Clear Lake Murders– Christine Paolilla

Transcript

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When Christine Polilla , from Long Island , new York , was a young girl , she was diagnosed with a alopecia and , as a result , started to lose her hair . Wanting to fit in with the other kids at school , she took to wearing wigs . As a teenager she attended

Christine's Early Life and Friendships

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Clear Lake High School , where she fell in with the popular crowd consisting of Rachel Colorado's and Tiffany Rowell . The majority of the other students mocked her , but Rachel and Tiffany truly took her under their wing and gave her beauty advice and took her shopping . Christine later described them as the only people who wouldn't stab me in the back After being voted Miss . Irresistible at 17 years old , christine started dating 21-year-old Christopher Lee Snyder . Welcome to this episode of Human Wreckage . If you like what I do , please subscribe and like . This case is about Christine Palilla and the life she lived . Let's

Drug Addiction and Legal Troubles

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get into it . So things for the couple took a grim turn when they both became addicted to drugs . In December of 23 , christopher had a drug offense for which he pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 20 days in jail . In October of 2003 , christine and Christopher were charged with theft . Christine served six months of probation , while Christopher entered a guilty plea and was sentenced to 10 years in jail . In July of 24 , christine was charged with burglary of a vehicle in Seabrook . She was fined $4,000 , but $3,700 of that fine was deferred . She was sentenced to one year probation , which ended in July of 2005

The Quadruple Murder

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On the 18th of July 2008 , christine and Christopher went to Tiffany's home to purchase drugs from her boyfriend , marcus Perchella . At the time , marcus' cousin , adelbert Sanchez , was at the home as well as Rachel . Marcus worked part-time as a waiter and sold drugs on the side to his friends , including marijuana , cocaine , ecstasy and Xanax . However , after getting into an altercation , christine and Christopher pulled guns out and aimed them at their friends . The four began to plead for their life , not really understanding what had transpired to make things go south so quickly . Take whatever you want , just go , they said . Christine and Christopher opened fire . They fired a total of 20 shots , none of which missed . The couple then fled from the home , but not before grabbing a bag of drugs .

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Shortly afterwards , christine returned to the house after fearing that not all of the victims were dead . Inside , she found that Rachel was still alive . She was on the floor choking on her own blood . Why are you doing this to me ? She begged . Christine didn't reply . She beat Rachel to death with the butt of the gun , splitting her head open .

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Police determined the killings were the result of a deep personal hatred . Police determined the killings were the result of a deep personal hatred . This was implied by the fact that they were shot multiple times , with Rachel and Tiffany being shot in the crotch area . They also determined that at least one of the victims knew at least one of the killers . Due to the fact that there was no forced entry , however , they had no suspects . A composite sketch of Christine and Christopher

Investigation Goes Cold

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was released in the media . The sketch was created by a witness who saw them as they left the crime scene .

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The murder shook the relatively quiet Clear Lake area to the core . Many people were afraid that two ruthless killers were lurking in the midst . Police worked on the case around the clock , following thousands of tips that led them through Texas to Florida and Mexico . However , the case gradually went cold . Three years later , crime Stoppers received an anonymous tip from somebody who identified Christine and Christopher as the killers

Anonymous Tip and Arrest

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Christine was apprehended in a seedy San Antonio hotel room where she and her husband , Justin Rott , had been living . The couple were heroin addicts who had been living in squalor . The hotel room was littered with drugs and drug paraphernalia . They had been spending thousands on drugs and the money being used was part of an inheritance that Christine had received when her father passed away . Following her arrest , maricela Sanchez , the stepmother of Adelbert , said I am just so happy , we are all just overwhelmed . We are just letting it all out . We are just so glad they were innocent lives that shouldn't have been taken .

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Following Christine's arrest , her husband divulged all of the information he knew about the murders to police . He said that his wife had confessed to the murders to him in lurid detail , even stating that within an hour of the murder she reported to work as a cashier at Walgreens . The story that Justin tells is consistent with the physical evidence we have collected , said Police Sergeant Brian Harris . According to Justin , he decided to turn on his wife because he was taking part in a 12-step recovery program and felt as though he had to do what was right . At the time of the murders , justin didn't live in the Houston area and didn't know Christine . He said that what Christine had told him about the murders had given him nightmares . When she mentioned it to me , it was so overwhelming . I couldn't believe she was the person I married , he said .

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As news of Christine's apprehension broke the

Christopher's Suicide and Trial

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headlines . Christopher committed suicide in Greenville , south Carolina , where he had been living with his girlfriend . Following his suicide , christine claimed that it was Christopher who had committed the murders , with her lawyer , mike DeJuring , describing her as young , frightened and worried . Christine was ordered to stand trial for the murders . Due to her young age . When the murders were committed , she was ineligible for the death penalty . If convicted , she would receive an automatic life sentence .

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During the trial , christine claimed that Christopher had shot all four victims . She stated that as soon as they entered the home , he opened fire while she hid . She claimed that she had accompanied Christopher to the home to buy drugs earlier on in the day and that when they return later on , she alleged that Christopher had duped Marcus out of drugs and decided to take Christine back to the house to show her that he was not afraid of Marcus . According to Christine , when Christopher opened fire , he then forced Christine into the living room area and held her hand on the gun handle as he continued to fire . The prosecution refuted this , stating what a tired and pathetic tactic . They argued that Christine was just as responsible for the murders as Christopher . Could this horrible event have happened without her ? Of course not Ultimately .

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The jury sided with the prosecution . Christine Pulillo was found guilty and sentenced to life

Verdict and Sentencing

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imprisonment . Following the verdict , she cried as she was led away from the courtroom . She must serve 40 years before being eligible for parole . I feel justice was served . It's a good first step towards closure , said George Colorades , the father of Rachel . Thanks again for joining me Thoughts on this case . Leave some comments . It is a messed up world . Till next time , take care of yourselves . Thanks for watching .