Joseph & Diane's marriage was on the rocks, she couldn't stand his cold controlling manner. She found boxes in their attic which contained astonishing evidence (clothes, photos, tapes) that Pikul was a long-time transvestite & homosexual. Pikul's transvestite obsession was so strong that he even rented a separate city apartment for dress-up fun. Diane confronted Joseph with her find which threw him into a panic: not only would the news be bad for his career it would mean the certain loss of children' custody. Pikul killed her on the spot & later drove up north to dispose of the body (in a surprisingly stupid & amateurish fashion).

Pikul even asked his first wife Sandra Jarvinen if he could bury something in her yard: she said no but didn't mention the request when police investigated (tribal togetherness).

When Pikul was arrested & booked, he was rather embarrassed when found to be wearing a bra & panties! Pikul confessed to the murder in the face of strong evidence but the legal fun was just beginning.

Judges showed astonishing favoritism to Pikul: granted $350K bail despite him being a flight risk. After being charged for murder Joe actually married for the third time just to help in the custody battle. Diane's relatives sued for custody & the Family Court judge actually awarded it to Joe on the grounds that he hadn't been judged guilty yet!

The murder trial judge gave a huge boost to Pikul's defense when he ruled photos/tapes of Joe in transvestite clothes were prejudicial. Pikul nonetheless was convicted of murder. While awaiting sentencing his lawyer filed an appeal--Joseph went to a hospital & died a week later (!) Hospital refused to discuss his 'illness' & treatment, rumored to have been AIDS.