Driven To Death

Summary

48 Hours Podcast Episode Summary: "Driven To Death"

Release Date: April 24, 2025
Host: CBS News
Episode Title: Driven To Death

---

I. Introduction: Unraveling a Deadly Confrontation

In the gripping episode titled "Driven To Death," CBS News' "48 Hours" delves deep into the tragic story of Frances Hall and the fatal events that led to her husband's untimely death. This episode meticulously examines the tangled web of love, betrayal, and jealousy that culminated in a deadly confrontation on a Texas highway.

---

II. The Hall Family: A Portrait of Love and Success

Frances and Bill Hall's relationship began in high school, marrying at the tender age of 18. Together, they built Bill Hall Jr. Trucking into a multimillion-dollar enterprise valued at $15 million at its peak. Their marriage, spanning 32 years, was marked by both love and business collaboration.

Nikki Hall, their daughter, reminisces:

"We spent Christmases, Thanksgivings. Almost every holiday was spent here in this room... She was more of the disciplinary. My dad was the one that said, let's just spoil them, let's give them, you know, whatever they want."
[04:31]

Frances is lauded as a selfless and caring mother, while Bill is portrayed as a daredevil with a penchant for fast cars and an attraction to younger women.

---

III. The Affair: Bill Hall and Bonnie Contreras

Bill Hall's infidelity became a significant strain on his marriage. His relationship with Bonnie Contreras, a 28-year-old former exotic dancer, spanned three years. Despite knowing he was married, Bonnie was led to believe Bill intended to divorce Frances.

Adam Cortez, Frances' attorney, states:

"I love this man with everything I have. I still do."
[08:04]

Bill showered Bonnie with gifts, including cars and funding for her breast enhancement surgery, further complicating the marital discord.

---

IV. Escalation of Tensions: Texting Wars and Family Turmoil

As Bill's interest in Bonnie waned by 2013, tensions escalated. Bonnie's relentless attempts to regain Bill's attention led to a hostile texting war between her and Frances. Frances's daughter, Nikki, describes the torment their mother endured:

"Bonnie Contreras put Frances through hell... You have this toxic love triangle."
[02:41]

The situation deteriorated when Bonnie threatened to expose Frances, leading to heightened emotions within the family.

---

V. The Fatal Confrontation on Highway 1604

On October 10, 2013, the simmering tensions erupted on Texas Highway 1604. Frances, fed up with Bonnie's interference, decided to confront her. This decision set the stage for a deadly encounter.

Nikki Hall recounts:

"I heard my mom was going to confront Bonnie. I said, go ahead. You do what you got to do."
[22:36]

As Frances pursued Bonnie, a high-speed chase ensued, resulting in Frances's Range Rover colliding with Bonnie's vehicle multiple times. In the chaos, Bill was knocked off his Harley motorcycle, leading to his death.

---

VI. Aftermath: Bill Hall's Death and Frances Hall's Arrest

Following the collision, both Frances and Bonnie failed to call 911. Bill was rushed to the hospital but succumbed to his injuries. The tragedy left the Hall family devastated.

Nikki Hall expresses her shock:

"They told us, you know, he has passed away. So we were just completely in shock."
[18:43]

Frances was arrested and charged with felony murder and aggravated assault, thrusting the once-close family into turmoil.

---

VII. The Trial: Prosecution vs Defense

A. Prosecution's Case

Prosecutor Stephanie Paulison argued that Frances's actions were premeditated, positioning the confrontation as a deliberate act of murder fueled by jealousy and rage. The prosecution highlighted Frances's history of abusive behavior towards Bonnie through threatening texts and harassment.

Prosecutor Stephanie Paulison asserts:

"The deadly confrontation... was nothing short of murder."
[29:25]

B. Defense's Case

Defense attorneys Lee Cutter and Adam Cortez contended that the incident was a tragic accident born out of sudden passion. They presented evidence suggesting that Bonnie was the primary aggressor, with Frances merely reacting to the provocations.

Frances Hall maintains her innocence:

"I am not the person they portrayed me to be. I would have never in a million years have hurt Bill."
[40:56]

Collision reconstruction experts supported the defense's narrative, indicating that Bill accidentally struck Frances's vehicle while attempting to avoid crashing into Bonnie.

---

VIII. The Verdict: Guilty of Murder and Aggravated Assault

After a meticulously presented case, the jury found Frances Hall guilty of both murder and aggravated assault. This verdict underscored the prosecution's belief in Frances's culpability in her husband's death.

Hank Hall, Bill's cousin, expressed his anguish:

"To say that she was intentionally trying to hurt Bill... that's just a ludicrous idea."
[27:15]

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IX. Sentencing: Sudden Passion Defense and Reduced Sentence

In a separate sentencing trial, the defense successfully argued the "sudden passion" provision, a legal concept allowing for reduced sentences in cases of involuntary manslaughter stemming from intense emotional distress.

Frances Hall testified:

"Sudden passion... I am not this evil person."
[40:56]

The court sentenced her to a significantly reduced term, acknowledging the spontaneous nature of her actions, distinct from premeditated murder.

Nikki Hall reflects on the outcome:

"I felt like, wow, yes, only two years. But there goes my mom."
[41:54]

---

X. Impact: Family Shattered and Business Collapse

The Hall family's dynamic was irreparably damaged. With Frances's incarceration, the family grappled with loss and the collapse of their once-thriving trucking business, now filing for bankruptcy.

Nikki Hall mourns:

"This is a story of loss. I miss my family."
[38:08]

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XI. Conclusion: Reflections on Love and Tragedy

"Driven To Death" serves as a poignant exploration of how love, betrayal, and unchecked emotions can lead to irrevocable tragedy. The episode underscores the fragility of relationships and the devastating consequences that can arise when personal grievances escalate beyond control.

Frances Hall remains steadfast in her innocence:

"If I can't have him, no one can have him. That's just not Frances."
[38:34]

Ultimately, the episode paints a somber picture of a family torn apart by passion and the irreversible actions it can provoke.

---

Notable Quotes:

• Bonnie Contreras:

  "Bonnie Contreras is almost like a master manipulator."
  [02:20]

• Frances Hall:

  "I am not the person they portrayed me to be."
  [40:56]

• Hank Hall:

  "Francis hall is a nurturer. She's everyone's mother."
  [26:59]

---

Key Takeaways:

• The episode highlights the intricate dynamics of a marriage strained by infidelity and jealousy.
• It emphasizes how unresolved emotions and external provocations can lead to catastrophic outcomes.
• The legal battle showcases the complexities of proving intent and the impact of emotional distress on criminal responsibility.
• The personal testimonies provide a deeply human perspective on the tragedy, illustrating the profound effects on the entire family.

"Driven To Death" is a compelling narrative that invites listeners to ponder the thin line between passion and destruction, and the lasting repercussions of actions taken in moments of intense emotion.

Transcript

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[Frances Hall]

I hate to say this because I'm a woman, but I think that a lot of women see successful men, self made men, attractive men. They think I want a piece of that.

[Peter Van Sant]

They're traveling at a high rate of speed.

[Frances Hall]

It doesn't matter if they're married or not.

[Peter Van Sant]

Oh my goodness.

[Frances Hall]

Frances and Bill hall met when they were in high school. I think they were around 16. Neither of them had very much money. They started dating and they were married by 18. Frances hall is someone that you wish was in your family. She's very selfless, caring and really always thinking about other people. Bill hall loved Frances and his children, but Bill's fatal flaw is that he also liked the attention of younger women.

[Bonnie Contreras]

Bonnie Contreras is Bill Hall's mistress. He had been dating her for about three years and by most accounts it was a pretty open affair.

[Frances Hall]

I'm trying to think of the most flattering way to describe Bonnie Contreras. Bonnie Contreras is almost like a master manipulator. She would take compromising photos, kind of just gather all these nuggets that if things ever went south, she had all the proof she needed to kind of for what she wanted.

[Nikki Hall]

My mother was on the verge of a nervous breakdown because Bonnie was taunting her constantly.

[Frances Hall]

Bonnie Contreras put Frances through hell. She's texting and calling Frances. Bonnie would call her every explicit name in the book and just say you're so fat and disgusting. You have this toxic love triangle. Got a multi millionaire husband and wife and this mistress trying to wedge her way between them.

[Nikki Hall]

I get a phone call from my mom and she said, I just saw your dad and I just saw Bonnie.

[Frances Hall]

When Frances first sees her husband Bill, and then Bonnie, she's about two miles down the road this way. And that's when she makes the decision to make a U turn and finally confront this woman that's been, you know, wreaking havoc in her life.

[Peter Van Sant]

So her husband and mistress, they're driving toward us on this highway.

[Frances Hall]

Exactly. They're coming this way. They're still going 85, 90 miles an hour.

[Hank Hall]

I believe that she intended to kick Bonnie's ass that day. Okay, that's what she wanted to do. She wanted to go over and she wanted to beat up Bonnie.

[Bonnie Contreras]

Francis hall took a 210 death tank to what should have been a fist fight. Frances was out for blood.

[Frances Hall]

I don't think anyone imagined that by the end of that day there would be a dead body and someone in handcuff.

[Peter Van Sant]

So, Nikki, where are we right now?

[Nikki Hall]

Peter? We're in my parents home. This is where a lot of memories were made.

[Peter Van Sant]

Nikki hall is Bill and Frances Hall's daughter. She and her brother Justin had great times during her parents 32 year long marriage.

[Nikki Hall]

We spent Christmases, Thanksgivings. Almost every holiday was spent here in this room. And during Christmas, my mom loved watching everyone open their gifts. And this is the home that they built together.

[Peter Van Sant]

Nikki says being a member of the hall family meant having loads of fun. Give me a sense of what kind of a mother Frances was and what kind of a person she is.

[Nikki Hall]

Just a loving, kind hearted, honest individual. She is always willing to lend a hand, especially when it came to my brother and I. She was more of the disciplinary. My dad was the one that said, let's just spoil them, let's give them, you know, whatever they want.

[Peter Van Sant]

And Bill hall could spoil his children because he and Frances, who got married when they were just 18, had built an empire on wheels. Bill and Francis hall bought their first truck in the early 1980s. And then they grew Bill Hall Jr. Trucking into a multi million dollar business at its height worth $15 million.

[Nikki Hall]

My parents worked together, so at times, you know, it wasn't all love. But at the end of the day, they came home together, mom cooked dinner, dad was there.

[Peter Van Sant]

After Nikki and her brother became adults and moved out of the family home, Bill began to indulge his own whims. He bought a Harley Davidson street Glide bike that he customized and painted powder blue, his company color.

[Nikki Hall]

He's a daredevil. He liked to drive crazy fast cars, bikes 18 wheelers. He loved life in the fast lane.

[Peter Van Sant]

Fast cars, and lots of women. Bill had cheated on his wife for years, and Francis knew it, but forgave him, as Bill confided to his best friend and cousin, Hank Hall, a fellow trucking millionaire. Do you think Bill still loved Francis or was he ready to move on?

[Lee Cutter]

Nah, Bill adored Francis. Bill loved Frances so much that it was unbelievable. But what happened is, and tell me if I'm wrong or right, when you cheated in the past and she stuck with you, right. It kind of makes it seem like it's okay, right? So if he gets caught again, you know, he might get another pass, you know what I'm saying?

[Peter Van Sant]

The new someone in Bill's life was Bonnie Contreras, then a 28 year old former exotic dancer. And when she met the aging playboy with the, well, stuffed wallet at a spinach festival. Yes, a spinach festival. It was a match made in Texas heaven.

[Frances Hall]

Her story is that she was helping her aunt, someone sell chicken on a.

[Peter Van Sant]

Stick, Attorney Lee Cutter.

[Frances Hall]

And she just happened to see these five guys. And he was dressed really nice. I mean, he's met her supposedly for two minutes. I think she said. We locked eyes and I knew every I knew right then.

[Peter Van Sant]

Bill and Bonnie's relationship lasted for three years, and she told the local CBS station all about it.

[Adam Cortez]

I love this man with everything I have. I still do.

[Peter Van Sant]

Bonnie knew that Bill was married with children and grandchildren, but she claims Bill told her and he was getting a divorce.

[Adam Cortez]

I wanted to have a family with him. My plans were to get married, to have a home, and to live the rest of my life with this man.

[Peter Van Sant]

In many ways, Bill treated Bonnie as a true love. He showered her with money, paying her rent, buying her two cars, a BMW and a Mercedes, and even paying for her breast enhancement surgery.

[Frances Hall]

He was excited by her in the beginning, you know, she was an attractive younger woman that, you know, wanted to do everything she could to be the center of his attention.

[Peter Van Sant]

But by 2013, Bill's friends say he was losing interest and trying to avoid Bonnie. That strategy backfired in a big way. On one Friday the 13th, she kept.

[Frances Hall]

Calling Bill, and Bill would decline her calls. And all the while, Bonnie's texting Bill saying, I'm going to tell your wife. I'm going to tell her. And ultimately calls Frances.

[Peter Van Sant]

Bill now had to contend with two angry women, his wife Frances, and his girlfriend Bonnie.

[Frances Hall]

After she makes the call, she really takes it up a notch and she starts going to Frances and Bill's house. She'll Take pictures of the outside of the house, and then she'll text it to Bill, and then she'll text it to the wife and say, you know, ugly, ugly, nasty things to the wife.

[Peter Van Sant]

The two women began engaging in a vicious texting war, exchanging hundreds of nasty messages.

[Adam Cortez]

I was just defending myself and never once did I threaten her. I never once threatened that woman.

[Peter Van Sant]

But that's not how it seemed to Frances daughter Nikki. Was it a little frightening on this end to be getting these kinds of communications and photos and anger expressed, even pictures taken of the family vehicles letting you know, I'm here?

[Nikki Hall]

Yes, it was very scary. She had over 4000 pictures of him and her, and she was going to just put those out on Facebook. She had our addresses.

[Peter Van Sant]

Humiliate him, destroy his reputation.

[Adam Cortez]

Yes, yes, I'm a good person. I never mean no harm on anybody and never once confronted his kids. I would never threaten anybody in that way.

[Peter Van Sant]

Bill and Frances decided to get away for a long weekend to try and patch things up. But Hank says Bonnie ruined the trip with her relentless texting.

[Lee Cutter]

She went 100 miles an hour, man. And like, in other words, I'm not gonna lose this guy because he was going back to more of his family and trying to get away from her.

[Peter Van Sant]

Hank says Bonnie unleashed a torrent of angry and inappropriate texts, including naked photos of her having sex with Bill. Frances lost it. She physically assaulted Bill and kicked him out of the house.

[Lee Cutter]

She just got up and whooped him. You need to get out. Get out of my house.

[Peter Van Sant]

Bill spent the night at Bonnie's place. The next day was October 10, 2013. Frances and Bonnie were about to unexpectedly meet on a two lane Texas highway called Loop 1604.

[Frances Hall]

Frances Caesar has been driving by on that big blue motorcycle, you know. A few seconds later, for the first time ever, she lays eyes on Bonnie Contreras, this woman who is ruining her life.

[Peter Van Sant]

Frances had finally had enough and was about to take a turn that led to an accusation of murder.

[Frances Hall]

And she grabs the steering wheel and she just goes, I'm gonna go confront her.

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[Peter Van Sant]

October 10, 2013. This stretch of Texas Highway 1604 became a crime scene where jealousy and rage would intersect and someone would soon be in handcuffs. The day began innocently enough. Frances was driving home after watching a volleyball game when she spotted her husband's mistress.

[Frances Hall]

At this point in time, 28 days have passed since she's found out about the affair.

[Peter Van Sant]

Lee Cutter, Frances defense attorney, says that by this time, Frances was sick of Bonnie interfering in her marriage.

[Frances Hall]

I think at one point, Bill and Frances go to the movies, and she knows about it and literally sits three rows back behind them, watching them the entire time, texting Bill just going crazy. It's pretty insane.

[Peter Van Sant]

So when Frances noticed Bonnie on the road that October day, her motor was revving. What made it worse was that Bonnie was driving the hall family Range Rover, a vehicle Frances often drove. Frances makes a U turn and floors it.

[Frances Hall]

They're coming this way. They're still going 85, 90 miles an hour. So Frances is getting behind Bonnie, and every time she gets close to her, Bonnie will brake. Check her over and over again. It's this cat and Mouse game.

[Peter Van Sant]

911, what is your location?

[Hank Hall]

Frances hall gave chase at a high rate of speed. Different witnesses called 911 and indicated that two black SUVs are racing. And it probably appeared that that was the case.

[Peter Van Sant]

Attorney Adam Cortez also represents Francis Hall.

[Hank Hall]

No one knows exactly what happened. Not Frances Hall. Bonnie Contreras definitely does not.

[Peter Van Sant]

Actually, Bonnie says she knows exactly what happened.

[Adam Cortez]

Please raise your right hand.

[Peter Van Sant]

Do you solemnly swear to tell the truth? And she told her version of events to attorney Lee Cutter in this video deposition.

[Adam Cortez]

Good morning.

[Peter Van Sant]

Bonnie says she was driving down the highway when out of the blue, something hits her back bumper.

[Adam Cortez]

At first, I thought it was an accident. Maybe somebody had hit me from behind by accident. But then when I looked back and I looked through the rearview mirror, I saw that it was Ms. Hall. Frances.

[Peter Van Sant]

Frances was driving a Cadillac Escalade, a giant suv.

[Adam Cortez]

Then she hit me more times. I then got thrown onto oncoming traffic. After I got thrown onto oncoming Traffic. I was fighting cars coming at me.

[Peter Van Sant]

Bill was riding on his Harley motorcycle, also racing down the highway. Bonnie says he somehow got in between the two women's SUVs. Bonnie was in the lead vehicle.

[Adam Cortez]

I see her clearly behind Bill and I'm thinking to myself, she's not going to hit Bill. Like, I don't think she had the heart to do that. So then I was just driving, and then I started screaming because I saw the Escalade getting closer and closer to him.

[Peter Van Sant]

Lee asks Bonnie to demonstrate with toy cars.

[Frances Hall]

Let's use the model cars as an example.

[Peter Van Sant]

What she says happened on the road.

[Adam Cortez]

Now Bill's over here, and I'm speeding up and I see Bill and I'm wanting to stop, but I don't stop because I'm fearing for my life. I don't know what she's thinking, what she has in the vehicle, if she has any weapons, if she's. I don't know what she's thinking in her head. And I see the Escalade coming and she just.

[Frances Hall]

Boom.

[Adam Cortez]

She hits him. He flies off the bike, flies off.

[Peter Van Sant]

Bill was not wearing a helmet and suffered major blunt force injuries.

[Adam Cortez]

She doesn't stop in her tracks at all.

[Peter Van Sant]

Neither woman called 911.

[Adam Cortez]

And then she starts to hit me from behind again. I do a really, really fast U turn right there. I almost hit a pole and she did the U turn really quickly behind me. Then I started speeding back up towards where the accident had happened. And then she was speeding up behind me. She then continuously was hitting me. I sped up the Range Rover up to like 100.

[Peter Van Sant]

Bonnie claims Frances rear ended her up to 15 times. Eventually, both women pulled over at the spot where Bill had been knocked off his Harley. The police were called as dusk turned to night. Hank hall and other family members, alerted by phone calls from Bonnie and Francis, were at the scene. Just a few miles from Bill's trucking company.

[Lee Cutter]

Bill was laying on the ground. He was breathing like, you know, real hard. And I screamed out and said, what the hell's going on? You know, like mad. And there was a police officer. They're trying to tell me, hey, calm down. Because when he heard my voice, Bill started breathing faster. And he was trying to kind of say something, but he was breathing hard, you know.

[Peter Van Sant]

He looked at you?

[Lee Cutter]

Yeah, he knew I was there. I know that he knew that Francis was there. He knew that I was there.

[Peter Van Sant]

Nikki and other family members head to the hospital where hours pass before they are told the devastating news.

[Nikki Hall]

They told us, you know, he has passed away. So we were just completely in shock. I thought maybe he'll have a couple of injuries, you know, a broken arm, broken leg, something like that. But never, never death. I never expected that.

[Peter Van Sant]

In shock, Nikki goes to find her mother, only to be shocked again.

[Nikki Hall]

Where is my mom? How do I get ahold of my mom? Well, I learned that she's arrested in jail.

[Peter Van Sant]

Frances is being interrogated by police after Bill dies. She has read her rights.

[Hank Hall]

You have the right to remain silent.

[Peter Van Sant]

And she requests an attorney. But she cannot help blurting out what's racing through her mind.

[I]

I've been with him since I was 16.

[Peter Van Sant]

I'm just shocked. There is nothing more to say. Frances hall was charged with felony murder and aggravated assault on Bonnie Contreras.

[Nikki Hall]

I was without both of my parents. We finally get a call around 5 in the morning.

[Peter Van Sant]

It was her mom.

[Nikki Hall]

And she was like, I know what happened to your dad. And I can't believe this happened. I just can't believe it.

[Peter Van Sant]

The tragic turn of events tore the close knit hall family apart. Hank Hall, Bill's closest friend, blamed Frances for his death.

[Lee Cutter]

I was upset at her. I was really, really mad at the point that she took my best friend.

[Peter Van Sant]

Bill was gone. But Francis swears his death did not happen the way Bonnie described to police and positively did not hit Bill's motorcycle with her front bumper.

[I]

Hi. It was an accident. I would have never in a million years have hurt my husband.

[Peter Van Sant]

But will anyone believe her? If not, she could spend the rest of her life behind bars. During their 32 year long marriage, life for Bill and Frances hall was filled with family, especially me. Wealth and happiness. Stay right there, Bill. Frances had everything money could buy.

[I]

I love my baby.

[Peter Van Sant]

Except her husband's fidelity. After Bill Hall Jr. Died on October 10, 2013, Frances hall hadn't spoken with any reporter. Hey, Frances. Hi, I'm Peter Van Sant.

[I]

I know who you are.

[Peter Van Sant]

Until she met with 48 hours to tell her version of what happened on that stretch of highway. From your perspective, this was what, an accident?

[I]

That I didn't. I don't even know how, but it was an accident. I would have never in a million years have hurt my husband.

[Peter Van Sant]

You did not murder him.

[I]

No, I. No, never. Would I have hurt him?

[Peter Van Sant]

Remember? In the weeks leading up to the confrontation, Frances had received dozens of insulting, taunting text messages from her husband's mistress, Bonnie Contreras, including photos of the two of them having sex. On that October day, Frances is driving home from her niece's volleyball game.

[I]

And I see him in his bike.

[Peter Van Sant]

His Motorcycle and his motorcycle.

[I]

And I see her a few carlinks in back. I pulled over and I stopped.

[Nikki Hall]

I get a phone call from my mom, and she said, I just saw your dad, and I just saw Bonnie. I'm turning around. I'm going to confront her. I said, go ahead. You do what you got to do.

[Peter Van Sant]

What were you planning to do when you made that u turn?

[I]

I wanted her to pull over. I wanted her to pull over. I wanted to confront this woman. I wanted to tell her, leave me the freak alone already. That's enough. I can't take you. If you want him, you can have him. Just leave me and my family out of this.

[Nikki Hall]

Immediately after we got off the phone, I called Bonnie. I left her a message. Told you to watch your back, you stupid.

[Peter Van Sant]

Frances floors it quickly catching up to her husband and his mistress. It's at this moment that Frances and Bonnie's stories part ways.

[I]

He was in front, she was in the back, and I was in the back. I would come up to her, pull off to the site and tell her to pull over. She'd say, no.

[Peter Van Sant]

Are you gesturing like. Or was your window down?

[I]

No, I was just. I'd go off on the yellow line and tell her to pull over. She would, no, no. I could see her. She kept breaking on me. As soon as I'd come up next to her, she'd break and I'd break.

[Peter Van Sant]

And you bumped the back of her car.

[I]

Never did I touch the car again.

[Peter Van Sant]

Bonnie claims Frances hit her back bumper multiple times.

[I]

She's lying.

[Frances Hall]

While this is going on, Bill actually comes to this unfinished shoulder right here and pulls to the side of the cars, lets both cars pass him.

[I]

I saw him from my passenger window. I passed Bill. I saw him as I'm driving. And as soon as I looked to the front, she braked.

[Peter Van Sant]

They're coming 80 miles an hour down here. Bonnie breaks, and it creates this chain reaction.

[Frances Hall]

Exactly.

[Peter Van Sant]

And Bill has to react.

[Frances Hall]

Bill has to react. And while he's reacting, remember, Frances is reacting in that Escalade.

[Peter Van Sant]

Bonnie swears that at that moment, she saw in her rearview mirror, Frances hit Bill head on, knocking him off the highway. Francis says that's a lie.

[I]

I had already seen him pass me. So it is so false the way they said that I hit him and that I knew what I was doing. I never hit him head on.

[Peter Van Sant]

Leigh Cutter has studied every inch of the accident scene and the three vehicles involved. She is certain of what unfolded from Frances perspective.

[Frances Hall]

And so her car is fishtailing a little bit while she's doing it as Bill's coming to the side in that big old Harley. And they make contact right about here. And Bill ultimately ends up actually right behind you in this big, tall grass down here.

[Peter Van Sant]

And yet, according to Frances, in the chaos of the moment, she never saw, felt, or heard Bill's crash. You didn't look in your rear view mirror? You didn't see a scene behind you as you drove off?

[I]

No, no, I didn't see anything. My focus was in the front because she kept breaking on me and breaking and breaking.

[Peter Van Sant]

So based on what you are telling me right now, was this an accident or is this some form of murder that occurred out on this highway?

[Frances Hall]

You know, Peter, if anyone is guilty of anything, I would say it's Bonnie Contreras of reckless driving because everyone else had to react to her actions. But it was just a tragic accident.

[Peter Van Sant]

Not murder.

[Frances Hall]

Absolutely not murder.

[Peter Van Sant]

And Lee is ready for battle. She's a former Marine ROTC with a history of winning on the big stage. She was once a teen beauty queen.

[Frances Hall]

Nothing is harder than defending someone that you know and believe in your heart is innocent.

[Peter Van Sant]

Attorney Adam Cortez, a former boxer, will also represent Frances. He brings a brawler's attitude into the courtroom.

[Hank Hall]

Frances hall is a nurturer. She's everyone's mother. She's everyone's rock. To say that she was intentionally trying to hurt Bill Hall, a man she's loved and still loves and always will love, I mean, that's just a ludicrous idea.

[Peter Van Sant]

Frances, what do you want people to know about you?

[I]

That I am not the person they portrayed me to be. I'm a very compassionate and sincere woman. He is the love of my life and will always be the love of my life.

[Peter Van Sant]

Who do you believe is ultimately responsible, the most responsible for your husband's death?

[I]

I would say it was her.

[Hank Hall]

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[Ryan Reynolds]

Do you have a dark curiosity? Heart starts pounding. Horrors, Hauntings and Mysteries is a weekly podcast hosted by me, Kaylin Moore.

[Peter Van Sant]

Each week, I'll take you on a.

[Ryan Reynolds]

Dark journey through terrifying true urban legends. Bizarre true crime cases, chilling tales of backwoods horror, and more. So if you're looking to join a passionate community of the darkly curious, check out Heart Starts Pounding on the Free Odyssey app or wherever you get your podcasts. And remember, stay curious.

[Peter Van Sant]

I got a black pepper delayed and a black Range Rover driving on the wrong side of the road. They're traveling at a high rate of speed, 9,000 miles an hour. That can affect. At the heart of this case is one simple question. Is what happened on this rural highway in Texas an accident or an act of murder?

[Bonnie Contreras]

I sympathize. Wanting to confront your husband's mistress, but engaging in road rage? No, that's unacceptable.

[Peter Van Sant]

For prosecutor Stephanie Paulison, the deadly confrontation that occurred along this dusty stretch of highway was nothing short of murder. And her co counsel, Scott Simpson, knows they will have to convince jurors that this was not a justifiable killing.

[Hank Hall]

We knew it was going to be a difficult case, but not because of the facts. All of my female friends kept telling me throughout trial, they would kept keep saying he had it coming.

[Bonnie Contreras]

I don't think that he had death coming. He had a divorce coming. If everybody were sentenced to death for being a philanderer, what would the population look like?

[Peter Van Sant]

On August 30, 2016, nearly three years after Bill Hall's tragic death, the murder trial of his wife Frances got underway. And for the first time since that deadly chase, Frances came face to face with the woman she blames for all of this. Her husband's mistress, Bonnie Contreras. Right away, Bonnie tells the jury she and Bill were targeted that day.

[Adam Cortez]

I see Bill with the truck.

[Frances Hall]

And.

[Adam Cortez]

I see him fly off the motorcycle.

[I]

Really nice to see the bike fly.

[Peter Van Sant]

In her video deposition, Bonnie demonstrated what she says she saw in her rearview mirror.

[Adam Cortez]

I see the Escalade coming and she just, boom, she hits him. He flies off the bi. The bike flies off. And then she kept hitting me and hitting me, and I kept going faster and faster.

[Peter Van Sant]

And Bonnie says Frances continued her attack, ramming her SUV as many as 15 times.

[Adam Cortez]

I started screaming, crying. I said, oh, my God, Francis is hitting me from behind. What do I do?

[Peter Van Sant]

To disprove Bonnie's story, the defense calls collision reconstruction expert Charles Ruble. This is the black Range Rover or Land Rover, who also uses toy cars. To demonstrate what he says happened, Bill hall was following his wife. They're traveling at 70, 80 miles an hour. Ruble believes that when Bill maneuvered around the Escalade to avoid colliding, he veered right, hit the shoulder, and then Tried to correct himself by veering left. That is when he accidentally struck Frances rear window. Bill lost control and was thrown off the highway. So based on your analysis, there is absolutely no evidence that Bonnie's claim that Frances rear ended her husband is true. There's no evidence. No evidence whatsoever. There's no evidence on the rear of the motorcycle of any contact. There's no. No evidence on the hood of the Escalade. The prosecution concedes that Bonnie's recollection of events is not supported by the evidence.

[Bonnie Contreras]

I wouldn't characterize her testimony as untruthful. I would just characterize it as mistaken.

[Peter Van Sant]

The Range Rover prosecution, collision expert Timothy Lovett. Oh, I don't think Bonnie Contreras is intentionally lying about this collision. She's excitable. She's got somebody that's just like a raging bull behind her. Lovett says the evidence clearly shows that Frances rammed Bonnie's car multiple times. I have damage on this side of the bumper, and I have damage on this side of the front bumper as well. That's two. That's at least one more than just an accidental bump. As for why the damage on the bumpers appears so minor, the prosecution has an answer.

[Hank Hall]

When two vehicles are moving at a high rate of speed and they're going at the same speed, you're not going to see huge damage when they collide.

[Peter Van Sant]

And as for how Bill died, prosecutors believe Frances sideswiped Bill's motorcycle, knocking him off the road as she. She pursued Bonnie.

[Hank Hall]

It doesn't make sense to say this was an accident. When you look at the surrounding circumstances.

[Peter Van Sant]

Prosecutors point to the day before the crash when Frances physically assaulted Bill. And furthermore, they play the phone message that Frances daughter Nikki left on Bonnie's cell phone during the chase.

[Nikki Hall]

Told you to watch your back, you.

[Bonnie Contreras]

And bits to me. And I want to think to any woman that would speak very much to Frances intent to hurt Bonnie. She was out for blood.

[Peter Van Sant]

So you take the stand as a prosecution witness.

[Lee Cutter]

Right.

[Peter Van Sant]

The prosecution calls Bill's cousin Hank, who they believe is about to cap off their case by telling jurors Frances murdered Bill. But after hearing all of the evidence and seeing Frances in court, Hank has a change of heart. But you end up saying something on the stand that the prosecution doesn't want you to say in front of this jury.

[Lee Cutter]

They asked me if I thought that Francis had killed Bill. And I took a moment. I told him no. And the DA Looked at me like.

[Peter Van Sant]

Are you kidding me? Kind of look.

[Lee Cutter]

Yes.

[Peter Van Sant]

And did you look over at Frances.

[Lee Cutter]

After you said that, she grabbed herself and started crying.

[Peter Van Sant]

And in a way at that moment, that's when the whole family comes back together.

[Lee Cutter]

Got back together and kind of got everybody close again.

[Peter Van Sant]

After nearly a three week trial, Frances hall chooses not to testify, leaving her fate in the hands of a Texas jury.

[Bonnie Contreras]

As a result of her rage.

[Peter Van Sant]

A.

[Bonnie Contreras]

Man is dead and justice is holding this woman responsible for that man's death.

[Frances Hall]

She's been living in hell for three years. Let her go home. Let her be with her family. Let her.

[Ryan Reynolds]

The missing child is Lucia Blix, 9 years old. Please let her come back home safely. Thursdays the kidnappers plumbed it meticulously.

[Peter Van Sant]

If money is what it takes to.

[Ryan Reynolds]

Get her back, we're going to pay it. The secret secrets they hide. You can't talk about this. You can't write about it. Are the clues.

[Peter Van Sant]

The mother's hiding something. I know it.

[Ryan Reynolds]

To find her, tell me where she is. The stolen girl. New episodes Thursdays stream on Hulu. This episode is brought to you by Greenlight. Get this, adults with financial literacy skills have 82% more wealth than those who don't. From swimming lessons to piano classes, us parents invest in so many things to enrich our kids lives. But are we investing in their future financial success? With greenlight, you can teach your kids financial literacy skills like earning, saving and investing. And this investment costs less than that. After school treat start prioritizing their financial education and future today with a risk free [e-mail] Spotify greenlight.com Spotify.

[I]

For all.

[Peter Van Sant]

His 50 years, Bill hall lived to the Max Building and taking everything and anything he wanted right till the end.

[Lee Cutter]

The multimillionaire. Two women fighting for him.

[Adam Cortez]

I miss him tremendously.

[Frances Hall]

I just wish he was here.

[I]

The only man I've ever been with. The father of my children.

[Peter Van Sant]

Bill's hunger for life grew into an appetite for destruction. And then out on a rural Texas highway, everything good was gone.

[Nikki Hall]

This is a story of loss. I miss my family.

[Peter Van Sant]

For Nikki, who believes this was an accident, not a murder, it comes down to this. Her father dead, would she now lose her mother too? Would Frances hall be put away by a jury sworn to justice?

[Frances Hall]

She's a strong, strong, strong woman. That being said, she wasn't going to go murder her husband and say, if I can't have him, no one can have him. That's just not Frances.

[Peter Van Sant]

But the state of Texas argued hard. Bill may not have been Frances intended target, but her actions that day resulted in his death. And now she had to Pay the price. This dangerous intersection of emotion and betrayal and humiliation. It occurred because you made that u turn.

[I]

Yes. Yes. And with that, I will live for the rest of my life.

[Peter Van Sant]

Testimony lasted seven days. Then it was in the jury's hands. They deliberate a single day, and on September 8, 2016, they spoke as one.

[Hank Hall]

We, the jury, find the defendant, Francis.

[Peter Van Sant]

Hall, guilty of murder. Convicted of both aggravated assault and murder, Frances hall faced a possible life sentence.

[I]

I didn't do it. I would have never in a million years have hurt Bill. Never.

[Adam Cortez]

I'm very happy on the convictions she got on both counts. That gave me peace.

[Peter Van Sant]

But along with the guilty verdict came one last step. A separate sentencing trial. Frances had a final opportunity, and her legal team conjured a bold defense. Sudden passion.

[Frances Hall]

If ever there was a person that the sudden passion provision was written for, it's Francis Hall. Absolutely.

[Peter Van Sant]

Sudden passion. A legal term for a profoundly human moment. A wife chasing down her cheating husband and his unrepentant mistress.

[Frances Hall]

Sudden passion that you were so entrenched or, you know, stuck in the heat of the moment that you are unable to think clearly.

[Hank Hall]

Now, if you cause a death, it's murder. But at punishment, you can get a lower punishment. You can get, basically manslaughter punishment.

[Frances Hall]

That lowers it to 2 to 20. Huge, huge difference.

[Peter Van Sant]

Lee Cutter and Adam Cortez made their passionate case for sudden passion. And this time, Frances hall took the stand in her own defense.

[I]

I am not this evil person that may have said, I am shall pursue this.

[Hank Hall]

You can't get up and give a big, big middle finger to the jury.

[Peter Van Sant]

The prosecution fought back, saying Frances sideswiped her car into Bill Hall's powder blue Harley in a mad, mindless attempt to confront Bonnie Contreras.

[Hank Hall]

Mercy is for someone who says, I did wrong. Give me mercy. Not for somebody who says, you got it wrong, but give me mercy anyway.

[Peter Van Sant]

Four days after her conviction, Frances learns her fate.

[Hank Hall]

We assess her punishment and confinement in the institutional division of the Texas department of Criminal justice for a term of order in the court, please.

[Peter Van Sant]

Order in court.

[Nikki Hall]

Felt like, wow, yes, only two years. But there goes my mom. Off she goes.

[I]

And I know that I could have done life for this, so for that, I was grateful. But it's still two years away from my children. It's two years that I won't be there for my grandkids.

[Peter Van Sant]

She didn't kill my grandpa.

[Frances Hall]

She would never do that.

[Peter Van Sant]

Passion is what this tale came down to and for at least one Texas family, love. For a man whose passions for life led him down the wrong road.

[Lee Cutter]

Brilliant guy, smart guy. But like I say, you know, you can be the smartest man in the world. And guess what? You make mistakes, too.

[Peter Van Sant]

So some three years after his death, his family is shattered, and Bill Hall Trucking has filed for bankruptcy. As you stand here in this jail talking to me, do you still Love Bill Hall Jr. Oh, with all my heart.

[I]

I will never love another like I love this man.

[Hank Hall]

Wait, wait. Okay.

[Peter Van Sant]

Francis hall was released from prison in 2018.