Meth, Marriage & Murder

Small Town Murder episode 52 looks at Webster Springs, West Virginia, in Webster County in the central part of the state, about two hours from Charleston. The town's official name is Addison, after Addison McLaughlin, whose land was the original layout. It was earlier known as Elklick and Forklick, and locals have called it Webster Springs since 1861, though the post office has used that name only since 1902. In 1868 the town had five residents. Its salt sulphur wells attracted visitors in the late 1800s, and in 1897 Senator Johnson Camden built a 265-room Victorian hotel, which burned to the ground on 20 July 1925. Population peaked at 1,300 in 1950 and is now 733. The town is 97.44 per cent white, the median age is 48.4, unemployment is almost nine per cent and median household income is about $26,000. Homes average $58,000.

the rest of this account is covered until you choose to reveal it Michael taught science at Webster County High School. In July 2008 he began an affair with a fellow teacher, Janet Morton, who admitted snorting meth four to five times a week for three or four years. this part of the story is covered for now

details of the account remain covered until revealed On 22 May 2009 police dogs hit on his car at the school. the rest of this account is covered until you choose to reveal it this part of the story is covered for now Neighbours described him staggering drunk to the wrong house after a boating trip and storming out of a poker game in a rage over a news report on a drug bust.

On 4 August 2009 Michael and Janet saw psychologist Mike Morello for substance abuse counselling, then rewarded themselves with a motel room and a half gallon of vodka. details of the account remain covered until revealed the rest of this account is covered until you choose to reveal it The boys were staying at a neighbour's house.

this part of the story is covered for now details of the account remain covered until revealed Michael had in fact been shot three times in the face with a .22. He walked out, sat in a lawn chair in the front yard and told paramedic Dan Moran, Corporal Loffridge of the State Police and Deputy Van Devender that his wife had shot him, repeatedly calling her a bitch. He phoned Janet to say he would be late for their fishing and camping trip. At Webster County Memorial Hospital he said he had been asleep in bed and felt as if he had been hit with a baseball bat. the rest of this account is covered until you choose to reveal it The medical examiner found the cause was an air embolism from the gunshot wounds. Two bullets were fired from more than 18 inches away, and the one into the sinus cavity at near contact range.

this part of the story is covered for now details of the account remain covered until revealed Neighbours heard a shot, a groan, a shot, a groan and a further shot, but no struggle. After he died she told an officer she had done it because he was taking her children. On 11 August she gave a three-and-a-half-hour statement, and on 12 August she went to police and admitted shooting him. the rest of this account is covered until you choose to reveal it this part of the story is covered for now

The court admitted Michael's statements as excited utterances and refused to suppress hers. The state introduced a financial motive in his retirement benefits and insurance. The defence argued self-defence and good character, and called its own pathologist who said the wounds were self-inflicted. details of the account remain covered until revealed She said Michael had never been physically violent to her. the rest of this account is covered until you choose to reveal it

this part of the story is covered for now The retrial began on 14 February 2014. She now argued that medical negligence caused the death. details of the account remain covered until revealed the rest of this account is covered until you choose to reveal it this part of the story is covered for now details of the account remain covered until revealed the rest of this account is covered until you choose to reveal it