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Narrator: MOST WOMEN RELY ON THEIR FAMILY FOR SUPPORT,
BUT SOME EXPECT TOO MUCH FROM THEIR OWN FLESH AND BLOOD.
YEAH.
Narrator: A GREEDY WOMAN
DRAGS TWO TEENAGERS INTO DARKNESS.
SHE HAD TO INVOLVE HER SON AND AN INNOCENT GIRL.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT SHE'S TALKING ABOUT.
Narrator: A MANIPULATIVE MOTHER BETRAYS HER FIRSTBORN.
SHE'S BASICALLY TRYING TO THROW HER OWN DAUGHTER UNDER THE BUS.
YOU NEED TO TALK TO MY OLD BOY, SHARKIE.
Narrator: AND SISTERLY LOVE SOLVES A MESSY DIVORCE.
EVEN IF HE CRIED OUT, EVEN IF HE HAD THE STRENGTH TO CRY OUT,
THERE WAS NO ONE TO HEAR HIM.
Narrator: THESE DEADLY WOMEN
PROVE BLOOD IS THICKER THAN WATER
WHEN THEY ENLIST THEIR KILLER KIN.
-- Captions by VITAC -- www.vitac.com
CAPTIONS PAID FOR BY DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS
A DOTING MOTHER...
"YOU DON'T LOVE MY SON, I DON'T LOVE YOU."
Narrator: ...TEACHES HER LOVER...
HE DID NOT KNOW THAT WAS HAPPENING.
Narrator: ...THAT NOTHING CAN SEVER FAMILY TIES.
I CAN'T EVEN BEGIN TO IMAGINE THE HORROR
THAT HE MUST HAVE FELT.
[ GASPS ]
Narrator: IN 2009...
THAT'LL BE $3.
...45-YEAR-OLD DENISE FREI
IS LIVING OUT HER DREAM --
RUNNING A CAFé THAT'S BECOME
THE THROBBING SOCIAL HUB OF MARENGO, IOWA.
HI, JOE. HOW ARE THINGS?
GOOD, DENISE. YOU KEEPING BUSY?
ALWAYS.
Rotter: SHE HAD A LOT OF FRIENDS.
IT WAS PERFECT.
A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT NOT ONLY WORKED FOR HER,
BUT JUST GENERAL FRIENDS.
Narrator: IT'S ALL THANKS TO HER BOYFRIEND,
33-YEAR-OLD CURTIS BAILEY.
HE BOUGHT THE CAFé TO KEEP HIS SWEETHEART HAPPY.
ALL THE BETTER FOR SEEING YOU.
FOR PEOPLE WHO KNEW THE COUPLE,
THEY THOUGHT THEY WERE VERY GOOD TOGETHER.
ACTUALLY, VERY SWEET WITH ONE ANOTHER.
I NEED HELP WITH THE DISHES.
Narrator: CURTIS AND DENISE HAVE BEEN LOVERS FOR FIVE YEARS,
BUT THERE'S ONE THING MUDDYING THE WATERS...
[ ROCK MUSIC PLAYS ]
...DENISE'S 19-YEAR-OLD SON, JACOB.
Rotter: JACOB WAS A YOUNG MAN WHO WAS QUITE CONTENT
SITTING AROUND WATCHING TV AND HANGING OUT WITH HIS FRIENDS.
CURTIS BAILEY WAS PROBABLY
ONE OF THE HARDEST WORKING PEOPLE THAT I EVER KNEW,
SO I THINK NATURALLY THERE WAS SOME STRAIN BETWEEN THE TWO
BECAUSE OF THEIR DIFFERENCES.
DID YOU TAKE ANY MONEY OUT OF MY WALLET?
NO.
THERE WERE HUNDREDS IN HERE.
Narrator: THAT STRAIN REACHES THE BREAKING POINT
WHEN MONEY GOES MISSING.
JACOB, DID YOU TAKE IT?
OF COURSE HE DIDN'T.
Narrator: DENISE IS FORCED TO DIVIDE HER LOYALTIES.
THAT MONEY COULD HAVE FALLEN OUT OF YOUR POCKET.
I DON'T THINK SO.
Narrator: LAZINESS AND NOW LYING --
IT'S THE LAST STRAW FOR CURTIS.
GET YOUR THINGS AND GO.
HE KICKS JACOB OUT OF HIS HOUSE
AND OUT OF THEIR EVERYDAY LIVES.
CURTIS WAS VERY OUTSPOKEN THAT HE DIDN'T LIKE JACOB
AND BANNED HIM FROM NOT ONLY THEIR HOME,
BUT FROM THE CAFé, AS WELL.
I THINK THIS PROBABLY
HAD A PROFOUND EFFECT ON DENISE MORE THAN JACOB.
[ WHISPERS INDISTINCTLY ]
[ TRAIN WHISTLE BLOWS ]
Narrator: INSTEAD OF BIDING BY HER BOYFRIEND'S WISHES,
DENISE BEGINS A LIFE OF DECEPTION,
SNEAKING HER SON INTO THE CAFé.
DENISE DID WHAT SHE COULD TO KIND OF WORK AROUND
THE FACT THAT THOSE TWO WERE NEVER GONNA GET ALONG.
HE'LL BE HERE SOON.
Narrator: JACOB'S STILL ENJOYING PLENTY OF ATTENTION
FROM HIS DOTING MOM AND FROM DENISE'S WAITRESS,
19-YEAR-OLD JESSICA DAYTON.
WANT TO GO TO A MOVIE TONIGHT?
SURE.
Mehaffey: JESSICA DAYTON WAS FRIENDS
WITH JACOB HILGENDORF, AND, I GUESS, ACTUALLY,
THEY BOTH DESCRIBED THEIR RELATIONSHIP
AS FRIENDS WITH BENEFIT.
Narrator: DENISE KNOWS THIS SUBTERFUGE CAN'T LAST FOREVER.
GO.
THE ONLY WAY TO MAKE IT STOP
IS TO CUT ONE PERSON OUT OF THE PICTURE.
HI. HOW WAS YOUR DAY?
AND FOR DENISE, BLOOD IS THICKER THAN WATER.
SHE WAS PROBABLY ANGRY AT HIM FOR NOT ACCEPTING HER SON,
SO THERE WAS A LITTLE REVENGE IN THERE.
"YOU DON'T LOVE MY SON, I DON'T LOVE YOU."
THE OVERWORKED CAFé OWNER
IS ALSO HOPING FOR A BETTER PAY DAY.
I THINK DENISE LIKED A LIFESTYLE THAT SHE COULDN'T HAVE.
I THINK SHE WANTED TO LIVE
A LITTLE HIGHER ON THE HOG, SO TO SPEAK.
Narrator: AS A CONSTRUCTION FOREMAN, CURTIS IS WELL OFF.
HE ALSO HAS A LIFE-INSURANCE POLICY WORTH $100,000.
IF SHE COULD GET CURTIS OUT OF THE WAY, SHE COULD HAVE MONEY.
SHE COULD SPEND IT THE WAY SHE WANTED.
SHE COULD HAVE HER SON BACK IN THE HOUSE,
AND SHE WOULDN'T HAVE TO WORK SO HARD.
DENISE DOESN'T WANT ANY BLOOD ON HER HANDS,
SO SHE TRIES THE SUBTLE APPROACH.
CURTIS WAS SOMEBODY WHO WAS KNOWN TO ENJOY BEER
AND DRINK A LOT OF BEER.
[ SNORING ]
AND DENISE WAS SOMEBODY WHO IS VERY WELL-VERSED IN DRUGS,
NOT ONLY OVER-THE-COUNTER DRUGS, BUT PRESCRIPTION DRUGS.
SHE HAD ACCESS TO DIABETIC MEDICATION, INSULIN, SYRINGES.
AND SHE HAD ON MORE THAN ONE OCCASION
INJECTED CURTIS WITH INSULIN WHEN HE WAS INTOXICATED,
TRYING TO GET HIM TO DIE OF A REACTION TO THE INSULIN.
Narrator: BUT THE PLAN DOESN'T WORK.
INSTEAD OF SLIPPING AWAY QUIETLY, CURTIS WAKES IN FRIGHT.
HE DID NOT KNOW THAT WAS HAPPENING.
HE THOUGHT THERE WAS SOMETHING WRONG WITH HIS HEART.
[ Strained ] I NEED TO GO TO THE HOSPITAL.
MY HEART'S JUMPING OUT OF MY CHEST.
Rotter: AFTER THOSE ATTEMPTS,
SHE DECIDED THAT SHE WOULD HAVE TO DO IT ANOTHER WAY.
Narrator: THIS TIME, DENISE CALLS IN REINFORCEMENTS
AND INVENTS A STORY TO HELP HER CAUSE.
Rotter: SHE TOLD A LOT OF STORIES
ABOUT HOW CURTIS WAS ABUSIVE, CONTROLLING.
I HAVE TO GET RID OF HIM.
Narrator: SHE CONVINCES HER SON, JACOB,
AND HIS GIRLFRIEND, JESSICA,
THAT CURTIS BAILEY IS A SADISTIC MONSTER.
HE'S HURTING YOU. HE HAS TO PAY.
Rotter: JACOB WOULD HAVE HIS MOM BACK TO HIMSELF AGAIN,
AND HE WOULDN'T HAVE THESE RESTRICTIONS
OF WHEN HE COULD SEE HER.
SO, JACOB'S LIFE, IN HIS MIND,
WOULD HAVE BEEN IMPROVED BY CURTIS GOING AWAY.
I'M IN.
GOOD.
Mehaffey: I THINK JESSICA GOT INVOLVED
JUST SOLELY BECAUSE OF JACOB.
EITHER SHE WAS IN LOVE WITH HIM
OR THOUGHT SHE WAS IN LOVE WITH HIM.
Narrator: THE CAFé QUEEN EVEN ADDS
A LITTLE ICING TO THE CAKE.
Rotter: DENISE FREI ENDS UP OFFERING $5,000
TO BOTH JACOB AND JESSICA TO HELP *** CURTIS.
THAT'S NICE.
Narrator: ALL THAT'S LEFT IS TO INVITE CURTIS TO HIS OWN DEMISE,
AND IT MUST BE SOMETHING TOO GOOD TO RESIST.
[ Laughing ] YEAH.
CURTIS HAD NO IDEA WHAT WAS GOING TO HAPPEN.
[ LAUGHS ]
OH, I LOVE YOU.
Narrator: A WARM SUMMER'S NIGHT IN MARENGO, IOWA, 2009.
LIVE-IN LOVERS DENISE FREI AND CURTIS BAILEY
ARE SHARING MORE THAN JUST CUDDLES.
THEY'RE SHARING A SECRET.
[ Laughing ] YEAH.
DENISE HAS MADE HER BOYFRIEND A TANTALIZING OFFER.
Hammerand: CURTIS HAD NO IDEA WHAT WAS GOING TO HAPPEN.
IN FACT, WHEN HE WENT TO WORK THAT DAY, HE WAS HAPPY.
Narrator: CURTIS IS BURSTING TO TELL SOMEONE THE NEWS.
Hammerand: CURT WASN'T SUPPOSED TO TELL ANYBODY.
HE WASN'T ABLE TO KEEP IT IN,
SO HE TOLD HIS BOSS WHAT WAS SUPPOSED TO HAPPEN.
I'M NOT MEANT TO TELL.
IT WAS A MéNAGE à TROIS
BETWEEN DENISE AND A GIRL NAMED JESSICA.
DENISE HAS ORGANIZED A THREE-WAY.
[ BOTH LAUGH ]
WHOO!
Narrator: WHAT CURTIS DOESN'T KNOW
IS THAT DENISE IS LURING HER LOVER TO HIS DEATH
USING HER SON'S 19-YEAR-OLD GIRLFRIEND, JESSICA, AS BAIT.
DeLong: IT WASN'T ENOUGH FOR DENISE
TO KILL SOMEONE THAT SHE HATED.
SHE HAD TO INVOLVE HER SON AND AN INNOCENT GIRL.
Rotter: CURTIS WAS FAMILIAR WITH JESSICA
AND WAS VERY EXCITED, APPARENTLY,
TO BE ABLE TO HAVE THIS LITTLE PARTY WITH THE TWO.
REMEMBER THE RULES.
Narrator: THE WOMEN HAVE STRICT RULES FOR THEIR SEXY GAME.
IF THEY DID SOMETHING OF *** NATURE,
CURT WAS TO DO A SHOT OF HARD LIQUOR.
Narrator: THEY WANT HIM TO DRINK HIMSELF INTO A STUPOR.
Rotter: ONCE THE PARTY STARTED
BETWEEN DENISE AND JESSICA,
HE DID GET QUITE INTOXICATED, HAD TAKEN QUITE A FEW SHOTS.
Narrator: JUST WHEN THINGS START TO HEAT UP,
CURTIS PASSES OUT.
ALL ACCORDING TO PLAN.
Mehaffey: ONCE CURTIS PASSES OUT,
JESSICA TEXTS JACOB TO COME OVER.
Hammerand: DENISE WAS DEFINITELY THE MAIN PLAYER, THE MASTERMIND.
JACOB AND JESSICA'S ROLE WAS TO ASSIST.
[ SNORING ]
Narrator: DENISE WANTS THE DEATH TO LOOK LIKE NATURAL CAUSES.
Rotter: DENISE CAME UP WITH THE IDEA
THAT SHE COULD WRAP HIS FACE IN PLASTIC WRAP
AND SMOTHER HIM AND KILL HIM WITHOUT LEAVING ANY MARKS.
Hammerand: THAT WOULDN'T BE OBVIOUS
THAT SOMEBODY WAS ACTUALLY INVOLVED IN A HOMICIDE.
BUT IT WOULD LOOK LIKE IT WAS A NATURAL DEATH.
[ SNORING ]
Narrator: EVERYTHING GOES SMOOTHLY UNTIL...
[ GASPING ]
...CURTIS COMES TO.
Rotter: WHEN CURTIS WAKES UP
AND SEES THAT HIS WIFE IS BASICALLY STANDING OVER HIM
ALONG WITH HER SON AND HER SON'S FRIEND,
I CAN'T EVEN BEGIN TO IMAGINE
THE HORROR THAT HE MUST HAVE FELT.
AT "WHAT IN THE WORLD IS GOING ON HERE?"
[ GROANING ]
CURTIS WAS GASPING FOR AIR AND STARTED TO FIGHT BACK.
Narrator: THE TRIO STARTS CLUTCHING AT STRAWS.
Rotter: THEY JUST STARTED TO GRAB ANYTHING WITHIN REACH
AND STARTED TO BEAT CURTIS WITH IT.
[ GROANING ]
Mehaffey: AN ASH TRAY, A CANDY DISH.
ANYTHING THAT WAS AROUND IN THE HOUSE THAT THEY COULD USE.
IT DIDN'T SEEM TO BE WORKING AT FIRST,
SO I GUESS THEY KEPT HITTING HIM OVER AND OVER AGAIN.
DeLong: THEY KNEW THEY WANTED TO KILL HIM.
THEY JUST DIDN'T KNOW HOW TO DO IT.
BASICALLY WHAT IT TURNED INTO WAS A "KEYSTONE KOPS" ***.
WITH THREE PEOPLE ATTACKING HIM
AND THE NUMBER OF BLOWS TO HIS HEAD...
IT WAS OVER FAIRLY QUICKLY.
Narrator: WITH UP TO 30 BLOWS TO HIS HEAD,
CURTIS BAILEY IS DEAD.
HIS KILLERS NOW HAVE A PROBLEM.
WE'VE GOT A VERY BLOODY BEATEN BODY.
THERE'S NO WAY SHE CAN CALL 911
AND SAY HER HUSBAND JUST HAD A HEART ATTACK.
THAT'S JUST NOT GONNA WORK ANYMORE.
THERE WAS AN ATTEMPT BY THE THREE TO CLEAN UP THE HOUSE,
BUT THERE WAS JUST NO WAY THAT WAS GONNA HAPPEN.
IT'S NOT WORKING.
OKAY, PUT EVERYTHING IN THE BAG.
SO, EVENTUALLY, DENISE GETS JACOB AND JESSICA
TO LEAVE THE HOUSE.
Narrator: DENISE CONCOCTS AN ALIBI,
THEN CALLS THE POLICE.
MY BOYFRIEND'S BEEN MURDERED.
Rotter: A STORY THAT MEXICAN DRUG DEALERS
HAD COME INTO THE HOUSE AND GOT INTO A FIGHT WITH CURTIS,
AND IT ENDED UP IN CURTIS BEING BEATEN TO DEATH.
I HEARD VOICES.
OH, GOD.
[ Crying ] OH, GOD.
Narrator: BUT DETECTIVES DISCOVER
THE BLOOD IS ALREADY CONGEALED.
CURTIS WAS DEAD LONG BEFORE DENISE SAYS HE WAS MURDERED.
THE POLICE DIDN'T BELIEVE IT, I DON'T BELIEVE, AT ALL.
THEY KNEW THAT SOMETHING ELSE HAD HAPPENED,
AND I THINK ESPECIALLY BECAUSE THERE WAS SO MUCH BLOOD
AND BLOOD WAS ALL OVER HER.
Narrator: DENISE AND THE TWO TEENAGERS ARE QUESTIONED.
THEN POLICE SEARCH JACOB'S CAR
AND FIND BAGS OF BLOODY RAGS AND BLOODSTAINED CLOTHES.
THE MATRIARCH STILL PLEADS INNOCENT,
UNTIL HER SON DECIDES TO TAKE THE RAP.
Rotter: DENISE STARTED TO GET WORRIED
THAT JACOB WAS CONFESSING TO IT,
SO SHE STARTED TO CONFESS TO THE CRIME,
SAYING THAT SHE HAD TO KILL CURTIS
BECAUSE HE WAS SO MEAN TO HER,
AND THAT IT REALLY ISN'T THE FAULT OF JACOB OR JESSICA,
BECAUSE THEY WERE ONLY THERE TO HELP HER.
Narrator: THE JURIES DON'T BELIEVE HER.
IN JANUARY 2011, JESSICA DAYTON AND JACOB HILGENDORF
ARE BOTH CONVICTED OF FIRST-DEGREE ***.
DENISE FREI IS ALSO CONVICTED OF ***.
ALL THREE ARE SENTENCED TO LIFE WITH NO CHANCE OF PAROLE.
BLOOD REALLY IS THICKER THAN WATER,
AND THIS *** PROVES IT.
Narrator: DENISE FREI DESTROYED HER DEVOTED LOVER
SO SHE COULD REUNITE WITH HER SON.
INSTEAD, THEY WILL SPEND THEIR LIVES APART.
BASICALLY, NOT ONLY DID SHE END THE LIFE OF HER VICTIM,
BUT REALLY ENDED THE LIFE OF THE TWO TEENAGERS.
THEY WILL DIE IN PRISON.
THEIR LIVES LASTED 18, 19 YEARS, AND THAT'S IT.
THEY'RE DONE.
THEY'RE ALL SERVING LIFE SENTENCES
BECAUSE DENISE IS A SELFISH WOMAN.
Narrator: SOME DAUGHTERS WILL DO ANYTHING FOR MOM.
HER MOM TAUGHT HER EVERYTHING SHE KNEW.
Narrator: AND THAT'S NOT ALWAYS A GOOD IDEA.
Hudnall: WE JUST KNEW IN OUR HEART OF HEARTS
THAT SHE DID THAT.
I WAS...SHOCKED.
[ GASPING ]
SOMETHING WAS WRONG WITH THIS PICTURE.
Narrator: IN THE LATE 1990s, IN HAWTHORNE, FLORIDA...
SCRIBBLE COMPETITION!
...IT'S ANOTHER SCHOOL DAY.
GO!
BUT 6-YEAR-OLD GUENEVERE DOESN'T HAVE TO CATCH A BUS.
HER 27-YEAR-OLD MOM, STEPHANIE,
HOMESCHOOLS HER WHILE HER HUSBAND, BILL,
IS AWAY WORKING FOR WEEKS.
HE HAD A LOT OF JOBS
WHERE HE WOULD HAVE TO GO OUT OF STATE SOMETIMES AND WORK.
WHO'S A HAPPY GIRL?
[ Weakly ] ME.
THE YOUNGER YEARS OF THEIR MARRIAGE,
HE WAS GONE A LOT.
Narrator: THAT MEANS MOM AND DAUGHTER
LIVE IN THEIR OWN LITTLE WORLD.
GWEN BASICALLY WAS BROUGHT UP BEING HOMESCHOOLED
AND NOT REALLY HAVING TOO MUCH INTERACTION
OUTSIDE OF THE HOUSE WITH HER MOM.
Narrator: AFTER 10 YEARS, THE ARRANGEMENT TURNS SOUR.
DID YOU PAY THOSE BILLS I SENT THE MONEY FOR?
BILL HAS BEEN SENDING HIS WAGES HOME TO PROVIDE FOR THE FAMILY.
I SENT YOU THE RENT MONEY!
BUT THE MONEY SEEMS TO DISAPPEAR...
WHAT ARE YOU ACCUSING ME OF?
...AS SISTER-IN-LAW BRENDA HUDNALL REMEMBERS.
HE WORKED VERY HARD FOR HIS FAMILY.
HE WORKED OUT OF STATE IN ORDER TO PROVIDE
WHAT HE THOUGHT WOULD BE A GOOD INCOME FOR THEM.
HE'D COME HOME AND THERE WOULD BE NO MONEY.
THE BILLS WOULDN'T BE PAID.
DeLong: STEPHANIE SUFFERED FROM WHAT I CALL
THE PRINCESS SYNDROME.
SHE CONTRIBUTED NOTHING TO THEIR MARRIAGE OR THEIR LIFE
EXCEPT MISERY.
Narrator: BY THIS TIME, GWEN IS 17
AND HAS A YOUNGER SISTER,
AND MOM TELLS THEM IT'S ALL DAD'S FAULT.
YOUR FATHER DOESN'T LOVE US ENOUGH
TO KEEP A ROOF OVER OUR HEADS.
I SENT YOU MORE THAN ENOUGH.
STOP BLAMING MOM. IT'S NOT HER FAULT.
Myers: SHE LED THEM TO BELIEVE
THAT THEIR FATHER WAS ABUSIVE TOWARDS HER,
DIDN'T WANT TO TAKE CARE OF THEM,
THAT HE HAD MONEY,
HE WOULDN'T HELP THEM WITH ANYTHING.
BASICALLY PUT ALL OF HER THOUGHTS IN THEIR MIND.
THERE IS NO INDICATION
THAT BILL EVER ABUSED OR NEGLECTED HIS CHILDREN.
Narrator: STEPHANIE ISN'T JUST INDOCTRINATING THE CHILDREN
AGAINST THEIR FATHER.
SHE WON'T EVEN LET THEM HELP
WHEN HE SUFFERS A STROKE IN 2011.
MOM? SOMETHING'S WRONG WITH DAD!
[ GASPING ]
HE HAD THE STROKE IN THEIR LIVING ROOM
AND THEY SAT THERE AND WATCHED HIM.
[ GASPING ]
SHOULD WE CALL 911?
NO.
[ GASPING ]
Hudnall: STEPHANIE REFUSED TO LET THEM CALL 911.
[ GASPING ]
Narrator: BILL RECOVERS, BUT NOW KNOWS THE DANGER
HE FACES IN HIS OWN HOUSE.
HE CONFIDES IN HIS BROTHER.
TIM, IF ANYTHING EVER HAPPENS TO ME,
YOU'LL TAKE CARE OF THE CHILDREN, WON'T YOU?
BILL SAID TO MY HUSBAND,
"IF ANYTHING SHOULD HAPPEN TO ME,
"WOULD YOU PLEASE PROMISE ME
YOU'LL TAKE CARE OF MY CHILDREN?"
AND TIM SAID, "OF COURSE I WILL. BILL, WHAT'S GOING ON?"
HE SAYS, "WE'LL TALK LATER."
GOODBYE, GRACE.
Narrator: BILL DECIDES TO MOVE OUT.
HE WANTS TO END HIS MARRIAGE,
BUT NOT THE RELATIONSHIP WITH HIS CHILDREN.
YOU CAN COME VISIT ANYTIME.
DeLong: BILL WANTED TO STAY IN TOWN
SO THAT HE COULD SEE HIS CHILDREN, WHOM HE LOVED.
BUT BILL HAD A MEAN AND VICIOUS SPOUSE THAT WAS TROUBLED.
Bill: YOU GOT EVERYTHING?
YEAH.
Narrator: STEPHANIE CONTINUES TO UNDERMINE HIM.
THEY WOULD SPEND TIME WITH THEIR DAD
AND THEIR MOTHER WOULD PICK THEM UP.
GONNA MISS YOU.
I LOVE YOU, DADDY.
Hudnall: THOUGH THEY COULD NOT
TELL THEIR DAD THEY LOVED HIM IN FRONT OF HER,
BECAUSE ON THE RIDE HOME,
SHE WOULD REALLY GIVE THEM A HARD TIME.
I CANNOT BELIEVE YOU SAID YOU LOVED HIM!
AFTER ALL HE HAS DONE TO US!
"HOW CAN YOU TELL HIM THAT YOU LOVE HIM, AS AWFUL AS HE IS?"
AND REALLY MADE THEM HATE HIM.
HE HAS TO PAY.
Narrator: STEPHANIE IS SOWING THE SEEDS
FOR A PERMANENT SEPARATION.
DeLong: BILL SHOULD HAVE LEFT AND STAYED FAR, FAR AWAY.
NOT LIVING WITH STEPHANIE WAS THE FIRST STEP,
BUT HE DIDN'T GO FAR AWAY ENOUGH.
Narrator: 2011 -- HAWTHORNE, FLORIDA.
FOR MOST OF HER LIFE, 19-YEAR-OLD GWEN HUDNALL
IS UNDER THE CONTROL OF HER MOTHER, STEPHANIE.
OKAY. GREAT.
I'LL -- I'LL LET YOU KNOW.
THANKS, DAD.
NOW HER FATHER, BILL,
IS TRYING TO BREAK THE UNHEALTHY DEPENDENCE.
HE GOT ME A JOB.
Hudnall: GUENEVERE WAS GETTING READY
TO GO ON THIS JOB WITH HER DAD.
YOU CAN'T TAKE IT.
AND STEPHANIE STOPPED HER.
I BELIEVE THAT WAS BASICALLY
STEPHANIE TRYING TO STOP GUENEVERE
FROM BECOMING SELF-SUFFICIENT, BUT STILL DEPENDING UPON HER.
Narrator: THEN STEPHANIE DOES SOMETHING ODD.
MAYBE YOU'D LIKE TO STAY OVER WITH YOUR DAD.
THAT'D BE LOVELY.
...SHE CEASES HOSTILITIES...
...AND ALLOWS GWEN TO STAY OVER
AT HER DAD'S PLACE FOR THE FIRST TIME IN MONTHS.
LITTLE DOES DAD KNOW HIS DAUGHTER IS A TROJAN HORSE
FOR HIS VINDICTIVE WIFE.
SHE FELT [SIGHS] AN OBLIGATION OF SOME SORT.
I'M GONNA TURN IN.
SHE DID IT TO MAKE HER MOTHER PLEASED WITH HER.
GOOD NIGHT.
SHE WAITED FOR HIM TO GO TO BED.
[ SNORING ]
SHE GOT THE AXE OFF THE BACK PORCH,
CAME AROUND TO HIS BEDROOM...
...AND JUST STARTED HITTING HIM WITH THE AXE.
[ GASPING, GROANING ]
Hudnall: WHEN HIS BODY WAS EXPIRING, IT MADE A NOISE
AND IT SCARED GUENEVERE,
AND, SO, SHE CONTINUED TO HIT HIM
TILL SHE KNEW THAT HE WAS DEAD.
AND...
Narrator: GWEN DECAPITATES HER FATHER.
Myers: THERE WAS BLOOD EVERYWHERE.
THERE WAS BRAIN MATTER EVERYWHERE.
BONE.
IT WAS -- IT WAS PRETTY GRUESOME.
Narrator: ALTHOUGH GWEN WIELDS THE PICKAXE,
IT IS ALL ON STEPHANIE'S COMMAND.
STEPHANIE HUDNALL IS A VIOLENT PSYCHOPATH
WHO MANIPULATED HER OWN DAUGHTER TO ***.
[ CRYING ]
IT'S ALL OVER THE BED!
Narrator: THE NEXT DAY...
BLOOD!
[ CRYING ]
...STEPHANIE CALLS 911,
PRETENDING SHE'S JUST FOUND BILL'S BODY.
I START INTERVIEWING STEPHANIE AND SHE WAS VERY EMOTIONAL.
[ CRYING ]
IT GOT TO THE POINT IT WAS SO MUCH
IT WAS OBVIOUS THAT IT WAS A PUT-ON.
IT WAS TOO OVERLY EXAGGERATED EMOTION.
Narrator: DETECTIVE SANDY MYERS SMELLS A RAT
AND SO DOES BILL'S FAMILY.
WE WERE TURNING THEM ALL TOWARDS STEPHANIE
BECAUSE WE JUST KNEW IN OUR HEART OF HEARTS
THAT SHE DID THAT.
AND THE MORE WE THOUGHT ABOUT IT, THE MORE WE KNEW.
DID YOU KILL YOUR HUSBAND, STEPHANIE?
NO.
Narrator: POLICE INTERVIEW
BOTH MOTHER AND DAUGHTER.
THEY GET A CONFESSION, BUT NOT THE ONE THEY EXPECT.
MOM, I TOLD THEM THE TRUTH. I TOLD THEM EVERYTHING.
I WAS VERY SURPRISED THAT IT WAS GWEN
THAT HAD ACTUALLY DONE THE ACT AND NOT STEPHANIE.
I WAS SHOCKED BECAUSE I REALLY, TRULY DID NOT BELIEVE
THAT CHILD COULD DO THAT.
Narrator: GUENEVERE GETS A SHOCK OF HER OWN.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT SHE'S TALKING ABOUT.
SHE SAID, "MOM, I TOLD THEM."
AND STEPHANIE WAS ACTING LIKE
SHE DIDN'T KNOW WHAT SHE WAS TALKING ABOUT.
Narrator: STEPHANIE'S ALREADY SACRIFICED HER HUSBAND.
NOW SHE'LL SACRIFICE HER DAUGHTER.
SHE'S BASICALLY TRYING TO THROW HER OWN DAUGHTER UNDER THE BUS.
DeLong: AT THAT MOMENT, GUENEVERE BECAME
AN EMOTIONAL ORPHAN.
REALITY STRUCK GUENEVERE RIGHT THEN, RIGHT THERE,
THAT, "HOW COULD SHE LIE LIKE THAT?
HOW COULD SHE DO THAT TO ME?"
Narrator: POLICE DISCOVER
STEPHANIE WANTED HER HUSBAND DEAD
TO RECEIVE HIS SOCIAL-SECURITY BENEFITS.
BETRAYED IN THE CRUELEST WAY,
GUENEVERE HUDNALL STANDS TRIAL FOR ***
ALONGSIDE HER MOTHER, STEPHANIE.
IN SEPTEMBER 2012,
BOTH ARE CONVICTED OF SECOND-DEGREE ***
AND SENTENCED TO 40 YEARS IN PRISON.
GWEN TRULY WANTS NOTHING TO DO WITH STEPHANIE ANYMORE
AFTER IT WAS ALL SAID AND DONE.
SHE REALIZED IN THE END THAT SHE HAD BEEN MANIPULATED.
OBVIOUSLY, BY THEN, IT'S TOO LATE.
Narrator: STEPHANIE USED HER DAUGHTER
AS A WEAPON IN HER WAR AGAINST HER HUSBAND.
I BELIEVE THAT SHE HAD BEEN PLANNING THIS
FOR A VERY, VERY LONG TIME.
DeLong: A COMMON PLOY OF USERS AND ABUSERS,
WHICH IS WHAT STEPHANIE WAS,
IS TO ISOLATE THEIR VICTIMS FROM THEIR FAMILY,
SCHOOL, FRIENDS, AND, IN A SENSE,
GUENEVERE WAS STEPHANIE'S VICTIM.
Narrator: WANT TO KNOW MORE
ABOUT THE WOMEN FEATURED IN TONIGHT'S EPISODE?
VISIT US ONLINE.
THIS IS AN INSULT!
I WANT 60%, PLUS A MILLION BUCKS!
Narrator: WHEN A MARRIAGE CRUMBLES...
THEY WERE NO LONGER LIVING AS MAN AND WIFE.
Narrator: ...A WOMAN TURNS TO HER FLESH AND BLOOD...
IT WAS A FAMILY AFFAIR.
Narrator: ...TO SOLVE ALL HER PROBLEMS.
IT WAS COLD, CALCULATING, AND DONE FOR FINANCIAL BENEFIT.
Narrator: TAMWORTH, IN RURAL NEW SOUTH WALES, AUSTRALIA,
IS HARSH, ARID COUNTRY.
BUT IN 2002, IT'S LOVED BY 42-YEAR-OLD CATTLE BREEDER
JEFFREY RYAN AND HIS WIFE, HELEN.
[ COW MOOS ]
Sheather: JEFF SOUGHT OUT THAT PARTICULAR PROPERTY.
IT'S GOOD COUNTRY, AND IT WAS A PERFECT SPOT FOR HIM
TO CARRY ON HIS BREEDING BUSINESS.
[ COW MOOS ]
Narrator: HELEN'S SISTER, GANENE, AND MOTHER, CORALIE,
ARE WELCOMED GUESTS.
WHAT DO YOU REALLY THINK OF THE HOUSE, CORALIE?
I'M VERY IMPRESSED.
IT'S A NICE PIECE OF LAND, TOO.
Narrator: JEFFREY AND HELEN ARE HAPPY FOR FOUR YEARS....
UNTIL MOTHER NATURE INTERVENES.
SEVERE DROUGHT HITS THE LAND,
AND BY 2006, THE COUPLE IS CLOSE TO BANKRUPTCY.
JEFF WAS CERTAINLY UNDER A LOT OF FINANCIAL STRESS
AT THIS TIME.
AUSTRALIA WAS DEEP IN A VERY SEVERE RURAL DROUGHT.
WITHIN A COUPLE OF YEARS,
THE CRACKS STARTED TO SHOW IN THEIR RELATIONSHIP.
WHAT?
OH, NOTHING.
JUST LETTING YOU KNOW
I'VE MOVED YOU INTO THE SPARE ROOM.
NIGHT.
[ LIGHT SWITCH CLICKS ]
Narrator: HELEN IS A FAIR-WEATHER WIFE.
WHEN THE MONEY DRIES UP, SO DOES HER LOVE FOR JEFFREY.
Sheather: THEY WERE NO LONGER LIVING AS MAN AND WIFE.
Narrator: HELEN SHARES HER MARRIAGE WOES
WITH HER SISTER, GANENE...
HELLO?
HEY, HELEN. IS EVERYTHING ALL RIGHT?
Narrator: ...AND REVEALS A DARK SECRET...
HE'S ABUSING ME, SIS.
Narrator: ...CLAIMING JEFFREY IS A WIFE ***.
I'VE GOT TO GET IT STOPPED.
SHE POURED HER HEART OUT OVER THE PHONE TO GANENE,
TELLING HE THAT JEFFREY WAS ABUSING HER...
HE WANTS EVERYTHING HIS OWN WAY.
Sheather: ...THAT HE WAS HITTING HER,
AND THAT SHE REALLY NEEDED SOMEONE TO TALK TO ABOUT IT.
JUST NEED SOME HELP.
Narrator: HELEN ISN'T TELLING THE WHOLE TRUTH.
OH! DAMN!
THERE IS DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, BUT HELEN ISN'T THE VICTIM.
SHE IS THE ABUSER.
Sheather: SHE EVEN PHYSICALLY ATTACKED HIM...
AH!
...AND LEFT HIM WITH VERY SEVERE BRUISING
ACROSS HIS CHEST AND UPPER ARMS.
HE DIDN'T LIKE CONFRONTATION.
IN FACT, IT MADE HIM VERY NERVOUS.
I THINK THAT JEFF WAS CERTAINLY AFRAID OF HER FROM TIME TO TIME.
Narrator: JEFF KEEPS THE ABUSE SECRET.
WHEN HE GETS A JOB AT A LOCAL CHICKEN FACTORY
TO SUPPLEMENT HIS INCOME...
OH, HI.
IS EVERYTHING OKAY? YOU LOOK TERRIBLE.
...HE MEETS A WOMAN HE CAN CONFIDE IN.
ANYTHING I CAN DO?
Sheather: SHE WAS JUST A FRIENDLY FACE
THAT HE FELT THAT HE COULD TALK TO.
OH, THANKS SO MUCH.
IT'LL WORK ITSELF OUT, I'M SURE.
SHARING THE BURDEN OF WHAT HE WAS LIVING WITH...
...IT BECAME SOMETHING THAT JEFF RELIED ON A LOT.
Narrator: THEIR FRIENDSHIP MOVES TO THE NEXT LEVEL.
THEY BECOME LOVERS.
BUT HELEN ISN'T A WOMAN WILLING TO SHARE HER MAN,
EVEN ONE SHE DOESN'T WANT.
HELEN COULDN'T ACCEPT THAT JEFF HAD FOUND SOMEBODY ELSE.
Narrator: THE COUPLE NO LONGER SHARES A BED,
BUT HELEN STILL VISITS.
HELEN WOULD OFTEN COME INTO HIS ROOM
AND SIT ON THE END OF HIS BED.
HE WOULD FIND HER JUST STARING AT HIM.
HI.
HEY. WHAT'S HAPPENING?
WHAT'S --
I WANT YOU TO MAKE LOVE TO ME.
HUH?
Sheather: SHE WOULD BADGER HIM FOR SEX.
OH, NO, NO, NO, NO. NO, NO.
CONSTANTLY AT HIM, TIME AFTER TIME,
TO GET HIM TO SLEEP WITH HER.
NO.
I DOUBT THAT HELEN REALLY MISSED JEFFREY
AND WANTED HIM TO HOLD HER AND LOVE HER.
THAT WAS JUST A GAME.
Narrator: JEFFREY'S HAD ENOUGH.
COME OVER!
HE STARTS DIVORCE PROCEEDINGS.
Sheather: HE COULDN'T TAKE IT ANYMORE.
HE REALLY NEEDED TO GET OUT OF THE RELATIONSHIP
BECAUSE HELEN'S CONTROLLING ATTITUDE TOWARDS HIM
JUST DIDN'T ALLOW HIM ENOUGH SPACE TO BREATHE.
SHE WAS OUTRAGED THAT JEFF WANTED TO LEAVE.
SHE JUST COULDN'T HANDLE THE FACT
THAT HE WAS TELLING HER IT WAS OVER.
Narrator: HE OFFERS HELEN A FINANCIAL SETTLEMENT.
THIS IS AN INSULT.
[ SCOFFS ] IT'S A REASONABLE OFFER.
Thorpe: SHE WAS DETERMINED TO GET
WHAT SHE THOUGHT WAS HER RIGHTFUL SHARE OF THE PROPERTY.
I'M NOT SETTLING FOR THIS.
Narrator: BUT IT'S NOT ENOUGH FOR HELEN.
I WANT 60% PLUS A MILLION BUCKS.
WHAT?
Sheather: THAT'S A TOTAL OF SOMETHING IN THE ORDER
OF $1.6 MILLION,
AND JEFFREY SIMPLY DIDN'T HAVE MONEY ANYWHERE NEAR LIKE THAT.
AND THERE WAS NO WAY HE COULD EVEN CONSIDER AGREEING TO IT.
Narrator: HELEN HAS A PLAN TO GET WHAT SHE WANTS,
AND IT WILL BE A FAMILY AFFAIR.
SHE DIDN'T WANT HALF THE MONEY IN HER DIVORCE.
SHE WANTED ALL THE MONEY.
THE ONLY WAY TO GET THAT WAS HIS DEATH.
Narrator: IN 2009, ON A COUNTRY PROPERTY
ON THE OUTSKIRTS OF TAMWORTH, AUSTRALIA...
I'M VERY PLEASED WITH MYSELF.
Narrator: ...HELEN RYAN INVITES HER MOTHER AND SISTER
OVER FOR A CHAT.
BUT THIS IS NO POLITE TEA PARTY.
ULTIMATELY, HER GOAL WAS TO SELL OFF THE PROPERTY, GET THE MONEY,
REMOVE JEFFREY ALTOGETHER FROM HER LIFE.
Narrator: HELEN THINKS HER 40-YEAR-OLD SISTER, GANENE,
HOLDS THE KEY TO HER FREEDOM.
Sheather: GANENE WAS AN ESCORT, AND SHE WAS ALSO A DRUG USER.
SHE WAS A FAIRLY WEAK PERSONALITY,
AND HELEN, I THINK, SAW IN HER SOMEONE
WHO SHE COULD MANIPULATE VERY READILY.
Narrator: GANENE KNOWS PLENTY OF TOUGH GUYS.
HELEN WANTS ONE OF THEM TO KILL HER HUSBAND.
Thorpe: IT LITERALLY TOOK TWO PHONE CALLS.
IT WAS DONE.
CAN I AFFORD IT?
Narrator: BUT *** DOESN'T COME CHEAP.
SHE HAD TO PROVIDE $15,000 UP FRONT,
OTHERWISE IT WAS NO DEAL.
HELEN DIDN'T HAVE $15,000.
SHE NEEDED ACCESS TO CASH,
AND THAT'S WHEN SHE APPROACHED HER MOTHER, CORALIE,
TO SEE IF SHE COULD PROVIDE SOME OF THE FUNDING
TO GET JEFF DEALT WITH.
WELL, I'LL GIVE YOU $10,000.
Narrator: 70-YEAR-OLD CORALIE AND HER DAUGHTER GANENE
BECOME WILLING ACCOMPLICES.
THANKS, MOM.
Thorpe: THEY DIDN'T EVEN ASK ANY BASIC QUESTIONS.
THEY DIDN'T QUESTION HER.
THEY DIDN'T SEEK ANY DETAIL.
THEY JUST ACCEPTED AT FACE VALUE WHAT SHE SAID.
Narrator: MOTHER AND DAUGHTERS ARE NOW BONDED TO ***.
Thorpe: HELEN WAS CERTAINLY THE ORGANIZER.
SHE INSTIGATED IT.
CORALIE WAS THE FINANCIER.
GANENE WAS THE FACILITATOR.
SHE INTRODUCED THE PEOPLE THAT WERE GONNA CARRY IT OUT.
Narrator: ON THE EVENING OF OCTOBER 23rd,
WHILE JEFF FINISHES OFF FARM CHORES,
HIRED KILLER 45-YEAR-OLD KENNETH BROOKS IS WATCHING.
HE KNEW OR MUST HAVE KNOWN EXACTLY WHERE JEFF WOULD BE.
HE MADE HIS WAY DOWN THE DIRT ROAD,
CARRYING A 12-GAUGE SHOTGUN.
[ GUNSHOT ]
[ GUN *** ]
[ GUNSHOT ]
[ COUGHING, SPUTTERING ]
Thorpe: IT WAS PREMEDITATED.
IT WAS COLD, CALCULATED, AND DONE FOR FINANCIAL BENEFIT.
Sheather: JEFFREY DIED ALONE,
BLEEDING TO DEATH INTO THE SOIL THAT HE WORKED.
IT WAS DARK, IT WAS COLD,
AND EVEN IF HE CRIED OUT,
EVEN IF HE HAD THE STRENGTH TO CRY OUT,
THERE WAS NO ONE TO HEAR HIM.
DeLong: I DON'T KNOW WHETHER HELEN KILLED JEFFREY
FOR HIS MONEY OR BECAUSE SHE WAS SEEKING REVENGE.
BUT WHEN THERE'S $1 MILLION INVOLVED...
Helen: I'M NOT SETTLING FOR THIS.
...I HAVE TO CONSIDER THAT THE MONEY
WAS THE BIG MOTIVATOR OF THE ***.
Narrator: WHEN A NEIGHBOR FINDS JEFFREY'S BODY THE NEXT MORNING,
HELEN IS OUT RUNNING ERRANDS.
SHE SAYS SHE HEARD NOTHING THE NIGHT BEFORE.
AND YET A FARMER WHO LIVES A KILOMETER AWAY...
[ GUNSHOT ]
...SAID THAT HE CLEARLY HEARD THE SHOTS.
THE POLICE WONDERED WHY HELEN HADN'T HEARD IT
WHEN SHE WAS MUCH CLOSER.
[ GUNSHOT ]
DeLong: HELEN WAS SMART ENOUGH TO KNOW
THAT THE VERY FIRST PERSON POLICE WOULD LOOK AT
WOULD BE HER.
THE SPOUSE ALWAYS HAS TO BE ELIMINATED.
THAT'S ONE OF THE REASONS SHE HIRED SOMEONE TO KILL HIM.
THE OTHER REASON IS SHE'S A COWARD.
Narrator: BUT THERE IS ONE WITNESS HELEN DIDN'T COUNT ON.
JEFFREY'S FRIEND FROM THE FACTORY
TELLS THE POLICE ABOUT HIS MARRIAGE WOES.
HELEN IS NOW A SUSPECT AND SO IS HER FAMILY.
THE POLICE TAP HELEN'S PHONE.
Sheather: WITH EVERY PASSING DAY,
THERE WAS A NEW REFERENCE TO KEEPING TOGETHER
AND TELLING THE SAME STORY AND MAKING SURE
THAT THE POLICE DIDN'T SPLIT THEM APART
OR PICK HOLES IN THEIR STORY.
Narrator: BUT HELEN TALKS TO MUCH.
SHE SETS UP A MEETING WITH HER HIT MAN
TO MAKE THE FINAL MONEY DROP.
[ CAMERA SHUTTER CLICKS ]
INSTEAD, THE POLICE GET THEIR PAY DAY.
HELEN RYAN?
YOU'RE UNDER ARREST.
AFTER THEIR ARREST,
THE THREE WOMEN MAKE A PACT TO PLEAD NOT GUILTY.
BUT ON THE DAY OF THE TRIAL,
GANENE, THE WEAKEST LINK, BREAKS.
SHE BETRAYS HER MOTHER AND HER SISTER.
GANENE ROLLED OVER, PLEADED GUILTY TO CONSPIRACY.
THAT KNOCKED OUT ONE CORNER OF THE TRIANGLE,
AND THAT WAS A BIG SHOCK, I THINK, FOR HELEN.
DeLong: HELEN MISJUDGED HER FAMILY.
SHE THOUGHT SHE COULD TRUST THEM
TO KEEP THEIR MOUTH SHUT ABOUT THIS, AND SHE WAS WRONG.
Narrator: IN OCTOBER 2011, GANENE COULTER IS SENTENCED
TO SEVEN YEARS, FOUR MONTHS FOR CONSPIRACY TO COMMIT ***.
BECAUSE GANENE OFFERED TO GIVE EVIDENCE AND DID GIVE EVIDENCE,
SHE GOT A DISCOUNT.
CORALIE COULTER IS CONVICTED OF ***.
Thorpe: SHE WON'T BE ELIGIBLE FOR PAROLE
UNTIL SHE'S NEARLY 90,
SO THERE IS A REASONABLE PROSPECT
THAT SHE WILL DIE IN JAIL.
THE HIRED GUNMAN, KENNETH BROOKS,
IS SENTENCED TO 38 YEARS FOR ***.
THE MASTERMIND, HELEN RYAN, IS CONVICTED OF ***
AND SENTENCED TO A MAXIMUM OF 36 YEARS IN PRISON.
HELEN'S *** OF HER HUSBAND, JEFFREY, WASN'T PERSONAL.
IT WAS A FAMILY AFFAIR.
Narrator: HELEN RYAN CONDEMNS HER HUSBAND'S FAMILY
TO A LIFE OF GRIEF
AND HER FAMILY TO A LIFE IN PRISON.
THE MOST SHOCKING PART OF THIS CASE
IS THAT SOMEONE COULD GO TO SUCH LENGTHS
TO MANIPULATE OTHER PEOPLE INTO KILLING ANOTHER HUMAN BEING.
Narrator: WHEN THEY WANTED TO KILL,
THESE WOMEN KNEW EXACTLY WHO TO ASK.
DENISE FREI COAXED HER TEENAGE SON TO ***,
STEPHANIE HUDNALL USED HER DAUGHTER
AS A PAWN IN A LETHAL GAME,
AND HELEN RYAN CREATED A SISTERHOOD OF SIN.
THESE DEADLY WOMEN
KEPT IT ALL IN THE FAMILY WITH THEIR KILLER KIN.