You recognize the guy in the camouflage? Yeah, that's me. Yeah. You recognize that guy? That's him? Yeah. No. In the car with you. But you don't know him? I don't know him. Am I the Twilight Zone? Twilight Zone. This is 19-year-old James Lee Cenatus, a teen killer who has just realized that his victim's phone recorded everything. Now, as James breaks down, you and him, guess what? You're shooting a video with his phone. Stop showing me that [ __ ] man. Y'all pissing me off. He will realize that there is no escaping his crimes. The thing is is we know what happened. Now is your chance to tell the truth before it's too late. Do you make mistakes? Everybody does. At 6:28 p.m. on June 20th, 2020, a wave of panic swept through a small neighborhood in Lehi Acres, Florida. The Lee County Sheriff's Office East District Patrol had begun receiving reports of a shooting on South Irene Avenue. When deputies arrived, they were met with a tragic scene. A young man had been shot and fallen from a silver Toyota Tacoma on the verge of dying. While being rushed to the hospital, the victim was identified as 18-year-old Alexander Ramos. Despite efforts to save him, his injuries were too severe and he was pronounced dead shortly after arriving at the hospital. That day was supposed to be a milestone for Alex. He was set to graduate in a virtual ceremony from his high school. He had planned to join the army and serve his country. But instead, his life was cut short and a single question remained. Who pulled the trigger? Fortunately, detectives had two major clues. The first were the canine units that had been deployed throughout the area in hopes of picking up a trail. The dogs would respond quickly, but remained within a few blocks of the crime scene. This indicated that the suspect lived close by. Then came the second clue. Lying on the driver's seat of Alex's truck was a spent 40 caliber Smith and Wesson Extreme Penetrator. The round had passed through Alex's chest, struck the seat, and had fallen on the cushion. This ammunition was not commonly used, and it was about to become the turning point in the investigation. Not long after, a man contacted authorities with a tip. His nephew had been seen handling the same type of ammunition. That nephew was 19-year-old James Lee Senatus, a Haitian migrant living close to the crime scene with his uncle, which also aligned with the findings of the canines. But there was no apparent link between James and Alex. The two were seemingly strangers. So why would James want to kill him? to dig up answers. James was brought in for an interrogation on June 24th, 2020. The following footage has been provided to us by the Lee County Sheriff's Office, Florida, via Foyer request. Today's date is June 24th, 2020. The time is 12:28 a.m. This interview is referenced to CFS 20-303933. It's being conducted at the Lee County Sheriff's Office, Major Crimes Unit, uh, 14750 6 Mile Ciphers Parkway. Present for this interview is myself, Detective Speak with the Lee County Sheriff's Office. I'm here with Detective Flynn. And also present for interview is James Lee Senatus. Senatus. And what's your birthday? June 15th, 2001. You cold? Yeah. Are you nervous? Yeah, he doesn't have as much insulation as you. I know. I'm a husky guy. Uh, spellatus. S E N A T U S. You got to put a Lee behind James. Lee. Yeah. It's just ugly. Oh, yeah. S E N A A T US. T us. And it was June 15, 2001. James, that's okay to call you that. Yeah, no problem. For the purpose of taking your sworn tape statement, I'm empowered by the state of Florida to place you under oath. You know what that means? Under oath. Raise your right hand onto your right. [Laughter] Do you swear or affirm the statement you are about to give is the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. So help you God. I swear. Okay. Little does James know, detectives aren't laughing with him, they're laughing at him. After all, a drug dealer responsible for selling class A controlled substances like ecstasy swearing on God's name is as funny as it gets. And very soon, James' smile is about to be turned upside down as he realizes why exactly he's handcuffed and sitting in an interrogation room. We're at your house at the house you're staying at. Okay. And they we found that bullet that your uncle said that was yours that you must have just lost for cuz you had at the other house probably before probation that you know talking about that little bullet. Mhm. What's it look like? The bullet? Yeah. The little bullet that was yours that you dropped in the garage. I'm not worried about it. I just want to know where did you find that bullet? Oh, the one your uncle found in 11:30. I look he thought I tore it away about to get stuck on my [ __ ] Probably lost it. I don't even know. Oh, the one he found? Yeah. When he asked me, "What you talking about? Be I don't even know." And he showed it to you remember that bullet though? Yeah. Yeah. Do you remember when you got that? I don't remember. I have no idea right now. Oh, okay. Can Can you recognize the bullet? No. Do you remember? Is that one he found? Yeah, it looked like him probably cuz this one we we found at the house. And your, from what we understand, this is the one your uncle found in the garage. And he asked you about, you said that was yours from the other house. Yeah. You brought it from the other house because he wasn't happy that you brought it to his house. Yeah. I was he was really pissed, too. So that's that's the one, right? It's like silver. Do you know what the uh caliber is? Do you remember what the caliber? This is like a 40 or 9 or 45? I don't know. Okay. So you probably did you just throw it in the garage cuz you want to get rid of it? Yeah, I want to. Nah, I thought I threw it away. Oh, well, so when you moved in. Yeah. Okay. James doesn't seem too concerned about why detectives are asking about a very specific type of ammunition. Instead, his focus shifts to his past, one that may explain why he's so quick to deflect and so hesitant to give a straight answer. Now, your questions. What did you have for me? So, why? Well, let me ask. You understand all of these, right? Yes, I do. Okay. What's your question? Why I'm here? We'll get to that. Well, first you had a different question. I first he's worried about probation. Oh, who's your probation officer? Because I'm going to make sure they know that we brought you here that you His name is really difficult. I don't really know his number, too. So, you got to ask my mom. You got your phone? No. Is it in your phone? It's on my mom phone. Oh, your mom's phone. I'm using my little brother phone. Where's your phone? I don't got a phone. Oh, you don't? I don't. Okay. I'm using my little brother phone. Which brother? My little brother. The 16-year-old. Yes. What's his name? And where's He's not here, right? He's not. But he left you his phone. No, sometime sometime I don't even use no phone cuz he's Is he in Miami or somewhere else? He's at my grandma house. Where's that at? Here. Yes, here. Okay. I I when I was talking to to uh Jean and he said your stepdad. Yeah. He was saying that he doesn't live there and I couldn't understand where he was saying he lived. Okay. But that's the phone that you would use. But do you have the PO's number in there? It's on my mom phone. You can call Not on that. It's on your mom's. I'm probation. I can't even be on one gun. So I hear you. Does that is that the I know probations have different rules for different people for different stuff. Yeah. What are what are your rules? I can't be on one guns. I got to be on six and I forgot. That's all I need. So you got 6:00 curfew. You can't be around guns or ammunition. Yeah. not a nobody that got a gun. Okay. And he broke both of those rules in one fell swoop. Before this interview took place, detectives had spoken with an anonymous witness. When shown images of the ammunition found at the scene, the witness recalled seeing James with identical rounds and a black 40 caliber pistol. According to him, James said both had been purchased from someone named Dakota. That claim would check out. Investigators later confirmed the transaction had taken place on May 25th, 2020, nearly a month before the shooting, which meant James had already been violating his probation for weeks. Then there was the second condition, a 6 p.m. curfew. Since deputies were called at 6:28, it would make sense that the shooting happened minutes prior, well past the time James was supposed to be home. So, James isn't the goody two shoes he thinks he is, but he sure will try to act like one. When did you start probation? I start last month. I gota It's gonna be over in December. So cuz they gave me six months. Okay. What was that for? Uh it was an armed robbery. Somebody armed robbery. Yeah, that was a PBL. A what? It was robbery carjacking. So they hit me with a PBL. Since that wasn't me, I had a good my definitely help me out cuz that wasn't me. So they give me six one year probation. But if I keep checking my PO, they going to let me out in 6 months. Okay. That was a good deal. I could have So you drop somebody? Nah. You you carjack somebody? That's what she said. That's what they said. Let me out. That Who's she? Person that said that the victim? Yeah, the victim. Okay. Were you in a stolen car? Nah. Okay. I I'm not very familiar with what happened then. Was that here? Was that here? Not was in North Miami. Oh, okay. When did it happen? I forgot. Got to be Got to have been one. I forgot like last year. N it was this year. This year? Yeah. And you're on probation already? Yeah. Cuz that was mean. So I did only one month and they let me out at jail. One month in jail. Yeah. North Miami? Yeah. What's that like? You're probation. North Miami is big, right? The the jail and everything. Yeah. That's not my place. I ain't trying to go there. So you on DOC probation? Was DSC like the state department of state probation? No, we have no idea. Okay. So, there's state probation and county probation. I imagine you're on state probation because it happened in Miami. I got here cuz I was in Miami. So, I wanted to transfer me here. So, I had a couple talk to my PO so they transfer me here. Okay. So, um So, that's state probation. State. You're just doing what you're supposed to do. That's all you were. Yeah. I'm trying to get over it. I hear you, man. Do you finish high school? I'm about to. I got four more classes. Where do you go to school? I'm in high school. I'm I'm on the school that help me with my grades. So, I got four more classes. So, it's got to be over this year. I'mma graduate on one next year. What school is that? Uh Dumba NJB technical school. Okay. Okay. You probably know that. Is that new? No, it's not new. Where did you go to school last year? Yeah, I went to the same school. The same one? Yeah. It has a that's a different name, right? Yeah. DJ Technical High School. What's that stand for? That's That's closed, but it called Don G Beasley, right? Okay. I know that one. That's because I know somebody with that name. And when I heard that school, I'm like, that's a weird name because it's very rare. The discussion about James' school might seem minor now, but it will become important very soon. For now, however, detectives need to make him realize that they know much more than they are letting on. You go by James or you go by You got a couple other nicknames, though. Damn. Everybody give me nickname. I don't even know where to get this from. Who Who gave who gave you the name demon? Demon? That ain't me. My name is James. No, that ain't that ain't me. You got the wrong person. I was born at night, but not tonight. You know what I'm saying? I feel you. That's We're going to be honest with you. I want you to be honest with me, man. If we were here to give you a hard time, it'd be like on TV. You know what I mean? Throwing phone books down and you know what I mean? We're we're here to talk about some stuff and I'm going to need you to be honest with me, you know, cuz that's the best thing. All right. We're not If if you're going to jail right now, you'd already be down at the jail house. All right. So, relax. All right. Are you a big Flash fan? Big who? Flash. I'm watch TV. Oh, it's on your shorts. Oh, man. That that was back when I was uh 16 or 17 since I have this shirt. Mhm. And it was a long shirt coming a long way. It came. Do you do you understand the definition of perjury? Is it? Do you you don't understand it? Perjury is is when you are under oath, which you are because you raise your right hand. Mhm. So if you're under oath and you and you lie, that's perjury. Okay. that will violate probation. It's a felony. Okay? So, whatever probation you're on, it' be over with because you'd be in jail. Okay? Do you understand that? I do. So, I need you to also understand that we're pretty good at our jobs. Okay? That's why we're here with you. All right? And the reason you were here now and not a few days ago was because we have to do our jobs before we try to talk to people. Okay? So, we've done our jobs and we have a lot of information, electronic information, download information, okay? Physical evidence, witness statements, a lot of that stuff. So, all I'm going to ask you is to please be honest when we're giving you things and asking you questions, okay? Because if I don't have to, I don't want to jam you up with a perjury charge. You understand what I mean? We don't want you in trouble for lying. All right? I think that things happen and it sucks that things happen, but when you dig the hole deeper by lying, it makes it worse. And it doesn't have to get worse. Okay? You know, we got your family here, right? We got your family on the scene with the babies and your your aunt and your mom. Everybody's being talked to. Everybody's being interviewed. We're searching this house. We've searched cell phones. We cell phone records, Snapchat records, Instagram records, Facebook records. It's a lot of work. So, when we have questions for you, we probably already know the answer. What that means is like anything on Facebook or Instagram or Snapchat, we already have everything that was been that's been written, sent. Even if it was deleted, we have it all pictures. Okay. Welcome to the worldwide web. Yeah. So, so the only option here now is for you to tell the truth. Okay. That's that's how we know your nickname. Okay. Cuz everybody be giving ter. Everybody gives you different names. But you give yourself this name. I don't. Well, how'd you get it? Get what? Demon. I came from North Miami. That's what they give me name. I don't even know. Everybody do that. Let me see if I understand. Mama be getting mad too. She be like, "Why they don't even call your we name?" I'll be like, "I don't even know." I can listen to him talk all day. Like the way you talk is it's makes me smile and I like it. So, um, that name came from North Miami. Like, is that because of the trouble you got in or just because of people made up? I wanted to get on in trouble one time. Yeah. Yeah. Is that not where the name came from? No. Okay. And that's the name that you use for like Instagram. Is another name for Instagram? D6mon like demon. Damn. That's what I tell you. We download everything. So, just that's why I want you to be honest because if you lie about it, I know you're lying about it. I don't want you to do that. Damn. Okay. Do you understand where we're at right now? Do you understand that we're not going to [ __ ] you and try to set you up? I'm going to be honest. I need you to do the same. Okay. So, when we ask a simple question that means nothing to you, don't lie. People call you demon. That's the name you go by. They call you other names, too. You have other names, too. Yeah. Yeah. They just be calling me like I be in my no problem. Okay. So, you said they don't, but they do. Yeah, they do. Okay, that's We're making progress. Demon is a pretty fitting nickname for James, considering he both looks and acts like a goblin. But that isn't the most pressing issue at hand right now. Just 3 days before this interview on June 21st, a 19-year-old named Joshua came forward voluntarily with a statement about Alex's murder. One that finally pieced together everything detectives needed to know. Joshua and Alex had been friends for over 2 years. On June 20th, Alex reached out to him looking to buy Ecstasy. Joshua didn't have any at the time, but he recalled seeing a Snapchat video from another dealer who did. That dealer was Brynden. Joshua connected Alex and Brynden staying loosely in the loop as the deal progressed. But there was one problem. Even Brynden was out of ecstasy at the time. However, he had an alternative. A third dealer, one with a familiar nickname, Demon. That was James Lee Senatus. James and Alex never contacted each other directly. Rather, Brynden acted as the middleman, setting a time and place for the two to meet. That would be the last time anyone heard from Alex. When Joshua tried to follow up with James directly, hoping to check in or find out what happened, he realized James had already blocked him. As detectives followed this trail, they discovered that James and Brendan weren't just loosely connected. They had attended the same school, knew each other personally, and had a history that suggested more than a casual association. Which is why the earlier questions regarding James' school were important. If detectives can get James to acknowledge that relationship and confirm Brendan's role in the deal, they'll be one step closer to making sure James doesn't see daylight for a long, long time. Hey, who's who's the dude that your stepdad got all He was telling us about a friend. He got all kind of pissed off. His problem. It is his problem. But what who is that kid? Who? The white boy. What white boy? The one you brought home over in your other house and uh Jean got really mad because you said you're not supposed to have friends over. I don't remember his name. I don't Did you go to How do you know that guy? I probably went to school with him. I was gonna say I think you probably went to school. Was it is that Beasley the Beasley school or is that different? Probably. Yeah, probably. What? That's where I find him. Okay. Was a white boy? Yes. What's he like? I don't can't describe him. Can't you can't? Nah. We all with that being said, we also know you know who white that white boy is we're talking about. Yeah, we know that, too. All right. How long you been friends with him? You ain't going to speak on that. Almost since you came here to school. I almost How long you been here in Florida? Three years. Five years. Five years. Where the hell did I get? Three years. That's what I'm saying. Y don't got everything. So when you Okay. So I got you when I was 14. Now I'm 19. Yeah, that's 5 years. You sure? You know Oh, you know why I said? Because uh Dad said three years. Yeah. Yeah. You guys get along? No, you don't. Why? You don't. He cares about you, though. He don't? No. Care about himself? Really? I don't know him. Just, you know, we we only talked to him. You can see through his eyes. Yeah. Um, I'm going to show you a picture. Okay. Of a white boy. Why you trying to peek? Cuz I see face. How you going to show me a picture? You showing it before I even I'm going to show I'm going to show you a picture. And don't lie to me. Is this the white boy you were friends with? Okay. It's not getting him in trouble. That is okay. Thank you for being honest. Here. Huh? What you want me to do? Put your initials. Who is that? You want me to? No. Do that. Put your initials first or your name, whatever you want. You could put Demon if you want. D6mon. Go ahead. You want me to put my name on it? What? Yes. Yeah. What? Because you said yes, that's him. So, you're just saying Damn. I say who that is. I say damn who that is. Okay. Hey, real quick. He's not He's not in any trouble. All right. You're not getting him in trouble by saying you know who he is. We're just trying to confirm some information. Is this your friend Brown? All right. So, I I get the feeling you know why we're here. Where's the feeling? I don't even know. That's what I'm trying to find out right now. You don't even say if you know the guy or not. I don't want to speak on him. Okay. Cuz you don't want to lie. And that's smart. Hey, the thing is is we know what happened. Okay. It's just now's your chance to to to say what you need to say to explain what's happening, what happened in your side of the story. You understand? Okay. It's not It's not the end of the world. All right. But we need to move forward from here. We know that you've already we know that you know who that is. Okay. And you see I know who that is. You don't have to. You don't have to. We know. Oh, but listen. And I know that sometimes you you might sell a little bit of uh a little bit of drugs. I don't care. He doesn't care. But the the thing is is we need to know that you're being honest about these little things. So that when we talk about bigger things, we know that you're telling the truth. But if you can't be honest about little things, how can we trust you to be honest about the big things? Do you understand what I'm saying? All right. So you sell a little bit on the side, right? To make money because times are hard. Do what? You sell You sell some drugs sometimes. I don't sell drugs. No, not at all. No. Nothing. You sure? Yes, sir. Does that kid sell drugs? No, he does. How would I know, too? That's crazy. No. So, his is it Instagram or Snapchat? I think it's his Snapchat is Paperchaser. Yeah. Where's my Snapchat? Huh? Where's my Snapchat? Oh, you want your Snapchat? Yeah. And James' Snapchat wasn't the only thing detectives had on record. They also had Brynden's statement, one that turned out to be damning. A day after the murder, Abolo was issued for Brynden. He was quickly located and brought in for questioning. Along with that, his phone was taken and searched as well. Given Brynden's role as the middleman between Alex and James, his Snapchat history made things clearer than he probably intended. Although he denied knowing James beyond his nickname Demon, he did confirm the fact that James reached out to him after the failed deal. In a call, James stated that Alex had tried to rob him, all but handing detectives a confession. But did Alex really try to rob him? That's for detectives to find out. Wait a minute. So, you want us to answer your questions, but you don't want to answer our questions. No, you're not answering my question. I know everything. That's what I'm trying to find out. You just asking me. We just explain why we're asking you. because we want to know why these things happen. Because sometimes there's a reason. Sometimes things got out of hand. Sometimes things go the way we didn't intend them to go. And that may that's a whole big difference between being evil and making mistakes. Okay. Are you an evil person? Do you make mistakes? Everybody does. You're right about that. I agree 100%. All right. So, what's what's going to make you a man tonight is admitting mistakes happen or admitting when you made a mistake. Do you understand? Okay. We're not here to judge you. We're not here to call you evil, say you were wrong, none of that. We're simply here so that you can tell us the truth. So, all that nervousness that you've had has been for good reason. so that you can feel at ease because you're gonna feel better once you start telling the truth. No matter how hard no matter how hard the truth is, it always makes somebody feel better. That that nervous feeling that you got right now. I'm just curious cuz I don't know what's going is is Well, you see, that's the thing. I'm just curious, James. Is is you you know full well what's happening. I have no idea. I'm telling you. I don't even know what you're talking about. You were honest with us about your bullet. Yeah. So, I said that was my bullet. Huh? That's not my bullet. You said it was. I seen it. I find it. That doesn't mean that's mine. So, you brought it from the other house. Yeah, I seen on the floor. I picked it out. I tore it away. That's That's Yeah, that I didn't even know that. That's crazy. What's the most serious thing you've ever done? Bad. I don't know. We did like that. I see. What's the worst? Get into a fight. Skip school. What's the worst thing you ever done? Yeah. You ever done drugs? Never used drugs. I'm keep it real. Yeah, I smoke, but I don't do drugs. That's not me. Like smoke weed or smoke cigarettes? Smoke weed. Okay. You don't take pills? Nah. Ecstasy. Peries. Ecstasy. What's that? Xanax. Nah. Nah. Do I like We'll answer that one for James. Yes. Yes, he does. But this detective will put it a bit less bluntly. Unable to hold even his own composure. No, you have a good smile. I don't think you do. Come on, man. Kill me. So, uh, you know, you think this is funny. No, it's cuz y laughing. I don't know. I'm confused. Y not telling me what's going on. So, okay. So, listen. So, listen. Maybe we just tell them what we know. Yeah. Get to I don't know. It's get to a point. I'm trying to know what's going on and not telling me nothing. How about let's tell us something, we'll tell you something. Establish a timeline. Yeah. Yeah. All right. So, what were you doing this weekend? Did you go anywhere? To be honest, yes, I did. So, say Friday. What were you doing Friday? Friday, I was home. On Friday? Yeah, I was on. All day? Yeah. All day? All night? All night. Yeah. You never left? I don't want to be lie, but I don't really think I left on Friday. Not lie to you, but I be going outside riding a bike. I always do that cuz I be getting B. Jean's bike or the bike he got you? Yeah. No. Got to be him or the bike he buy me. Okay. Got to be like that. Okay. So, where do you ride in the neighborhood? Yeah. Because you can't go far, right? No, I can't go cuz you're on probation. Yeah, I can go far, but not far far away from me. Not too far. You're not on like an ankle monitor or anything, right? No, I don't. I just I'm just on probation. Okay. Then you got to be back by 600. Yeah. So, what's the times you have to be inside? 6:00 p.m. Yep. Till what? I forgot. Till the morning time. Sometime in the morning. Got to be on. I think it's the same time. 6 to 6. Yeah. Got to be I don't remember. Okay. So, Saturday, what time did you wake up? I don't remember. I I woke I be woken up early. Yeah. What all did you do Saturday? Cuz I know he went fishing. Yeah. I went right back then. I went back home. You went what? I went back home. I was right in the back. Then I went back home. Where'd you ride to? Up there. Down there. Then down back to the crib. What's the road you live on? These two. Yeah. What's the corner? What's that road? I don't know. Okay. Is it Irene? Arena. Irene. Yeah. Got to be. Yeah. Okay. And the other end, the other corner. Is it Is that Karen? Maybe. Keep on. You don't ride that way? Nah. I did. I do, but I don't know the street. All right. So when you when you got up Saturday and went for a bike ride, how how what time was that? I don't remember the time. Was it before lunchtime? Lunch time. 12. I barely eat. I'm not an eater. Before 12 or after 12. I'm not going to lie to you. Don't don't um But you came back. Yeah, they came. How long do you think you were gone? 10 15 10 15 minutes. Yeah. Okay. And you just were in the neighborhood? Yeah. Did you see anybody or run into anybody or meet anybody? No, I always by myself. Okay. So, did you talk to anybody that day? No. Nobody in the house talked to you? Yeah, my my mom. Your family talked to you? Yeah, my family. What about any friends? any any contacts that you have that talked to you? No. Okay. Um and did you ever leave again after you came back on the bike? No, I went back home. What did you do? I I went watch the TV after I went to sleep. I woke up. I went to eat. Ain't nothing else to do. What time did you wake up? I don't know. Was it still daylight out or? Yeah, it was daylight cuz when I woke up, I think I see police. That's when I was standing behind my behind stuff. I as the boy was throwing up. Tell me somebody somebody got hit. I'm like, did he die sitting at the hospital? I'm like, damn. I just I missed all that. Sorry. You talked really fast. Say it. Say it again. Yeah. I woke up. No, I wasn't sleeping to be No, I think I was sleeping. I went behind uh [ __ ] again. I went behind the house. I stay You see my house? There's a red store behind it. That's where I was at. Oh, what? There was two police that one I dug the other one. I asked him what's going on. He said, "Did I see anybody want?" I said, "No, I was just sleeping." I said, "Everything okay?" He said, "Yeah, somebody at the hospital." I said, "All right, okay." I went back home. Matter of fact, I went back and went to sleep. That time my my stepdad was outside too. They had a ducks, man. You know what's going on. So, when you I want to make sure I understand because I'm tired, I guess. Um, you went out back of the house. Mhm. Inside the fence or outside the fence? No, inside the fence. Inside the fence. And you were by what? I was I was behind white stuff. I don't know what the white fence. The white fence. The white fence. The privacy fence. Yeah, the privacy fence. I I couldn't tell what you were saying. White. Yeah. That's when the two police passed by. One of them had the dog while you were outside and they talked to you or you talked to them. Now they talked to me. They asked me what's going on. They asked me if I see someone. I asked him what's going on. After I asked him, did that person okay? He say he's at the hospital. They just went after they asked me if we got cameras in front of that. I was like, "Nah, we don't got no cameras." So that went till they came back. That's his problem. Was that daytime or night time? That was that was that was daytime. Okay. Yeah. Daytime. Okay. And uh would you say it was after 6:00? No, I don't know. Was it But it was daytime, so it was time before 8:30. Yeah, it was. Cuz night time is probably 8:30. I don't know. Okay. So, um after that you went inside, but you said your uh you call him your dad. Is that what you call him? Call him stepdad. Stepdad. Your stepdad was outside, too? Yeah. Did he see you outside? What you mean? Did you talk to your stepdad outside? No, I went in front of the door. That's when I talked to him. That's when he told me uh those dog can smell anybody that shot someone or some [ __ ] like that. That's what they told me. That's That's what the dogs that person was working with. The deputy? The cop? Yeah. The cop said that to you? No, my my stepdad told me that. Oh, okay. All right. Everything that James has just said is a complete lie. Aside from a few scattered truths about his interaction with first responders, according to deputies, K-9 units showed strong interest in a black male standing by the fence in his backyard. Officers hadn't even approached him yet, but the man asked if they were searching for a homicide suspect. That man was James Lee Sanatus. At the time, there were too many active scents for the K9's behavior to be deemed conclusive. But detectives have something stronger to work with, a witness description. When the first 911 call came in, the caller described a black male fleeing the scene wearing a color striped shirt and shorts. Now that James has finished spinning his version of events, detectives turned their focus to this description and whether James' clothing matched what the witness saw. Were you ever outside of the fence? Yes, I was. Around the time the police were in the area or before the police were were you outside the fence on the street? Yeah, I was. cuz I was sad cuz I seen them police back so I had to see what's going on. You were on the street. Yeah, I was cuz somebody said they saw you headed back toward your house. What you mean? Cuz I went outside and went back to my house. Yeah, like you went to see what happened. Yeah, I went to see what's going on today. Like somebody somebody saw you going back to your house? Yeah, I went back to my house. Do you remember what you were wearing that day when you were going home? I was wearing a shirt. That's a That's a shirt. Got to be I thought it was a black one. It was a black shirt was a black. I was wearing a green shirt. Shorts? Yeah. That's my son. What? What? The black shirt? No, it was green and black. A green shirt? No, I'm talking about shorts. Shorts. It was green and black. Yeah. Yeah, it was green and black. Yeah, it was green and black because I was wearing on black shirts. Whatever it called. Yeah. What? Uh, is this solid black only one color? Yeah, I was. Yeah, there's now multiple colors. What you mean? But like because I think like the person that I had no walking home had a You had like a stripe shirt. You have a striped shirt? No. Okay. I may have missed. Before all the police were there though, somebody saw you walking into the house. Like right before all the police got there. Were you just out walking around or? No, I don't I don't work. I always ride the back. Don't do that. Well, somebody saw you. I probably probably saw the one person. I always ride it back. I don't even go outside like that. If you see my outside video, I have my back. Do it. Yeah, cuz they saw him walk to the house. They saw you walk to the house. Your house. Mhm. And they just drove by. They just kept going. But it was uh it was after everything happened. What happened? Yeah. What happened out there? Yeah. So they saw you walk into your house. But um I didn't know that the K9 talked to you. The dogs. I didn't know that the cops with the dogs talked to you. I asked them what's going on. No. No. Matter of fact, I think they asked me what's going on first. I think they asked. Now I'm tripping. They asked me if I said someone run. I said no. I asked them what's going on. Somebody got shot. They said, "Yeah, somebody got shot." But they at the hospital. After they asked me if there's any camera was like, "Oh, yeah. There's no camera." Why you Why'd you ask him if somebody got shot? No. They asked me first cuz that's Come on, bro. You really going to say that? That's police. You You really going to say that? No. No. No. Cuz you just You just said it. Really? You said You asked him what happened. Did somebody get shot? Somebody get shot cuz there was too many police. So I had to ask him that. You just assumed somebody got shot. Yeah, cuz there was too many police. Is that like it? I don't really know. Do you live in a bad neighborhood? Neighborhood? Yeah, I grew up in Haiti. Come on. Where? In Haiti. Where? Denma, you don't know. You don't know. Come on, man. Don't I was hoping you would say something like the capital cuz I could tell you like what? Huh? Pipe. No, the capital. What's the capital here? Like Porto Prince. Porto Prince. Yeah. What do you call it? Portoquay. Yeah, I was prince. Okay. I was there for a couple years. Clearly, James' story has broken down completely, and very soon he will receive the biggest reality check of his life as detectives begin piecing together everything they have. We know that at some point you came out and met with somebody across the street from your house. All right. When was it? That night. Saturday. Saturday. It was still daylight out before all the cops and stuff. Who was the person you came out and met with? I ain't came out. Look at me. Look at me. Look at me. Stop. Come on, bro. Stop. Look at me. Now's your chance. Okay. Now's your chance to tell the truth before it's too late. You understand? You need to do this for you. All right. I haven't. Who did you come out and meet? Nobody. Do you know the kid's name? What you talking, bro? Now you're losing me. You're losing me right now. What kind of vehicle was it? It's a uh silver Toyota Tacoma. Parked in the lot right across from your house. He came Well, they're supposed to meet in front of at the lot. Um but he came to see you. Came to see you? Yeah, he came to see you because he was wanting to buy some stuff from you. By what? I don't even know. He wanted some ecstasy. Some what? Some ecstasy. The heck? What is some ecstasy? Your your nerves are giving away everything nerves, too, too. Cuz I don't know what's going on. You're losing me. Let me explain to you why that happens. It's hot as hell in here. You feel cold because hang on, I want to explain it to you. Because you're nervous. And what happens when you're nervous is your brain tells your body to push all the blood to your core. So your arms, your legs, everything gets really cold. And that's just nerves. It's like 82° in here. Damn. Okay. Mhm. When you're nervous, your blood shuns. It's a self-preservation mode. Okay. That's why you're nervous. All right. That's why you're cold, I should say. So, we we haven't given you 1% of the things that we discovered in 3 days. And we're not going to because I can't show you my hand when I don't see yours. Okay. Please don't sit here and lie and bury yourself because every time you lie is a felony. And whether or not you end up in jail for what happened, you will end up in jail for all the felonies sitting here lying to me. That's a guarantee. You have a better chance of having a life after today if you tell the truth. And and no matter what you say to me, I know when you say you know nothing, you didn't do this, you didn't do that, we know you're lying because we already can prove that you did. We're asking you because it's your opportunity legally. We have to give you an opportunity to say your part. Otherwise, we didn't do our jobs. Now, we could just take everything we have and and go with it and never give you a chance to explain anything. You know what I'm saying? But that means you sit in jail until trial and then the jury never heard your side of the story until trial. They just think that you were lying and it's going to happen. So now you can tell your side of the story. Maybe it's not as bad as what we thought. Maybe it's worse. We don't know. There's a reason that things happen. We have a reason. Every man deserves You have a reason. You have a right to your reason. Okay? Don't look surprised by the things we're telling you because you know it. All right? You've been holding us in now since Saturday. What? Y losing me again. I just did the same thing again. Hold them on Saturday. Listen to you. You're losing me again. What you talking about, bro? Okay. So, stay to the point. So here here's what happened. Yeah. Okay. Good. Yeah. Just turn my head up and I want to know. Okay. You know. I want to know. You just want to know if I know. No. So that's all it is. You want to know if I know. So I'm going to give you a little bit. Okay. Just give me all of it. I just I'll give you a little bit. Know here's what happened. What's going on? You're going to know in a second cuz I'm telling you. All right. Here's what happened. Mhm. Alex Ramos got in touch with a friend because he was looking for some pills. Some Uh, no, no, no. What's it called? Oh, wow. It's a slang term. Nope. It's a slang term for the pills. Anyways, the friend said, "I know a guy. I know a guy." And because we got this Instagrams and the Snapchats and all the messengers, we know who the guy is. We know that he contacted Brendan, the guy that you know you saw in this picture, the guy you went to school with, the guy that you got in trouble for him being at your house, and the guy who contacted you and said, "I have a guy that wants to spend x amount of dollars to get some [ __ ] What's up?" And you didn't want Brendan to give you to give him your information. So, you communicated directly with Brendan, which I can prove I already have. And you told Brendan where to send him and when. You gave him your address across the street from your house where he was supposed to meet you. And he went there to meet you. He drove by cuz he missed it. And then he came right back. And somewhere around your house you got in his truck. And then you had an altercation and he drove and ended up stopping in the middle of the road when you shot him in the chest. For this entire interview, James' singular brain cell has been working overtime. Now, it's been completely reduced to Adam's as James begins to malfunction in real time. Who shot in the chest? Yeah. Who did you shoot? That's what I'm saying. The guy that's dead, Alex. Who's dead? The kid that met you for You know what the thing is? is just because just for the simple fact you got in a car, you got into his truck, there's going to your DNA is going to be in there and on him and on him and on the bullet that fell out of the truck that you left behind. That is the same bullet that you saw in this picture. Guess what? The picture I showed you is a picture of the bullet that fell out of the truck. And it's the same bullet that fell that your uncle found in the garage that you that you said you brought that from your house where you used to live. It's the same bullet. And and then I'm I'm trying to find what's going on. I'm still lost again. You're not lost. You're not. Yes, I am. You killed Alexand. You shot him. Shot who? [Laughter] Oh, you're digging deeper. You're digging deeper and you're not going to be able to climb out. We have all the evidence. What happened? And you don't have anything. What happened inside of his truck? Something happened that made you You were in there. Shoot. I know you were in the truck. You see me in the What? Yeah. Tell me what's going on, man. Just real quick, bro. I want to know what's going on. Y losing me again, bro. I'm really nervous and all type of [ __ ] I don't want that. Not right now, man. Hey, trying to get [ __ ] man. What's going on, bro? James Lee, I'm going to be I'm get charged with anything. What's going on? Goes out to Alex. I'm charging with anything. Gets in. You will be. Okay. Tell me what's Tell me. I'm telling you right now talking to you. You're not listening. Listening. You get into his car. No, that ain't what I want to hear. I don't want to hear that. I'm going to tell you the truth. Then we tell you what I shoot. I ain't what I want. He doesn't want to relive it, right? Then what's the tr You know why you don't want to relive it? Cuz you're scared of getting in trouble. Get in before I'm getting older. What's going on? You're not answering my question right now, bro. You didn't bring us here to question us. We brought you here to question. That's what I'm saying. What's going on? What's going on? Yes. Tell me. You're being investigated for murder. Okay. Mur murder who? What you talking about? What the hell? H let's let's grab a couple things and come back in a minute. I'm going to leave this here. We'll be right back. Over the next hour, detectives continued sifting through data from the phones of Brendan, Alex, and James discovering critical leads. In this conversation between Brendan and James, the two very clearly discussed the details of the deal and confirm Brendan's role as the middleman and James as the supplier. Even Alex's Google Maps history was still active at the time of the shooting, showing he was being led straight to James' home. But that wasn't all, as detectives also came across several videos. Videos that prove to be crucial in tying James to the crime. You're looking relaxed, sir. Huh? [Music] Oh, it's 2:10 in the morning already, huh? So, as we speak, we keep gathering more and more information for you, right? Which I told you we were doing, right? Are you following what I'm saying? Yes, sir. Okay. Your statement was you don't know that guy. All right. So, when this is all said and done, I'm going to arrest you for perjury because you just lied in my face under oath. So, that's your first felony. That's going to violate your probation, too. You recognize the guy in the camouflage? Yeah, that's me. That is you. You recognize that guy? That's him. Yeah. No [ __ ] Yeah. In the car with you. But you don't know him? I don't know him. You don't know him? I don't is going on. Mine's the Twilight Zone. Twilight Zone. Yeah, man. Hey, you and him. Guess what? You're shooting a video with his phone, but you don't know him. Yep. You shot another video with his phone, but you don't know him. Do what? I'm tired. What's 21st Street Southwest? I don't know what's in my uncle house. That's your uncle's house where he stay, right? Mhm. So, it's logical to believe that would be across the street from your uncle's house, right? Cuz one side is even, one side is odd. Oh, no. I ain't get for that. Okay. What is What is Benji? Who's Benji? I don't know. Benji, I don't know what that is. You don't know that. [Music] Everything's coming at you, man. It's your It's your time to help yourself. It's going to come harder and harder, and every time you lie is another charge. So, you're welcome to keep doing it. So, do you know what life in prison means? H what? Do you know what life in prison means? Guess maybe we can get out. Mhm. Mhm. That's where we're going. 6:22 p.m. The guy you shot in the chest was less than a minute away from across the street from your uncle coming to your house at 6:24. You were talking to Brendan and Brendan told him that you said you would be out in a minute. And at 6:24, you were on the phone with Brendan. 6:24 p.m. and 57 seconds, you were on the phone with Brendan telling him you would be right out. [Music] And this is the the Brendan you've been Snapchatting. The same guy that's in the car with you, the same guy that's in this photo, the same guy you're smoking with. And in case you don't remember, the guy to the other side of the car. [ __ ] I don't want to see that. The other guy. I don't want to see him. There's another black guy on the other side. You don't want to, but it is what it is. Hey, what's it is what it is. And you losing. Why? Why are you scared to tell us that you know who this kid is? Scale to do what? I told you I don't know kid. You do know a kid. I don't know him. Hey, I don't lying is going to hurt you at this point, bro. You went to school for the young child. too, man. What's the charge, bro? Stop showing me that [ __ ] man. Y pissing me off, bro. I don't give a if you I don't give a bro. What's Bro, stop showing me that [ __ ] bro. I'm tight in code, too. Yeah, this is the thing. Show us. I was for that. No, no, almost. As if all that wasn't incriminating enough, the final nail in the coffin comes from James' Google searches, revealing not only his intent, but also his impressive ability to form a coherent sentence. At school when you were friends with Brendan, you hung out with him enough that the SRO, the school resource officer, knew exactly who you were and that you guys were best friends. That you guys you guys would talk about I would have told you burglaries. I'm done. I'm I'm done here. I'm done. What you keep saying, man? I would have asked what's the charge. You keep showing me that [ __ ] bro. I don't want to sit down. It's hard to face the truth. But I'm tired, too, man. Yeah, we all tired. I'm going to go to sleep, bro. What it is? What's going on, bro? Where where I'mma spend the night, man? Just tell me. Spend the night or where you going to spend your life? Hey, what's I told you wasn't man enough to tell the truth. I already told you what I got to tell you. I don't know, Brendon. I don't know what you're talking about. Like a temper tantrum. Yeah. What's up? I don't know what it means. I don't know what you're talking about. I would have told you everything I want to know, man. You asking me [ __ ] bro. Like, [ __ ] Tearing up, bro. We're trying to tear it up. We ain't shooting people in the middle of the daylight. We're trying to give you a reason to explain. I'm done here, bro. You can't I'm down here. I'm done, bro. Um, you haven't done anything and you have nothing to hide. Fair enough. Yes, sir. Okay. And you want to go home? You want this to be over with so we can stop talking? All right. So, we got your phone. So, if you want to speed this up, what's the what's the passcode on your phone to unlock it? You got my phone? Yeah, we got your phone. We told you that was my phone. We know it's your phone. We've already downloaded my phone. Okay, I don't care. Hey, tone, boy. Y You're always walking around your phone listening to music. Yeah. Oh, the phone. I'll show you which phone. I can't show him that phone. You show my little brother phone or you show my phone. Ask mama. She going to tell you that ain't my phone. I really don't care. Me, too. So, what's the password for that one? What you asking me? Go ask my little brother. Stop asking me [ __ ] bro. I've already told you I'm done, bro. Why you keep asking me [ __ ] bro? Cuz I can. No, you can't. Yeah. No. Yeah, bro. I don't give no more, bro. You pissing me up. You can get pissed all you want. It don't change nothing. Exactly. Doesn't change nothing with the child, bro. I want to I want to go to sleep. You keep asking me [ __ ] I told you I don't know, bro. Let me say you know [ __ ] you asking me bro. Tell bro cuz you wanted to see if you were man enough to complain. I think I'm sick bro. How would that make you a dumb? What's going on? But what we going to do here? How we doing here? How we're telling the truth? I'm calling make you a dumb. What we going to do here, man? What we doing? Can you answer that? What we doing? Can you What we doing? I'm going home. He's asking you a question. No, you're not. No, I ain't got to answer [ __ ] Yeah, you know that. You don't. No, you don't. Okay. But we can still talk. No, we ain't got to say [ __ ] no more, bro. We don't have to. Yeah, bro. What's going on? I can't talk. I don't mind if you talk. What's going on, bro? I'm going home. I think you have a soothing voice. Thank you. What do you do? Hey, let me grab a couple things off his phone. Beans on my phone. Beans. Beans on my phone. Beans. Hey. Be right back. You want a drink? I want to go home. Do you want a drink? No. Okay. James should have taken the detective up on his offer as some water might have helped calm his nerves considering he's slowly assuming the position of a dead cockroach. Bro, I ain't got [ __ ] to say to you, bro. No. No careg. [Music] What are you tired of? Tired of what? Cuz I ain't sleep all day. You not supposed to sleep during the day, bro? Yes. You work? No, I used to. Don't you work? I quit. Where were you working? Yeah. H Yeah. In Lehi. I think he was in F. Doing what? On the bus. That's the bus. No. What restaurant? I forgot. You How long you were there? Not for long. That's what I know. Not even a year. Two months. What do you have to lose by telling the truth? I'm not asking you to tell. What do you have to lose by telling the truth? Nothing. I already told you what I got to tell you. I ain't got to say too much. You know that, bro. Y forcing me to talk. Y know y can't do that, bro. Tell about that [ __ ] All that. Y already got what you got. Then leave me the alone. Y know that, bro. [Music] I'm joking. Tell him that I shot him. We're asking you to give your side of the story with the dead cuz listen cuz it's not a matter of if it happened. It did happen. But sometimes there's a reason and sometimes it can make it sometimes it's understandable. You know what I mean? Um, the record 2 2:20 p.m. or A.M. end of recording. 2:20 a.m. As detectives step out, preparations begin to formally charge James with seconddegree murder. Crime scene techs take his DNA and collect a piece of paper he had stuffed in his pocket. Now, as his final act, he will display a feat of superhuman intelligence. Are you still on my paper? Say one more time. My paper. What paper? I still have it. It's blank though. It's blank. It's not. You got no benefit from it. Say it again. It's not blank. I saw it. There's Is there nothing on there? In the months that followed, James remained in custody while the Lee County Sheriff's Office proudly issued a press release announcing his arrest. Good afternoon. I'm Lee County Sheriff Call Marcino. Thank you for being here today. I am proud to announce and thank for the exceptional work of our major crime unit. Another violent criminal is off our streets. On Saturday, June 20th, 2020, we responded to the area of Irene Avenue South and 23rd Street Southwest in Lehi Acres in reference to a shooting. Our deputies quickly responded to the scene and located the male victim with a gunshot wound. The victim was then transported to a local hospital where he was pronounced deceased. Due to the nature of the incident, detectives with the major crimes unit responded and assumed the investigation. Crime scene technicians thoroughly examined and collected evidence from the scene, which was analyzed by our forensics unit. After an extensive investigation with hundreds of hours of followup and good old-fashioned police work, detectives were able to identify the killer as James Lee Sonatus. The Lee County Sheriff's Office Fugitive Warrants Task Force was activated and began searching for this dangerous individual. On September 29th, 2020, our team located Sonatus in Miami and took him into custody. This horrible and senseless shooting is unforgivable. James Lee Sonatus goes by the nickname of Demon, which could not be more fitting. Demon has been charged with seconddegree murder. Let me be clear, violence will not be tolerated in my county. Those who commit these crimes will be arrested. Senatus is awaiting transfer to Lee County Jail. Our citizens deserve to feel safe. And my top-notch team that you see here today, this detective that worked on this specifically, I could not be more proud of. Thank you for being here today. After his arrest, it took nearly 4 and a half years for James to face trial beginning in January 2025. After three days of testimony, a jury found him guilty of seconddegree murder and he was sentenced to life in prison immediately following the verdict.