1 00:00:01,368 --> 00:00:02,601 - Female narrator: He was a vietnam veteran 2 00:00:02,636 --> 00:00:05,587 fighting for his life. 3 00:00:05,623 --> 00:00:09,958 - He came home with some demons to battle. 4 00:00:10,011 --> 00:00:11,410 - Narrator: She was the loving partner 5 00:00:11,445 --> 00:00:14,380 who helped him find his way. 6 00:00:14,415 --> 00:00:17,466 - She stood by him and was able to take care of him. 7 00:00:17,518 --> 00:00:19,251 - Narrator: For nearly three decades, 8 00:00:19,270 --> 00:00:22,554 they remained inseparable... 9 00:00:22,589 --> 00:00:27,926 Until an unthinkable betrayal destroyed their union. 10 00:00:27,945 --> 00:00:29,194 - Ray: She was laying on her back 11 00:00:29,230 --> 00:00:31,663 not too far from her vehicle. 12 00:00:31,699 --> 00:00:35,117 - There looked to be some sort of struggle. 13 00:00:35,152 --> 00:00:37,202 - Narrator: Homicide investigators quickly uncover 14 00:00:37,238 --> 00:00:42,374 a web of suspicions and salacious rumors. 15 00:00:42,410 --> 00:00:46,211 - Some of the allegations were quite disturbing. 16 00:00:46,247 --> 00:00:47,996 - She never made any bones about the fact 17 00:00:48,049 --> 00:00:50,549 that they were having an affair. 18 00:00:50,584 --> 00:00:52,584 - They were hiding in closets and different things, 19 00:00:52,619 --> 00:00:56,305 and it was starting to disrupt the work force there. 20 00:00:56,340 --> 00:00:58,757 - Narrator: When the case finally comes to a close, 21 00:00:58,792 --> 00:01:04,229 it will expose an unlikely mastermind of a sinister plot. 22 00:01:04,265 --> 00:01:07,232 - The irony of dying at the hands of someone that 23 00:01:07,268 --> 00:01:10,986 she was trying to help all the way up until her death. 24 00:01:11,021 --> 00:01:13,272 It's kind of heartbreaking. 25 00:01:13,307 --> 00:01:16,024 - She wasn't going to let anything stop her. 26 00:01:16,077 --> 00:01:19,278 - We were in total disbelief and shock. 27 00:01:22,649 --> 00:01:28,203 - ♪ 28 00:01:30,424 --> 00:01:32,207 ♪♪ 29 00:01:33,094 --> 00:01:34,526 - ♪ 30 00:01:34,562 --> 00:01:38,597 - narrator: August 9, 2002. Lincoln county, missouri. 31 00:01:38,632 --> 00:01:41,666 It's a quiet Friday afternoon in this small town 32 00:01:41,685 --> 00:01:44,520 just north of st. Louis, 33 00:01:44,555 --> 00:01:48,474 until a flood of 911 calls ring into the sheriff's office. 34 00:01:48,509 --> 00:01:51,343 - ♪ 35 00:01:51,378 --> 00:01:53,512 - some witnesses had called into law enforcement 36 00:01:53,531 --> 00:01:57,682 and dispatch and notified officers that there was someone 37 00:01:57,701 --> 00:02:00,903 who is lying on the ground in the commuter lot 38 00:02:00,955 --> 00:02:05,073 positioned at the intersection of highway b and 61. 39 00:02:05,126 --> 00:02:07,075 - One of the witnesses passing by 40 00:02:07,128 --> 00:02:10,028 made the assumption it was a suicide. 41 00:02:10,047 --> 00:02:12,631 - ♪ 42 00:02:12,666 --> 00:02:14,082 - [siren wailing] 43 00:02:14,135 --> 00:02:15,033 - narrator: Within minutes, 44 00:02:15,052 --> 00:02:18,387 sheriff's deputies respond to the scene. 45 00:02:18,422 --> 00:02:23,108 - A vehicle was parked facing towards the highway. 46 00:02:23,144 --> 00:02:24,760 Kind of the middle of the parking lot 47 00:02:24,812 --> 00:02:27,346 and car door was open. 48 00:02:27,381 --> 00:02:30,516 And there was a large pool of what appeared to be blood. 49 00:02:31,718 --> 00:02:34,686 - Witnesses observed, as well as law enforcement, 50 00:02:34,721 --> 00:02:37,722 that there was someone with a massive head wound, 51 00:02:37,741 --> 00:02:41,360 what appeared to be a gunshot, who was laying on the ground. 52 00:02:42,363 --> 00:02:44,947 - She was laying not too far from her vehicle, 53 00:02:44,999 --> 00:02:46,949 towards the front of her vehicle. 54 00:02:47,001 --> 00:02:49,618 - The vehicle was still running. 55 00:02:49,670 --> 00:02:51,119 - Narrator: Authorities quickly determine 56 00:02:51,172 --> 00:02:53,755 that the victim is deceased, 57 00:02:53,791 --> 00:02:57,876 but none of the 911 callers saw what happened to her. 58 00:02:59,413 --> 00:03:02,014 - They thought maybe it was a suicide at that point. 59 00:03:02,049 --> 00:03:03,048 - Marshall: It was my understanding 60 00:03:03,083 --> 00:03:04,016 when they found her body, 61 00:03:04,051 --> 00:03:07,135 she had a work uniform on from her employer. 62 00:03:07,188 --> 00:03:10,472 And on that was her work identification. 63 00:03:10,524 --> 00:03:12,140 - Narrator: The badge identifies the victim 64 00:03:12,193 --> 00:03:15,444 as 56-year-old ruth ann madden, 65 00:03:15,479 --> 00:03:18,697 a housekeeping supervisor at a nearby medical center. 66 00:03:18,732 --> 00:03:22,568 - ♪ 67 00:03:22,603 --> 00:03:25,337 - marshall: Upon identifying the victim on the commuter lot 68 00:03:25,372 --> 00:03:27,706 based on her work id, 69 00:03:27,741 --> 00:03:30,876 uniformed officers in the missouri state highway patrol 70 00:03:30,911 --> 00:03:35,414 responded to her husband's house to make death notification. 71 00:03:35,449 --> 00:03:37,165 This is common and usually the first step 72 00:03:37,218 --> 00:03:39,918 is notifying next of kin. 73 00:03:39,953 --> 00:03:44,172 - Narrator: Ruth ann's husband is 52-year-old andrew madden. 74 00:03:44,225 --> 00:03:47,959 - Marshall: Andy was wheelchair-bound. 75 00:03:47,978 --> 00:03:50,729 When they arrived, he was out front, they said, 76 00:03:50,764 --> 00:03:53,599 "unfortunately, we have to tell you your wife is deceased." 77 00:03:55,352 --> 00:03:58,153 he put out his cigarette kind of calmly, 78 00:03:58,188 --> 00:04:03,492 and then dropped his face down into his hands and began crying. 79 00:04:03,527 --> 00:04:05,193 - Andy wanted to find out what happened to his wife, 80 00:04:05,246 --> 00:04:06,778 how this could have happened. 81 00:04:09,950 --> 00:04:12,117 - ♪ 82 00:04:12,152 --> 00:04:15,454 - narrator: Born on December 17, 1945, 83 00:04:15,489 --> 00:04:18,590 ruth ann scott was always a caregiver. 84 00:04:20,160 --> 00:04:23,595 - She was just sweet and reserved. 85 00:04:23,631 --> 00:04:25,347 You could tell she cared about people. 86 00:04:25,382 --> 00:04:27,832 She was a warm individual. 87 00:04:27,851 --> 00:04:30,602 - She was the oldest of 11 children. 88 00:04:30,638 --> 00:04:32,020 She would be that person that, you know-- 89 00:04:32,056 --> 00:04:34,439 that helped raise quite a few of the siblings. 90 00:04:34,475 --> 00:04:36,358 - Mike: She was so family-oriented 91 00:04:36,393 --> 00:04:39,945 and was just a very kind and nurturing person. 92 00:04:39,980 --> 00:04:42,447 - Narrator: In her 20s, ruth ann fell in love 93 00:04:42,483 --> 00:04:45,784 with a young soldier named andrew madden. 94 00:04:45,819 --> 00:04:48,420 - David: Andy madden was a former service member 95 00:04:48,455 --> 00:04:50,188 of the us army. 96 00:04:50,207 --> 00:04:53,825 He was a veteran of the vietnam war. 97 00:04:53,860 --> 00:04:55,627 - Sheldon: He was a tank mechanic. 98 00:04:55,663 --> 00:04:59,047 He did see significant action 99 00:04:59,083 --> 00:05:02,250 during his tour in--in vietnam. 100 00:05:02,303 --> 00:05:05,220 And it left an emotional toll on him. 101 00:05:05,255 --> 00:05:08,507 He came home with some demons to battle. 102 00:05:09,760 --> 00:05:13,261 But once he got to know you and once you got to know him, 103 00:05:13,314 --> 00:05:15,731 he's actually a really good friend. 104 00:05:18,152 --> 00:05:22,020 - Narrator: Ruth ann married andy in 1975 and settled down 105 00:05:22,055 --> 00:05:24,856 in eolia, missouri. 106 00:05:24,892 --> 00:05:27,892 She worked in housekeeping at a hospital, while andy operated 107 00:05:27,911 --> 00:05:31,413 heavy machinery at a quarry in lincoln county. 108 00:05:32,866 --> 00:05:34,950 - Sheldon: They were always together. 109 00:05:35,002 --> 00:05:37,619 She was always concerned about his well-being 110 00:05:37,671 --> 00:05:39,705 and if everything was alright. 111 00:05:39,740 --> 00:05:42,674 There was something particularly cute about the two of them. 112 00:05:42,710 --> 00:05:45,677 And everybody enjoyed them being around. 113 00:05:47,598 --> 00:05:49,247 - Narrator: But as the years passed, 114 00:05:49,266 --> 00:05:52,917 andy's health deteriorated. 115 00:05:52,936 --> 00:05:56,304 - Sheldon: His health was not that good. 116 00:05:56,357 --> 00:05:59,224 He was a sick man. Very sick man. 117 00:05:59,259 --> 00:06:00,308 - David: Andy was in a wheelchair. 118 00:06:00,361 --> 00:06:01,693 He was able to walk. 119 00:06:01,729 --> 00:06:03,595 So sometimes his balance gets in the issue 120 00:06:03,614 --> 00:06:06,031 and that's what the chair is for. 121 00:06:06,066 --> 00:06:08,784 - Sheldon: Cancers, and especially treatment for cancer, 122 00:06:08,819 --> 00:06:12,120 they rob the body of a lot of strength. 123 00:06:12,156 --> 00:06:15,157 His problem seemed more with strength in his legs. 124 00:06:15,209 --> 00:06:17,909 - Narrator: Unable to continue his job at the quarry, 125 00:06:17,944 --> 00:06:22,748 andy struggled with the physical and emotional fallout. 126 00:06:22,783 --> 00:06:26,301 - Sheldon: The military makes you a strong individual. 127 00:06:26,336 --> 00:06:29,171 Your strengths are a major part of your life. 128 00:06:29,223 --> 00:06:32,808 When those things leave you, it's--it's hard to deal with. 129 00:06:32,843 --> 00:06:35,894 - ♪ 130 00:06:35,929 --> 00:06:38,063 - narrator: Despite andy's failing health, 131 00:06:38,098 --> 00:06:40,565 ruth ann stuck by his side. 132 00:06:40,601 --> 00:06:43,902 And in 1997, she accepted a full-time job 133 00:06:43,937 --> 00:06:47,355 as a housekeeping manager at lincoln county medical center 134 00:06:47,408 --> 00:06:49,658 to support the both of them. 135 00:06:49,693 --> 00:06:51,910 - She stood by him and was able to take care of him 136 00:06:51,945 --> 00:06:53,578 and continued to take care of him. 137 00:06:53,614 --> 00:06:55,447 Continued to work at the same time. 138 00:06:57,785 --> 00:06:59,584 - Narrator: Ruth ann did what she could, 139 00:06:59,620 --> 00:07:02,120 but more help was needed. 140 00:07:02,156 --> 00:07:03,622 - David: The veteran's administration went ahead 141 00:07:03,657 --> 00:07:07,342 and supplied him a home healthcare aide 142 00:07:07,377 --> 00:07:09,177 by the name of karen clowers 143 00:07:09,213 --> 00:07:12,013 to assist in everyday duties such as clothing, 144 00:07:12,049 --> 00:07:15,517 medicine, bathing and whatnot, as needed. 145 00:07:15,552 --> 00:07:16,635 - Narrator: For the maddens, 146 00:07:16,670 --> 00:07:19,604 having healthcare worker karen clowers in their home 147 00:07:19,640 --> 00:07:22,274 made a huge difference. 148 00:07:22,309 --> 00:07:26,678 - She was helping with house chores and making sure he was 149 00:07:26,697 --> 00:07:30,282 taking his medicine and making him something to eat and stuff 150 00:07:30,317 --> 00:07:33,652 while ruth was out working. 151 00:07:33,687 --> 00:07:36,154 - The relationship, to my understanding, with, uh, 152 00:07:36,189 --> 00:07:39,574 karen clowers and, uh, ruth ann madden was a good one. 153 00:07:39,626 --> 00:07:41,910 They would talk a lot. They would hang together. 154 00:07:41,962 --> 00:07:44,629 Even after she got off, she would stay. 155 00:07:44,665 --> 00:07:46,414 She would, uh, it--it was a friendship relationship 156 00:07:46,467 --> 00:07:48,366 with all three. 157 00:07:48,385 --> 00:07:51,136 - Narrator: It seemed ruth ann and andy had finally found 158 00:07:51,171 --> 00:07:55,390 a good balance--but little did they know, 159 00:07:55,425 --> 00:07:58,009 their time together was running out. 160 00:07:58,044 --> 00:08:01,112 - ♪ 161 00:08:01,148 --> 00:08:04,015 - narrator: Now, on August 9, 2002, 162 00:08:04,051 --> 00:08:07,218 state troopers have just informed andy madden 163 00:08:07,237 --> 00:08:09,287 that his wife, ruth ann madden, 164 00:08:09,323 --> 00:08:13,224 has been found dead in a commuter parking lot. 165 00:08:13,243 --> 00:08:15,660 - David: He was upset. A couple times he broke down. 166 00:08:15,696 --> 00:08:16,945 I'm like, you know, "I'm sorry. 167 00:08:16,997 --> 00:08:18,747 "I'm sorry, andy. I'm so sorry. 168 00:08:18,782 --> 00:08:20,999 I mean, I can't imagine what you're going through." 169 00:08:21,034 --> 00:08:24,202 - ♪ 170 00:08:24,237 --> 00:08:26,671 - narrator: While andy processes his grief, 171 00:08:26,707 --> 00:08:30,308 detectives arrive at the crime scene. 172 00:08:30,344 --> 00:08:33,244 - Initially, it was reported that it--possibly a suicide, 173 00:08:33,263 --> 00:08:36,848 but really quickly it was starting to unfold that 174 00:08:36,884 --> 00:08:39,718 that was clearly not a suicide. 175 00:08:39,753 --> 00:08:41,152 - David: Right away we start thinking, 176 00:08:41,188 --> 00:08:42,220 this doesn't smell right. 177 00:08:42,256 --> 00:08:44,272 We don't have a weapon at the scene, it was gone, 178 00:08:44,308 --> 00:08:48,693 a clear head shot, left running by her car, id's on her shirt, 179 00:08:48,729 --> 00:08:50,996 something happened immediate and quick. 180 00:08:51,031 --> 00:08:53,265 - Mike: At that point, it was obvious 181 00:08:53,300 --> 00:08:55,116 that this was a homicide. 182 00:08:57,905 --> 00:09:00,622 - Narrator: Coming up: Investigators find evidence 183 00:09:00,657 --> 00:09:04,709 of a desperate struggle for survival. 184 00:09:04,745 --> 00:09:06,211 - Michael: There was actually human hairs 185 00:09:06,246 --> 00:09:07,512 clenched in her hand. 186 00:09:07,548 --> 00:09:09,247 That looked to be that she either tried 187 00:09:09,282 --> 00:09:13,885 to stop her assailant or grab on to her assailant. 188 00:09:13,921 --> 00:09:16,421 - Narrator: And ruth ann's husband gives investigators 189 00:09:16,456 --> 00:09:18,089 their first lead. 190 00:09:18,124 --> 00:09:20,091 - Marshall: He mentioned that she had been receiving 191 00:09:20,126 --> 00:09:23,895 threatening and harassing phone calls and death threats. 192 00:09:23,931 --> 00:09:26,264 This whole thing was very bizarre. 193 00:09:29,019 --> 00:09:32,737 - ♪ 194 00:09:39,313 --> 00:09:41,646 - narrator: On August 9, 2002, 195 00:09:41,682 --> 00:09:43,848 authorities in lincoln county, missouri, 196 00:09:43,867 --> 00:09:47,919 are processing the scene where 56-year-old ruth ann madden 197 00:09:47,955 --> 00:09:51,256 has been found murdered in a commuter parking lot 198 00:09:51,291 --> 00:09:52,991 near her home. 199 00:09:53,026 --> 00:09:57,912 - A homicide in this particular community is extremely rare. 200 00:09:57,965 --> 00:10:00,098 - Dan: You have thefts, maybe somebody steals a car 201 00:10:00,133 --> 00:10:01,916 or breaks into a house. 202 00:10:01,969 --> 00:10:06,004 But to have someone brutally shot point blank in the face 203 00:10:06,039 --> 00:10:09,007 in a commuter lot, it shocks the conscience. 204 00:10:09,042 --> 00:10:12,010 - ♪ 205 00:10:12,045 --> 00:10:13,928 - narrator: Investigators talk to bystanders 206 00:10:13,981 --> 00:10:17,432 who have gathered at the scene of the crime, 207 00:10:17,484 --> 00:10:20,902 including a young couple that saw a suspicious vehicle 208 00:10:20,937 --> 00:10:23,822 leaving the parking lot that afternoon. 209 00:10:26,059 --> 00:10:28,243 - Dan: It just so happens that this gentleman, randy, 210 00:10:28,278 --> 00:10:31,729 was driving westbound on highway e, 211 00:10:31,748 --> 00:10:34,082 and this car comes screaming out in front of him, 212 00:10:34,117 --> 00:10:35,834 to the point where I think he almost had to take 213 00:10:35,869 --> 00:10:37,502 some sort of evasive action. 214 00:10:37,537 --> 00:10:40,872 And that drew his attention to the commuter lot where he saw 215 00:10:40,907 --> 00:10:43,241 the--the body on the commuter lot. 216 00:10:44,711 --> 00:10:46,077 - Narrator: Suspecting the other driver 217 00:10:46,096 --> 00:10:48,546 might have been involved in a crime, 218 00:10:48,581 --> 00:10:51,616 randy decided to give chase. 219 00:10:51,652 --> 00:10:55,136 - This individual made a u-turn and actually attempted to chase 220 00:10:55,188 --> 00:10:58,473 this vehicle down northbound 40-61, 221 00:10:58,525 --> 00:11:02,127 but it was traveling in excess of 85, 90 miles an hour. 222 00:11:03,730 --> 00:11:05,647 - David: I guess the witness realized that, "hey, 223 00:11:05,699 --> 00:11:07,649 this is getting too dangerous." 224 00:11:07,701 --> 00:11:08,817 you know, to them it wasn't worth it. 225 00:11:08,869 --> 00:11:10,068 So they shut back down, 226 00:11:10,103 --> 00:11:11,236 responded back to the commuter lot, 227 00:11:11,271 --> 00:11:14,322 wherein they met deputies and gave them their statement. 228 00:11:15,575 --> 00:11:16,374 - Marshall: Unfortunately, at the time 229 00:11:16,410 --> 00:11:18,943 they did not get the license plate. 230 00:11:18,962 --> 00:11:20,161 The witness was more focused on 231 00:11:20,213 --> 00:11:22,447 identifying the driver of the car. 232 00:11:22,466 --> 00:11:25,834 But he did give us a spectacular description of the vehicle. 233 00:11:27,504 --> 00:11:28,820 - [siren wailing] 234 00:11:28,855 --> 00:11:31,172 - narrator: Investigators immediately issue a bolo 235 00:11:31,224 --> 00:11:35,677 for a white chevy lumina sedan with tinted windows. 236 00:11:35,729 --> 00:11:37,512 But without a license plate number, 237 00:11:37,564 --> 00:11:41,900 authorities are looking for a needle in a haystack. 238 00:11:41,935 --> 00:11:44,652 - Initially, we really didn't have a lot to go on 239 00:11:44,688 --> 00:11:46,571 when we formed up. 240 00:11:46,606 --> 00:11:48,189 - Narrator: In an effort to act fast, 241 00:11:48,241 --> 00:11:51,309 the sheriff's office seeks help from the multi-agency 242 00:11:51,328 --> 00:11:55,646 major case squad of greater st. Louis. 243 00:11:55,665 --> 00:11:59,184 - Dan: You have anywhere from 25 to 30 detectives from all over 244 00:11:59,219 --> 00:12:01,886 bringing all different kinds of experience. 245 00:12:01,922 --> 00:12:04,222 And one of the benefits of that is the kind of, 246 00:12:04,257 --> 00:12:06,341 for lack of better words, brainstorming. 247 00:12:06,376 --> 00:12:07,592 You know, like, "what do you think? 248 00:12:07,627 --> 00:12:09,544 What does this look like to you?" 249 00:12:09,596 --> 00:12:10,995 one of the scenarios was-- 250 00:12:11,014 --> 00:12:13,664 was this a carjacking or a robbery that went bad? 251 00:12:13,683 --> 00:12:16,234 But then you start looking at some of the other factors and, 252 00:12:16,269 --> 00:12:18,186 like, well, you know, her purse was left in the car. 253 00:12:18,221 --> 00:12:20,972 Is that a robbery? It's probably not. 254 00:12:21,007 --> 00:12:24,342 - We noted a gunshot wound to the side of the head 255 00:12:24,361 --> 00:12:25,910 and an exit wound. 256 00:12:25,946 --> 00:12:28,980 We did not locate a projectile. 257 00:12:29,015 --> 00:12:31,232 - That absolutely would lead us to either believe that 258 00:12:31,284 --> 00:12:34,986 the person was--whoever was responsible for the crime, 259 00:12:35,021 --> 00:12:38,256 was aware enough to clean up after themselves 260 00:12:38,291 --> 00:12:39,908 or that they had used a revolver. 261 00:12:39,960 --> 00:12:42,577 In that case, no shell casing would have been ejected. 262 00:12:42,629 --> 00:12:47,465 - ♪ 263 00:12:47,501 --> 00:12:49,417 - narrator: Investigators collect several items 264 00:12:49,469 --> 00:12:52,604 from the area-- including a soft drink bottle 265 00:12:52,639 --> 00:12:54,806 and multiple cigarette butts. 266 00:12:57,144 --> 00:12:59,427 - You don't know, is this an important piece of evidence 267 00:12:59,479 --> 00:13:02,280 or is it just clutter? 268 00:13:02,315 --> 00:13:05,233 - Marshall: So, they were seizing those cigarette butts 269 00:13:05,268 --> 00:13:08,353 that they found. It was a doral brand cigarette. 270 00:13:10,440 --> 00:13:13,741 - Narrator: Upon closer examination of ruth ann's body, 271 00:13:13,777 --> 00:13:15,493 investigators find evidence 272 00:13:15,529 --> 00:13:19,447 that she might have tried to fight off her killer. 273 00:13:19,499 --> 00:13:21,449 - Michael: There looked to be some sort of struggle, 274 00:13:21,501 --> 00:13:25,003 because there was actually human hairs found in ruth ann's hand-- 275 00:13:25,038 --> 00:13:26,287 clenched in her hand. 276 00:13:26,339 --> 00:13:28,957 That looked to be that either she tried to stop her assailant 277 00:13:29,009 --> 00:13:32,844 or grab on to her assailant. 278 00:13:32,879 --> 00:13:36,214 - Those hair follicles were seized as evidence 279 00:13:36,249 --> 00:13:38,883 and forwarded for dna analysis. 280 00:13:40,637 --> 00:13:43,304 - Narrator: Detectives request ruth ann's phone records, 281 00:13:43,356 --> 00:13:46,441 hoping they will shed some light on what happened. 282 00:13:46,476 --> 00:13:49,110 But getting the results will take time. 283 00:13:50,864 --> 00:13:52,113 While they're waiting, 284 00:13:52,148 --> 00:13:55,483 they ask the local community for help. 285 00:13:55,535 --> 00:13:59,070 - David: We need the public to help us police. 286 00:13:59,105 --> 00:14:02,073 Two minutes of someone's life could save countless hours of 287 00:14:02,108 --> 00:14:05,660 investigators' time and maybe possibly save somebody's life 288 00:14:05,712 --> 00:14:07,045 before it's too late. 289 00:14:07,080 --> 00:14:11,332 - I first heard that they found her body, it was on the news. 290 00:14:11,384 --> 00:14:15,019 And then when I--then when they said their name, I was thinking, 291 00:14:15,055 --> 00:14:17,088 "oh no, it couldn't be the same." 292 00:14:17,123 --> 00:14:18,756 it just made no sense to me. 293 00:14:18,792 --> 00:14:20,642 It would seem like she had no business being there unless 294 00:14:20,677 --> 00:14:24,229 she was meeting somebody there, because where they lived 295 00:14:24,264 --> 00:14:28,016 was at least another 10 or 15 minutes north 296 00:14:28,068 --> 00:14:29,601 from where she was found. 297 00:14:31,071 --> 00:14:31,903 - Narrator: While investigators 298 00:14:31,938 --> 00:14:34,672 wait for potential tips to roll in, 299 00:14:34,708 --> 00:14:36,341 they drive out to the madden home 300 00:14:36,376 --> 00:14:40,311 to speak further with ruth ann's husband, andy. 301 00:14:40,347 --> 00:14:42,113 - Traditional police work would lead you to believe 302 00:14:42,148 --> 00:14:45,083 that you always have to look at the spouse first. 303 00:14:45,118 --> 00:14:47,619 I said, "would you have time to talk with me alone?" 304 00:14:47,654 --> 00:14:49,003 and he said, "sure, I would-- 305 00:14:49,039 --> 00:14:50,988 "I would very much like to help you. 306 00:14:51,007 --> 00:14:53,207 I want to find out who did this to my wife." 307 00:14:53,260 --> 00:14:55,343 and I'm like, okay, this is a good start. 308 00:14:55,378 --> 00:14:57,879 - Narrator: Investigators ask andy where he was 309 00:14:57,931 --> 00:15:00,181 earlier in the afternoon. 310 00:15:00,216 --> 00:15:03,718 He says he had been with his caretaker all day. 311 00:15:03,770 --> 00:15:06,888 - He had mentioned that karen clowers was with him 312 00:15:06,940 --> 00:15:10,391 the whole day until approximately 5 p.M. 313 00:15:10,443 --> 00:15:12,060 - Narrator: Andy provides detectives with 314 00:15:12,112 --> 00:15:14,896 contact information for karen clowers, 315 00:15:14,948 --> 00:15:17,398 so they can verify his alibi. 316 00:15:17,450 --> 00:15:21,202 But before contacting karen, detectives ask andy 317 00:15:21,237 --> 00:15:27,075 if ruth ann had any enemies outside or inside the home. 318 00:15:27,127 --> 00:15:28,126 - Mike: He described their marriage 319 00:15:28,161 --> 00:15:31,412 as the perfect marriage, no problems whatsoever. 320 00:15:31,464 --> 00:15:36,434 Never alluded to any type of problems on the marriage front. 321 00:15:36,469 --> 00:15:37,735 - Marshall: Obviously, a question is asked, 322 00:15:37,771 --> 00:15:42,840 "do you have any idea of who may want to have harmed your wife?" 323 00:15:42,875 --> 00:15:46,311 and immediately, he mentioned that she had been receiving 324 00:15:46,346 --> 00:15:49,597 threatening and harassing phone calls and death threats. 325 00:15:49,649 --> 00:15:54,402 - ♪ 326 00:15:54,437 --> 00:15:57,739 - dan: Ruth had been receiving threatening phone calls at home 327 00:15:57,774 --> 00:16:01,225 and at work, and she was kind of on, I guess what I would say, 328 00:16:01,244 --> 00:16:03,277 maybe, high alert. 329 00:16:03,330 --> 00:16:06,664 - One of the calls was to andy himself, 330 00:16:06,700 --> 00:16:10,284 and it sounded somewhat like a female voice stating 331 00:16:10,337 --> 00:16:13,454 that his wife was having an affair. 332 00:16:13,506 --> 00:16:15,089 "hey, your wife is cheating on you. 333 00:16:15,125 --> 00:16:16,958 We thought you need to know." 334 00:16:17,010 --> 00:16:19,460 this whole thing was very bizarre. 335 00:16:19,512 --> 00:16:22,847 - Narrator: Investigators want to know who was calling ruth ann 336 00:16:22,882 --> 00:16:25,466 and why they were harassing her. 337 00:16:25,518 --> 00:16:28,102 - Initially, ruth ann suspected the calls may have 338 00:16:28,138 --> 00:16:30,304 been coming from a coworker. 339 00:16:30,357 --> 00:16:32,440 - She would tell andy that, "people at work 340 00:16:32,475 --> 00:16:36,027 are messing with me," and she was scared of it. 341 00:16:39,449 --> 00:16:41,482 - Narrator: Andrew believes the calls may have come 342 00:16:41,534 --> 00:16:46,504 from a former coworker of ruth ann's named betty. 343 00:16:46,539 --> 00:16:48,673 - Marshall: Ruth ann had a supervisory position 344 00:16:48,708 --> 00:16:50,174 at the hospital. 345 00:16:50,210 --> 00:16:51,993 She was in charge of housekeeping. 346 00:16:52,045 --> 00:16:56,247 And there was a female employee who was a subordinate of hers. 347 00:16:56,282 --> 00:16:57,615 - Narrator: According to andrew, 348 00:16:57,634 --> 00:17:01,152 ruth ann had moved betty to the night shift. 349 00:17:01,187 --> 00:17:02,754 - Marshall: This ended up upsetting betty 350 00:17:02,789 --> 00:17:04,288 and prompted her to call. 351 00:17:04,307 --> 00:17:05,506 But not to threaten murder, 352 00:17:05,558 --> 00:17:08,976 but just to, "stop meddling with my life." 353 00:17:09,012 --> 00:17:11,512 she subsequently resigned. 354 00:17:11,564 --> 00:17:14,065 - Narrator: Andrew says he and ruth ann quickly reported 355 00:17:14,100 --> 00:17:17,068 the calls to the troy police department. 356 00:17:17,103 --> 00:17:20,438 - Ms. Madden and andrew madden had taken steps to try to track 357 00:17:20,473 --> 00:17:23,074 where these phone calls were coming from. 358 00:17:23,109 --> 00:17:24,525 Law enforcement ended up following up on 359 00:17:24,577 --> 00:17:25,410 some of those leads, 360 00:17:25,445 --> 00:17:28,145 but none of them really went anywhere. 361 00:17:28,164 --> 00:17:31,365 - Andrew provided us with four or five phone numbers 362 00:17:31,418 --> 00:17:34,035 that he said he had captured from his caller id. 363 00:17:36,372 --> 00:17:38,372 - Narrator: Now investigators wonder, 364 00:17:38,425 --> 00:17:42,560 could workplace tensions have led to murder? 365 00:17:42,595 --> 00:17:44,395 - David: We wanted to get to the bottom of it. 366 00:17:44,431 --> 00:17:46,214 We're going to find the person that's responsible. 367 00:17:48,435 --> 00:17:51,853 - Narrator: Coming up: An illicit and brazen affair 368 00:17:51,888 --> 00:17:53,471 is revealed. 369 00:17:53,506 --> 00:17:55,356 - They were alone all day--all day long. 370 00:17:55,391 --> 00:17:58,309 And I know she set her sights on him. 371 00:17:58,344 --> 00:17:59,477 - Narrator: And detectives find 372 00:17:59,512 --> 00:18:03,114 their biggest piece of evidence yet. 373 00:18:03,149 --> 00:18:04,565 - Dan: We're like, "does that look like the vehicle 374 00:18:04,617 --> 00:18:07,535 that you saw fleeing the crime scene?" 375 00:18:07,570 --> 00:18:10,655 they were 100% sure that like, "yeah, that's the vehicle." 376 00:18:12,959 --> 00:18:16,494 - ♪ 377 00:18:23,203 --> 00:18:26,037 - narrator: Just hours after ruth ann madden was found 378 00:18:26,072 --> 00:18:28,573 murdered in a commuter parking lot, 379 00:18:28,608 --> 00:18:32,810 her husband has implicated one of ruth ann's coworkers, 380 00:18:32,846 --> 00:18:35,513 who allegedly made some harassing phone calls 381 00:18:35,548 --> 00:18:38,032 in recent weeks. 382 00:18:38,084 --> 00:18:41,202 - Andy madden holds firm that whoever it is making 383 00:18:41,254 --> 00:18:44,705 these threatening phone calls must've been involved somehow. 384 00:18:44,757 --> 00:18:48,226 - ♪ 385 00:18:48,261 --> 00:18:50,761 - narrator: Investigators contact ruth ann's supervisor 386 00:18:50,797 --> 00:18:53,047 at the lincoln county medical center 387 00:18:53,099 --> 00:18:55,233 to learn more about ruth ann's problems 388 00:18:55,268 --> 00:18:59,103 with a former coworker named "betty." 389 00:18:59,139 --> 00:19:01,806 - he had said that ruth ann had come to him 390 00:19:01,841 --> 00:19:04,058 and mentioned that other employees had mentioned 391 00:19:04,110 --> 00:19:06,144 that two of her subordinates 392 00:19:06,179 --> 00:19:09,230 were having an extramarital affair. 393 00:19:09,282 --> 00:19:11,482 They were hiding in closets and different things, 394 00:19:11,517 --> 00:19:14,785 and it was starting to disrupt the work force there. 395 00:19:14,821 --> 00:19:17,855 They decided the best course of action would be to separate them 396 00:19:17,874 --> 00:19:20,041 on the work schedule. 397 00:19:20,076 --> 00:19:21,876 Once the participant in that affair, betty, 398 00:19:21,911 --> 00:19:24,245 was notified that her shift would be changed 399 00:19:24,297 --> 00:19:27,248 because of her behavior, she was very upset. 400 00:19:29,836 --> 00:19:31,368 - Narrator: According to the supervisor, 401 00:19:31,387 --> 00:19:36,140 betty quit her job on July 25, around the same time 402 00:19:36,176 --> 00:19:40,895 ruth ann received the harassing phone calls. 403 00:19:40,930 --> 00:19:45,716 - Some of the allegations raised as to the comments 404 00:19:45,735 --> 00:19:48,402 on the phone calls were quite disturbing. 405 00:19:48,438 --> 00:19:50,821 Some of those alluded to the fact that she was going to have 406 00:19:50,857 --> 00:19:52,657 her throat slit. 407 00:19:52,692 --> 00:19:54,609 That she was going to be beaten 408 00:19:54,661 --> 00:19:57,662 and thrown into the quiver river. 409 00:19:57,697 --> 00:20:00,164 - Dan: Her supervisors took those threats seriously enough 410 00:20:00,200 --> 00:20:02,833 that they assigned her security to walk her back and forth 411 00:20:02,869 --> 00:20:04,168 from her car. 412 00:20:04,204 --> 00:20:06,837 - ♪ 413 00:20:06,873 --> 00:20:08,239 - narrator: Investigators work quickly 414 00:20:08,258 --> 00:20:11,292 to contact betty at her home in troy, missouri, 415 00:20:11,344 --> 00:20:15,279 and ask her where she was on August 9. 416 00:20:15,315 --> 00:20:17,465 - Marshall: She said her car had been in the shop 417 00:20:17,517 --> 00:20:19,050 for quite some time, 418 00:20:19,085 --> 00:20:20,635 specifically during that time period 419 00:20:20,687 --> 00:20:22,803 and days before and after. 420 00:20:22,855 --> 00:20:24,588 - Narrator: Betty gives detectives receipts 421 00:20:24,607 --> 00:20:26,190 from the car repair shop, 422 00:20:26,226 --> 00:20:28,809 as well as contact information for friends 423 00:20:28,861 --> 00:20:32,129 who can verify her alibi. 424 00:20:32,165 --> 00:20:33,064 - Marshall: When we investigated that, 425 00:20:33,099 --> 00:20:35,066 it turned out she had a really good alibi 426 00:20:35,101 --> 00:20:38,069 and was not anywhere near the crime scene during that time. 427 00:20:38,104 --> 00:20:41,272 - ♪ 428 00:20:41,291 --> 00:20:43,741 - narrator: Detectives use one more piece of evidence 429 00:20:43,776 --> 00:20:46,294 to eliminate betty as a suspect: 430 00:20:46,329 --> 00:20:50,114 A tape recording provided by andrew madden. 431 00:20:50,133 --> 00:20:52,616 - I believe it was upon the advice of law enforcement that 432 00:20:52,635 --> 00:20:56,170 they were to record these phone calls, which they had. 433 00:20:56,222 --> 00:20:59,123 So, law enforcement, they had a sample of the voice 434 00:20:59,142 --> 00:21:01,309 of the person who was making these phone calls. 435 00:21:02,679 --> 00:21:06,063 - Dan: Troy police department turned over some of the calls. 436 00:21:06,099 --> 00:21:08,266 There was an analysis done 437 00:21:08,301 --> 00:21:11,185 between betty's voice and the calls, 438 00:21:11,237 --> 00:21:13,354 and it became pretty clear that that wasn't her. 439 00:21:13,406 --> 00:21:16,874 - ♪ 440 00:21:16,909 --> 00:21:18,609 - narrator: As investigators strike betty 441 00:21:18,645 --> 00:21:20,244 from the suspect list, 442 00:21:20,280 --> 00:21:24,548 a lead comes in from one of andrew madden's neighbors. 443 00:21:24,584 --> 00:21:27,368 - Marshall: Apparently, he is an avid scanner listener. 444 00:21:27,420 --> 00:21:29,203 Monitors police traffic. 445 00:21:29,255 --> 00:21:32,206 And he hears, because it's broadcasted after the murder, 446 00:21:32,258 --> 00:21:36,210 that law enforcement is looking for a white chevy lumina. 447 00:21:36,262 --> 00:21:38,129 - Mike: He says, "look, the chevy lumina 448 00:21:38,164 --> 00:21:39,380 "that you're looking for 449 00:21:39,432 --> 00:21:43,184 "happens to be the type of vehicle driven by karen clowers, 450 00:21:43,219 --> 00:21:46,503 who's the caretaker of mr. Madden." 451 00:21:46,522 --> 00:21:49,223 so, law enforcement, once they had this information, 452 00:21:49,275 --> 00:21:51,642 they need to know what's going on with karen clowers. 453 00:21:53,746 --> 00:21:54,779 - ♪ 454 00:21:54,814 --> 00:21:58,849 - narrator: Born in 1957, in louisiana, missouri, 455 00:21:58,885 --> 00:22:01,686 karen dowell had a troubled youth... 456 00:22:01,721 --> 00:22:04,422 Leading to a teenage pregnancy. 457 00:22:04,457 --> 00:22:09,994 - What I heard was she got married 458 00:22:10,029 --> 00:22:12,263 because she was pregnant, 459 00:22:12,298 --> 00:22:15,132 but then gave the baby up for adoption. 460 00:22:17,303 --> 00:22:19,003 - Narrator: The marriage didn't last, 461 00:22:19,038 --> 00:22:21,605 and karen moved on with her life. 462 00:22:21,641 --> 00:22:25,443 By 1980, when another relationship failed to pan out, 463 00:22:25,478 --> 00:22:29,747 karen found herself a single mother of two. 464 00:22:29,782 --> 00:22:33,184 - They got a divorce at some point. 465 00:22:33,219 --> 00:22:35,653 - Narrator: While karen had been unlucky in love, 466 00:22:35,688 --> 00:22:41,275 that all changed when she met her next husband, john clowers. 467 00:22:41,327 --> 00:22:43,411 - She was extremely happy with their relationship, 468 00:22:43,446 --> 00:22:45,279 their marriage. 469 00:22:45,331 --> 00:22:49,083 - Bill: Karen thought she was, like, secure financially, 470 00:22:49,118 --> 00:22:50,701 home, that type of stuff. 471 00:22:50,736 --> 00:22:54,171 I don't think she was worried about finances or anything. 472 00:22:54,207 --> 00:22:57,908 She worked on and off as a waitress and then she did 473 00:22:57,944 --> 00:23:00,111 the home healthcare stuff. 474 00:23:01,447 --> 00:23:05,299 - Narrator: In early 2002, 45-year-old karen clowers 475 00:23:05,351 --> 00:23:09,303 started working for andrew and ruth ann madden. 476 00:23:09,355 --> 00:23:13,607 Then, in may of that year, after 17 years of marriage, 477 00:23:13,643 --> 00:23:17,328 her husband john suddenly passed away. 478 00:23:17,363 --> 00:23:19,947 - To my knowledge, it was natural causes. 479 00:23:19,982 --> 00:23:21,866 John provided for them all, 480 00:23:21,901 --> 00:23:24,368 so that was a huge loss right there. 481 00:23:24,404 --> 00:23:27,872 - ♪ 482 00:23:27,907 --> 00:23:31,275 - narrator: Now, three months after the death of her husband, 483 00:23:31,294 --> 00:23:33,477 investigators wonder if karen clowers 484 00:23:33,513 --> 00:23:36,814 is connected to another tragic event: 485 00:23:36,849 --> 00:23:40,484 The murder of ruth ann madden. 486 00:23:40,520 --> 00:23:43,687 - Highway patrol ends up going out to go to her house 487 00:23:43,723 --> 00:23:46,340 and taking the two witnesses who viewed the lumina 488 00:23:46,392 --> 00:23:48,976 to see if they could identify the vehicle. 489 00:23:49,011 --> 00:23:49,977 - Dan: We're like, "here's this vehicle. 490 00:23:50,012 --> 00:23:51,429 "we're here. Does that look like the vehicle 491 00:23:51,464 --> 00:23:53,931 that you saw fleeing the crime scene?" 492 00:23:53,966 --> 00:23:56,901 they were 100% sure that like, 'yeah, that's the vehicle." 493 00:23:56,936 --> 00:23:59,537 - ♪ 494 00:23:59,572 --> 00:24:01,705 - narrator: Investigators request a search warrant 495 00:24:01,741 --> 00:24:04,642 for karen's house and car... 496 00:24:04,677 --> 00:24:06,410 But they will have to wait until morning 497 00:24:06,446 --> 00:24:09,513 to conduct a legal search. 498 00:24:09,549 --> 00:24:11,482 - Marshall: Detective plumb and I set up surveillance 499 00:24:11,517 --> 00:24:15,019 on karen's house and vehicle the entire night. 500 00:24:15,054 --> 00:24:16,053 While we were waiting, 501 00:24:16,088 --> 00:24:19,673 the neighbor of karen clowers comes out to us 502 00:24:19,709 --> 00:24:22,760 and tells us that she's aware of the white chevy lumina 503 00:24:22,795 --> 00:24:25,846 being wanted in relationship to this homicide. 504 00:24:25,882 --> 00:24:30,468 And then alerts us that andy frequents karen's house daily. 505 00:24:30,503 --> 00:24:32,553 - Mike: She had noted that andy madden 506 00:24:32,605 --> 00:24:36,974 did come and visit karen at her home 507 00:24:37,009 --> 00:24:37,975 and thought that it was suspicious 508 00:24:38,010 --> 00:24:41,445 that he was parking his truck in her garage 509 00:24:41,481 --> 00:24:42,563 and then taking his wheelchair 510 00:24:42,615 --> 00:24:46,350 to come around to the front door to go in and visit. 511 00:24:46,369 --> 00:24:47,535 - Marshall: We asked, "what time 512 00:24:47,570 --> 00:24:49,370 was the vehicle there yesterday?" 513 00:24:49,405 --> 00:24:52,523 and she clearly noted that it had left about 2 514 00:24:52,542 --> 00:24:55,326 and did not return until around 7 p.M. 515 00:24:56,412 --> 00:24:58,829 - Narrator: Investigators note that this time frame fits 516 00:24:58,865 --> 00:25:03,834 the time of ruth ann's murder, which was around 4 p.M. 517 00:25:03,870 --> 00:25:06,086 - Dan: The chevy lumina was driven by karen clowers, 518 00:25:06,138 --> 00:25:07,304 and it left at a certain time 519 00:25:07,340 --> 00:25:09,590 and then it returns at a certain time. 520 00:25:09,642 --> 00:25:11,308 And it builds that window for her 521 00:25:11,344 --> 00:25:13,244 to have participated in the crime. 522 00:25:16,749 --> 00:25:18,782 - Narrator: After speaking to karen's neighbor, 523 00:25:18,818 --> 00:25:21,819 detectives call andrew madden into the station 524 00:25:21,854 --> 00:25:25,606 for an interview that night. 525 00:25:25,658 --> 00:25:27,891 - It was asked, "hey, do you think karen may have possibly 526 00:25:27,910 --> 00:25:29,226 had something to do with this?" 527 00:25:29,245 --> 00:25:30,444 and he quickly jumped on it. 528 00:25:30,496 --> 00:25:33,163 "no. No way. She's not involved." 529 00:25:33,199 --> 00:25:34,331 - when we got in the interview 530 00:25:34,367 --> 00:25:37,201 and we told him that karen owned a white chevy lumina, 531 00:25:37,236 --> 00:25:39,537 he started coming up with a timeline. 532 00:25:39,572 --> 00:25:41,205 "she couldn't have done this because she was with me 533 00:25:41,240 --> 00:25:44,625 to such and such time, to such and such time." 534 00:25:44,677 --> 00:25:48,596 - his responses in defense of karen were much more genuine 535 00:25:48,631 --> 00:25:51,415 and much more stern and very, very direct. 536 00:25:51,434 --> 00:25:52,633 Similar to what you would do 537 00:25:52,685 --> 00:25:55,519 defending a family member or a loved one. 538 00:25:55,555 --> 00:25:57,087 So, we knew something wasn't right there. 539 00:25:57,106 --> 00:26:00,140 It wasn't--you don't defend a professional relationship 540 00:26:00,192 --> 00:26:01,859 the way that he was defending karen. 541 00:26:02,979 --> 00:26:05,145 - We asked him when he last spoke with his wife. 542 00:26:05,197 --> 00:26:08,365 And he quickly said, "3:38 p.M." 543 00:26:08,401 --> 00:26:10,367 which the detectives actually noted that and go, 544 00:26:10,403 --> 00:26:12,653 "well, how do you know specifically 3:38?" 545 00:26:12,705 --> 00:26:14,321 and he had mentioned he had looked at the time 546 00:26:14,373 --> 00:26:16,607 on his cell phone. 547 00:26:16,626 --> 00:26:19,376 - Mike: It seemed like he had manipulated his story 548 00:26:19,412 --> 00:26:22,813 and whatever evidence he had to cover for karen clowers. 549 00:26:22,848 --> 00:26:26,834 - ♪ 550 00:26:26,886 --> 00:26:29,336 - narrator: Coming up: Investigators put their 551 00:26:29,388 --> 00:26:33,474 prime suspect under pressure. 552 00:26:33,509 --> 00:26:35,893 - Marshall: We parked right by where the crime scene was at. 553 00:26:35,928 --> 00:26:38,145 We just wanted to see what way this would make her go, 554 00:26:38,180 --> 00:26:39,346 emotionally. 555 00:26:39,398 --> 00:26:41,065 - There's things that your body reacts to 556 00:26:41,100 --> 00:26:42,850 that's almost better than a confession. 557 00:26:42,902 --> 00:26:45,736 - She's singing like a canary, but it's not about her. 558 00:26:48,641 --> 00:26:52,343 - ♪ 559 00:26:58,501 --> 00:27:01,518 - narrator: On the morning of August 10, 2002, 560 00:27:01,554 --> 00:27:05,089 less than 24 hours since ruth ann madden was found 561 00:27:05,124 --> 00:27:08,125 shot to death in a parking lot near her house, 562 00:27:08,160 --> 00:27:10,794 law enforcement executes a search warrant 563 00:27:10,830 --> 00:27:13,430 at the home of karen clowers. 564 00:27:15,468 --> 00:27:17,384 - We kind of got her out of the way of the investigators 565 00:27:17,436 --> 00:27:21,105 and off into a bedroom and began to speak with her. 566 00:27:21,140 --> 00:27:22,556 - At that point, she acted as if 567 00:27:22,608 --> 00:27:27,444 she had no idea whatsoever that she had died. 568 00:27:27,480 --> 00:27:30,114 - I said, you know, "have you spoken to andy?" 569 00:27:30,149 --> 00:27:31,899 and she's like, "oh yeah, he did mention 570 00:27:31,951 --> 00:27:34,451 that ruth ann had been murdered." 571 00:27:34,487 --> 00:27:37,621 - no one forgets that you've been told someone has died. 572 00:27:37,657 --> 00:27:38,906 No one forgets that. 573 00:27:38,958 --> 00:27:41,375 - ♪ 574 00:27:41,410 --> 00:27:45,596 - narrator: That's when karen makes a startling confession. 575 00:27:45,631 --> 00:27:47,665 - Dan: She never made any bones about the fact 576 00:27:47,700 --> 00:27:49,866 that she was in love with andy. 577 00:27:49,885 --> 00:27:52,869 And that they were having an affair. 578 00:27:52,888 --> 00:27:55,172 It wasn't like that was a big secret. 579 00:27:55,207 --> 00:27:56,674 - David: They were alone all day long, 580 00:27:56,709 --> 00:28:00,644 and I guess karen liked the way andy was treating her. 581 00:28:00,680 --> 00:28:02,746 I know she set her sights on andy madden. 582 00:28:05,284 --> 00:28:07,284 - Narrator: While detectives continue the interview 583 00:28:07,319 --> 00:28:11,455 with karen, law enforcement search her house and car 584 00:28:11,490 --> 00:28:16,093 and discover potentially incriminating evidence. 585 00:28:16,128 --> 00:28:17,961 - Marshall: In the vehicle of note, 586 00:28:17,997 --> 00:28:21,298 they found packages of doral cigarettes. 587 00:28:21,333 --> 00:28:26,203 And again, doral cigarette butts were found on the commuter lot. 588 00:28:26,238 --> 00:28:29,239 We suggested that she go back with us 589 00:28:29,258 --> 00:28:30,207 to the sheriff's department 590 00:28:30,242 --> 00:28:32,509 for a more private interview, uninterrupted. 591 00:28:32,545 --> 00:28:33,761 And she agreed. 592 00:28:33,796 --> 00:28:37,264 - ♪ 593 00:28:37,299 --> 00:28:40,017 - narrator: On the way, investigators decide to take 594 00:28:40,052 --> 00:28:43,470 a strategic detour. 595 00:28:43,522 --> 00:28:45,756 - Marshall and I came to the agreement, like, 596 00:28:45,775 --> 00:28:47,591 let's--let's take her back to the crime scene 597 00:28:47,610 --> 00:28:50,861 and let's-- let's see what happens. 598 00:28:50,896 --> 00:28:53,313 - Marshall: We allowed her out of the car and parked right by 599 00:28:53,365 --> 00:28:55,482 where the crime scene was at. 600 00:28:55,534 --> 00:28:57,818 We just wanted to see what way this would make her go, 601 00:28:57,870 --> 00:28:59,436 emotionally. 602 00:28:59,455 --> 00:29:01,205 - As we're walking up towards 603 00:29:01,240 --> 00:29:04,274 where the actual crime took place, 604 00:29:04,293 --> 00:29:08,912 she just leans over and vomits all over the place. 605 00:29:08,947 --> 00:29:10,297 The human body's amazing. 606 00:29:10,332 --> 00:29:11,465 There's things that you just-- 607 00:29:11,500 --> 00:29:13,467 when you're put under stress, 608 00:29:13,502 --> 00:29:15,335 there's things that your body reacts to 609 00:29:15,387 --> 00:29:18,555 that's almost better than a confession. 610 00:29:18,591 --> 00:29:20,340 Marshall and I, we got her calmed down. 611 00:29:20,392 --> 00:29:21,341 Put her back in the car 612 00:29:21,393 --> 00:29:23,510 and continued on to the sheriff's department. 613 00:29:23,562 --> 00:29:25,813 And I remember her saying, like, "hey, I'm ready, 614 00:29:25,848 --> 00:29:27,314 I'm gonna tell you everything." 615 00:29:27,349 --> 00:29:29,767 - ♪ 616 00:29:29,802 --> 00:29:31,902 - narrator: At the lincoln county sheriff's office, 617 00:29:31,937 --> 00:29:34,938 karen clowers starts talking. 618 00:29:34,974 --> 00:29:38,442 - She's singing like a canary, but it's not about her. 619 00:30:13,646 --> 00:30:15,279 - ♪ 620 00:30:15,314 --> 00:30:17,347 - narrator: Karen tells investigators that on 621 00:30:17,383 --> 00:30:21,451 August 9, john lewis showed up unexpectedly. 622 00:30:47,880 --> 00:30:49,680 - So, we're initially thinking, like, okay, 623 00:30:49,715 --> 00:30:51,348 our guy is john lewis. 624 00:30:53,936 --> 00:30:58,455 - Narrator: Detectives respond immediately to john's home. 625 00:30:58,490 --> 00:31:01,725 - Mike: What was noteworthy is how angry john lewis became 626 00:31:01,760 --> 00:31:05,362 once the finger had been pointed at him. 627 00:31:05,397 --> 00:31:08,532 - He's like, "heck no. That is not how this happened." 628 00:31:10,703 --> 00:31:12,870 - narrator: Investigators bring john to the station 629 00:31:12,905 --> 00:31:14,838 for a formal interview. 630 00:31:35,728 --> 00:31:38,445 - According to john, he had no intentions of hurting 631 00:31:38,480 --> 00:31:40,864 or doing anything to ruth ann. 632 00:31:40,900 --> 00:31:43,367 He was just figuring, "okay, if you're going to give me $5,000, 633 00:31:43,402 --> 00:31:45,502 "I'm just going to go out and spend it and not really 634 00:31:45,537 --> 00:31:47,504 "worry about it because what are you going to do? 635 00:31:47,539 --> 00:31:52,576 Go tell somebody that you gave me $5,000 to murder someone?" 636 00:32:22,808 --> 00:32:24,358 - narrator: John says karen's plan 637 00:32:24,410 --> 00:32:26,660 was to call ruth ann madden, 638 00:32:26,695 --> 00:32:29,179 claim she was stranded in the commuter lot, 639 00:32:29,214 --> 00:32:30,647 and ask for help. 640 00:32:30,683 --> 00:32:33,750 - ♪ 641 00:32:33,786 --> 00:32:37,871 - I understand that john drove a truck, 642 00:32:37,923 --> 00:32:41,842 karen drove the car, out to the commuter parking lot, 643 00:32:41,877 --> 00:32:42,960 popped the hood. 644 00:32:42,995 --> 00:32:46,763 John walked across and met karen behind the trunk. 645 00:32:46,799 --> 00:32:50,884 - There was an old family firearm from her ex-husband. 646 00:32:50,936 --> 00:32:54,938 - Karen had john show her exactly how to use this pistol. 647 00:32:54,974 --> 00:32:56,440 It's a revolver. 648 00:32:56,475 --> 00:32:58,558 - Mike: He clocks the hammer back, 649 00:32:58,610 --> 00:33:01,778 which makes it extremely easy to pull the trigger. 650 00:33:01,814 --> 00:33:03,780 It doesn't require any real power 651 00:33:03,816 --> 00:33:06,733 to have to pull the trigger. It'll go off really quickly. 652 00:33:06,785 --> 00:33:09,453 Sets it down in the trunk of the vehle. 653 00:33:09,488 --> 00:33:11,571 At that time, he chickens out, 654 00:33:11,623 --> 00:33:14,041 decides, "I don't want any part of this." 655 00:33:14,076 --> 00:33:15,042 - david: He told her, you know, 656 00:33:15,077 --> 00:33:17,911 "I'm not going to do it, I can't do it. I'm not." 657 00:33:17,963 --> 00:33:19,997 and karen's like, "wait a minute, you're gonna do it." 658 00:33:20,032 --> 00:33:22,332 well, he didn't do it. He gave the gun to karen. 659 00:33:24,470 --> 00:33:26,470 - Marshall: When he saw ruth ann pull onto the lot, 660 00:33:26,505 --> 00:33:28,839 he ducked down between two parked cars. 661 00:33:30,342 --> 00:33:31,591 - David: It's panic time, I'm sure. 662 00:33:31,643 --> 00:33:32,976 Couldn't imagine how that felt back there, 663 00:33:33,012 --> 00:33:34,511 behind that open trunk lid. 664 00:33:55,868 --> 00:33:57,501 - Narrator: It's a shocking story, 665 00:33:57,536 --> 00:34:00,737 but john isn't done talking. 666 00:34:00,756 --> 00:34:03,340 - He said andy was in on it and agreed to make the phone call 667 00:34:03,375 --> 00:34:06,043 to lure her in there. 668 00:34:06,078 --> 00:34:08,445 "hey, they are broke down on this commuter lot. 669 00:34:08,480 --> 00:34:11,515 Can you come by, see if you can help them?" 670 00:34:11,550 --> 00:34:12,415 - david: I don't believe at all 671 00:34:12,434 --> 00:34:14,584 that ruth ann knew that karen and andy 672 00:34:14,620 --> 00:34:16,620 were developing a romantic relationship. 673 00:34:16,655 --> 00:34:18,922 And unfortunately, it was--it was too late 674 00:34:18,941 --> 00:34:21,358 when she probably figured that out. 675 00:34:21,393 --> 00:34:23,360 - Mike: We have to wonder whether or not, 676 00:34:23,395 --> 00:34:29,232 when he called to tell ruth ann to drive out to karen's vehicle, 677 00:34:29,267 --> 00:34:31,835 if he knew or should have known 678 00:34:31,870 --> 00:34:35,072 that he was sending her to her death. 679 00:34:35,107 --> 00:34:37,240 Certainly, he recognized that 680 00:34:37,276 --> 00:34:38,842 whatever he was calling to send her into 681 00:34:38,877 --> 00:34:40,577 was not going to turn out well. 682 00:34:42,915 --> 00:34:45,549 - Narrator: Coming up: Investigators unravel 683 00:34:45,584 --> 00:34:49,002 the details of a twisted conspiracy. 684 00:34:49,054 --> 00:34:51,505 - She was instructed to cover the mouthpiece up and talk 685 00:34:51,557 --> 00:34:54,224 in a deep and threatening voice. 686 00:34:54,259 --> 00:34:57,310 - Narrator: And the truth behind the tragedy of ruth ann madden's 687 00:34:57,346 --> 00:35:00,847 murder becomes even more horrific. 688 00:35:00,899 --> 00:35:02,766 - She wasn't going to let anything stop her. 689 00:35:05,270 --> 00:35:08,905 - ♪ 690 00:35:15,514 --> 00:35:19,116 - narrator: Only one day after the murder of ruth ann madden, 691 00:35:19,151 --> 00:35:22,819 investigators have made their first arrest in the case: 692 00:35:22,855 --> 00:35:27,891 John lewis, the son-in-law of karen clowers. 693 00:35:27,926 --> 00:35:30,060 - Mike: They've gotten statements from john lewis, 694 00:35:30,095 --> 00:35:34,598 and he gets charged with murder first, which is the highest, uh, 695 00:35:34,633 --> 00:35:37,801 possible charge you can possibly get for a homicide. 696 00:35:40,739 --> 00:35:43,073 - Narrator: Now, investigators have their sights set 697 00:35:43,108 --> 00:35:46,309 on john's co-conspirators-- 698 00:35:46,345 --> 00:35:50,813 starting with ruth ann's own husband, andrew madden. 699 00:35:50,833 --> 00:35:53,700 - We interviewed andy, and at that point at--you know, 700 00:35:53,752 --> 00:35:56,086 it was clear that andy was involved. 701 00:35:56,121 --> 00:36:00,006 And he was brought down, and I really think andy's the one that 702 00:36:00,042 --> 00:36:02,292 kind of laid out the whole thing. 703 00:36:53,929 --> 00:36:56,580 - Ray: He talked about initially just how quickly he fell in love 704 00:36:56,615 --> 00:36:59,065 with karen, and karen fell in love with him, 705 00:36:59,101 --> 00:37:03,270 and it was a type of situation you describe as like, well, 706 00:37:03,322 --> 00:37:04,321 this was meant to be. 707 00:37:04,356 --> 00:37:07,824 This was--this was what you were meant to do. 708 00:37:07,859 --> 00:37:10,360 - He was willing to go have his wife come to that 709 00:37:10,395 --> 00:37:12,195 commuter parking lot, knowing 710 00:37:12,230 --> 00:37:14,915 that karen was going to kill her. 711 00:37:14,950 --> 00:37:16,032 And that's the sad truth. 712 00:37:21,906 --> 00:37:23,206 - ♪ 713 00:37:23,241 --> 00:37:24,424 - narrator: With statements in hand 714 00:37:24,459 --> 00:37:28,745 from her lover andrew madden and her son-in-law john lewis, 715 00:37:28,780 --> 00:37:32,716 investigators confront karen clowers. 716 00:37:32,751 --> 00:37:36,919 - Karen eventually confesses to shooting ruth ann. 717 00:37:36,939 --> 00:37:38,638 Although in her story, 718 00:37:38,690 --> 00:37:40,974 she says that the gun accidentally went off, 719 00:37:41,026 --> 00:37:43,460 that she never really meant to kill her. 720 00:37:43,495 --> 00:37:44,728 - Narrator: One piece of evidence 721 00:37:44,763 --> 00:37:47,564 seems to contradict her story. 722 00:37:49,268 --> 00:37:52,652 - Dan: How do we account for the hair in ruth ann's hand? 723 00:37:52,704 --> 00:37:56,105 I believe that ruth ann and karen met. 724 00:37:56,124 --> 00:38:00,710 Karen pulled the gun, and ruth ann probably startled, 725 00:38:00,746 --> 00:38:01,911 was like, you know, "hey, what's going on?" 726 00:38:01,947 --> 00:38:03,747 and struggled a little bit with her. 727 00:38:03,782 --> 00:38:05,815 And then the gun went off. 728 00:38:05,851 --> 00:38:07,500 The only people that know exactly what happened 729 00:38:07,552 --> 00:38:09,952 in that respect is john and karen. 730 00:38:09,972 --> 00:38:13,957 - ♪ 731 00:38:13,992 --> 00:38:18,028 - narrator: Authorities charge both 45-year-old karen clowers 732 00:38:18,063 --> 00:38:23,099 and 52-year-old andrew madden with first-degree murder. 733 00:38:23,135 --> 00:38:24,434 - He called me. 734 00:38:24,469 --> 00:38:28,521 And he just basically said that I'm going to hear some things 735 00:38:28,573 --> 00:38:32,842 about him, and he's embarrassed, 736 00:38:32,878 --> 00:38:35,979 and that he's sorry for everything 737 00:38:36,014 --> 00:38:37,781 that I'm about to hear. 738 00:38:37,816 --> 00:38:41,418 Myself and those of us who spent a lot of time with andrew 739 00:38:41,453 --> 00:38:43,953 were in total disbelief and shock. 740 00:38:46,058 --> 00:38:47,691 - Narrator: Next, law enforcement issues 741 00:38:47,726 --> 00:38:50,794 a search warrant of john lewis' home, 742 00:38:50,829 --> 00:38:55,131 where they run into an unlikely ally, karen's daughter. 743 00:38:55,167 --> 00:38:58,167 - We provided her a copy of the search warrant, 744 00:38:58,186 --> 00:39:01,237 which had the affidavit for probable cause. 745 00:39:01,273 --> 00:39:04,507 She is reading the probable cause and notes that karen said 746 00:39:04,543 --> 00:39:06,860 her husband's the one that did this. 747 00:39:06,895 --> 00:39:08,478 And at that point, she blurts out, 748 00:39:08,513 --> 00:39:10,814 "he had nothing to do with this." 749 00:39:10,849 --> 00:39:14,017 and then went on to explain her involvement. 750 00:39:14,052 --> 00:39:16,586 - Narrator: Karen's daughter tells investigators that she was 751 00:39:16,621 --> 00:39:19,456 the one who made the harassing phone calls 752 00:39:19,491 --> 00:39:21,291 to ruth ann madden... 753 00:39:21,326 --> 00:39:24,260 But she claims she didn't know who she was calling 754 00:39:24,296 --> 00:39:25,962 at the time. 755 00:39:25,997 --> 00:39:27,714 - She admits that her mother, karen, 756 00:39:27,749 --> 00:39:31,301 directed her to make these harassing phone calls 757 00:39:31,336 --> 00:39:33,586 from various payphones. 758 00:39:33,638 --> 00:39:35,805 She was instructed to cover the mouthpiece up 759 00:39:35,841 --> 00:39:38,174 and talk in a deep and threatening voice. 760 00:39:39,177 --> 00:39:41,578 - Karen clowers was careful to not allow 761 00:39:41,613 --> 00:39:44,380 her daughter to see what number she was dialing, 762 00:39:44,399 --> 00:39:47,567 but gave her specific instructions as to what to say, 763 00:39:47,602 --> 00:39:49,602 how to say it. 764 00:39:49,654 --> 00:39:52,605 When she asks her mom, "look, what is this all about?" 765 00:39:52,657 --> 00:39:55,492 her mother says, "it was-- it was an argument that happened 766 00:39:55,527 --> 00:39:57,610 at a bar after work," 767 00:39:57,662 --> 00:40:01,614 and you know, offers this weak explanation for 768 00:40:01,666 --> 00:40:03,166 these threatening phone calls. 769 00:40:03,201 --> 00:40:05,869 - ♪ 770 00:40:05,904 --> 00:40:07,871 - narrator: In November 2003, 771 00:40:07,906 --> 00:40:12,742 andy madden pleads guilty to second-degree murder. 772 00:40:12,778 --> 00:40:15,044 - I think the worst part about it was 773 00:40:15,079 --> 00:40:18,181 that her own husband of all those years 774 00:40:18,216 --> 00:40:23,186 made the phone call to lure her into her own death. 775 00:40:23,221 --> 00:40:25,605 - What he did made no sense. 776 00:40:25,640 --> 00:40:29,609 Is he a cold-blooded heartless killer? No. 777 00:40:29,644 --> 00:40:32,529 So I just think that he had 778 00:40:32,564 --> 00:40:38,168 a lapse of good sound judgment and clarity. 779 00:40:38,203 --> 00:40:39,652 - It shocks the conscience 780 00:40:39,704 --> 00:40:42,205 that people can be that brutal to each other. 781 00:40:42,240 --> 00:40:46,242 - ♪ 782 00:40:46,278 --> 00:40:48,978 - narrator: John lewis also agrees to plead guilty 783 00:40:49,014 --> 00:40:53,349 to a charge of conspiracy to commit murder. 784 00:40:53,385 --> 00:40:55,051 - I think from what we put together, 785 00:40:55,086 --> 00:40:58,822 he was probably supposed to be the triggerman, so to speak, 786 00:40:58,857 --> 00:41:00,723 and changed his mind. 787 00:41:02,727 --> 00:41:05,261 - Narrator: On December 2, 2003, 788 00:41:05,296 --> 00:41:07,147 the case against karen clowers 789 00:41:07,182 --> 00:41:11,100 begins in a lincoln county courtroom. 790 00:41:11,136 --> 00:41:14,470 - Karen says he kept chickening out and, 791 00:41:14,489 --> 00:41:16,272 "I just had to do it myself." 792 00:41:16,307 --> 00:41:18,658 she had it set in her mind that she was going to do it, 793 00:41:18,693 --> 00:41:21,327 and it was going to happen no matter what. 794 00:41:21,363 --> 00:41:24,664 - All that she cared about, regardless of the ramifications, 795 00:41:24,699 --> 00:41:26,666 regardless of the aftermath-- 796 00:41:26,701 --> 00:41:29,686 all she cared about was her one singular goal, 797 00:41:29,721 --> 00:41:31,254 which was to be with andy. 798 00:41:31,289 --> 00:41:35,291 - ♪ 799 00:41:35,326 --> 00:41:37,544 - narrator: Two days into her murder trial, 800 00:41:37,596 --> 00:41:41,731 karen clowers has a change of heart and pleads guilty to 801 00:41:41,766 --> 00:41:45,935 class a felony murder in the second degree. 802 00:41:45,971 --> 00:41:47,737 - Michael: I think the writing might've been on the wall. 803 00:41:47,772 --> 00:41:49,973 She realized that there was nothing that she was going to 804 00:41:50,008 --> 00:41:52,341 be able to do to get out of being found guilty. 805 00:41:52,360 --> 00:41:56,346 - ♪ 806 00:41:56,381 --> 00:41:59,182 - narrator: The murder of ruth ann madden still lingers 807 00:41:59,217 --> 00:42:03,386 in the hearts of everyone connected to the case. 808 00:42:03,421 --> 00:42:06,122 - It's been almost 20 years since this happened, 809 00:42:06,157 --> 00:42:09,492 and I assure you there are still ripple effects that are causing 810 00:42:09,528 --> 00:42:13,396 problems in the lives of the people that are left behind. 811 00:42:13,431 --> 00:42:16,633 - Karen destroyed so many families and so many lives 812 00:42:16,668 --> 00:42:18,968 that I can't even count. 813 00:42:19,004 --> 00:42:22,338 My kids are the most important thing to me in my life, 814 00:42:22,374 --> 00:42:25,675 and karen has hurt their life 815 00:42:25,710 --> 00:42:28,761 and is still hurting their life today. 816 00:42:31,016 --> 00:42:32,098 - Dan: The stigma of, like, 817 00:42:32,150 --> 00:42:35,051 "hey, my--my grandmother or my mom murdered this lady. 818 00:42:35,070 --> 00:42:37,270 She masterminded this plan." 819 00:42:37,322 --> 00:42:40,073 that follows you around. 820 00:42:40,108 --> 00:42:43,493 - Just because somebody is related or knows somebody 821 00:42:43,528 --> 00:42:46,496 that is convicted of a murder, 822 00:42:46,531 --> 00:42:49,666 that doesn't make them a murderer. 823 00:42:49,701 --> 00:42:51,501 If she would've come up to us 824 00:42:51,536 --> 00:42:53,202 and approached us for murder, 825 00:42:53,237 --> 00:42:55,255 it would have been straight to the police department. 826 00:42:56,841 --> 00:43:00,209 - The irony of ruth ann dying at the hands of someone 827 00:43:00,244 --> 00:43:04,013 that she was trying to help all the way up until her death. 828 00:43:04,049 --> 00:43:06,783 It's kind of heartbreaking and--and heart wrenching. 829 00:43:09,554 --> 00:43:21,481 - ♪ 830 00:43:24,569 --> 00:43:26,452 ♪♪