Soledad O'Brien

Perhaps Mary was in shock, or maybe she didn't want to give in to the horror of that moment, so she kept her composure. But the accident was kind of a catalyst. It changed her, changed her priorities. After that horrible evening, she chose a new course. Mary didn't want to be married anymore. She didn't want to live in the suburbs.

Perhaps Mary was in shock, or maybe she didn't want to give in to the horror of that moment, so she kept her composure. But the accident was kind of a catalyst. It changed her, changed her priorities. After that horrible evening, she chose a new course. Mary didn't want to be married anymore. She didn't want to live in the suburbs.

She'd get a painting studio in Georgetown and start to take a daily walk on the towpath. From Luminary, Film Nation Entertainment, in association with Neon Hum Media, I'm Soledad O'Brien, and this is Murder on the Towpath, a story of two incredible women who never met, but whose lives became forever intertwined by tragedy.

She'd get a painting studio in Georgetown and start to take a daily walk on the towpath. From Luminary, Film Nation Entertainment, in association with Neon Hum Media, I'm Soledad O'Brien, and this is Murder on the Towpath, a story of two incredible women who never met, but whose lives became forever intertwined by tragedy.

By the time of Mary's murder, Dovey Roundtree knew she had come from a prominent family, but she didn't have the full story. Had she known what kind of powerful people Mary had known her entire life, maybe Dovey would have felt less optimistic about her case defending Ray. Here's historian Alexis Coe.

By the time of Mary's murder, Dovey Roundtree knew she had come from a prominent family, but she didn't have the full story. Had she known what kind of powerful people Mary had known her entire life, maybe Dovey would have felt less optimistic about her case defending Ray. Here's historian Alexis Coe.

She lived on Park Avenue in Manhattan. and went to the Brearley School on the Upper East Side. Brearley was academically rigorous and, of course, exclusive. Girls with last names like Matisse, Roosevelt, and Graham attended. Mary studied math, history, Greek, Latin, and French. She played basketball and smoked cigarettes.

She lived on Park Avenue in Manhattan. and went to the Brearley School on the Upper East Side. Brearley was academically rigorous and, of course, exclusive. Girls with last names like Matisse, Roosevelt, and Graham attended. Mary studied math, history, Greek, Latin, and French. She played basketball and smoked cigarettes.

In between classes, she'd duck into a smoking room at Brearley that was for seniors only. Mary would continue to smoke socially for the rest of her life. She first crossed paths with JFK long before he was president. It was a winter formal in 1936. Mary was just 15. Among the New England prep school set, winter was the season of the formal dance.

In between classes, she'd duck into a smoking room at Brearley that was for seniors only. Mary would continue to smoke socially for the rest of her life. She first crossed paths with JFK long before he was president. It was a winter formal in 1936. Mary was just 15. Among the New England prep school set, winter was the season of the formal dance.

Bill Atwood, a future ambassador to the UN, invited Mary to a weekend of festivities at Choate Rosemary Hall. In the dance hall, there were tuxedos with coattails and intricate formal dresses. John F. Kennedy had graduated from Choate the year before and was already a freshman at Princeton. But he turned up that night on the Choate dance floor alone.

Bill Atwood, a future ambassador to the UN, invited Mary to a weekend of festivities at Choate Rosemary Hall. In the dance hall, there were tuxedos with coattails and intricate formal dresses. John F. Kennedy had graduated from Choate the year before and was already a freshman at Princeton. But he turned up that night on the Choate dance floor alone.

He was confident, not embarrassed to return to a high school dance, not embarrassed to go stag. As Bill and Mary danced, JFK's eyes rested on her. He tapped Bill on the shoulder and cut in. According to Bill's memoir, Kennedy cut in on his dances with Mary again and again that night. Mary had an effect on the future president. He wouldn't soon forget her.

He was confident, not embarrassed to return to a high school dance, not embarrassed to go stag. As Bill and Mary danced, JFK's eyes rested on her. He tapped Bill on the shoulder and cut in. According to Bill's memoir, Kennedy cut in on his dances with Mary again and again that night. Mary had an effect on the future president. He wouldn't soon forget her.

But it wasn't just wealth and beauty that made Mary Pinchot stand out. Her family was also liberal and unconventional. Here's Nina again.

But it wasn't just wealth and beauty that made Mary Pinchot stand out. Her family was also liberal and unconventional. Here's Nina again.

There was plenty of space to frolic at Gray Towers. That's what they called the family estate outside Milford, Pennsylvania. Mary and her father Amos played tennis together. Growing up, he was the parent she looked to please.

There was plenty of space to frolic at Gray Towers. That's what they called the family estate outside Milford, Pennsylvania. Mary and her father Amos played tennis together. Growing up, he was the parent she looked to please.

Mary's mother, Ruth, spent hours behind closed doors writing her stories and was much more hands-off when it came to parenting. Her father had left his first wife to marry her. Divorce was generally unheard of in the early 1900s. Mary's father knew his choice would open him up to scrutiny, but he took the risk anyway. In that way, Mary took after her father.

Mary's mother, Ruth, spent hours behind closed doors writing her stories and was much more hands-off when it came to parenting. Her father had left his first wife to marry her. Divorce was generally unheard of in the early 1900s. Mary's father knew his choice would open him up to scrutiny, but he took the risk anyway. In that way, Mary took after her father.