Crime Junkie
Crime Junkie
"The investigators' theory goes a little something like this. They think that Ug might have taken some drugs at the club or bought some drugs on the walk home. And then he entered his apartment, high and drunk, and for some reason that combination of alcohol and drugs caused him to take a knife from the kitchen and stab himself in the stomach, in the chest, and in the neck." — Britt
"If Oog had died by suicide, investigators would have found the weapon he used at his feet or in his hand period. And he says since that didn't happen, there is only one logical reason for what did happen. Murder." — Ashley Flowers
"They declared that Ugg was in fact the victim of a homicide. But that's not all. They also announced that they've discovered new evidence that could lead them to his killer." — Ashley Flowers
The episode details the discovery of Ugg de La Plaza's body in his San Francisco apartment, marked by a significant amount of blood both inside and outside his unit. Initial police investigation, hampered by a locked door and a lack of forced entry, quickly moved towards a suicide theory. This theory was supported by the presence of only Ugg's footprints and the absence of signs of forced entry or robbery. Investigators speculated that Ugg, possibly under the influence of drugs or alcohol, stabbed himself and then attempted to clean the weapon.
However, this suicide theory faced strong opposition from Ugg's family and friends, who found it implausible given his personality and plans for the future, including his aversion to blood and upcoming life events. Their doubts were amplified by the lack of a weapon found at the scene, the presence of potential defensive wounds, and the fact that Ugg was known to be a happy individual with no apparent suicidal ideation. These discrepancies led to the involvement of a private investigator and, later, French authorities due to Ugg's dual citizenship, who conducted more thorough investigations.
The French investigation, in particular, provided compelling counter-evidence, including the discovery of unknown DNA on Ugg's watchband and a re-examination by an independent medical examiner concluding homicide. Despite this, the San Francisco Police Department and later a review by the LAPD maintained their stance, leading to a prolonged and frustrating lack of closure for Ugg's loved ones, with the case remaining officially unresolved.