Ep 10. Man Eater

In Ice Cold Blood season 2 episode 10, titled "Man Eater," takes viewers on a journey into the case of a woman who is convicted of killing her husband and attempting to murder her daughter. The episode explores the investigation, trial, and aftermath of the gruesome crime.

The episode begins with a flashback to the night of the murder when firefighters respond to a house fire in a quiet Pennsylvania town and find a man dead in the basement. The victim is identified as Bill McGuire, a well-liked local businessman. Investigators soon discover evidence that indicates that the fire was set intentionally, and Bill was not killed by the blaze, but rather by a bullet to the head.

The prime suspect in the murder is Bill's wife, Mary Jane McGuire, a 58-year-old woman who was married to Bill for 40 years. Mary Jane initially tells investigators that she was asleep in bed when the fire started, but soon her story begins to unravel. Forensic evidence shows that someone had doused the basement with gasoline, and a second bullet hole is found in the wall, leading investigators to believe that Mary Jane had tried to kill her daughter, who slept in the room next to the basement.

As the investigation unfolds, details about Mary Jane's past begin to emerge. She had a history of mental illness and had been diagnosed with bipolar disorder. She had also been addicted to prescription painkillers for years. She had been in and out of treatment centers multiple times, and family members say that they had recently grown concerned about her erratic behavior.

During the investigation, Mary Jane's daughter, who survived the murder attempt, tells police that her mother had become increasingly agitated and erratic in the weeks leading up to the murder. She said that her mother had become convinced that her husband was having an affair, and had threatened to kill him.

Mary Jane is eventually arrested and charged with murder and attempted murder. The trial that follows is filled with dramatic testimony and emotional moments. Prosecutors argue that Mary Jane planned and executed the murder in cold blood, while her defense team claims that she was not in a stable mental state at the time of the crime.

Ultimately, the jury finds Mary Jane guilty of first-degree murder and attempted murder. She is sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.

In the aftermath of the trial, family members of the McGuire family are left to try to make sense of what happened. They struggle to reconcile the woman they knew with the woman who committed such a heinous crime. The episode ends with a reflection on the tragedy and the emotional cost of the crime, both for those involved and those who were touched by it.

Overall, "Man Eater" is a gripping episode that explores a tragic crime and the complex emotional aftermath. It is a must-see for anyone interested in true crime and the human stories behind it.