Dateline Premiered ‘The Other Side of Paradise’ on NBC: Solving the Cold Case Homicide of Sandra Galas (June 15, 2018)

On June 15, 2018May 27, 2019 By AdministratorIn Armed Forces, Cold Cases, Domestic Violence, Felony Crime, Homicide, In Their Name, USAFLeave a comment

Keith Morrison follows a cold case for nearly 10 years, as a father in Hawaii fights to bring his daughter’s killer to justice despite one setback after another. -Dateline NBC

Screen Shot 2018-06-24 at 6.19.40 PM — Sandra Galas

On June 15, 2018, Dateline premiered ‘The Other Side of Paradise’ on NBC. It’s the true crime story of Sandra Galas and her father’s quest for cold case justice. Air Force retiree Larry Mendonca’s daughter Sandra was found strangled to death in her car in the garage of her home on January 25, 2006 in ‘Ele’ele, Hawaii. The case went unsolved for years and if not for the efforts of her father Larry, the case may never have been solved. For years, Sandra’s estranged husband Darren Galas was the prime suspect. Darren had a history of domestic violence and it was rumored that he was angry Sandra was dating someone new. It wasn’t until 2012, investigators were able to pin Darren to the crime with the use of new forensic techniques, specifically touch DNA from evidence at the scene of the crime was a match to Darren Galas. In January 2018, twelve years after the murder, Darren Galas entered a no contest plea in court for a charge of first degree assault, a class B felony. The judge accepted his plea and he was found guilty. In March 2018, Galas was sentenced to a ten year open prison term for his connection to the crime, the maximum that could be imposed. Unfortunately, due to parental alienation, Sandra’s father Larry has no relationship with her two children. He claims Darren has brainwashed them to hate both their mother and her family.

Editor’s Note: You can watch the full episode of Dateline for a limited time on the NBC app. Download the app and binge on the last couple years of programming.

Darren Galas, 40 of Kalaheo was arrested for the 2006 murder of his estranged wife, Sandra Galas. -KHON2 News (2012)

A 2006 Kauai case has new witnesses and interviews. -KITV (2012)

The body of Sandra Galas was found in her garage in Eleele on Jan. 25, 2006. -KHON2 News (2018)

Kauai man Darren Galas has been sentenced in connection with his wife’s 2006 murder. -KHON2 News (2018)

Galas sentenced. -KHON2 News (2018)

Related Links:
Father won’t give up hunt for daughter’s killer
Sandra Galas case, memory live on
Justice At Last for Sandy G?
Grand jury indicts Kauai man in cold case murder of wife
Police make arrest in cold case murder investigation
Police make cold case arrest in 2006 murder of Kauai woman
Kauai police arrest man for wife’s 2006 murder
Kauai man arrested in wife’s cold case murder
Arrest made in cold case murder of Sandra Galas
Kauai man arrested in 2006 cold case murder
Murder charge reduced
Estranged husband pleads no contest in connection with wife’s 2006 death
Husband pleads no contest to wife’s murder on Kauai
Husband Pleads No Contest to Wife’s Murder on Kauai
Kauai man sentence in connection with strangling death of his wife
Galas sentenced to 10-year open prison term
Kauai man sentenced in connection to wife’s 2006 death
Hawaii man sentenced in connection to wife’s 2006 death
Hawaii man sentenced in connection to wife’s 2006 death
Sandra Mendonca Galas remembered as beautiful woman full of joy
Dateline NBC to feature Kauai murder case
Scoop: Coming Up on DATELINE on NBC – Today, June 15, 2018
Keith Morrison Previews: The Other Side of Paradise
DATELINE FRIDAY PREVIEW: The Other Side of Paradise
DATELINE FRIDAY SNEAK PEEK: The Other Side of Paradise
Kauai man arrested in wife’s cold case murder
Old Kauai case has new witnesses, interviews
Estranged husband pleads no contest in connection with wife’s 2006 death
Kauai man sentenced for wife’s death
Galas sentenced
Dateline Episode Trailer: The Other Side of Paradise

Angila Wilder Discovered Stabbed to Death in North Dakota Home; Ex-Husband Richie Wilder Jr. & New Wife Cynthia Sentenced to Life in Prison, No Parole for Murder (November 13, 2015)

On November 13, 2015August 6, 2019 By AdministratorIn Armed Forces, Domestic Violence, Felony Crime, Homicide, In Their Name, Military Policy, USAFLeave a comment

Dateline featured ‘Prairie Confidential’ on August 13, 2018. It was a 2015 homicide case out of Minot, North Dakota. Nursing student and mom of three Angila Wilder didn’t show up for an important exam at school and her professor knew something was wrong. Angila was discovered stabbed to death in her bedroom in her North Dakota home. The crime appeared personal so the police started their investigation with Angila’s boyfriend and ex-husband. When Angila’s boyfriend Chris Jackson was interviewed, he pointed the finger at her ex-husband Richie Wilder, Jr. Angila met Richie in high school and soon after they married, they had a couple children together. Richie joined the Air Force and was stationed at Minot Air Force Base in North Dakota. But during their time there, things went awry with the marriage. Richie was court-martialed and convicted of domestic abuse. As a result, he was discharged from the Air Force and soon divorce followed. Richie remarried Cynthia, a kindergarten teacher, and they had a child together. Angila also moved on with Chris Jackson and they too had a child together. Angila was pregnant at the time of her murder.

Investigators found Angila’s blood in Richie’s car and Richie’s DNA was found under Angila’s fingernails. As a result, Richie Wilder was charged with murder and ordered to pre-trial confinement on a 2 million dollar bond. After a couple days in jail, Richie came forward with a “confession.” Richie told police he and Chris learned Angela was cheating on Chris and they hoped to catch her in the act so they could then have custody of their children. Richie said he picked up Chris at his place of employment, drove to Angila’s home, killed her together (an attempt to minimize his involvement yet explain DNA), and then dropped Chris back off at Wal-Mart. But the police looked at the video at Wal-Mart and it blew Richie’s “confession” out of the water. Chris was at work all night and never left the property. In December 2016, Richie Wilder Jr. was convicted of Angila’s murder and sentenced to life in prison without parole. In May 2018, Cynthia Wilder took an Alford plea hoping the judge would go lenient on her but she was sentenced to life in prison without parole for conspiracy to commit murder. In the course of the investigation, police learned Cynthia and Richie Wilder planned Angila’s murder for two years.

In the News:

Richie Wilder, Jr Murder Trial -KFYR TV (January 17, 2017)

Cynthia Wilder Sentenced -KFYR TV (December 24, 2018)

Dateline NBC:

Trailer: A murder case considered closed by North Dakota detectives is suddenly reopened when a confidential informant comes forward with a tip about an unlikely suspect. -Dateline NBC (S26,E51)

Related Links:
Slain Minot woman was pregnant, and was stabbed 44 times
Bond set at $2 million in North Dakota murder case
$2M bond set for Minot man charged with killing ex-wife
Murder Trial Begins In Minot
#9: Wilder murder case
Richie Wilder, Jr Murder Trial
North Dakota man convicted of stabbing wife 44 times, killing her
Minot man gets life without parole for brutal slaying of ex
Convicted Murderer Serving Life in Prison for Killing Minot Woman Has Request of Court
State of North Dakota, Plaintiff and Appellee v. Richie E. Wilder, Jr., Defendant and Appellant
Children to decide contact with ‘cold-blooded killer of their mother,’ judge decides in murder case
Supreme Court upholds Wilder murder conviction, rules against sentencing
Supreme Court overturns judge’s no contact order for murderer Richie Wilder Jr.
Supreme Court overturns ruling that murderer can’t see kids until they are 18
Minot Women Accused of Helping Husband Murder Ex-wife
ND woman enters plea to helping husband plan ex-wife’s murder
Sentencing delayed for Minot woman accused of aiding murder
Cynthia Wilder Sentenced
Second life sentence in Angila Wilder murder case
Former ND teacher gets life for role in killing husband’s ex-wife
Woman sentenced to life in prison for planning the murder of her husband’s ex-wife
Pregnant mum stabbed 44 times by ‘psycho’ ex-husband – whose new wife gave him alibi for murder
Woman ‘proud’ of husband for stabbing pregnant ex-wife to death gives up life sentence appeal
Dateline Episode Trailer: Prairie Confidential (S26,E51)
Dateline NBC Premiered ‘Prairie Confidential’: Nursing Student & Mom Angila Wilder Found Stabbed to Death in Minot, North Dakota Home (August 13, 2018)

Former Air Force Reservist Michelle Theer Convicted of Murder of Husband Frank Theer; Sentenced to Life in Prison, No Parole (December 3, 2004)

On December 3, 2004August 25, 2019 By AdministratorIn Armed Forces, Army, Felony Crime, Homicide, Scandals, USAFLeave a comment

Michelle,September,2007(2) — Michelle Theer

Former Air Force Reservist Michelle Theer was indicted in 2002 for first-degree murder and conspiracy to commit first-degree murder in the death of her husband Air Force Captain Marty Theer on December 17, 2000. Theer was accused of killing her husband with her lover, Army Special Forces soldier John Diamond. In August 2001, John Diamond was found guilty by a military jury of first degree murder and was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. Around the date of the 2002 indictment, Michelle, who had moved to New Orleans since the murder, left Louisiana to “start a new life.” Michelle moved to Florida where she rented an apartment and had plastic surgery performed under an assumed name.

The police located and arrested Michelle Theer in August 2002 and her trial concluded on December 3, 2004. The jury returned verdicts of guilty of first-degree murder by aiding and abetting and of conspiracy to commit first-degree murder. The motive for the homicide was an early attempt to collect Marty’s $500,000 Servicemen’s Group Life Insurance policy. The prosecutor ascertained Michelle manipulated John Diamond into murdering her husband. Diamond was accused of shooting Marty multiple times execution style as he ascended a stairwell at Michelle’s place of employment in Fayetteville, North Carolina. The civilian trial court sentenced Michelle Theer to life in prison without the possibility of parole.

Investigation Discovery:

In 2000, Michelle Theer was an Air Force wife in the military town of Fayetteville until a fatal shooting made her a widow. The investigation into her husband’s death led police to the door of an Army Ranger – taking orders from very unlikely accomplices. -Fayetteville, Sins and Secrets (S2,E3)

Sexy psychologist and doting Air Force wife Michelle begins a swinging affair with Army Sgt. Diamond while her husband, Captain Marty Theer, is away. But all’s fair in love and war, and Marty’s return will remind them that love is a battlefield. -Sergeant Swinger, Scorned: Love Kills (S4,E1)

Oxygen:

A frantic, distraught woman runs into a video rental store screaming that her husband has been shot. -Michelle Theer & John Diamond, Killer Couples

Killer Couples: S8 E5 Preview – Michelle Theer and John Diamond | Oxygen

Killer Couples: S8 E5 After the Verdict – Michelle Theer and John Diamond | Oxygen

Psychologist Debbie Layton-Tholl talks about her experience meeting with Michelle Theer. -Michelle Theer & John Diamond, Killer Couples

A lonely military wife and psychologist go searching for sex on the Internet with deadly results. -Michelle Theer & John Diamond, Killer Couples (S8,E5)

Editor’s note: With a cable subscription, you can download the free ID Go app and watch 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. 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 $3.99 a month. It’s a compilation of older seasons but totally worth the cost if you are a true crime addict. Download the ID Go app or purchase ID True Crime Files & binge away.

MILITARY JUSTICE FOR ALL

Tag: Keith Morrison

Dateline Premiered ‘The Other Side of Paradise’ on NBC: Solving the Cold Case Homicide of Sandra Galas (June 15, 2018)

Angila Wilder Discovered Stabbed to Death in North Dakota Home; Ex-Husband Richie Wilder Jr. & New Wife Cynthia Sentenced to Life in Prison, No Parole for Murder (November 13, 2015)

Former Air Force Reservist Michelle Theer Convicted of Murder of Husband Frank Theer; Sentenced to Life in Prison, No Parole (December 3, 2004)

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