Dead Ringer

(upbeat music) - Ever thinking your wildest dreams that someone might want to kill you? (dramatic music) I would have never thought at any one would want to kill me ever, my life, ever. - My dad's a sweet guy. I mean, he's very calm. He's full of laughter. He's full of energy. He's like a life of the party. - My life was once beautiful, wonderful. I have three wonderful kids. It was married to a beautiful lady. (dramatic music) - My business was booming. - Welcome to Windows Box in your kidneys. (dramatic music) - Outside the ring, boxers, they're very loving. They want love from their fans, and they want to give it back. (dramatic music) They're the nicest people. It was a very, very low-key kind of guy. That's the furthest thing from a mind that somebody wanted me dead. - I remember walking in one night as a gym was in its final hours before it closed. I remember a conversation was taking place about Hitman. (dramatic music) - What was it about this conversation that caught your attention? - Well, come on, attention was whose name came up. - Did they mention Ramon? - Yes. (dramatic music) - Now my focus is just on talking to Ramon. - They said, "Mundo, good jokein' around." You know, what's going on? - Ramon's like, don't play with me like that. This is some serious stuff. - And then he said, "I seen that look on people's eye before they want to kill somebody." (dramatic music) - It's like a screenplay, something straight out of Hollywood. And it would fit right in with every other horror flick that we've seen in the past. - He said, "This is real." - It is real. (dramatic music) - We're taking you inside the twists and turns of a complex sting operation. And here's what makes it unique. The target of the murder for higher plot becomes an undercover operative to catch the person who wants him dead. (dramatic music) - So Lieutenant, where are we heading? - We are heading to what we refer to as the date sign. - This is the actual grave where I was supposed to be dead. Man, we lay down with my hands behind my back, my head turned, it was a photographer. All I could hear was just the clicking of the camera. - That was somebody's choice. They told someone, "This is what I want. "This is how I want you to do it." And this is where I want you to put him. It's horrifying. - I saw myself in the grave dead. Literally, I was supposed to be dead. I'm the only person alive that has ever walked out of his own grave. (dramatic music) (upbeat music) - To this day, Ramon Sosa finds it surreal that he was the target in a murder for higher plot. (dramatic music) - I would have never believed it. I would have thought it was just something that is, you should only see in movies or on TV. (dramatic music) I would have never thought that it would be happening to me. (dramatic music) - He appeared to have the perfect life. From rubbing shoulders with celebrities like Hugh Hefner, to owning a successful boxing gym in Houston. And he had found the love of his life, Lulu. - The life was very sweet. - Beth Blair is a friend of the Sosa's. - I saw two fun, outgoing, loved a party, loved to get together with people and have barbecues and the more people the merrier. - Ramon's zest for life started early. He was born with a fighting spirit. Originally from Carolina, Puerto Rico, Ramon grew up boxing with his father. - I fell in love with the sport of boxing. I saw how the training and there was a few world champions that trained there. And I just loved it from the time I was little. - After training for more than 10 years, Ramon took a shot at the pro boxing circuit. - The days he called me, the Puerto Rican Express. When I turned 17, I turned pro. - So did you ever knock anybody out in the ring? - Oh yeah, there was a lot of knockouts. - Eventually, the Puerto Rican Express ran out of steam. Ramon hung up his boxing gloves and decided to pursue the American dream. - I went back to school. Got my education and I still kept training. I always want to be involved with boxing in some kind of way. - Ramon got married young and had three children with his first wife. He eventually settled down in Houston, Texas, where he opened a boxing gym of his own where he could continue to teach his passion. - I think Ramon is a nice humble guy, friendly, family-oriented. - Raúl Marquez is an Olympic boxer and showtime commentator. He is also Ramon's long time sparring buddy. - Anybody that goes on a ring is gotta be tough. It's gotta be mentally tough. You know, I think he's physically and mentally tough, but like I always say, he wasn't tough enough to beat me, you know, beat my butt, you know. - So who is the better fighter? You are Ramon. - Reggae speak for themselves. Just look at, look it up, look it up. - Ramon's first marriage ended in 2000. By 2007, Ramon then 40 was ready to get back in the ring. But this time he was looking for a different kind of knockout. - And a friend of mine said, man, there's a place that they would play live music. They heard there's a lot of beautiful ladies at the Latina ladies. - Ramon decided to go and see this place for himself. And as soon as he arrived, someone's special caught his eye. The place was packed and I noticed her. - Are you thinking, man, I'm fighting out on my weight class? - Yeah, yeah. She was very, very attractive, you know. She looked very nice and she danced very, very well. So I just kept my eye on her. - The woman he noticed was Lulu Dorontes. - Next thing I know, she walks by me and she steps on my toe. - Now, do you think she might have stepped on your foot on purpose? - Oh, she sure did. She even admitted later on. Ramon and Lulu had an instant connection. - It knows it. I think as soon as we started dancing, we didn't get up to dance for the whole night. - Ramon still remembers the very first song they danced to, a popular Latin tune that the salsa band played that night. It would become their song. (singing in foreign language) - And it means what? - Witchcraft, witchcraft. - And forgive the pun, but you were under her spell, right? - Basically, yes, that was on her spell. - Spellbound, after dancing the night away, Ramon went home with Lulu and the rest was history. - She'd do it on him, she was great. - Beth had a ringside seat to their relationship. - She'd bring him coffee and get up every morning with him and make his breakfast. And I was just thought it was really neat, their relationship, you know, they got along really well. - They look very, very happy couple. They would compliment each other, they were in to each other. - After less than a year of dating, Ramon dropped to one knee. - I proposed her, it was around Christmas time. I remember proposing to her, she started crying. She cried and cried and cried, you know. And she was happy, you know. But she couldn't wait to get married. Lulu Durantes became Lulu Sosa on March 15th, 2009. - She treated me well, she treated me like a clue. - Lulu, originally from Mexico, came to the United States with her son and daughter. - What brought her to Houston? - You know, to have a new life, a better life for her children's, to, you know, to a start again. 'Cause she was divorced in Mexico and then she'd come here. Natalia Flores is a hairstylist and one of Lulu's closest friends. She met Lulu back in 2007. - She was a nice friend, a good mom, a good worker, a hard worker. - Lulu was often generous with her friends. - If I would say I love that ring, she'd take it off and give it to me. I'd always be careful to say I don't like that because she'd end up giving it to me. In 2010, Ramon opened a second gym. This time Lulu was by his side. She kept the books and became a personal trainer. - We offer boxing, peak boxing and fitness training. - Come check us out. - How big an operation was. - The gym was about 5,000 square feet and we average about 200 some members a month. Everything was great. - Little did Ramon know he would soon be in the fight of his life. (upbeat music) - What was it like growing up Sosa? - Oh my gosh, it was like being a superstar, almost. Because ever. - Everyone knows my dad. Everyone knows who my dad is. - For Ramon's daughter Mia, a former model and beauty pageant contestant and her two brothers, growing up around a local boxing celebrity had its perks. - It was just fun. Our dad was a jokester, so every time we were around, it was tons of laughs and smiles and all things like that. - Lots of blended families experience growing pains. But Mia says life after Lulu arrived. - Hi, my name's Ramon Sosa. - Hi, I'm Nuda Sosa. - It was not as harmonious as those gym ads made it seem. - She didn't want anything to do with us. We were like nothing to her. - Mia found Lulu's coldness not just mean, but ominous. - It wasn't like she was trying to become a stepmom. She knew that at some point we weren't really gonna be in her picture. - What's more, the spell Lulu seemed to cast over Ramon started to eat away at his relationship with his own children. - She didn't like him spending money on his kids and seeing up. - We're not hanging out as much. And I know we're not doing it because he's got someone else that he's paying his attention to. And it's like, why, I'm your daughter. Don't, where are you going? - Ramon says there was so much animosity between Lulu and his children. They weren't there for a major event in his life. - My kids didn't go to my wedding. That's one thing that's hurt me. - That day that we found out that he had got married, it was heartbreaking, heart breaking. - Ramon and his new bride focused on growing their gym into a powerhouse. - For world-class training and fitness. - You don't want to lose five! How much money were you guys making a month or a year? - They were about 18,000 a month. - 18,000 dollars a month in profit. - Yeah. - But after six years of marriage, the social spell began to break. Lulu started confiding in her friends. - She told me that he doesn't want to work too much and he stayed more at home and she's working hard and hard and hard. - Dad! - And accusations of Ramon's laziness were just the beginning. - And she said on an occasion or two that he was physical with her, that he had come in drinking and was physical with her. - What did she mean by physical? - Like grabbing her or pushing her. - Because he's a strong guy. He came and forced to do things that she doesn't want in that moment. - Like sex. - Uh-huh. - Did she ever tell you that Ramon would force himself upon her and force her to have sex with him when she did not want to? - Yes, she did. She had said that on occasion. - Lulu claims that you have raped her. - Yeah, she's tried everything to ruin my life. From rape, being abusive, to being a drunk. And all these acclaims, now one of them, not one, have been charged for. And I tell you, sir, that this hands have never hit him a woman in their lives. These have always been for finding the ring. Not even the streets. For her to say something like that, that was really hurtful. (gentle music) - Around the same time that Lulu was complaining to her girlfriends, Ramon says another problem suspiciously appeared. Missing money. After weeks, I had problems at home with the marriage. There was issues with the gym. - Yes. - I'm working people out a lot more. And I see new faces all the time. But when I see the bottom line here, it's not adding up. - Are you worried that she's skimming money? - I was worried, and I was wondering what she was doing with the money. - Ramon soon learned where some of that money may have gone. In March 2015, Lulu hired divorce attorney Julio Hoglar. But Lulu was in fear for her safety. Hoglar says he was shocked by what Lulu brought with her to his office. - She was able to take pictures of scratches that he left on her arms, legs, shoulders. - He shared the photos with 48 hours. - According to Lulu, this was caused by Ramon at one time when he wanted to force himself to her. And there was altercation. And Ramon grabbed her and scratched her. - Yeah. - That is evident that he was using force to push her legs out. - There's scratches on her upper arm, and she claims there's a bruise on her leg that you inflicted on her. - Those are all fabricated. I can tell you, those are all fabricated. - This is-- - But there was one photo that even Ramon says was not made up. - As you can see in this picture, Ramon punched that door. And that can give you an idea of the strang of this man. - That I met today, punch. She was accusing me of stuff. And that's one thing I did. I took my frustrations out. But as far as putting it in hand on her, never ever. - Despite allegations of physical abuse, Ramon and Lulu remained in the same house, even after she filed for divorce. They lived on different floors. - And was Lulu afraid of Ramon? Afraid that he made seriously hurt her? - Yeah, she was afraid of that. - And it was at that time in June, 2015, that this man who asked me not show his face was working out at the gym. He said to call him Mundo. Ramon's also, he's a friend. He's a very good mentor to me. - Mundo had grown up on the tough streets of East Houston. - And he had a very, very rough background. Gangs and drugs and fighting streets. Then he wanted a new life. And he became like a son to me. - Mundo says he was friends with Lulu as well. She was there talking to her 16 year old daughter when he overheard them. The conversation was taking place about a customer that was there that supposedly was claiming to be a big shot that he had connections of a hitman or just people that couldn't flick on him. Well, my attention was towards the end of the conversation whose name came up. - Yes. - Stund, Mundo said nothing. He came back here the next day and confronted Lulu, who told him that Ramon was physically abusing her. Then she said something else. (dramatic music) - She was like, I'm tired. I'm tired of him. It's already too much, you know? I wish he'll disappear. I wish something, you know? And I'm like, disappear. What do you mean disappear? Like, what? Disappeared. And I did the pistol sign. (dramatic music) (dramatic music) (dramatic music) - Mundo was certain that Lulu had murder on her mind and that his friend Ramon was in danger. - And what was it about the way she was talking to you that made you think this was something more than just idle words? - Her eyes described, I've seen that look before. Just people that are serious about what they're saying. - Knowing Lulu was dead serious, Mundo had to think fast. He came up with a plan to stop her. Mundo offered to get involved and hire the hitman himself. - I gave Lulu the impression that I was gonna reach out to a hitman, that I have the guys already ready. - Mundo convinced Lulu he believed her claims of abuse and would help her, but it was actually all a ploy to protect his friend Ramon, who he called as soon as he left the gym. - And he tells me Lulu wants to kill you. - As shocking as the news was, Ramon says he instantly knew why. - If I died after the divorce was finalized, she was now gonna get the money that I have for my retirement. The value of the gym, the value of the hall. - She had everything already figured out. - Ramon immediately contacted police, but was told nothing could be done based only on conversations with an angry wife as threatening as they sounded. - The sheriff's apartment needed more. They need more evidence. - So the two old boxing buddies came up with a plan. They would launch their own sting operation. - The tape recorder I'm gonna use. - Using his street smarts, Mundo would pretend to hire a hitman. He'd send text to this fictitious killer with details about the hit. Details he'd share with Lulu. - She needs to see that I'm going back and forth with somebody. - Ramon and Mundo bought two disposable cell phones. Little did Lulu know that the target, her own husband, was holding that second phone. and the phone he's gonna use to play his own hitman. - Play his own hitman. - Yes, sir. - I started stressing because, you know, here we are, Miyamundo doing this amateur investigation or under cover investigation. I don't know what I'm doing. But Mundo did. - He started recording his daily conversations with Lulu. - As the days passed, both men worried Lulu might have another hitman waiting in the wings. - My thing was, what if her patience runs out? No, Ramon's ends up dead. Or what if her patient runs out and I end up dead? Ramon told no one about what he and Mundo were up to and living in fear over what Lulu might be up to, took its toll. He started carrying a gun. - I'd be out of stoplight and, you know, I would put the gun in between my legs, you know, looking left and right the whole time at a light. - Ramon could not even escape his fear at night and you're in bed, where's the gun? - Are you still on there underneath my pillow? - No, I don't know. - So Mundo kept the pretend negotiations on track. - We used that phone. - Acting as the middleman between the fake hitman and Lulu. - She's like, "Well, tell them I'm offering the white truck, "tell them I'm offering them jewelry, "tell them I'm offering them, you know, this much money." - All this time, Ramon and Lulu were still living under the same roof on June 9th, 2015. Before Mundo overheard Lulu's threat, police had been called to the Sosa House. Lulu's defense attorney says there was an argument between Lulu's son and Ramon over a truck, which Lulu's son recorded on his cell phone. - Who's going to take my vehicle? - It's my vehicle. I have legal documents on the right, which I need today. Please don't take my vehicle. - Ramon went to take the vehicle away from Lulu's son and when Lulu's son basically told him, "Now you're not going to take my vehicle." - Please step out of my car. - Ramon punched him on his face. - Ramon, please step out of my car. Ramon was issued a citation for assault, but he says his hand only made contact with the phone. - I'm an ex-professional fighter. If I were to hit that kid, believe me, he would not be standing up right now. - I didn't put my hand on that kid. - On June 30th, Ramon and Lulu faced off in court. Lulu wanted a restraining order against him. - Her attorney wrote up the orders that I was abusive, that I hit her son, that they fear for their lives, you know, living with me standing in my house. - Ramon was ordered to move out of their home and stay away from the Woodland's gym, but he also got an order restraining Lulu from the first gym he owned. The one he'd opened before meeting her. Ramon says he kept his eye on the bigger prize, exposing Lulu's plot against him. - You know, she thought she had me on the ropes, about to knock me out. And boxing, that's called an eight count. I took an eight count. I got to get out of my own house. - But the boxer was about to make a comeback. 10 days after launching their sting, Ramon posing as Paco, the fake hitman, attacks Mondo. He's gotten a nine millimeter gun, costing $200. - When Mondo received the down payment for the gun to have me kill from Lulu, that's when I said, you know what, I think we have enough, let's take this to the police now. - I got a call on a Sunday. - Lieutenant Mike Atkins works for the precinct three constables office in Montgomery County, Texas. - We had an individual claim that there was a murder for hire against him. How unusual was that? - Six extremely unusual, it's the first one of my career. - Impressed with the amateur sting, the professionals were now ready to take over. But they needed a street wise rookie in their corner. Mondo. - I was afraid that they might get that person to actually do the job. - They might go with them. - It was important that we not change the investigation. We don't change or move Mondo out of the situation because that might bring alarms. - Mondo kept stringing Lulu along, assuring her he was trying to get things done as soon as possible. Finally, he let her know everything is a go for a meeting on July 20th with the hitman, who was really an undercover agent. - He looked like it could be a bad guy in a movie. I said, hey, there's the man that's supposed to kill you. - Lulu agreed to a night meeting in this parking lot, not far from the gym. She brought several watches and some jewelry as a down payment. Lulu then went to an ATM machine and withdrew $500, which she brought back here to seal the deal. - When someone in a murder for a higher case actually pays some money, have they crossed a threshold? - They have. It shows the level of intent. It shows the fact that they are serious and it's come to a point where you can't turn back. - Police had enough to arrest Lulu right there and then, but they had concerns. Namely, Lulu's claims of Ramon's abuse. - Lulu has never had any prongs with the law. She's a beautiful lady, mother. We don't want to go to a jury trial and have one of the jurors feel so high for her. And so police told Ramon what they needed to do next. - We're planning to take a picture of you, then. - My name's Jack Wagner, host of Other World, a podcast featuring real people who experienced something paranormal, supernatural, or unexplained. - I have no idea how I got there. - I don't think I've ever seen anything that looks like this. - It felt like electric stars on fire. - I started Other World to take a grounded approach to the paranormal, help people tell their own stories and encourage more to come forward. I certainly don't have the answers, but maybe one day we will. Join me as we explore our world's greatest mysteries. Listen to Other World now for free wherever you get your podcasts. (upbeat music) - For Ramon, the police sting to bring down Lulu, seemed to be taking a cue from witchcraft, the first song they ever danced to. - One of the lyrics you want to send me to my cold tomb. - Yeah, we don't take a picture of you, dead, you know, like in a grave. I mean, we're gonna show it to her. To show proof that the hitman did the job. - He was kind of dumbstruck, but then as it was explained to him, he was well on board. - In order to get Ramon camera ready, - It is a bullet wound. - Police first had to consult some experts. - Being a bunch of middle aged men, we're not exactly versed on applying makeup. So naturally, we went to YouTube and learned how to apply makeup from teenage girls. - But they also had some deadly examples to follow. - Luckily, we had no shortage of crimes he photos to use as references. - The assistant day was there and he brought out some pictures of actual dead people. People would bullet holes to the head. They picked up the one that they thought that was gonna be the best one, and I looked at them. - And they showed you that picture? - Yeah, I was horrified. - Next, they had to find Ramon a grave. - We're heading to what we refer to as the dig site locally for us, the county owned a right away that would give us the privacy we needed. - What was going through your mind? - Well, I really didn't know what it was gonna look like. I was at this point already, I mean, I already had the makeup, they already started with the bullet hole. - The final touch, fake blood. - And they told me once we got to the site, they were gonna put more blood on me. - This is it. - I'm on final rest in place. - So, where were you lying in this grave? - My head was there in that corner right there. - And I was right over there? - Yeah, it looked like I had my hands tied with my back. - Even through the dirt on my head. - It looked like a movie scene, honestly. - Was it emotional for you to be here? - Yes, very emotional. - It was hot. - It was scary, it was just a feeling of thoughts of I can't believe this is what I'm doing. I cannot believe what I'm doing. - This is what Lulu wanted, right here. This is what she wanted. - Now it's time to show Lulu that this is done and it's time to get paid. - So a second meeting was arranged between Lulu and the hitman in this same parking lot, but this time it was all caught on. camera. It's July 22nd, 2015. July 22nd, 2015. Lulu is shown the photo of Ramon dead in a grave. She starts laughing. No shock at all. No shock. What does that tell you about Lulu? She's a pretty cold character. The undercover detective and Lulu discuss the remaining payment, all told $3,000 in cash, charges and jewelry, and Ramon's white pickup. Then Lulu was given more details of her husband's final moments. She was the victim here. The reality of Ramon's death continues to sink in, and Lulu's mood appears to lift. She was happy. She even made a comment to the hitman. She asked me if he was dead if I was not going to get out. She wanted to make sure that I was dead. She made gestures with her hand like, you know, racing the roof. Little did Lulu know that her roof was about to come crashing down. The next morning, police come to the gym, and it's not for a workout. We want to come in and say, you know, hey, we're inquiring about your husband that's been missing, and we want to get her reaction. Police make it seem like they're stopping in to do a wellness check on Ramon. Lulu claims she has no idea where Ramon might be. Lulu seems pretty relaxed. She knows that sooner or later, police are going to come, either to say he's missing or they found his body. Remember the night before she has seen his picture, she was all happy. She was all giggles and happy that she seemed dead, and now she was acting concerned in front of the cops. Police let Lulu's performance go on a few minutes longer, then lower the boom. Back at the constables office, Lulu is already taking issue with how she was arrested. Prior to her interview, Lulu is read her rights and refuses to speak without a lawyer. Lulu is charged with solicitation of capital murder. It's an injustice, says her divorce lawyer Julio Hoglar. The question now, will a jury believe Lulu's claims of abuse? Here lies Ramon Sosa, right? Yes, sir. This is like a scene from a movie where they kill these guys and just dig up a hole in anywhere and put them away. Very scary. For three days, Ramon had to play the part of a dead man. In nobody anywhere I was, even my family, everybody was looking for me. I was very upset. Rage and sadness, all the emotions came through me. Following Lulu's arrest on July 23rd, 2015, Ramon faced the unimaginable task of telling his children that their stepmother had tried to kill him. I had just got off of a shift from working at a comedy club and it was late. You know, I didn't expect my brother to be sitting on my bed. You can just feel something was wrong. Mia's brother handed her the phone. Her father was on the line. And he says, "Very low, Mia, I'm okay." And I said, "What are you talking about?" And he says, "I'm okay, I'm somewhere safe, but Lulu tried to have someone kill me." And at this point, I mean, you don't hear anything. I didn't know what to do with myself, except cry. I remember sliding on the back of the wall down to the ground and huddled into my knees, crying my eyes out. Now Ramon had a new fight on his hands, defending his reputation. That was what was hurting so much. She had so many people believe all this stuff that I have put my hands on her, that I was an alcoholic, that I hit her son. And I fell sick with this person. Still, with Lulu use these allegations as part of her own defense, give me a sense how strong now is your case against Lulu Sosa. We think it was a very strong case. We had our video, we had a down payment, we had a confirmation to her that the murder had taken place. So you've got her. As Lulu awaited trial, that assault charge against Ramon, Ramon Buistep, out of my car, was dismissed. And Lulu agrees with the force settlement, that handed Ramon the gym and the house to give it all up. After 15 months in jail, awaiting trial on the murder for higher charges, Lulu gave up the fight. In October 2016, as Ramon looked on, she pleaded guilty to a reduced charge of second degree solicitation of murder, avoiding trial and a possible life sentence. She came here with an American dream and she got her American dream quick. And to lose everything that she did, it's sad. Lulu was given 20 years in prison. Is 20 years enough? I don't think so. But I'm happy that it's over with. I'll take it. I was just shocked. They're trying to hire somebody to kill her husband, that that's really all she got was 20 years. Personally, because that's my father, I want you away forever. I don't want you to come out. And everyone agrees. Was that justice in your opinion? My opinion? No. Lulu's divorce attorney, Julio Hoglar. Because? Because nobody got to hear her side. Many times I saw her crying. I fell her desperation. Ramon says the ordeal has left scars. Are you haunted by this? I'll never be the same person ever again. I call my kids as much as possible. Might be the last day I say that I love them. Ramon's near death experience has changed him. They love our family. Mia is now back in Texas, having patched up their relationship after Lulu drove them apart. It's been a really good outcome for me and for him. You're going to get knocked out sometimes. You're going to get up. Take the loss. and you're going to try harder and get a win. Now, Ramon is a sought-after speaker, telling his incredible story of survival. He shared that journey to an appreciative audience in London. Thank you, thank you, London. I'm alive. The man who Lulu thought would help kill her husband is now an author. Mundo has written a book about his experience. If Lulu is watching this broadcast, is there anything you would want to say to her? Redeem yourself. You don't have to be what everybody tells you you are. Everybody's told me I was something else. I put everybody wrong. So you could do the same. Today, Ramon wears a precious reminder of how his time on Earth almost ran out. Tell me about the watch that's on your left wrist there. She told Mundo that when it killed me to make sure to take my watch, that's why we're all the time now. I think she ended up picking the wrong man to victimize, don't you? Yeah. It's the last minute of the last round. She had me on the ropes and she had no idea that the whole time I had a plan to. [Music] Paramount Plus is your streaming home for the NFL on CBS every Sunday. Touchdown! With the most anticipated games and football's biggest stars. I want a catch! Sign up for Paramount Plus today. - See you Sunday!