Knoxville, Tennessee.   Fall, 2006.

Erin and Eric McLean and their two sons seemed the picture of the all-American family. But looking back, friends wish they had known the truth.

Tamara Mulkey [neighbor]: I guess if walls could talk...

At the time, Eric was studying to be a band director and music teacher. He was working several jobs to make ends meet, including delivering pizzas and driving a taxi.

Tanya McLean [Eric's mother]: He would take his books and study while he was on down time. And then he would get the boys ready for school … come home, get the boys from school, sleep a couple of hours before going through the same routine again.

Erin McLean was also working hard. 

As part of the requirements for her teaching degree, she began an internship as an assistant student teacher at Knoxville's West High School. It was an important step on the path to becoming an educator.

Shilo Jines was a student at West High.

Jines: I had heard that she was a cool person.  That she was kind of young and kind of an interesting person.  Different. She, somebody told me they met her at a peace rally...

Shiloh Jines and some of the other kids at West High had heard this student teacher was a kindred spirit who understood her students -- and old friends agreed.

Tamara Mulkey: She was such a vibrant person I can imagine she was a wonderful teacher.

Eric's parents could see that Erin was devoted to her work.

Still, they were surprised when Eric made a request about one of Erin's students that seemed to go above and beyond the call of duty.

Tanya McLean: And he said, "Mom, I know this might seem like a strange request.  But, there's a student of Erin's and he got kicked out of his house.  And I was wondering if he could come and stay with y'all"   … And I said something to my older son who was down for Sunday dinner, and he said, "There's too much of this teacher stuff going on that would look real bad, you know?"  He said, "She should not be that friendly with-- with a student."

The student never did move in, and over on Coker Ave. nothing seemed out of the ordinary.

Tamara Mulkey: From the outside, their careers were in full swing ... I mean Erin was in the process of becoming a teacher, and Eric was well on his way to becoming a music instructor, and from the outside everything seemed perfect. And I think that's why we were all just so blindsided by this.

It was Saturday, March 10, just before 9:00 p.m. when Eric McLean placed a call to 911.

(From 911 call transcript)
Eric McLean: Hello. I have an intruder in the house.
911 operator: Where are you?
Eric McLean: 2424 Coker Avenue.

911 operator: You have an intruder in your house? What do you mean by an intruder?
Eric McLean: Trespasser.
911 operator: Do you know this person?
Eric McLean: Yes.
911 operator: Ok, who is it?
Eric McLean: Some guy who's stalking my wife. He's been sleeping outside our house for the past couple of days.
911 operator: What's he wearing?
Eric McLean: Shorts, a red shirt, sandals.

But after a few moments the call changed tone.

Eric McLean: "Now he's leaving."
911 operator: "Okay, do you want to speak to an officer?"
Eric McLean: "Oh, no. He's leaving now."

Whatever was going on seemed to end. But seven minutes later there was another 911 call and this time it was Erin on the line.

911 operator: 911.
Erin McLean: My husband just killed someone.
911 operator: What's the address, ma'am?
Erin McLean: 2424 Coker.
911 operator: Is he there with you right now?
Erin McLean: No, but the body's here.
911 operator: How did he do it?
Erin McLean: He shot him with a shotgun. Please come! Hurry! Hurry!
911 operator: Stay on the line, please. Don't hang up.
Erin McLean: Oh, my god. Oh, my god!

When police arrived the "intruder" was dead and Eric McLean was gone.

Tanya McLean: And it just hit me, and I went and my oldest son was spending the night. And I woke him up and I said "Scott, Scott, I think Eric's killed somebody." (crying) You know.  And he said "No, mom."  He said "Don't even be talking like that. Eric will never hurt any one." You just cannot imagine in your wildest nightmare what would go through, you know, the emotion that you felt at that time.  It's like the whole world just came crashing down and you're just smashed right into the ground.

With Eric on the run, police began piecing together what happened that night. Before long it became clear this so-called intruder, this marriage, and this student teacher were not what they had seemed to be.

Brian Mulkey: I still can't kind of describe the shock I felt when I found out what happened. Because there was obviously a lot more wrong there than any of us knew.

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