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[This story originally aired on May 8, 2021.]

When family and friends of a Jupiter, Florida, mom started receiving texts revealing she had a major case of coronavirus, they grew frightened. However Gretchen Anthony hadn’t talked to any person and wasn’t answering her telephone. Was once she actually sending the textual content messages? Or was once anyone the usage of COVID-19 to hide up her disappearance?

It was once March 2020, and the COVID-19 pandemic was once stretching around the nation.

“This situation actually hit in a different way,” says Chrichet Mixon, an assistant state legal professional for Palm Seaside County. “I imply, we’re speaking about anyone who’s a mom, a daughter, a sister, a pal.”

Gretchen Anthony / Credit score: Fb

And anyone who reputedly vanished at some extent when the arena was once informed to stick house.

“All I sought after to do was once with the intention to to find her,” Mixon tells “48 Hours” correspondent Peter Van Sant.

Investigators realized Gretchen had filed for divorce from her husband, David Anthony, a health teacher, simply weeks sooner than she disappeared.

The texts from Gretchen Anthony’s telephone to family and friends started on March 23, 2020.

“Just right morning. Examined certain for coronavirus early this morning. That implies I’ve to stick right here for no less than two weeks …” The texts over the following couple of days described a worsening situation and admitting herself to the Jupiter Scientific Middle’s emergency division.

Every other textual content claimed she was once transferred to any other facility run via the CDC, which failed to exist.

After days of texts and no reaction via telephone, Gretchen Anthony’s friends and family reached out to legislation enforcement and requested them to do a welfare test at her house. What police realized from a neighbor was once stressful.

“I heard a actually critical lady’s scream, simply screaming, like she was once being attacked,” a neighbor informed police.

Within the house police spotted safety cameras were got rid of from the partitions. They requested Anthony’s carrier supplier to drag the video from the cloud and the pictures confirmed a person lurking on Gretchen Anthony’s patio the morning the neighbor heard the scream.

Tale continues

The place was once Gretchen Anthony? And the place was once her estranged husband, David Anthony? Did he ship the ones texts pretending to be Gretchen to hide up her homicide?

TROUBLING TEXTS

Again in March 2020, family and friends of Gretchen Anthony have been alarmed after they started receiving texts from her, pronouncing she had examined certain for coronavirus.

Kelly Hanna: You understand, the scoop is pronouncing it is critical. … After which swiftly numbers are being reported and individuals are loss of life.

It was once onerous for Gretchen Anthony’s pals, like Kelly Hanna, to image her loss of life of the rest, a lot much less this scary virus. At 51 years outdated, Gretchen was once an image of health.

Kelly Hanna: She labored out on the gymnasium very onerous. She took her well being very significantly.

Kelly Hanna: Gretchen is anyone who’s greatly middle focused … she’s simply radiant and only a very being concerned … stunning spirit.

However above all else, she was once a loyal mom to her 12-year-old daughter. Gretchen was once elevating her kid in Jupiter, Florida whilst sharing custody with an ex-husband.

Chrichet Mixon: Gretchen’s daughter was once her international; she was once the entirety to her.

Chrichet Mixon, an assistant state’s legal professional for Palm Seaside County, were given desirous about Gretchen’s case early on.

Chrichet Mixon: There was once not anything that Gretchen would not do for her daughter. She hated being clear of her.

After her divorce, pals say Gretchen fell in love with David Anthony. The 2 met at a neighborhood gymnasium the place he was once a teacher.

Peter Van Sant: Was once he more or less a rock famous person on the gymnasium?

Kelly Hanna: Oh … he was once the younger scorching teacher evidently.

Tabitha Hopkins: He has an enormous presence.

David was once a well-liked teacher at a gymnasium owned via Tabitha Hopkins. She says he introduced in a variety of new participants.

Kelly Hanna: He was once clever, well-spoken. He was once captivating.

Kelly Hanna: She did not have to inform anyone that there was once an appeal there. … There was once absolute sparks, there was once magic there, no query about it.

That appeal quickly ended in the couple getting married at an Elvis chapel in Las Vegas in 2015.

Kelly Hanna: They appeared like the happiest couple ever.

Peter Van Sant: Did you’re feeling like she’d discovered the person of her desires?

Kelly Hanna: Completely. … David via all appearances was once a gorgeous stepparent. She referred to as him bonus dad.

Gretchen and David Anthony on their marriage ceremony day. / Credit score: Fb

However pals say the couple’s dream lifestyles got here aside in past due 2019, after they separated, and David moved out in their house.

Kelly Hanna: And it more or less appeared like they each … misplaced themselves slightly bit, and so they have been looking out extra for their very own self-identity.

Now Gretchen’s internal circle was once coping with a possible life-or-death scenario.

Kelly Hanna: After which swiftly, there may be ordinary mobile phone messages.

Over a number of days, beginning on Monday, March 23, family and friends gained a chain of texts from Gretchen, who stated she was once at house in quarantine. She despatched this one to her daughter, who was once staying together with her ex-husband:

PETER VAN SANT [reading texts]: “Just right morning. Examined certain for Coronavirus early this morning. That implies I’ve to stick right here for no less than two weeks …”

Her daughter responded: “OK I actually hope you get well”

Chrichet Mixon says there have been more than one texts from Gretchen’s telephone over the following 3 days, describing her deteriorating situation.

CHRICHET MIXON [reading text]: “I consulted with the virus screening hotline and admitted myself into the Jupiter Scientific Middle’s emergency room …”

Peter Van Sant: So. that is critical stuff. What does the circle of relatives do with those texts?

Chrichet Mixon: The circle of relatives reveals the textual content messages that they are getting from Gretchen to be worrisome, alarming.

What disturbed everybody receiving those texts is that no person — now not even Gretchen’s daughter — had gained a telephone name from her.

Kelly Hanna: That simply — there may be such a lot of issues which might be so unsuitable.

Together with texts claiming that she’d been transferred to an “off-site clinical facility being run at once via the CDC” in Belle Glade, greater than hour away in central Florida. However there is a downside.

Chrichet Mixon: There’s no CDC facility in Belle Glade, Florida.

Peter Van Sant: So, this newsletter message, allegedly from Gretchen’s personal telephone, it sounds as if was once now not despatched via Gretchen.

Chrichet Mixon: It indubitably was once now not despatched via Gretchen.

Dave Aronberg, the State Lawyer for Palm Seaside County is of the same opinion.

Dave Aronberg: Obviously, whoever had despatched the ones textual content messages have been looking to make the most of this pandemic, of the concern in the market, looking to exploit the location.

Kelly Hanna: So, issues weren’t including up and issues weren’t including up in no time.

Chrichet Mixon: The circle of relatives, together with pals, made the verdict to achieve out to legislation enforcement to do a welfare test on Gretchen Anthony.

911 CALL: I want to get lend a hand for my buddy that is lacking. I do not understand how to place into phrases, however I do know she’s in very grave threat presently.

Jupiter Police Detective Jared Kenerson stuck the case at the night time shift.

Det. Jared Kenerson: We achieve out to the Jupiter Scientific Middle and they didn’t have a report of Gretchen Anthony being a affected person at their facility all over that time frame.

Peter Van Sant: So, swiftly, that is getting critical?

Det. Jared Kenerson: Yeah, that is an enormous worry of mine.

Determined for clues, police looked at the Jupiter Scientific Middle’s car parking zone. They hit pay filth.

Investigators were given a ruin after they found out Gretchen Anthony’s automobile within the car parking zone of the Jupiter Scientific Middle. That is the place the texts stated she was once a affected person. The health facility had no report of her being handled for Covid-19. / Credit score: Palm Seaside County State Lawyer’s Place of job

Chrichet Mixon: Gretchen Anthony’s Mini Cooper was once recovered within the car parking zone of Jupiter Scientific Middle.

Detective Kenerson says what they discovered inside of Gretchen’s automobile was once worrisome: her handbag — sitting in simple sight.

Det. Jared Kenerson: I feel a girl typically carries their handbag with them.

Peter Van Sant: If Gretchen Anthony isn’t in a facility, in a health facility anyplace being handled for COVID, if she does not have COVID, then the place is Gretchen?

Chrichet Mixon: That was once the million-dollar query. No person knew the place Gretchen was once.

WHERE’S GRETCHEN?

March 26, 2020: 5 days had handed since any person had observed Gretchen Anthony. Jupiter Police investigators have been decided to seek out her, in order that they canvassed her community dressed in frame cameras, on the lookout for clues.

They have been surprised when a resident approached them to mention that early at the morning of Saturday, March 21, she heard one thing terrifying.

NEIGHBOR: I heard a actually critical lady’s scream, simply screaming, like she was once being attacked. … After which I heard her scream “No” after which I heard one thing about “it hurts, prevent it.” The scream was once actually critical.

Peter Van Sant: Did this lady name 911?

Det. Jared Kenerson: She didn’t. … Some individuals are nervous about calling the police.

Peter Van Sant: Whilst you heard that tale, what are you pondering?

Det. Jared Kenerson: I am pondering that one thing indubitably came about at Gretchen Anthony’s house Saturday morning.

Officials turned into much more involved when any other neighbor informed them he later spotted a soapy substance flowing from beneath Gretchen’s storage door.

At Gretchen Anthony’s house, investigators found out a possible crime scene. Police say this symbol seems to turn stains from a mysterious soapy substance at the driveway. / Credit score: Palm Seaside County State Lawyer’s Place of job

Peter Van Sant: Any individual was once in there cleansing.

Det. Jared Kenerson: That is what I take from that. … We found out that her front door that leads from her patio into her storage, that door was once locked, and it had the important thing damaged off within the deadbolt.

May just Gretchen be inside of? Investigators wasted no time learning.

Chrichet Mixon: They pressure access into the storage and there was once no Gretchen inside of. Then again, they spotted that there was once a robust, stinky scent of a cleansing agent within the storage.

With frame cameras rolling, investigators searched the house a number of occasions. They discovered proof suggesting a violent combat: a damaged image body, shards of glass on Gretchen’s mattress, and a stained towel.

As police persevered to search for clues, they discovered a stained towel sitting on best of Gretchen Anthony’s washer. It later examined certain for a blood-like substance. / Credit score: Palm Seaside County State Lawyer’s Place of job

Chrichet Mixon: There was once a work of fabric that had what’s what’s known as BLS, a blood-like substance, on it.

They were given an enormous ruin after they found out neighbors had taken pictures of a black Nissan pickup truck parked close to Gretchen’s house after the terrifying screams.

Peter Van Sant: And who owns a black Nissan pickup truck?

Det. Jared Kenerson: David Anthony.

David Anthony – Gretchen’s estranged husband.

Det. Jared Kenerson: His car was once there that morning.

Investigators realized from family and friends that Gretchen had filed for divorce in February 2020, and David had moved in together with his mom. That is when David’s former boss Tabitha Hopkins says he turned into more and more volatile.

Tabitha Hopkins: He regressed behavior-wise, slowly turned into extra onerous to regulate.

Gretchen’s circle of relatives informed investigators she frightened about her protection after the separation and had safety cameras put in right through her house and storage.

Peter Van Sant: Who was once she scared of?

Det. Jared Kenerson: I used to be informed that she had the cameras put in as a result of David had returned to her house after he left.

Peter Van Sant: Once they had separated?

Det. Jared Kenerson: That is proper.

Kenerson found out the ones cameras were got rid of from the partitions — perhaps to smash incriminating proof. However he realized that whilst the cameras have been long past, the pictures they recorded might be recovered from the cloud.

Det. Jared Kenerson: We ship a seek warrant to her digicam supplier.

Chrichet Mixon: It’s believed that this might doubtlessly be the most efficient piece of proof at this level that might give us some path as to the place is Gretchen Anthony?

Whilst they waited for that the most important proof, investigators scrambled to determine simply what David Anthony knew about Gretchen’s disappearance. They went to search for him at his mom’s house, once more with frame cameras rolling.

SUSAN WARNER: Who’s it?

DET. JOSEPH COUNIHAN: Jupiter police. Hi. Hello. Sorry to trouble you.

David’s mother stated she, too, had gained a relating to textual content from Gretchen.

SUSAN WARNER: Gretchen’s been in contact with me ‘purpose she’s within the CDC Middle. She has the virus.

DET. JOSEPH COUNIHAN: OK. What CDC heart is she at?

SUSAN WARNER: I do not know. She texted me this morning and stated she was once in there. I’ve the textual content, do you want to peer it?

DET. JOSEPH COUNIHAN: I would like to.

A textual content message despatched from Gretchen Anthony’s telephone. / Credit score: Palm Seaside County State Lawyer’s Place of job

When officials requested her the place her son was once, they change into alarmed.

SUSAN WARNER: He had stated he was once going to Costa Rica.

David’s mom informed them that he packed up his truck, and on Tuesday, March 24, 2020, 3 days after Gretchen disappeared, he grabbed his canine Kobe, and hit the street.

Chrichet Mixon: When they know that … he is trying to escape the rustic, he indubitably turns into a suspect. They’re very suspicious of him.

Including to their suspicion is what they found out at the video retrieved from the Jupiter Scientific Middle Parking Lot, the place Gretchen’s automobile was once discovered.

Chrichet Mixon: There was once safety pictures that confirmed Gretchen Anthony’s MINI Cooper pulling right into a parking zone and there’s a tall determine … strolling clear of her car.

Chrichet Mixon: David Anthony is set 6’7″, 6’8″.

Peter Van Sant: And does that appear to be … anyone who might be 6’7″, 6’8″?

Chrichet Mixon: Completely.

Investigators have been satisfied David Anthony was once someway desirous about Gretchen’s disappearance. Now, monitoring Gretchen’s mobile phone might be key to discovering David.

Det. Jared Kenerson: They to find that Gretchen’s telephone is pinging off a tower within the space of Pensacola, Florida.

Peter Van Sant: That is like 600 miles away.

Det. Jared Kenerson: Sure. … Her telephone was once at the transfer.

Chrichet Mixon: There may be a large number of shifting portions right here, proper? So, we are looking to nonetheless resolution the query, the place’s Gretchen Anthony? … The place is David Anthony? And so, those mobile phone information change into an overly important section in in finding David Anthony.

David Anthony is observed promoting Gretchen’s jewellery in Jupiter, Florida. / Credit score: CBS Information

Investigators say telephone information helped monitor David throughout Florida as he left a paper and video path — cameras recorded him preventing at jewellery retail outlets to promote Gretchen’s jewellery. One retailer proprietor shared a memorable dialog.

Chrichet Mixon: That he got here in in need of to promote some jewellery that were left to him via a circle of relatives member that had died from COVID-19.

Peter Van Sant: COVID?

Chrichet Mixon: Sure.

Peter Van Sant: COVID moves once more on this case.

Chrichet Mixon: COVID moves once more.

Det. Jared Kenerson: And in most of these movies that we have been in a position to acquire from those other companies, nowhere was once Gretchen observed.

Whilst David Anthony was once leaving a tantalizing path of digital breadcrumbs, he had one massive merit. Consider, they’d realized from his mom that he was once on his strategy to Costa Rica and might be lengthy long past.

Chrichet Mixon: We at the moment are working days at the back of David Anthony, working out that his intentions at this level are to depart the rustic.

Peter Van Sant: So, it is now — from his standpoint — catch me if you’ll be able to.

Chrichet Mixon: Sure. … Now we are at the hunt for David Anthony.

THE MANHUNT

To her buddy Kelly Hanna, Gretchen Anthony was once anyone who attached straight away with everybody she met.

Kelly Hanna: She was once so radiant and simply had this mild gracefulness about her, had essentially the most stunning chuckle.

Any individual who must someway be safe from hurt.

Kelly Hanna: In an excellent international, you might hope and pray the ones other people have angels round them to stay them protected.

However now, Gretchen were lacking for 6 days.

Kelly Hanna: What’s going on? And why is my stunning buddy lacking?

Assistant Prosecutor Chrichet Mixon knew the important thing to discovering Gretchen was once discovering her estranged husband David Anthony.

She were informed David was once at the run to Costa Rica and had a head get started.

Chrichet Mixon: We are looking to make up time. We are looking to transfer briefly and play catch-up.

Investigators tracked Gretchen’s and David’s mobile phone alerts, which perceived to position each telephones travelling in combination — heading westward throughout Texas.

Peter Van Sant: Now, does that counsel the 2 of them … could also be on a go back and forth in combination … that she might be able to nonetheless be alive?

Det. Jared Kenerson: It means that their telephones are pinging in combination to me.

Detective Jared Kenerson did not know what came about to Gretchen, however feared the worst. As he waited for proof taken from Gretchen’s house to come back again from the lab, he issued a BOLO – an alert to be searching for David’s black Nissan truck.

Det. Jared Kenerson: His car was once indexed as a criminal car.

Investigators dug into David’s previous, and what they realized was once surprising.

Dave Aronberg: So, David Anthony at the start was once referred to as David Anthony Deutsch after which later modified his identify to David Anthony.

Kelly Hanna: No one knew that. He is native to the Palm Seaside space, he went to the similar highschool my kids went to … it was once bizarre that no person discovered there was once a distinction.

No one discovered, as an example, that as David Anthony Deutsch, a celebrity faculty basketball participant, he held up a Blockbuster video retailer armed with a squirt gun and assaulted a police officer. He reached a plea deal in every case and spent a brief stint in prison.

David Anthony Deutsch was once arrested in 1997 for a holdup at a Blockbuster Video retailer. / Credit score: Pinellas County Sheriff’s Place of job

Dave Aronberg: David Anthony has had a historical past of prison behavior. … It is not that unusual for anyone with a prison previous to check out to flee that previous.

Tabitha Hopkins, David’s former boss on the gymnasium in Jupiter, had spotted one thing atypical about David.

Tabitha Hopkins: He is very gifted and his ability stage was once wonderful, however his moods might be top or low.

Peter Van Sant: Do you’re feeling as although he does have this Jekyll and Hyde character?

Tabitha Hopkins: A hundred percent.

Tabitha says he turned into so tricky to regulate, she was once compelled to fireside him in 2017. She gave him a moment likelihood a couple of years later, however via early 2020, he was once more and more volatile.

Tabitha Hopkins: I principally stated, “what is going on? What is unsuitable with you? … You don’t seem to be the similar person who I knew.”

Tabitha says she was once compelled to fireside him once more, and this time, she stuck a glimpse of David’s scary rage.

Tabitha Hopkins: That glance I would by no means observed sooner than. He was once offended.

Shaken, Tabitha texted Gretchen – on the time separated from David – with a caution: “STAY AWAY FROM HIM.”

Tabitha Hopkins: She had stated that he’s loopy … That is the remaining time I talked to Gretchen.

That was once February of 2020.

Then, a couple of weeks later — simply seven days sooner than Gretchen disappeared — this came about:

Riviera Seaside Police frame cam video:

DAVID ANTHONY: Can I stand up?

FEMALE OFFICER: No! Get down!

DAVID ANTHONY: I am status up!

FEMALE OFFICER: Get down!

Police gained a record that David was once allegedly following teenaged women at a close-by buying groceries heart. As soon as once more police frame cameras have been rolling after they approached him.

FEMALE OFFICER Get down!

With Kobe sitting quietly within the truck, David lashed out and was once charged with resisting arrest.

MALE OFFICER: Forestall resisting me!

MALE OFFICER: Sir! Flat to your face, palms out like an aircraft!

David spent only a few days in prison. Investigators realized he posted bail and was once launched simply 3 days sooner than Gretchen disappeared. Now, as they tracked him move nation, they knew they’d a unstable guy at the free – and he was once being cagey.

Chrichet Mixon: He would activate mobile phones and we’d be able to get a location after which he would flip mobile phones off.

On March 27, 2020, David’s telephone pinged in Pecos, Texas, greater than 1,600 miles clear of Jupiter.

The next day to come, David’s telephone pinged in Las Cruces, New Mexico. Detective Kenerson right away reached out to Las Cruces police for lend a hand.

Nonetheless monitoring his telephone – and armed with an outline of the truck – Las Cruces police positioned David and pulled him over.

When officials requested David about Gretchen, he informed them she had COVID.

DAVID ANTHONY: Remaining I heard she was once in a CDC facility getting remedy for coronavirus.

When Las Cruces police processed David Anthony’s car, they recovered those mobile phones; one belonged to Gretchen Anthony. Investigators consider it was once utilized by David to ship the ones pretend textual content messages from Gretchen. / Credit score: Palm Seaside County State Lawyer’s Place of job

Las Cruces police seized David’s truck and his possessions, together with his telephone and Gretchen’s telephone. However they did not have sufficient proof to convey David in for wondering. So, together with Kobe, he was once allowed to simply stroll away.

Peter Van Sant: The place does he pass?

Det. Jared Kenerson: I do not know the place he went. However I knew that he was once in Las Cruces on foot.

Peter Van Sant: And you are right here in Florida. What do you do?

Det. Jared Kenerson: We’re expecting the result of Gretchen Anthony’s video cameras.

On March 30, 2020, Jupiter Police in any case gained the digital recordings from Gretchen’s house. They launched parts of that proof, like video from safety cameras revealing a tall determine hidden within the shadows at the patio … ready to ambush her.

Safety pictures printed this symbol of a determine lurking in Gretchen Anthony’s patio at the remaining day she was once observed alive. / Credit score: Palm Seaside County State Lawyer’s Place of job

Chrichet Mixon: The determine strikes right through the patio space.

Different pictures was once too stressful to unlock to “48 Hours,” together with the instant Gretchen seems at the patio and the determine forces her into the storage. Investigators say they then heard Gretchen calling out to her Alexa instrument for lend a hand.

Chrichet Mixon: She was once screaming for Alexa to name 911.

Peter Van Sant: She’s calling out to that digital field, name 911. In different phrases, name the police.

Gretchen did not understand it, however until you in particular program your Alexa instrument to take action, it does now not name the police in an emergency.

Peter Van Sant: Do you assume if the Alexa unit had referred to as 911, Gretchen Anthony may well be alive nowadays?

Det. Jared Kenerson: It is imaginable.

Video retrieved from cameras within the storage display the remaining photographs of Gretchen alive.

Chrichet Mixon: There comes some extent the place … this person who we see grasp Gretchen, muffle her screams and take her into the storage. This particular person seems to be up and the digicam, realizes that it is a digicam, and proceeds to take that digicam and grab it down off the wall and throws it at the ground.

Peter Van Sant: And what do you notice?

Chrichet Mixon: We see David Anthony taking a look up into the digicam. …We knew that David Anthony killed Gretchen Anthony. He was once the killer.

Investigators have been in a position to recuperate this symbol of David Anthony from Gretchen’s safety digicam in her storage. In a while after, David took the cameras down and hit the street. / Credit score: Palm Seaside County State Lawyer’s Place of job

Investigators in any case had the evidence they had to make an arrest. Detective Kenerson raced to Las Cruces to search for David Anthony.

Det. Jared Kenerson: We searched homeless spaces. We searched accommodations. …

Peter Van Sant: Have been you frightened he was once going to escape?

Det. Jared Kenerson: I used to be very frightened. I did not know the place he will have long past.

At the night of March 31, 2020, officials were given a fortunate ruin after they noticed David strolling his canine Kobe. David was once detained, and Kobe was once taken to a safe haven.

DET. JARED KENERSON: Howdy David.

DAVID ANTHONY: Who’re you?

DET. JARED KENERSON: My identify is Jared Kenerson, I am a detective with the Jupiter Police Division.

With all 6′ 7″ inches of David Anthony filled into the again seat of a small police automobile, Detective Kenerson knelt down to appear at once within the eyes of the person he was once sure had killed Gretchen.

DET. JARED KENERSON: There is a warrant to your arrest, I am gonna provide an explanation for that once—

DAVID ANTHONY: For — for what?

DET. JARED KENERSON: Excuse me?

DAVID: For what?

DET. JARED KENERSON: Murder.

DAVID: For who? [Long silence]

DET. JARED KENERSON: Who do you assume?

DAVID: [Shakes his head] That is why I requested the query.

DET. JARED KENERSON: We will speak about it on the headquarters, OK?

Kenerson had his guy, however nonetheless had one looming query.

Chrichet Mixon: We nonetheless do not need a frame. … The place is Gretchen Anthony?

DENIALS & A DARE

After a manhunt crossing six states spanning just about 2,000 miles, on March 31, 2020, David Anthony was once in any case in custody for the homicide of his estranged spouse Gretchen.

Jupiter detectives Kelly Sanders and Jared Kenerson would interrogate him on the State Police headquarters in Las Crucis, New Mexico. That they had one purpose: get David to expose the site of Gretchen’s frame.

Jared Kenerson: … we have been searching for the reality. We are searching for the place is Gretchen Anthony. I sought after with the intention to inform her circle of relatives, inform her daughter, I do know the place she is. … And that was once essential to us.

In an instant, David made it transparent it would not be simple.

DET. JARED KENERSON: Now we have bought … a warrant to your arrest for homicide.

DAVID ANTHONY: OK. She’s alive.

After a manhunt crossing six states spanning just about 2,000 miles, on March 31, 2020, David Anthony was once in any case in custody for the homicide of his estranged spouse Gretchen. / Credit score: Fb

Kenerson was once surprised when David claimed Gretchen wasn’t lifeless.

Det. Jared Kenerson: Yeah. I used to be in disbelief. I knew that she wasn’t with us anymore.

Peter Van Sant: However he is defiant with you.

Det. Jared Kenerson: That is proper.

Defiant and cheating. Police say the tale David informed was once natural fiction.

DAVID ANTHONY: … so she was once travelling with me as much as El Paso. … We have been riding separate car, so she bolted.

He stated Gretchen was once at the run as a result of she’d found out unlawful actions on the corporate the place she labored, and anyone was once after her.

Peter Van Sant: Are you purchasing any of this?

Det. Jared Kenerson: I am not purchasing it, no.

When requested concerning the textual content messages despatched from Gretchen’s telephone claiming she had COVID — David was once evasive.

DET. JARED KENERSON: There is no report of her being in any health facility for COVID-19. 0 report.

DAVID ANTHONY: OK. Does not — does not imply the rest.

When the detectives driven tougher – insisting David despatched the messages — he driven proper again.

DET. KELLY SANDERS: You could have her telephone. You despatched the textual content messages. You were given — You planted her automobile at Jupiter Scientific Middle since you’re on video doing it.

DET. JARED KENERSON: Now we have all that knowledge.

DAVID ANTHONY: She had me do it. She had me do it.

Kenerson and Sanders even faced David with the proof captured on Gretchen’s personal video device.

DET. KELLY SANDERS: You set your surrender her mouth and dragged her into the storage.

DET. JARED KENERSON: It is on video, David.

DAVID ANTHONY: She’s nonetheless alive.

David’s tale by no means modified – he time and again informed the detectives Gretchen was once alive.

DAVID ANTHONY: She’s alive.

All through the interrogation, Detectives Kenerson and Kelly Sanders [not pictured] informed David Anthony that they’d him on digicam ambushing Gretchen. However he insisted she was once alive 35 occasions. / Credit score: Jupiter Police Division

Actually, all over the process the interrogation, David Anthony made that declare 35 occasions.

Peter Van Sant: Actually, he says that again and again and over that she’s alive. Why is he pronouncing that?

Det. Jared Kenerson: He is looking to deflect. David is making an attempt to deflect clear of himself.

With every denial, the detective’s anger rose.

Det. Jared Kenerson: It is very irritating as a result of we all know she’s now not alive. Now we have proof of her now not being alive.

So Kenerson switched ways and attempted to attraction to David’s bond with Gretchen’s younger daughter.

DET. JARED KENERSON [holding up photo]: You spot that little woman proper there? I need you to take a look at her.

DAVID ANTHONY: I really like her dearly. I really like her dearly.

DET. JARED KENERSON: Have a look at her!! I do know you do. Have a look at her actual just right.

And for a short lived second, it appeared adore it may paintings.

DAVID ANTHONY: I used to be the one that taught her the best way to experience a bicycle and shoot a ring and use her consciousness.

DET. JARED KENERSON: And that is the reason superior. Yup and that is the reason superior.

DET. KELLY SANDERS: Then do what is proper for her.

DAVID ANTHONY: I might by no means harm her.

DET. KELLY SANDERS: Now not —

DAVID ANTHONY: I might by no means harm both of them.

DET. KELLY SANDERS: Neatly, you are hurting her not directly via now not letting us know the place her mother is.

DAVID ANTHONY: You will have to ask her.

DET. KELLY SANDERS: We will be able to’t ask her. She’s lifeless.

DET. JARED KENERSON: She’s lifeless.

DAVID ANTHONY: Her mom continues to be alive. I am telling you.

DET. JARED KENERSON: She isn’t alive.

After which David attempted a brand new tactic, he dared them to end up their case.

DET. KELLY SANDERS: Now we have it on video in black and white.

DAVID ANTHONY: You do not need video of me killing her.

DET. KELLY SANDERS: How have you learnt what we’ve?

DAVID ANTHONY: Display it to me.

DET. KELLY SANDERS: Her lifeless —

DAVID ANTHONY: Display me the video!

DET. KELLY SANDERS: Her lifeless frame.

DAVID ANTHONY: Simply display me the video.

DET. KELLY SANDERS: Her lifeless frame is correct there.

DAVID ANTHONY: Display me the video.

DET. JARED KENERSON: I do know that it exists.

DAVID ANTHONY: OK, then display it to me.

DET. JARED KENERSON: You’ll yell and scream all you need.

DAVID ANTHONY: Simply display it to me.

The detectives determined it was once time to take a ruin. They left and despatched officials in to regulate David’s handcuffs.

DET. JARED KENERSON: David, you need a water?

Kenerson got here again on my own, this time, quiet and pleasant.

All through wondering, Detective Kenerson attempted to attraction to David Anthony’s bond with Gretchen’s younger daughter. / Credit score: Fb

He made one remaining emotional plea via taking part in an audio recording of Gretchen’s daughter begging David to inform them the place they may to find her mom. Even that did not paintings.

DAVID ANTHONY: I have raised the lady since she was once 2 years outdated. I do know her voice.

David claimed – falsely – that it wasn’t Gretchen’s daughter’s voice. Infuriated, Kenerson determined to let him have it.

DET. JARED KENERSON: You’re a monster for what you probably did.

DAVID ANTHONY: I had not anything to do with it.

DET. JARED KENERSON: You’re a monster.

DAVID ANTHONY: You did not even like, you did not even, you are now not even doing all of your homework, guy.

DET. JARED KENERSON: You’re a monster.

DAVID ANTHONY: Do your homework, Jared. Do your homework.

DET. JARED KENERSON: You’re a monster for what you probably did, and everyone goes to take a look at you favor that.

After greater than two hours, David hastily ended the interview.

DAVID ANTHONY: I’m going to ask for a legal professional.

DET. JARED KENERSON: No downside.

DET. JARED KENERSON: I am not asking you any further questions.

Det. Jared Kenerson: I am nonetheless questioning the place Gretchen is. I wasn’t in a position to depart that interview realizing the place she was once, and that did not essentially take a seat properly with me.

David Anthony was once charged with second-degree homicide and extradited to Florida. Days later, his canine Kobe was once followed via new house owners. In Jupiter, David’s arrest made the scoop.

NEWS REPORT: In line with a simply launched arrest record, a neighbor heard a girl’s blood-curdling scream at about six within the morning March 21.

When Kelly Hanna noticed the tale, she says it broke her middle.

Kelly Hanna: I simply sat down on my bed room ground and simply cried my eyes out, cried my eyes out for her daughter, for her sisters, for her folks, for everybody who beloved her.

David’s former boss Tabitha Hopkins felt she’d misplaced two pals.

Tabitha Hopkins: It was once simply stunning. … I sought after to consider it wasn’t true, however it was once clearly.

Prosecutor David Aronberg had proof, and a suspect in custody, however he knew getting a conviction would not be simple.

Dave Aronberg: Essentially the most troubling factor for the circle of relatives and for all folks, relatively frankly, was once that we didn’t have Gretchen’s frame. … And while you do not need a frame or a fashion of dying, the ones are difficult circumstances to prosecute.

And David Anthony knew it.

A PLEA FOR GRETCHEN

Whilst David Anthony was once held in custody in Palm Seaside County, Florida, a grand jury indicted him at the fee of kidnapping and raised the homicide fee from moment diploma to first.

Peter Van Sant: May just he have confronted the dying penalty with those fees?

Chrichet Mixon: Doubtlessly. … Sure, for first-degree homicide.

However the seek for Gretchen Anthony’s stays persevered.

Dave Aronberg: That was once the article he had in his choose if this ever went to trial …

Chrichet Mixon: It was once nearly as although it was once his price tag.

Chrichet Mixon: It was once the worst a part of it for me, the truth that he was once in a position to make use of proof of his crime as leverage.

That truth additionally weighed closely on Gretchen’s circle of relatives.

Chrichet Mixon: The considered Gretchen being in the market on my own endlessly was once very unsettling for them. … I feel the circle of relatives sought after lifestyles in jail, however they sought after Gretchen.

In December 2020, with the wintry weather vacations looming, it was once changing into tragically obvious that government would possibly by no means to find Gretchen with out her alleged killer’s lend a hand.

Dave Aronberg: And so, we entered into negotiations with David Anthony’s protection legal professional. And we are in a position to determine a agreement of 38 years in jail.

That agreement required David Anthony to plead accountable to second-degree homicide and expose the site of Gretchen’s stays.

Chrichet Mixon: David Anthony pleads accountable.

In the end, the protection pictures that investigators recovered from Gretchen Anthony’s house — and different proof — helped protected a accountable plea for second-degree homicide and kidnapping towards David Anthony. / Credit score: Las Cruces Police Division

On December 21, 9 months to the day after Gretchen Anthony went lacking, David Anthony in any case admits what everybody already knew: he murdered his spouse.

Chrichet Mixon: We have been in a position to seek out Gretchen that day.

Chrichet Mixon: It was once a aid as a result of I do know that’s what her circle of relatives sought after, and with the intention to give that to them, it intended so much.

David Anthony selected a nondescript patch of grass, only a few miles from her area, at the back of a Walmart and subsequent to a retirement house to cover his spouse’s stays. Detective Jared Kenerson took “48 Hours” there.

Peter Van Sant: How does anyone bury a frame right here and now not get stuck?

Det. Jared Kenerson: I do not know. I do not know.

Peter Van Sant: This discovery, that will have to had been relatively a second for you.

Det. Jared Kenerson: It was once very emotional for me. It was once very emotional for all folks that have been concerned.

After months of uncertainty, Gretchen’s circle of relatives may in any case lay her to leisure.

Chrichet Mixon: And I may see as onerous of a time as this has been or were for the circle of relatives, I may see that there was once some form of peace.

An post-mortem was once carried out, which defined why that neighbor heard screams the morning Gretchen disappeared.

Peter Van Sant: What was once the reason for dying?

Det. Jared Kenerson: The reason for dying was once stab wounds to the neck and to the torso.

Chrichet Mixon: … there have been some defensive wounds. … She fought for her lifestyles.

On January 14, 2021, Gretchen’s sister, Sarah Carey, and the remainder of their circle of relatives got here head to head with David Anthony at his sentencing listening to.

SARAH CAREY: You used what you probably did to barter one thing for your self … You’re natural evil.

SARAH CAREY: You stole a mom clear of her kid, a daughter clear of her mom … You’re a monster. You’re a coward. … You’ll by no means be forgiven.

Then, it got here time for the person who created all this ache to talk. He gave a ordinary cause of his movements.

DAVID ANTHONY: My illusions noticed the COVID pandemic as an finish of the arena prophecy, an Armageddon that I felt pressured to flee regardless of the fee. … As an alternative of being a person, I selected to be a coward. I attempted to scouse borrow what wasn’t mine, and within the procedure, I finished a lifestyles. Her lifestyles had worth, her lifestyles had that means, and I stole that lifestyles.

Kelly Hanna: I’m going to name B.S. on that, onerous. Hogwash. … That is appalling. Completely appalling.

And he left such a lot of questions unanswered.

Chrichet Mixon: We will be able to by no means know. We will be able to by no means know. We will be able to by no means know why he ended Gretchen’s lifestyles.

Kelly Hanna: I feel that is the toughest query to invite is why. And every so often you simply want to consider that there are upper powers in position that experience a larger plan.

Gretchen Anthony and her daughter. / Credit score: Fb

And now Gretchen’s family and friends are left looking to make sense of all of it.

Peter Van Sant: How is Gretchen’s daughter doing?

Chrichet Mixon: You understand, kids are resilient. She is blessed to have her father in her lifestyles … and she or he seems to be doing properly.

Kelly Hanna: So, if one particular person was once touched via how a lot she beloved other people, via how a lot she beloved her kid, via how a lot she simply beloved dwelling lifestyles to the fullest … then her lifestyles mattered.

David Anthony is scheduled to be launched from jail in 2058. He’s going to be 81 years outdated.

Produced via Chris O’Connell and Mary Ann Rotondi. Ryan N. Smith, Cindy Cesare, Claire St. Amant, Tamara Weitzman and Sara Ely Hulse are the improvement manufacturers. Michelle Feuer is the sphere manufacturer. Shaheen Tokhi and Chelsea Narvaez are the affiliate manufacturers. Marcus Balsam, Michelle Harris and James Taylor are the editors. Anthony Batson is the senior broadcast manufacturer. Nancy Kramer is the manager tale editor. Judy Tygard is the manager manufacturer.

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