The summary of ‘Death and the Dentist | Full Episode’

00:00:00

In this part of the video, Thomas Coleman’s body is discovered in a car parked at a Fitness Plaza, with no immediate signs of attack or physical trauma. Initially, his family suspects a natural cause like a heart attack, but an autopsy reveals acute midazolam poisoning, a sedative typically used in hospitals and dental settings, which leads to questions of foul play. Surveillance footage shows another vehicle meeting Coleman’s car early in the morning, leading investigators to suspect Gilberto Nunes, a dentist and close friend of Coleman. Despite Nunes’ denials and claims of innocence, detectives note the unusual positioning and location of the car, further fueling suspicions. Coleman’s ex-wife, Michelle, struggles to understand how a seemingly healthy man could abruptly die, highlighting the emotional toll on his family.

00:05:00

In this segment of the video, Michelle and Tom had been divorced for 12 years but remained close, raising two children, Julian and Bradley. Michelle had the difficult task of informing the children of Tom’s death. Tom’s parents, Marie and Tom Sr., were proud of their son, who had a successful career in physical therapy. Tom preferred spending time with family over friends, but had a close friend, Gilberto Nunez, who was also a devoted father.

Tom’s new wife, Linda, and Nunez found Tom’s body after he didn’t show up for work. Nunez, known for his local reputation and dental practice, became a person of interest when detectives recalled seeing a white SUV, like Nunez’s, near the scene. During an interview with police, Nunez disclosed details about his affair with Tom’s wife, Linda, which was prompted by police hearing rumors of their relationship. Nunez’s straightforward confession during the investigation struck the detectives as unusual.

00:10:00

In this part of the video, the discussion centers around Dr. Gilberto Nunez’s affair with Linda Coleman, who was married to Tom Coleman, Nunez’s best friend. Despite the awkwardness, the affair flourished with constant texting. When Tom discovered the affair through messages from an unknown number (later revealed to be a burner phone used by Nunez), he confronted Linda, who admitted to the affair. Gil expressed his guilt and sought Tom’s forgiveness by literally getting on his knees, which resulted in an unexpected hug from Tom. Surprisingly, after this confrontation, both the affair and the friendship between Tom and Gil strengthened. Their relationship evolved to the point where they communicated extensively, sharing hundreds of texts daily. The rest of the Coleman family only learned of the affair after Tom’s death, leading to questions about whether Tom had approved of the affair, speculating on his motivations to keep his family together.

00:15:00

In this part of the video, the discussion centers around the investigation into Tom’s death and Gilberto Nunez’s interactions with police. Gil talks about Tom’s health issues, including sleep apnea, which could cause breathing problems during sleep. Although the autopsy notes an enlarged heart and mild obesity, a toxicology report reveals the presence of midazolam, a sedative, in Tom’s body, leading to the classification of his death as acute midazolam poisoning.

Nunez, a general dentist who claims not to use sedation drugs, becomes the focus since he informed police about Tom’s sleep apnea. Police theorize that Nunez gave Tom coffee laced with midazolam. They investigate others, including Tom’s wife, Linda, who works at a hospital but ultimately rule her out after she passes a polygraph test and no evidence is found at her workplace. Surveillance footage shows Nunez’s car near the scene, raising further suspicion. Police question Nunez again a few months after Tom’s death as they continue to seek answers.

00:20:00

In this segment, the ongoing investigation into a suspect named Nunez is discussed. Despite surveillance evidence suggesting his car was at the scene, Nunez maintains innocence, stating he doesn’t need a lawyer initially. However, he changes his mind after police search his home and office, seizing items including unopened vials of midazolam – the drug found in Tom’s body – which lacked Nunez’s fingerprints. Additionally, emails and a fake CIA ID linked to Nunez are uncovered, raising more suspicion and portraying him as willing to fabricate stories for personal gain. Detectives aim to forensically confirm if the car in the surveillance footage is indeed Nunez’s vehicle, employing expert analysis to solidify their case.

00:25:00

In this segment of the video, the expert Fredericks discusses his analysis of a surveillance video showing a vehicle suspected to be involved in a case. He highlights that while the vehicle looks similar to Gilberto Nunez’s Nissan Pathfinder, distinctive features like decals and emergency lights are not visible due to low resolution. However, Fredericks observes a unique headlight spread pattern, which he compares with Nunez’s actual car and other similar models. His analysis indicates that the headlight pattern matches only Nunez’s vehicle, suggesting it is identical to the one in the surveillance footage.

The video then shifts to Jillian Coleman, who recounts her frustration with the lack of information from police about her father Tom Coleman’s case. The emotional impact on the family is described, particularly on Tom’s son Bradley, who attempted suicide due to grief.

Gilberto Nunez, meanwhile, continued his life and remarried through online dating. However, in October 2015, he was arrested and charged with second-degree murder and forgery related to the case. High-profile defense attorneys represented Nunez, who was released on one million dollars bail after spending a month in jail. In May 2016, Nunez’s trial began, with the prosecution asserting he had motive to kill Tom Coleman due to his obsession with Coleman’s wife, Linda.

00:30:00

In this part of the video, the defense argues that Gilberto Nunez had no motive to kill his best friend Tom Coleman, as there was no bad blood between them and Tom died of natural causes, possibly a heart attack due to an enlarged heart. However, Tom had midazolam in his body, and two unused vials of it were found in Nunez’s office. The prosecution relied on headlight spread pattern analysis to link Nunez’s vehicle to the scene but had no DNA or fingerprints evidence. Linda, involved in a love triangle with Tom and Nunez, testified she was working on her marriage, contradicting emails suggesting her marriage was failing and Gill was still a significant part of her life. Key texts between Tom and Gill about a football game were missing from Tom’s phone, and the defense suggested police deleted them. The defense also tried to undermine the investigation by highlighting the unopened email from an adult website on the day Tom died. The trial concluded with closing arguments, emphasizing the circumstantial evidence against Nunez, which the prosecution argued was sufficient for conviction, potentially resulting in life imprisonment for Nunez.

00:35:00

In this part of the video, the jury delivers a not guilty verdict for Gilberto Nunez in the murder trial of his friend Tom Coleman, despite testimony from over 50 witnesses and a lengthy investigation. While Nunez and his family are relieved, Coleman’s widow expresses outrage, feeling justice was not served. Although acquitted of murder, Nunez faces additional charges for forgery related to fake CIA documents and is found guilty, leading to a potential 14-year prison sentence. Further investigations uncover false insurance claims and perjury, resulting in two more trials where Nunez is convicted and subsequently sentenced to prison. Despite his supporters’ pleas for leniency, the judge remains firm, sentencing him to two and one-third to seven years, underscoring a belief that Nunez shows no chance of rehabilitation. Nunez’s legal team plans to appeal the decisions.

00:40:00

In this part of the video, the Coleman family expresses a bittersweet sense of solace knowing that although Gilberto Nunez was not convicted of murder, he will still serve time in prison. They acknowledge the disruption to his life, though it doesn’t bring back their lost loved ones, Tom and Bradley. Tom’s daughter Jillian, now a college student, speaks about coping with the immense pain of their absence while striving to honor the memory of her father and brother, carrying their legacy with her daily.