Homicide Phantom | Law & Order SVU

Detectives investigate the brutal murders of Elena and Jason Brette, uncovering a web of financial fraud and drug cartel connections. Elena, co-owner of Brette Investments, was killed first, followed by Jason upon his return from Miami. Their deaths reveal the couple's involvement in a high-end pyramid scheme and laundering drug money for a Colombian cartel. The investigation leads to Liam Connor, an elusive contract killer known as "El Fantasma," whose ties to both the IRA and Colombian narco-terrorists complicate the case. The pursuit of Connor culminates in a tense standoff, highlighting the intersection of financial crime and violent retribution.

• Victim Identification:
  • Elena Brette, 27, co-owner of Brette Investments with her husband.
  • 17 deep incisions to her torso and breasts, indicating a sexual sadist's involvement.
  • Death occurred premortem with full rigor mortis, suggesting she had been dead for no less than 48 hours.

"Elena Brette, 27, owns Brette Investments with her husband. 17 deep incisions to her torso and breasts premortem looks like a sexual sadist's time death. She's in full rigor heat was turned down over the weekend so I'd say no less than 48 hours."

• Witness Statements:
  • Victim last seen on Friday night by her secretary, Patty Burner.
  • Elena was supposed to go to Miami for a client's party but stayed to finish quarterly reports while her husband flew without her.

"Victim was last seen Friday Night by who by her secretary Patty Burner."

"Elena was supposed to go to Miami for a client's party but she had to finish the quarterly reports so Jason flew without her on the 6:00."

• Surveillance and Evidence:
  • No surveillance cameras on the floor where the crime occurred, only in the lobby.
  • Munch is reviewing the tapes.

"You got any surveillance here cameras are downstairs in the lobby none on this floor Munch is looking at the tapes right now."

• Brette Investments:
  • Private Hedge Fund managing 700 million in assets.
  • Posted a 20% return last year, equating to 140 million in profit.

"What kind of Investments did your boss manage a Private Hedge Fund 700 million in assets how's business last year they posted 20% returns 140 million profit pretty impressive."

• Jason Brette's Movements:
  • Left for Miami on Friday at 6:00 PM.
  • Booked to return last night but did not file a missing person report for Elena.

"Jason flew without her on the 6:00 what time did you leave around 8 she was still working so I I offered to stay but she told me to go home her husband's still in Miami let me check he was booked to come back last night."

• Discovery at Home:
  • Jason Brette found dead, tortured similarly to his wife.
  • Blood around the chair matched Elena’s type; the scene was meticulously cleaned with bleach.
  • Death occurred about 12 hours prior, after his plane landed from Miami at 10 PM last night.

"Mr brette police luggage is here hello anybody home live Mr brette tortured like his wife field test the blood around the chair same type as the victim our Pur leave anything behind no Prince here or at the office killer knows friend whole place was wiped clean with bleach he was just as careful with the body I haven't found any trace evidence."

"Who was killed first Jason or Elena Elena Jason's been dead only about 12 hours well this plane got in from Miami a 10 last night same cause of death yes his throat was cut."

• Marriage Dynamics:
  • The marriage between Elena and Jason had issues, as inferred from the lack of a missing person report.

"There's no missing person report on Elena brette strange that the husband wouldn't file one the marriage Isn't So Perfect."

• Suspect Profiling:
  • The killer is meticulous, leaving no fingerprints and cleaning the scene with bleach.
  • The same method of torture and killing suggests a single perpetrator with a specific modus operandi.

"No Prince here or at the office killer knows friend whole place was wiped clean with bleach he was just as careful with the body I haven't found any trace evidence."

"Same cause of death yes his throat was cut."

These notes provide a detailed and structured overview of the key ideas and topics discussed in the transcript, suitable for comprehensive study and review.

• Jason was attacked and tortured for information.
• The perpetrator was methodical, waiting for Jason to return home.
• The attack was premeditated, involving the theft of a significant amount of money.

"Jason comes home, the perp blitzes him, drags him to the chair, tapes him up. Monogram keychain EB, Elena Brette, bastard took her keys to let herself in."

• The attacker used Elena Brette's keys to enter the home, indicating prior planning and knowledge of the victims.

"The guy waited all weekend for Jason to come home. He tortured the both of them. He had to be looking for something."

• The perpetrator was specifically searching for something valuable, implying a targeted motive.

• The safe was high-security and difficult to crack.
• Torture was used to extract the combination from Jason.
• The safe contained a large amount of cash.

"Not just any safe, the 86000, totally pick-proof. He tortured Jason for the combination and cleaned him out."

• The high-security nature of the safe indicates the value of its contents and the lengths the perpetrator was willing to go to obtain it.

"Every chemical or organic compound has a unique olfactory profile. That's the signature. Drugs? No, the smell of money. Well, specifically the dye in the ink from the concentration of the sample."

• Forensic analysis indicated the presence of a substantial amount of cash, suggesting financial motives behind the crime.

• The Brette family was heavily in debt, with significant credit card and mortgage liabilities.
• Despite appearances, they were financially struggling.

"I got the Brette financials. Both houses mortgaged to the hilt, credit card debt in the six figures. They be living large; they got in over their heads."

• The family's financial instability adds context to why they might have been involved in illicit activities.

• Brette Investments was a front for a high-end pyramid scheme.
• The scheme involved taking money from new clients to pay off old ones, with the Brette family skimming profits.

"Had the forensic accounts go over their books. Brette Investments is nothing but a high-end pyramid scheme."

• The pyramid scheme elucidates the fraudulent financial practices of the Brette family, providing a potential motive for the crime.

• The Brette family was laundering drug money and skimming off the top.
• Their involvement with a dangerous client, Casa Vega Enterprises, put them at risk.

"And Kie and Bogat, they're laundering drug money. Yeah, and skimming it too, for one client in particular, shell company out of Columbia called Casa Vega Enterprises."

• The connection to Casa Vega Enterprises, a shell company linked to drug trafficking, highlights the dangerous associations of the Brette family.

"Drug lord finds out somebody's been ripping him off; he'd have to hit him quick to set an example."

• The retaliation from a drug lord suggests a violent and swift response to betrayal, aligning with the brutality of the crime scene.

• Checking with narcotics to see if Casa Vega Enterprises is known to them.
• Trustworthy contacts within narcotics could provide crucial information.

"Check with narcotics, see if Casa Vega rings any bells. Got a guy over we can trust."

• Collaborating with narcotics can yield insights into the drug connections and potential suspects involved in the crime.

• Forensic accountant provided a list detailing the money laundering process.
• The process involves converting illegal cash from cocaine sales into clean checks through Wall Street.
• Example given of an individual in Jackson Heights involved in the scheme.

"From cocaine to dirty cash to clean checks, you launder it through Wall Street, water it back to Bogotá, capitalism at its best."

• Explanation: Describes the cycle of money laundering, converting illegal funds into clean money through financial systems.

"El Castilla Jackson Heights I call it her son for selling weed at the family Bodega."

• Explanation: Illustrates a specific case within Jackson Heights, where a family is involved in laundering money through their business.

• A respected community member facilitated money laundering for a relative.
• The individual profited by writing checks in exchange for cash.

"There's this man, he's well respected in his community, nice wife and kid. He came to me, said he had a cousin who wanted to invest some money, but he was illegal."

• Explanation: Highlights how individuals in the community are drawn into the laundering scheme, even those with seemingly respectable backgrounds.

"He asked you to write a check to Brett Investments for $450. He gave me back $500 cash, so $50 profit for you."

• Explanation: Describes the mechanics of the laundering transaction, showing the small profit margin for the facilitator.

"I wrote 15 maybe 20 checks."

• Explanation: Indicates the frequency of these transactions, suggesting the scale of the individual's involvement.

• Montoya, a key figure in the laundering scheme, was found dead.
• Ballistics analysis linked the same gun to multiple homicides.

"Senor Montoya Poli, Mr. Montoya, police dead, been not for long, the body's still warm in here."

• Explanation: Confirms the recent death of Montoya, a crucial character in the investigation.

"The bullet taken from Mrs. Montoya, three twists in a left groove. On the right, the slug taken from Mr. Montoya, the same gun."

• Explanation: Forensic evidence linking the murders of Mr. and Mrs. Montoya, indicating they were killed with the same weapon.

"Perfect match, same triple twist. Is that the bullet from Antonio's bed? No, from an unsolved homicide."

• Explanation: The ballistics evidence not only ties the Montoya murders together but also links to an unsolved homicide, expanding the investigation's scope.

• Security footage from Brett Investments is a crucial lead.
• Over 200 employees and staff have been excluded, with 75 subjects left to identify.

"Our best lead is the security footage from Brett Investments. We've excluded over 200 employees, Messengers, and janitorial staff. We got about 75 subjects left to identify."

• Explanation: Emphasizes the importance of the security footage in narrowing down potential suspects and the extensive process of elimination already undertaken.

• DEA's HIDTA (High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area) computers are used to find links between cases.
• Aim to connect individuals involved in the laundering scheme back to the cartel.

"Somebody has got to connect back to the cartel. DEA can help us out with that. Their HIDTA computers are programmed to find links between cases."

• Explanation: Highlights the use of advanced technology and collaboration with the DEA to trace connections back to the cartel, indicating the broader implications of the investigation.

"Christine Torres, First Street, Brooklyn, New York, sold checks."

• Explanation: Mentions a specific individual, Christine Torres, involved in selling checks, potentially linking her to the laundering scheme.

• Montoya owns a laundromat and has two children, Calvin and Jose.
• Born in Puerto Rico, with no Colombian connections or links to other names.

"Montoya owns a laundromat, two kids Calvin and Jose, born in Puerto Rico, no Colombian connections, no links to any of your other names."

• Montoya’s background is clear of any suspicious connections, making him a low-priority suspect.

• Mention of a ghost by a kid witness.
• "El Fantasma" translates to "The Ghost" in Spanish, a known contract killer in Colombia.

"Our kid witness said a ghost killed his parents. Satan's Spanish El fantasma."

• The term "El Fantasma" is recognized as a notorious hitman.

• Real name: Liam Connor, born in Belfast.
• Former IRA hitman, disappeared from Northern Ireland, resurfaced in Bogotá.

"El fantasma the ghost Contract Killer names come up in dozens of assassinations in Columbia."

• Liam Connor’s history and movements are critical in understanding his current activities.

• Post-ceasefire in Northern Ireland, many out-of-work IRA members moved to Colombia.
• They train narco-terrorist groups, aiding in anti-drug activities.

"Since the ceire in Northern Ireland a lot of outof work Ira guys are down there training Narco terrorist groups helping them combat us anti-drug activity."

• The connection between Northern Ireland’s ceasefire and the influx of IRA members to Colombia.

• Nicknamed "The Ghost" because of his ability to evade detection and leave no witnesses.

"Because he walks through walls to get his targets no one sees him coming no one's Left Alive to see him leave except our kid."

• His nickname signifies his elusive and deadly nature.

• A rental car parked in a loading zone linked to Liam Connor.
• The car was rented by Doyle Shanahan, a known IRA fundraiser in New York.

"Rental car parked in a loading zone outside brevit Investments got a parking ticket late Friday night Liam Conor rented the car no it's a bronx guy by the name of Doyle Shanahan fundraisers for the IRA in bars around New York."

• Connection between the rental car and known IRA associates.

• Claims to raise funds for Sinn Féin, a legitimate political party.
• Denies knowledge of Connor’s current activities, insists Connor no longer works for the IRA.

"I raise money for shin fan a legitimate political party fighting for peace in IR and how do shooting an 8-year-old in the head bring peace along with five others Connor killed them all Liam Connor doesn't work for your people anymore he's a contract killer for the cartels I didn't know I swear."

• Shanahan’s denial and disassociation from Connor’s recent actions.

• Police chase initiated as Connor is spotted.
• Connor is heading south along the canal, aiming for Carol Street Bridge.

"Police Connor still off the outside get the car we're in pursuit of homicide suspect Liam Connor headed south along the canal headed south."

• The urgency and direction of the pursuit.

• Connor is cornered near Carol Street Bridge.
• He is unarmed but threatens with a deadly substance.

"I see him he's headed for the Carol Street Bridge got it let see the hands Connors see your hands now drink a mouthful of that you'll die in a week."

• The final moments of Connor’s capture, highlighting his desperation and threat.

These notes cover every key idea and topic discussed in the transcript, providing a comprehensive overview for study purposes.