Post Mortem | The Journals of Maria Muñoz
When police respond to a 9-1-1 call at the home of Maria Muñoz, they discover a chaotic scene: Maria, unconscious on the floor, and her husband, a trained nurse anesthetist, performing CPR. Only hours later, Maria is declared dead. Producer Marcie Spencer and 48 Hours correspondent Erin Moriarty discuss how this mother of two ended up with a deadly combination of drugs in her system, including propofol, the substance most commonly known for killing Michael Jackson.
- Duration
- 20m
- Broadcast on
- 19 Dec 2023
- Audio Format
- other
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[MUSIC] >> Welcome to 48 Hours Postmortem, where we discuss your biggest questions coming out of each new 48 Hours episode. I'm CBS News Anchor and 48 Hours Correspondent, and Marie Greene. Now, you've probably just watched or listened to the journals of Maria Munoz. And today, I'm joined by longtime 48 Hours Correspondent, Aaron Moriarty. Again, along with producer, Marcy Spencer for an inside look at what it was like to report on this case. Welcome, Aaron Marcy. >> Great to be back. >> Hi, I'm Marie, I'm happy to be here. >> Do you always have to put the long time correspondence that I've been here long thought? >> Yes, but then let me point out that this case did stand out to me. This is an unusual case and it's one of those that has just stayed with me so I'm thrilled to talk about this today. Okay, we are going to get into it. We want to talk about what makes this case unique, the possible mode of the evidence. But first, a little background on the case. [MUSIC] >> In the early morning hours of September 22nd, 2020, Laredo Police Officer Gregoria de La Cruz responded to an emergency call at a home on Canyon Oak Drive. Joao Peo, dressed in teal surgical scrubs, was performing CPR on his 31 year old wife. And stay at home mom, Maria Munoz. >> She was warm, she was still warm to touch. >> Joao, a nurse anesthetist had told the 911 operator that he found his wife unresponsive and that she may have taken pills. >> This clannazapam, a drug often used to treat anxiety. >> She's been super depressed. >> Maria, who have been prescribed medication, was seeking help through the church. She was also writing in journals. I don't want to be sad anymore. I don't want my heart to hurt. I don't want my mind to be in torture. After Maria Munoz died, an autopsy was done. No pill residue from clannazapam was found in her system. But a toxicology report would later reveal the presence of seven other drugs mostly used for surgery, Sergeant Luis Mata. >> So positive for morphine, dimmeral, verset, propofol, ketamine, lidocaine, Narcan. >> A team of prosecutors led by attorney Maricella Jackamond was assigned to the case. >> It was enough medication to survive two major surgeries. It was so much. >> Was Maria's death a suicide, an accident, or murder, authorities turned to her journals for help? >> How crucial were those journals? >> Very. >> So Erin, you've been at this for over 30 years. Yes, you were a longtime correspondent, you should own that. But how is this case different from other crimes you've covered? >> Well, one of the major things is the weapon. If the prosecutors are correct and they believe that she was murdered,
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When police respond to a 9-1-1 call at the home of Maria Muñoz, they discover a chaotic scene: Maria, unconscious on the floor, and her husband, a trained nurse anesthetist, performing CPR. Only hours later, Maria is declared dead. Producer Marcie Spencer and 48 Hours correspondent Erin Moriarty discuss how this mother of two ended up with a deadly combination of drugs in her system, including propofol, the substance most commonly known for killing Michael Jackson.