Criminology Podcast: The Death of Sarah Widmer
Episode Date: April 12, 2026
Hosts: Mike Ferguson & Mike Morford
Theme: The mysterious death of Sarah Widmer in Hamilton Township, Ohio, the investigation that followed, and the resulting conviction(s) of her husband, Ryan Widmer. The episode explores conflicting evidence, shifting stories, legal complexities, and ongoing debates about guilt and innocence.
Episode Overview
This episode dives into the 2009 death of 24-year-old Sarah Widmer, found drowned in her bathtub. Her husband, Ryan Widmer, was convicted of her murder after three highly debated trials but has always maintained his innocence. The case is fraught with circumstantial evidence, conflicting testimony, and lingering questions of whether Ryan is a wrongfully convicted man or a calculated killer. The hosts explore every twist: the night of Sarah’s death, police suspicions, possible medical explanations, sensational trial moments, legal missteps, and the dueling perceptions of guilt and innocence.
Case Background & The Night of the Incident
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Basic Facts
- August 11, 2009: Ryan Widmer calls 911, reporting that his wife Sarah has drowned in the bathtub ([04:36]).
- Sarah was found naked, hair wet and body dry, on the bedroom floor. Ryan was in his boxers; no injuries were visible on either body.
- Multiple failed intubation attempts before Sarah was pronounced dead after 30 minutes in the hospital.
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Their Relationship
- Ryan and Sarah met in 2006 (blind date), were married in April 2008.
- Planning their future: trips, adopting a pet, possibly starting a family ([06:50]).
Notable Quote
“It’s hard to. Because I can’t imagine what it would be like to find your significant other dead.”
— Mike Ferguson ([05:35])
Initial Investigation & Police Suspicion
Discussion Point
“There should have been a puddle of water from Ryan desperately pulling Sarah out of the tub and onto the floor, but there was nothing.”
— Mike Morford ([11:16])
Notable Quote
“If Ryan had frantically tried to pull her out of the bathtub to save her life, how did he not bump into anything?... But at the same time, if Ryan held her head under the water until she died, how did nothing get knocked over during the struggle?”
— Mike Ferguson ([14:36])
Prosecution Theory & Evidence
The Trials: Three (and Almost Four) Attempts at Justice
- First Trial (March 2009)
- Jury returned a guilty verdict for murder, not aggravated murder.
- Verdict overturned due to juror misconduct: Several jurors conducted home “experiments” about drying times, violating trial rules ([17:16]).
Notable Quote
“Jurors aren’t supposed to do any deliberating ... when they’re not all together.”
— Mike Morford ([17:16])
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Second Trial
- Ended in a hung jury; could not reach a unanimous verdict ([33:31]).
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Third Trial
- Resulted in a conviction: guilty of murder, sentenced to 15 years to life ([33:31]).
- Juror cited Ryan’s lack of reaction to autopsy photos as influential in their decision ([34:07]).
Notable Quote
“He didn’t react like a normal person whose wife is dead should have.”
— Anonymous Juror ([34:07])
- Attempts at a Fourth Trial
- Ryan sought genetic testing on Sarah’s DNA (suspected undiagnosed condition); denied by judge ([42:28]).
The "Confession" and Witness Controversy
- Jennifer Crew
- After a Dateline episode aired, Jennifer Crew contacted Ryan and claims he confessed to killing Sarah during a distressed phone call ([26:26]).
- She says Ryan described an argument about his behavior escalating to Sarah hitting her head and him cleaning up the scene.
- Many aspects of her account conflicted with physical evidence (no relevant bruises, towels, or phone log match) ([28:41]).
- Motivation for the alleged confession and for Crew's testimony are both questioned.
Notable Quote
“Why come out and confess to someone that you don’t even know all that well? ... These kind of revelations are always tough...”
— Mike Ferguson ([28:41])
Notable Quote
“To me, it just seems unlikely that he would risk outing himself to someone, as you said, he barely knew.”
— Mike Morford ([31:11])
Medical Explanations — The Defense’s Alternative Theory
Post-Conviction Efforts and Parole
- Appeals and Legal Challenges
- Ryan’s legal team attacked detective and dispatcher credibility; also raised issues of genetic testing and ineffective counsel.
- In May 2025, a federal appeals court upheld Ryan’s conviction ([46:03]).
- July 2025: First parole opportunity denied; refusal to express remorse seen as problem ([46:46]).
Notable Quote
“If someone is truly innocent, sitting behind bars, they have zero chance of making it out of prison without lying and taking accountability for something they didn’t do.”
— Michelle Berry, Ryan’s attorney ([46:03])
Family, Friends, Motive, and Public Perceptions
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Divided Opinions
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Ryan’s supporters remain steadfast (family, friends, some jurors), convinced by inconclusive evidence and reasonable doubt ([47:45]).
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Sarah’s mother, Ruth Ann Stewart, testified about tension in the couple’s relationship, including controlling tendencies on Ryan’s side ([50:21]).
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Motive
- No clear financial motive: their finances were stable, no sizable life insurance ([51:53]).
- Prosecution introduced Ryan’s online activities (Adult Friend Finder) to question marital happiness ([53:24]).
Notable Quote
“In any case, it’s often what helps lead police to their suspect. Who has a motive? What is the motive? ... But they don’t have to, and they don’t always know what it is.”
— Mike Ferguson ([52:24])
The Legal System & Continuing Questions
Memorable Moments & Quotes
- “[It’s] hard for me to fathom…what it would be like to find your significant other dead.” — Mike Ferguson ([05:35])
- “He [Ryan] didn’t react like a normal person whose wife is dead should have.” — Juror ([34:07])
- “If you’re truly innocent, do you at some point just say, ‘Yeah, I’m sorry I did it,’ knowing it’s not true, just to get out of prison?” — Mike Morford ([47:25])
- “If someone is truly innocent, sitting behind bars, they have zero chance of making it out of prison without lying and taking accountability for something they didn’t do.” — Michelle Berry, Ryan’s attorney ([46:03])
- “I do feel that Ryan was unjustly convicted ... mainly [due to] the inconclusive evidence and reasonable doubt.” — Janet Kwood, second trial juror ([47:45])
- “There are only two possibilities — either Ryan Widmer is guilty and right where he belongs, or he was wrongfully convicted ... but either way, a young woman died and her husband has lost his freedom.” — Mike Ferguson ([56:50])
Timestamps for Key Segments
- The Night of the Death & Initial Discovery: [04:36]–[08:22]
- Police Suspicion & Conflicting Accounts: [09:11]–[11:16]
- Scene Evidence & Coroner’s Findings: [12:36]–[15:58]
- Trials and Juror Misconduct: [17:16]–[19:35]
- Jennifer Crew's “Confession” Allegation: [26:26]–[33:20]
- Final Conviction & Juror Insight: [33:31]–[36:47]
- Medical Explanations (Long QT, Seizure): [37:00]–[42:28]
- Post-Conviction Legal Battles & DNA Testing: [43:59]–[47:25]
- Family Perspectives & Motive Discussion: [47:45]–[55:05]
- Final Thoughts on Legal System and Case's Legacy: [55:45]–[63:34]
Conclusion
The Sarah Widmer case defies easy answers. The podcast exposes the relentless complexity of a criminal justice system grappling with circumstantial evidence, unorthodox witness claims, and medical red herrings. The hosts stress that whether Ryan Widmer is guilty or wrongfully imprisoned, the outcome is tragic for all. Friends, family, and even jury members remain divided. The episode stands as a nuanced, thorough exploration—a must-listen for true crime followers interested in cases where certainty remains elusive.