Beth Dutton

Melanie McGuire had purchased a Taurus 38 Special revolver.

The gun, one like this, was bought just 48 hours before Bill disappeared.

Melanie says her husband wanted it for protection.

He couldn't buy it himself because he had a felony conviction, the result of a horrendous driving record.

I wanted it to at least be a registered weapon.

So I said, fine.

Months passed, and that gun was never found.

But prosecutor Patty Prezioso was determined to make a case against Melanie.

Everything, everything pointed straight to her.

She believes Melanie concocted an elaborate story to explain Bill's absence.

beginning with that fight.

Is she just flat out lying?

I believe it's wholly made up, yes.

I don't believe that it occurred.

The restraining order, divorce petition, and hints of shady characters, says Prezioso, were all part of Melanie's cover-up.

There was nothing that we found to indicate that Bill was involved with any criminal element whatsoever.

So the investigation intensified.

Melanie's phones were tapped.

And she was put under surveillance.

The covert operation soon uncovered a secret.