Crime Stories with Nancy Grace - Urgent search for missing autistic child! Trial starts in case of teen burned alive

Episode Date: September 26, 2018

Little Maddox Ritch has been missing since he ran ahead of his father during a weekend walk in a North Carolina park. Nancy Grace and Alan Duke update the search for the non-verbal autistic boy. Nancy next looks at the retrial of the man accused of killing Jessica Chambers by setting her on fire. Experts include psychotherapist Lauren Howard, lawyer Ashley Willcott, medical examiner Dr. Jan Gorniak, forensics expert Joseph Scott Morgan, and reporter Shane Deitert. Grace also shares her opinion on the sex assault allegations against Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh. She is joined by psychologist Caryn Stark,  prosecutor Wendy Patrick, forensics expert Karen Smith, and syndicated radio host Dave Mack.  Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

You're listening to an iHeart Podcast. Crime Stories with Nancy Grace. Thank you all for your love and support. And I just want to say, I want my baby back in my arms. The desperate cries of a mother. And for this one moment, as painful as it is, let yourself go there. The mother of a six-year-old autistic boy. They need your help and prayers.

Tip line 704-869-1075. There is a $10,000 reward. 704-869-1075. Of course, I'm talking about a beautiful, beautiful little boy that goes missing in North Carolina in the woods along with his father. The fact that he is nonverbal and autistic is making this even more difficult for law enforcement and FBI that have now been called to the scene. In fact, police have gone to the measure of playing out recordings of his mother and father calling out his name, Maddox, Maddox, hoping to lure the boy out of the woods, the very dense woods. The search has been going on. Joining me right now, Crime Stories, Alan Duke. Alan,

what happened? This little boy was walking in a park with his dad. It's something that Ian Rich, the father, says they do all the time. They were walking around the lake in this 260-acre park when the boy ran ahead, which is not unusual, but he kept running. And despite the father calling for him, he kept running until he was out of sight. The father then, of course, as you could understand, panicked, and the search began. Alan, listen, I know it may sound far-fetched to a lot of people, but I've taken John David and Lucy on hikes and they do run ahead of me and they do circle the bend and I get so nervous and anxious. I start running and I catch up with them. And I hate to say, don't run, don't have fun, slow down. I hate to be that mom. So I try to just keep up with them and keep them in sight. The father is eaten up with guilt right now.

Take a listen to the dad just this morning with our friends at GMA. I wouldn't have let him get so far away from me. I could see him until a certain point. He got out of my view. And that's whenever I never seen him again. Everybody looks at you as a monster and I've regretted that since the moment it's happened. It's been hard to sleep.

I feel guilty because I can go into a house, lay down on a bed, and my little boy might be out there in the woods. And the FBI has clearly said stop posting things online that are deterring their investigation, comparing this to the Chris Watts case, the father that we know murdered his wife. They're saying, please stop that. That is only detracting from their search. And I find that very persuasive coming from the FBI. You don't hear that every day from the FBI.

Now, I want you to brace yourself. Take a listen to mommy. I just want to thank each and every person who has reached out to me about Maddox wanting to help find him. I would appreciate it if you were at the park Saturday and saw Maddox. So please, urgently, please call the tip line, please. Continue praying for him because I just want my baby home, please. Whatever you can do. Maddox is my whole world and my reason for living. He's mama's boy. Maddox loves the park, he loves bouncy balls, and he loves his teddy bear. His smile is so contagious and his laughter is so precious.

If you think that you have seen Maddox, please reach out to police. Thank you all for your love and support, and I just want to say, I want my baby back in my arms. You know, Alan, you're a father and I'm a mother. And hearing that mother, Maddox, his mom speaking, I could hardly stand to even hear it. Because I'm thinking my own children, if one of them were lost. For those of you just joining us, we're talking about a beautiful six-year-old boy who was nonverbal and autistic. Who went running ahead of his dad in a North Carolina park, the Rankin Lake Park, like they always do. And the dad was calling, slow down, slow down, hold on, hold on. The boy

kept running. And then when the dad got around the bend, he didn't see the boy and kept looking and looking and looking for him and started panicking. And now, how long has it been, Alan, since Maddox disappeared? It was from this weekend. And the search is huge. 260-acre park, they've expanded it beyond that. By the way, this is what they're really looking for in particular. If you were at that park that day, they saw a professional photographer that they want to talk to,

plus they saw a jogger that they've not reached. If you know who that might be, call the police and we do have a tip line. Please, please help us find this boy. You heard his mother and father. Tip line 704-869-1075. Go to crimeonline.com. See Maddox's picture. Find out more about the case. We're doing everything and anything we can do to bring the boy home. Alan, thank you for reporting, but I've got to tell you, just hearing the tip line 704-869-1075. And for the rest of us, let's pray that Maddox will soon be back in his mother's arms alive and well. A beautiful teen girl, a Mississippi cheerleader, the apple of her parents' eye burned alive. Jessica Chambers spotted by a motorist walking limping down the side of the street. Totally and completely burned.

Only the soles of her feet were unscathed. In fact, I recall it like it was yesterday. It was called death by lighter fluid at first because the inside of her mouth and her throat going down into her lungs was burned black, covered with soot like someone had forced lighter fluid down her mouth into her throat and set her on fire even on the inside what a horrific way for for someone to die much less a teen girl i'm nancy grace this is crime stories and you better know it i want justice take a listen to this. While the murder trial for 19-year-old Jessica Chambers was approaching an end nearly one year ago, the confusion for nearly everyone involved was also quickly coming to a boiling point. You might remember back in 2014 that Chambers was found

burned alive on a back road in Panola County, Mississippi, and Quentin Tellis was charged in PENOLA COUNTY, MISSISSIPPI. AND QUINTON TELUS WAS CHARGED IN HER DEATH. SHORTLY THEREAFTER, NEARLY THREE YEARS HAD PASSED AND TELUS STOOD TRIAL IN BATESVILLE, MISSISSIPPI. BUT BY THE END OF THE ACTUAL TRIAL, A MISTRIAL HAD BEEN DECLARED. THIS AFTER THE JURY FAILED TO

REACH A UNANIMOUS VERDICT. YOU MIGHT REMEMBER INSIDE THE COURTHOUSE LAST OCTOBER, WE TOLD YOU JURORS ON THE CASE INITIALLY RETURNED TO THE COURTROOM ON JUDGMENT DAY TO ANNOUNCE A VERDICT. BUT THE JURORS DID NOT REACH A

VERDICT. THEY DID NOT REACH A VERDICT. THEY DID NOT REACH A VERDICT. THEY DID NOT REACH A VERDICT. THEY DID NOT REACH A VERDICT. THEY DID NOT REACH A VERDICT. THEY DID NOT REACH A VERDICT. THEY DID NOT REACH A VERDICT. THEY DID NOT REACH A VERDICT. THEY DID NOT REACH A VERDICT. THEY DID NOT REACH A VERDICT. THEY DID NOT REACH A VERDICT. THEY DID NOT REACH A VERDICT. You might remember inside the courthouse last October. We told you jurors on the case initially returned to the courtroom on judgment day to announce a verdict. But when asked if all jurors were in agreement, the jury foreman told the judge no. And that's when they were sent back to continue deliberations. About 20 minutes later, the jury came back a second time and said a verdict had been reached. ABOUT 20 MINUTES LATER, THE JURY CAME BACK A SECOND TIME AND SAID A VERDICT HAD BEEN REACHED. IT WAS INITIALLY

ANNOUNCED THAT QUINTON TELUS WAS FOUND NOT GUILTY. BUT THE JURORS DID NOT AGREE ON THAT VERDICT WHEN INDIVIDUALLY ASKED BY THE JUDGE. THEN AFTER THE JUDGE SENT THE JURY BACK TWO MORE TIMES TO DELIBERATE, THEY FINALLY RETURNED BEFORE THE

END OF THE DAY WHEN THEY INFORMED THE JUDGE THAT A UNANIMOUS DECISION REGARDING Two more times to deliberate. They finally returned before the end of the day when they informed the judge that a unanimous decision regarding Quintelis' charges could not be made, resulting in a mistrial. That's from our friends at Fox, Scott Mattis. Joining me right now, our investigative reporter, Shane Dieter. Shane, let's start at the beginning. Cops were called to the scene after a motorist spots this teen girl limping along the side of the road against all odds. I mean, the reality is she should have been dead in that car because the car was burned to a crisp. What do we know, Shane? Let's go back to the first moment when first responders arrived. We know that they responded out there. They found Jessica severely burned, barely alive.

Some first responders went to render aid. There was testimony in the first trial that she whispered someone's name. And that has been one of the biggest contentions in this trial from the beginning, or in this case. The DA, John Champion, is saying that she whispered Eric. Others are saying that she whispered a different name. Hold on right there. How to Dr. Jan Gorniak, joining me, Fulton County Medical Examiner. Dr. Gorniak, thank you so much for being with us.

The man that we believe is responsible for the murder of Jessica Chambers is a man named Quentin Tellis. How do they know with her throat burned and covered in soot, her mouth black on the inside, she died? She could hardly speak. She was hardly alive. How do we know she wasn't trying to say Tellis, not Eric? I mean, she couldn't even speak, Dr. Gorniak. You're absolutely right. So when someone has that severe of thermal injuries within their airway, breathing, let alone speaking, I can only imagine how difficult that would be. But I have had a case a few years ago where kind of similar lady was set on fire and she was able to tell the person who found her and say a name. So as unbelievable as it is, I really truly believe that people's will to live and to tell their story. We try to say as forensic pathologists

that we give a voice to the voiceless, but sometimes they tell their stories, unfortunately, before they die. But like you're saying, we don't know what they said. We're only speculating or that's what we heard. But do we really know that's what she said? You know, with me, in addition to Dr. Jan Gorniak, Fulton County Medical Examiner's Office, is psychologist out of New York, Lauren Howard, juvenile judge and lawyer, founder of ChildCrewatch.com ashley wilcox renowned death

investigator joe scott morgan professor of forensics at jacksonville state university author of blood beneath my feet and reporting today on jessica chambers is shane deidert you know joseph scott morgan i know we all remember when o.j simpsonrenthal James Simpson, got in front of the jury. This was the state's fault, totally, and I don't like throwing a stone at the state, but you never, ever, ever perform a demonstration that you have not practiced. And the main thing you don't do is hand your evidence over to the one person most likely to manipulate it, the defendant. Do you remember Joe Scott Morgan when O.J. Simpson held up the glove and pretended it didn't fit? You remember that?

Yeah, absolutely. And then all the focus was off all the blood evidence, the circumstantial evidence, the direct evidence. It was off that, his suicide attempt, running from police. Who runs from police if they didn't do it? None of that mattered because if it didn't fit, they wouldn't have quit. And in this case, there is a mountain of evidence, including cell records that put Telus with her right up until the time she's killed. And everybody's focused on, did she sayic or tell us yeah it's killing me redirect

redirect redirect and in in this particular case there is a mountain a mountain of physical evidence that leads back uh to this person uh and it's it's it's an it should you know a first appearance it shouldn't be a too difficult hill for the prosecution to claim, I mean, to climb. But, you know, you're talking about, you're talking about, did she or did she not whisper this name, Eric? And in this state that the doctor had mentioned just a moment ago, where this superheated air had traveled into her lungs and her nasal passages, how was she even able to effectively communicate? Who can really say what Jessica actually did say? Well, I want you to hear what Jessica's father, Ben Chambers, tells me. Do you remember the moment when you heard your daughter was a fire victim?

Oh, yes, ma'am. I mean, it's just like it was yesterday you know it was uh I just didn't want to believe it at first when uh they called me you know I thought maybe uh you know she was just burnt just a little bit you know uh didn't uh really didn't couldn't imagine the scale it was you know and I asked Barry was she okay and you, and he got real silent. And he said, no, man, she's not. And that's when my whole world fell, you know. Where were you, Mr. Chambers, when you learned? We'd just come home from Memphis. We had been Christmas shopping or whatever that day.

We hadn't been home maybe 10 minutes when he called. And what did you do? He told me, he wouldn't tell me exactly where it was at. He wanted me to stay there at the house and the sheriff and him come to my house in about five minutes. They was at the house and

he told me, you know, how bad she was burnt and they was flying her to Memphis. And as a matter of fact, when we were standing out in the yard, the helicopter would come over to pick her up. And so I took off to Memphis. We beat the helicopter to Memphis, which is only about 50-something miles from my house. We beat the helicopter there, you know. Let me ask you something. I just went through that, flying, driving as fast as I could to get to my father before he passed away. What do you remember about that drive to try to get to your daughter?

It was just, you know, I was just steady praying to the Lord that she'd be okay, you know, and just begging her to not take her, you know, because I just lost my son a year before she got killed in a car wreck. And my whole world just shut down. And I waited on the doctor and it would seem like it was eternity, you know. And no, it didn't. That's when the doctor, the doctor come out and said he couldn't do nothing for her, you know. She was too bad. You are hearing Ben Chambers speaking to me about discovering his daughter had been a fire victim.

I'm talking about a teen girl, Jessica Chambers, a Mississippi cheerleader who was found wandering by the side of the road. Totally, totally burned. Joining me, Lauren Howard, Dr. Jan Gorniak, Ashley Wilcott, Joe Scott Morgan and Shane Dietert. Ashley Wilcott is just so much for me to even take in. You know, not long ago, and I call it, thank goodness we had insurance, a $700 splinter. Lucy had a splinter in her foot. And she absolutely would throw a big fit when I tried to get it out with a needle.

Nothing would do. Okay, she's the same way when we tried to get it out with a needle. Nothing would do. Okay, she's the same way when we try to give her a shot. She was screaming her head off the other day, and she got the flu shot. I said, Lucy, it's over. The shot has already happened. And she was still going, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah. Long story short, I had to take her to an EMT because I couldn't stand to put the needle in her toe

for 30 seconds to get the splinter out. And of course, not EMT, emergency, you know, dock in a box. Excuse me, Dr. Jan Gorniak. I'm sure that's extremely offensive to everyone that's slayed for like 11 years of medical school. Okay, so $700 plus. Thank you, Lord, for insurance. Okay. dollars thank you lord for insurance okay but i still use a 700 figure to lucy when i catch her walking around without she use her socks on so that's i had that reaction just to trying to get

a splinter out of her darn toe and this father learns his daughter's flesh, she was burned alive, Ashley? So not only that, first of all, he had people calling him, he says, calling him and saying, they lit her on fire, they lit her on fire. Second of all, you've got first responders who said how horrific it was to see her literally walking towards them, completely burned, hair burned off. Can you even imagine? And then there's even a firefighter who was a first responder who said being a firefighter was his lifetime dream. And after this, he quit. He said he couldn't do it. It was that horrible. Now imagine being that child's father. You should never, never lose a 19-year-old child, but especially by means at somebody's hands where

they do this to a person. The father, Ben Chambers, describing the desperate, desperate attempt to get to the hospital. Take a listen to him speaking to me on HLN. When you finally run in the hospital, you're running up and down the halls, you're trying to find her, you get there before the airlift brings her there and you finally see her what did you see well i did i didn't get to see her right then you know it was uh about two hours uh before we uh got to to go back there you know and um the doctor come out and he told me he said said, Mr. Chambers, you don't want to see your daughter out to you. So I said, no, she's unrecognizable, you know. He said, you know, she's unrecognizable. And, you know, he said he'd never seen somebody in part that bad could live as long as she did.

He said she had a strong heart. I mean, she had no veins or nothing where they couldn't even put IVs in or nothing, you know. Mr. Chambers, did you get to speak to her before she went to heaven? No, no, no, ma'am, I did not. Did you get to see her? No, no. If we got ready to go into the room or whatever,

my sister and her mother, Lisa, walked in the rooms and to see, they was in there maybe about 30 seconds, and she passed away. Let me tell you this, Mr. Chambers. I believe with all of my heart that she knew that you were there. You are hearing Jessica's father, Ben Chambers, describing what he went through racing like mad to get to the hospital to see his daughter after he learns that she is burned. She's a fire victim. He hears the helicopters overhead. And those are the helicopters airlifting Jessica to the hospital.

What monster did this to her? You know, Lauren Howard, I'm picking up on him talking about the helicopter going over him while he's standing in his front yard then putting the pieces together to realize that his daughter was in that helicopter being airlifted to try to save her life she died Lauren Howard you're the therapist Lauren joining us from Manhattan Lauren why is it that little details like that stick in your mind I remember a lot of small details and they stand out, you know, as big as a pyramid. When I look back on my fiance's murder or my father passing away, why is that? When you're in the moment, when it's happening, there is a true sense of unreality because it is so unreal. I mean, this is, you know, we go through life managing expectations. And when

things occur that are completely unexpected, we're in a out of reality moment. And so when you're in the moment, you don't have the experience. It's your adrenaline is pumping. You're literally, it's your body is drugging you into surviving the moment. So the necessity to recall in memory what occurred and to go over every fine detail to see, to try to, you want to feel the feeling that you were not able to feel when it was occurring. I mean, this is such an unreality. There's no way anyone could ever anticipate the moment where they are searching for their daughter who's in a helicopter overhead, who's someone set on fire. I mean, you can't possibly prepare for that moment. You know, Lauren Howard, I got to interrupt you just

a moment because as usual, I always ask my guests who are all these experts, private personal information about myself. Okay, so can I ask you a question? You know, very often after we do our program, I have to go and get in the car and drive to school and spy on the children. I know which one is their window from the street. I have to go over there and try to be secretive and cloak and dagger so they don't see mommy staring in with a big set of binoculars. I get so nutted up hearing all this.

I have to go spy on them. Now, you know, they wave at me on the way to the playground because they see me sitting there in the parking lot. Because I just get so overwhelmed hearing all this. What is that? Well, now your sense of reality has been you now you're questioning now the idea of a person being set on fire is no longer an unreality because you have you're working on a case and you see that this occurred therefore it has the potential for reality and so we often say instead of of why me, why not me? Why couldn't the horrible things that

I learned about in the course of my work happen to me, to my family, to my children? So your need is to be grounded in that this is not occurring in your reality. And this fireman who stopped working as a fireman as a result of this, this is what happened for anyone in the medical profession, in the news profession, anyone who is experiencing or being exposed to severe trauma. I mean, New Yorkers believe that planes can fly into buildings now. They didn't think that before 9-11. So when they look above them and there's a plane flying into LaGuardia and it's really low, there is that second of fear about it because it's no longer a non-reality. So, I mean, it's, you know, I just babysat for my granddaughter this weekend and I was up all night just going in and looking in her crib to make sure she was breathing. You know, I mean, what is that? Window treatments is one of those terms for something necessary, but

boring. Your blinds. You don't even think about them unless you move or they break. Well, when they're right, everything in your home looks better. But when they're wrong, everything in your home looks tacky. But let's be honest, taking the time and the effort to pick out and buy blinds sounds expensive, boring, and then think of installing them yourself. Who wants to do that? But Blinds.com makes it really easy for you. Not sure what you want or even where to start? With Blinds.com, you get a free online design consultation. Send them pictures of your home. They send back custom recommendations from a professional for what will work with your color scheme, your furniture, and your specific rooms. They even send you free samples to make sure everything looks as good in person as it does online.

And every order gets free shipping. And this is the best part. If you accidentally mismeasure or pick the wrong color, if you mess it up, Blinds.com will remake your blinds for free. That's unusual. Blinds.com makes it really easy for you. There's no excuse to leave up mangled blinds to make your whole home look cheap and tacky. Don't do it. Go to blinds.com. And now for a limited time, get 20% off everything at

blinds.com. When you use promo code Nancy, repeat 20% off everything at blinds.com. If you use the promo code Nancy, that's blinds. code NANCY for 20% off everything. Faux wood blinds, cellular shades, roller shades, everything. Blinds.com, promo code NANCY. Rules and restrictions do apply. During last year's first trial, nearly a dozen first responders, many emotional, testifying Chambers told them a man named Eric or Derek committed a crime before she died. She had her arms out, was coming towards me, saying, help me, help me, help me.

That was a major sticking point for TELUS's defense attorneys, who argued that admission proved authorities had the wrong person on trial. TELUS' DEFENSE ATTORNEYS, WHO ARGUED THAT ADMISSION PROVED AUTHORITIES HAD THE WRONG PERSON ON TRIAL. Ms. Chambers did not say Quinton set her on fire. She just did not say that. And we cannot ignore that. PENOLA COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY JOHN CHAMPION SAID AT TRIAL HE BELIEVED TELUS SUFFOCATED CHAMBERS BEFORE SETTING HER CAR ON FIRE TO COVER UP EVIDENCE. CHAMPION ALSO ARGUED PHONE CORRESPONDENTS PUT TELUS WITH CHAMBERS THE NIGHT OF HER DEATH. Chambers before setting her car on fire to cover up evidence. Champion also argued phone correspondents put Tellis with Chambers the night of her death. When he's confronted with the physical evidence, the cell phone data, there was no way out for him, none whatsoever. You are hearing our friends at localmemphis.com talking about the first trial

of the man accused of burning teen cheerleader Jessica Chambers to death. His name, Quentin Tellis. Quentin Tellis with a very, very long rap sheet now wanted in connection with the murder of another young girl in Louisiana, a graduate student. That's on hold as he faces retrial in the burning death, the so-called lighter fluid murder of this teen girl, Jessica Chambers. The evidence unfolding in a court right now on retrial. It's happening right now that tell us had been badgering this girl for sex and in their text messages it's revealed she goes no no no no no over and over and over cell phone records place him with her on and out off throughout the day leading up to the time of her death. At that time, cell phone records place him going to his home. Surveillance video shows his sister's car going to his home where we know

by his admission he has a shed where he keeps a gas can full of gas. Then the car leaves his home within two minutes after pulling in and heads in the direction of the fire where Jessica is murdered. The working theory is that after raping her, he strangles her, then decides to destroy the evidence, comes back and finds that she's somewhat still alive. He had just strangled her to unconsciousness, and then he gets rid of the evidence by burning her alive. That's the state's working theory. I want it, and I want it in a nutshell. Shane Dieter, tell me the facts.

Nancy, this whole thing comes down to the name Eric or Derek and his name being Quentin. You played the clip with his attorney. There were several first responders on the scene who said that she whispered to them, Eric. And that, to me, is where the whole thing turns is the defense using this. As you talked about, she was burned so bad.

Was there really a way for her to say something or was she just trying to make noise? The director of the emergency operations in DeSoto County, Daniel Cole, testified that he wasn't for sure what she said because they were behind a fire truck and the scene was so loud and chaotic. But a couple hours after the incident when he wrote his report, he didn't put that in it other than she said, Eric set me on fire. I want to talk about the phone records in this case, the surveillance

video, and the fact that Quentin Tellis changes his story over and over and over. Let me go to you, Ashley Wilcott. Describe your understanding of the phone records combined with his changing stories. So let's start with his changing stories. And that, to me, is one of the most telling things in this case because he waffled in his statements more than once. He did things. He gave alibis, all of which, by the way, Nancy, fell through. Every one of his alibis for that night fell through. And so as he changes his stories and he says, for instance, we had sex in the car and the backseat passenger seat was all the way back. And he said that happened probably two weeks

before she was burned in a car. Well, lo and behold, guess what? The burned car, the seat was reclined in the same position that he described, but said it had happened two weeks before. So there are too many inconsistencies. Now add that to the phone records. There were multiple, multiple texts from him to Jessica, basically wanting to have sex with her. And her response were things that would be interpreted by anyone I know as no, thank you. And I think one of the responses was, oh, Lord. But if you read all the text, clearly she was rejecting him or saying no and didn't want to have sex with him. So you add all that together and it does not pass the smell test.

Well, I don't understand why she's been saying no, no, no, no, no. Suddenly she capitulates that particular evening and ends up dead it doesn't make sense to me one thing testimony revealed is that Quentin Tellis changed clothes that evening and put on a brand new set of clothes when he was caught on security camera that evening at Fred's dollar store in Batesville about 8 30. That's when he was buying a cash card from a girlfriend in Louisiana. I wonder if that's the girl they claim he killed but as it relates to this case Dr. Jan Gorniak if you have set somebody on fire with gasoline, that smell would be all on your clothes, would it not? Nancy, you're correct.

We will be able to smell an accelerant. You can't actually say it's lighter fluid or gasoline or anything like that. But we know the smell of gasoline or lighter fluid, but we would just describe it as a smell of a possible accelerant on the clothes, and then take those clothes and preserve them so the fire department or the crime lab can test to see what accelerant was actually used. Take a listen to our friend Brad Borders at localmemphis.com. It's clip seven. I'm sick. I'm just sick.

My son is a wonderful son. Conflicting emotions and chaos last October after a hung jury and mistrial in the Jessica Chambers murder case. Now nearly a year later, CONFLICTING EMOTIONS AND CHAOS LAST OCTOBER AFTER A HUNG JURY AND MISTRIAL IN THE JESSICA CHAMBERS MURDER CASE. NOW NEARLY A YEAR LATER, PROSECUTORS GET A SECOND CHANCE TO CONVINCE A DIFFERENT JURY TO CONVICT CHAMBERS' ACCUSED KILLER, 29-YEAR-OLD QUINTON TELUS, WHO MAINTAINS HIS INNOCENCE. FIRST RESPONDERS FOUND THE 19-YEAR-OLD CHAMBERS BURNT, STAGGERING AND BARELY ALIVE NEAR HER CHARRED CAR DECEMBER 6TH, 2014 IN CORDELLIN, MISSISSIPPI, 60 MILES SOUTH OF MEMPHIS. A GRAND JURY INDICTED TELUS IN 2016, 14 MONTHS AFTER THE CRIME.

What was this person wearing? When I seen her she had nothing on but her pants. And what did you tell me you did? You got a blanket? I got out and I got a blanket and I got out and I got a blanket.

And you got out and you got a blanket? I got out and I got a blanket. And you got out and you got a blanket? I got out and I got a blanket. And you got out and you got a blanket?

I got out and I got a blanket. And you got out and you got a blanket? I got out and I got a pants. And what did you tell me you did? You got a blanket? I got out and I got a blanket and she had her arms out and was coming towards me saying help me, help me, help me. Nicole, I want you to describe for this jury what type of, what did she look like? What was the condition of Jessica Chambers? Her hair was... Her hair was fried out like she was stuck in a light socket. And she had black all over her face. Her body was severely burned and just all the way down

her body was very badly burned and I proceeded to lay her down on the ground. She reached out for my hand. I held onto her hand. And I talked to her and I asked her her name. name she said what come out like said her mouth inside her mouth was just charred black and could not understand her very well at all. Were you able to get a name? When I asked her her name, she said Jessica Chambers. And like I said, she was not recognizable to me. I know what Jessica Chambers looked like. Did not look like Jessica Chambers at the time. Now, describe her voice for the jury. How was it coming out when you were talking to her? It was very garbled and just dry. I mean, you know, I was face to face with her and she, like I said, you could barely understand her. And she kept asking for water.

And I knew in my mind she didn't need water. I knew that was not the best, you know, not to give her water, held her hand beside her and asked her what happened. And she told me, she said, I was set on fire. Again, was her voice clear? It was not clear. Like I said, you know, some words come, you are able to tell what they were plainly, but it was not clear if that makes sense. Did you ask her who did this to her? I asked her, I said, who did this to you? She tried to say a name.

I could not understand the name. You are hearing testimony from Fire Chief Cole Haley testifying at her first trial about what he saw and heard at the scene where Jessica Chambers was found burned alive. The major evidence in this case is going to be cell phone data. Also, they're going to be looking at the medical examiner's report. Dr. Jan Gorniak, with a body burned to the degree Jessica's body was burned, will they be able to get DNA to determine if she was raped?

Yes, there's a possibility they can still get that specimen because doing a swab of the mouth, actually, so there could be some lighter fluid or burns to the mouth. We do anal swabs. We can do a vaginal swab. And so as long as she's not burned inside, we should still be able to obtain some specimens that could lead to a sexual assault or even injuries. We can look at injuries.

Once again, as experts in injury interpretation, sometimes it's difficult with burns, but if they're not, if she's not charred and it's the first or second, you know, possibly third degree burns in that area, we'll be able to determine if there's any other lacerations or tears that suggest a sexual assault had occurred. It's our understanding that the arson attack, the burning of Jessica Chambers happened in the vicinity of 7.30 to 8.30. The last phone call or text that Jessica ever made occurred at 6.48. That's about 40 minutes before she's attacked. Now, according to his own statement, Quentin Tellis says they were together up until that point in time, nearly 7 o'clock. So to Ashley Wilcott, am I supposed to believe? And then after that, video surveillance shows him going to his home in his sister's car where he keeps a gas can in a shed.

He's only at the home less than two minutes, comes right back out of the driveway and drives off toward her car where it was later found on fire. Okay, we know he keeps gas in the gas can there. Am I supposed to believe, Ashley, that between 6.48 and 7.30, some other person comes and finds her in an obscure spot in the woods and sets her on fire? Somebody else did it? And then he runs home and changes clothes so he won't smell like gasoline? No, this is what we know in court is circumstantial evidence. And when you put all the evidence together to prove that between that timeline, he had to have been the one to do it, I think the prosecution can successfully argue that. I think it's unreasonable and unrealistic to believe that in that very short time frame,

you've just discovered that 648 to 730, that no, he was doing something else. And all the facts add up in this case so that the circumstantial evidence, I think, will prove that he did this. Back to Shane Dieter reporting on the case. What more do we know? What do we know about the Louisiana murder? We know that that is a woman that he was having a relationship with. We know that he took her bank card and that he used her bank card. So that case has been put on hold until this trial here with Jessica Chambers is settled.

He is also in prison for five years in Mississippi on an unrelated burglary charge. So Quentin has been in quite a bit of trouble before. Well, that's certainly one way to put it because when i put the question to her father i want you to hear what he tells me we're talking about jessica chambers soaked in fuel like gasoline in her car on a rural road set on fire and left for death she stumbled to a roadside ditch before she was spotted by a motorist who calls 911. The fire that engulfed her ended up being so incredibly hot, it turned her black Kia Rio completely white. It incinerated her clothes and it blinded her. Speaking of his record, listen to what her dad, Ben Chambers, tells me on HLM.

Can you tell me your reaction when you learned that a guy had been apprehended? He has been apprehended. You know, I'm so glad they called him, you know. It's a bittersweet, but what my whole problem is, why was he even on the street? He should have never been out of jail, you know. The crimes he was committed and the things he'd done while he was in prison, he should have never been out.

He only got out of prison in October, and he killed my daughter in December. But he should have never been out. He only got out of prison in October and he killed my daughter in December. But he should have never been on the street. That's my problem. I don't understand it. I don't understand. How can you get an eight-year sentence and serve a year and have three years before that, you know?

Mr. Chambers, I don't know why. I don't know why he was out. But I can promise you this. I'm going to stay on this until this trial is done. And God willing, until justice is served. The retrial of Quentin Tellis going on now. You have categorically denied that this happened. Did anything happen? No, I've never sexually assaulted anyone, not in high school, not ever. I've always treated women with dignity and respect. Listen to the people who've known me

best through my whole life. The women who've known me since high school, the people who've known me best through my whole life the women who've known me since high school the 65 who overnight signed a letter from high school saying i always treated them with dignity and respect what is real what is not real one of the most significant roles of a president believe it or not is naming supreme Court justices because those nine judges who are on the bench for life, for life, it's not a four-year and eight-year term, it's for life, will shape the future of our jurisprudence. In other words, what those nine people determine will change our lives forever. You were just hearing the Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh categorically denying he ever sex assaulted anyone in high school or college or ever. So where did these women come from?

Are they telling the truth? How did they mysteriously appear at the time of the Supreme Court proceedings? Well, could it be because they never wanted to speak up before? Or were they conjured up by his political opponents? What is the truth? Let's start with the facts. Joining me, syndicated talk show host, Dave Mack. Dave Mack, how did the whole thing start? We heard nothing about these attacks until Kavanaugh was named by Trump as his pick for Supreme Court judge. What do we know? What happened then? Well, we know that the first accuser, Christine Ford, actually sent a letter to Dianne Feinstein a couple of months ago. And that's where the first the first groundswell began with her accusation, leaving this most recent article with Ronan Farrow off to the side for just a minute. These types of accusations, Nancy,

are made after, what, 35 years. And I know that some women don't come forward. And I get that. I'm the father of two daughters. But the reality here is nothing is said about this guy until he becomes a Supreme Court nominee. And in Ms. Ford's commentary and the witnesses she says were there, they're all saying we weren't there. It didn't happen. So the only reason we're even talking about this is because of the media driving this boat and liberals hopping on board to damage a guy who apparently has done nothing wrong hold on just a moment dave mack i don't know what program you think you're on okay i don't have an opinion politically on this i'm not a republican and i'm not a democrat but what i am is a crime victim that wants the truth all right so don't jump up with me telling me

that to suggest this was all conjured up and we don't know. Excuse me, Dave Mack, but have you heard the testimony? Oh, wait! It hasn't started yet! No, but I've read and I've listened to the commentary from those witnesses. You've read what? Let's be clear. I am not a Republican. I'm not a Democrat.

And actually, Nancy... Well, it sure sounds like you are. You know what? Let's just back it up. Let's back it up and talk about what the facts are that we know of. Okay. To Wendy Patrick. We know that Trump nominates Kavanaugh to sit on the Supreme Court. We know after that, Christine Blasey Ford

comes forward we know that she is a mother she has a job she has a life she's a professor she's never heard from her before no trouble seemingly a happy normal person comes forward and says what what is her claim Wendy? Let's just start with that. So she came forward and basically claimed that 36 years ago, she and Kavanaugh were at the same party. She left the main room to walk to the bathroom. Kavanaugh came into the room with another of his friends named Mike Judge. Kavanaugh supposedly pushed her on the bed and was trying to remove her clothing

while Mike Judge egged him on. But there were more details than that, Nancy. There was details about turning up music in case she screamed, Kavanaugh putting his hand over her mouth. These are the allegations she made, and she didn't just make them. Apparently some of this came out during a therapy session years ago, but Kavanaugh's name surfaced recently in connection with the letter she sent to Dianne Feinstein, the senator. But Nancy, that is where we start an investigation.

What Thursday is for is to actually test this history and to allow Judge Kavanaugh at least some modicum of due process to be able to respond because he's basically in a position of trying to prove a negative, proving he didn't do it. Whereas you and I know in a criminal court, he wouldn't have a burden of proof. But those were the initial allegations that have really taken us to where we are today to giving both she and Judge Kavanaugh an opportunity to address this in front of the Senate. Well, I don't believe her and I don't believe him. Conversely, I believe her and I believe him. My mind is totally open on this. Now, I'm coming from a point of view where I'm a crime victim.

I've represented sex assault victims in the past. The fact that her story is rich in detail suggests that it's true. The fact that she's waited all these years to come forward suggests that it's true. The fact that she's waited all these years to come forward suggests that it's false. However, I know that victims very often never come forward and they don't say anything until they feel like they have to. Who is Christine Margaret Blasey Ford? Okay, she's born 1966. She's known professionally as Christine Blasey. She is a psychologist and professor of statistics at Palo Alto University. She has published in her field. She specializes in designing statistical models for research projects.

She has worked as a research psychologist for Stanford. It goes on and on and on. She's alleging this sex assault occurred in 1982. What more do we know about her? We know that she has a stellar professional life. We also know she lives with her husband that she married in 2002. She's got two sons. We know that she is a registered Democrat. We know that she has protested Trump. What does that mean to me? Does that mean she's telling the truth or has she been plucked out of obscurity to make this claim?

I'm curious about the guy that was the alleged witness. Back to you, Dave Mack. Who is Mike Judge that she says was in the room, and what does he say? Well, he says that he doesn't recall the party and doesn't recall what her claim is. And again, we are talking about high school now. We're talking about she was 15, the guys were allegedly 17, and Judge says, I don't know what she's talking about. I remember high school perfectly well. Me too. And all its glory and pain of going through high school. What can you tell me, Dave Mack, about another allegation now surfacing against Kavanaugh?

Okay, there was a recent article published with Ronan Farrow's byline, and it was in the New Yorker. This is an article, I got to point this out, Nancy, several other publications refused to print because they just couldn't substantiate the claim. Deborah Ramirez is claiming sexual misconduct on the part of Kavanaugh, claiming it happened to her while she was at Yale University in a dormitory party, 83, 84 year in that timeframe. And she's claiming that during a drinking game that Kavanaugh exposed himself and got even a little bit further than that. But she did name eyewitnesses, people that were allegedly there. And the four people that she named have all already said didn't happen, weren't there,

never even heard about this so again 35 years ago there's a claim and the four people that she names all say it didn't happen we we weren't there i know what she's talking about okay i don't really know how we would prove a case like this if it went to a jury trial with me karen Smith, a forensics expert joining me out of Florida. She and I have conducted many, many forensic experiments together. Karen, say I look at everything from a world of black and white, can I bring it into evidence? What can you do with these claims forensically? Nothing. There is no forensics. And that's the problem with these cases. They're he said, she said. And Nancy, you know, this has become so politicized and so spun up on

both sides. And in my mind, there is only one way to, you know, even if we can get to the bottom of this, it's through the FBI. Allow them to do a full, fair, and unbiased investigation into all of these claims. Interview everyone. Get to the bottom of what they know, whether they were there or not. Get their testimony. Get their statements. And then go from there. It is beyond me why we have not allowed the FBI to interview these people and find out the truth as far as we can after so

many years have passed. It's only fair to everybody involved and it's only fair to the American public. Karen Stark joining me, a psychologist joining me out of New York. Karen, very often victims don't ever come forward. I mean, everybody on this panel, hasn't something ever happened to you you've never told anybody? Okay? Because it has to me. And I don't see any reason I should. Well, Karen, why, my question is different.

Why are we rushing forward? Why can't we find out the truth through the FBI before we go forward with anything? What's the problem with that? Well, I think part of why it's being rushed forward, Nancy, is because he's been, you know, put up as somebody to be, he's going to be in this very, very important position. And we are living in a time when everything is so polarized and it's Democrat or Republican. So people come on board and forget that this is an issue that is very important. I'm reminded, and I know I'm not the only one to keep reading about it now, of Anita Hill.

She was condemned for coming forward after so many years. Yet, if you know, I know, as a psychologist, that that is absolutely the truth. Not that her story is true, I can't know that, but I do know that people do not speak up. It's shameful, it's embarrassing, and I would suspect that there was no reason for her to share this story, except in therapy, as she did, or if she's concerned that someone's going to be in a very important position making laws about our country, and then gets concerned that that person is not the right person to be in that position. Well, wait, Anita Hill, who is now a feminist icon, remember she came forward about Clarence

Thomas, the current Supreme Court justice from Pinpoint, Georgia. As I recall, what stands out in my mind about that is his affinity with the porn actor Long Dog Silver. You know, I don't want to make the same mistake twice. Why can't we just put the brakes on it and find out the truth? Nancy Grace, Crime Story, signing off. Goodbye, friend. You're listening to an iHeart Podcast.