48 Hours: "A Deadly Attraction"
Date: September 17, 2025
Host: CBS News
Correspondent: Richard Schlesinger
Episode Overview
This gripping episode of "48 Hours" investigates the tragic murder of Joanne Witt in El Dorado Hills, California, exploring the toxic and ultimately deadly relationship between 14-year-old Tyler Witt and her 19-year-old boyfriend, Steven Culver. Through interviews with family, friends, prosecutors, attorneys, and a rare insight from Tyler’s and Steven’s perspectives, the episode delves deep into themes of troubled parenting, adolescent rebellion, manipulation, and the devastating consequences of a crime fueled by fear, love, and desperation.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. Discovery of the Crime & Initial Shock
- Joanne Witt's parents, Norb and Judy Witt, describe returning from vacation and receiving a worrying call about their daughter missing work.
- (03:54) "He says, well, she didn't show up for work on Friday and she didn't show up today. And we're worried that something might be wrong."
- Joanne is found brutally murdered in her bedroom with 20 stab wounds; her daughter Tyler and Tyler’s boyfriend, Steven, are missing.
- (05:21) "I think I can get you in the house... there was two sheriff's cars and two deputies... Joanne was upstairs... and she was dead."
- The episode quickly unravels that Tyler is not a victim, but a person of interest.
2. Joanne’s Efforts to Protect Her Daughter
- Joanne, a single mother and engineer, learns of Tyler’s relationship with older Steven Culver.
- (07:18) "They told her he was gay... Steven could help Tyler with her homework and pay the mortgage."
- Joanne discovered the sexual relationship, threw Steven out, and considered pressing statutory rape charges.
- (08:50) "If it was me, you'd be in jail right now."
- Joanne found Tyler’s diary proving the sexual relationship, which intensified the conflict and led to the police investigation.
3. Dysfunction & Domestic Turmoil
- The Witt family and friends discuss Tyler's rebellious escalation, Joanne's struggle with discipline after a CPS incident years prior, and Tyler's manipulation.
- (21:53) "Joanne was afraid even to discipline her... afraid that Tyler would report her to CPS."
- The mother-daughter relationship became violent, with CPS involvement after Tyler accused Joanne of abuse (alleged, but not substantiated).
- A call to 911 (made by Tyler impersonating her mother) illustrates their turmoil:
- (24:28) "Excuse me. My daughter, Tyler Witt, has physically assaulted me and vandalized my home."
4. The Murder & Aftermath
- Prosecutors believe Tyler and Steven plotted Joanne’s death to eliminate the obstacle to their relationship, fearing Steven’s statutory rape prosecution.
- (13:35) "They both made the decision that... this is what we're going to do."
- The murder occurred on June 11, 2009. Joanne was stabbed multiple times as she slept, with evidence pointing to Steven as the main assailant.
- (14:13) "Very brutal. She tries to fight back. She puts her hands up, there's a struggle..."
- After the murder, the pair attempted a failed suicide pact in San Francisco with rat poison and cake, but survived and were arrested.
- (15:27) "We're going to be together forever and eternally by killing ourselves."
5. Competing Narratives at Trial
- Both young defendants initially blamed each other.
- Steven’s defense claimed he confessed to protect Tyler, citing her history of violence and his own nonviolent background.
- (17:41) Attorney: “His goal is to prevent her from being labeled as a mother killer.”
- (19:29) “Every friend she had, virtually, she told that she hated her mother. She said, if my mother doesn't let me see Steven, I swear to God, I will kill her.”
- Tyler ultimately made a deal to testify against Steven, saying she only helped plan and let Steven do the stabbing. She passed a polygraph test, reinforcing her claim not to have delivered the fatal blows.
6. Notable Evidence
- Tyler’s diary was a linchpin, confirming the sexual relationship.
- Suicide notes from both teenagers, and Steven’s showing off of the murder weapon to friends, seriously damaged his defense.
- A neighbor’s chilling recollection added context to Tyler’s state of mind:
- (32:33) “She said, there is not going to be a next time. Next time, it's either going to be her or it's going to be me.”
7. The Verdict & Sentencing
- DNA under Joanne’s fingernails indicated a male assailant.
- Steven was found guilty and sentenced to life without parole. Prosecutors did not seek the death penalty.
- (38:46) "We, the jury, find the defendant, Stephen Paul Culver guilty of the crime of murder of Joanne M. Witt."
- Tyler, in exchange for her testimony, received 15 years to life for second-degree murder.
- (39:55) "The person who loved you most in this world and without any reservation, is gone."
8. Aftermath and Lasting Trauma
- Joanne's parents struggled with grief, guilt, and the agonizing distance from their granddaughter.
- Years later, Norb starts to soften towards Tyler after a prison visit, grappling with forgiveness.
- (41:49) "She came over and hugged me and started sobbing."
9. A Final Tragic Irony
- Prosecutors reveal that, contrary to what Culver and Tyler believed, statutory rape charges would likely have resulted in little or no jail time.
- (40:23) "It would have been a misdemeanor… The reality is, he probably wouldn't have gotten any jail time, really."
- Tyler Witt was ultimately paroled and released from prison in August 2022.
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
- (02:01, Tyler’s Grandmother): "Whoever inflicted those wounds was very strong and I just don't believe a 100-pound Tyler Witt could have inflicted those wounds."
- (05:44, Prosecutor Lisette Souter): "There was a wound that almost decapitated her. Very violent."
- (09:09, Vinnie Catapano): "If you make contact with Tyler again, either by phone or in person, I'm going to hurt you. And I'm going to hurt you east coast style, not west coast style."
- (24:28, Tyler impersonating her mother on 911): "Excuse me. My daughter, Tyler Witt, has physically assaulted me into vandalizing my home."
- (33:33, Neighbor Recollecting Tyler's Words): "She said, there is not going to be a next time. Next time, it's either going to be her or it's going to be me. That statement alone ran chills through me."
- (39:47, Judge to Tyler): "The court had seen no emotion or even remorse for the loss of your mother. And I'm sorry for you, Mrs. Witt. Because the person who loved you most in this world and without any reservation, is gone."
- (41:49, Norb Witt): "She came over and hugged me and started sobbing."
Important Segment Timestamps
- 00:37–02:17: Discovery of Joanne Witt’s murder and initial shock.
- 05:21–06:23: Joanne’s body is found; Tyler is missing, then named suspect.
- 08:01–09:28: Joanne discovers and confronts Tyler and Steven’s relationship.
- 13:05–15:27: Diary is found; plot to kill Joanne forms.
- 22:42–25:41: 911 call illustrates dysfunctional relationship.
- 29:15–30:34: Competing narratives at trial, physical evidence challenges.
- 33:33–33:52: Neighbor’s account of Tyler’s ominous premonition.
- 36:05–37:06: Tyler’s testimony and “super beings” defense.
- 38:11–39:27: Verdict and sentencing.
- 41:49–42:54: Norb’s emotional reunion with Tyler post-trial.
Episode Tone and Approach
Throughout, the episode is intense and deeply emotional, mixing methodical investigative storytelling with raw, candid testimony from family, neighbors, and legal professionals. There’s a consistent air of tragedy, highlighting not just the crime and trial but the spiraling dysfunction that led to a "deadly attraction," leaving a trail of loss, regret, and unanswered questions.
Summary
"A Deadly Attraction" is an exhaustive, chilling look at how a series of flawed decisions, troubled relationships, and panicked youth resulted in a family’s destruction. The episode doesn’t simply recount a crime—it probes deeply into the motivations, misunderstandings, and system failures that made tragedy seem, to those involved, like the only way out. For listeners, it’s a sobering study of how a miscalculation, especially by the very young, can have irrevocable consequences.