Do words make you a murderer? The case against Brandon Pettit
CBSN
[This story first aired on May 15, 2021.] KOVR NEWS REPORT: More than 12 hours after firefighters made the gruesome discovery, police investigators remain sifting through clues in what they are now calling a pair of suspicious deaths. DETECTIVE 1: How would he come up with the keys to kill your parents? DETECTIVE 1: Felix says you gave him the keys and the keys both fit the garage door and the front door, Brandon. If you think for a minute that anybody, anybody is gonna believe your story, including your sister, you're mistaken. DETECTIVE 1: What was that about? BRANDON PETTIT: I don't know who killed my parents. BRANDON PETTIT: He had asked me for the box of bullets that I had because my .22 hasn't been fired in two years because I don't have a bolt for it. DETECTIVE 2: And you haven't told us something that is this important, and you're telling us now? DETECTIVE 1: Why? DETECTIVE 1: So, he tells you that he's gonna kill your parents, you give him ammunition and then you give him a hundred bucks. DETECTIVE 1: And this whole Asperger's thing. I'm not buying that either. DETECTIVE 1: So, he tells you that he's gonna kill your parents, you give him ammunition and then you give him a hundred bucks. BRANDON PETTIT: I know how he got the keys.
The morning of August 8, 2013 had started out full of promise for then-28-year-old Lauren Pettit, who was living in Los Angeles. BRANDON PETTIT: I don't know. DETECTIVE 1: You know what the thing about Felix is, that you're not that makes him more believable? He's remorseful. BRANDON PETTIT: On my break, I was asking him what we were doing for the weekend. DETECTIVE 1: Yes, you do. BRANDON PETTIT: I'm remembering a lot now. BRANDON PETTIT: I didn't want to talk to anybody. BRANDON PETTIT: He said he had paid his bills and needed some money. I had a hundred bucks, so I figured I'd help him out until he got paid. BRANDON PETTIT: He said he had paid his bills and needed some money. DETECTIVE 1: How?
Lauren Pettit: I remember I had texted one of my best friends that morning, "Today's gonna be a good day." DETECTIVE 1: You know why? Cause you gave 'em to him. BRANDON PETTIT: What do you mean, remorseful? What the hell does that mean? BRANDON PETTIT: No, I don't. DETECTIVE 2: You know what? Bulls---! Bulls---! DETECTIVE 1: Did you not want us to solve that crime? DETECTIVE 2: To the guy that just was threatening to kill your parents if you didn't pay him money, you're helping him out. Matter of fact, you're hanging out with him afterwards all buddy, buddy. SERGEANT: You know? OK, how did he get the keys?
