Teen blogger murder trial

It’s hard to imagine a more beautiful place to settle something so ugly. Rachelle Waterman was charged with first degree murder, conspiracy and five other counts in the killing of her mother and could face up to 99 years in prison if convicted. Her trial opened this past January in Juneau, Alaska, several hundred miles from Rachelle's hometown of Craig.

Prosecutor Steven West would try to prove that she not only wanted her mother Lauri Waterman dead but with the cooperation of two former boyfriends -- helped plot the murder. Now, with her father standing by her, Rachelle would face the prosecutor and her mother's killers.

Jason Arrant, Rachelle’s boyfriend (in court): I loved her and I'd already told her I would do anything for her.

At the center of the prosecution's case was Jason Arrant, the man who said he loved Rachelle so much that he killed for her and he was now the prime witness against her.

Arrant: She said that she thought it would be better if her mother wasn't around anymore.

Steven West, prosecutor: Did you ask her what she meant by that?

Jason Arrant: Oh, yes.

West: And what was her response?

Arrant: That she thought it would be better if her mother was dead.

The prosecution introduced Jason's e-mails and letters to show he'd do anything to keep his relationship with Rachelle alive. The e-mails —addressed to “Narcissa,” Rachelle's e-mail name -— were sexually graphic. Some were pure fantasy, some talked of getting married. But other correspondence took a darker, conspiratorial tone.

West, reading e-mail:  “I’ll be so glad when this whole thing with your mother is over.” What was that a reference to?

Arrant: The whole thing with plotting to kill her.

And with a letter Rachelle wrote to Jason, the prosecutor tried to demonstrate how Rachelle, heartless and calculating,  fantasized how things might be after her mother's death.

West, reading e-mail:  “I wish I could be with you. It consumes most of my thoughts. I’m actually hoping my dad goes off his rocker and can have reason for emancipation.”

And when it came to the fatal night in question, Jason testified that Rachelle not only told him how to break into the house. But told him the weekend to do it.

Arrant: She mentioned that a good window of opportunity would be coming up, when she would be going up north for volleyball, and when her dad would also be gone from the home.

Jason testified about a call he received from Rachelle the night after her mother's murder.

Arrant: I said, “Well yeah, it's uh, we did it; it's done.” And she asked what happened to the minivan and I said it had been burned, it was completely destroyed. And she expressed disappointment that she wouldn't be inheriting it.

But the most dramatic testimony in the trial came when prosecutor west called to the stand the other killer -- Brian Radel.

Brian Radel: I opened the door and I rushed in. Lauri was laying face down on the bed...

This was the first time Rachelle had heard a description of her mother's death from the killer himself— the story of how he kidnapped her mother, took her to a remote logging road and then slowly killed her.

Radel: I had her kneel; I attempted to break her neck backwards.

West: How'd you do that?

Radel: By yanking up on the chin and forcing it back.

Rachelle, overwhelmed, bolted from the courtroom and according to witnesses, vomited in the restroom. When she returned, Radel continued...

Radel: She didn't die.

West: How could you tell that?

Radel: She was still breathing. She said, “Can I ask a question?” I said, “What is it?” and she kept repeating, “Can I ask a question?”

Then, Brian said, Jason spoke to Lauri Waterman.

Radel: I crouched down in front of her and said something along the lines of, “You won't ever f---ing hurt Rachelle again.”

And the prosecution played its trump card, Rachelle's taped interrogations, which they said proved she was involved in the plot.

Rachelle: "Well, yes, let's do it."

And -- she knew it might happen that weekend... and did nothing to stop it.

Sgt. McPherron: So Jason says this would be a good weekend.

Rachelle: Uh huh. And I was like, “Well, yeah, I suppose.” And I didn't know if it was for sure or not.

According to the prosecution, she had wrapped two young men around her little finger, manipulated them into murder...and then left them holding the bag. But the defense was about to begin... with a very different story.

MORE FROM DATELINE

Dateline Section Front

The Friday the 13th Mystery Mystery at Lost Dog Road Slideshow: Photos in the Bob Duke case When The Smoke Clears   Sneak peek: When The Smoke Clears Slideshow: The Christie Fleming murder Transcript: Dan Brown and Secrets Of The Lost Symbol Through The Pouring Rain In Plain Sight: Jaycee Dugard Timeline: Jaycee Dugard's kidnapping Dateline Section Front   Add Dateline headlines to your news reader: