Married to Death with Erin Moriarty 48 Hours

In May of 2017, then 68-year-old Raynella Leath went on trial for the third time for the murder of her second husband, David Leath, in a Knox County, Tennessee courtroom. She has always claimed David committed suicide. How did Raynella Leath, who had been amongst the elites of Knoxville as a hospital nursing director and wife of a county District Attorney General, end up here? Join 48 Hours’ correspondent Erin Moriarty as she revisits the murder investigation of Raynella Leath.

Hear more of the audio tapes from on-site investigators, recorded just hours after David Leath’s death in 2003. David’s daughter, Cindy Wilkerson, and her cousin Beth Roberts, recount and share their suspicions about what happened the day he died. And, Raynella Leath’s defense attorneys are concerned about the narratives blaming their client that have been simmering for more than ten years. Raynella has always denied any involvement in David’s death. Join 48 Hours’ correspondent Erin Moriarty as she revisits the murder investigation of Raynella Leath.

Jurors are chosen and the prosecution begins its case against Raynella Leath for the murder of her second husband, David Leath. District Attorney General Stephen Crump heads the prosecution team and looks to establish that this was a murder, not a suicide, despite there not being a clear motive. He focuses on two key pieces of evidence: the gun used to shoot David and the blood spatter found on the headboard of his bed. Two experts are also brought in to reinforce the prosecution’s narrative. Join 48 Hours’ correspondent Erin Moriarty as she revisits the murder investigation of Raynella Leath.

Raynella Leath’s defense attorneys Josh Hedrick and Rebecca LeGrand paint David Leath as a man in decline, introducing medical records and anecdotal evidence to provide a motive for his alleged suicide. They attempt to chip away at the prosecution’s arguments, using the same evidence to construct a different story of what happened the night David Leath died. The defense also brings its own medical expert, who introduces a key idea: the difference between the concepts of being innocent and not guilty. Join 48 Hours’ correspondent Erin Moriarty as she revisits the murder investigation of Raynella Leath.

Josh Hedrick and Rebecca LeGrand present their final arguments to the jury. They bring in a bed with the actual bloody sheets from the crime scene for a dramatic reenactment. Prosecutor Stephen Crump reiterates his argument that the blood spatter present at the crime scene is not possible unless someone else shot David Leath. Amidst this back-and-forth, we sat down with Stephen Walker, who claims Raynella Leath tried to kill him years ago, a claim Raynella denies. And none of Walker’s claims are allowed in court. Join 48 Hours’ correspondent Erin Moriarty as she revisits the murder investigation of Raynella Leath.

Senior Judge Paul Summers makes an extraordinary move that no one sees coming. Shortly after, Summers sits down with us to explain the rationale for his decision. Several jurors also discuss their perspective on the trial and how it all ended. Join 48 Hours’ correspondent Erin Moriarty as she revisits the murder investigation of Raynella Leath.