Part 10
"Okay. How many bodies do we have?" Grissom asked when he got there. "
Twenty-three. All male and under the age of 40, all found with one bullet
in the head and one to the heart, bound and gagged. The guns all placed
next to the bodies and gloves next to the guns. Each body has a WASA card
over the head wound." " What does WASA stand for?" Grissom asked. " Haven't
a clue." " Ok, we'll get started. Nick, Sara I want you to gather the ID's
for all of them. If they don't have them on them then make a note. Get
blood samples on all. Catherine, Warrick fan out starting from the bodies.
Look for anything out of the ordinary. Greg, grab the camera and start
clicking." All of them went to work. None of them saw daylight until the
following afternoon. As they got back to the lab Greg met them with his
usual grin. " I found out what WASA means. It is 'Women Against Spousal
Abuse'. They had a chapter here in Vegas. It started out to be a safe house
for women who were abused by their husbands. Now it gets ugly. The Vegas
chapter was disbanded due to it turning into a place where women could go
to stop the abuse permanently and be safe. Meaning murder for hire, we have
premeditated murderers out there.' Greg finished telling them as Catherine
and Sara walked in. " We have someone in the tank that has come forward and
is willing to talk. She has details out the wazoo. Brass is with her now."
They all went in to the screening room to take notes. " Ms. Bennett, this
is Inspector Sidle and Willows. They are here for your safety. Could you
start at the beginning and take all the time you need. What ever you tell
us will not be linked to you. You will be safe." Brass reassured her. " I
only had been married six months when it started. At first it was just
verbal than as time went on it turned physical. A little slap here and
there. He made me feel like I deserved it. That is why I never filed a
compliant with the police department. He made me feel like it was my fault
that I was in the wrong. When we started having kids he started taking it
out on me of one of them did something wrong. I guess I should be grateful
he never laid a hand on them. One day it went too far and had to go to the
emergency room. There I was given a card by one of the nurses. She said
they would help me. I went and told them my story. They told me I was just
in time for the next session. Basic self-defense, shooting weapons, ways to
protect myself stuff like that. They gave me a prescription for something
to help me relax and sleep. I sent my kids to my mothers saying that Henry
and I needed time to work out some problems that we have been having, and
to see if we should stayed married or not. I continued taking classes and
at the end of the session we all met with our husbands in the MGM Grand. As
a trust exercise we were to bound and gag out husbands and leave the room.
The rules were explained to us and when we went back in the room was set up
like a shoo ting range. We were instructed to put on gloves and shoot what
I thought was a paintball into the head and the heart of the target. I had
no idea that the husbands were behind them or that the bullets were real.
After we shot the gun we were told to place the gun next to the bodies and
the gloves next to the guns. Then we were told to leave and go home. We
were told that they were drugged and would be taken care of. I didn't
realize what really happened until this morning. I couldn't find my husband
so I called his office and they hadn't seen him this morning. Which is
strange because he is usually there before anyone else. Then I called to
find out what was going on and they said that after we left the men were
given choices. My husband chose to leave. When I was driving back to the
hotel this morning and saw all the police and emergency vehicles I came
straight here. I will help in any way that I can. Give you names,
locations. Normally they would have disposed of the bodies but they
obviously didn't have time. I know they have done this in the past. I heard
them talking about it one night after class. I stopped taking the
medication that they gave me because it was upsetting my stomach. I just
want it to end. If I am charged I will face up to them. I really did love
my husband despite his actions. Without him I wouldn't have my beautiful
children." "Ms. Bennett thank you for coming. If you could read through
your statement and sign it one of the officers will escort you out. Please
don't leave town. If you need somewhere safe to..." " I do. I know what
these people will do if they find out you turned them in." " The officer
will take you to the safe house. I will be in touch." The officer came in
and gave her instructions and took Ms. Bennett. Brass got the rest of the
information he could and gave it to the CSI's to deal with. Two days later
they had enough evidence against the proprietor Sophia Brighton to arrest
her and charge her with 500 counts of murder, and endangerment. They were
able to locate where the bodies were disposed. Most of the wives were not
charged due to being drugged. The building was condemned and the women were
referred to different shelters.
