True Crime Stories

Just like my last blog, this is a case that I learned about on the show Accused: Guilty or Innocent. Also, just like the last case, this one also involved a video, although the one in this case is much longer, that helped collaborate the defendants story. In the last case that I blogged about the defendant took his case to trial and was acquitted on the charges that he faced. I believe that if Lawson would have taken his case to trial, rather than accept a plea deal, he likely would have been acquitted at least on the most serious charge he faced, first degree murder. He also faced the charge of reckless endangerment that I am unsure he could have been able to beat, but that charge is nothing compared to first degree murder. That being said, I am also unsure that if Steven Lawson would have been a women he would have faced any charges at all, let alone murder charges. On January 27, 2017 Steven Lawson called 911 from his home in Rogersville Tennessee. He reported that he had...

This is one of those cases that leave you wondering how this person got away with all that he had done and how he had treated people for so long. I know the statistics say that abused women do not report it often and stay way longer than they should and I get that, but there is no way that there were not plenty of others that knew what was going on, through two marriages, with children that did not report things. To add to this two women were able to get away from him but it seems that neither would break off ties enough to at the very least keep themselves safe. Sure, Betty Windsor even went out and got a restraining order against her estranged husband but she voluntarily broke it herself and went to his home. It was the last time she, or her son, would go anywhere. Now, do not take this as me saying she asked for it or deserved it, because that is not what I am saying here, but what I am saying is we all play a role in how things happen, not just in our own lives but in ...

Few things irritate me more in defendants in cases in which it is blatantly obvious that they are guilty is arrogance. Alec McNaughton had it in spades! Alec McNaughton was innocent and everyone who had anything to do with the investigation into the death of his wife, or any testified against him were liars. Phone records that said he was not where he said he was were wrong. The detective in charge of the investigation was only out to make a name for himself because it was his first homicide case. Despite the fact his daughter, who would tragically later die in a car accident, called 911 years prior to report that she had overheard him state that he was going to kill her, her mother and then himself, she “knew better.” It is likely that Alec McNaughton's arrogance came from the fact that he had once been an attorney but the funny thing is that those skills did not prevent him from talking to authorities or asking for a lawyer when he was repeatedly interrogated. O...

This case seems to boggle me just a bit.  On November 20, 2014 Anita Smithey was convicted in the second degree murder of her estranged husband, Robert Cline III.  In February of 2015 she was sentenced to forty years in prison.   Anita admits to shooting her husband of three years on May 3, 2010. The couple had been separated for three months but had met on several occasions and had consensual sex.  Anita admits that Robert had come to the home she was living in Oviedo Florida on that night and claims that she agreed to have sex with him, although she says reluctantly.   Anita would claim that Robert had been abusive throughout their marriage on that evening he had not only proceeded to rape her but pulled a knife on her slashing at her throat, and hitting her in the face, chipping a tooth.  She was also suffering from a stab wound to her side when she was interviewed by police.  She claimed it was during this argument that she grabbed her gun...

On November 2, 2009 firefighters were called to the McNairy County Tennessee home of Gary Cole.  The fire would all but completely destroy the home, burning it to the ground but inside would lay the body of Gary Cole and the fire is not what killed him.   It did not take long for investigators to figure out who they believed was responsible.... it was Gary's wife Melissa.  She would be indicted for 1st degree premeditated murder, along with arson and tampering with evidence in February of 2010. Melissa would have a short three day trial the following October.  As is the case with most acts of violence towards a human being investigators first look at those closest to the victim and their lives.  In this case they of course went looking for Melissa right away.  Strangely it took several attempts to reach her.  Of course they wanted to ask her questions but they also wanted to notify her of Gary's death, as well as ensure the well being of the nine y...