Tip:
Highlight text to annotate it
X
[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ]
Narrator: A RAVISHING REDHEAD WOWS EVERYONE
WHEN SHE TAKES TO THE PAGEANT STAGE.
BUT WHEN A MAN IS SHOT EXECUTION STYLE
ON TINY WHIDBEY ISLAND,
THIS WASHINGTON BEAUTY QUEEN SUDDENLY FINDS HERSELF
AT THE CENTER OF A *** INVESTIGATION.
Kelly: PEGGY SUE SANG THE SONG, "I HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH IT.
I DIDN'T PARTICIPATE IN THE ***."
Narrator: IS THIS PAGEANT PRINCESS HIDING A MUCH DARKER TRUTH?
PEGGY SUE ALWAYS HAD A LOT OF SECRETS.
SHE WAS ALWAYS UP TO SOMETHING.
Narrator: WHO IS PEGGY SUE THOMAS,
AND HOW IS SHE CONNECTED TO THIS HEINOUS CRIME?
IT WAS QUITE A SCANDAL.
IT WAS A MYSTERY, FROM START TO FINISH.
-- Captions by VITAC -- www.vitac.com
CAPTIONS PAID FOR BY DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS
Narrator: PLACES DON'T COME ANY PRETTIER
THAN WASHINGTON'S WHIDBEY ISLAND
AND NO BEAUTY QUEEN MORE INFAMOUS
THAN ITS OWN PEGGY SUE THOMAS,
WHO'S SUDDENLY GETTING SOME UNWANTED ATTENTION.
[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ]
IN 2003, PEGGY SUE'S BEST FRIEND'S HUSBAND WAS FOUND DEAD.
HE'D BEEN MURDERED.
Narrator: AND NOW THE BEAUTY QUEEN
IS BEING QUESTIONED IN CONNECTION WITH THE ***.
PEGGY SUE.
LET'S START WITH THE NIGHT THE *** TOOK PLACE.
UM, I WAS IN WHIDBEY WITH MY BOYFRIEND...
LIKE EVERYONE, I WAS SHOCKED.
I KNOW THE NICE PEGGY SUE, THE SWEET PEGGY SUE.
PEOPLE LOVED HER, ADORED HER.
SHE HAD A NICE LIFE.
WHEN DID YOU HEAR ABOUT THE ***?
IT WAS SHOCKING. IT WASN'T PEGGY.
IT COULDN'T BE PEGGY. SHE CAN'T BE THAT PERSON.
Narrator: A CLASSIC BEAUTY WITH THE BRAINS TO MATCH,
PEGGY SUE THOMAS IS THE FULL PACKAGE.
PEGGY SUE IS 6-FOOT TALL, STRIKING,
RED HAIR, DROP-DEAD GORGEOUS.
SHE'D WALK INTO A ROOM, AND HEADS WOULD TURN.
SHE WAS A LOOKER.
PEGGY SUE WENT TO BEAUTY SCHOOL, BUT SOON, SHE JOINED THE NAVY
AND HAD GREAT SUCCESS AS A AIRCRAFT MECHANIC.
PEGGY'S JOB REALLY DID ADD TO HER SEX APPEAL.
HOW COULD IT NOT?
I MEAN, WHAT GUY DOESN'T WANT A WOMAN
THAT CAN GO IN THE GARAGE AND GO FIX THE CAR [Chuckling]
AND LOOK LIKE PEGGY AT THE SAME TIME?
Narrator: BUT LOOKING FOR MORE,
THE VOLUPTUOUS REDHEAD TRADES IN HER TOOLBOX FOR A DIAPER BAG
AND STARTS A FAMILY
ON WASHINGTON'S TINY WHIDBEY ISLAND.
Kirkland: CALVIN AND PEGGY WERE A BEAUTIFUL COUPLE.
I KNEW THAT THEIR MARRIAGE WAS HEALTHY, IT WAS A GOOD MARRIAGE.
Narrator: PEGGY SUE IS A DEVOTED MOTHER AND FAITHFUL WIFE,
AND WHILE SHE NO LONGER NEEDS TO BRING HOME THE BACON,
SHE DOES LIKE A LITTLE SPENDING MONEY
AND DECIDES TO GET A PART-TIME JOB.
SHE MENTIONED THAT SHE USED TO BE A HAIR STYLIST,
AND I SAID, "OH, WELL, IF YOU'RE EVER INTERESTED
IN DOING THAT AGAIN, COME AND TALK TO ME."
SHE ENDED UP BEING AN EMPLOYEE OF MINE.
THIS LOOKS REALLY GOOD.
[ CHUCKLES ]
Narrator: AT THE HAIR SALON,
PEGGY SUE IS ALWAYS PLUGGED IN TO THE LATEST CHITCHAT...
...BUT NOW SHE BECOMES THE GOSSIP.
Brown: ONE DAY, SHE CAME IN AND TOLD ALL OF US
THAT SHE WAS VERY UPSET.
HEY.
WHAT IS IT?
[ Voice breaking ] I DON'T WANT TO TALK ABOUT IT.
Kelly: PEGGY SUE FOUND OUT
HER HUSBAND WAS HAVING A TWO-YEAR-LONG AFFAIR.
IT HAD BEEN GOING ON FOR A WHILE BEFORE SHE FOUND OUT.
IT WAS QUITE DEVASTATING, AS YOU CAN IMAGINE.
WE ALL FELT VERY BAD FOR HER.
BUT ALL WAS FORGIVEN BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, LOVE CONQUERS ALL.
Narrator: OR DOES IT?
EVERYONE KNOWS A WOMAN SCORNED IS A FORCE TO BE RECKONED WITH,
BUT PEGGY SUE WITHDRAWS, PUTTING ON A GOOD FACE
AND BURYING HERSELF IN HER WORK AT THE SALON.
HER CLIENTS KNOW
SHE'S IN DESPERATE NEED OF A CONFIDENCE BOOST,
AND THEY HELP GIVE HER ONE.
SO, YOU'RE IN A PAGEANT?
YEAH, IT'S MISS WASHINGTON.
Kelly: WHEN WOMEN CAME IN TO GET DONE UP FOR A PAGEANT,
IT WAS A REMARKABLE TRANSFORMATION.
HAVE YOU EVER THOUGHT ABOUT DOING THEM?
NO. [ CHUCKLES ]
THERE WAS SOME FOLKS WHO WOULD ENCOURAGE PEGGY.
"HEY, YOU SHOULD THINK ABOUT THIS.
YOU'RE GOOD ENOUGH TO WIN."
YOU SHOULD TRY IT.
PEGGY, YOU SHOULD TOTALLY TRY IT. [ CHUCKLES ]
I DON'T KNOW.
Narrator: PEGGY SUE GIVES IT SOME THOUGHT...
ALL RIGHT.
...AND DECIDES TO SHOW THAT HUSBAND OF HERS
SHE'LL ENTER AND WIN THE MRS. WASHINGTON PAGEANT.
THE MRS. WASHINGTON PAGEANT IS FOR WOMEN THAT ARE MARRIED,
THAT SUPPORT MARRIAGE AND STRONG FAMILY VALUES.
IT'S A BEAUTY PAGEANT FOR SMART WOMEN.
Narrator: PEGGY IS SUDDENLY ALL CONSUMED
WITH THE IDEA OF BECOMING MRS. WASHINGTON.
AFTER ALL, WHO IS MORE ADORED AND ENVIED
THAN A LOCAL BEAUTY QUEEN?
PEGGY STARTED WORKING OUT AND, ALL OF A SUDDEN,
YOU'RE LOOKING GOOD AND YOU'RE LOSING SOME WEIGHT.
YOU GET CAUGHT UP IN THAT.
♪ THERE'S JUST ONE THING ♪
THERE WAS NO DOUBT THAT PEGGY WANTED TO WIN A BEAUTY PAGEANT.
♪ IT'S NOT WHAT YOU THINK AT ALL ♪
Narrator: IN 1998, THE 33-YEAR-OLD
TAKES TO THE STAGE OF THE MRS. WASHINGTON PAGEANT.
Kirkland: PEGGY WAS IN AWE
WHEN I FIRST MET HER AT THE MRS. WASHINGTON PAGEANT.
[ APPLAUSE ]
SHE LOVED THE STAGE.
Brown: SHE CAME OUT IN HER GOWN, AND IT LOOKED
EVERY BIT AS WONDERFUL AS WE THOUGHT IT WOULD.
SHE LOOKED BEAUTIFUL.
Man: LET'S GIVE IT UP JUST AS MUCH FOR OUR NEXT CONTESTANT --
MRS. PEGGY SUE THOMAS.
[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ]
IF YOU WOULD'VE TOLD ME WHEN I WAS A LITTLE GIRL
THAT I'D BE STANDING ON THIS STAGE IN FRONT OF YOU TODAY,
I WOULD'VE NEVER EVER BELIEVED YOU.
[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ]
Narrator: THIS GIRL HAS DEFINITELY GOT HER GROOVE BACK,
AND THE JUDGES TAKE NOTICE.
Man: YOUR FOURTH-PLACE RUNNER-UP -- MRS. PEGGY SUE THOMAS.
Kirkland: PEGGY PLACED FOURTH RUNNER-UP.
I WAS SO PROUD OF HER AND HAPPY THAT SHE DID SO WELL
AT HER VERY FIRST PAGEANT.
Narrator: PEGGY SUE GETS MORE ATTENTION ON STAGE
THAN SHE'S BEEN GETTING FROM HER HUSBAND.
NO WONDER SHE'S HOOKED.
SOMETHING ABOUT THESE PAGEANTS REALLY CONNECTED WITH HER --
BEING THE CENTER OF ATTENTION, MEN ADMIRING HER.
Narrator: THE OLD PEGGY SUE TAKES A BACK SEAT
TO A NEW WOMAN WHO'S EMERGED FROM THE SPOTLIGHT.
NOW MRS. WASHINGTON.
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, MRS. VANESSA MILLER.
[ GASPS ]
[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ]
Brown: I REALLY SAW A BIG CHANGE HAPPEN THEN.
SHE BECAME VERY SELF-INVOLVED.
Kirkland: IT'S ALMOST AS IF SOMETHING JUST TWEAKED IN HER MIND.
SOMETHING HAPPENED.
THE TRANSFORMATION WAS ABOUT ANGER,
WANTING TO PROVE "I DON'T HAVE TO DEAL WITH THIS ANYMORE.
IT'S ALL ABOUT ME NOW."
SHE WAS OUT FOR BLOOD.
Narrator: WITH HER NEW IDENTITY IN TOW,
PEGGY SUE SETS OUT FOR THE BRIGHT LIGHTS
OF THE LAS VEGAS STRIP...
All: WHOO!
...TO COMPETE IN THE MISS U.S. CONTINENTAL PAGEANT.
Man: PEGGY THOMAS!
[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ]
AND THE WINNER FOR BEST EVENING GOWN...
MISS WASHINGTON, PEGGY THOMAS!
Kirkland: SHE WON THE EVENING GOWN COMPETITION, DESERVEDLY SO.
SHE COULD ACTUALLY HONESTLY SAY THAT SHE WAS A BEAUTY QUEEN.
I BELIEVE THAT THAT'S ALL SHE NEEDED.
Narrator: AFTER YEARS OF MARRIAGE,
THE NEW BEAUTY QUEEN FINALLY HAS THE COURAGE TO FILE FOR DIVORCE.
LITTLE WHIDBEY ISLAND
COULD NEVER CONTAIN THE LIKES OF PEGGY SUE.
SHE KNOWS SHE BELONGS ON THE SEXY STRIP OF VEGAS.
Kelly: SHE TOLD FRIENDS THAT SHE WAS GONNA TAKE VEGAS BY STORM,
AND THEY ALL SORT OF LAUGHED,
LIKE, "THERE GOES PEGGY SUE AGAIN,"
BUT SHE SURE DID. SHE TOOK THAT TOWN BY STORM.
Narrator: BUT HER FRIENDS FEAR HER HEAD
MAY BE GETTING A LITTLE TOO BIG FOR HER TIARA.
HEY, YOU WERE GREAT.
Brown: THERE WAS SOME RELATIONSHIPS WITH MEN THAT WERE DISTURBING.
SHE DEFINITELY HAD INTENTIONS THAT WERE ALL ABOUT HER.
Narrator: AND RECENTLY, PEGGY SUE HAS SUNK HER CLAWS
INTO A WANNABE ROCK STAR, JIM HUDEN.
PEGGY SUE'S LIFESTYLE WAS JIM'S LIFESTYLE -- GO, GO, GO.
GO OUT AND PARTY, GO CLUBBING, THEN COME HOME LATE, LATE, LATE.
Narrator: TYPICALLY THE SEXY SEDUCTRESS,
PEGGY SUE SUDDENLY FINDS HERSELF ON A TWO-WAY STREET.
PEGGY LOVED JIM.
PEGGY WOULD DO ANYTHING FOR JIM,
BUT SHE HAD A HUGE, HUGE DEBT
FROM ALL THIS PARTYING AND CLUBBING AND NIGHTS OUT.
Narrator: IN DECEMBER 2003,
PEGGY AND JIM LEAVE THEIR DEBTS BEHIND
AND HEAD TO WHIDBEY ISLAND FOR A ROMANTIC GETAWAY.
JUST DAYS LATER, *** COMES TO THE ISLAND, AS WELL.
[ GUNSHOT ]
Banks: IN AN AREA OF WHIDBEY ISLAND THAT'S VERY REMOTE,
SOME FOLKS NOTICED THIS CAR WAS PARKED INTO THE TREES.
THE CAR WAS PARKED,
AND THE PASSENGER DOOR WAS OPENED,
SO THAT AROUSED THEIR SUSPICIONS ENOUGH
TO GO CHECK IT OUT.
Kelly: THE DAD WALKS AROUND THE FRONT OF THE CAR
AND SEES A PERSON SLUMPED OVER SLIGHTLY IN THE FRONT SEAT.
HE GETS CLOSER.
THE GUY'S BEEN SHOT IN THE HEAD.
HE CALLED 911 IMMEDIATELY.
Narrator: THIS ISOLATED DEAD-END ROAD
IS SUDDENLY A CRIME SCENE.
Banks: THEY SAW A BULLET WOUND IN THE BRIDGE OF THE NOSE OF THIS MAN,
RIGHT BETWEEN THE EYES.
I WOULD CALL THIS AN ASSASSINATION.
THE MAN'S WALLET WAS IN THE CAR, HAD HIS DRIVER'S LICENSE IN IT.
POLICE SOON FOUND OUT IT WAS RUSSEL DOUGLAS.
Narrator: EVERYBODY IN TOWN KNOWS RUSSEL DOUGLAS,
BUT SOMEBODY HAD IT OUT FOR HIM,
AND WHIDBEY ISLAND'S MOST FAMOUS BEAUTY QUEEN
JUST MIGHT KNOW WHO.
Narrator: PAGEANT WINNER PEGGY SUE THOMAS WAS FIRST TOUCHED BY FAME
ON WASHINGTON'S TINY WHIDBEY ISLAND.
Man: MRS. PEGGY SUE THOMAS!
[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ]
PEGGY SUE WAS ONE OF THOSE PEOPLE
WHO ACTUALLY WON AND HAD SUCCESS.
ON THIS SMALL ISLAND, THAT WAS A BIG DEAL.
Narrator: AND SOON ENOUGH,
PEGGY SUE IS MUCH TOO BIG FOR THIS SMALL TOWN.
SHE LEFT AND MOVED TO LAS VEGAS,
WHICH IS REALLY THE ANTITHESIS OF WHIDBEY ISLAND.
Brown: WE REALLY SAW A BIG PERSONALITY CHANGE THEN.
SHE BECAME MORE AND MORE SELF-INVOLVED AS TIME WENT ON.
Kirkland: SHE BASICALLY BECAME A DIFFERENT PERSON,
SOMEBODY THAT I DON'T KNOW.
Narrator: BUT TRY AS SHE MIGHT,
PEGGY SUE CAN'T SEEM TO LEAVE HER SMALL-TOWN ROOTS BEHIND.
THE GLAMOROUS BEAUTY QUEEN HAS JUST RETURNED HOME
WITH HER NEW BOYFRIEND FOR THE CHRISTMAS HOLIDAY.
DAYS LATER, HER BEST FRIEND'S HUSBAND,
RUSSEL DOUGLAS, IS FOUND MURDERED.
RUSSEL DOUGLAS HAD BEEN SHOT IN THE HEAD.
Banks: DETECTIVES FOUND A SINGLE SHELL CASING
BETWEEN THE DRIVER'S SEAT AND THE DOORFRAME
AND QUICKLY RECOGNIZED IT
AS COMING FROM A .380 SEMIAUTOMATIC HANDGUN.
Narrator: IT'S CLEAR TO INVESTIGATORS
RUSSEL DOUGLAS HAS BEEN SHOT EXECUTION STYLE,
BUT THE QUESTION IS, WHY?
IN MANY HOMICIDES, WE FIND
THAT PEOPLE CLOSEST TO THEM ARE INVOLVED IN THE HOMICIDES.
THE FIRST FOCUS OF THE INVESTIGATION
WAS ON RUSS' ESTRANGED WIFE, BRENNA.
Narrator: SUDDENLY, ALL EYES ARE
ON PEGGY SUE'S BEST FRIEND, BRENNA.
Kelly: PEGGY SUE MET BRENNA IN A SALON WHERE THEY BOTH CUT HAIR.
PEGGY SUE AND BRENNA BECAME FAST FRIENDS.
[ LAUGHS ]
YOU'VE GOT NOTHING TO DO ALL DAY BUT CUT HAIR AND TALK,
SO YOU GET TO KNOW A LOT ABOUT A PERSON.
PEGGY WAS THE TYPE OF PERSON YOU CAN TELL ANYTHING TO,
AND BRENNA LIKED TO TALK.
BRENNA TOLD PEGGY ABOUT HER MARRIAGE,
GAVE HER A LOT OF DETAILS.
BRENNA AND RUSSEL ARGUED A LOT, MOSTLY OVER MONEY,
BUT THEIR MARRIAGE WAS REALLY ON THE ROCKS.
Narrator: BRENNA CONFIDES IN PEGGY SUE,
WHO IS NO STRANGER TO DARK TIMES.
Kelly: BRENNA AND RUSSEL WERE BETTER APART THAN THEY WERE TOGETHER.
THEY JUST COULDN'T BE UNDER THE SAME ROOF.
THEIR PROBLEMS GREW TO WHERE RUSSEL MOVED OUT.
Narrator: NOW INVESTIGATORS WANT TO QUESTION BRENNA
ABOUT HIS ***,
AND WHEN THEY SPEAK TO HER, SOMETHING IS AMISS.
Kelly: SHE DIDN'T SEEM SHOCKED.
SHE DIDN'T ASK ANY QUESTIONS.
SHE JUST SORT OF TOOK IT ALL IN.
HER REACTION WAS NOT WHAT YOU MIGHT HAVE EXPECTED,
EVEN FROM A COUPLE THAT WAS SEPARATED.
Narrator: DETECTIVES DESCRIBE THE SCENE TO RUSSEL'S WIDOW,
HOPING TO TRIGGER SOMETHING INSIDE BRENNA.
POLICE FOUND RUSSEL IN A STRANGE PLACE.
IT WASN'T WHERE HE LIVED,
IT WASN'T CLOSE TO BRENNA'S HOME,
IT WASN'T CLOSE TO TOWN.
IT JUST MADE NO SENSE.
BRENNA REALLY WASN'T ABLE TO GIVE POLICE MUCH
IN TERMS OF INFORMATION ON WHY RUSSEL WAS WHERE HE WAS.
HEY.
WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE?
CAN I -- CAN I TALK TO YOU, LIKE, IN PRIVATE?
YEAH, COME BY MY STATION.
Narrator: BRENNA DOES TELL INVESTIGATORS
RUSSEL WAS TRYING TO RECONCILE THEIR DIFFERENCES
BUT SUDDENLY SPLIT THE DAY BEFORE HE WAS KILLED.
OH, MY GOD. I KNEW YOU WERE GONNA ACT LIKE THIS.
[ EXHALES SHARPLY ] ACT LIKE WHAT? WHAT --
YOU KNOW WHAT? FORGET IT.
Banks: HE HAD SPENT THE COUPLE OF DAYS
LEADING UP TO CHRISTMAS AND CHRISTMAS DAY
WITH BRENNA AND THE KIDS,
AND SHE PROCEEDED TO COMPLAIN
THAT RUSS HAD BEEN THERE THE DAY BEFORE
AND LEFT TO RUN ERRANDS AND NEVER CAME HOME.
Narrator: BRENNA'S COOL ATTITUDE IS SUSPICIOUS,
BUT IT DOESN'T MAKE HER A KILLER.
Banks: AT THE TIME OF THE ***,
BRENNA SAID THAT SHE WAS HOME WITH THE CHILDREN.
BRENNA HAD AN ALIBI, WITNESSES.
IT WAS VERY CLEAR THAT BRENNA
COULDN'T HAVE BEEN THERE WHEN IT HAPPENED.
Narrator: BUT INVESTIGATORS QUICKLY LEARN
BRENNA HAD PLENTY TO GAIN BY RUSSEL'S DEATH.
Banks: RUSS HAD LIFE INSURANCE POLICIES
THAT BRENNA WAS THE BENEFICIARY OF.
IF THEY PAID OUT IN FULL, IT WOULD'VE BEEN AROUND $500,000.
Narrator: MONEY IS ONE OF THE OLDEST MOTIVES FOR ***,
AND PLEADING THE FIFTH --
ONE OF THE OLDEST TRICKS IN THE BOOK.
BRENNA CLOSED DOWN.
SHE WOULDN'T TALK TO POLICE.
SHE TOLD FRIENDS SHE WAS JUST BEING OVERWHELMED BY EVERYTHING.
FINALLY, SHE GOT A LAWYER
AND STOPPED COOPERATING WITH EVERYBODY.
SHE JUST SEEMED LIKE SHE KNEW MORE THAN SHE WAS TELLING.
Narrator: PEGGY SUE'S OLD PAL IS SUSPICIOUS INDEED,
AND THOUGH THERE'S NO PROOF,
POLICE HAVE A HUNCH SHE'S UP TO NO GOOD.
POLICE THOUGHT THIS WAS A ***-FOR-HIRE.
THEY DIDN'T HAVE ANYTHING.
THEY HAD A VICTIM'S WIFE WHO WOULDN'T TALK.
THEY DIDN'T HAVE ANY REAL LEADS.
THEY DIDN'T HAVE THE GUN.
THE ONLY EVIDENCE THE POLICE HAD
WAS THE SHELL CASING PULLED FROM RUSSEL'S CAR
AND THE BULLET THAT WAS PULLED FROM HIS HEAD.
Narrator: BEFORE INVESTIGATORS CAN CLEAR THE CRIME SCENE,
PEGGY SUE AND JIM ARE BACK IN VEGAS,
1,000 MILES AND A WORLD AWAY FROM THE SCENE OF THE ***.
BUT FOR JIM, THAT APPARENTLY ISN'T FAR ENOUGH.
SOON AFTER THEY GOT BACK TO LAS VEGAS,
JIM WAS ON THE ROAD AGAIN.
HE DIDN'T SAY ANYTHING.
HE WAS GONE.
JIM WAS A MUSICIAN.
HE WAS TALL, LONG BLONDE HAIR.
JIM WAS A LOT DIFFERENT THAN PEGGY SUE'S EX-HUSBAND.
HI.
YOU WERE GREAT.
Narrator: PEGGY SUE FANCIES HERSELF A PAGEANT QUEEN,
AND JIM, A ROCK STAR.
IT APPEARS PEGGY SUE HAS FINALLY MET HER MATCH.
HMM. WHAT'S YOUR NAME?
I'M JIM.
NICE TO MEET YOU, JIM.
NICE TO MEET YOU.
LET'S DO.
I THINK JIM WAS ALSO A SELF-PROMOTER.
I THINK HE PROBABLY TALKED BIGGER THAN HE WAS.
THAT COULD DEFINITELY BE A LOT ABOUT WHY THEIR PERSONALITIES
GOT ALONG SO WELL.
Narrator: BUT CLEARLY, THERE'S TROUBLE IN PARADISE.
Banks: AFTER JIM LEFT LAS VEGAS,
THE DETECTIVES WERE VERY SUSPICIOUS.
Narrator: JIM APPEARS TO BE RUNNING FROM SOMETHING, BUT WHAT?
AND IS HE CARRYING A DEADLY SECRET WITH HIM?
Narrator: IN THE WAKE OF HER PAGEANT SUCCESS,
PEGGY SUE THOMAS PLAYS UP HER ROLE OF QUEEN IN SIN CITY.
Brown: SHE REALLY WANTED TO BE THE CENTER OF ATTENTION,
AND SHE KNEW SHE WAS BEAUTIFUL AND WANTED TO SHOW EVERYBODY.
Narrator: BUT THIS BUXOM VEGAS BEAUTY QUEEN
SUDDENLY FINDS HERSELF ON A FAR DARKER STAGE --
A *** INVESTIGATION BACK IN HER HOMETOWN OF WHIDBEY ISLAND.
PEGGY SUE'S BEST FRIEND'S HUSBAND, RUSSEL, WAS FOUND DEAD.
HE'D BEEN MURDERED, SHOT RIGHT BETWEEN THE EYES.
Narrator: PEGGY SUE AND HER BOYFRIEND, JIM HUDEN,
HAD BEEN VACATIONING ON WHIDBEY ISLAND
WHEN RUSSEL DOUGLAS WAS MURDERED.
NOW JIM IS SUDDENLY AND INEXPLICABLY LEFT VEGAS
AND PEGGY SUE BEHIND.
AND WHEN PEGGY SUE FINALLY TRACKS JIM DOWN, HE ISN'T ALONE.
HE HAD THIS WIFE IN FLORIDA.
JIM HAD MORE WOMEN THAN HE KNEW WHAT TO DO WITH.
PEGGY SUE GAVE HIM AN ULTIMATUM, SAID, "YOU NEED TO CHOOSE.
IT'S ME OR HER."
Narrator: JIM CHOOSES HIS WIFE,
AND THOUGH SHE'D NEVER LET IT SHOW,
PEGGY SUE IS SEETHING INSIDE.
PEGGY SUE WAS USED TO GETTING EVERYTHING SHE WANTED,
AND, SO, TO FINALLY NOT WIN,
FINALLY NOT HAVE IT COME OUT
THE WAY SHE WANTED TO WILL IT TO COME OUT,
THAT MUST HAVE BEEN DEVASTATING TO HER.
Narrator: IF JIM IS CAPABLE OF HIDING A WIFE,
WHAT ELSE MIGHT HE BE CAPABLE OF?
Banks: AFTER JIM LEFT LAS VEGAS,
THE DETECTIVES WERE VERY SUSPICIOUS.
Kelly: IN THE DAYS BEFORE THE ***,
THEY HAD HIM IN THE PROXIMITY OF WHIDBEY ISLAND,
BUT IT WAS HARD TO DRAW CONCLUSIONS.
NOTHING SEEMED TO SQUARE UP.
IT JUST WENT NOWHERE.
Narrator: THE ONLY CONCLUSION PEGGY SUE CAN DRAW
IS THAT JIM LEFT HER BURIED UNDER A BLANKET OF DEBT
THANKS TO MONTHS OF VEGAS LIVING.
IN NEED OF MONEY AND A NEW MAN ON HER ARM,
PEGGY SUE COMES UP WITH A PLAN
TO KILL TWO BIRDS WITH ONE STONE.
PEGGY SUE BECAME A LIMO DRIVER TO THE RICH AND POWERFUL.
Kelly: SHE LOOKED THE PART.
DRESSED UP IN THAT UNIFORM, THOUGH, SHE WAS STILL PEGGY SUE.
Narrator: A FAR CRY FROM THE PAGEANT STAGE,
PEGGY SUE STILL WORKS HER MAGIC BEHIND THE WHEEL,
AND ONE CUSTOMER IN PARTICULAR
HAS EYES FOR THE FORMER PAGEANT GODDESS.
MARK ALLEN WAS A BUSINESSMAN IN NEW MEXICO
AND TRAINED TOP-LEVEL THOROUGHBRED RACEHORSES.
Kelly: MARK ALLEN WAS VERY WEALTHY.
I THINK WEALTH WAS SOMETHING
THAT PEGGY PROBABLY COULDN'T LOOK PAST.
Narrator: PEGGY SUE QUICKLY SEES
MORE THAN ONE OPPORTUNITY TO CASH IN,
MIXING BUSINESS WITH PLEASURE.
Kelly: THAT ROMANCE TOOK OFF QUICKER THAN ONE OF HIS RACEHORSES.
WITHIN MONTHS, MARK PROPOSED.
Kirkland: SHE MOVED AND STARTED A NEW LIFE
AND BASICALLY BECAME A DIFFERENT PERSON, MARRYING THIS RANCHER.
PEOPLE GET GREEDY.
THEY GET A TASTE FOR MONEY AND THEY WANT MORE
AND, UNFORTUNATELY, THERE'S SOME PEOPLE
THAT WILL GO TO GREAT LENGTHS TO GET MORE.
AND SADLY, I BELIEVE THAT THAT'S WHAT HAPPENED WITH PEGGY.
I THINK EVERYTHING WAS BASED ON GREED.
Narrator: PEGGY SUE'S GREED APPEARS TO BE PAYING OFF,
AND IT LOOKS LIKE LIFE FOR HER OLD PAL BRENNA
ISN'T TOO SHABBY, EITHER.
Banks: THE FIRST FOCUS OF THE INVESTIGATION
WAS ON RUSS' ESTRANGED WIFE, BRENNA.
THE DETECTIVES WERE ALWAYS WONDERING,
"WHAT WOULD SHE HAVE TO GAIN BY KILLING THIS PERSON?"
RUSS HAD LIFE INSURANCE POLICIES
THAT BRENNA WAS THE BENEFICIARY OF.
IF THEY PAID OUT IN FULL, IT WOULD'VE BEEN AROUND $500,000.
Kelly: BRENNA DID GET MONEY FROM ONE INSURANCE COMPANY.
SHE SPENT THAT MONEY.
SHE BOUGHT A NEW HOUSE.
SHE BOUGHT A CAR.
Narrator: LIFE IS GOOD FOR THE ONE-TIME BFFs,
BUT INVESTIGATORS KNOW ALL THAT GLITTERS ISN'T GOLD,
ESPECIALLY WHEN *** IS INVOLVED.
IT JUST SEEMED REALLY STRANGE.
IN THE DAYS BEFORE THE ***, IN THE MONTH BEFORE THE ***,
PEGGY SUE AND BRENNA -- THEY TALKED ALL THE TIME.
IT WAS NONSTOP.
BUT AFTER THE ***, THEY ONLY TALKED LIKE 11 TIMES.
IT WAS SUCH A DRAMATIC SHIFT.
Narrator: THE GIRLS ARE SILENT, BUT ARE THEY DEADLY?
INVESTIGATORS SUSPECT THEY MIGHT BE BOTH.
Banks: DETECTIVES WENT THROUGH RUSS' CELLPHONE
TO SEE WHO HAD CALLED HIM
IN THE DAYS AND WEEKS LEADING UP TO HIS ***.
THEY BASICALLY JUST CALLED THE NUMBERS BACK.
THEY DIALED THE NUMBER, AND A WOMAN NAMED PEGGY ANSWERED.
THIS IS PEGGY SUE.
THAT WAS WHEN THE LIGHT WENT OFF IN THE DETECTIVES' HEAD.
"WE KNOW A PEGGY."
ALL RIGHT, BYE.
Narrator: THE TIMING OF THE PHONE CALLS IS CURIOUS
AND PUTS THE ISLAND'S MOST FAMOUS BEAUTY QUEEN
BACK IN THE SPOTLIGHT.
Kelly: WHY WAS RUSSEL GETTING ALL THESE CALLS
FROM THIS GORGEOUS SIX-FOOT-TALL REDHEAD?
I MEAN, WHY IS SHE CALLING HIM OUT OF THE BLUE
SO MANY TIMES IN ONE DAY?
Narrator: IT ISN'T LONG BEFORE INVESTIGATORS DEVELOP A THEORY
ABOUT WHY PEGGY SUE MAY HAVE BEEN CALLING
HER BEST FRIEND'S HUSBAND.
PEGGY SUE AND RUSS MAY HAVE HAD SOME INVOLVEMENT IN AN AFFAIR.
Kelly: POLICE WERE LOOKING FOR ANSWERS
ON WHY RUSS WOULD BE WAITING THERE IN THIS HIDDEN SPOT
IN A REMOTE PART OF THE ISLAND,
SO IT SORT OF MADE SENSE TO QUESTION,
"WHAT WAS HIS CONNECTION WITH PEGGY SUE?"
Brown: PEGGY'S A VERY INTELLIGENT WOMAN.
SHE KNOWS EXACTLY WHAT SHE WANTS.
SHE KNOWS EXACTLY WHAT SHE'S DOING.
SHE KNOWS EXACTLY WHAT THE CONSEQUENCES ARE
OF WHAT SHE DOES.
Narrator: DID THE SCENE OF THE CRIME
DOUBLE AS A SECRET RENDEZVOUS SPOT?
AND DID PEGGY SUE LURE RUSSEL DOUGLAS
RIGHT INTO HIS OWN ***?
[ GUNSHOT ]
Narrator: PEGGY SUE THOMAS HAS ALWAYS HAD A WAY WITH MEN.
SHE HAS A VERY MANIPULATIVE PERSONALITY,
BUT SHE'S ALSO THE TYPE OF PERSON
THAT CAN REALLY DRAW YOU IN
BECAUSE SHE HAS THIS OUTGOING, BEAUTIFUL SMILE.
SHE HAS A WAY OF JUST GRABBING MEN.
[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ]
Narrator: NOW INVESTIGATORS WONDER
IF PEGGY SUE SEDUCED RUSSEL DOUGLAS
TO SET THE STAGE FOR ***.
THEY FOUND A NUMBER OF PHONE CALLS FROM PEGGY SUE TO RUSSEL.
INVESTIGATORS SPECULATED
THAT PEGGY SUE AND RUSS HAD AN AFFAIR.
Narrator: INVESTIGATORS ARE CURIOUS
TO KNOW WHETHER THEIR THEORY HAS ANY LEGS.
Banks: THEY SAID, "WE'RE INVESTIGATING RUSS' ***,
"AND WE SEE YOU TALKED TO HIM
"FIVE OR SIX DAYS BEFORE THE ***.
CAN YOU TELL US WHAT THAT WAS ABOUT?"
Narrator: LIKE ANY GOOD BEAUTY QUEEN,
PEGGY SUE IS POISED AND ELOQUENT AS EVER.
PEGGY EXPLAINED TO THE DETECTIVE,
SHE WANTED TO DELIVER A CHRISTMAS PRESENT TO HIM
TO GIVE TO BRENNA.
WHEN POLICE INVESTIGATED WHETHER OR NOT BRENNA GOT THE GIFT,
YEAH, SHE GOT THE GIFT.
IT WAS A BEAUTIFUL BASKET OF BATH PRODUCTS.
PEGGY HAD A PLAUSIBLE ANSWER FOR WHY SHE'D BEEN CALLING RUSSEL.
Narrator: PLAUSIBLE, PERHAPS,
BUT INVESTIGATORS AREN'T SOLD ON THE STORY
FROM THESE POTENTIAL PARTNERS IN CRIME.
THE DETECTIVES AT THIS POINT WERE VERY SUSPICIOUS.
IT WAS OUR THEORY, THEN,
THAT PEGGY WAS VERY LIKELY INVOLVED
AND THAT BRENNA WAS ALSO LIKELY INVOLVED.
Narrator: BUT WITHOUT THE EVIDENCE, INVESTIGATORS CAN'T PROVE IT.
AND PEGGY SUE?
WELL, SHE CAN'T BE BOTHERED.
SHE HAS BUSINESS TO TEND TO
WITH HER MILLIONAIRE HUSBAND, MARK ALLEN.
Kelly: WHEN SHE GOT MARRIED TO THE HORSE TRAINER
DOWN IN NEW MEXICO, SHE STARTS TELLING HIM
HOW TO RAISE HORSES AND HOW TO RUN HIS BUSINESS.
I THINK PEGGY SUE -- SHE WAS GONNA REINVENT HERSELF
AS A HORSE TRAINER OR SOMEBODY WHO COULD RUN A HORSE RANCH.
IT SEEMED LIKE THEIR RELATIONSHIP
STARTED TO SOUR PRETTY SOON.
MY SENSE WAS THAT MARK FELT THAT PEGGY SUE HAD MISLED HIM,
HAD BETRAYED HIM, AND HAD TAKEN ADVANTAGE OF HIM.
Narrator: PEGGY SUE'S WHIRLWIND MARRIAGE IS OVER BEFORE IT EVEN BEGINS,
BUT PEGGY SUE MAKES SURE SHE'S STILL SITTING PRETTY.
WHEN THE COUPLE SPLIT, PEGGY SUE GOT A MILLION DOLLARS
AND A HALF-MILLION-DOLLAR HOUSEBOAT.
Banks: VERY BIG HOUSEBOAT.
SHE RENAMED THE BOAT OFF THE HOOK
AFTER SHE TOOK OWNERSHIP OF THE BOAT.
MY THEORY WAS, IS THAT SHE BELIEVED
SHE HAD GOTTEN AWAY WITH SOMETHING.
Narrator: THE QUESTION IS, HAS PEGGY SUE GOTTEN AWAY WITH ***?
THE NEW DIVORCéE SAILS INTO THE SUNSET,
THE *** OF RUSSEL DOUGLAS ALL BUT A DISTANT MEMORY.
Kelly: I THINK PEGGY SUE PUT EVERYTHING ON WHIDBEY
IN THE REARVIEW MIRROR.
SHE WAS QUICKLY FORGETTING
THE THINGS THAT HAD HAPPENED BEFORE.
Narrator: BUT A TIP TO POLICE MAY SNAP PEGGY SUE
BACK TO REALITY SOONER THAN SHE KNOWS.
THE ANONYMOUS CALLER KNEW MORE
THAN JUST SOME OF THE DETAILS OF THE CRIME.
THE CALLER TELLS POLICE THE NAME OF THE KILLER --
JIM HUDEN.
Narrator: JIM HUDEN IS PEGGY SUE'S EX-BOYFRIEND
AND JUST HAPPENED TO BE ON WHIDBEY ISLAND
THE NIGHT RUSSEL DOUGLAS WAS MURDERED,
AND ACCORDING TO THE CALLER, JIM DIDN'T ACT ALONE.
JIM WAS THE SHOOTER, BUT HE HAD HELP FROM PEGGY.
Narrator: AS A BEAUTY QUEEN,
PEGGY SUE IS USED TO HAVING FINGERS POINTED AT HER.
BUT NOW SHE AND HER EX-BOYFRIEND, JIM,
ARE BEING FINGERED AS *** SUSPECTS.
Banks: DETECTIVES SHOWED UP
AT THE FRONT DOOR OF JIM'S HOUSE IN FLORIDA.
HE DID NOT SEEM SURPRISED.
HIS REACTION WAS AS IF A NEIGHBOR HAD COME OVER
TO BORROW THE RAKE.
WERE YOU ON A ISLAND IN 2003 WITH A MS. PEGGY SUE THOMAS?
YEAH, I WAS.
JIM CONFIRMED HE'D BEEN ON THE ISLAND OVER CHRISTMAS,
THAT HE WAS THERE WITH PEGGY.
JIM SAID THAT HE DID NOT KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT RUSS' ***,
THAT HE WAS NOT INVOLVED.
THAT HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH ME.
Narrator: JIM'S TALKING A GOOD GAME,
BUT NONE OF IT IS ADDING UP.
PEGGY SUE AND I BROKE UP SEVERAL YEARS BACK,
AND I HAVEN'T TALKED TO HER SINCE.
DETECTIVES TOLD JIM THAT THEY BELIEVE
BOTH HE AND PEGGY WERE INVOLVED IN THE ***,
AND JIM ASKED, "IS PEGGY SO MAD AT ME
THAT SHE WOULD TELL YOU THESE THINGS ABOUT ME?"
Narrator: INVESTIGATORS SUSPECT JIM MAY BE REGRETTING
THE DAY HE EVER MET PEGGY SUE THOMAS.
POLICE FINALLY GET TO THE POINT OF LAYING IT ON THE LINE
AND SAYING, "WE KNOW YOU WERE INVOLVED, JIM."
WE HAVE EVIDENCE. WE HAVE WITNESSES.
I CAN'T ANSWER ANY MORE QUESTIONS WITHOUT MY LAWYER.
AND JIM ASKED FOR A LAWYER.
Narrator: POLICE CAN'T FORCE JIM TO TALK,
BUT THERE ARE TWO SIDES TO EVERY STORY,
AND THEY INTEND TO GET PEGGY SUE'S.
PEGGY SUE WAS VERY SMOOTH WITH POLICE.
PEGGY SUE SAID SHE DIDN'T KNOW ANYTHING.
I DON'T KNOW.
Narrator: COOL AND COLLECTED AS ALWAYS,
PEGGY SUE SAYS VERY LITTLE
BUT DOES SEEM TO RECALL ONE MINOR DETAIL
FROM THE DAY OF THE ***.
Kelly: PEGGY SUE SAID THAT JIM HAD LEFT THE HOUSE THAT DAY,
BORROWED HER CAR, WENT OFF TO GET SOME SMOKES,
AND WAS GONE FOR ABOUT 45 MINUTES OR SO.
SHE DIDN'T KNOW IF JIM KILLED ANYBODY,
BUT SHE DID SAY THAT HE HAD LEFT THAT DAY.
Banks: SHE CLAIMED COMPLETE IGNORANCE
OF WHO KILLED RUSS OR HOW RUSS WAS KILLED.
Narrator: PEGGY IS A SEASONED CHARMER,
BUT INVESTIGATORS HAVE HER NUMBER.
Banks: PEGGY KNEW RUSS...
HEY, RUSSEL.
...WHEREAS JIM DID NOT.
HEY. HOW ARE YOU?
THAT MADE GOOD SENSE TO THEM
THAT SHE WOULD'VE BEEN ABLE TO ASSIST HUDEN,
BE HIS ACCOMPLICE TO GET RUSS TO THE SCENE.
Narrator: HOPING TO GET PEOPLE TALKING,
POLICE PUT THE WORD OUT ON JIM AND PEGGY SUE.
POLICE WERE WILLING TO NAME PEGGY SUE AND JIM
AS PERSONS OF INTEREST IN THE CASE.
THEY PUT OUT A PRESS RELEASE WITH THEIR PHOTOS.
I HAD A FRIEND OF MINE COME UP TO ME AND SAY,
"DO YOU KNOW PEGGY SUE THOMAS?"
I WAS LIKE, "YES, YES, OF COURSE."
AND MY FRIEND SAID, "YOU NEED TO READ UP ABOUT HER."
IT WAS SHOCKING. IT COULDN'T BE PEGGY.
Narrator: AS MORE OF PEGGY SUE'S FRIENDS HEAR OF TROUBLE,
ONE FRIEND HAS SOMETHING TO ADD TO THE STORY.
HE HAD SOME INFORMATION ABOUT THE CASE.
WELL, HE HAD MORE THAN INFORMATION.
HE HAD THE GUN.
Narrator: WITH FRIENDS LIKE THIS, WHO NEEDS ENEMIES?
AND IF THIS GUY IS WILLING TO TALK,
INVESTIGATORS ARE ALL EARS.
Banks: THE WEEK OR SO AFTER THE ***,
JIM AND PEGGY ARRIVED BACK IN LAS VEGAS.
THEY CALLED A FRIEND OF JIM'S
AND ASKED HIM TO COME OVER FOR LUNCH.
JIM SAID TO THIS MAN,
"I DON'T WANT TO KEEP THIS GUN AROUND THE HOUSE ANYMORE.
WOULD YOU MIND HOLDING ONTO IT FOR US FOR SAFEKEEPING?"
IT WAS A .380 SEMIAUTOMATIC.
Narrator: BEFORE THE SUN CAN SET,
POLICE GET THEIR HANDS ON THE GUN.
THEY ALSO GOT THE BOX IT CAME IN.
THE MANUAL WAS IN THERE, TOO.
IF THIS WAS THE GUN USED IN THE ***,
THIS WAS THE HOLY GRAIL FOR THE CASE.
Banks: THAT GUN WAS ANALYZED
AND CONCLUSIVELY DETERMINED TO BE THE *** WEAPON.
THE STORY JUST TOOK OFF.
EVERYBODY ON THE ISLAND WAS TALKING ABOUT IT.
THEY COULDN'T BELIEVE IT.
WHAT ARE THESE TWO INVOLVED IN THIS CASE FOR?
Narrator: WITH DIRECT EVIDENCE LINKING JIM HUDEN TO THE ***,
INVESTIGATORS CAN'T GET TO HIS DOOR FAST ENOUGH.
Kelly: THEY WENT BACK TO GET JIM,
THEY KNOCKED ON HIS DOOR, AND HE WAS GONE.
THEIR PRIME *** SUSPECT WAS IN THE WIND.
Narrator: PEGGY SUE'S EX IS ON THE RUN,
AND THE BEAUTY QUEEN MAY BE THE ONLY ONE
HOLDING THE KEY TO HIS FATE.
Narrator: PEGGY SUE THOMAS HAS ALWAYS HAD A WAY WITH MEN,
AND NOW HER EX-BOYFRIEND HAS BECOME TANGLED IN A DEADLY WEB.
WE HAD AN EYEWITNESS WHO SAID
JIM HAND-DELIVERED THE *** WEAPON TO HIM
FOUR DAYS AFTER THE ***.
Narrator: TRUE TO FORM, PEGGY SUE'S OLD FLAME HAS FLED THE SCENE.
Kelly: AFTER JIM DISAPPEARED,
POLICE START LOOKING EVERYWHERE FOR HIM.
THEY PUT OUR PRESS RELEASES WITH HIS PICTURE.
THEY LOOKED EVERYWHERE FOR HIM, BUT HE CAN'T BE FOUND.
Narrator: JIM IS CLEARLY ON THE RUN,
AND FINALLY, HIS CHEATING WAYS COME BACK TO HAUNT HIM.
Banks: JIM'S WIFE HAD HAD ENOUGH.
SHE KNEW WHERE HE WAS.
SHE TOLD FLORIDA AUTHORITIES
AND, ULTIMATELY, THE FEDERAL MARSHALS
THAT SHE KNEW WHERE A MURDERER WAS HIDING IN MEXICO.
JIM'S WIFE TOLD DETECTIVES
EXACTLY WHERE HE WAS IN VERACRUZ.
THE U.S. MARSHALS SHOWED UP ON HIS DOORSTEP
AND PUT THE CUFFS ON HIM.
Narrator: WITH JIM IN CUSTODY,
INVESTIGATORS HOPE THEY CAN FINALLY NAIL PEGGY,
BUT JIM ISN'T TALKING.
PEGGY WAS STILL VERY MUCH A SUSPECT.
WE HAD AN ANONYMOUS INFORMANT
ABLE TO TESTIFY THAT JIM SAID PEGGY HELPED,
BUT IT WAS NOT ENOUGH TO FILE CHARGES
OR PROVE THAT SHE WAS INVOLVED IN THE ***.
Narrator: BUT THIS CASE HAS MORE THAN ONE SMOKING GUN,
AND INVESTIGATORS ARE ABOUT TO FIND IT.
AFTER POLICE WERE ABLE TO PUT THE GUN IN JIM HUDEN'S HAND,
THEY MADE ANOTHER PRETTY BIG DISCOVERY.
THEY STARTED LOOKING AT THAT GUN MANUAL.
THEY FOUND ONE OF PEGGY SUE'S FINGERPRINTS
ON ONE OF THE PAGES.
Narrator: IT'S A SMALL PIECE OF EVIDENCE,
BUT IT'S ENOUGH TO FINALLY LINK PEGGY SUE
TO THE *** OF RUSSEL DOUGLAS.
Kelly: POLICE FINALLY CAUGHT UP TO PEGGY SUE IN NEW MEXICO,
WHERE SHE WAS LIVING ON HER HOUSEBOAT, OFF THE HOOK.
PEGGY SUE WAS TOLD THERE WAS A PACKAGE
WAITING FOR HER ON THE DOCK,
AND WHEN SHE CAME ASHORE TO GET THE PACKAGE,
THERE WASN'T A PRESENT FOR HER.
THERE WERE POLICE.
Narrator: PEGGY SUE IS BROUGHT BACK TO WASHINGTON
AND, AS ALWAYS, PUTS ON HER PRETTIEST FACE.
PEGGY SUE.
SHE HAS NO IDEA
WHAT THE POLICE COULD POSSIBLY WANT WITH HER.
Kelly: PEGGY SUE SANG THE SONG THAT JIM SANG.
"I HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH IT.
I DIDN'T PARTICIPATE IN THE *** OF RUSSEL DOUGLAS."
WE FOUND YOUR PRINT ON THE GUN MANUAL.
WE KNOW YOU WERE INVOLVED.
JUST TELL US EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENED.
PEGGY SUE WAS CHARGED AS AN ACCOMPLICE TO ***.
Narrator: PRETTY PEGGY SUE IS AT A LOSS FOR WORDS,
BUT INVESTIGATORS SUSPECT THE FORMER BEAUTY QUEEN
AND HER BEST FRIEND, BRENNA, PLOTTED TO GET RID OF RUSSEL
AND HIRED JIM TO DO THEIR DIRTY WORK.
I THINK THE BEST EXPLANATION FOR THE CASE
CAME FROM JIM HUDEN'S WIFE.
Banks: JIM'S WIFE TOLD DETECTIVES
THAT JIM WAS SUPPOSED TO HAVE BEEN PAID $50,000
FOR THE ***.
SHE SAID THAT PEGGY HAD MADE A PHONE CALL
TO LURE RUSS TO THE DEAD-END STREET
ON RURAL WHIDBEY ISLAND.
HEY, RUSSEL. IT'S PEGGY SUE.
I BELIEVE ON DECEMBER 26, 2003,
JIM PUT A BULLET IN RUSS' HEAD.
Peggy Sue: HEY, RUSSEL.
HEY. HOW ARE YOU?
GOOD. HOW ARE YOU?
GOOD TO HEAR.
Kelly: THE *** ORIGINALLY WAS ABOUT MONEY.
THE TWO GIRLS WANTED THE INSURANCE MONEY.
JIM WANTED TO FEEL LIKE A BIG MAN.
I THINK THE MOTIVATIONS FOR THIS *** WERE MANY.
THERE IS BRENNA'S POTENTIAL MOTIVE OF WANTING RUSS,
ONCE AND FOR ALL, OUT OF HER LIFE.
THERE IS PEGGY SUE'S DESIRE TO MANIPULATE MEN,
TO DO HER BIDDING, WHATEVER THAT MIGHT BE,
AND THIS MIGHT BE A CROWNING ACHIEVEMENT
OF SOMEONE LIKE THAT.
Narrator: JIM FELL INTO PEGGY'S TRAP,
AND IN THE END, SHE LETS HIM HANG.
PEGGY SUE FINALLY TURNED ON JIM.
JIM SHOT RUSSEL.
SHE TOLD POLICE THAT HE HAD SHOT RUSSEL.
Banks: WE OFFERED JIM SEVERAL INCENTIVES
TO SPEND LESS TIME IN PRISON
IF HE WOULD JUST SIT DOWN AND TALK TO US.
JIM REFUSED TO DO THAT.
TO THIS DAY, I BELIEVE HE'S PROTECTING PEGGY
BECAUSE HE'S STILL IN LOVE WITH PEGGY.
Narrator: PEGGY SUE KNEW EXACTLY WHAT SHE WANTED
AND WENT AFTER IT WITH A VENGEANCE...
[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ]
...BUT FINALLY, HER REIGN COMES TO AN END.
Banks: WE ENDED UP MAKING A DEAL WITH PEGGY AND HER LAWYER.
PEGGY PLED GUILTY TO INVOLVEMENT IN THE ***,
HELPING JIM ESCAPE FROM THE STATE OF WASHINGTON,
HELPING JIM DISPOSE OF THE WEAPON,
AND SHE GOT A FOUR-YEAR SENTENCE.
PEGGY SUE WAS A BEAUTIFUL WOMAN,
AND THAT DIDN'T CHANGE AFTER SHE WENT TO JAIL.
WHEN SHE CAME OUT, HER HAIR WAS DONE MAGNIFICENTLY.
PEOPLE WERE LOOKING AROUND, "MY GOD,
"HOW DOES SOMEBODY LOOK THAT GOOD
AFTER SPENDING NIGHT AFTER NIGHT AFTER NIGHT IN JAIL?"
Narrator: PEGGY SUE THOMAS,
A FORMER STAR OF THE STAGE WHO WANTED THE GOOD LIFE,
EVEN IF THAT MEANT TAKING SOMEONE ELSE'S.
Brown: PEGGY SUE IS A CHAMELEON.
SHE SHOWS EVERYBODY EXACTLY WHAT SHE WANTS THEM TO SEE.
SHE'S VERY INTENTIONAL WITH WHAT SHE DOES.
Kirkland: BEING PART OF A *** --
YOU KNOW, THAT'S THE ULTIMATE GREED,
AND AS MUCH AS I ADORE HER, I'M GLAD THAT SHE WAS CAUGHT.
PEGGY WILL REINVENT HERSELF AGAIN.
I HAVE NO DOUBT.