Catherine Townsend

We were trying to figure out what exactly went down. Since this murder happened right on the Texas-Louisiana border, we knew that this case might have involved multiple counties. So according to the affidavit, police became suspicious of April for several reasons. First of all, when they interviewed her, they did not believe she appeared to be grieving at all.

We were trying to figure out what exactly went down. Since this murder happened right on the Texas-Louisiana border, we knew that this case might have involved multiple counties. So according to the affidavit, police became suspicious of April for several reasons. First of all, when they interviewed her, they did not believe she appeared to be grieving at all.

They believed she was showing signs of deception during that interview. And when they asked her if she killed her husband, she would, quote, nod yes, but say no, end quote. Police also noted that April did not show any shock or grief when she was told that the boat burning down was to cover up a homicide, not an accident.

They believed she was showing signs of deception during that interview. And when they asked her if she killed her husband, she would, quote, nod yes, but say no, end quote. Police also noted that April did not show any shock or grief when she was told that the boat burning down was to cover up a homicide, not an accident.

The officer who squirted the affidavit wrote, he discovered that April had a boyfriend in Louisiana who she was in love with and intimate with. Police also discovered a potential motive. Doug kept a lot of cash on his houseboat. Police also found out that there was apparently an insurance policy on Doug.

The officer who squirted the affidavit wrote, he discovered that April had a boyfriend in Louisiana who she was in love with and intimate with. Police also discovered a potential motive. Doug kept a lot of cash on his houseboat. Police also found out that there was apparently an insurance policy on Doug.

In the affidavit, they said that there was a $100,000 policy that paid out in the event of Doug's death, and April was the sole beneficiary. Police talked to witnesses and found one who told authorities that on Sunday, December 13th, 2020, the night of the murder, they saw April leaving Doug's boat sometime between 4.30 to 5.30 p.m.

In the affidavit, they said that there was a $100,000 policy that paid out in the event of Doug's death, and April was the sole beneficiary. Police talked to witnesses and found one who told authorities that on Sunday, December 13th, 2020, the night of the murder, they saw April leaving Doug's boat sometime between 4.30 to 5.30 p.m.

They said that it was dusk, but that they could still clearly see that it was April. They said that April left home and passed by the witness's house 15 to 20 minutes before the first fire truck arrived on scene. The witness said they were sure it was April. They had known April for a long time, since she was a little girl. They definitely recognized her. They saw her driving her blue Dodge truck.

They said that it was dusk, but that they could still clearly see that it was April. They said that April left home and passed by the witness's house 15 to 20 minutes before the first fire truck arrived on scene. The witness said they were sure it was April. They had known April for a long time, since she was a little girl. They definitely recognized her. They saw her driving her blue Dodge truck.

The affidavit read, quote, the information collected in the eyewitness statement places the defendant at the crime scene while the houseboat was on fire and just before the fire truck arrived, end quote, which would have been in the minutes leading up to when the fire was called in at 528 p.m.

The affidavit read, quote, the information collected in the eyewitness statement places the defendant at the crime scene while the houseboat was on fire and just before the fire truck arrived, end quote, which would have been in the minutes leading up to when the fire was called in at 528 p.m.

After April Janice was arrested and charged with murder on January 14th, things seemed to be moving toward trial. Prosecutors seemed confident in their case. A $10 million bond was set on April. But then, all of a sudden, everything changed.

After April Janice was arrested and charged with murder on January 14th, things seemed to be moving toward trial. Prosecutors seemed confident in their case. A $10 million bond was set on April. But then, all of a sudden, everything changed.

First, quietly, the judge lowered the bail amount in April's case from $10 million to $200,000, which meant that she would only need to come up with about $20,000 to bond out. And that's what happened. April was released on bail. And then there was nothing. No more news stories about the case, no updates.

First, quietly, the judge lowered the bail amount in April's case from $10 million to $200,000, which meant that she would only need to come up with about $20,000 to bond out. And that's what happened. April was released on bail. And then there was nothing. No more news stories about the case, no updates.

We were able to get a list of April's bond conditions and we learned that pretty much all of the restrictions were removed. All she had to do was surrender her passport and basically agree to not leave the country. She didn't have to report to anyone. She was free. The prosecutors apparently thought they just didn't have enough evidence to pursue the case.

We were able to get a list of April's bond conditions and we learned that pretty much all of the restrictions were removed. All she had to do was surrender her passport and basically agree to not leave the country. She didn't have to report to anyone. She was free. The prosecutors apparently thought they just didn't have enough evidence to pursue the case.

That's the official story, and we know that sometimes this happens in these cases. The bar to take someone to trial and to convict someone of murder is very high, and that's a good thing. But I couldn't figure this case out. I know it's circumstantial, but there appear to be a lot of facts that could have led toward April being taken to trial.

That's the official story, and we know that sometimes this happens in these cases. The bar to take someone to trial and to convict someone of murder is very high, and that's a good thing. But I couldn't figure this case out. I know it's circumstantial, but there appear to be a lot of facts that could have led toward April being taken to trial.