1 00:00:01,367 --> 00:00:04,767 NARRATOR: Melanie Addie is married to the perfect guy. 2 00:00:04,834 --> 00:00:06,867 MELANIE: He seemed like husband material -- 3 00:00:06,867 --> 00:00:09,266 just the total package, you know? 4 00:00:09,266 --> 00:00:12,467 NARRATOR: Molly Watson has found a good catch, too. 5 00:00:12,533 --> 00:00:15,533 She finally found her prince charming. 6 00:00:16,867 --> 00:00:19,100 MELANIE: I was numb. I was in shock. 7 00:00:19,100 --> 00:00:20,567 That's my husband. 8 00:00:21,567 --> 00:00:25,367 NARRATOR: The date has been saved, and the invitations sent. 9 00:00:25,433 --> 00:00:28,066 I knew there's something not right about this guy. 10 00:00:28,066 --> 00:00:29,967 GINA: He's the ultimate con man. 11 00:00:29,967 --> 00:00:33,367 What's important to him is having power and having control. 12 00:00:33,433 --> 00:00:36,266 NARRATOR: Until the groom gets cold feet. 13 00:00:36,266 --> 00:00:39,066 He said she was driving him crazy. 14 00:00:39,133 --> 00:00:41,166 GINA: He knew the walls were closing in. 15 00:00:41,166 --> 00:00:42,667 He had to do something. 16 00:00:42,734 --> 00:00:45,266 I woke up, and I smelled gas. 17 00:00:50,500 --> 00:00:52,567 [gunshot blasts] 18 00:00:52,567 --> 00:00:55,033 GINA: She's been shot execution-style. 19 00:00:55,867 --> 00:00:57,767 I think I was supposed to die. 20 00:01:02,066 --> 00:01:05,634 [theme music playing] 21 00:01:23,400 --> 00:01:25,467 MELANIE: I grew up in Paris, Missouri. 22 00:01:28,467 --> 00:01:32,367 It's just this really small town, lots of farms. 23 00:01:33,900 --> 00:01:35,667 Everybody kind of knows everybody. 24 00:01:35,667 --> 00:01:38,934 It's just a very small, rural community. 25 00:01:41,300 --> 00:01:43,467 NARRATOR: In the summer of 1994, 26 00:01:43,467 --> 00:01:47,266 22-year-old Melanie Shepherd is leading a hectic life, 27 00:01:47,266 --> 00:01:49,634 leaving her little time for romance. 28 00:01:51,200 --> 00:01:54,867 I was going to school at College of the Ozarks. 29 00:01:54,867 --> 00:01:56,767 I was studying education. 30 00:01:56,767 --> 00:01:58,734 I wanted to be an English teacher. 31 00:01:59,800 --> 00:02:03,166 I was just really busy going to school and working. 32 00:02:03,233 --> 00:02:06,166 I was a cashier at a convenience store. 33 00:02:06,233 --> 00:02:09,567 I really didn't date that much. 34 00:02:09,567 --> 00:02:12,867 NARRATOR: Everything changes when a 28-year-old mechanic 35 00:02:12,867 --> 00:02:14,867 walks into the store one night. 36 00:02:14,867 --> 00:02:17,333 His name is James Addie. 37 00:02:19,467 --> 00:02:21,467 MELANIE: There was a long line of people, and he was trying 38 00:02:21,467 --> 00:02:22,967 to check out, and he kind of 39 00:02:23,033 --> 00:02:25,834 yelled up to the front of the line, "Will you hurry up?" 40 00:02:27,900 --> 00:02:30,767 And, um, I just kind of gave it right back to him. 41 00:02:30,767 --> 00:02:33,533 I said, "I'm doing the best I can." 42 00:02:35,100 --> 00:02:37,867 And he said, "Well, I'm cooking barbecue at my house," 43 00:02:37,867 --> 00:02:40,066 and I said, "I don't get any, I don't care." 44 00:02:44,166 --> 00:02:46,567 So later that night, he brought me some barbecue, 45 00:02:46,567 --> 00:02:49,066 and that's kind of how we met. 46 00:02:50,767 --> 00:02:52,767 I thought it was very sweet that -- 47 00:02:52,834 --> 00:02:56,266 that he would go out of his way to do that for me. 48 00:02:56,266 --> 00:02:58,166 It was just -- it was very nice. 49 00:02:58,166 --> 00:03:00,934 On a busy night, it was a nice surprise. 50 00:03:03,266 --> 00:03:05,667 NARRATOR: James returns to the store a week later, 51 00:03:05,667 --> 00:03:08,634 and this time, he's not buying groceries. 52 00:03:10,767 --> 00:03:12,266 MELANIE: He asked me to come over, 53 00:03:12,333 --> 00:03:14,567 and that was our first date. 54 00:03:14,634 --> 00:03:16,467 He cooked supper for me. 55 00:03:16,467 --> 00:03:19,567 The food was good, and he's feeding me a lot, um... 56 00:03:19,634 --> 00:03:22,767 [laughs] so that was kind of fun. 57 00:03:22,834 --> 00:03:25,567 We got to know each other pretty well, pretty fast. 58 00:03:25,567 --> 00:03:27,934 We both really liked each other. 59 00:03:29,066 --> 00:03:32,667 He just seemed like the kind of person that could take care 60 00:03:32,667 --> 00:03:36,266 of me and take care of himself and take care of a family. 61 00:03:36,266 --> 00:03:39,166 He seemed like husband material. 62 00:03:39,166 --> 00:03:41,934 Just a total package, you know? 63 00:03:43,000 --> 00:03:44,967 NARRATOR: Not long after they start dating, 64 00:03:45,033 --> 00:03:47,133 James drops a bombshell. 65 00:03:48,166 --> 00:03:51,634 He shares with her that he's been married three times. 66 00:03:54,166 --> 00:03:56,667 So that's kind of shocking for Melanie. 67 00:03:56,734 --> 00:03:59,166 Three times by 28 -- that's a lot. 68 00:03:59,233 --> 00:04:00,467 He said they were cheaters. 69 00:04:00,467 --> 00:04:04,000 They were unfaithful and not good people. 70 00:04:04,000 --> 00:04:07,567 They were just gold diggers and trying to take advantage 71 00:04:07,634 --> 00:04:12,667 of him and of his good nature and his good will. 72 00:04:12,734 --> 00:04:14,467 NARRATOR: Despite this awkward beginning, 73 00:04:14,467 --> 00:04:16,367 six months into the relationship, 74 00:04:16,433 --> 00:04:20,433 things are getting serious, and James pops the question. 75 00:04:22,100 --> 00:04:24,266 GINA: They were sitting on the couch talking, 76 00:04:24,266 --> 00:04:25,867 and he just sort of blurted out, 77 00:04:25,934 --> 00:04:27,867 "Will you marry me?" 78 00:04:27,867 --> 00:04:29,100 MELANIE: I said yes, of course. 79 00:04:29,100 --> 00:04:32,467 At that age, you want fairytales and romance 80 00:04:32,467 --> 00:04:34,934 and happy endings. 81 00:04:36,667 --> 00:04:40,567 It was fun, going to pick out a ring and being engaged. 82 00:04:40,634 --> 00:04:41,667 I felt like a grownup. 83 00:04:43,867 --> 00:04:47,367 I felt very confident that I was with a good person. 84 00:04:47,367 --> 00:04:48,967 I was with the right person, 85 00:04:49,033 --> 00:04:51,934 and he wanted the same things that I did. 86 00:04:53,767 --> 00:04:58,066 NARRATOR: In the spring of 1995, James and Melanie get married. 87 00:04:58,066 --> 00:05:00,266 The newlyweds seem destined for a happy 88 00:05:00,266 --> 00:05:03,867 family life and soon welcome two kids. 89 00:05:05,867 --> 00:05:07,867 MELANIE: Just had our perfect little family, 90 00:05:07,867 --> 00:05:09,967 one boy and one girl. 91 00:05:10,033 --> 00:05:13,266 I am a nurturing person, and I want to take care of my kids, 92 00:05:13,333 --> 00:05:14,767 and I want to take care of my husband, 93 00:05:14,767 --> 00:05:16,734 and I want to take care of my house. 94 00:05:17,867 --> 00:05:20,767 I think he saw that -- yeah, that would work. 95 00:05:20,834 --> 00:05:21,867 That would work for him. 96 00:05:21,867 --> 00:05:25,767 That would work as a wife and good partner in life. 97 00:05:25,767 --> 00:05:27,133 I think that's what he wanted. 98 00:05:28,066 --> 00:05:30,467 He was a strong person. 99 00:05:30,533 --> 00:05:35,867 He was the protector and very capable of handling life. 100 00:05:35,867 --> 00:05:38,266 He was definitely the leader of the family. 101 00:05:38,266 --> 00:05:39,867 He took care of business. 102 00:05:41,400 --> 00:05:44,367 NARRATOR: In 2004, James takes on a higher-paying job 103 00:05:44,367 --> 00:05:45,467 as a prison guard 104 00:05:45,467 --> 00:05:48,967 30 miles away at the Moberly Correctional Center. 105 00:05:51,467 --> 00:05:52,867 He really liked his job. 106 00:05:52,934 --> 00:05:55,567 He really did well in his job. 107 00:05:55,567 --> 00:05:58,867 He had no problem telling people what to do 108 00:05:58,934 --> 00:06:02,734 or being that aggressive person if he had to be. 109 00:06:05,500 --> 00:06:07,667 He could keep people in line. 110 00:06:07,667 --> 00:06:10,767 I think it was a real ego boost for him to have people 111 00:06:10,767 --> 00:06:13,100 listen to him and jump when he said jump, 112 00:06:13,100 --> 00:06:16,533 and then he expected it to happen at home, too. 113 00:06:17,600 --> 00:06:21,266 He wanted to have someone just follow along with whatever 114 00:06:21,333 --> 00:06:25,066 he said -- it was tough, because I'm not a prisoner. 115 00:06:25,133 --> 00:06:26,100 He didn't like that 116 00:06:26,100 --> 00:06:28,467 I had my own opinions, and he would get upset. 117 00:06:32,166 --> 00:06:34,467 NARRATOR: After eight years of marriage and with her children 118 00:06:34,467 --> 00:06:37,066 now in school, Melanie looks to pursue 119 00:06:37,066 --> 00:06:40,867 her teaching career, but James puts his foot down. 120 00:06:42,767 --> 00:06:44,667 He didn't want me to work. 121 00:06:44,734 --> 00:06:46,667 He didn't want me to go back to school. 122 00:06:46,667 --> 00:06:48,867 He kept saying, "Oh, no, you need to stay at home. 123 00:06:48,867 --> 00:06:50,066 You need to stay at home." 124 00:06:51,100 --> 00:06:53,767 He just didn't want me out in the world and, you know, 125 00:06:53,767 --> 00:06:56,367 come home and talk about my co-workers and talk about 126 00:06:56,367 --> 00:06:58,000 my job -- he didn't want that. 127 00:06:58,000 --> 00:07:02,033 He wanted me to be focused solely on him, 128 00:07:03,600 --> 00:07:05,867 and he got very upset with me. 129 00:07:05,867 --> 00:07:10,767 He said I don't support him, and it was a big problem. 130 00:07:10,834 --> 00:07:11,934 It was a huge fight. 131 00:07:12,867 --> 00:07:14,867 That was very unexpected. 132 00:07:14,867 --> 00:07:16,166 I thought we were a team. 133 00:07:16,166 --> 00:07:20,967 I thought, you know, we were building this life together, 134 00:07:20,967 --> 00:07:24,266 and I was supposed to just leave everything behind 135 00:07:24,333 --> 00:07:26,467 and just be his wife now? 136 00:07:26,533 --> 00:07:28,533 I didn't like that. 137 00:07:31,100 --> 00:07:33,266 NARRATOR: The arguments only get worse. 138 00:07:33,333 --> 00:07:37,934 For someone who craves control, James starts losing it. 139 00:07:40,000 --> 00:07:42,567 MELANIE: He could get so mad that he would 140 00:07:42,567 --> 00:07:48,166 be threatening and intimidating and throw things. 141 00:07:51,266 --> 00:07:52,967 I can remember going through a lot of 142 00:07:53,033 --> 00:07:54,967 salt and pepper shakers. 143 00:07:54,967 --> 00:07:57,567 I just would always just stand there, 144 00:07:57,567 --> 00:08:00,100 because I don't want to be intimidated. 145 00:08:00,100 --> 00:08:01,567 I don't like that feeling. 146 00:08:01,567 --> 00:08:04,066 I don't like backing down from that. 147 00:08:07,467 --> 00:08:09,367 NARRATOR: Eleven years into the marriage 148 00:08:09,367 --> 00:08:11,767 and desperate for a sense of independence, 149 00:08:11,834 --> 00:08:14,667 Melanie finally defies James. 150 00:08:14,734 --> 00:08:15,934 MELANIE: I started working. 151 00:08:17,967 --> 00:08:20,066 I was a substitute teacher, which was 152 00:08:20,066 --> 00:08:23,367 perfect while the kids were in school. 153 00:08:23,367 --> 00:08:26,567 It felt like this is where I should be. 154 00:08:26,567 --> 00:08:30,367 This is what I wanted to do, and it was nice to get out. 155 00:08:30,433 --> 00:08:32,967 You know, I always said I like being a stay at home mom, 156 00:08:32,967 --> 00:08:35,266 but I liked when it ended, too. 157 00:08:35,266 --> 00:08:37,934 I liked a new thing to do. 158 00:08:39,100 --> 00:08:42,467 For James, I think, it was probably very scary. 159 00:08:42,467 --> 00:08:45,266 She has priorities and parts of her life 160 00:08:45,266 --> 00:08:48,266 that don't center around him anymore. 161 00:08:48,333 --> 00:08:50,367 I think, at this point in time, 162 00:08:50,367 --> 00:08:54,367 James realizes that maybe Melanie is not going to be 163 00:08:54,433 --> 00:08:56,533 the submissive wife that he wants. 164 00:09:00,467 --> 00:09:02,767 NARRATOR: Six years into his job at the prison, 165 00:09:02,767 --> 00:09:06,567 James's work has strangely become all-consuming, 166 00:09:06,567 --> 00:09:09,567 and he disappears for longer lengths of time. 167 00:09:10,867 --> 00:09:13,767 He would leave about 5:30 in the morning, 168 00:09:13,834 --> 00:09:16,767 and it only takes 45 minutes to get there. 169 00:09:16,767 --> 00:09:19,367 So he left pretty early, 170 00:09:19,367 --> 00:09:22,634 and then he wouldn't get home till about five at night. 171 00:09:23,567 --> 00:09:26,767 That's two hours after his shift ended. 172 00:09:26,767 --> 00:09:27,867 Um, I would just question him. 173 00:09:27,867 --> 00:09:29,467 Why are you always so late? 174 00:09:29,467 --> 00:09:30,567 And he was angry with me. 175 00:09:30,567 --> 00:09:32,266 He's like, "Why can't you leave me alone?" 176 00:09:35,100 --> 00:09:36,767 He'd just say, "Well, I stopped and talked 177 00:09:36,767 --> 00:09:39,767 to people," or "I went to get gas." 178 00:09:39,767 --> 00:09:43,567 Sometimes he'd have to wait on a train to go by. 179 00:09:43,634 --> 00:09:45,967 He had all these little excuses. 180 00:09:45,967 --> 00:09:47,934 So that was -- it was just odd. 181 00:09:55,066 --> 00:09:57,767 NARRATOR: There's a reason James is spending longer hours away 182 00:09:57,767 --> 00:10:01,467 from home, and it has nothing to do with work. 183 00:10:01,467 --> 00:10:03,467 He's spending more and more time with one of 184 00:10:03,533 --> 00:10:04,467 the other guards. 185 00:10:04,467 --> 00:10:06,634 Her name is Molly Watson. 186 00:10:08,266 --> 00:10:12,967 TIM: Molly wanted to get a job that can make pretty good money 187 00:10:12,967 --> 00:10:16,166 that she could save back for her and her son, 188 00:10:16,166 --> 00:10:18,467 you know, so she could go back to school. 189 00:10:18,467 --> 00:10:21,467 And so she started out at the Moberly Prison. 190 00:10:22,767 --> 00:10:26,233 Her ultimate goal was to be a psychologist. 191 00:10:27,900 --> 00:10:29,967 NARRATOR: Molly needs the money, as she's 192 00:10:29,967 --> 00:10:32,867 a single mom raising her son on her own. 193 00:10:32,867 --> 00:10:34,467 TIM: Molly was a really good mom. 194 00:10:34,467 --> 00:10:37,667 She gave him all the love in the world. 195 00:10:37,667 --> 00:10:41,767 I am very much a huge geek. 196 00:10:41,767 --> 00:10:43,734 I hate being called a nerd. 197 00:10:44,667 --> 00:10:47,166 TIM: I wanted Molly to find somebody 198 00:10:47,233 --> 00:10:50,000 that respected her for her, 199 00:10:50,000 --> 00:10:51,867 that treated her 200 00:10:51,867 --> 00:10:54,433 like she deserved to be treated, you know? 201 00:10:56,667 --> 00:10:59,767 NARRATOR: In 2011, just a year into her new job, 202 00:10:59,834 --> 00:11:02,266 Molly has started dating someone new, 203 00:11:02,333 --> 00:11:05,867 and she's excited to introduce him to her brother. 204 00:11:05,867 --> 00:11:07,867 TIM: When I first met him, 205 00:11:07,867 --> 00:11:10,367 I just kind of looked at him and I was like, "Hi, 206 00:11:10,367 --> 00:11:12,567 you know, I'm Tim," 207 00:11:12,567 --> 00:11:14,367 and he's just like... 208 00:11:14,367 --> 00:11:17,066 "Yeah, I'm James," and he put his head down. 209 00:11:20,166 --> 00:11:21,266 Just something about him -- 210 00:11:21,333 --> 00:11:23,166 I didn't like him from the get-go. 211 00:11:24,166 --> 00:11:25,967 He was very standoffish. 212 00:11:26,033 --> 00:11:28,567 He would never look you in the eye to talk to you. 213 00:11:28,567 --> 00:11:30,433 He didn't really seem to care. 214 00:11:32,467 --> 00:11:35,767 GINA: James's off-putting demeanor likely raised 215 00:11:35,834 --> 00:11:38,166 questions as to who he was. 216 00:11:38,166 --> 00:11:42,967 What were his intentions, and really, what was he hiding? 217 00:11:44,166 --> 00:11:47,000 TIM: Just something was off about him. 218 00:11:47,000 --> 00:11:50,567 I knew there's something not right about this guy. 219 00:11:56,367 --> 00:11:59,266 NARRATOR: In 2011, Melanie and James Addie have 220 00:11:59,333 --> 00:12:03,266 been married for 16 years -- across town, 221 00:12:03,266 --> 00:12:08,166 Molly Watson has fallen hard for the same James Addie. 222 00:12:08,233 --> 00:12:11,166 GINA: She adored him. She doted on him. 223 00:12:11,166 --> 00:12:14,066 She loved him unconditionally. 224 00:12:14,066 --> 00:12:17,000 She made James her number-one priority, 225 00:12:17,000 --> 00:12:19,467 and that's what James was looking for. 226 00:12:19,533 --> 00:12:22,934 He wanted somebody who put him first always. 227 00:12:23,767 --> 00:12:26,467 NARRATOR: Molly's family is less than impressed with this 228 00:12:26,467 --> 00:12:29,266 new man in her life, who is 16 years 229 00:12:29,333 --> 00:12:30,567 her senior. 230 00:12:30,567 --> 00:12:33,166 Molly told me he was in the process of getting 231 00:12:33,166 --> 00:12:35,567 a divorce, you know, for six years, 232 00:12:35,567 --> 00:12:39,834 that he had, like, two kids. 233 00:12:41,100 --> 00:12:42,967 GINA: He says that he's trying to be there 234 00:12:43,033 --> 00:12:45,166 for his kids and do what's best for them, 235 00:12:45,166 --> 00:12:49,266 so he's still living with his estranged wife. 236 00:12:49,333 --> 00:12:50,567 I thought that was weird. 237 00:12:50,567 --> 00:12:52,467 You know, I've been divorced, 238 00:12:52,467 --> 00:12:55,233 and I wouldn't live with my ex-wife. 239 00:12:57,000 --> 00:12:59,266 NARRATOR: James visits Molly almost every day 240 00:12:59,266 --> 00:13:01,767 after work at her parents' house. 241 00:13:01,767 --> 00:13:04,834 They spend all their time together in her bedroom. 242 00:13:05,667 --> 00:13:08,266 GINA: Molly is living at home with her parents. 243 00:13:08,266 --> 00:13:10,567 She's very close with her family. 244 00:13:10,567 --> 00:13:13,000 He's not making any attempts to 245 00:13:13,000 --> 00:13:17,100 really build a relationship with them. 246 00:13:17,100 --> 00:13:20,000 And so it just seems like there's secrets, 247 00:13:20,000 --> 00:13:22,567 and there's something that's just not right. 248 00:13:23,667 --> 00:13:27,567 He would try to keep her away from everybody. 249 00:13:27,567 --> 00:13:30,367 James would try to separate Molly from her son. 250 00:13:30,433 --> 00:13:32,100 You could always tell that he did not 251 00:13:32,100 --> 00:13:35,734 want Molly's son in their life at all. 252 00:13:36,967 --> 00:13:38,367 My dad didn't like him. 253 00:13:38,367 --> 00:13:40,567 My mom flat out told me, you know, 254 00:13:40,567 --> 00:13:44,867 "I don't like the guy," and it killed me to watch my sister 255 00:13:44,867 --> 00:13:47,567 keep dating him, because you know, 256 00:13:47,634 --> 00:13:48,967 I knew she could do better. 257 00:13:50,066 --> 00:13:52,367 NARRATOR: Molly is so enamored with James, 258 00:13:52,367 --> 00:13:56,066 she brushes her family's concerns aside. 259 00:13:56,066 --> 00:13:57,567 She was in love. 260 00:13:57,567 --> 00:14:01,367 I mean, love is blind, and in her case, that's the truth. 261 00:14:03,967 --> 00:14:06,767 You could point out things to her that 262 00:14:06,834 --> 00:14:10,033 were obvious, and just...she would deny it. 263 00:14:11,600 --> 00:14:15,266 NARRATOR: In 2016, 5 years into their relationship, 264 00:14:15,266 --> 00:14:18,266 Molly and James take their first trip together. 265 00:14:18,266 --> 00:14:20,166 [phone rings] 266 00:14:20,166 --> 00:14:23,166 MELANIE: He received a phone call from one of his friends. 267 00:14:23,233 --> 00:14:25,000 He got off the phone, and I said, "What was that about?" 268 00:14:25,000 --> 00:14:28,467 And he said, "Oh, he wants me to go to Mexico with him." 269 00:14:28,533 --> 00:14:30,567 GINA: Melanie encourages him to go with 270 00:14:30,567 --> 00:14:32,967 his co-workers and have a good time. 271 00:14:35,867 --> 00:14:39,266 In reality, James wasn't going with co-workers. 272 00:14:39,266 --> 00:14:42,967 He was going to Mexico with Molly, his secret girlfriend. 273 00:14:46,467 --> 00:14:48,867 For Molly, this was amazing. 274 00:14:48,867 --> 00:14:52,867 She wanted to go on a vacation with James so badly. 275 00:14:52,867 --> 00:14:55,000 She was madly in love with him. 276 00:14:55,000 --> 00:14:57,367 And this was just an opportunity for them 277 00:14:57,367 --> 00:15:00,333 to grow their relationship and spend more time together. 278 00:15:02,567 --> 00:15:04,767 TIM: It looked like when they started to go on 279 00:15:04,834 --> 00:15:08,166 vacation that they were more committed to each other, 280 00:15:08,166 --> 00:15:11,433 you know, like he was maybe getting serious about it. 281 00:15:13,967 --> 00:15:16,967 You know, we've had the doubts about him, but okay, 282 00:15:16,967 --> 00:15:19,533 maybe this is -- maybe this is good. 283 00:15:22,367 --> 00:15:23,767 NARRATOR: When James returns home 284 00:15:23,834 --> 00:15:27,967 a week later, Melanie notices something odd about his photos. 285 00:15:30,367 --> 00:15:32,166 I said, "Well, where are the other people 286 00:15:32,233 --> 00:15:33,433 that you went with?" 287 00:15:36,266 --> 00:15:38,333 And he said, "Oh, I don't want pictures of them." 288 00:15:40,467 --> 00:15:43,967 So there was only pictures of him in the resort and the beach, 289 00:15:45,000 --> 00:15:46,233 and that's all I saw. 290 00:15:47,667 --> 00:15:48,667 NARRATOR: A year later, 291 00:15:48,667 --> 00:15:51,567 unbeknownst to Melanie, James takes her to 292 00:15:51,634 --> 00:15:55,266 the same vacation spot where he took Molly. 293 00:15:55,266 --> 00:15:56,567 MELANIE: It was so nice. 294 00:15:56,567 --> 00:15:59,767 We just had each other, and we spent all our time together, 295 00:15:59,767 --> 00:16:02,266 and it was just -- it was a great trip. 296 00:16:02,266 --> 00:16:03,834 We had so much fun. 297 00:16:05,967 --> 00:16:08,367 GINA: At this point, James has been carrying on 298 00:16:08,367 --> 00:16:10,266 this double life for so long 299 00:16:10,266 --> 00:16:11,967 that he's gotten so used to it 300 00:16:11,967 --> 00:16:14,467 and comfortable, to the point where he's arrogant 301 00:16:14,533 --> 00:16:16,867 enough to take his wife on the same vacation 302 00:16:16,867 --> 00:16:18,333 he took his mistress. 303 00:16:19,867 --> 00:16:22,066 NARRATOR: In October 2017, 304 00:16:22,133 --> 00:16:25,767 when James lies and tells Molly his divorce is finalized, 305 00:16:25,767 --> 00:16:28,266 she's ready to take the next step. 306 00:16:31,266 --> 00:16:34,567 TIM: The only thing she told me about the proposal was that 307 00:16:34,567 --> 00:16:37,667 she had asked James to marry her, and he said yes. 308 00:16:38,600 --> 00:16:40,567 Molly looks really happy -- you could tell 309 00:16:40,634 --> 00:16:42,867 that she's ready to get married. 310 00:16:44,667 --> 00:16:46,066 GINA: Now he's got to figure out what he's 311 00:16:46,133 --> 00:16:49,166 gonna do, because he still has a wife. 312 00:16:49,233 --> 00:16:53,100 NARRATOR: Molly quickly busies herself prepping for her dream wedding. 313 00:16:53,100 --> 00:16:56,667 She picks April 29th, 2018, as the date, 314 00:16:56,667 --> 00:17:00,367 and she's planning to hold it at the Stoney Creek Hotel, 315 00:17:00,433 --> 00:17:02,934 where Samantha Cohen is their wedding planner. 316 00:17:04,100 --> 00:17:07,767 SAMANTHA: She had a smile on her face the entire time we would meet. 317 00:17:07,767 --> 00:17:09,000 She just had, you know, 318 00:17:09,000 --> 00:17:11,767 this look in her eye of, like, "This is my day. 319 00:17:11,834 --> 00:17:14,567 I'm so excited. Let's make this happen." 320 00:17:14,634 --> 00:17:16,667 She wanted to be the princess for the day. 321 00:17:16,667 --> 00:17:20,066 You know, every girl imagines their wedding day and wanting 322 00:17:20,133 --> 00:17:22,567 to be the bride or the princess walking down 323 00:17:22,567 --> 00:17:23,667 the aisle. 324 00:17:23,667 --> 00:17:25,166 TIM: That's what she wanted -- to find 325 00:17:25,166 --> 00:17:28,333 Prince Charming, to settle down, and happily ever after. 326 00:17:30,200 --> 00:17:32,266 But I thought, what's she thinking? 327 00:17:32,333 --> 00:17:35,166 You know, she don't want to marry this guy. 328 00:17:35,233 --> 00:17:36,734 Nothing good can come of it. 329 00:17:38,767 --> 00:17:41,667 NARRATOR: During the Christmas holidays just a few months 330 00:17:41,734 --> 00:17:43,567 before the wedding is to take place, 331 00:17:43,567 --> 00:17:47,066 James shares some devastating news with Molly. 332 00:17:47,133 --> 00:17:48,567 [tires screeching, crashing noises] 333 00:17:48,567 --> 00:17:51,166 GINA: He tells Molly that his ex-wife, 334 00:17:51,166 --> 00:17:53,934 Melanie, has been in a terrible car accident. 335 00:17:57,100 --> 00:17:59,166 She's actually on life support, 336 00:18:00,266 --> 00:18:02,867 and he needs to be there for his children 337 00:18:02,867 --> 00:18:05,433 and to help them with the care of their mother. 338 00:18:06,867 --> 00:18:09,100 TIM: Molly felt bad for James, 339 00:18:09,100 --> 00:18:11,567 told him, you know, if he needed her 340 00:18:11,567 --> 00:18:13,100 to back off any, you know, 341 00:18:13,100 --> 00:18:16,066 and give him some space, she would and that she was there 342 00:18:16,066 --> 00:18:17,967 for him, whatever he needed, 343 00:18:17,967 --> 00:18:22,567 you know, that she understood he was doing it for his kids. 344 00:18:22,567 --> 00:18:25,767 I think it made Molly feel guilty 345 00:18:25,767 --> 00:18:27,867 about the wedding coming up. 346 00:18:27,867 --> 00:18:30,967 NARRATOR: Is Melanie's supposed accident 347 00:18:30,967 --> 00:18:33,533 a strategy for James to get out of the wedding? 348 00:18:35,100 --> 00:18:39,266 Melanie, in fact, is alive and well for now, 349 00:18:39,333 --> 00:18:42,834 but soon, she will come perilously close to death. 350 00:18:46,367 --> 00:18:50,133 There's this really strong gas smell in our bedroom. 351 00:18:51,867 --> 00:18:54,767 I believe that Melanie was at a very high risk of 352 00:18:54,834 --> 00:18:56,667 being killed. 353 00:18:56,667 --> 00:19:00,467 To think that you're so close to losing your life... 354 00:19:00,533 --> 00:19:01,934 it's -- it's terrifying. 355 00:19:09,166 --> 00:19:10,867 MELANIE: It was late at night, midnight, 356 00:19:10,867 --> 00:19:15,867 one o'clock, I woke up, and I smelled gas. 357 00:19:15,867 --> 00:19:18,967 It was very, very strong in the bedroom -- I thought, well, 358 00:19:19,033 --> 00:19:22,066 this is not dissipating, this is not normal. 359 00:19:25,200 --> 00:19:26,767 And Jim wasn't there. 360 00:19:26,834 --> 00:19:30,266 He wasn't in our bed. He wasn't in the bathroom. 361 00:19:30,266 --> 00:19:32,166 So I got up, and I went to find Jim 362 00:19:32,166 --> 00:19:35,767 to tell him that there's this really strong gas smell. 363 00:19:35,834 --> 00:19:38,066 She goes downstairs, and she finds that 364 00:19:38,133 --> 00:19:40,233 all the windows and doors are closed. 365 00:19:43,900 --> 00:19:47,100 MELANIE: Jim wasn't anywhere in the house, 366 00:19:47,100 --> 00:19:49,166 and I thought this could be serious. 367 00:19:51,800 --> 00:19:53,066 This particular night, 368 00:19:53,133 --> 00:19:56,934 he was outside on the deck, smoking a cigarette. 369 00:19:59,300 --> 00:20:00,867 It was 370 00:20:00,934 --> 00:20:03,834 unusual for him to be outside smoking. 371 00:20:05,467 --> 00:20:10,667 He would usually just smoke in the dining room at the window. 372 00:20:10,667 --> 00:20:13,667 So I told him, I said, "Really strong gas smell. 373 00:20:13,667 --> 00:20:15,767 I don't know what it is." 374 00:20:15,834 --> 00:20:18,066 He said, "Okay, well, you stay out here." 375 00:20:18,133 --> 00:20:20,367 And he went back in the bedroom and opened 376 00:20:20,433 --> 00:20:21,767 the windows and just said, 377 00:20:21,834 --> 00:20:25,233 "I don't know, it's probably some farm equipment outside." 378 00:20:27,000 --> 00:20:30,667 GINA: But it's a little suspicious, because the windows are closed, 379 00:20:30,667 --> 00:20:32,266 and when she goes outside, 380 00:20:32,266 --> 00:20:35,967 she doesn't have this overpowering odor anymore. 381 00:20:36,967 --> 00:20:39,367 MELANIE: Eventually, the smell did go away, 382 00:20:39,367 --> 00:20:42,066 and I was able to go back to bed, so... 383 00:20:43,000 --> 00:20:45,533 I don't have an explanation for that. 384 00:20:47,266 --> 00:20:48,934 It was so strange. 385 00:20:51,600 --> 00:20:55,266 NARRATOR: While Melanie worries about James and his odd behavior, 386 00:20:55,333 --> 00:20:57,767 Molly Watson is blissfully anticipating 387 00:20:57,767 --> 00:20:59,667 her fairy tale wedding. 388 00:20:59,667 --> 00:21:02,066 After seven years of dating James, 389 00:21:02,066 --> 00:21:04,734 her dream is finally coming true. 390 00:21:06,100 --> 00:21:08,367 Her excitement was so palpable. 391 00:21:08,433 --> 00:21:09,667 I mean, you watch her videos, 392 00:21:09,667 --> 00:21:13,467 and she just radiates excitement and love. 393 00:21:13,467 --> 00:21:18,467 Hi, everyone, it's Molly, and here is the dress on me, 394 00:21:18,533 --> 00:21:21,166 and I have to say, I was actually really impressed. 395 00:21:22,700 --> 00:21:26,266 You can tell, uh, just by talking to her, 396 00:21:26,266 --> 00:21:28,467 she has always dreamt of her wedding. 397 00:21:28,467 --> 00:21:31,166 I mean, she had three wedding dresses, like, this 398 00:21:31,166 --> 00:21:33,467 was not just any normal day in her life. 399 00:21:33,467 --> 00:21:35,266 She's been dreaming of how this 400 00:21:35,266 --> 00:21:37,767 wedding was gonna look for years. 401 00:21:37,834 --> 00:21:40,266 I think she finally found, you know, 402 00:21:40,333 --> 00:21:43,066 her prince charming, and this was 403 00:21:43,133 --> 00:21:45,066 the next chapter of her life. 404 00:21:47,266 --> 00:21:51,367 NARRATOR: Molly seems unaware that James lacks the same enthusiasm, 405 00:21:51,433 --> 00:21:54,433 but his detached demeanor is obvious to others. 406 00:21:58,100 --> 00:21:59,767 When I was meeting with James and Molly, 407 00:21:59,834 --> 00:22:01,834 it was all Molly giving the input. 408 00:22:03,467 --> 00:22:06,967 He really just sat there, kind of staring off into space. 409 00:22:08,700 --> 00:22:10,567 He was a very quiet man, 410 00:22:10,567 --> 00:22:14,767 didn't smile often, and just kind of was there. 411 00:22:14,767 --> 00:22:20,000 He didn't really give much input into the conversations, 412 00:22:20,000 --> 00:22:22,734 and he just didn't seem like he really wanted to be there. 413 00:22:24,166 --> 00:22:26,533 He didn't seem to care. 414 00:22:27,600 --> 00:22:29,767 And he said, you know, "Oh, well, 415 00:22:29,834 --> 00:22:31,967 "we're getting married, you know, 416 00:22:31,967 --> 00:22:34,667 as long as it shuts her up, you know, whatever," 417 00:22:34,667 --> 00:22:36,767 that's kind of his attitude towards it. 418 00:22:37,967 --> 00:22:41,266 NARRATOR: On April 22nd, just a week before the wedding, 419 00:22:41,333 --> 00:22:45,433 James drops another bombshell about his supposed ex-wife. 420 00:22:47,667 --> 00:22:49,567 [heart monitor beeping noises] 421 00:22:49,634 --> 00:22:52,867 TIM: We were told she was in this coma, 422 00:22:52,934 --> 00:22:55,567 and... 423 00:22:55,634 --> 00:23:00,233 they determined that she would never recover from her injuries. 424 00:23:01,967 --> 00:23:04,000 From what Molly told me directly, 425 00:23:04,000 --> 00:23:06,166 Melanie's life support, 426 00:23:06,233 --> 00:23:07,667 they were gonna go ahead and pull the plug, 427 00:23:07,734 --> 00:23:10,266 because they decided that she was 428 00:23:10,266 --> 00:23:13,000 too brain damaged and that they were gonna have to 429 00:23:13,000 --> 00:23:14,266 just let her go. 430 00:23:14,266 --> 00:23:16,066 [flat line beeping noise] 431 00:23:16,066 --> 00:23:20,667 I reached out to Molly to get a final in-person meeting 432 00:23:20,734 --> 00:23:23,767 scheduled with her and James, and she had emailed me back 433 00:23:23,834 --> 00:23:26,100 saying, "I don't know if James will be able to make 434 00:23:26,100 --> 00:23:29,166 "the meeting, as his ex-wife had 435 00:23:29,166 --> 00:23:31,333 just passed away that weekend before." 436 00:23:33,800 --> 00:23:35,467 NARRATOR: James is lying, 437 00:23:35,467 --> 00:23:38,066 and Melanie is still very much alive, 438 00:23:38,066 --> 00:23:41,367 unbeknownst to Molly and everyone else around her. 439 00:23:43,567 --> 00:23:48,000 GINA: I think James wanted so badly to 440 00:23:48,000 --> 00:23:50,934 get out of this predicament he had created 441 00:23:52,000 --> 00:23:56,667 that he was hoping by creating this tragic situation and back 442 00:23:56,667 --> 00:23:59,066 story that maybe Molly would 443 00:23:59,066 --> 00:24:01,567 come to the conclusion to cancel the wedding, and that 444 00:24:01,634 --> 00:24:04,467 would sort of be his get-out-of-jail-free card, 445 00:24:04,467 --> 00:24:06,233 but that's not what happened. 446 00:24:07,800 --> 00:24:11,667 He needed to keep up the charade as the loving fiance, 447 00:24:11,667 --> 00:24:14,266 and so he doesn't cancel the wedding, 448 00:24:14,266 --> 00:24:17,667 because he knows that's gonna devastate her. 449 00:24:17,734 --> 00:24:19,367 NARRATOR: Two days before the wedding, 450 00:24:19,367 --> 00:24:22,533 James still hasn't told Molly the truth. 451 00:24:24,166 --> 00:24:26,467 SAMANTHA: That Friday, when he came in by himself, 452 00:24:26,467 --> 00:24:29,066 after he dropped everything off and paid, 453 00:24:29,066 --> 00:24:31,333 you know, I asked him, "How are you feeling?" 454 00:24:34,266 --> 00:24:36,567 And the only words that he said 455 00:24:36,567 --> 00:24:38,667 was that she was driving him crazy. 456 00:24:39,867 --> 00:24:43,166 GINA: It's probably pretty common for grooms to be a little 457 00:24:43,233 --> 00:24:46,166 annoyed with brides as it gets close to the wedding. 458 00:24:46,233 --> 00:24:48,867 But for James, I think Molly was driving him 459 00:24:48,867 --> 00:24:52,934 crazy because he knew the walls were closing in. 460 00:24:54,166 --> 00:24:56,667 He was still married to Melanie, 461 00:24:56,667 --> 00:24:59,333 and he had to figure something out quickly. 462 00:25:01,166 --> 00:25:04,367 NARRATOR: The night of April 27th, Molly abruptly leaves 463 00:25:04,433 --> 00:25:07,767 her parents' home without much of an explanation. 464 00:25:07,767 --> 00:25:10,100 She was actually making something to eat 465 00:25:10,100 --> 00:25:12,767 when suddenly, she got a phone call. 466 00:25:12,834 --> 00:25:17,467 And after that phone call, Molly leaves really quickly, 467 00:25:17,467 --> 00:25:19,767 and she just sort of rushed out of the house. 468 00:25:19,767 --> 00:25:21,367 Given that she was cooking, 469 00:25:21,367 --> 00:25:25,367 her parents felt like she would be back really quickly. 470 00:25:25,367 --> 00:25:26,567 NARRATOR: At his home, 471 00:25:26,634 --> 00:25:29,867 James tells his wife, Melanie, he's stepping out. 472 00:25:29,867 --> 00:25:32,667 MELANIE: Well, he was out in the garage, and then he came in 473 00:25:32,734 --> 00:25:35,367 and said he was gonna go to a friend's house. 474 00:25:35,433 --> 00:25:38,567 This was about seven o'clock, and then I went to bed about 475 00:25:38,634 --> 00:25:41,166 7:30 -- I usually go to bed pretty early. 476 00:25:45,000 --> 00:25:46,967 NARRATOR: Later that night, a driver on 477 00:25:47,033 --> 00:25:49,867 a deserted road notices something unusual. 478 00:25:54,500 --> 00:25:58,133 GINA: He sees these two vehicles parked on the side of the road. 479 00:25:59,700 --> 00:26:02,266 He figures one of them is having engine trouble, 480 00:26:02,266 --> 00:26:05,066 so he stops to see if he can help. 481 00:26:05,133 --> 00:26:07,767 An older man tells him that everything is fine, 482 00:26:07,767 --> 00:26:10,767 he can go, and so he proceeds on his way. 483 00:26:12,467 --> 00:26:13,867 On his way back, 484 00:26:13,867 --> 00:26:16,667 he passes the same spot, only this time, 485 00:26:16,667 --> 00:26:18,066 there's only one vehicle. 486 00:26:23,000 --> 00:26:24,967 The Monroe County Sheriff's Office got 487 00:26:25,033 --> 00:26:28,100 a call around 10:30 at night that 488 00:26:28,100 --> 00:26:32,066 a passerby named Glenn McSparren had found a woman 489 00:26:32,066 --> 00:26:35,266 in a very remote area of Monroe County 490 00:26:35,266 --> 00:26:36,834 on a low water crossing. 491 00:26:38,567 --> 00:26:42,266 He told police that there was a woman who was laying 492 00:26:42,266 --> 00:26:45,634 in front of a car on this dusty, dirty country road. 493 00:26:47,967 --> 00:26:49,467 Her eyes were open. 494 00:26:49,467 --> 00:26:51,867 She did not appear alive to him. 495 00:26:54,100 --> 00:26:56,266 NARRATOR: Investigators rush to the scene. 496 00:26:56,266 --> 00:26:59,867 Police quickly identify the cause of death 497 00:26:59,867 --> 00:27:02,066 as a gunshot wound to the head. 498 00:27:03,767 --> 00:27:06,367 This woman is out in the middle of nowhere, 499 00:27:06,367 --> 00:27:09,133 and she's been shot execution-style. 500 00:27:10,100 --> 00:27:12,667 It leads them to believe this was 501 00:27:12,734 --> 00:27:16,533 a planned murder, and someone lured her out there. 502 00:27:19,500 --> 00:27:23,266 And they identify her by finding a marriage license on 503 00:27:23,266 --> 00:27:24,667 her passenger seat 504 00:27:24,667 --> 00:27:27,166 that identifies her as Molly Watson, 505 00:27:27,233 --> 00:27:30,266 who's engaged to be married to James Addie. 506 00:27:30,266 --> 00:27:32,467 [distant siren, radio chatter] 507 00:27:39,700 --> 00:27:41,767 NARRATOR: In the early hours of April 28th, 508 00:27:41,834 --> 00:27:44,467 just one day before Tim Watson's sister is to 509 00:27:44,467 --> 00:27:47,467 be married, he gets a call from his dad. 510 00:27:47,467 --> 00:27:48,867 [phone vibrates] 511 00:27:48,867 --> 00:27:50,467 As soon as I saw what time it was, 512 00:27:50,467 --> 00:27:53,333 I knew it was something serious. 513 00:27:54,600 --> 00:27:56,166 He said, "Timmy, 514 00:27:56,166 --> 00:27:59,266 "the highway patrol just left our house. 515 00:27:59,266 --> 00:28:02,066 They found Molly dead on this dirt road." 516 00:28:03,667 --> 00:28:06,867 And immediately, I was in shock. 517 00:28:06,867 --> 00:28:10,634 [distant radio chatter] 518 00:28:13,000 --> 00:28:16,467 MELANIE: About 2:30 in the morning, 519 00:28:16,533 --> 00:28:18,166 I got up and I looked out the window, 520 00:28:18,166 --> 00:28:20,767 and there were four vehicles with flashing lights. 521 00:28:24,767 --> 00:28:28,066 I went to the door, and Jim was there first. 522 00:28:28,133 --> 00:28:30,533 He opened the door for these four cops. 523 00:28:32,200 --> 00:28:34,667 And so I asked them, "What's going on? 524 00:28:34,667 --> 00:28:36,567 Why are you here?" 525 00:28:36,634 --> 00:28:38,867 And nobody would answer me. 526 00:28:38,867 --> 00:28:42,767 Finally, somebody asked me, he said, "Who are you?" 527 00:28:42,767 --> 00:28:44,467 And I pointed to Jim and said, "Well, 528 00:28:44,467 --> 00:28:48,033 I'm his wife," and Jim said, "Yes, that's my wife." 529 00:28:52,166 --> 00:28:55,166 And then the mood kind of changed a little bit. 530 00:28:58,500 --> 00:29:00,467 KATHARINE: Investigators had no idea 531 00:29:00,533 --> 00:29:02,166 what they were walking into. 532 00:29:02,166 --> 00:29:04,667 They thought they were making a death notification to 533 00:29:04,667 --> 00:29:06,367 a fiance, and they find out 534 00:29:06,367 --> 00:29:09,934 he's already married for 23 years. 535 00:29:11,166 --> 00:29:13,233 They discovered Melanie Addie, 536 00:29:14,567 --> 00:29:16,567 and everything changed. 537 00:29:16,567 --> 00:29:20,000 Suddenly James Addie, who they expected to be 538 00:29:20,000 --> 00:29:22,266 the bereaved fiance, who would 539 00:29:22,266 --> 00:29:25,166 surely receive the worst news of his entire life, 540 00:29:25,166 --> 00:29:26,967 was now a suspect. 541 00:29:29,066 --> 00:29:31,767 NARRATOR: Detectives escort James into the dining room for 542 00:29:31,767 --> 00:29:35,066 an interview while another investigator asks Melanie 543 00:29:35,133 --> 00:29:36,867 curious questions. 544 00:29:36,934 --> 00:29:38,867 MELANIE: Where were you tonight? 545 00:29:38,934 --> 00:29:40,567 What did you do tonight? 546 00:29:40,634 --> 00:29:43,467 Do you know Molly Watson? She's been found dead. 547 00:29:45,100 --> 00:29:46,266 I didn't know who that was. 548 00:29:46,266 --> 00:29:47,967 I didn't know who Molly was. 549 00:29:48,033 --> 00:29:52,667 I didn't know how she was at all related to my family. 550 00:29:54,667 --> 00:29:56,367 They told me who Molly was 551 00:29:56,433 --> 00:29:59,166 and that they were gonna get married. 552 00:29:59,166 --> 00:30:01,567 I asked him, "Do you -- do you have the right person? 553 00:30:01,567 --> 00:30:04,367 "Are you sure you have the right person? 554 00:30:04,433 --> 00:30:06,266 Because that's my husband." 555 00:30:07,667 --> 00:30:10,767 I was numb. I was in shock. 556 00:30:10,834 --> 00:30:13,667 It was hard to get this through my head, 557 00:30:13,667 --> 00:30:14,967 because this was -- 558 00:30:14,967 --> 00:30:18,767 this was my husband, and this was our life, and this other 559 00:30:18,767 --> 00:30:20,567 person had no place in it. 560 00:30:20,567 --> 00:30:24,367 And the story did not make sense. 561 00:30:24,367 --> 00:30:26,000 NARRATOR: Out of Melanie's earshot, 562 00:30:26,000 --> 00:30:27,266 James comes clean to 563 00:30:27,266 --> 00:30:30,967 the officers about his relationship with Molly. 564 00:30:31,033 --> 00:30:32,767 He admitted the affair and said that 565 00:30:32,834 --> 00:30:35,634 it had been going on for seven years. 566 00:30:37,100 --> 00:30:38,767 GINA: He tells them, though, that he had 567 00:30:38,767 --> 00:30:42,233 absolutely nothing to do with Molly's death. 568 00:30:43,266 --> 00:30:45,667 KATHARINE: They asked him where he was that evening. 569 00:30:45,667 --> 00:30:48,867 James Addie responded that he left the home around 570 00:30:48,867 --> 00:30:51,333 seven o'clock to go visit a friend. 571 00:30:52,467 --> 00:30:54,166 He said the friend was not home, 572 00:30:54,166 --> 00:30:57,266 so he turned around and came back home and arrived around 573 00:30:57,333 --> 00:31:01,867 8:30 that evening and that he went to bed shortly thereafter. 574 00:31:02,700 --> 00:31:04,767 NARRATOR: Did James go to bed as he claims 575 00:31:04,767 --> 00:31:08,166 to police, or did he secretly meet Molly? 576 00:31:09,300 --> 00:31:12,266 When forensics examined the bride-to-be's computer, 577 00:31:12,333 --> 00:31:15,867 they find evidence to suggest she had been obsessed by one 578 00:31:15,867 --> 00:31:18,567 thing in the 24 hours leading up to her death, 579 00:31:19,767 --> 00:31:21,467 and it wasn't her wedding. 580 00:31:24,667 --> 00:31:26,567 Molly Watson had been searching 581 00:31:26,567 --> 00:31:30,634 for evidence of Melanie Addie's death. 582 00:31:32,100 --> 00:31:35,266 She was searching to see if there was an obituary or any 583 00:31:35,266 --> 00:31:39,166 evidence of this horrible accident that had eventually led 584 00:31:39,233 --> 00:31:40,567 to Melanie's death. 585 00:31:40,634 --> 00:31:44,066 Of course, Melanie Addie was very much alive, 586 00:31:44,133 --> 00:31:45,767 and she was unable to find any evidence 587 00:31:45,834 --> 00:31:47,066 that she had passed away. 588 00:31:48,867 --> 00:31:51,667 NARRATOR: Did Molly come to the crushing realization that 589 00:31:51,734 --> 00:31:55,367 Melanie was alive, and there would be no wedding? 590 00:31:55,433 --> 00:31:57,467 GINA: I think she questioned James on it. 591 00:31:57,533 --> 00:31:59,166 And at that point, he knew the jig 592 00:31:59,166 --> 00:32:01,066 was up, and he had to do something. 593 00:32:04,567 --> 00:32:05,867 NARRATOR: Back at the murder scene, 594 00:32:05,934 --> 00:32:08,767 investigators scour the area and find Molly's 595 00:32:08,834 --> 00:32:11,266 cellphone and a discarded T-shirt. 596 00:32:12,166 --> 00:32:14,967 Police also go through Molly's phone records 597 00:32:14,967 --> 00:32:18,066 and are able to piece together her last known movements. 598 00:32:19,166 --> 00:32:23,967 The last phone call she ever made was 22 minutes long, 599 00:32:24,033 --> 00:32:27,066 22 minutes, which is the exact amount of time 600 00:32:27,066 --> 00:32:30,867 it took Molly Watson to drive from her home to her death. 601 00:32:31,767 --> 00:32:35,533 The entire time, she was on the phone with James Addie. 602 00:32:36,800 --> 00:32:39,867 TIM: I think somehow he convinced her to meet up 603 00:32:39,867 --> 00:32:41,567 with him so he could talk about it, 604 00:32:41,567 --> 00:32:43,467 and he got her out in the middle of nowhere 605 00:32:43,533 --> 00:32:45,567 and took her life. 606 00:32:45,567 --> 00:32:48,667 KATHARINE: Police looked at the victimology of Molly Watson, 607 00:32:48,667 --> 00:32:49,667 who did she know, 608 00:32:49,667 --> 00:32:51,667 who in her life might want her dead, 609 00:32:51,667 --> 00:32:53,767 and they determined -[gunshot blasts] 610 00:32:53,767 --> 00:32:56,867 that only one person, James Addie, had the motive, 611 00:32:56,867 --> 00:32:59,533 means, and opportunity to take Molly's life. 612 00:33:02,066 --> 00:33:05,934 NARRATOR: James Addie is arrested and taken into custody. 613 00:33:07,000 --> 00:33:09,567 The next day, Melanie starts looking 614 00:33:09,634 --> 00:33:12,433 for evidence of James's double life. 615 00:33:14,367 --> 00:33:17,100 I went out to the garage, which was kind of his domain. 616 00:33:17,100 --> 00:33:20,567 It was a lot of storage things that we kept up there, 617 00:33:20,567 --> 00:33:22,767 a lot of boxes, 618 00:33:22,834 --> 00:33:24,567 and I started looking a little closer at 619 00:33:24,567 --> 00:33:27,166 the boxes, and these were not my things. 620 00:33:29,367 --> 00:33:30,667 These were Molly's things. 621 00:33:30,734 --> 00:33:33,066 They had her name on the boxes, and that's 622 00:33:33,066 --> 00:33:36,767 when I found the photo album of them on vacation. 623 00:33:41,600 --> 00:33:45,567 And a lot of kitchen stuff, just household things 624 00:33:45,634 --> 00:33:48,066 that were at my house. 625 00:33:48,066 --> 00:33:49,467 She was planning on moving in, 626 00:33:49,467 --> 00:33:52,066 I guess -- it was very overwhelming. 627 00:33:52,066 --> 00:33:53,967 I didn't know how to process this. 628 00:33:57,467 --> 00:33:59,333 He was home every night. 629 00:34:00,400 --> 00:34:02,233 I don't know when he saw her 630 00:34:03,467 --> 00:34:08,333 or how they formed a relationship over seven years 631 00:34:09,567 --> 00:34:12,767 and why he would go forward 632 00:34:12,767 --> 00:34:16,867 with marrying her or planning this wedding 633 00:34:16,867 --> 00:34:18,166 when he was still married to me. 634 00:34:18,166 --> 00:34:20,367 How is this supposed to work? 635 00:34:20,367 --> 00:34:22,867 I don't know what he was thinking. 636 00:34:22,867 --> 00:34:25,667 I was just angry, just angry. 637 00:34:26,967 --> 00:34:29,767 NARRATOR: Melanie thinks back to the night of the gas leak 638 00:34:29,834 --> 00:34:33,667 and is left to wonder about James's possible intentions. 639 00:34:33,734 --> 00:34:35,767 The thought is chilling. 640 00:34:35,834 --> 00:34:37,166 MELANIE: I started to put all of that 641 00:34:37,166 --> 00:34:40,367 together about the gas in the bedroom. 642 00:34:40,367 --> 00:34:42,934 I think the idea was for me not to wake up. 643 00:34:45,900 --> 00:34:48,567 I think I was supposed to die. 644 00:34:48,567 --> 00:34:50,367 I think he was 645 00:34:50,367 --> 00:34:52,166 trying to get rid of one of us. 646 00:34:54,100 --> 00:34:57,467 NARRATOR: Had James tried to kill Melanie but failed, 647 00:34:57,467 --> 00:34:59,467 so he chose Molly instead? 648 00:35:06,166 --> 00:35:08,767 NARRATOR: James Addie has been arrested and charged with 649 00:35:08,767 --> 00:35:12,467 first-degree murder in the death of Molly Watson. 650 00:35:12,533 --> 00:35:15,433 A heartbroken Melanie confronts her husband. 651 00:35:16,367 --> 00:35:19,867 I went to the jail a few days after he was arrested 652 00:35:19,867 --> 00:35:22,834 and asked him, what the hell? 653 00:35:24,100 --> 00:35:26,867 What are you doing? This is our life. 654 00:35:28,600 --> 00:35:31,066 And he didn't -- he didn't have any answers. 655 00:35:32,467 --> 00:35:33,867 He apologized for the affair. 656 00:35:33,867 --> 00:35:36,467 He never admitted that he killed her. 657 00:35:36,467 --> 00:35:39,967 He said that he was sorry, 658 00:35:40,033 --> 00:35:42,834 and he didn't know we had such a perfect life. 659 00:35:44,767 --> 00:35:46,066 Too late now. 660 00:35:47,667 --> 00:35:49,367 He lost everything, and he knew it. 661 00:35:49,367 --> 00:35:51,066 He knew everything was gone. 662 00:35:51,066 --> 00:35:53,467 He knew I wasn't gonna stick around. 663 00:35:53,533 --> 00:35:56,567 It was not gonna be his support system anymore. 664 00:35:56,634 --> 00:35:58,433 This was it. We were done. 665 00:36:01,500 --> 00:36:03,567 NARRATOR: James's case goes before the court 666 00:36:03,634 --> 00:36:06,166 in the spring of 2021. 667 00:36:06,166 --> 00:36:07,967 Prosecutors paint a picture for 668 00:36:08,033 --> 00:36:10,166 the jury of what they believe happened 669 00:36:10,233 --> 00:36:11,533 that fateful night. 670 00:36:14,500 --> 00:36:18,867 The night of April 27th, I believe that he called 671 00:36:18,934 --> 00:36:20,100 Molly Watson 672 00:36:20,100 --> 00:36:22,767 and told her to get in her car and start driving 673 00:36:22,767 --> 00:36:25,133 to this remote area. 674 00:36:26,266 --> 00:36:28,066 She arrived at the low water crossing, 675 00:36:28,066 --> 00:36:32,834 opened the door, and he shot her once, and he panicked. 676 00:36:33,867 --> 00:36:36,767 He left Molly's body there for anyone to find. 677 00:36:38,000 --> 00:36:39,266 Going into the trial, 678 00:36:39,333 --> 00:36:41,266 we felt that the evidence against James Addie 679 00:36:41,266 --> 00:36:42,967 was overwhelming. 680 00:36:42,967 --> 00:36:44,767 NARRATOR: The T-shirt found by police 681 00:36:44,767 --> 00:36:47,667 is a key piece of evidence. 682 00:36:47,667 --> 00:36:50,767 KATHARINE: In addition to the T-shirt having gunshot residue on it 683 00:36:50,767 --> 00:36:52,166 and the victim's blood on it, 684 00:36:52,166 --> 00:36:54,967 there was something else important about the T-shirt. 685 00:36:54,967 --> 00:36:57,567 That T-shirt had been made by 686 00:36:57,567 --> 00:37:00,367 James Addie's daughter, Emma Addie. 687 00:37:02,000 --> 00:37:04,967 MELANIE: And this was specific to Emma. 688 00:37:04,967 --> 00:37:06,967 She had made this shirt and kind of 689 00:37:06,967 --> 00:37:09,066 messed up the design a little bit. 690 00:37:10,166 --> 00:37:12,567 KATHARINE: She was able to identify that T-shirt as 691 00:37:12,567 --> 00:37:15,967 one that she had made and given to her father. 692 00:37:16,033 --> 00:37:19,367 So the T-shirt was extremely important, because we know it 693 00:37:19,367 --> 00:37:22,567 came from the crime scene, because it had Molly's blood 694 00:37:22,567 --> 00:37:24,166 on it, and we know 695 00:37:24,166 --> 00:37:26,834 that it came from the defendant's home. 696 00:37:28,900 --> 00:37:31,367 NARRATOR: James had told police that on the night of the murder, 697 00:37:31,367 --> 00:37:34,567 he had gone out but was home by 8:30 p.m. 698 00:37:34,567 --> 00:37:37,166 His daughter, though, contradicts that story 699 00:37:37,166 --> 00:37:39,266 when faced with the daunting task 700 00:37:39,333 --> 00:37:41,967 of testifying against her own father. 701 00:37:44,400 --> 00:37:46,567 Emma Addie was interviewed about her father's 702 00:37:46,567 --> 00:37:49,867 whereabouts, and she gave a very different story. 703 00:37:49,867 --> 00:37:55,100 I was still up doing homework at around 10 p.m. 704 00:37:55,100 --> 00:37:58,767 And that's around the time that dad came home. 705 00:37:58,767 --> 00:38:03,667 GINA: He returns home and sees his daughter, Emma, still up. 706 00:38:03,667 --> 00:38:05,567 He's a little surprised, 707 00:38:05,567 --> 00:38:08,667 and Emma described him as being nervous. 708 00:38:08,667 --> 00:38:10,967 James gets in the shower right away. 709 00:38:10,967 --> 00:38:15,100 And Emma also notices that her dad does laundry, 710 00:38:15,100 --> 00:38:18,767 something that would normally be her mom's job. 711 00:38:18,834 --> 00:38:20,567 And did you smell anything? 712 00:38:20,567 --> 00:38:23,266 Yes, I smelled bleach. 713 00:38:24,867 --> 00:38:26,667 KATHARINE: Emma Addie's testimony was key 714 00:38:26,667 --> 00:38:28,367 to dispute the alibi that 715 00:38:28,367 --> 00:38:31,166 James Addie had provided to the police and to 716 00:38:31,233 --> 00:38:33,867 be able to come into court and to tell the world 717 00:38:33,867 --> 00:38:36,166 that your father had lied to the police, 718 00:38:36,233 --> 00:38:38,066 it was incredible. 719 00:38:38,133 --> 00:38:40,433 She had a tough job, and she handled it. 720 00:38:40,500 --> 00:38:42,433 She did really, really well. 721 00:38:43,400 --> 00:38:46,066 She's an inspiration to me. 722 00:38:46,133 --> 00:38:47,634 She is. She's amazing. 723 00:38:55,066 --> 00:38:57,967 I just ask, plead with the jury, 724 00:38:58,033 --> 00:39:01,233 to give this monster the max sentence possible. 725 00:39:03,100 --> 00:39:06,100 On April 28th, 2021, what would 726 00:39:06,100 --> 00:39:08,667 have been Molly and James' third anniversary 727 00:39:08,734 --> 00:39:10,667 had they been married, James Addie 728 00:39:10,667 --> 00:39:13,066 is found guilty of Molly's murder. 729 00:39:15,467 --> 00:39:17,467 I hereby sentence you to life 730 00:39:17,467 --> 00:39:20,266 imprisonment without the possibility of parole. 731 00:39:20,266 --> 00:39:22,166 TIM: I just wanted justice for Molly. 732 00:39:22,166 --> 00:39:23,667 That's all I cared about. 733 00:39:23,667 --> 00:39:25,767 You know, as long as I heard those words guilty 734 00:39:25,834 --> 00:39:29,066 comin' out of the judge's mouth, and thank God they did. 735 00:39:29,133 --> 00:39:32,266 MELANIE: He had the means, he had the motive. 736 00:39:32,266 --> 00:39:34,467 He didn't have a good alibi. 737 00:39:34,467 --> 00:39:36,066 He wasn't home that night. 738 00:39:36,066 --> 00:39:38,066 So it all kind of added up. 739 00:39:38,066 --> 00:39:40,066 He's absolutely responsible for this. 740 00:39:41,066 --> 00:39:43,567 NARRATOR: James Addie is convicted, but it's 741 00:39:43,567 --> 00:39:46,533 still hard to comprehend his sickening actions. 742 00:39:52,166 --> 00:39:55,066 GINA: It's unfathomable that James thought the solution to 743 00:39:55,066 --> 00:39:57,367 the problem was to kill someone 744 00:39:57,367 --> 00:40:00,000 instead of just breaking up with them. 745 00:40:00,000 --> 00:40:03,066 In his mind, that was the right thing to do, 746 00:40:03,133 --> 00:40:05,166 and that's what's scary. 747 00:40:05,166 --> 00:40:08,367 It's terrifying that that is his way out. 748 00:40:08,367 --> 00:40:09,967 TIM: Had he walked away, 749 00:40:10,033 --> 00:40:11,567 just never talked to her again, 750 00:40:11,634 --> 00:40:12,767 we'd be fine with that. 751 00:40:12,767 --> 00:40:15,967 You know, she'd be upset, she'd still be here. 752 00:40:16,033 --> 00:40:18,467 He chose to take her life. 753 00:40:18,467 --> 00:40:20,767 He's an evil person. 754 00:40:20,767 --> 00:40:25,166 GINA: It's tragic to think that somebody who was so excited 755 00:40:25,233 --> 00:40:26,367 to be a bride 756 00:40:26,367 --> 00:40:28,867 and to have a happily ever after instead 757 00:40:28,934 --> 00:40:30,967 had this tragic ending. 758 00:40:31,033 --> 00:40:32,266 MELANIE: The family, 759 00:40:32,266 --> 00:40:34,667 they're the ones that suffer in this. 760 00:40:34,667 --> 00:40:36,066 They are the true victims. 761 00:40:36,133 --> 00:40:39,433 They've lost Molly, and they will lose her... 762 00:40:40,300 --> 00:40:42,000 you know, at family get-togethers 763 00:40:42,000 --> 00:40:43,667 and holidays and vacations, 764 00:40:43,734 --> 00:40:46,734 and she's just not there for them. 765 00:40:50,967 --> 00:40:53,233 TIM: She definitely knows how much I love her. 766 00:40:54,967 --> 00:40:56,166 I would like Molly to be 767 00:40:56,233 --> 00:41:01,567 remembered as the sweet, loving, giving person 768 00:41:01,567 --> 00:41:03,166 she was. 769 00:41:03,233 --> 00:41:05,634 She just -- she'd do anything for anybody. 770 00:41:07,400 --> 00:41:09,266 SAMANTHA: I'd hug her and just say how 771 00:41:09,333 --> 00:41:12,100 sorry I am that this happened to her, 772 00:41:12,100 --> 00:41:16,033 and I hope she feels that justice has been served. 773 00:41:17,166 --> 00:41:18,533 And I hope she's okay. 774 00:41:20,066 --> 00:41:23,567 TIM: I still go out to her grave site, 775 00:41:23,567 --> 00:41:25,967 and I have conversations with her, you know, and... 776 00:41:28,166 --> 00:41:30,767 she said everything's fine. Everything's okay. 777 00:41:36,367 --> 00:41:38,467 NARRATOR: As for Melanie, she has found 778 00:41:38,467 --> 00:41:40,533 a semblance of peace in her life. 779 00:41:42,166 --> 00:41:44,667 MELANIE: It's good that it's finally over. 780 00:41:44,667 --> 00:41:47,967 I'm divorced and on my own, 781 00:41:47,967 --> 00:41:51,734 but I'm much happier on my own than I was married. 782 00:41:53,266 --> 00:41:55,967 I'm good all by myself. I really am. 783 00:41:56,800 --> 00:41:59,567 I'm just really lucky that I have a good job, 784 00:41:59,634 --> 00:42:02,767 a fun job, great co-workers. 785 00:42:02,834 --> 00:42:05,800 I just -- I have a good life. I'm happy.