Audrey Marie Hilley, who had received a three-day pass from prison to visit her second husband at a hotel, was muddy and incoherent when she was found Thursday on a porch in a rural area. Despite Franks well-paying job and Maries secretarial employment, they had little money in savings. After that, Carol Hilley would not be completely well again for a long, long time. Frank died from Arsenic poisoning at age 46. Man arrested after explosive device found in his luggage at Pennsylvania airport, NASA's SpaceX Crew-6 Mission successfully launches for Int'l Space Station, DNA from rape kit leads to arrest in 1979 cold case, Chicago police officer killed in gunfight with suspect. Nonetheless, the Hilleys' greatest challenge was still their ever-increasing debt. It . Despite being the sole income earner of her home now, Marie continued to spend with wild abandon. Robbihad moved to the areafrom Fort Lauderdale, Floridawith her husband,John Homan,in 1980. A note found in her hotel room said she was kidnapped and told herattorneynot to follow her. After running her name through an FBI database, authorities realized they were dealing with a murderer, andMarie wassubsequently extradited back to Alabama. Carol testified at her mothers trial in 1983. Engineers break Guinness World Record with 289-foot paper airplane flight. Audrey Marie Hilley cashes in on a lucrative life insurance policy, which she spends fast. Robbi often talked with coworkers about her life in Texas with her twin sister, Teri. The couple moved to New Hampshire the next year. The girl had become a hypochondriac, complaining every day about small tummy aches and such. Hilley was born in 1933 in Anniston, Ala. She would eventually be convicted of killing her first husband, Frank Hilley, and attempting to kill her daughter, Carol, with poison. This week the team at Snapped examines the case of devious criminal Marie Hilley, who murdered her first husband, poisoned her daughter, and stole someone's identity while managing to evade the authorities for years. Who Was the Mastermind in Frank Arroyos Murder? Carol Hilley first became ill in April, 1979. Mike and Teri wanted to be out on their own and soon found an apartment. Any investigator worth his salt would like to get his answers. The second time it happened, they knew it was a lie. What makes her case extraordinary is how she managed to elude arrest for three years while on the run . Around then, Frank also learned that his wife was cheating on him with her boss. I am hopeful we'll gather some information that will tell us at least what she was doing in that part of the county.'. Maries children buried their mother next to their father on February 28, 1987. Bob Field said today. Even though Marie told the police her last name was Sellers and that she had walked to the home after her car broke down, they quickly identified her as escaped prisoner Marie Hilley. Marie Hilley. After her release on November 11, 1979, she went to a local hotel, claiming she feared retaliation by Franks family. Hilley was arrested and charged with murder, but she skipped bond and disappeared for four years, until lawmen stumbled onto her in New England. March 1 (UPI) -- Officials at Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium confirmed a cheetah briefly escaped from its enclosure, but was behind a public barrier at all times. Carol was tomboyish, enjoying football and roughhousing, much to Maries dismay; which she blamed on the extremely close relationship between Carol and her father. He wasn't ready to leave his wife quite yet, though. Her spending continued at a dangerous pace, and she even ran up $600 worth of debt on Mikes Visa, promising to reimburse him later. Dominic Whitaker and Kayla Nelson had been childhood sweethearts from Arkansas who had appeared to have a bright future ahead of them. In 1979 doctors finally tested Carol for arsenic poisoning and found she had 50 times the normal arsenic level in her body. It was the first in a series of shocking twists that exposed Marie Hilley as a cold-blooded chameleon capable of the most sinister of crimes. When Martinplaced an obituary for her sister in the local newspaper withinformationabout her death, investigatorsattempted tocorroboratethedetailsnone ofwhichweretrue. Sisters, Freeda and Jewel, Two children, Michael, and Carol. Franks family members then realized that Audrey had given him injections when he was sick, something she was doing with her daughter as well. They were determined to find the answers to their questions. "They kept saying that it was in my head," Carol said. Found the resolution to each, I know who really killed Chanin, her husband did not, I have so many questions about this story. He sent a detailed letter to the Calhoun County coroner and District Attorney. But Marie also insured the lives of her childrenMike was insured for $25,000, while Carol, through two policies, was insured for $39,000. Marie finished her letter by claiming she was fleeing to Canada with a man named Walter. Meanwhile, Marie had been buying insurance. 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In Victorian London, Mary Emsley was so universally disliked that the list of those who had a reason to kill her was very long. It was then Frank understood where Marie got the extra money she spent. 1991:Wife, Mother, Murderer,the true-story movie based on the case, debuts on ABC. Audrey Marie Frazier was born on June 4, 1933, in Blue Mountain, Alabama. Podcasts Podcast: Bloody Murder - The Sickness Follows. Although Frank was sick and growing worse everyday, he couldnt afford to miss work. Audrey Marie Hilley was indicted by the grand jury of Calhoun County in October of 1979 for the attempted murder by poisoning of her daughter, Carol Hilley. Poisonous: Audrey Marie Hilley 20,581 views Aug 28, 2018 Audrey Marie Hilley killed her husband, Frank, in 1975, and attempted to kill her daughter, Carol, three years later. Doctors misdiagnosed the cause of Carols illness several times before discovering arsenic in her system. Despite being in the Deep South, the weather was terrible, with frequent rain andlowtemperatures. Calhoun County District Attorney Joe Hubbard tried her case and labled her with the deadly moniker 'Black Widow.' Hilley, who was given the nickname 'Black Widow' for the arsenic poisoning of her husband and attempted poisoning of her daughter, led police on a four-day search, before turning up in their backyard suffering from hypothermia. In May 1975, 45-year-old Frank Hilley began experiencing severe nausea, vomiting and stomach cramps in his home in Anniston, Alabama. In June 1983, Audrey was convicted of Franks murder and Carols attempted murder in Anniston. She always dressed well and wanted to be seen and known for having expensive things and a lavish lifestyle. Her life and killing spree are the subjects of the 1991 television movie "Wife, Mother, Murderer." . Martin moved in with John and quickly settled into life in New Hampshire. She was struggling to pay the necessary bills, which she hoped would change when she invited Mike and his wife, Teri, to move in with her and Carol when Mike accepted a job at a nearby church. Like her father, however, Carols illness continued to progress rapidly. She was sentenced to life in prison for Franks murder and an additional 20 years for the poisoning of Carol. Powered by WordPress.com VIP. Profile: Audrey Marie Hilley Find-A-Grave: Audrey Marie Hilley. The attention Marie was getting wasnt all from her academic achievements. After an exhumation of Frank Hilleys body, a test result confirms the husband was given arsenic. She didnt know, however, that her former coworkers believed the woman who introduced herself was actually Robbi. Two dogs rescued after falling through ice on Colorado lake. She received a life sentence for the murder of her husbandand an additional twenty years for the attempted murder of her daughter. Audrey Marie Hilley was indicted by the grand jury of Calhoun County in October of 1979 for the attempted murder by poisoning of her daughter, Carol Hilley. She told John that Robbi had died. First,shemurdered her husband andalmost got away with it untilshetried to kill herdaughter. 'As far as closed, it more or less closed itself,' Snead said. Marie's mother Lucille Frazier died in 1977 and her death seemed to spark a whole string of mind-boggling events. She was sentenced to life in prison for the death of Frank Hilley, plus twenty years for the attempted murder of her daughter, Carol. The move made Marie Hilley happy because she wanted to elevate their status in life and impress the neighbors. Her cause of death was ruled as hypothermia. On returning home she discovered that her grandmother, Carrie Hilley, was in the hospital after fainting at church. Sheevenvisited the company where Robbi had worked, telling hermanager andco-workers thatRobbihad died. On February 19, 1987, Marie left on one of those passes and never returned. Former Prosecutor Analyzes Kenneth and Judith Nix Case, Bill Beattys Co-Worker Breaks Down the Day of His Disappearance, Investigators Discover Twisted Truth Behind Bill Beattys Disappearance. Instead,she made a run for it. Carol Falls Ill Meanwhile, Marie had been buying insurance. Polish basketball player breaks slam dunk world record. There, she faked a kidnapping, stole her uncle and aunts car, and took off. He married Marie Frazier in May 1951, while on leave from the Navy. Three years later, her only daughter Carol began exhibiting similar symptoms. Only when her husband, Frank, became sick with a mysterious illness, did it seem . After spending the night in a hotel, Carol was admitted to neither of those hospitals but to the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) hospital instead. In May 1951, while Frank was home on leave, he and Marie were wedjust days before the brides 18th birthday. Wilshire Court Productions produced the movie and filmed it in Atlanta, Georgia. and a hairdryer. Detectives learned that Marie had recently taken out a $25,000 life insurance policy out onCarol, which designated her as the beneficiary, according tocourt documents. Is anyone feeling that the mom has strong narcissistic vibes, I worked on both cases. Inthe summer of1982, Robbi said she had to return toherhome stateofTexas to receive treatment for a rare blood disease and visit hertwin sister, Teri Martin. How Did the Sheila LaBarre Murders Affect Her Community? Follow the links to read about more horrific crimes profiled on Investigation Discovery. The suburban housewife, who often wore a fancy red coat, was a highly respected socialite. Now, Teri went to meet John and moved in with him, but they didnt marry. She took her to several doctors, none of who was able to explain with any certainty what Carol's torturous symptoms meant. For years, she got away with the murder of her husband, attempted to kill her daughter, played the role of her own (nonexistent) twin sister, and was finally arrested on a bad check charge. Considering all of the people who she very likely poisoned in her life (husband, son, daughter and daughter-in-law, mother, police, neighborhood children) I think she was simply a sociopath. Mike even went as far as to call the Calhoun County, Alabama, coroner to inquire about having his father exhumed for additional testing. . Name of Man Shot to Death in Car Discovered, A First Look at the Chilling Murder of Matthew Misener, Investigator Provides Perspective into Curtis Holders Homicide Case, A First Look at the Murder of Curtis Holder. After Franks tenure in the Navy was over, he and Marie returned to Anniston and purchased a home. The former FBI agent said that the black widow was known to cause death and illness . We and our partners use cookies on this site to improve our service, perform analytics, personalize advertising, measure advertising performance, and remember website preferences. In August 1982, she said she was going to Texas to visit some relatives. But when her daughter, Carol Hilley, showed traces of arsenic poisoning in 1979, his body was exhumed and traces of arsenic were found. Suzie from Carson City on September 03, 2018: Hey KimDon't know this one got past me. Although he was hurt and disgusted, with his failing health, Frank didnt feel he could do much of anything about his wife's infidelities. The strange occurrences began againsmall fires, cut phone lines, and, increasingly, a tendency in Carrie Hilley toward nausea and vomiting. She died of exposure in 1987 at the age of 53 while on the lam from authorities. Carol had arsenic poisoning. Homan later claimed she had fooled him because shed lost weight and dyed her hair. Today, Carol Hilley should be in her fifties. Carol, at one point, worked at the Anniston Army Depot. Frank Hilley worked in the shipping department at a foundry in Anniston, Alabama. Was There Justice in the Bill Beatty Case? Required fields are marked *. Something doesnt, No , the murder happened in Ohio . First, she murdered her husband and almost got away with it until she tried to kill her daughter. She died a few hours later of heart failure brought on by exposure. He died just over a week later. By using the site, you consent to these cookies. In Florida, Mike had seriously began reconsidering the cause of his fathers death. Soon after, his wife Marie Hilley began to receive threatening phone calls, messages and damage to her property. Marie went about collecting on Franks life insurance policies, receiving about $31,000 in total. When Hilley was finally caught in 1983, Carroll said a change of identity didnt come as a shock. Claiming to be homesick, Marie and Carol returned to Anniston, moving in with Franks sister, then with his mother. The story is told by Marie Hilleys son, Mike Hilley, and his aunt, Freeda Burns. 2023 The Arena Media Brands, LLC and respective content providers on this website. 3. Theories abound, but few clues exist, said Calhoun County Sheriff Roy Snead. Mike, his suspicions now more than just nagging, called Carols doctor and told him what had been occurring. To do that, they try to get evidence against her. She went to Florida, living under the name Robbi Hannon, where she married a man named John Homan in 1981. She viewed our kids and me as mere obstacles that had stood between her and the good life. Audrey then started to inject Carol with what she claimed was for nausea. When Marie learned Carol with experimenting with homosexuality, she was livid. But years later, his daughter going through the same symptoms aroused suspicion, with the roads leading to Audrey Marie Hilley, Franks wife. On the last day of her furlough, Hilley left her husband a note saying she was going to Canada. Soon after, his wife Marie Hilley began to receive threatening phone calls, messages and damage to her property. What Was the Cause of James Bud Phillips Erratic Death? Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window), Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window), Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window). In October 1979, Frank's body was exhumed for a second autopsy. When Frank had been sick, Mariehad volunteered to give him injections of medicine, whicharousedsomesuspicion. She didnt like who I hung out with. Carol also had trouble walking initially but got better over time. Several books have been published about Audrey Marie HIlley, but none of them compare to the 1987 book by investigative reporter Phillip Ginsburg titled Poisoned Blood: a True Story of Murder, Passion, and an Astonishing Hoax. The young woman was near death when the horrifying reality finally emerged: Marie had poisoned her husband with arsenic and was attempting to do the same to her daughter. Following her doctor's advice, she made an appointment with a psychiatrist. Dr. Brian Thompson, a University of Alabama at Birmingham doctor, tells Carol Hilley she has tested positive for arsenic poisoning. Doctors were at a loss to explain his ailment. He also has many unanswered questions. She did go to Texas, but only for a few days then she arrived in Pompano Beach, Florida. Unfortunately, Frank never told Mike about being sick or how it was rapidly growing worse. Carol Hilley, the daughter of Frank and Marie Hilley, reflects on her father's passing and problems with her mother. Why? Shespent the weekend with John at aboarding housein Anniston. The official diagnosis was infectious hepatitis, and was also noted as the cause of Franks death on May 25, 1975. Do you, This was definitely in IL because we are friends with, Hi. Marie, while awaiting trial in jail on bounced checks, suddenly became a murder suspect. 1960s:Frank and Marie Hilley seemed like a loving couple with a nice church-going family. Apparently, when you're Kookie enough to dose your family members with arsenic, one after the other.all the other stuff is child's play! Hilley died Feb. 26. Joe Pikul was a controlling and abusive man. When the toxicology report came back,it revealed abnormally high arsenic levels in his body,ranginganywhere from 10 to 100 times the average amount, according to court documents. Hilleys mother, Lucille Frazier, also died in Hilleys care, as did her mother-in-law, Carrie Hilley. Everything she owned was left behind except for her wallet, credit cards, and checkbook. 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