The real story behind 'Alpha Dog'

Now, the Jesse James Hollywood case is the basis for a controversial new Hollywood movie.  It’s titled “Alpha Dog” and has an all-star cast including Justin Timberlake and Sharon Stone. The movie went into production while Jesse James Hollywood was still on the run. It changes names and places, but for Susan and Jeff Markowitz there can be no doubt where the inspiration came from.

Chris Hansen, Dateline correspondent: Do you worry about the movie?

Jeff Markowitz: You know when anybody does a movie it’s usually sensationalizing the bad guy. And in this case, it’d probably be Jesse Hollywood.  And I’d like to see a movie about our son.  And I don’t think we’re gonna see that.

But despite their misgivings, Jeff and Susan Markowitz cooperated with director Nick Cassavettes and the “Alpha Dog” cast, including Sharon Stone, who plays a character based on Susan. (“Alpha Dog” is distributed by a division of NBC Universal, parent company of this network.)

James Blatt, defense attorney: To me, it’s unprecedented.  I’m not aware of any case like this before.

Hollywood’s attorney, James Blatt, says he was especially concerned because the prosecutor also cooperated with the film makers:

Blatt: We are deeply concerned that Mr. Hollywood receive a fair trial, and by the prosecutor developing, producing, creating a motion picture, prior to trial, it puts us in the position where this particular jury, in all probability, will see that version of events, and we’re deeply concerned about it.

Earlier in December, Blatt failed in an attempt to stop “Alpha Dog” from being released, and is now appealing that decision.

But on December 21^st, the California Supreme Court announced it will look at another aspect of the case... the prosecutor.  The high court will decide whether prosecutor Ron Zonen or the Santa Barbara County prosecutors office should be permanently taken off the case.   Earlier, an appeals court removed Zonen for cooperating with the “Alpha Dog” filmmakers. The judge wrote “the prosecution of criminal cases and entertainment enterprises are best kept separate.”

Zonen declined dateline’s request for an on-camera interview.

But earlier, Zonen said he cooperated with the filmmakers because he felt the movie might help lead to the capture of Jesse James Hollywood, who was still a fugitive when the movie was being made.

The prosecutor says “Alpha Dog” will not affect the case at all, because any potential juror who might happen to have seen the film would be excused from this case.

Zonen denies any misconduct and was not paid for his help to the filmmakers.   

Jesse James Hollywood’s trial is expected to begin in the next few months. But in Brazil, where Jesse James Hollywood was apprehended, another life has been drawn into the story— the life of an innocent child.

His name is John Paul Hollywood-Reis.  He’s now 17 months old.  And he’s the son of Jesse James Hollywood and his girlfriend Marcia Reis. 

Remember, it was alleged Jesse James Hollywood hoped to avoid possible extradition by fathering a child. Now, the baby’s mother says,  young John Paul is another victim.

Marcia says she named him John Paul in memory of Pope John Paul the second.  She wanted him named after a good man, she said, not after an outlaw, like Jesse James.

Marcia Reis: John Paul is a baby, I don’t know what I’ll tell him when he grows up. He is a victim.

Hansen: You’ve been through a lot.  Are you bitter?

Marcia Reis: I’m not angry, but yes I’m hurt.  I’m deeply hurt because I was left on my own with a baby.

Now, Marcia hopes to be able to bring John Paul, who is eligible for American citizenship because his father is an American, to the United States.  She is awaiting a visa.

Reis: I’m having a lot of problems getting my visa.  I really want to go to America because he has never met his son.

Back in California, though, another family will never have a chance to see their son.

But in the last year, they have repaired their relationship with jeff’s son, Ben, who now has a job and a family:   

Susan Markowitz: Ben is really in his own hell.  You know, he will never be the same because of his brother’s death.  I know that.  I know he loved him.  And if he had the opportunity to have made things different, he would have.  It was a little strange at first seeing him so often.  But the more I saw him, the more I realized that I did miss him.

The Markowitzes now say they only hope Nick’s death has some meaning.  They say young people should be taught that the partying,  easy money,  and drug-fueled lifestyle of the Jesse James Hollywood posse, which seemed so enticing... led to death.

They say it’s incredibly sad the young people involved were more  worried about preserving their lifestyle and currying favor with Jesse James Hollywood than in protecting Nick.

Jeff Markowitz: I think a lot of the kids involved in Nick’s murder were at that crossroads where they could have made a choice and listen to their heart, and I don’t think they did. I think they thought about their lifestyle, not our son’s life.

Susan Markowitz: Lifestyle changes all the time. What’s in today may be out tomorrow. Fads go in and out but life it doesn’t come back once it’s gone.

The trial for Jesse James Hollywood is expected to begin sometime in 2007. The Markowitz family is hoping that the coming year will bring justice.

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