Original subtitles

�

Narrator: THIS IS A TRUE STORY OF YOUNG LOVE...

BETH WAS OVER THE MOON.

SHE WAS SO HAPPY TO BE MARRIED TO HIM.

SHE LOVED HIM VERY MUCH, AND HE LOVED HER.

Narrator: ...CAPTURED ON CAMERA FOR THE WORLD TO SEE.

BUT SOMETHING FAR DARKER LIES BEHIND THESE SMILES.

SHE JUST FELT LESS THAN.

Narrator: A HAPPY HOME WILL BE RIPPED APART.

THIS ISN'T SOMETHING THAT HAPPENED BY ACCIDENT.

Narrator: AND A PERFECT LOVE DESTROYED.

Daryl: YOU DON'T WANT TO BELIEVE

THAT SOMEONE YOU KNOW AND TRUST IS CAPABLE OF THAT.

Captions by VITAC -- www.vitac.com

CAPTIONS PAID FOR BY DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS

�

Narrator: TOLEDO, OHIO.

IT'S MAY 8, 1999.

�

23-YEAR-OLD JASON RISENBURG

AND 18-YEAR-OLD BETH SPAULDING

ARE MAKING THEIR LOVE OFFICIAL.

I DON'T THINK SHE SLEPT AT ALL THE NIGHT BEFORE.

SHE PROBABLY DID HER MAKEUP ABOUT 18 TIMES.

THE HAIR WAS JUST NOT RIGHT, AND SHE HAD TO KEEP DOING IT.

YOU KNOW, TYPICAL BRIDE STUFF.

Narrator: BETH PARENTS, JAMES AND MAUREEN SPAULDING,

AND BROTHER DARYL

ARE THRILLED FOR THE YOUNG COUPLE.

Maureen: BETH WAS LIKE A LITTLE KID ON CHRISTMAS MORNING.

AND SHE LOOKED BEAUTIFUL THAT DAY, OF COURSE.

WATCH HER VEIL BY THAT CANDLE.

I WAS THE MAID OF HONOR, AND THERE WAS ONE OTHER BRIDESMAID.

Narrator: THAT'S BRANDY STANDING ON THE LEFT.

WE WORE BLACK DRESSES.

THEIR COLORS WERE BLACK AND GOLD, SO WE WORE BLACK DRESSES.

Narrator: BETH'S LITTLE BROTHER, DARYL, GETS TO MAKE A SPEECH.

Daryl:: WHEN SHE TOLD ME THAT SHE WAS GOING TO MARRY HIM,

I WAS EXTREMELY HAPPY FOR HER.

THEY WERE TOGETHER FOREVER AND NOTHING WAS GONNA CHANGE THAT.

�

Roach: BASS WAS ECSTATIC. BETH WAS OVER THE MOON.

SHE WAS SO HAPPY TO BE MARRIED TO HIM.

SHE LOVED HIM VERY MUCH, AND HE LOVED HER.

Narrator: IT'S BEEN A DIFFICULT JOURNEY FOR BETH

TO GET TO THIS HAPPY PLACE.

AS A TEENAGER, WITHOUT ANY EXPLANATION,

SHE STARTED TO GAIN A LOT OF WEIGHT.

Maureen: WE TOOK HER FROM SPECIALIST TO SPECIALIST.

WE FINALLY FIGURED OUT SHE HAD POLYCYSTIC OVARIAN SYNDROME.

Narrator: THE HORMONAL IMBALANCES

CAUSED DRASTIC WEIGHT GAIN.

SHE PROBABLY HAD THE KIND OF DIFFICULTIES

THAT SOMEONE WHO WAS MAYBE TWICE HER AGE WAS HAVING

BECAUSE SHE RAPIDLY GAINED WEIGHT.

Narrator: YOUNG BETH BECOMES PAINFULLY SELF-CONSCIOUS

ABOUT HER APPEARANCE.

IN THIS CLIP, BETH IS PERFORMING WITH HER SCHOOL CHOIR.

EVEN THOUGH SHE LOVES TO SING, SHE STANDS AT THE BACK,

WELL OUT OF THE LIMELIGHT.

Maureen: I THINK SHE'S ABOUT 12 HERE,

AND SHE'S PERFORMING IN THE CHRISTMAS CHOIR CONCERT

WITH HER FAVORITE MUSIC TEACHER.

SHE ABSOLUTELY LOVED IT.

SHE WOULD GET STAGE FRIGHT LIKE ANYBODY,

BUT PEOPLE APPLAUDED.

SHE ABSOLUTELY LOVED THAT.

EVEN IN SCHOOL WITH THE BULLIES,

YOU KNOW, THEY HAD TO ADMIT, "GIRL'S GOT PIPES."

�

Narrator: THE SPAULDING FAMILY

HAVE ALWAYS BEEN A TIGHT, SUPPORTIVE UNIT,

AS SEEN IN THIS VIDEO FROM CHRISTMAS 1991

WHEN BETH'S 10 YEARS OLD.

MAUREEN AND DARYL HAND OUT THE PRESENTS,

WHILE DAD, JAMES, FILMS THE FUN.

IT'S GOT TO DAD FILMING FOR SURE.

IT'S TOO HIGH.

IT'S TOO HIGH TO BE YOU.

Maureen: HER FATHER AND I WENT OUT OF OUR WAY TO MAKE SURE

THAT OUR KIDS HAD THE GREAT CHRISTMASES,

THEY HAD THE CLOTHES THEY NEEDED.

THEY HAD THE MEALS THEY NEEDED. THEY HAD THE HOME THEY NEEDED.

AND THE NUMBER-ONE THING FOR US

THAT WAS MOST IMPORTANT FOR OUR KIDS

WAS THAT THEY BE HAPPY AND FELT SAFE AND STABLE.

Narrator: FOR A BRIEF MOMENT,

MAUREEN GRABS THE CAMERA FROM DAD

AND MANAGES TO FILM HIM.

THAT'S LITTLE DARYL.

HE CALLS HIS OLDER SISTER "BEFFY,"

A NICKNAME SHE'LL KEEP FOR THE REST OF HER LIFE.

Daryl: BETH AND I WERE EXTREMELY CLOSE.

SHE WAS A MENTOR TO ME AS A CHILD

IN A WAY THAT YOU WANT AN OLDER SIBLING TO BE

THAT NOT A LOT OF PEOPLE GET TO EXPERIENCE.

Narrator: BETH AND BRANDY HAVE BEEN BEST FRIENDS

SINCE HIGH SCHOOL.

BUT SCHOOL LIFE FOR BOTH OF THEM IS TOUGH.

Roach: WE'RE WEARING ALL BLACK ALL THE TIME,

AND MY HEAD WAS HALF SHAVED,

SO WE GOT BULLIED A LOT--

FOOTBALL PLAYERS, CHEERLEADERS,

PRETTY MUCH EVERYBODY IN THE SCHOOL.

WE DIDN'T HAVE A LARGE CIRCLE OF FRIENDS.

Daryl: YOU KNOW, IN THE BEGINNING,

IT WAS BECAUSE SHE WAS BOOKISH,

AND THEN IT BECAME THAT SHE WAS OVERWEIGHT

YOU CAN EITHER RETREAT INTO YOUR ROOM,

INTO YOURSELF, INTO YOUR SHELL AND FEEL SORRY FOR YOURSELF

AND THINK YOU HAVE NO WORTH AND BELIEVE WHAT THEY SAY

OR YOU CAN TRY TO RISE ABOVE IT.

AND SOME OF THE BEST PEOPLE IN THE WORLD

ARE THE PEOPLE WHO RISE ABOVE IT.

Narrator: PRIVATELY, FRIENDS AND FAMILY

HAVE ALWAYS KNOWN THE REAL BETH --

WARM, OPEN, AND CARING.

SHE WAS JUST A BEAUTIFUL PERSON.

SHE LOVED MUSIC. SHE LOVED SINGING.

SHE LOVED ANIMALS. SHE WOULD RESCUE DOGS.

SHE WAS JUST A GREAT, AMAZING, BEAUTIFUL SOUL.

Daryl: SHE WAS ABLE TO SEE THINGS IN PEOPLE

THAT NOT EVERYONE ELSE COULD.

SHE WAS ALWAYS VERY ENGAGED IN WHAT WAS REALLY GOING ON

BEHIND THE SCENES IN THEIR LIVES.

�

Narrator: IN HER LATER TEENAGE YEARS, BETH FINDS A NEW WAY

TO CHANNEL HER CREATIVITY -- THROUGH PHOTOGRAPHY.

SHE STARTS WITH TAKING SELFIES

AND THOSE PHOTO SHOOTS FOR HER FRIENDS.

MY GOD. DID SHE TAKE A LOT OF PICTURES.

HUNDREDS AND HUNDREDS AND HUNDREDS OF PICTURES.

Narrator: AND THIS GROWING TALENT

GIVES HER THE CONFIDENCE

TO EVEN APPROACH THE PEOPLE THAT BULLIED HER.

SHE WOULD WALK UP AND SAY, "DO YOU REMEMBER ME?"

AND, OF COURSE, THEY DID.

AND SHE SAID, "WELL, I'M A PHOTOGRAPHER,

AND I WOULD REALLY LOVE TO DO A PHOTO SHOOT WITH YOU."

AND THEY WOULD KIND OF BALK AT IT, AND SHE WOULD SAY,

"NO, NO, I'LL DO YOUR HAIR. I'LL DO YOUR MAKEUP.

YOU CAN BRING YOUR BOYFRIEND OR YOUR GIRLFRIEND.

LET'S DO A PHOTO SHOOT.

I'D LIKE TO GIVE YOU THE CHANCE TO GET TO KNOW ME,

NOT JUST THE BIG GIRL IN SCHOOL.

SO THEY DID.

Narrator: AND SHE EVEN LETS HER FRIENDS

SET HER UP ON A BLIND DATE.

IN 1997, AGED 16,

BETH MEETS 21-YEAR-OLD JASON RISENBURG.

I THINK SHE WAS TERRIFIED

THAT WHEN SHE STEPPED OUT OF THE CAR,

HE WAS GOING TO SAY SOMETHING OR MAKE A FACE

OR SOME OTHER WAY OF LETTING HER KNOW,

"NO, THANK YOU."

AND I THINK BECAUSE HE DIDN'T DO THAT,

HE HAD AN INSTANT ADDED ATTRACTION FOR HER.

Narrator: JASON IS DEVOTED TO BETH,

AND THE COUPLE QUICKLY BECOME INSEPARABLE.

Maureen: SOON AFTER BETH AND JASON STARTED TO DATE,

I DID NOTICE SOME CHANGES IN BETH FOR THE BETTER.

SHE WAS WITH A MAN

WHO WENT OUT OF HIS WAY TO SAY, "YOU'RE BEAUTIFUL."

HE REASSURED HER ABOUT THINGS SHE WAS INSECURE ABOUT --

HER LOOKS, HER PHYSICAL APPEARANCE, HER WEIGHT.

Narrator: JASON BECOMES BETH'S MUSE,

AND NOT LONG AFTER SHE TAKES THIS PHOTO,

THE YOUNG COUPLE DECIDE TO MARRY.

Maureen: GOSH. SHE HAD SUCH A BEAUTIFUL SMILE.

Roach: FOR BETH, A HIGHLIGHT OF THAT DAY

WAS JUST TO CELEBRATE THEIR LOVE

AND EVERYBODY THAT WAS THERE IN SUPPORT OF IT.

AND SHE HAD A GREAT TIME.

IT WAS A REALLY GOOD DAY.

Narrator: BETH AND JASON STEP INTO MARRIED LIFE

AS SOUL MATES BOUND TOGETHER

WITH A LOVE THAT SEEMS UNBREAKABLE.

�

Narrator: WHEN BETH SPAULDING

BECOMES MRS. JASON RISENBURG IN 1999,

HER FAMILY IS DELIGHTED.

A YEAR LATER, THIS HOME VIDEO SHOWS HOW JASON

HAS BECOME ONE OF HER BOISTEROUS FAMILY.

THE WHOLE CLAN IS AT A FAMILY BARBECUE

AT MAUREEN AND JAMES' HOUSE.

THAT'S JASON IN THE BLUE SHIRT

WITH HIS EVER-PRESENT CIGARETTE.

IT'S JASON'S BIRTHDAY.

TIME FOR HIS BIRTHDAY BUMPS.

ONCE THE SPAULDINGS HAVE YOU, YOU'RE DONE.

JUST FORGET IT. JUST -- JUST SURRENDER.

Daryl: YEAH, HONESTLY.

YOU HAVE BEEN WELCOMED INTO THE CIRCLE

AND GET THE BIRTHDAY BEATING.

THAT SAYS SOMETHING.

YEAH. THIS IS THE THING THAT WE DO

FOR PEOPLE WE RESPECT. THAT'S RIGHT.

MY GOD. BETH WAS BLONDE THEN.

SHE WAS BRIEF-- FOR A MOMENT.

Narrator: OVER THE LAST YEAR,

BETH'S POLYCYSTIC OVARY SYNDROME

HAS GOTTEN WORSE.

SHE LEADS A HEALTHY LIFESTYLE AND NEVER DRINKS ALCOHOL,

BUT SHE'S UNABLE TO FALL PREGNANT.

SHE WANTED IT TO BE HER, HER HUSBAND AND A CHILD,

AND WITHOUT THE CHILD, FOR HER, THE PICTURE WAS INCOMPLETE.

AND I KEPT TRYING TO GET IT THROUGH HER HEAD

THAT THAT DIDN'T MATTER.

THEY COULD ADOPT A CHILD. THERE ARE OTHER OPTIONS.

BUT FOR HER, SHE JUST FELT LESS THAN.

Narrator: BUT JASON LOVES HER FOR WHO SHE IS.

SO THEY DECIDE TO BUILD A FAMILY OF THEIR OWN.

AND WITHIN A YEAR, THEY HAVE TWO DOGS WHICH THEY DOTE ON.

�

IT'S 2009...

BETHY.

...10 YEARS INTO THEIR MARRIAGE,

AND THE COUPLE IS DOING WELL.

FINISHED WITH YOUR ASSIGNMENT?

YEAH. NEARLY DONE.

BETH IS DOING A COURSE THAT SHE HOPES WILL LAUNCH HER

FULL TIME AS A PHOTOGRAPHER,

AND JASON HAS A JOB AT A LOCAL STEEL MILL.

GEEZ. I BETTER GO.

OR I'LL BE LATE FOR WORK.

HEY, JASON.

BUT IN JUNE, BETH SUDDENLY BEGINS

SUFFERING MYSTERIOUS AND CRIPPLING ABDOMINAL PAIN.

�

IT WASN'T UNTIL I TOOK HER TO THE DOCTOR

AND MADE CERTAIN THAT THERE WOULD BE A SCAN RUN.

AND AS SOON AS THEY DID RUN THAT SCAN,

WE FOUND A 68-POUND OVARIAN TUMOR.

�

WHEN BETH WENT INTO SURGERY, I WAS ABSOLUTELY TERRIFIED.

THERE WAS CANCER, BUT IT WAS IN THE VERY CENTER OF THE MASS.

IT WAS VERY CONFINED.

THEY TOLD US THERE WAS NOTHING TO WORRY ABOUT.

Narrator: SURGEONS REMOVED THE GROWTH SUCCESSFULLY.

WITH JASON BY HER SIDE,

BETH STARTS ON A PAINFUL ROAD TO RECOVERY.

Maureen: THEY HAD HER ON A VARIETY OF MEDICATIONS.

THE PAIN WAS SO GREAT,

THEY KEPT HER ON A LOW DOSE OF VICODIN, PRESCRIPTION.

Narrator: FOR NOW, EVERYONE'S JUST RELIEVED

THAT BETH IS OUT OF DANGER.

BUT WHEN JASON SUFFERS A SERIOUS BACK INJURY AT WORK,

A NEW PRESSURE IS PILED ON THE COUPLE.

Maureen: SOMETHING AUDIBLY POPPED.

APPARENTLY THE GUY STANDING NEXT TO HIM EVEN HEARD IT.

AND JASON ENDED UP CRAWLING OUT OF THE PLANT.

Narrator: HE CAN ONLY WALK WITH A CANE

AND ISN'T ABLE TO WORK.

THE MEDICAL BILLS START TO STACK UP.

BETH FEELS THE PRESSURE.

YOU KNOW, HE SUDDENLY CAN'T WORK.

SHE'S GOING THROUGH HER OWN CHANGES.

ALL THE THINGS HE WAS ONCE RESPONSIBLE FOR

IN THE RELATIONSHIP HAVE NOW BEFALLEN HER,

AS WELL AS HER USUAL DUTIES.

YOU OKAY?

SHE FELT AS THOUGH SHE HAD TO BE WIFE, HUSBAND,

MOTHER, FATHER, BROTHER --

ALL THINGS TO HIM ALL AT THE SAME TIME.

Narrator: JASON IS SO DESPERATE TO HELP BETH

AND EARN SOME MONEY

THAT HE STARTS A YouTube CHANNEL.

I THINK WE MIGHT NEED TO GO INSIDE.

JASON IS HOPING THAT THERE'S A MARKET FOR A CHANNEL

ABOUT SOFTWARE PROGRAMMING AND CAMPING.

HE'S NOW ON A HIGH-DOSE PRESCRIPTION FOR METHADONE.

IT SLOWS HIM DOWN AND MAKES HIM TIRED.

THE IDEA DOESN'T PAY OFF.

WITH BOTH BETH AND JASON IN PAIN AND UNABLE TO WORK,

MONEY IS BECOMING A WORRY.

THE COUPLE START TO FEEL THE STRAIN.

�

Narrator: BETH AND JASON RISENBURG

ARE ON A RUN OF BAD LUCK.

Beth: JASON...

MORE BILLS.

THE MEDICAL TREATMENTS HAVE LEFT THEM

UP TO $80,000 IN DEBT.

BUT JASON BELIEVES HE HAS A SOLUTION.

HE WANTS THEM TO MOVE TO NORTH CAROLINA

TO LIVE WITH HIS BROTHER AND HIS WIFE.

IT WOULD BE A FRESH START.

WE CANNOT JUST RUN AWAY

FROM OUR MONEY PROBLEMS, JASON.

BETH DOESN'T WANT TO LEAVE HER FAMILY BEHIND

OR HER BELOVED DOGS...

...ESPECIALLY AS THEY HAVE JUST ACQUIRED A THIRD --

SWEETIE PIE.

SWEETIE PIE IS A RESCUE DOG,

AND BETH ADORED HER THE MOMENT SHE MET HER.

BUT A ROUTINE VISIT TO THE VET

REVEALS SOMETHING HEARTBREAKING.

SWEETIE PIE HAS A NUMBER OF LIFE-THREATENING TUMORS.

HER TREATMENT WILL COST A LOT OF MONEY,

MONEY THEY DON'T HAVE.

Jason: BETH, COME TAKE A LOOK AT THIS.

JASON HAS AN IDEA.

MAYBE THIS COULD RAISE US SOME CASH.

THEY CAN USE CROWDFUNDING TO RAISE MONEY

FOR THE OPERATIONS.

A LOCAL NEWSCAST PICKS UP THE STORY.

Beth: IT TAKES MEETING THEM TO KNOW, TO SEE THEIR FACE,

TO KNOW HOW MUCH LOVE THEY GIVE TO YOU.

I CAN'T IMAGINE BETRAYING THE TRUST OF HER LOVE TO ME

BY NOT GETTING HER HEALTHY.

Narrator: THE PLAN WORKS.

THEY RAISE ENOUGH MONEY TO SAVE SWEETIE PIE.

BETH AND JASON SEEM TO HAVE TURNED A CORNER...

WHEN DISASTER STRIKES.

ON MARCH 2, 2012,

BETH IS RUSHED TO A LOCAL HOSPITAL

WITH ABDOMINAL PAIN AND VOMITING.

TERRIFIED, SHE CALLS HER MOM.

HELLO.

I'M ON SPEAKER PHONE WITH HER.

SHE'S TELLING THEM, "NO, MY HEART IS RACING.

MY VISION'S MESSED UP.

THERE'S SOMETHING DESPERATELY WRONG.

I FEEL LIKE I'M HAVING A HEART ATTACK."

ARE YOU OKAY?

AND I HEAR THE DOCTOR AND THE WORD "METHADONE."

Narrator: DOCTORS THINK THAT BETH'S ACCIDENTALLY TAKEN

JASON'S METHADONE INSTEAD OF HER OWN VICODIN.

ALTHOUGH THERE'S NOTHING TO PROVE HER SUSPICIONS,

MAUREEN FEARS THIS WASN'T AN ACCIDENT.

JASON CARRIES AROUND A BUG-OUT BAG.

IN HIS BUG-OUT BAG,

JASON CARRIED ALL HIS MEDS AT ALL TIMES.

AND IF ANYBODY TOUCHED HIS BAG, HE'D FREAK OUT.

BETH'S MEDICATIONS WERE NOT IN JASON'S BUG-OUT BAG.

BETH'S MEDICATIONS WERE KEPT SEPARATELY.

Narrator: SHE CONFRONTS JASON.

Maureen: I ASKED HIM SEVERAL TIMES ABOUT IT,

AND HE SWORE UP AND DOWN IT WAS AN ACCIDENT.

Narrator: BETH SURVIVES AND REASSURES HER MOM

THAT THE OVERDOSE WAS JUST A MIX-UP OF MEDICATIONS.

Maureen: SHE SAID, "NO, IT'LL BE FINE."

WELL, I KNOW WHEN I'M LICKED IN AN ARGUMENT WITH MY DAUGHTER,

SO I SAID, "OKAY, YOU WIN THIS ONE."

Narrator: BETH AND SWEETIE PIE RECOVERED TOGETHER.

SHE SEES HER OWN SUFFERING

MIRRORED IN THE VULNERABLE, LITTLE DOG.

EXACTLY ONE MONTH LATER...

IT WAS JASON.

ALL HE SAID WAS, "SHE'S NOT BREATHING."

MY HUSBAND AND I JUMPED IN THE CAR.

WHEN WE GOT TO THE HOSPITAL...

...THEY TELL US THAT BETH DID NOT MAKE IT.

MY FIRST RESPONSE WAS, "YOU'VE GOT THE WRONG PERSON."

JASON JUST LET OUT THIS HOWL AND STARTED TO CRY.

I WENT OUTSIDE, AND APPARENTLY,

I LET OUT A SCREAM TO END ALL SCREAMS,

BUT I DON'T REMEMBER IT.

�

IT DOESN'T MATTER HOW OLD YOUR CHILDREN GET...

...YOU ALWAYS WANT TO TAKE CARE OF THEM.

YOU ALWAYS WANT TO PROTECT THEM.

BUT YOU NEVER, EVER EXPECT TO BURY THEM.

Narrator: WITH HER COMPLICATED MEDICAL HISTORY,

THE CAUSE OF BETH'S DEATH ISN'T CLEAR.

�

ACCORDING TO JASON,

BETH'S STOMACH PAIN HAD RETURNED THE PREVIOUS NIGHT.

BETH, IT'S TIME TO WAKE UP.

WHEN HE CHECKED ON HER, HER SHOULDER WAS COLD.

BEFFY?

SHE WASN'T BREATHING.

THAT'S WHEN HE MADE THE 911 CALL.

BUT WITH NO OBVIOUS CAUSE OF BETH'S DEATH,

THE COUNTY CORONER IS INFORMED.

I RECEIVED A CALL FROM THE EMERGENCY ROOM IN FREMONT

THAT SHE WAS 31 YEARS OLD, DIED SUDDENLY, UNEXPECTEDLY.

AND SO I DECIDED THAT THIS CASE

NEEDED TO BE INVESTIGATED FURTHER.

Narrator: AN AUTOPSY, PLUS A TOXICOLOGY TEST,

ARE THE ONLY WAYS TO DETERMINE

WHETHER BETH'S DEATH IS A TRAGIC ACCIDENT

OR SOMETHING MORE SINISTER.

Dr. Wukie: I NEEDED TO MAKE SURE

THAT I KNEW THAT SHE DIED EITHER FROM MEDICATION USE

OR WAS SOME OTHER NATURAL PROCESS.

I NEEDED THOSE QUESTIONS ANSWERED.

�

Narrator: ONE WEEK AFTER HER SUDDEN DEATH,

31-YEAR-OLD BETH RISENBURG'S BODY IS RETURNED TO HER FAMILY

FOR BURIAL.

BETH LOVED ALL THINGS VICTORIAN.

SO WE MADE SURE THAT HER CASKET

HAD A VERY VICTORIAN LOOK.

HER HEARSE WAS AS VICTORIAN AS THEY COME.

Narrator: ON APRIL 11, 2012,

OVER 500 PEOPLE TURN OUT TO MOURN HER.

ONE THING THAT WAS SAID TO ME AT HER FUNERAL

WAS THAT MEETING BETH

MAKES YOU WANT TO BE A BETTER PERSON.

Narrator: A DEVASTATED JASON TURNS TO HIS FAMILY FOR SUPPORT.

A FEW DAYS AFTER THE FUNERAL, HE ANNOUNCES HE IS GOING TO STAY

WITH HIS BROTHER IN NORTH CAROLINA.

HIS FINAL STOP BEFORE LEAVING IS MAUREEN'S HOUSE.

Maureen: HELLO. HI.

HE BROUGHT HIS PHONE AND HIS COMPUTER TO MY HOUSE

AND ASKED MY SON, WHO IS A COMPUTER TECH,

TO GET IT CLEANED UP SO THAT THERE IS NO GARBAGE.

Narrator: AFTER JASON LEAVES, DARYL CHECKS THE HARD DRIVE

AND IS TROUBLED BY WHAT HE FINDS.

I SIMPLY OPENED A BROWSER WINDOW...

...HIT THE "W" KEY,

AND I SAW THOSE THINGS COME UP.

MY HEART SANK.

"WHAT IS THE LETHAL DOSE WITH METHADONE?"

Narrator: DARYL SHOWS HIS MOM.

AND SHE IMMEDIATELY GETS IN TOUCH

WITH THE LOCAL POLICE DEPARTMENT.

Kiddey: SHE WANTED TO SPEAK WITH AN INVESTIGATOR

REGARDING HER DAUGHTER'S DEATH,

AND I SET UP A INTERVIEW WITH THE FAMILY

AT OUR DEPARTMENT.

Narrator: DARYL AND MAUREEN SHOW DETECTIVE KIDDEY

WHAT THEY HAVE FOUND ON THE COMPUTER.

�

RIGHT BEFORE BETH'S DEATH, THERE WAS A INTERNET SEARCH

THAT WAS MADE ABOUT LETHAL DOSES OF METHADONE.

�

Narrator: EITHER BETH OR JASON

WAS SEARCHING FOR INFORMATION ABOUT LETHAL DOSES.

BUT WITHOUT A TOXICOLOGY REPORT,

DETECTIVE KIDDEY HAS NOTHING TO GO ON.

AND THE RESULTS WON'T BE BACK FOR MONTHS.

THEY GAVE US A TIME FRAME ANYWHERE BETWEEN 8 AND 12 WEEKS,

SOMETIMES AS LONG AS 16 WEEKS TO GET THESE RESULTS BACK.

Narrator: MAUREEN STAYS IN TOUCH WITH JASON...

HI, JASON.

...AND GETS SOME BIZARRE NEWS.

THREE WEEKS AFTER BETH WAS BURIED, JASON CALLED ME

TO ANNOUNCE THAT HE WAS IN LOVE

THAT HE HAD A NEW GIRLFRIEND.

I KNEW THIS GIRL.

SHE HAD BEEN AN ACQUAINTANCE OF BETH'S.

Narrator: HE REVEALS

THAT HE ACTUALLY MET THE GIRL AT BETH'S FUNERAL.

YOU JUST BURIED YOUR WIFE.

SHE HASN'T EVEN BEEN DEAD AT THIS POINT FOR FIVE WEEKS.

AND YOU'RE TELLING ME YOU'RE IN LOVE WITH SOMEBODY.

�

Narrator: ON JULY 3rd, THREE MONTHS AFTER BETH'S DEATH,

DR. WUKIE RECEIVED THE TOXICOLOGY REPORTS.

HER METHADONE LEVEL WAS 336 MILLIGRAMS

PER LITER.

THAT'S TWICE AS MUCH AS A LETHAL DOSE.

THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN 30 OR 40 TABLETS

TO GET THAT LEVEL IN HER.

THAT REALLY RAISED EYEBROWS

AND HAD REAL CONCERNS ABOUT WHAT REALLY HAPPENED HERE.

Maureen: I THINK JASON GAVE HER METHADONE ON PURPOSE.

THE TOXICOLOGY...WAS CLEAR.

HE KILLED HER.

Narrator: EVEN IF THE REPORT DOES SHOW

BETH HAD HIGH LEVELS OF DRUGS IN HER BODY,

DETECTIVES KNOW THIS DOESN'T NECESSARILY MEAN IT IS MURDER.

I DID CONSIDER THAT SUICIDE COULD BE A PLAUSIBLE EXPLANATION

FOR ALL OF THIS.

HOWEVER SHE DIDN'T HAVE A MENTAL-HEALTH CONCERN

OR HAVE ANY SUICIDAL IDEOLOGY.

AND SO I WAS ABLE TO RULE THAT OUT

AS A POSSIBLE EXPLANATION FOR HER DEATH.

Narrator: THE SEARCH HISTORY ON JASON'S COMPUTER

LOOKS EVEN MORE DISTURBING NOW.

THERE WERE SOME SEARCH ON HOW MUCH METHADONE

DOES IT TAKE TO KILL SOMEBODY,

SO THAT KIND OF PLAYED INTO OUR INCREASING SUSPICION

THAT SOMETHING WAS DONE TO HER

AND THIS WASN'T SOMETHING THAT SHE DID TO HERSELF.

Kiddey: IT REALLY PUSHED ME TO GO FORWARD WITH THE CASE.

I WANTED TO GET MORE MEDICAL RECORDS.

AND THEN I SAW THAT THERE WAS A PREVIOUS INCIDENT

WHERE METHADONE WAS INGESTED BY BETH RISENBURG.

Narrator: THAT WAS THE INCIDENT WHEN BETH WAS TAKEN

TO THE HOSPITAL ONE MONTH BEFORE HER DEATH.

DETECTIVE KIDDEY KNOWS JASON'S PRESCRIBED METHADONE.

HE CALLS HIM IN FOR A FORMAL INTERVIEW.

AN INTERVIEW IS KIND OF LIKE, A LOT LIKE A POKER HAND.

YOU WANT TO GIVE SOME HINTS,

BUT YOU DON'T WANT TO REVEAL EVERYTHING.

Narrator: HE ASKED JASON

ABOUT RESEARCHING LETHAL METHADONE DOSES ONLINE.

DETECTIVE KIDDEY SHOWS HIS HAND AND REVEALS THE TRUTH.

BETH DIED FROM A METHADONE OVERDOSE.

WHEN I DID TELL HIM THAT METHADONE WAS IN HER SYSTEM,

HE GOT NOTICEABLY CONCERNED.

HE STARTED TO SHIFT IN HIS CHAIR,

AND HE STARTED TO SHOW SIGNS OF BEING CONCERNED

ABOUT WHERE THE INTERVIEW WAS GOING.

Narrator: JASON IS ADAMANT

THAT HE DID EVERYTHING HE COULD THAT NIGHT

TO SAVE HIS WIFE.

POLICE BELIEVE THE 911 CALL SUGGESTS

SOMETHING MUCH DARKER OCCURRED THAT NIGHT.

Narrator: 31-YEAR-OLD BETH RISENBURG DIED

FROM A MASSIVE METHADONE OVERDOSE.

THAT'S THE DRUG HER HUSBAND, JASON, WAS TAKING.

DETECTIVE KIDDEY HOPES THE 911 CALL JASON MADE

MAY REVEAL WHETHER HER DEATH WAS MURDER.

Kiddey: I HAD A GUT FEELING ABOUT THE 911 CALL.

THE WAY JASON CALLED FOR HELP...

...IT SOUNDED REHEARSED, LIKE HE PREPARED IT.

Narrator: AT NO POINT CAN JASON BE HEARD DROPPING THE PHONE

AND PERFORMING CPR AS HE CLAIMED.

JASON RISENBURG SAID THAT HE PERFORMED CPR.

BUT HE COULDN'T PROVIDE ME WITH A LOGICAL EXPLANATION

AS TO WHY THE PHONE WAS STILL TO HIS EAR.

Narrator: DETECTIVE KIDDEY CONTINUES TO PICK APART

JASON'S VERSION OF EVENTS.

HE FOCUSES ON JASON'S METHADONE PILLS.

EVERYTHING THAT HE WOULD TALK ABOUT,

I WOULD BREAK DOWN AND WE'D GO INTO MORE DETAIL.

WE TALKED ABOUT HOW MANY PILLS HE HAD, HOW HE KEPT HIS PILLS,

THINGS OF THAT NATURE.

Narrator: UNDER PRESSURE, JASON THEN DROPS A BOMBSHELL.

HE ADMITS THAT WHEN BETH WAS HOSPITALIZED

FOR METHADONE POISONING ONE MONTH EARLIER,

IT WAS JASON THAT HAD GIVEN IT TO HER.

Narrator: FIVE HOURS IN, JASON CRACKS.

JASON RISENBURG FINALLY ADMITTED

THAT HE GAVE HIS WIFE, BETH,

THE REST OF HIS 5-MILLIGRAM METHADONE PILLS,

BUT HE WOULD NEVER SAY THE AMOUNT.

Narrator: JASON ADMITS TO GIVING BETH

A LETHAL AMOUNT OF HIS METHADONE,

BUT CLAIMS IT WAS TO EASE HER PAIN

AND HE NEVER INTENDED TO KILL HER.

THE PILLS THAT HE GAVE HER, IT KILLED HIS WIFE

OF ALMOST 14 YEARS OF MARRIAGE.

HE DIDN'T REALLY SHOW MUCH EMOTION AT THE TIME.

Narrator: DETECTIVE KIDDEY BELIEVES

HE'S MADE A SIGNIFICANT BREAKTHROUGH,

BUT IT MAY NOT BE ENOUGH TO PROVE MURDER.

Kiddey: I STILL HAD TO PRESENT IT TO THE COURT SYSTEM

TO LET THEM DECIDE WHAT CHARGES ARE APPROPRIATE IN THIS CASE.

Narrator: JASON IS FREE TO RETURN TO NORTH CAROLINA,

WHERE HE MOVED AFTER BETH'S FUNERAL.

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DETECTIVE KIDDEY RE-EXAMINES BETH'S PREVIOUS HOSPITALIZATION.

Kiddey: I BELIEVE THAT PRIOR TO HER DEATH

WHEN BETH WAS TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL,

I THINK THAT WAS A DRY RUN.

I THINK THAT WAS JUST TESTING THE WATERS.

"HEY, WHAT'S THIS GONNA DO?"

WHEN HE PROVIDED THE DRUGS TO HER.

Narrator: JASON ADMITS TO GIVING BETH ONE METHADONE PILL,

WHICH WAS ENOUGH TO HOSPITALIZE HER.

ONE MONTH LATER,

JASON AGAIN GAVE BETH HIS METHADONE.

THIS TIME, 30 TIMES AS MUCH.

IT WAS A LETHAL DOSE.

THOUGH JASON CLAIMS HE WAS JUST TRYING TO HELP BETH,

BUT THE TOXICOLOGY REPORT HAS ANOTHER REVEALING CLUE.

Dr. Wukie: THERE WAS A SMALL AMOUNT OF ALCOHOL

ON THE TOXICOLOGY REPORT AS WELL

AND THAT COULD EVEN MORE ENHANCE

THE EFFECT OF THE METHADONE IN THIS PERSON.

Narrator: THE COMBINATION OF ALCOHOL AND METHADONE

INCREASED THE RISK OF A FATAL OVERDOSE.

AND BETH WAS TEETOTAL.

WE HAVE YEARS AND YEARS AND YEARS OF E.R. REPORTS

AND BLOODWORK FROM ALL HER HEALTH ISSUES.

SHE NEVER HAD ALCOHOL IN HER SYSTEM.

SHE WASN'T A DRINKER.

Narrator: INVESTIGATORS CONSIDER

THAT SOMEONE ELSE MAY HAVE GIVEN BETH

A SMALL AMOUNT OF ALCOHOL DILUTED IN A DRINK.

I BELIEVE IT WAS POTENTIALLY MIXED UP IN A DRINK.

SMALL AMOUNTS OF ALCOHOL AND THE PILLS CRUSHED.

Narrator: WITH ONLY TWO PEOPLE IN THE HOUSE THAT NIGHT,

INVESTIGATORS BELIEVE JASON MAKES THE FATAL CONCOCTION

OF CRUSHED METHADONE IN ALCOHOL.

IT SEEMS LIKELY TO ME THAT THERE WAS SOME DRINK

OF SOME SORT MIXED UP THAT WAS GIVEN TO HER

THAT ALLOWED HER TO NOT REALIZE WHAT SHE WAS DOING.

Narrator: BETH'S HOSPITALIZATION ONE MONTH EARLIER,

THE LARGE AMOUNT OF METHADONE INVOLVED,

PLUS THE ALCOHOL DETECTED IN HER SYSTEM,

ALL LEAD DR. WUKIE TO SUSPECT FOUL PLAY.

IN THIS CASE WITH THE GRAND JURY,

THEY INDICTED JASON RISENBURG

ON A SPECIAL FELONY OF MURDER, INVOLUNTARY MANSLAUGHTER,

AND CORRUPTING ANOTHER WITH DRUGS.

Reporter: BETH DIED LAST APRIL OF A LETHAL DOSE OF METHADONE,

BUT THE DRUG DIDN'T BELONG TO HER.

POLICE SENT OUT WARRANTS FOR THE ARREST OF JASON RISENBURG,

AND HE WAS INDICTED ON A CHARGE OF MURDER.

Narrator: ON JANUARY 18, 2013,

NINE MONTHS AFTER BETH'S MURDER,

JASON IS ARRESTED IN NORTH CAROLINA

AND SENT BACK TO OHIO.

BUT WITH MINIMAL FORENSICS AND WITHOUT CONCLUSIVE PROOF

OF EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENED THAT NIGHT, GOING TO TRIAL

WITH A FIRST-DEGREE MURDER CHARGE

IS A RISK FOR PROSECUTORS.

Kiddey: BECAUSE OF THE EVIDENCE AND THE FACTS AND CIRCUMSTANCES

SURROUNDING THE CASE, THEY OFFERED HIM A PLEA DEAL.

"THIS IS WHAT WE CAN GO TO TRIAL WITH RIGHT NOW,

AND WE KNOW WHAT WE CAN PROVE BEYOND A REASONABLE DOUBT."

AND IN THE END, JASON DECIDED

THAT THAT WAS IN HIS BEST INTEREST TO TAKE A PLEA DEAL.

Narrator: HE ADMITS

TO UNINTENTIONALLY CAUSING BETH'S DEATH.

ON MARCH 11, 2014,

JASON IS SENTENCED TO 11 YEARS FOR INVOLUNTARY MANSLAUGHTER,

THE MAXIMUM HE COULD RECEIVE.

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DESPITE PROSECUTORS NOT BEING ABLE TO PROVE

THAT JASON DELIBERATELY KILLED BETH,

HER FAMILY AND POLICE BELIEVE THE HIGH DOSAGE

AND THE ALCOHOL TOGETHER WITH THE 911 CALL,

THE SEARCH HISTORY ON JASON'S COMPUTER,

AND HIS SPEEDY NEW RELATIONSHIP ALL SUGGEST THAT HE DID.

Daryl: EVEN AFTER ALL THE EVIDENCE,

YOU DON'T WANT TO BELIEVE THAT SOMEONE YOU KNOW AND TRUST

AND, YOU KNOW, SOMEONE WHO'S TRUSTED YOU

IS CAPABLE OF THAT.

Maureen: MY PERSONAL BELIEF, THE REASON THAT JASON DID THIS

IS BECAUSE IF HE WERE TO HAVE ALLOWED HER TO LEAVE,

OR IF HE WOULD HAVE LEFT FOR NORTH CAROLINA WITHOUT HER,

THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN A DIVORCE FILING

AND SHE WOULD HAVE GOTTEN SOME ALIMONY.

I WISH HE JUST WOULD HAVE DONE THE RIGHT THING

AND ENDED THE RELATIONSHIP.

Narrator: BETH'S FAMILY STILL STRUGGLE TO COME

TO TERMS WITH THEIR LOSS.

BUT MAUREEN HAS RECLAIMED HER DAUGHTER'S NAME.

I WAS NOT GOING TO ALLOW MY DAUGHTER

TO BE BURIED WITH JASON'S NAME.

SO I AM HAPPY TO SAY THAT SHE IS NO LONGER BETH RISENBURG.

SHE IS ONCE AGAIN THE GIRL SHE ALWAYS HAS BEEN --

BETH SPAULDING.

AND HE CAN GO TO HELL.

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