Zach, a private investigator, is being interrogated by detectives about the murder of Taylor, a friend of his wife Ashley. Zach seems genuinely cooperative and provides solid alibis for his whereabouts at the time of the murder. However, the detectives are trying to determine if Zach had any involvement in the crime or if he can be turned against his wife, who is the prime suspect. As the interrogation progresses, Zach's body language and responses suggest that he is telling the truth and is not involved in the murder. Eventually, Zach is cleared of any wrongdoing, but his wife Ashley is found guilty of first-degree premeditated murder and is sentenced to life in prison.
Here are the key facts extracted from the text:
1. A body was found on Zach's property, identified as Taylor.
2. Taylor was a friend of Zach's wife, Ashley.
3. The police suspected Ashley of being the murderer.
4. Zach was questioned by the police about the murder.
5. Zach claimed to have been at the seafood place on 9th Mile in Pine Forest on the day Taylor went missing.
6. Taylor was last seen on September 8th.
7. Ashley had been given $34,000 by Taylor for safekeeping, but instead put it into her own accounts.
8. Ashley spent all of the $34,000.
9. Taylor had asked for the money back on September 8th.
10. Zach owned multiple guns, including a 9mm handgun and a .38 Airway.
11. Ashley had previously owned a .380 handgun, which Zach had bought for her.
12. Phone records showed Ashley on the property where Taylor's body was found on September 8th.
13. Phone records also showed Taylor's phone at a wedding Ashley attended the next day, but Taylor was never seen at the wedding.
14. Zach denied any involvement in the murder.
15. The detectives found evidence that Ashley had purchased cement used to fill Taylor's grave.
16. Zach signed a search warrant allowing the police to obtain his cell phone records.
17. Zach was eventually cleared of any wrongdoing.
18. Ashley was found guilty of first-degree premeditated murder and sentenced to life in prison with a mandatory sentence of 25 years.