FILE 531 / 26 September 2024 / 170 MIN / full

Dr Serial Killer

Pleasant Grove, UtahListen

The town

N ↑Public placePublic placePublic placeTown centre (approximate places)
Static locations; no street basemap. Places and details. OpenFreeMap © OpenMapTiles Data from OpenStreetMap.

This is in north central Utah, outside Salt Lake City in the mountains; it's in Utah County. about 0:05:43

History, in brief

1849

The town's original name was Battle Creek, after an 1849 massacre between Mormon settlers and a small band of Ute Indians.

about 0:06:06

Town note

Brigham Young believed the Ute had stolen his horses, though the horses were found before the attack took place.

about 0:06:29

Town note

It was renamed Pleasant Grove after a grove of cottonwood trees between Battle Creek and Grove Creek, near the present intersection of Locust Avenue and Battle Creek Drive.

about 0:06:53

Town note

During the Walker Indian War in the 1850s, settlers built a fort with walls two or three feet thick covering the area of 16 city blocks.

about 0:07:06
All 6 history facts

1849

The town's original name was Battle Creek, after an 1849 massacre between Mormon settlers and a small band of Ute Indians.

about 0:06:06

Town note

Brigham Young believed the Ute had stolen his horses, though the horses were found before the attack took place.

about 0:06:29

Town note

It was renamed Pleasant Grove after a grove of cottonwood trees between Battle Creek and Grove Creek, near the present intersection of Locust Avenue and Battle Creek Drive.

about 0:06:53

Town note

During the Walker Indian War in the 1850s, settlers built a fort with walls two or three feet thick covering the area of 16 city blocks.

about 0:07:06

Town note

The fort is gone, but cornerstones mark it; the southwest monument stood near 300 South 100 West, an area now occupied by a strip mall.

about 0:07:37

The figures, as told

Religious

95.7%

Biggest faith: Mormon residents, 93.3%

about 0:10:43

Crime / national average

Property crime
▼ less than half

about 0:19:39

Violent crime
▼ about one-third

about 0:19:46

Money

Median home value$507,400
Two-bedroom rent$1,270
Median household income$81,850 a year
Cost of living117

For sale

$449,900

Four bedroom, two bath home of 2,406 square feet

about 0:13:32

For sale

$850,000

Four bedroom, four bath home of 5,235 square feet

about 0:14:08
All figures and comparisons, as told in 2024

Population

"37,228"

No direction stated.

As told in 2024 about 0:10:03

Sex ratio

"more males than females"

No direction stated.

As told in 2024 about 0:10:09

Median age

"28.3"

Comparison: "very low". Direction: below.

As told in 2024 about 0:10:17

Married residents

"61%"

Comparison: "usually 50-50". No direction stated.

As told in 2024 about 0:10:33

Religious residents

"95.7%"

Comparison: "50-50 is the normal". Direction: above.

As told in 2024 about 0:10:43

Mormon residents

"93.3%"

No direction stated.

As told in 2024 about 0:10:43

Unemployment rate

"2.8%"

Comparison: "way low". Direction: below.

As told in 2024 about 0:11:31

Median household income

"$81,850 a year"

Comparison: "about $12,000 more than the national average". Direction: above.

As told in 2024 about 0:11:40

Cost of living

"117"

Comparison: "100 is regular". Direction: above.

As told in 2024 about 0:11:57

Median home cost

"$507,400"

No direction stated.

As told in 2024 about 0:12:08

Average two-bedroom rent

"$1,270"

Comparison: "near the national average". No direction stated.

As told in 2024 about 0:12:49

Four bedroom, two bath home of 2,406 square feet

"$449,900"

Comparison: "least expensive single family home in the area". No direction stated.

As told in 2024 about 0:13:32

Four bedroom, four bath home of 5,235 square feet

"$850,000"

No direction stated.

As told in 2024 about 0:14:08

Twelve bedroom, eight bath home of 5,200 square feet

"$1,295,000"

No direction stated.

As told in 2024 about 0:15:07

Property crime

"less than half"

Comparison: "national average". Direction: below.

As told in 2024 about 0:19:39

Violent crime

"about one-third"

Comparison: "national average". Direction: below.

As told in 2024 about 0:19:46

The reviews

2.8 / 5 · average of 5

5 stars

“The community has a tight bond like nothing the reviewer has seen; everyone is kind and willing to help, and there are lots of LDS people.”
about 0:07:59

“It used to be an orchard town before most of the trees were pushed over; the only bummer is the bumpy roads and the outdoor pool, and it is one of the safest places in the USA.”
about 0:08:23

3 stars

“Not the reviewer's ideal place to live, but it works for now.”
about 0:09:09

2 stars

“Probably the reviewer's least favourite place they have ever lived.”
about 0:09:14

2 stars

“Extremely religious and exclusive if you are not a Mormon; cold, with trash air.”
about 0:09:26

2 stars

“The reviewer cannot think of anywhere in Pleasant Grove to go and says you have to leave town for that.”
about 0:09:47

In Utah

Closest episodes

  1. Starting Your Own Religion Can Be TrickyAmerican Fork, Utah · 9 April 20205 km / 3 miShow on map
  2. The Lego MurdersHolladay, Utah · 17 September 202033 km / 21 miShow on map
  3. Murder Mystery Gone WildPayson, Utah · 31 July 202537 km / 23 miShow on map
  4. Master Of DeceitSouth Salt Lake, Utah · 3 January 202639 km / 24 miShow on map
  5. The Bad SeedEureka, Utah · 24 June 202356 km / 35 miShow on map

The story

His parents fought violently, often when drunk, and divorced when he was small. Albert moved to Long Beach, California, leaving Lillian with six children in a tiny Camden apartment where she turned to prostitution to support them.

He was diagnosed with bipolar disorder and became fascinated by psychology. In 1973, at 17, he joined the military after lying about his age. Two years later he was discharged at 19 as a latent schizophrenic who heard voices urging him to kill, and he began drawing veterans and Social Security benefits. In 1977, after watching a 60 Minutes report on cheque forgers, he stole an identity, opened a bank account and spent $35,000 at 14 stores over the Labor Day weekend.

In late 1977 he met Michelle Somers at a Mormon singles event in California. Michelle was born in 1957, grew up in Concord, California, was a straight-A student, a violinist and Miss Concord 1976, and was a devout Mormon. On Halloween 1977 he told her he felt something had happened to his father; the next day he found his father dead in Long Beach.

After his release they lived in West Hollywood and had four children: Rachel in 1979, Vanessa in 1981, Alexis in 1982 and Damien in 1985. He was licensed as an osteopathic physician in Utah in 1987. The family settled in Salem, Utah, in 1993. He worked at hospitals and clinics, including the BYU Health Center, where he had an affair with a 42-year-old patient in 1996. In 1998 he resigned from the health centre amid complaints of unprofessional conduct, misdiagnosis and rape.

In August 2000, after Michelle caught him looking at pornography, he threatened her and himself with a knife; their son Damien tackled him and he spent a night on a psychiatric hold in Provo. That year he was appointed medical director of the American Fork Training School. He had affairs with patients, women from church and vulnerable single mothers. In 2003 the couple adopted Noel, Giselle and L from a Ukrainian orphanage; Noel was sent to a treatment facility in Michigan and the adoption was dissolved, and in 2004 they adopted Sabrina.

He told her that at eight, in 1964, he had put pills into a beer and given it to his mother, who stopped breathing and was revived; that he had drowned his brother Rufus in the bath in 1986; and that he had killed patients with potassium injections and morphine. He claimed to have written the anonymous 1988 Journal of the American Medical Association article 'It's Over Debbie'. In November 2005 he began an affair with Gypsy Willis.

In March 2007 Michelle told their daughter Alexis she thought he was having an affair and identified Gypsy from his phone records. The surgery took place on 3 April 2007. He directed the surgeon to prescribe oxycodone, liquid Lortab, Phenergan suppositories and Valium, and after the operation he controlled her medication. Alexis kept a log of every pill. On 10 April Michelle was able to walk and care for herself. He then attended an award ceremony at work, where he insisted on being photographed, and picked up six-year-old Ada at 11.30. At home Ada found Michelle lying in the bath in her clothes. A neighbour helped him lift Michelle out; paramedics and police worked on her, and she was pronounced dead at hospital.

The first medical examiner ruled the death natural, from myocarditis and chronic hypertension, and noted a cocktail of Ambien, oxycodone and Phenergan in her blood. Alexis told police her mother had warned her that if anything happened to her, Alexis should make sure it was not her father.

Gypsy Willis attended the funeral and moved into the house as nanny nine days later. In July Giselle was sent to Ukraine, and her birth date was later found to have been changed by 20 years so that Gypsy could use her identity. The case was reopened.

The medical examiner changed the manner of death to undetermined and the cause to heart disease combined with drug toxicity.

The case

Murder of Michelle McNeil

Victims

Michelle McNeil (50). wife, a former Miss Concord 1976 and mother of eight

Accused and outcomes

As told in the episode, on 26 September 2024.

Accused

Outcome

Other people

Alexis McNeil. daughter and medical student who cared for Michelle and testified against her father
Ada. six-year-old adopted granddaughter who found Michelle in the bath
Linda. Michelle's sister, who wrote to the governor asking for an investigation
Gypsy Willis. mistress and co-defendant who moved in as the nanny and later testified
Rachel McNeil. oldest daughter
Vanessa McNeil. daughter, Ada's biological mother and a heroin addict
Giselle. adopted daughter from Ukraine
Sabrina. adopted daughter from Ukraine
L.. adopted daughter from Ukraine
Noel. adopted daughter from Ukraine, sent to a Michigan facility and made a ward of the state
Dr Todd Gray. Utah State Chief Medical Examiner
Karen. patient and mistress at the BYU Health Center in 1996
Helen. Michelle's mother, who investigated before the marriage

The timeline

  1. February 1st, 1956 is born in Camden, New Jersey, one of six childrenabout 0:33:19
  2. 1957 Michelle Somers is born and grows up in Concord, Californiaabout 0:51:34
  3. 1964 At eight, puts pills into a beer and gives it to his sleeping mother; she stops breathing but is revived (Lillian McNeil's apartment)about 1:35:15
  4. 1973 joins the military at 17, lying that he is 18about 0:40:52
  5. 1975 He is discharged from the army at 19 as a latent schizophrenicabout 0:42:04
  6. late 1977 He meets Michelle Somers at a Mormon singles event in Californiaabout 0:56:02
  7. October 31st, 1977 At a play tells Michelle he feels something has happened to his fatherabout 0:59:17
  8. November 1st, 1977 He finds his father dead at his Long Beach home; the death is ruled natural and he collects insurance (Albert McNeil Sr's house)about 0:59:30
  9. February 21st, 1978 and Michelle elopeabout 1:04:04
  10. 1979 to 1985 The couple have Rachel, Vanessa, Alexis and Damienabout 1:05:37
  11. 1983 He graduates from medical school and is licensed as an osteopathic surgeon in California (College of Osteopathic Medicine of the Pacific)about 1:07:58
  12. 1987 The family moves to Utah and he is licensed as an osteopathic physicianabout 1:08:26
  13. 1993 The family settles in Salem, Utah, in a 4,000 square foot home (McNeil home in Salem)about 1:12:02
  14. 1996 He has an affair with a 42-year-old recently divorced patient at the BYU Health Center (BYU Health Center)about 1:21:29
  15. 1998 He resigns from the BYU Health Center amid complaints of unprofessional conduct, misdiagnosis and rape (BYU Health Center)about 1:12:25
  16. August 2000 After Michelle catches him looking at pornography, he threatens her and himself with a knife; Damien tackles him and he is placed on a psychiatric hold (McNeil home in Salem)about 1:16:19
  17. 2000 He is appointed medical director of the American Fork Training School (American Fork Training School)about 1:13:06
  18. 2003 The family adopts Noel, Giselle and L from a Ukrainian orphanageabout 1:27:38
  19. 2004 Noel is sent to a treatment facility in Michigan and the adoption is dissolved; the family adopts Sabrinaabout 1:28:44
  20. 2005 has a six-month affair with Anna Osborne Walthal and tells her he killed his mother, his brother and patients (Sona Medspot)about 1:33:05
  21. November 2005 He begins an affair with Gypsy Willis after meeting her onlineabout 1:43:16
  22. March 2007 Michelle tells Alexis she thinks is having an affair and identifies Gypsy from his phone recordsabout 1:45:53
  23. March 2007 The couple consult a plastic surgeon and schedule a comprehensive faceliftabout 1:48:33
  24. April 3rd, 2007 Michelle has the facelift; directs her pain and anti-nausea prescriptionsabout 1:53:46
  25. April 10th, 2007 Michelle is able to walk and care for herself as the bandages come off (McNeil house)about 1:56:26
  26. April 11th, 2007 takes the girls to school, receives an award, picks Ada up at 11.30 and reports finding Michelle in the tub; she is pronounced dead at hospital (McNeil house)about 1:57:06

Murder of Rufus Roy McNeil

Victims

Rufus Roy McNeil. older brother, a heroin addict

Accused and outcomes

As told in the episode, on 26 September 2024.

Accused

Outcome

Other people

Anna Osborne Walthal. mistress, to whom he admitted drowning Rufus

The timeline

  1. Rufus Roy McNeil becomes a heroin addict, marries and has childrenabout 0:37:26
  2. While is visiting New Jersey, Rufus calls him saying he has hurt himself and wants to die (Lillian McNeil's apartment)about 1:37:16
  3. April 3rd, 1986 finds Rufus unconscious in the bath with superficial cuts to his wrists and holds his head under the water until he stops struggling (Lillian McNeil's apartment)about 1:37:31
  4. April 3rd, 1986 Rufus is found dead of an apparent drug overdose in their mother's bathroom; no investigation follows (Lillian McNeil's apartment)about 0:37:31

Places and phrases

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Static locations; no street basemap. Places and details. OpenFreeMap © OpenMapTiles Data from OpenStreetMap.

Places in the story

Public places are marked on the map.

College of Osteopathic Medicine of the Pacific

school

about 1:07:03

Heard in this episode