Anatomy of Murder – "The Fall (LeeAnn Fletcher)"

Release Date: October 7, 2025
Hosts: Anna-Sigga Nicolazzi, Scott Weinberger
Key Voice: Leanne’s cousin, Tricia Cahoon

Episode Overview

This episode of “Anatomy of Murder” dissects the tragic and layered case of LeeAnn Fletcher, a vibrant mother from the Outer Banks of North Carolina. It examines not only her suspicious death in July 2020, but also the dogged fight for justice mounted by her family and the social media campaign that shamed authorities into action. The episode explores the crime scene, the investigation’s missteps, and the courtroom battle that followed, offering a rare inside look at a family’s struggle to have a loved one’s violent death acknowledged as murder.

Key Discussion Points

1. LeeAnn Fletcher: Her Life and Character

• Tight-knit Community: The Outer Banks, described as safe and friendly, turned out to be the backdrop for this tragedy ([04:17]–[05:13]).
• LeeAnn’s Background: Described as generous, outgoing, and “salt of the earth,” always willing to help others, even at her own expense.
  • “She was like, really outgoing...she would do anything in the world for you and help you in any way possible.” – Tricia ([06:28])
• Personal Struggles: Married her high school sweetheart Justin; suffered the loss of a child, leading to marital strain and eventual separation ([08:16]–[09:05]).
• Slide into Difficult Company: After separation, began drinking more and socializing with people she might otherwise have avoided, including John “Jay” Tolson ([09:39]–[11:07]).

2. The Relationship with John “Jay” Tolson

• Tolson moved in as a houseguest, then became romantically involved with LeeAnn.
• Red flags: Tolson’s dishonesty about his job, suspicions of other romantic entanglements ([11:38]–[12:14]).
• LeeAnn cuts ties, puts his belongings on her porch—setting the stage for the fatal conflict ([12:32]–[12:49]).

3. The Crime and Immediate Aftermath

• Timeline:
  • July 21, 2020: LeeAnn breaks off the relationship.
  • July 22, 9:30am: Tolson calls 911, claiming to have found LeeAnn unresponsive in the bathtub ([13:03]–[13:29]).
• First Response Confusion:
  • LeeAnn was found dry in the bathtub, seriously injured, and with suspicious head trauma not matching a fall ([13:38]–[15:04]).
  • "There's no way that this came from a fall unless she fell from like a 20 story building." – Trauma surgeon (Tricia quoting, [17:05])

4. Family Frustration and Police Inaction

• Police Response: Local police didn’t suspect foul play, treated the scene as a medical emergency, and failed to secure or process the crime scene ([20:09]–[21:21]).
  • "They're like, she fell. She was drunk and she fell. I mean, what do you want us to do? Blame a guy for murder?" – Tricia’s account ([20:59])
• LeeAnn’s family found the house in disarray and, with the help of a police officer, discovered a blood-soaked mattress under a made bed ([25:30]).
  • Still, PD waited for autopsy results before classifying the case as a potential homicide.

5. The Family’s Investigation and Social Media Campaign

• Taking Action:
  • Family hires a retired homicide detective and uses Blue Star Forensic Reagent to uncover extensive evidence of a violent scene cleaning all over the house ([28:35]–[29:13]).
    • "It was just like a Christmas tree lit up. There was just blue everywhere." – Tricia ([28:48])
  • Created a 41-minute video recording documenting the blood evidence ([29:13]–[30:29]).
• Police Reluctance: Despite this evidence, police remained hesitant; family turned to social media and local/national news, rallying public support with #JusticeForLeann ([34:55]–[36:13]).
  • "I had no other option, and I just started going to the news." – Tricia ([35:43])

6. Autopsy Confusion and the Challenge of Cause of Death

• ME’s report noted “complications of blunt force trauma to the head, with hepatic cirrhosis contributing,” leaving the manner of death undetermined, enabling police hesitation ([39:32]–[39:48]).
• Family and doctors pushed back, noting LeeAnn had no prior liver failure. The jaundice was from organ shutdown after being left too long post-injury, not from alcoholism ([41:15]–[41:48]).

7. Establishing a Timeline and Breaking Tolson’s Story

• Witnesses:
  • Coworker overheard Tolson threaten LeeAnn the morning prior ([42:19]).
  • Tolson’s boss says Tolson confessed to a violent altercation soon after calling 911 ([42:41]–[43:07]).
• Phone records reveal Tolson contacted another woman repeatedly during the cleanup period; evidence suggested possible outside help in cleaning up ([44:58]–[46:38]).

8. The Arrest and Prosecution

• Grand Jury and Indictment: In October 2020, Tolson is indicted and flees North Carolina by boat during a storm—captured in Maine after being found intoxicated in a ditch ([47:02]–[50:51]).
  • "He actually was found by a local officer in a ditch, passed out on the side of the road...this guy is literally here in Maine." – Tricia ([49:57])
• Trial Challenges: Evidence collected by the family/private investigator is challenged and partially thrown out due to chain-of-custody breaks ([52:08]–[52:23]).
• Plea Deal: Tolson pleads guilty to voluntary manslaughter, sentenced to 56–80 months, credited with three years’ time served; released after less than five years ([52:47]–[54:16]).
  • "When we heard five to seven, it took the breath right out of us." – Tricia ([53:56])

9. Aftermath and Reflections

• LeeAnn’s family continues advocating for procedural reforms and greater transparency in investigations.
  • "She will never be forgotten...don't give up and fight and fight. Don't give up." – Tricia ([55:15])
• Episode closes with a reminder of the dangers of domestic violence, and the power—and pain—of loved ones fighting for justice.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On LeeAnn’s Life and Nature:
  • “She was one of those people that if you had as a friend, like, she was like a sister to you, but the bond was like inseparable and she would do anything for you.” – Tricia ([06:28])
• On the Family’s Frustration with Law Enforcement:
  • “I said, you need to call the police and you need to call the police right now.” – Tricia ([17:05])
  • “There was no pictures taken, There was no crime scene taped off. They're still trying to say that she died from a fall in the bathtub.” – Tricia ([26:28])
• On Self-Investigation:
  • "It was just like a Christmas tree lit up. There was just blue everywhere." – Tricia describing the forensic reagent’s revelations ([28:48])
• On Social Media Public Pressure:
  • "I had no other option, and I just started going to the news." – Tricia ([35:43])
• On Tolson’s Arrest:
  • "He was found by a local officer in a ditch, passed out on the side of the road." – Tricia ([49:57])
• On Justice:
  • "There was no way. There was no possible way I was letting her go down like that. There was no way." – Tricia at sentencing ([53:17])
• On Systemic Change:
  • "I think that the most justice for leann was holding not just Jay accountable, but the police department, the mayor, the DA's, and all of them accountable and hoping that with this in the future, that they'll handle other cases differently." – Tricia ([54:40])
• On the Family’s Ongoing Fight:
  • "She will never be forgotten. As long as I can keep her alive, she'll stay alive...don't give up and fight and fight. Don't give up." – Tricia ([55:15])

Timestamps for Important Segments

| Timestamp | Segment Description | | -------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------ | | 03:15–04:17 | Introduction to case and the Outer Banks community | | 05:29–08:16 | LeeAnn’s upbringing, marriage, and life challenges | | 09:39–12:32 | Relationship with Tolson, unraveling trust, and breakup | | 13:03–15:04 | 911 call, first response, and hospital admission | | 17:05–20:09 | Medical examiner doubts and family's first push for investigation | | 21:08–26:08 | First visit to the house, discovery of blood under tidy surfaces | | 28:35–30:29 | Family/private investigator documents blood evidence throughout home | | 35:06–36:13 | Family’s social media campaign and public support growth | | 39:32–41:48 | Challenges with cause of death and autopsy results | | 44:58–46:38 | Phone records revealing post-injury timeline and cleanup | | 47:02–50:51 | Tolson’s flight and arrest in Maine | | 52:08–52:23 | Legal challenge to evidence collected by family/PI | | 53:17–54:16 | Sentencing, family’s reaction, and Tolson’s release | | 55:03–55:35 | Ongoing advocacy and advice for other families in similar situations |

Concluding Insights

“LeeAnn Fletcher’s case is more than a story about a murder. It is a powerful example of how family determination and public advocacy can force official recognition of a suspicious death and eventually achieve some measure of justice. The episode highlights both systemic failures and the need for empathy, vigilance, and reform in how suspected domestic violence is investigated and prosecuted. As Anna-Sigga notes, it is a tragic story, but also an inspiring testament to family love and unyielding pursuit of the truth.