Transcripts For WAVY Dateline NBC 20160215

This is the story of two women, drawn for different reons to the sun. To the bright lights. To the blue water. Both chase that promise of success. Both saw what can go wrong. It was a gorgeous sunny day in newport beach, california. The last of 4th of july weekend. Some lucky tourists aboard an eight passenger bus called the green machine, marvelling as a came across the unexpected. Newport beach. The captain radioed the coast guard that as a boat was circling out of control nearby. Apparently fell off the boat. The man in the water was frantic. Does he still look like hes pretty distraught . Absolutely. Very. His name was eric beckler. His wife was peggy, but she was nowhere to be found. Just laying on his boogie board and laying. Can you make out any words . No, hes kind of slurring his words. Any time now that the unit should be on the scene. A stunning end to what began as a perfect day. Anniversary and peggy just turning 38. It was her birthday, so she was in good spirits. Linda was one of the friends they invited to a big party a couple of days earlier. She was talking about how much she loved eric, how great life is. And maybe life was great. Because peggy had it all. Her story begins in a small town, dexter, new mexico, this is where peggy made her entrance. Ive often said that she was born winking at the doctor and swinging on the chandleries. And peggy was going places from the very day she was born. She was never still. She danced, sang, played sports. And it seemed, nothing could she had scoliosis as a kid. She had to wear a brace around the clock. Just a terrible burden for a young kid like that to bear. But it also motivated her. It really did. Peggys doctor talked to her about a career in physical therapy. She volunteered and loved it. She made up her mind right then she wanted to be a physical therapist and she wanted to move to california and be a beautiful blond. So she did. A farmers daughter with big dreams, so peggy left the small town of dexter for sunny california, and settled in newport beach. Thats where she met glenda, who was also from new mexico and they immediately hit it off. Peggy was probably one of the most gregarious people i had ever met. And said glenda, she was griffin to establish herself as a successful physical therapist. She had almost everything she she did want to find a guy. And the clock was ticking a little bit. It was. And then one day on the beach, you found somebody for her. We did. So one afternoon on a weekend, peggy called me and said what are you doing. I said im going to go down and watch dave play volleyball on the beach. Dave was glendas husband. I asked her if she wanted to come down and she said absolutely. She immediately spotted eric and she said whos that. Eric in his early 20s, was a walking commercial for the california beach life. Im going to guess when she notices the guy playing Beach Volleyball, he is goodlooking and great shape. Indeed he was. Handsome. All those things. And he was available. He was also eight years younger. Was that a problem for either one of them . It was not a problem for either one of them. The unimaginable happened. The unimaginable happened. Wife fell overboard. It was a boating accident, said eric, and the coast guard agreed. Something they see all too often. But soon, secrets emerged that would make some people wonder. What really happened to peggy beckler. When we come back. I thought they would find her. Maybe alive. I did, because she is a fabulous swimmer. Where was peggy, and what had gone wrong on that boat . I had been crying and face is red and i was up set. There would be a sea of questions to come. You thought peggy faked her death . Otal care helps prevent cavities, strengthens teeth and restores tooth enamel. 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New from mucinex fast max. The only cold and flu liquid gel thats maxstrength and fights mucus. Start the relief. Ditch the misery. cell phone rings where are you . Well the squirrels are back in the attic. Mom . Your dad wont call an exterminator. Can i call you back, mom . He says its personal this time. If youre a mom, you call at the worst time. Its what you do. If you want to save fifteen percent or more on Car Insurance, you switch to geico. Its what you do. Where are you . Its very loud there. It is said nothing more beautiful than the way the ocean refuses to stop kissing the shoreline. This was supposed to be Something Like that. A romantic outing, an anniversary and gift he planned for his wife peggy, but turned into Something Else and now peggy was gone. The coast guard immediately launched a search, but by nightfall, no sign of peggy, alive or otherwise. And so eric called peggys mom, june. He says we cant find peggy. And i said what do you mean you cant find her . What are you trying to tell me . Eric told june peggy was driving the boat, towing him on a body board, when all of a sudden, a wave wiped him out. He came up from under the water, he said, he could no longer see peggy inside the boat. We thought she would be finding her, because we really just thought she would swim out of it. You see peggy was quite at home in the water. Growing up, it was the only time she didnt have to wear the back brace and she became a very accomplished swimmer. She wouldnt panic. She would swim. Because she loved the water. The next morning, june and Glenn Marshall were on the first flight out to california. Peggy had been missing almost 24 hours. Of course, the ocean is just bigger, bigger, bigger than you think about if youre in new mexico. Peggys friend glenda, tried to stay optimistic. Her. Maybe alive. I did, because she is a fabulous swimmer. She went to the beckler house to see eric. How did he look . Hysterical. He looked up set as he would be, one would expect. She was the best person. This video from local news shows a devastated eric. It was now day two of the search for peggy, still nothing. The next day, the coast guard interviewed eric. Eric beckler could barely speak. What did you take with you . We wanted to see if we could see catalina, but it was so hazy, so peggy, you know, it was too hazy, we shouldnt go too far out. Eric told the coast guard he tried to body board on the way out. Eric said they stopped on the water to enjoy some margaritas peggy had made and wanted to try the body board again. Eric was being pulled on the board. It just jerked. You know, just couldnt hold on. The boat was just going circles. Farther away. And i couldnt see any other boats, and i was screaming. And looking around. It was my fault. If i could only see her again. And so peggy beckler was simply gone. Maybe even within sight of the same beach that spawned her marriage. Eric seemed devastated, fearing his wife was dead. I was sure they would find her. It would turn out well. Not just beuse peggy was a strong swimmer. Everyone knew that. Linda knew more, about her daughterinlaw. You thought what, peggy faked her death, or disappeared deliberately. Uhhuh. Coming up, peggys secret. What was it . And she said i have to talk to you. And enter, the bikini model. She was just a hot number, as they say. Continues. A brilliant Pacific Ocean sun set, closed out day three of the search for peggy beckler, and even though family and friends tried to remain hopeful, reality was slowly starting to set in. And it was painful. At this point, you didnt think hee was alive any more . I kept thinking that she was, but you know, how could she, you know, that length of time. Unless, of course, what appeared to be an accident was not. The coast guard convected a re reenactment at sea. They couldnt do it. They said it doesnt appear sea conditions. Thats when the coast guard called the Orange County sheriffs office. Detective shawn murphy was put on the case. They werent even to duplicate what was ahead by eric that his wife was tossed off by a wave. If peggys disappearance was no accident, hur fees job was to find out what did happen. Detectives started by re reinterviewing eric and asking him about his relationship with peggy. He said his marriage was good, no problems with it. You didnt take his word for it. No, in our game, we dont take anyones word into anything. We looked into it. They met with the improbably named, kobe laker, erics best friend and kobe backed him up. Terrific marriage, no problems whatsoever. But if the marriage seemed solid, there were questions about peggy, at least according to linda beckler, erics mother. Linda says peggy told her just before she disappeared. She stopped me on the stairway as i was leaving and she said i have to talk to you. She said im afraid im going to jail. According to court documents, about a year before peggy disappeared, the couple sold their physical therapy business to another company. But they stayed on as employees. Then just four months before peggy vanished, the becklers were fired, amid allegations they had over buildilled medicare for over 1 million. So when linda heard she vanished. I started thinking how disturbed she was about going to jail. And she wondered if peggy had somehow staged her own disappearance. Peggys friend glenda said no way. Was peggy beckler capable of committing white color crime, medicare overbilling . In my opinion, no. That, then maybe the idea that she faked her death to escape possible prosecution, would than maybe thats more plausible. White color crime and faking your death and leaving your family and your children are two separate issues. Glenda said peggy a dorddored her children and would never abandon them. I would say that people who have never been in the inside of a courtroom or jail cell, sometimes do pretty crazy things when they rel lieds that might happenalize that might happen to them. I believe that, but not peggy. She did tell the detectives they were having some issues, like how peggy was busy with work and kids, while eric seemed occupied on the volleyball court. She confided in me. Trouble. Eric and peggy seemed determined to work everything out. But now peggy was gone and eric was a single dad with three kids under the age of four. And a new player was about to enter the story. You were drawn to eric right away . Yes. Like countless young women before her, tina had drop dead looks and hollywood dreams. She had done some bikini modeling and had a small part on bay watch nights. But that turned out to be the peek of her career. Soon, she found herself slipping into the darker side of showbiz. She started doing drugs and lost custody of her two children because of it. Fell for a succession of guy whose did not treat her kindly. I mean, i had an exboyfriend put a gun to my head, i was held over the balcony by my neck. Rock bottom, was desperate. I got down on my knees and said ill do whatever you want, lord, just help me. I cant do this any more. I need to you show me a sign. And the universe sent you eric beckler. The next day, i meet him and all my problems are gone. She had taken a modeling gig, eye candy at a trade show. Eric was there promoting his new business. It was three months to the day since peggy disappeared. He was handsome. So there was some serious chem tree from the beginning. Yes, we went out that night actually. He asked me out that night and i moved in the next day, really fast. You dont wait, do you . No. Not then. Eric lived in a giant house and drove a porsche. I had never been spoiled like that. I remember thinking i was like Julia Roberts in pretty woman. He said his wife died in a tragic boat accident and that they were never able to find her. She couldnt help noticing how great he was with his kids. He would get on the floor and play with them. I thought he was a great dad. She was eager to help while. I thought they lost their mom, they need someone to step in and not be their mom, but do things their mom would do for them. And when they took the kids to visit the parents, there was a lot of animosity. There was a hot young woman replacing their youngmissing daughter. Shawn murphy also noticed the new woman in his life. Just a hot number, as they say. And she was cohabitating with boating accident with his wife. So murphy arranged to bump into tina. Said hey, if you have any information about this boating accident involving eric, your boyfriend, just give us a call, and i gave her my card with my number on it. Nothing came of it. Tina didnt call. But someone else did. Coming up, the best friend has second thoughts. Kobe laker goes undercover. I protected you. I basically made you like lie a saint. And the new girlfriend is about to see this case in a whole new light. I took a videotape in and i said oh, my gosh what, is this. His other level of clean to it. It just kinda like. Wiped everything clean. 6x cleaning my teeth are glowing. They are so white. 6x whitening i actually really like the 2 steps. Step 1, cleans step 2, whitens. Leaving the dentist office. Crest hd. 6x cleaning, 6x whitening i would switch to crest hd over what i was using before. I take pictures of sunrises, but with my back pain i couldnt sleep and get up in time. Then i found aleve pm. Aleve pm is the only one to combine a safe sleep aid plus the 12 hour pain relieving strength of aleve. Im back. Aleve pm for a better am. I think we shouldve taken a left at the river. Tarzan know where tarzan go tarzan does not know where tarzan go. Hey, excuse me, do you know where the waterfall is . Waterfall . No, me tarzan, king of jungle. Why dont you want to just ask somebody . If youre a couple, you fight over directions. Its what you do. If you want to save fifteen percent or more on Car Insurance, you switch to geico. Oh ohhhhh its what you do. I think we shouldve taken a left at the river. Tarzan know where tarzan go tarzan does not know where tarzan go. Hey, excuse me, do you know where the waterfall is . Waterfall . No, me tarzan, king of jungle. Why dont you want to just ask somebody . You fight over directions. Its what you do. If you want to save fifteen percent or more on Car Insurance, you switch to geico. Oh ohhhhh its what you do. Ohhhhhh do you have to do that right in my ear . The o shawn murphy, it sounded more than suspicion. Head, just three months after his wife was lost at sea. But murphy didnt have much more than a gnaw in his gut until his phone rang. We got a call from kobes lawyer saying he wanted to have an interview with kobe. Kobe laker, erics best friend and volleyball buddy. He told detectives the marriage was great. Now he had a different story. Eric has told me on several occasions that he is sick and tired of his wife and he would tell me that he just couldnt take it any more, he was tired of it. About seven months before peggy vanished, kobe says he and eric had a conversation that kobe describes as haunting him ever since. Eric passed me about what i thought of the idea of him killing his wife, and i i was in shock. He told me that he was making her take him out to the ocean and dumping him in a barrel. When he saw there was a boating accident and she was missing, you knew right then and there, he knew he killed his wife. He lied to us because he panicked and he was afraid and didnt know what do. Detectives convinced kobe to wear a wire, and to meter rick at a restaurant in Orange County. Eric had no idea that police were listening in, even so, he stuck to his story that peggys death was a terrible accident. I was there. I know what happened. Its so hard for me to understand, you know, there could be any other people could think anything else. You never said, hey, look, man, i dont know what the [ bleeping ] but im innocent. I never said anything about anything. Do i have to say it every week. I protected you. I basically made you look leak a saint in the interview i had with the detectives. A dead end. But detectives were now convinced that eric killed his wife. Even though he didnt lead to anything, that conversation with kobe, that got you from suspicious to knowing. It moved it over. We knew we had a homicide. But knowing it and proving it were two very different things. You didnt get the process at the crime scene for almost a week. Right, right. So that wasnt good. That handed the investigation. The boat, said detective murphy warks murphy, was pretty clean. They found blood, just one drop, under one of the cushions, but not enough to determine whether it was human blood. It could have come from a fish. Not enough evidence to arrest him for murder, or even prove that a murder occurred. Didnt believe eric was a killer. There is no way eric would have done that. No way. Tina felt the same way. I felt the police were trying to frame an innocent man. No way, the way he treats me, no way he could have hurt his wife. Tina also noticed he kept photos of peggy in every room in the house. He could not imagine a man that killed his wife would want to see her face everywhere. Eric was the answer for your problems for a while, wasnt he . Yeah, he was. So you werent too anxious to question him. No, i believed him. After about six months. He says will you mary me . And you say. I said yes. You dont say no a lot. I mean, he treated me so good. She also admits, she newer rick was due to collect more than 2 million in insurance money, once he was cleared in his wifes disappearance. And everything would work out. Everything would work out, yep. I was definitely wrong. They had been a couple for two years. Still, not married, but living together off and on. One night, tina was showing eric some of her old modeling shots and tv appearances. We were looking at my picture, but i put the video in and i was fast forwarding it and it just stopped. Purely by chance, she accidentally recorded a news report about peggys disappearance. The whole screen was just a picture of her face and i said ex ex, my gosh what, is this. And she turned to eric. He turned white. Like he lost the color in his face. She he said how did you get that . His reaction troubled her. He hit play and it got worst. The news report did not match the story eric had told her about peggys disappearance. He told me there was three to but on the report she went missing there were only twofoot waves and the weather was described as ideal. He lied. He lied all this time to me. You know, and he was just really quiet. Sitting next to you. Signaturetting next to me. I yelled at him and i said why is this different than what you told me. He just like got really quiet. Then she says eric beckler told her a new version of what happened when peggy fell off the boat. He thinks she hit a wake and fell off. He said, and i didnt get to her. And i said didnt get to her or you didnt want to get to her. He said, at first he told me that he didnt get to her. Then later he changed it and he said i could have helped her but i didnt. Thats completely different from what he told police. Right. Chilling as that sounded, tina feared it still wasnt the whole story. Rest, but like a career in showbiz, you have to be careful what you wish for. Coming up im afraid of you. Nobody knows anything but you. From model and actress to undercover agent, a secret operation to learn the truth. This is where it gets really scary. When dateline continues. Itch to geico because you could save hundreds on Car Insurance. Ah, perfect. Valet parking. Heres the keys. And, uh, go easy on my ride, mate. Hm, wouldnt mind some of that beef wellington. To see how much you could save on Car Insurance, go to geico. Com. Ah car alarm sounds Olay Regenerist renews from within. Plumping surface cells for a dramatic transformation without the need for fillers. Your concert tee might show your age. Your skin never will. Olay regenerist. Olay. Ageless. And try regenerist microsculpting eyeswirl. It instantly hydrates to plump and lift. If a denture were to be put under a microscope, we can see all the bacteria that still exists. Polidents unique micro clean formula works in just 3 minutes, killing 99. 99 of odor causing bacteria. For a cleaner, fresher, brighter denture every day. 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I was always afraid because he was always with me. Afraid, yet they continued to see each other, sleep together, and about two weeks after eric changed history, he and tina went to a club and took the drug ex tas see. Were both just laying in the bed and staring at the ceiling together. It just came to me and i said to him, i said oh, my god, you hit her over the head. He said how did you know that. Call it intuition or the effect of the drug or a random guess, but it was an opening, and tina barrelled through. I said you need to tell me the truth. He is calmly talking to me and he said im going to tell you the truth. We had this huge party so everybody could see how happy we were together. All their friends were there. Witnesses to the happy marriage. Then a couple of days later, she says, eric told her he took peggy out to sea on that rented boat, and although peggy didnt know it, he took along some weights. And then he goes, then i walked up behind her, i said tina, i hit her so hard, she didnt feel a thing. I said what do you mean . He said he hit her over the head with a weight. He told her there was blood everywhere. Then eric beckler told her how he got rid of his wife. He just he did her wrists and her ankles together so she he took the two trash bags he had and put her body in it and put the weights and tied it down to the a rope and threw her in. Two years after she vanished, a stunning confession. And you go to sleep after a man no, actually then we have sex. And i felt like i had to do it, because i think that made him feel like i was going to be quiet and you know, that he was, i dont know, sealing the deal with me or something. But the deal was not sealed. Not with anyone. The case was still open, and detectives had been keeping an eye honor rick on eric and tina all along. We knew it was going to go sideways. Because when they go sideways, people start talking. Thats right. And thats what happened, two a neighbor called 911 after hearing yelling. When police arrived, eric was gone, but tina was angry, and she still had the Business Card detective murphy had given her almost two years earlier. I kbrabedgrabbed my partner and we met up with tina. She told him what eric said. A big break, yes, but not enough for an arrest. Tina was pretty far from an ideal witness. Detectives knew they would need more than her word against eric. So they asked tina. Would you be willing to wear a wire. I said yes. Why would you turn in a guy who had basically taken you from a terrible life and given you a great life. Because i couldnt live with myself. I mean, no way. Police planted microphones in her car, in her purse, and on her body. And tina arranged a meeting. Domestic violence call, sheriffs homicide detectives eric. It was to get their stories straight in case the cops questioned her again. Tina wired up, picked upper rick from his home and drove to a restaurant called el toreito. Were you worried . Not really. I was worried that i wouldnt i had two stories. You you werent there. It was an accident. Once inside the restaurant, tina tried to getter rick to repeat the details of peggys death. Eric wouldnt go there. Dont worry about it. Details are not important. So tina tried to get him to say why he did it. I mean, how do i know you wouldnt get so mad at me. Tina, ive been way more mad at you. You know. No confession, but not a denial either. Are you thinking to yourself at that point, thats it, i got him. I honestly thought it was good, but still thought it wasnt enough. But you do know, there was a reason. Remember, peggy had a Life Insurance policy worth more than 2 million. Again, she tried to get him to give her a reason. What was it about her that made you want to i felt like i was backed in a corner, like she was gonna steal the kids. And eric tried to reassure tina. I would never do that. She was good. She was really good. But the drama wasnt over. Tina left the restaurant with eric, still wired up. This is where it gets scary. So were walking out to the car and he says to me let me drive. That was not part of the plan. We lose sight of them. Hear the sound of gun shuts. That would not have been good. In the car, with eric behind the wheel, tina cranked up her acting skills, and just tell i havent talked about it for over a year and of ma. Youre making me lie. Im not making you do anything. You tell them anything. I dont care at this point. Tell them what . What . Whatever you [ bleeping ]. Dont you talk to me that way. Now she tried to getter rick out of the car. Pull my car over. I will. Now. I dont trust you. Im afraid of you. Im just all im asking you dont have to nobody knows anything but you. You dont have to tell anybody anything. Tina hopped in the drivers seat. Meet me at my house. Thats why im going to be. Drove away from her old life. In the end, you got enough. Oh, absolutely, yeah . Understand youre under arrest. He was arrested and charged with peggys murder. What was it like to get the call that he had been arrested . I just trembled all over. I couldnt really believe it. But two weeks after erics arrest made headlines, tina made some headlines of her own. Put the whole case in jeopardy. Coming up i did not commit this crime. Eric beckler on trial, and tinas credibility, thats on trial too. Do you think anybody was no. Without that statement, they Beach Volleyball is a kids game played by grownups, murder for profits is played only by adults. And its for keeps. Prosecutors believed eric beckler was trying to be successful at both. Detectives put him in jail, but then two weeks after erics arrest, came this headline in the local paper. Witness in murder case doubts suspects guilt. Tina, who had worn a wire and helped police nail eric, now said maybe he didnt kill her. The kids lost their mom and theyre probably going to lose their dad for a long time. I felt guilty. Guilty for a man she was about to marry. He tried to hang himself with the sheets. That was enough to make you think twice. I didnt want him to die. You felt guilty. You tried to roll the whole thing back. Yeah, i did. But she said she always believed he was guilty. And in the winter of 2000, eric beckler went on trial. The star witness, tina, a witness who was to be fair, compromised, not just about her waffling and her own checkered past, but one detail in the story tina says eric told her. Defense Attorney Says its critical. You expect if peggys head was caved in by 35 pound dumbbells, there would be blood. Quite a lot of it. Everywhere. And there wasnt. On the stand, tina tried to defend herself. Im a horrible witness when it comes to looking at me on paper. Do you think anybody would believe you . No. You know, i knew that i told exactly what he had said to me, and i knew that i was doing the right thing. Then there was the conversation she had recorded at the restaurant. Erics own words. The jury heard all of them. Nobody knows anything but you. Barnett offered his own explanation. I argued the reason he said it is to shut her up, to calm her down. In any event, the defense said, eric never said on tape that he hit peggy. The only person who heard him say that was tina, a drug user, a woman with a fraud conviction on her record. Without that statement, they have a lot of sir couplecircumstantial evidence. Another theory. She was under a great deal of pressure and could easily be distracted. And in combination with alcohol, she she rarely drank, but she did on that day, could contribute to a lack of care in driving the boat. Faked her death . You think shes dead. I do not think she faked her death. Do you think she died accidentally and her body hasnt been found. Thats right. Prosecutors argued it was erics doing. He had 3. 5 million reasons for killing her. And thats what he stood to gain if he had gotten away with it. He had a weight tree back at home that appeared to be incomplete. They believe he used the missing weight to kill peggy and sink her body. What about the blood . A luminol test, a lot of blood in the boat, but it was cleaned up, and of course, there was tina herself despite her past and criminal record and her drug use, she rang true to you . Yes, absolutely. And would tinas past make a difference . It doesnt matter what i did before or after i met him, you know. What i did with myself has nothing to do with what he did. After seven days, the verdict. Guilty of first degree murder. You are thrilled the man did it is behind bars, but nobody wins in this situation. Nobody. The children now have no mother and no father. So there is no winner. But the jury did not believer rick killed peggy for the money. He was found not guilty of murder for financial gain. His at his sentencing, he addressed the judge. The accident was a horrible tragedy. It affects our families and a as much as the marshals are hurting, my family is also hurting, because i did not commit this crime. Life without the possibility of parole. Linda thinks the verdict was wrong. Is it possible you dont know your son as well as you think you do. Oh, baloney. I know him like the back of my hand i. I could understand a mother not wanting to believe her son committed a crime. Listen, if my kid was a druggy, gopher, thief, rapist. Murderer . Whatever, well, yeah, but he isnt. He isnt. Peggy becklers body has never been found. You want to know what happened . You still dont want to hear murder. At least you know. Thats still pretty hard to take. And even with all of this information, we dont have a body. Are you all right . Yeah. You discover you were stronger than you thought you were . Oh, yeah. Peggys mother and sister ended up raising her kids. And one more person who was youre leading a different life these days. Completely different life. She gave up drugs, married a nice guy, and now she is a stay at home mom with five kids. Hollywood happy ending, no. Sometimes real life is better. Im lester holt. Its monday, february 15th. Coming up on early today, in the quiet dark of night, the body of Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia returns to virginia but the political reaction has been anything but quiet. As the candidates weigh in on the next justice, theyre also tearing one another apart. They lied. Why do you lie. Liar, liar, liar. Millions endured record cold temperatures over the valentine weekend but more cold is in store for the week ahead. Plus, is kanye west millions in debt. A monster week at the box office. And what happens when you giving a sea lion a selfie stick . Early today starts right now. Good morning. The stakes are high after the death of Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia. Its already reached the point of a Justice Scalia dissent. President obama says he will nominate a new justice although so far there is no timetable for an announcement. And the president s republican colleagues dont think it should be his to make at all. Heres the bottom line. I dont trust barack obama on