Air Force Reservist Travis McGraw Murdered his Wife Vanessa for the $100,000 Life Insurance Policy; Sentenced to Life, No Parole (2011)

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Vanessa Mintz and Travis McGraw

On February 19, 2011, Vanessa Mintz was found shot and killed at her family owned mountain Lodge in Saluda, North Carolina. After police conducted a thorough investigation they learned that a shell casing at the scene of the crime matched a gun owned by Travis McGraw, a police officer in the Air Force Reserve. They also learned that Travis was in love with a woman by the name of Mary-Beth who gave him an ultimatum. Mary-Beth asked Travis to choose her or Vanessa and get back to her once he decided. Less then 48 hours later, Vanessa was dead. It is believed that Travis killed Vanessa for the $100,000 military life insurance policy. At trial, the public learned that Travis asked his Air Force Commander about the life insurance policy within twelve hours of Vanessa’s death. Travis was found guilty by a jury of his peers and sentenced to life without parole. Travis McGraw appealed his conviction but it was denied.

Learn more: Servicemen’s Group Life Insurance is a Common Motive for Murder

Related Links:
Text messages lead authorities to suspect in murder of Saluda woman
Husband charged with murder in slaying of NC Realtor
McGraw Backs Out of Plea Agreement
Former Police Officer Rejects Plea Deal In Wife’s Polk County Killing
Travis McGraw Guilty Plea Withdrawn on Friday
McGraw found guilty of first-degree murder
McGraw sentenced to life in murder of wife
McGraw Murder Appeal Hearing Set for Wednesday
McGraw Murder Conviction Appeal Denied
McGraw murder conviction appeal denied | Life Insurance Fraud
’48 Hours’ report on Mintz murder airs Saturday
“48 Hours” Investigates the Mysteries Behind a Missing Daughter & a Murdered Mom in a Saturday Night Double Feature
The Ultimatum | 48 Hours [Video]
Mary Beth Fisher on Travis McGraw’s reaction to his wife’s murder
Vanessa Mintz’ commitment to her community
The Ultimatum: A crucial clue and shocking secret revealed in the hunt for a North Carolina mother’s killer [Video]
Vanessa Mintz, Travis McGraw: CBS’ 48 Hours Features Hendersonville, North Carolina Murder Case
Local “48 Hours” Case Update


Two daughters are determined to find their mother’s killer.
Will the investigation expose hidden secrets? -48 Hours

Air Force Staff Sgt. Nathan Paet Shot & Killed as He Got Ready to Leave for Work; Spouse Michelle Paet Sentenced to Life, No Parole for Murder (December 1, 2010)

Nathan Paet
Nathan Paet, U.S. Air Force (photo: Facebook)

Air Force service member Nathan Paet was shot and killed after opening his garage door as he was leaving for work on December 1st, 2010 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Nathan and Michelle Paet were both from Guam, were high school sweethearts, and had four beautiful children together. Nathan was an assistant NCOIC for the Strike Aircraft Maintenance Supply section of the 757th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron at Nellis Air Force Base in Nevada. The couple were struggling financially after they bought a new home in Las Vegas so Nathan volunteered for a six-month deployment to Iraq and Michelle got a part-time job. Upon Nathan’s return to Nevada, he treated his family to an extra special Christmas. And Nathan’s brother Eric Paet paid him a special visit. Eric said the last time he saw his brother, he could sense something wasn’t right. Eric observed that Nathan and Michelle didn’t appear to be getting along and the couple were struggling to pay the bills. As Eric and his wife were leaving, they sensed Nathan wanted to tell them something, but he didn’t.

On December 1, 2010, Michelle called 911 to get help for Nathan who had been shot in the neck and couldn’t talk but was still alive. Unfortunately, despite the doctor’s best efforts, Nathan died at the hospital. Police wasted no time hunting for Nathan’s killer because this wasn’t something they were used to in the Mountain’s Edge suburb. A witness observed a man speed away in a black Cadillac on the day in question. When Michelle Paet was interviewed, she admitted to knowing someone who owned a black Cadillac and his name was Michael Rodriguez. Rodriguez had a police record but nothing violent. When Rodriguez was questioned, he admitted to having a casual affair with Michelle but nothing sexual. His alibi at the time of the murder was that he was sleeping with a woman he met at a Wal-Mart. He even offered up a video of the encounter. Police went to the motel he claimed he was at and they indeed found him on the security camera footage. In the meantime, Michael’s alibi, the woman he claimed to be with, saw the media coverage and decided to go to the police.

Michael’s alibi told police that Jessica Austin asked her to be an alibi for Corry Hawkins and Michael Rodriguez. She was supposed to say she was with them all day. The alibi claimed when the pair got back from murdering Nathan Paet, Jessica burned their clothes in the fire place. The police also learned that Michael worked with Michelle Paet. While the Nellis AFB community was honoring Nathan, the Las Vegas Police Department were turning up the heat on Michelle. She finally admitted to having a sexual relationship with Michael Rodriguez. And at this point, detectives suspected that Michelle was involved with Nathan’s murder. Michelle admitted that Nathan suspected her of having an affair and she was afraid Nathan would leave her. She didn’t want to leave the marriage empty handed. Michelle and Michael started discussing ways to kill her husband so they could cash out on the life insurance proceeds. The day of the murder, Michelle texted Michael as Nathan was running out the door. She set up the ambush that lead to Nathan’s death. Hours after he was dead, Michelle texted Michael a smiley face.

Michelle Paet was arrested on suspicion of murder. The district attorney theorized Michael Rodriguez and Corry Hawkins lied in wait for Nathan to leave for work. The plan was to kidnap Nathan at gunpoint, drive him out to the desert, kill him and leave him. As soon as Nathan opened up the garage door, he was confronted and refused to cooperate so Rodriguez shot him and fled the scene. Nathan immediately went inside his home thinking he was running away from danger but instead he was running right into it. On December 7, 2010, Michael Rodriguez was arrested for the murder of Nathan Paet. Rodriguez was found guilty of first degree murder, Corry Hawkins pleaded guilty to first degree murder, and Jessica Austin was found guilty of conspiracy to commit murder. Michelle Paet was the cold, calculating and cunning planner. She wanted to take the $650,000, go to Guam with her children, and live like a queen. To avoid the death penalty, Michelle Paet pleaded guilty to first degree murder and was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.

Source: ‘Watch Your Back’ American Monster, Investigation Discovery

In the News:

Michelle Paet sobbed in court as she pleaded guilty to plotting her husband’s death with her ex-lover, Michael Rodriguez, who was also found guilty last week of gunning down Nathan Paet. -PNC News

Michelle Paet had pleaded guilty to murdering her husband to avoid the death penalty. -PNC News

Corry Hawkins, who pleaded guilty to first-degree murder in the slaying of Nellis airman Nathan Paet, was sentenced to life without the possibility of parole. -Las Vegas Review-Journal

Oxygen:

A happy military family kept walls up that were soon to be knocked down. Did Michelle’s husband bring his fate upon himself, or was she behind the whole thing? -Michelle Paet, Snapped

Those involved with the case give their input on the verdict and Michelle’s future. -Michelle Paet, Snapped

Michelle Fleck details all the ways Michelle Paet plotted to “get rid” of her late husband, Nathan. -Michelle Paet, Snapped

Michelle’s sister, Melissa, speaks fondly of Michelle. -Michelle Paet, Snapped

An Air Force sergeant is gunned down in his garage revealing an elaborate conspiracy with an unlikely mastermind. -Michelle Paet, Snapped

Investigation Discovery:

US Air Force sergeant Nathan Paet and his family appear to live a blissfully normal life – as these never-before-aired home videos attest. But blind greed would bring about the destruction of this loving family. -Watch Your Back, American Monster (S3, E6)

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.

Related Links:
In Memory Of Nathan Paet | Facebook
Wife of Nellis airman arrested in husband’s death
Wife of Murdered Iraq War Vet Arrested in Las Vegas Shooting Death
Ex-con found guilty in Vegas slaying of US airman from Guam
Ex-convict found guilty in Las Vegas murder, conspiracy plot with wife of US airman
Cheating widow sobs as she pleads guilty to setting up the shooting murder of her airman husband who was left bleeding to death in front of their four children
Wife plotted with lover to kill airman husband so she could claim life insurance
Woman gets life in prison without parole in death of husband, a Nellis airman
Michelle Paet sentenced to life without parole for conspiring to kill her husband
Man gets life in prison without parole for slaying of Nellis airman
No parole for defendant in slaying of U.S. airman from Guam
Vegas mom gets life in prison for life insurance death of husband
Wife of Slain Airman Pleads Guilty to Avoid Death Penalty
Paet Sentenced to Life in Murder-For-Hire of Husband
Woman sentenced to life for killing airman husband
Man gets life without parole for murder of Nellis airman
Michelle Paet | Snapped | Oxygen (S21, E8)
Michelle Paet | Snapped | Oxygen (Amazon)
Snapped: Sneak Peek – Did Michelle Do It? (Season 21, Episode 8) | Oxygen
Snapped: After The Verdict – Michelle Paet (Season 21, Episode 8) | Oxygen
Snapped: Bonus Clip – Prosecutor Michelle Fleck (Season 21, Episode 8) | Oxygen
Snapped: Bonus Clip – Kind Words for Michelle (Season 21, Episode 8) | Oxygen
Watch Your Back | American Monster | Investigation Discovery (S3, E6)
Watch Your Back | American Monster | Investigation Discovery (website)
Watch Your Back | American Monster | Investigation Discovery (Amazon)
Snapped Premiered ‘Michelle Paet’ on Oxygen: Air Force Sergeant Gunned Down in Garage Reveals Baffling Conspiracy (September 24, 2017)
American Monster Premiered ‘Watch Your Back’ on ID: Michelle Paet Pleaded Guilty to Conspiring to Murder Husband Nathan Paet (August 19, 2018)
Deadly Women: 30 Military and Veteran Homicide Cases Featured on Investigation Discovery

August: U.S. Department of Defense Casualties Report (2010)

Department of Defense
08/31/2010:  DOD Identifies Army Casualties: Patrick Durham, 24, and Andrew Castro, 20, Afghanistan, Fort Campbell, Kentucky

08/30/2010:  DOD Identifies Marine Casualty: Floyd Holley, 36, Afghanistan, Camp Pendleton, California

08/30/2010:  DOD Identifies Army Casualties: Ellery Wallace, 33, and Bryn Raver, 20, Afghanistan, Fort Campbell, Kentucky

08/30/2010:  DOD Identifies Army Casualties: Chad Coleman, 20, and Adam Novak, 20, Afghanistan, Fort Campbell, Kentucky

08/30/2010:  DOD Identifies Army Casualty: James Robinson, 27, Afghanistan, Fort Campbell, Kentucky

08/30/2010:  DOD Identifies Army Casualty: James Ide, 32, Afghanistan, Sembach, Germany

08/30/2010:  DOD Identifies Marine Casualty: Daniel Fedder, 34, Afghanistan, Camp Pendleton, California

08/29/2010:  DOD Identifies Navy Casualty: James Swink, 20, Afghanistan, II Marine Expeditionary Forces

08/25/2010:  DOD Identifies Army Casualty: Justin Shoecraft, 28, Afghanistan, Vilseck, Germany

08/24/2010:  DOD Identifies Marine Casualty: Robert Newton, 21, Afghanistan, Twentynine Palms, California

08/24/2010:  DOD Identifies Marine Casualty: Ronald Rodriguez, 26, Afghanistan, Camp Pendleton, California

08/24/2010:  DOD Identifies Army Casualties: Steven Deluzio, 25, and Tristan Southworth, 21, Afghanistan, Vermont Army National Guard

08/24/2010:  DOD Identifies Army Casualty: Pedro Millet Meletiche, 20, Afghanistan, Fort Carson, Colorado

08/24/2010:  DOD Identifies Marine Casualty: Jason Calo, 23, Afghanistan, Camp Lejeune, North Carolina

08/24/2010:  DOD Identifies Army Casualty: Brandon Maggart, 24, Iraq, Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington

08/23/2010:  DOD Identifies Army Casualty: Alexis Maldonado, 20, Afghanistan, Fort Hood, Texas

08/23/2010:  DOD Identifies Marine Casualty: Nathaniel Schultz, 19, Afghanistan, Camp Lejeune, North Carolina

08/23/2010:  DOD Identifies Army Casualty: Christopher Wright, 23, Afghanistan, Hunter Army Air Field, Georgia

08/21/2010:  DOD Identifies Marine Casualty: Cody Childers, 19, Afghanistan, Camp Lejeune, North Carolina

08/20/2010:  DOD Identifies Marine Casualty: Christopher Boyd, 22, Afghanistan, Camp Pendleton, California

08/20/2010:  DOD Identifies Navy Casualty: Collin Thomas, 33, Afghanistan, east-coast based SEAL team

08/20/2010:  DOD Identifies Army Casualty: Martin Lugo, 24, Afghanistan, Hunter Army Air Field, Georgia

08/19/2010:  DOD Identifies Army Casualty: Edgar Roberts, 39, Afghanistan, Georgia Army National Guard

08/19/2010:  DOD Identifies Marine Casualty: Kevin Oratowski, 23, Afghanistan, Camp Pendleton, California

08/18/2010:  DOD Identifies Army Casualties: Benjamen Chisholm, 24, and Charles High IV, 21, NCDs, Afghanistan, Fort Campbell, Kentucky

08/18/2010:  DOD Identifies Army Casualty: Derek Farley, 24, Afghanistan, Grafenwoehr, Germany

08/17/2010:  Airman Missing In Action From WWII Identified: Ray F. Fletcher, US Army Air Forces

08/17/2010:  DOD Identifies Army Casualty: Jamal Rhett, 24, Iraq, Schofield Barracks, Hawaii

08/16/2010:  DOD Identifies Marine Casualty: Michael Bock, 26, Afghanistan, Twentynine Palms, California

08/13/2010:  DOD Identifies Marine Casualty: Kristopher Greer, 25, Afghanistan, Marine Forces Reserve, Knoxville, Tennessee

08/13/2010:  Soldier Missing from Korean War Identified: Roy Stewart, US Army

08/12/2010:  DOD Identifies Army Casualty: Christopher Karch, 23, Afghanistan, Fort Bragg, North Carolina

08/12/2010:  DOD Identifies Marine Casualty: Jose Saenz III, 30, Afghanistan, Camp Pendleton, California

08/11/2010:  DOD Identifies Army Casualty: John Andrade, 19, Afghanistan, Vilseck, Germany

08/11/2010:  Soldiers Missing in Action from Vietnam War Identified: Paul G. Magers, US Army

08/09/2010:  DOD Identifies Army Casualty: Paul Cuzzupe, 23, Afghanistan, Vilseck, Germany

08/09/2010:  DOD Identifies Marine Casualties: Kevin Cornelius, 20, and Vincent Gammone III, 19, Afghanistan, Camp Lejeune, California

08/09/2010:  DOD Identifies Army Casualties: Andrew Nicol, 23, and Bradley Rappuhn, 24, Afghanistan, Fort Benning, Georgia

08/09/2010:  DOD Identifies Army Casualty: Faith Hinkley, 23, Iraq, Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington

08/09/2010:  DOD Identifies Marine Casualty: Max Donahue, 23, Afghanistan, Camp Pendleton, California

08/02/2010:  DOD Identifies Army Casualty: Kyle Stout, 25, Afghanistan, Fort Campbell, Kentucky

08/01/2010:  DOD Identifies Army Casualty: Michael Stansbery, 21, Afghanistan, Fort Campbell, Kentucky

Related Links:
August: Department of Defense Casualties Report (2002)
August: Department of Defense Casualties Report (2003)
August: Department of Defense Casualties Report (2004)
August: Department of Defense Casualties Report (2005)
August: Department of Defense Casualties Report (2006)
August: Department of Defense Casualties Report (2007)
August: Department of Defense Casualties Report (2008)
August: Department of Defense Casualties Report (2009)
August: Department of Defense Casualties Report (2011)
August: Department of Defense Casualties Report (2012)
August: Department of Defense Casualties Report (2013)
August: Department of Defense Casualties Report (2014)
August: Department of Defense Casualties Report (2015)
August: Department of Defense Casualties Report (2016)
August: Department of Defense Casualties Report (2017)
Non Combat Deaths of Female Soldiers in the US Military (Iraq)
Non Combat Deaths of Female Soldiers in the US Military (Afghanistan)
Non Combat Deaths of Female Soldiers in the US Military (Other Areas)

Brittney Brashers, US Air Force (2009)

Brittney Brashers, US Air Force (2009)

Honoring Brittney Brashers, USAF who was murdered by another airman who she met in Iraq; 9 months later in 2009, she was found dead near her permanent duty station at Peterson AFB, Colorado.

Watch 48 Hours Mystery: Collision Course, The Murder of Brittney Brashers

Nellis Air Force Base Airman Jason Klinkenberg Murdered his Wife Crystal & Then Killed Himself After a Stand-off with North Las Vegas Police (2009)

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Jason & Crystal Klinkenberg

On February 20, 2009, US Air Force service member Jason Klinkenberg murdered his wife Crystal Louise Gray and then committed suicide in North Las Vegas after a stand-off with police. Jason was stationed at Nellis Air Force Base in Nevada. The family believes that Jason was never the same after returning home from a deployment to Iraq in 2005. Jason was plucked from his base to be a member of Detachment 2632, a unit assembled to augment the Army and provide security for cargo trucks on Iraq’s bomb laden roads. Jason witnessed a fellow soldier die after the vehicle they were driving was struck with a rocket-propelled grenade. The family shared that Jason had Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and continued to see images of his friend in his last moments. Jason’s sister shared that Jason attempted to get help for PTSD but the Air Force called him a liar. The Air Force denied this assertion. They claimed they regularly assess for mental health issues and referred Jason to counseling off base.

“Veterans advocates like Manji Varghese say nothing excuses violence. But they say military and veterans officials too often ignore a pattern of problems that has played out again and again, with deadly results.” -Salt Lake Tribune

Related Links:
Airman, wife die in shooting
Murder Suicide is Official Cause of Couple’s Deaths
Iraq vet struggled with PTSD then killed wife, himself
Air Force joins investigation into deaths of former airman and wife
Family: Post-traumatic stress led to tragic murder-suicide
Police had earlier responded to location of murder-suicide

History: The Military And Domestic Abuse (January 28, 2009)

Critics say the military needs to do more about domestic violence against women. A CBS News investigation found more than 25,000 women have been victimized over the past decade. Katie Couric reports. -CBS

Related Links:
A Silent Struggle (2009)
Domestic Abuse In The Military (2009)
The Army And Domestic Abuse (2009)
Abused Military Wife Speaks Out (2009)
Bringing The War Home (2009)
Tonight: Investigating Domestic Violence In The Military (2009)
When War’s Violence Comes Home (2009)

MJFA Research:
Fort Bragg Army Nurse Lt Holley Wimunc Murdered by Marine Husband the Day After She Announced Divorce, John Wimunc Sentenced to Life in Prison (2008)
Rep. Braley introduces Holley Lynn James Act (2011)
Army Spouse Katherine Morris Found Dead in Car Near Mall; Cause of Death Initially Ruled Suicide But Further Investigation Suggests Homicide Motivated by Insurance Fraud (2012)
Evidence Reveals Army Reserve Recruiter Adam Arndt Murdered HS Student & Recruit Michelle Miller, Then Killed Self; Army Claims Double Suicide (2013)
Army Sgt Michael Walker Allegedly Conspired to Murder Wife with Prostitute for Insurance Money; Awaiting Murder Trial in Hawaii Civilian Court (2014)
Army Pfc Karlyn Ramirez Found Shot to Death in Home, Army Veteran Dolores Delgado Plead Guilty & Army Sgt Maliek Kearney Awaiting Trial (2015)
Army Pfc. Shadow McClaine Reported Missing at Fort Campbell on 9/2; Spc. Charles Robinson Pleaded Guilty to Murder, Sgt. Jamal Williams-McCray Awaiting Trial (2016)
Life Insurance Fraud is a Common Motive for Murder in the Military
A List of Soldiers Targeted & Murdered for Military Survivor and Life Insurance Benefits
30 Domestic Abuse Cases in the Military That Ended in the Murder of Female Partners
Military Policy and Legislation Considerations for the Investigations of Non Combat Death, Homicide, and Suicide of US Service Members

History:
Spouse Abuse A Military Problem (1999)
Pentagon Reveals 50,000 Abused Military Spouses (1999)
General: The Good Soldier Doesn’t Beat His Wife (2001)
Retired judge remembers ‘60 Minutes’ Ed Bradley (2006)
When Strains on Military Families Turn Deadly (2008)
PTSD and Domestic Abuse: Husbands Who Bring the War Home (2010)
Domestic violence: end of your time in the military? (2011)
Reports of family violence, abuse within military rise (2011)
A Silent Epidemic: Spousal Abuse is the Military’s Best Kept Secret (2012)
High risk of military domestic violence on the home front (2014)
How The Military Failed This Victim Of Domestic Violence (2014)
DoD Highlights Programs to Prevent, Treat Domestic Violence (2014)
After Combat Stress, Violence Can Show Up At Home (2016)
Sutherland Springs Church Killer Was Kicked Out of Air Force for ‘Bad Conduct’ (2017)
An Air Force error allowed the Texas gunman to buy weapons (2017)
Air Force Failed to Report Texas Church Gunman Devin Kelley’s Domestic Violence Convictions (2017)
Here’s the Document That Should Have Prevented Devin Kelley From Buying Guns (2017)
Read Devin P. Kelley’s assault and domestic violence court documents (2017)
The loophole that may have given the Texas church gunman access to his arsenal (2017)
A Domestic Violence Loophole In The UCMJ? [Update: Kelley Was In A Mental Health Facility] (2017)
Texas shooting puts scrutiny on military’s criminal reporting system (2017)
The military reports almost no domestic abusers to the main background check database for guns (2017)
Defense Department has Reported Only One Domestic Abuser to Federal Gun Database (2017)
US military consistently fails to report domestic violence to gun database, senators say (2017)
The Air Force Error That Let the Texas Church Shooter Buy a Gun Is Just One of ‘Thousands’ (2017)
There Is No Domestic Violence Loophole in Military Law (2017)
Assault charges erased by veterans’ ‘Valor Act’ (2017)
Clarifying Our Reporting on the Military, Domestic Violence Records, and Gun Background Checks (2018)

Congressional Action:
Jeff Flake, Martin Heinrich introduce bill to close domestic violence loophole in military (2017)
Hirono Bill Closes Military Loophole On Firearm Purchases (2017)
Sen. Hirono Introduces Military Domestic Violence Reporting Enhancement Act (2017)
Rep. Rosen Introduces Bipartisan Bill to Close Loophole in Military Justice System that Allows Convicted Domestic Abusers to Buy Guns (2017)
Following Shooting in Texas, Kaine Introduces Bill to Close Loophole in Military Justice System that Enables Convicted Abusers to Purchase Guns (2017)
Military wife alleges abuse in the Army (2018)
Victims can face obstacles in domestic violence cases involving soldiers (2018)
Tillis Chairs Hearing on Domestic Violence and Child Abuse in the Military (2018)
YouTube: Tillis Chairs Hearing on Domestic Violence and Child Abuse in the Military (2018)
C-SPAN: Hearing Focuses on Domestic Violence & Child Abuse in the Military (2018)
SASC: Hearing Focuses on Domestic Violence & Child Abuse in the Military (2018)
Mother of sexually abused child: The military is failing victims (2018)
Lawmakers move to make domestic violence a crime under UCMJ (2018)
The UCMJ May Get A Domestic Violence Update To Prevent The Next Texas Church Shooting (2018)
UCMJ domestic violence overhaul aims to prevent another mass shooting (2018)
Rosen Amendment to Make Domestic Violence a Crime Under the U.S. Military Code of Justice Passes the House Armed Services Committee (2018)
S. 2129: Military Domestic Violence Reporting Enhancement Act

Deadly Women Premiered ‘Dark Secrets’ on ID: Black Widow Judy Buenoano Murdered Family Members for Life Insurance Benefits (October 30, 2008)

Deadly Women 2
Dark Secrets are the stock-in-trade of Deadly Women (S2,E4)

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.

Related Links:
Lethal Dosage | The New Detectives | YouTube (S3,E5)
Dark Secrets | Deadly Women | Investigation Discovery (S2,E4)
Air Force Sgt. James Goodyear Died of Arsenic Poisoning; Judy Buenoano Murdered Husband and Son Michael for Military Life Insurance Benefits, Executed in Florida (September 16, 1971)
Army Veteran Michael Buenoano Drowned in Canoe Accident; Judy Buenoano Murdered Son for Life Insurance Benefits, Executed in Florida (May 13, 1980)
‘Black Widow’ Judy Buenoano Executed by the State of Florida for Three Homicides; First Woman to Die by Death Penalty in Florida Since 1848 (March 30, 1998)
Deadly Women: 30 Military and Veteran Homicide Cases Featured on Investigation Discovery

Air Force SrA Sabrina Autrey Found Dead at Off Base Apartment in Arlington, Virginia; Official Cause of Death Unknown (August 13, 2008)

Sabrina Autrey
SrA Sabrina Autrey, U.S. Air Force

Air Force SrA Sabrina Autrey, 23, was found dead in her off base apartment in Arlington, Virginia on August 13, 2008. She was declared missing after failing to show up for work at the Pentagon and then discovered at her home. SrA Autrey was assigned to the Military Personnel Flight, 11th Mission Support Squadron at Bolling Air Force Base in Washington D.C. The Arlington Police Department reported there were “no signs of a forced entry or suicide” and “an autopsy found no obvious signs of foul play or trauma” (a toxicology report was pending). The outcome of the investigation and the official cause of death is unknown.

Related Links:
Airman Found Dead in Apartment
Airman is found dead in Arlington
Air Force Airman’s Body Found in Virginia Apartment
US Air Force (USAF) AIRMAN First Class (A1C) Sabrina Autrey, 729th Air Mobility Squadron (AMS)

HOR Oversight Subcommittee on National Security & Foreign Affairs Held a Hearing on Sexual Assault in the Military (July 31, 2008)

The Oversight Subcommittee on National Security and Foreign Affairs holds a hearing, “Sexual Assault in the Military.” Here Subcommittee Chairman John Tierney gives opening remarks. -Nancy Pelosi

The Oversight Subcommittee on National Security and Foreign Affairs holds a hearing, “Sexual Assault in the Military.” Panel one is Reps. Louise Slaughter (NY-28) and Jane Harman (CA-36). -Nancy Pelosi


The Oversight Subcommittee on National Security and Foreign Affairs holds a hearing, “Sexual Assault in the Military.” Panel one is Reps. Louise Slaughter (NY-28) and Jane Harman (CA-36). -Nancy Pelosi

The Oversight Subcommittee on National Security and Foreign Affairs holds a hearing, “Sexual Assault in the Military.” Panel two is Ingrid Torres, MSW, CSW and Mary Lauterbach, Mother of Lance Cpl. Maria Lauterbach. -Nancy Pelosi

The Oversight Subcommittee on National Security and Foreign Affairs holds a hearing, “Sexual Assault in the Military.” Panel two is Ingrid Torres, MSW, CSW and Mary Lauterbach, Mother of Lance Cpl. Maria Lauterbach. -Nancy Pelosi

The Oversight Subcommittee on National Security and Foreign Affairs holds a hearing, “Sexual Assault in the Military.” Panel three includes representatives of the Defense Department, the Army, and the GAO. -Nancy Pelosi

***********************************************************

In the News:

The Other PTSD – Sexual Abuse of Women in the Military -NBC Nightly News with Brian Williams (May 4, 2007)

Congress takes on the Department of Defense in the first oversight hearing held this year by the subcommittee on National Security and Foreign Affairs on sexual assault in the military. Some House members are accusing the DOD of a cover up. -American News Project (August 2, 2008)

According to recent GAO survey, a female soldier is more likely to be raped by a fellow soldier than die by enemy fire in Iraq. David Martin reports on this startling increase. -CBS Evening News (October 28, 2008)

MST: Military Sexual Trauma -CBS Evening News (October 28, 2008)

Katie Couric investigates an alarming trend in the U.S. military, as more and more female soldiers have come forward with tales of sexual abuse at the hands of male soldiers and superior officers. -CBS News (March 17, 2009)

Women and men from all branches of the US military spoke out in Washington Tuesday about sexual assault in the ranks. They were all military sexual assault survivors — appearing at a summit held to call attention to the issue. The US military has announced new efforts to combat these crimes. VOA’s Carolyn Presutti brings us the issue through the eyes of two women, both survivors of alleged sexual attacks. -VOA News (May 8, 2012)

DAYTON – The military is fighting another battle, an “invisible war” on sexual assault. Today, Congressman Mike Turner talked about an award-winning documentary that sheds light on that very topic. -WKEF/WRGT (September 5, 2012)

New provisions handed down from the Department of Defense are giving sexual assault victims in the military rights they never had before.It’s all thanks to the fight from Congressman Mike Turner and a local mother. -WKEF/WRGT (August 15, 2013)

A major hurdle cleared for sexual assault victims in the military.Congress passed a bill that would give victims rights and protection they never had before.The push came after the tragic murder of local marine Maria Lauterbach and her unborn son.Maria’s mother, Mary, was thrilled when she heard the news that the bill had passed the Senate. -WKEFandWRGT (December 20, 2013)

Sexual assault in the military is being reported more and more everyday.But our military is now learning how to protect themselves and teaching civilians the same thing. -WKEF/WRGT (March 10, 2014)

DAYTON — Today, Congressman Michael Turner (R-OH), Chairman of the House Armed Services Subcommittee on Tactical Air and Land Forces, hosted Congresswoman Niki Tsongas (D-MA), at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base. Turner says he and Tsongas have worked together since 2007 to eliminate sexual assault from the U.S. military. Bother co-chair the Military Sexual Assault Prevention Caucus. -WKEF/WRGT (September 9, 2014)

It is Sexual Assault Awareness Month and Congressman Mike Turner was in town to talk about ways to cut down on sex assault in the military. Turner led a meeting with top brass from Wright-Patterson Air Force Base and Wright State University in hopes of continuing open conversations about the issue. The objective is to educate everyone on how to prevent sexual assaults from happening in the first place. -WKEF/WRGT (April 21, 2015)

Law protecting military victims of sexual assault discussed -WDTN TV (May 1, 2018)

Congressman Mike Turner changed the laws to make women serving in the military safer. -Mike Turner (August 20, 2018)

Video Links:
The Other PTSD – Sexual Abuse of Women in the Military | NBC Nightly News
Hearing on Sexual Assault in the Military – Tierney Opening
Hearing on Sexual Assault in the Military – Rep. Harman
Hearing on Sexual Assault in the Military – Rep. Slaughter
Hearing on Sexual Assault in the Military – Torres
Hearing on Sexual Assault in the Military – Lauterbach
Hearing on Sexual Assault in the Military – Contempt for DOD
Rape in the Military: Congress Charges Cover-Up
Harassment In The Military | CBS News
MST: Military Sexual Trauma | CBS News
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Mary Lauterbach | Representative Mike Turner (Ohio)

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Air Force Commander Thomas Tinsley of Elmendorf Air Force Base Allegedly Died of Self-Inflicted Gunshot Wound to Chest (July 27, 2008)

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BG Thomas Tinsley, US Air Force

Air Force Commander Brigadier General Thomas Tinsley died in his home at Elmendorf Air Force Base in Alaska of an apparent self-inficted gunshot wound to the chest on July 27, 2008. He was a fighter pilot and flew the F-15, F/A-18 and F-22A. The cause of death was ruled suicide by Air Force officials. The circumstances surrounding his death are being questioned by others including his family.

Col. Richard Walberg, who assumed command at Elmendorf after Tinsley’s death, said Tinsley was not under investigation or undue stress. “Gen. Tinsley was under no investigation,” he said. “As far as stress, sir, this job, by nature of being an Air Force officer in a nation at war, is stressful. Undue stress, no.” –The Mercury News

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