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Killer Spouses

These matrimonial-shattering cases take the vow “until death do we part” to a new horrific level.

South Carolina police release timeline of mother, son deaths
South Carolina police release timeline of mother, son deaths

ISLANDTON, S.C. (AP) — State police have released a brief timeline of events as part of their investigation into the shooting deaths of a mother and son from one of South Carolina’s prominent legal families. On Tuesday, the State Law Enforcement Division released an update into their probe of the deaths of Paul Murdaugh and […] More

June 16, 2021

Utah man sentenced to 30 years in death of wife on cruise
Utah man sentenced to 30 years in death of wife on cruise

By BECKY BOHRER Associated Press JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) — A Utah man was sentenced Thursday to 30 years in prison in the beating death of his wife on an Alaska cruise in 2017, with a federal judge describing the crime as violent and brutal. Prosecutors had sought life in prison for Kenneth Manzanares, who pleaded […] More

June 4, 2021

Scott Peterson hopes new evidence will exonerate him
Scott Peterson hopes new evidence will exonerate him

SAN DIEGO (Scripps News San Diego) – Local family members are hoping new evidence will exonerate San Diego native Scott Peterson, convicted for the 2002 murder of his wife and unborn son. “We are optimistic that the issue before the court will result in Scott getting a new trial,” said Janey Peterson, Scott Peterson’s sister-in-law. […] More

May 26, 2021

Trial of man accused of murdering wife, 4 daughters begins
Trial of man accused of murdering wife, 4 daughters begins

ROSWELL, N.M. (AP) — The trial of a New Mexico man accused of murdering his wife and four daughters in 2016 began Tuesday. Juan David Villegas-Hernandez, 40, faces five counts of first degree murder in the shooting deaths of his wife, 34-year-old Cynthia Villegas, and their four daughters: Yamilen, 14; Cynthia Janeth, 11; Abby, 7; […] More

May 14, 2021

Defense attorney: Newlywed killed husband in self-defense
Defense attorney: Newlywed killed husband in self-defense

COLUMBUS, Ga. (AP) — The defense attorney for a Georgia woman charged in her husband’s fatal shooting says he plans to argue she was a victim of domestic violence, who shot the man in self-defense. Charise Douglas, 31, was charged with murder and using a gun to commit a crime in the May 1 killing […] More

May 14, 2021

Doomsday Cult Case Timeline: Idaho v. Vallow & Daybell
Doomsday Cult Case Timeline: Idaho v. Vallow & Daybell

IDAHO  — April 23, 2021: Lori Daybell Attorney Mark Means and Chad Daybell Attorney John Prior filed multiple motions: Motion to oppose use of DNA Motion to preserve DNA samples Motion for photographic recordings of serology samples and review lab records Means also asks that prosecutor not “CC” the court on discovery-related letters, accusing Wood […] More

April 23, 2021

Remains in Missouri identified as missing Chinese woman
Remains in Missouri identified as missing Chinese woman

LIBERTY, Mo. (AP) — Decomposed remains found in a Missouri park have been positively identified as those of a Chinese woman who had been missing from Columbia, Missouri, since 2019, authorities said Tuesday. Columbia Mayor Brian Treece said forensic experts used dental records to identify Mengqi Ji’s remains, which were found by a hunter on March 25 […] More

April 7, 2021

Woman convicted of killing husband, burying him in yard up for parole
Woman convicted of killing husband, burying him in yard up for parole

CINCINNATI (Scripps News Cincinnati) – In March 1985, Linda Lee Couch was sentenced to life in prison for the murder of her husband, Walter Douglas Couch. On March 30, 2021, she once again has the opportunity to prove to the Ohio Parole Board that she should be released. Investigators said Linda fatally shot Walter in […] More

March 30, 2021

Husband of slain Alabama online model sentenced to prison
Husband of slain Alabama online model sentenced to prison

COLUMBIANA, Ala. (AP) — A former campus police officer convicted of manslaughter in the death of his wife, an adult model who posted racy photos online, was sentenced to 16 years in prison Monday by a judge who said the man still hadn’t taken responsibility for the death. William Jeffrey West, 47, will get credit […] More

February 9, 2021

Husband of missing California mom retains lawyer
Husband of missing California mom retains lawyer

CHULA VISTA, Calif. (Scripps News San Diego) — The husband of Maya Millete, the California woman who was reported missing last month, has retained a lawyer and is no longer cooperating with Chula Vista police, authorities said Wednesday. Millete’s husband, Larry, is no longer fielding questions or requests from police, said Chula Vista police Lt. […] More

February 4, 2021

Man accused of killing wife, 2 kids acquitted on all counts
Man accused of killing wife, 2 kids acquitted on all counts

LONDON, Ohio (AP) — A man accused of killing his wife and two children in an arson fire at their Ohio home in 2008 was acquitted Thursday of all charges by a three-judge panel that heard the case. Peter Romans, 60, of London, faced aggravated murder, murder and aggravated arson charges. He opted to have […] More

October 29, 2020

California prosecutors again seek death for Scott Peterson
California prosecutors again seek death for Scott Peterson

By DON THOMPSON Associated Press SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — California prosecutors said Friday they again will seek the death penalty for Scott Peterson even as a county judge considers throwing out his conviction for murdering his pregnant wife because of juror misconduct during a 2005 trial that riveted the nation. Stanislaus County Assistant District Attorney […] More

October 23, 2020

Scott Peterson murder convictions ordered re-examined
Scott Peterson murder convictions ordered re-examined

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — The California Supreme Court on Wednesday ordered a second look at Scott Peterson’s conviction for killing his pregnant wife and unborn son, less than two months after it overturned his death penalty. The court sent the case back to San Mateo County Superior Court to determine whether Peterson should receive a […] More

October 15, 2020

Man accused of killing wife, children wants trial by judges
Man accused of killing wife, children wants trial by judges

LONDON, Ohio (AP) — Opening arguments have been made in the murder trial of a man charged with killing his wife and two children in an arson fire at their Ohio home in 2008. Peter Romans, 60, of London, has pleaded not guilty to charges of aggravated murder, murder and aggravated arson. He opted to […] More

October 14, 2020

Ex-California attorney sentenced for killing wife on cruise
Ex-California attorney sentenced for killing wife on cruise

SANTA ANA, Calif. (AP) — A former Southern California lawyer was sentenced Friday to life without the possibility of parole for strangling his ex-wife and throwing her body off a cruise ship in the Mediterranean in 2006. Lonnie Loren Kocontes, 62, of Safety Harbor, Florida, was convicted in June of first-degree murder with a special […] More

September 23, 2020

Chad Daybell to appear in court
Chad Daybell to appear in court

The Idaho man accused of concealing two children’s bodies is standing before a judge. A preliminary hearing for Chad Daybell is taking place in Madison County on August 3 and 4. Court TV will carry the proceedings live. Daybell is charged with two felony counts of destruction, alteration or concealment of evidence. Prosecutors claim he […] More

July 31, 2020

Buffalo man caught dismembering wife, charged with murder
Buffalo man caught dismembering wife, charged with murder

A Buffalo man allegedly shot and killed his wife in their Allegany County home, then began dismembering her body. Phillip Farren, 52, admitted he shot and killed his wife, 34-year-old Amber Farren, earlier in the week and had begun the process of cutting up her body when police arrived for a welfare check, according to […] More

June 2, 2020