Steve Fishman, Narrator

The house is completely empty. The sound of Jack's footsteps must echo. The basement stairs start at the kitchen. Jack can't reach the light switch. It's awkward with Noreen's body in his arms, so he sets her down for a minute. The basement is huge and silent except for the hum of the furnace.

The house is completely empty. The sound of Jack's footsteps must echo. The basement stairs start at the kitchen. Jack can't reach the light switch. It's awkward with Noreen's body in his arms, so he sets her down for a minute. The basement is huge and silent except for the hum of the furnace.

Jack heads to a nook at the far end where he and his girlfriend Sherry had discussed putting a kid's playroom. He fetches the jackhammer.

Jack heads to a nook at the far end where he and his girlfriend Sherry had discussed putting a kid's playroom. He fetches the jackhammer.

Jack places the tarp with Noreen inside against a wall, the bag still over her head. He figures out how to work the jackhammer. It makes an incredible noise, bouncing off the concrete floor and walls. Luckily, his neighbors aren't close. It takes several hours to jackhammer through the basement floor and dig out the dirt below with a shovel. Then there's the body.

Jack places the tarp with Noreen inside against a wall, the bag still over her head. He figures out how to work the jackhammer. It makes an incredible noise, bouncing off the concrete floor and walls. Luckily, his neighbors aren't close. It takes several hours to jackhammer through the basement floor and dig out the dirt below with a shovel. Then there's the body.

For me, the most disturbing part is what happens next. How does Jack move through the world after burying his wife? He acts as if nothing has happened. He washed his clothes to get rid of the evidence. He drove back to Mansfield and took a shower. And calmly, blithely, he proceeded to tell lie after lie. In the ensuing weeks, no one notices that Jack is under stress. Maybe he's not.

For me, the most disturbing part is what happens next. How does Jack move through the world after burying his wife? He acts as if nothing has happened. He washed his clothes to get rid of the evidence. He drove back to Mansfield and took a shower. And calmly, blithely, he proceeded to tell lie after lie. In the ensuing weeks, no one notices that Jack is under stress. Maybe he's not.

Maybe the panic has just melted away. Sherry doesn't sense anything crazy going on?

Maybe the panic has just melted away. Sherry doesn't sense anything crazy going on?

So that's Jack's version. And whatever truth value one assigns to his account, it makes me think of one of the last things Jack told the jurors shortly before they found him guilty. I'm human and normal, just like you. Jack, I don't think so. As for Jack's assertion that Noreen's death was an accident, well, it does fit the details. Why was Noreen's body naked when cops dug it up?

So that's Jack's version. And whatever truth value one assigns to his account, it makes me think of one of the last things Jack told the jurors shortly before they found him guilty. I'm human and normal, just like you. Jack, I don't think so. As for Jack's assertion that Noreen's death was an accident, well, it does fit the details. Why was Noreen's body naked when cops dug it up?

Because Noreen came downstairs naked. The thuds Collier heard, Jack falling and Noreen falling. The footsteps Collier heard in the hallway, Jack's as he went to a closet to grab his getaway bag. The blunt force trauma listed in the autopsy, the result of Noreen falling against the footstool. And then Jack doesn't have with him the concrete to fill in the grave or the astroturf to cover it.

Because Noreen came downstairs naked. The thuds Collier heard, Jack falling and Noreen falling. The footsteps Collier heard in the hallway, Jack's as he went to a closet to grab his getaway bag. The blunt force trauma listed in the autopsy, the result of Noreen falling against the footstool. And then Jack doesn't have with him the concrete to fill in the grave or the astroturf to cover it.

He buys those days later. Maybe he didn't plan this in advance. But for me, another question looms over Jack's account. Jack was the only one present when Noreen died and when she was buried. There's no way to verify many of the details. A lot of people are going to say, well, he's lied so much in the past, why should I believe him now?

He buys those days later. Maybe he didn't plan this in advance. But for me, another question looms over Jack's account. Jack was the only one present when Noreen died and when she was buried. There's no way to verify many of the details. A lot of people are going to say, well, he's lied so much in the past, why should I believe him now?

accidental or otherwise. Let's consider this a minute, because even if you accept that Noreen's death was an accident, that the evidence used to prove premeditation was really just happenstance, and that the true reason for the body in the basement is that Jack simply panicked, there's another problem with his story. How about the blunt force trauma? That couldn't have killed her?

accidental or otherwise. Let's consider this a minute, because even if you accept that Noreen's death was an accident, that the evidence used to prove premeditation was really just happenstance, and that the true reason for the body in the basement is that Jack simply panicked, there's another problem with his story. How about the blunt force trauma? That couldn't have killed her?

according to this expert in autopsies. How many autopsies do you think you've done?

according to this expert in autopsies. How many autopsies do you think you've done?