Transcript of Blood and Water: Face to Face New

This is Deborah Roberts here with another weekly episode of our latest true crime series from ABC and ABC Audio, Blood and Water. Remember, you can get new episodes early by following Blood and Water on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, or wherever you're listening right now. Here's the next episode of Blood and Water. One morning in the summer of 2024, Eugene Gligor was sitting on his stoop in Northwest Washington, DC. Gligor was 45 with wavy brown hair and a neatly trimmed beard. He wore glasses and a polo shirt with the logo of the company he worked for stitched above the heart. Gligor lived on a charming street lined with pre-war buildings and a red brick sidewalk. Just down the block was the main drag, A trendy stretch dotted with brunch spots and a Trader Joe's. It was in this picturesque setting that Gligor was abruptly arrested.

Hands up, man. Hands up! Hands on your back. Hands on your back.

Gligor was surrounded by 5 plainclothes officers who handcuffed him and led him to a car.

Can you tell me what this is about? Yeah, you have a warrant.

For what?

I don't know.

Have you done anything recently? No.

5 officers arresting one man would have been an unusual sight on this street.

This is actually embarrassing here.

Not only was Gligor embarrassed, he also said he was in pain from the handcuffs.

On my right hand, this is really cutting off.

All right, okay, we'll adjust it, we'll adjust it, change it just a sec.

Okay, hold on. They're not made for comfort, but we'll make it.

Okay, I get it.

Yeah, we'll make it.

In the body camera footage, the officers don't tell Gligor what he's being arrested for. But he'd find out later that day. Gligor was about to come face to face with the cold case detectives who spent years trying to find Leslie Pryor's killer. Now that Gligor was in custody, the detectives would confront him with what their investigation had uncovered. And as you'll hear, Eugene Gligor didn't Take it well. From ABC Audio and 20/20, I'm Stephanie Ramos. This is Blood and Water, episode 6, Face to Face.

Have a seat right there.

After Eugene Gligor was arrested, he was taken into an interrogation room.

Is there any way I can get some water?

I'll get you some water.

Go ahead and have a seat.

Okay, thank you.

You're welcome. Soon after, Detectives Tara Augustine and Allison Dupuy walked in and took a seat.

Hi, Eugene.

Hello.

Hello. You wanted water, right?

OK. This interview would end up being the only time detectives sat down with Gligor. The stakes were high.

I'm sure you're wondering what this is all about.

I'd really like to know. This has been really, really hard, whatever is happening.

The detectives began by reading Gligor his rights and asking some standard questions.

What is your physical condition today? You have any injuries? Are you feeling okay?

I mean, I'm feeling a little bit caught off guard. And, um, I'm— from the handcuffs, there seems to be a lump on my hand. I don't know if it— okay, is, is it swelling? Is it a blood clot? I, I don't know. Okay. I've been holding my hand above my heart just so hopefully it helps to heal.

The detectives began telling Gligor about the case they'd been working on.

We are from Montgomery County. We actually work in the cold case unit. Do you recall back in 2001, Leslie Preer?

Yes, that she was murdered.

Yeah.

Okay. So that's the case that we are investigating. What was your relationship with Lauren, the daughter?

We had dated.

Okay. And when did you guys date? Do you remember?

Years? Exact dates, I'm not entirely sure.

There were lots of details Gligor said he didn't remember. When he did answer questions, he didn't reveal all that much.

When you guys were dating, how close were you with the family? Like, did you spend a lot of time at their house, or did you know them real well?

I knew the family. I, you know, definitely spent time. She spent time at my house. I've spent time at her house. Um, yeah, you know, for sure.

So how were you close with her parents?

I mean, I wouldn't say close with them. I don't know if close would be the right word, um, but they were friendly with me and nice to me.

So were you at her house a lot of the time, or did you guys spend more time at your house, or what did you guys do when you—

I mean, It was a mix. My house, her house, going— being out. I mean, we're young and teenagers, so there was, you know, going out and—

Okay. Watching the footage, Gligor seems to be holding back, but he's not the only one. When detectives began telling Gligor about the case, they left out key details. They did not immediately say we have your DNA and it matched the crime scene DNA. Instead, what they told him was a little more cryptic.

From the crime scene, we have DNA from the person who was there when Leslie died. So there's Leslie's blood all over the place, obviously, um, but then there's also another DNA profile that was picked up from the crime scene, and we wanted to find out more about you and if there was any kind of situation where you could have been at that the house at that time.

What's fascinating about this interview is that it feels like Ligour and the detectives are doing a sort of dance, like both sides are trying to figure out what the other knows without revealing too much about what they themselves know. And it's not just the detectives who are asking questions.

I'm just— I'm a little confused. So to find out more and talk to me, why not just call me and ask me to come in and talk to me versus have marshals come and arrest me and bring me in. I'm just confused as to why that's the case.

Well, because we needed to talk to you in a controlled environment and because there's a little bit more to it than what we've told you so far.

Could you tell me?

Well, we're getting there. I'm trying to give you an opportunity to be a little bit forthcoming before we—

I mean, I feel very— I feel a little bit— trapped here.

Like, well, you're under arrest, so you should feel trapped, right?

And so I think, you know, I mean, probably asking for a lawyer is my best course of action at this point.

With that, the detectives tell Gligor, okay, no more questions.

That's totally fine. And we don't have to ask you any more questions, but we are going to just tell you some stuff. Okay? Okay.

And then the detectives lay their cards out on the table.

We actually have a sample of your DNA, and it was compared to the crime scene DNA, and it matched. So we know that you were there at the time when Leslie died.

But I never gave a sample of DNA.

That's correct. We obtained a sample from a discarded water bottle that you drank out of, and we collected it after you discarded it into the trash, and it was swabbed and it was compared. So your DNA matches the crime scene DNA.

I don't know what to say. I am not— I have no recollection. I have no memory. I have no— I don't know what to say.

Okay. Well, that's why we wanted to talk to you. To find out if there's any other explanation.

You know, we wanted to try to see if there was another angle or another side to this story. And, you know, we know that my DNA be there.

That's what we're trying to figure out.

So I don't know. I don't know. You know, I mean, I was in the house, but it was years before, you know, when I dated her.

Right.

I don't know. I wish I could tell you. I don't know. I don't know. I don't understand. Is there more that you're gonna tell me?

Is there more? I mean, we've told you plenty. We can't continue to ask you questions.

Yeah.

We can tell you more about, you know, what we think happened.

I don't— I mean, what do you think happened? I don't know. I can't verify. I don't know. I don't recall. I don't have any memory. I didn't do anything that you're talking about, so I don't know. And I don't feel like I can— I don't know how to answer and go into— I don't want to incriminate myself with questions. You guys are professionals. I'm not. I don't know. I really do think I need an attorney. I need to use the phone and I need to call someone and I need legal representation before I— respond to anything else. I, I—

Okay, that's fine. Um, we're not gonna ask you any more questions. There's no tears coming out of your face.

I'm very dry right now.

You're dry?

I'm very dry. I'm parched, dehydrated. You can probably see my eyes are bloodshot red because I'm just tired and drained. I don't know what's going on. You want me to drink water so I can tear? Like, no.

What the fuck is wrong with you? I don't want you to tear.

I just don't want you to say—

I'm just trying to say that this seems a little put on.

Are you kidding me? Are you kidding me?

No.

Oh my God. You're so full of it. You're just— You're after—

This is—

This is the police. This is— Yes. Like, it makes sense. You know, it's in your eyes. It's guilty until proven innocent. I get it. Well.

Honey, your DNA was in the crime scene. That's why. Like, there's a reason.

There's, there's just— there's, there's, there's due process, right? Due process. So you're saying that— so you're saying I'm guilty before I've even been put into a court of law?

I'm saying that there's probable cause to believe that you were there when she died.

I think what you were saying was the contrary to that. So, okay, but I don't Remember, I don't know. I don't know. I don't know.

We're trying to figure out is how your blood was at the scene that day.

If there's an alternate explanation, that's why we wanted to talk to you today. Okay. So I feel like you just need to take a breath for a second.

Okay.

That's what we're trying to figure out. Why is your blood there?

Could it have been, you know, interrupted burglary? Did something happen where you didn't expect anybody to be home?

I have no idea. I don't remember.

I don't recall.

Again, you're asking me questions. I don't know. You did. You just asked me a question, and I asked for legal representation, and you guys are very smart, smug looking at me like I'm Like I've done something. And of course, it's innocent until proven guilty, right? Am I wrong or am I right?

You are entitled to your due process.

Absolutely. This is insane. This is insane. I don't—

You keep saying you don't remember and you don't have any recollection. Well, but if somebody was— I mean, not involved, it would be an adamant I didn't do it.

Oh, I didn't do it.

I did.

I definitely didn't do it.

Yujin Gligor was adamant, but the detectives, they weren't buying it. And they later told me what they were thinking as this unusual interview continued to unfold. Meditieren, Yoga, Joggen—

nichts entspannt mich. Echt? Mich entspannt meine Steuer total.

Steuer? Wie Finanzamt? Die Steuererklärung?

Ja, ich hab ganz locker über 1000 Euro zurückbekommen. Hast du geheime Connections? Nö, nur die WISO Steuer App.

Wow! Und das ist einfach?

Klar, die macht fast alles automatisch. Plötzlich fühle ich mich so entspannt.

Hol dir dein Geld zurück. Tiefenentspannt mit WISO Steuer.

Kaffee in seiner besten Form. Mit Qubo wird jeder Kaffee auf Knopfdruck zum Genussmoment. Denn mit der neuen Qubo One Kapselmaschine von Chibo genießt du feinsten Spitzenkaffee aus besonderen Anbaugebieten. Vollmundige Aromen dank innovativer PressBrew-Technologie und über 17 Sorten Kaffee für jeden Geschmack. Erlebe Premium-Kaffee schon ab 29 €. Entdecke jetzt die Qubo-Kapselmaschinen in deiner Tchibo-Filiale und auf tchibo.de.

It's winner take all. And it's all happening now. The NBA Finals continue on ABC and the ESPN app.

If you were rehearsing in your head what you would say— 23 years waiting to be caught for a murder— I'm guessing he had been working on this performance for a while.

Last summer, when I interviewed Detectives Tara Augustine and Allison DuPuy, We watched the footage of their interview with Eugene Gligor. The camera was positioned high above the room, too far up to read Gligor's face clearly, but the detectives insisted Gligor's tears were not real.

It was very put on. That was my opinion of it, sitting there watching it.

He sounds emotional. He Sounds like he's crying. Can't really see it from this angle, but you could. Both of you could.

You're sitting right across from him. Taking his glasses off, rubbing his eyes. Performance of a lifetime.

The detectives said Gligor wanted to come off as someone to feel sorry for, an innocent man who just happened to be in handcuffs. And you called him out on that.

I guess what was going through my mind was, um, If a jury were to watch this, it's not close up enough to show that he's really not crying. And his performance to me looked very fake. But I don't know what it's going to look like to 12 people who weren't 4 feet away from him.

He was very much wanting to be the victim in the situation. You want to make sure that the focus is on Leslie. She's the victim here. He's not the victim.

I've been an alcoholic in recovery for years now. I've been sober for years, and there are many, many times in which it— earlier life wasn't great, but at the same time, I, I know I didn't do it. I know I wasn't involved, and I just don't understand how this has come to this. I really wish I knew, and I really wish I could tell you some— give you some answers and give you more feedback from an honest perspective, because I just don't know. I just don't know. I don't—

I don't know either. That's why we wanted to talk to you. I don't know why your blood is there. Wow. The only person that knows is Leslie, and she can't tell us.

Wow.

When you walked out of that room, what went through your mind? What were you thinking?

I was frustrated because I wanted to be able to give answers to the family, and he just wasn't providing any.

At the time of Eugene Gligor's arrest, Lauren Prior had lived through more than 2 decades of pain and confusion. From 2001 on, the mystery of who killed her mother remained unsolved, and for years suspicion hung over her father, Sandy Preer. Sandy died without knowing the truth. He never got closure, and Lauren thought she might not either. But when we spoke, Lauren told me there came a moment sometime in the years after her father died where she felt like she might finally be able to make peace with everything that had happened.

If I have to accept this, then I have to, because my parents are together, and I can't live the rest of my life every single day in pain and in fear and scared and sad. That's not the right path. The right path is it happens, and you have to give yourself grace. But you can't live every single day with terror and fear and sadness. You're never going to get through.

So you were already telling yourself, I need to accept this. Correct. Both my parents are gone. I need to move on. Right. And then you get the call.

And then my world was once again upside down.

Throughout the investigation. The cold case detectives had followed standard procedure. They told Lauren little to nothing about what they were uncovering. She had no idea that her high school boyfriend was a suspect. So when her phone rang on June 18th, 2024, the day of Gligor's arrest, that was the moment that Lauren finally learned the truth.

She calls you. She says Eugene Gligor killed your mom. What goes through your mind?

You can't even process it. I was in shock. I said, what? I'm still in shock. Total shock. I was like, are you sure? She was like, yeah.

Your ex-boyfriend killed your mother.

Yes.

Did you ever think Eugene would be capable of something like this?

Nobody did. No one. I mean, I loved him back then. I really did.

It's kind of hurt to know that he's the person responsible. For the loss of your mom.

Right.

And the fact that someone I knew, that I dated, went to prom with, is insane.

As Lauren grappled with this news, detectives asked what she remembered about Eugene and their relationship. Detective Allison Dupuy.

Lauren said, you know, my mom would have given him anything he wanted if he had just asked, you know, meaning this was unnecessary. She would have helped him if he needed help.

My mom was just open door, you know, when he was who he was when I dated him. She loved him. She adored him. My mom totally took him in.

That really stuck with me because that was the kind of person Leslie was. I think she was just a sweetheart that was just trying to do the best she can and would have helped any of her daughter's friends if they needed it.

The news of Eugene Gligor's arrest spread quickly among the people who knew him. Lisa Wood, one of Lauren's friends from high school, remembers Lauren calling her.

I answered the phone and she said, It was him. When she said it was him, I'm like, what are you talking about? And then she said, it was Eugene. And still at that point, I'm thinking, what are you talking about? And she's like, Eugene, Eugene killed my mom.

And—

I still— I still cannot— I just still can't wrap my head around that.

This copacetic, Zen person who had all this advice murdered someone?

Jordan Wires, Eugene's former colleague and mentee. He showed us photos of him and Eugene smiling with their colleagues. Jordan struggled to make sense of his memories of Eugene, given what he knows now.

It's just a little scary knowing that the person who pet our cat and the person that, you know, was just standing here in this photo with me extinguished the life of another human being. I'm looking at him now through a different lens of what I know. And the person that back then wouldn't have thought twice about being in that picture with him, right? It's like, oh. It's Eugene. And now I'm just wondering what's going on behind those eyes.

After 23 years, someone was in custody for the murder of Leslie Prier. But Eugene Gligor's arrest didn't answer the question at the core of this case. Why? Why was Leslie Prier killed?

The Stanley Cup Final on ABC is more than a quest for the Cup. It's 134 years of putting it all on the line and the heaviest 35 pounds ever lifted. It's broken curses and broken hearts, but for those chasing it, it's everything. The only The only question is, who will take it? You just have to watch. The Stanley Cup Final presented by GEICO on ABC and the ESPN app.

It's my first day of work and I need to make a big impression.

From executive producer Mindy Kaling.

This is our sexual harassment training. Hands off your coworkers.

Now sign this saying that I trained you or you're fired.

Yes, ma'am.

Work relationships are too messy.

I just met the woman of my dreams.

You gotta chill out and not come on too strong.

That goes against my entire personality, but I'll try.

Watch Not Suitable for Work now streaming on Hulu and Hulu on Disney+ for bundle subscribers.

Terms apply.

Mr. Sugar, we've run out of places to hide our money.

We could do really bad things together.

Ah, yeah!

Crime is on the rise in Philly.

Say hi to your wife for me.

Oh my—

Hulu's hilarious comedy series We're in the middle of a crisis here. "Delhi Boys" is back with an all-new season. You care more about the business than you do your own brother. Mo' money, mo' problems.

We rebuild Darko on our own, no help from any man.

I'm okay, man.

The Hulu original series "Delhi Boys" Season 2, now streaming on Hulu and Hulu on Disney+ for bundle subscribers.

Terms apply.

In June 2024, Eugene Gligor was arrested and charged with first-degree murder. If convicted, he faced a possible life sentence. In the months after Gligor's arrest, the run-up to a trial began with prosecutors and Gligor's attorneys making a flurry of filings. But then in April 2025, things came to a screeching halt when Eugene Gligor pled guilty to murder in the second degree. As a result, Gligor would avoid life in prison, and there would be no trial. I asked Lauren about Eugene's plea.

What was your reaction to that?

Thank God.

You didn't want to go to trial?

No.

That would have been hell.

No trial meant avoiding long days in court, days likely spent looking at gruesome evidence. Plus, there's no guarantee that a trial would have answered the big question at the center of this case: Why on earth did Eugene Gligor murder Leslie Prier? Still, in digging through court filings and evidence collected by police, there are hints that might help explain how the grisly events of May 2nd, 2001 came to pass. I asked Detective Tara Augustine for her theory of the case. Based on all of this evidence, what do you think happened to Leslie that morning when she was killed?

I think that Eugene thought no one was home and didn't expect for Leslie to be there. And she came downstairs and confronted him. And I think in his mind, he realized he was caught because it's not just a stranger, it's somebody who knows exactly who he is. And instead of just admitting that he was wrong or talking to her about it, I think that he just panicked and only thought about himself and made a selfish decision to kill Leslie in the heat of the moment, um, just so he could get away.

Prosecutors would later file a sentencing memo. It quoted an account of that day from Gligor. It reads, on May 1, 2001, Mr. Gligor remembered drinking both shots and mixed drinks. He stated that he vaguely remembered driving to work and stopping off at the Prior house around 9:30 AM on May 2nd, 2001. He recalled a vague memory of going into the house and he and Ms. Prior having some sort of a physical altercation. He does not recall placing her in the shower or trying to clean up the crime scene. On the day Gligor appeared in court to enter his plea, Lauren was in the room. She was once again in the presence of her high school boyfriend, but this time under vastly different circumstances.

What was it like to be so close to him?

It was horrifying.

Did he look at you?

No.

Nothing. He didn't look at anybody, but he knew.

At this time, Mr. Gligor, you do have the absolute right to address the court before I sentence you in this matter.

A few months after Gligor took a plea deal in August of 2025, he appeared before a judge for his sentencing. It was there that Gligor made a statement.

Good honor.

I want to express my deepest regret, shame, and remorse for the devastating tragedy that I caused, taking the life of Leslie Krier.

In his statement to the court, Gligor said he wanted to atone for the pain and suffering he had caused. He also said he had buried and suppressed his thoughts of the tragedy for most of his adult life.

I'm sorry it's taken me this long to take full responsibility. I'm grateful the time has come. I'm relieved the secret is over.

Gligor also spoke about his mental state around the time of the murder.

I had many blackouts leading up to the evening of May 1st and the morning of May 2nd, 2001. But none that resulted in the most regretful and devastating event of my life. I've never been a violent person. I vaguely remember leaving the Preer house in the morning, but the rest is a blur. I know Lauren and Leslie's family want to know why I was there and what happened. I'm sorry I'm unable to remember and provide an explanation. I've asked asked myself the same questions many times. I never had any issue with Leslie. No ill will or malice or malevolent intent. If anything, I owed her a debt of gratitude for being so kind to me when I dated Lauren. Hours later, I remember hoping and praying that she was not dead, that she would revive. I felt so sick and disgusted with myself for what I had done. To Lauren and Leslie's family, I'm so sorry for causing you so much misery and hardship. Can't believe I did this to you all. Lauren, I've always held a piece of our relationship and love in my heart. I only have positive memories of us and your mom.

You were part of my family, and I felt that I was a part of yours. I know this must have been a nightmare.

To prosecutors, Gligor's recollection of the day in question was a little too tidy. In a filing, the state wrote, quote, the defendant's account of what he does and doesn't remember conveniently allows him to avoid taking full responsibility for the most gruesome and calculated aspects of the murder The state finds the defendant's selective memory implausible. At the sentencing, Lauren Prier also spoke. She addressed Gligor directly. She called him a monster and a wolf in sheep's clothing, and she asked, "Why would you kill my mom?" Eugene Gligor was sentenced to 22 years in prison with 5 years of supervised probation. He's currently serving time in a state prison about 2 hours northwest of Chevy Chase. After 24 years, Leslie Prier's killer is behind bars, and Lauren Prier has answers. But talking about her mom and dad is still bittersweet.

You've said some wonderful things about your mother. She seemed like a wonderful, wonderful mom.

You have no idea. She was my hope, my pride, my joy, my beauty. I just loved her so much.

And—

I became a different person, and my world changed completely. I had this, like, perfect world before this all happened. Perfect. I mean, everyone has their ups and downs, but it was a wonderful world. I was happy. I mean, I'm still happy. I mean, you know what I mean? I'm not just like this person that sits in the dark and, like, cries every day. But it's—

it's—

I miss her very much.

Your father, he never got to see this case—

Right.

—solved.

How do you process that, knowing that he was so close to seeing this day?

I mean, I talk to them every day. I have pictures of them in the guest bedroom. And I talk to them. And I said, I wish you had been here. I said, Daddy, thank you for being such a wonderful father. And I'm so sorry that you didn't get to see justice, but you're getting justice.

Blood and Water is a production of ABC Audio and 20/20, hosted by me, Stephanie Ramos. Produced by Madeline Wood, Shane McKeon, and Kiara Powell, with help from Emily Schutz and Caitlin Schiffer. Edited by Gianna Palmer. Our supervising producer is Susie Lu. Music by Evan Viola. Mixing and mastering by Bob Mallory. Scoring by Kiara Powell. Special thanks to Katie Dendaz, Janice Johnston, Sean Dooley, Chris Donovan, Camille Petersen, Christina Corbin, Gail Deutch, Amanda Carr, Ellie Joestad, Angie Adam, and Michelle Margulis. Josh Cohan is our director of podcast programming. Eamon McNiff is our executive producer. No! Oh no!

Welcome to Get Real. I got something to say. A weekly talk show for the reality TV obsessed.

Oh my God, it's got to be deliciously desperate.

Why would these girls forgive him?

She has a soft spot for troubled men.

Boo bloody hoo! This is your show. Find Get Real wherever where you get your podcasts.

Love runs deeper than we know.

And stream new episodes Thursdays on Hulu and Hulu on Disney+.