Ep 3. Michele Donohue
- TV-14
- November 27, 2016
- 43 min
Michele Donohue was a 42-year-old mother of two from Maryland. She had worked as a nurse and was well-respected in her community. However, on the evening of August 2, 2008, Michele's life took a dark turn. Her husband, Michael Donohue, was found dead in their home, and Michele quickly became the prime suspect in his murder.
The investigation into Michael's death uncovered a web of lies and deceit. In the months leading up to his death, Michele had been having an affair with a man named Michael Winkler. Winkler was a married man who had also been a patient of Michele's at the nursing home where she worked.
As the investigation continued, authorities began to piece together a timeline of events that pointed to Michele as the killer. They learned that Michele had been unhappy in her marriage and had been planning to divorce Michael. They also discovered that Michele had purchased a gun just weeks before Michael's murder and had spent time practicing at a shooting range.
Despite all of the evidence against her, Michele maintained her innocence. She claimed that she had been at work at the time of Michael's death and had no involvement in his murder. However, her alibi was quickly dismantled when co-workers reported that Michele had left work early on the day in question.
Slowly but surely, the case against Michele began to mount. In addition to the affair, the gun, and the missing alibi, authorities also discovered that Michele had edited Michael's will just days before his death, leaving everything to her. They also uncovered text messages between Michele and Winkler discussing the murder, in which Michele referred to Michael as a "mean, lazy, drunken slob."
After months of investigation, Michele was arrested and charged with first-degree murder. Her trial was highly publicized, with many in the community shocked by the idea that someone so well-respected could be capable of such a violent act.
Throughout the trial, Michele maintained her innocence. She claimed that she had nothing to do with Michael's death and that she was being framed for a crime she did not commit. However, the evidence against her was overwhelming, and the jury ultimately found her guilty of first-degree murder.
Michele was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. Her children, who had been at the center of the custody battle that had fueled much of the tension between Michele and Michael, were left to pick up the pieces of their shattered lives.
The story of Michele Donohue is a cautionary tale about the deadly consequences of deceit, betrayal, and jealousy. It serves as a reminder that even the most seemingly ordinary people can be capable of truly heinous acts under the right circumstances.