Correspondent Troy Roberts Previews Saturday's 48 Hours: 'Private Needham's War'

STUDIO CITY (CBS) — Correspondent Troy Roberts joined KCAL 9 at noon on Friday with a preview of an upcoming 48 Hours episode airing this Saturday with ties to San Clemente.

'Private Needham's War" will air Saturday at 10 p.m. on CBS 2.

When John Needham joined the army in March 2006, he was a buoyant 22-year-old – born and bred under the California sun, who decided to follow in the footsteps of the four generations of Needham servicemen who preceded him. He was assigned to Fort Carson and within months, deployed to Iraq. Needham served with distinction, earning multiple honors including a Purple Heart. He became renowned for his upbeat disposition, resilience and an incredible ability to survive attacks and ambushes in which scores of his comrades perished.

John, however, didn't escape combat unscathed. He endured crippling physical injuries, but according to him, the psychological and emotional damage he sustained was worse. When he returned home after a year of duty, his family was troubled by what they saw. John was diagnosed with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, PTSD, and struggled to rehabilitate himself. Those closest to him believe that John's consequent battle with PTSD led him to snap on the night of September 1, 2008…

John Needham met 19-year-old Jacque Villagomez not long after returning home. The two, as described by family and friends, fell into a whirlwind romance. As vehemently as they loved, though, they started to fight. During an argument at John's home on September 1, 2008, John beat Jacque to death with his bare hands. With no prior criminal record, many speculated that a PTSD-fueled flashback of John's days in combat was to blame. John was charged with murdering Jacque, but would he be convicted of it? And what role would his trial and its outcome play in the other cases of alleged PTSD-related violence that were emerging throughout the country? 48 Hours Mystery presents one soldier's story, with a truly shocking conclusion.

For more information, visit 48 Hours online.