Ep 3. Social Media

In Snapped season 15 episode 3, titled "Social Media", viewers are provided a glimpse into the life of Erica Sifrit - a former beauty pageant queen and her husband Benjamin Sifrit - a former marine. The couple was charged for the murder of two tourists, Joshua Ford and Martha Crutchley, in Ocean City, Maryland. The gruesome case grabbed national headlines in 2002 and was followed extensively by the media.

Erica and Benjamin looked like the perfect couple on the exterior. Erica was a beauty pageant queen, who won the title of Miss Fort Washington in Maryland, and Benjamin was a former marine and a fitness enthusiast. They first met at a popular Baltimore bar called The Bank in the summer of 2000 and started dating shortly after. They shared common interests and enjoyed partying and soaking in the nightlife of Maryland.

Erica and Benjamin started a social group called 'The Pirates', which included other couples who enjoyed partying and socializing. They became a fixture in Maryland's social scene and were often seen at local bars and beaches.

However, things took a dark turn for the couple in 2002. Erica and Benjamin were in Ocean City, Maryland, for a 'Pirate Mates' reunion event when they met Joshua Ford and Martha Crutchley - two tourists from Virginia. Erica invited the couple to join them for a night of partying. The group went to Seacrets, a popular bar/restaurant in Ocean City, and then back to the Sifrit's condo.

The next day, Joshua and Martha were reported missing by their families. The Sifrits were initially suspected of their disappearance, but they denied any involvement. The couple had left for a cruise to the Caribbean, only to be tracked down by the authorities midway through their trip.

During the investigation, the police found bloodstains in the Sifrit's car and their Ocean City condo. Erica and Benjamin were subsequently charged with the murders of Joshua and Martha. DNA testing confirmed that the blood found in the car and condo belonged to the tourists.

The trial turned out to be highly publicized with the media following every detail of the case. The prosecution alleged that the murders were premeditated and that Erica and Benjamin had planned to rob the tourists. The Sifrits, however, maintained that Joshua and Martha had overdosed on drugs and that they had panicked and disposed of their bodies.

The jury found Erica and Benjamin guilty of murder in the first degree. Erica was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole, and Benjamin was sentenced to life with the possibility of parole after serving 38 years.

The episode "Social Media" provides insights into the couple's past, revealing their social lives, marriage, and eventual downfall. Interviews with friends, eyewitnesses, investigators, and lawyers help to piece together the events leading up to the murders.

The episode also delves into the role of social media in the investigation and the trial. Erica and Benjamin's social media profiles and emails were scoured for information that could help the police establish a motive. The prosecution also used Erica's social media activity to establish her mental state and her tendency towards violence.

Overall, Snapped season 15 episode 3 "Social Media" is a gripping account of a couple who appeared to have it all, but their desire for excitement and their penchant for violence proved to be their undoing. The episode sheds light on the darker side of social media and the crucial role it can play in criminal investigations.