48 Hours: "The Usual Suspect"

CBS News – January 7, 2026

Episode Overview

This episode of "48 Hours" investigates the chilling murder of Tina Corona in Memphis, Tennessee. The story unravels through the accounts of her friends, family, and prosecutors, as they examine the complex dynamics of Tina's marriage to Joe Corona, the investigation’s twists, and ultimately, the search for justice. With signature “48 Hours” depth, the episode uncovers not just a murder mystery but the hidden betrayals, financial fraud, and personal tragedies at its heart.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Setting the Scene: Memphis, Crime, and Community

• Memphis: A city of rich music heritage but also known for a "darker side" with significant crime ([00:07], Karen Cook).
• The tight-knit Memphis Corvette Club forms the backdrop, integral to Tina and Joe Corona’s social lives.

2. Tina's Disappearance

• Tina Corona vanishes on a Saturday morning, after leaving in the family’s black Chevrolet Avalanche to shop for supplies for a social event ([01:28]).
• Husband Joe becomes anxious when he can't reach her, prompting an organized search by friends and fellow club members ([02:43]).
• Tina's body is found on Monday in the back of her SUV, wrapped in blankets on a quiet suburban street ([03:10], [04:21]).

3. Initial Reactions and Shock

• Grieving friends and family recount disbelief and emotional devastation upon the news of Tina’s death ([04:54], [09:10]).
• Joe immediately becomes a suspect, as is common in spousal murders ([03:33]). He provides Joe’s friend as an alibi ([03:45]).

4. Early Theory: Staged Crime Scene

• Police quickly notice inconsistencies:
  • No sign of struggle or theft, jewelry left on the body, hands loosely duct-taped ([10:04], [10:23]).
  • The body and car were discovered in a safe residential area, not a typical location for a carjacking ([11:01]).
• “Law enforcement officers would look at this scene and think, this has got to be staged.” ([10:46], Tom Henderson)

5. Relationships Under the Microscope

• Tina and Joe’s relationship appeared happy on the surface: shows of affection, shared hobbies, and no apparent discord ([07:20]).
• Over time, friends noticed odd behaviors—Joe’s controlling tendencies and Tina’s estrangement from her mother ([07:45], [08:02]).
• The family rift stemmed from financial disputes and Joe’s effort to isolate Tina from her mother ([08:21]).

6. Notable Moments: Funeral and Suspicion

• Joe’s behavior at Tina’s funeral raises eyebrows, with some friends finding his actions inappropriate ([13:19]).
  • “They played I’ll Have Another Beer In Mexico at her funeral, which was disgusting for me.” ([13:19], Karen Cook)
• Close friends Gary and Pat Hathaway become suspicious due to inconsistencies in the couple’s car storage logistics and the strong smell of bleach in the home ([14:11], [16:11]).

7. Joe’s Alibi and Breakdown of His Story

• Detailed analysis of the family’s eight cars leads friends to question Joe’s timeline and alibi ([15:21], [15:41]).
• Gary Hathaway: Realizes the only missing car, the Avalanche, links directly to the murder location, casting fresh doubts on Joe’s innocence ([16:05]).
  • “He did it? Yep.” ([16:11], Tom Henderson)

8. The Affair and Further Motives

• Investigation reveals an eight-year affair between Joe and friend Becky Black ([20:26], [20:51]).
• Becky is enlisted by police to wear a wire, but Joe does not confess ("Honey, I didn't do it, okay?..." [22:43], Tom Henderson).
• Prosecutors doubt the affair alone provides motive, pointing instead to financial turmoil ([23:14]).

9. Financial Crimes and Hidden Motive

• Tina had been pushing for a new house; Joe, unbeknownst to her, lacked the funds and had no approved mortgage ([23:28], [24:05]).
• Investigation uncovers Joe’s elaborate scheme: he had been embezzling and defrauding friends, clients, and Tina out of over $780,000 ([24:16], [25:28]).
  • “Joe Corona was in trouble because his con was about to be exposed…if she were to find out, that would have been the end of it.” ([25:28], Tom Henderson)

10. Arrest and Trial

• As evidence mounts, Joe flees but is found hiding in a Tennessee hotel after a 17-day manhunt ([26:05], [26:51]).
• Joe is charged with first-degree murder despite the case being circumstantial without physical evidence ([27:11], [27:28]).

Memorable Quotes & Moments

“Memphis is a music city… but there is a darker side where we have quite a bit of crime and quite a few homicides.”
– Karen Cook [00:07]

“If both of those cars are there [at the house], what car did he drive to the storage shed… Every car… was still at the house, except for the Avalanche.”
– Tom Henderson [15:21]

“He did it? Yep.”
– Tom Henderson [16:11]

“He was covering it up using some fraudulent bank accounts.”
– Tom Henderson [24:38]

“If she were to find out that he's stealing from their friends and relatives and hiding it from her and defrauding her, that would have been the end of it. And he'd have been back working at Shoe Carnival.”
– Tom Henderson [25:28]

“He stole from an elderly man, from infant to elder. He had absolutely no compunction who he stole from. And all of that was going to be coming to White as soon as that house did not close.”
– Karen Cook, closing arguments [39:41]

“You can finally be happy. You can finally move on. If there’s not a day that goes by, I won’t think about her, love her. I miss her every day.”
– Tom Henderson [41:34] (about Tina)

Key Segments & Timestamps

• 00:07 – 04:21: Memphis setting, introduction of key figures, and events leading up to Tina’s disappearance.
• 04:31 – 12:18: Discovery of Tina’s body, initial reactions, and the emergence of Joe as a suspect.
• 13:19 – 15:41: Funeral, suspicious behaviors, breakdown of Joe’s alibi using car logistics.
• 20:26 – 23:14: Revelation of Joe’s affair with Becky Black and her role in the investigation.
• 23:28 – 25:42: Financial motives emerge, uncovering Joe’s fraudulent actions.
• 26:05 – 27:11: Joe’s flight, arrest, and the start of legal proceedings.
• 30:05 – 32:50: The trial, examining evidence, doubts about police competence and lost footage.
• 36:02 – 38:00: Jailhouse informant John Bowers’ testimony tying Joe directly to the murder.
• 39:41 – 41:10: Closing arguments, jury deliberation, and verdict.
• 41:34 – 42:11: Aftermath, reflection, and sentencing.

Jury and Evidence

• Circumstantial case: No physical evidence tied Joe directly to the murder weapon or crime scene.
• Key prosecution witness: Jailmate John Bowers reports confessions from Joe, including nonpublic details ([36:07], [36:26]).
• Defense strategy: Highlighted lost video evidence, police inexperience, and introduced reasonable doubt with witness inconsistencies ([32:19], [33:31], [38:00]).
• Verdict: Guilty of first-degree murder, sentenced to life imprisonment ([41:05]).

Conclusion & Legacy

Joe Corona is convicted of his wife Tina’s murder—driven not by jealousy or rage, but by fear of the collapse of his fraudulent financial life. The case leaves friends and family devastated, betrayed, and forever changed, and stands as a sobering reminder of how even the closest communities can harbor hidden darkness.

Closing Reflection

The episode ends with a poignant detail: Tina’s Bible, discarded by Joe, found with a handwritten note—

“Worry is the greatest thief of joy. Right praying, right thinking, and right living.” ([42:11], Karen Cook)

In 2013, Joe Corona pleaded guilty to further counts of fraud and embezzlement, earning seven added years to his life sentence ([42:11]).

For listeners seeking a compelling exploration of crime, betrayal, and justice—“The Usual Suspect” delivers a deeply human portrait behind the headlines.