13x23 - Drowning Sorrows
Posted: 01/19/24 08:13
Narrator: up next, a family
Vacation turns into a nightmare.
That's when I see the body of
A female lying facedown in the
Water.
Narrator: and possible clues
Provide more questions than
Answers.
Either it was an accident,
Someone caused her death, or she
k*lled herself.
Narrator: experts can't seem
To agree on exactly what
Happened.
There is not one single
Eyewitness to anything.
There are no confessions.
There are no fingerprints.
Narrator: until
Groundbreaking science discovers
The truth.
Method, opportunity, motive,
And last person to see them
Alive -- classic reasons for
Alive -- classic reasons for m*rder.
m*rder.
Narrator: every year, the
Unger family spent their
Vacation on the western shore of
Lake michigan, in a place called
Watervale.
It's almost a sanctuary for
Them -- to go somewhere else in
The state where they can just
Forget about the rest of the
World and reconnect with
Themselves and their families
And their loved ones.
Narrator: florence worked as
A bank loan officer.
Her husband, mark, a mortgage
Broker, was also a well-known
Radio personality.
Mark unger had a sports radio
Show that made him somewhat of a
Celebrity within his circle of
Friends.
Narrator: their vacation in
Was like most others.
The ungers checked in to their
Cabin, had dinner, and mark
Spent time with their two sons
While florence was outside for
Some fresh air.
Mark read a story to the
Boys, sang a song, put them to
Bed, kissed them goodnight, and
Came back out to the deck, and
Florence was not on the deck.
Narrator: mark assumed
Florence went next door to their
Friends' cabin, since their
Lights were on.
Not wanting to leave the
Children alone, mark went to
Bed.
When he awoke just after dawn,
Florence still wasn't there.
He called the resort owners
At approximately : in the
Morning, asking them if they had
Seen florence.
They said they had not.
Narrator: the resort owners
Went looking for her and found
Florence's body in the lake and
Florence's body in the lake and called .
Called .
When police arrived, they
Noticed florence's body was in
The lake next to a boat launch.
Feet above was the deck
Outside the ungers' cabin.
When I looked up, there was
A deck railing from the
Boathouse, and I noticed the
Deck railing was broke and
Fractured out.
Narrator: it looked as if
Florence had been sitting on the
Railing and it gave way.
Investigators measured the
Height of the railing and
Discovered that it was inches
Below the state building code.
When you at that railing,
It's low enough that you think
If somebody had been sitting on
It, they could lose their
Balance and fall over the edge.
I know that i, personally,
Didn't want to sit on it.
Narrator: the splintered
Railing led to suspicions it was
Structurally unsound.
They referred to it as a
"Deathtrap" and that it was an
Accident waiting to happen.
A person could reasonably piece
Together someone fell through a
Railing, hit the ground, and
Ended up, perhaps, in the lake
There.
Narrator: florence's body was
Transported to the medical
Examiner for an autopsy.
The medical examiner found no
dr*gs or alcohol in her system.
He didfind evidence of severe
Head trauma, but the cause of
Death wasn't the head trauma.
It was drowning.
There was plenty of fluid,
And that was the result of her
Active inhalation of the water
From the lake because she was
Submerged.
Narrator: but what caused
Florence to fall to her death?
Was it su1c1de, an accident, or
Something more sinister?
This is flo unger, and she
Was a student from to .
Narrator: the tragic death of
Florence unger, the mother of
Two young children, was a shock
To co-workers, friends, and
Family.
Unless you've lived through
It, it's very difficult to
Explain.
You feel like your head's gonna
Explode.
It's total and complete
Devastation.
There's nothing like it.
It's unimaginable.
Narrator: police at the scene
Had to consider every
Possibility.
What do you have?
You know, do you have a su1c1de,
Do you have an accident, or do
You have a homicide?
Narrator: florence's family
Ruled out su1c1de as a
Possibility.
There's no way that she could
Have contemplated su1c1de, for a
Number of reasons.
Number one, she would neverhave
Left her children parentless.
Narrator: an accident seemed
Like a distinct possibility.
The railing on the deck outside
The ungers' cabin was freshly
Broken.
It looked as if she was sitting
Or leaning on it and it gave
Way, causing her to fall to the
Boat launch below.
But how did the body get into
The water?
Mark unger hired a private,
Independent forensic firm to
Find out why.
They concluded that with
Florence falling feet from
The deck, the momentum of the
Fall carried her forward from
The point of impact.
They produced five different
Scenarios, computer animations
That showed different ways that
Florence could have possibly
Ended up in the water.
Narrator: the forensic firm
Concluded that florence's death
Was an accident.
But the medical examiner
Completely disagreed.
Bodies do not bounce --
That's number one.
She would have been rendered
Unconscious upon contact.
An unconscious person,
Unconscious individual, cannot
Just walk into the water.
Narrator: and dr. Dragovic
Noticed that the bloodstain on
The boat launch was nearly a
Foot in diameter.
For blood to go to that size,
To the diameter that we're
Talking on the cement platform,
The body would have had to have
Been there for a period of time.
Narrator: to find out how
Long florence would have laid
There bleeding, dr. Dragovic
Examined slides of her brain
Tissue.
He focused on the neurons, a
Cellular communication system
That controls movement, memory,
And emotion.
Dr. Dragovic discovered repair
Proteins in florence's brain
That were released afterher
Head injury.
This showed that florence's
Brain was struggling to survive
Long after she hit her head and
Before she drowned.
These neurons are suffering
From lack of oxygen.
They are damaged, and some of
Them are already dead, but some
Of them are trying to repair
Themselves.
It was a long period of time she
Was alive -- unconscious, but
Alive, still alive, still
Breathing.
Narrator: dr. Dragovic
Estimated that florence was
Lying on the cement for at least
Minutes, possibly for as long
As two hours before she was in
The water.
And there was other conflicting
Evidence.
The bloodstain on the boat
Launch and the broken railing
Above did not line up.
The trajectory of where she
Wound up on the deck was not in
Line with where the break in the
Railing occurred.
Narrator: to see whether the
Deck railing was structurally
Unsound, analysts tested an
Unbroken section of the deck
Railing using what's called a
Load cell.
The load cell is more or less
A scale.
It's a series of springs and
Sensors, and it measures
Compression and tension.
Narrator: florence weighed
Pounds.
To simulate her sitting on the
Railing, analysts attached a
Bicycle seat to one end of the
Load cell.
To the other end, they attached
A t-bar, to which they applied
Pounds of pressure.
The railing didn't buckle or
Break.
Somebody from the lab made
The comment, "wow.
Pounds."
So we knew right then and there
That any plan to paint the rail
As rotting and dilapidated
Weren't gonna work.
Narrator: it was beginning to
Look like the scene had been
Staged to look like an accident.
It was a charge florence's
Husband, mark, adamantly denied.
People that knew mark said
Mark was not a k*ller...
Mark would not do that...
That he loved flo, that he loved
His family, that he would not do
Anything like that.
Narrator: mark had no
Criminal history, and his
Children said they heard nothing
Suspicious on the night of the
Incident -- no argument or fight
Between their mother and father.
Mark continued to maintain his
Wife's death was a tragic
Accident.
He told the police she had
Been a little depressed, but he
Later went on to tell the police
Flo would have never committed
su1c1de.
He was adamant about that.
Narrator: but florence's
Family believed this was m*rder
And that mark was her k*ller.
Method, opportunity, motive,
No alibi, and last person to see
Them alive -- classic reasons
For m*rder.
He had them all.
Narrator: mark and
Florence unger appeared to have
An ideal marriage.
On the surface, they would
Appear to be the perfect couple
Living in an affluent community
With two beautiful children, a
Beautiful house, but to those
Who were in their inner circle,
They knew that there were many,
Many problems.
Narrator: mark unger's issues
With dr*gs and gambling had cost
Him his job.
He was a pathological
Gambler.
Mark was an alcoholic.
He was a drug addict, and this
Was affecting his personality.
Narrator: he spent as much as
Six months at a time in rehab.
Florence actually said at one
Point it almost seemed like
Rehabilitation had become his
Job.
Narrator: police also learned
That florence had filed for
Divorce two months before her
Death and had moved on to
Another relationship.
There was evidence of a
Relationship that flo had become
Involved in, and this individual
Was a close friend of mark's, as
Well, so it was a, um...
A difficult circumstance at
Best.
Narrator: investigators
Discovered that florence had
Seen this man just a few days
Before her death and that mark
Might have known about it.
I believe on that deck that
It's a very real possibility
That something about florence's
Relationship came out.
Narrator: and now yet another
Potential motive emerged.
Florence had two life-insurance
Policies with a combined value
Of three-quarters of a million
Dollars, and mark was the sole
Beneficiary.
There's no question that flo
Was worth more dead to mark than
She was alive.
Narrator: even stranger, just
Five days before his wife's
Death, mark had a run of bad
Luck at a local casino.
We understand that he lost
About $, shortly before the
Fateful trip...
And I mean within days of that
Fateful trip.
Narrator: and friends told
Investigators florence didn't
Want to take the trip to the
Lake.
In fact, she was afraid to go.
Flo's friends were all
Apprehensive.
Several of her friends asked
Her, "why are you doing this?
Why are you going up there?"
She did notwant to go, but
She was afraid to go, and she
Admitted that to a neighbor.
Narrator: and if that weren't
Enough, the resort owner gave
Police even more evidence, also
Circumstantial.
He said when he told mark he had
Found florence's body, mark
Didn't ask him where it was.
The resort owner absolutely,
Positively testified that he did
Not tell mark where flo was,
Florence was.
Narrator: but mark appeared
To know exactlywhere to go.
Mark ran right to florence's
Body lying in the water without
Being told where she was at and
Without being able to observe
Her from his vantage point.
Narrator: to prove this,
Investigators placed a mannequin
In the water exactly where
Florence's body was found.
Then an investigator with a
Video camera stood at the exact
Spot where the resort owner told
Mark his wife was dead.
In this videotape, it's clear
The body can't be seen until the
Viewer is virtually on top of
It.
He knew exactly where the
Body was at.
Narrator: but none of this
Proved m*rder.
In fact, investigators had no
Direct evidence linking mark to
Florence's death...
That is, until they looked at
Mark unger's shoes and found a
White smear.
The state police crime lab
Found a white speck of what they
Believe was paint.
Narrator: investigators sent
Mark's shoe, along with six
Different paint samples
Collected from the resort, to
Forensic scientist keith lamont.
I received several known
Samples from various
Locations -- from the vacation
Home and boathouse area.
Narrator: he bombarded the
Sample with infrared light,
Which identifies the chemical
Makeup of the samples in ways
That can then be measured.
Paint's composition
Basically consists of a solvent,
Which is the liquid, a pigment,
Which is the color, and a
Binder.
And the binder you can think of
As glue.
Narrator: lamont found that
The paint on mark unger's shoe
Was virtually identical to the
Paint on the railing and the
Post holding the railing.
The question paint sample
From mr. Unger's shoe was
Consistent chemically with the
Known paint from the rail.
[ Grunts ]
Narrator: to investigators,
This pointed to only one logical
Conclusion.
We believe mark kicked that
Railing, and the paint scuff on
The shoe certainly would suggest
That.
Narrator: but was this enough
To get a conviction?
Narrator: investigators knew
Two important details about the
Death of florence unger.
First, tests showed a -pound
Woman sitting or leaning against
The deck railing could nothave
Caused it to splinter.
Second, forensic tests
Identified repair proteins in
Florence's brain -- scientific
Proof that she laid bleeding on
The cement boat launch for about
Minutes before she drowned in
The lake.
This made forensic history -- it
Was the first time
Immunohistochemistry was used in
A criminal case.
It's an advantage of being a
Forensic pathologist, at the
Same time a neuropathologist,
And being a general pathologist
That I started with in the first
Place.
The best advice in police work
Is "consider every death scene
As a homicide scene."
Narrator: seven months after
Florence's death, mark unger was
Charged with first-degree
m*rder.
There's no question, if you
Look at the evidence in its
Totality, that mark unger made a
Calculated decision to take
Another person's life.
Narrator: his lawyer said
There was no case against him.
There is not one single
Eyewitness to anything.
There are no confessions.
There are no fingerprints.
Narrator: prosecutors believe
Mark hoped to salvage their
Marriage, but they think
Florence said no.
Mark became violent and pushed
Her over the railing.
She hit her head on the boat
Launch feet below.
The evidence indicates she lay
There bleeding for at least
Minutes.
Mark went back to their cabin
And put the boys to bed.
When he returned to the boat
Launch, he was probably
Surprised to learn that florence
Was still alive.
So he pushed her into the lake,
Where she drowned.
But he didn't realize the size
Of the bloodstain on the boat
Launch and the repair neurons in
Florence's brain.
Both told a story.
In an attempt to make it look
Like an accident, mark kicked
The railing with his right foot,
Transferring paint to the tip of
His shoe.
And where he kicked the railing
Was inconsistent with the
Location of the body.
Mark either found out about
The relationship that florence
Was having with another man, or
Else he, if not found out, she
Made it clear to him that that's
Only one of the things going on,
But this marriage is finished.
What mark did is he went out
There and he put her in the
Water while she was still alive.
He had every opportunity to call
For help.
He never did.
He let her lay there, and after
Thinking about what to do after
Some time, he premeditated it,
Went back, and put her in the
Water and let her drown.
Narrator: three years after
Florence's death, mark unger was
Convicted of first-degree m*rder
And sentenced to life without
Parole.
His head snapped back when
The verdict was read.
He was shocked at the verdict.
He anticipated going home that
Day.
I was wrongfully convicted of
This crime.
I am innocent.
Narrator: florence's parents
Say her death should never have
Happened.
While my daughter's death was
A tragic and unnecessary event,
I think there's a lesson to be
Learned from it.
And that is that a woman who is
Going through a divorce should
Avoid contact with her estranged
Husband unless it's absolutely
Necessary, and then with
Witnesses present, and even
Though it might be contrary to
The advice of her lawyer and
Even if there is no history of
Mental or physical abuse.
Divorce is a very volatile
Situation, and it is better to
Err on the side of caution
Because even casual contact
Could result in a dangerous or
Life-threatening event.
Narrator: florence's parents
Are raising her children and
Keep a small garden in her
Memory, although the grief is
Permanent.
I miss her every single
Minute of every single day.
And I hope he thinks about what
He's done, for the rest of his
Miserablelife.
Narrator: mark unger almost
Got away with m*rder.
Only scientific analysis of
Brain tissue and his shoes
Insured he didn't.
How he could think that he
Was gonna get away with it, I
Can't imagine.
Being able to establish that
Florence was alive for an
Extended period of time before
She was placed in the water was
Crucial, very important.
It was a great, you know,
Reminder that, you know, things
Aren't always what they seem,
They're not always what people
Vacation turns into a nightmare.
That's when I see the body of
A female lying facedown in the
Water.
Narrator: and possible clues
Provide more questions than
Answers.
Either it was an accident,
Someone caused her death, or she
k*lled herself.
Narrator: experts can't seem
To agree on exactly what
Happened.
There is not one single
Eyewitness to anything.
There are no confessions.
There are no fingerprints.
Narrator: until
Groundbreaking science discovers
The truth.
Method, opportunity, motive,
And last person to see them
Alive -- classic reasons for
Alive -- classic reasons for m*rder.
m*rder.
Narrator: every year, the
Unger family spent their
Vacation on the western shore of
Lake michigan, in a place called
Watervale.
It's almost a sanctuary for
Them -- to go somewhere else in
The state where they can just
Forget about the rest of the
World and reconnect with
Themselves and their families
And their loved ones.
Narrator: florence worked as
A bank loan officer.
Her husband, mark, a mortgage
Broker, was also a well-known
Radio personality.
Mark unger had a sports radio
Show that made him somewhat of a
Celebrity within his circle of
Friends.
Narrator: their vacation in
Was like most others.
The ungers checked in to their
Cabin, had dinner, and mark
Spent time with their two sons
While florence was outside for
Some fresh air.
Mark read a story to the
Boys, sang a song, put them to
Bed, kissed them goodnight, and
Came back out to the deck, and
Florence was not on the deck.
Narrator: mark assumed
Florence went next door to their
Friends' cabin, since their
Lights were on.
Not wanting to leave the
Children alone, mark went to
Bed.
When he awoke just after dawn,
Florence still wasn't there.
He called the resort owners
At approximately : in the
Morning, asking them if they had
Seen florence.
They said they had not.
Narrator: the resort owners
Went looking for her and found
Florence's body in the lake and
Florence's body in the lake and called .
Called .
When police arrived, they
Noticed florence's body was in
The lake next to a boat launch.
Feet above was the deck
Outside the ungers' cabin.
When I looked up, there was
A deck railing from the
Boathouse, and I noticed the
Deck railing was broke and
Fractured out.
Narrator: it looked as if
Florence had been sitting on the
Railing and it gave way.
Investigators measured the
Height of the railing and
Discovered that it was inches
Below the state building code.
When you at that railing,
It's low enough that you think
If somebody had been sitting on
It, they could lose their
Balance and fall over the edge.
I know that i, personally,
Didn't want to sit on it.
Narrator: the splintered
Railing led to suspicions it was
Structurally unsound.
They referred to it as a
"Deathtrap" and that it was an
Accident waiting to happen.
A person could reasonably piece
Together someone fell through a
Railing, hit the ground, and
Ended up, perhaps, in the lake
There.
Narrator: florence's body was
Transported to the medical
Examiner for an autopsy.
The medical examiner found no
dr*gs or alcohol in her system.
He didfind evidence of severe
Head trauma, but the cause of
Death wasn't the head trauma.
It was drowning.
There was plenty of fluid,
And that was the result of her
Active inhalation of the water
From the lake because she was
Submerged.
Narrator: but what caused
Florence to fall to her death?
Was it su1c1de, an accident, or
Something more sinister?
This is flo unger, and she
Was a student from to .
Narrator: the tragic death of
Florence unger, the mother of
Two young children, was a shock
To co-workers, friends, and
Family.
Unless you've lived through
It, it's very difficult to
Explain.
You feel like your head's gonna
Explode.
It's total and complete
Devastation.
There's nothing like it.
It's unimaginable.
Narrator: police at the scene
Had to consider every
Possibility.
What do you have?
You know, do you have a su1c1de,
Do you have an accident, or do
You have a homicide?
Narrator: florence's family
Ruled out su1c1de as a
Possibility.
There's no way that she could
Have contemplated su1c1de, for a
Number of reasons.
Number one, she would neverhave
Left her children parentless.
Narrator: an accident seemed
Like a distinct possibility.
The railing on the deck outside
The ungers' cabin was freshly
Broken.
It looked as if she was sitting
Or leaning on it and it gave
Way, causing her to fall to the
Boat launch below.
But how did the body get into
The water?
Mark unger hired a private,
Independent forensic firm to
Find out why.
They concluded that with
Florence falling feet from
The deck, the momentum of the
Fall carried her forward from
The point of impact.
They produced five different
Scenarios, computer animations
That showed different ways that
Florence could have possibly
Ended up in the water.
Narrator: the forensic firm
Concluded that florence's death
Was an accident.
But the medical examiner
Completely disagreed.
Bodies do not bounce --
That's number one.
She would have been rendered
Unconscious upon contact.
An unconscious person,
Unconscious individual, cannot
Just walk into the water.
Narrator: and dr. Dragovic
Noticed that the bloodstain on
The boat launch was nearly a
Foot in diameter.
For blood to go to that size,
To the diameter that we're
Talking on the cement platform,
The body would have had to have
Been there for a period of time.
Narrator: to find out how
Long florence would have laid
There bleeding, dr. Dragovic
Examined slides of her brain
Tissue.
He focused on the neurons, a
Cellular communication system
That controls movement, memory,
And emotion.
Dr. Dragovic discovered repair
Proteins in florence's brain
That were released afterher
Head injury.
This showed that florence's
Brain was struggling to survive
Long after she hit her head and
Before she drowned.
These neurons are suffering
From lack of oxygen.
They are damaged, and some of
Them are already dead, but some
Of them are trying to repair
Themselves.
It was a long period of time she
Was alive -- unconscious, but
Alive, still alive, still
Breathing.
Narrator: dr. Dragovic
Estimated that florence was
Lying on the cement for at least
Minutes, possibly for as long
As two hours before she was in
The water.
And there was other conflicting
Evidence.
The bloodstain on the boat
Launch and the broken railing
Above did not line up.
The trajectory of where she
Wound up on the deck was not in
Line with where the break in the
Railing occurred.
Narrator: to see whether the
Deck railing was structurally
Unsound, analysts tested an
Unbroken section of the deck
Railing using what's called a
Load cell.
The load cell is more or less
A scale.
It's a series of springs and
Sensors, and it measures
Compression and tension.
Narrator: florence weighed
Pounds.
To simulate her sitting on the
Railing, analysts attached a
Bicycle seat to one end of the
Load cell.
To the other end, they attached
A t-bar, to which they applied
Pounds of pressure.
The railing didn't buckle or
Break.
Somebody from the lab made
The comment, "wow.
Pounds."
So we knew right then and there
That any plan to paint the rail
As rotting and dilapidated
Weren't gonna work.
Narrator: it was beginning to
Look like the scene had been
Staged to look like an accident.
It was a charge florence's
Husband, mark, adamantly denied.
People that knew mark said
Mark was not a k*ller...
Mark would not do that...
That he loved flo, that he loved
His family, that he would not do
Anything like that.
Narrator: mark had no
Criminal history, and his
Children said they heard nothing
Suspicious on the night of the
Incident -- no argument or fight
Between their mother and father.
Mark continued to maintain his
Wife's death was a tragic
Accident.
He told the police she had
Been a little depressed, but he
Later went on to tell the police
Flo would have never committed
su1c1de.
He was adamant about that.
Narrator: but florence's
Family believed this was m*rder
And that mark was her k*ller.
Method, opportunity, motive,
No alibi, and last person to see
Them alive -- classic reasons
For m*rder.
He had them all.
Narrator: mark and
Florence unger appeared to have
An ideal marriage.
On the surface, they would
Appear to be the perfect couple
Living in an affluent community
With two beautiful children, a
Beautiful house, but to those
Who were in their inner circle,
They knew that there were many,
Many problems.
Narrator: mark unger's issues
With dr*gs and gambling had cost
Him his job.
He was a pathological
Gambler.
Mark was an alcoholic.
He was a drug addict, and this
Was affecting his personality.
Narrator: he spent as much as
Six months at a time in rehab.
Florence actually said at one
Point it almost seemed like
Rehabilitation had become his
Job.
Narrator: police also learned
That florence had filed for
Divorce two months before her
Death and had moved on to
Another relationship.
There was evidence of a
Relationship that flo had become
Involved in, and this individual
Was a close friend of mark's, as
Well, so it was a, um...
A difficult circumstance at
Best.
Narrator: investigators
Discovered that florence had
Seen this man just a few days
Before her death and that mark
Might have known about it.
I believe on that deck that
It's a very real possibility
That something about florence's
Relationship came out.
Narrator: and now yet another
Potential motive emerged.
Florence had two life-insurance
Policies with a combined value
Of three-quarters of a million
Dollars, and mark was the sole
Beneficiary.
There's no question that flo
Was worth more dead to mark than
She was alive.
Narrator: even stranger, just
Five days before his wife's
Death, mark had a run of bad
Luck at a local casino.
We understand that he lost
About $, shortly before the
Fateful trip...
And I mean within days of that
Fateful trip.
Narrator: and friends told
Investigators florence didn't
Want to take the trip to the
Lake.
In fact, she was afraid to go.
Flo's friends were all
Apprehensive.
Several of her friends asked
Her, "why are you doing this?
Why are you going up there?"
She did notwant to go, but
She was afraid to go, and she
Admitted that to a neighbor.
Narrator: and if that weren't
Enough, the resort owner gave
Police even more evidence, also
Circumstantial.
He said when he told mark he had
Found florence's body, mark
Didn't ask him where it was.
The resort owner absolutely,
Positively testified that he did
Not tell mark where flo was,
Florence was.
Narrator: but mark appeared
To know exactlywhere to go.
Mark ran right to florence's
Body lying in the water without
Being told where she was at and
Without being able to observe
Her from his vantage point.
Narrator: to prove this,
Investigators placed a mannequin
In the water exactly where
Florence's body was found.
Then an investigator with a
Video camera stood at the exact
Spot where the resort owner told
Mark his wife was dead.
In this videotape, it's clear
The body can't be seen until the
Viewer is virtually on top of
It.
He knew exactly where the
Body was at.
Narrator: but none of this
Proved m*rder.
In fact, investigators had no
Direct evidence linking mark to
Florence's death...
That is, until they looked at
Mark unger's shoes and found a
White smear.
The state police crime lab
Found a white speck of what they
Believe was paint.
Narrator: investigators sent
Mark's shoe, along with six
Different paint samples
Collected from the resort, to
Forensic scientist keith lamont.
I received several known
Samples from various
Locations -- from the vacation
Home and boathouse area.
Narrator: he bombarded the
Sample with infrared light,
Which identifies the chemical
Makeup of the samples in ways
That can then be measured.
Paint's composition
Basically consists of a solvent,
Which is the liquid, a pigment,
Which is the color, and a
Binder.
And the binder you can think of
As glue.
Narrator: lamont found that
The paint on mark unger's shoe
Was virtually identical to the
Paint on the railing and the
Post holding the railing.
The question paint sample
From mr. Unger's shoe was
Consistent chemically with the
Known paint from the rail.
[ Grunts ]
Narrator: to investigators,
This pointed to only one logical
Conclusion.
We believe mark kicked that
Railing, and the paint scuff on
The shoe certainly would suggest
That.
Narrator: but was this enough
To get a conviction?
Narrator: investigators knew
Two important details about the
Death of florence unger.
First, tests showed a -pound
Woman sitting or leaning against
The deck railing could nothave
Caused it to splinter.
Second, forensic tests
Identified repair proteins in
Florence's brain -- scientific
Proof that she laid bleeding on
The cement boat launch for about
Minutes before she drowned in
The lake.
This made forensic history -- it
Was the first time
Immunohistochemistry was used in
A criminal case.
It's an advantage of being a
Forensic pathologist, at the
Same time a neuropathologist,
And being a general pathologist
That I started with in the first
Place.
The best advice in police work
Is "consider every death scene
As a homicide scene."
Narrator: seven months after
Florence's death, mark unger was
Charged with first-degree
m*rder.
There's no question, if you
Look at the evidence in its
Totality, that mark unger made a
Calculated decision to take
Another person's life.
Narrator: his lawyer said
There was no case against him.
There is not one single
Eyewitness to anything.
There are no confessions.
There are no fingerprints.
Narrator: prosecutors believe
Mark hoped to salvage their
Marriage, but they think
Florence said no.
Mark became violent and pushed
Her over the railing.
She hit her head on the boat
Launch feet below.
The evidence indicates she lay
There bleeding for at least
Minutes.
Mark went back to their cabin
And put the boys to bed.
When he returned to the boat
Launch, he was probably
Surprised to learn that florence
Was still alive.
So he pushed her into the lake,
Where she drowned.
But he didn't realize the size
Of the bloodstain on the boat
Launch and the repair neurons in
Florence's brain.
Both told a story.
In an attempt to make it look
Like an accident, mark kicked
The railing with his right foot,
Transferring paint to the tip of
His shoe.
And where he kicked the railing
Was inconsistent with the
Location of the body.
Mark either found out about
The relationship that florence
Was having with another man, or
Else he, if not found out, she
Made it clear to him that that's
Only one of the things going on,
But this marriage is finished.
What mark did is he went out
There and he put her in the
Water while she was still alive.
He had every opportunity to call
For help.
He never did.
He let her lay there, and after
Thinking about what to do after
Some time, he premeditated it,
Went back, and put her in the
Water and let her drown.
Narrator: three years after
Florence's death, mark unger was
Convicted of first-degree m*rder
And sentenced to life without
Parole.
His head snapped back when
The verdict was read.
He was shocked at the verdict.
He anticipated going home that
Day.
I was wrongfully convicted of
This crime.
I am innocent.
Narrator: florence's parents
Say her death should never have
Happened.
While my daughter's death was
A tragic and unnecessary event,
I think there's a lesson to be
Learned from it.
And that is that a woman who is
Going through a divorce should
Avoid contact with her estranged
Husband unless it's absolutely
Necessary, and then with
Witnesses present, and even
Though it might be contrary to
The advice of her lawyer and
Even if there is no history of
Mental or physical abuse.
Divorce is a very volatile
Situation, and it is better to
Err on the side of caution
Because even casual contact
Could result in a dangerous or
Life-threatening event.
Narrator: florence's parents
Are raising her children and
Keep a small garden in her
Memory, although the grief is
Permanent.
I miss her every single
Minute of every single day.
And I hope he thinks about what
He's done, for the rest of his
Miserablelife.
Narrator: mark unger almost
Got away with m*rder.
Only scientific analysis of
Brain tissue and his shoes
Insured he didn't.
How he could think that he
Was gonna get away with it, I
Can't imagine.
Being able to establish that
Florence was alive for an
Extended period of time before
She was placed in the water was
Crucial, very important.
It was a great, you know,
Reminder that, you know, things
Aren't always what they seem,
They're not always what people