What's up? I ain't got it. What's up, bro? What's up? >> This is Eric Banks Jr. A police officer has just realized he got caught. Moments ago he was confidentially telling officers that his 15-year-old stepson had run away. Now the teenager has been found inside the house. And everything Eric has said is beginning to fall apart. >> Tell me about uh DJ's relationship with dad. >> DJ has to clean the basement, do all the chores. >> So, did anyone tell you that they uh Deshawn told them that he was getting beat? >> So, I go downstairs, I go to the front door. The officer said, >> Okay. >> And I panicked. I was like, I don't know what the [ __ ] to say. >> It's 4:42 p.m. on July 6, 2021 when Latrice Banks makes a 911 call that will set off an investigation no one on the scene is prepared for. >> Hi, yes. Um I'm calling because I have a against my spouse. Um but he won't let my son, who's my biological son, leave the house. Cuz he was supposed to meet me so I could get him. But I can't go to the house because he also against me. So, he won't let my son leave the house and he took his phone. He's my biological son. There's no custody agreement. The judge said he would be with me. But I can't go to my house to get him. And my >> You can find somebody else that can >> From the officer's perspective, looks like a custody issue. Frustrating, maybe. Dangerous, probably not. But that assumption won't last long. >> [music] >> Hey, how you doing? >> I'm doing good, boss. And yourself? >> I'm doing good. Uh >> I got a 41. I'm out with him. >> What's going on today, man? >> He's supposed to be serving a piece of protective order. >> Supposed to be serving it on you or on uh >> Both of us. >> Okay. >> The judge just ordered us to stay away from each other. >> Okay. >> So, nobody's here but >> Do you all have some sort of like court order agreement on custody or something? >> My oldest, I know he ran out the back door. Somewhere all his stuff out the back door. >> He ran out? >> Yeah, cuz he got on the phone with her, >> Uh-huh. >> wouldn't answer what was going on. I said, "What's up? What's up?" She wouldn't tell me. He said, "Nothing." So, all of you guys were working together secretly. She uh He went out the door freaking What's going on, boss? I know you get I know you getting tired of seeing us. She called him and he went out the back door. No. You can you You want to come in? >> Just let you know you're being audio taped. >> Oh, hey, I know. I see you all got the body cam. >> Um you can look So, I'm just saying >> Well, I'm just saying you don't have any idea where he went. He called her She called him. I can't call her to talk to him. >> I understand. >> The judge said she can call him tell him good morning, good night, blah blah blah. >> Okay. >> She called him. He got I helped him to carry all his stuff. I said, "She coming to pick you up?" She said He was like >> Does he have a phone? >> Huh? I took my I took my phones back. >> Okay. >> Yeah. So, all the phones are on my plan. Um separating everything. >> And you have no idea where you just let a 15-year-old walk out of your house with all his bags packed? >> No. His bags out the back door. I would I literally told him, "Wait for your mom to get here. She's supposed The police supposed to come here to serve her a piece of protective order." The judge told her to call you guys before she come to I'm not trying to get in trouble. >> I understand. >> So, she's supposed to call you to come meet you up. >> have no idea where DJ is? >> Honestly, bro, no. All right. I like >> With no phone or anything? >> You can check the ADT. It shows when he ran out the door. >> you, but I mean >> Eric seems surprisingly confident. In fact, he's practically inviting officers to search the house. It's a bold move considering what a thorough search is capable of uncovering. >> I'm not like I'm not going to fight. I'm not going to do that. >> Listen, it's a 15-year-old boy. Having a phone probably would have been if he's walking out of the house, probably would have been a good idea to leave him with it. And you can work out those kinks later. >> You see this is the thing. This is getting messy, man. >> Yeah, I told I could tell him. I said I I said, "Sit here. Wait for your mom to get here." I went upstairs. I got to get ready to go by Little Tikes. I got to show you my phone. We just got off the phone. I informed him of everything. Before I could come downstairs, he's already gone out the back door. So, she I guess she coordinated cuz she's somewhere in the area, I presume. >> Okay, yes. >> So, she pretty much coordinated with him to come out there. >> Okay. All right, hang tight. All right. So, he does not have a phone with him. >> No, I believe his his phone's probably still in his room. >> Okay. All right. >> For a runaway, DJ has left behind one very unusual thing, his phone. If DJ really walked away, why leave behind the one item most teenagers carry everywhere? >> You want to come sit in my patrol car? >> He needs to go to bed, man. >> I'll go right to the bedroom. It's right over here on this side. >> Um if you want to wait like just like a few seconds or we get everything squared away, then we'll uh >> Yeah, cuz she's supposed to came here, picked up some items, left and went to work. I was with her today. >> And he was supposed to leave and go to work? >> No, she was supposed to come here, pick up some items with you guys so she can leave and go to work. >> Okay. >> And she's I guess she's taking him back to the hotel where her her mom is. >> Okay. So, did That was the plan? She was supposed to get picked He was supposed to get picked up by her? >> know. That's what she said. She called him and she I can't get on the phone and say, "Hey, what's going What are you doing?" cuz I can't talk to her. Yeah. That's why I told him. I said, "Listen, wait till your mom gets here because we're not playing this game. Wait till your mom gets here and the police show up at the door, that's when I'm going to open the door. I don't want to keep doing this. You guys keep showing up at the house. I don't want to keep playing this game circle. I'm tired of it." >> Yeah. >> I'm tired. >> So, did he want to go with his mom? >> I don't know. I They They talk in secret. He's not my biological son. They keep this separate, you know, they talk in secret. I don't know what's going on. So. >> Does uh Is he just so like we're looking for him, is he a white or is he mixed? >> He's black. My wife's black. >> The runaway theory has a problem. Nobody can explain why DJ would choose this moment to leave. DJ was Latrice Banks's son from a previous relationship. And according to everyone involved, there was no obvious reason for him to suddenly disappear when his custody was naturally given to Latrice over his stepdad, Eric. >> What's going on, bro? >> All right, so he was supposed to be here at the Subway. She didn't arrive to see him there. She called me back. >> Okay, no problem. >> And he's going to grab his bag and what he's going to need, okay? He's going to go with her. >> Okay. >> Um you say his bag's packed? >> Yeah, you want to come grab him with me? >> No, why don't you go grab him and just leave him right here that way and that way when she calls him, we'll get you guys inside that way there's no there's no >> Okay. >> contact between you two. >> I'm saying, why don't you want to come with me while I grab the bags? I don't want to >> matter. If you want me to help, is that what you're asking? >> Yeah. >> All right, how you doing, little man? >> How you doing? What's your name? Tristan, what's your name? What is it? Evan? Nice to meet you. >> Right now, Tristan and Evan appear to be bystanders. Before this day is over, they may become some of the most important witnesses in the entire case. >> So, you all already have been served or you haven't been served? >> No, you guys were supposed to come They tried to call get your guy to serve >> Sheriff's office or the >> No, it was an animal control at the court. I was I literally waited. It's like he's right there at the door. He's right there at the door and she left. I was like, [ __ ] >> I have a warrant and I have a >> So, I came here. She gave me a copy of mine. Mine's My copy's in the car and that's pretty much it. >> So, you've been served. She just has to give you >> No, she I got my copy. I don't have the copy of her copy that you supposed to serve him with. >> Oh, okay. >> Oh, they're the owners >> of the house. >> Or it's one of you guys. I didn't see a boy. >> All right. >> All right. How long has he been >> I have a warrant issued against him. >> I have to check the 82. I think I can get my warrant checked. >> All right. 4:41. >> If DJ truly walked away, there should be a trail, a sighting, a destination, and a witness. So far, there's nothing. The longer officers think about the runaway theory, the more holes they find in it. >> All right. Well, who who who would this girl be? You know, if you don't >> I know the girl. She lives over by Subway. Uh I mean, sorry, 7-Eleven. The one he dances in the area with. And I don't know where it is. It's a African-American female. I don't know where she lives. >> All right. Well, I want to find out who if he's with if he's with some females, he that would he probably would text text messaging. >> Correct. >> Or talk to I I I understand that. Listen, if I can find out who these girls who these girls are, we can call the one of the girls' phone if I can get his phone. Can you get in his phone? >> Yeah. I can get it. >> Put it in and I'll try to get I'll try to call these girls' phone and find out if he's maybe at their house. But it is 98° I wouldn't want to wait outside either, you know. >> I'm just going to go around the back just in case. >> Okay. >> Yeah, he's uh He's tall and skinny with dreadlocks. >> Okay. >> Hey, what are we doing? >> Hey, sir. How you doing? >> I'm good. >> Um have you seen I don't know his name. He lives like in one of these houses here. He's about 15, with the dreadlocks. >> Oh, DJ? >> I guess so, yeah. I don't know his name so yeah. >> Oh, the guy who was right next to him? >> Yeah. >> Um have not seen him recently. >> Okay. All right, he's not in any trouble. We're just trying to find him. >> missing or something or >> Uh >> Almost missing. >> Almost missing? >> Yeah, hasn't been hasn't been reported missing yet, but yeah, just seeing if you cuz he he went out this way, so I just wanted to see if you saw him or anything, but Okay. All right, appreciate it. Thank you. >> Right now, officers still don't know whether DJ ran away, is hiding somewhere, or is in danger. To answer that question, they need to understand what happened in the hours leading up to his disappearance. >> So, this is DJ's perspective of what happened yesterday. You found out about the whole situation. His mom >> That's that's that's that's neither here nor there. >> But this is what this is what I'm trying to tell you. He was Me and him sat at the table. He cried to me yesterday. He said he don't want to He don't want the separation. You know, he know we've separated before. He said he's tired of it. He's tired of feeling like he has to choose sides. We He was like depressed yesterday. I told him he's not I went to work yesterday. I told him he's not sitting at the house by himself. He wanted to stay here. He normally he's 15. We let him stay here and go to work. My boys I take to my mom's house 7 minutes down the street. He wanted to stay here. He said, "Dad, I just want to be left alone. I don't want to be bothered by nobody." I said, "Okay, DJ, well, you're not staying in the house by yourself, not when you're like this. Come on, get in the car." I took them put them in the car and I took them to my mom's. After they went swimming yesterday, my sister seen he was She took him over her house. I picked him up from my sister's house. Yesterday he was like he don't want to he don't want He's 15. He's a teenager. He knows where he don't want to be. He's like, "I don't want to be in separate homes and [ __ ] like that." And we sat at the table. I said, "DJ, there's there's nothing really you can do. I'm not going to change anything. I know you're going to go and live with your mom cuz you're not my biological son." I'm not going to change you, but I love you, care for you. We we had a whole deep heart to heart conversation. Today, we went to court. The judge awarded him and I called him and Listen, you can see I called him. I said, "DJ, I guess your mom told the judge you wanted to go with her and you're going over there." He's like, "What? I I don't" I was like, "Well, start packing your bags cuz you're going with her You're going with your mom. It's I'm unfortunately I guess you're not coming back here. So, I'll come talk to you when I get home." I came home. He said, "Dad, what's going on?" I said, "I don't know. Your mom should be calling you. All I know is you got to go with your mom. The judge said you're going with your mom." And that's that was just that. She called him. They had a conversation. I said, "What did your mom say?" She already come pick you up. He said, "Yeah, but um she's supposed to come here." I said, "Well, we're going to wait cuz before she come here there's some type of altercation. At least we call the police here. Let her know she Tell her not to come in here. When she comes here, they can escort her, grab whatever she needs to grab, and then go about this peacefully cuz I'm tired of getting tired of this whole mess and [ __ ] She called him again. He was in the room grabbing his stuff. I said, "Sit your stuff downstairs so when she come it'll be smoothly everything." Next thing you know, I went upstairs. I come down >> So, do you think he Did he leave here because he didn't want to go with his mom, either? >> Uh that could be a >> could be like hiding out at a friend's house? I mean, I guess that's >> Yeah, that's what I'm saying. Yeah, in my opinion I think that's That probably is the best because if you told her he's somewhere he's not >> I have messages from her. She's I have food for you. Okay. So, it sound like he wanted to go be with his mom, right? >> Yeah. So, that's what I'm saying. >> All right. All right, just put the bags inside for now and we'll try to figure this thing out. >> All right, brother. >> Yeah. >> Well, do you need me to hang tight cuz Okay. All right. >> So All right. >> Yo, all right. So, I'm going to call cuz I got to get cuz I was going to have food and be about to leave, but I'm going to call and I'm going to make sure she don't make my phone calls. All right, brother. >> At this point, officers leave the scene, but something about the situation still doesn't sit right. And before long, they're back asking more questions. >> That's about it. >> Okay. All right, I just wanted to know so that way when we're looking for him, we find him. You know, I mean, there's a bunch of juveniles out there. >> Oh, yeah. That's what I said. That's what it That's what it seemed like. So, to be honest with you, like I said, yesterday he we really sat at my table and we I asked him how he felt about everything. He was like, "Dad, honestly, I don't like it. I don't want to He was like, "You're the only father I've ever known. Excuse me, I don't feel like I feel like when I leave or if I have to leave, you're going to look at me differently, you're going to treat me differently." Um He was I was like, I I told him right short and like, "That's not happening." Um what was it? Then he said uh He said he didn't he He said he said I don't want to be I don't feel like I I feel like I don't want to be bothered by anybody. And I was like, "DJ, that's I mean that's you know, I understand this, you know, it's you want to be left alone, but at the same time it's like I'm the reason I'm talking to you. I asked you about this because I want to know where your mindset is. I want to know what's going on with you." So, he's like, "Okay." So, then he um Like I said again, he we talked. Then I took I told him I was like, "You know what? I'm taking your phone. I don't want you know, cuz I just want you to be left alone by everybody. I don't want your mom and them texting you, your grandma and them texting. I don't want nobody like just So, I sent him over to my mom my mom's house. He was there with them. Um what is it? And like I said, it was just He was there He was out the house all day cuz I He was in a depressed state. He was like, "You don't want to And then when I called him from court, I was like, I guess you're going with your mom." And he was like, "What?" He he didn't he didn't even know. I was like, "Start packing your bags cuz you're you know, you're going to be going with your mom." He didn't know anything about it. He was like, "All right." Um And he was like, "What do you mean?" I was like, "Well, you I guess you're going to stay with your mom in Arizona. You're not coming back." And that's when he was like, "Uh okay." >> Did he make any statements? >> He didn't say He didn't No, he didn't make any statements. DJ's a He holds everything in. He don't He's the type he just holds stuff in. He don't really let let stuff out. There you go. So. >> Okay. >> For the third time that day, officers returned to the house. Eric has managed to survive two rounds of scrutiny, but this third one is about to be a lot more dangerous. >> Hey Buck, I just want to make sure he's not hiding anything. Is he in there? He's got the house. All right. All right. >> Where's his room? >> Straight up to the right. Sorry. >> right. >> Let me >> [music] >> lead you. >> Oh, you can come back. >> Excuse me. >> Go ahead. >> DJ! >> Which one is your room? >> The one with the bunk bed right here. >> Yeah. This is the kids' room. >> DJ! >> This is my room right here. >> In the next 30 seconds, the mystery of where DJ is is about to be solved. So, unfortunately, the answer is worse than anyone imagined. If you haven't yet, check out my Patreon page for both exclusive and ad-free videos, like this one, The Interrogation of Pasha Thomas. This case will give you a glimpse of what happens when good people get tangled in horrible events. Watch that and many more at patreon.com/strangerstoriesplus. >> I don't know. I'll feel it out. Is this all the way down? >> You know, this is where my This is where my safe is with Justin. >> Yeah. >> [clears throat] >> So, this is where my guns go. >> Okay. >> You got a little weight on your foot? >> Yes, I do. >> You got a weight back there? >> Okay. >> Am I dim on you? >> What's up? >> All right. >> What's up, bro? What's up? >> Hey, camera man. >> All right, where we >> DJ! DJ! DJ! >> What's up? What happened? >> I don't know. Come on. You want to just let's go to the car, all right? >> Yeah, let's go to the car. >> Hidden inside Eric's loft, officers discover the answer they've been looking for. DJ is there, unresponsive. >> I'm sorry, man. It's all right. I'm just >> Stay seated. >> All right, yeah. >> I need you to stay seated, okay? >> Okay, all right. >> I need you to do me a favor, all right? >> Oh, yeah, yeah. Okay. All right, good. Can I Can I just kiss my boys real quick? >> No, no, no, no, no. Right now, I need you to stay in the car, all >> No, no, no, no, no, no, listen. Yeah, I got you, bro. Just let me kiss my >> Stay in the car. >> Bro, just let me kiss my >> Stay in the car. >> Just I'm just saying like just let me kiss Just let me kiss my boys real quick, bro. I'm coming to the car. >> Go to the car. All right, go to the Sorry about that. Faster. Lean back for me. >> All right, good. >> Do not get out of the car. >> I'm not, bro. I'm not. >> For the first time all day, Eric appears unable to hide his discomfort. He suddenly looks like a man who understands exactly how much trouble he's in. But things are about to get worse. >> All right, just one. >> All right, you got to do I can't move my other arm, do you have a I can you just >> [music] >> Here, I'm going to Listen, just do it. >> Stand up, turn around. Don't Don't do anything. Stay in the car. Stay in the car. Stay up against the car. All right, now get back in. >> Hey! Bro, I'm not doing anything. Stop running. WHAT ARE YOU DOING? I JUST WANT TO KISS MY BOYS, BRO. Come on. Just let me kiss my >> Get back in the car. All right, come on. Come on. Come on. Stay in there. You're not coming out no matter what. >> All right, bro. >> What comes next isn't a confession in the traditional sense, but it's the first statement that makes investigators look at Eric very differently. >> Just throw my [ __ ] life away. Just throw my life away. >> Just stop. What are you doing? >> just threw my life away, bro. >> Would you Would you stop? >> Okay. >> Stop. I'm buckling. What are you >> my life away, though. >> I don't care. Hey, listen. Stop. >> Stop. What are you doing? >> Just choke me. Just choke me. >> Just Get BACK IN THE CAR. >> Just choke me. Just choke me. Just choke me. >> Adam-4, tell Adam-1, can you come back out here, PLEASE? >> PLEASE. >> GET OUT OF THE CAR. >> LOOK, just choke me. Just choke me. >> Adam-4, he's trying to grab A GUN. STOP. GET IN THE CAR, [ __ ] GET IN THE CAR. NOW, in here. Turn him out. Turn him out. Turn him out. Turn him out. On the ground, [ __ ] >> Okay. >> Hey, put your >> OH MY GOD, IT'S EVERYWHERE. IT'S EVERYWHERE, BRO. >> I want to get him. >> The discovery of DJ immediately sends the scene into chaos. As officers try to secure Eric, he suddenly attempts to grab an officer's firearm. Additional units are immediately requested. EMS is urgently called to the scene. And what was already a horrific investigation is now becoming even more volatile. >> Where's she going? >> Okay, I'll check on somebody. >> Yeah, I got Storm. >> Can we get her on the Can we get a OPA? Can we get BVM ventilation started, please? >> BVM on the subject. >> As officers secure Eric, another team begins desperately trying to save DJ's life. Aside from bruising to his neck and face, there are surprisingly few visible injuries. Yet, something has clearly gone terribly wrong. And before investigators have time to process any of it, DJ's mother, Latrice, is about to arrive. >> What's going on? >> No. Come here. Come talk to us, please. >> Okay. >> Mom, he said he just text me. He said he was at the back. My 15-year-old son is hurt. She doesn't have custody. He said he's at the back door. He's at the back door. He ran to the back door. He must have been texting her saying I'm at the back door. >> Ma'am, get back! Get back. Get back now. Get back. >> That's his his baby, god damn it, what? >> Yes, he's a Back up. Back up. Back up. >> My son's in there. >> I understand that. The fire department is working right now. >> him? >> I have no idea, ma'am. >> No, but I need to know, he's my son. >> no idea. It's not It's not a I can't tell you. I literally don't know right now. >> No. He is my son. He hurt my son. >> Okay. >> No. >> We're trying to figure that out, ma'am. Can I talk to you for a second? >> Yes. >> Do you know his medical history? >> He had asthma. >> As investigators began piecing together what happened inside this house, a disturbing history starts to emerge. In the weeks leading up to DJ's death, Latrice had repeatedly sought protection from Eric through the courts. In one filing, she described Eric as dangerous, controlling, and emotionally abusive. A judge denied her first request in late June of 2021. But Latrice didn't stop there. She filed again. This time including her children in the request for protection. At 2:58 p.m. on July 6th, a judge granted the order. Roughly 2 hours later, officers would discover DJ's body. The order was approved, but it was never served. By the time authorities could do so, Eric was already in custody. Meanwhile, investigators know DJ isn't the only child connected to this case. Latrice's two younger children may hold important pieces of what happened inside that house. For now, they're being kept safe at a neighbor's home while officers try to understand the nightmare that unfolded. >> Can I go inside real quick with you? >> I can't see all that. >> Um do you want me to go bring them down? >> No, they can stay up there. We want to make them feel as comfortable as possible and keep their mind off of it. >> Do you want to bring my daughter down though, so >> You guys want to talk to them? >> Yeah, bring bring her down here and tell me where they're at and I'll talk to them real quick. >> No, say it. >> I'm going to have I'm going to have Officer Willie stay with them temporarily. >> Okay. >> Is that if that's all right with you guys, I'd appreciate it. >> And I want you to come with me, okay? Okay, guys. >> Officer Willie, you guys might be more comfortable in the playroom in the basement too than hanging out in the bedroom up there. >> It's up to you. You guys want to go to the playroom in the basement? Yeah? >> Let me show you. >> Come on down. >> All right, yeah. Well, they're going to go they're going to they're going to go with them. >> Hey Liam, once they talk to the officer, you guys can play again, okay? You got it? You okay, buddy? >> Okay. >> Hey bud, you okay? >> She can play with them in a minute. I'm just going to I'm going to talk to them real quick. >> I'm just going to bring her down to the main floor. It's that >> Hey, come on, baby. Hello, Dave. >> You guys want to go get some water? >> Three-year-old Tristan is simply too young to provide investigators with much information. Seven-year-old Evan, however, may be a different story. Officers hope he can help explain what was happening inside the house before DJ was found. Right now, investigators still haven't determined exactly how DJ died. They're weighing every possibility, including whether someone else was responsible or whether DJ somehow caused his own death. But regardless of where that question ultimately leads, Eric is already facing serious consequences for what happened after the fact. >> I don't know. We missed the disconnect. There's no other adults in the house. There's two young kids. They're two doors down in the house with Officer Willie watching them. And then I guess he comes outside when Sutton comes in. Sutton checks the house, sees him unresponsive, dad starts flipping out. I don't know if it's if dad assaulted him or the kid he something the kid did something to himself. >> Right. >> And the kid the dad's just freaking out. >> Right. >> Um but it took four or five people to to hold him down. >> And that >> He's booked city, right? >> I don't know. Is he? >> Yeah, that's what that's what And that that's what he said that during the struggle the the guy that he was fighting went for his gun. So he's catching charges. >> If you guys I think you probably saw it. The Baltimore City uniform up there. >> Yeah. >> Is this the same one we've had the cross the walk with? >> Yep. >> Yep. >> Yep. >> And his wife took his gun to the city. >> Yeah. >> Okay, I remember that. I called dispatch. Dispatch says only call me back if if he's 10-7. >> Okay. >> Thank you. >> He was really upset. >> Hey, tell them to take him to the >> As if the case weren't already disturbing enough, investigators uncover another detail that changes how people view Eric. He is a Baltimore police officer, at least he was. At the time of these events, Eric had already been suspended from duty for reasons that have never been publicly disclosed. >> Stop. Stop. Stop. >> I can't stop. Yes, you can. >> You broke my wrist. I can't stop. Turn me on my side. And my hand's going numb. >> On your side and you're going to stop. >> Yeah. I can't. My hand's going numb. My hand's going numb. >> Then hold on to him. >> I told you you broke it. It's numb. >> All right. Stay where you're at. Stay here. >> I am staying here, but I told you you broke it. >> All right, I'm moving your legs. >> All right, you're on your side so stop moving. >> I'm done moving. But it's broken. >> All right. Everybody have that? >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> All right, you can go. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> While Eric is transported to the police station, investigators begin a parallel effort. Both of the children who were inside the home are also brought in for interviews. If anyone knows what life was really like inside that house, it may be them. >> I see. And tell me about DJ's relationship with Dad. >> Mhm. >> [snorts] >> DJ has to clean the basement, do all the chores. >> Mhm. >> And then we have a little vacuum, and the vacuum means we don't need to vacuum or DJ. >> Mhm. >> But we still need to do the dishes and the trash cans to take out. And DJ has to take his clothes out out the laundry cuz sometimes he doesn't. >> Mhm. >> And then he has to clean the dishes. He has to take the trash cans into the backyard and where the gate is. >> Mhm. >> He needs to take them into the gate. And then he needs to put away his clothes and do nothing else. But he also needed the vacuum. >> Oh. >> But now we have a little vacuum to clean. >> That's good. So you guys have a vacuum to clean up. >> Mhm. >> I see. Okay. >> A little vacuum set clean the whole house. >> Oh, okay. >> It doesn't really clean the basement cuz the whole basement is dirty, but we clean it. >> Mhm. I see. And tell me about your dad. >> Mhm. He was a police officer. He plays games. Mhm. He played the game. Mhm. He's also a police officer. He done the dishes. He He He picked me and Tristan's clothes, also. >> He what? >> He picked me and Tristan's clothes, but I know how to pick my clothes. >> Okay. >> He He usually does pick Tristan's clothes. >> Mhm. >> But Tristan picks his own clothes now. >> Mhm. I see. I see. Okay. >> As Evan describes life inside the household, one detail stands out. According to him, DJ was more likely to get in trouble with his mother than with Eric. Buried beneath these ordinary family dynamics is a secret that investigators are slowly beginning to uncover. And that secret may explain why this tragedy happened at all. >> What's What is it Tell me about the last time you saw DJ. >> My mom wasn't at the house. >> Okay. Tell me more about that. >> Mhm. Can't really remember. I don't remember. >> You said your mom wasn't at the house? >> Yeah. >> Okay. Tell me who was at the house. >> Dad. >> Mhm. >> And then DJ. >> Mhm. >> And then me. DJ was going in his own room with Mommy. And then Daddy was waiting at the door with DJ. >> Mhm. >> DJ And then DJ was going to his own room. Me and Tristan were staying in Maryland. And waiting at the door steps. Then DJ put his uh bags in the basement, and then I don't remember what happened next. >> Mhm. >> That's all I remember. >> Okay. So you said Tell me if I'm wrong. You said that DJ was in his room and he was packing his stuff? >> Mhm. >> And then what happened after that? >> Um went to the doorstep, got ready, then he put his stuff in the basement with me. And then I don't remember what happened next. >> Okay. Okay. When he was in the basement, where were you? >> Um me and Justin were watching the new Loki episodes. >> Mhm. Where were you guys watching that at? >> Uh in the living room. >> Okay. Okay. What about Dad? >> Um I don't know what he was doing. >> Okay. Tell me what Dad was doing um during that day. >> Uh he was just standing at the doorstep. Mom was calling us. >> Mhm. >> Mom was calling me but Dad kept hanging up. I couldn't get my phone. >> Mhm. >> Me and Justin had to sit down. And then I don't remember anything else. >> Okay. Was Was Dad downstairs or upstairs or in the living room or where was he? >> He was at the doorstep and then went upstairs. >> The investigation now arrives at one of its most important interviews. DJ's mother, Latrice, is brought in to speak with the detectives. What she reveals will provide critical context for everything investigators have been hearing so far. >> For um time's sake, there's a lot of specific questions that I wanted to talk to you about. And um part of one of the questions that uh keeps coming up is um can you describe D.J.? Was he an argumentative person? Was he a quiet person? Was he an introvert, an extrovert? >> So, Deshaun was more of a quiet person. >> Mhm. >> Um until he got to know you, but he was always like like mannered. So, even if he was right there, he would still speak to you, but then he would, you know, go on his phone. He was a 15-year-old boy. But he was never like but he could really talk. He he talked to a lot of adults. Like but he's never was disrespectful or any of that. And don't you know I had teachers from his elementary, the principal, middle school, the principal, they all showed up for my son because he was that type of child. You know when teachers come. >> Would you say he was a sweet boy? >> He was very sweet and always willing to help. That was one of the things across the board. Always willing to help. >> So, did anyone tell you that they uh Deshaun told them that he was getting beat? >> No. >> Okay. Did any of them say that he was getting beaten um because of his sexuality? >> No. >> By you and Mr. Banks? >> No. >> Okay. Um so if I asked you, you know, did you ever did you ever discipline Deshaun Deshaun? >> Probably yeah, like if anything, I mean like hit him with one of his dreads. >> Okay. >> it was like I didn't I'm not that way. Like obviously when they're getting bigger, like no. It becomes more than that to me. >> Mhm. >> I was never like that physical. He might might hit you one time with his hand, but >> Mhm. >> it didn't it wasn't that. So, if anything, I was like mad with Deshawn because he didn't do his work or whatever. >> So, just like a a quick little >> Hit. Yeah, I think I did hit him in the face once or twice, but like never >> Anything recently? >> No, we had really been just in this fight together. >> As the interview continues, Latrice reveals another deeply complicated layer to DJ's life. According to her, DJ had told her that he was attracted to both girls and guys, but she also claims Eric was actively pushing DJ to identify as gay. What's especially troubling about that allegation is that, according to Latrice, DJ was simultaneously being physically punished and mistreated because of his sexuality. If true, it paints a confusing and deeply contradictory picture of what was happening inside the home. >> Um and then also since then you called me and you said that one of your children said something to you. >> Evan. >> Evan, and what did Evan say? >> That he saw Daddy bring DJ upstairs. And I said, "Where were you?" And he said he was in the living room. And then I didn't want to ask, but I I didn't I just didn't want to pry too much, but then I said, "Oh, was DJ sleeping?" He said, "No, he wasn't snoring." And then I said, "Was he moving?" And he was just like, "No." And I just said, "Okay." And then he also told me that Daddy made him and Tristan go in the bathroom and cover their eyes. >> So, okay. >> But this was before. That's why I think this was when the police first knocked at the door. >> Okay. >> That's what I'm assuming, but Evan didn't say anything about the knock because they he told them to go in the bathroom first. >> Mhm. >> To cover their eyes and then they came out and then um And then they came out. So, I'm a little confused of like the order. So, I don't know if that's maybe when he was going to let the police in. >> Mhm. >> And he told them to go in there. >> Mhm. >> Um but Evan did say he saw that. Um and he he was in the living room cuz he told me he was watching the Loki on Disney Plus. And when I came home, that TV was blasted. Mhm. Like loud as hell. >> Detectives have now heard one side of the story. The problem is that it doesn't fully explain how a 15-year-old ended up dead inside an attic. For that, they need to hear from Eric himself. >> He had his option of chips. So, um you know our here we're just we want to talk about what happened. >> Mhm. >> Um and why it happened and anything surrounding that whole situation. Um but you know as well as all of us that we have to go through Miranda with you. Um so, what I'm going to do is we're just going to go through Miranda first of all. And then I'll start getting all the other information, okay? >> Yes. >> All right. But yeah, so >> That's it. >> So, when you got home yesterday >> Mhm. >> um was there anyone in the house? >> Yes, it was uh the son was in the house. Okay. Evan was in the house and Tristan was in the house. >> So, you go in there and you're doing all this stuff, right? >> I go in there and I go Yeah, I go in there. Um I see him upstairs like he got his bags packed. I got to go take your stuff downstairs when your mom's come. She's going to um she should be she should be going and she called him. And I was like, "Uh she should be coming. She should be coming with the police. They're going to do um cuz they're going to escort her and she's going to stand by." They're going to serve her and then they're going to escort her with a um They're going to escort her with a No, sorry. They're going to serve her with a piece of protective order. They're going to escort her to pick whatever she needs to get out of the house. And I was like, "And then unfortunately, you got to go." He was like, "But I really don't want to." I was like, "Son, unfortunately, you got to go." Um I said before she called, he's like, "Mom's calling." He was like, "What do I say to her?" I say, "You know, tell her what you know, just talk to her. Like you know, she called you whatever." And he answers the phone and they have a conversation. Um that's when I was like, "Okay, what she say?" She say He say she say she's going to be in the area. Just bring my stuff downstairs. I said, "Okay, cool." I said, "So, the police should be coming and when they come, everything will go smoothly." Was it um I go downstairs and I'm in the kitchen. I just made a big bowl of uh What was it? Gatorade. Not a big bowl, but a big pitcher of Gatorade. It's blue. It's probably still I believe it was still on the counter. But I I said you said you never went downstairs. Um there was a blue pitcher on the counter. Was it a thing Was it a the bag of crushed up pills that I had was right there. The son came downstairs. He He asked me something. He was like, "Um What did he say?" He came downstairs. He came downstairs. He asked me something. And I can't remember his exact words. He was like asked me, uh what was it? About I think it was leave or something like that. I said, "Just son, just wait. Let's We're not going to like cuz he was like, 'I don't want to go.'" He was just telling me that he didn't want to go and [ __ ] like that. I said, "Look, just wait. We're not going to talk about [ __ ] cuz I like I'm going to take your brothers to your mom's house and I'm was back." I said, "If your mom gets here with the police before I get back, unfortunately, you got to go with her. That's just the way it is." Um I got um what's it? He ran it upstairs. And I'm telling Tristan and Evan to get their stuff or whatever. She calls Evan's phone. She um she was talking to Evan briefly. And then I know I'm not sure if like I don't know the extent of how long I remember this one the phone call ended. Um what's it? The son I mean I was back in the kitchen. The son he went back upstairs. I'm seeing him go back upstairs when he was running upstairs. I'm like, "What are you doing?" He's like, "Nothing." I was like, "You're right." Cuz he didn't have a shirt like that. So I'm like, "Okay." So then he runs upstairs and that's when I'm I'm still downstairs and all right whatever. Um what's it? When he's upstairs, I'm going to Tristan. I told Tristan I said, "Tristan, go get your shoes." Tristan said, "Okay." So Tristan goes. He goes upstairs. He gets his shoes. And he comes he's like, "Daddy, what's wrong with uh DJ?" I'm like, >> Investigators also notice something that doesn't fit a simple explanation. DJ is found with blood coming from his nose despite having no known history of spontaneous nosebleeds. On its own, it may seem like a small detail. In the context of everything else, it's one more indication that whatever happened inside that house was neither simple nor accidental. >> So then I go upstairs and DJ's in the he's in the bath he's in the bathroom. He's in the tub. That's when I see him. That's when I'm like, "What the fuck?" I'm That's when I pulled him out the tub. And as I pulled him out the tub, I laid him flat on his back on the floor. >> Mhm. >> And then what's it? Uh at that time I I'm not sure I think it was Evan or Tristan. He was like, "Daddy, someone at the door." And I'm just looking at my feet. I'm like, "What the [ __ ] is it?" I'm like, "What the fuck?" I don't know if I'm seeing this black shirt. And like blood or something on it. Um it was a plastic thing with blood on it. I'm looking at him like, what the hell? I didn't know what to say. >> Now, he This is a silly question I have to ask. Is he's not moving around? >> He's not moving around. Like I'm I heard him like whatever girl and I'm like I'm going to tap him with the sign sign. Um he didn't have no shirt on. He was looking at me like, what the hell? So, I go downstairs. I go to the front door. The officer said, >> Okay. >> And I panicked. I was like, I don't know what the [ __ ] to say. So, he asked me. He was like, "Hey, um what's going on?" I start talking to him and telling him what's going on. He was it What he say? He said, "So, what's the situation?" I tell him about the situation. I was like, "Um you know, my wife, she's supposed to wear y'all to come, you know, y'all supposed to be serving her with a piece of protective order." And when I He was like, "She don't Yeah, she's supposed to be Yeah, she's supposed to be picking up outside." And he was like, "Uh is she here?" And at the time he was still He's upstairs on the floor. >> Okay. >> In the bathroom. And when he said, "Was she here?" my mind I was like, you know, I was >> Okay. >> Yeah. You panicked. >> Yeah. >> The physical evidence inside the home raises even more questions. Police notice that DJ's clothing is wet when he's found. Then they make a second discovery. A set of Eric's wet clothes concealed inside a cupboard. Investigators also find traces of blood on those clothes. >> I don't know why. This was like, I got to move him. I did up pick him up. Did the fireman carry him? Took him out of the bathroom into the master bedroom upstairs. I was like, cuz I know they're going to want to come in the house and search him. I was like, I'm going to be cool. I'm fine with that. I'm I was going to let them search him. And I tucked them in Excuse me. I tucked them in the the area. And I And I I left the thing open. >> So, when you say the area, are you talking about the little crawl space? >> Um was it a And I was with cuz like I said, I was My plan was I was Okay. Um I went downstairs. Talked with them at the front door. Of course, they say you might be coming up. You come in the place looking at it. How was it? You come in the house, you look in the house. Was it and uh When we in the house looking in the house, was it Well, actually, sorry. Before they even I'll back up and tell you because you say you say you smell bleach. >> Mhm. >> When I was in there I took his shirt and everything. I took everything and I That was in the bathroom. I folded it wrapped it up. Um was it And I took all that and then I noticed that it was like whatever It was like stain on the carpet and like if you come up the stairs, there's two stains It was two stains on the carpet like that. And um I don't know how to get clean those up. >> When you talk about stains, you talking about you think it's blood or just regular stains? >> I think it's blood. Cuz like I said, when when DJ came up the stairs, he was doing He was like this. >> Okay. >> And I'm like, "What the [ __ ] What the hell are you doing?" Like And I had him like, "What the hell are you doing?" Um but then again, I know he he was in the bathroom. And then I know he did uh Like I said, I think he did ask him about a leave or whatever. Um was it But again, back to that, when they came in, they searched the house. They went upstairs. And he seen the thing open. That's when I also when he asked, I panicked and I was like, "Yeah, this is where I keep my safe." Well, whatever. But just so I wasn't in there. >> Just so I wasn't in there. Okay. >> Over the course of nearly 6 hours, Eric speaks with investigators repeatedly. Yet, despite all that time, he never truly explains what happened to DJ. More importantly, he never accepts responsibility for causing DJ's death. The problem for Eric is that the medical evidence tells a very different story. According to the autopsy, DJ died from strangulation and the manner of death was ruled a homicide. >> Um, is there anything that you want me to say to the trace? >> Um Was it Um, was it I guess I'm sorry for everything. >> Okay. >> Yeah. Um That's pretty much it. >> In October 2022, Eric Banks Jr. entered an Alford plea to second-degree murder and attempting to disarm a police officer. An Alford plea allows a defendant to maintain innocence while acknowledging that prosecutors possess enough evidence to likely secure a conviction. Ultimately, Eric was sentenced to 42 years and >> Thanks for watching. If you want ad-free videos and exclusive content you won't find on YouTube, join my Patreon. You can also check out the Stranger Stories merch if you'd like to support the channel and pick up something for yourself at the same time. Both are linked in the description below. And before you go, don't forget to leave a like and a comment. I try to read every single one. Thanks again and I'll see you in the next one.