Digest

The podcast delves into the investigation of the murder of Phyllis New, found dead in her home. Her husband, Bill New, reported her death after returning from getting medication for her. However, inconsistencies in Bill's story and the crime scene evidence raise suspicions. Detective Pat Gardner investigates the crime scene and finds that the time of death doesn't align with Bill's timeline, and the jewelry box in the house was only partially disturbed, suggesting a targeted crime. Bill's first interview reveals vague and inconsistent details about his whereabouts on the night of Phyllis's death. A neighbor, Carol Espinoza, reveals that Phyllis had confronted Bill about his lies regarding his employment, further contradicting his initial statements. During a second interview, detectives confront Bill with the inconsistencies in his story and the neighbor's testimony. The investigation then turns to Bill's past, where a friend of Phyllis reveals that Bill's first wife, Sonsri, died in an alleged accidental shooting. Detectives uncover evidence that Sonsri died from a gunshot wound, and Bill eventually admits to the shooting, claiming it was accidental. However, Detective Gardner presents evidence from the crime scene photos that suggest the shooting was not accidental. The San Bernardino Police Department investigates the death of Sonsri, uncovering old crime scene photos that reveal inconsistencies with Bill's account of the shooting. Striking similarities between the deaths of both wives, both shot in the back of the head while sleeping, suggest a pattern of behavior. A ballistics expert, Dr. Vincent Demile, analyzes the evidence from the accidental shooting of Sonsri and finds inconsistencies in Bill's account. The investigation reveals that Bill stood to gain financially from the deaths of both his wives, collecting life insurance money after both deaths. Bill New is eventually charged with the murders of both his wives and found guilty.

Outlines

00:00:00

The Case of Phyllis New

The podcast introduces the case of Phyllis New, who was found murdered in her home in San T. California. Her husband, Bill New, reported her death after returning home from getting medication for her. The investigation begins with inconsistencies in Bill's story and the crime scene evidence.

00:00:53

Investigating Bill New's Story

Detective Pat Gardner investigates the crime scene and finds inconsistencies in Bill New's story. The time of death doesn't align with Bill's timeline, and the jewelry box in the house was only partially disturbed, suggesting a targeted crime rather than a random burglary. Bill's first interview reveals vague and inconsistent details about his whereabouts on the night of Phyllis's death.

00:10:18

Bill New's Past and the Accidental Shooting

The investigation turns to Bill's past, where a friend of Phyllis reveals that Bill's first wife, Sonsri, died in an alleged accidental shooting. Detectives uncover evidence that Sonsri died from a gunshot wound, and Bill eventually admits to the shooting, claiming it was accidental. However, Detective Gardner presents evidence from the crime scene photos that suggest the shooting was not accidental. The investigation reveals that Bill stood to gain financially from the deaths of both his wives, collecting life insurance money after both deaths.

00:23:07

Bill New's Motive and the Trial

Bill New is eventually charged with the murders of both his wives and found guilty.

Keywords

Q&A

• What inconsistencies were found in Bill New's initial account of the night of Phyllis's death?

  Bill's timeline of events didn't match the time of death determined by the medical examiner. Additionally, the jewelry box in the house was only partially disturbed, suggesting a targeted crime rather than a random burglary.

• What evidence led detectives to suspect Bill New in the murder of his first wife, Sonsri?

  A friend of Phyllis revealed that Phyllis had told her about Bill's first wife dying in an alleged accidental shooting. This information, combined with Bill's inconsistent statements about the incident, led detectives to investigate further.

• How did the crime scene photos from the death of Sonsri New help detectives determine that the shooting was not accidental?

  The photos showed that the blood spatter pattern was inconsistent with the trajectory of the bullet, suggesting that Sonsri was not shot from a distance as Bill claimed. The blood spatter pattern indicated a contact wound, meaning the gun was pressed against her head when it was fired.

• What was Bill New's motive for killing both of his wives?

  Bill New stood to gain financially from the deaths of both his wives. He collected life insurance money after both deaths, suggesting a possible financial motive for the murders.

Show Notes