The Case Against Michael Politte
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[MUSIC] >> There's nothing in this world that anybody can ever do to me that's going to be worse than what I've seen. [MUSIC] >> I received a call from the sheriff's department that there had been a homicide. [MUSIC] >> It was very devastating. There wasn't a lot of murders in Washington County. Everyone knew everyone. They all knew Michael. They all went to school with him. Everyone knew Rita. [MUSIC] >> I was really close to my mom. She was always at my football game. She's my baseball game. She's always had the camcorder out. She was recording me. >> Come on, son. [MUSIC] >> This murder was as brutal as they come. [MUSIC] >> The first responders called this crime scene horrific. [MUSIC] >> There's blood all over the room. [MUSIC] >> Some sort of object was used to hit Rita at least once. >> Mike finds her body burning on the floor of her room. >> I was scared to death, I didn't know what to do. I didn't know who to call, I didn't know what to do. [MUSIC] >> My name is Michael Polit, and when I was 14 years old, I was arrested for the murder of my mother. >> Would either one of you ever, ever think and be honest with me, that he might hurt your mother? >> No. >> I never thought he would hurt our mom, no. She was very close with Michael. >> You know, he was her baby. [MUSIC] >> Tell me about December 4th, 1998. >> Do you remember that evening? >> Vividly. [MUSIC] >> I was home and then I see headlights coming down the driveway and it's my mom. And she comes into the house and she says, I love you good night and I'll see you in the morning. >> Is that the last thing your mom ever said to me? >> That's the last thing she ever said to me. [MUSIC] >> Next thing I remember, I woke up and I see a light haze in my room. I opened my door, I could see her feet.
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At 14 he was accused and later convicted of murdering his mother. But he claims he knows who the real killer is and he's still out there. "48 Hours" correspondent Erin Moriarty reports.