Ep 9. Murder in the Mansion

In the ABC 20/20 season 41 episode 9 "Murder in the Mansion," viewers are taken on a journey through the gruesome and shocking murder case of millionaire couple Susan and Jerry McFalls. The couple was found murdered in their mansion in Maryland, and the case shook the local community to its core.

The episode starts with a brief introduction of the couple, their lifestyle, and their journey to success. Susan and Jerry were well-liked by their neighbors and acquaintances, and no one had any reason to suspect that something sinister was about to happen.

However, on the afternoon of November 18, 2018, police received a call from an employee of the McFalls family, who informed them that something was wrong at the couple's mansion. When police arrived at the scene, they found both Susan and Jerry dead, with signs of struggle and violence apparent in the room. The couple appeared to have been bludgeoned to death, and there were no signs of forced entry.

The episode then delves into the investigation of the case, which became complicated and baffling as it progressed. The police had to face several challenges, including a lack of forensic evidence and viable suspects. The case entered a state of stagnation as leads ran dry and the investigation hit dead ends.

However, things took an interesting turn when the police received a tip from a group of inmates about a man who was bragging about his involvement in the McFalls' murder. The inmate claimed that the man, who was identified as Daniel Beckwitt, had hired him to dig tunnels underneath the couple's mansion, allegedly for a "doomsday bunker" project that Beckwitt was obsessed with.

The episode then dives deeper into Beckwitt's background and personality, revealing a complicated and eccentric character who had been living a double life. Beckwitt was a millionaire investor who had made his fortune by taking advantage of loopholes in the stock market, but he also had a reputation for being a secretive and paranoid individual.

As further evidence started pouring in, the pieces of the puzzle started to come together. The police discovered that Beckwitt had a history of hiring people to dig tunnels for him, and he had once been arrested for digging an 80-feet-deep hole beneath a home in Maryland. They also found that Beckwitt had created an elaborate security system in his Bethesda, Maryland home, including booby traps and secret tunnels.

The episode then explores how Beckwitt's obsession with secrecy and paranoia might have led to the McFalls' murders. The police believed that Beckwitt had hired a team of illegal immigrants to dig tunnels underneath the McFalls' mansion without any regard for their safety. When a fire broke out in the tunnels, he had told them to keep digging instead of evacuating, which led to the deaths of both Susan and Jerry McFalls.

The episode concludes with the trial of Daniel Beckwitt, which was highly publicized and drew a lot of media attention. He was charged with two counts of second-degree murder and manslaughter, and the testimonies of witnesses and evidence presented in the trial were shocking and heart-wrenching. Ultimately, Beckwitt was found guilty of the charges against him and was given a life sentence for his involvement in the McFalls' murders.

Overall, the ABC 20/20 season 41 episode 9 "Murder in the Mansion" is a riveting and thought-provoking episode that explores the complexities and nuances of an infamous murder case. It is sure to capture the attention of true-crime enthusiasts and fans of investigative journalism.