Becky Friedli, Jon Hayward & Vicki Friedli Found Dead at Burnt Down Pinyon Pines Home in California; Cristin Smith & Robert Pape Sentenced to Life in Prison, No Parole (September 17, 2006)

Pinyon Pines – It’s a Triple Homicide Investigation Gone Cold. It’s been six years and still no arrests. Now the family is taking action to find answers. -KMIR (August 6, 2012)

KMIR’s Elizabeth Beaubien investigates an unsolved triple murder case. -KMIR (April 26, 2013)

Elizabeth Beaubien’s EXCLUSIVE reporting on the 7th anniversary of the triple murders at Pinyon Pines in 2006. -KMIR (September 17, 2013)

New Angle in Pinyon Pines Murder Investigation. -KMIR (February 4, 2014)

It’s been over seven years since three people were brutally murdered and set on fire in the community of Pinyon Pines just up Highway 74. Now, the father of the youngest victim, 18 year old Becky Friedli, wants justice. -KMIR (February 4, 2014)

Pinyon Pines Press Conference -KMIR (February 4, 2014)

Although, we have uncovered another connection to this triple murder that brings to light many more questions of a possible conflict of interest. That connection is the death of 18 year old Danica Denton. She was killed in a hit and run in Cathedral City February 11, 2009. She was 8 months pregnant at the time and the baby did not survive. -KMIR (February 12, 2014)

UPDATE: Pinyon Pines Triple Murder Cold Case -KMIR (February 13, 2014)

KMIR News was the first to report two men have been arrested in the 2006 triple murders in Pinyon Pines. -March 11, 2014)

The latest information on the Pinyon Pines triple murder cold case. -KMIR (March 13, 2014)

Supporters of the suspects and friends and family of the victims are taking to Facebook to post their opposing views of the arrests in the 2006 Pinyon Pines triple murders. -KMIR (March 14, 2014)

DA Paul Zellerbach speaks with Elizabeth Beaubien about the Pinyon Pines triple murder investigation. -KMIR (March 17, 2014)

Opening statements were delivered in a trial for the triple homicide that happened in September 2006 in a Riverside County area known as Pinyon Pines. -ABC7 (April 17, 2018)

A tragic set of horrible circumstances brought jurors to a Riverside County courtroom to hear the grim details of a 12-year-old murder case. -ABC7 (May 22, 2018)

True Crime Daily:

A home burns to the ground high above the Coachella Valley in California. The triple-homicide made headlines, and may finally be solved. But it’s not the first time investigators have thought they had their men. -True Crime Daily (October 19, 2016)

The blazing fire left a cold trail for years — but now a suspect might come to light in the triple-homicide. -True Crime Daily (October 19, 2016)

Over half a decade after the unsolved murders of on Jon Hayward, his girlfriend Vicki Friedli and her daughter Becky Friedli, suspicions turn to Cristin Smith and Becky’s ex-boyfriend, Robert Pape. -True Crime Daily (October 19, 2016)

Seven years after the triple-homicide, Becky’s ex-boyfriend and his friend were arrested for the crime — but not for long. Things get complicated. -True Crime Daily (October 19, 2016)

Becky Friedli, her mom Vicki Friedli, and Vicki’s boyfriend Jon Hayward were living high above California’s Coachella Valley in a secluded neighborhood called Pinyon Pines. -True Crime Daily (June 19, 2019)

48 Hours CBS:

A family murdered in their home. Years later, an arrest but then the two suspects are unexpectedly freed. “48 Hours” Troy Roberts reports. -CBS New York (January 16, 2015)

Drew Friedli recites a poem her sister, Becky, left on Myspace, before her murder in 2006. Drew feels the poem, “If I Knew It was the Last Time,” encompasses who Becky was because she always let people know that she loved them. -48 Hours (January 16, 2015)

Saturday, Aug. 1 starting at 9/8c on CBS: A triple murder, a young woman set afire in a wheelbarrow. Police have suspects until a courtroom twist changes everything. Then at 10/9c: Was an alleged religious cult responsible for a young bride’s death? -48 Hours (July 28, 2015)

The new district attorney for Riverside, California, has promised to look at the Pinyon Pines murder cold case with “an open mind.” “48 Hours” correspondent Troy Roberts discusses the case with CBSN. -CSBN (July 31, 2015)

A triple murder, a young woman set afire in a wheelbarrow. Police have suspects until a courtroom twist changes everything. “48 Hours ” has the latest on the case including an emotional verdict Saturday, July 28 at 10/9c on CBS. -48 Hours (July 27, 2018)

Podcasts:

The Friedli family home in Pinyon Pines, California was burned to the ground in 2006. This was no accident. Inside, investigators found the charred remains of Vicki Friedli and her boyfriend, Jon Hayward. Out front, posed grotesquely in a wheelbarrow, were the remains of 18 year old Becky Friedli. She, too, was burned beyond recognition. This terrible crime went unsolved for years even though family and friends of the victims had no doubt who was responsible. Finally, justice may be in sight. -True Crime Brewery (November 6, 2016)

The Pinyon Pines Murders Part 1 -California True Crime (February 14, 2019)

The Pinyon Pines Murders Part 2 -California True Crime (February 21, 2019)

Related Links:
Murder in Pinyon Pines | 48 Hours
Men charged in Pinyon Pines triple-murder for second time in two years
Pinyon Pines mystery: 3 murdered, set on fire in remote desert community
Pathologist reveals autopsy findings in Pinyon Pines murder trial
Tape reveals details of defendant’s, victim’s relationship in Pinyon Pines triple murder trial
Witness: Accused RivCo Killer Not Violent, ‘Best Person’ Ever
Pinyon Pines murder trial: Everything you should know about the case
Key witness in Pinyon Pines triple murder trial speaks out
2 men found guilty in 2006 Pinyon Pines murders
Two Men Guilty in Family’s Gruesome Pinyon Pines Murder
Anger and Joy After Guilty Verdicts in Pinyon Pines Triple Murder Case
Pair who murdered Pinyon Pines family to be sentenced
Pinyon Pines murder case: Defendants sentenced to life without parole
Pinyon Pines murders: Pair kill, burn family-of-three—discarding slain teen’s charred remains in wheelbarrow

Video Links:
Family of Murder Victims Seek Answers
Mystery in Pinyon Pines
Pinyon Pines Anniversary Preview
New Angle in Pinyon Pines Murder Investigation
UPDATE: Pinyon Pines Triple Murder
Pinyon Pines Press Conference
More Questions About Pinyon Pines Conflicts Of Interest
State AG Will Not Review Pinyon Pines Murders
UPDATE: Pinyon Pines Triple Murder Cold Case
Arrests in the Pinyon Pines Triple Murder Case
Pinyon Pines Triple Murder Cold Case Continuing Coverage
Reaction on Facebook to the Pinyon Pines Arrests
Pinyon Pines Arrests Coverage – 11pm KMIR News Thursday, March 13, 2014
KMIR News interview with Riverside County District Attorney Paul Zellerbach
Inland Empire triple murder trial opens | ABC7
Closing arguments heard in Pinyon Pines murder case | ABC7
Pinyon Pines mystery: 3 murdered, set on fire in remote desert community (Pt. 1)
Pinyon Pines mystery: 3 murdered, set on fire in remote desert community (Pt. 2)
Pinyon Pines mystery: 3 murdered, set on fire in remote desert community (Pt. 3)
Pinyon Pines mystery: 3 murdered, set on fire in remote desert community (Pt. 4)
Legal experts discuss Pinyon Pines murder case – Crime Watch Daily
Mystery in Pinyon Pines: Three found in smoldering ruins of house
Cruel Intentions | True Crime Brewery Podcast
The Pinyon Pines Murders Part 1 | California True Crime Podcast
The Pinyon Pines Murders Part 2 | California True Crime Podcast
48 Hours Preview: Murder In Pinyon Pines
Sister reads one of Becky Friedli’s last postings on social media
Preview: “48 Hours” double feature
“48 Hours” probes Pinyon Pines triple murder case
Sneak peek: Murder in Pinyon Pines

Air Force Veteran John Ray Murdered in Georgia Home; 9 Years Later, Torico Jackson Convicted & Sentenced to Life in Prison, No Parole (May 16, 2004)

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John Ray, US Air Force Veteran

ID Go: 32 year-old paralegal John Ray had everything going for him: great career, a loving family and friends. When his body is found in his Atlanta home in 2004, detectives are stumped. Years later, a hidden message from the victim himself may solve this crime. -Message From the Grave, Dead of Night (S2, E10)

Editor’s note: With a cable subscription, you can download the free ID Go app and watch all of the Investigation Discovery programming at your convenience. And for those who do not have cable, you can watch “unlocked” episodes on the ID Go app including the latest premieres. Download the ID Go app and binge away. For those who prefer commercial free programming during your binge session, Prime Video has an ID channel: ‘True Crime Files by Investigation Discovery” available for $2.99 a month. It’s a compilation of older seasons but totally worth the cost if you are a true crime addict.

Related Links:
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Atlanta police seek help to solve ‘cold case’ murder of gay man
Atlanta man charged in 7-year-old gay murder
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Gruesome murder of Air Force veteran John Ray and 9yr wait for justice profiled on Detective
Message From the Grave | Dead of Night | Investigation Discovery
Message From the Grave | Dead of Night | Investigation Discovery (2)
Message From the Grave | Dead of Night | Investigation Discovery (S2, E10)
Cold Case: John E. Ray murder 5/16/2004 Atlanta, GA *Torico Jackson convicted, sentenced to 2 consecutive terms of LWOP*

Joanna Rogers Found Murdered; Marine Corps Reservist Rosendo Rodriguez Admitted to the Murder in Separate Homicide Investigation; Never Held Legally Accountable (May 4, 2004)

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Joanna Rogers and Rosendo Rodriguez, US Marine Corps Reservist

On September 13, 2005, Summer Baldwin, 29, was found in a suitcase in a landfill in Lubbock, Texas. After an extensive investigation, authorities zeroed in on US Marine Corps Reservist Rosendo Rodriguez. In the course of the investigation, Rodriguez also admitted to murdering Joanna Rogers, 16, on May 4, 2004 in Lubbock Texas. But there was not enough forensic evidence to connect Rodriguez to Joanna’s murder. Joanna’s badly decomposed body was also found in a suitcase in the the landfill. Rodriguez was found guilty of two capital murders: Summer Baldwin and her unborn baby. Rosendo Rodriguez was sentenced to death in the State of Texas. Rodriguez appealed his death penalty conviction but a federal court denied the request in May 2017.

Learn more: Marine Corps Reservist Rosendo Rodriguez Murdered Summer Baldwin and Unborn Child; Sentenced to Death in Texas for Two Capital Murders (2005)

The body of a young mother was found in a suitcase in a Texas landfill. The suitcase leads investigators to Rosendo Rodriguez, who had an overwhelming amount of forensic evidence against him. But upon an extensive search of the same landfill, Rogers’ decomposing body was also found in a suitcase. -Forensic Files

Related Links:
Obituary: Joanna Kathryn Rogers
Serial Killer on the Loose?
Break in Disappearance of Texas Teenager
Mother Agonizes Over Missing Teen
Six year anniversary of the disappearance of Joanna Rogers
Joanna Rogers’ Family Speaks Out About Alleged Murder Confession
Rosendo Rodriguez Moved to Tears During Punishment Testimony
Man who stuffed pregnant woman in suitcase convicted of murder
Killer who dumped pregnant woman’s body gets death
Rosendo Rodriguez Back in Lubbock to Appeal Death Penalty
Judge recommends ‘Suitcase Killer’ Rodriguez’s latest appeal be denied

Navy Petty Officer James Kuenn Convicted of the Cold Case Murder of Carol Hutto in Florida; Sentenced to Life, Possibility of Parole After 25 Years (2000)

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P.O. James Kuenn, US Navy

Navy Petty Officer James Kuenn, 40, was found guilty on February 9, 2000 for the first-degree murder of his teen girlfriend Carol Hutto on December 13, 1976 in Largo, Florida. Carol Hutto’s half-brother found her dead in a pond in the neighborhood; she was weighed down with cement blocks. An autopsy revealed Carol was hit and strangled, lost consciousness, and then thrown in the water alive. Initially, police suspected Carol’s half-brother committed the crime but they did not have enough evidence to charge him so the case went unsolved for nearly two decades. Then in 1994, two Largo Police Department investigators reopened the cold case.

The detective’s determination to find the killer led them to a former Largo resident who by then was an eleven year Navy veteran stationed at U.S. Naval Submarine Base in Groton, Connecticut. In 1996, DNA testing was making it’s way into police departments across the country so the investigators submitted several unknown hairs to the FBI lab. But they needed a sample of Kuenn’s DNA to see if it was a match. Investigator’s obtained a search warrant to get the DNA via a blood sample and used the interrogation to elicit a confession while they waited for the results. Since Kuenn was active duty Navy, detectives brought in the Naval Criminal Investigative Services (NCIS) in Mayport, Florida to assist with the interrogation.

On July 15, 1998, the NCIS used the interrogation to push Kuenn into a confession. Investigators had no physical evidence linking Kuenn to the scene but that didn’t stop them from bluffing and hoping Kuenn would cave. Kuenn eventually admitted to investigators that the whole thing was an accident and he brought Carol to the lake to cover up the crime. Kuenn claimed that Carol tripped and fell and became unconscious so he took off her clothes to make it look like someone else did it. Despite Kuenn’s tears, detectives believed he was lying because Carol’s injuries did not come from an accidental trip and fall; they came from blunt force trauma and strangulation. Kuenn was charged with murder, convicted, and sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole for twenty-five years.

“Kuenn recalled the fateful night when he and Carol met at the house under construction. They kissed but the young woman was reluctant to have sex with him. As she struggled, her screams rang out through the foggy night air. Kuenn, under the influence of alcohol and marijuana, hit her with a 2 by 4 to quiet her. He then dumped her in the pond, where she drowned, according to the autopsy.” –Tampa Bay Times

Related Links:
Teenager Murdered
Family and friends mourn murdered girl
Police stymied in Hutto murder case
Two Men Now Sought In Murder Of Carol Hutto
Unsolved Homicides Leave Legacy Of Pain
Sailor charged in 1976 death, jailed without bail
Sailor admits killing friend
After 24 years, he’s found guilty
Man Sentenced to Life in 1976 Slaying
Jury rejects accidental death claim, convicts man for 1976 murder
The victim’s mother lectures the killer, sentenced to life
TV show to look at ’76 Largo murder
TV show to detail search for killer
Police work of Jackson native to be featured on Investigation Discovery’s ‘Swamp Murders’
The Carol Hutto Case
Cold Case Files: Carol’s Diary | A&E
Swamp Murders: We Miss You Darling
Cold Case Files: Carol’s Diary


16-year-old Carol Hutto is a dependable friend, daughter and sister. She’s a good student, loves wrestling and hanging out with friends. So when she misses her curfew one evening, her mother knows something awful has happened. -Swamp Murders

 

Army National Guard Captain Gordon Hess Found Stabbed to Death at Fort Knox, CID Ruled Suicide Despite 26 Stab Wounds to Neck & Chest Area (March 4, 1998)

Gordon Hess, U.S. Army

Army Captain Gordon Hess was found dead in a creek bed at Fort Knox, Kentucky on March 4, 1998 while there on temporary duty with the New York Army National Guard. Army investigators ruled the cause of death was ‘suicide’ but the family and an outside forensic pathologist dispute those findings given the autopsy revealed that Captain Hess had twenty-six stab wounds to the neck and chest area.

Doreen Hess shared with the LA Times: “Even as we attempted to bury his mutilated body, the Army stabbed him again with a suicide ruling.” The Army claims that it fully investigates all undetermined deaths as a homicide initially but after a thorough investigation of this case, including hundreds of interviews, they determined that Captain Hess died by suicide.

The family vehemently disagrees with the Army investigator’s findings based on the forensic evidence and a history of the Army ruling a soldier’s death a suicide when in fact it was most likely a homicide. An important fact to remember is that if an Army investigation determines the cause of death is suicide, they never have to investigate it again despite the impact on the families left behind.

“Absolutely no way did this man commit suicide. This gentleman was murdered.” -Charles DeAngelo, Esq.

Captain Gordon Hess – Homicide or Suicide? An Equivocal Death Analysis and Case Study, James M. Adcock, PhD, Investigative Sciences Journal, March 2011

The Victimology:

“In time the historic aspects or victimology relating to Hess began to unveil itself to the investigators. That, coupled with the Psychological Autopsy, provided much needed data. Gordon Hess was dedicated and devoted to his family, friends and community. He loved his family and children and was a dedicated father and husband. Hess had been described by many as a ‘Perfectionist.’ He consistently strived to be the best and to do things better. “He was competitive and struggled to be number one while he begrudgingly tolerated second best.” According to the report his career path was erratic and frustrating. For a competitive and dedicated man he struggled early in his career after leaving the Army, working at several jobs.”

“Although he was personally successful, this all led to financial strain due to the failures of several employers. He always wanted to be on a winning team which finally seemed to have happened when he became a fireman. Hess appeared at this time to excel at all his endeavors and likely expected nothing less from himself. It was indicated that earlier in his life Hess loved the Army and initially did not want to get out but family issues and concerns made it happen. Therefore, his affiliation and participation with the National Guard was probably one of the most cherished endeavors in his life. He enjoyed status and achievement in a structured environment that was team oriented and was a respected leader.”

“It also reflected that becoming a company commander was viewed by him as a significant achievement. The Army and this status was a big part of his identity; one that he did not just turn off after a training cycle because he continued to be involved by being at the Armory frequently well beyond the expectations of his supervisors and his stated responsibilities. The Army was a part of him. Yet he was not depressive and did not appear to suffer from any psychiatric disorder or medical problem. While he had conquered much adversity in the past, Hess was a man who struggled with feelings of inferiority that ‘fueled his drive to prove to others and to himself that he was competent and worthy of his achievements.’ He strongly identified with his roles as a fireman and an Army Captain. However, he had difficulty tolerating self perceived failure in the audience of those he sought and received affirmation.”

Read more: Captain Gordon Hess – Homicide or Suicide? An Equivocal Death Analysis and Case Study, James M. Adcock, PhD, Investigative Sciences Journal, March 2011

Related Links:
Dead soldier with 26 stab wounds declared ‘suicide’ by Army investigators
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The Death of Gordon Hess
Captain Gordon Hess – Homicide or Suicide? An Equivocal Death Analysis and Case Study
Wolves in Wolf Clothing
Top 10 Questionable Deaths Ruled as Suicides
Unsolved Mysteries and Scary Stuff: Bizarre Cases of the Missing and Murdered
Cold Case Files: Who Killed Captain Gordon Hess?
New Report Calls Suicide By Hess Unlikely

Army OTS Candidate Lisa Gaudenzi Disappeared from Virginia Home; 15 Years Later, Spouse Lawrence Pleaded Guilty to Murder, Sentenced to 25 Years (1995)

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Lisa Gaudenzi, US Army

Army Officer Training School (OTS) candidate Lisa Gaudenzi, 31, disappeared from her Caroline County residence in Ruther Glen, Virginia on January 26, 1995. Lisa was a married, mother of two children, and was supposed to report for duty in Fort Lee, Virginia but never showed up. Her husband Lawrence Gaudenzi said the last time he saw Lisa was when he dropped her off at the bus station. The military police looked into the absence but after no solid leads, deemed Lisa absent without leave (AWOL); she was eventually dishonorably discharged. After an extensive investigation, spanned over 15 years, Lawrence Gaudenzi was charged with Lisa’s murder on May 16, 2008, despite Lisa’s body never being found.

For no apparent reason, during the middle of his trial, Lawrence Gaudenzi pleaded guilty to second degree in May 2009 and was sentenced to 25 years in prison. Prosecutor’s theorized that Lawrence overheard Lisa tell a friend that she was getting a divorce from Lawrence after OTS. Lisa was tiring of Lawrence’s violence and control issues; she was ready to move on. After about a year in prison, Lawrence Gaudenzi finally led investigators to where he hid Lisa’s body in Spotsylvania County 15 years prior. Virginia State Police found the last of Lisa’s remains on June 9, 2010 and delivered them to her family. Lisa’s AWOL and Army discharge status were upgraded and she was buried with full military honors.

Related Links:
Website: Finding Lisa
Foul Play Suspected in U.S. Army Soldier’s Disappearance
Gaudenzi Arrested for Murder
Man charged in wife’s 1995 Caroline County death
Murder trial set for man charged in missing-person case
‘Cold Case’ Murder Trial Begins
After 14 Years, Murder Trial Starts In Case Of Missing Woman
Lawrence Gaudenzi pleads guilty, gets 25 years in prison
Angry family blasts killer
Husband confesses to hiding wife’s body in drum of acid
Police led to remains of Va. woman
15 years later: Gaudenzi remains found in Spotsy
VSP Brings Closure to 1995 Homicide Case
After 15 years, father finds peace in knowing truth about his murdered daughter
“No-body” Murder Trials in the United States
Lancaster murder trial begins in Spotsylvania County
Day 2 of Lancaster murder trial
Caroline prosecutor wins no-body murder conviction
Happily Never After | Vanishing Bride (Investigation Discovery)
The Perfect Suspect | GI Gone (Investigation Discovery)


A mother of two vanishes the day before she reports for Officer Training School. Her husband claims she ran off with another lover, but her family suspects something much worse. It takes 14 years for the truth to emerge…from the least likely of sources. -The Perfect Suspect

Cold Case: Amy Gellert Fatally Stabbed Outside Florida Home; AWOL Marine Dominic Kanuika an Alleged Suspect in the Case, $5000 Reward (March 20, 1994)

In the more than 20 years since the murder of a 21-year-old woman outside her home in Cocoa Beach, Florida, there have been a number of men investigated in connection with the case — but the crime remains unsolved. Members of the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office share details with “48 Hours”‘ Erin Moriarty.

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On the evening of Sunday, March 20, 1994, Charlotte “Amy” Gellert was attacked by an intruder outside her residence in Cocoa Beach. She died as a result of her injuries. The intruder was described as a white male, early twenties, 5’07″ – 5’10″ tall, weighing between 165 to 185 pounds. Any persons providing information in reference to this case may be eligible for a reward up to $5,000.00. –Brevard County Sheriff’s Office

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Amy Gellert, Civilian, Florida

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Related Links:
Twitter: @Justice_for_Amy
BCSO: Unsolved Homicide of Charlotte “Amy” Gellert
Who Killed Amy Gellert?
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48 Hours Premiered ’48 Hours Cold Case: Who Killed Amy Gellert?’ on CBS (2017)
Who killed Amy Gellert? More than 20 years after student, 21, died protecting parents from masked knifeman, police admit they are no closer to an arrest
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A conversation with Amy Gellert’s killer
A look at possible suspects in Amy Gellert’s murder
Help catch Amy Gellert’s killer
Retired detective still haunted by Gellert cold case

Navy Spouse Jovita Collazo Disappeared from San Diego, California; 23 Years Later Found Murdered; Michael Richardson Convicted, Life Sentence (April 30, 1992)

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Jovita Collazo, California

ID Go: Apple Valley in California’s Mojave Desert is the perfect place to hide a secret. When the body of an unidentified Jane Doe is discovered there in 1994, it takes almost two decades to bring a twisted tale of love, jealousy, and a horrible crime to light. -A Girl Has No Name, Who Killed Jane Doe? (S2, E2)

Editor’s note: With a cable subscription, you can download the free ID Go app and watch all of the Investigation Discovery programming at your convenience. And for those who do not have cable, you can watch “unlocked” episodes on the ID Go app including the latest premieres. Download the ID Go app and binge away. For those who prefer commercial free programming during your binge session, Prime Video has an ID channel: ‘True Crime Files by Investigation Discovery” available for $2.99 a month. It’s a compilation of older seasons but totally worth the cost if you are a true crime addict.

Related Links:
DNA hit solves 1992 murder-mystery
Remains of Jovita Collazo Found After 23 Years
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Body of woman who vanished in 1992 found in desert
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Niece Testifies In Hearing For Man Charged With 3 Murders
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San Diego man gets 6 life terms for triple murders
A Girl Has No Name | Who Killed Jane Doe? | Investigation Discovery (S2, E2)

Navy Chief Petty Officer Mervin ‘Sonny’ Grotton Shot & Killed at Home in Maine; Wife Norma Small Convicted of Murder for Hire & Sentenced to 60 Years in Prison (1983)

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Sonny Grotton, US Navy

Norma Small was arrested in May 2001 and then charged with murder for the shooting death of her husband US Navy Chief Petty Officer Sonny Grotton, at his home in Belfast, Maine on December 16, 1983. She was accused of hiring someone for $10,000 to murder him, convicted, and sentenced to 60 years in prison. Norma felt Sonny was worth more dead than alive. Investigators believed the crime was financially motivated. If Sonny died, Norma would get a death benefit from the Navy, the real estate that she owned with Sonny, and she received a monthly payment from the VA that over 15 or 17 years had amounted to almost $100,000.

Related Links:
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A tattooed NCIS agent with a black belt goes undercover to find the killer of a Navy petty officer — can he get what he needs without getting caught? Watch Tuesday, June 13 at 10 p.m. ET/PT on CBS. -48 Hours

Army Major Chester Barrett Murdered By Estranged Wife Lisbeth & Step-Son for Military Survivor Benefits; Both Sentenced to Prison 35+ Years Later (1977)

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Major Chester Barrett, US Army

Army Major Chester Barrett was found murdered in a desert area in east El Paso, Texas on January 4, 1977. Investigators opened a murder investigation but exhausted all leads and the case went cold for over 35 years. In 2006, the case was reopened by the El Paso Police Department and new tips came in. Investigators would learn that Major Garrett’s wife Lisbeth enlisted the help of her son Roger in a plot to kill him. The pair were arrested and charged with Major Garrett’s murder. At trial, Roger confessed that he and his mother asked his step-father to come to their house to fix the dishwasher. As Major Garrett was leaning over the dishwasher, Roger struck him in the head with a baseball bat; he says his mother then stabbed him several times. Prosecutors said the motive to kill Major Garrett was to collect the money from his military survivor benefits.

Major Garrett and Lisbeth were in the midst of a divorce when the homicide occurred; Major Garrett was living in Officer’s Quarters at Fort Bliss. Lisbeth was accused of using her 18 year old child to lure Major Garrett to the marital home because she wanted to kill him. A witness testified at trial that divorcees of active duty Army officers could not get benefits but widows could get survivor benefits from the Army for the rest of their lives. Roger Garrett was convicted of murder for his part in the crime in 2013; he was sentenced to 40 years in prison. Former high school teacher Lisbeth Garrett, 76, was found guilty of homicide in 2015; she was sentenced to 45 years in prison. Roger Garrett appealed his murder conviction but the case was denied by the Texas Court of Appeals.

“Maj. Chester Garrett served four tours in Vietnam and, while with the 5th Special Forces Group, earned the U.S. military’s second-highest award for valor. According to officials, Garrett was a Special Forces advisor to a Vietnamese strike force on a search and destroy mission near the Cambodian border.” –The Fayetteville Observer

Related Links:
Website: Major Chester Garrett
Pair charged for 1977 murder of U.S. Army officer
2 arrested in 1977 cold case murder of Texas Army officer
Chester Garrett, Army Major Killed In 1977, Was Murdered By Wife And Stepson: El Paso Sheriff
Wife and stepson are charged with army veteran’s murder 36 YEARS later after brother claims he was forced to scrub his father’s blood off the garage floor
Mother, Son Held in 1977 Fort Bliss Slaying
Man convicted of murder in 1977 slaying of Army officer
Man convicted of murder in 1977 slaying of Army officer (2)
Roger Garrett Gets 40 Years In Prison For Killing Stepfather
El Paso sheriff’s deputies search home of woman charged with murder in 36-year-old cold case
Lisbeth Garrett murder trial: Witness says she was “suspicious”
Former teacher found guilty in husband’s murder
Woman found guilty in husband’s 1977 murder
Lisbeth Garrett convicted in 1977 cold case murder
Woman faces 99 years in slaying of Green Beret
45 years in prison for Lisbeth Garrett
Garrett sentenced to 45 years in cold case murder
Lisbeth Garrett sentenced to 45 years in prison
Lisbeth Garrett sentenced to 45 years in prison in husband’s 1977 murder
Woman sentenced to 45 years for role in 1977 Texas slaying
Woman sentenced to 45 years for role in 1977 Texas slaying (2)
Ex-Eastwood teacher given 45 years for husband’s murder
Son who turned in Lisbeth Garrett reacts to 45 year sentence
Lisbeth Garrett tries to avoid ABC-7 Camera
Lisbeth Garrett Found Guilty of Murder
45 years in prison for Lisbeth Garrett
Roger Garrett vs. State of Texas Court of Appeals (2015)
Appeal of murder conviction in 1977 case denied
12 honored by Fort Bragg special operations community
Dedication of the Major Chester Garrett Dining Facility


45 years in prison for Lisbeth Garrett -KVIA.com