Having been given yet another chance, estranged daughter Samantha Bevans moved back in with her dad and stepmother, at their home in Palo, Iowa.
Bevans battled with addiction and had custody issues with her children. She'd been banned from living at the family home, but her dad Mike and stepmum Jodie wanted to help so, in January 2022, they let her return.
Jodie, 58, was a nurse, who was known for her compassion and love of family. She had four children of her own and had embraced Mike's too. Then when Bevans couldn't look after her two young children, Jodie adopted them and raised them as her own. Jodie was described as "forgiving" and having a "naturally calming presence".
Bevans had been dating her boyfriend Tacoa Talley for years, and Mike and Jodie knew they were a bad influence on each other. They believe Talley was encouraging Bevans' addictions, and things started going missing around the house. The couple asked Bevans not to bring Talley home - but she sneaked him in, and they found out. So, once again, Bevans was told to move out.
Jodie and Mike were taking a family camping trip in July 2022, but because of work commitments, Jodie had agreed to join the others a day later on 15 July. But she never appeared.
After concerns were raised, the police went to the house and found Jodie dead. She had died from asphyxiation, as well as suffering blunt force trauma injuries to her face and haemorrhaging to her neck.
Detectives said Jodie had been attacked in her bed, while she slept, so she could not "put up a fight". But who would want to kill her? Investigators determined that the killer knew Jodie would be home alone.
Then they were alerted to a disturbing Snapchat video. In it, Bevans and Talley announced, "We killed her." It had been posted on Bevans' Snapchat account at 9.14am on 16 July.
SMILING KILLER
هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة July 15, 2024 من New UK.
ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 9,000 مجلة وصحيفة.
بالفعل مشترك ? تسجيل الدخول
هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة July 15, 2024 من New UK.
ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 9,000 مجلة وصحيفة.
بالفعل مشترك? تسجيل الدخول
HISTORY IN THE MAKING
To mark the 40th anniversary of Do They Know It's Christmas?, the BBC is airing behind-the-scenes footage of the recording
ALWAYS THE BAD GUY?
After playing evil Joel in Corrie, Calum Lill is treading the boards as a pantomime villain. Oh, yes he is!
BOOST YOUR BRAIN HEALTH
As doctors highlight the importance of early detection in dementia cases, here's how we can help protect ourselves
Jealous cop killed ex-lover's new wife in love triangle murder
DNA evidence from a bite mark on the victim linked an LAPD officer to Sherri Rasmussen's murder
'Every month I would plan my own death due to PMDD'
Shalina Casey, 48, of Hampshire, suffers from the same condition as TV stars Vicky Pattison and Kristina Goodsell. Here, she shares her story
'My dad was the only suspect'
Ahead of a chilling new documentary, Tina Wing's son Daniel speaks to new about finding justice for his mother 32 years after her brutal unsolved murder
Martine praises the pal who hasn't 'picked a side'
After her \"brutal” break-up, Martine McCutcheon enjoys a night out amid fears of losing friends
'Zach and I fell in love completely backwards'
Molly Marsh opens up about life after Love Island, settling down with boyfriend Zach Noble and becoming a pop star
'You should be able to be sensitive'
Professor Green talks feelings, fatherhood and the importance of a good night's sleep
´Coleen won't back out of any challenges'
As Coleen Rooney enters the jungle, good pal Danielle Lloyd tells new how she'll get on