First and foremost, I didn't kill the clerk. I have no knowledge of it. >> I got along really quite well with Joe, to be honest with you. >> This murderous grandpa is 63-year-old Mitchell Rubble and a former deputy who once proudly served in the line of duty. But 33 years ago, Mitchell had done the unthinkable. >> The Washington County policeman was killed by a former officer in the 1980s >> because Joe Clark, Mitchell's supervisor, would be found killed shot inside his own home. For all that time, Mitchell had been hidden in plain sight, living just miles away from Joe's home and harboring a secret vendetta. And three decades of hunting and searching have finally led these detectives to this monster. One that is hiding much, much more than anyone knows. >> Whose DNA that's come back on that shotgun shell? Being I'm here in a hot seat, I'd say it was mine. >> This is not going to do very well. >> What do you mean this is not going to do very well? >> Well, my indictment for murder. My goodness. On February 7th, 1981, Lieutenant Ray Joe Clark was enjoying a peaceful night watching his beloved team, Ohio State University, play basketball on TV. His wife of over a decade sat beside him, eager for him to bring back snacks after he made his way to the kitchen. But as soon as he stepped into the kitchen, there was a loud blast. Mrs. Clark rushed to the room, fearing at first that her husband had been electrocuted by something. Instead, she found him fighting for his life on the floor from a gunshot wound. He was hurried to the hospital where tragically he died from his injuries, leaving behind two young children, a wife, and a community who adored him. For 33 years, the case went cold. Police had no idea who the heartless person behind Joe Clark's killing was. And for years, no one in the small community felt safe until finally it was reopened. and police had their eyes locked on one of the initial suspects, Mitchell Rubble, a former police deputy who had been fired by Joe Clark shortly before his death for misconduct unbecoming of an officer. Following a trail of evidence and witness testimony, [music] police were finally able to arrest Mitchell for the murder of Joe Clark more than three decades prior. [music] He has no idea, but they have stacks of evidence against him, and you're about to watch him realize that over the course of this interrogation. Mr. Patrick, I'm lieutenant with the Washington County Sheriff's Office. >> How you doing, >> sir? You've been indicted by the Washington County Grand Drew for the murder of Ray Clark. Did you put this down? Try and put your hands on the wall. This hand, the reason we're doing this here is I didn't want SW kicking your door down, tearing the [ __ ] out of Sandy. Okay. >> Okay. I brought you here. Okay. >> Okay. You know, I didn't want to I didn't want people in the house and I didn't want to scare this gentleman kicking the door down. So, that's why we brought you in here. Police are offering Mitchell's wife, Sandy, a lot more kindness than he offered Joe Clark's wife back in 1981. When Joe was shot in the kitchen, it was his wife who discovered him there. At the time, the couple had two young children. His wife was left to pick up the pieces of their life together and raise their kids after witnessing the death of her husband and seeing a lack of justice in the weeks, months, and years following his murder. Yet, Mitchell's wife, Sandy, was shielded from even seeing her husband arrested. Though, she won't be shielded from the fallout. And it's not just the fallout of discovering her husband is a murderer because there was even more in his past he's hiding. Police read Mitchell his Miranda rights, which he's well aware of, and he agrees to speak with them. And speak he sure does. If you want to see more narcissists like Mitch talk himself into more trouble, be sure to like and subscribe. Like John show this investigation for some time. you the whole rights thing is you you got understand your rights and that was a formality but we want to talk to you about obviously the Ray Clark homicide and what happened on Fairboystone of 1981 and you know there's a lot of things we know about the investigation we're willing to share some of with you not all of it but we're willing to share with you some of the evidence uh that puts you in the predicament you're in today >> first and foremost I didn't kill Ray park. Uh, I have no knowledge of it. I think I've explained that to several people over the years. I know there's been indication that I was involved, but I wasn't. Um, everything that was said to me, presented to me, was all circumstantial. Um, leave it at that. >> That indication you're talking about, what are you referring to? >> Oh, geez. Uh, I don't know where I was, what I was doing, who was involved with, who knows? I'm a work. >> Okay. >> A long time ago. First and foremost, um, I have nothing to say because I wasn't involved. I told him I wasn't [screaming] involved. I have no knowledge. Now, >> let me ask you this, Mitch. When was the last time you were ever asked any questions in reference to this? >> Oh, it's been a while ago. Um, roughly, was it 10 years ago? >> Probably that long. Yeah, maybe. I It' been a while. >> And who who did you talk to at that point in time? >> Uh Sheriff uh Flicker at the time. >> Okay. >> He was the sheriff. >> Okay. Now, was he out of your house or how the guy? >> No, I was talking to him in his office. >> Okay. Here at this this >> Well, his office there there on Platinum Street just around the corner from the courthouse. So at at this point in time you you've denied any involvement and we we certainly understand that. Can we um get a little bit of background about you so that we can take the necessary steps to get this resolved once and for all? >> Background by all means. I mean >> Okay. Now you were a deputy sheriff for Washington County at [clears throat] some point in time, right? >> Can we start back at that time when you u you first became involved with the sheriff's office? I uh was hired in June 73 and fired if you will or forced to resign in the end of December 1979. >> And how do you how do you looking back on things now? How do you interpret your career? How old was it? It successful. Did you have >> I thought it was extremely successful. Successful. So >> Okay. What was was you ever a supervisor here? >> Sergeant. I was your supervisor for all that. >> Okay. >> Dick Alice had difficulty with the way I did business and he's the boss. He hired he fires. We back at that day. They didn't have no union or nothing. So >> I understand at one point in time he might he was a firearms instructor. >> Well was yeah the department. >> Okay. >> How long were you the firearms instructor? Oh my. I went through the uh uh National Police Firearms Instructor put on by the NRA and >> now at that point in time, Clark was his second charge. >> Yeah, he was a lieutenant. Okay. >> The only lieutenant we had we had >> What was Clark like to work for? I never really worked with Joe a whole lot. Okay. Over the years, he had different partners, but I was >> Mitchell's firing wasn't just for roughness that was usual during arrests at the time, like he's trying to claim. Court documents revealed that Mitchell was fired after he hit a handcuffed man in the head, dragged him down to a nearby river by his hair, and pointed a gun at his head, threatening to shoot him if he didn't confess to a robbery. Yes, a robbery. So Mitchell wasn't exactly just putting the cuffs on too tight like he's trying to claim. He was threatening people's lives in exchange for false confessions. And as [music] you'll soon see, he's no stranger to threatening innocent people around him. >> In order to get you cleared out of this, what would we have to do? >> I think we're going to have to go to court. Okay. >> Let me ask you this. with the knowledge that you have of the Washington County Sheriff's Office at that point in time, who would you um suggest um cause some harm to? >> Yeah. Well, I can't say that I haven't [clears throat] thought that about that. Whatever. And I don't know. I, you know, I have my own theories. Whether they're on point or not, who knows? You know, we all have our own thoughts. What's your theory? [sighs] I [clears throat] almost immediately and and of course this is discussing with past former deputies, acquaintance, whatever, knew Clark, worked there, knew the routine, whatever. We were all pretty much in agreement that uh Joe was doing some he was he was the kind of guy that you really couldn't trust. You couldn't rely on him. You couldn't trust him. Whatever. He was shitty at best. Um, we all kind of felt that he'd stuck his nose in something that he didn't belong. Whether he was aware of it or not aware of it, we don't know. We won't know. Um, but he got himself involved in something that he shouldn't have been. That was our theory and and contemplation, I guess, to say that. >> What could have that been? >> I'm sorry. What could he got himself stuck in? >> I I don't know. You know, you It's easy now to [clears throat] maybe point the finger at the drugs the way that situation has gone south. >> Yeah. >> Uh it's easy to do that, but it could have been other things. Who knows? >> We don't know. I say I don't have any conclusive or whatever. It's just hunches, theories, thoughts. >> So, who would have done something like that then? [clears throat] >> What type of person? >> Done what? >> Killed jail. >> Uh, somebody wanted to be quiet. That's my guess. Anyway, who who knows? >> You said you talked amongst the deputies, >> right? >> Who did you have those discussions with? >> Uh, Larry Real for one. Larry and I worked together. We were partners together. Dan Venom, Dan Thornne now. But uh Dan and I were partners together for they were probably the two I was closest with and most familiar with working whatever. Okay. >> Is that who you primarily discussed it with? >> Yeah, I think so. Was it something? Could it have been was there discussion that was something other than drugs that Joe may have had his nose stuck in? >> Not that I remember cuz I'm a little confused because earlier said you said drugs wasn't a problem. >> They they didn't seem to be didn't appear to be a problem. >> So what made you guys >> at least in Washington County? So what made you guys think that maybe Joe has another >> I that's a what if or inance whatever I we don't know I I don't know that was a guess possibility were just getting started in the 70s I mean it was becoming big city was a big problem I mean you talk to some of the other officers work the big city we work closely with Franklin County >> okay on a lot of things and of Of course, it was kind of [clears throat] funny there that Franklin County would be working on something and they skipped to Washington County and then we had a group out at uh Cutler, not Cutler, I'll think about Barley, whatever. But every time they get in trouble in Washington County, they they had >> friends relation whatever in Franklin County. So we'd end up going to Franklin County, hunting them down up there. So, [snorts] got >> you said you couldn't trust Joe. Tell tell us more about that. >> I I don't know. It was just I don't know. I I really can't put a finger on it. It was just didn't feel comfortable around him. I don't think anybody did. Did you ever ever have discussions with Joe that made you >> No, I got I got along really quite well with Joe to be honest with you, but I always kind of kept him at arms length. if you will. I mean, on a on a professional level, we got along well, actually. Joe and I got along real well. Joe was easy get along guy. He was a He didn't know any strangers. He was very personable, but uh I don't know. I just I just never could be comfortable with him. And maybe it was the supervision portion of it or whatever. But >> you mean like his management style? >> Yeah, Joe did fine. I had really no no heartaches or difficulties with Joe Clark and uh he got along well with everybody and got along most all the guys in the sheriff's office pretty well. So that kind of leads my next question. Did you have discussions with other deputies that the sum of substance your conversation was they didn't trust Joe either? I don't know about that. So just you you you just didn't trust him. >> Yeah. I don't know. I just wasn't comfortable around him. So I, you know, I don't think it was anything personal because again, >> as much as Mitchell continues to claim that Joe wasn't involved in the firing, the firing was entirely Joe's decision, one that he didn't take lightly. Everyone who spoke of Joe in the local papers recalled that he was a man who was dedicated to cleaning up the department, and that included making sure his employees were conducting themselves respectfully and were following the laws of justice to a tea. Mitchell wasn't and hadn't been for his entire career which led to a riff between himself and Joe. On the day of his firing, he reportedly stormed out of Joe's office and told people working there that so fired me, slamming doors and swearing as he left. So, not exactly the calm firing that Mitch is claiming to have experienced here. Joe was there when when I uh come to work for the sheriff for Dick Ellis and Joe was still there when I left. >> Did Did either of them have a written reprimand you? That is Dick. Dick. >> Oh yeah. He got on my neck a couple of times and that ultimately what uh led to my being fired or early resigned or whatever you want to call it. So yeah, he asked for my badge and he's the boss. So what are you going to do? You hand it to him. So it was a disappointment on my aspect and >> Okay. So did you resign? >> I did ultimately. >> You weren't fired. >> Well, I don't [clears throat] know. I don't Let me check back because you you you felt you resigned. >> Well, yeah. Again, he was sheriff and you know what he said went. So, you know, >> we didn't have no advocate or union or anything and the sheriff be hired and the sheriff be fired. So, >> prior to you being fired or whatever that was, did they ever put a ever put a written reprimand in your personnel file? >> That I don't know. If they [clears throat] did, I never seen it. All right. How about verbally reprimand you for? >> Yeah. Dick Ellis and I had a couple of discussions over the years on maybe some of my tactics uh didn't quite suit him and you know he's boss so you got to follow what he says. So can you explain to me what you meant by that? I have a I had a use of force. That's what Preston calls it now. Incident, whatever. And Dick says, "You can't be doing that." And I says, "Well, Dick, you know, you got to do what you got to do. You know, when you're the only deputy out there and you're trying to uphold the law and somebody comes after you, you got to do what you got to do." So he thought I might have been a little bit strong, heavy-handed or whatever, but jeez when you got >> So you remember the answer pretty well then. >> Well, yeah. >> Who was it and what all happened? >> All that don't prove I don't remember. I want to think got to think on that one. >> Okay. >> It's been a while ago. >> A long while ago. >> How many times you divorced? >> Twice. >> Twice. And the second one is again what he leans on me for excessive. And uh then he asked for my badge and I handed it to him and he said, "Well, I want your resignation." And I said, "Dic, I'm not going to resign. I didn't do anything wrong." So that was left at that. So I just never went went back. >> What about the first one? First incident. What do you remember about it? >> Not much. Uh, it was an incident. Beverly Police Department was having trouble with him. I got called up there and he was a Austin so I do remember that. Beyond that, I don't remember. >> So, they were having trouble arresting him or >> Yeah, yeah, they were. Yeah, it was driving the office. >> Oh, he was in the office. And it was up in their office. >> Okay. How long before that second incident was it? [sighs] 6 month year somewhere in that neighborhood. It was a while. You were called in on the carpet for that. >> Yeah. >> Was Was Joe Clark involved in that? >> Not that I remember. Dick Ellis was the boss and Dick Ellis was he was the That second incident, were you saying you were asked to resign and just end up not coming back? Was Joe Clark involved in that? Uh, he was. I'm not aware of it because again that it was between Dick Ellis and I. He called me in the office. It was Dick and I. And he said, "Hey." He said, "I want your badge." >> Was Joe ever present for any of those conversations? >> Not that I'm aware of. No, dick wasn't. That was it. >> That was it. >> It was It lasted about five minutes. >> Me handing him my badge and me walking out. That was it. I was done. And you know, there was You had no recourse whatsoever. He's B. He's a sheriff. He's fired. He fired. >> When did you say that was in 79? >> 79. >> What What time you remember the month? November because [clears throat] my I didn't go back to the sheriff's office after he asked my for my badge and I know he paid me for a couple of weeks after and I got a letter from Dick Ellis after that in the mail. Detectives already know that Joe was the one to fire Mitch and that Mitch was furious about it. But there are other details linking him to the murder that they want to get Mitch to confirm without him realizing. Namely, that he owned the car pictured near the scene of the crime and that he had access to the weapon used in the crime. >> What did you have back in when you was on a search for car? What were you driving? M I had [clears throat and snorts] a 72 Ford Bronco. That was my love. And then I wrecked it. Miss missing a deer. And uh and then [clears throat] I turned around and special ordered another Bronco, 76 Bronco. And I had that one forever. Um that was my transportation. I like that. That was the short wheel base. Broncos like the Jeeps they have now rear wheelbase whatever just good [clears throat] vehicle four-wheel drive. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> Whatever happened to that vehicle? M I wrecked the 72 and I rebuilt and later sold my 76 about 1986 cuz the wife uh well we bought a new Isuzu trooper family oriented four-wheel drive or we live back in the woods and four-wheel drive is almost a necessity. So she said, "Well, if you want this one, you're going to have to sell your Bronco." So I did. I wish I had now, but I had just had it rebuilt. I had it completely gone through new vendors, new paint, the whole nine yards. I really put it in back in nice shape. So anyway, when you're a family, you got to do what you got to do. Yep. Exactly. >> What other vehicles did you have back then? You remember? wife had a pillow, 72, green one. I had a yellow one that I was taking wagon. I drove back and forth to work. It was yellow. I had a brown one with a wood tone. >> Panto, huh? >> A panto. >> Yeah. You may up the three pintos. Uh, [clears throat] four actually cuz I had a blue one somewhere along the line. It had the door I'd taken off of. They easy to work on and they were cheap transportation. [clears throat] I had taken the door. It was a blue one. and had a yellow or brown door, I can't remember. I br banged it up or rusted out or whatever and replace the door on it. Um, brown one, green one, yellow one, blue one, and I had a couple for part two. I bought off my nephew. One was a red one. >> I we wrote [clears throat] for years for man. >> Well, kind of. Yeah. >> A blue Pinto was seen in the neighborhood extensively in the times surrounding the murder and was reported in the paper and to law enforcement several times. Mitch just unknowingly confessed that he did have access to a car matching that description and that he was driving it at the time of Joe's murder. and he's about to make the same mistake again. This time with the caliber of weapon used. >> What's the department issue for the ammo for the shotguns? >> Uh whatever Kenny Lane had available to us. Uh buck shot. It be number four. It could be or it could be double or we need ammunition. Of course, we use some through train. We keep it rotated. That was kind of the policy. I said whatever rotated through, shoot the old up and keep fresh in the in the for the ammo used to kill Joe Clark was number four buckshot. The same ammo that Mitchell has just openly admitted to using on the force. And there's even more damning evidence around that. According to Mitchell's former [music] partner, he said on one occasion that if you didn't want to get caught for a murder, that's the type of ammo you should use. Unfortunately for him, that didn't work out too well. >> Let's talk about the night of uh the night that Joe was killed. Can you remember what happened that night? [clears throat] No. Um and I say no because I don't know right off hand. I did give a written statement to the sheriff's office. Shortly thereafter, Larry Stevens come out and said, "Hey, um, I need to talk to you, Mitch." And I said, "Okay, Larry, we were good friends." I brought Larry in when they come to the sheriff's office. And we spent a lot of offduty time together, his family, my family. We camped together. Lar and I just caned all over on the Musk Kingdom River together. Um, he said, "Hey," he said, "I need to talk to you where you was at and what you was doing when Joe was killed." And [clears throat] that was four or five months after the fact. So, I'm not sure it was the best recollection, whatever, but to my best of my ability, I gave him a written statement and he looked it over and said, "Fine, we'll see you." That was it. >> So, written statements you gave to Larry Stevens would have been your best recollection of the secret. >> Yeah, absolutely. Absolutely. The best recollection. And again, it was several months after the fact. Oh, [clears throat] yeah. Do you remember what you told him? No. Do you remember what you were doing that day? Uh I think we had a reserve meeting that weekend. Beyond that, I don't remember. >> A reserve meeting. >> Meeting. A reserve weekend. >> Like a drill weekend. >> Drill weekend. Yeah. Saturday, Sunday over Grantville. >> Okay. >> Um that's the best I can tell you right at this particular point time. >> How did those drill weekends usually um take place as far as time? What what time would you have to be there to start the day? >> Oh, we started early. We got there 7:00 in the morning and depending on know what we was doing. We got out of there late. I'm talking late sometimes. Not all the time late. >> Okay. >> It was well after dark a lot of times. Even in even the summer we was there a little bit later. Now you're trying in the reserve. You try to do in two days what the active duty does in 30 days. You got the same paperwork and you got the same responsibilities and training and you try to fit it all in and in a two-day period a month or heck something. >> How long did it take you to drive? I don't know. Grantsville from here would be too hot maybe. It's just not easy to get in grand school from here. It'd be a couple hour drive easy. Two or three. Now it' be two hours. Roughly 2 hour. I know we had to leave early in the morning. It was a little dark when we left. And of course by the time we got out and we'll shift >> Mhm. >> a little bit. Um stop get a beer somewhere or something. It was late when we got home. when he got back. >> Yeah. >> Who's who's we? >> Well, Dan, Ben, uh Charlie Dribbling, Penny, me, Bob Smith, Burger. There was Well, the five of us, we just take turns driving that way. It was not a >> Okay. >> Unless something else was going on. I mean, >> so you all in the same vehicle? >> Yeah. We all ride together, drive together. Yeah, >> we were the [snorts] tombs are going to refer to as the bar mercenaries was hung together. So >> why did he call you mercenaries? >> I I have no idea but that's what he put the handle we put on it. >> Who you referring to? You guys do >> Who you Who are you referring to? >> Five that were coming from the Maretta area. Charlie, Dan, Penny, Bob, and me. Five of them. >> Who called you? I'm sorry. >> Oh, he was our platoon sergeant. D was real weekend. That's best I can do for you right now. Okay. Did uh you would have drove driven over there on on Saturday morning. >> Whoever drove Yeah. would have drove Saturday morning [clears throat] and then when he drove back Saturday evening then turned around done the same thing on Sunday. >> Okay. >> Talking specifically about that weekend Joe was killed. Do you remember who you went over with on Saturday? >> Not right off hand. [clears throat] You remember who you come back with? Well, I come back I think come back with Penny. [clears throat] I think don't quote me on that cuz I don't know. don't remember like say we all took turn to driving just whoever's attorney it was or he had a complex or well I'm driving so we'd meet somewhere or we'll meet X parking lot seemed like the old hex parking lot seemed like a kind of a central location >> in Marietta here. >> Yeah. Okay. It's on the other end of Marietta there at the uh boy I don't remember like they just whomever and whenever we'd gather up and we go. >> Do you remember what you were driving back at the time Lieutenant Park was killed? Yeah, probably one of my old Where did you spend the night that night? [sighs] >> I think I >> Bob is Bob Smithburgger, one of Mitchell's fellow Army Reserve platoon members and a close friend of his. A friend who harbored many secrets for many years. Mitchell frequently drove to base over the border in West Virginia with Bob and with his own affair partner, a woman named Penny, who he saw for several years behind his wife's back. Because evidently, finding out your husband is a murderer isn't enough trauma for one video. Mitchell claims that the day of Joe's death, he was at Bob's house after a drill weekend, [music] and that the two went to drill together the next morning after just hanging out. However, after over 30 years, Bob told law enforcement a very different story about that night. A story that ultimately led to the arrest that you're seeing right now. >> What do you know about the circumstances around his death? [sighs] >> Little or nothing. There was a blurb on the news. It's been a while ago now. But I don't even really >> How was he killed? >> I don't have no idea. I don't have no clue on that. I That's one of them things that's been a closely guarded secret, I think, because I've never heard one way or the other. >> Where was he killed? >> At his house. >> Okay. >> So, you don't know how he was killed? >> No. because uh even that news that was you know dark night and that [clears throat] was the best that I can remember anyway through the course of the years did you ever discuss Clark's shooting with anybody? >> I don't think I have. And the deputies like when you said you were close with Clary Stevens, he met him. >> No, I don't think so. I don't think I ever talked to May have mentioned it. Dan and I [clears throat] may have discussed it our theory, our thoughts, but beyond that, I may have mentioned it, bumped into Larry. That's been a long time ago. very real quite a while back. But uh >> so with the the four other people from Marietta at drill um would have they found out about it at the the killing at drill on that Sunday? >> That I don't know. I can't tell you. >> Did you find out about it at drill? >> No, I don't think so. I I'm pretty sure my wife told me about it when I got home that evening. >> Okay. >> I'm pretty sure. I'm not certain, but I'm pretty sure I went down. >> And let me let me ask you this, Mitch. Um you don't know us from Adam and and we really don't know you from Adam. All you can do at this point in time is understand um that we're going to be upfront and honest with you. And that's all we can ask out of you. And just let me finish here. Um, I'm I'm struggling with a couple things here. I'm not gonna lie to you. And, um, I'm kind of worried uh, about how you're responding. And I'm just want to throw something out to you. What could you tell us that would make us believe that you're a good, outstanding citizen? You're a hardworking guy, and you're a very true honest person. Uh, how can I convince you? Uh, I don't know that I can convince you, but you have to take a look at >> where I'm at, what I've done, how I've behaved, how I've managed. >> Sure. >> You know, I left the sheriff's office. Yeah, that was maybe a black mark, if you will, that I was hired. >> Uh, but hey, it was a bump in the road. And >> let me ask you this. Was you ever um uh was you ever did you ever um have any violent tendencies as a younger man with all that you dealt with in the military from Vietnam to your rep experiences? Did you ever um exhibit any type of violent tendencies? >> They are. I don't know what they would would be whatever. So, >> so if somebody had to explain your temperament to me, they would say that this is a pretty calm, levelheaded >> I I would have to say, yeah, I'm at a loss at this particular point in time. Um, and Bob Slicker and I had this conversation on a couple occasions when he was sheriff, whatever. right? You know, I said, "Listen, Bob." I said, "I don't know what I can do, what I can say to convince you, but I says, you're barking up the wrong tree." I said, "This is not me." I says, "I am not involved. I had no knowledge, whatever." I said, "You think that I've done this? That's fine. That's your opinion. That's your job. you're an investigator. But I said, listen, I didn't have anything to do with this and I have no knowledge of it. And I said, probably one of the reasons you think that I did it more than anyone because you know me better. Well, yeah, maybe. I said, you're trying to fit the pieces to the puzzle together. And I said, I understand that. That's your job. But I said, "Listen, this is circumstantial at the best." And >> well, what makes it circumstantial? >> I don't know. I I don't know. That's what So you just guessing that it that it's circumstantial? >> I have no idea cuz he never he never other than you killed Joe Clark. And I said, "I didn't kill Joe Clark." Why did they think that? I don't know. I I I have no knowledge and no reasoning. I just you tell me specific. Well, there was he did he did say one time, well, there was a military bootprint. Okay, fine. Military bootprint. Yeah. How [clears throat] many people do you know that wear military style boots in this world? Not necessarily prior service or whatever, but I said, "Hey." I just >> Is that what you had on when you when you got to Smith that night? >> I would add my uniform. Yeah, that's probably a standard whatever. >> And you wore the same thing on Sunday. >> Yeah. >> Why else would they think you were involved back then? Why did those invest? At the time of Joe's murder, Mitchell's former friends at the police station were convinced that he was involved, specifically due to the grudge he had outwardly held against Joe for firing him. He told co-workers Joe is a two-faced backstabber and that he wanted to blow him apart. Everyone at the station was convinced that Mitchell was behind the murder, but they wouldn't find the exact evidence they needed until Bob, who was with him on the day of the murder, came forward over 30 years later. I think um as we progress through this uh meeting that we're having, we'll give you some more clues on [clears throat] what the evidence is. And um Mitch, it's it's just the upfront honesty is the only thing that you got for you right now. I'm just going to be honest with you. >> I understand. You know, you can fight the evidence and you can fight it all you want, but the evidence is what it is. >> Evidence, >> and that I know that that might not make much sense to you, but I don't know how else you explain it. >> Well, I understand. I mean, as far as having been involved in law enforcement for all these years, I understand what evidence is. And >> and one of the I I told you um there a few minutes ago, one of the things I have problems with is um I asked you about your violent tendencies. And um according to your own personnel record from the sheriff's office, it it contradicts what you what you've so told us so far. So I mean right away that that causes a red flag and alarm for me. So, I don't know if it's something that you're trying to keep from us on purpose or if it's something you just don't remember. According to your file, you were fired >> by Joe Clark. >> Dick Ellis and I are the only one that had a conversation. >> Okay. >> Was that over the telephone? >> No, that was in his office and he brought me in and >> after after Joe had fired you. No, I Joe had nothing to do with it as far as I'm concerned. No. >> Do you remember getting a letter of suspension from Joe? >> I don't remember if I didn't or >> it's in your personnel file. >> Is it okay? Well, I got I got a letter notification. I think I still have one, but Dick Ellis sign did. I'm pretty sure I have to go dig it out. Okay. Well, trust us when we tell you the letter of suspension is from Joe Clark. >> Okay. >> Letter termination from Oh, >> yeah. He would had been involved some way, shape, or form. So, >> did you ever threaten any harm to Joe Clark? Were you aware that there there's a multitude of people witnesses that saw that blue for Pinto? I was not aware of that. Slicker never told you that. Oh, we're telling you that. Okay. Okay. So, we got the boot print and the blue Ford Pinto. Okay. Uh, you know, you were wearing a similar boot. You had a blue Ford Pinto at the time. Okay. You know anything about the shell casing was found at the crime scene? Not a word. Have you followed DNA technology at all? I have. Yeah. [clears throat] What can you tell us about DNA technology? >> Uh, what I know of. Um, [clears throat] bodily fluids, they can trace your DNA. They can match to to you or whatever. Did they have DNA back in 1981? [sighs] >> I don't know. >> You know, it can be obtained through a fingerprint, >> right? I know. I guess I do that now. I thought it had to be blood related or bullets or whatever. >> Not at all. Do >> you know whose DNA we that's come back on that shotgun shell? Many times that in a hot seat, I'd say it was mine. Explain to us how that could happen. I have no clue. I have no idea. After several rounds of interrogation, which finally resulted in law enforcement offering Bob immunity for his testimony, Bob told law enforcement the truth about what happened the day of Joe Clark's murder. On February 7th, Mitchell came to Bob's house after spending the majority of the night with his affair partner. He was inebriated and told Bob that he wanted to go kill a certain lieutenant. He ordered Bob to drive him to the street that Joe Clark lived on in Mitch's Ford Pinto. Panicked about what he had just helped with, Bob fled and went home, only for Mitch to call him from a pay phone after shooting Joe Clark through his kitchen window. Bob picked up Mitch who held a gun to his head and threatened to kill him if he ever told anyone what happened. He added that because Bob had driven him, he would also be charged for murder, so he couldn't go to the police. For three decades, Bob kept that secret until finally he couldn't anymore. >> Let's go back to the DNA. Bob, tell us how your DNA could be a last shotgun shell. >> Uh, that is a good question that I us I can't answer it because I [clears throat] don't know the answer. >> If it's on there, it's on there. We'll have to work through that one in court, I guess. Um, but proof that is a bombshell. You you you uh >> we haven't dropped the biggest one yet. >> Okay. >> You know, there's no room for lies. >> Okay. >> Okay. We got to get past that. >> Okay. >> Okay. Unless you and I agree that we're not going to go backwards with any more lies because you're sitting here misrepresenting some things. Okay. >> Can we agree you're not going to go backwards? I have been as truthful as I am capable [clears throat] of at this particular point in time. Beyond that, no live. I'm worried about a couple things, Mitch. Um that that you need to really think about and that from this point on is um your family, >> right? Yeah, I understand that. >> And I don't know how your pensions will take um you being indicted. I really don't. >> Uh >> that's a good question. >> Good question. >> Right. So I would think at this point in time you you got you got pretty much one option and that's um complete and just just uh as honest as you can be. I I don't think you have any other option that can help you out other than telling us the truth so that we can convey that truth to the prosecutors in this case. Okay. Um, this evidence is evidence that's been not in the collected over the years, but here recently, okay? It's nothing we make up. Um, and it's all pointing towards you. Okay? Every dag bit of it. And I think it's really important for you to think about um, and you'll agree Sandy's well-being and what happens with the kids. She's she's first and foremost in my mind. So, was this um, indictment And with the evidence pointed against you, um, I don't see how you could could sit here and not give us the whole story. >> I never given you the absolute best to my ability and I [clears throat] understand you have evidence. That's fine. Um, but I understand too that we will go through the trial process and we will be granted through discovery. >> Mhm. and we will be given an opportunity to examine my attorney andor attorneys uh the evidence [clears throat] as presented and sorted out at that particular point in time. That's the best I can I can tell you because I I'm you know I'm not involved have not been involved will not be involved. Um, and if you've got evidence, that's a wonderful thing for you. >> And not just a bad thing for Mitch, but for his family. Because at home, things aren't going well. And his selfishness hadn't just destroyed Joe Clark's family, it's destroyed his own. >> You said your your wife, she couldn't work. >> No, she has MS. >> Oh, okay. >> And she is in really bad shape. >> Really? really bad shape. >> Who takes care of her? >> Me. >> Yeah, >> I'm it. >> Kids help, >> this is not going to do very well. >> Okay. >> What uh do you have anyone comes in to help you with outside help? >> No. >> Nobody. >> No. With being I'm retired that allows me the freedom to be there to help her when she needs it. And worked out so well. What do you mean this is not going to do her well? >> I'm sorry. >> What did you mean when you said this would not do her well? >> Well, my indictment for murder. My goodness. I mean, you can imagine what she's going to think about this. So, till we get it sorted out in court, I guess that's all I can say. It It's going to be hard on her. It's going to be very hard on her. So, >> who gives you the most help with her? I think senior is disappointed for my dear wife and children and family. >> So that's best I can comment on it at this particular point in time. Um, well, I didn't do it and I have no knowledge of it and I told several people that and that's the way it is and that's what's going to be witnesses. Witnesses >> Mitch Mitch >> we get an opportunity through discovering >> what do you think should happen to the person that was involved? >> Uh, that's up to the justice system. Okay. That's not >> what kind of penalty should they get? >> Well, it's a death penalty. I mean, in Ohio, I'm fully aware what capital punishment is in capital murder in uh in Ohio under the Ohio Revised Code. I studied it. I enforced it. I >> capital if there's prior planning, right? >> I'm sorry. >> There capital if there's prior planning. >> Oh, well, I didn't wasn't aware of that. Maybe I guess that point. >> Okay. Uh just anyway, murder is murder and it's serious regardless. No getting around it. >> Okay. >> But again, uh you know, you guys got your job to do and you [clears throat] got the evidence and that's fine and the indictment is made, then we'll just have to go through the process and see if I can get myself worked out of this one cuz this is this [clears throat] is a mess. If she truly was a dear wife, Mitch wouldn't have cheated on her for several years with another married woman. But she's about to find that out. And it seems that that above the murder is what Mitch is panicking about. >> The the affair with Penny is really, really bugging him. >> Yeah. >> Finally, police corner him with Bob Smithberger's confession, hoping it will finally make Mitch crumble. We know you leave Smith and you're blue Ford Pinto with Smith driving a car and you've got that 12 gauge shotgun. We know that you go up Dodge Run Road, you go clear the end, you cross a little creek there, you turn around, you come back right at or just below the dog panel, you could have a car. You tell him pick you up on the hill. He goes [snorts] up do run road a witnesses see the blue for pinto. You don't come back. He changes a flat on the car and we know he leaves you. He gets scared leaves you. He goes back to his house. Before he gets there, he drops your car off at the old IGA. He walks to his house and sometime later you call him. He can you tell him to come pick you up. He goes down on Gilman and picks you up. That's what happened. >> Good [clears throat] conjecture, boys. Uh conjecture. >> Wow. said Bob Smith was a liar. Would you sit there right there and said he's your good friend? If he was a liar, >> he was good friend. And and I don't know where this >> Everybody's a liar. This whole group of witnesses is a li everyone's a liar but you. >> I have nothing more. Ultimately, in March of 2016, Mitchell Rubble was found guilty for the murder of Lieutenant Joe Clark 35 years prior. He was sentenced to life in prison near the very same facility where he worked for decades on the other side of the bars. However, life didn't carry out a very lengthy sentence. Mitchell died in prison less than a year after he was sent to prison in February of 2017. Our thoughts are with Lieutenant Ray Joe Clark's family and friends who had to suffer for decades not knowing who had killed him. Thank you for tuning in. Nearly 85% of everyone watching isn't subscribed. 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