Exerpts from the indictment

The indictment of Marlene and Steven Aisenberg contains excerpts from surreptitious recordings of the Aisenbergs' private conversations made by investigators:

• Exerpts from the indictment • Events in the disappearance of Sabrina Aisenberg • People involved • Gallery of photos • Archive of coverage • Main story

Times staff writer

© St. Petersburg Times, published September 10, 1999

Dec. 16, 1997, 1:05 p.m. (the first day since the reported kidnapping on which there were no law enforcement agents in the Aisenberg house): Steven Aisenberg tells Marlene that she has to be careful what she tells people, and that "what happens in this house stays in this house."

Dec. 17, 5:35 p.m.: Marlene Aisenberg tells Steven she doesn't like lying to her father about the disappearance of Sabrina. Steven responds that she should tell her father not to ask questions.

Dec. 23, 7:20 p.m.: The Aisenbergs discuss Sabrina's disappearance and possible stories they could tell the police.

Marlene: "The baby's dead and buried! It was found dead because you did it! The baby's dead no matter what you say -- you just did it!"

Steven: "Honey, there was nothing I could do about it. We need to discuss the way that we can beat the charge. I would never break from the family pact and our story even if the police were to hold me down. We will do what we have to do."

Marlene: "If I'm gonna run away, who am I gonna run with?"

Steven: "Are we, are we really going to, Mar? Where we gonna run away to?"

Dec. 24, 11:20 p.m.: The Aisenbergs talk about the possibility of neighbors being witnesses against Steven. He says: "They can't hang me, the other four neighbors. They can't hang me unless you attack me before the evidence."

Moments later, Marlene says: "Oh, Steve! I tried to save her, she died and ah, we can't confuse them but we'll try it Hon, you know." She adds: "I don't think I have to wait for Joe Sarge to take me to jail ..."

Steven: "None of us expects that, I don't expect that to happen."

Jan. 5, 1998, 5:55 p.m.: Marlene asks Steven what would happen if the police were to check the shed. "You know nothing," Steven responds.

Jan. 21, 9 p.m.: Steven tells Marlene, "I wish I hadn't harmed her."

Marlene: "I just can't take the rap for this."

Jan. 31, 2:30 p.m.: Marlene is confronted by her father about what happened to Sabrina. Marlene says, "I subconsciously did not do anything, do you understand?" She adds: "Right now, right now, I can't see them having any evidence strong enough to indict me."

Later that day, Steven tells Marlene: "What we're gonna have to do is always turn on the radio if you presume they are listening."

Feb. 17: The Aisenbergs talk about how the grand jury is still investigating.

Steven: "They don't know the truth, right?"

Marlene: "Yeah ... So, so, in a way, you know, that means nobody knows what we did still."

Steven: "Exactly."

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