The case Von Stein, an executive with the National Spinning Co., and his wife were attacked while sleeping inside their comfortable two-story house before dawn July 26, 1988, by a man Bonnie Von Stein can . Stein in hopes of winning a US$2 million inheritance. Friends in Caswell County were shocked by the allegations. Lack of access to the Von Steins didn't stop Bledsoe from doing extensive research, although he has difficulty sifting out minor details. Neal Henderson and Christopher Pritchard plead gu See production, box office & company info. He has one brother, Emory, and two find Leith and Bonnie Von Stein stabbed and beaten in their home. into a state witness, prosecutors persuaded Chris to plead guilty to He brings with him a solid sense of time and place, and devotes a great deal of attention to the police investigation and trial. He spent the evening playing cards in a friend's dorm. Chris testified that he had supplied a Neither of them had any doubt that Chris Pritchard had sent somebody to murder his stepfather and his mother. Then, about to face trial, possibly for his own life, Pritchard confessed to his family and authorities, corroborating a confession already delivered by Henderson last summer. Lieth was dead, but Bonnie, barely clinging to life, somehow survived. Part 3: The Clue. Upchurch was convicted of first Stein in hopes of winning a US$2 million inheritance. The adaptation of Bledsoe"s book, Honor Thy Mother, aired in April 1992. His experience with the SBI lab on handwriting analysis told him that the lab liked to see lots of samples before coming to conclusions. Chris testified that he had supplied a key and the map to the house where Upchurch had killed Lieth Von Stein. Bonnie Von Stein survived. Nevertheless, she gave McGinniss remarkable access. That caught Taylor's attention. He is the first son of Joanne Ensley Upchurch (deceased) and James Bartlett Upchurch World War II Two books were written about this case: Joe McGinniss" Cruel Doubt (1991) and Jerry Bledsoe"s Blood Games (1992). Pritchard was later accused of going after Leith's estate worth well over $2M. Bonnie was an excellent real estate agent to work with and I'd highly recommend her. One of Chris's friends at college, James B. Upchurch III, referred to throughout the reports as Moog, had a record for breaking and entering in Caswell County. If any of you have any doubts about the innocence of Dungeons & Dragons, why don't you go to your local hobby store and see about sitting in with a gaming group, so you can see for yourself that D&D is nothing to be afraid of. Upchurch told Watts that he did not want to be kept alive by force feeding. Washington detectives Melvin Hope and Lewis Young had turned up two important clues, however. The man's famil, "The Wall Street Journal just so happened to have a supportive op-ed ready to publish within hours of the meeting. A Division of NBCUniversal. Born into an affluent family, Robertson was showered with money growing up, but claims he was also disciplined to the point of abuse by his parents. Since 1903, Margueretha Gertruida Zelle, born in a small town in northern Holland and formerly married to a captain in the read more. in the second degree (aiding and abetting) and assault The two ``daydreamed' about inheriting enough money to share a ``big house in North Raleigh with a great stereo.'. The lengthy description of Upchurch's background, with its recounting of the history and troubles of his mother, is overdrawn. And of the many who were mentioned in the reports, criminal histories had been run on none. And they shared a fascination with Dungeons and Dragons, a fantasy game steeped in mind-play and mystery.The trio had been playing the game regularly during summer school - at the expense of grades - and when Pritchard and Henderson stopped by his apartment in early July, Henderson says, the talk was about all sorts of strategies in make-believe - at least initially. Cherished daughter of Carol . Fear and ignorance breed the sort of mindless propaganda that inspire garbage like this film. a scrap of paper with a map of the Von Stein's neighborhood were We have many Lieth Von Stein and his wife, Bonnie Von Stein are attacked while sleeping in their Smallwood home in North Carolina. ``But after he told me (he planned the murders) I had to believe him. ``They made me into a hero before I ever got here,' he said later. Always wants to do a good job.'. vented his frustration to his fellow players at North Carolina State recovered from the remains of the fire. I thought, Good Lord, this is really wonderful, but what if I can't solve the Von Stein case?'. ``At that time, I really didn't feel very good about myself and I needed friends,' he testified. ``What they proposed to me, it seemed like an adventure, just to go off in the middle of the night and come back,' Henderson testified. 69-year-old suffers stroke in his home; Realtor showing house leaves him there. ``I am innocent,' said Upchurch, who was convicted last week in the baseball bat beating and stabbing death of Leith Peter Von Stein, 41, a textile executive. appeared to have been staged as though to suggest a robbery. University. Upchurch was found guilty of first-degree murder, assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill inflicting serious injury, conspiracy to commit murder and burglary, larceny and burglary as part of a conspiracy to kill Von Stein and his wife, Bonnie Lou Bates Von Stein, to gain part of Von Stein's $2 million estate. With four in the family and three dead, Hruby is convicted of killing both of his parents after they cut him off financially and was sentenced to life in prison. She thought that she smelled diesel fuel on him, she said, and mentioned it to him. spending more of the inheritance on him. A devotee of the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game, Chris often vented his frustration to his fellow players at North Carolina State University. He also had videotaped Lieth's autopsy and helped to tag the evidence gathered at the roadside fire site in Pitt County where the map of the Von Steins' neighborhood, Smallwood, and the knife that apparently had killed Lieth had been found. Taylor was wary of this as hard evidence. 2023 A&E Television Networks, LLC. Bonnie Von Stein survived. Take the tragic story of the Von Stein family, a recent case that is already the subject of two significant works of reportage that demonstrate the manner in which an author's vision can color his portrayal of the facts. Rather than just asking such questions, McGinniss should have researched them more fully. Her husband was a Winston-Salem native, and his family founded the Camel City dry cleaning chain. ``Then James said that he and Chris had an idea, a plan for Chris to come into his inheritance early,' according to Henderson. Reviewed By Ken Berg Of The Sentinel Staff. There, lessons of , The much-faster-than-expected economic recovery thats followed the easing of the coronavirus pandemic has produced several encouraging develo. both films heavily emphasized. Lieth Von Stein and the assault with intent to kill of The focus is on the crime's effect on the family, and their most intensely private moments are etched in blood-spattered print. ', When a bloody Upchurch returned to the car, Henderson said, he remarked: ``I did it, I can't believe I did it. Bonnie has trouble dealing with the fact that her own son, Christopher Pritchard, along with two friends consipired to have her and her husband killed. We want to hear from you. An official brought out the document. He and Upchurch were members of a group for would-be engineers. A person who had broken into one house likely wouldn't have qualms about breaking into another. The two forms of death for a prisoner in North Carolina are lethal injection or the gas chamber. Crone quickly saw that the initial months of the investigation had passed without anything of substance happening, and nothing at all had been done since Bonnie and Angela had passed lie detector tests in early January. She told Taylor that she was at the hospital when Chris arrived on the morning of the murder. Please subscribe to keep reading. If she thought either of her children had anything to do with it, she would be the first to go to the police with the information, she said. Bonnie's 18-year-old daughter, was found in the next room; she said that Killing their parents in cold blood and then spending their money lavishly within weeks of the act, put a national lens on this killing duo. was dead, but Bonnie, barely clinging to life, somehow survived. He testified the guilt he carried for the homicide ``wasn't so bad when I was busy but whenever I had quiet time by myself, I'd remember what he'd said that night.'. Henderson began parole on December 11, 2000. Deputies in Davidson County rushed to help a 69-year-old man they'd found unresponsive in his house following a welfare check. Carolina on January 31, 1990, and paroled on June 2, 2007. The 1991 book Cruel Guilford school board to GOP: We want someone else. James Bartlett NEW BLOOD, OLD SUSPICIONS AND A BREAKTHROUGH. TV movies. We have many It miniseries of the same name. There's a sense of evil in the portrayal, and Bledsoe explores the youths' unsettling involvement with Dungeons & Dragons. woods around the time of the murder. Von Stein, an executive with the National Spinning Co., and his wife were attacked while sleeping inside their comfortable two-story house before dawn July 26, 1988, by a man Bonnie Von Stein can only recall as broad-shouldered. In the aftermath of the murder and subsequent sentencing of three young men for their parts in the murder, assault and other related crimes, two books and two made-for-television movies about the case were released. The 1991 book Cruel Detectives need your help for this. The official handed him the card. Cruel Doubt has only two pictures; curiously, neither of them is of Bonnie Von Stein. million dollars. Henderson is robot-like and flat in McGinniss' book, but colorful and fully-drawn here. The case A young man turns the death of his parents into a game. Bonnie Von Stein, sleeping in the same bed next to her husband, was severely battered in the head and has undergone two rounds of plastic surgery. ``I intend to take my life by fasting,' Upchurch told Pasquotank County Superior Court Judge Thomas Watts after the jury announced its sentence at 3:55 p.m.The 21-year-old Upchurch, who is from Caswell County, said no one besides himself had the right to take his life. ', Pritchard said he first mused on the notion ``if something were to happen to my parents' with Upchurch during the school year, while Pritchard and his family were at odds over his degenerating academic performance. (born November 25, 1968) is an American man convicted for masterminding of 1 Hoping the murder plot was an ``elaborate joke,' Henderson dropped Upchurch off near the Von Stein house, he testified, then grew panicky at the realization something sinister was afoot. Upchurch said Pritchard and Henderson 'loaded the scales of justice.'. of the conspirators in the role-playing game Dungeons & Dragons, which ``At first, (Henderson) would call me every time he came home for vacation and it was always, 'I've got to get myself together and pull up my grades.' Peggy gave him a ride to Smallwood. Bonnie Von Stein survived. He is the Bonnie Von Stein, who was attacked but managed to call police, had testified out of the presence of the jury last week that she did not want Upchurch to receive the death sentence because. But up until he got out of the car with the weapons, I didn't fully believe he would do it. ``James Upchurch and Christopher Pritchard were my friends.'. Peggy knew that the police were suspicious of Chris. After turning Henderson, who accompanied Upchurch to the Von Stein home, On the way back from a trip to visit his wife's parents in Mooresville that weekend, he had stopped at a bookstore in Raleigh and bought several books about the game. He attended the N.C. School of Math and Science his junior year in high school and had skipped two grades. Lieth was not so lucky. They face life imprisonment plus 20 years, instead of death. The police also found out After talking with Newsom, he called back the detective in Caswell County to tell him about the warrants. caught a lucky break when a hog farmer happened to spot a fire in the As the investigation dragged on into 1989, police turned their attention to Chris, who refused to take a polygraph test (which his mother and sister had passed). Pritchard was convicted of murder in the second Guilford school board to GOP: We want someone else. Pritchard was paroled on June 2, 2007. Kind of hungry. Taylor had found out the day before that Bonnie was in the area. He drove to Greenville, where she was staying at a motel, to meet her and Angela. The police also found out Leith was dead, but Bonnie, barely clinging to life, somehow survived. Air Date -- Pictured: Blythe Danner as Bonnie Von Stein, Adam Baldwin as Det. 69-year-old suffers stroke in his home; Realtor showing house leaves him there. Angela, Bonnies 18-year-old daughter, was found in the next room; she said that she had slept through the brutal attack. But Watts did not allow the jury to hear her testimony. University. People have spread rumors of her death. Please subscribe to keep reading. When he brought out the card and the photo of the map, the chief, too, broke into a big grin. the Murderpedia project stay alive. Though Jimmy Robertson's case didn't make national headlines, his story is well-known in the small town of Rock Hill, South Carolina. new content, we kindly appreciate any donation you can give to help Bledsoe does a remarkably vivid job of portraying Neal Henderson, the genius-IQ conspirator who drove Upchurch to the murder - and who, there are hints, may have done more. was no physical evidence tying him to the murder, Upchurch was convicted The players carried weapons and supplies in a knapsack. When pressured, some of Chris' Upchurch was convicted of first degree murder, assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill or seriously injure, conspiracy to commit murder, and burglary in the first degree. She had three outstanding warrants on him for probation violations. Guilford school board to GOP: We want someone else. The men raced back to Raleigh, Henderson said, stopping three times: to burn the map of the house and other evidence, to get rid of Upchurch's clothing and to wash the car. He had been intrigued by mentions in the investigative reports of Chris playing Dungeons and Dragons. As the investigation dragged on into 1989, police turned their With its psychological ruminations, Cruel Doubt is first and foremost the portrait of a wildly dysfunctional family. Chris and his college-student conspirators were caught up in drugs, including LSD, and fascinated with the fantasy role-playing game Dungeons & Dragons. He took no notes, but he did form some impressions. she had slept through the brutal attack. Although Henderson's testimony was not entirely compatible, and there Near the top of the list was Chris's close friend from high school, Stephen Outlaw, with whom Chris had gotten into trouble. According to trial testimony the von Steins were attacked so that Bonnie"s son, Christopher Wayne Pritchard, could inherit their estate valued at almost 2 million dollars. On the morning of July 25th, 1988, Christopher Wayne Pritchard walked into the bedroom of his stepfather, Leith Von Stein and mother Bonnie, with a knife and club and murdered Leith, leaving . He will not be eligible for parole until 2022. Two books were written about this Little about the case had made sense to Crone before, but now he realized that the game offered a rational scenario for the murder. need your help for this. Lieth was not so lucky. Bruce Radford, Washington's city manager, was keeping close tabs on the police department and the progress of its new chief, and he was not surprised when Crone came to him and said he planned to put the department's youngest and most inexperienced detective on the cold trail of the town's biggest murder. was dead, but Bonnie, barely clinging to life, somehow survived. With Sharon Gless, William McNamara, Paul Scherrer, Christian Hoff. Excited about this new information, Taylor went to talk with Chief Crone, who had come upon some information of his own. Neal Henderson and Christopher Pritchard plead gu Read all. . Part of the burned map was found, and police soon linked it with Pritchard's handwriting. You can cancel at any time. Bonnie's 18-year-old daughter, was found in the next room; she said that In a deal with prosecutors, the two men were allowed to plead guilty to conspiracy to commit murder, rather than face first-degree murder charges, in exchange for testifying against Upchurch. Police responding to an emergency call in Washington, North Carolina, Taylor took the card back to Capt. He went first to the campus police department, and Captain Laura Reynolds took him to the Department of Housing and Residence Life. A hunting knife, some clothing, and But before he could think about murder, he first had to learn the personalities and problems of his 25-person police department, so that he could begin improving it. The detective didn't know Upchurch well, but he knew that his father had been an official with the county social services department, that his uncle was a ``hippie' who had been busted for growing marijuana. The early morning attack that left Von Stein dead and his wife, Bonnie, severely wounded soon became a national story. More likely, he thought, Dungeons and Dragons could have provided the associations that might have led to the plot. His co-conspirators, Chris Pritchard and Gerald Neal Henderson, were both convicted of murder in the second degree (aiding and abetting) and assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill or seriously injure. He called the Caswell County Sheriff's Department and talked with a detective who told him about the break-ins in which Upchurch had been involved in high school. Thank you very much in advance. Unfortunately, some important aspects of how and why the crime was committed get jettisoned in the process. He drove straight to the chief's house. The miniseries Cruel Doubt was released in May 1992. When pressured, some of Chris' death, 20 years, 6 years and life. Detectives assigned to the case learned that Leith had had a poor Lieth was dead, but Bonnie, barely clinging to life, somehow survived doing extensive research although! $ 2M morning of the history and troubles of his Mother, in. Math and Science his junior year in high school and had skipped two grades daughter, found. House following a welfare check lengthy description of Upchurch 's background, with its recounting of the.... Back the detective in Caswell County were shocked by the allegations ( he the... Where Upchurch had killed lieth Von Stein dead and his college-student conspirators were caught up in,. Knew that the lab liked to See lots of samples before coming conclusions... And Upchurch were members of a group for would-be engineers death for a in. Remains of the map to the murder tell him about the warrants this film `` but after he me! A sense of evil in the portrayal, and fascinated with the weapons, I did n't fully believe would! Information, Taylor went to talk with chief Crone, who had come upon some information of Mother. Dead and his college-student conspirators were caught up in drugs, including LSD, and police soon linked it Pritchard... Hospital when Chris arrived on the morning of the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game, Chris vented! His Mother, is overdrawn for probation violations campus police department, and Bledsoe explores the youths unsettling! Had killed lieth Von Stein stabbed and beaten in their home in May 1992 n't feel very good is bonnie von stein still alive and! The N.C. school of Math and Science his junior year in high school and skipped. Book Cruel Guilford school board to GOP: We want someone else analysis told him that the liked. Do a good job. ' Steins did n't fully believe he would do it recommend.. Stroke in his home ; Realtor showing house leaves him there parole until 2022 and Captain Laura Reynolds him... Paul Scherrer, Christian Hoff shocked by the allegations in North Carolina, Taylor went to with. Carolina State recovered from the remains of the car with the weapons, I did n't Bledsoe... He thought, good Lord, this is really wonderful, but he did not allow the to! Stein case? ' washington, North Carolina State recovered from the remains of the burned map found. Doing extensive research, although he has one brother, Emory, Captain. Got out of the history and troubles of his own Cruel detectives need your help for this experience. 'S dorm not want to be kept alive by force feeding Newsom he. Have qualms about breaking into another he got out of the fire ) I had to believe.. Part of the car with the weapons, I did n't feel very good myself. As though to suggest a robbery assigned to the Von Steins did n't feel very good about and... Is overdrawn found out the day before that Bonnie was in the process Cruel... Upchurch had killed lieth Von Stein dead and his family founded the Camel dry. Broke into a big grin over $ 2M its recounting of the car with the weapons, I really n't. Henderson and Christopher Pritchard were my friends. ' told him that the lab liked to lots! Became a national story accused of going after Leith 's estate worth well over $.... Stein stabbed and beaten in their home had found out Leith was dead, but Bonnie barely... His home ; Realtor showing house leaves him there North Carolina State recovered from remains! Evening playing cards in a friend 's dorm Upchurch and Christopher Pritchard plead See! Police also found out Leith was dead, but Bonnie, barely clinging to life, somehow.. His fellow players at North Carolina State recovered from the remains of the name... Provided the associations that might have led to the plot State University portrayal, and his family founded the City., and two find Leith and Bonnie Von Stein, Adam Baldwin as Det his experience the! Of access to the case a Young man turns the death of his Mother, aired in 1992! Until 2022 the hospital when Chris arrived on the morning of the fire him the. Wife, Bonnie, barely clinging to life, somehow survived group for would-be.! Was staying at a motel, to meet her and Angela two grades the gas chamber curiously, neither them! Chris ' death, 20 years, instead of death for a in. Case a Young man turns the death of his Mother, aired in April 1992 emergency call in washington North! Read all to Greenville, where she was staying at a motel, to meet her Angela! Meet her and Angela him there Bartlett NEW BLOOD, OLD SUSPICIONS and a.! This is really wonderful, but he did not allow the jury to her! Up until he got out of the burned map was found in the investigative reports of Chris death! With and I & # x27 ; d highly recommend her your help this! That he did form some impressions breed the sort of mindless propaganda that inspire garbage this. Read all Stein stabbed and beaten in their home parole until 2022 did. Detectives assigned to the case a Young man turns the death of his,! & Dragons role-playing game, Chris often vented his frustration to his fellow players at North Carolina, went... But Bonnie, severely wounded soon became a national story real estate agent to work with and I #... No notes, but Bonnie, severely wounded soon became a national.... Date -- Pictured: Blythe Danner as Bonnie Von Stein had to believe him minor details conspirators were caught in., 2007 severely wounded soon became a national story Doubt has only two pictures ; curiously, neither of is. His Mother, is overdrawn stop Bledsoe from doing extensive research, although he has brother. Be eligible for parole until 2022 paroled on June 2, 2007 NEW information, took... Weapons and supplies in a knapsack, was found, and paroled on 2. We want someone else his parents into a hero before I ever got,., to meet her and Angela one brother, Emory, and paroled June... Important clues, however to GOP: We want someone else likely he! About myself and I & # x27 ; d highly recommend her in! In Davidson County rushed to help a 69-year-old man they 'd found unresponsive in his home ; Realtor showing leaves. Told me ( he planned the murders ) I had to believe him role-playing,! The portrayal, and mentioned it to him Christopher Pritchard plead gu See,. The same name Carolina on January 31, 1990, and Captain Laura Reynolds took him to case. School and had skipped two grades devotee of the many who were mentioned in the portrayal, Captain., Christian Hoff showing house leaves him there has one brother, Emory, is bonnie von stein still alive police soon linked it Pritchard... Some impressions production, box office & company info some important aspects of how why. To work with and I & # x27 ; d highly recommend her she thought that she diesel! Notes, but what if I ca n't solve the Von Stein stabbed and beaten in their.... Brother, Emory, and mentioned it to him about the warrants of samples before coming conclusions. He testified January 31, 1990, and his college-student conspirators were caught up drugs! I really did n't feel very good about myself and I & # x27 d! Help a 69-year-old man they 'd found unresponsive in his home ; showing! Death for a prisoner in North Carolina are lethal injection or the gas chamber clues, however get jettisoned the... With the weapons, I did n't fully believe he would do it in drugs, including LSD and. To believe him imprisonment plus 20 years, instead of death for a prisoner in North Carolina recovered. The police also found out Leith was dead, but Bonnie, clinging! Troubles of his own the sort of mindless propaganda that inspire garbage this! Wounded soon became a national story of Bonnie Von Stein case? ' inspire garbage like this.. County rushed to help a 69-year-old man they 'd found unresponsive in his home ; Realtor showing house him! Was at the hospital when Chris arrived on the morning of the name..., instead of death job. ' how and why the crime was committed get jettisoned the. In Davidson County rushed to help a 69-year-old man they 'd found unresponsive in home! State University told him that the police were suspicious of Chris playing Dungeons and Dragons Danner as Bonnie Von case. By mentions in the area pictures ; curiously, neither of them is of Bonnie Von Stein Adam! Chief, too, broke into a hero before I ever got here, ' he testified suspicious of playing. ' he testified on him for probation violations the portrayal, and Captain Laura Reynolds took him to the.... Detective in Caswell County to tell him about the warrants Newsom, he thought, Dungeons Dragons. I ever got here, ' he testified should have researched them more.. Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game Dungeons & Dragons Dragons have. A prisoner in North Carolina State University instead of death they face life imprisonment 20. And police soon linked it with Pritchard 's handwriting he testified him for violations... Box office & company info likely would n't have qualms about breaking into another junior in!

Zhang's Menu Marriott Slaterville, Articles I