Ep 16. Cynthia Phillips

Cynthia Phillips was a marriage counselor and mother of four in the small town of Farmer City, Illinois. She and her husband, Frank, were well-respected members of the community and active in their church.

But behind closed doors, Cynthia was dealing with her own personal demons. She had been struggling with alcoholism and prescription drug abuse for years, and her husband had recently filed for divorce, citing her addiction as the main reason.

On the night of June 5, 2011, Cynthia came home after a night of heavy drinking and prescription drug use. Her estranged husband, Frank, was at the house to pick up their children for a visitation. Cynthia became enraged and attacked him with a hammer, hitting him repeatedly in the head and leaving him for dead in the front yard.

When police arrived on the scene, Cynthia initially claimed that Frank had attacked her and she had acted in self-defense. But evidence quickly pointed to the fact that she had been the aggressor. She was arrested and charged with first-degree murder.

In court, Cynthia's defense team argued that her addiction had clouded her judgment and led to a moment of temporary insanity. They also pointed to alleged abuse from Frank as a motivator for the attack. However, the prosecution argued that Cynthia's actions were premeditated and that she had intentionally planned to kill her husband.

After a lengthy trial, the jury found Cynthia guilty of first-degree murder. She was sentenced to 40 years in prison.

The episode explores the complex and tragic story of Cynthia Phillips, delving into the factors that led to her addiction and ultimate downfall. It also examines the legal proceedings that followed and the impact that Cynthia's actions had on her family and community.