The first indication that Dana Ewell had something to hide came when detectives interviewed him and found that he showed no emotion whatsoever. His family had been murdered.
They were all dead.
No tears? No falling over on the ground in agony?
Detectives had been in this situation before: having to tell family members the worst news imaginable. Most people caved. Most people fell to the ground and uncontrollably cried like children. Most people couldn't speak. Couldn't stand. Couldn't control their emotions.
Not Dana.
He was fine.
The second time investigators interviewed Dana he seemed quite sharp.
All business.
The detective asked Dana to go through everything "from the beginning."
Dana explained that he and his dad had played tennis on the morning of the murders. "We came back [to the beach house the family owned in Watsonville, just south of San Jose, two hours east of Fresno], took showers and ate lunch."
They took a walk on the beach, Dana explained, and exchanged Easter presents—all by 12:30 P.M.
"I had to go to Monica's [his girlfriend] by three, so we packed up and started to close up the house."
Dana said he took off by 2:15, stopped for gas and then at the Payless (for Easter cards) before driving on to Monica's.
Good alibi. Made sense.