Then, he asked Sandra to come help him. Harold claimed that one of the cars tires felt mushy, and pulled over to change it. She was an eye surgeon. Which he always did. If you would like to donate, you can visit www.umc.edu/tonibertoletendowment. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Bob and Yvonne voiced their concerns to Toni when they could, which meant the few times they traveled to Colorado to see her in person and got her alone. Family, friends and co-workers were convinced Harold Henthorn was responsible for his wife's death. This despite the fact that the Bertolets had been extra generous to Harold and Toni, gifting them some half-million dollars for a down payment on their house in Colorado, for cars and new appliances and for anything else the couple needed in the 10 years since theyd married. Although the police found a partial footprint on the Jeeps tires and Harolds statements about the tragedy kept changing, Lynns death was soon determined an accident. Harold Hentho The preparation of the Victim Statements by Barry, Todd and myself have helped us move ahead in the journey to recovery.Prepared by Bob Bertolet, October 19, 2015Amended December 5, 2015, My name is Todd Bertolet, and I am the younger brother of Toni Bertolet Henthorn.Toni Bertolet Henthorn was blessed with the gift of intellectual brilliance, impeccable character, extraordinary talents, and a big heart. We agonize over the question: Did Toni know she was being murdered and what were her thoughts as she fell 140 feet? The Bertolets had accepted those quirks early on because thats what a good family does they worked hard at liking the person that made their daughter happy. A true parent places a childs needs above their own selfish wants. Additionally, the police ascertained that Harold stood to gain substantial life insurance money following Tonis demise, which gave him a motive for murder. When the friends and family of Toni Henthorn heard how she died, only one was able to put into words what so many others were thinking. If she hadnt moved a millisecond before it hit her, she later told her mother, it may have landed right on her head, perhaps with enough force to kill. She was a beautiful hazel-eyed blonde Southern Belle who excelled in academics, sports, music and leadership. We are forced to say goodbye, forced to learn to live without our loved one, and forced to fill the emptiness that remains in our hearts. What kind of mind thinks like that to kill based on an opportunity? Powered by WordPress.com VIP. Yvonne had spent more than a decade suppressing her motherly intuition about Harold so that her daughter would be spared the consequences. She had a passion to console and give advice to those who were in need of direction and comfort. A year after he was sentenced to life in prison, it doesnt look like Harolds appeal has yet been carried out. And despite her having all the trappings of happiness a big house, a healthy child, a yearly Christmas card detailing everything thatd gone right for them that never seemed to happen. He had arrived with grand promises, including a claim that he was so rich that Toni would never have to work again. Henthorn was able to persuade police his first wife died as the result of a tragic accident. Author Vissarion Belinsky appropriately noted, Nothing is more sacred and selfless like the love of a mother; every affection, everylove, every passion, is either weak or selfish in comparison with her. The Defendant created his own reality and everyone in it. Toni Henthorn fell to her death off a cliff while hiking with her husband, Harold. The lead investigator made mention of a partial print on the wheel well, above the missing tire, the same one that Lynn had supposedly been trying to help change when she was killed. As always, Dateline NBC will use experts, law enforcement officials, and friends and family members to shape the story. He insisted at both the verdict and the sentencing that he would appeal the decision. var sc_invisible=0; However, Harold kept insisting on his innocence and in 2017 appealed for a retrial which was subsequently shot down. For a time, she wondered if she would ever be able to perform another operation. It does not store any personal data. But there was something else. Henthorn told authorities his wife was busy taking photographs and must have slipped, although he didn't see exactly what happened because he was using his phone at the time. After a few years sharpening his golf game Weaver got bored and applied for a job in Douglas, the county just to the south. Create and promote branded videos, host live events and webinars, and more. I would not go anywhere alone with this man.. We can only hope to learn more as the trial kicks into gear. This trial was about the last moment in Tonis life and the moment that Toni took her last breath, he saidand he was actually speaking for two Bertolets; his brother, Todd, wrote the statement. Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet. Psychology Today 2023 Sussex Publishers, LLC. He said he believed Henthorn's brother, who lives in Massachusetts, was served Monday in Denver federal court because "'obviously they knew he was there.". After all, his first wife had also died under unusual circumstances, although her death was immediately ruled an accident. Selena Gomez vs. Hailey Bieber: Why Everyone Thinks They Need to Pick a Side. 2015 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. The questions from Douglas County police to Harold were perfunctory. We grieve that we were not by her side in her dying moments. Grief means coping, emptiness, adjusting, loss, and sadness. : "http://www. She wanted her to say that she would listen to her mothers warning. To one cop, Harold said that they were driving east. Toni was a medical doctor that had this unique perspective on life, and those moments affirmed her compassionate care and concern for others. Additionally, detectives also discovered that shortly before Lynns death, Harold had doubled her life insurance in case of death by accident and subsequently had collected a lumpsum amount. The strange saga of Henthorn and his two ill-fated wives began back in the spring of 1995. Dale Archer, M.D., is a clinical psychiatrist and the author of Better Than Normal: How What Makes You Different Can Make You Exceptional. Also, an extensive review found that Henthorn, who had a clean police record besides a couple of minor traffic citations, had been charged with shoplifting underwear! Lynns death and Harolds behavior, Montoya told him, were still the creepiest thing Ive ever seen.. To one cop, Harold said he and Lynn left their house to go on the drive around 1 p.m. To another he said 7. How else to explain all the strangeness? To another he said it wasnt him Lynn was actually rescued by a random group of helpful strangers. To another he said they were on their way to the restaurant. And the only reason Weaver was even looking at this thin excuse for a file was that now that same husband was a widower once more. Afterwards she would discover what it was that had hurt her so badly: a large piece of lumber that Harold said fell off the porch. Only a few years later he was surprised to find that the people who ran the county wanted him to work cases. The Defendant claimed to be a family man, when, in fact he was a selfish man. Technically Weaver wasnt even supposed to be a detective. The innocence of a child should not be violated by evil within and, more importantly, evil within a trusted family unit. He needed things done his way something that was becoming more and more evident with each passing day. According to the testimony later given at a trial, instead of learning for themselves how much money Harold was due to receive from his wifes life insurance, Douglas Countys detectives took his word for it that the payout was $300,000 still a large amount considering his wifes modest social workers salary of $14,000 a year. Read More: Where Is Harold and Toni Henthorns Daughter Now? In the text, Harold claimed that Toni had fallen off a cliff and was critically injured. The Bertolets have always been a close-knit family, loving, helping and protecting one another. On September 29, 2012, Harold and Toni Henthorn went for a hike at Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado. Prosecutors argued during a two-week trial that Henthorn carefully staged Toni Henthorn's death to look like an accident because he stood to benefit from her $4.7 million in life-insurance policies, which she didn't know existed. Harold Henthorn, and his wife Toni.. Bundy was recognized for being very charming but also killed more than 30 young women. It would take a lot less time to find out that for Harold, their son-in-law, his tragic present looked very much like his past. He probably could have continued to live that lie, but if he did this, then greed got the best of him. The couple met online in late 1999 and got married only nine months later, both in a rush to have a child. Gacy was a popular Chicago contractor who entertained children in hospitals, yet also raped, tortured, and killed 33 young men. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. Perhaps the most difficult part to understand is that Henthorn had it made. And that might have been the end of the storywere it not for an anonymous tip to authorities, encouraging them to look at the circumstances of Harolds first wifes death. Toni always carried the pain of a loss, but she also knew what those tragic moments taught her as a person. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. He was a wealthy fundraiser for hospitals and churches. Eventually, Harold is arrested and convicted of first-degree murder. Following the death of his first wife, Harold married a second time after meeting Dr. Toni Jill Bertolet Henthorn on a dating site. Within less than a week, Douglas Countys coroner declared Lynn Henthorns death an accident. The control Harold seemed to demand over Toni extended to their daughter as well. For both wives of Harold Henthorn, the locations where they died were deserted and Henthorn was the only other person present. He was indicted on first-degree murder charges earlier this month in the second death and officials believe he is. How does she know that the person she chooses loves her for who she is and not for her wealth and lifestyle? In 2014 federal magistrate judge Kathleen Tafoya said at a hearing, "The court views these transfers as an attempt to hide $500,000 in cash assets which could be used should the defendant decide to flee the country. Andaccording to Haroldhe was putting the old tire in the trunk, with Sandra underneath the car, when the car slipped off its jack and crushed her. Harold planned every one of the little girls days and nights. Haley is not fine without her mother. Toni Bertolet Henthorns life was a masterpiece and role model to those who were fortunate to be a part of her life. Harold couldnt account for how the SUV fell off not one, but the two jacks he said hed used to prop it up. Weaver was the man for the job because even in a room full of patient people, his patience marked him as different. And, though hes already serving a life sentence for killing his second wife, the total lack of charges stemming from the strange, mysterious death of his first continues to fuel general outrage and disbelief. But every time she broached the subject of Harolds job, the couples lack of money or his need for control over every part of her life, Toni always had the same response: If you do that, Ill suffer the consequences. To one cop, Harold said the tire they pulled over to change was completely flat. Harold stopped to check and had the vehicle propped up on a jack. The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional". Related Sandra's death is now being re-investigated more thoroughly by the Douglas County Sheriff's Office. After all, Harold was a respected member of the community. Although Toni lived near her family in Mississippi and was a well-established opthalmologist, Harold persuaded her to leave her roots behind and move with him to Colorado. And that was the end of the story, except for one detail: according to investigator Robert McMahan, On the front passenger fender of the vehicle, right behind the wheel well of the missing wheel, was an apparent partial foot print type mark. Meaning it looked like someone had tried to kick the car off its jack. How does she know that a person of perceived trust will not cause her harm? Harold was convicted of first-degree murder, and in 2015 was sentenced to life in federal prison. (This was also brought up in court.) Harold Henthorn, 59, was convicted of one count of first-degree murder in the 2012 death of his second wife, Dr. Toni Henthorn. The Defendant proclaimed to be a Christian man when in fact he was an immoral man. Haley Henthorn is the daughter of Harold Henthorn. She chose ophthalmology, because to look into ones eyes draws a dedication and commitment to the person observed. DENVER (CBS4) - CBS4 has learned that the brother of convicted killer Harold Henthorn -- Rob Henthorn -- has been ordered to appear in court next month to explain what happened to $500,000. In photographs released by the US Attorney's Office after the. Her husband, Harold Henthorn, was convicted of first-degree murder in her death. The Bertolets said goodbye to their only daughter a few days later. Although Harold pleaded not guilty at his trial, the jury did not deliberate long before pronouncing him guilty. Nice, right? The most recent Harold Henthorn case update comes courtesy of NBCs Dateline, which devoted an entire two-hour episode to the bizarre chain of events that led to Henthorns conviction on a murder charge. How does she know that a trusted person is not lying to her? We feel some of the information in the article is misrepresented or incorrect, Douglas County Sheriff Tony Spurlock toldRolling Stone in a statement, but we still have an ongoing criminal investigation and are not at liberty to discuss the case any further.). The cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. Special administrators representing Toni Henthorn's estate are trying to recover the money so it eventually benefits Haley Henthorn, Toni Henthorn's daughter, not Harold Henthorn or his brother. His wife supported him, he didnt work, and he could have continued to live that life forever. The story went like this: Late one night, while Haley slept inside the cabin, Harold asked Toni to help him clean up some debris. However, his first wife, Lynn . Harold Henthorn, accused of pushing his second wife to her death in Rocky Mountain National Park, is being eyed in the 1995 death of his first wife. The Defendant slandered the victims family for not publicly supporting his lies and deception and taught his daughter to hate as punishment of the same. Police investigators, however, believe that Harold murdered them. He rested the car on the same type of jacks Harold said hed used, in the same spot on the same side of the road where Lynn died. On May 6 of that year, Henthorn and his first wife, Sandra Lynn, were driving through the dark. Dateline Toni Henthorn, Harold Henrhorn's 37-year-old wife, was killed in October 2015. Harold Henthorn with Sandra Lynn, his first wife. She died on the operating room after being flown to the hospital in a helicopter. They even uncovered a startling fact: Harold was already a criminal. If he is ultimately convicted of murder, he will face a mandatory life sentence with no possibility of parole. He was older. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. | Barry Bertolet, Toni Henthorn's brother addresses the media following the guilty verdict (credit: CBS), Harold and Toni Henthorn (courtesy to CBS), Watch the CBS4 special "Inside The Investigation: Harold Henthorn. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Her dreams seemed to come true when she met Harold. She had insurance policies, and Henthorn collected $496,000 from her death. Its a mandatory sentence for first-degree murder in Colorado; Henthorn was 59. Lynn Henthorns death was a tragedy, not a crime. Had they checked, they would have found that Harold actually received twice that much. Initially, the couple appeared ecstatic in their new life and were happy with each other. He then let them take the lead when it came time to give her CPR. Toni Henthorn was a skilled ophthalmologist and loving mother. Suffer the consequences meant having to listen to Harold talk until he got what he wanted. Yet Toni remained silent. It seemed to be a tragic accident. That detail led to a much closer investigation of Tonis death. Henthorn told investigators that his wife paused to take a photo of the view and fell face-first over the ledge. The sentence to be handed down by this court is the only result that the Defendant has actually earned in his adult life. A partial footprint wasnt necessarily evidence of anything. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads. 48 Hours examines the case of Harold Henthorn whose wives died 17 years apart in supposedly freak accidents. It took the jury about 10 hours to find Harold Henthorn, 59, guilty of first-degree murder in the death of his second wife, a wealthy Mississippi native. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously. His job, for instance. In the Defendants selfish quest to hoard a child as a possession, he interfered with and severed a sacred relationshipthat of a mothers love for her child and the childs need for the love her mother. Detective Weaver now had no doubts. Get the help you need from a therapist near youa FREE service from Psychology Today. Bertolet said, "There's no doubt he paid for his defense with Toni's money.". Nevertheless, even in this case, Harolds numerous statements widely differed from each other and were not believable. At that time, her death was quickly deemed an accident. Buried inside the report, Detective Weaver found a reference to a footprint. To another he said west. scJsHost+ To the young person contemplating committing suicide in need of compassion and skillful guidance, Tonis life mattered and was indispensable. I will never celebrate my birthday again. Yvonne and I will never again hear Toni say, Hi Momma, Hi Daddy, this is Sissy.We hear you, Sissy, in our hearts. She was killed while trying to change a flat tire when the car she was underneath fell on top of her, thousands of pounds of metal pinning her to the ground. If Henthorn is found guilty, I would not think either killing was premeditated but rather an opportunity arose and impulsively he used it to his advantage. Toni worked long and hard in pursuing her goal of being an ophthalmologist. In photographs released by the US Attorney's Office after the. Three years later we are still heavy laden with the emotional shock of her death.Toni was a special child, a precious gift to us from God. After years of trying, the two managed to have a daughter, Haley. Stranger still was Harolds behavior on phone calls. The Dateline NBC episode 'Over the Edge' tells the story of Toni Henthorn who fell to her death while hiking with her husband Harold Henthorn in Rocky Mountain National Park in 2012. Harold Henthorn was one calculating and manipulative murderer. Bob and Yvonne watched as Harold slowly took control of Tonis life. Oh it was nothing, Mrs. B! Harold had insisted on one of their phone calls afterwards. DENVER - A Colorado man accused of killing his wife by pushing her off a cliff has been found guilty, CBS Denver reports. A medical physician of Tonis caliber doesnt just happen because one simply holds a medical degree; this type of physician evolves through extraordinary experiences and is not readily replaced.There is no unique perspective or lesson to garner from the wrongful death and loss of Toni it is what it is a devastating loss. The money was purportedly for a business investment, according to evidence presented at an earlier federal court hearing. They couldnt talk about Harold on the phone, since every call with her was also a call with him. The Danger of Manipulative Love-Bombing in a Relationship, 7 Ticking Time Bombs That Destroy Loving Relationships, An Addiction Myth That Needs to Be Revisited, 5 Spiritual Practices That Increase Well-Being. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. July 26, 2017 at 11:59 a.m. No physical evidence remained. A federal jury on Monday convicted a man of murder for pushing his wife off a cliff as they hiked in Colorado to celebrate their wedding anniversary. The Defendant vilified and chastised each Good Samaritan and rescuer that attempted to come to the aid of his critically injured wives; aid which he never gave nor intended to give. "She contributed a lot to society, and to be wiped out for no good reason, it's more devastating." It would be years before they would find justice. Related: Man Accused in Wife's Deadly Fall Also Killed First Wife: Prosecutor, They seized on Henthorn's inconsistent accounts of the fatal fall and said the evidence did not match his shifting stories. The Defendant claimed to be a provider, when, in fact he offered and gave nothing. According to the show, Tonis family passed a statement claiming that their daughter was quite disturbed in the days leading up to her passing. In 1995, long before Weaver ever stepped foot in Douglas County, a woman died on the side of a dark road on a cold night. The sentencing today is the final act in completing our first goal and has opened the door to achieving the second goal. The stories he told police werent at all consistent. By Kirk Mitchell. Harold was later sentenced to life in federal prison. He's either guilty of two murders or he has a perplexing attraction to exceedingly unlucky women. Many notorious serial killers have been sociopaths, such as Ted Bundy and John Wayne Gacy. Toni sat next to her mother saying nothing. From the time of Tonis death, the Defendant has made it abundantly clear that he just wanted to move on with his life. For an optimal experience visit our site on another browser. But the rescue team couldnt make it to their position in time, and Toni died. The 200 Greatest Singers of All Time Then, while she was standing below a raised porch with her back turned, Toni felt the weight of something heavy hit her on the neck and knock her to the ground. Montoya and her family had been driving home that night from a day of fishing and picnicking when Harold appeared in the glow of their cars headlights and waved them down. What Toni meant was that Harold didnt like to be questioned. Then harder still. Do it carefully, not quickly, was Weavers. Maybe even that she would leave Harold. Toni Bertolet Henthorn died after she was pushed off a cliff during an anniversary hike in Rock Mountain National Park. In photographs released by the US Attorney's Office after the. She was 10 when her mother, Toni was pushed off the cliff. Editors picks One night, something happened at that cabin that left Toni recovering in a hospital bed. He had her body cremated, scattered the ashes on Colorados Red Mountain, and collected the $4.7 million life insurance payout from the plan she had recently signed up for. The silence of the victim, Toni Bertolet Henthorn, in the court today represents her loudest cry for her daughter and the injustice at the hands of the Defendant.In closing, this trial was about the last moment in Tonis life and the moment that Toni took her last breath. The Defendant claimed to have a career and business, when, in fact he had neither. For most of their lives, Toni and her mother Yvonne had been best friends. Toni was either a blessing to the people that surrounded her or a lesson to those that she mentored.Toni used her extraordinary abilities to become an accomplished medical physician in the specialty of ophthalmology. Storyline Colorado, 2001: Toni Bertolet Henthorn, a doctor and mother, falls from a cliff in the Rockies. No. He was constantly talking, often bragging, and always had to be the center of attention. When Weaver finally left the Air Force and asked her where she wanted to live, she chose Denver. But for us, there will be, forever in this life, the pain and tears, maybe not seen by others, for our daughter, killed in a cruel, sadistic, senseless and cowardly act of violence.On September 29, 2012, the family as a whole decided on a course of action, not believing that the tragedy was an accident. The Defendant preyed on women of faith in a Christian environment because, as with Toni, Christian women move forward in life with goodness in their heart as opposed to vigilance in their eyes. Send us a tip using our anonymous form. They were the first people to witness his incredibly odd behavior the evening his first wife died. What that something actually was, the Bertolets were slow to find out. Moments after a federal court jury convicted Harold Henthorn Monday of killing his second wife Toni, a process server surprised Rob Henthorn with court papers compelling him to appear in court in Douglas County Oct. 30 to tell a probate judge what happened to the half million dollars Harold Henthorn transferred to him, or a business controlled by him, in early 2014 before Henthorn was arrested for his wife's murder.
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