Virginia Beach, 1996 was a booming coastal city on the edge of the Atlantic — a place where suburbia meets beach-town freedom… and military precision. Among its residents was Petty Officer Elise Makdessi and her husband, Eddie, a computer technician. They had moved to the city in 1994, and on the surface, everything seemed normal. Until May of 1996. Eddie Makdessi called 911 on May 14 in a panic, claiming an intruder had broken into their home, stabbed Elise, and that he had shot the attacker to defend her. At first, it seemed like a clear-cut case of self-defense. But detectives weren’t convinced. Every detail was scrutinized, all evidence closely examined. And what they discovered didn’t just raise questions — it contradicted Eddie Makdessi’s story entirely. It would take nearly a decade of investigation before justice was finally served. This is a case that reminds us: not everything is as it first appears. Sometimes, the smallest details make all the difference.

“DSS Returns Double Homicide Suspect to U.S.” by Bureau of Diplomatic Security on U.S. Department of State Archive on August 4, 2003 (https://2001-2009.state.gov/m/ds/rls/23000.htm)

“Man convicted of 1996 Murders” by The Associated Press in The Culpeper Star – Exponent on March 17, 2006

“BEACH MAN SAYS POLICE SUSPECT HIM IN DOUBLE SLAYING” by Mike Mather in The Virginia Pilot on June 13, 1996 (https://scholar.lib.vt.edu/VA-news/VA-Pilot/issues/1996/vp960613/06130573.htm)

“Beach Jury Convicts Man of 1996 Murders” in The Richmond Times – Dispatch on March 17, 2006

“Makdessi’s murder trial in hands of Beach jury” by Jon Frank in The Virginia Pilot on March 16, 2006 (https://www.pilotonline.com/2006/03/16/makdessis-murder-trial-in-hands-of-beach-jury/)

“VA Slaying Suspect Captured in Russia” by The Associated Press in The Richmond Times – Dispatch on July 25, 2003

“The Tailhook Scandal: How a 'Top Gun Mentality' Led to a Disastrous Navy Conference” by Blake Stilwell on Military.com on August 11, 2002 (https://www.military.com/history/tailhook-scandal-how-top-gun-mentality-led-disastrous-navy-conference.html)

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/39297857/elise_martin-makdessi

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/424850/quincy_bernard-brown

“Double Cross” on Forensic Files – Season 21, Episode 1 on Amazon Prime

“Deadly Accusation” on Unusual Suspects– Season 7, Episode 4 on Discovery+