'A Current Affair' Marks a Return to Television Monday, March 21 With Never-Before-Seen Video of High School Boys Who Stand Accused of One of the Most Heinous Murders in Nevada's History

NEW YORK, March 18 -- Events leading up to one of the most heinous murders in Nevada's history are caught on tape in an exclusive video to air for the first time on national TV on the premiere episode of the pioneering news magazine show 'A Current Affair,' which makes its long awaited return to television in legendary style on Monday, March 21 (syndicated, check local listings).

What appears as a typical teenage party on video is now chilling footage of the murder victim, 17-year-old Jared Whaley, with a group of his accused murderers, the leader of whom, police say, copied in style a murder plot from the mob movie "Casino" where mobsters kill their own gang members.

According to police reports, Whaley's group of friends, known as "The Crew," went out to the desert a week before the murder and dug a grave they called "The Double Wide." As in mobster films, cops say, they then lured an unsuspecting Whaley out to the same spot a week later and brutally killed him.

"Crew" member Gerard Wilkes, who pled guilty to murder conspiracy, claims in court testimony that as they dug the grave group leader Matt Baker, who allegedly orchestrated the crime, kept quoting Martin Scorsese's film "Casino" about Las Vegas mobsters and the character played by Joe Pesci, who talks about putting people in holes in the desert. Baker's "obsession" with other such mafia movies was noted by others close to the "Crew" leader.

Four months later, the victim's body was found in a place where mobsters are well-known for leaving their murdered victims -- in the desert outside of Las Vegas, wrapped in garbage bags and duct tape. In a final twist, the group allegedly disfigured the body with a wood-splitting tool in hopes that the body could not be identified. They further took a knife and cut the upper part of his teeth away, according to court testimony.

Of the five accused, Shane Johnson pled guilty to 1st Degree Murder. Shane and Cody Myers and Matt Baker have pled not guilty. As to why this seemingly well-liked teen was murdered by his best high school pals, police claim one theory: the "Crew" was involved in small-time drug deals and Baker considered Whaley a liability [in their illicit business].

"A Current Affair" is one of broadcasting's most historic and groundbreaking news magazine programs. Hosted by Fox Sports commentator, best-selling author, columnist, practicing lawyer and former NFL star player Tim Green, "A Current Affair" will embody the same principles and landmark style that made the program an astonishing success during its original run between 1986 and 1996.

"A Current Affair" will go deeper than any other news source and deliver the exclusive, hard-hitting stories about "ordinary people in extraordinary circumstances," for which the half-hour strip is celebrated. With its gutsy, razor-sharp, trustworthy and straight forward stories for the new millennium, "A Current Affair" is poised to become a television sensation again.

"A Current Affair" (http://www.acurrentaffair.com) is distributed throughout the United States by Twentieth Television.

SOURCE Twentieth Television
Web Site: http://www.acurrentaffair.com