The Dateline episode “Mystery in South Beach” investigates the 2002 death of 21-year-old bride Wendy Trapaga. Four days after marrying Michel Escoto, Wendy was beaten to death. Her body was found in an empty warehouse in Miami-Dade. Escoto was a suspect, not least as he tried to collect the million dollar insurance policy on his new, late wife. In 2006, Escoto’s ex-girlfriend, Yolanda Cerrillo, stepped forward and started to cooperate with the police. In 2011, she confessed to helping Escoto practice killing Trapaga. (Cerrillo received immunity in exchange for her testimony.)
During Escoto’s murder trial, Cerrillo told the jury, “The secret was too much. It was too stressful.” Escoto was found guilty of first-degree murder and sentenced to life in prison. According to Cerrillo’s LinkedIn account, she continues to work as a self-employed CPA. Episodes of Dateline Real Life Mysteries air on TLC at 8pm, 9pm, and 10pm on TLC.
