00:00:01
this week's 48 Hours reports on a family fight for justice after the murder of a
00:00:06
California teenager 17-year-old Justine vandero disappeared from her Auburn California Home in 2003 her boyfriend
00:00:14
and his roommate later pleaded guilty to her murder but now more than 20 years later a change in state law could open
00:00:22
the door for one of them to walk free 48 Hours contributor Natalie Morales reveals how Justine's family is keeping
00:00:29
her voice alive and fighting to keep both her Killers Behind Bars when Lynette and Don vandero
00:00:36
discovered their 17-year-old daughter Justine missing on September 2nd 2003 they held out hope that she was still
00:00:44
alive we're all going to bring her home we're going to find her we searched and searched everywhere it felt Sinister
00:00:50
retired pler County Sheriff Ed boner says detectives zeroed in on her boyfriend Danny bezer and his roommate
00:00:57
Brandon Fernandez there's a belief that they are concealing something about Justine's disappearance we needed
00:01:06
separate them number one but to have one roll on the other they Enlisted the help
00:01:11
of the FBI to interview Brandon while Sheriff's detectives questioned Danny Under Pressure have you ever seen anyone
00:01:20
die Brandon yes Brandon confessed let's go and led them to Justine's body in a remote area Brandon said Dany had
00:01:30
strangled Justine and made him help bury her her autopsy indicated she was still
00:01:36
breathing when she was buried I lost my best friend I lost everything Justine's Sister Christine says Dany was
00:01:44
controlling and jealous and that Justine was getting ready to leave him she was an object to him and nobody else could
00:01:51
have her if he couldn't plaster County DA Morgan Guyer says ultimately Dany admitted he strangled Justine but
00:01:58
alleged Brandon was The Mastermind Brandon does a pretty good job of incriminating Dany and Dany does a
00:02:05
pretty good job of incriminating Brandon both men pleaded guilty to murder in 2005 and received life sentences with
00:02:13
the possibility of parole but 15 years later citing a new law Brandon Fernandez petitioned to have his murder conviction
00:02:22
thrown out and to be released on time served as an accessory after the fact he still has not taken any responsibility
00:02:30
we're fighting for her that's why we're here she doesn't have a voice so we're her
00:02:37
voice Natalie Morales joins us now good morning Natalie good morning to you Nate
00:02:43
so is there evidence tying Brandon Fernandez to Justine's murder yeah according to the prosecution one of the
00:02:49
key pieces of evidence was the very next day Brandon changed his car's tires as if he was literally trying to cover his
00:02:57
tracks and also the uh tools that were used to dig the grave came from Brandon's parents house but Brandon's
00:03:05
attorney argues that that Brandon was really just so scared of Dany that he participated in the cover up and should
00:03:13
not be held responsible for Justine's murder all right Natalie thank you so much we appreciate you thanks Nate thank
00:03:23
you can watch Natalie's report Justine's voice on 48 hours tomorrow tomorrow night at 109 Central right here on CBS
00:03:31
and of course streaming on Paramount Plus