Secrets and Lies on Grapevine Lake | Full Episode | Forensic Files

foreign of mine introduced us all I knew was that he was in real estate David was nice
very Charming easy to get along with we've always had a good time he had a lot of ambition a lot of good
ideas David is the kind of person that makes people feel good he could sell you just about anything he
could sell a screen door to submarine just how he was Tracy it was the new girlfriend she
really wanted to take over so she was going to be in charge that was her mode of operation Donna she was his ex-wife
it was weird I liked him in his personality if he had a son that didn't matter to me
Tracy was nice just about everything was good at the beginning [Music] well I started finding out stuff he
gambled like crazy David owed everybody money very paranoid taped everything prostitutes call girls
David left with cash he had twenty five thousand dollars with him this was a pretty brutal crime just cold
calculated murder he was shot and burned the parking lot he had been wrapped in what appeared to be an electric blanket
and then outside of that was what appeared to be a blue plastic tarp if you're going to kill somebody you
would do it for a reason David and Donna didn't get along she had a half a million reasons Donna
has gained everything she wanted the house [Music] the only one who had anything against
them really somebody's lying if I wasn't walking in my shoes I wouldn't believe somebody telling me a
story secrets and lies on Grapevine Lake [Music] [Music] it was the middle of the night when
forensic death investigator John Briggs got the call to report to the scene of a
homicide as soon as you get out of the vehicle you can smell a burning odor [Music]
the body was wrapped in several items that had burned during the fire but were not totally consumed
there was the remains of a blue plastic camping tarp then around all that was rope the body
was still smoldering as Briggs carefully rolled it over hoping to identify the victim I could not even tell if it was a
male or a female but based upon the face I knew it was a Caucasian person when police first arrived at this crime
scene in Grand Prairie Texas in April of 2002 the intensity from the fire had damaged the body to such a degree that
crime scene investigators had to spend hours delicately recovering The Remains the police found tire tracks and some
Fiber materials but Little Else by way of evidence the medical examiner determined the
victim was a man in his 40s killed by a single gunshot wound to the heart but his identity was a mystery
dental records would later confirm the victim as 40-year-old David Nixon a successful realtor from nearby
Grapevine Texas I knew the second he never called me back because he would never not call me back
to do something that happened fourteen-year-old Nicholas is David Nixon's son what's your favorite picture
where was this is in Steamboat we're snowmobiles had a great smile here Dad [Music]
idolized his father a bear of a man at 6'4 240 pounds trustworthy Dependable protective anybody who knew him knew
that he would do just about anything for anybody everyone that knew him well just
talked about how much he loved you he was always bragging about something I did come on Nicholas's mother Donna lella is
David Nixon's first wife they married in 1990. years later she still has fond memories
Charming vivacious and full of life and you never know what you're gonna get love surprises love surprises love
surprises Nicholas their only child was born the following year anything for Nicholas
crazy about him David soon found success selling real estate becoming a top agent eventually
brokering million dollar deals on high-end properties in the affluent suburbs north of Dallas he hardly ever
slept it was bigger and better faster it was always a race it was always about competition
their marriage ended badly in 1995 after David had an affair with flight attendant Lisa Hill
they married and divorced within two years [Music] single for long before his divorce was final he met
another woman an attractive 27 year old accountant named Tracy frame it was nice very Charming
easy to get along with very smooth I wasn't interested in dating right then but he was pretty persistent and
convincing so David and Tracy soon started living together in this house in Grapevine
they lived extravagantly often taking ocean cruises together the trips were amazing did he have a taste for the
Finer Things in life absolutely he always wanted to have the best of the best Drive Alexis Mercedes they live
beyond his means yes [Music] at home David and Tracy were fixtures in the social scene at Grapevine Lake
everybody out there and he you know it was it was great that lake is a Peyton Place I'm telling you right now
it was amazing to see who woke up with who in the mornings Jerry Val knows that scene very well everybody knew everybody
and uh there were a lot of really good times a lot of fun times Tracy and I just became friends
Tracy was especially popular among men good looking one of the most attractive women out there I would say
some people didn't like her maybe because she was that good looking but Tracy only had eyes for David the
beginning when I first met him they loved each other they were spending time together they enjoyed doing things
together but their relationship was volatile most the time they were a lot of fun to be around but boy when they
argued you just wanted to get away from it and longest arguments were over finances
and David's gambling debts so the money was going out faster than it was coming in absolutely I hoped that things would
get better and it just didn't in fact the arguing got worse it was cats and dogs every time we saw each
other there were a lot more Angry Words than they were happy sometimes it got rough did he batter you no not on a
regular basis absolutely not not on a regular basis did he ever batter you we got in some shoving matches but I
wouldn't say that's battering in the spring of 2002 after almost four years together
it was over and so you said we're done yeah I told him that this isn't what I wanted
and you know we should probably think about going our own ways but going their separate ways would be
complicated David reportedly owed more than a hundred thousand dollars in back taxes
to the IRS to protect his property he had the house put in Tracy's name you wanted full
ownership of the house well I had full ownership of the house can I get an officer to come through uh
my house David disagreed arguments over ownership of the house escalated on April 9th when he called
the police David Nixon he was livid that Tracy had changed the locks to the house she has
now locked me out of my own house I'm sitting out here in the driveway with nobody here and I'm locked out okay our
house and it's my stuff and I want to know my life and I will get someone out there and they can explain that all to
you okay the police helped settle that argument so after that domestic disturbance call
on April the 9th things were civil between the two of you I wouldn't say civil it was business
I wasn't going to leave him high and dry almost two weeks later David Nixon was dead
I was crying and they just said he had been murdered he was shot and burned didn't even cross my
mind that it had been hurt or injured in any way Tracy says she was stunned by the news
you must have been thinking like who could have done this sure I mean it was there was a lot of things going through
my mind I just I just couldn't believe it danielella David's first wife could believe it when I went to the police
department those were my first words that Sunday night I went there Tracy frame did it David told me I had to tell
you this [Music] it was eerie [Music] he was preparing for the worst here Donna lella tell the story David
Nixon her ex-husband had a premonition that he would be murdered he told me what was going to happen and
what's more he knew the person who would kill him he was going to be murdered by
Tracy he used the word murder that Tracy was going to kill him he didn't call the police with his
suspicions or his fears no no I didn't think to tell him that Donna went to the police and reported
David missing after he didn't return phone messages from their son Nicholas Donna then confronted Tracy frame over
the phone what did you ask her I asked her what she did with David and what did she say and she said well he's
on vacation what makes you think I did something to David I said David's missing Tracy what'd you
do kept asking for that Tracy wasn't worried about David's disappearance what were you thinking
nothing I mean it's normal at that point it was not uncommon for him to do what he wanted to go out with the guys or go
stay in a hotel I didn't call him beg him to come home or whatever absolutely not
she says David sometimes snuck off to Las Vegas for a weekend of gambling what else happened in Vegas
I don't really know how to say this apparently there were prostitutes call girls
other activities that happened despite their differences Tracy and David were still living together at the
house in Grapevine but David had found another place to live and was making arrangements to move just days before
his murder you were discussing plans for him to move his things out of the house
and what did he ask you to do to rent a van I mean we've rented them before Tracy did rent a Penske moving van and
furniture dolly but David never returned since David and Tracy lived together she
was she was our key witness she was the one we wanted to talk to the most Grapevine police detective Larry
Hallmark was assigned to investigate the murder of David Nixon once we met her her demeanor was completely
not what I expected or are not what would be normal under those circumstances they just said he had been
murdered gunshot wound and they had to use the dental records the first thing she asked
was how did they identify him which I thought was an extremely suspicious response the detective is quoted as
saying that you asked immediately how did they identify the body and that's not true that's not true no
frame told detectives that she was Home Alone the night David disappeared she agreed to be questioned on videotape at
the police station Tracy tells them that she and David were having problems in the months leading to
his murder and we just aren't getting along enough I just love to be Tracy learned she was pregnant the
previous fall just as her relationship with David was crumbling David you know he was totally against it
um wasn't interested in it at all Tracy now says Health complications forced her to terminate the pregnancy
but at the time she blamed David writing to him I have given you everything heart
and soul including murder of her unborn baby I hope you are happy because I am not the loss of her unborn baby and
David's reaction left Tracy bitter but he was Unapologetic he could be cruel he could be very
vicious with his tongue but was she angry enough to commit murder homework and another detective Matt
gudgel start pressing Tracy for answers she could never tell the truth during that entire interview she was evasive
and sometimes she just out and out lied did you shoot David Nixon no I didn't did you wrap him in electric blanket and
set him a fire no do you know the circumstances surrounding David Nixon's murder no
while Hallmark had his suspicions about Tracy frame he had little to go on as far as physical evidence you don't
have much to work with do you no no no gun no gun no bullets no no blood no blood and an exhaustive search of the
crime scene the storm drain yielded a few Clues the area had already been washed down by
firefighters you actually went down in the storm drain it's an eight foot tall storm
drain that's 15 feet below where we are standing right now and I actually walked that 94 feet
looking for any physical evidence what I found was that this storm drain was clean
I didn't even find gravel or broken glass in here the police did find a set of tire tracks
at the scene providing Hallmark with an important clue the tire tracks that backed up to this body were the same
make model and size as the tires that were on the Penske truck that Tracy had rented and Hallmark soon caught another
break security cameras at a Tom Thumb supermarket near David and Tracy's house captured fleeting images over that
weekend blurry at best but recorded at very precise times the videotape shows a Penske moving van
that looks similar to the one Tracy rented driving through the parking lot also on tape someone abandons David's
white Lexus in the lot three days after his murder the cameras show a woman walking outside
the store inside she's seen buying several items and then leaving now she's going to come out of the store
right there is that woman Tracy frame you're sure that's her it's a woman that looks like her
but it wasn't you no it doesn't even look like me were you at the store with the truck no
you weren't there no I was at my parents house in Arlington Saturday and Sunday but if it is Tracy caught on tape she's
caught without an explanation what's your theory what happened that night Tracy had finally made the decision that
she was just going to have to kill David and she shot him while he was sleeping then she rented a moving stuff and
waited until the cover of night to move his body how does a woman weighing 145 pounds
dispose of a body weighing 245 pounds you use a furniture dolly it would just be a matter of rolling him
onto that Dolly and strapping him down Hallmark says Tracy tried but failed to shove Nixon's body down into the storm
drain you believe that she dumped the body here and then two days later returned to set it a fire to get rid of
the evidence right sweep him into that storm drain and he would just disappear forever
plan fell apart after a passerby spotted the fire but the question remained why would
Tracy want David dead money greed that's the only thing that I had to go on there
was nothing to gain nothing Tracy is about to counter-attack and the new man in her life is leading the way
do you believe that she knows nothing about the circumstances surrounding David Nixon's murder
I don't think she has a clue I'm innocent [Music] [Music] thank you I've never been in trouble with the
police I've never thought the police were anything but out there to help you and the last time he talked to him was
Thursday I didn't know what the heck was going on I'm confused why is that a lie
that is not true you need to listen to what I'm about to tell you you really do I'm gonna promise you I'm not mad at you
but things have just turned were that serious for you why the day after Tracy fraim met with
police detectors she was arrested and charged with the murder of David Nixon what are you thinking about right now
it's been a horrible experience I I knew that it would happen it was no surprise
I knew in my heart that she had done it but would it stick was the question Tracy was released on Bond and fitted
with an electronic monitoring device to be worn until her trial to go to a restaurant or to go shopping
in shorts when it's 105 degrees it's it's hard everybody stares leaves bruises on my ankle and stuff but
Tracy has her Defenders a lot of cold a lot of vibration none of the keyword and none is more loyal than
dentist Roland Taylor a native of Great Britain who settled in Texas everybody goes what a [ __ ] she is she's totally
the opposite and in her hour of need he is standing behind her who would want David Nixon dead probably the people
that he owed money to uh and he owed a lot and Tracy fraim did not have a motive you know what it would
behoove her to keep him alive because he owed a ton of money Roland and Tracy were longtime friends
from Grapevine Lake I've never met anybody like her she's very smart she's fun after her arrest a
romance developed all Tracy's ever wanted to do is love and be loved that's all she's ever wanted
and when they say Roland you better watch her back that's why I put a ring on her finger
Roland and Tracy are engaged to be married I will never ever ever stop loving her I'll never leave I'm there
yeah Donald fear is Tracy's defense attorney as the state said this is purely a circumstantial case
it's worked on only three murder cases in his career but he's confident he can quickly win an acquittal for frame she
was arrested in the first 36 hours in a homicide case and that's just unheard of
unless it happens to be standing there with the Smoking Gun screaming I did it I killed him
fear says an ambitious detective Hallmark got it all wrong from the beginning you have a detective Corporal
Who Wants To Be A detective Sergeant a high profile homicide case comes across his desk
make a quick arrest make a quick case you look good you make sergeant fear says the case against his client
doesn't add up pointing out that no incriminating evidence was found at the house or in the moving truck where did
she kill him they tore the house apart and if she killed him in there she had white carpet
Miami CSI needs to hire her to show how she can defeat all possible scientific trace evidence dragging a body across a
house through vehicles and then out on the ground he says the videotaped interview with detectives was designed
to trap his client did you find her an evasive during that questioning no I found her confused
he would have called me the mayor you saw interrogation question aimed at trying to make her look bad and trip her
up Sunday at night see now we're getting back into everybody's lying the traces and she looked bad and she looked bad
and that's how it's supposed to work break them down who knows maybe they'll pull a Perry Mason I did it I killed him
God help me I didn't get that so you just keep beating on her and it worked worked real
well Donald fear and Tracy frame also dismissed the videotape evidence allegedly showing Tracy abandoning the
white Lexus parking the Penske truck and shopping at the convenience store who is that shadowy figure I don't know
if I did they would be sitting here and I wouldn't be Tracy says no one can tell who that is
but more than just a blurry figure is being recorded in this transaction store records show that whoever this
person is she uses Tracy's store discount card at the checkout saving 19 cents someone using your discount card the
weekend David went missing that's correct but it wasn't you no it doesn't even look like me Tracy
admits the discount card is difficult to explain so I don't I don't have an answer for it but I don't think that
I would use a discount card if I was trying to sneak around town one would think
it's pretty hard though I agree fraim and her attorney throw out several theories about who may have killed David
Nixon first they suggest Nixon could have been murdered during a robbery was it common for David to walk around with
big wads of cash in his pocket oh yes when he had it he liked to show everybody he liked to be flashy or that
it was payback over gambling debts I mean I knew he gambled I just didn't know to the depth of it I guess I could
say and they points an accusing finger at someone who knew both David Nixon and Tracy frame very well
hey Paul this is Jerry valent best auto sales in Fort Worth Jerry Val friend at the lake used to be a friend he's into
businesses of helping people you know if they need to borrow money or whatever and in the business of helping people
who want to borrow money okay hold on can I answer that fear stops Tracy from finishing her sentence
I think where you all come from they call them shylocks I'm an easy target I sell used cars you know I take a
thousand for it at one time David loaned me some money and right after Christmas
I paid him back Jerry and David had a plan to meet the night he disappeared Tracy and her
lawyer insist the meeting was to discuss David's interest in a new boat and he had twenty five thousand dollars cash on
him that he took from the bank to buy the boat now David didn't carry large seven to money he didn't owe anybody
money we were going to get together for a drink well we ran out of time it was just getting too late for us to go out
and meet and so I spoke to him on the telephone and uh that was the last time I spoke to David
and Donald Feer raises questions about yet another possible suspect did Tracy fraim stand to gain anything financially
David Nixon's death not a thing but the first ex-wife did what are you suggesting
I'm suggesting stating the fact two months before he died David Nixon took out a life insurance policy for half a
million dollars and Nicholas was named the primary beneficiary yes she's secondary beneficiary but in all reality
as her son is the primary beneficiary she got the money Tracy frame got nothing so who stood to
gain the most well that's obvious I mean Donna has gained everything did you receive anything from David Nixon's
estate very little very little less than ten thousand dollars I don't find losing
David again at all in fact I find it the hardest part of my life for Nicholas so
when you found out that Tracy was arrested what was going through your mind did you believe
it was possible it had to be her everybody else I knew they knew him liked him I mean she was the only one who had
anything against them really as the trial Begins the defense is confident the prosecution has no real
case no proof we cannot get a handle on even what their theory of the crime was insisting that the police never
investigated other suspects Tracy frame is the only person on the planet that would absolutely not have killed David
that would have put money in to get him a bodyguard if he had been threatened because the only way she was ever going
to get her money back out of the thousands she'd spent on him was keep him alive and selling houses
[Music] more than three years after David Nixon's murder hello Tracy frame is finally about to stand
trial I feel fine I feel like everything's going to turn out right what do you make of the prosecution's
case against you it's pretty apparent that they don't they don't have as much as they would
lead you to believe they had there's no doubt in your mind that that Tracy frame
killed David Nixon no Tarrant County Texas assistant D.A Sean Colston is Prosecuting the case against
Tracy fraim I think if you look at Tracy frame she's just an unpredictable type person and uh
she's the type of person who could kill without a motive what kind of personality are you talking about well
Tracy frame as a personality where it's all about Tracy Tracy is going to get what Tracy wants
and she doesn't care how she gets it even if it means killing someone if it means murder
Tracy's willing to do that Tracy's fiancee Roland Taylor says prosecutors are trying the wrong woman
is that Tracy inside the Tom Thumb store no defies they were touching and I'll tell you
what that lady has got a set of legs that don't quit there's no doubt in my mind that's not our that's not her no
not at all she said she was never at the Tom Thumb store do you believe that absolutely not she says that someone
else used her TomTom card do you believe that absolutely not I thought we'd hang out here in the lobby
with little forensic evidence no eyewitnesses and the wash down crime scene the defense believes the
prosecution simply cannot make a case for murder you know we're going to show you the smoke and mirrors for two weeks
and you're just going to be overwhelmed by that so much smoke it must be a fire somewhere so who's responsible for
David Nixon's murder today will I don't think we'll ever find out because they never looked very far
once they accused me in the courtroom Tracy's defense was to go in the offense arguing that the
prosecution failed to offer proof Beyond a reasonable doubt that there was no real evidence linking Tracy to the crime
that no blood was found at the house nothing was found at the storm drain that these tire tracks could have come
from any number of other trucks and that this woman is not Tracy frame and along with no apparent motive
there's no murder weapon no gun or was there did your dad have a gun yeah and where did he keep it it is safe
you saw that yeah you saw the gun yeah he showed it too he used to you know make sure I was okay with it David's
safe was in the bedroom of the house he shared with Tracy the police didn't find
a gun in the in the safe in his house I know where is it I don't know like Grapevine perhaps
down a drain pipe I don't know what she did with it she she Tracy did David keep a gun in the house no he
never did no he didn't keep a gun in the safe in the house no police did not find a gun but they did
find two key witnesses to bolster their circumstantial case against Tracy she just kept asking a lot of questions of
how to get Steins out John Wright and Mike Heaton remember the day Tracy Frank came into their Janitorial Supply
Company shopping for cleaning products to remove odor and blood we sold her probably about a hundred dollars worth
of stuff it was one day after David disappeared I mean she was I don't even want to use the word desperate but
appeared desperate for it's got to work so Tracy asked the salesman if there was
a foolproof way to remove blood stains then we told her about the muratic acids which we don't sell the next day the
shadowy figure who prosecutors say is Tracy frame is that the Tom Thumb store buying just that muriatic acid every
item purchased by that woman was found in the home when we searched it for the prosecutor tuition all the pieces of the
puzzle fit I think once you put all of that information together I think any reasonable person can say that that is
Tracy fraim and as for the defense suggestion that Donna may have had more to gain from David's death than Tracy
investigators say there was nothing to it I'd heard some innuendo from Tracy and her attorneys that somehow there was
this large insurance policy everything checked out there was never anything suspicious about Donna's Behavior almost
nothing Tracy told us checked out every Trail led to Tracy but will the jury agree
on the eve of the verdict Tracy frame who did not take the stand seems subdued and uncertain I don't believe in Justice
very much right now and I don't know how I feel after it but I have to believe that the right thing will be done
I think Tracy saw an opportunity and she took it it was all inference coincidence could be maybe looks good
well that isn't enough to convict somebody of murder after a two-week long trial it is
Judgment Day for Tracy Frank scared yes of course Very if convicted of Murder She faces a possible sentence of life in
prison it's a reality but I don't think that I'll have to worry about that defense lawyer Don fear is anxious
actually we're confident that we're going to be successful and material will see that clearly my client is not guilty
as a lawyer who knows the day March 9 2005 would also have been David Nixon's 43rd birthday
Nicholas is feeling the stress members of David's family from New Hampshire have attended the trial for
three years now we've been struggling with this and waiting for this day and we're glad it's here today is David's
birthday their fingers crossed whatever the outcome for Donna and Nicholas some questions may never be
answered what was it that Tracy frame had on David Nixon why couldn't she let him go how did it get so out of control
that she wanted to kill him I don't know that was the answers am I sure they have
the right person yes and the moment of judgment finally arrives a jury has reached a verdict
I'll ask the audience realize their emotions in here but we need for everyone to keep their composure judge
Mike Thomas has not permitted cameras to cover the trial but he does allow us inside for the verdict good stand please
we the jury find the defendant guilty of the offense of murder is charged an indictment signed by the four person the
jury takes less than four hours to find Tracy guilty the sentence 40 years I'm very happy very happy with the
jurors verdict Hallelujah David's family is elated but later that night the mood becomes thoughtful David
will never ever ever be with us again she's taken the rest of his life away from us and I really don't think she
deserves to have any freedom just glad it's finally over you know it's gone on long enough
Donna worries Hal Nicholas is coping without his father the little things that his dad did the big peacock chest
sticking outgoing That's my boy that's what he's struggling with that's what he misses
Donna wishes that somehow she had done more mad that I can't change anything can't bring it
I know in my mind Tracy killed David Jerry vowell is sure the jury got it right she probably just said heck with
you bang so the motive was money I think it was money and I think it was a sense of entitlement entitlement says
detective Larry Hallmark to her fair share of the house David Nixon was killed for eighty thousand dollars I
think he could have been killed for eighty dollars if it had suited Tracy Now Tracy Frain was the person that
ultimately has paid the price for this crime not the person who did it Roland Taylor remains loyal to his fiancee
aren't you setting yourself up for many years of Heartache no it's not hard being engaged to a woman who's serving
40 years in the State Penitentiary no it'd be heartache if she wasn't in my life
there's nothing here anymore except the memory do you think you have strong grounds for
an appeal oh God I hope so yes Tracy frames spoke to us just weeks after her conviction how did the
prosecutors manage to convince the jury that you were guilty of murder I'm not sure um
they threw a lot of stuff at him how have you been getting through these last couple of weeks
just care what's your greatest fear right now the unknown I guess do you have any regrets
right now yeah in the justice system do you think you have the inner strength to get through this
no no I'm pretty scared what are you scared of the most seriously it's the rest of my life
I don't really get the whole thing you know but I don't know it's weird do you think we
get older you'll be able to understand it any better you [Music] can thank you [Music]

A man is found shot to death and burned. Was his murder payback for living on the edge? "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.

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Brief Summary

David Nixon's murder leads to Tracy Frame's trial, revealing gambling debts and a tumultuous relationship.

Key points

David Nixon's Mysterious Murder. David Nixon was found shot and burned, leaving his identity a mystery until dental records confirmed it.
The Premonition. David Nixon had a premonition of his murder, naming Tracy as his potential killer.
Tracy Frame's Arrest. Tracy Frame was arrested and charged with the murder of David Nixon just days after his death.
Tracy Frame's Trial Begins. Tracy Frame stands trial for the murder of David Nixon, feeling confident about her defense.
The Verdict is In. The jury finds Tracy Frame guilty of murder after a two-week trial.

Episode highlights

Episode quotes

Secrets and lies on Grapevine Lake.

2:22WatchApr 4, 2023

Tension

75/ 100High tension

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