1991: Wife, Mother, Murderer, the true-story movie based on the case, debuts on ABC. In Anniston, the speculation continues to this daywas there indeed someone who had agreed to help Marie escape, only to back out at the last minute? After medical tests found no disease, Carol's physician, fearing the symptoms were psychosomatic, had her undergo psychiatric testing at Birmingham, Alabama's Carraway Methodist Hospital. But years later, his daughter going through the same symptoms aroused suspicion, with the roads leading to Audrey Marie Hilley, Franks wife. John called the sheriff. A distraught John offered to travel to Texas to make funeral arrangements for Robbie, but Teri informed him that it was her last wish to have her body be studied, and she handed over Robbie's earthly remains to a university. He died in 1989. Sue Craft did not recognize the woman as Marie Hilley, though she had known Marie years before. HUnF}W{DYj$1%o)$p9w8. Two weeks later, Frank Hilley's sister found a jar of rat poison which contained 1.41.5% arsenic. Doctors misdiagnosed the cause of Carols illness several times before discovering arsenic in her system. She initially spent time with Homan but one day left him a note and fled. Marie The concerned coworkers and Homan's boss discovered that Medical Research Institute of Texas, where "Robbi's" body was handed over for study, was nonexistent, as was the church that eulogized her death. Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. An article in the Los Angeles Times the next day announced that the woman who once faked her own death has died of exposure while trying to elude authorities. The article quoted Bob Field, the Calhoun County District Attorney, as saying, It seems to be an anticlimactic way for someone who was the great escape artist (to die).. The official cause of death was hepatitis. DoctorsbelievedFrank had died of hepatitis,and he was buried without further inquiry. She eventually became paralyzed from the waist down. A strange, delirious woman was on Sue Craft's porch and she needed help. Alabama could execute Robin Rocky Myers soon. A juror startxref
About four years later, in February 1987, Audrey was given a furlough from prison to visit John, who by then had moved to Anniston to be closer to her. Are you sure that you want to report this flower to administrators as offensive or abusive? Their suspicions proved right, and local police got involved. The condition persisted and he was admitted to a hospital, where tests indicated a malfunction of the liver and doctors diagnosed infectious hepatitis. On February 19, 1987, authorities made the mistake of granting Marie a furlough from Tutwiler prison in Wetumpka. Though he wasn't from one of Anniston's moneyed families, Frank treated her like royalty. Suspicious,they contacted police, who began looking into the puzzling case. They checked into a motel, but Audrey disappeared not too long after that. Failed to delete memorial. Panicking, Marie had Carol discharged from the hospital that afternoon. In October 1979, Frank's body was exhumed for a second autopsy. WebInsisted upon moving to a house on McClellan Boulevard, closer to the houses belonging to the wealthier residents of Anniston. 0
When Martinplaced an obituary for her sister in the local newspaper withinformationabout her death, investigatorsattempted tocorroboratethedetailsnone ofwhichweretrue. WebOn February 28, 1987 Marie Hilley's children buried her beside Frank Hilley, the husband she'd murdered. June 8, 1983: Carol Hilley recuperates, and Marie Hilley is finally convicted. Learn more about merges. She was also believed to have poisoned her mother and her mother-in-law, who survived. Alabama could execute Robin Rocky Myers soon. A juror She died of hypothermia. When Robbi suddenly disappeared, Teri appeared to console Homan, her brother-in-law. Coworkers suspicious of Robbi-Teri alerted police and Marie Hilley went back to jail in January 1983. Audrey Marie Hilley In June 1983, Audrey was convicted of Franks murder and Carols attempted murder in Anniston. Failed to delete flower. Because her parents. Radford, VA 24142-6946. His medical doctor never pinpoints what is wrong. Marie Hilley John Homan, the duped husband, stood by Hilley, moving to an Anniston hotel to be near her during the trial. We will review the memorials and decide if they should be merged. Late in the summer of 1982, she left New Hampshire, telling her husband that she needed to attend to family business and to see some doctors about an illness. Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window), Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window), Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), article in the Los Angeles Times the next day a, Atlas Obscura - Latest Articles and Places. This memorial has been copied to your clipboard. This account has been disabled. Your new password must contain one or more uppercase and lowercase letters, and one or more numbers or special characters. I couldnt please her no matter what I did, Caroltold Snapped. She didnt like what I wore. 54 0 obj
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They lived together for more than a year before she married Homan on May 29, 1981, and took his last name. Learn about how to make the most of a memorial. With her ability to blend in she lost weight and dyed her hair she made John believe that she was, in fact, Robbis twin sister. She frequently talked about her imaginary twin sister "Teri", who supposedly lived in Texas. She married herhighschoolsweetheart, Frank Hilley, in 1951 andgave birth to their son,Michael,a year later. Even though Marie told the police her last name was Sellers and that she had walked to the home after her car broke down, they quickly identified her as escaped prisoner Marie Hilley. She later dies of a heart attack and a hospital. Share this memorial using social media sites or email. Blue Mountain, Calhoun County, Alabama, USA. 0000014440 00000 n
Three years later, Marie took out a $25,000 life insurance policy on her daughter Carol; a $25,000 accidental death rider took effect in August 1978. He was jealous of other boys' attentions toward her and did his best to keep his temperamental girl happy. Alabama could execute Robin Rocky Myers soon. A juror Be sure to visit ourMovies Based On True Storiessection here. Years ago, it was said that Carol Hilley was living with a domestic, female partner. She promptly was extradited to Alabama to stand trial. But as time went on, the relationship struggled because of money problems; Audrey liked to spend. Marie joined him there after her graduation and later accompanied him when he was reassigned to Boston in 1952. John Homan's coworkers also had suspicions about his new "sister-in-law" and were concerned defalcation may have been at play. Anniston This good behavior earned her several one-day passes from prison, from which she returned as scheduled. Powered by WordPress.com VIP. Audrey Marie Hilley BLACK WIDOW'S QUEST FOR GOOD LIFE ENDS During this time, the Hilleys'marriage was falling apart. Frank had maintained a moderate life insurance policy, secretly taken out by Marie at the time of his initial illness, that she redeemed for $31,140. Gibson was one of the many neighborhood children who had fallen ill after drinking beverages that they had been given during visits to the Hilley household. Carol testified at her mothers trial in 1983. No one expected what happened next. Bob Field said today. Huey and Lucille moved in with the Hilleys. While on the run, she not only created one new identity, Robbi Hannon, but also portrayed Robbis invented twin sister, Teri Martin. 0000005785 00000 n
Marie had promised her creditors that he would pay her debts. No trip to Texas was necessary. Carol Hilley was born on 01/14/1960 and is 63 years old. If so, who was it, and why did he suddenly back out of the plan? Marie Hilley at the Atlanta airport, January 20, 1983 (photo source) The End at the Beginning Thursday, February 26, 1987 had been a nasty weather day in Anniston, Alabama. Given Marie's history, authorities assumed she had a well-crafted plan of escape and had left the state quickly. Today, Im featuring another Alabama black widow, Marie Hilley. Marie Frank's autopsy, performed with his wife's permission, revealed swelling of the kidneys and lungs, bilateral pneumonia, and inflammation of the stomach. Subsequently, investigators found that both her mother and her mother-in-law, Carrie Hilley, had significant, but not fatal, traces of arsenic in their systems when they died. If you notice a problem with the translation, please send a message to [emailprotected] and include a link to the page and details about the problem. Her case has been the subject of numerous books, reality TV shows, and a TV movie starring Judith Light as Hilley. Marie Hilley However, when Mike went off to college, his illness immediately vanished. But doctors saved Carol just in the nick of time. The coroner believed she had been crawling around in the woods, drenched by four days of frequent rain and exposed to temperatures that dropped to around freezing. As manager of this memorial you can add or update the memorial using the Edit button below. All photos appear on this tab and here you can update the sort order of photos on memorials you manage. While Homan's workplace was audited and no embezzlement found, authorities still believed that "Teri Martin" was possibly a fugitive bank robber named Carol Manning (later disproven) or wanted on other outstanding charges. Frank Hilley Murder: How Did Audrey Marie Hilley Carol Hilley was born on 01/14/1960 and is 63 years old. During the course oftheir investigation, authorities came tosuspectMarie had poisoned numerous people throughout the years. She initially spent time with Homan but one day left him a note and fled. The jury voted to send Myers to prison for the rest of his life, without the possibility of parole. Over the next week,she became so sick she couldn'twalk and had to be hospitalized. She was suspected, however, in the deaths of others who died in her care. On February 19, 1987, authorities made the mistake of granting Marie a furlough from Tutwiler prison in Wetumpka. xref
However, she had already vanished. Police compared the note to samples of Maries handwriting and found it to be a match. Frank began suffering from a mysterious illness, as did his son Mike, but Mike's symptoms which his doctors attributed to stomach flu abruptly stopped when he moved away to attend a seminary. You can always change this later in your Account settings. While theHilleysdid their best to recover from the loss, a mysterious illness began to affect Carol in 1979. Oh wow! Investigation Discoverys American Monster: Alabama Murder Mystery delves into a story that had numerous twists. WebAt the end of his tour of duty they discovered Marie was pregnant, and when he was discharged they moved back home to Anniston, where they bought a small home. She was suffering from hypothermia. Audrey Marie Frazier Hilley was one of the nations most infamous black widow killers. Police, responding to a call about a suspicious person, went to a home in north Anniston about 2 p.m., and found Hilley, 54. She returned later that year having assumed another identity, as Robbi's twin sister, Teri Martin, having dyed her hair and shed some weight. Marie, against her parents' wishes, returned his affection. Sometimes, they just watched television as a family and ate doughnuts. 0000007839 00000 n
There is 1 volunteer for this cemetery. A year after filing the insurance policy on her daughter, Marie gave Carol an injection that she claimed would alleviate the nausea. The police in Anniston, Alabama found a vial in her purse, tests of which revealed the presence of arsenic. She had a heart attack and died. Audrey Marie Frazier was born on June 4, 1933 in the Blue Mountain area of Anniston, Alabama to Lucille (ne Meads) and Huey Frazier. Instead,she made a run for it. We all expect our children to outlive us,Manis said. Investigators found a note in the house reading "Do not call police. By outward appearances, their marriage seemed to be the embodiment of the loving American couple. She went to Florida, living under the name Robbi Hannon, where she married a man named John Homan in 1981. Despite Frank's well-paying job and Marie's secretarial employment, the couple had little money set aside in savings due to Frazier's excessive spending habits, leading to friction in the marriage. Then the judge just turned everything around.. The suburban housewife, who often wore a fancy red coat, was a highly respected socialite. Relatives & Associates. Carol Hilley was born on 01/14/1960 and is 63 years old. A few days later,Marie was spotted crawling across the porch of a house in rural Blue Mountain, Alabama, just north of Anniston. On February 26, Hilley was discovered roaming near Anniston. Try again later. (from left to right) Marie, Mike, Carol, and Frank Hilley. Radford, VA 24142-6946. Frank Hilley Murder: How Did Audrey Marie Hilley She was taken to the hospital for a checkup, and just like with her father, the doctors werent sure what was going on with her. Thanks for using Find a Grave, if you have any feedback we would love to hear from you. The movie, Wife, Mother, Murderer: The Marie Hilley Storypremiered as an ABC made-for-television movie of the week on Sunday, November 10, 1991. She said it was cloudy and white-looking stuff. In an interview, Carol stated that she didnt get along with Audrey back then. YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. She was now suspected of poisoning four people. Shortly after, his teenage daughter Carol started showing similar symptoms, sending her mother Marie Hilley into a panic. A note found in her hotel room said she was kidnapped and told herattorneynot to follow her. In November the same year, she called John, but this time, she was Teri Martin, who was supposed to be Robbis twin sister. Marie Hilley continues giving her daughter the deadly injections. WebTwo books have been written about the case, and it was also the subject of the TV-movie, "Wife, Mother, Murderer: The Marie Hilley Story", starring Judith Light. You can watch the episode, Alabama Murder Mystery, onAmerican Monsterat IDs website. Quickly see who the memorial is for and when they lived and died and where they are buried. As they were all male, Marie was profiled for being a rare case of a female having a diabolical mind. It was rainy and cold on February 26 when police were called to a house near Blue Mountain. 0 cemeteries found in Anniston, Calhoun County, Alabama, USA. The woman who found Hilley described her appearance as scary, stating she was dirty with mud on her face and long fingernails. A crew filmed shots Wednesday, Dec. 21, 2016, in Anniston as part of a documentary on Audrey Marie Hilley. Sign up forOxygen Insiderfor all the best true crime content. If so, who was it, and why did he suddenly back out of the plan? She then left on a trip to attend to "family business" in 1982. WebSummary. quarter-century later, the Audrey Marie Hilley Hilleys mother, Lucille Frazier, also died in Hilleys care, as did her mother-in-law, Carrie Hilley. His face, it wasrealashy-colored,and his eyes were, like, really blood red, Carol recalled. Create a free profile to get unlimited access to exclusive videos, breaking news, sweepstakes, and more! Frank was a tough but gentle father who worried about keeping the bills paid. Newly married Frank and Marie Hilley (Anniston Star). Husband-Killer Dies of Exposure After Escape : 'Black Marie Hilley From poisoning and faking a kidnapping to identity fraud and evading the authorities. She even lightly poisoned the coffee and cookies she served to the police when they came to question her! WebMarie Hilley. Marie spent little time mourning. Court Records. But, after a few years, she was amazingly released for a weekend furlough! Martin said her sisters last wish was for her to meet her husband and visit her home in New Hampshire. After his military service, Frank chose to settle in Anniston and start a family there. Robbi, she said, had died. She died of exposure in 1987 at the age of 53 while on the lam from authorities. Did you know her when you were younger? So, if youre wondering how all of this fits in with Audrey, weve got you covered. Audrey Marie Hilley Anniston police said a documentary crew was in town today from Discovery ID filming shots to tell the story of a notorious 40-year-old murder She soon found a job as a secretary. 0000001306 00000 n
Marie first travelled to Florida, where she met a man named John Greenleaf Homan III. trailer
Doctors at UAB Hospital eventually determined Carol was suffering from heavy metal poisoning, and that while in the hospital, Marie had secretly given her injections. He is found murdered in a motel in Anniston, Alabama, as he tried to stop an altercation between two men. They looked into Robbi and Teris background and learned that they didnt even exist. It was a hit because, at the time, Judith Light, the actress who played Audrey Marie Hilley, was known for her role on the comedic sitcomWhos The Boss? Marie Hilley Marie had an eye for the finer things in life,andsherubbedelbowswith several prominent families in Anniston, climbing up the small southern towns social ladder. Contact with Alabama state police confirmed this, and she was also wanted for far more serious charges. She called herself Robbi Hannon. A New Hampshire state police detective surmised that the woman living as Teri Martin was Robbi Homan and had staged her death. Clarence and Carrie Hilley had a close, warm family, and what Frank and his two sisters (Freeda and Jewel) may have lacked in material things they more than made up for in love. The true-story crime family drama aired for years on Lifetime and Lifetime Movie Network (LMN). As she was being rushed to the hospital by ambulance for hypothermia, Marie began convulsing and lost consciousness. A few days later, Marie was spotted crawling across the porch of a house in rural Blue Mountain, Alabama, just north of Anniston. 0000004733 00000 n
Just before Carols symptoms started, Audrey had taken a life insurance policy out on her daughters name. However, Carol's condition worsened and she was taken to the hospital. Murderess. Within a few minutes Marie lost consciousness and began convulsing, and her heart stopped in the ambulance on the way to the hospital. She was found a few days later on the porch of someones house in Anniston. 0000008942 00000 n
Wife, Mother, Murderer: The Marie Hilley Storyis directed by Mel Damski and written by David Eyre Jr. Shes bleeding, shes bruised, her clothing is torn from her body, Manis told Snapped. Her mother, Marie Hilley, is arrested for writing bad checks and is jailed for two months. She becomes sicker as time passes. Try again later. Date: 1975. The gruesome tale of Marie Hilley Edit a memorial you manage or suggest changes to the memorial manager. Anniston Marie Hilley Bob Field said today. There, Carol secretly received two more injections from her mother, who warned her not to tell others about the shots. Forensic tests on samples of her hair were conducted by the Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences on October 3, 1979, revealing arsenic levels ranging from over 100 times the normal level close to the scalp to zero times the normal level at the end of the hair shaft. If you have questions, please contact [emailprotected]. WebIn May 1975, 45-year-old Frank Hilley passed away suddenly at his home in Anniston, Alabama after suffering from severe nausea and stomach cramps. Her final cause of death was attributed to hypothermia and exposure. They began dating and got married in May 1981. Detectives learned that Marie had recently taken out a $25,000 life insurance policy out onCarol, which designated her as the beneficiary, according tocourt documents. Marie Hilley At the time, the doctors werent sure what was wrong with him. After that, Frank's became worse. Sorry! Huey and Lucille moved in with the Hilleys. In the meantime, "Teri" had taken a secretarial job in nearby Brattleboro, Vermont and was arrested. WebAt the end of his tour of duty they discovered Marie was pregnant, and when he was discharged they moved back home to Anniston, where they bought a small home. There, she faked a kidnapping, stole her uncle and aunts car, and took off. cemeteries found within miles of your location will be saved to your photo volunteer list. Are you sure that you want to delete this photo? Oops, we were unable to send the email. But a few years later, investigators would learn that there was foul play involved in Franks death. Her heartless crimes and calculating schemes were the topics of headlines throughout the 1980s as her case played out in bizarre twists and turns. ", On January 11, 1980, she was indicted in absentia for her husband's murder. The jury voted to send Myers to prison for the rest of his life, without the possibility of parole. This relationship is not possible based on lifespan dates. If so, who was it, and why did he suddenly back out of the plan? She is buried in Alabama alongside Frank. cemeteries found in Anniston, Calhoun County, Alabama, USA will be saved to your photo volunteer list. You have chosen this person to be their own family member. Which memorial do you think is a duplicate of Audrey Hilley (6931411)? WebIn May 1975, 45-year-old Frank Hilley passed away suddenly at his home in Anniston, Alabama after suffering from severe nausea and stomach cramps. Murderess. Check out never-before-seen content, free digital evidence kits, and much more! worked long hours, she spent most of her childhood being raised by her two aunts. Crime News is your destination for true crime stories from around the world, breaking crime news, and information about Oxygen's original true crime shows and documentaries. Audrey had a convulsion as the first responders arrived, and she lost consciousness. 32 23
Everything changed when Frank, Mike, and Carol became sick with stomach problems. WebSummary. They took him on to the hospital,and within a day or two,he was dead.. Are you sure that you want to delete this flower? In the meantime, a toxicology test was performed on Carol, leading to shocking results. Alabama, U.S., County Marriage Records, 1805-1967, U.S., Newspapers.com Marriage Index, 1800s-2020, Florida, U.S., Marriage Indexes, 1822-1875 and 1927-2001, U.S., Newspapers.com Obituary Index, 1800s-current, Your Scrapbook is currently empty. The hospital staff re-examined Carol and found evidence that she had been poisoned with arsenic. Shes bleeding, shes bruised, her clothing is torn from her body, Manis told Snapped. Radford, VA 24142-6946. Marie Hilley Real Name: Audrey Marie Hilley November 1979: Marie Hilley bonds out of jail and then vanishes from a Birmingham hotel. Shes bleeding, shes bruised, her clothing is torn from her body, Manis told Snapped.. She had been out in torrential rains and frigid temperatures for days by the time authorities captured her. Links: Unsolved Mysteries Wiki is a FANDOM TV Community. Coincidentally, Marie was arrested for passing bad checks; they were written to the insurance company that insured Carol's life, causing that policy to lapse. 1982:Robbi suddenly disappears. Please complete the captcha to let us know you are a real person. Sometime in 1975, Frank started to suffer from an illness where he constantly complained of nausea and abdominal pain. The couple fell in love and married in May 1951. Born as Audrey Marie Frazier in Anniston, Alabama to Huey and Lucille Frazier. Returning to the hotel room, John found a note. To console her brother-in-law, Teri visits John and seduces him. Hilley He died in 1989. You are nearing the transfer limit for memorials managed by Find a Grave. This account already exists, but the email address still needs to be confirmed. Marie stayed behind in Anniston to finish high school while Frank went to Long Beach, California to finish out his stint in the Navy. Language links are at the top of the page across from the title. Marie Hilley is buried in Forest Lawn Gardens in Anniston. Marie Hilley, who had always aspired to wealth and position, died an ugly, lonely death very near her childhood home. Doctors attempted to revive her and raise her body tempterature but were unsuccessful, and she was pronounced dead 3 1/2 hours after being found. quarter-century later, the Audrey Marie Hilley