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00:00she was a lonely sunday school teacher who'd found another chance at love she was a widow
00:08who had lost her husband and she was raising two young children as a single mother she came across
00:15as a very warm kind considerate person that had other people's best interest at heart i think she
00:24really took a liking to him right away and i was glad that he had found somebody and seemed to be
00:30very happy but a tragedy close to home sparks an investigation that would expose the dark truth
00:40one of the aspects of her life that was staggering to everybody thinking that she's this fine
00:47upstanding christian woman and that she is involved in numerous affairs just things that we
00:55could not have imagined from a sunday school teacher it just didn't add up it was a jekyll hyde thing
01:03could it really be that this pillar of the community was actually a cold-blooded killer
01:09hiding in plain sight she did not hesitate calling back up into the bed and doing a reenactment for me
01:16an audio cassette had been found the audio tape was almost his voice from the grave
01:24why would somebody wake me up to give me two sleeping pills
01:30while most people in durham north carolina are still asleep
02:00police are responding to a distressing 911 call
02:05on february 1st around 6 a.m communications received a phone call about a subject shot
02:15accidental shooting
02:16they gave the address out and it sounded familiar but it was 6 o'clock in the morning
02:23i was trying to focus on driving and getting to the call and as i got closer and closer
02:31and then obviously pulled up i was like oh no
02:35as emts arrive on the scene they realize the victim is someone they know
02:42they find russell stager lying in a pool of blood the result of an apparent gunshot wound
02:59walking into the bedroom of a friend seeing them laying there struggling to breathe
03:18i'm not sure there are adequate words to describe that as a healthcare professional it's incumbent upon us
03:33to just put that emotion to the side for a moment to focus on the task at hand
03:40russell was for the most part unresponsive i was talking to him i was going hey it's kevin i'm here
03:50russell shot in the back of the head the bullet entered on the midline just to the right of center
03:57and struck him above the left eye
04:00russell is immediately taken to duke medical center for emergency surgery but his chances of survival are slim
04:09meanwhile his wife barbara tries to explain what happened
04:14she was in the bedroom sort of at the foot of the bed and kept telling me it was an accident
04:22it was an accident you know it was an accidental shooting
04:25barbara told us that there had been some burglaries in the neighborhood
04:32nighttime burglaries and that russell was concerned so he would put the the gun under his pillow
04:40her story was she heard the son's alarm clock go off
04:45there was a noise in the house
04:51she didn't want russell to think that there was someone that may have been an intruder
04:57and to retrieve the weapon from under the pillow and possibly shoot the son
05:03she pulled the gun from out money to pillow
05:07and a discharge striking me back in the head
05:11while police are taking barbara's statement she gets the bad news from the hospital
05:25russ died a little around noon that day
05:32most gunshot wounds to the head i do not have a good outcome
05:37at that time when we were notified we had no reason to indicate that
05:43it was anything but an accidental death
05:46it's a devastating loss for russell's loved ones and for his community
05:53russell stager had grown up in durham and lived there for most of his life
06:01russ was born in durham north carolina in a hospital within a couple of blocks of where he grew up
06:09his parents had a house on delaware avenue just around the corner from the hospital
06:13russell married his first wife joe lynn snow in 1974
06:20but unfortunately the relationship didn't last
06:25i don't think that we were meant to be spouses
06:29after our divorce we made much better friends than we did spouses
06:35and so we became confidants of one another
06:39he was a devout christian he believed in god
06:43and he was an active member of his church
06:46he was an endeared coach the students really cared about him
06:51he would help his players buy their uniforms and shoes
06:55he would really pump his players up and he always ran laps with them
07:00he would never make them do anything that he wouldn't do with them
07:04russell would get a second chance at love in 1979
07:13when he met a charming single mother named barbara ford
07:17russ met barbara right after we separated
07:21we put our house for sale
07:25and barbara actually came to look at our house as a potential buyer
07:30and she i think really took a liking to him right away
07:35and she just dove right into the relationship
07:39i believe barbara was raised in durham
07:43just as russ was they didn't know each other though growing up
07:48she was a widow who had lost her husband
07:51and she was raising two young children as a single mother
07:55she taught sunday school at the church
07:58she was known and well liked by many
08:02barbara was still trying to put her life back together
08:07after the unexpected death of her husband just a year earlier
08:11their shared faith in god seemed to make her and russell a perfect fit
08:17i was really happy for russ that he had found somebody
08:22and seemed to be very happy
08:24their relationship progressed very very quickly
08:28i think they were married in a matter of just a few months
08:32very small wedding i think in the church chapel
08:37just immediate family
08:39and he immediately adopted her two children
08:43i only met barbara one time
08:47it was a little bit awkward i think for all of us
08:51but i think we handled it well
08:53i would see him over the years
08:56i would see him maybe once a year
08:59we would get together and kind of catch up
09:01and he was just very proud of those boys
09:05i think that russ felt a particular protection
09:11toward the boys because their father had died
09:15and so i think he wanted to do all he could
09:18to make them feel safe and protected
09:20and be not just a father figure but a real dad to them
09:25russ and barbara enjoyed nine happy years together
09:30before his tragic death
09:32and now news of his passing is spreading
09:36russ as a national guardsman
09:41was very well acquainted
09:44with handling of small arms
09:47as well as rifles and things of that nature
09:49and i knew there was no way in this world
09:53he was sleeping with a gun under his pillow
09:56who does that
09:59to sleep with a gun under the pillow
10:02was a huge red flag at the onset
10:05she had reached under the pillow
10:14and the gun went off
10:15well that just doesn't pass the test
10:21for believability
10:22just on face value
10:25i was always warning to god
10:26do you think i've got stupid tattooed on my forehead
10:29coming up
10:34barbara insists that she is innocent
10:36but actions speak louder than words
10:39it just seems shocking
10:43why would you write a book
10:45about the death of your first husband
10:49a couple of barbara's friends at church
10:52got suspicious
10:53so they had a source that actually called
10:57the publishing company
10:58police in durham north carolina are investigating the death of 40 year old russell stager
11:16his wife barbara claims it was a result of a terrible accident
11:20but his friends and family find that hard to believe
11:24even after we divorced we maintained a very good friendship
11:29i got on the phone and tried to find out who was in charge of any investigation
11:36because i needed to speak to that person
11:39he said you can come over if you want to
11:42but there's no point
11:43it's already been ruled accidental
11:46and i said well i'm coming
11:48i went and sat across the desk from him
11:53and he didn't even look at me
11:54he was doodling and very uninterested
11:58and then i said
12:01russ asked me that if anything ever happened to him to look into it
12:05because her first husband
12:06was supposedly accidentally shot with a gun
12:10police agreed to dig further into barbara's history
12:15and quickly discover a disturbing pattern
12:19in 1967 barbara left home for college
12:32but she didn't venture too far
12:34barbara came from a middle class background
12:38her mother and father both worked at duke university
12:42so so they had good jobs
12:44they lived in a nice home
12:46she went to college at appalachian state
12:49up in our beautiful mountains here
12:52that's where she met larry
12:53her first husband
12:55after dating for almost a year
12:58they discovered 19 year old barbara was pregnant
13:00and decided to get married
13:02four years later
13:04they had another son
13:05their life together seemed perfect
13:08but on march 22nd 1978
13:13randolph county police received a 911 call from barbara
13:17claiming that larry accidentally shot himself
13:20the first responders on the scene
13:24were incredibly suspicious
13:26the casing for the bullet was in the wrong place
13:31for larry to have done
13:32his body was actually covered
13:34with a sheet and a blanket
13:36over top of where he was shot
13:38so if you're gonna shoot yourself
13:42you're not gonna lay down
13:43and then cover yourself up
13:44according to her
13:48larry was cleaning a new gun
13:53and it discharged
13:56striking him in the chest
13:59he would have had to
14:01had his finger in the trigger
14:02turned towards his chest
14:04and accidentally pulled the trigger
14:06although the circumstances were unusual
14:11detectives at the time
14:13had no evidence to disprove barbara's story
14:16they tried so hard
14:19to get some traction
14:21with that investigation
14:23but it went nowhere
14:24barbara was never charged
14:27in larry for his death
14:28the information convinces
14:40durham investigators
14:41to question barbara
14:42about russell's shooting again
14:44i showed up at her house
14:46on that friday
14:48with a team of folks
14:50to get her to see
14:51she would reenact
14:52what happened that morning
14:54and i offered her video
14:57or still photography
14:58she elected to do
15:00a video reenactment
15:01she gave them permission
15:04to video it
15:05so the sheriff's office
15:07went to their home
15:09with her permission
15:10and reenacted
15:13what happened
15:14and how she
15:16allegedly
15:17got the gun
15:18she did not hesitate
15:20calling back up
15:21into the bed
15:22and doing a reenactment
15:23for me
15:23during the video
15:25i had a detective
15:27lay beside her
15:28in the bed
15:28and she kept trying
15:30to reposition him
15:32to fit her story
15:34the way that she described
15:38the accidental shooting
15:39of russ
15:40was impossible
15:41there was no plausible
15:43way to say
15:45oh that makes sense
15:46she would push him
15:48over a little bit
15:49and oh no
15:50that's not quite right
15:51and
15:51it was just unbelievable
15:54how am i going to make this
15:57look like an accident
15:59so that i can boldly
16:02reenact this
16:03and convince everybody
16:05that i am this fine
16:07nice
16:08wonderful
16:09christian lady
16:10who you ought to feel
16:12sorry for
16:12because
16:13my husband
16:14was just
16:14accidentally killed
16:16and i need your sympathy
16:18that was shocking
16:21shocking to us
16:23that she was able
16:24to do that
16:25killing your husband
16:27accidentally
16:28would be incredibly
16:29traumatic
16:30for most people
16:31and we know that
16:32for a lot of people
16:33when they've been
16:34exposed to trauma
16:35they will go to
16:36great lengths
16:37to avoid
16:38being around
16:39anything to do
16:40with that trauma
16:41so it is
16:42somewhat unusual
16:43i think that
16:44this person
16:44would be willing
16:45to
16:47reenact this
16:48so quickly
16:49her behavior
16:52might be
16:53questionable
16:53but will
16:54investigators
16:55be able to
16:55prove
16:56she's a killer
16:57she was so
16:59emboldened
17:00by the fact
17:01that
17:02she was going
17:02to be able
17:03to pull
17:04this off
17:05without any
17:06questions being
17:07asked
17:07and this was
17:08going to be
17:09the crowning
17:10blow
17:11of
17:11hey
17:12see
17:12i told you
17:13i didn't do
17:14this
17:14i really
17:16believe
17:16her overall
17:18attitude
17:19was
17:19i am above
17:20the law
17:21and none
17:22of you
17:23are smart
17:24enough
17:24to catch
17:25me
17:25after learning
17:38his wife
17:39barbara
17:39lost her
17:40first husband
17:41in eerily
17:42similar
17:42circumstances
17:43durham
17:44durham police
17:45are launching
17:45a full
17:46investigation
17:47into the
17:47death
17:48of russell
17:48stager
17:49what they
17:51learn begins
17:52to paint a
17:52very different
17:53portrait of
17:54this demure
17:55sunday school
17:56teacher
17:56we talked
17:58to church
17:58members
17:59we talked
18:00to family
18:01we talked
18:02to co-workers
18:03and there was
18:04two sides
18:04of barbara
18:05there's daytime
18:06barber and
18:07there's behind
18:07closed doors
18:08barber and
18:09they're totally
18:10different
18:10she assesses
18:13situations very
18:14quickly
18:14she learned
18:16that church
18:16was very
18:17important to
18:18us
18:18and so she
18:20jumped right
18:22into that
18:22role
18:23she was there
18:25with a casserole
18:26every time
18:27somebody was
18:27sick
18:28she was there
18:29every time
18:29the church
18:30doors were
18:31open
18:31she was very
18:32active in
18:33that
18:33it was a
18:35perfect way
18:37to hide
18:38who she
18:39really
18:39is
18:40barbara's
18:43fellow church
18:44members tell
18:45investigators that
18:46she was acting
18:47suspicious
18:47even before
18:49russell's death
18:50she would
18:52carry around
18:53big wads
18:55of cash
18:55and she
18:57would want
18:57extravagant
18:58jewelry
18:59and luxury
19:01cars
19:02which you
19:03typically
19:03don't connect
19:05with somebody
19:06who's sincerely
19:07involved in
19:08their church
19:08and so I
19:09think there
19:09were people
19:10who noticed
19:11kind of some
19:11discrepancies
19:12there
19:13she was
19:15always dressed
19:17with the
19:17latest fashion
19:18jewelry
19:20the whole
19:21nine yards
19:22my wife
19:24and I
19:24often wondered
19:25how in the
19:26world
19:27are they
19:28affording
19:28you know
19:29the clothing
19:31that she
19:31wears
19:32Russ was
19:33working as
19:34a coach
19:34and he
19:35was also
19:36in the
19:37army
19:37reserves
19:37so he
19:38got some
19:39income
19:39from that
19:40but it
19:40was
19:41not an
19:42extravagant
19:43income
19:44to support
19:45kind of
19:47the country
19:47club life
19:48they were
19:48living
19:49seemed like
19:50there was
19:51always a
19:51new car
19:52a new
19:53boat
19:53a new
19:54house
19:55bigger
19:55house
19:56better
19:56house
19:57so they
19:57spent
19:58beyond
19:58their
19:58means
19:59and I
19:59think
19:59Russ's
20:00parents
20:00were very
20:01concerned
20:01about that
20:02whenever
20:03anyone
20:04asked her
20:05about it
20:05Barbara
20:06claimed
20:06she had
20:07another
20:07source
20:08of
20:08income
20:08Barbara
20:12had been
20:12writing
20:12a book
20:13about her
20:14first
20:14husband's
20:15death
20:15called
20:16untimely
20:17death
20:18I think
20:18was the
20:18name of
20:19it
20:19Russ had
20:20actually
20:20designed
20:21the book
20:22jacket
20:22for it
20:23he was
20:24a good
20:24artist
20:25and
20:26Barbara
20:26had told
20:27her church
20:27friends
20:28that she
20:28got a
20:29book deal
20:29from
20:30Doubleday
20:30I believe
20:31she
20:32supposedly
20:33received
20:34an
20:34advancement
20:35I think
20:35of
20:35$25,000
20:36for the
20:37book
20:38that was
20:39part of
20:40why she
20:40had the
20:41money to
20:42buy all
20:42of these
20:42clothes
20:43and all
20:43of that
20:44which
20:44really
20:45didn't
20:46make
20:46sense
20:47given
20:47the fact
20:48that
20:48he was
20:49supposedly
20:50accidentally
20:51shot
20:52it
20:54just
20:55seemed
20:55shocking
20:56why
20:57would
20:57you
20:58write
20:58a
20:58book
20:59about
20:59the
21:00death
21:00of your
21:01first
21:01husband
21:02all
21:03her
21:03family
21:04and
21:04friends
21:04believed
21:06it
21:06in fact
21:07they
21:08did a
21:09set up
21:10a book
21:10signing
21:10for her
21:11so when
21:12the book
21:12came in
21:14that they
21:15could sell
21:15it to the
21:15public
21:16and autograph
21:16and all
21:17that stuff
21:17and they
21:19kept asking
21:19her when
21:20the book
21:20was going
21:21to be
21:21published
21:22and she
21:23could never
21:24tell them
21:24when
21:25a
21:33couple
21:33of
21:34Barbara's
21:34friends
21:35at
21:35church
21:36got
21:36suspicious
21:37about
21:37all
21:37that
21:38because
21:38some
21:38of
21:38them
21:38had
21:39actually
21:39written
21:39books
21:40and they
21:40knew
21:41that
21:41that's
21:41not
21:41usually
21:42how
21:42it
21:42comes
21:42down
21:42especially
21:43for
21:43first
21:44time
21:44authors
21:45so
21:46they
21:47had
21:47a
21:47source
21:47that
21:48actually
21:48called
21:48the
21:49publishing
21:49company
21:50and
21:51they
21:52had
21:52never
21:52heard
21:53of
21:53Barbara
21:54Steger
21:54there
21:55was
21:55no
21:56book
21:56deal
21:56we
21:58found
21:58out
21:58that
21:59when
21:59Barbara
22:00got her
22:00rejection
22:00letter
22:01she
22:02took
22:02the
22:02logo
22:03and
22:04put
22:04it
22:04on
22:04to
22:04a
22:04sheet
22:05of
22:05paper
22:05well
22:06enough
22:07to fool
22:08their body
22:08and wrote
22:09an acceptance
22:10letter
22:10they
22:11showed
22:12that
22:12to
22:12their
22:12friends
22:13at the
22:13church
22:14and the
22:14church
22:14celebrated
22:15with a
22:15party
22:16it was
22:16a big
22:16deal
22:17then
22:18Barbara
22:18got a loan
22:19from the
22:19bank
22:20based
22:20on
22:21that
22:21fraudulent
22:22letter
22:22that
22:23of course
22:23nobody
22:23knew
22:24was
22:24fraudulent
22:24at that
22:25time
22:25Joe Lynn
22:28tells
22:28police
22:29that
22:29Russell
22:29was
22:29devastated
22:30when
22:30his
22:31church
22:31friends
22:31broke
22:31the
22:32news
22:32that
22:32Barbara
22:33had
22:33faked
22:33the
22:33book
22:34deal
22:34less
22:35than
22:36a year
22:36later
22:36he
22:37would
22:37be
22:37dead
22:38when
22:40he
22:40found
22:40out
22:41that
22:42this
22:42was
22:42all
22:42a
22:42sham
22:43then
22:45I
22:45think
22:45the
22:46pieces
22:46of
22:47the
22:47puzzle
22:47started
22:48to fall
22:49apart
22:50so
22:52that
22:52blew
22:53up
22:54their
22:54relationship
22:55with all
22:55their
22:55friends
22:56at
22:56church
22:56and
22:59they
22:59never
22:59went
23:00back
23:00to that
23:00church
23:01after
23:01that
23:01and
23:02that
23:02was
23:02Russ's
23:02childhood
23:03church
23:04meant
23:05meant
23:05the
23:05world
23:06to
23:06him
23:06I
23:08got
23:09the
23:09feeling
23:09that
23:09he
23:10was
23:10going
23:10to
23:10stick
23:10it
23:11out
23:11because
23:12of
23:13the
23:13children
23:13Russ
23:16came
23:16to
23:16me
23:17and
23:17kind
23:19of
23:19laid
23:19it
23:19all
23:19out
23:20about
23:21his
23:21concerns
23:21about
23:22her
23:22he
23:24felt
23:25like
23:25she
23:25was
23:25living
23:26a
23:26double
23:26life
23:27and
23:28he
23:28said
23:28I
23:28don't
23:29know
23:29who
23:29she
23:29is
23:30but
23:30she's
23:31not
23:31the
23:31person
23:32she
23:32presented
23:33herself
23:33to
23:33be
23:34when
23:34we
23:34got
23:34married
23:35coming
23:40up
23:40detectives
23:41received
23:41chilling
23:42testimony
23:42from
23:43the
23:43victim
23:44himself
23:44last
23:46few
23:46nights
23:47Barbara
23:47has
23:47worked
23:48me
23:48up
23:48to
23:49give
23:49me
23:50some
23:50kind
23:50of
23:50medication
23:51I
23:52have
23:52not
23:53taken
23:53it
23:54you
23:54can
23:54only
23:55hide
23:55who
23:55you
23:56are
23:56for
23:56so
23:57long
24:03after
24:09learning
24:10that
24:10Barbara
24:10used
24:11forged
24:11documents
24:12to
24:12get
24:12a
24:12bank
24:13loan
24:13detectives
24:14take
24:14a
24:15closer
24:15look
24:15at
24:16the
24:16stager's
24:16finances
24:17she
24:18came
24:19across
24:20as
24:20a
24:20very
24:20warm
24:21kind
24:22considerate
24:23person
24:23that
24:24had
24:24other
24:25people's
24:25best
24:25interest
24:26at
24:26heart
24:26after
24:27Russ's
24:28death
24:28the
24:29genie
24:29was
24:29sort
24:30of
24:30out
24:30of
24:30the
24:30bottle
24:31everybody
24:32is
24:32now
24:33hearing
24:33that
24:34they
24:34were
24:34in
24:34deep
24:35financial
24:35difficulty
24:36money
24:37was
24:38being
24:38shuffled
24:38from
24:39one
24:39account
24:39to
24:40another
24:40she
24:41was
24:41signing
24:42for
24:42loans
24:42signing
24:43Russ's
24:44name
24:44supposedly
24:45taking
24:45it
24:45home
24:45having
24:46him
24:46sign
24:47it
24:47returning
24:48it
24:48credit
24:49cards
24:50were
24:50maxed
24:50loans
24:51were
24:51maxed
24:52different
24:52banks
24:53were
24:53involved
24:53the
24:54assistant
24:55DA
24:55asked
24:56me
24:56to
24:56go
24:56through
24:56all
24:57the
24:57canceled
24:57checks
24:58because
24:59I
24:59kind
24:59of
24:59knew
25:00Russ's
25:00spending
25:00habits
25:01Russ
25:02had
25:02a
25:02personal
25:03checking
25:03account
25:04and
25:05I
25:05found
25:06a
25:06check
25:06written
25:08payable
25:08to
25:09Barbara
25:09on
25:10the
25:10Friday
25:10before
25:11he
25:11was
25:12shot
25:12and
25:12killed
25:13it
25:14basically
25:14cleaned
25:15out
25:15his
25:15account
25:16his
25:18signature
25:19looked
25:19like
25:19his
25:20signature
25:20but
25:21when
25:22I
25:22compared
25:22it
25:23to
25:23the
25:24other
25:24signatures
25:24on
25:25his
25:25other
25:25canceled
25:26checks
25:26it
25:26was
25:27slightly
25:27different
25:27it
25:28was
25:29a
25:29very
25:29good
25:30forgery
25:31I
25:32thought
25:33that
25:33showed
25:33that
25:34she
25:34knew
25:34what
25:34she
25:35was
25:35going
25:35to
25:35do
25:35on
25:36Friday
25:36she
25:37was
25:38clearing
25:38out
25:38his
25:38account
25:39because
25:40she
25:40knew
25:40he
25:41would
25:41be
25:41dead
25:41on
25:41Monday
25:42Joe
25:44JoLynn
25:44shared
25:45with
25:45the
25:45detective
25:46her
25:46suspicions
25:47about
25:47the
25:48financial
25:48background
25:49of
25:50Barbara
25:50Steger
25:51as it
25:51related
25:52to
25:52Russell
25:52her
25:53husband
25:53after
25:54the
25:54death
25:55and
25:55that's
25:56when
25:56they
25:56were
25:56able
25:57to
25:57uncover
25:57that
25:58a
25:58number
25:58of
25:59checks
25:59Barbara
25:59had
26:00forged
26:00Russell's
26:01signature
26:01she
26:02is a
26:03grifter
26:03when
26:04one
26:04loan
26:05would
26:05become
26:06due
26:06and
26:08she
26:08couldn't
26:08pay it
26:08off
26:09she
26:10go to
26:10a
26:10different
26:10bank
26:11get
26:11another
26:11loan
26:12to
26:12pay
26:13off
26:13the
26:13first
26:13loan
26:14and
26:14there
26:14again
26:15Russ
26:15was
26:16the
26:16cosigner
26:17but
26:18he
26:18didn't
26:18sign
26:18it
26:18so
26:21she
26:21was
26:21doing
26:21all
26:21this
26:21stuff
26:22using
26:22his
26:23name
26:23and
26:23signature
26:24and
26:25he
26:25didn't
26:26have
26:26a
26:26clue
26:26I
26:29think
26:30when
26:30we
26:30look
26:30at
26:31her
26:31behavior
26:32in
26:33multiple
26:33areas
26:34of
26:34her
26:34life
26:35over
26:35time
26:36one
26:37of
26:37the
26:37things
26:37that
26:37we
26:37do
26:37see
26:38though
26:38is
26:38that
26:39Barbara
26:39was
26:40number
26:40one
26:40and
26:41that
26:41she
26:42was
26:42going
26:42to
26:42get
26:42what
26:43she
26:43wanted
26:43all
26:44the
26:44time
26:45and
26:45that
26:45that
26:45was
26:46going
26:46to
26:46take
26:46precedent
26:47over
26:47everything
26:47else
26:48whether
26:48that
26:48meant
26:49lying
26:49to
26:50people
26:50stealing
26:51from
26:51people
26:52hurting
26:53people
26:53in some
26:54respects
26:54she
26:55she
26:55she
26:55found
26:55and
27:00according
27:00to
27:01Russell's
27:01ex-wife
27:02Jolynn
27:02greed
27:03wasn't
27:04the only
27:04motive
27:05Barbara
27:05had
27:06for
27:06killing
27:06Russell
27:07a
27:09few
27:09months
27:10before
27:10Russ
27:11was
27:11murdered
27:12he
27:13called
27:14and
27:14asked
27:14if
27:14he
27:14could
27:15come
27:15by
27:15my
27:15house
27:16and
27:16talk
27:16with
27:16me
27:17he
27:18just
27:18seemed
27:19really
27:19down
27:20and
27:21I
27:21commented
27:21that
27:22you know
27:22he didn't
27:23seem
27:23like
27:23himself
27:24and
27:25he
27:25said
27:26well
27:26I'm
27:27really
27:27starting
27:28to
27:28wonder
27:28who
27:29Barbara
27:29is
27:30I
27:32was
27:32his
27:32confidant
27:33and
27:34he
27:34was
27:34mine
27:35and
27:35we
27:35could
27:35kind
27:35of
27:35tell
27:36each
27:36other
27:36anything
27:36and
27:37there
27:38would
27:38be
27:38no
27:38judgment
27:39he
27:40said
27:41that
27:41he
27:42had
27:42followed
27:42her
27:43when
27:44she
27:44was
27:45going
27:45to
27:45wash
27:46their
27:46car
27:46for
27:47her
27:47grandmother's
27:48funeral
27:48he
27:49said
27:49he
27:50had
27:50a
27:50strange
27:51feeling
27:51about
27:51it
27:51so
27:51he
27:52followed
27:52her
27:52and
27:53he
27:53found
27:54her
27:54in
27:55a
27:55parking
27:55lot
27:55making
27:56out
27:57with
27:57another
27:58man
27:58he
28:00said
28:00he
28:00went
28:00up
28:01to
28:01the
28:01car
28:01and
28:01he
28:01knocked
28:02on
28:02the
28:02window
28:02and
28:04Barbara
28:04scurried
28:05out
28:05of the
28:05car
28:05and
28:06the
28:06guy
28:06just
28:07sped
28:07off
28:07he
28:11was
28:11I
28:12think
28:12just
28:12in
28:12shock
28:13that
28:14who
28:14is
28:15this
28:15person
28:15that
28:16I
28:16thought
28:17I
28:17knew
28:17he
28:18was
28:18been
28:19with
28:19her
28:19for
28:19many
28:20years
28:20now
28:21and
28:22nothing
28:22is
28:22adding
28:23up
28:23he
28:27said
28:27that
28:28people
28:28would
28:28come
28:29late
28:29at
28:29night
28:29and
28:30knock
28:30on
28:30the
28:30door
28:30and
28:31she
28:31would
28:31say
28:31oh
28:32I'll
28:32get
28:32it
28:32I'll
28:33get
28:33it
28:33and
28:34she
28:34would
28:34go
28:34to
28:35the
28:35door
28:35and
28:35he
28:36didn't
28:36know
28:36who
28:36it
28:37was
28:37what
28:37it
28:38was
28:38about
28:38Joe
28:40Lynn
28:40tells
28:40police
28:41that
28:41Barbara's
28:42recent
28:42behavior
28:42made
28:43him
28:43suspect
28:44that
28:44wasn't
28:45all
28:45his
28:45wife
28:45was
28:46lying
28:46about
28:46he
28:47said
28:47I
28:48found
28:48a
28:48big
28:49box
28:49of
28:49unpaid
28:50bills
28:51hidden
28:51that
28:52she
28:52told
28:52me
28:52she
28:53had
28:53paid
28:53and
28:54he
28:54said
28:54and
28:55I'm
28:55also
28:56getting
28:57suspicious
28:58about
28:58her
28:59first
28:59husband's
28:59death
29:00she
29:04was
29:04able
29:04to
29:04maintain
29:05this
29:05fine
29:06Christian
29:07woman
29:07upstanding
29:08family
29:09you know
29:10godmother
29:11country
29:11kind of
29:12behavior
29:12and yet
29:14a part
29:14of her
29:15was
29:15very
29:16devious
29:17and
29:18conniving
29:19manipulative
29:20and
29:22murderous
29:23I
29:24told him
29:25to just
29:25be careful
29:26watch his
29:26back
29:27but he
29:28was so
29:28devoted
29:29to those
29:29children
29:30I
29:30don't
29:31think
29:31he
29:31wanted
29:32them
29:32to
29:32lose
29:33another
29:33dad
29:34at
29:35that
29:35point
29:36so
29:37I
29:37think
29:38he
29:38would
29:38have
29:38stayed
29:39for
29:40the
29:40children
29:40even
29:41though
29:41all
29:41those
29:41bad
29:42things
29:42were
29:42happening
29:43two
29:44months
29:45later
29:45Russell
29:46was
29:46dead
29:46and
29:48now
29:48to
29:48detectives
29:49it's
29:49looking
29:50more
29:50and
29:50more
29:51like
29:51a
29:51homicide
29:52Barbara's
29:53greedy
29:53she
29:55likes
29:55to have
29:55the
29:56finer
29:56things
29:57in
29:57life
29:57and
29:58she
29:58can't
29:58afford
29:59it
29:59both
30:00bank
30:00loans
30:00were
30:00coming
30:01due
30:01and
30:02he
30:02was
30:02about
30:02to
30:03find
30:03out
30:03just
30:04what
30:04type
30:04of
30:05woman
30:05she
30:05was
30:05investigators
30:18in
30:18North
30:18Carolina
30:19are
30:19swiftly
30:20closing
30:20in
30:21on
30:21Barbara
30:21Steger
30:22as
30:22a
30:22suspect
30:23in
30:23her
30:23husband's
30:24death
30:24everything
30:26we had
30:26we had
30:27done
30:27up to
30:28that
30:28point
30:28had been
30:29surreptitiously
30:30we were
30:31quietly
30:31investigating
30:33the
30:34assistant
30:35DA
30:35asked
30:36if I
30:36would be
30:37willing
30:37to look
30:38through
30:38all of
30:39the
30:39evidence
30:39that they
30:40had
30:40collected
30:40so I
30:42would go
30:42over there
30:43every
30:43weekend
30:44and I
30:45went
30:45through
30:45that
30:45mountain
30:46of
30:46evidence
30:46her
30:48story
30:48was
30:49since
30:49they
30:49were
30:49having
30:50difficulty
30:50with
30:50burglaries
30:51in the
30:52neighborhood
30:52she didn't
30:54want
30:54Russ
30:54to wake
30:55up
30:55get the
30:55gun
30:56and
30:56accidentally
30:56shoot
30:57her
30:57youngest
30:57son
30:58that
30:59was
30:59her
30:59story
31:00of
31:01course
31:01now
31:02we
31:02checked
31:02the
31:02area
31:03there
31:03were
31:03no
31:03burglaries
31:04in
31:04that
31:05neighborhood
31:05I mean
31:06we covered
31:07all that
31:07so that
31:08was just
31:08her
31:09telling
31:09her
31:09tale
31:10as
31:12more
31:12and more
31:13information
31:14about
31:15her
31:15prior
31:16life
31:17with
31:17Larry
31:18and
31:18with
31:19business
31:20deals
31:21that
31:21had
31:22gone
31:22awry
31:23really
31:24started
31:25opening
31:25folks
31:26eyes
31:26to
31:27the
31:28degree
31:28that
31:29she
31:29was
31:30very
31:31very
31:31disturbed
31:32and
31:33how
31:33she
31:33was
31:34able
31:34to
31:34manage
31:35basically
31:36two
31:36lives
31:37it's
31:38almost
31:39if she
31:39had
31:39divided
31:40personality
31:41I think
31:43it was
31:43extremely
31:44hard
31:45for
31:46Russ's
31:47parents
31:47because
31:48during
31:49this time
31:49Barbara
31:50was going
31:50over to
31:51their
31:51house
31:51saying
31:52will
31:52you
31:52please
31:52forgive
31:53me
31:53it
31:53was
31:53an
31:54accident
31:54I
31:55didn't
31:55mean
31:55to
31:56kill
31:56him
31:56and
31:57of course
31:57they
31:58knew
31:58all this
31:59investigation
31:59was going
32:00on
32:01and
32:02we were
32:02all very
32:03hopeful
32:03that she
32:04was going
32:04to be
32:04charged
32:05but we
32:05didn't
32:05know
32:05for
32:06sure
32:06on
32:10on
32:10on
32:10February
32:103rd
32:11two days
32:11after
32:12Russell
32:12was
32:12shot
32:13the
32:13medical
32:13examiner
32:14releases
32:14the
32:15results
32:15of his
32:15autopsy
32:16according to the
32:19medical examiner
32:19the bullet struck him
32:21on the midline
32:22just to the right
32:24of center
32:24which indicated
32:26that he was
32:27laying on his
32:28left side
32:28face rotated
32:30into the pillow
32:31I believe
32:32the autopsy
32:33result was
32:33the page
32:34turner
32:34in that
32:35it truly
32:36showed
32:37with evidence
32:38and support
32:39that the story
32:40that Barbara
32:41Steger shared
32:42just didn't
32:43line up
32:43there were
32:45so many
32:45inconsistencies
32:47the things
32:48about
32:48how the gun
32:50was even
32:50fired
32:51the trajectory
32:52of the bullet
32:53the angle
32:54of the gun
32:54according to
32:56Barbara
32:57she pulled
32:58the gun
32:58from
32:58Alphamonte
32:59to Pella
32:59and a discharge
33:01striking him
33:02in the back
33:02of the head
33:02well
33:07the autopsy
33:07showed
33:08that's not
33:08what happened
33:09because
33:09the bullet
33:10trajectory
33:11showed her
33:12downward
33:12so she was
33:14above
33:15and behind
33:16him
33:16when she
33:16pulled the trigger
33:17detectives
33:23nearly have
33:24enough
33:24for an
33:24arrest warrant
33:25but first
33:26they conduct
33:27one final
33:28interview
33:28with Barbara
33:29on April
33:2915th
33:301988
33:31I advised
33:33her of her
33:34rights
33:34and she said
33:36do I need
33:37an attorney
33:37I said
33:38it's entirely
33:38up to you
33:38I said
33:41we've not
33:41asked you
33:42formally
33:42to give
33:43your side
33:44of the story
33:44and we'd like
33:45to get it
33:46now
33:46she gave it
33:47to us
33:48which nothing
33:49virtually changed
33:50and then she
33:51wanted to know
33:51if that
33:52would be what
33:52she needed
33:53to get the
33:53death certificate
33:54changed
33:55from pending
33:56to accidental
33:57death
33:57I said
33:58yes
33:59it will
33:59be changed
33:59she was
34:00anxious
34:01for the case
34:02to be closed
34:02so she could
34:03get her
34:04insurance money
34:05because the
34:06insurance company
34:06will not pay off
34:07on a pending
34:08death certificate
34:10the shoe
34:13is about to drop
34:14on all of the
34:15loans and debts
34:17and all kinds
34:17of things
34:18that she's
34:18and problems
34:19she's caused
34:19herself financially
34:20and here's
34:21another way
34:22for her to
34:23solve her problems
34:24and start over
34:25again
34:25she killed him
34:27so she wouldn't
34:28find out
34:28and then she got
34:29she would get
34:30insurance money
34:31she thought
34:31she would have
34:33gotten money
34:33from insurance
34:34from school
34:35from the National
34:36Guard
34:36and probably
34:37his pension
34:37as well
34:38you can only
34:39hide who you
34:40are for so long
34:42and I think
34:43when she tipped
34:43her hand
34:44with Ricky
34:45about you know
34:46when are you
34:46going to rule
34:47this
34:47so that I can
34:48collect on my
34:49insurance money
34:50it was very
34:51telling
34:52very cold
34:53very cold
34:54hearted
34:55if you knew
34:57that you had
34:58been involved
34:59in the murder
35:00you would at
35:01least think
35:02you would not
35:03let on
35:05to the detectives
35:06that this is
35:07what you're
35:08hoping the
35:08outcome to be
35:09for the purpose
35:11of the insurance
35:12payoff
35:12that blew
35:14our socks
35:14off
35:15I contacted
35:17another examiner
35:17and he changed
35:19the death
35:19from pending
35:20to homicide
35:20so it was
35:23done as I
35:23promised
35:24just not
35:25in her favor
35:26on April 18th
35:331988
35:34Durham police
35:35officially charged
35:36Barbara with
35:37Russell's murder
35:38prosecutors have
35:40just begun prepping
35:41for trial
35:42when they get
35:43their biggest
35:43break yet
35:44we found out
35:47an audio
35:47cassette
35:48had been found
35:49at the high school
35:50where Russell
35:51worked
35:51this audio
35:53cassette
35:54was apparently
35:54found by
35:55a student
35:56in a locker
35:57or near
35:58lockers
35:59near Russell's
36:00office
36:01as the
36:02baseball coach
36:02prior to
36:05the trial
36:05I got a call
36:07from a city
36:07detective
36:08that he had
36:09an audio tape
36:10he wanted to
36:11share it with me
36:12so he came to
36:13the house
36:13brought it to me
36:14and I listened
36:15to it
36:15and it was
36:17it was Russ
36:17Stager's voice
36:18describing
36:19a chain of events
36:21this is Russ
36:22Stager
36:22this is
36:24January 29th
36:261988
36:2710 minutes
36:28and 2
36:29the audio tape
36:30was almost
36:31Russell's voice
36:32from the grave
36:33in that
36:34he shared
36:35what he believed
36:37what he saw
36:38what he witnessed
36:39things that were
36:41of concern
36:41to him
36:42Barbara's
36:44second husband
36:44the first one
36:46I don't know
36:47what happened
36:48but he
36:49supposedly
36:50accidentally
36:51shot himself
36:53in their bedroom
36:55with a pistol
36:55last few nights
36:58Barbara has
36:59woke me up
37:00to give me
37:01some kind
37:02of medication
37:02Barbara woke
37:04him up
37:05at like 4 or 5
37:06o'clock in the
37:06morning
37:06and gave him
37:07what he was
37:08told was
37:08sleeping pills
37:09now if I was
37:10already asleep
37:11at 4.30
37:12in the morning
37:13why would
37:14somebody wake
37:15me up
37:16to give me
37:17to sleep
37:18in pills
37:19I took it
37:23to the DA
37:24the next day
37:25and we said
37:26the best thing
37:26we can do
37:27to authenticate
37:28the voice
37:28was to bring
37:29the family in
37:30not tell them
37:31why
37:32and to play
37:34the tape
37:34and not tell
37:35them what's
37:35on the tape
37:36so they were
37:38hit with it
37:38cold
37:39they played
37:41that for us
37:41and they
37:42asked us
37:42to confirm
37:43or deny
37:43if it was
37:44his voice
37:44and of course
37:45there was no
37:45question
37:46that it was
37:47Russ
37:47no question
37:48I remember
37:50there was a
37:50big window
37:51and you could
37:51see outside
37:52and you could
37:52see the sky
37:55and it felt
37:59like that Russ
38:01was speaking
38:01as an angel
38:02because he was
38:04saying in that
38:04tape basically
38:05everything he
38:06had told me
38:07that if anything
38:08ever happens
38:09to me
38:10look into it
38:10this is what's
38:11going on
38:12for years
38:25Barbara Steger
38:26convinced everyone
38:28she was a
38:29faithful wife
38:29and devout
38:30Christian
38:31but the
38:32investigation
38:32into her
38:33second husband's
38:34death
38:34has finally
38:35exposed the
38:36truth
38:37just
38:38things that
38:39we could
38:40not have
38:41imagined
38:42from a
38:43Sunday school
38:43teacher
38:44it just
38:45didn't add
38:46up
38:46it was a
38:47Jekyll Hyde
38:48the headlines
38:49Sunday school
38:50teacher charged
38:51with husband's
38:53murder
38:53that was
38:55what stopped
38:55everyone
38:56that was
38:57the chatter
38:58around newsrooms
38:59around the
39:00triangle
39:00not just
39:02in our
39:02newsroom
39:02but all
39:03over
39:03we were
39:05truly in
39:06shock
39:06detectives
39:08believe
39:08Barbara
39:08got away
39:09with murder
39:10of her
39:10first husband
39:11and an
39:12audio tape
39:12recovered
39:13by one
39:13of Russell's
39:14students
39:14proves that
39:15he suspected
39:16Barbara
39:16was planning
39:17to kill
39:18him too
39:19now if I
39:21was already
39:22asleep at
39:23430 in the
39:23morning
39:24why would
39:26somebody wake
39:26me up
39:27to give
39:28me two
39:29sleeping pills
39:30I did
39:34not take
39:34he put
39:37him under
39:37his pillow
39:37I think
39:39Barbara
39:40was trying
39:41to make
39:41sure he
39:41was asleep
39:42I think
39:43she figured
39:44if Russ
39:45was knocked
39:45out
39:46then it
39:47would be
39:47nothing
39:47to it
39:48he could
39:52almost foresee
39:52his demise
39:54and it's
39:55so disturbing
39:56it's heartbreaking
39:58to know
39:59that he
39:59lived in
40:00that fear
40:01that someone
40:03was indeed
40:03trying to
40:04hurt him
40:05in hindsight
40:07some wondered
40:09why didn't
40:10he just
40:10leave them
40:11if he was
40:12that worried
40:13about his
40:14life
40:14if he thought
40:15something was
40:15going to
40:15happen to
40:16him
40:16and my
40:18response to
40:18that is
40:19the old
40:20proverbial
40:21love is
40:21blind
40:22I think
40:22here is
40:23kind of
40:23a good
40:24example
40:24of that
40:25had it
40:27been me
40:27the son
40:28would not
40:29sit on me
40:29in that
40:30house
40:30after finding
40:31all that
40:32out
40:32and then
40:35she ultimately
40:36killed him
40:36before her
40:37Monday morning
40:38Barbara's
40:44murder trial
40:45begins on
40:46May 1st
40:461989
40:47the prosecution's
40:49star witness
40:50is Russell
40:51Stager
40:51himself
40:52Russ
40:53testified
40:54in his
40:54own trial
40:55about his
40:56death
40:56when we
40:57introduced
40:57that
40:57tape
40:58I can
40:59only imagine
41:00the shock
41:01that the
41:02jury may
41:02have had
41:03when they
41:03were able
41:04to hear
41:04Russell's
41:05voice
41:05expressing
41:07his concern
41:08his grave
41:09fear
41:10for what
41:11his wife
41:12might do
41:13it's just
41:14unbelievable
41:15after a
41:18two-week
41:18trial
41:19the jury
41:20takes less
41:20than an
41:21hour
41:21to reach
41:22a verdict
41:22there was
41:35even a
41:36microscopic
41:37shred of
41:39doubt
41:39I believe
41:40in the
41:40jurors
41:41mind
41:41that
41:42Lord have
41:43mercy
41:43she killed
41:45him
41:45I mean
41:46this was just
41:47as clear
41:47as the
41:48hand in front
41:49of your
41:49face
41:50kind of
41:50thing
41:50Barbara
41:52Steger
41:53receives
41:53the death
41:54penalty
41:54but it
41:55is later
41:55reduced
41:56to life
41:56in prison
41:57she ended
41:58up with
41:59a life
41:59sentence
42:00which would
42:00make her
42:01eligible
42:01for parole
42:02which came
42:04across to
42:04me as
42:05being
42:05not the
42:07best choice
42:08life is
42:09not fair
42:10but this
42:11seemed to
42:12be
42:12really
42:13a miscarriage
42:15of justice
42:16while the
42:18outcome of
42:18the trial
42:19can't
42:19replace
42:20what the
42:20families
42:21of
42:21Barbara's
42:21victims
42:22have
42:22lost
42:22it
42:23does
42:23help
42:24prevent
42:24others
42:24from
42:25being
42:25caught
42:25in
42:26her
42:26devious
42:27web
42:27Barbara's
42:29just
42:29a deceitful
42:30even
42:30conniving
42:31woman
42:32most
42:33women
42:33would be
42:34distraught
42:34whether
42:35they
42:35intentionally
42:36or
42:36accidentally
42:36kill
42:37their
42:37spouse
42:38they
42:39would
42:39not
42:39be
42:39back
42:39in
42:40that
42:41bedroom
42:41and
42:42in
42:42that
42:42very
42:42bed
42:43Russ
42:49left
42:49a
42:50huge
42:50hole
42:50in
42:51the
42:51hearts
42:52of
42:52everyone
42:53who
42:53loves
42:54him
42:54but I
42:55think
42:55his
42:56legacy
42:56lives
42:57on
42:57in
42:57the
42:58lives
42:58that
42:58he
42:58touched
42:59the
43:00last
43:00thing
43:01he
43:01said
43:01to
43:01me
43:01was
43:02as
43:02he
43:02was
43:03leaving
43:03my
43:03house
43:03that
43:04day
43:04he
43:05said
43:05I
43:06don't
43:06know
43:06how
43:06or
43:07where
43:07but
43:10we'll
43:10be
43:10together
43:10again
43:11and
43:12at
43:13times
43:14like
43:14this
43:14I
43:15feel
43:16that
43:16we
43:16are
43:16together
43:17and
43:18we're
43:19fighting
43:20the
43:20good
43:20fight
43:42and
43:43I
43:44can
43:44do
43:45that
43:45I
43:46can
43:46do
43:47that
43:47I
43:48can
43:48see
43:49that
43:50I
43:50can
43:51see
43:52that
43:52I
43:53can
43:53see
43:54that
Recommended
45:04
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