Where is Candie Zito now? Details explored ahead of Homicide Hunter: American Detective on ID

The upcoming episode of the famous ID show Homicide Hunter: American Detective is all set to focus on the brutal murder of Anthony Gibson at the hands of Candie Zito and her cousin, Corey Zito. The case dates back to 2015 and remains a shocking case in the history of the otherwise quaint suburb of Leeds, Alabama.

The upcoming episode of Homicide Hunter: American Detective will dive into this case and take a look at Det. Kevin Palmer's contribution to the case. The synopsis for the episode reads:

"Deep in Alabama's kudzu, cops receive a call about a young man's bullet-riddled body that has been charred beyond recognition. Det. Kevin Palmer, initially stumped, turns to the victim's phone records and discovers a diabolical strategy to lure him to his death."

The police ultimately discovered a sinister plot behind the murder of Anthony Gibson, who was Candie Zito's ex-lover. However, it turned out that Candie and her cousin Corey were involved in the murder of the 20-year-old Gibson.

Candie was ultimately charged with the murder alongside her cousin Corey. The duo took a plea deal, getting 20 years in prison, as per Oxygen. Candie and Corey continue to remain in prison as of now and will be eligible for parole in 2035.

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Who is Candie Zito, and what did he do?

Candie Renee Zito was born in 1984 in Chelsea, Alabama. Zito was born into an affluent family of high achievers. Her siblings did very well academically and in their respective fields of work. However, Candie Zito did not quite fit into this archetype.

She had married very young, but it did not last at all. By the time she was a little older, Zito had moved to a party house up the road in Leeds, Alabama, where she met Anthony Gibson. Gibson was still in high school back then. They stopped dating soon after as well, and Candie's name did not come up with Gibson again till the youngster disappeared in July 2015.

On July 5, 2015, a couple discovered a dead body while driving through rural Leeds. The victim was burned beyond recognition. On autopsy, it was discovered that the victim was also shot to death before being charred. A single fingerprint lifted from the body helped identify the victim as Anthony Gibson.

As the investigation began, the authorities tracked Gibson's call log, which had two numbers: one belonged to his then-girlfriend Jessica Irwin and the other, surprisingly, to Candie Zito. Irwin claimed that she was supposed to meet Gibson that night, but he never showed up.

Meanwhile, an anonymous tip indicated that a local drug dealer named Lane Lowery may be involved in the murder. Interestingly, Lowery was also reportedly dating Candie at the time. Despite her insistence, Candie refused to cooperate with the police. Upon further investigation, the police discovered that she was not even allowed inside her house.

As all the things pointed to Candie Zito, authorities issued a BOLO alert against her. As the police narrowed down on her, she, along with an accomplice who turned out to be her cousin, Corey Zito, tried to outrun the police.

Ultimately, their car crashed, and Corey ended up in a coma. The police also discovered a twisted romantic dynamic in the cousins' relationship.

Candie Zito had allegedly lured Gibson to her house, where her cousin lay in wait. They murdered Gibson in order to rob him. Before this was revealed by Candie's cellmate in prison, she tried to misdirect the investigation, saying Gibson was being s**ually aggressive with her, as per Oxygen, who covered the case in their show, Snapped.

Ultimately, in their 2016 trial, Corey and Candie took a plea deal in exchange for a 20-year prison sentence. They continue to remain in prison for the murder of Anthony Gibson as of today.

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Find out more about this case on the upcoming episode of Homicide Hunter: American Detective on ID on June 19, 2024, at 9 pm EST.