The Stranger Beside Me | Full Episode | Forensic Files

this is a wonderful bubbly confident independent woman and she's missing Jamie lady disappeared doesn't
make any sense she's a college graduate from University of Michigan respected within her community people of her
background and stature don't just come up missing for 10 weeks and nobody hears from them how can one of my best friends
have been missing for 10 weeks how did it come to this that she could be gone so long and nobody reported it I
couldn't believe that it had been that long that nobody had noticed it was absolute
craziness with Phoenix in the metropolitan area is the sixth largest city in the country it's it's a big
valley and it's surrounded by desert on all four sides I believe Jamie lady came
to Arizona to establish her own identity Jamie was a very private person she kept
to herself she wasn't close with her family she just kind of had a don't ask me about my parents kind of thing so the
only person that saw her on a daily basis was her Livin boyfriend Brian Stewart Jamie and I dated for nearly 3
years she's always refused to talk about her past or her family every time that jimie saw her parents she was
terrified it was a very different case than just about everything else that we work there was no
blood there was no body there was no evidence of a crime scene There's No Smoking Gun in this case but there is a
lot of burning match sticks Jamie's lost we don't know where she is and it's really sad she was a good person and she
didn't deserve this I believe Jamie was murdered because there's no clear explanation as
to where she is now what happened to her and why Jamie liy is alive she took $100,000 of Daddy's money and she left
the state of Arizona he's a very convincing liar bring it on I know she's aive I'm Aron morard tonight on 48
Hours The Stranger Beside Me [Music] [Applause] [Music] when Jam leod disappeared in March of
2010 none of her closest friends noticed for weeks the truth is Jaimie had been fading from their lives for nearly 2
years after your friend stops making an effort you kind of stop too but I never thought Jamie would have been the one to
stop making an effort it was completely out of character for the sweet California girl they all met as freshman
at the University of Michigan she was a good friend we were a support network for each other gwenneth Newman Sheila
dubes and Jennifer Lango say they quickly formed a lasting bond with Jamie kind of like we had this rock we had
this family of of friends that we were so connected with and I remember leaving Michigan it was just so reassuring that
you're just a phone call away from feeling like you belong somewhere again they call themselves the 516 girls
referring to the address of a house they shared in Ann Arbor their senior year and where they were passionate
supporters of Michigan's Big 10 football team like we were obsessed with um football no one was a greater booster
than Jamie I think just I I always picture her in my mind on football Saturdays you know charging out to the
stadium Sheila says that she and Jamie had a special connection we were both from immigrant families and both were
under heavy pressure to succeed I think our fathers were kind of the same we they put a lot of pressure on us to do
really well in school but I think she just wanted to make it on her own Vonnie and Jimmy leady came to the US from
Thailand in search of a better life they admit they pushed Jaimie to go to medical school you think that because
you were pushing her to go back to school she might have pulled away a bit she said she's a big
girl after graduation Jamie landed in Phoenix Arizona The Big Valley was booming the perfect place to blend in
and make her own way she eventually found a high paying job selling medical supplies and while it consumed her time
she managed to maintain her now longdistance friendships we emailed each other a lot even though we all ended up
in different locations I think we still look to each other for [Music] support the weddings were the big thing
that kind of kept us together but far away in Arizona Jaimie was lonely so she joined a local
University of Michigan Alum Club where she found friends who shared her deep love of Michigan
football Marina Buffa was the group's president she was enthusiastic but still she was reserved and quiet but when she
caught the eye of a handsome young fellow Michigan fan Jamie found romance she was hot I mean I how else do you put
it Brian Stewart says the attraction was immediate she had a really good smile and and really got enthusiastic about
the football games and would jump up and cheer and would sing with the fight song they started dating in the fall of
2007 about a year later Brian moved into the home that Jamie owned in the trendy
Phoenix suburb of Chan she was the bread winner making well over $100,000 a year Brian a personal
trainer made much less did she pay most of the bills most of the big ones yeah but it's not like I was dependent upon
her did you love Jamie I still love Jamie you know I just want Jamie to be happy it's hard because I don't know if
Jamie knows what what it takes to make her happy in August 2009 Jaimie suffered a
crushing setback when the economy took a big downturn she lost the thing she valued most her high-powered job her
career had been going so well for so long and I think this was a a pretty major blow to her she searched for
months in Arizona Florida New Jersey but jimie couldn't find another job when the
real estate crash hit Chandler and her property value plunged Brian says she became despondent and even more
withdrawn you know it was like when it rains it pours for Jamie it was pouring Brian says all of it took a toll
on their relationship so we rented an apartment in Scottdale and planned to break things off and on the night of
March 17th he said he was going to tell Jamie he was moving out instead he says she surprised him she came in asked me
to take a week off from work and she's like We're going to go to Denver we're going to get a house you know I I I've
got a job offer up there um it's it's time to go I want to go I want to get out of this state basically I I told her
no I'm not leaving Arizona I'm not going to marry you Brian admits Jamie was upset and that they argued still he says
that when they went to bed things had settled down at the crack of dawn the next morning Brian left for work she was
laying in bed and I gave her kid told her I loved her and got in the truck and drove to work but later that morning
Brian emailed Marina Buffa and told her a different story and said Jamie dumped me she moved to Colorado did that
surprise you at all no I thought good for her did he seem upset um a little bit he was a more
angry that she left him alone at any point did it even cross your mind mind that something could have happened to
Jamie no I knew she had means if she wants to pick up and leave good for her that day and for weeks to come no
one realized that Jamie had disappeared when is the last time you saw Jamie physically saw her 3:15 a.m. March 18th
2010 [Music] there she is Jamie liy had always been fiercely private but by the summer of
2009 she was practically reclusive cutting herself off from nearly everyone except her live-in boyfriend Brian
Stewart we never had anybody over for dinner we never had any parties nobody came over to watch
television or to just hang out why not so I I one of the great Mysteries I don't
know even Jim's parents say she was more distant than ever my husband said well you know she's a busy girl don't bother
her that's why it took nearly three months for anyone to notice that Jamie was missing I think people were just
respecting her privacy in her space and I was unfortunate then on May 28th Marina got
a call from Brian he said you know I'm starting to get worried about Jamie marinaa was also worried so she and
another member of the Michigan Alum club called a private investigator Burke files files did a background check on
Brian and found nothing suspicious although one thing did stand out about 10 years earlier at two different
addresses in Michigan Brian had lived with a man named Rick Wayne Valentini it could be a roommate it could be a close
friend it could be a relative and then Burke files went on to trace ja's credit to see where she was
now living and working he came up empty and nothing there was no activity all nothing Jamie had disappeared Into
Thin Air so files sounded the alarm marinaa urged Brian to call Jaime's parents who
then called the police I immediately thought something was wrong people of her background and stature don't just
come up missing for 10 weeks and nobody hears from them that afternoon chance andler police got a warrant to search
Jaime's home and started calling Brian but he seemed to be ignoring them to me that was alarming it just showed a lack
of concern later that same night when detectives were searching for Jam's missing Ford Escape they found it in
Scottdale with Brian behind the wheel the detective said well I'm here in regards to your girlfriend and the first
thing he did was say my ex-girlfriend the detective felt that Brian was being evasive and seemed nervous when Brian
asked to use the bathroom in his own apartment the answer was no we didn't want to risk losing any evidence if
there was some in there his luck would have it uh he had a warrant for his arrest for driving on a suspended
license for a traffic offense so the detective used that warrant to take Brian into custody
friend yes hey I'm Nate MF how are you man it's b r y an right yes last name is Stuart detective Moffet interrogated
Brian how long have you and Jamie been dating give or take 3 years okay when did you guys move in together honestly I
don't know okay were you cheating on Jamie at all before no while detective Spielman searched Jam's home for Clues
walk me through what happened around March it was simple really um she hated everything about this state she wanted
out now she'd been up there for interviews I suspected that she would get the Denver offer you know he's
saying she went to Colorado yet all of her suitcases are there and her passports there all these things that
she would need to travel her there at the house but Jaime's wallet and driver's license were missing I was
concerned but the possibility did exist that you know she just left and she doesn't want to be
found but at Chandler PD Moffet smelled a rat and started pressing Brian did you hurt
Jamie okay did you have anything to do with her disappearance you have nothing to hide
no uhuh but things just didn't add up for offet there were just too many inconsistencies Brian gave a birth date
to the arresting officer which didn't match the date on his Arizona ID I have no freaking clue who's sitting in front
of me and it's extremely uneasy for me as I'm investigating a case of this magnitude Moffett had no idea how right
he was until the next day when Brian was in a jail cell and detectives were searching his apartment well we were
searching his new residence we located a manila envelope with a Michigan driver's
license in the name of Rick Wayne Valentini and that picture was Brian Stewart you're not really Brian Stewart
at all are you on the night of May 29th 2010 as he interrogated Brian Stewart about his Miss girlfriend Jamie leady
detective Moffett knew that Brian wasn't telling the truth I me you're talking a
woman who's who's been gone for 2 months now um and I have a person in front of me that has different Social Security
numbers a couple different dates of birth you're not really Brian Stewart at all are you to me I am but not legally
are you well legally I'm not anything actually legally Brian is Rick Wayne Valentini remember the roommate that
private investigator Burke files notice in Brian Stewart's credit history well there was no roommate just this guy Rick
Valentini who was preparing to change his identity in our modern world with the databases you just can't turn on a
new name a new taxpayer ID number or social security number you have to age it you have to season it in OCT October
2001 when the name Brian Stewart had enough of a credit history Rick Valentini disappeared from Michigan Days
Later a man named Brian became a resident of Phoenix driving from Michigan to Arizona
that's all I did Brian Stewart Brian Stewart Brian Stewart Brian Stewart I was always saying listening for Brian
Stewart Brian Stewart because it's a new name a new name and a new man man according to Rick the kind of man he
always wanted to be and he insists that whether legal or not he is now Brian Stewart and would only agree to an
interview if we would use that name and if you don't want to accept that I don't
want you around I don't want you in my life why not change your name legally why go to the trouble forging a birth
certificate well it it was my understanding that to to change your name legally would take years
Brian claims he wasn't running from the law just leaving behind what he describes as a tragic
childhood everybody takes their name for granted your your name is the very Core
Essence of who you are of what you are and you find out it that it's all a lie and then you find out that your own
father doesn't even know you exist because your own mother didn't didn't bother to tell him his mother was 18
when he was born his real father reportedly walked away he just wasn't loved just didn't
have love that's why he loved us cuz we loved him his aunt Donna says she believes he was physically and
emotionally abused I think the other children were too but not like him he always knew there was something
different about him and he didn't know what do you think that he created this different name different Persona because
he just didn't want to be who he was exactly exactly but when detectives started
looking into Rick valentini's background this is what else they found three Ex-Wives and two
daughters hello hi is this Cynthia this is hi Cynthia detective Dave Salvage from Chandler Police Department one of
his EX's told Chandler police she thinks Rick is just a deadbeat dad on the Run he owed from what I understand quite a
bit of back child support from Wendy his first wife his oldest daughter Amy was a
baby when he left he never called he never talked to me never contacted me when your mom finally told you about
your dad what did she say about him what kind of guy he was a really bad guy a liar he always she told me that he
always lied all the time he lied about lots of things in Phoenix his whole life was a
lie he told everyone including Jamie that his parents were killed by a drunk driver he pretended to be 8 years
younger than he is and boasted a hero's military record that was complete fiction when you talk to detective
Moffet when he sat you down he asked you about your military record and you said
you've been to Iraq and Afghanistan you hadn't had you no you lied I was you lied
yeah Rick Valentini AKA Brian Stewart was an enlisted man but he was dishonorably discharged after going
awall and stabbing two Military Officers in the hand and leg he served two years
in a military prison he never mentioned that to anyone either you tell a lot of stories though
don't you I have a lot of stories to tell but you tell a lot of lies um lies mixed in with the truth like the
lie that ultimately made Jamie leady trust Brian with her life you never actually went to the
University of Michigan did you no mm-m but you let people think you did sure why it was just uh a tie in to my home
state and it was just part of the The Pride that I had I've been a Michigan fan since I was a little
boy he was right in there and boy he was a Michigan man and it wasn't just that fanaticism that conned the alumni group
in Phoenix for 4 years Brian also had a make diploma he's fooled all of us we're talking hundreds
of people here and 20 or so board members many of them attorneys and judges news of Jaime's boyfriend's
double life went viral and made her disappearance even more alarming this doesn't happen to
your friends no this does not happen to the people you went to college with that
you call your sister this doesn't happen to your family you don't have friends who meet people who have double
identities did you begin to think that maybe Jamie was dead yes and did you think he might
have killed her mhm did you kill Jamie no I've never killed anybody in my life not ever did you two fight that night
were you angry with her no she told me that uh she was going to be leaving the next day and where was she going it was
my impression Denver but detectives who had already discovered several suitcases in Jaime's
home couldn't find any evidence of Jaimie ever leaving for or arriving in Denver Brian says that's because Jamie
didn't want to be found I taught Jamie how to create a whole new life for herself that included a new
identification a whole new persona a whole new way of looking at things are you saying that you helped Jamie change
her identity yeah I showed her how to do it the only thing that she ever lived for was to be free of her family she
wanted to be on her own he's too smart why would he have stayed there for 10 weeks if he killed her why wouldn't he
have just left he' done it before why wouldn't he do it again isn't it possible that Jamie's doing the same
thing that that Brian did just vanished the same way and and no one's been able to track her down are you asking me
today if I believe that's possible absolutely not I wholeheartedly believe Brian Stewart Rick Valentini
whoever you want to call him murdered jam liy on the night of March 17th but a year and a half after Jamie disappeared
there is still no body no blood no sign of a struggle no physical evidence of a murder we just didn't have you would
consider a traditional crime scene so we went with more of a virtual crime scene
they started investigating the digital record of Jim's life and this little white envelope contains several pieces
of the puzzle prosecutor Juan Martinez says it was enough to convince him that Brian Stewart should be charged with
murder this is a really telling piece of evidence oh my gosh in this many pieces
[Music] in June 2010 Brian Stewart was charged with fraud for forging a new birth
certificate and changing his name illegally if you think using the name Brian Stewart is
fraudulent hey we're going to fight it out in court but what detectives suspected he was responsible for The
Disappearance and death of his girlfriend Jamie leady they couldn't charge him with her murder what did the
two of you think happened that night I think they had a fight but wouldn't there be some sign of that in her home
not necessarily I mean strangulation or Suffocation or or anything like that there's going to be virtually no blood
with no physical evidence they would have to build a strong circumstantial case to prove that jimie was dead and
Brian was the one who killed her we literally dissected all of Jaime's financial affairs all of her accounts
all of the transactions his email her email what they saw was a very responsible woman I mean she was a
person that stayed up on her emails she returned phone calls she paid all of her
bills on time until March then she didn't do any of those things for the next 3 months detectives
realized that the only person who appeared to be using Jam's credit cards was Brian Stewart the only transactions
on one of Jaime's accounts were internet purchases and dating websites he used her cards to meet other women that's
right basically he said the same thing he was a graduate of the University of Michigan never been married didn't know
if he wanted kids or not that's NY isn't it yeah it's pretty nervy and pretty insensitive too isn't it um
yeah you know a little because well let me let me explain you used her credit cards to go on dating sites to meet
other women well you know what look Jamie Jamie was leaving but nothing alarmed prosecutor Martinez more than
what detectives found when they searched Brian's apartment in Scottdale her wallet was lying on his desk there was a
number of her credit cards there on the desk and then on the back filing cabinet
was her personal telephone that he said she had with her so was this small white envelope and
when police got a warrant to open it they found pieces of cut up ID and credit cards when they put them together
they had Jamie lead's driver's license her Michigan University Alum card and several credit cards card s why did you
cut up her driver's license I didn't cut them up Brian claims it was Jamie who cut up the cards after she changed her
identity and ran away but when Chandler police tested the envelope to see who sealed it the DNA belonged to
Brian even when you had that envelope it still took a year before you brought murder charges against them we were
tying up all the Loose Ends uh when you don't have a body you have to be very careful because you only get one
chance that chance came when an inmate at the jail where Brian was being held agreed to testify that Brian had
confessed to killing Jamie he went to this particular individual and said do you think that
they can charge me if they can't find the body on March 24th 2011 a grand jury indicted Brian on charges of second
deegree murder of his girlfriend Jamie leady he was also charged with fraud for using Jaime's credit cards without her
permission who is technically legally on trial here an individual by the name of
Rick Valentini also known as Brian Stewart but isn't this a little OD because even through the trial you're
calling him Brian Stewart that's the name that he preferred I'll use whatever name he wants to convict
him in October of 2011 Rick Wayne Valentini AKA Brian Stewart went on trial st's first witness
the first witness to testify for the state was Andrea arsma what does your husband do for he is a professional
baseball player back in 2010 she and her husband David then ace pitcher for the Seattle Mariners were in Scottdale
during the off seon Andrea worked out at Gold's Gym 5 days a week and her personal trainer was Brian and did he
tell you whether or not he had a girlfriend yes he had a girlfriend and did he tell you her name Jamie as a
result Andrea testified that for months before Jamie disappeared Brian had complained about his souring
relationship and what he really thought of his girlfriend whiny Naggy uh Sugar Mama um nothing nothing positive
at all I don't know if he just thought I was a good listener or if he really did think
that I was stupid and that he could tell me all these things and nothing would come of it in one of the trial's most
disturbing moments Andrea stood up and reenacted Brian sharing his nickname for Jamie Jamie the gut Jamie the gut and
I'm like man like if you hate her so much just just break up with her the jury also heard from Jaime's parents
have you received any emails from her no has she shown up at your house no have you been hiding her just so that
Mr Stewart won't find her no but some of the most significant testimony revealed that Jamie had found
a new job and not in Denver but right here in Phoenix she's very excited about her new job and we're looking forward to
working together on March 18th David bab a lawyer and friend testified that he helped Jaime negotiate
the contract for that job what's more he saw Jaime two days before she disappeared and testified that he saw
bruises she was exhibiting many many of the characteristics of a battered woman and she absolutely broke
down on day seven of the state's case thank you please be seated the jail house snitch took the stand the whole
truth nothing but the truth so help you got I do thank you at his request the judge ordered us not to reveal his
identity he also got a deal for testifying a 2-year sentence for fraud was reduced to one he's very agitated
talking about how uh the police know that that I killed her that uh he he needed to get it off his chest by the
time the state rested prosecutor Martinez and detective Nate Moffett were sure they would get a conviction on the
fraudulent schemes charge but had they convinced the jury that Brian had committed murder I think a lot of people
would have a hard time convicting with nobody we really had to be careful and listen to both sides knowing his life
was on the line Brian was about to do something that would shock the entire courtroom room were you expecting the
defendant to take the stand I wasn't no absolutely not but I was glad that he [Music]
did pieces of a driver's license and credit cards a closet filled with shoes and purses the evidence of trial is a
daily reminder of what Jamie lead's parents have lost so hard every time they mention her
name it's hurt me so much now I'm think that I'm not going to see her anymore then and as the defense begins Jamie's
mother has one wish the whole time I've been praying that I hope he take this stand why because then they can see
through him her prayer is granted despite his Fifth Amendment right to remain silent and very much against his
lawyer and most any lawyer's advice stand up raise your right hand Brian Stewart boldly and defiantly takes the
stand I am the only human being who knows what happened I'm the only human being who knows why things
happened when they happened what was your relationship like it was I would say 95% great did did you
argue no not really he appears confident and relaxed but after all it is his lawyer asking the questions did you kill
Jamie to use her credit cards absolutely not did you have General permission to use her credit cards yes Brian insists
he didn't need to steal from Jamie why do you why do you feel that you had permission to use the
cards even from our first date it was literally an instruction to use them and then he drops a bombshell claiming that
long after Jaimie disappeared she was still in Phoenix and would visit the house they shared and his new condo when
Brian wasn't around because I would get back to my condo and things would be moved around
or things would be left behind okay now how did she get into your into your apartment she had a key but that's not
all he also claims he continued to communicate with Jamie long after that morning in March
2010 when she vanished how did she communicate with you email and telephone okay you have told people that if you
had a computer you could find her I've got a computer here you want to try got my iPad here how would you find
her I I would have to look on mine um I mean if I got this whole thing set up could you I mean if you could I need to
get into my computer because there's a special email site that we were working through
you you must know Brian that that sounds a little crazy that you would have given
this information to your attorneys and they wouldn't go looking for the one person who could save you from going to
prison for life you know I I I told them that and I never heard anything did you
murder Jamie Ley no Jamie liy is a lie she would just let you go on trial for murder go to prison for the rest of your
life I don't know I don't think that I don't think e either one of us ever expected it to get this far would you be
at all surprised if I told you that she was about to walk through that door no I believe that but prosecutor
Walmart marz wasn't buying any of it you didn't actually talk to her in that condo did you no you have not seen her
at any time and she hasn't walked in now right right and she won't walk in because you killed her right
wrong I don't have anything else thank you one day before Thanksgiving 2011 more than a year and a half after
Jamie leady disappeared the prosecution in defense rested after presenting two very different
stories it was now up to the jury to decide and Foreman Leon Leed was worried as we were moving to
deliberation I wondered how difficult of a decision this is going to be for uh the 12 of us knowing that there's no
body but just 4 hours later the jury returned returned with a verdict did any of you look at him when you walked in no
I did not no thank you please be seated Brian Stewart was reassured by deputy sheriff's guarding him a jury oh
yeah they're like yeah you're you're good anytime a jury comes back that quick and I was like okay well wow all
right that's pretty good we the jury Dulan panel and sworn in the above entitled action Upon Our
Oaths as to count one second degree murder do find the defendant guilty frul guilty Jam's parents were overcome are
these your true verdicts so say you guilty that's all I heard and I just I lost it so happy pan and and then there
was more as to count two fraudulent schemes and artifices do find the defendant guilty sign for person Brian
Stewart couldn't believe his ears I just sat there like to me my life was over with I just couldn't
understand you know I mean if I would have killed her I would have admitted to it do you think Brian Stewart Rick
Valentini is a dangerous man yes yes yes absolutely no question in your mind none none at all the first 10 minutes of
his testimony any doubt I had that he was solely responsible for the murder of Jamie had been sealed at that moment in
time you've told so many stories it's hard to believe you let's look at the Army okay no let's look at what happened
to Jamie that's what really matters Jamie took $100,000 and she left the state of Arizona I've
said it for 18 months I say it now and I'm going to say it for the next 18 years but investigators say there was no
money and his story is just another lie and for her friends and family I just feels so bad that we
weren't there the one remaining question may never be answered is it hard because you don't
really know where she is you've never been able to bury her that's right that's right I still have um what they
call the receiving blankets of Jamie from the hospital and I I carried it with me all
the time and I intend to use that blanket to carry home and we find her [Music] oh
[Music] [Music] he [Music]

A young woman, conned by her boyfriend, disappears. What happened to Jamie Laiaddee? "48 Hours" correspondent Erin Moriarty investigates. Watch more full episodes of "48 Hours" on Pluto TV.

True crime. Real justice. "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

The episode details Jamie Leidy's disappearance and Brian Stewart's conviction for her murder amid a web of lies.

Key points

The Disappearance of Jamie Liy. Jamie Liy, a confident and independent woman, mysteriously disappears for 10 weeks without a trace.
Unraveling Brian Stewart's Identity. Detectives discover that Brian Stewart is not who he claims to be, leading to shocking revelations.
The Murder Accusation. Evidence mounts against Brian Stewart, leading to a belief that he murdered Jamie Liy.
Brian Takes the Stand. In a shocking move, Brian Stewart testifies, claiming he knows what happened to Jamie.
Verdict Delivered. The jury returns with a guilty verdict for Brian Stewart on murder and fraud charges.

Episode highlights

Episode quotes

How can one of my best friends have been missing for 10 weeks?

A friend reflects on Jamie's disappearance.

0:33WatchMar 18, 2025

Tension

85/ 100High tension

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