What really happened on that fatal day in November, 1987, no one will ever know for sure. Hedda has given the following account:

Lisa wanted to go to dinner with her father, but he did not want to take her. He then inflicted the head injury. Before he left the apartment Lisa was unconscious. During his absence, Hedda did not call for help. She waited alone in the apartment for hours for Joel's return, believing he would be able to "wake up" Lisa. When he did return, he and Hedda smoked cocaine (freebasing) to "relate better." Eventually, Hedda called 911.