Imagine Wallace's horror when she woke up in the hospital on September 14, 2007 and discovered that her mother and "best friend," Stacey Castor, was likely behind each of these acts. [3], Castor's defense teamattorneys Charles Keller and Todd Smith[14]was set on creating reasonable doubt in the jury's minds about Castor having committed the murders. David made it very clear that he didnt really like me and my sister, Bree Wallace told Snapped. Lula Young's Son Remembers the Day His Mother Died, Stacey began managing the books and working as a secretary at Davids business after their wedding. She maintained that it was Ashley who murdered Wallace and David, though she would not speculate about motives beyond implying that her daughter might be mentally ill.[17] Fitzpatrick pointed out that Ashley's mother had never sought therapy for her and that at 21 Ashley exhibited no sign of mental illness. In 2009, her mother was found guilty of intentionally poisoning her then-husband David Castor with antifreeze and later trying to kill her too. 2 Stacey (pictured left) had two daughters with her first husband Michael Credit: ABC When the authorities questioned Ashley about the forged suicide note and the deaths of her father and stepfather, she maintained her innocence. Castor was sentenced to 51 years in prisonand that's just the start of the story. Convicted Murderer of David W. Castor Her name is on her 1st When authorities were closing in on her, prosecutors said, Castor decided to kill her daughter Ashley Wallace (right with her sister Bree) and frame her for killing both husbands. Do that!" Stacey and David married in 2003, they met while working together at the latter's air conditioning installation and repair company. The one with the antifreeze in it had three fingerprints on it, and they were all Stacey Castors, Investigator Michael Norton told Snapped. He didnt show up to work this morning, she said to the operator. Even though I do hate her, I still love her at the same time. Suggest a friendly drink to break the ice, poison the drink, then repeat until dead. Spinelli believed her, too, because the letter misspelled antifreeze as "antifree," a mistake Castor always made when the saying word. Stacey Castor, who killed her husband, attempted to kill her daughter, and was suspected of killing her first husband, too. (Courtesy Ashley Wallace) She's focused on moving forward. Her 2nd husband buried next to her side. WebStacey Ruth Daniels was born on July 24, 1967 and grew up in the area around Syracuse, New York. On September 13, 2007, Castor gave her daughter a glass of vodka mixed with crushed pills, according to her court testimony. Ultimately, her daughters, Ashley and Bree Wallace, struggled to know why their mother Vardalos was instructed to play the character as if she were innocentand it works. "[19] Ashley said, "I would have done anything for her. So, if youre curious to Wetzel Road black widow Stacey Castor actually had a heart. AP. According to Castor, Wallace was very close to Bree, showing a favoritism that Castor made up for by becoming "best friends" with elder daughter Ashley. Her trial, for poisoning her husband and trying to kill her daughter, aired live on local airwaves. How can you hate someone and love them at the same time? On the nightstand was a bottle of liquor, a bottle of antifreeze and two glasses. "[20], David's son, whom Castor had cheated out of his inheritance, pleaded with Judge Fahey for Castor to be severely punished. Stacey began managing the books and working as a secretary at Davids business after their wedding. Stacey Castor, who killed her husband, attempted to kill her daughter, and was suspected of killing her first husband, too. Her 2nd husband buried next to her side. [2][3], Castor was employed by an ambulance dispatch company, while Wallace worked nights as a mechanic, but the family had little money. Clockwise from top: Ashley Wallace, Stacey Castor, Bree Wallace, Michael Wallace. Michael Wallace, her first, died on Jan. 11, 2000, from what appeared to be a heart attack. When she finally regained consciousness the following afternoon, Ashley Wallace was bewildered and besieged with questions she couldnt answer. When Stacey Castor's second husband dies suddenly, investigators learn her first husband is also dead. Today, Wallace lives in New York, and is engaged to be married. After serving 7 years of her 51-year prison sentence, Castor died in 2016but for her daughter, the story goes on. [8], In September 2007, amid mounting evidence that Castor had murdered both of her husbands, she began to panic. [3] After she learned police had exhumed Wallace's body and found traces of antifreeze in his system, she was believed to have devised a plan to set up her daughter Ashley for the murders. [4] Their daughter Ashley was 12 at the time and had been alone with him. Four years after David Castors death, Stacey Castor, whod become known as a black widow in the press, was arrested for murder and for attempted murder of Ashley Wallace. Convicted Murderer of David W. Castor Her name is on her 1st Now Detective Spinelli is confident this is a double homicide and brings Stacey in for questioning on September 7th. Stacey Castor (Nia Vardalos) weathered the storm of her first husbands death and managed to find love again with her boss, David (Mike Dopud). Ultimately, her daughters, Ashley and Bree Wallace, struggled to know why their mother However, according to Ashley by the time she graduated high school in June 2005 things between the Wallace girls and their stepdad begun to turn around. [16] He sentenced her to the maximum of 25 years to life for the murder of David Castor, and to another 25 years for the attempt to kill Ashley. [19] Her lead defense counsel, Keller, announced that Castor would appeal the verdict, including challenging the inclusion of evidence regarding the death of her first husband, for which Castor had not been charged. And we watched as she was convicted of the crimes in 2009. Theyd fight because my mom did pay a majority of the bills, and David just paid for his toys, says Ashley. Stacey Castor (Nia Vardalos) weathered the storm of her first husbands death and managed to find love again with her boss, David (Mike Dopud). WebThe 2009 murder trial in Syracuse, New York, of Stacey Castor. [2] In 1991, they had a second daughter, Bree. According to Stacey, David began drinking heavily, before locking himself in the bedroom. With more free time on his hands David indulged himself in the toys of a grown man: motorcycles, snowmobiles and jet skis. [3] Castor said that they had been through enough emotional stress and needed to relax. Regarding the crimes, she told 20/20 anchor David Muir: "I did not kill Michael Wallace, I did not kill David Castor. Lets just get drunk, Ashley Wallace recalled her mom saying, in a 2009 interview the younger woman gave to 20/20. I was like, Cool! Eventually, Stacey started dating again and in late 2001 met a recent divorcee named David Castor. A letter she had written before her death incriminated him as the murderer if she were to die eventually; the letter led to his prosecution. Those closest to him told investigators David wasnt the type to commit suicide. For more stories like this, sign up for our newsletter. [15] With a "jam-packed" courtroom, most were focused on Castor. Days after discovering her second husbands dead body, Stacey had him buried next to her first. Her trial, for poisoning her husband and trying to kill her daughter, aired live on local airwaves. Stacey Castor went on trial on January 13, 2009 for the murder of her second husband David and the attempted murder of her daughter Ashley, as well as falsifying her husbands will. Since then, Wallace tells OprahMag.com she has "moved on with [her] life," but still struggles with the aftereffects of trauma. WebStacey Castor and her first husband, Michael Wallace, had two daughters, Ashley and Bree Wallace. [2] In 1991, they had a second daughter, Bree. Police also believe Castor to be behind Michael Wallace's death in 2000, though she was not tried on that charge. Chanelle Peloso (The Bletchley Circle) is Ashley, the oldest of Castor's two daughters. Castors younger daughter, Bree Wallace, found her older sister unresponsive, and she and her mom called 911. Stacey Castor was only a teenager when she first met Michael Wallace in 1985. [3] Ashley's sister left her side for a moment and when she returned, she found a suicide note[11] beside Ashley. [19] Castor, who professed to being shocked at the guilty verdict, maintained her innocence during the on-air 20/20 special,[3] as well as in unaired parts of the program. Ultimately, her daughters, Ashley and Bree Wallace, struggled to know why their mother Castor almost got away with it. Stacey Castor and Wallace had two girls together, who the couple named Ashley and Bree. She was only allowed three whys in a day sometimes, Judie said. [24] He stated that while most suicide notes focus on themes of remorse and the person not being able to go on with life, the note supposedly written by Ashley was focused on taking the blame off of Castor. As hard as you tried, I survived. Before sentencing her to 54 years in prison, Onondaga County Judge Joseph Fahey said: In my 34 years in the criminal justice system as a lawyer and a judge, I have seen serial killers, contract killers, killers of every variety and stripe. It caused trouble at home. [17], Castor's defense team presented a pharmaceutical expert in an attempt to cast doubt on the prosecution's claim that Castor had drugged Ashley 17 hours prior to being taken to the hospital. [30] It was not immediately apparent how she died and the manner of her death was listed as undetermined. Very rare is it the case that women engage in psychological terrorism of their partners," Todd Shackelford, a psychology professor at Oakland University, said in an interview with Lifetime. The medical examiner found Wallace loaded with crystals the same crystals found in Castors autopsy. Clockwise from top: Ashley Wallace, Stacey Castor, Bree Wallace, Michael Wallace. Poisoned Love: The Stacey Castor Story: Directed by Jim Donovan. As hard as you tried, I survived and I will survive because now I'm surrounded by people that love me. 20/20: Fatal Flaw - On The Rocks chronicles David Castor's death and the chain of events that resulted in Stacey's incarceration. They hit it off quite well, having their first child, Ashley, in 1987 and another daughter, Bree, about three years later. And we watched as she was convicted of the crimes in 2009. [17], Fitzpatrick asserted that Castor's behavior during David Castor's and Ashley's illnesses made no sense, given the years she had worked for a paramedics company. [3] Seventeen hours later, Ashley was found comatose on her bed by her younger sister Bree Wallace. "I would not be as far in life as I am if I gave up and turned to drugs or alcohol," Wallace says. .css-ssumvd{display:block;font-family:Gilroy,Helvetica,Arial,Sans-serif;font-size:1.0625rem;font-weight:bold;line-height:1.25;margin-bottom:0;margin-top:0;-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;}@media (any-hover: hover){.css-ssumvd:hover{color:link-hover;}}@media(min-width: 40.625rem){.css-ssumvd{letter-spacing:0rem;margin-top:0.9375rem;}}Oprah and Mindy Kaling Are Producing a TV Show, Oprah and Michelle Obama Have a Netflix Special, Gayle Kings Pop Culture Must-See List for April, What We Know About The Little Mermaid Remake, Gayle Says March Is a Good Month for TV Lovers, Sheryl Lee Ralphs Definition of True Love. [17] Prosecutors argued the "typing sounds" were those of one of the several drafts Castor had written of the suicide note. Family members told investigators Stacey had visited her father in the hospital where he was recuperating from respiratory problems. [16], The trial had lasted for four weeks. As horrible as it makes me feel, this is goodbye mom. It caused trouble at home. Shes focused on moving forward. [24] He relayed that "psychopathic traits and histories of childhood abuse have been consistently reported in these women" and suggested that if Castor were guilty of the crimes of which she had been convicted and accused, then she would be demonstrating psychopathic traits, including regarding even her own child as an object to be used for her convenience. Oprah and Mindy Kaling Are Producing a TV Show, Jennifer Garner Avoids Press About Ben Affleck, Watch Oprahs Conversation with Ann Napolitano, The Color Purple Has an Official Release Date. What did you write in that note? And I was like, What are you talking about? She was shocked when her sister Bree told her what had happened. Elena Nicolaou is the former culture editor at Oprah Daily. Oh my God! . On the morning of September 14, 2007, Ashley was rushed to the hospital and was "15 minutes from death," according to Onondaga County District Attorney William Fitzpatrick, in an interview with ABC News. WHAT WE DO. In 2016, David's son had him moved to Pine Plains per his find-a-grave memorial. Stacey Castor (left) and her attorney Charles Keller in court on March 5, 2009. Our Mission; Our Programs; Our Events; Our History "Your honor, [Castor] is a monster and a threat to society," he said. At first, David Castor's death in 2005 was deemed a suicide. It's difficult to fathom everything Ashley Wallace of Clay, NY experienced by the time she was 19, but let's try. Page 2", "Exhumed Body Reveals Stacey Castor's First Husband 'Didn't Just Die': Exclusive Look Inside Anti-Freeze Murder Mystery; What Brought Two Men to Rest in Neighboring Graves. I knew from [the minute Ashley was born], my whole reason for being here was to take care of her, Castor said. Because if I don't, than Stacey won.". But she tried to kill me instead. It was determined he died from a heart attack and was buried a week later. [24], Forensic Files had an episode titled "Freeze Framed" regarding Castor. [3] In a final attempt to convince the jury that she was not guilty, Castor took the stand. [2] [3] [20] "Human life is sacred. Ashley is an angsty teen who is dating a boy named TKTK. [23] Ashley said that she does not know how her mother, any mother, could try to kill her own child,[3] a question that the public has also pondered. Stacey Castor and Wallace had two girls together, who the couple named Ashley and Bree. Stacey Castor is a single mother raising two teenage daughters named Bree and Ashley. Thoughts. Check out never-before-seen content, free digital evidence kits, and much more! Wallace was shaken and called her mother. Stacey Castor then claimed her daughter, Ashley Wallace, poisoned herself with pills and vodka and had a typed suicide note claiming she killed her father and stepfather. But she was the one who did this," Wallace said. Stacey Ruth Castor weathered the storm of her first husband's death and managed to find love again with her boss, David. "[9], If there is a ceiling in terms of evil, she (Castor) is at the ceiling. Castor, however, never visited. [3] Castor's mother believed her granddaughter Ashley to be guilty. Even though I do hate her, I love her at the same time," Wallace said. The next morning, Bree Wallace found her older sister passed out next to a 750-word letter confessing to the murders of Michael and David. [4] They believed Castor had used the turkey baster to force-feed him once he became too physically weak. Stacey Castor and Wallace had two girls together, who the couple named Ashley and Bree. Stacey Castor was only a teenager when she first met Michael Wallace in 1985. Seven years later, Castor's death has caught many by surprise, the same way her ruthless crimes did. My daughter has taken some pills. Police say Stacey explained that the couple had gotten into a huge fight that weekend over how to celebrate their upcoming two-year anniversary. Bree said that though losing her mother was hard, "I was happy that they said she was guilty, because we all know that she's guilty. On the afternoon of August 22, 2005, the local sheriffs office received a call from Stacey Castor. Questions still surround the death of her father, who was cremated before an autopsy could be performed and before the police realized they were dealing with a homicidal sociopath. When detectives arrived at Stacey Castors house they found an empty bottle of Absolute Vodka, several empty pill bottles, and a suicide note that had been written on a computer and printed out. In 2016, David's son had him moved to Pine Plains per his find-a-grave memorial. Ashley testified against her mother Ashley Wallace Castor Age [2], Stacey, the daughter of Jerry Daniels and Judie Eaton, met Michael Wallace when she was 17, in 1985, and they bonded immediately. Castor was sentenced to 51 years in prisonand that's just the start of the story. Page 4", "Exclusive: Mother and Daughter Face Off in Murder Mystery. Stacey's younger daughter Bree found Ashley the next morning and took her to the hospital. ", "DA: Antifreeze murderer Stacey Castor, who poisoned husband, dead at 48", "No obvious cause of death for killer Stacey Castor; lab tests could take months", "DA: Anti-freeze murderer Stacey Castor died of heart attack, no foul play suspected", "More 'Ripped From The Headlines' Pics Set At Lifetime With Nia Vardalos, Lyndsy Fonseca, Kirstie Alley, Jamie-Lynn Sigler, Jenn Lyon", Tragic End for 'Black Widow's' First Love - Official ABC 20/20 YouTube clip, Did 'Black Widow' Kill Two Husbands? [15], Having searched Castor's computer, prosecutors had found several drafts of the suicide note Ashley was accused of writing. Dating a boy named TKTK because if I do hate her, I still love her the. Their wedding force-feed him once he became too physically weak locking himself in the hospital Castor ) is,.: motorcycles, snowmobiles and jet skis her boss, David and she and her Charles. 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