Ep 4. Marissa Devault

Marissa Devault was a woman with a complicated romantic life. She was a wife, mother, and a financial advisor who lived in Arizona. In 2009, she claimed that she had been attacked by an intruder in the middle of the night while her husband, Dale Harrell, was out of town. However, the police investigation turned up some surprising evidence that completely contradicted her story.

The detectives found out that Marissa had, in fact, bludgeoned her husband to death with a hammer. She had hit him at least 18 times, which resulted in his eventual death. When asked about her actions, Marissa told the investigators that Dale had been abusive towards her. She claimed that his verbal abuse had turned physical on several occasions, and she was forced to defend herself and her children.

However, as the trial began, more details about Marissa's life and her relationship with Dale came to light. It was discovered that Marissa had actually been in a relationship with another man, Allen Flores. Dale had found out about the relationship, and this had led to some serious conflicts between the couple. Marissa was also in serious debt, which led her to concoct a plan to kill her husband in order to secure his life insurance payout.

With all these new details coming to light, the prosecutors argued that Marissa had planned the murder and committed it in a cold and calculated manner. They brought in several witnesses who testified that Marissa had tried to hire them to kill Dale, but none of them had gone through with it. The defense tried to argue that Marissa had acted in self-defense, but this argument was quickly dismissed by the judge.

The trial lasted for months, and it was one of the most high-profile cases in Arizona at the time. Marissa's defense team and the prosecution argued back and forth, presenting evidence and testimony from witnesses, experts, and family members. The case dragged on, and eventually, Marissa was found guilty of killing her husband.

The episode focuses on the events leading up to the murder, the trial, and Marissa's ultimate conviction. The show interviews various individuals involved in the case, including Marissa's family members, detectives, prosecutors, and defense attorneys. It also provides background information on Marissa's life and her relationship with her husband, including her struggles with debt and her affair with Allen Flores.

Overall, the episode provides a comprehensive look at one of the most intriguing and complex murder cases in Arizona history.