Ep 8. Joanna Findlay

Joanna Findlay seems to have it all – a great husband, a thriving business, and a beautiful home. But beneath her perfect exterior lies a dark secret that drives her to commit a heinous crime.

In this episode of Snapped, we follow the story of Joanna Findlay, who seemingly had everything going for her. She had a successful business as the owner and operator of an Atlanta-area spa. She was married to a loving and supportive husband, Troy, and they were building their dream home in the suburbs. But little did anyone know that beneath the surface, Joanna was struggling with deep-seated issues that would eventually lead her down a path of destruction.

Joanna had a history of mental illness, including bipolar disorder and depression, which had led her to seek treatment in the past. But despite her efforts to manage her condition, she continued to battle with her inner demons. Her business was struggling, and she was under immense pressure to keep it afloat. Her marriage was also on the rocks, with Troy feeling neglected and unloved.

One fateful night in January 2010, Joanna's inner turmoil came to a head. She and Troy had been out for the evening but got into a heated argument on the ride home. When they arrived at their new house, Troy stormed off to bed, leaving Joanna alone with her thoughts. In a fit of rage, she reached for a pair of scissors and stabbed Troy multiple times, then left him to bleed out on the bedroom floor.

When Joanna realized what she had done, she panicked and tried to cover up the crime. She placed the scissors and other evidence in a plastic bag, which she stashed in her car, and then called the police, claiming that she had found Troy dead when she arrived home. But the evidence soon began to mount against her, and it became clear that she had been the one to commit the murder.

In the ensuing investigation and trial, Joanna's mental health became a central focus. Her defense team argued that she had been driven to murder by her mental illness and the pressure she was under, while the prosecution painted her as a cold-blooded killer who had planned the crime in advance. The jury ultimately decided that she was guilty of first-degree murder, and she was sentenced to life in prison with the possibility of parole after 30 years.

Snapped season 12 episode 8 takes a deep dive into Joanna's story, exploring the factors that led up to her violent outburst and the aftermath of her crime. Through interviews with those who knew her, as well as law enforcement officials and legal experts, we get a close look at the complex issues surrounding mental illness and its impact on criminal behavior. The episode is a chilling reminder of the fragile nature of the human psyche and the dangers that can arise when mental health is not taken seriously.