From: jcs
The interrogation of Leroy Daugherty, the prime suspect in the disappearance of Savannah Gold, culminated in a confession that was immediately followed by a profound emotional reckoning [00:34:04].
The Interrogation and Admission
During the interrogation, detectives employed specific interrogation strategies [00:28:28] to gain Daugherty’s confession. Initially, Daugherty had stated he hadn’t seen Savannah in three weeks [00:14:16]. However, once confronted with undisclosed surveillance footage [00:13:41], he began to amend his alibi [00:14:45], admitting he saw her on Wednesday afternoon [00:14:00]. He initially claimed Savannah got out of his car and into another vehicle [00:17:12].
The detectives, knowing this was fabricated [00:17:56], continued to press Daugherty, ultimately revealing that the surveillance footage showed Savannah never exiting his car [00:26:22]. They maintained pressure, appealing to his sense of morality and emphasizing the family’s need for closure [00:24:41] [00:29:13]. The detectives used techniques like the “how and why solution” and “alternative question” to lower his gauge of admission, suggesting an overdose as a possibility [00:27:41].
The Confession Details
While the released footage of the interrogation tape cuts off at the moment of confession [00:33:12], it is confirmed that Leroy Daugherty admitted to killing Savannah Gold [00:33:23]. He proclaimed that he killed Savannah by breaking her neck [00:33:29]. Subsequently, he stated he took her body back to his house, burned it in a self-made fire pit, and then dumped her remains in a lake at the dead end of a secluded road [00:33:30].
Emotional Aftermath
Moments after his confession, the released footage shows Daugherty experiencing an overwhelming emotional reckoning [00:34:04]. He was observed “trying to process the terrifying nature of his immediate situation” [00:34:09]. The narrator describes the scene:
“The instant anguish over his decision to confess combined with the looming prospect of what lays ahead will have forged a unique emotional distress that very few will ever experience” [00:35:25].
His visible distress included him muttering “Oh stupid, stupid” [00:34:14].
Post-Confession Legal Strategy
Despite the overwhelming evidence against him and the prospect of life in prison without parole, Daugherty pled not guilty [00:39:09]. He claimed that Savannah’s killing was an act of self-defense [00:39:12]. His defense, considered a psychological defense strategy [00:39:09], asserted that he was in fear for his life after Savannah allegedly slapped him multiple times in the face [00:39:23]. He claimed that at that point, he grabbed her neck, felt a “pop,” and realized he had accidentally broken it, resulting in her death [00:39:27]. This claim contrasts with his physical stature (5 foot 11, 163 pounds) compared to Savannah’s (5 feet tall, 91 pounds) [00:39:14]. The medical examiner was unable to pinpoint the exact cause of death due to injuries to over 75 percent of her body, concluding it was a violent homicide [00:33:41].