Ep 9. Deadly Martrimony

In Forensic Files season 9 episode 9 titled "Deadly Matrimony," viewers are taken on a journey through a twisted double-murder investigation that sends investigators on a wild goose chase through a beautiful and wealthy retirement community.

The episode begins by introducing us to Bruce and Darlene Rouse, a seemingly perfect couple who lived in a luxurious retirement community in Florida. The couple was active in their community, involved in charities, and were quite popular among their neighbors. However, on December 8th, 1996, the couple was found bound and gagged inside their home. Both of them had been shot in the head, and Bruce was already dead by the time the police arrived on the scene. Although Darlene was still alive when found, she would later pass away due to her injuries.

The police immediately started investigating the crime scene and quickly learned that the couple had been robbed. The safe had been broken into, and several valuables were stolen, including a large amount of cash. The evidence collected at the scene led investigators to believe that multiple people were involved in the robbery and murder.

As the investigation progressed, the detectives discovered that Bruce had previously owned a business, which had gone bankrupt, and he owed a considerable amount of money to various people. Due to this, the detectives decided to investigate the Rouse's financial situation further and eventually discovered that the couple had been living well beyond their means. They had recently taken out several large loans and had even maxed out their credit cards.

The detectives then turned their attention to Darlene's past and discovered that she had previously been married to a wealthy businessman who had died under mysterious circumstances. After examining her first husband's death more closely, they found that his death had also been ruled a homicide, and Darlene's second husband, Bruce, had been the beneficiary of his life insurance policy.

Further investigation revealed that Darlene had been married a total of six times, all of which had ended in either divorce, annulment, or death. The detectives began to suspect that Darlene was possibly a black widow, marrying wealthy old men and then killing them for their money.

However, despite their suspicions, the detectives did not have enough evidence to charge Darlene with anything. That all changed when a man named Kenneth Counts came forward and confessed to his involvement in the murder of Bruce and Darlene Rouse.

Counts was a former employee of the Rouse's, and he had been hired to clean their pool. He had participated in the robbery and murder of the Rouse's with two other men, Jeffrey Ramsey and John Blinston. Counts explained how the robbery had gone wrong, leading to the murders of Bruce and Darlene.

With Counts' confession and testimony, the detectives were finally able to bring all those involved in the crime to justice. Counts, Ramsey, and Blinston were all sentenced to life in prison for their roles in the double-murder.

"Deadly Matrimony" is a gripping episode that explores the dark side of human nature. It highlights the lengths people will go to for financial gain, even if that means committing horrific acts of violence. The episode is a reminder that every situation is not what it seems on the surface, and even the most innocent-looking individuals can hold dark secrets. The episode serves as a stark warning about the potential consequences of greed and avarice.