Ep 1. Tausha Morton
- TV-PG
- February 20, 2011
- 43 min
Tausha Morton was a 35-year-old woman from Oklahoma with a difficult upbringing. She was raised in a troubled household, where her mother was neglectful and her stepfather was abusive. As a result, Tausha turned to drugs and alcohol as a means of coping with her trauma.
Despite her troubled past, Tausha tried to make a better life for herself. She married a man named Brandon Morton and the two had three children together. However, their marriage was far from perfect. Brandon struggled with his own demons, including addiction and infidelity, and their relationship became increasingly volatile.
One night in December 2009, Tausha and Brandon got into a heated argument. According to Tausha, Brandon became physically violent and threatened to kill her. In self-defense, Tausha grabbed her gun and shot him several times. Brandon died from his injuries, and Tausha was charged with first-degree murder.
Throughout Tausha's trial, the prosecution argued that she had planned to kill Brandon in advance, citing evidence such as text messages and internet searches for how to commit the perfect murder. The defense, however, presented evidence of Brandon's history of abuse and argued that Tausha had acted in self-defense.
Ultimately, the jury found Tausha guilty of first-degree murder and she was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.
In this episode of Snapped, viewers are taken through the events leading up to Brandon's death and the subsequent trial. Through interviews with Tausha's family members, friends, and lawyers, as well as court transcripts and police reports, the episode paints a picture of a woman who was pushed to the brink by a difficult past and a tumultuous marriage.
Throughout the episode, viewers are presented with conflicting accounts of what happened on the night of the shooting. Some witnesses describe Brandon as a violent and erratic man, while others argue that Tausha was the aggressor in their relationship.
As the trial unfolds, viewers learn about the various pieces of evidence that were presented by both the prosecution and the defense. They see firsthand the emotional impact that the trial had on all involved, including Tausha's children, who struggled to come to terms with their father's death and their mother's imprisonment.
Overall, this episode of Snapped is a detailed and nuanced look at a tragic case of domestic violence and self-defense. It raises important questions about the nature of abuse and the legal system's response to it, as well as the complex web of emotions and relationships that can lead someone to commit a violent act.