Turn around and face away from me. On your knees. >> Go top of your head. Hands on top of
your head. Keep coming back. Keep coming back. Hands on your face. >> On your face. On your face. On your
face. On your face. >> All clear. We've got two in custody. 6633. Officers successfully arrest the
brothers and find an AR-15 rifle in their car, a reminder of just how deadly this confrontation could have been.
They're then placed together in the same police vehicle to be taken to the station. This is a deliberate move. The
car is equipped with a microphone that might capture the suspects coordinating a cover up. The smartest move for the
brothers would be to stay silent, but the police aren't dealing with the brightest. What they're about to say
will give investigators all the ammunition they need for the upcoming interrogations. and a chilling glimpse
into the twisted minds of these killers. >> Stop, man. >> Okay, so I got to reach down here.
>> Yes, sir. >> Don't kick me, please. >> Did you say hi to mom? >> Huh? >> Did you see mom?
>> Yeah. Coming with me. >> All righty, guys. Hang tight. All right. >> Yes, sir.
>> When you get to the jail, don't tell them that you want to commit or anything
like that. All right. >> Okay. >> Me and you are going to go to the same cell block.
>> Okay. >> We'll be together and I'll show you how to do the jail [ __ ] I don't have my gun anyways. Just be
just be cool. Okay. >> Pretty dead. >> Yeah. Pretty good. >> Watch the video on YouTube. This guy
hitting a pistol in his crotch or something stupid like that. So whenever they had gotten to the place to take him
out, >> he had pulled that [ __ ] out of him. Like >> on the way to the station, Tyler being
the older brother immediately takes charge, telling Eli not to cry or bring up self harm and to stick to their
story. From this conversation alone, the detectives can already tell the brothers
won't be easy to break, especially if they stay together. So once they arrive at the station, the brothers are
immediately separated. From this point on, neither will know where the other is or what they've said. The detective
assigned to interview the brothers is Detective Decker, who served with distinction and was recently promoted to
sergeant. Decker's goal is to provoke one of the brothers into slipping up and contradicting the other. A strategy
aimed at uncovering what really happened. Eli, the teenage brother who allegedly pulled the trigger, is the
first to be interviewed. But once they sit down, Eli instantly starts bargaining and asks for something the
detective could have never seen coming. >> How you doing? >> Good. How's it going, man?
>> Not too bad. >> How old are you? >> I'm 19. >> 19. I would like to have my parents in
for the questioning cuz anytime I've been told if they're going to do any questioning for you is to have them in
during the questioning. >> But you're at this point you're 19. The parent part generally applies to
juveniles. >> I know, but it I still like it. >> Detective Decker is baffled. Eli is 19,
legally an adult, yet he still insists on having his mother present. Decker already senses how messy this could get.
Any parent with even basic instincts would tell their kid to ask for a lawyer immediately. But with no other choice,
he escorts Eli back to his cell, still weighing the pros and cons of calling the mother. In the meantime, the
detective moves on to interview Tyler, who will prove to have a very different strategy, one the detective won't catch
on to right away. So, here. So, I got to ask you before we get going, man. Do you have any idea why you
might be here today? >> Um, not really. >> Not really at all. And the reason that I
tell you that is because I know we all we all screw up. We all do stupid things. But the reason that you're here
today is in reference to William Johnson. Do you know who that is? >> I do. >> Okay. How do you know him? I met this
girl. He was like her ex-boyfriend or something like that. >> What girl did you meet?
>> Her name was Sierra. >> How long have you known Sierra? >> 3 weeks. >> Just recently.
>> Yeah, just recently. Me and her are in the IOP together. >> What is that? >> Yeah. Intense outpatient treatment
>> for alcohol and drug use. >> Are you using today? >> No, sir. >> No. Sober? >> Yes, sir.
>> You know of William because of her? because of her. She um talked about him here and there.
>> Have you ever met William? >> I haven't. >> Never. >> Never. >> Tyler shows no real reaction to what
Detective Decker just said. Instead, playing completely oblivious, as if he has no idea why he's even sitting in an
interview room. But underneath that act, the pressure is already cracking through. Because Tyler already suspects
Sierra has sold them out. He just doesn't know how much investigators have against him and his brother. Seeing
this, the detective decides it's time to plainly lay it out and make sure Tyler understands that he's here for murder. A
revelation that immediately sends Tyler scrambling to improvise. >> So, like I told you, I'm here to talk to
you about William Johnson. >> So, what happened? >> So, William Johnson was murdered.
>> Dead. >> Yeah. Dead. >> So, I'm going to be straight with you, man. I uh I'm afraid to get you on the
bus. She was hanging out with us and we went to the storage place over there kind of by where he lives and went to
the storage place and she said, "Hey, it's um there's a clue over here. I want to check out my car." So, we went over
drove next to this house and this dude came out and started approaching the vehicle. I then grabbed a 22 pistol and
pointed at him and told him to stop. He got up in my face. Guess I hit him with the pistol. Uh, as soon as I hit him
with the pistol, he had something in his hand. I don't know what it was, but he got me in the got me in the head. Uh, we
went to the ground. Soon as I went to the ground, he went for my pistol. And as soon as he went for my pistol, my
brother shot. >> Where were you at in the vehicle? >> I was in the passenger side. And it was
when the tussle happened. And whenever he went for the pistol, whenever he didn't drop a shot on the ground getting
my ass beat, god damn near got the pistol taken away from me. got down here, got shot with my own gun. He sees
Sierra and I don't know what his intentions were from what I've heard of abuse it or whatever.
>> I didn't know we were going to his house. I thought we were going to go look at her car.
>> Right away, Tyler doesn't stick to the plan he rehearsed with his brother and
instead confesses to the shooting, trying to frame it as self-defense, believing it will protect both of them.
However, in doing so, he ends up fully implicating his brother, Eli. Whether intentionally or not remains to be seen.
And while his explanation may sound reasonable for now, the brothers have no idea that the gunshot pattern on
William's body tells a very different story, one that's not consistent with self-defense, but execution.
>> Do you know what the hole in the back in his back tells me? You know what's not
>> in in looking at the way that that that bullet hit his back is that he was already laying face down when that round
was fired. >> See, I don't I was I whenever I heard the first round, I took off.
>> So that hole in his back, you think that was the first round that hit or what do
you >> I don't know. I don't know. I know my brother uses hollow points and I know
there's many holes. >> Yeah. What was he saying? >> He wasn't saying anything. Is this girl?
This is baby. The guy really loves me. You didn't want me to get hurt. >> Even though Tyler doubles down on the
self-defense claim and seems regretful, the evidence gathered so far points to a
far more cold, deliberate violence rather than two frightened kids defending themselves. Detective Decker
knows this, and Tyler's tearful explanations aren't convincing him otherwise. But instead of being
confrontational, Decker decides to simply let Tyler keep talking, allowing him to dig the hole deeper for himself
and his brother. >> It's [ __ ] scary, man. To see it, just to to [ __ ] see it. I would have never
imagined. >> What do you think should happen to you? >> I didn't want any of that to happen. I
didn't I never had intentions to shoot him. I I never tried to [ __ ] the pistol
back and shoot him with the pistol. And I don't want to feel like I'm telling him about it. But I don't know how he
how he [ __ ] did it. He's always had an interest in guns and [ __ ] And we always worried about him. And I guess I
think today was his day for him to use his gun. I don't want that to happen. I don't want that to happen at all.
>> How did Eli seem after the whole ordeal? >> He he seemed really [ __ ] up. Um he
kept crying. He kept telling me that he thought it was me. He didn't want to hurt me.
Tyler is a complete mess now. No longer acting, but genuinely horrified by his brother's actions this morning. After
exhausting everything Tyler can say about the murder, the detective shifts the conversation to the third person
that was present during the shooting, Sierra Collins. Earlier, Sierra placed all the blame on the brothers, insisting
she had nothing to do with the murder. But that narrative is about to change. What was her take on seeing her, I
guess, boyfriend or ex-boyfriend? >> She shot dead had zero emotion. It was shocking. I didn't
>> So, no emotion at all. Not laughing, not crying. She didn't >> I know that it was that was her plan.
And I don't know if she was cuz she was outside whenever we pulled up cuz she had asked Eli, "If you'd shoot him
before all this happened, jokingly like, uh-uh, that's a nice gun. Would you shoot my ex-boyfriend? Was all a joke
until today. I have a little bit of history with her and in different cases. And she's she can be a pretty persuasive
girl. I mean, if she straight up asked you to go over there to shoot William, then you need to be straight with me if
that's what she said. >> He she told us about how he her and did all these bad things to her. I just
thought I was tricked. >> By who? Tiara. Oh, she [ __ ] tricked us. >> Tyler outright accuses Sierra of
tricking him and his brother into murdering William. There's a chance he's saying this to protect himself and Eli,
but the detective knows Sierra is more than capable of manipulation. If Eli's story aligns with Tyler's, they may be
able to implicate her and lessen their own sentences. Now it's the brother's word against Sierra's and soon their
mother Tiffany will enter the mix, stepping into what will become the worst day of her life. For now though, the
detective wraps up his interview with Tyler. But instead of calling the brother's mother right away, he reaches
out to someone he's already spoken with, Sierra. What she doesn't know is that the investigators have already spent
hours reviewing messages on her phone and they've uncovered far more involvement than she ever admitted. When
Sierra arrives, she seems to sense it and immediately asks Detective Decker to turn off his body cam, apparently
forgetting about the camera in the interview room. What neither of them realizes is that this will become the
last known recording of Sierra alive. >> Did you know what happened? I know what
[ __ ] happened. >> I know you know what happened. But why do you think that happened?
>> Don't worry. I've been blaming myself all [ __ ] night. You don't have to do it, too.
>> I didn't know Tyler hadn't gone in the front seat. >> Have those Have they ever been to a W's
house before? >> No. No. >> How do they know how to get there? So, you know, none of this looks very good,
right? Whenever you send text messages like that to Will and then proceed to go over
to his house with your homies who are strapped. >> They didn't know what I was text
messages to >> and William ends up dead because they shot him. It kind of seems like an
orchestrated plan to me. >> Was that was these guys these guys didn't know Will before they met you. Any info they got
about Will came directly from you. >> I didn't want Will. >> So scary. Here's here's what I think. I
think that that day that you had orchestrated a plan to go over there, but you went over there for a purpose.
Those boys had no idea where that place was. >> But I didn't go over there to die.
>> All the evidence that I have says that there was something planned to go down
there to do something. >> Look, I'm a piece of [ __ ] okay? [ __ ] boy wanted to kill somebody.
>> Why didn't you help him? Sierra continues to insist that Eli simply wanted to kill someone and that
she had nothing to do with it. But at this point, none of what she says matters. Her phone is filled with
incriminating messages she can't explain away. And now, not only is Sierra not getting her phone back, she's about to
learn she's not walking out of this interview room either. Her life, as she knows it, is over. So, Eli killed your
best friend, gunned him down, and shot him dead in front of you. But you don't know what you think should happen. Eli,
I just >> Do you feel like you're to blame for any of him? I feel like it's all my fault if
that's what you're asking. >> Right now, I'm in the process of applying for your arrest for Will's
murder. Sierra, I'm not saying that you are the one that went on there and pulled the
trigger, but some of your actions directly impacted the way all that turned out.
>> Will Will's dead. >> We can't bring Will back. >> So, Sierra, if if it's my choice, you're
going to go to jail and you're going to be charged. >> Unfortunately for Sierra, nothing can
save her. Now the interview is concluded and Sierra is placed under arrest for murder. Her breakdown at the end of the
interview, however, hints at a much darker twist awaiting her, one no one could have predicted. By now, Detective
Decker decides it's time to speak with the person who allegedly pulled the trigger, Eli. So, he finally calls Eli's
mother, Tiffany, asking her to come down to the station without explaining exactly why. Shocked to receive a call
from the police at such an hour, Tiffany arrives within minutes. When Decker goes
outside to notify her of the horrifying crime her sons are accused of, her reaction is strange to say the least.
So, I'm Detective Decker. I spoke with you on the phone. When I went to talk to Eli, he wanted you present while I spoke
with him. He didn't really explain why. I mean, he's an adult, so normally we don't get that from from adults.
>> He is severely disconnected to the phone. He is reminding you. >> I guess our sergeant came over and
talked with you and let you know that your boys have been in a shooting. >> Yeah, I wish I don't understand like
when where how >> clearly Tiffany's reaction isn't what the officers expected from a mother
whose sons are accused of murder. The detective is taking a big risk by allowing Tiffany to be present during
questioning. While her presence could encourage Eli to open up, it could just as easily shut him down or prompt him to
ask for a lawyer. For Detective Decker, the goal is to see how closely Eli's account aligns with Tyler's and to
assess Sierra's true level of involvement. But for Tiffany, she's here to find out whether her teenage sons are
truly heartless, cold-blooded killers. >> Hey, can I get a little hug? Absolutely.
>> So, you feel comfortable talking to me now? >> Mhm. >> Cool. So, just to be straight with you,
the reason that we're here today is uh in reference to William Johnson. >> Okay.
>> Do you know that name? >> I have no clue who that is. >> No idea. >> No, sir.
>> Clearly, Eli is sticking to the story he and his brother concocted, completely
unaware that just hours earlier, Tyler had already given him up. Tiffany did mention that Eli is severely dyslexic
and considered disabled. So, there's a chance he isn't lying, but genuinely unable to recall names, but Decker is
about to find out whether that's true or if it's all an act. >> So, and you're you've graduated high
school? >> Yes, sir. >> Was that easy? >> Uh, yeah, it it was pretty difficult, especially with how uh co was and then
the computer. I was better learning in class than over a laptop. >> You said you didn't know that.
>> I have no clue. Have you ever heard the name before? >> Um, heard of Will. >> Okay. So, have you heard of Will
Johnson? >> No. >> No. >> No sir. >> Just Will. >> Just Will. >> And who have you heard that name from?
>> Um, probably I don't know how to exactly say your name, but it's like Sea. Um, I
just barely like recently met her through my brother and they've been just like hanging out and stuff, but that
that's is all I know them. >> What about the name Sierra Ring about? Just just the fact that I know her with
my brother. >> What did you all do today? >> Oh, we just like hanged out and watched
TV and played video games and stuff. >> Didn't really do too much. >> I was actually there today if I might
add. Yes, ma'am. >> I was there today and I can even tell you the times that I was there and they
were also there. >> What time did you leave? >> Um, so Serena Serena, I don't know how
to say her name exactly. She had gotten a call and um she told us that it was a detective or something and we were like,
"Okay, Sierra talk about her car." She had mentioned it being um possibly strapped down or taken apart and then
scrapped or something. >> Mhm. >> But besides that, I I don't know. >> Where did she say where her car?
>> No, I I clue where it is. It turns out Eli does know about Sierra, but he doubles down on playing dumb, just as he
and Tyler planned. At least for now, he's holding out longer than his brother. Tiffany also seems to be
backing up her son, reinforcing the very risk the detective anticipated when allowing her into the room. This is when
the detective decides to ask Eli about his fascination with guns. Something that will lead to an unexpected outcome,
causing Eli to slip. Do you have a driver's license? >> Uh, no I do not, but I've done some
driving on my Xbox. >> Do you own any guns? >> I do, but I have it as a hobby. I am not
aggressive. Do you want to know what I own? I own the first gun that I did get was a 22. It was a um PCR. And then
after that, I got a uh 12 gauge Winchester. It's the It's like a cyst pump. I have my sink, which is an AR-15.
I I got um kind of pretty decked out. I'm really proud of it. And I just do it for hobby and also for um self-defense
and home defense. >> Do you own any uh handguns? >> I do. I Well, it's not my handgun. It's
my parents handgun. Uh why >> what kind is it? >> Uh why are you asking? >> I'm just I'm just curious.
>> Okay. Um it's a Ruben. Does the 22 even have the um what's the thing that you
put the >> bullets in? No, it's like a round thing where you put the bullets in.
>> Oh, the one that you had is a revolver. >> Yes, sir. >> Does it have the cylinder in it?
>> Um, as far as I'm seeing, no, it doesn't. It's actually It's put away in their closet.
>> Maybe it hasn't had the cylinder in it for years. >> Yes, sir. >> Okay. Do you have any that are broken?
>> I do. I have a little bit on the bottom of it is broken. >> Oh, yeah. Yeah. The trigger guard.
>> Yep. Yeah. What did that get? >> How did that get broke? >> Um I had dropped it getting out of the
car or something. >> The detective notices how quickly Eli insists he isn't aggressive. A strange
thing to emphasize unless you know you're being accused of something serious. So he plans to press Eli on
that point, prompting Eli's mother to jump in and defend him. You said something kind of struck me weird a
minute ago. would be like you when I asked you about guns, you said you had them, but that you're not aggressive.
>> I'm not. >> Why did you feel like that was important to tell me? >> Um, it's just something throw out there.
You know, >> he's a very timid guy. Um, he's actually been abused and bullied all of his life.
Um, so he's always like wanted to have a gun for protection all of his life. >> I try to prevent a fight than it to
provoke a fight. You know what I mean? I got zero tolerance for bully. So, I completely understand what you're doing
for a long time. Like, I don't tolerate any >> been seriously bullied. >> The detective believes Tyler and Sierra
likely put Eli in this position and knew he was going to shoot William despite their claims to the contrary. But just
as Decker builds some rapport with Eli, he shifts gears completely and confronts
him with his brother's confession. >> Was Tyler in any fights today? So, I already know. I already know. Yes.
>> Listen, I I already Eli, I already know that means Yes. Who was Who is he in a
fight with? >> Do Can I tell the full story? >> I would love the full story because I
feel like I'm trying to private out of you. No, >> I'm sorry. >> And I and I know, Eli, I know that you
know why you're here and why I'm talking to you. >> Protect yourself. >> And and tell the truth.
>> It seems the pressure is working and Eli decides to tell the truth. And though
his mother encourages him to cooperate, she has no idea that what she's about to
hear will change their lives forever. >> Will kept on calling and she had a fear
him uh either pulling up on her because she had mentioned him about beating her up and a number of different things. We
had went over is to get his phone. I told her like, "Let him know that we're going to come and get the phone is to
get the personal items off of it." And as soon as we had pulled up, he had stuck his head out the door and was
already just screaming things and he had come out in the front yard and what's he
going to do? Is he going to break the windshield? Like what's his next move? So I got out of my car with my rifle and
told him just to stop. Quit approaching. Stay where you are. Stop moving. My brother got out of the car and Will hit
my brother and somehow my brother got this gash on the side of his head. They both fell over and cuz my brother, he he
had had a he had gotten out a revolver. The revolver that we were talking about,
I don't know why he had it, but I noticed that he had dropped it. Will was going for the revolver, so I shot Will
and we were super shooken about it. So, but in my defense, I didn't want Will to
kill my brother. I didn't want Will to get the gun. So, I shot Will. I didn't have intentions of killing him.
I just wanted to get the gun and leave. But it turned physical and I felt I had to shoot Wills and make sure my brother
didn't get hurt. Those boys are always trying to protect each other. >> Is he all right?
>> No. >> No, he's dead. >> Oh my god, Eli. I'm sorry. I mean, I didn't want to kill
him. >> Eli breaks down and begins recounting what happened. With each sentence,
Tiffany struggles to listen as her son describes how he committed murder, something no mother ever wants to hear.
But even as this tragedy unfolds before her eyes, she clings to the hope that her sons acted only in self-defense.
That's a belief the detective is about to challenge. >> I already talked to Tyler. He told me he
never lost possession of the handgun. He maintained it in his grip the entire time he was there.
>> Okay. He never dropped the gun or anything. >> No. >> Well, I assume then at that point Will
was going to pry the gun out of his hands cuz they're both on the ground. One of them's got a gun that's like
freaking one of those easily accidental guns. Besides like a Glock. So, look, Eli,
here's here's the problem that we're going to run into. Okay? So, you and Tyler went over there, but he
went over there with guns for selfp protection, for protection of myself because she didn't even already know
mentioned that he was he had kidnapped her and he had her he had beat her. So, I wasn't looking forward to getting
beat. >> So, you went over there to teach Will a lesson? >> No, I didn't want to go over there and
kill Will. But you wanted to teach him a lesson. >> Why would I wanted to teach him a
lesson? I just wanted to take Sierra and he beat her. He had nude photos of her.
>> That's her personal business. I don't like girls. >> And obviously she gave him the address
cuz neither of them taken us directly there. If somebody's attacking me, doing physical harm to me or my loved ones,
then I may do something about it. He had pulled out a phone as if he was going to
pull out a gun, but I had actually waited for him to see what he was going to pull out before doing anything crazy
or irrational. >> Where did he pull it out from? >> He had Can I get up to do an example of
how he did this? >> Absolutely. >> So, he come out and went like this and then went and pulled out his phone all
crazy and was like acting all stupid with it. And that's whenever Tyler ended up on the ground, hit he hit him in the
side of the head with a phone and Tyler pistol whipped him. >> Have you taken any uh any handgun
courses, any like self-p protection courses, any firearms? >> I do a lot of training on my own time.
>> What does that look like? >> I'll watch YouTube videos on my um and just learn from the YouTube. There's a
number of different gun tickers that I've learned from out there. Eli only digs himself deeper when he admits he
learned gun handling from YouTube and Tik Tok. And this is exactly where the risk of allowing his mother into the
room starts to show. >> Given what you said, do you really think you should keep talking or do you want
to wait and get an attorney? >> I'll do what you want. >> No, I'm just telling you given what you
said, um I don't know that you should keep talking without giving the advice of an attorney. So, Eli, at this point,
all the only thing that I'm after at this point is I'm trying to figure out of like when you can and when you cannot
shoot. >> I've watched I've watched a lot of um body cam videos on YouTube, police
officers and stuff. Some of them you should stop. >> All right, I'm going to stop.
>> What do you mean you're going to stop? >> I think given this situation, he should
probably have an attorney present. >> And that's completely up to him. >> I'm I'm with whatever she wants. So,
what do you want? >> Is dad an attorney? >> Cool. We're done. >> I love you, son. I love you, too, mom.
>> I can't believe >> you let that girl take you there. >> With an attorney requested and the
interview shut down, Tiffany hugs her son once more, likely realizing this may be the last time she gets to do so.
Having now interviewed both brothers, the detective has made up his mind about them. He steps outside and tells Tiffany
what he really thinks about Eli. I guarantee you he's the one with the agenda. >> When I talk to Tyler, Tyler is a mess.
Eli has he's got a different attitude. It's almost like he doesn't care. >> I've watched these two protect each
other. Tyler used to watch Eli get bullied and watch him get beaten with a school computer. Can I ask you another
thing? Is Tyler here? >> Yes. >> Can I see him? >> Give me just a minute. I just want to
give him a hug and tell him goodbye. I'm sorry. I'm here. >> We love you the best tonight. I came in
here to give you a hug. >> I tell you, if you get a cup with your finger, I love you very much. No matter where
you are, no matter what, I will always love you. >> It's okay. >> I love you, Mom.
>> I love you. >> Bye. After giving her sons one final goodbye, Tiffany leaves the police station, still
believing they were nothing more than pawns in a sadistic scheme, insisting Sierra alone should be held responsible.
The next morning, a judge approves the murder charges against Sierra while the brother's charges remain pending. At the
same time, Tyler asks to speak with the detective again, wanting to know what charges he and his brother might face.
For Tyler, this is his last chance to shift the narrative in both his and Eli's favor and influence how police
view their roles in the killing. But for Detective Decker, it's an opportunity to
strengthen the case against all three suspects. However, when he sits down with Tyler for one last time, he begins
to wonder whether Tiffany might have been right. That maybe her sons aren't the monsters everyone assumed.
>> You all right? >> What? What did you want to talk about today? At this point in time that we
were set up that we didn't know where we were going that we were just going to go
see your car and that's as far as my understanding was. >> What do you mean you were set up?
>> I feel like I was set up. I feel like I was driving to that house. I feel like I
was used from begin with. She had told me she wanted him dead and I said, "Oh, I'm not the guy for you." I never
offered. I never said, "Hey, I'm going to kill this [ __ ] guy for you." >> I don't know what the [ __ ] going on.
>> So, I don't I'll tell you right now. >> I tell you right now, I don't disagree
that you may have been set up. >> Tyler maintains his self-defense story. However, this time, he's far more
adamant about Sierra's role in everything that happened. But there's something else Tyler wanted to speak to
detectives for that he didn't mention up front. Earlier, Tyler was allowed a brief moment with his brother, Eli,
giving the two just enough time to compare what they told police. Now, Tyler has figured out the one major
inconsistency between their stories. Something he believes will help their case.
>> I just want to talk to you guys. Um, I didn't have full control over that weapon. Over which weapon? That's funny,
too. I I do believe I dropped it. So, I asked you yesterday >> if I had full control over the weapon
and you said yes, I did. >> And then I even double checked again. I asked you. >> Yes, sir. You did.
>> I asked you. I said, "So, it stayed in your hand the whole time?" And you were
absolutely sure it was in your hand the whole time? >> And that was our pride. That was my
pride. >> So, how did you get the gun back in your hand? >> I [ __ ] went back and found it. Picked
it up. >> What do you mean you went back and found it? Well, like whenever I was going to
go get the car, I turned around and said, "Where the [ __ ] the gun and I went back, grabbed it, and put it back
in the car?" >> So, you understand that there's independent witnesses that saw what
happened, right? >> Yes, sir. >> Tyler, I'm going to be honest with you. Um, it it seems like at this point
you've had some time to think about >> what happened. not only what happened, but maybe some things you could tell us
to try to preserve yourself. >> This was Tyler's last desperate attempt to pull himself and his brother out of
trouble. Detective Decker quickly realizes what Tyler really wants from this interview, to protect Eli and
salvage whatever future they have left. So, he decides to give Tyler the hard truth he's been avoiding.
>> What you're having a really hard time with right now >> is that brother bond. I've got two
brothers. I've got an older one and I've got a younger one. I'm in the middle. Okay.
And that's what that's what's really troubling you right now is it's your brother. And your brother your brother
murdered somebody and you helped and you helped do that. And I think that is your
biggest problem. Your biggest your biggest fear right now is that you have you've made things pretty rough for your
brother. I know I know what brother love is, man. I' I've got them. >> There's really I thought I was going to
get >> There's a lot of things There's a lot of things that I would do for my brothers
in in a snap of a finger. You do got a long road ahead of you, though. So, you can hear the empathy in Detective
Decker's voice. He knows Sierra manipulated the brothers, but that doesn't change the fact that the
Chaffens went to Williams' house on their own accord. Following this, Detective Decker wraps
up the interview with Tyler and proceeds with murder charges against all three. As the case moves forward, Tiffany never
stops supporting her sons. She stays in contact with both boys, hoping the truth
will help them find a way out of this. Jail calls capture a brief glimpse into a mother caught between the children
she's raised and the reality of what they've done. >> Yeah, I've been trying to video Eli for
the last 30 minutes, but nobody will give me the tablet. >> Oh, for real? Hey, Mom.
>> Hey. >> What you doing? >> Oh, not much. We only have a few minutes. I bet they'll cut us off at
9:00. But you're doing all right. Did I wake you up? >> No, I'm doing pretty good. Uh, I'm just
hanging out. It's fun in here sometimes. But like, honestly, I don't think I've laughed as hard as I have in here just
listening to some of the [ __ ] >> That's good. I like to hear that. I like to hear that. I really love you guys and
I really love all the um the support and I really appreciate all the help. I think it's awesome.
>> I wouldn't do it if I didn't know what a good boy you were. >> Oh, I know. Oh, I know. I really love
you. >> Sleep good. Have a good night. >> I'll see you tomorrow. >> I'll see you tomorrow, too.
>> Bye-bye. >> Bye, mama. >> Tiffany would go on to support her sons until the very end. But as the trial
date approached, one of the trio's lives came to an abrupt end. In September 2024, while being held at the San Juan
County Detention Center, Sierra suffered a severe medical emergency. The detention center could not provide the
level of care required to sustain her life, and she was transferred to the regional medical center with limited
brain function where she died shortly afterwards. In July 2024, both Chaffen brothers entered plea agreements. Eli
pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter, while Tyler pleaded no contest to seconddegree murder and felon
in possession of a firearm. Eli was sentenced to 6 years in prison, followed by 2 years of parole, while his older
brother Tyler received 15 years in prison, also followed by 2 years of parole.

Be kind to yourself this year. Go to my sponsor https://zocdoc.com/DRINSANITY and find the awesome care you deserve for FREE.

This is Tiffany, mother of Tyler and Eli Chaffin. Just hours earlier, her two sons brutally killed a man and left his body by the side of the road.

As Tiffany listens in horror, the brothers insist they were only protecting each other…. But the truth is far darker….

Over the next 24 hours, Tiffany will face the worst day of her life, as she slowly pieces together the horrifying truth that she's raised two terrifying killers…

This video was made for educational purposes only. The video is presented to provide genuine footage of police incidents to promote transparency in government while providing educational, informative and newsworthy content allowing viewers to examine and assess public safety material. This is a fact-checked documentary using authoritative sources. The individuals shown in this video have not been convicted of any crime and are legally presumed innocent unless proven otherwise in a court of law. This material is intended solely for educational and informational purposes and represents personal analysis and commentary. Nothing presented should be interpreted as legal counsel, and the observations provided may not include all circumstances or reflect the final charges in each case. This video features real police-related footage shared to support public awareness and government transparency. The content is designed to inform and educate viewers on public safety matters and is presented as a documentary relying on verified and credible sources. All materials used were lawfully obtained through public records requests and are available to the public. The footage is utilized strictly for journalistic, documentary, and educational purposes under the Fair Use doctrine outlined in Section 107 of the U.S. Copyright Act.**

Brief Summary

Tiffany discovers her sons are accused of murder after a violent confrontation involving their friend Sierra and William Johnson.

Key points

Horrifying Truth Unfolds. Tiffany discovers her sons are killers, leading to a devastating realization.
The Chaffen Brothers' Morning. A seemingly normal morning turns deadly as the Chaffen brothers prepare for violence.
Sierra's Dangerous Connection. Sierra reveals the Chaffen brothers' involvement in the murder, complicating the investigation.
SWAT's High-Stakes Manhunt. The Chaffen brothers become armed fugitives, prompting a dangerous multi-county manhunt.
Brothers' Strategy Under Pressure. Tyler takes charge, instructing Eli to stick to their story during the interrogation.
Sierra's Manipulation Revealed. Tyler accuses Sierra of tricking him and Eli into the murder, shifting blame.

Episode highlights

Episode quotes

But the killer is a killer is a killer, right?

Tiffany reflects on her sons' actions.

0:53WatchDec 13, 2025

Tension

85/ 100High tension

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