Harold Henthorn was one calculating and manipulative murderer. Bertolet said he and his family believe Harold Henthorn funneled the $500,000 to his brother anticipating that he would eventually be charged criminally for Toni Henthorn's death and might not have access to the money. Maybe it wasnt the most critical detail. This is an adapted chapter from Caleb Hannans new Kindle Single The Accidents; read the full story here. But I would be very careful. In the document, he implied that. The Defendant created his own reality and everyone in it. He insisted to anyone who would listen that he was an in-demand fundraiser who had a large staff and made millions a year. Lynn Henthorns death was a tragedy, not a crime. Tonis family, though, did not have a high opinion of Harold and suspected foul play after her death. Toni and Harold Henthorn were celebrating their 12th wedding anniversary the weekend when she died. We can forgive a child for being afraid of the dark, but we cannot forgive the darkness of selfish desolation that lies within the Defendants heart.The Defendant would have us erroneously believe that he is an unlucky man, a hard luck husband, and a person in which lightning has tragically struck twice. The Defendant even proclaimed to a group of school mothers that Tonis daughter would be fine, because the real relationship was actually between Haley and him. For an optimal experience visit our site on another browser. Harold Henthorn, who shoved second wife off cliff, loses appeal for a new murder trial. According to Henthorn, he said a tire felt "spongy," so he pulled off the road to change it. After years of trying, the two managed to have a daughter, Haley. His second wife had $4.5 million in life insurance. He had seen a lot. In addition, Henthorn has only been in the public eye since 2012, and was only sentenced last year, but his story really spans twenty years. After a careers worth of experience, Roberts told Detective Weaver that she could confidently say the accident scene that took Lynns life and the behavior of her husband were the most unusual she had ever come across. Tonis brother Barry Bertolet spoke at the sentencing. Barry Bertolet, Toni Henthorn's brother addresses the media following the guilty verdict (credit: CBS), Harold and Toni Henthorn (courtesy to CBS), Watch the CBS4 special "Inside The Investigation: Harold Henthorn. Detective Weaver discovered that there were multiple witnesses to the accidents aftermath who were never contacted. Early in her medical career, Toni received a call to give emergency care to a 4 or 5 year old little boy that had been critically injured in a car accident. A medical physician of Tonis caliber doesnt just happen because one simply holds a medical degree; this type of physician evolves through extraordinary experiences and is not readily replaced.There is no unique perspective or lesson to garner from the wrongful death and loss of Toni it is what it is a devastating loss. He probably could have continued to live that lie, but if he did this, then greed got the best of him. Dateline airs Friday nights at 9 PM on NBC. After all, Harold was a respected member of the community. It wasnt until Toni came back to Mississippi to visit, for the first and only time in a decade without Harold, that Yvonne began to worry for her daughters safety. Copyright 2023 Penske Business Media, LLC. Do it carefully, not quickly, was Weavers. var scJsHost = (("https:" == document.location.protocol) ? Husband pushed wife off 130ft cliff on their anniversary after - mirror On September 29, 2012, the couple was hiking at Rocky Mountain National Park when Tonis brother received a chilling text. She said she believed Harold was living off of his first wifes life insurance, a death that everyone in the Bertolet family understood to be the result of a tragic car accident. The Danger of Manipulative Love-Bombing in a Relationship, 7 Ticking Time Bombs That Destroy Loving Relationships, An Addiction Myth That Needs to Be Revisited, 5 Spiritual Practices That Increase Well-Being. The Defendants entire adult life was a lie and scam to live his life and lifestyle while others paid the price. She was deeply religious-teaching Sunday school, singing in both college and church choirs. On May 6 of that year, Henthorn and his first wife, Sandra Lynn, were driving through the dark. After a few years sharpening his golf game Weaver got bored and applied for a job in Douglas, the county just to the south. Harold Henthorn talked to many different members of Douglas County law enforcement on May 6th, 1995, the night his wife Lynn died after being crushed underneath their Jeep Cherokee. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary". The Defendant has blamed the victim for her own death. Most people dont know that within that department there are teams of cops who work cases just like police in less scenic precincts. Prosecutors said Harold. Yet as soon as she moved to Colorado, Toni was no longer able to speak to her mother alone. To another he said it wasnt him Lynn was actually rescued by a random group of helpful strangers. "She contributed a lot to society, and to be wiped out for no good reason, it's more devastating." He said he believed Henthorn's brother, who lives in Massachusetts, was served Monday in Denver federal court because "'obviously they knew he was there.". How does she know that the person she chooses loves her for who she is and not for her wealth and lifestyle? That detail led to a much closer investigation of Tonis death. He was a wealthy fundraiser for hospitals and churches. A chance to speak frankly with her daughter was something she hadnt had for a long time and Yvonne didnt waste it. He told them, We are beyond sorry for not seeing through it. Weaver was the man for the job because even in a room full of patient people, his patience marked him as different. Detective Weaver further discovered that the department was woefully undertrained: the man in charge of the investigation had been a detective for all of five months, had never been the lead on any homicide, and had never undergone any formal training before becoming a detective. Finally, Detective Weaver took his foot and, in the same place where the original partial print was found, kicked the Jeep. The lies? Toni worked long and hard in pursuing her goal of being an ophthalmologist. The Douglas County Sheriffs employees registered Harolds conflicting statements and made note of the strange fact that the spare tire he said he was going to use was barely more inflated than the one he was removing. CBS4 Investigator Brian Maass has been with the station more than 30 years uncovering waste, fraud and corruption. Gary Clexton, a court-appointed special administrator representing Toni Henthorn's estate, declined to discuss the new court case involving Rob Henthorn and the half million dollars. She had fallen 128 feet, and suffered numerous severe injuries. Then came the incident at the cabin. Toni had a profound effect on people with her care, having been consistently described by her patients and their families as that of an Angel and a Godsend in the time of need. The Defendants estate planning was grossly disproportionate as to his gained benefits from the death of his wife, yet showed little or no reciprocity had the circumstances been reversed and he met his untimely death.Grief is the human emotion that is exhibited by the loss of a loved oneit is the price of love. Was that a dream?". In the upcoming documentary, Brian Maas will investigate the crime that captured the nation when Harold Henthorn was finally arrested for the murder of his second wife 20 years after the death of his first wife, Sandra Lynn Rishell, aka Lynn . Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features. Toni Henthorn's brother, Todd Bertolet, told CBS4, "They're going to go after assets that should be in Toni's estate." She Used the Bathroom And Became a Target of the Culture War, Here's How LaRussell and Intuit are Helping Independent Artists Understand How to Achieve Their Financial Ambitions, Alex Murdaugh Sentenced to Life in Prison for Murder of Wife and Son, Alex Murdaugh Found Guilty of Murdering Wife and Son, Tennessee Enacts Nations First Law Restricting Drag Shows, The National Stay Up Late to Perform 'Tropic Morning News' on Fallon, David Lindley, Multi-Instrumentalist Who Shaped the Sound of Soft Rock, Dead at 78, Suki Waterhouse Won't Take Romance for Granted on New Single 'To Love', Travis Barker Says His Finger Ligament Surgery Was a 'Success' After Postponing Blink-182 Tour. Montoya eventually got so fed up with the fact that Harold wouldnt help warm up his freezing, near-death wife that she used her own coat and left it at the scene once she and her family realized the police were almost there. Harold Henthorn pleaded not guilty and has always maintained his innocence. How does she know that grief and sadness will not fall upon her again at the hands of a person she trusted? Detective Weaver now had no doubts. Over a year before Lynns death, he had been arrested outside of a J.C. Penney for shoplifting $40 worth of underwear, odd behavior for a man who claimed to be so well off. The Defendant claimed to have a career and business, when, in fact he had neither. It would be years before they would find justice. "statcounter.com/counter/counter.js'>"); We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. Old Medication, New Use: Can Prazosin Curb Drinking? var sc_project=9846729; The bad guy is the Defendant, and the evil that our children must now comprehend came from within the family in the form of a parent and an uncle. The Defendant claimed to be financially wealthy, when, in fact he had no fortune at all. Additionally, the police ascertained that Harold stood to gain substantial life insurance money following Tonis demise, which gave him a motive for murder. IE 11 is not supported. "48 Hours" The Accidental Husband (TV Episode 2015) - IMDb Only then did it come crashing down. My wife is Yvonne and our two sons are Barry and Todd. The Defendant evidently perceived a strong and viable mother / daughter relationship as a threat to his authority in his warped world. The wrongful death was affirmed by an attentive, intelligent, meticulous, and methodical jury that considered the facts and evidence in this case and reached the verdict of guilty of 1st degree murder. How else to explain all the strangeness? Henthorn was able to keep his shoplifting arrest a secret from everyone who knew him. This begs the question, why was he deceiving himself? I dont think that was an accident at all, she said, sitting on a bed next to Toni. First he convinced her to move to Colorado. Solutions . And that might have been the end of the storywere it not for an anonymous tip to authorities, encouraging them to look at the circumstances of Harolds first wifes death. Black Widower: How One Man Allegedly Murdered Two Wives He was constantly talking, often bragging, and always had to be the center of attention. Did you arrest the husband yet? shed asked. 2023 Cinemaholic Inc. All rights reserved. In 2012, Harold and Dr. Toni Henthorn celebrated their 12th wedding anniversary with a hiking trip in Rocky Mountain National Park. On May 6, 1995, Harold and Lynndecided to go on a long drive along a highway in Sedalia, Colorado. However, Harold kept insisting on his innocence and in 2017 appealed for a retrial which was subsequently shot down. He insisted at both the verdict and the sentencing that he would appeal the decision. Hey Mrs. B! Harold would say, using the pet name hed given Yvonne. Convicted Killer Ralph Candelario: Case of Missing 1st Wife Dena And the only reason Weaver was even looking at this thin excuse for a file was that now that same husband was a widower once more. Toni always carried the pain of a loss, but she also knew what those tragic moments taught her as a person. Grief means coping, emptiness, adjusting, loss, and sadness. Prosecutors argued during a two-week trial that Henthorn carefully staged Toni Henthorn's death to look like an accident because he stood to benefit from her $4.7 million in life-insurance policies, which she didn't know existed. Reviewed by Ekua Hagan. To the young person contemplating committing suicide in need of compassion and skillful guidance, Tonis life mattered and was indispensable. Now he needed an answer to a question that was gnawing at him. The Defendant blamed the press for exposing the truth and destroying his scam and lies to the community in which he lived under false pretense. In December, Toni Bertolet's husband, Harold Henthorn, received a mandatory life sentence for her death. The Bertolets hoped life might get better for Toni with the birth of Haley in 2005, but found, to their dismay, that things only got worse. They were the first people to witness his incredibly odd behavior the evening his first wife died. Initially quite respected and thought of as a regular citizen, people who knew Henthorn were shocked after his conviction as a murderer. Nothing budged the car. Author Vissarion Belinsky appropriately noted, Nothing is more sacred and selfless like the love of a mother; every affection, everylove, every passion, is either weak or selfish in comparison with her. To another he said it was merely spongy. It's a mandatory sentence for first-degree murder. It just so happened that every time Bob or Yvonne called their daughter, Harold was the one to answer. What that something actually was, the Bertolets were slow to find out. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc. If Harold said they needed a new car, the car got bought. Also, an extensive review found that Henthorn, who had a clean police record besides a couple of minor traffic citations, had been charged with shoplifting underwear! Harold Henthorn with Sandra Lynn, his first wife. Harold Henthorn, accused of pushing his second wife to her death in Rocky Mountain National Park, is being eyed in the 1995 death of his first wife. The preparation of the Victim Statements by Barry, Todd and myself have helped us move ahead in the journey to recovery.Prepared by Bob Bertolet, October 19, 2015Amended December 5, 2015, My name is Todd Bertolet, and I am the younger brother of Toni Bertolet Henthorn.Toni Bertolet Henthorn was blessed with the gift of intellectual brilliance, impeccable character, extraordinary talents, and a big heart. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. Sandra's death is now being re-investigated more thoroughly by the Douglas County Sheriff's Office. Colorado Man Convicted of Killing Wife on Fatal Anniversary Hike - NBC News He organized playdates with other parents, told Haley when and what to eat, and made it clear to everyone paying attention that he, not Toni, was in charge. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. The Defendant vilified and chastised each Good Samaritan and rescuer that attempted to come to the aid of his critically injured wives; aid which he never gave nor intended to give. Suffer the consequences meant having to listen to Harold talk until he got what he wanted. Henthorn has sociopathic tendencies, without doubt, but what makes this so challenging is that a murderer is typically not a sociopath. Reading through the file 18 years later, Detective Weaver realized something, which would later come out in court testimony from his superiors: that in almost every one of those conversations Harold made a statement that conflicted with something else hed already said. But the rescue team couldnt make it to their position in time, and Toni died. At one time she had been assertive and confident a former high school athlete with a deep commitment to God and an unwavering belief that she was put on Earth to help people heal. Man Accused in Wife's Deadly Fall Also Killed First Wife: Prosecutor Harold even called 911, and when first responders reached the scene, they noticed that Toni had fallen from a height of 140 feet to her death. To another he said they were on their way to the restaurant. Bob and Yvonne voiced their concerns to Toni when they could, which meant the few times they traveled to Colorado to see her in person and got her alone. If you want to know more about this baffling case and where Harold Henthorn is today, we have you covered. On May 6, 1995, Harold and Sandra were driving home after a day of hiking. Their grandchild was now in the care of the man they believed to be her killer. The story behind that tragedy was revealed last November in an episode of CBS' "48 Hours" and, apparently, more details are forthcoming with the "Dateline" broadcast this month. Years removed from the original investigation, with Toni Henthorns suspicious fall raising new concerns, Detective Weaver was told to go where the truth led him. His attorney, Craig Truman, said prosecutors failed to prove he killed her. She was in immense pain and had numbness in her fingers when she was taken by ambulance to the ER. July 26, 2017 at 11:59 a.m. To one cop, Harold said that he jacked up the fallen car and pulled Lynn out from underneath it in a desperate attempt to save her life. At one point, Sandra ended up underneath the car looking for a lug nut and the car crushed her when it fell off the jack. That she would take it to heart. I am haunted by my wifes lament: When Toni died, I died. Man Accused in Wife's Deadly Fall Also Killed First Wife: Prosecutor. Related The Dateline NBC episode 'Over the Edge' tells the story of Toni Henthorn who fell to her death while hiking with her husband Harold Henthorn in Rocky Mountain National Park in 2012. And, though hes already serving a life sentence for killing his second wife, the total lack of charges stemming from the strange, mysterious death of his first continues to fuel general outrage and disbelief. In 1995, long before Weaver ever stepped foot in Douglas County, a woman died on the side of a dark road on a cold night. If he is ultimately convicted of murder, he will face a mandatory life sentence with no possibility of parole. The Bertolets could sense that Toni was unhappy but felt there was little they could do about it. Had they checked, they would have found that Harold actually received twice that much. The Douglas County Coroner had ruled Lynns death as accidental. Video marketing. Her husband's past is probed and deadly secrets are revealed. Police investigators, however, believe that Harold murdered them. Harold Henthorn, Colorado man, found guilty of murder - CBS News ", After the jury was dismissed, applause erupted in the courtroom. Husband charged in wife's fatal fall off Colorado cliff marked spot of Thus, Harold Henthorn is currently serving his life sentence at the Terre Haute United States Penitentiary in Terre Haute, Indiana. A jury convicted him of murdering his second wife, Toni Bertolet, based on evidence that he murdered his first wife, Sandra 'Lynn' Henthorn. "); (This was also brought up in court.) He pushed her, said Tonis father, Bob. We can only hope to learn more as the trial kicks into gear. She wanted her to say that she would listen to her mothers warning. Harold Henthorn was the only witness to both bizarre deaths of his two wives. We ask: How could money be so important to a man, that he would kill the mother of his seven year old daughter? Instead, it appears he risked it all for some insurance compensation. After his second wife died in an accident, authorities found that circumstances of his first wife's death were more suspicious than they realized. They had lunch together, and headed down a nearby ridge to take pictures, passing the camera back and forth all the while. As always, Dateline NBC will use experts, law enforcement officials, and friends and family members to shape the story. Similar to his first wifes death, Harold Henthorn began showing inconsistencies in his statements, but the police were cautious this time. Tonis alma mater, the University of Mississippi, has set up an endowment in her name that will raise money for ophthalmology education and surgical equipment. The 100 Greatest TV Shows of All Time I would not go anywhere alone with this man.. Of Henthorns defense, Peter Christofolo said, It didnt meet the common-sense barometer., It was supposed to be the perfect weekend #Dateline pic.twitter.com/ccPUf1sDEy, Dateline NBC (@DatelineNBC) November 23, 2016, A few weeks later, in early December, a judge handed down the official sentence: life in prison. Although the police found a partial footprint on the Jeeps tires and Harolds statements about the tragedy kept changing, Lynns death was soon determined an accident. Toni had fallen off a cliff? At least that's what he told family, friends, and everyone else. And, ultimately, the investigation rattled Harold. The Accidental Husband: With Peter Van Sant, Brian Maass, Barry Bertolet, Toni Henthorn. In fact, the Defendant has never been unlucky; only the Defendants wives have been unlucky with their untimely and obscure deaths. Technically Weaver wasnt even supposed to be a detective. The Defendant demeaned the investigative authorities for uncovering his murder and sinister intentions. After all, his first wife had also died under unusual circumstances, although her death was immediately ruled an accident. It seemed to be a tragic accident. When Dave Weaver first sat down with the file he wasnt impressed. If the Bertolets wanted to see their daughter they had to get on a plane, a burden for two elderly parents even before both suffered mild strokes. To the young man who thought he needed a new prescription for his glasses, but was diagnosed by Toni with an aggressive brain tumor requiring immediate intervention, Tonis life mattered and was indispensable. Harold said Toni got a text message from the babysitter, letting her know that her daughters soccer team had won. For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice James 3:16.
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