Hi.
>> How are you?
>> Good. How are you? Kiddos home?
>> Yeah, they're at the They're sleeping.
>> Police are speaking [music] with Manuel
Guillen Sr. Living inside his trailer
are his son Manny and his girlfriend
Briana. They've been hiding a horrifying
secret from their families that this
detective is about to uncover.
>> Hey Manny. Hey Briana.
>> I got a phone call
>> Yeah.
>> You guys know why I'm out here trying to
talk to you guys. So
>> A year ago, the couple killed their
daughter, buried her body in the [music]
woods near their trailer, and continued
living as if nothing happened. Over
time, Briana's family began to grow
suspicious, tipping off police that
something is seriously wrong. By the
time investigators catch on to the lies,
both killers would walk free, leaving
their families and detectives to
confront one of the darkest and most
tragic discoveries of their lives.
>> They killed her. I know he did.
>> And I know you've been [music] lying to
us. Tell us what happened.
>> Right there?
>> Yeah, she's buried there.
>> This is the home of Aurelia and Manuel
Sr., the parents of Manny Guillen.
Police believe Manny is connected to a
missing child investigation. Two days
ago, Eddy County deputies received a
troubling call from relatives of Manny's
girlfriend, 24-year-old Briana
Stallings, reporting something
concerning about her daughter.
>> We were concerned about my cousin.
Her name is Briana Stallings. And we
never seen her with her baby anymore.
She blocked us all on social media and
everything. She's with a guy named Manny
Manny Guillen.
>> Briana's cousin would go on to explain
that the family hasn't seen Briana's
daughter in nearly a year and that one
of the last places the child was seen
alive is right here at the residence of
Manny's parents. These officers are here
simply to conduct a welfare check.
Unknowingly, they are moments away from
stepping into one of the most disturbing
murder investigations of their careers.
>> It's not a problem.
I think my guess is
Those police [music] officers are
Mexican or Hispanic.
>> Hi.
>> Hello.
>> Sergeant Miranda, Sheriff's Office.
>> Hi, how are you, sir?
>> I'm very good. Manuel Giene.
>> Nice to meet you, Manuel.
>> Hi.
>> Officer, how are you?
>> Yeah, how are you?
>> Is
anyone else here?
>> No.
>> Just you two?
>> Yes.
Can we go talk over here? Would that
Would that be okay? I'm just going to
talk with them real quick.
Um
do you know if
baby
>> No, what I heard on ready Yes, I know
what happened on ready. When I When I
know that
she was with my son because one day
they appear over there. They had a
problem she don't care nobody they
uh take care of her. But she's pregnant.
She's pregnant.
>> Did you know if baby had been born? Did
you ever see the baby?
>> You know when when they when they born
when they born uh they were were
together. They were together and
like I told you cuz
>> According to Manny's father, Briana
appeared estranged from her own family.
She didn't seem to have anyone looking
out for her and slowly began leaning on
Manny and his parents as she went
through her pregnancy. On the surface,
Manny's father seems unaware that
anything might be wrong with Briana's
daughter, but officers are about to
learn he may know far more about the
missing child than he realizes.
>> So when when she had the baby, where
were they living?
>> Well, there they had a baby they went
with me maybe you know, maybe maybe a
week two weeks over there. And they went
somewhere over there.
>> So, right after they had the baby, they
lived with you for a little bit?
>> little bit. And then they leave again.
Maybe two weeks, three weeks or
something, yeah. And then they disappear
because they went to another where they
were staying, I don't know.
I respect her and I never put a bad hand
on her because you don't want your
daughter to hurt you.
>> Yeah.
>> But I never put a bad I treat her with
with my heart.
>> Through the language barrier, officers
are able to piece together more of the
story. Manny's goes on to explain that
his son served in the Marines and that
he believed Manny cared deeply for
Briana's daughter and took good care of
her. He also says that he tried to help
the couple, allowing them to stay with
him, offering support and showing
sympathy for Briana's situation after
she became estranged from her own
family. However, he also admits the
couple were unstable. They would [music]
stay for a while, then disappear again.
At the time, Manny's father believed he
was doing the right thing, [music]
helping a struggling couple get back on
their feet, but he has no idea that this
will become the biggest regret of his
life.
Before leaving the place, officers also
speak briefly with Manny's mother, who'd
have some concerning statements about
the couple.
>> So, Manuel and Briana never lived there
when you were there?
>> Even even yeah. Even even yeah.
>> They're coming and going.
>> Coming and going with the baby?
>> No, the baby no no she didn't
>> wasn't at the house there when the baby
was born.
>> Okay.
>> She visited and then left.
>> Okay.
>> Manny's mother would speak to officers
in Spanish. She tells them that every
time she asked Briana and Manny about
their daughter, the couple told her the
child was with a family member, but she
leaves out several concerning details
about what was really going on in
Manny's life. Details officers will soon
uncover on their own.
For now, police leave the residence with
more questions than answers. They still
don't know where Breanna and Manny are,
and they still have no idea where their
daughter might be. But just as they
prepare to leave, Manny's brother pulls
up to the house. Detectives quickly
approach to speak with him, where
they'll get their first real lead on
where Breanna's daughter might be.
>> Your mom's a cool lady.
>> I kind of completely forgot about about
Susan and Ashley.
>> I'm Detective Johnson. Nice to meet you.
Nice to meet you, sir.
>> Nice to meet you. Hey, so we're just We
just talked to your mom.
>> Nobody's in trouble.
>> Yeah, no, we're just But see, I have no
idea why the family
>> contacted you guys. I I called I I told
her to call me if she had any questions,
that I would give her any information
that I had, and I did that.
>> Called who?
>> Um
>> Was it Breanna or her family member or
>> Her aunt, though.
>> Okay.
>> I got the messages right here.
>> And have you talked to Breanna or Manuel
at all or
>> I I talked to Breanna maybe
>> How long
>> a couple of weeks ago.
>> Okay.
>> Um I
>> Have you seen her Would she have her
baby with her or
>> I have not seen the baby since.
>> It's been a couple of months now.
>> Or like three, maybe more.
>> I was one or two, I was like, where I
have I haven't seen her in a in a in a
while. Is she okay?
>> She had told me that one of her aunts
was taking care of her.
>> Yeah, no, I got you.
>> Although Manny's brother reassures
officers that the couple's child is with
one of Breanna's aunts, he admits he
hasn't seen her daughter in months and
doesn't sound fully convinced by
Breanna's story.
Following this, detectives begin
contacting Breanna's family. One by one,
every one of her aunts tell the same
thing. They do not have her daughter.
One of Breanna's aunts, Ruby, insists
detectives come speak with her in person
because she's seen and heard troubling
details about Breanna and Manny's
relationship they need to look into.
When detectives arrive to speak with
Ruby, they'll quickly realize there's
more to the story than a missing child.
>> Hello. Are you Are you Ruby?
>> Yes, sir.
>> Hi, Ruby. I'm Detective Johnson. We
spoke on the phone.
>> Yes.
>> I think you said you had something
>> Uh yes, come on in.
Come on in, Ruby.
>> Is that all right if I come in?
>> Yes, come on in.
>> Oh, thank you.
>> I know something's going on because when
Briana was pregnant, she was here with
me and she left. She I raised Briana
since age six.
And I spoke to her brother earlier. I
called him on my lunch break.
>> [music]
>> Is it Brian?
>> Brian.
>> Brian, okay.
>> And I asked him, "Hey, what's going on?"
I said, "Have you met your niece? Have
you seen her?"
>> He says, "No, Ruby, I haven't seen
>> Cuz when she had her baby that day, she
called me.
>> Yeah, and then you went to the hospital
and
>> Yeah, I went right away and he kind of
got mad, the guy she's with.
>> Manny?
>> Yeah, cuz I was taking pictures.
>> She was already with Manny.
>> Yes.
And he kind of got mad and he whispered
in her ear and he walked out of the
room. And I'm like
And I said, "He's mad, huh?" I told
Briana he got mad.
She goes, "Yeah, Ruby, I don't pay
attention to him."
>> What the detective is hearing now isn't
just concerning, it's deeply unsettling.
It's the first time the relationship
between Briana and Manny begins to sound
volatile and potentially dangerous. Ruby
doesn't know it yet, but her intuition
is spot-on and in just a matter of days,
she will be told the most horrific truth
imaginable about her grandniece.
For now, the detective leaves Ruby's
home and heads back to the station
knowing they need to move quickly and
locate Briana and Manny. What Ruby
shared was troubling, but it's only the
beginning and far worse revelations are
still to come.
Two days passed with no sign of the
couple or their child. Then, a call
comes in from a woman named Desiree who
identifies herself as Briana's former
roommate. She's heard about the missing
child and has important information
about Briana's boyfriend Manny, details
his own family never shared with police.
>> The only reason that everything kind of
worries me is that
she fell off and like she just didn't
talk to nobody and then this kind of
like happened, you know.
>> Do you know why she's kind of um
disassociated herself from other people?
>> Her Manny were fighting so bad. He said
he didn't want the baby. He has a son
and I'm pretty sure that he had got that
baby taken away because he beat out
of her baby. And so he doesn't have that
kid no more. The mom has the kids.
Briana, she lived with my mom for 2
years. She lived with me for a year and
a half. I've always been like trying to
help her out and stuff. Well, when she
was pregnant, you know, he had said that
he didn't want to be with her. He didn't
want the baby. He doesn't want a kid.
That's why he got rid of his other kid.
So it kind of worries me on that part,
you know.
>> Needless to say, Desiree's call paints a
disturbing picture of the couple. If
Manny already lost custody of his own
child due to abuse, then there's every
possibility that Briana's baby daughter
may have suffered the same fate.
Together, the pair comes across as
volatile, irresponsible, and deeply
unfit. A dynamic that only adds more
urgency for the detectives to locate
them and find the missing child. The
next day, as detectives begin mapping
out their next steps, they finally
receive a tip on the couple's
whereabouts. Briana and Manny are
staying at a trailer belonging to
Manny's father. Officers immediately
[music] drive to the address hoping to
finally speak with the couple directly
and get their side of the story.
>> Police department.
>> Several minutes pass with no answer.
Then the officer knocks again. When
Briana and Manny finally step out of the
trailer, it's clear they already know
why the police are here and they have a
story prepared.
>> Hey, so uh I'm Detective Johnson, by the
way. Sorry. Do you guys know why I'm out
here trying to talk to you guys?
>> Uh it's because I heard um
I guess my family
and talking to his family.
>> Do you know about what?
>> Um I guess about Briana and Manny and
the baby.
>> The officer said that they were
reporting her missing cuz they were out
of her phone or not.
That's why I'm involved as a detective,
you know what I mean? Just cuz stuff
like that gets passed on to us.
So,
where is your baby at right now?
>> She's with her friend.
>> Where is that?
>> Waddell.
>> In Waddell?
Who is your friend in Waddell?
>> Her name's Maria.
>> Maria? If you don't mind, I'm just going
to talk to you guys individually real
quick and then I'll I'll I'm going to
talk to both of you quick. So, can you
just hang out with him for a minute?
>> Sure.
>> And can I talk to you over here?
>> Yeah.
>> So,
obviously I don't I don't know your your
personal life. I don't know anything.
I'm just trying to get it all figured
out and
>> No, it's just that I'm just mad cuz
>> You're upset.
>> Yeah, cuz I [clears throat] don't talk
to them at all.
>> What what's wrong?
>> They're annoying and they're all in my
life and then
that's one of the reason why I I used to
live with my aunt.
She would probably yell at me and
>> Like what?
>> Like she would always yell at me and say
I'm stupid and I don't know what I'm
doing and
it's just stuff.
So,
I don't like her knowing anything about
me.
She thinks very low of me and then like
to hear me yell at her and then like all
my business and whatnot.
That's one of the reason why I blocked
her.
>> Is your friend I mean
Did you take your baby down there or did
you
>> Yeah, I told her she can take her baby.
>> So, how did you guys end up I said when
did that happen?
>> That happened
>> When did you
>> Like
>> And remember to do what?
>> Two months ago. Two months ago.
>> Briana's explanation sounds reasonable.
Her family constantly interferes in her
life and she doesn't want to deal with
them. She even speaks negatively about
her aunt Ruby claiming she was never
supportive of her. Nothing about
Briana's story immediately raises
alarms. So, to verify the details, the
officer moves on to speak with Manny
separately to cross-check what Briana
has already said. This is when a small
discrepancy surfaces, one that will mark
the beginning of the couple's story
falling apart.
>> Hey man, so
can you just give me the rundown of
everything going on?
>> All righty, so as far as I know, like
her family's been trying to get a hold
of her cuz I guess they
haven't been in touch with one another
how she's doing and the baby's doing.
And she spoke to a couple family
members. I think it was her aunt or
brother or something like that cuz
they messaged her.
And she told them to say like, "Yeah,
I'm like we're doing okay. Like
you guys don't got to worry about
nothing."
And then they were like, "Okay, well
just wanted to make sure everyone was
okay."
And then after that, then they started
like okay, my mom told me she was like,
"Oh hey, there's detectives here at my
house like trying to figure out like if
you guys are missing or something. You
guys haven't like talked to the family
or like be like, what the Like
she's talked to her aunt or someone.
She's talked to a couple family members
and let them know like everything was
okay. And like they're still doing this
So yeah, I don't know.
>> So the baby's in what is?
>> Mhm.
>> When did that happen? Roughly the day or
the month?
>> Like like
>> what it's called?
>> Beginning of the year?
Like in
>> remember the car from the 300 block of
Montclair?
>> February?
Did they give you an address or like how
are you guys supposed to get in contact
or what's the plan? Is she going to go
back for her baby at some point?
>> Uh so as far as I knew is like once we
got good and we were going to be I
guess she was going to be hitting us up
back then. But that's all that's all all
I got so.
>> Not only does Manny give a completely
different time frame for when Briana's
daughter was given away, but he also
can't provide any basic details for the
supposed friend the child [music] was
given to. When the officer circles back
to Briana with the same question, she
can't answer it either and offers no way
to verify that this friend even exists.
At this point, the officer's suspicion
grows and with the and
piling up, he makes the call to detain
the couple and bring them to the station
for further questioning.
Once at the station, Breanna and Manny
are placed into separate interview
rooms. They still don't know their
stories don't match and investigators
intend to keep it that way. This is the
police's only chance to finally figure
out what really happened to Breanna's
daughter and who's responsible. As for
the couple, one wrong answer could
expose the horrifying secret they've
been hiding for months.
>> And so, how did you get in contact with
Maria?
>> Um through WhatsApp.
>> Through WhatsApp?
>> Yeah.
>> When when did this happen, Breanna?
>> I said 2 months. I told you that.
>> 2 months ago?
Okay. Do you remember the day?
>> I can't remember.
>> Do you have any messages on WhatsApp
from Maria?
>> This is a new phone. The other one I
don't
I I can't
remember either.
It was like all kinds, you know,
WhatsApp with 011 [music] something.
Yeah, I don't
>> How did you get in contact with her to
check on her?
>> She told me she was going to get a
Facebook account.
Like make one and talk to me through
I personally don't know.
That's what she told me.
>> You haven't talked to Maria
>> Ever since then.
>> You haven't talked to her since [music]
last summer?
How do we just make sure Coloni's okay,
Manuel? Because Breanna doesn't seem to
know how how we can just ensure that
Coloni
is safe. If you think about it, that's
kind of
disturbing a little bit that the mother
maybe not a little bit more concerned
about, you know, just helping us ensure
that the child is safe.
>> Far as I know, I know sometimes she has
problems with her phone and she like
kind of has a hard time paying.
So, maybe it's like she hasn't paid her
phone bill.
>> The only thing I can say is probably
just wait for her until she gets her
phone fixed and probably contact her
back on WhatsApp.
>> As expected, Breanna and Manny stick to
their conflicting story, but more
importantly is that neither of them show
any concern for their daughter's
well-being despite not seeing or hearing
anything from the supposed friend for
weeks. What the couple doesn't know yet
is that detectives have already followed
up on the supposed friend Briana
mentioned [music]
and discovered that no such person
exists. By now, it's painfully obvious
to investigators that both Briana and
Manny are lying. So detectives decide
it's time to lay out what they believe
really happened to Briana's big daughter
[music] and confront her directly.
>> Briana, we need you to speak truthfully
with us about this. A lot of the stuff
you said is just not making any sense. I
mean, it's kind of hard to wrap our
minds around
the kind of a lack of concern you're
showing. I mean, we just need need the
truth. We need to
make sure Kalani is okay. I mean, we get
it. Stuff happens. You know, people go
through hard times. We understand that.
>> Something happened.
Something that [music] you don't
Whether or not Kalani's okay or not,
something happened.
After this happened, you guys [music]
discussed this, tried to come up with
story, talking about a person
who we know nothing [music] about.
There's no proof that Marie even exists.
So, what happened?
Mistakes happen, Briana.
>> [snorts]
>> What you do right now is
what matters.
>> I did.
>> Hm?
>> I did it by
>> All right.
>> Briana finally breaks and confesses to
killing her daughter. After this
admission, she becomes visibly emotional
and for several minutes, detectives are
unable to get clear answers from her. As
they slowly piece together her
statements, a story begins to form.
Briana claims she fell asleep on her
daughter while they were in the car,
accidentally [music]
suffocating her. Panicked, she and Manny
buried her daughter's body in a remote
wooded area where it has remained for
nearly a year. After the confession,
[music] detectives decide to give Briana
a few minutes alone to collect herself
and to reconsider the story she's
choosing to tell because even now she's
taking full responsibility and insisting
Manny had no part in what happened. When
detectives returned to the room, they
know what they need to do next. Convince
Briana to be honest about Manny's role
and where her daughter's body is buried.
>> Hi Briana. Briana, how are you?
I'm sorry about
You're okay? Sergeant Maryann.
You getting anything? You need water or
anything? You need a snack?
Okay. So, we kind of got a good
understanding of what's going on, okay?
You're not in any kind of trouble right
now.
We want to do what we can to help you,
okay?
With
I guess you being willing to help us as
well, okay?
Would you be willing to drive up to
Queens right now and kind of show us
where we need to go?
>> I'm ready.
>> You're going to go with us?
Yeah, you're okay going with us?
Yeah? How'd you get here?
Manuel?
Would you be comfortable with Manuel
going?
>> Yeah.
>> After agreeing to help detectives,
Briana seems to regain her composure
speaking calmly and answering questions
as if the weight of her confession has
already lifted. In the next room, Manny
has no idea his girlfriend just
confessed and took all the blame, but
he's about to find out as detectives
prepare to drive both of them to the one
place they never wanted anyone to find.
>> You're ready?
Okay?
All right.
>> I'm ready.
>> kind of like
>> Oh, sorry. This is Sergeant Daniel.
>> Daniel.
>> Daniel Geary. Nice to meet you.
>> Nice to meet
>> As they prepare to leave, Breanna and
Manny are reunited and it's clear Manny
immediately realizes she's told officers
the truth. The couple and officers then
drive out and hike deep into the woods
to recover the body. A grim walk that
will lead to what can only be described
as a nightmare.
>> Good.
>> Good.
>> Sorry, Manny.
Hey, let's go up to the tail end.
Oh.
>> [music]
>> Go over by my head. Got it.
Stay right here where the rocks are.
>> Where the rock is?
>> Where the rocks are.
>> I'm sorry.
>> The finger rock is right there on the
side.
>> The little red hot spot?
>> Yeah.
>> Right there?
>> Yeah, [music] she's buried in
>> That one just sticking out there like a
big old pimple.
>> With all those stakes right there.
>> She's underneath the rock?
>> Yeah, she's underneath it.
>> Those rocks.
Start walking back. Yeah. [music]
I marked it.
>> Okay.
>> So, I I don't want to keep you guys out
of loop. Just cuz you guys came down
here, showed us all this, but we're
going to do stuff the way [music] we do
handle it. And so, what we're going to
do is we've got to get a search warrant,
of course, but we're going to bring out
our other resources and we're going to
do this the right way, okay? We're going
to hold off. We're going to secure this.
>> Do we have your phone numbers and stuff
so we can get a hold of you guys?
>> Well, we got to give them We got to take
them back home, too.
>> Oh, yeah, that's right.
>> Yeah.
>> Sorry, forgot about that.
>> So, it's not like [music] we're just
coming marking and then leaving. So, I
just wanted you to know that that's not
what we're doing. So, it's going to be a
long process, okay?
>> You're 100% certain that's the spot,
though?
>> Yes.
>> Okay.
>> Do you need us to stand by after
we're done, you guys?
>> I think we're good now. Um
we've been marking it along the way.
>> By now, officers believe they've found
the burial site, but because it's
already dark, they halt the search until
the following day. Before Briana and
Manny are allowed to leave, detectives
instruct them to return at noon. For
now, the pair isn't being detained and
are treated [music] as two people who
may simply be caught in a tragic
situation, at least based on what
they're admitting. A far cry from the
real truth behind their lies, a horrific
truth that police are just hours away
from discovering.
The next morning, Briana meets
detectives near the search site, but
strangely, Manny doesn't join her.
Instead, he waits inside a detective's
car, refusing to return to the burial
location. Briana then leads
investigators back to the wooded area
with forensic experts following behind.
She's about to give them the
confirmation they've been searching for,
even though the couple responsible will
eventually still [music]
walk free.
>> Yeah, but that was over there.
>> That was over there.
>> Okay, I can check whether that's cuz
that's where it was.
>> Okay.
>> We tried as much as we could.
>> Oh, okay.
That's kind of like
>> Right here.
>> That big old
>> You know.
>> Same exact spot where it was.
>> Okay.
>> Okay.
>> You want to hang out in the shade over
there, you guys?
Thank you.
>> I got
>> Here's a brush if you want to brush.
>> Yes. Can I try to break it?
>> Here.
>> Tragically, this discovery confirms
detectives worst fears. But as
investigators examine the remains,
something stands out. Although the body
has decayed significantly, it still
shows signs of possible injuries.
Suddenly, Briana's claims of an
accidental suffocation no longer seem as
straightforward as she described, and
detectives now need to get to the bottom
of what really happened. So while
forensics continue their work, a
detective [music] speaks with Manny
hoping to determine whether Briana is
telling the truth or if she's just
protecting [music] him. What Manny says
next makes one thing unmistakably clear.
He has no intention of taking
responsibility.
>> We get it that's a baby
passed away, and you and Briana
buried the baby out here.
Why why would you try to hide that fact?
>> I don't remember it.
I think I remember the baby was being
really fussy.
And Briana was like, you know what?
Let's just
Let's just go outside for a sleep. So we
went outside and we tried like maybe
going to the car and then turning it
around and maybe like it didn't help
with the car being turned on and the
vibration.
>> Mhm.
>> Probably helped her go to sleep.
>> Sleep, I can I can understand that. For
as much as you want closure in this, you
don't think that that I want closure? I
have my own babies.
But the only way that I can get that
closure, man, is if you guys just
help us.
Like just And by helping us, I mean just
just be honest with us. And was the baby
Did you Did you Was the baby in in
backpack? Did you put the baby in and
and something
just both and I guess
I guess what I guess.
And where you roughly showed us, that's
where you remember to the best of your
knowledge as well.
>> Despite the detectives' efforts to get
any reaction out of him, Manny remains
completely emotionless, taking no
responsibility, and insists it was
nothing more than an accident caused by
Breanna. With Breanna already taking all
the blame, detectives have no choice but
to accept their statements for now, and
the interview with Manny is wrapped up.
Back at the burial site, forensics
[music] finish documenting the scene,
and the remains are sent for autopsy. At
this point, officers could arrest the
couple for tampering with evidence. They
already admitted to burying the body,
but detectives make a different decision
and let the couple walk free. On the
surface, it seems like a strange choice,
but in reality, it's a calculated move
that will become crucial later on. With
that decision, the scene is cleared, and
the day is wrapped up.
Back at the station, investigators
regroup to discuss their plan. They
agree that letting the couple go, at
least temporarily, is what's best for
the investigation. [music] There is no
autopsy yet, no confirmed cause of
death, and no clear way to prove who is
responsible. If Breanna and Manny were
arrested immediately, they would almost
certainly lawyer up, and detectives
would lose the only chance to confront
them once the medical evidence comes
back. By waiting, investigators gain a
strategic advantage, the opportunity to
secure a confession when the autopsy
reveals the truth. But their plan comes
with major risk. The couple is now
completely free to disappear, and what
detectives [music] don't know yet is
that Manny has family in Mexico.
Over the following week, investigators
wait for the autopsy results and begin
searching for anything that could help
strengthen their case. They're certain
Breanna hasn't told the full truth and
with Manny's history of abuse involving
his previous child and wife, there is
every reason to suspect foul play in
their daughter's death. So, to gain more
insight into the couple, detectives
arranged to meet Breanna's aunt Ruby at
her workplace. At this point, Ruby has
no idea that her grand niece is long
gone and once detectives break the
tragic news to her, she will make it
clear just how big of a mistake it was
to let the couple walk free.
>> If it's okay, is it okay if I ask you
some questions before we get started?
Okay. So, how did this all come about?
>> I
was 6 years old. Life had her. She lived
with me. At age 23, she left.
In and out, you know, once they turn 18,
they know it all. She got pregnant
from some guy out of Texas. She was
excited to be a mom, but when she met
this guy she's with now,
she messaged [music] me, "Thea, I have
my baby."
I rushed to the hospital.
>> [music]
>> Where was that?
>> Here.
>> Here in Corpus Christi?
>> Yes, sir.
I took baby's pictures with the baby and
he got upset. Before he walked out that
room, he whispered something in her ear
and I looked at him like
I said, "Is he Is he mad?" She says,
"Yes, Thea.
>> [music]
>> He's mad."
I said, "Well, I don't care if he gets
mad. I want to take pic- pictures of the
baby, me and the baby." Her brother was
sending her money every Fridays
to help her out with the baby. He would
ask her, "Where's my baby niece? I want
to meet my baby niece."
>> And her brother's
>> baby. Her brother, Brian. I spoke to him
last night. He goes, "I haven't heard
nothing, Thea." Well, her brother ended
up calling her.
They argued and he told her, "Hey, I'm
not going to be sending you any more
money if you don't bring me my baby
niece to meet her or even know her."
Every time they'd call, he said she'd
get the money and go and there's no
baby.
>> Um
>> She said she left it with an aunt. We're
the only aunts. Me, one from Roswell,
and the other two, they ain't even
capable of taking care of a kid.
>> Ruby would continue describing more
concerning behavior from the couple,
especially Manny's anger and hostility
around Briana's daughter. But as she
talks, she begins to sense that the
detective sitting across from her may
already know far more about her
grandniece's condition than she does.
>> Is there a baby? Did they take him in
for questioning?
>> Give me your question.
>> Or are they in the loop? Who, sir?
>> Um
>> Is there a baby?
>> So, the baby There was a
>> But they Y'all found her.
>> I know, but we still have a lot of I
know,
>> [music]
>> and this is part of the judicial system
that we have
>> No.
They should be locked up.
They should be locked up.
taking her to her doctor's visits or
anything.
>> So, it's still under investigation,
Ruby. There's still a lot of questions
we have, okay?
>> Well, what did they say?
>> Again, we haven't really [snorts] spoke
to them, okay?
Um
>> They're going to be gone. If you go find
them, they're going to be gone. He's got
[music] family in Mexico.
He has family as long as he's from
Mexico. They have family in Juarez.
>> Through her grief, she warns them about
something they hadn't fully considered.
The couple could already be on the run,
especially with Manny's connections in
Mexico. Additionally, her [music]
description of Briana as a follower only
reinforces what investigators heard
before. It's starting to make sense to
detectives why Briana would take the
blame, even if Manny played a bigger
role in what happened. By now, though,
Ruby is devastated knowing she will
never see her grandniece again. Her
reaction is far more emotional than
anything detectives have seen from
Briana, but sadly, the tragic [music]
news doesn't stop there because Ruby is
about to hear the most disturbing part
about her grand-niece's death.
>> They killed her. He killed her. I know
he did.
I could have had that baby. I could have
raised her.
>> Do you know who the dad is of the baby?
>> we don't know him.
>> Nobody knows?
>> Nobody knows who he is.
>> Um the baby has been sent up to
Albuquerque for an autopsy.
>> How many months was she with
>> Um so you're going to need the blood
>> before she turned one?
>> Probably.
>> Oh my god.
>> I don't know how old she was exactly,
but I'm I'm guessing a month to two
months.
>> When she passed away?
Oh my god. So she Oh my god.
>> Angie.
Going off the information that I was
told.
>> [gasps]
>> Oh.
I bet that he stopped breathing cuz all
they all he did was
when I got to that car it smelled like
bad bad like weed.
I bet that he couldn't even breathe.
Why are they still out in the loose?
Well, we know about the autopsy.
>> It's
It takes about 6 months.
>> God. They'll be gone.
They'll be gone.
>> That's why we don't want them. We don't
want to spook them away and we don't
want to be fooled.
>> The minute y'all discovered that his
body they're gone. They're gone.
I know they're gone.
>> Ruby is justifiably furious. She wants
justice even if it means putting her own
niece behind bars, but without an
autopsy, detectives still don't have
definitive proof of how Briana's
daughter died or who is responsible.
Making an arrest now could jeopardize
the case. With that uncertainty hanging
over the investigation, detectives wrap
up the interview with Ruby. At this
point, they still believe waiting is a
safer option, but that decision comes
with a dangerous consequence. It gives
the couple exactly what they need, time
to run, disappear, and make sure they're
never found.
Over 2 months later, the autopsy results
finally come in, and the findings are
more disturbing than anyone imagined.
The report reveals multiple injuries and
in the child's system. Most importantly,
the manner of death is ruled a homicide.
For the first time, detectives have
confirmation that foul play was
involved. Now, they need to figure out
which one of them is responsible, and
more importantly, where they are.
Detectives are quickly sent out to
search for the couple, but they're
nowhere to be found.
>> [music]
>> Days turn into weeks, and every possible
address comes up empty. It begins to
look like Ruby was right all along. The
couple may have disappeared for good and
gotten away with the murder of her
grandniece.
Eight full weeks pass, and still no sign
of Breanna or Manny. Then, in February,
detectives receive a tip that the couple
has returned and is quietly staying at
Manny's father's trailer at a nearby
park. It's the first real lead since the
autopsy. Officers are dispatched, but
they're told to keep the encounter calm
and convince the couple to come in
voluntarily. The goal is to extract a
confession, not spook them into running
again. Minutes later, they arrive at the
trailer park hoping this time the pair
won't slip away.
>> See if you can come out.
It's cold out.
So, please come out in there.
My phone's dead. though.
>> Hi.
>> How are you?
>> Good. How are you?
>> Very good.
>> Good, good.
>> [clears throat]
>> Here, your kiddos home?
>> Yeah, they're they're they're sleeping.
>> Oh, okay. Hi. Nice to see you again.
>> How are you?
>> Doing good.
>> Good.
>> You want to call him?
>> Yeah, if you don't mind.
>> Brianna? No problem.
>> Brianna? Sir, can you just call Brianna
out just for now?
>> Okay.
>> If you wouldn't mind.
>> Brianna?
How you doing?
>> Hi, Ms. Brianna.
>> [music]
>> Some things have come up and I would I
would wanted know if you'd like the
chance or the opportunity to speak with
us on it.
Okay, would you mind going to our
station just sit down and have a
conversation where it's a little more
>> Yeah.
>> You'll go? Okay.
>> We just want to share some things out,
so
>> Yeah.
>> We'll give you a ride and then we'll
bring you right back.
>> You don't have any knives or anything on
you? Okay. Do you mind if I just pat
search you just really quick just to
make sure you don't have anything on
you. No, you're good.
Okay.
>> Brianna doesn't ask a single question
and simply steps into the back of the
cruiser. A strangely calm reaction
considering she's been out of sight for
months, but things are about to get even
stranger once officers call Manny to
come out.
>> One more time?
>> One more time, huh? One more time.
>> on?
>> Hey.
>> Good, good. You mind coming and talking
with us? Can you deal with that?
>> Okay.
>> Cool.
>> All right.
Okay.
>> We'll ride over, yeah.
>> Just just as a precaution, I just got to
pat you down to make sure you don't have
any.
>> Yes, sir.
>> All right.
I appreciate it, okay?
>> Sure.
>> Thank you. We'll be back.
>> Manny's reaction is just as baffling as
Breanna's. He also agrees to come along
without asking a single question. An odd
level of cooperation for a couple who's
avoided police for [music] nearly 2
months. The pair is quickly transported
to the station. Upon arrival, they're
separated immediately. Detective Amanda
Keller leads both interrogations.
Investigators need to determine which
one of the two is responsible [music] or
whether they both played a role. And if
they can't sort that out, prosecutors
may never be able to prove who [music]
actually killed the child and both
Breanna and Manny could walk away
without a single murder charge. For
[music] the killer couple, everything is
on the line as well. If one of them
slips up, they risk a life sentence. But
if they both stick to the same story,
[music]
there's a chance they get nothing more
than tampering charges or even walk out
completely free for the second time.
>> Knock knock.
Hi, Miss Breanna. Did you get some
water?
>> Yeah, we did.
>> Oh, okay.
I know it's been a while. So again, my
name is Amanda Keller. This is Edward
Aranda.
Um so we're here today to like we said
out there, basically this investigation
is coming to an end. Um and we just had
additional questions for you. How
[music] did that night start off?
>> Well, okay. I was tired and whenever I
after I gave birth and all that, I got
depression [music] pills. So I would
take those.
And that when that time happened, I took
that and I [music] took allergy pills.
So whenever that happened,
Okay, cuz the whole [music] car thing, I
I know I said that. But the actual the
actual thing was I [music] we were in
the bed.
And I
flipped over him.
>> So you woke up, baby was cold, you
started doing CPR. What about Manny?
What was Manny doing?
>> And I mean I I tried getting him to wake
up, but
he he freaked [music] out like like oh
what the hell is happening?
>> Okay, and then what did you decide to
do?
>> I just
put a plastic bag over everything and
>> [music]
>> that's how you feel now?
>> I guess I'm just confused as to why
y'all would say that you were living in
the vehicle.
>> We were just staying in like just
>> [music]
>> I don't know. I don't know why I said
that. I was just freaked out.
>> How do you feel?
>> Breanna still clings to the claim that
her daughter's death was accidental and
through it all she continues defending
Manny insisting he had nothing to do
with it. What Breanna doesn't know is
that police already have an autopsy that
directly contradicts her explanation of
what happened that night and the
detective is about to use it to
completely dismantle her story.
>> So she did test positive for
Do you know why that would be?
>> I'm not sure.
>> Okay.
Do you use
Does Manny use
>> [music]
>> Has he used
>> He hasn't used it whenever we got
together or anything that I know of. No.
>> Okay.
>> We're just trying to figure out
why are these lab results telling us
this?
We know you know.
Did he use opiate?
It's a very addicting drug.
>> Does he still use?
>> No.
>> Well, that's good.
>> No, he changed to weed.
It makes him like you know not not what
not not withdrawal.
>> Yeah.
>> I think it's a
huge
>> It's okay.
>> How long did he use for?
>> I don't know.
>> You don't know? But is it like some
months? Is it
some years?
>> Breanna's hesitation to admit Manny's
drug use only confirms what detectives
already suspect. She's hiding the truth,
and she seems far more focused on
protecting Manny than revealing what
happened to her own daughter. But
Breanna's denials are about to end
because detectives still have more
gruesome details from the autopsy.
Things only a truly evil parent could
do.
>> So, when we review the autopsy, there
were also some injuries to her bones.
[music]
Um and one was before she had passed.
Do you know why she would have injuries
to her
to her
or to
her leg?
Did you ever leave her with anybody? Um
>> Mhm.
>> So, it was primarily either you or Manny
around her at [music] all times?
>> Did you really fall asleep on Kalani?
>> Yeah.
>> And that's what killed her?
>> Were you guys arguing and
you may have taken it out on Kalani or
was she upset?
>> I just feel like [music] he didn't like
the crying all the time.
Kalani got
>> This was just one [music] time?
>> Yeah, it's all the time.
>> All the time?
But when you hurt her, was this just one
time or was this [music] all the time?
>> It was just once.
>> Once?
>> It was never like every day, just that
time. [music]
>> So, he just lost his cool.
>> It's kind of got out of hand.
>> He seems like a real mellow guy.
>> Yeah. It's not that. I just feel like
when he went to military, I feel like it
changed him.
>> [music]
>> Yeah, absolutely.
Yeah, that can happen. And if you don't
get help for it, it just kind of [music]
backs up.
>> I was like that once, too. Then I got
help because I was always trying to
kill.
>> Yeah.
>> For the first time, Briana isn't blaming
herself. She's hinting that Manny may
have played a role in the child's death.
It is at this point detectives decide to
pause the interrogation and give her a
short break, worried that she might shut
down completely if they push any harder.
But when they [music] return to the
room, something has changed. Briana
can't hide the truth any longer. She's
about to break and finally reveal what
happened to her daughter that fateful
night.
>> Do you really think he's going to be
honest, or do you think he's going to
put it on you?
>> I'm not really scared of him putting it
on me. I'll be like, "You did it,
Manny."
That's fine if he blames me.
>> Fine if you tell it if he It's fine if
he blames me.
>> Why is that fine?
>> That shouldn't be.
>> Fine.
>> [music]
>> You think that's right?
>> No.
>> Why did you say earlier if you felt like
if you had met somebody else that
>> [music]
>> Because none of this would happen.
>> Why is that?
>> I [music] just feel like he's different,
like
ever since he went to the military.
>> [music]
>> It's okay, Briana.
>> It's not your fault.
>> It's not your fault.
>> [music]
>> It's not your fault.
>> I don't want to move back.
>> To what?
>> [music]
>> See, now I don't want to move back.
>> I get it.
You don't have to.
>> Briana, we know that, right? He isn't
helping you.
>> You [music] don't have to go back there.
>> You don't feel trapped.
>> You don't have to go back [music] there.
>> Why do you blame yourself, Briana?
>> [music]
>> Because I have nowhere else to go.
We can find somewhere for you to go.
>> [music]
>> You know your family loves you.
I know that you find
They [music] do.
They do. Even still, they still take up
for you. They still ask about you if
we've heard from you.
They love you.
They do.
Regardless of what's happened.
>> Aunt Ruby.
All my life I've lived [music] with her.
She was good to me.
>> Briana, this is the first step, though.
You
>> This is.
>> This is.
>> This is.
I should have listened.
But it's okay because you're doing it
now.
That's the point. You're doing it now.
>> Yeah, now it's late.
>> When is it too late? It should have
happened earlier.
>> But it's not too late, right?
It's not too late.
>> [snorts]
>> Do you feel safe, Briana? That's what
we're getting at.
Do you want our help?
Do you want us to give you a little bit
of time to think real quick?
>> We'll find you a Coke.
>> Try to find you something.
>> I don't know if I was safe I just like I
said I don't know if he's
How is he going to react? Like yeah.
He asked me stuff like this.
>> Briana's lies are unraveling before her
eyes. She says the military changed
Manny, insisting that if it weren't for
him, her daughter would still be alive.
As she breaks down, even the detectives
grow emotional. With Briana's side of
the story now revealed, detectives wrap
up the interview and move her into
another room, ready to question the
person they believe is the real killer.
This time, their strategy is different.
They plan to confront him with evidence
almost immediately and see whether his
version of events aligns with Breanna's.
But after avoiding consequences for more
than a year, Manny still believes he can
talk his way out of trouble. And the
worst part is, he might be right.
>> It just depends on the head bolts and
there was whatever one you want.
>> What kind of medication did you take
that night?
>> I didn't take medication. [music]
Took pills of
>> So, what does that normally do to you?
How does that affect your body?
>> It knocks me out.
>> [music]
>> It does what, I'm sorry?
>> It knocks me out.
>> Knocks you out like just makes you
tired?
>> Just puts me to sleep. That's all it
does.
>> Okay. [music] Okay, so even in that
time, right? She can't hold her head up,
right? She can't crawl.
>> [music]
>> So, she's very dependent on somebody,
right? To hold her, to move her,
>> [music]
>> right? She can't just put something in
her mouth or however. Okay, so how would
she have con-
So, who else could have been around her
and
smoked it or somehow
>> Nobody else. [music]
>> Okay. That doesn't make sense to me. Do
you see how we're kind of
>> [music]
>> If you're smoking it,
how did the baby get a hold of it?
>> That's what I don't understand, either.
>> Manny's admission to taking the drugs
only further confirms detective's
suspicions. [music]
At this point, he is their primary focus
and investigators believe he's the one
responsible for their daughter's death.
So, they stop circling around the topic
and decide to fully accuse Manny of
murder to see if they can break his
story and elicit a confession.
>> This is your knee, essentially, right?
And right here it was injured.
Do you see that?
It's more of a This isn't like an actual
This isn't more of like a
>> diagram.
>> Yeah, like here's your right? And then
it's right here on the corner.
With that finger.
Do you know why she would have had
injury right there?
>> No, miss. The only The only thing that
that I would know The only thing that
worried me was her probably being
cuz whenever we did do the CPR
>> Mhm.
>> that's what the only called the injuries
that I would know like
>> Did we ever yank her leg or anything?
Nothing like that?
>> No, sir.
>> Okay. [clears throat]
>> Manuel, I'm going to I'm going to be
honest with you. We know
We know what happened. Like the facts
don't lie on the autopsy report, okay?
We know that
the injuries occurred before death.
[music]
All right, so that CPR doesn't play a
factor. Okay.
So, medical examiners have a way of
proving
injuries before death because the bone
will actually start to try to heal
almost immediately. Does that make
sense? You're still getting blood flow
and all that kind of stuff. I don't know
the science behind it,
but based off what happened,
injuries were prior to death. Meaning
she was still alive when the injuries
occurred.
All injuries. Does that make sense?
>> As detectives continue laying out the
evidence against him, Manny sits
stone-faced. This is the moment where
everything hangs in the balance. With
all cards on the table and murder
accusations in front of him, Manny could
shut down the entire interrogation, ask
for a lawyer, and refuse to answer
another question. What happens next will
determine not only his fate, but
Breanna's as well.
>> Just tell us, Manny.
>> I know I already know.
>> I mean, she
she was being fussy and and I got upset
and
and I grabbed her by a leg and yanked
her and
she wouldn't stop crying, so
I sat on top of her.
>> Okay.
>> And I was
And I was
>> How long did you sit on top of her?
>> Not long. Maybe like a minute.
Maybe that's a little bit longer.
>> Until Until [music] what?
>> She stopped crying.
>> And then?
>> That's it.
>> When did you know
that she had died?
>> Mhm.
Whenever I got over she stopped crying,
so I thought she was like, "Oh gosh."
I checked her and she wasn't breathing.
>> Okay.
And then what? [music]
>> And that's when we started doing CPR.
>> Okay. Were you panicking?
Did you know what happened? Why didn't
y'all call 911?
>> No, that's my That wasn't my call.
Briana wanted to call them, but I told
her not to.
>> She just freaked out and just was
scared.
>> What was Briana doing when everything
was happening?
>> Mhm.
I think she was in the kitchen.
I don't know. I don't know.
And she came in and she like
told her I was like, "He's not
breathing."
And then we did CPR.
>> Did she see what happened?
She didn't see it?
There's no way for her to stop it or
nothing like that?
Was that the first time you have lost
your temper?
Was it just the constant crying just
kind of got to you or
just a split second just kind of lost
it?
>> Manny finally admits he snapped and
killed Briana's daughter in a moment of
rage. Following his confession, both
suspects are taken into custody. Manny
on charges of child
>> [music]
>> resulting in death and Briana for
tampering with evidence and helping bury
the body. But despite a murder
confession, both Briana and Manny will
ultimately walk out of jail. As of
September 2025,
both have been released on bond while
awaiting trial. They are right now free,
unrestricted, unsupervised, and able to
disappear at any moment. Manny is likely
facing a life sentence if convicted.
Breanna, for her role in hiding the
body, is expected to receive a
significantly shorter term, but that's
only if they show up to court. With
Manny's family ties in Mexico and both
suspects currently out in the world,
there is always a chance they could
vanish again, this time for good.