Scott Weinberger

Joel explained away the presence of needles and syringes found in the house as just tools of his trade as a nurse anesthetist. But rather than giving Detective Modest comfort, the fact that Joel was trained in administering powerful medication only gave him pause.

Joel explained away the presence of needles and syringes found in the house as just tools of his trade as a nurse anesthetist. But rather than giving Detective Modest comfort, the fact that Joel was trained in administering powerful medication only gave him pause.

Joel was placed in the backseat of a patrol car to calm down while investigators prepared to scour the home for any potential evidence that could either confirm or contradict Joel's version of Maria's southern death.

Joel was placed in the backseat of a patrol car to calm down while investigators prepared to scour the home for any potential evidence that could either confirm or contradict Joel's version of Maria's southern death.

And I think I've had that happen in my experience in law enforcement. And, you know, I kind of give somebody a little bit of a side eye, but I don't really take that much into consideration. But this is where an investigator's experience and intuition come into play.

And I think I've had that happen in my experience in law enforcement. And, you know, I kind of give somebody a little bit of a side eye, but I don't really take that much into consideration. But this is where an investigator's experience and intuition come into play.

Luis led the search of the house and it was immediately clear that there were no signs of any kind of struggle or domestic abuse. No overturned furniture or broken glass. Signs that may have indicated that Maria and Joel had gotten into a fight.

Luis led the search of the house and it was immediately clear that there were no signs of any kind of struggle or domestic abuse. No overturned furniture or broken glass. Signs that may have indicated that Maria and Joel had gotten into a fight.

And then there was a state of the bathroom in the master bedroom, which was conspicuously clean.

And then there was a state of the bathroom in the master bedroom, which was conspicuously clean.

And with that, a key piece of the puzzle was revealed. Not only were Joel and Maria separated, but Joel had a girlfriend.

And with that, a key piece of the puzzle was revealed. Not only were Joel and Maria separated, but Joel had a girlfriend.

On September 22, 2020, police and paramedics were called to a house in Laredo, Texas, where they discovered the lifeless body of 31-year-old Maria Munoz.

On September 22, 2020, police and paramedics were called to a house in Laredo, Texas, where they discovered the lifeless body of 31-year-old Maria Munoz.

Maria's body showed no signs of physical trauma, no bruises or cuts or blood on her or anywhere in the house. So you can imagine the results of an autopsy would be crucial in determining the exact cause and manner of death. But in the meantime, investigators hoped Joel could help shed more light on his wife's mental state and the circumstances surrounding her apparent overdose.

Maria's body showed no signs of physical trauma, no bruises or cuts or blood on her or anywhere in the house. So you can imagine the results of an autopsy would be crucial in determining the exact cause and manner of death. But in the meantime, investigators hoped Joel could help shed more light on his wife's mental state and the circumstances surrounding her apparent overdose.

And of course, you can never predict exactly how a grieving husband might react to the loss of his wife. But as a detective, you can compare his behavior to hundreds of previous experiences to conclude that this was out of the ordinary. And in a homicide investigation, anything out of the ordinary is suspicious.

And of course, you can never predict exactly how a grieving husband might react to the loss of his wife. But as a detective, you can compare his behavior to hundreds of previous experiences to conclude that this was out of the ordinary. And in a homicide investigation, anything out of the ordinary is suspicious.

And remember when I said that Maria's body showed no signs of physical trauma? Well, as it turns out, that wasn't exactly true.

And remember when I said that Maria's body showed no signs of physical trauma? Well, as it turns out, that wasn't exactly true.