The family of 19-year-old Jake Limberios continues to search for answers surrounding his death in March 2012. Who fired the gunshot that ended his life? Brittany and Will, who witnessed the shooting, say Jake, a gun enthusiast, accidentally shot himself in the head. Although the coroner ruled his death a suicide, Jake’s parents, Mike and Shannon, say their son, a young father, never would’ve taken his own life. Left with so many unanswered questions, Jake’s parents had his body exhumed and autopsied by renowned forensic pathologist Dr. Cyril Wecht, who concluded that Jake’s cause of death wasn’t suicide. Dr. Phil speaks with Dr. Wecht via satellite — hear why he says Jake couldn’t have shot himself. Plus, Brittany and Will say they sympathize with Jake’s parents but are tired of being under suspicion and agree to take polygraph tests to prove they’re not hiding any details about Jake’s death. What will the results reveal? And, Mike and Shannon say their marriage has grown strained since their son’s death — can they learn to come together and find peace after such a painful loss?

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The Autopsy

When Jake’s family couldn’t get the coroner to change his death certificate from “suicide” to “accidental death,” they say they decided to take extreme measures and exhume his body and have renowned forensic pathologist Dr. Cyril Wecht perform an autopsy. Dr. Wecht has performed more than 18,000 autopsies and has consulted worldwide on more than 38,000 others. He joins the discussion via satellite.

Previous Polygraph Tests

In July of 2012, Brittany and Will each took polygraph tests and according to the Ohio Attorney General, the results were that each was non-deceptive. Jack Trimarco, former FBI polygraph examiner, reviewed those tests and says his numerical scoring indicated inconclusive results. “That, in no way, is a determinant in deception or truth — It’s almost as if these two young people didn’t take a polygraph test, in my opinion,” he says.

Brittany and Will each agree to take another polygraph test.   

Dr. Phil tells Mike and Shannon that from a psychological perspective, nothing indicates Jake’s death was a suicide. “Your son did not kill himself on purpose,” he says. “Hopefully that helps with what you know and believe to be true. From an objective standpoint, I see the same thing.” 

Dr. Phil is concerned for Mike and Shannon’s relationship. “You say you do blame him some because he had a gun in the house.”

Polygraph Results

Dr. Phil reads the results of Brittany and Will's polygraph tests.
 

Dr. Phil reads Will the results of his polygraph test.

Will maintains that he knows for a fact that Jake shot himself.

"Do you feel guilty about this situation?" Dr. Phil asks.
 
“I feel really guilty for not saying anything in the car, when he said he had a loaded gun with him. I was really angry when we picked him up, the first time we met him, that he had a loaded gun, but I just tried to be a gentleman or cool guy and not say anything about it. I feel horrible for the family,” he says.
 

What do Brittany's polygraph results reveal?

Brittany maintains that Jake accidentally shot himself. “This was almost, what, one-and-a-half years ago? I don’t remember everything. It frustrates me. Jake did this to himself. I don’t know how. I wish I knew, but I don’t,” she says.

When Dr. Phil leaves the room, Brittany looks to the sky and says, “Jacob, why the * are you doing this to me? Why are you doing this? Thank you for making my life hell. Thank you.”

Mike and Shannon react to Brittany and Will’s polygraph results. “They’re victims too.”

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