harold henthorn dateline

Her husband's past is probed and deadly secrets are revealed. Of all the titles that the Defendant has bestowed upon himself without merit, the title of Murderer, bequeathed by the jury, is the only title that the Defendant has earned. 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. It took the jury about 10 hours to find Harold Henthorn, 59, guilty of first-degree murder in the death of his second wife, a wealthy Mississippi native. 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 . The Defendants phony status and perception took priority over his family, and he chose family and friends based solely on his ability to deceive the same. She called the Sheriffs office the next day to ask where she could pick up the coat. This development recalls the story of another notorious convicted Colorado killer: Harold Henthorn, who was convicted of killing his second wife, Dr. Toni Henthorn. Toni was a medical doctor that had this unique perspective on life, and those moments affirmed her compassionate care and concern for others. Montoya and her family had been driving home that night from a day of fishing and picnicking when Harold appeared in the glow of their cars headlights and waved them down. 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.". Technically he was retired. His second wife had $4.5 million in life insurance. And there was one huge, almost shockingly damning piece of evidence the prosecution used against Harold. And, strangest of all from Montoyas perspective, Harold refused to hand over the coat he was wearing. The stories he told police werent at all consistent. The couple seemed quite happy initially and even gave birth to their only child, Haley, in 2005. It just so happened that every time Bob or Yvonne called their daughter, Harold was the one to answer. Harold and Toni Henthorn (credit CBS) A federal jury convicted Henthorn of pushing his second wife, Toni, off a cliff in Rocky Mountain National Park in 2012. Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet. ", VIDEO:Watch the CBS4 special "Inside The Investigation: Harold Henthorn. ". Harold said Toni got a text message from the babysitter, letting her know that her daughters soccer team had won. He rested the car on the same type of jacks Harold said hed used, in the same spot on the same side of the road where Lynn died. Initially, the couple appeared ecstatic in their new life and were happy with each other. The Defendant claimed to be financially wealthy, when, in fact he had no fortune at all. It turned out that Harold sent texts to friends and family telling them his wife was injured well after he knew that she was dead. He's 38 years old, a married, religious person and he's shoplifting underwear in JCPenney." This trial was about the last moment in Tonis life and the moment that Toni took her last breath, he saidand he was actually speaking for two Bertolets; his brother, Todd, wrote the statement. The Defendant proclaimed to be a Christian man when in fact he was an immoral man. Can Humans Detect Text by AI Chatbot GPT? There were other inconsistencies too. 2023 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. She told Detective Weaver that she had been at accident scenes where family members of victims were crying, screaming, and in some cases so emotional they punched her. Full disclaimer: I have not evaluated Harold Henthorn, but if he is guilty of murder, then he would fall into the range of what I call a borderline sociopath. They spoke to a co-worker of Lynns who said the whole scenario seemed suspicious. Harold Henthorn with Sandra Lynn, his first wife. Friends and family thought they knew him, but did they, really? The story went like this: Late one night, while Haley slept inside the cabin, Harold asked Toni to help him clean up some debris. He needed things done his way something that was becoming more and more evident with each passing day. Solutions . Firstly, we wanted to be a strong voice for Toni and to seek justice in her behalf. After all, Harold was a respected member of the community. Taking the aforementioned points into account, the police suspect foul play. Toni Henthorn fell to her death off a cliff while hiking with her husband, Harold. The Bertolets said goodbye to their only daughter a few days later. But, as the lead investigator would later testify to in court, theyd never checked the print against the shoes to see if they were a match. Before becoming a detective hed spent decades moving his wife from base to base. His attorney, Craig Truman, said prosecutors failed to prove he killed her. The travel for work that didnt seem, to Yvonne at least, to be real? The Bertolets had accepted those quirks early on because thats what a good family does they worked hard at liking the person that made their daughter happy. On September 29, 2012, the couple was hiking at Rocky Mountain National Park when Tonis brother received a chilling text. It had been a full day, and the sun had set. 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. Harold Henthorn is 60 years old as he was born on January 10, 1962. But there was something else. His first wife Lynn died in 1995 after a car held up by a jack fell on her. During the initial investigation, Detective Weavers colleagues had found some inconsistencies. The lead investigator made mention of a partial print on the wheel well, above the missing tire, the same one that Lynn had supposedly been trying to help change when she was killed. By clicking Accept, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. The silence of the victim, Toni Bertolet Henthorn, in the court today represents her loudest cry for her daughter and the injustice at the hands of the Defendant.In closing, this trial was about the last moment in Tonis life and the moment that Toni took her last breath. The lies? Her husband, Harold Henthorn, was convicted of first-degree murder in her death. The Defendant never showed grief as to the loss of Toni, and has yet to tell anyone in this family that he actually loved her. When the friends and family of Toni Henthorn heard how she died, only one was able to put into words what so many others were thinking. 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. Psychology Today 2023 Sussex Publishers, LLC. To another he said it was merely spongy. She had insurance policies, and Henthorn collected $496,000 from her death. The only witness to the accident was her husband. Toni and Harold Henthorn were celebrating their 12th wedding anniversary the weekend when she died. He refused to allow Toni to help put Haley to bed at night, insisting that the hour or so before Haley fell asleep was his daddy-daughter time. For an optimal experience visit our site on another browser. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. Feds say Henthorn pushed his wife over a cliff at Rocky Mountain National Park. I know he killed her, he says. Editors picks He had no real mentor to help him, Weaver said recently, in his first public comments since his retirement in August. To some people he said the Jeep fell when he threw the flat tire into the open hatch in the back. Harold Hentho Tyler Hadley's Killer Party September 23, 2015 / 11:02 PM That saying served him well working sex crimes for most of a decade. They had lunch together, and headed down a nearby ridge to take pictures, passing the camera back and forth all the while. No physical evidence remained. Harold Henthorn was a grieving widower. Phone calls and emails from CBS4 to Mackey were not returned. Then came the incident at the cabin. He insisted at both the verdict and the sentencing that he would appeal the decision. They were the first people to witness his incredibly odd behavior the evening his first wife died. Todd Bertolet, Toni Henthorn's brother said, "That was what was so odd. Several of the jurors spoke with the Denver Post following the verdict, and one jurors comment summed their thinking up maybe better than any other. Shortly before her death, the change Harold made allowed for double the compensation if Lynn died as a result of an accident. That detail led to a much closer investigation of Tonis death. After Tonis death, the Defendant routinely proclaimed that Haley Henthorn was doing just fine without her mother. I think there is a special place in hell for someone like [Harold].. How does she know that the person she chooses loves her for who she is and not for her wealth and lifestyle? Here's everything to know about them. The 200 Greatest Singers of All Time Harold couldnt account for how the SUV fell off not one, but the two jacks he said hed used to prop it up. She wanted her to say that she would listen to her mothers warning. 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. His bosses told him to work the case the same way he worked every other case, which meant to go where the truth led, no matter where it led. Which he always did. 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. He had her body cremated, scattered the ashes on Colorados Red Mountain, and collected the $4.7 million life insurance payout from the plan she had recently signed up for. Even early on, Weaver could see that the truth was leading somewhere he didnt want to be. Following the death of his first wife, Harold married a second time after meeting Dr. Toni Jill Bertolet Henthorn on a dating site. Do not expect it from cheap people. The defendant is morally cheap and is bankrupt of all honesty.In the Defendants sociopathic world, no person, place, or thing had any power over him, as his thoughts and his mind were the only authority. Tonis family, though, did not have a high opinion of Harold and suspected foul play after her death. According to the file, the investigators noted the brand of shoes Harold was wearing at the time Sperry Topsider and took pictures of the tread. "Believe it or not I forgive him (Henthorn) for doing it. Family, friends and co-workers were convinced Harold Henthorn was responsible for his wife's death. A 59-year-old Colorado man was found guilty Monday of killing his wife by pushing her off a cliff in Rocky Mountain National Park in order to collect millions in life insurance money. 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. According to the testimony later given at a trial, instead of learning for themselves how much money Harold was due to receive from his wifes life insurance, Douglas Countys detectives took his word for it that the payout was $300,000 still a large amount considering his wifes modest social workers salary of $14,000 a year. 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! Secondly, we wanted to provide a safe and loving environment for Haley, preferably with her mothers Mississippi family. "Certainly those weren't my sister's wishes," said Bertolet of Harold Henthorn spending his wife's money to fight charges that he killed her. He tossed the flat in the back, as Harold had said hed done in one version of his story. var sc_invisible=0; You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. However, Harold kept insisting on his innocence and in 2017 appealed for a retrial which was subsequently shot down. Harold Henthorn, who shoved second wife off cliff, loses appeal for a new murder trial. A year after he was sentenced to life in prison, it doesnt look like Harolds appeal has yet been carried out. Read More: Where Is Harold and Toni Henthorns Daughter Now? As Warren Buffet stated, Honesty is a very expensive gift. Copyright 2023 Penske Business Media, LLC. At trial, the coroner testified that Tonis lipstick hadnt been mussed, meaning Harold hadnt actually performed CPR. It would have been, except that Toni plunged down a 50-foot cliff to her death. Many notorious serial killers have been sociopaths, such as Ted Bundy and John Wayne Gacy. Yet it was hard for the Bertolets not to notice that so much about Harold seemed not to make sense. The show even traced the subsequent investigation, focusing on the authorities as they cast their net around the murderer. Haley is not fine without her mother. We are hoping that you have no more nights, no more pain, no more tears with the Heavenly Father. Get the help you need from a therapist near youa FREE service from Psychology Today. He was older. IE 11 is not supported. Did You Know Anxiety Can Enhance Our Relationships? A government auditor testified at a grand jury hearing that Henthorn not only kept things from friends and family but also deceived on many occasions. Most people dont know that within that department there are teams of cops who work cases just like police in less scenic precincts. Their only daughter was gone. Harold Henthorn flanked by first wife Lynn and second wife Toni. I feel for him and his family. (The detective would later testify to this in court.) This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Hulus Wild Crime tells the story of Harold Henthorn and how he almost got away with murder. Although Harold pleaded not guilty at his trial, the jury did not deliberate long before pronouncing him guilty. In photographs released by the US Attorney's Office after the. The questions from Douglas County police to Harold were perfunctory. A federal jury on Monday convicted a man of murder for pushing his wife to her death off a cliff as they hiked in Colorado's Rocky Mountain National Park to celebrate their wedding anniversary, rejecting his claim that her fall was a tragic accident. There was something else, too, buried inside the file. Weaver was the man for the job because even in a room full of patient people, his patience marked him as different. DENVER (CBS4) - CBS4 has learned that the brother of convicted killer Harold Henthorn -- Rob Henthorn -- has been ordered to appear in court next month to explain what happened to $500,000 sent to him in 2014 by his brother Harold Henthorn. Gacy was a popular Chicago contractor who entertained children in hospitals, yet also raped, tortured, and killed 33 young men. To one cop, Harold said the tire they pulled over to change was completely flat. It appeared instead to be a terrible accident. A federal jury on Monday convicted a man of murder for pushing his wife off a cliff as they hiked in Colorado to celebrate their wedding anniversary. Where Is Harold and Toni Henthorns Daughter Now. Then came more subtle attempts to choke off any contact Toni might have with those who loved her. Now that Toni was home by herself in Mississippi, Yvonne could no longer hold her tongue. While Toni lived her life to inspire people, the Defendant lived his life to drain people, and he represents a human debt that can never be reimbursed. Every morning, she wakes up asking herself, "Did it really happen? It's a mandatory sentence for first-degree murder. Now those cops had a message for Douglas County: You need to go take a second look at something you thought you were done with. Henthorn told investigators that his wife paused to take a photo of the view and fell face-first over the ledge. First published on September 23, 2015 / 11:02 PM. Powered by WordPress.com VIP. Their grandchild was now in the care of the man they believed to be her killer. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. Bob and Yvonne watched as Harold slowly took control of Tonis life. The Accidental Husband: With Peter Van Sant, Brian Maass, Barry Bertolet, Toni Henthorn. A portrait artist once said that it is only when the details of eyes are revealed that the observer becomes committed to the face and person before them. Bertolet said, "There's no doubt he paid for his defense with Toni's money.". In fact, the Defendant has never been unlucky; only the Defendants wives have been unlucky with their untimely and obscure deaths. He pushed her, said Tonis father, Bob. But at the time of Lynns death, there were only five detectives covering an area half the size of Rhode Island. 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. For a time, she wondered if she would ever be able to perform another operation. Old Medication, New Use: Can Prazosin Curb Drinking? A jury convicted Henthorn of murder in 2015 after about 10 and a half hours of deliberation. The Defendant evidently perceived a strong and viable mother / daughter relationship as a threat to his authority in his warped world. The family had enough money. A chance to speak frankly with her daughter was something she hadnt had for a long time and Yvonne didnt waste it. Harold had her body cremated, scattered the ashes on Colorados Red Mountain, and collected the $500,000 life insurance payout from the plan she had recently signed up for. Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors. 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. In 2019, he filed a petition for a writ of certiorari, urging the U.S. Supreme Court to investigate the matter, which was again denied. 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. Harold Henthorn, 59, was convicted of one count of first-degree murder in the 2012 death of his second wife, Dr. Toni Henthorn. The case now before Weaver was different, though. How does she know that a trusted person is not lying to her? They also would have discovered that the amount was so high because Harold had changed the policy. | They were out hiking when Toni lost her balance on a steep cliff in Rocky Mountain National Park on September 29th, 2012, bleeding out on the ground 130 feet below where she fell. Over the course of those dozen years, Bob and Yvonne Bertolet watched their daughter change. As was the case with the crime scene photos, we can close our eyes to things that we dont want to see, but we cant close our hearts to the hurt that we dont want to feel.Tonis life was ruined by the lies and deceitfulness of the Defendant, but, in the end, the Defendant was exposed and convicted by the truth. Harold Henthorn and Toni Henthorn tied the knot in 2000. The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional". 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. Toni worked long and hard in pursuing her goal of being an ophthalmologist. If she hadnt moved a millisecond before it hit her, she later told her mother, it may have landed right on her head, perhaps with enough force to kill. : "http://www. But for us, there will be, forever in this life, the pain and tears, maybe not seen by others, for our daughter, killed in a cruel, sadistic, senseless and cowardly act of violence.On September 29, 2012, the family as a whole decided on a course of action, not believing that the tragedy was an accident. 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. Selena Gomez vs. Hailey Bieber: Why Everyone Thinks They Need to Pick a Side. Nice, right? Her greatest asset was her ability to feel what others were feeling. Still, Harold persisted in his innocence, and in 2017 he filed an appeal for a retrial, which was subsequently denied. 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. To another he said west. Every great doctor had seen loss, had seen suffering, had seen lifes struggles, but all had discovered a purpose in their own lives to rebound from the lows of tragedy.

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