20/20 True Crime Vault: “What the Little Girl Saw”

Podcast: 20/20 (ABC News)
Air Date: November 11, 2025

Overview

This gripping episode dives into the brutal 2015 murder of Kelly Clayton in rural New York. The investigation unfolds through riveting interviews, police recordings, and an emotional testimonial from the couple’s seven-year-old daughter, Charlie—the lone eyewitness. The podcast explores the complex web of community ties, family heartbreak, and the chilling unraveling of a murder-for-hire plot involving husband Thomas Clayton and his employee, Michael Beard.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Crime and Immediate Aftermath

• Setting & Victim:
  • Elmira, NY area—close-knit, hockey-loving community
  • Kelly Clayton: loving, outgoing mother of two
• The 911 Call & Police Response (00:02-13:00):
  • Tom Clayton returns late from a poker game, calls 911:
    • “Help me. Help me. My wife, she's dead.”
  • Police find Kelly brutally bludgeoned in the kitchen.
  • Daughter Charlie claims a “robber” killed her mother.
  • Crime scene is immediately described as one of overwhelming violence:
    • “Her face is completely beaten in. She definitely fought for her life and her children's life. She fought to her last breath.” (00:05)
  • No signs of forced entry or theft, raising suspicions of a staged robbery.

2. Community and Family Context (00:13-19:00)

• Tom Clayton’s Status:

  • Ex-local hockey star, known for his wild behavior but loved by many.
  • Married Kelly; together raised two children, Charlie and Cullen.
  • Transitioned from hockey to running a remediation business.

• Kelly’s Background:

  • Adventurous, beloved by her family.
  • Strong, vibrant, and lived without regrets.

3. The Critical Witness: Charlie Clayton (00:40-01:03)

• Interview with Charlie:
  • Police take careful steps, using child interview specialists.
  • Charlie’s chilling account:
    • "He was wearing jeans, a black long sleeve shirt, and a mask."
    • “His eyes look just like daddy’s.” (00:54)
    • “The man was hurting mommy and mommy was yelling, ‘Run, Charlie, run.’” (00:55)
  • Impact:
    • Her statement pivots the investigation toward Tom Clayton, but he has a strong alibi (at poker, proven by GPS).

4. Mounting Suspicions and Alibi Challenges (01:03-01:22)

• Police interviews with Tom Clayton and Neighbors:

  • Tom's demeanor seemed off; not as distraught as expected.
  • 911 call analysis revealed composure after the operator was off the line—potential “coaching” of children.
    • “It appeared that he was suggesting to the children to perhaps talk about a robbery.” (01:20)

• Tom’s Alibi:

  • Strong alibi backed by GPS and witnesses at a poker game.
  • Investigators puzzled: Did they have the wrong man?

5. Michael Beard: The Employee and Hidden Connection (01:30-02:10)

• Michael Beard’s Relationship with Tom Clayton:
  • Former handyman/employee, fired weeks before the murder.
  • Dependent on Tom for work and rented from him.
• Police Focus Shifts After Cell Phone Evidence:
  • Tom borrows a friend’s phone during poker night—calls Beard, then deletes the record.
    • “You have a justified reason to call Michael. Why are you deleting the calls?” (02:01)
  • GPS phone records put Tom at a car lot where another call is placed to Beard.

6. Confession and Forensic Breakthroughs (02:18-02:37)

• Beard’s Interrogation:

  • Fails polygraph, gets pressed with evidence (timing and secret call).
  • Initially denies, then confesses:
    • “Yeah, that’s why I did it.” (02:33)

• Crime Details from Beard’s Confession:

  • Hired for $10,000 by Tom to kill Kelly and burn the house.
  • Describes the attack, failed arson, and disposal of weapon and clothes.
  • Leads police to murder weapon and bloody clothing—confirmed by DNA.

7. Legal Drama: Recantation and Trial (02:50-03:30)

• Beard Recants:

  • Before trial, Beard claims he only went to set a fire and found Kelly already dead.
  • On the podcast: “I see her laying on the floor and I get scared from that point... I never called 911... I had walked into something that had nothing to do with me.” (02:55)
  • Interviewers challenge Beard’s credibility due to inconsistencies.
  • Physical evidence (DNA, confession, phone records) remains damning.

• Trial of Tom Clayton:

  • Prosecution builds a circumstantial case:
    • Phone records: Show two critical calls, not from Tom’s own phone.
    • Motive: Upsized life insurance policy; extramarital affairs.
    • Planning: Use of GPS-tracked vehicles, borrowed truck, dry run two weeks prior.
    • Testimonies: Multiple witnesses recount Tom’s negative comments about Kelly, unwillingness to divorce because of finances.

8. Outcome & Emotional Fallout (03:44-end)

• Verdicts:

  • Michael Beard: Guilty—Life without parole.
  • Thomas Clayton: Guilty on both first and second degree murder—Life without parole.

• Courtroom Reaction:

  • Family deeply moved:
    • “I told my sister from the night she was murdered that we would not stop fighting for her.” (03:45)
  • Charlie’s Statement (read at sentencing):
    • “She loved her mom, she loved her dad, but that her dad was a coward because he made Michael Beard kill Mommy.” (03:47)

• Community Healing and Kids’ Future:

  • Purple ribbons for Kelly; benefits held to support the children.
  • Kelly’s children are now thriving with her sister’s family.
    • “You took her life, not her light. And her light will shine forever. Through Charlie, through Cullen, through me. Forever." (03:55)

Notable Quotes & Moments

• On the Crime’s Impact:

  • “You can never imagine the horror of hearing that one of your children was brutally beat to death. Ever.” (01:10)
  • “One day you wake up, and the music stops, and the rug’s pulled out, and these poor kids went to bed and woke up and they had lost everything.” (00:07)

• On the Moment of Realization (Investigators):

  • “Those three little words, ‘eyes like daddy,’ opened a Pandora’s box. And that had to have turned this investigation for sure onto Thomas Clayton. That was a chilling moment for me.” (00:54)

• On the Emotional Toll:

  • “I stood there as her matron of honor and smiled and watched her marry him. Now you find out he is a monster, a sociopath.” (02:52)

• Courtroom Statement:

  • “One of the most memorable moments... was when a statement was read by Kelly's daughter. She loved her mom, she loved her dad, but that her dad was a coward because he made Michael Beard kill Mommy.” (03:47)

Important Timestamps

• 00:05 – Discovery of Kelly’s murder; early eyewitness statement from Charlie
• 00:54 – Charlie describes “eyes like daddy”
• 01:20 – Analysis of Tom’s suspicious 911 call coaching
• 01:50 – Focus shifts to Michael Beard
• 02:01 – Discovery of deleted phone call between Tom and Beard
• 02:33 – Michael Beard confession (“Yeah, that’s why I did it.”)
• 02:57 – Beard recants, story unravels; exclusive interview
• 03:36 – Trial, evidence, and motive recap
• 03:44 – Verdict, sentences, and final emotional statements

Tone and Style

• The episode uses a mixture of narrative storytelling, direct police and family interviews, and real investigative audio. The language is frank, emotional, and respectful of the immense trauma suffered, but also clinical and methodical in recounting police procedures and legal twists.

Summary: Flow & Engagement

This episode of the 20/20 True Crime Vault takes listeners on a suspenseful journey from the chilling discovery of Kelly Clayton’s murder, through the devastating impact on her family, the dogged police investigation, and the ultimate pursuit of justice. Far from a simple domestic violence case, the investigation peels back layers of deceit, financial motivation, and betrayal, all hinging on the testimony of a brave seven-year-old girl. The podcast stays deeply human, spotlighting voices of grief and resilience, while shining a light on meticulous investigative work in the face of heartbreak and doubt—a must-listen for fans of true crime with an eye for both drama and detail.