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Caught in the Crossfire Part 1 | Full Episode

June 13, 2023 / 42:27

This episode of 48 Hours covers the explosive love story of Darren and Charla Mack, their tumultuous marriage, and the subsequent murder of Charla Mack. It discusses the events leading up to the murder, the courtroom drama, and the aftermath of the shooting of Judge Chuck Weller.

Darren Mack, a wealthy and charismatic man, was married to Charla, a beautiful woman with a vibrant personality. Their marriage was marked by volatility, adventurous sexual escapades, and ultimately, a bitter divorce. The episode highlights how their relationship deteriorated, culminating in Charla filing for divorce and the ensuing custody battle over their daughter, Erica.

On June 12, 2006, Darren Mack shot Judge Chuck Weller after feeling aggrieved by the court's rulings in his divorce case. The episode details the chaotic scene in Reno as police searched for Mack, who was later found to have murdered Charla, whose body was discovered in his garage.

As the investigation unfolded, evidence such as a chilling to-do list and blood-stained clothing pointed to Darren's guilt. The episode features interviews with friends, family, and legal experts, discussing the implications of the case on the father's rights movement and the impact on their daughter, Erica.

The episode concludes with Darren Mack's surrender in Mexico and the legal battles that followed, leaving many questions about his state of mind and the events that led to the tragic outcomes.

TLDR

Darren Mack's tumultuous marriage to Charla ends in her murder and his shooting of Judge Weller amid a bitter divorce battle.

Episode

42:27
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[Music] now a special two-part edition of 48 hours [Music] you can get married and divorced in Reno
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probably in the same week and lose everything you have in a matter of minutes I don't know
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yes but Tarla and Darren Mack story is a story of explosive love smile honey it's really good looking people a lot of
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money a lot of sex and high high high emotion and eventually murder I'm Amanda Robb and I'm a writer and I
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grew up in Reno Nevada Darren Mack is handsome Larger than Life very charismatic was an extraordinarily
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wealthy man he worked in and around gaming and that he owned a pawn shop that's why we've
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been here for 40 years and if you don't believe us just ask anybody who's done business with us everyone loved Darren
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he had that personality that you wanted to be around Dara Mack was married to a 39 year old woman named Charla she was a
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stop and stare beautiful brunette absolutely gorgeous woman she was the most positive upbeat friendly happy
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human being you would ever meet the Darren and Charlie Mac were a pretty explosive cocktail
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Mission and volatile and passion and volatile and not a whole lot in between she admitted that she did some things
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that she wasn't proud of in an effort to save her marriage they got increasingly into adventurous sex
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during their marriage it was a roller coaster when it went wrong it went really wrong
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so when his wife left him it was a terrible blow in a state known for divorce this was
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about as nasty as a divorce can get anywhere it was ugly it was vicious it was mean
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judge Weller was hearing their divorce case he felt judge Wella wasn't listening to
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[Music] him he was angry at the court system the shooter entered the parking garage
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shortly after 10 30 on June 12th that vehicle was captured on the video surveillance system inside of the
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parking garage which is how we know what time the vehicle arrived and left Darren is somebody who doesn't like to
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lose losing is unacceptable she was going to take all his money in everything that he owned
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Shooter's vehicle drove up to the fifth floor we all have the you know means to murder
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somebody every day 99.9 percent of us will never ever do it [Music] we know that the judge was shot at about
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1105 and the vehicle flees the parking garage immediately SWAT teams locked down around 10 square
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blocks of downtown the judge was rushed to the hospital in critical condition as
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police officers while I was shot at the suspicion almost immediately fell on Darren because Darren had been so
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contentious with the judge it could have been anyone who shot Chuck Weller if Darren was capable of shooting a judge
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what did that mean for his wife Charla smile on me caught in the crossfire tonight's 48 Hours mystery
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wow [Music] [Applause] we are now seeking Darren Mack m-a-c-k I'll never forget that day and and how
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it felt June 12 2006 he has not been found yet he has not been arrested yet just the panic
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that hit me immediately when I heard that they were looking for Darren Mack the minute his face was on the news I
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knew the story is unfolding almost by the minute the people of Reno were glued to
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their televisions following the Brazen shooting of family court judge Chuck Weller my thoughts immediately turned
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towards Charla in her whereabouts I thought we have to find her and Mudd and Christine Liebert desperately tried to
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reach their friend Charla Mack and immediately I got that little feeling in my stomach they were convinced Charla
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was in danger you're just pacing because there's what are you gonna do perhaps she could still be alive
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than they announced on the radio that they've also found a body that victim is now identified as Sharla Mack the
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estranged wife of Darren that was probably the scariest moment in my entire life just to realize that my
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and my beautiful friend was in wasn't there anymore [Music] they had two really big big
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personalities Darren and Charlie Mac were married in 1995 and from the beginning everyone says they had a
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chemistry that was undeniable I think when you saw the two of them walk into a room they were explosive together
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Charlie just fired him up you know she was she was more explosive than he was you know she was she was fire writer
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Amanda Robb reported on the Mac case for Marie Claire magazine they were high profile in the community they knew
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everybody everybody knew them Amanda and Charla went to the same High School in Reno she wanted to be famous more than
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anything that's really was her dream was to be famous her body was found at the Florida Lee Apartments I don't think
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this is how she imagined being famous though long before Charla ever met Darren Mack
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she pursued her dream of an acting career leaving Reno behind the teenager moved to Los Angeles got herself two
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rolls and two films one was a film with Drew Barrymore that's Charla pushing the
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gurney and one was the documentary with Diane Keaton God has helped me through everything
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that is wonderful Charla eventually gave up acting and moved back to Reno when she began dating
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Darren they seemed a perfect match Darren Mack is a handsome charismatic millionaire he takes very good care of
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himself friends say they also shared an interest in a self-awareness training group called The Landmark Education I
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like going to seminars about improving himself all the time achieving his goals which was money money money money money
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Darren Mack is the oldest son of a wealthy and prominent Reno Family his parents owned one of the largest pawn
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shops in the city when his father was killed in a plane crash in 1986 Darren became half owner
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of the family business and according to court records he was said to be worth almost 10 million dollars
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they live large she drove Alexis he drove a Hummer we had fancy things fancy jewelry wow it was fabulous
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but Darren Mack had been down the aisle before I knew his first wife Debbie and what was Sheila oh she was a lovely girl
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she was very quiet very sophisticated Darren and Debbie had two children together but the marriage did not end
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well he would not stop fighting with Debbie she's spent more than a quarter of a million dollars in legal fees
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you know just responding to him smile Charles and Charlie was on his side at the time
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Darren had joined custody and for a while at least he Charla and his kids seem to be one big happy family Darren
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liked to seem to be a devoted father a devoted husband he liked having a beautiful wife a beautiful home he liked
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looking very All-American squeaky clean but their clean-cut family image was a far cry from their private lives Charlie
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was a very sexual person she did not have sexual inhibitions and that was something that she shared with her
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husband and how how great for her husband [Music] became sort of a fixture on the Strip
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Club Circuit and around Reno then it moved up into swinging Charlotte smile then they actually went to swinger
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conventions in California Arizona and Mexico where there'd be group sex parties they called it sexing I'm sorry
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what does that mean sexing is when you go to the swinging clubs but things change after their daughter
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Erica was born in 1997. Erica had a very normal life with her mother movies play
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dates sleepovers parties that was Charla's life Charlotte told Darren she was no longer
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interested in swinging she didn't like this lifestyle she did it for a while because it was really important to
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Darren the bed that she tired of it as the marriage began to crumble letters and emails we obtained document an
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increasingly abusive relationship she was a petite tiny woman and he was a very big buff guy strong but it wasn't
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Charla who claimed to be the victim it was Darren fifth place winner in the Mr Nevada
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bodybuilding contest he kept a diarrhea in which he said that she kicked him in the testicles but missed that she
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scratched his car she yelled at him on the phone she belittled him in front of his friends went on and on and on for
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six pages like this he claimed to be afraid of her well I think that's ridiculous he's just he's this guy that
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goes to the gym works out and is muscular and it it just seems ridiculous to me we're
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so much more stronger than women they can't believe that we'll be physically abused
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Dan was physically abused by his wife Darren's friend Michael small says that despite his imposing stature Darren Mack
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lived in fear he was very scared of her I was with him a couple of times when she called and threatened him so he
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wanted to end the marriage because he was battered that's a big part of it it's a known fact he carried a gun
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because he was worried she was going to come and kill him but Charla was apparently looking over
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her shoulder too one time he showed up at the house where she and Erica were and they had some kind of Confrontation
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and he had her by the neck and was trying to strangle her he was so angry with her
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in the end it was Charla who filed for divorce Darren moved out the couple fought constantly over Erica but fought
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even more over money which Darren claimed was running out he was cutting her off he canceled the credit cards he
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wouldn't pay the utilities at their home she had to keep warm by fire because they had no heat
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family court judge Chuck Weller ordered Darren to pay Charlotte ten thousand dollars a month until the divorce was
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settled but Darren thought the ruling and the judge were unfair and wouldn't give an inch anything that she got was
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something that he lost and he just wasn't going to lose oh it was just after 11 on that bright
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sunny day in June 2006 in downtown Reno when bystanders hurt a loud bang Echo off the buildings
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uh there's been a gunshot the concussion worker said he heard the shotgun kind of
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over his head I've just been advised that we have shots fired possible snipers this is
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breaking news we're in a place on the hunt right now for a sniper there is reports of at
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least one shot fire and maybe four or five northwest corner of the Justice building we have one window shot out we
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saw the glass the window actually vibrating back and forth looked like an earthquake the dispatch call came out of
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a sniper style shooting at the courthouse shortly after 1106. detective Ron Chalmers joined hundreds
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of police officers to shut down the city while SWAT teams fanned out searching for the sniper the shooting came from
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the other side of the river Reno Gazette reporter Martha Belle Isle hurried to the scene there were people
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who were hiding in different businesses and restaurants trying to get they were trying to get people off the street
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because they didn't know if the shooter was still going to be shooting they didn't know where he was heavily
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armed police quickly made their way through nearby buildings you're looking up you're checking buildings we could at
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least narrow down the area the shot came from because the bullet went through a glass window I
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Miss Europe possibly possibly shot originally at the parking garage heading into the next
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parking garage advised it turned out only one bullet was fired that morning exploding through the window of Judge
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Chuck Weller's Chambers spraying him and his assistant was shrapnel family court
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judge Chuck Weller shot while working in his Chambers at about 11. it was just minutes after the shooting when police
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got a break Darren's friend said that he was very concerned for Charla and felt that a childhood friend of Darren Max
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met with police and had a disturbing story to tell Dan Osborne told police he had been at
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Darren's home that morning when Charla dropped off their daughter he and Erica stayed upstairs while
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Darren spoke to Charla privately somehow Darren lured Charla into his garage [Music]
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the daughter upstairs heard a dog yelping and told Darren's friend I think your dog is yapping
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after the Frantic barking went on for a while Osborne told police he went to check on his dog that's when he ran into
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Darren who was coming up from the garage Osborne said Darren brushed past him with his hand wrapped in a towel with a
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weird look on his face not saying a word a few moments later the dog came in covered in blood
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and he became incredibly frightened and said to the little girl we have to leave
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they left Osborne put Erica in his car and started driving minutes later his cell phone rang
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it was Darren [Music] and Darren says meet me at Starbucks the friend who's completely flipped out
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at this point meets him at Starbucks with a little girl Mack took his daughter aside and spoke to her for a
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few minutes Darren Mack may have realized that that was going to be the last time he'd see his daughter
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at least as a free man he then drove off on his own if you thought that maybe Charlotte had
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been injured that morning why would he allow Darren Mack to see the little girl well I think that Dan
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Osborne felt that he probably owed the max some gratitude he was an employee for the mack family whether it's poor
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judgment or not whether it's fear or not he chose to allow Darren to see his daughter
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based on Osborne's story police rushed to Darren's condo as we looked around the property a little bit closer we
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found three droplets of blood in the driveway near the garage door behind that garage door was charlamak's
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lifeless body she was found in his garage wearing no shoes or socks with seven stab wounds
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when you're being stabbed or you're dying you curl into fetal position to try to protect your core
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this was a desperate woman who was curled up like a baby trying not to die a search of Darren's condo turned up
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incriminating evidence a note that on closer inspection police believed to be a chilling step-by-step
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guide to the day's bloody events the media dubbed it Darren's to-do list I refers to ending the problem and then
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it also referred to certain weapons that he would need to fulfill those plans police also found a rental contract for
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a silver Ford Explorer and a crucial piece of the puzzle that tied everything together the to-do list had the phrase
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parking garage if yes [Music] police reviewed surveillance video of the garage across from Weller's office
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and sure enough at 10 46 a.m just 20 minutes before Weller was shot a silver Ford Explorer is photographed
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entering the parking garage we retrace the path police believe the Explorer took that day
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the shooter's vehicle pulled into the parking garage drove up to the fifth floor
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moments later the vehicle made a three-point turn and backed in so that the rear of the vehicle was facing the
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Mills Lane Justice Center I think he knew what he set out to do on June 12th and he followed his plan piece
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by piece so this wasn't just an explosion of violence well I believe it was a calculated
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explosion of violence [Music] we know that the judge was shot at about 1105 the video surveillance camera shows
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the Ford Explorers rear hatch being closed at 1105 and the vehicle flees the parking garage immediately
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the courthouse from this parking structure this is approximately 170 yards it would take some skill as a
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marksman to to shoot that that distance and to hit your target he would take some skill but uh Darren Mack has an
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extensive history in hunting and I believe for somebody with his firearms background this would be a very
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reasonable shot from this horrifying day one shooting judge Weller is recovering from gunshot
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wounds under guard in an undisclosed location one murder did she fear for her life yes it's a homicide investigation
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right now the prime suspect Darren Mack and one disturbing question I absolutely was afraid
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where is Darren Mack he's a scary human being [Music] [Music] police say Federal and local agencies
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are looking for Mac all over the western United States [Music] the judge is reportedly under guard in a
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local hospital police aren't giving out many details [Music] day two 45 year old Darren Mack is a
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hunted man with a nationwide search underway he is heading south and flying under the radar
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this is not a violent man he is a good person his cousin Jeff Donner goes on television to make an impassioned plea
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if Darren is listening if he's watching we love him we care about him Darren called Donner just minutes after
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judge Weller was shot if he is responsible for this he snapped he broke the press needs to ask what went on in
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that courtroom that would make a good loving caring person like this possibly snap to this extent
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[Music] I want to judge Chuck Weller and what went wrong and darumak's mind was just
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about everything tell me about Darren's frustration with the family court system
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specifically with judge Weller he felt judge Wella wasn't listening to him he also felt that
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Charlotte's attorney was lying about everything that he was filing but well it was letting him get away with it
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Michael small was one of Darren's closest friends you're not uncomfortable saying out loud that Darren Mack is my
00:23:00
friend no I uh I love Darren even in light of these charges these heinous crimes that he's charged with
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innocent until proven guilty small and Mac had a lot in common both men were in the midst of bitter custody
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fights we sat side by side really trying to do right by kids and family and both
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men appeared before judge Weller small says his own experience in Weller's courtroom sheds light on
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Darren's intense frustration I think I understand what he's going through inside of him better than anyone out
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there I want to talk right now about how this child is going to be delivered Weller
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ordered small to return his son to Florida where his ex-wife lives an arrangement small said would put the
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child at risk but a Florida judge had already rejected that claim I'm not a lawyer
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I don't confess to know the law all I know I would do anything to protect my children
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judge Weller's hands were tied this court does not have jurisdiction in this case
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[Music] when small missed the deadline to return the boy a Florida judge threw him in
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jail for 45 days the former actor was left to Stew about family court in general and Weller in
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particular a sentiment shared by Darren Mack both men were losing both men blame
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judge Weller and both men started a campaign against him we felt something big did have to happen in order for
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people to know what is going on in order for light to be shed on the situation something big like what like a judge
00:24:59
being shot no we never talked about that we never thought about that we never wanted anyone to get hurt clearly Weller
00:25:08
was not a popular judge according to Italy kept by the County Bar Association lawyers when given the choice chose to
00:25:16
get Weller off their case [Music] judge Weller had twice as many preemptory challenges as the other
00:25:25
family court judges Martha belisle specializes in legal Affairs for her newspaper what kind of criticism have
00:25:32
you heard about Judge Weller that he tended to make decisions quickly wouldn't hear both sides but being
00:25:39
unpopular and having a bias are two different things did he have a reputation of making rulings that were
00:25:47
more favorable to women in his court I don't know that that's been shown so the best of your knowledge he didn't have
00:25:54
any clear bias I don't know that he had a bias just two weeks after the shooting judge
00:26:01
Weller had recovered and held a press conference but he wouldn't address the Mac case in every case as much as we try
00:26:08
to avoid it oftentimes they're winners and losers I can say that my job is to go into the courtroom and decide cases
00:26:17
without bias and that's what I have striven to do the entire time that I've been on the bench
00:26:24
what did Darren Mack say to you about Judge Weller well he said he was an anti-father's rights judge Dean Tong was
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part of Darren Mack's divorce legal team he says Darren was a difficult client he
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seemed like a guy who would have trouble listening to others he wanted to basically call the shots
00:26:45
Tong who specializes in custody issues warned Darren there are certain things that just won't sit well with any judge
00:26:52
when it comes to deciding who gets custody smile y'all he wanted to still continue to do what he was doing which
00:26:59
was the sex swinging on the side did you explain to him in very clear terms that
00:27:09
he could jeopardize this case absolutely and what did he say to you he you know he took a deep breath and
00:27:18
said well we'll address it we'll talk about it apparently Darren didn't take the
00:27:25
warning seriously thank you for calling the world famous women in fact he later took a trip to
00:27:30
the famous moonlight bunny ranch to to celebrate his impending divorce oh we all flocked to The Parlor
00:27:38
we all want a shot at that one hello kitten hi I'm Brooke Taylor hi I'm Mia Morgan his friends brought him out here
00:27:46
to play and have a good time and he was like you know what I'm getting a divorce
00:27:50
I'm having fun I don't have no reason to worry about it to hell with her you know
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I don't need her I got these girls here and it was your average everyday divorce
00:28:00
party but back at home the party was over when it comes you know to court people
00:28:10
are very naive in this country they don't understand until it hits them on paper that a judge can alter your life
00:28:16
in a New York Minute judge Weller had asked Darren and Charla to try to reach some kind of financial
00:28:23
agreement on their own so he wouldn't be forced to do it for them they did hammer
00:28:27
out a deal but when that fell apart the judge stepped in and ordered Darren to pay up
00:28:34
he had to pay her a lump sum of 480 thousand dollars out of which she was supposed to buy a
00:28:39
home and a car and then over the next five years she was supposed to receive ten thousand
00:28:45
dollars a month in spousal support what was his State of Mind disillusionment frightened could not believe this was
00:28:55
happening I mean he was about to lose a lot of his money Darren was ordered to make that payment
00:29:01
up close to half a million dollars to Charla but soon after that hearing Charla Mack was dead
00:29:10
do you think judge Weller's rulings against Darren Mack pushed him over the edge
00:29:17
I can't say Darren did this do I think judge Weller's rulings attitude all that is enough to push someone over the edge
00:29:26
100 yes sir is Darren Mack capable of murder we all are [Music] should we all be huddling somewhere and
00:29:55
hiding should our kids be walking in front of the windows it's been four days since charlemax body
00:30:02
was discovered inside Darren Mack's Garage I was very frightened and there's still no sign of Darren
00:30:12
if he murdered Charlie with his daughter in the house you don't know what he's capable of
00:30:21
Darren's daughter Erica was now safely in hiding with family but Charlie's friends were still on edge were you
00:30:28
afraid that Darren Mack was going to come after you yes you were yes but you're the next Target
00:30:35
Mark Phillips was Charlie's boyfriend at the time of her death what did you do to
00:30:40
protect yourself I always had the shades drawn in my house and walked through the
00:30:44
backyard to see if any disturbances and windows or anything like that before I went inside
00:30:49
always had everything double locked I just don't understand why she went in there
00:30:56
she knew better than that well Charles friends and family were lying low we've highlighted those areas
00:31:04
of La Paz the search for Darren Mack was now an international Manhunt Reno investigators working with the FBI
00:31:13
were tracking possible Duramax sightings in Mexico a couple of unverified reports came in
00:31:20
at this Resort in San Jose del Cabo Mexico [Music] territory for Darren since he'd been
00:31:29
here the year before for a swingers convention [Music] people would walk around without any
00:31:41
clothes on they would have sex freely in the open newspaper reporter Martha Belle Isle
00:31:49
went to Mexico trying to retrace Darren steps a met Hotel employee Virginia Delgadillo who claimed she met a man
00:31:56
fitting Darren's description he was looking at like [Music] and an airline pilot staying at the same
00:32:11
Resort also reported he thought he had seen the millionaire Fugitive FBI agents soon descended on the Mexican Hotel
00:32:19
they conducted several interviews and canvases however they were unable to ultimately determine if it was Darren
00:32:25
Mack that was at that Resort then exactly one week after he disappeared came the shocking announcement that
00:32:32
Darren Mack hiding somewhere in Mexico wanted to surrender [Music] break tonight in the Darren Matt case
00:32:42
earlier this week Mack contacted district attorney dick gamek by telephone and expressed a desire to
00:32:49
surrender dick gamek a longtime Mac family friend is Reno's district attorney he did Express to me that he
00:32:57
called me because I'm the only one he trusts in the system while he was still in hiding Darren's
00:33:03
family had retained two high-price defense attorneys there's no question about the fact that we have
00:33:09
our work cut out for us David chesnov and Scott Freeman took over the surrender negotiation let's be clear on
00:33:16
what we're dealing with here your client Darren Mack did kill his ex-wife Charla
00:33:23
you won't get me to tell you that Norman my son in dispute is it I think everything in the case is in dispute but
00:33:30
what's not in dispute is they see Darren as a man pushed to the Limit I mean if I
00:33:36
had a dollar for every time somebody said to me this guy must have just snapped do you think he went temporarily insane
00:33:43
that morning he's a completely capable human being who makes bad choices and excuses
00:33:58
but a series of emails Darren sent while on the Run reveal a disturbing picture of this man
00:34:06
for example in one message he holds himself up as a martyr for the father's rights movement saying remember
00:34:15
they want me as a sacrificial lamb they want the pleasure of executing me in the same vein he later writes that
00:34:24
his story must get attention to save the hundreds of thousands yet to go through
00:34:29
little Nazi Germany in the divorce industry what does that say to you what does that
00:34:35
suggest to you and if that isn't a clear example to a lawyer or my colleague to have
00:34:43
psychiatric analysis of our client that's what that says to me [Music] after days of negotiations Darren
00:34:52
finally agreed to surrender the next morning at the U.S consulate in Puerto Vallarta
00:34:59
but will he go peacefully [Music] Reno Police officials have been working with the FBI inside of Mexico to
00:35:22
facilitate the return of Mac to the United States 22nd 11 days after that violent rampage
00:35:33
that shook the City of Reno police anxiously await the surrender of the man they believe responsible Mack
00:35:44
who is believed to also have been using the names of Darren Stone and John Smith
00:35:50
there was a question whether Darren Mack would give up without a fight but in the end the millionaire fugitive
00:35:58
quietly turned himself in at a luxury hotel in Puerto Vallarta he walked in around midnight and walked
00:36:05
by the front desk went to the phone bank called his lawyer walked back to the desk and the um the officials came over
00:36:12
and said I think we're the people you're looking for [Music] Darren's last night was spent in this
00:36:18
Stark Mexican jail cell a dramatic reversal of Fortune for a man who was accustomed to living the High
00:36:26
Life Darren Mack has now stepped out of the vehicle we can hear some of the press
00:36:31
photographers what prompted darn Mack to surrender the only thing that I can think is that
00:36:37
he was obsessed with exposing what he believed were judge Weller's injustices was carrying thirty six thousand dollars
00:36:48
in cash 20 credit cards and a suitcase full of evidence a pair of shoes with some blood spatter were in the suitcase
00:36:55
some other clothing with what appeared to be blood stains or in a suitcase did you analyze the blood stains on the
00:37:02
clothing yes and who do they belong to the DNA profile matches that as Charlotte Mack
00:37:10
Darren Mack was charged with the murder of his wife and the attempted murder of Judge Weller
00:37:18
this case had all the the Hallmarks of overwhelming evidence Las Vegas special prosecutor Christopher Lally is handling
00:37:26
the case when you look at the DNA evidence the eyewitness evidence the finger print
00:37:33
evidence all the forensic things that people look for in a case this one had Darren has pled not guilty to both
00:37:40
crimes I believe that he's not guilty of these crimes you you do admit though you've got you have your work cut out
00:37:47
for you people need to remember that Mr Mack came back voluntarily so that he could present his defense
00:37:57
from the sound of it daramax attorneys may be making a case for self-defense our investigation shows that this woman
00:38:05
was violent and could get angry and do things that were inappropriate that may actually raise the question of
00:38:13
self-defense Darren Hinton email he sent to Reno da de gamut while negotiating his surrender claiming it
00:38:21
was Charla who was the aggressor in that garage she would never try to attack Darren or
00:38:27
do anything like that even if she would which I don't think she ever would she would certainly have
00:38:33
never even considered it with her daughter around ever period it just wouldn't have happened Darren Mack's
00:38:40
attorneys may also raise questions about his State of Mind is he mentally incompetent it's not for lawyers or
00:38:48
prosecutors to decide it's for experts co-prosecutor Robert daskus thinks Insanity will be a hard sell you look at
00:38:57
the the object if you will of his hostility he went after the two people he had a
00:39:03
motive to kill he went after charlem Mack with whom he was having a bitter divorce in a custody battle anyone after
00:39:09
judge Weller someone at least in Darren Max mine who was treating him unfairly and the defense will need to work around
00:39:16
that so-called to-do list which could show premeditation what do you make of this I'd have to know who wrote it
00:39:23
cryptic list here I'd have to know who wrote it before I don't think Darren wrote this I didn't say that but I I
00:39:28
don't know who wrote it and it hasn't been established and until I knew who wrote it how could I possibly speculate
00:39:34
as to what the meaning of it was as they gear up for trial damage attorneys say they'll spare no expense
00:39:42
to defend their client but apparently it won't be easy what is your client's net worth as we
00:39:50
speak it's zero he is no money yeah how was that I understand that he was worth anywhere from nine to 12
00:39:58
million dollars he's in bankruptcy so you're taking this case on pro bono no he has a lot of friends and family
00:40:08
that care about him a great deal after the violent event s of that June morning many still wrestle with the
00:40:14
Fallout custody litigation expert Dean Tong what has this case done to the father's
00:40:21
rights movement in this country it certainly slapped me in the face you know how dare you be a martyr for this
00:40:27
for what we've worked so hard for release from jail and back home with his new wife and family Michael small would
00:40:33
learn more about the case and eventually withdraw his support from Darren as Darren away's trial for the murder of
00:40:40
his wife Charla their daughter Erica is now the center of a new custody dispute between her grandmothers does she know
00:40:49
about the circumstances surrounding her mother's death yes yes she knows that her father has been
00:40:56
charged with her mother's murder yes but she also Hears A lot of comments from Darren's friends and family that try to
00:41:10
instill doubt in her mind and so now she has made the comment while we don't know if my daddy killed my mommy
00:41:21
she said maybe the cat did it [Music] so Darren Mack sits in jail waiting to tell his side of the story
00:41:43
the twists and turns of this case are just beginning this special two-part edition of 48
00:42:00
hours will continue [Music] [Applause] thank you [Music]

Badges

This episode stands out for the following:

  • 85
    Most intense
  • 80
    Most shocking
  • 80
    Most unpredictable
  • 80
    Most controversial

Episode Highlights

  • Explosive Love Story
    The story of Darren and Charla Mack is filled with passion, volatility, and ultimately tragedy. "The Darren and Charla Mack were a pretty explosive cocktail."
    @ 01m 49s
    June 13, 2023
  • A Desperate Situation
    Charla Mack was found lifeless in Darren's garage, a victim of a brutal attack. "This was a desperate woman trying not to die."
    @ 18m 09s
    June 13, 2023
  • A Shocking Crime
    Darren Mack is accused of shooting Judge Chuck Weller amid a bitter divorce. "Darren Mack is a scary human being."
    @ 21m 00s
    June 13, 2023
  • Darren Mack's Divorce Party
    Darren celebrated his impending divorce at a party, seemingly carefree about the situation.
    “I'm having fun, I don't have no reason to worry about it.”
    @ 27m 52s
    June 13, 2023
  • The Shocking Ruling
    Judge Weller ordered Darren to pay Charla a lump sum of $480,000, leading to his disillusionment.
    “Darren was frightened, could not believe this was happening.”
    @ 28m 53s
    June 13, 2023
  • Darren Mack's Surrender
    After days of negotiations, Darren Mack agreed to surrender at the U.S. consulate in Mexico.
    “Darren Mack quietly turned himself in at a luxury hotel in Puerto Vallarta.”
    @ 36m 00s
    June 13, 2023

Episode Quotes

  • When it went wrong, it went really wrong.
    Caught in the Crossfire Part 1 | Full Episode
  • This was a desperate woman trying not to die.
    Caught in the Crossfire Part 1 | Full Episode
  • Darren Mack is a scary human being.
    Caught in the Crossfire Part 1 | Full Episode
  • We all want a shot at that one.
    Caught in the Crossfire Part 1 | Full Episode
  • You don't know what he's capable of.
    Caught in the Crossfire Part 1 | Full Episode
  • She said maybe the cat did it.
    Caught in the Crossfire Part 1 | Full Episode

Key Moments

  • Explosive Love01:49
  • Nasty Divorce02:24
  • Murder Investigation20:43
  • Scary Human Being21:00
  • Divorce Celebration27:38
  • Financial Ruin28:51
  • Murder Charges37:13
  • Waiting for Justice41:33

Words per Minute Over Time

Vibes Breakdown