Justice for Sheila?

0:14Alan Blackthorne, Sheila's millionaire ex-husband being led to court for his murder trial on charges he allegedly arranged for brutal killing. Just months earlier, Blackthorn, a retired businessman, was living the country club life in San Antonio, Texas. Others had been convicted of Sheila Belich's killing. We find that the defendant is guilty. And although they had implicated Blackthorn in the 1997 murder for hire plot, he had never been arrested. Alan, did you want Sheila murdered? Never. In no way. I didn't want her murdered. I didn't want her hurt. I didn't want anything in that nature to ever happen to her, period.

1:06Despite Blackthorne's denials, Texas authorities kept digging. It was a murder case they couldn't let go because of who had witnessed Sheila's violent death, her four babies. I don't understand how anybody in this face of the earth could do that. Jean Smith is Sheila's mother. I've spent so many nights crying over those children because they were Sheila's angels. She always said, Mama, look at my angels. We wanted a baby really bad and then we got four, so we're like, we just feel four times luckier. Those angels were Sheila's quadruplets, whose birth made Sheila and her new husband, Jamie Bellish, local celebrities in San Antonio.

1:50Frances Anthony is named after my father. The day their quads were born. The Bellish quadruplets have turned this household upside down. This is baby care times four. Updates on the Bellish quads became a feature on local newscasts. The first week, oh, that was scary. She would just sit with them all around her and just say, look at my babies. It was such a source of pride and joy for her. There's Joe going outside for the first time. Yes, I'm going home now. Life was good for Sheila. She had come a long way from a bitter divorce and custody battle with her ex-husband, Alan Blackthorpe. It was a short marriage that wasn't good for either one of us.

2:34It was a nasty divorce. It was an adversarial relationship, always. Say hi, Danny. When the quads were nearly two, Jamie, a pharmaceutical salesman, was offered a promotion, and the family moved to Sarasota, Florida. Sheila had custody of her two daughters from her marriage to Blackthorn, Daryl and Stevie, now 16 years old. People say you're like your mother. Do you like that compliment? I think that's the best compliment I've ever gotten. But just two months after moving to Florida, Is it on? Yep. Should I make faces? Stevie's warm-hearted mother became the victim of a cold-blooded crime. Some days I just, I can't stop crying, you know, because I keep thinking about November 7th.

3:28November 7th, 1997. The day started well. I was actually running home from school. I had some good news. You're in trouble. News she was anxious to share with her mom. I found out a guy that liked me was going to ask me out. So I was so excited and I had to run home and tell her that I was going to sit by the phone all weekend. I walked through the front door. The first thing I really saw is the babies. What did you hear? Just babies crying. That was the only noise I heard was babies crying. And so I didn't understand how she could just let them sit there and cry. Because she didn't do that. I had done two circles around the house trying to find her.

4:15And it kind of struck me to check the laundry room. There was blood all over the floor. There was blood everywhere, even on the babies. Three of them had it streaked on them. One of them had it in his hair. It was their mother's blood. I don't think it registered in my mind that she was right at my feet. You know, I didn't believe it. I looked at her, at her face again, and when I actually bent down and looked at her, that's when I realized that she was done. Hello? Hello? Hi, this is the 911 Center. What's the matter? My mom is dead.

5:19Jamie rushed home to confront an unimaginable horror. Sometimes the whole experience is somewhat surreal, and I can't believe it's really going on. And he tried to comfort Stevie. Here's Stevie, I mean, 13-year-old girl, comes home from school and finds her mother with a bullet through her face and her throat cut. It's going to be tough for her.

5:47Do you think the babies somehow remember? Oh, sure they do. Hug? Timothy, I think he has a cognitive recollection of the murder. He says, you know, mommy had a bad boo-boo and a man did it. The man who did it left a trail of clues at the murder scene. A fingerprint, a knife, a bullet shell. And that's not all. The day of the murder, neighbors saw a suspicious man wearing combat fatigues on Mark Rich Road near the Bellish home. They saw a man wearing camouflage. They saw a man in a white car. They saw a man with a Texas plate. Police tracked the out-of-state license plate number, and four days later...

6:32We have obtained a first-degree murder warrant charging Jose Luis del Toro Jr. with the November 7th murder of Mrs. Bellish. Jose Luis del Toro, a former high school football star, is on the run.

6:49Police launch a massive manhunt for Del Toro in Florida, Texas, and northern Mexico.

7:00The savage crime becomes national news. America's most wanted. We've named him our public enemy number one, and the cops are hoping you can help find him tonight. Two weeks later. They're accusing you of murder. Del Toro is arrested in Monterrey, Mexico. Joey, do you have anything to say? Joey, Joey. Police believe they have a strong case against Del Toro. There's his fingerprint found at the Bellish's home. A gun discovered inside Del Toro's car was the weapon used to shoot Sheila. Joey, did you shoot Sheila? Also found in Del Toro's car, incredibly, were the directions to Sheila's house. But why was Sheila murdered?

7:43The house wasn't robbed, and police say Del Toro didn't know Sheila. Stevie Bellish had no doubt who was behind her mother's murder. The first person that came into my mind was Alan Blackthorn. Your father. That's the only logical explanation I have for this. But Alan Blackthorn was playing golf at the time of Sheila's murder, more than a thousand miles away in San Antonio. Could he really be involved? There is no evidence that I had any involvement in this whatsoever. That's next.

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9:35Ready? Happy birthday to you. Courtney Belish just turned three. Keep going. Keep going, Frank. So did Frankie Belish. Keep going. Joey Belish. No. And Timmy Belish. No. Their father, Jamie Belish, certainly has his hands full. You know, having quadruplets is pretty easy when they're in the hospital. The problem is when you bring him home, that's when he gets tough. And it's even tougher for Jamie and the kids now, because missing from this celebration and from their lives is the quadruplet's mother, Sheila Belish. I don't think a day goes by when I don't think about her. Big hug. Hug and a kiss.

10:26Jamie Belish is also trying to cope with his wife's murder. There's days when I do great, and there's days when I break down and cry. But more than anything, Jamie wants justice for Sheila. I believe with all my heart that everyone involved in this crime will be eventually put behind bars. Joey Del Toro, accused of killing Sheila, is already behind bars in a Mexican jail. Sammy, what message do you have for the Bellish family today? How you doing? Texas police have also arrested Del Toro's cousin, Sammy Gonzalez. Do you regret what happened? I don't have a cousin. And a golf hustler named Danny Rocha.

11:08All three men now stand accused of conspiring to kill Sheila Bellish. None of the suspects apparently knew Sheila, but investigators quickly focused on someone who did. Sheila's ex-husband, Alan Blackthorne. He's evil. Pure evil. Sheila's mother, Jean Smith. He's the only person on the face of the earth that ever hurt Sheila. Put your faces right next to each other. Sheila's younger sister, Carrie, says she heard Blackthorn threaten to kill Sheila. He made the comment, Sheila would never leave me because she'd never see her children and she'd never leave her children. And by chance, she did get the children, I would just kill her.

11:47You heard him say that? I heard him say that, yes. Did you ever threaten in front of Sheila's sisters to kill her if she were to ever leave you and take the girls? No, never. No threat of any kind. Period. Alan, you have been described by your enemies as evil, insane, manipulative. Who are you? Well, I'm a husband. I'm a father. I'm a golfer. Alan Blackthorne is a wealthy San Antonio businessman who can afford to play a lot of golf. Maybe, maybe, oh! He made his fortune selling medical equipment. Play golf Monday through Friday. Play with my family on the weekends. Blackthorne lives in this million-dollar mansion with his fourth wife and their two children.

12:45We're a strong family. My wife is awesome. My kids are great. Alan can be very, very charming. And it took me a long time to see the real Alan. Was Sheila afraid of Alan? Yes. Sheila's older sister Kathy says the real Alan is a violent man. Shortly before she decided to leave Alan, they had gotten into an argument. and he had pulled her hair and hit her in the face and busted her lip. This 1987 San Antonio police report backs up Kathy's claim. Blackthorn was arrested and pled guilty for assault. You don't deny that you physically abused Sheila. Is that true? I did. I did hit her. It was a very low point for me in my life.

13:37I've never denied it, but I struck her once, and that's all I ever struck her. In 1987, after five years of marriage, Sheila filed for divorce. Her ex-husband was always dragging her into court some way or another. It was a constant battle. A battle that continued years after the divorce. This San Antonio police log shows that there were many family disturbance calls. In the middle of all this turmoil... Well, do you like to barbecue? Love it. It's my new girlfriend, Sheila. We met on a flight. Sheila met Jamie Belich. I'm going to drive her home. Soon after, they were married. The bride cuts the cake.

14:22Sheila's new start seemed complete when Blackthorn finally gave up custody of his daughters, Stevie and Daryl. That's my kids. Agreeing to have nothing to do with them ever again. Sheila Beattie. She took him back to court because she wanted to get on with her life and get away from him. And she had gotten the girl, something that he said would never happen if she left him. Now free to leave San Antonio, Jamie Bellish accepted a job promotion in Sarasota, Florida, and the family moved here. It was a fresh start for the Bellish family, 1 ,200 miles away from Alan Blackthorne. Two months later, Sheila Bellish was dead.

15:10When you heard that Sheila had been murdered, what did you think? Well, at first it's disbelief, and then it's horror, and then it was like he finally did it. Blackthorne's alibi on the day of the murder checks out. He was playing golf. And who was his partner that day? A man named Danny Rocha. Rocha, was Sheila Belich's ex-husband, Alan Blackthorn, involved in her death? I don't have a copy. The same Danny Rocha who would stand trial for his role in the murder of Sheila Belich. Why would you hire someone to kill her? Why would Danny Rocha, who says he didn't know Sheila, why would he get involved in a plot to kill her if you didn't ask him to?

15:57I don't have any idea. I don't know what has gone on with Danny Rocha. Was Alan Blackthorn involved? Will Rocha link Blackthorn to the murder of his ex-wife? I don't think anybody believes that I acted alone. That's next.

16:20It's been 14 months since Sheila Bellish was murdered. Jamie Bellish and his stepdaughter Stevie are heading to Sarasota, Florida for the trial of one of the alleged conspirators, Danny Rocha. Rocha is the man accused of organizing the murder plot and paying Joey Del Toro to kill Sheila Bellish. I want to make sure this son of a bitch is put in jail for the rest of his life. So does Sarasota prosecutor Charlie Roberts. Good afternoon. This is a case, ladies and gentlemen, of a heinous murder. Roberts is out to prove that although Rocha didn't pull the trigger, he's still guilty of first-degree murder.

16:58This is a case of the murder of a woman named Sheila Bellish who had her throat slashed and was shot in the face. Would you please state your name? Stevie Bellish. The trial will not be easy for Jamie, Stevie, or Sheila's mother, Jean Smith. I have almost died over this. The grief has been unbearable. It just comes flooding back that, the brutality of her murder. So senseless. Not only do prosecutors want Rocha, they're hoping he will implicate the man they believe is the mastermind behind the murder, Sheila's ex-husband, Alan Blackthorne. Danny Rocha is the key to this thing. Henry Lee is a member of the prosecution team.

17:42The only witness that met with Alan Blackthorne Have any comments, sir? that was involved in this conspiracy was Danny Rocha. Was Sheila Bellish's ex-husband, Alan Blackthorn, involved in her death? He was the one that could tell us what was actually said. How did this tragic event begin? The defendant, Daniel Rocha, met a wealthy man named Alan Blackthorn. He made it obvious to me that he wanted something done. Danny Rocha has never denied his involvement in the conspiracy, but he insists the plan never included murder. Just beat the hell out of her so that she couldn't take care of the kids anymore.

18:18No, no, it wasn't that. Rocha, who decided not to take the stand in his case, did agree to speak to 48 Hours. Well, I met Alan Blackthorn just after the new year of 96. We became friends. We played golf quite a bit. Played golf and gambled, sometimes as much as$7 ,000 a hole. Rocha says it was on the golf course that Alan Blackthorn would complain to him that Sheila was physically abusing their two daughters. Stevie and Darrell. What specifically did he ask you to do? He asked me if I knew anybody that, and at the time she was living in Bernie, Texas, that would go to Bernie and, you know, rough her up a little bit.

19:01So Rocha, who had never been arrested, agreed to find someone who would beat up Sheila. I knew it was wrong, but I thought it was helping. I thought it was helping two children. But prosecutors say Rocha was out to help himself. In a nutshell, the defendant would be set for life. That Blackthorn was going to reward Rocha with a partnership in a new golf course. Regardless of the reason, Rocha called up his friend, Sammy Gonzalez. How are you doing? The third man arrested in the murder conspiracy. Let's take a call, Sammy Gonzalez. Gonzalez, who cut his own deal with prosecutors, is now testifying against his friend, Danny Rocha.

19:42Please, the court. Please proceed. He started saying that this buddy of his has an ex-wife that he wanted to get beat up. Did you ask him who the person was? Yes, when I told him who's his person and what's his ex-wife beat up, that's what he said, Alan. You recognize the name Alan Blackthorn? Yes. Gonzalez says Rocha offered him$4 ,000 to rough up Sheila. He kept persistent, persistent. You gave Sammy Gonzalez$4 ,000 in cash. Where did you get the money? From Alan. From Alan Blackthorn. Right. You gave Sammy Gonzalez one picture of Sheila. Right. And her address. Where did you get that information and the picture?

20:19From Alan. From Alan Blackthorn. From Alan, yeah. So Alan Blackthorn was the puppeteer here? Sure. I don't think anybody doubts that. I mean, I don't think anybody believes that I acted alone. Why would Danny Rocha, who says he didn't know Sheila, why would he get involved in a plot to kill her if you didn't ask him to? I don't have any idea. I don't know what has gone on with Danny Rocha. He says this was your idea to either scare or beat up Sheila. Danny Rocha is a liar. Gonzalez then recruited his cousin, Joey Del Toro, to do the job. The only reason I called him is because he's athletic, very quick, very, very powerful.

21:02Then, according to prosecutors, Del Toro got a gun. Describe to the jury what type of weapon it is. A.45 autocaliber. and drove 1 ,200 miles to Sarasota, where he shot Sheila in the face and slashed her throat. The tip itself is bent. All in front of her four babies. The area around her body, there was a large amount of blood. I didn't participate in that. I didn't realize that was going to happen. You set it in motion. You set it in motion. I was a part of it. If you had said to Alan Blackthorne, no, Sheila Bellish would be alive today. That's correct. You didn't pull the trigger, Danny. And I didn't know that there was a trigger going to be pulled.

21:50You didn't wield the knife, but you all but opened the front door of the house and said, go get her. Didn't you? I don't even know how to answer that, Peter. All right, please. The only verdict, members of the jury, that the evidence supports and that justice requires is guilty as charged on both counts. During his final statement, Prosecutor Charlie Roberts closed in on Danny Rocha. Would Frankie, Timmy, Courtney, Joey, Stevie and Daryl's mother still be alive today if it weren't for that man over there? Five hours later, the jury had the answer. The defendant is guilty of principle to murder in the first degree.

22:39The defendant is guilty of conspiracy to commit murder in the third degree. For Jamie, it was a bittersweet victory. Rocha will spend the rest of his life in prison. But Alan Blackthorn is still a free man. Something tells me deep down inside that justice will be done in this case. How long is that going to take? No statute of limitations on murder. Coming up, a dramatic revelation as a private investigator claims Alan Blackthorne hired him to find Sheila. I saw the murder in the newspaper, and it was like ice water started to run through my veins because I'm sitting there putting two and two together.

23:28That's next.

23:33It was an I-1-1 center. What's the matter? My mom. The blood on the floor, all these children without a mother, a horrible death. You're a part of all that. I am. I haven't denied that. Who made you God? Danny Rocha will spend the rest of his life in prison for his part in the murder of Sheila Belich. Now your life too is over. A woman he never met. But the person he says wanted Sheila killed is still a free man. Why are you in prison and Alan Blackthorne is still out playing golf? That's a question you have to ask the state attorney's office. I mean, I can't arrest them. Based on the testimony in court, why hasn't an arrest warrant been issued for Alan Blackthorne?

24:28The only witness that met with Alan Blackthorne that was involved in this conspiracy was Danny Rocha. Sarasota prosecutor Henry Lee. The problem is we don't know what Rocha tells us is the truth. He has told us so many different things, we don't know what to believe. Which is why building a case against Blackthorn based on Roche's testimony alone would be risky at best. What is it going to take, do you think, what sort of break in order for you to move on Alan Blackthorn? We need some more evidence and we're looking for that. Our first involvement was a phone call from Alan Blackthorn. Chuck Chambers runs a private investigation agency near Sarasota hired by Blackthorn just weeks before Sheila's murder.

25:17That phone call came in requesting us to locate Sheila Bellish. Did you find Sheila? Yes, we did. She was very hard to find, though. Chambers' office wrote up this report after the call. It lists Blackthorn's name, address, phone, and Visa card number. In the middle of the document, it says, Target, James, Jamie, and Sheila Belich. Once you found Sheila, what did you do with the information? We gave that directly to Alan Blackthorne. About the same time, Danny Rocha says he was given Sheila's address. Where did you get that information? From Alan. How did Danny Rocha get Sheila's address in Sarasota, Florida?

25:57Oh, I haven't got a clue. I have no idea. Chuck Chambers claims that he gave you the address to Sheila's home. Danny Rocha says he got Sheila's address from you. Three weeks later, she's murdered at her home. It's like connect the dots. Isn't that a damning piece of evidence against you? I don't think so at all. I had nothing to do with the death of Sheila Bellish. Hey, Frank, where's your pants? Jamie Bellish has moved his family back to the small town in New Jersey where he grew up. Jamie never gives up hope that someday Blackthorn will be brought to justice. Good morning. Then an unexpected, dramatic announcement in San Antonio, Texas.

26:41I've called this conference this morning to announce the arrest of Alan Blackthorn on the charges of murder. More than two years after Sheila's murder, a federal grand jury indicts Blackthorn. Alan, do you have anything to say? It's nice that he's off the golf course. It's nice that he's sitting in a cold, dark cell. But do prosecutors have enough new evidence to put Blackthorn away for life? I'm not going to go into all the specifics of the evidence at that time. We need to do that in a court of law. Coming up next, the murder trial of Alan Blackthorn. Damn it, I'm going to prove myself innocent.

27:37ever since sheila belish's body was found on november 7th 1997 her ex-husband has been a suspect in her murder you were accused of being responsible for your ex-wife's death what do you say and from the beginning talk to the attorney blackthorne has maintained his innocence you can look me in the eye and say i had nothing to do with this i had absolutely nothing to do with this period okay audio check audio now two and a half years after sheila's death alan do you have anything to say the murder trial of alan blackthorne begins in san antonio texas this is really it i mean i've waited for this for so long and finally the day was here the day he was here that he was going to be tried for murder the month-long trial was held here in federal court where no cameras are allowed.