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The Ring: The Murder of Patrick DeLaCerda | Full Episode

June 03, 2025 / 42:01

This episode covers the tragic murder of Patrick DeLerta, the investigation led by Detective Chad Weaver, and the trial of Gregory Bender, Jessica Devani's ex-boyfriend. Key discussions include the relationship between Jessica and Patrick, the details of Patrick's murder, and the evidence against Bender.

Jessica Devani recounts her love story with Patrick, who was shot four times in an ambush at his home in Deltona, Florida. The episode highlights the moments leading up to the murder, including Jessica's fears stemming from threats made by her ex-boyfriend, Gregory Bender.

Detective Chad Weaver takes viewers through the investigation, revealing how Bender's obsession and jealousy culminated in Patrick's death. Evidence such as voicemails and a detailed murder plan found in Bender's home plays a crucial role in the case.

The trial showcases the emotional testimonies of Jessica and Patrick's family, as they seek justice for his murder. The episode culminates in the jury's verdict, finding Bender guilty of first-degree murder.

Throughout the episode, the impact of the crime on Jessica and Patrick's family is evident, as they reflect on their loss and the failed protection measures that could have prevented the tragedy.

TLDR

Patrick DeLerta is murdered in an ambush, leading to a trial against his ex-girlfriend's jealous former partner, Gregory Bender.

Episode

42:01
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[Music] I was looking forward to getting married we were going to have like the fairy tale life we first met online it
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was in June of 2017 Patrick was definitely movie star handsome he definitely had the whole
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package I'm Jessica devani and Patrick deera was my fiance this is your engagement yes it's
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beautiful thank you he he never got to give it to [Music] me Patrick De lero is planning his
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future him and Jessica were looking forward to moving towards West Palm that's where Patrick's mother Patricia
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lived and one day he came and he said Mom this one is the one this one is the one and he was waiting for the
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ring that morning just started off a normal morning for him and Jessica they texted each other good morning I love
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you he had got a phone call from his dad saying that there was a package being delivered at the gate he thought it was
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the ring that was coming in that day so Patrick then goes down probably looking forward to this right
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[Music] yes he would usually call her and it was about the time she was getting to work
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which you know made her worry and it's like she instinctually knew something was wrong at that point and why were you
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afraid for Patrick I was afraid because of the threats that were made in the past
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I'm making a phone call I'm giving instructions and I'm going to have my my plan put into action you felt at that
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moment that something terrible may have happened yes I left work right away to be on my
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way to check on Patrick you get here as quickly as you can yes I got up right along this path I
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had to climb the fence I don't think Patrick deera had any idea what was waiting for him on the other
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side of that door there was multiple shots fired Patrick was hit multiple times it
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appeared that he was killed in like Ambush style and I'll never forget the scene
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like it's still in my head every day my boyfriend's house is his dad's house if anybody else is here is anybody
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else here it was just the worst thing you could ever see in your entire life do friend clearly this wasn't a
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random killing someone had a vendetta against Patrick it was personal and it was
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planned that's to be it was an assassination my whole future was taken away from
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me my whole world was taken away CH off in there come on now [Music] [Music] that day we're at the office kind of
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going through case workk and paperwork and things like that what started as a slow Tuesday Morning back in 2018 for
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valua County Florida sheriff's detective Chad Weaver changed dramatically 911 where's your emergency when this
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fragmented 911 call from a neighbor reporting Patrick D Laser's death came in um um has been shot and killed when
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did that happen I don't know you don't want to try CPR correct no no he's dead he's
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cold within minutes Sheriff's de wearing body cameras entered this Lush 9 acre Compound on the outskirts of
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Deltona worried that the killer may still be here Sheriff's Office you're inside you need to announce yourself now
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when the deputies showed up they had their guns out and preparing for the worst but hoping for the best with the
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gunman still at large detective Weaver took charge of the crime scene as TV news Choppers
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hovered above as we walked up to that area you could see a male looked like he was in his early 20s appeared he was
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suffering from multiple gunshot wounds deputies say someone shot right through his front door 25-year-old Patrick
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deasura had been shot four times by a high-powered Rifle right in the doorway of the house he shared with his father
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Max who was out of town that day I never got to say goodbye to my son I never got to could talk to him
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nothing you can see the front door was open there was glass all over the place there's a lot of blood you know right
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off the bat you're going okay this is probably going to be a h done it at the scene detective Weaver and
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several deputies approached a traumatized Jessica devani Patrick's 29-year-old fiance my boyfriend's house in his house
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I was just walking in circles around like the front yard just pacing up and down ma'am come over here stay here
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behind the tree just 2 months earlier at this very location Patrick had popped the question
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to Jessica and presented her with this temporary engagement ring it just came out of nowhere he he just asked like you
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know will you marry me and what did you say of course I said yes I was so excited
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[Music] the marriage proposal couldn't have come at a better time for Jessica who worked
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as a bank teller months earlier she had ended a tumultuous 8-year relationship and then met Patrick on a dating app we
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just fell in love like right away it was a connection from the beginning so it was kind of like love at first
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sight Jessica and Patrick who worked a construction job with his father P the Builder partied and played played
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together as their romance blossomed Patrick ordered this custommade work of art to be delivered
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to his home for Jessica's permanent engagement ring he was a romantic says his mother
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Patricia Ron Patrick was a wonderful son and he loved kids he loved babies and I
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really was looking forward to have grandchildren from him Jessica and Patrick lived in different cities she
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was in Orlando while Patrick lived with his father in Deltona 30 m away on the night of February 26 2018 Patrick left
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her this sweet voicemail I love you good night sweet dreams morning I'll call you out send me
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a text when I uh I wake up all right good night bye it would be the last voicemail she would ever receive from
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her love the next day a series of what seemed like random events would change everything the first came when Patrick's
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father Max who was 70 M away working on a construction job received a phone call
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so Max gets a phone call from an unknown person stating that they have a package
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to deliver to his son Patrick Max hangs up the phone he tries to call Patrick Patrick doesn't answer so he sends him
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text message hey there's someone with a delivery Max never hears from Patrick again after that he never answers never
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responds meanwhile Max and Jessica kept calling Patrick with no luck Jessica feared the worst because of those
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disturbing threats the couple had received you're thinking he's been harmed yes yes for sure Max and Jessica
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rushed to the house she got there first I'm approaching the front door and that's where his body laid Patrick just
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laying there and this big pool of blood and just he was just lifeless soon after Jessica discovered
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her fiance's body Patrick's dad arrived he took us back to the crime scene with Jessica my son was lying down
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there his head was right there his foot were still on top of this so that means that he fell back and
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that tells you the gunman was right here that tells the no bullet can take a right hand exactly that guy was right
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there my son saw this guy he turned the and the guy shot him because my son was just like this my son was like
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this WOW detective Weaver's team combed through the house they soon discovered that the killer had taken Patrick's
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computer we got a camera above us too and the hard drive from the home security camera
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[Music] system investigators also recovered unique shell casings from 300 Blackout
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ammunition bullets often used in semi-automatic weapons like an AR-15 when we saw the shell casings with how
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close they were to the body immediately realized that this was a calculated murder this was this was
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planned but why would anyone want to kill Patrick D lerta Weaver learned about a biz incident in 2017 in a
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strange twist new 6 discovered the young man has been shot at before when Patrick called police saying
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his neighbor had fired some bullets after arguments back and forth about trespassing Patrick wasn't harmed there
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had been some complaints and made Patrick felt that the neighbor was shooting towards their house this is
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night footage of the man being tackled and arrested by police for that incident it was an intriguing lead until Weaver
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learned the man was in custody on the day Patrick was murdered so we were able to check him off the list detective
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Weaver then focused on some ominous voicemails that had been discovered call me back and talk to me which led them to
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a man that Patrick and Jessica knew quite well I'll talk to you soon I hope I was really scared because like he was
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always shadowing my life a couple in love with everything in front of them dreams of marriage and
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family about to come true Jessica look this way then came February 27th 2018 when Jessica devani Came Upon her
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fiance Patrick D lerta in a pool of blood at his home shot four times at close range by an assassin I think my
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mind just doesn't want to accept it my whole future was taken away from me my whole world was taken away the Ambush
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style assault of Patrick made it seem like the killer was lying in weight detective Chad Weaver was hoping Jessica
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might have a lead that would jumpstart his investig ation and we were speaking to her about any enemies or any problems
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with anyone that you know that Patrick had had the detective learned that there was someone who wasn't happy with
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Jessica and Patrick's Whirlwind romance who was that person my ex Gregory Bender
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Jessica told detective Weaver that right before she met Patrick she broke up with
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Bender her ex-boyfriend of 8 years it was a breakup that he was not happy with he was not accept acting a fit it's
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almost like he never left like he was always shadowing my life like he was not accepting a fit at all he very
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controlling and as Weaver was about to learn Jessica and Bender had a very complicated LoveHate kind of
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relationship over the eight years they were together he could be very charming and
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manipulative at 42 years old Bender was almost twice Jessica's age when they first met online in
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2009 he was a successful hedge fund manager who lived in this house in windir a wealthy suburb outside of
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Orlando he had a very charismatic personality he was very intelligent it felt like we known each other all our
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lives he became my best friend was he a downto earth kind of guy not so much in the sense that he did like to show off
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he loved fast cars and he loved guns as well but what if anything did Gregory Bender have to do with Patrick's death
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detective Weaver wanted to know more Patrick was middle class Blue Collar hardworking young man Gregory on the
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other hand who's white colar well educated lived in a 3/4 of a million dollar house totally different people
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from totally different walks of life Jessica told the detective that Greg Bender simply couldn't tolerate the idea
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of any other man in her life she told a story about what happened when she briefly dated someone else after first
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meeting Greg he did stalk the person that I was dating and he described exactly where he lived and he said that
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he would tie him up and harm him so a relationship that had love in it now had a little bit of Terror in it I never
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feared what he could do to me but I feared what he could do to other men despite his jealousness and verbal
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threats Jessica accepted Greg's proposal to marry a few years into their relationship I was in love with him at
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the time and maybe I was a little bit naive at the time I didn't want to find someone else and there is another twist
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in Jessica's Twisted relationship with Greg in early 2016 he was having a procedure done at a local hospital
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Jessica decided to drop by for a surprise visit when she entered Greg's room another woman was there I was like
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what are you doing here she's like what are you doing here and I told her I'm like I'm his fiance and I showed her the
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ring and then she showed me her ring she's like I'm his wife she was this woman deera Sanchez he's secretly
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married to this woman yes my heart just dropped I couldn't believe it I was in shock several days passed when Bender
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finally called Jessica and tried to explain that he had only married Sanchez so her son could go to school in the
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District where his house was located he said I'm so sorry and he told me that he
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had only married her as like a business marriage he was just trying to help her out and they had an arrangement together
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at that point Jessica had sort of had enough so you end up giving Greg Bender an ultimatum what was that yes I told
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him that he had till the end of the year to leave her he had to divorce her not only leave but divorce
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but that business marriage line was just another of Bender's lies and he stayed married to deera with that Jessica
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finally ended the relationship in 2017 one month later Jessica met Patrick and began dating him but Bender was
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often on her mind I was afraid that he would find out about our relationship but just 5 months after dumping him
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Gregory Bender came across our face page he immediately started messaging Patrick
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on his Facebook threatening him and he said I know where you live I'm going to harm you guys Bender left ominous
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voicemails like this one I'm giving instructions and I'm going to have my my plan put into action what's he talking
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about at that point in time he had mentioned to me that he was going to hire a hitman or he was going to do the
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job himself and what job was that to kill Patrick enough was enough Jessica and Patrick
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had these tapes and text messages presented to a judge who issued this restraining order Bender was ordered to
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stay away from Jessica and turn in his large collection of firearms to authorities did Greg Bender go away we
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thought he did go away we didn't hear anything and we felt confident until she told detective Weaver on the morning of
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Patrick's murder Gregory Bender called for the first time in 2 months he called my job that very morning but Jessica
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said she didn't answer so when she got the phone call and saw on the caller ID that it was Gregory Bender Flags started
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going up and that's what made her so worried flags were also going up for detective Weaver he believed he now had
00:18:49
a prime suspect in Patrick's death and Weaver had an idea now was the time for Jessica to return Bender's calls and
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investigators would listen in she really wanted to solve Patrick's murder so she
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did that without hesitation okay call him put him on speaker hello hello detective Weaver was hopeful Bender
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might say something to implicate himself you ruined my life you got your reng and
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you ruined my life what are you talking about [Applause] [Music] hello hello hi hey it was a tense
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awkward moment just a few hours after she'd seen her fiance's body investigators asked Jessica devani to
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call the man they thought may have murdered him Greg Bender quickly spoke up I saw that happened on the news I
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want to tell you I'm I feel sorry for you I just wanted to try to do everything I
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could to help the investigation she reminded Bender about his previous threats and he said enough is enough I
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can't do this I'm going to hire Hitman I'm going to kill him no that's not no no no I didn't say that did you ask him
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outright did you shoot Patrick I did but that's why I want to find out if it is you like no no it's not I'm your friend
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I did not do this could you tell he was lying to you yes I could tell he was lying while Bender denied any
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involvement in Patrick's death detective Chad Weaver says there was enough evidence to arrest him not for murder
00:20:44
but for violating that restraining order we had seen that he had attempted to contact her twice at work which we found
00:20:50
was a violation of that injunction even with Bender behind bars for the night detective Weaver didn't
00:20:57
have much to link him to Patrick's murder then he received a phone call from the attorney of Bender's now
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ex-wife deera Sanchez the woman Jessica had first met in the hospital and he said she has some information that will
00:21:12
be valuable to your case DEA asked to meet detective Weaver in a parking lot she's very very nervous she didn't want
00:21:20
us coming to her house it turns out deera had a pretty good reason to be nervous she was about to provide a
00:21:27
crucial pece piece of evidence so we spoke with her and she had told us that her and Gregory had gotten a divorce and
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she had moved out in December of 2017 around that same time she had discovered what she believed to be a murder plan in
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a spiral notebook that she had seen Gregory writing in in the past a murder plan handwritten in a notebook detailing
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an elaborate plot to kill deis said when she confronted Bender about it he told her it was all a fantasy and she forgot
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about it 25-year-old vucha County Man is dead until she saw the report that the man Bender was supposedly fantasizing
00:22:06
about killing had just been murdered but once she told us about the murder plan and that gave us what we needed to get
00:22:12
into the house to see you know what else was in there Valia County prosecutor Ashley twilliger says learning about the
00:22:20
murder plan was a potential Game Changer if investigators could find it so the next day February 28th of 2018 they
00:22:30
execute the search warrant at Gregory Bender's home in Orange County Florida in windir detective Weaver had some doubts
00:22:38
but almost as soon as he entered Bender's house Weaver hit Pay Dirt he spotted several balls of
00:22:46
crumpled up Note Paper I looked in the trash can and I was in shock it's like there's no way that we just found this
00:22:53
murder plan the first thing I wanted to do was reach in the trash Canam grab it Weaver wisely held off while this paper
00:23:00
was bagged and tagged for forensics later when he was able to read the plan it was just as DEA said a detailed road
00:23:09
map for murdering Patrick D lerta some of the first things in it were directions and it actually had Patrick
00:23:15
Diller's address palen Boulevard Weaver took us to the crime scene to explain how the plan matched
00:23:24
the actual murder this road leads down the side of the property it's off of hen Boulevard this is important because the
00:23:31
dirt road that was drawn on the murder plan runs down the side of the property it's pretty heavily wooded down this way
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so I think he walked on foot until he got to this opening and this is the area that we believe Gregory Bender accessed
00:23:44
to sneak up on our victim the sketch of the property was spot on the plan was evidence of Bender's
00:23:52
obssession with detail and compulsion to kill says Weaver the plan read put duct tape on
00:24:00
the bottom of a second pair of shoes so no tread prints wait for confirm that he
00:24:06
is alone then turn off cell phones and dispose of clothes plate tracker gloves with the murder plan in hand
00:24:17
Weaver had a powerful case against bender and with the discovery of this ammunition there was now a direct link
00:24:24
to those unique bullet shells found at the scene they find that arsenal of 300 Blackout
00:24:33
ammunition remember Patrick was shot four times with that type of unique ammo but only two shell casings were
00:24:41
recovered at the crime scene that's what made another Discovery by investigators
00:24:46
at Bender's house so important they find a shell casing and a desk drawer essentially a junk drawer the casing
00:24:56
matched the two recovered shell casings from the crime scene short of actually finding the murder weapon um in my
00:25:02
opinion I think that was probably the most important piece of evidence that we found that's because the murder weapon
00:25:09
has never been recovered although Jessica remembers seeing a powerful rifle at Bender's house when they dated
00:25:17
the AR-15 the semi-automatic rifle did he have one of those yes he did I think it's probably at the bottom of a lake
00:25:26
somewhere the evidence was overwhelming Weaver now had a clear and concise theory of the crime Greg Bender was
00:25:35
lying in wait in the bushes just out of view he made the phone call posing as a delivery man um Patrick receives a text
00:25:44
messages thinking that he has a package as Patrick answered the door he shot and killed him less than 48 hours
00:25:54
after Patrick's death an arrest warrant was issued for Gregory Bender charging him with the murder fuchia County
00:26:01
sheriff's deputies had an easy time locating their suspect who had been released from jail after violating that
00:26:08
restraining order Bender was in his own front yard says prosecutor Andrew urbanic and Mr Bender actually showed up
00:26:18
bonded out from the Orange County Jail just a short time after they started executing that warrant for Patrick's
00:26:23
mother the arrest is just the first step against a man she despises psychopath that's what he is do you want me to say
00:26:32
his name I've never pronounced his name I don't want to pronounce his name that is hurting my mouth to just say his name
00:26:40
why did Patrick have to die just out of jealousy of of a man that was obsessed he thought that by doing this that I
00:26:49
would go back to him but with no weapon no eyewitnesses and no DNA at the crime scene ultimately
00:26:59
this case is a circumstantial case bender and his attorneys are planning a vigorous trial defense you started
00:27:07
dating Patrick in June and using undercover video shot by a private eye they plan to challenge
00:27:14
Jessica on the stand about the real nature of her relationship with Greg Bender why are you dining with Greg and
00:27:23
going to Greg's house in November of 2017 if you're happily moving on with [Music]
00:27:43
Patrick two months after Patrick D lerta was gunned down as he went to his front
00:27:48
door expecting to pick up that engagement ring for Jessica devani he got me the perfect ring she was finally
00:27:56
able to put on the ring at her 30th birthday celebration a surprise finally delivered by Patrick's family why do you
00:28:05
wear that ring today I wear it because Patrick will always be the love of my life and Jessica will be wearing the
00:28:13
ring at the murder trial of Greg Bender her former boyfriend who stands accused of stalking and killing the man she had
00:28:22
hope to marry this day could not have come soon enough says Patrick 's devastated mother
00:28:29
Patricia Jessica and I we felt victimized every single day for 3 years and a half because we have no voice
00:28:37
absolutely no voice prosecutor Ashley tiiger is now the voice Patrick's loved ones had longed for as she began her
00:28:46
opening statement Patrick De laerta was the victim of a murder a detailed and meticulously thought out murder plan and
00:28:57
a tragic end in which he was shot four times in the head face chest and hip defense attorney
00:29:06
Richard Parker says the state's case is No Slam Dunk will show that there's more
00:29:13
than just one or two people that have motive and opportunity in this case Jessica is the prosecution's star
00:29:21
witness and will be the first to testify it was really hard I was really nervous
00:29:28
Jessica describes for the jury how Gregory Bender was a man consumed by jealousy who made many threats he
00:29:36
messaged me saying if if I didn't leave Patrick he would harm Patrick and Jessica read one of those threatening
00:29:43
texts for the jury think about it if I don't hear from you or the cops call again I'll just do what I said and move
00:29:51
on jurors learned that Bender went to extraordinary links to poison Jessica and Patrick's relation ship as you can
00:29:59
see on this secretly recorded video it appears bender and Jessica are at lunch and then a week later at a restaurant
00:30:07
enjoying dinner just a few months after she started dating Patrick prosecutor Andrew urbanic did you actually see
00:30:16
these videos I did the encounters were captured by a private investigator hired by Bender there's a scene of the two of
00:30:24
them entering and leaving Bender's home he seen rubbing Jessica's leg for the camera they hold
00:30:33
hands and here he leans in for a kiss it felt really odd I felt like he was trying to put on a show because he kept
00:30:41
like trying to get close to me and trying to hold my hand which he never used to do I was like what are you doing
00:30:46
I was like we're just friends right now what are you trying to do but prosecutors Say the video was all a
00:30:52
setup what did he do with it he had given it to Patrick did that cause some Strife between you and Patrick in your
00:30:58
relationship yes we had a a fight and we had broke up for a few days did the two
00:31:04
of you end up getting back together after that yes defense attorneys tried to use their clients video production to
00:31:12
convince jurors that Jessica and Bender actually were more than just friends why
00:31:18
are you dining with Greg and going to Greg's house in November of 2017 if you're happily moving on with Patrick
00:31:26
because the defense was threatening and I was trying to calm him down and he said that if I went to see him he would
00:31:34
not harm anyone the defense tries another tactic making what prosecutors say is an unfounded allegation that
00:31:42
Patrick's father Max was attracted to Jessica did Max de Sera comment in a a very positive way regarding your
00:31:51
appearance same objection judge still here say statement would you say you have a good relationship with her I
00:31:58
didn't have a relationship with her at all I knew that led to a combative cross-examination when Max took the
00:32:04
stand what you're asking is making no sense I don't think that has nothing to do with Patrick's murder and the defense
00:32:10
implied he may have had the motive and the opportunity to kill his own son because of discrepancies in his
00:32:18
whereabouts that day your girlfriend said that you were in fact staying with her is it her memory that's wrong or is
00:32:25
it yours it might be mine sir I was I'm constantly on the go I work here I work there I don't keep track of phones I
00:32:32
don't keep track of time so what point are you trying to make I don't know they wanted to blame it on Max and you can
00:32:38
tell he's angry that his son was killed unnecessarily violently horrifically and
00:32:45
now he has to be in a room with his son's killer throughout the trial Bender remains
00:32:51
stoic until his ex-wife deera Sanchez took the stand and spoke through an interpreter were you married to Mr
00:33:00
Bender Bend see yes during dea's testimony Bender broke down showing emotion for the first time in the trial
00:33:10
and jurors heard her audio interview with Weaver about the murder plan it was a plan to kill the guy guess the guy is
00:33:19
Patrick Yeah during a break in her testimony Bender appears to say I love you to someone in the gallery and is
00:33:26
admonished by an official don't talk to anybody in the cor when detective Weaver
00:33:32
took the stand the defense grilled him about the lack of forensic evidence in the case how about any hair or skin or
00:33:40
DNA anything like that from the scene that was helpful to your investigation uh no sir prosecutors responded by
00:33:47
calling cell phone experts who could connect Greg Bender's personal phone to a burner phone that was tracked to a
00:33:55
cell tower near the murder scene so the burner phone is the cell phone that made
00:34:00
the call to Max de laerta that morning at 7:18 a.m. yes the state would rest at this time thank you after the
00:34:07
prosecution rested Greg Bender chose not to testify are you comfortable with the
00:34:13
decision you have made yes thank you your honor thank you for closing arguments prosecutors said Greg Bender
00:34:20
was the only person who had motive to kill Patrick he couldn't take the Jessica left him and wouldn't come back
00:34:28
to him because of Patrick D servant Council you may proceed in his closing defense attorney Richard Parker insisted
00:34:37
that Bender's murder plan did not equate to guilt this case is about the difference between a fantasy and reality
00:34:46
people should not be judged on their worst thoughts just because they put them to paper but that's what they're
00:34:53
doing in this case finally after 4 days of testimony the case went to the jury prosecutor Andy urbanic was uncertain
00:35:02
about what verdict they come back with once it goes to the jury we can't make any guarantees but Jessica devani was
00:35:10
confident a guilty verdict would finally put an end to Bender's reign of terror it's my understanding you have a verdict
00:35:18
I just wanted to see the expression on this face [Music] this is where my son lives we'll follow you this is his place
00:35:42
okay this was Patrick's Place memories this is from a Christmas card that he gave me tender words from a son dad with
00:35:54
all my love thank for always being there for for me to many War years love Patrick Max D lerta surrounds himself
00:36:05
with reminders of his son that's Patrick taken violently and far too soon I feel my son's FR here I have't movie
00:36:15
stuff I have you know it's everything is pretty much the same because I love this so much man the only
00:36:24
reason make me feel better is that I lost my child for love Patrick's mother Patricia has found
00:36:33
some solace in her suffering he had love in his heart when he passed he was going
00:36:39
down the stair to get the ring and Jessica Dev Nani still wears that very engagement ring in honor of a
00:36:47
marriage that never took place it's been hard um past 3 years like I've been living in respect to Pat
00:36:59
but now Patrick's loved ones huddle together hoping finally 3 years after Patrick's murder the jury will give them
00:37:09
justice state of Florida V Gregory Bender during four days of testimony they relive the horror of his death
00:37:17
listening to excruciating details of Bender's murder plan we can see the an entrance wound on the right side of the
00:37:26
face it's my understanding you have a verdict is that correct as the verdict was about to be read Bender looked
00:37:33
directly at Jessica he was looking at me I don't know what was going on in his head Madam clerk if you could please
00:37:42
read the verdict we the jury find the defendant Gregory Bender as follows guilty of the charge of first-degree
00:37:50
murder as charged in the indictment and it's guilty in his face does what nothing absolutely nothing in
00:38:02
Florida a conviction of first-degree murder carries an automatic life sentence without parole so just moments
00:38:10
after the emotion of Victory Patrick's loved ones are allowed to address the court as Greg Bender listens just a few
00:38:17
feet away for your honor Patrick's mother I want to thank all of you for having put evil way bels Jessica then
00:38:29
spoke but chose not to look at her Tormentor you will not win you have only lost I hope you feel some peace Patrick
00:38:39
rest assured the man who took your life is going to pay with his own life now then it was Max's turn I will miss my
00:38:48
son and I regret that I wasn't there for remember that during the trial the defense shamefully tried to suggest that
00:39:02
Max may have been involved in his son's murder I hope they keep you in jail until you died
00:39:10
there until you died because the moment you step out I'm going to finish you off
00:39:16
I'm going to peel you like an onion the same thing you did to my son Max you have to address the judge you
00:39:23
have to address the judge I will miss my son he was a beautiful soul and I a beautiful
00:39:29
kid and with that Greg Bender was CED off to prison for the rest of his life he lost everything he's not going to win
00:39:39
again ever again Jessica and Patricia are angry that this restraining order they felt would offer protection for
00:39:47
Patrick turned out to be worthless my son would be today alive if the restauran order had been enforced by by
00:39:57
the law enforcement Bender had been ordered to turn over his gun collection to the Orange County Sheriff's Office he
00:40:05
never did and without probable cause for a search warrant law enforcement lacked
00:40:10
the authority to seize those weapons it failed us it failed Patrick now Behind Bars the days of Greg Bender lurking in
00:40:20
the shadows of Jessica's life are finally over will you go on with life as Patrick would like you to do I will I
00:40:31
will go on for Patrick I will live in his happy memories close to my heart one week after Greg Bender's
00:40:42
conviction was what would have been Patrick's 29th birthday Patrick's mom and I we went out
00:40:50
to the cemetery in West Palm Beach and we just celebrate his life we brought some cake and we brought some champagne
00:40:59
and what did you say to Patrick on his birthday when you were at his grave we finally did it we got the guilty
00:41:07
[Music] verdict we always tell him we love him we will always love [Music] him 48 Hours don't miss an episode
00:41:31
[Music]

Badges

This episode stands out for the following:

  • 85
    Most heartbreaking
  • 80
    Most emotional
  • 80
    Most intense
  • 75
    Most dramatic

Episode Highlights

  • A Fairy Tale Life
    Jessica and Patrick envisioned a perfect future together until tragedy struck.
    “We were going to have like the fairy tale life.”
    @ 00m 14s
    June 03, 2025
  • The Call of Doom
    Patrick's father received a call about a delivery, leading to a tragic discovery.
    “Max gets a phone call from an unknown person stating that they have a package.”
    @ 08m 39s
    June 03, 2025
  • The Murder Plan
    A notebook detailing a murder plan was discovered, linking Bender to Patrick's death.
    “It was just as DEA said, a detailed roadmap for murdering Patrick.”
    @ 23m 09s
    June 03, 2025
  • The Murder Weapon
    The AR-15 rifle linked to the murder was never recovered. 'It's probably at the bottom of a lake somewhere.'
    “It's probably at the bottom of a lake somewhere.”
    @ 25m 24s
    June 03, 2025
  • The Arrest of Gregory Bender
    An arrest warrant was issued for Gregory Bender less than 48 hours after Patrick's death. 'The arrest is just the first step against a man she despises.'
    “The arrest is just the first step against a man she despises.”
    @ 26m 23s
    June 03, 2025
  • The Verdict
    Gregory Bender was found guilty of first-degree murder, leading to a life sentence. 'Guilty in his face does what? Nothing, absolutely nothing.'
    “Guilty in his face does what? Nothing, absolutely nothing.”
    @ 37m 58s
    June 03, 2025
  • A Mother's Grief
    Patrick's mother expresses her pain and anger over the loss of her son. 'My son would be alive if the restraining order had been enforced.'
    “My son would be alive if the restraining order had been enforced.”
    @ 39m 51s
    June 03, 2025
  • Celebrating Patrick's Life
    One week after Bender's conviction, Patrick's family celebrates his life at his grave. 'We got the guilty verdict.'
    “We got the guilty verdict.”
    @ 41m 07s
    June 03, 2025

Episode Quotes

  • My whole future was taken away from me.
    The Ring: The Murder of Patrick DeLaCerda | Full Episode
  • I never got to say goodbye to my son.
    The Ring: The Murder of Patrick DeLaCerda | Full Episode
  • You ruined my life!
    The Ring: The Murder of Patrick DeLaCerda | Full Episode
  • Patrick will always be the love of my life.
    The Ring: The Murder of Patrick DeLaCerda | Full Episode
  • This day could not have come soon enough.
    The Ring: The Murder of Patrick DeLaCerda | Full Episode
  • I hope you feel some peace.
    The Ring: The Murder of Patrick DeLaCerda | Full Episode

Key Moments

  • Engagement Dreams00:37
  • Tragic Discovery09:21
  • Ex's Threats17:30
  • Murder Investigation21:00
  • Murder Plan Uncovered22:30
  • Arrest Warrant Issued25:54
  • Guilty Verdict37:50
  • Life Celebration40:50

Words per Minute Over Time

Vibes Breakdown