
A coroner arrives at the scene of a car wreck to find a woman dead. He becomes suspicious when he notices unusual markings on her face. Was her death really an accident? Andrea Canning reports.
Loading summary
Narrator
This episode is brought to you by Progressive where drivers who save by switching save nearly $750 on average. Quote now@progressive.com to see if you could save Progressive Casualty Insurance Company and affiliates national average 12 month savings of $744 by new customers surveyed who saved with Progressive between June 2022 and May 2023. Potential savings will vary. Discounts not available in all states and situations. Dateline is sponsored by Capital One. Banking with Capital One helps you keep more money in your wallet with no fees or minimums on checking accounts and no overdraft fees. Just ask the Capital One bank guy. It's pretty much all he talks about in a good way. What's in your wallet? Terms apply. See capitalone.com bank capital1na member FDIC they.
Josh Orr
Told me that this vehicle had gone off the road into this creek bed. She was face up and about ankle deep.
Narrator
Water.
Terry Tinker
She's got severe injuries to her head.
Detective Chris Reynolds
Little did you know the mystery that.
Jessie McWaters
Was about to unfold.
Josh Orr
I go into the living room and I see blood all over the place. Went into the bathroom, there's more blood. The whole time we're thinking it was a car wreck. And now what happened? First we're sitting there trying to figure out what really happened to our mom.
Jessie McWaters
The rumor mill is in overdrive.
Kay Black
In overdrive.
Jamie Baldwin
There was gossip that there was an affair.
Josh Orr
I told my brother this is how people get away with murder.
Jessie McWaters
Sex lies in a Christian bike club. Who would have thought exactly this was.
Kay Black
Just tearing her apart.
Terry King
You really can't make this up.
Jamie Baldwin
There's no other way to describe a human being like that. Satan spawn.
Detective Chris Reynolds
Station 8 top 5 semi point alert.
Rodney Wright
We have a bad wreck on Old Rittsburg Road.
Terry King
Got one dead to call for the corner.
Detective Chris Reynolds
The slow moving water, chilled by the December air, trickled over her lifeless body.
Jamie Baldwin
She was one of my biggest supporters and she's not here anymore.
Detective Chris Reynolds
How this wife, mother and grandmother ended up in this creek would consume her family for years.
Josh Orr
I'm not going to give up until I find what really happened.
Jessie McWaters
Do you get a lot of car crashes as the coroner?
Terry Tinker
We do.
Detective Chris Reynolds
Terry Tinker, the coroner for Chester County, South Carolina had been called here to the site of a fatal traffic accident. It was right before midnight on December 14, 2016. A husband and wife were in their Jeep when it ran off the road, ending up down by this creek.
Terry Tinker
And when it got to the bottom, the nose of the Jeep was right here.
Detective Chris Reynolds
He was told the 53 year old woman had been ejected.
Terry Tinker
And I saw that lady laying in the creek. I knew who she was.
Jessie McWaters
Who was that?
Terry Tinker
Judy Baldwin.
Detective Chris Reynolds
Your my friend Terry had known Judy or Baldwin most of his life.
Jessie McWaters
That must have been just such a shock to the system to see that.
Terry Tinker
It was a longtime friend laying in a creek.
Detective Chris Reynolds
The coroner noticed some unusual markings on Judy's face. Deep, dark, blackened circles around her eyes.
Terry Tinker
I'm seeing a lot of bulging eyes, what a lot of people call raccoon eyes.
Jessie McWaters
How do you get those raccoon eyes? Is there one kind of from probably brain injury.
Detective Chris Reynolds
Driving the Jeep was Judy's husband, Jamie Baldwin. He suffered minor injuries. Jamie told first responders they were traveling down this dark rural road when he swerved to avoid hitting a truck. His out of control Jeep then careened down a side embankment and crashed into the creek. He said he was knocked out and when he came to, Judy's limp body was in the creek a few feet away. He called 911. Do you want to try CPR?
Kay Black
You've already tried.
Detective Chris Reynolds
Oh, God. Jamie had already been taken away in an ambulance when Detective Chris Reynolds with the Chester County Sheriff's Office arrived on the scene.
Terry Tinker
I actually took my flashlight. I looked in, I saw a cloth with blood on it, blood on the seat.
Detective Chris Reynolds
The detective saw the Jeep's door open where Judy apparently had been ejected.
Jessie McWaters
What's your first instinct of this scene?
Terry Tinker
It's an accident. Until it's proven something else, it's an accident.
Detective Chris Reynolds
That same night, Judy's two sons, Josh and Chris Orr, each got late night phone calls. They were only told their mom had been in a car crash and they needed to get to the hospital right away.
Josh Orr
I was the first one there and I, you know, run into the emergency side and I was like, you know, where's Judy or Baldwin at? I was like, we don't, we don't have a Judy or Baldwin. I was like, they've been in a rig. I was like, is Jamie Baldwin here?
Detective Chris Reynolds
Josh found his stepdad Jamie in a hospital room.
Josh Orr
And I was like, where's my mom at? He was like, she didn't make it. I was like, what do you mean she didn't make it? And he said, she's. She's dead.
Detective Chris Reynolds
Chris arrived shortly after and got the terrible news. He asked his stepdad what happened, and.
Josh Orr
All he said was, I wish it would have been me. It felt like a dream. I mean, I was like, I cannot believe we're going through this again.
Jessie McWaters
Yeah, because your dad died tragically.
Detective Chris Reynolds
Their dad, Judy's first husband, died in a motorcycle accident 12 years earlier, it just seemed unbelievable to now lose their mom also in a crash.
Jessie McWaters
So here you are having to say goodbye to your other parent. Yeah, your mom. That's really a hard thing to do to lose both of your parents at such a young age.
Josh Orr
I know nothing's perfect but like our family was, we didn't have any problems and we were all happy and you know, our parents are gone.
Detective Chris Reynolds
Around 6:30 that morning, Judy's 23 year old niece, Jessie McWaters was sound asleep when her phone rang. Her dad gave her the tragic news that her aunt, known as little Judy because she was just 4 foot 11, had been killed.
Jamie Baldwin
And he said, little Judy's dead. And I was like, what are you talking about? He said, little Judy is dead. I just started screaming and crying. I woke up everybody in the house.
Detective Chris Reynolds
When Judy's nephew heard the news, he realized his aunt's beloved Yorkie was all alone. So early in the morning, he headed over to Judy's house.
Josh Orr
The whole time I'm thinking, I'm just going to the house to get the dog.
Detective Chris Reynolds
Rodney Wright wasn't prepared for what he saw once he walked inside that house.
Josh Orr
It was a shock. I couldn't believe it. I go into the living room and I see blood all over the place. Blood in the floor. Went into the bathroom, there's more blood. I mean the whole time we're thinking it was a car wreck. And now what happened.
Detective Chris Reynolds
What Jamie says happened to Judy, when I came back.
Rodney Wright
In, she was there to fireplace in.
Detective Chris Reynolds
The floor and then the clue that baffled the coroner.
Jessie McWaters
So this was going to be the.
Detective Chris Reynolds
Key area in the autopsy right there. Just a few hours after Judy Orr Baldwin was found dead at the scene of a car crash, her nephew was stunned to find blood in her house. A lot of it. He had no idea what was going on.
Josh Orr
It was so confusing stuff just didn't add up.
Detective Chris Reynolds
Turns out there was an explanation. Judy's husband told investigators there had actually been two accidents that night. Judy had taken a terrible fall at home. The reason for all that blood, they were on their way to the hospital when they crashed.
Jamie Baldwin
I was in complete shock that she was gone.
Detective Chris Reynolds
Now Judy's family, including her niece, was grieving.
Jamie Baldwin
She was the bright light in a dark room. She really was.
Jessie McWaters
Was Judy a romantic? Did she believe in true love?
Jamie Baldwin
She did believe in true love just because she had experienced it. Todd was her one true love.
Detective Chris Reynolds
Todd was her first husband who died in that motorcycle crash.
Jamie Baldwin
I think after he passed, she was kind of longing for that love and she Wanted to be loved like that again.
Jessie McWaters
Was Judy lonely?
Jamie Baldwin
She was lonely. She wanted somebody for sure.
Detective Chris Reynolds
So Judy's family was happy when she started dating Jamie Baldwin, a former police officer and 911 operator. The couple had a whirlwind romance, and after just eight months, they married in 2012.
Jessie McWaters
How did you feel that your mom was with a former police officer?
Josh Orr
Safe, you know, protective. Somebody that would help her if she was in need. You know, somebody that was. Had her back.
Jessie McWaters
Did they seem happy?
Josh Orr
Oh, yeah, that was extremely happy. And, you know, her being happy. I'm extremely happy.
Detective Chris Reynolds
Detective Chris Reynolds, who knew Judy personally, was looking into her death as part of a routine investigation.
Terry Tinker
I knew Ms. Judy for a very long time, ever since I was a child.
Jessie McWaters
Did you like her?
Terry Tinker
Oh, yes. Everybody liked her or loved her.
Detective Chris Reynolds
The detective had never met Judy's husband, but wanted more details on what happened that night. So about a week after her death, he asked Jamie to come down to the sheriff's office.
Jessie McWaters
Why do you bring him in? Even though you believe that this is an accident?
Terry Tinker
We're crossing our T's and dotting our eyes. I want to make sure I have everything covered.
Rodney Wright
I mean, she was just one of those people that as soon as you met her, you were a friend of her. You loved her. That smile. She was just bigger than life.
Detective Chris Reynolds
Jamie said he had mostly recovered from his minor injuries. Emotionally, though, he said he had a lot of healing to do.
Rodney Wright
I've asked God a million times why you just didn't take me. Why didn't you have to take a woman like that? See, I could have done to save her. Oh, God.
Detective Chris Reynolds
Jamie said the night Judy died, he and his wife were decorating their Christmas tree. He then briefly stepped outside to put some tools away in his shed.
Rodney Wright
When I came back in, she was there at the fireplace and floor. I don't know if she decided to fix up on a tree. I don't know. I don't know. I was in the shop and I never even asked her what she was doing.
Detective Chris Reynolds
Jamie said he assumed Judy fell off the ladder and hit her head on the mantel. On the floor were two stocking holders. One of them was broken.
Rodney Wright
I got her up. I got her in the bathroom and I cleaned her up. And it was bleeding bad.
Detective Chris Reynolds
Jamie told the detective. He grabbed a washcloth from the bathroom and put pressure on her wound, but the bleeding didn't stop. He thought Judy needed stitches.
Rodney Wright
I was like, I gotta take you to hospital. And she looked up at me, she said, I am not going to Chester. She hated Chester Hospital.
Detective Chris Reynolds
Although Chester Hospital was a few minutes from their house. He said the couple got into their Jeep and started driving to a bigger hospital, 30 minutes away.
Rodney Wright
I asked her, I said, how you feeling? She said, my hips hurt. I said, just gonna be okay. We're gonna get you. And she looked up at me, she said, I love you. I said, I love you, too. And I looked up. I'm pretty sure it was a truck. It was like three quarters of the way in our lane. And, I mean, if I wouldn't have swerved to the right to miss it, we'd have hit head on.
Detective Chris Reynolds
And that's when he said they went flying down that embankment, ending up in the creek. Jamie said the impact of the crash knocked him out.
Rodney Wright
We hit something, and then it was a big. Just gigantic, just like a stop. I reach out for Judy. She there? And I finally found her. She's laying near the creek.
Terry Tinker
I'll walk you back up.
Detective Chris Reynolds
After about an hour, the interview was finished. Jamie's story seemed to match what the seasoned detective had seen for himself. Like that bloody washcloth in the Jeep. And when he went to the house the night of the accident.
Terry Tinker
I see blood around the mantle and blood on the floor. I did see the ladder leaned up toward the Christmas tree at the time.
Jessie McWaters
Does the blood look consistent with a possible fall from the ladder?
Terry Tinker
Yes, it's an accident. As of right now, it's an accident.
Detective Chris Reynolds
While Detective Reynolds was continuing his investigation, the coroner was still trying to figure out what caused Judy's death. He wanted to know more about the large wound on her forehead.
Terry Tinker
There was no damage to her legs, to her arms. All of it was concentrated around her head.
Jessie McWaters
So this was going to be the key area in the autopsy.
Detective Chris Reynolds
He concluded Judy died from a skull fracture caused by some sort of blunt force trauma to her head. And those raccoon eyes were the result of a large amount of blood accumulated in her skull. But the coroner struggled to figure out what caused that fracture.
Terry Tinker
I need to know. What do you think she fell against what was told by Mr. Baldwin. She struck her head on the mantle. She might have fallen on the stocking holder. But all this stuff's got to be added up.
Detective Chris Reynolds
He had to determine if the fatal injury happened during that fall at her house or during the car accident. Even though Judy had two autopsies before she was buried, the coroner couldn't reach a conclusion. So her death certificate read, pending investigation. Jessie becomes suspicious about her aunt's death and takes matters into her own hands.
Jessie McWaters
You decided to record the call.
Jamie Baldwin
I did record it.
Detective Chris Reynolds
And then Was someone in this family harboring a secret? An eye popping story?
Jessie McWaters
Sex lies in a Christian bike club.
Kay Black
Exactly.
Narrator
Let's talk about a gift that's perfect for any occasion. Edible Arrangements Whether you're hosting, sending a thank you gift or celebrating, there's an Edible for that. Edible is your one stop shop with chocolate dipped fruit arrangements, decadent new dessert boards, fresh flower bouquets and balloons, and more. The best part? They deliver next day, same day, even one hour. Just hop on edible.com pick what you want and let Edible handle the rest. From fresh baked cookies to classic chocolate covered strawberries, Edible's handmade treats are fresh and delicious and impressive every time. So next time you need a gift or something for your table, check out edible.com or visit your local store to order. Use promo code Dateline10 to save $10 on your order. Over $59. Offer ends December 31, 2024 at 11:59 EST. Additional terms and conditions apply. See site for details.
Commercial Voice
Together with millions of supporters, the Humane Society of the United States takes on puppy mills, factory farms, the fur trade, trophy hunting, animal cosmetics testing and other crue. They respond in critical moments of crisis when animals need immediate help. They're also laying the groundwork for change that can prevent tomorrow's cruelties by fighting for better laws, holding corporations accountable and tackling the worst animal abuses. But there's so much more that needs to be done and they need your help to protect all animals and prevent suffering animals struggling to survive. Can't wait, and neither should you. By donating today, you can create a future where animals no longer suffer. Your contribution, no matter the size, has the power to change. Right now. A limited Time Challenge fund can double your impact and go even further to help provide protection, care and life saving resources to animals in need. Donate today at www.humanesociety.org donations. Every dollar saves lives.
Narrator
Do you like podcasts, music and audiobooks? Because when you subscribe to Amazon Music Unlimited, you get all three in one app. Imagine listening to your favorite podcasts and music on the go to work, school, the gym, or better yet, vacation. Now imagine being on vacation with your favorite audiobook from Audible and then listening to a new one every month from a huge selection of popular titles. That sounds like a pretty good vacation, right? Audible is now included on Amazon Music Unlimited. Download the Amazon Music app now to start listening terms. Apply.
Detective Chris Reynolds
It appeared Judy or Baldwin had been involved in two accidents on the same night. Most people, including Detective Reynolds, seemed to agree. Sadly, it looked Like Judy was the victim of bad luck. One person, however, wasn't buying it. Judy's niece. When she thought about what happened, it seemed suspicious.
Jamie Baldwin
I had a very weird feeling in my stomach.
Detective Chris Reynolds
Although Jamie had an explanation for why he took his wife to that faraway hospital, it didn't make sense to Jesse.
Jamie Baldwin
I'm like, why would you not go to Chester Hospital? It's so close to the house. If she just bumped her head, you know?
Detective Chris Reynolds
And why did Jamie take a dark, rural back road to the hospital when he could have taken a much faster nearby highway?
Jessie McWaters
Do you think that was odd?
Jamie Baldwin
That was super odd to me.
Detective Chris Reynolds
So Jessie decided to take a bold step. She put her amateur detective hat on and called Jamie.
Jessie McWaters
You decided to record the call that you had with Jamie?
Jamie Baldwin
I did record it.
Jessie McWaters
What in your gut was telling you to record this call?
Jamie Baldwin
I'm not sure what exactly told me to do it. I'm surprised I did it because I was in such shock. But I knew in my heart that something else had happened, and I wanted to hear what he had to say. Hey, Jamie.
Detective Chris Reynolds
She asked Jamie how he got knocked out when the Jeep crashed.
Jamie Baldwin
What'd you hit your head on?
Josh Orr
Probably the roll bar, most likely, or the door.
Detective Chris Reynolds
I don't know. But Jessie was most concerned about her aunt's final moments.
Jamie Baldwin
I just don't want her to suffer.
Rodney Wright
She didn't suffer, Jesse.
Detective Chris Reynolds
She did.
Rodney Wright
You know how much me and her loved each other.
Jamie Baldwin
Yes, sir.
Rodney Wright
We had an awesome, awesome life together.
Jamie Baldwin
Yes.
Jessie McWaters
How would you describe his demeanor?
Jamie Baldwin
I would simply say he had zero remorse. He was talking just how we're talking. No emotion, really.
Narrator
She's in heaven. We both know she's in heaven.
Jamie Baldwin
Yeah.
Rodney Wright
So that's good news.
Jessie McWaters
One thing that struck me was he.
Detective Chris Reynolds
Said, that's the good news.
Josh Orr
Yeah.
Jessie McWaters
Which seemed a little. Like the language was a little odd.
Jamie Baldwin
Yeah. It didn't make any sense to me either. And it was just like an eerie feeling, like, kind of. Why would you say that in this phone call?
Detective Chris Reynolds
Jessie couldn't get the phone call out of her head.
Jamie Baldwin
I sat there and I replayed that recording so many times.
Jessie McWaters
Are you expressing your concerns to Judy's sons, your cousins?
Jamie Baldwin
I let them listen to the phone call, and I told him. I was like, y'all, this just isn't sitting right with me.
Detective Chris Reynolds
After Judy's son started to think about it, they, too had serious doubts.
Josh Orr
We're sitting there trying to figure out what really happened to our mom. Yeah. Cause nobody would tell us anything.
Detective Chris Reynolds
But soon, one of Judy's Friends would tell the brothers more than they ever wanted to know. Kay Black and Judy were nearly inseparable and shared their most personal secrets with each other.
Jessie McWaters
You said you were like sisters.
Kay Black
We were. I miss her a lot. A whole lot.
Detective Chris Reynolds
Kay and her husband Randall considered themselves Judy and Jamie's best friends. The four belonged to a biker group called the Carolina Thunder Christian Motorcycle Club. Helping hands and Harleys. They spent nearly every weekend with the couple. And Kay knew something about Judy and Jamie that almost no one else did.
Kay Black
Talking with Judy, I knew their marriage wasn't like he was making everybody believe.
Detective Chris Reynolds
Jamie told others, including Detective Reynolds in that interview, he had a strong, happy marriage.
Terry Tinker
Is there anything that I need to know about that may come up in the future?
Rodney Wright
I mean, like what?
Terry Tinker
I mean, just anything I need to know about.
Rodney Wright
No.
Detective Chris Reynolds
No.
Rodney Wright
Okay. Nothing. We have a great line, which is we never got an argument.
Terry Tinker
Everybody has disagreements.
Rodney Wright
Please go talk to some of our friends. You'll find out that we were perfect. I mean, we were just perfect.
Terry Tinker
Nobody's perfect, everybody.
Rodney Wright
It's not as perfect as you could get. I mean, we had a great relationship.
Detective Chris Reynolds
Kay says a few months before her death, Judy confided in her that her marriage was on the rocks. She thought something was going on with Jamie and another woman, a single mom named Terry King, who also happened to be the bike club's treasurer.
Kay Black
She started having her suspicions.
Jessie McWaters
What is she thinking?
Kay Black
She was thinking Jamie and Terri were having an affair.
Jessie McWaters
The club treasurer?
Kay Black
Yes.
Jessie McWaters
And Jamie.
Kay Black
Jamie. If one went to smoke, they would look at the other one and say, come on, let's go smoke. Judy didn't like that. Little things like that Judy had started picking up on.
Terry Tinker
Yeah, we'd seen a lot of touchy feely stuff that we didn't think were right.
Kay Black
And Judy would ask me about it and I'd say, maybe, maybe not. Nobody knows for sure, but everybody's talking about it.
Detective Chris Reynolds
So Judy decided to find out for herself.
Kay Black
She even confronted Terry.
Jessie McWaters
And what did Terri say?
Kay Black
Terry said, we're not doing anything. She confronted Jamie, and he told her the same thing she said. But Kay, they're so calm about it. She said, I know they're doing something.
Detective Chris Reynolds
Within about a week of Judy's death, Kaye sat Judy's sons down and told them everything. As they absorbed it all, they remembered something strange. Terry King was at the hospital the night their mom died. In fact, she got there before they did.
Josh Orr
Why are you here before us? I mean, this is our mom, our flesh and blood. We talking about 1 or 2 o'clock in the morning.
Detective Chris Reynolds
And there was another, even more awkward story Kay felt she needed to share with Judy's sons.
Josh Orr
I don't want to tell y'all this, but I'm going to tell you. Your mama, she said that Jamie's been trying to get your mom to have a threesome with him and Terry.
Jessie McWaters
What?
Rodney Wright
Yeah.
Josh Orr
Yeah.
Jessie McWaters
This is not something your mom wanted.
Josh Orr
No, no. When she told me that or something.
Jessie McWaters
That you want to think about.
Josh Orr
No, I don't want to think about either.
Jessie McWaters
Sex lies in a Christian bike club.
Kay Black
Exactly.
Jessie McWaters
Who would have thought?
Terry Tinker
Exactly.
Detective Chris Reynolds
Soon after Kay opened up to Judy's family, she called Detective Chris Reynolds.
Kay Black
I said, chris, I have some texts from Judy. I said, I think you need to see them because she tells in there that she suspected Jamie and Terry. He said, I'll get back with you, Kay. I said, okay. And I never heard from him again.
Detective Chris Reynolds
The brothers and Jesse also felt they weren't getting anywhere with the detective.
Josh Orr
We gotta find somebody to help us, and we gotta, you know, get some answers.
Jamie Baldwin
I'm like, why? Why is nobody doing anything? Just didn't make sense.
Detective Chris Reynolds
But soon it would all start to make sense with some bombshell news. A disturbing revelation about Jamie's alleged girlfriend and important evidence.
Jessie McWaters
What happened to the blood at Judy's house?
Terry King
What we found out was that Terry went to the house and cleaned it up.
Detective Chris Reynolds
Two months had passed since Judy's death, and her family was questioning Jamie's story about what happened. Then they heard something stunning about Terry King and Jamie. They moved in together.
Jessie McWaters
So what are you guys thinking? He's moving in quickly with her?
Josh Orr
Yeah, that's what we think. Okay. The police is gonna hit on this something. I mean, somebody's looking into this.
Detective Chris Reynolds
The brothers had been pushing the Chester County Prosecutor's office to look deeper into their mom's death. In fact, Deputy Prosecutor Candace Lively was keeping tabs on. On the sheriff's investigation.
Terry King
We were just being told through the sheriff's office that they were doing what they were supposed to do.
Detective Chris Reynolds
Turns out, they weren't. The prosecutor would learn there were serious problems with the sheriff's investigation.
Jessie McWaters
They're basically saying, we got this. We don't need your help right now.
Terry King
Exactly. And we were hearing from the family that people hadn't been interviewed yet. They were concerned that evidence hadn't been collected.
Jessie McWaters
Chris Reynolds said that he truly believed it was an accident, and so he just didn't feel that need to investigate this as a crime, a potential crime.
Terry King
Right. And that is something that, with his experience, he should have known that you don't make those kind of assumptions up front. When someone dies, you treat it as it's a murder until you know otherwise.
Detective Chris Reynolds
We asked Detective Reynolds about how he handled the investigation.
Jessie McWaters
Did you collect Jamie's clothes? Did you take Judy's clothes? Did you take her cell phone? Did you take Jamie's cell phone?
Terry Tinker
No, ma'am.
Jessie McWaters
Why not?
Terry Tinker
We didn't collect anything at the house. That was just a judgment call.
Detective Chris Reynolds
Some considered that a questionable call. Because there was something else. Early in the investigation, the coroner told the detective he thought Judy's death looked suspicious, that it might even be a homicide.
Jessie McWaters
Wouldn't you, as just being overly cautious as a detective, say we should do.
Detective Chris Reynolds
A little more here?
Jessie McWaters
We should get evidence. And even if it's not a murder, at least we have it. We did our job.
Terry Tinker
I agree on this.
Jessie McWaters
You don't need it. Maybe, but let's get it.
Terry Tinker
I agree 100%.
Detective Chris Reynolds
And those photos the detective took inside Judy's house, this is how a number of them came out.
Jessie McWaters
Some of them were so blurry and bad.
Terry Tinker
Yeah, the camera we had wasn't good.
Jessie McWaters
At the time, but, I mean, even if a camera's not that great, you can still take still shots.
Terry Tinker
I struggle with that camera that we have.
Detective Chris Reynolds
He also failed to collect critical forensic evidence.
Jessie McWaters
Did you say to your supervisor, I think we should have someone come in and look at this blood?
Terry Tinker
No, I didn't.
Jessie McWaters
Do you think you should have done that?
Terry Tinker
Absolutely.
Detective Chris Reynolds
I've never denied that Reynolds never sealed the house after he photographed it so anyone could go in. And someone did. Terry King. Remember, she was in Jamie's hospital room the night in question.
Jessie McWaters
What happened to the blood evidence at Judy's house?
Terry King
Well, according to what we found out in our investigation was that Terri left the hospital and she went back to the house and cleaned it up.
Jessie McWaters
With permission from Detective Reynolds?
Terry King
Yes.
Detective Chris Reynolds
Not only did he give her permission to clean it up, he offered help.
Terry Tinker
I even gave her a number to a company. They specialize in crime scenes and disaster restorations. I said somebody has to clean it up.
Jessie McWaters
So you're giving her advice about how to clean up a potential crime scene?
Terry Tinker
No, she asked. She asked for help. And that's with anybody else in the case if they ask, you know, advice on how to.
Jessie McWaters
Ask the question. Right. You're giving her advice on how to clean up a potential crime scene.
Terry Tinker
Yeah, but at the time, the crime scene we were done with.
Jessie McWaters
So she's literally erasing the crime scene.
Terry King
And that's exactly what happened.
Jessie McWaters
Whether she was intentionally erasing a crime scene or not.
Terry King
Exactly.
Jessie McWaters
Is this the most bungled evidence collection handling of a scene that you've ever seen?
Terry King
Yes, and I think bungled might be being a little nice because there was no evidence collection even though there was.
Detective Chris Reynolds
A lack of evidence. The prosecutor spoke to the coroner about Judy's severe head injuries and came to the conclusion this was no accident, but a murder.
Terry King
At some point I'm going to have to look at this family and possibly tell them that we're not going to have what we need to get justice for your family member.
Detective Chris Reynolds
Judy's family was losing hope and weeks are going by.
Josh Orr
Weeks, months are going by.
Detective Chris Reynolds
Then a breakthrough. Eight months after Judy's death, the sheriff's office agreed to allow sled to take charge of the case. That's South Carolina's top law enforcement agency.
Jessie McWaters
What does sled do now that they're taking this over?
Detective Chris Reynolds
They jumped in, agents went to Judy's house and took hundreds of photos, detailed measurements, took another look at the vehicle and re examined the autopsy findings. They came to the same conclusion as the procedure prosecutor. It all added up to homicide.
Terry King
We said we definitely have enough to present to a grand jury at this point. And true billed indictment for murder.
Detective Chris Reynolds
For Judy's family, it was a long time coming. In August of 2018, a year and a half after her death, Jamie Baldwin was arrested for the murder of his wife.
Jessie McWaters
You get a call finally that Jamie has been arrested. Were you shocked.
Josh Orr
You could breathe a little bit. I mean he's arrested for the murder of my mom.
Detective Chris Reynolds
But now came the hard part. How to prosecute a case with little physical evidence.
Jessie McWaters
This was no slam dunk.
Terry King
It was far from it. And the family knew going in that we had a real battle.
Detective Chris Reynolds
The jaw dropping story told by the Jeep.
Jessie McWaters
Most people are aware that planes have black boxes.
Detective Chris Reynolds
Vehicles have them too.
Jessie McWaters
And in this case, Judy's wrangler had a black box.
Josh Orr
It did.
Narrator
When work gets crazy, I like to stop by the bar after, have a few cold ones.
Terry King
I don't drink at all until 4:00.
Detective Chris Reynolds
We limit ourselves to one bottle of wine a night.
Commercial Voice
Excessive drinking has a way of sneaking up on us. A few drinks, a few nights a week, it can add up. And suddenly we're at greater risk for long term problems like heart disease, cancer and depression. Reason enough to rethink the Drink.
Detective Chris Reynolds
More@rethinkthedrink.com Noyche Initiative, the first ever Kia K4 seamlessly combines bold style and advanced tech with striking starmap LED headlights and an available panoramic display. The Kia K4 delivers design and function. The available Surround View and Blind Spot View monitors can help provide added confidence. Plus, SiriusXM comes standard, bringing you closer to what you love. The Kia K4 balances aesthetics and innovation. Learn more at kia.com K4 surround view and blind Spot View monitors may not detect all objects around or behind the vehicle.
Commercial Voice
Apple Card is the perfect card for your holiday shopping.
Narrator
You can apply on your iPhone in.
Commercial Voice
Minutes and start using it right away. You'll earn up to 3% daily cash back on every purchase, including products at Apple like a new iPhone 16 or Apple Watch Ultra. Start holiday shopping for your friends and family today with Apple Card. Apply now in the Wallet app on iPhone Subject to credit approval. Apple Card issued by Goldman Sachs Bank USA Salt Lake City Branch terms and.
Detective Chris Reynolds
More at applecard.com October 2019 it was a story that gripped the people of Chester County, South Carolina. It had been almost three years since the death of Judy or Baldwin, and now her husband was about to go on trial for murder.
Jessie McWaters
Were you worried that because the investigation wasn't handled the way it should have been that that could impact the trial?
Josh Orr
I thought it'd get thrown out or. Yeah, I thought it was gonna have a huge impact. We offered him a plea deal.
Jessie McWaters
There was a plea deal.
Josh Orr
It was.
Jessie McWaters
He turned it down.
Josh Orr
He turned it down.
Detective Chris Reynolds
Jamie Baldwin pleaded not guilty.
Terry King
It was probably the most substantially circumstantial evidence I've ever tried in a murder.
Detective Chris Reynolds
Case with what little evidence the prosecution had. Candice Lively set out to prove that Jamie killed his wife and then tried to cover it up.
Terry King
He faked that car accident. This is unfortunately, simply about someone who wanted to get rid of his wife, who wanted to have control of what he wanted to do when he wanted.
Detective Chris Reynolds
To do it, lively told jurors. The couple had argued multiple times about Terry King, and on the night of Judy's death, she believes Judy demanded her husband end his relationship with Terri.
Terry King
He got extremely angry. He has a temper and he attacked her at that mantle.
Detective Chris Reynolds
The prosecutor alleged that in a fit of rage, Jamie took one of those stocking holders from the mantle and hit Judy so hard it caused her brain to bleed, leaving her with those raccoon eyes.
Jessie McWaters
When I actually hold it in my.
Detective Chris Reynolds
Hands, this thing is heavy.
Terry King
Yeah, it is very heavy.
Detective Chris Reynolds
The stocking holder shape closely matched the irregular cut on Judy's head.
Terry King
Whenever you look at the picture of that Santa stocking holder, it really fit the ridges in that unusual laceration.
Detective Chris Reynolds
A Medical expert for the prosecution testified that after Judy was attacked, she probably died within five minutes. Lively argued that's when Jamie came up with his elaborate plan to cover up his crime.
Terry King
He comes up with this idea of, you know, maybe her falling off the ladder isn't going to be a good explanation as to why she has these horrible injuries.
Detective Chris Reynolds
So she said Jamie took his wife's dead body, put it in the Jeep, and then took that dark rural road so he wouldn't be seen. When he staged the accident, he comes.
Terry King
Up with the idea that she was ejected from the vehicle. He pulls her out and stages her.
Detective Chris Reynolds
To prove the car crash was staged, the prosecution relied on Lance Corporal Brian Trotter. He's an accident reconstruction expert with the State Highway Patrol who was on the scene that night.
Terry King
What this tells you, if you're.
Detective Chris Reynolds
He testified and showed us how a device in the Jeep recorded the last seconds of the vehicle's movements.
Jessie McWaters
Most people are aware that planes have black boxes. I personally wasn't aware that vehicles have them, too. And in this case, Judy's wrangler, like this one had a black box.
Josh Orr
It did. So I took this one out of a retired police car to show you what they look like.
Detective Chris Reynolds
In simple terms, when there's an accident, a car hits something, it triggers the black box to start recording information.
Jessie McWaters
What did you learn from Judy's black box?
Narrator
Well, the one for this case came.
Josh Orr
Back with no data.
Jessie McWaters
So no data is actually really important.
Josh Orr
In this case it is.
Detective Chris Reynolds
No data means no crash. The corporal's theory is that Jamie slowly and purposely drove his Jeep into the creek.
Jamie Baldwin
Ms. King.
Detective Chris Reynolds
The most surprising witness was Terry King, the woman at the center of the alleged love triangle.
Terry King
I was hoping that when she finally was put under oath in court that she would come clean.
Detective Chris Reynolds
Terry was no longer living with Jamie.
Terry King
Are you wanting to be here today?
Kay Black
Yes, ma'am.
Detective Chris Reynolds
Even though she was a witness for the state, the prosecutor immediately faced a big challenge. Terry flat out denied having a romantic relationship with Jamie.
Terry King
Is it fair to say you were.
Detective Chris Reynolds
Both in love with each other?
Josh Orr
No.
Kay Black
That is not fair. I wasn't in love with him. I did love him.
Terry King
You weren't in love with him, but you didn't love him?
Jessie McWaters
Yes.
Terry King
And how long had you loved him but not been in love with him?
Kay Black
I never came.
Terry King
Now, Ms. Kane, were you having a sexual relationship with the defendant?
Kay Black
No, ma'am.
Detective Chris Reynolds
But the prosecutor did have text messages sent between Terry and Jamie.
Terry King
I'm going to show you this highlighted portion here.
Detective Chris Reynolds
The judge ruled she couldn't show them to the jury, but she could question Terry about them.
Terry King
What kind of things would y'all say to each other about how you felt about one another? Okay.
Kay Black
He would say the same to me.
Detective Chris Reynolds
He would say the same to you.
Terry King
Not only said you loved each other, that you missed each other?
Kay Black
Yes.
Terry King
And did you ever tell him? You can tell me a thousand times a day, and I'll never get tired of hearing it.
Kay Black
Yes, I did.
Detective Chris Reynolds
Terry testified she and Jamie were just platonic roommates, nothing more.
Jessie McWaters
You felt that Terry was misleading the jury?
Terry King
Absolutely. And she had tried to mislead us for months as well.
Detective Chris Reynolds
Lively said she had suspicions Terry may have played a part in the murder but never found any evidence to prove it. Terry denies any involvement. The defense was up next, and they were ready to exploit all the holes in the prosecution's case. Would it be enough to set Jamie free? An expert witness says Judy's blood in the Jeep proves the prosecution is wrong about when she died.
Terry King
If she's actively bleeding, she is technically alive.
Jessie McWaters
After she left the house.
Detective Chris Reynolds
After leaving the house. And then the verdict.
Jamie Baldwin
And you can just hear everybody gasp.
Detective Chris Reynolds
Jamie Baldwin, the former police officer, was facing life in prison for the murder of his wife. His attorneys, Philip Jamison and Brad Jordan argued Terry King's testimony undermined the state's entire case.
Terry Tinker
Terry King testified that there was no affair and there was no evidence of an affair.
Detective Chris Reynolds
The defense asked Terry to further explain her living situation with Jamie.
Terry Tinker
When Mr. Ball was moved into your house, did he have a separate bedroom?
Kay Black
Yes, sir.
Terry Tinker
And did he stay in that separate bedroom?
Kay Black
Yes, sir.
Detective Chris Reynolds
And she said there was an innocent explanation for those text messages between her and Jamie, the ones where she said she loved him.
Terry Tinker
Would you say to friends that you.
Kay Black
Felt strongly about how look and see every day? To almost everyone I talked to.
Terry Tinker
Doesn't mean you're having an affair with him, does it?
Josh Orr
No.
Terry Tinker
He ever tells Judy you loved her?
Kay Black
Every time I talked to her.
Detective Chris Reynolds
Not only that, but she told jurors she would never betray Judy.
Terry Tinker
How would you describe your relationship with Ms. Baldwin?
Kay Black
Smith?
Terry Tinker
You sometimes stayed in their house, is that correct?
Kay Black
Yes.
Terry Tinker
Was Judy always there when you stay?
Detective Chris Reynolds
Yes. Most importantly, the defense insisted there was no crime, just two tragic accidents. And they said the state didn't have any evidence to prove otherwise.
Terry Tinker
There was no DNA. There were no fingerprints. There was no weapon.
Detective Chris Reynolds
They called Detective Reynolds to the stand and attacked his investigation as shoddy.
Terry Tinker
The scene at home should have been processed with it.
Jessie McWaters
How does that all play into your defense?
Terry Tinker
Had they done A better job, we probably wouldn't find ourselves in this situation. They would have cleared up all those questions at that time, and this would have gone down as an accident, which is what it was.
Detective Chris Reynolds
The defense did agree the stocking holder may have caused Judy's fatal injury, but not because Jamie used it as a weapon.
Terry Tinker
We believe that what happened was she was on a ladder at the mantelpiece. She fell and struck the ornament, which was sitting on the mantelpiece, and then fell to the floor.
Detective Chris Reynolds
Ross Gardner, a crime scene analyst for the defense, testified and told us all the blood found in Judy's Jeep proved something crucial, that she was alive when they crashed. He pointed to the blood on the bumper, the passenger door, and the saturation of blood on her seat. So we're looking at the passenger seat, and what we can see is there's saturation throughout. Gardner says, contrary to the prosecution's theory, that Judy died within five minutes at her home. The evidence in the Jeep proved that was impossible. If she's actively bleeding, her heart is.
Terry King
Beating, she is technically alive in the Jeep.
Jessie McWaters
In the Jeep after she left the house.
Detective Chris Reynolds
After leaving the house, literally. This tells us that she was bleeding while in the Jeep. The defense also pointed to several experts, including the prosecutions, who all agreed Judy's injuries could have been accidental.
Terry King
Having three medical experts who can't say.
Commercial Voice
Hey, this is definitely not an accident.
Josh Orr
In my mind, that there's reasonable doubt.
Terry Tinker
We only had to convince one person.
Detective Chris Reynolds
After seven days of testimony, the case went to the jury. The prosecutor felt there was a good chance Jamie could walk, so she turned to the family for support and Judy herself.
Terry King
I really felt like I had Judy on my shoulder. I really did. I felt that family just really gave me a lot of hope and faith.
Detective Chris Reynolds
Less than three hours later, there was a verdict.
Jamie Baldwin
We were all. Everybody was holding hands as tight as we could. And when they read that verdict, I mean, you could just hear everybody gasp.
Terry Tinker
We, the jury, finally, defendant James Harold Baldwin, Jr. Guilty of murder, dated November 5, 2019.
Josh Orr
I just broke down crying. I just couldn't believe it. We finally got justice for mom.
Detective Chris Reynolds
Detective Chris Reynolds was in the courthouse that day, too. He believes the jury made the right decision, and he wants the public to know he did more than they think to look into Judy's death. Still, he realizes because of his incomplete investigation, a killer might have walked free.
Jessie McWaters
You get emotional over this.
Terry Tinker
I do. I take it personal. This case was a big learning experience for me, that I never dropped the ball on anything. And that night, I did. And I'm sorry for it.
Detective Chris Reynolds
Jamie never took the stand, but he did speak at his sentencing.
Rodney Wright
She fell for my wife. I think I was trying to get her to the hospital. I love my wife. I mean, more than 50 came out of his room. We had a great relationship.
Detective Chris Reynolds
The judge sentenced the 60 year old to life in prison without the chance of parole. But there's more to the saga of Jamie and Terry King. Whatever their relationship was, it didn't end well. After living together for several months, Terry says she asked Jamie to move out. Soon after he did, her home mysteriously burned down. Police said Jamie torched it and charged him with arson. Those charges were eventually dropped.
Jessie McWaters
Is he evil?
Jamie Baldwin
Yeah, he 100% evil. Satan spawn. 100%.
Narrator
Thank you.
Josh Orr
Thank you.
Detective Chris Reynolds
Judy's family says they can finally move on with their lives. And there's one thing that brings them peace.
Jessie McWaters
Your religious. Does that give you any comfort to know that your mom and dad are now together?
Josh Orr
Oh, yeah. I mean, they're in a better place than we are.
Jessie McWaters
What would you say to Judy if she could hear you?
Jamie Baldwin
I would just tell her I love her and I would give her the biggest hug.
Detective Chris Reynolds
The first ever Kia K4 seamlessly combines bold style and advanced tech. With striking star map, LED headlights and an available panoramic display, the Kia K4 delivers design and function. The available surround view and blind spot view monitors can help provide added confidence. Plus, Sirius XM comes standard, bringing you closer to what you love. The Kia K4 balances aesthetics and innovation. Learn more at kia.com. k4 surround view and Blind spot view monitors may not detect all objects around or behind the vehicle.
Dateline NBC – Episode Summary: “The Black Box”
Introduction
In the gripping episode titled “The Black Box,” Dateline NBC delves into the mysterious and tragic death of Judy Baldwin from Chester County, South Carolina. This in-depth investigation uncovers a tangled web of deceit, overlooked evidence, and familial strife that ultimately leads to the conviction of Judy’s husband, Jamie Baldwin, for her murder. Through firsthand accounts, expert testimonies, and compelling evidence, the episode paints a vivid picture of how a seemingly straightforward accident unravels into a complex true-crime mystery.
The Accident
The story begins on the night of December 14, 2016, when Judy Baldwin and her husband, Jamie Baldwin, were involved in a severe car crash. According to Jamie Baldwin ([03:56]), the couple was traveling down a rural road when Jamie swerved to avoid hitting a truck, causing their Jeep to plunge into a creek. Josh Orr, Judy’s son, recounts the horrifying scene upon arriving home: “[07:07] I go into the living room and I see blood all over the place. Went into the bathroom, there's more blood. The whole time we're thinking it was a car wreck.”
Terry Tinker, the coroner, initially concluded it was an accident: “[05:04] It's an accident. Until it's proven something else, it's an accident.” However, unusual injuries found on Judy’s body, such as deep, dark circles around her eyes ([03:35] “I saw that lady laying in the creek”), raised suspicions about the true nature of the incident.
Family’s Reaction and Initial Investigation
Judy’s sons, Josh and Chris Orr, were devastated by the news. Josh shares, “[05:28] And I was like, where's my mom at? He was like, she didn't make it. I was like, what do you mean she didn't make it? And he said, she's. She's dead.” The family struggled to comprehend the loss, especially since Josh and Chris had already endured the tragic death of their father in a motorcycle accident twelve years earlier ([06:01] Jessie McWaters).
Detective Chris Reynolds ([02:00]) arrived at the crash scene but accepted the coroner’s findings without further investigation. “I knew Ms. Judy for a very long time, ever since I was a child,” Tinker testified ([09:50]). Despite this, Reynolds maintained that Judy’s death was accidental, even as the family began to question the circumstances surrounding the crash.
Family’s Doubts and Uncovering Secrets
Suspicion began to grow within Judy’s family when her niece, Jessie McWaters, felt something was amiss. Jessie discovered that Judy’s husband, Jamie Baldwin, had a suspiciously calm demeanor and opted to take their Jeep down a dark, rural back road to the hospital instead of a nearby facility ([18:02] Jamie Baldwin: “I had a very weird feeling in my stomach.” [18:06]). These inconsistencies led Jessie to take matters into her own hands, recording a phone call with Jamie Baldwin to uncover the truth ([18:36] Jessie McWaters: “You decided to record the call that you had with Jamie?” Jamie responded, “[18:40] I did record it.”)
Further investigation revealed that Judy suspected her husband was having an affair with Terry King, the treasurer of their Christian bike club, Carolina Thunder ([22:00] Kay Black: “She suspected Jamie and Terry were having an affair.”). Kay Black, a close friend of Judy and Jamie, shared that Judy had confided in her about these suspicions ([20:42] Kay Black: “She suspects Jamie and Terry.”).
Investigative Flaws and Overlooked Evidence
As Judy’s family pressed for a deeper investigation, significant flaws in the initial inquiry became apparent. Detective Reynolds failed to collect critical evidence, such as Judy’s and Jamie’s clothing and cell phones ([26:25] Jessie McWaters: “Did you collect Jamie's clothes? Did you take Judy's clothes?”), which could have provided crucial insights. Additionally, the crime scene was not properly sealed, allowing Terry King to clean up blood at Judy’s house ([28:12] Terry King: “She went back to the house and cleaned it up.”).
Coroner Tinker expressed frustration over the incomplete investigation, stating, “[26:25] There was no evidence collection even though there was.” This negligence hindered the ability to determine whether Judy’s fatal head injuries occurred during her fall at home or as a result of the car crash ([13:31] “She died from a skull fracture caused by blunt force trauma to her head.”).
The Black Box Evidence
A pivotal element in the case was Judy’s Jeep, which was equipped with a black box recorder—a device that logs a vehicle’s movements and actions during an accident. During the trial, Lance Corporal Brian Trotter, an accident reconstruction expert, testified that the black box showed no data from the crash ([35:46] Jessie McWaters: “What did you learn from Judy's black box? In this case, it is.”). This absence of data suggested that Jamie might have deliberately driven the Jeep into the creek over an extended period, rather than a sudden collision.
This theory was supported by the discovery of significant blood evidence in the Jeep, which indicated that Judy was still alive when the vehicle was submerged ([35:59] Josh Orr: “It did.” [36:22] “No data means no crash.”). These findings contradicted Jamie’s initial account and provided substantial grounds for the prosecution’s case.
The Trial and Verdict
In August 2018, Jamie Baldwin was arrested and charged with the murder of his wife. The prosecution, led by Deputy Prosecutor Candace Lively, argued that Jamie had murdered Judy in a fit of rage after conflicts arising from her suspicions of his affair with Terry King ([33:22] Jessie McWaters: “He turned it down.”). They presented evidence such as the mutilated stocking holder used as the murder weapon and the black box data (or lack thereof) as proof of premeditation.
Terry King testified, denying any romantic involvement with Jamie and attempting to discredit the prosecution’s claims. “[37:02] Terry King: I was hoping that when she finally was put under oath in court that she would come clean.” However, text messages between Terry and Jamie, though initially excluded from the jury, hinted at an inappropriate relationship, further tainting Jamie’s credibility.
Despite the defense’s arguments that Judy’s injuries could have been accidental and that the investigation was mishandled, the jury found Jamie Baldwin guilty of murder after less than three hours of deliberation ([43:10] Terry Tinker: “We, the jury, finally, defendant James Harold Baldwin, Jr. Guilty of murder, dated November 5, 2019.”). Jamie was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole ([44:19] Detective Chris Reynolds: “The judge sentenced the 60-year-old to life in prison without the chance of parole.”).
Conclusion
“The Black Box” episode of Dateline NBC masterfully unravels the complex layers of Judy Baldwin’s death, highlighting the critical role of evidence collection and investigative thoroughness. Through persistent family efforts and the discovery of overlooked clues, justice was ultimately served despite the initial mishandling of the case. This episode serves as a poignant reminder of the importance of vigilance and advocacy in the pursuit of truth and justice.
Notable Quotes with Timestamps
Josh Orr ([07:07]): “I go into the living room and I see blood all over the place. Went into the bathroom, there's more blood.”
Terry Tinker ([05:04]): “It's an accident. Until it's proven something else, it's an accident.”
Jessie McWaters ([18:36]): “You decided to record the call that you had with Jamie?”
Kay Black ([22:00]): “She suspected Jamie and Terry were having an affair.”
Terry King ([28:12]): “She went back to the house and cleaned it up.”
Josh Orr ([36:14]): “It did.”
Jamie Baldwin ([33:28]): “He turned it down.”
Terry King ([37:02]): “I was hoping that when she finally was put under oath in court that she would come clean.”
Terry Tinker ([43:10]): “We, the jury, finally, defendant James Harold Baldwin, Jr. Guilty of murder, dated November 5, 2019.”
This comprehensive summary captures the essential elements of “The Black Box” episode, providing a clear and detailed account of the case from the accident to the conviction, enriched with direct quotes to underscore key moments and testimonies.