They thought that by burning everything down, they could erase all their sins. But the truth always finds a way to [music] come to light. Quiet night in Daytona. A sudden emergency call shattered the silence. At [music] first, it seemed like a regular house fire. But when officers stepped inside, they realized the flames were only hiding a darker truth. >> Inside the two-story home, a horrifying scene awaited. A man named Mike was found lying in a pool of blood. Clothes on the upper floor had been set on fire. It was both a murder and an arson. >> The question remained, who could commit such a brutal act? >> Is this how y'all found him? Where did y'all find him? >> Found him on the second story in that room up there. >> Okay. >> So, y'all brought him firefighters are advising. They found him inside a bedroom on the second story and they brought him out. Is there anyone else inside the house >> so far? >> Okay. Yeah, it's only one. I'm going to need a couple more units down here. >> B side windows open. Front door is unlocked. The only thing on fire upstairs was the pillar of the room. >> Okay. >> So, looks like somebody probably came in. >> The detectives are on the way. I'm probably going to need y'all to get interviewed and fill out a statement because saw everything. >> We'll hang out. >> This is the deceased. >> Yeah, that's the deceased. >> Male or female? >> Male. Found in the upstairs bedroom. Okay, they're still lighting the fire up there. >> Officers quickly heard a familiar name, Nicole. A woman with a complicated relationship with the victim. Described by neighbors as troubled and often disruptive, >> yelling on the front porch about something, but >> I'd like to know where that female's at. She's always here. She's very signaled. >> Yeah, the chick, the young uh >> Yeah, >> better looking girl. >> Yeah, the guy. Nobody ever there's a chick that lives here. >> I see just like a a white figure moving back and forth in that middle window upstairs choking him a couple hours ago before went to bed. >> They were putting it out the fire. They found him there. So they pulled him out just in case he was still alive. >> Then they called us when I mean it's at least 10 on the side there. >> Yeah. >> And the back of the head too. >> I only saw the one side >> Yeah. But I mean it it could have been that long because >> it was He's not bleeding now. No, but I'm saying somebody put the clothes on fire. >> Well, no, but he's been dead a while. >> So, they're probably like, you know what? We need to [ __ ] burn this place down. That's what I'm saying. Probably here not too long ago. Hey, buddy. How many people in this house right now? >> Just me. >> Okay. You're the only one in the house. Yeah. You live here? >> Yeah. >> Okay. All right. Where's she at? >> I have no idea. I don't even talk to her because she's a crazy >> Can we go inside? Make sure she's there or not there. >> She ain't here, bro. I promise you. >> I know. I'm just asking if you want to go inside. >> What about this camper right here next to this next lot? >> I have no problem. Check. >> Is anybody supposed to be in there? >> The portrait of the suspect became clearer. A woman with a history of instability now vanished from the scene. >> What room? >> She doesn't stay here. >> Okay. But would she come here and stay in the camera at any time? >> No, I don't. For this reason, any weapons in here? >> I have weapons inside. She knows about those weapons. >> Uh-uh. >> That means she could possibly have access to them. Is that camper lock? My is >> um No, it's unlocked. >> I haven't just you know through it's going to be in a certain way. If you want to just stand behind us or out of the way while while we look through the house, that's it. I'd appreciate it, man. Just that's all. >> Okay. >> Police cleared the house but found no one. Still, they prioritized locating the woman mentioned by so many. >> Are you guys roommates or >> with who? Or you're not roommates? She comes over here. She's a guest of >> She's never here anymore. Well, when was she here? >> The last time uh my dad got arrested because of her. >> Okay. >> She's buddies when his dad >> her and your dad were no longer. >> Yeah. They're not in a relationship. They're like, >> "Yeah, they just have a plane." >> Okay. All right. >> Just 30 minutes later, one mile away, standing under neon lights, was Nicole. Upon seeing police, she dropped a knife and a hammer. >> Do me a favor. >> These are my >> Just keep her close. 1025 with this >> blood >> on your cast. You got some blood on your cast? >> That's my medical or anything or no? >> No, I don't bring my to you good. >> No, I'm okay. >> What you smoking? >> I'm like you bring over, >> huh? >> You bring over there and talk to her. >> Okay. >> She appeared jittery, anxious. Her story was a mess of contradictions. At times homeless, at times living with the victim. One moment in Orand, the next in Daytona. >> What kind of pills are those? >> Um, I got those from somebody over at the park. >> What's the deal with the hair? >> I found it on the bridge. And then I always have a knife with me. >> Yeah, she You dropped it when you got out with me. >> All that was in my bag. That's why >> I saw her like look away from me. I couldn't see her like do a U-turn and then she starts like walking fast like she was about to run from me like right here. So I have to put my lights on so I know she's about to take off and she like >> near the police vehicle. Officers found pills Nicole had dropped. >> Detectives switched tactics. A gentle approach. A simple soda broke her defenses. You can actually see that it's a hammer. >> Okay. >> What's up, bro? How are you? >> Just fine. >> And then I was at the beach and then I came to 7-Eleven and then they pulled me over. >> Where are you staying at? >> Um, >> my name's Joey. >> Okay. >> I work with Daytona. You said you were coming from the beach side. >> Yeah. >> How old are you? >> 35. >> 35. >> Yeah. >> I was thinking more. Well, good for you. You found the fountain of youth. So, there was an incident earlier today and um and you may have may have witnessed it. And um >> I always say to myself, so I don't know. >> Where were you at on beach side? >> I just went over the bridge a little bit and then feet are so rough. Um >> Wait, where's your shoes, girl? >> I know. They came off. >> What the [ __ ] happened to you? >> I know. I caught my I had this cut on. >> What the You need some shoes? >> Um I would like some. Yes, please. And some clothes, maybe. Okay. I got like I might have like a hoodie, but it's a hot as hell right now. >> I know, right? I don't want that. >> Anyways, there there's some stuff that I want to talk about in earlier today. >> Okay. >> And uh >> my toe >> and you may have >> again >> you may have witnessed it and uh I would love to talk to you, but not out here. I'll give you a ride wherever you want to go. It don't matter. And I get some water, some snacks, and get I I might have some I definitely have a shirt. >> Everybody keeps on talking to me about an incident. I don't know what they're talking about. >> Right. There was a bunch of car brakes over in this neighborhood right here. >> Um, I don't touch cars. >> I know. No, no, no, no. Okay, >> trust me. But there was a bunch of car breaks over in this neighborhood here. We had people say that there was a a pretty blonde young girl that fit your descriptively saw some of the guys. >> Yeah. Why would I break into a car? >> No, no, no, no. Did you hear what I said? That you may have saw the uh the people break into the car. You can identify them. >> Yeah. No. >> Okay. No, I haven't seen anybody. >> You haven't seen anybody break into a car? >> No, I haven't been around anybody. >> Okay. All right. And you you said you went on to the beach side when you went to the beach side. >> Not beach side. I went to the bridge and I was over there in Orman. >> Oh, Orund or Holly Hill? >> Yeah. See, I post my stress so I don't remember things. >> I do too. >> Okay. Yeah. So things. Whoa. >> Okay. >> So in Orand or Holly Hill? >> Yeah. >> Daytona still. Yeah. >> Okay. Where did you walk from though? Cuz you said you live over here, right? >> Yeah. But I don't remember. I just was this way. >> Okay. And >> like up here where the bridge is right next to it. >> How did you get there though? >> My feet >> with no shoes. >> Yeah. >> What are you think? So you >> I just came from the hospital too. I was at the hospital. That's a >> So when you walk you walked from home to the beach side >> to the bridge. Yeah. >> Or to the All right. And where's where's home at? What's the address? >> Right here. >> Next door. Yeah. What' you uh what'd you have for dinner tonight? Can I get you some food? What'd you have for dinner? >> I don't remember >> what you don't know what you had for dinner. >> Okay. Just curious. So, when you left the house today to go to the uh bridge, >> right? What time was that? >> I don't I'm I'm home. >> Can I drive you to your house over here then? >> I don't have a house. >> I thought you said you stay over there near next door. >> No, I said I'm homeless. >> Can I take you to the shelter? >> Shower would be nice. >> Okay. They have showers there. So, there's somebody I'm going to show you a photo of. Tell me if he if if this person looks familiar. >> I don't know anybody. Hell no. No. I don't know. Nobody like that. What's his name? >> His name's Mike. >> Okay. I know a couple mics. Yeah. Yeah. You know Mike? >> I know two mics. >> You know how many mics? >> Three. Four. >> Do you know any mics that live around here in Daytona? >> Yeah. >> Do you know this person? >> Why? >> I'm asking you. I don't know. Do you know who this person is? >> I've known him. Yeah. >> You do know him? >> No, I've Yeah. >> I'm sorry. >> Yeah. >> Okay. How do you know him? >> Or by him? Yeah. >> When? >> Lived with them or something? >> Oh, you did? >> Yeah. >> I thought you were homeless for the past 4 years. >> No, I told you I >> When's the last time you lived with this this person? >> The last month, the last week, the last day? [clears throat] >> Yeah. >> Like, what what is it? What's >> Yeah, I was just sure. Did y'all date? No, I've only seen him a handful of times. >> Okay. So, did you see him today? Have you seen Michael in the past week? >> Yeah, I was just there. >> You were just there? >> Yeah. >> When? >> Within the past couple days? >> Oh, okay. >> Yeah, I was just there. >> What did you do there? >> I live there. >> What happened there? >> Um, nothing. I went outside. >> Okay. >> Okay. >> Okay. >> Let me call I'm I'm going to call the shelter. Okay. Um, >> we have a slick estate and uh they requested that they suggested that Holly Hill come over and uh and detain. >> Yeah. Okay. >> Only like once or twice. >> Once or twice. Yeah. >> And you understand the English? >> Yeah. Yeah. So, I understand what you read. >> Okay. Since I've sat here and talked to you and we talked >> I understand what you told me. >> Can you let me talk for a minute, please? I respect you. I respected you this whole time. Okay. >> You have, Joey. And I see the shelter. Now you're reading me my rights. Well, I'm going to tell you when you just told me over there, you said you said to me something that that sparked my interest. >> What was that? >> Well, you told me that you were homeless and that uh you didn't know the person I had showed you. And then when I of a of a man named Mike, you said you don't know who he is and then you said and then you change your story and tell me you you did. What was your last conversation? >> Can you get me a burger? >> Is that what he said? >> Yeah, a sandwich burger. >> Where at? >> A breakfast burger. >> Did you go and get him a burger? Yeah, I love >> In a desperate bizarre act, Nicole poured the soda all over herself. A blatant attempt to wash away DNA or blood traces. >> Nice. >> One more drink. Yeah, one more. >> All right, let me have the candy down. >> They don't taste like that. I'm not done, ma'am. You said it. Yep. Whatever. >> No. >> The blood on the knife she dropped was confirmed to belong to Mike after being released under unclear circumstances. Nicole tried to change her appearance from blonde to dark brown to evade justice, but she failed. She was arrested and charged with seconddegree murder, arson, evidence tampering, and resisting arrest with violence. Faced with overwhelming evidence, Nicole did not contest in court the sentence, 35 years in prison. In California, seconddegree murder carries a sentence of 4 to 20 years. A suspended sentence can go up to four years. Share this video to raise awareness, and don't forget to subscribe so you won't miss any powerful stories like this. Thank you for watching.