User Reviews

The US Navy in the early to mid 90's was a treasure trove for true crime. 'Law & Order' took stabs at fictional retellings of the 'Tailhook' scandal and the fallout over female aviator Lt. Kelly Flinn involving cheating which undid her poster girl status. 'Forensic Files' of course sticks firmly to the non-fiction side of things, but tell me after the fact if you think two devious minds went looking for a payday based in large part due to that first controversy I mentioned.

This 22 minutes piece of 'Forensic Files' sports an intriguing element and Peter Thomas's fantastic voiceover as usual, but it becomes clear what the real story is quickly. 'Double Cross' reminds you why criminals can't beat science, solid investigations from law enforcement. Things don't add, the evidence doesn't support the story being told by the sole witness. I don't gain pleasure from the outcome for one person here, but I wonder if in their last moments of life they realized how far their co-offender was willing to take this scheme.

There is a well-known saying which is especially suitable for some crime documentaries: you couldn't make it up. The story of killer couple Bittaker & Norris or the unbelievable tale of Karla Homolka and her serial rapist husband fit into that category. So too does the story of false rape accuser Elise Makdessi and her double crossing partner-in-crime, Eddie.

In May 1996, US Navy worker and air traffic controller Elise made a tape in which she accused several of her male colleagues of sexually harassing and even raping her. On this tape she claimed she had reported these infractions and assaults, but said the Navy had covered them up and tried to silence her. Then she and husband Eddie invited her co-worker Quincy Brown over to their place for a bondage session with Elise. The reason Eddie was so cool with another man having sex with his wife was that he was setting him up as a murder suspect. After shooting Quincy dead as planned, Eddie stabbed Elise (as planned only by him), then called the police. Then he pocketed the insurance and compensation on his dead wife, around seven hundred grand.

He might have got away with it, but tiny cracks emerged, and he was eventually brought to justice. This short but powerful documentary includes archive footage of the dead woman, and interviews with some of the major players, including the journalist who persuaded Eddie Makdessi to return from Russia and try to bluff his way out of it.