She said she had accompanied him to the house to buy drugs and that the shootings took place after they returned later. The four victims were found dead July 18, 2003, in a Clear Lake-area home. Prosecution witnesses have said the killings appeared to have been drug-related. She and Snider went to the house to steal money and drugs — his idea, she said — and Snider surprised her by handing her a gun just before entering the house.
Sergeant Harris accompanied appellant on her transfer to Santa Rosa Hospital. He testified that appellant was relaxed and conversational during the hospital interview. Despite her treatments of morphine and Methadone, Sergeant Harris testified that appellant did not appear to be under the influence of any sort of intoxicant. Rather, he stated she was conscious and alert, and she made appropriate hand gestures when communicating her story. Paolilla’s husband, Stanley Justin Rott, testified at length how she confessed her role in the murders to him numerous times and how they were both addicted to heroin. Paolilla told police that she and Snider went to the Rowell home looking for drugs and Snider just started shooting the four, even putting his hand on the gun he had given her to hold and causing it to go off.
In that time, his work has involved some exposure with heroin addicts. He stated that heroin is a depressant, and addicts tend to appear tired or lethargic. He also testified that he has witnessed the symptoms of withdrawal, which primarily include vomiting, seizing, sweating, and visible illness.
Houston Police Sgt. Brian Harris said in an interview with Deborah Roberts that he believes Christine Paolilla still does not “own†the crime. “She came home to tell us … she was very upset … she cried most of the night,†said Paolilla, adding that Christine Paolilla was too upset to attend the girls’ funerals. But eventually she was able to forge new friendships that helped her feel like she belonged. By the time she was in kindergarten, she was diagnosed with an irreversible hair-loss condition called alopecia. Christine’s parents, Lori Paolilla and stepfather Tom Dick, spoke to “20/20†exclusively about their daughter’s life before July 18, 2003.
Paolilla's bail was set at $500,000 as she was considered a flight risk. On July 18, 2003, Paolilla and Snider went to her friend seekers nightmares Tiffany Rowell's home in Clear Lake City. Also at the home were Rachael Koloroutis, Rowell's boyfriend Marcus Precella, and Precella's cousin Adelbert Sanchez. Rachael Koloroutis attempted to crawl to a phone to call 911 after she was shot but Paolilla struck her in the head multiple times with the butt of a 38-caliber revolver, bashing in her skull. Koloroutis and Rowell were both shot in the crotch, a sign of sexual jealousy. Snider and Paolilla left little evidence at the crime scene leading police to suspect that the killings were drug related as Marcus Precella was said that he sold drugs from the home.
Paolilla and Rott have not been charged with possessing the heroin. Harris said police have not made any deals with Rott, who remains on probation, to forgo the drug charge if he will testify against Paolilla. "Christine doesn't know what transpired to lead Christopher to draw the gun. They were all friends. They all knew each other," he said. Rott, 27, is living with friends and attending recovery meetings. He remains married to Paolilla, although he plans to divorce her. As part of his 12-step recovery program, Rott said, he had to do what was right.