Judith Nix

Summary

Podcast Summary: Snapped: Women Who Murder – Episode: Judith Nix

Release Date: May 11, 2025

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Introduction

In the gripping episode of Snapped: Women Who Murder, hosted by Oxygen, listeners delve into the chilling case of Judith Nix, a woman whose intricate personal and financial struggles culminated in the tragic death of her ex-husband, Kenneth "Ken" Nix. Spanning over 29 seasons, "Snapped" explores the darkest corners of true crime, and this episode is no exception, offering a detailed examination of motive, manipulation, and the pursuit of justice.

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Background: The Nix Family Dynamics

Ken Nix was a successful businessman with a passion for mechanics, owning multiple service stations and inland diving businesses. Born on September 19, 1946, in Lake Charles, Louisiana, Ken's early life was marked by tragedy, including the suicide of his first wife, Manita Moriarty, in 1974, leaving him to raise three children alone.

In 1984, Ken met Judith Bailey, a divorced mother of two, and the two quickly bonded over shared interests like scuba diving. They married in February 1985, integrating Judith into Ken's already complex family structure, which included his children Angela and Shelly. Despite a flourishing business and a seemingly stable family life, underlying tensions began to surface, particularly regarding financial management and interpersonal relationships.

Notable Quote:

• "Judy coddled her kids, financed her kids anytime they had a problem. And that caused turmoil between my father and Judy." [11:34]

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The Incident: March 21, 2016

On the evening of March 21, 2016, Judith Nix made a frantic 911 call reporting that Ken had died from an apparent suicide. She claimed to have found him in the master bedroom with a gun in his hand. However, several inconsistencies soon emerged.

Timeline of Events:

• 7:30 AM: Ken Nix is estimated to have died from a gunshot wound.
• 9:11 PM: Judith calls 911, reporting Ken's death.
• 9:20 PM: Judith mentions attempting to contact Ken earlier but receiving no response.
• 9:42 PM: She explains she left Ken due to his grumpiness and returned to find him dead.

Notable Quote:

• "He starts to relay that there's more going on here that you need to be aware of." [02:30]

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Investigation Unfolds

Detectives quickly grew suspicious of Judith's account. Key evidence contradicted her suicide narrative:

1. Multiple Bullet Holes:

   • The medical examiner discovered two bullet holes approximately an inch apart in Ken's head, unlikely in a suicide scenario.
   • "Who commits suicide in his ability to shoot themselves twice in the head." [16:52]

2. Blood Patterns:

   • Blood stains on Ken's shirt did not align with the position he was found in, suggesting movement after the shooting.
   • "The blood stain on the shirt... the blood ran at an angle from his left side to his navel instead of straight down." [17:08]

3. Security Camera Footage:

   • A security camera pointing toward the master bedroom was found with no recoverable footage, heightening suspicions.

Family Involvement:

• Judith's daughters, Shelly and Angela, provided conflicting statements. Shelly admitted to being at the house on the day of the murder, despite the estimated time of death being earlier.
• Todd Moore, Angela's ex-husband, later provided crucial information indicating a possible cover-up plan orchestrated by Judith and her daughters.

Notable Quote:

• "Judith and her daughters are unwavering in their loyalty to one another." [26:27]

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The Trial: Unraveling the Truth

The prosecution built a strong case against Judith Nix, focusing on motive and evidence discrepancies:

1. Financial Motive:

   • Judith stood to gain full ownership of the marital home due to a right of survivorship clause in their divorce agreement. This financial incentive was pivotal.
   • "At the time of their divorce, Judith maintained the right of survivorship. If Kenneth is gone, Judith receives the house in its entirety." [40:32]

2. Evidence of Abuse:

   • Judith alleged that Ken was abusive, both physically and financially. However, inconsistencies in her story and the forensic evidence pointed towards premeditation rather than self-defense.
   • "He always has money. There never seemed to be enough for him." [28:38]

3. Daughters' Testimonies:

   • Both Shelly and Angela testified against their mother, corroborating the prosecution's narrative of Judith's animosity towards Ken.
   • "Judith's daughters... they helped establish a timeline and knock out alternative possibilities." [44:50]

4. Expert Testimony:

   • The defense introduced an expert to discuss Battered Woman Syndrome, attempting to position Judith as a victim rather than the perpetrator.

Notable Quote:

• "The decision was made to ultimately bring a murder first degree charge against Judith Nix." [41:58]

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Verdict and Aftermath

On March 10, 2017, after a brief deliberation of just under two hours, the jury found Judith Nix guilty of first-degree murder, sentencing her to life in prison with eligibility for parole but unlikely to be released within a human lifetime.

Post-Trial Developments:

• Appeal: In 2018, Judith's appeal was denied, solidifying the conviction.
• Family Impact: Ken's children and grandchildren continue to honor his legacy, emphasizing his role as a loving father and committed businessman.
• Other Family Members: Angela Moore and Shelly Davis were not charged, as investigations concluded insufficient evidence of their direct involvement beyond supporting their mother.

Notable Quote:

• "Judith Nix did not seem like she would hurt a fly." [41:26]

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Conclusion

The Judith Nix case serves as a compelling example of how complex family dynamics, financial desperation, and manipulative behavior can culminate in tragedy. Through meticulous investigation and the unraveling of misleading narratives, justice was served, highlighting the critical role of forensic evidence and truthful testimonies in solving cold cases.

Listeners are left reflecting on the thin line between victim and perpetrator, and the profound impacts of unresolved trauma and financial strain on personal relationships.

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Notable Highlights:

• "He was always getting his pills taken. I believe it was to fuel her drug habit." [32:25]
• "Judith lunged at him, and a scuffle ensued. I grabbed the gun... I didn't know what I was planning on doing." [29:42]
• "He was targeted, premeditated. Admit to sow terror." [47:07]

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This detailed examination of the Judith Nix case underscores the intricate interplay of personal vendettas, financial motives, and the relentless pursuit of truth by investigators, making it a standout episode in the Snapped: Women Who Murder series.

Transcript

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[Judith Nix]

My ex husband, he's passed away.

[Detective]

There were two bullet holes.

[Investigator]

He has a revolver in one of his hands.

[Detective]

Start questioning exactly what we had. If it was a suicide or a homicide.

[Narrator]

To get to the truth, investigators must make sense of a complicated dynamic.

[Family Member]

It's very clear this family, these women are very close to each other.

[Investigator]

There appeared to be a weird and very close nexus between them.

[Narrator]

But will this tangled loyalty come undone from the inside out?

[Investigator]

He starts to relay that there's more going on here that you need to be aware of.

[Family Member]

She had foreclosure on her house. Her cars were being repossessed. This is out of desperation, he said.

[Judith Nix]

If you do not give me the money, he said, I will kill you and hide your life.

[Family Member]

The only narrative we have left is one of premeditated, cold blooded, calculated murder.

[Narrator]

March 21, 2016 Broken Arrow, Oklahoma at 9:11pm 911 Operators receive a frantic call from 69 year old Judith Nix.

[Judith Nix]

My ex husband, he's passed away. It looks like a gun. Flying spider. That's him. What's his name? Kenneth. Nick. Can I add, where is he at in the house? He's in the master bedroom. Okay. And you had a key to let yourself in? Well, I've got a garage door open. I dropped by to bring him some chicken for supper and I'm his ex wife. Really? Sure.

[Narrator]

Been suicidal at all?

[Judith Nix]

Yes. He's got so many health issues that neuropathy is getting so painful that he just can't deal with it anymore.

[Narrator]

Officers with the broken Arrow Police Department arrive at the rural home of 69 year old Ken Nix.

[Investigator]

When they arrive, they find Judith Nix in the front yard. She looks distraught.

[Narrator]

Judith directs the officers towards Ken's bedroom in the back of the house.

[Detective]

Upon arrival, there was Mr. Nix deceased in the master bedroom with what appeared to be a gunshot wound to the head. And there was a gun underneath his hand. Mr. Nix had an injury to the left temple, blood running down his face. There was blood on his shirt that he was wearing.

After seeing that it was a suicide, they call out the detectives to come out and investigate.

[Narrator]

As investigators arrive, a tearful Judith tells them that she finds. Feared this day would come.

[Investigator]

Judith says he suffered from this chronic medical condition. He was in a tremendous amount of pain. He was very unhappy.

[Family Member]

My dad was on methadone because he has neuropathy and a lot of pain issues.

[Detective]

According to her, he had talked about shooting and killing himself and initially, you know, it looked like a suicide. But questions are clicking in your mind that, you know, is this really a suicide or is it something else?

[Narrator]

Ken Nix was born on September 19, 1946 to Belton and Betty Nix in Lake Charles, Louisiana.

[Family Member]

He had six siblings. My father was the oldest.

During his childhood in Lake Charles, he loved to restore cars as a hobby and tinkered with vehicles and motorcycles in general because he was very much into motorcycles.

[Narrator]

After high school, Ken followed his love for mechanics and attended technical school where he honed his skills before opening up his own service station.

[Family Member]

My dad was a very good mechanic. He was the youngest Texaco gas station owner in Lake Charles, Louisiana.

[Narrator]

Ken was hoping to find someone to share his success with. And in his 20s he met Manita Moriarty and fell in love.

[Family Member]

My dad told me that when he first met my mother, Manita, it was at an apartment complex. My father and my mother were married in 1966 and then I was born February 20, 1967, and then a year later had my sister. Just a year right after that, we moved to Tulsa to be closer to my grandmother. After that, they had my brother. I remember seeing a lot of videos of us as young children, and my father and mother just looked happy. But eventually there was some issues, and I know that they got separated. So me and my brother and my sister were living in an apartment with my mother, Manita.

[Narrator]

Unfortunately, on August 29, 1974, tragedy struck the family.

[Family Member]

And during that separation, I was age 7, my mother called my father and said that she was going to commit suicide. And my mother did commit suicide. I remember my father being there and he took us home and we never saw our mother again.

[Narrator]

Over the next 10 years, Ken married and divorced three more times.

[Family Member]

I asked my father, I said, dad, why do you keep getting married all the time? He said, son, I want you guys to have both a mom and a father figure, and I'm going to try it till I get it right.

[Narrator]

While his marriages may have failed, Ken's professional life flourished. In 1980, he started his own business.

[Family Member]

He opened up Inland divers business, a commercial scuba diving business.

Inland Divers had salvage capabilities so they could pull vehicles out of the water or boulders near a dam. He could do anything and make money.

[Narrator]

But even with all that success, Ken never gave up searching for love. And in 1984, he met Judith Bailey, a divorced mother of two daughters, 16 year old Angela and 12 year old Shelly.

[Family Member]

My sister Kim was going to go do a sleepover. When my sister was being brought home, Judith met my father and I guess there was an attraction there.

[Narrator]

When Judith met Ken Nix, she was not looking for romance.

Growing up, Judith spent most of her life in church and studying, Kept to herself.

[Family Member]

She was born and raised in Texas, and then she moved to Tulsa near her parents.

[Narrator]

As a young woman, Judith caught the eye of the preacher's son.

Their lifelong friendship turned into romance and they married in the late 1960s.

[Family Member]

Judy and her husband lived out in the country, 30 minutes outside of Tulsa, and she was an accountant for Amoco at the time.

[Narrator]

Shortly after having two kids, Judith and her husband divorced. There was drinking and infidelity and, well, Judith just couldn't take it anymore.

Judith was reluctant to commit to anything serious, but Ken pulled out all the stops.

Ken introduced Judith to scuba diving and it became a shared passion between them.

[Family Member]

They were very much into diving. Judy was wonderful. I never heard them fight, but in my previous moms there were fights, you know, around us. But with Judy, I never Noticed any issues.

[Narrator]

A year after meeting, they married in February 1985, and shortly after, Judith moved in with Ken and his kids.

[Family Member]

I was probably 13 by the time she moved in.

[Narrator]

Her two daughters, Shelly and Angela, chose to stay with their father, who lived nearby.

[Family Member]

They had another high school they went to and friends, so it just was good for their rhythm.

[Narrator]

Once the newlywed phase ended, Ken and Judith got down to business. They focused on the growth of inland divers.

[Family Member]

She became part of the business with the administrative side and then going to the sites with him.

[Narrator]

For years, both their business and family life were thriving. But after almost three decades of marriage, the couple found themselves unable to meet on common ground.

[Family Member]

My father raised me and my brother to be there, able to be on her own and not dependent on anybody. But Judy coddled her kids, financed her kids anytime they had a problem. And that caused turmoil between my father and Judy. So communication between the two was diminishing.

[Narrator]

Judith and ken divorced in 2011, ending 26 years of marriage. But even after five years of being divorced, the couple had a hard time letting go.

[Family Member]

She had went and bought her own house, but Judith was still staying at my dad's house.

Sometimes they spent a lot of time together. After the divorce, Judy would come over and they would eat dinner.

[Narrator]

But their family's world is shattered on March 21, 2016, when Judith calls 911 to report that she's just found Ken dead from an apparent self inflicted gunshot wound.

[Investigator]

Judith says, last time I was here was the night before between 4 to 5pm and left because he got kind of grumpy and tired.

[Narrator]

She says she tried calling Ken several times earlier that day, but he didn't answer.

[Detective]

Ultimately, she went to the store to get some chicken for dinner and came back to the residence that evening.

[Narrator]

Judith says she arrived around 9pm that.

[Detective]

Was when she went back to the bedroom and found him on the bed. She just noticed the gun laying next to him, so she just assumed that Mr. Nix had shot himself.

[Investigator]

Judith says, I found him like this without further information and at this point in time, we don't know what does or doesn't add up.

[Narrator]

Before investigators get a chance to ask more questions, they notice she seems unwell.

[Investigator]

She appears to be physically distraught. She complains of chest pain.

[Detective]

He asked her if she was feeling okay and she said that she wasn't. The EMS who came out to the scene and determined that she needed to go to the hospital.

[Narrator]

Coming up, a scene seemingly straightforward case takes a twisted turn.

[Detective]

The medical examiner found that there were.

[Narrator]

Two bullet holes and Investigators uncover family secrets.

[Family Member]

There's a lot of bitterness. There's a lot of ingrained rage.

[Investigator]

They viewed him to be somebody who was mean and just, someone they absolutely did not have a good relationship with.

[Narrator]

In March of 2016, police in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, are investigating a reported suicide after Ken Nix is found dead inside his home with a gun in his hand. While giving her statement to investigators, Ken's ex wife, Judith, begins experiencing chest pains.

[Investigator]

So they're wanting to take her to the hospital. In doing so, they're asking, is there anything that they can do to help her or help make sure the house is okay? And she said yes. Call Shelly. Shelly was her daughter. She wanted Shelly to come take care of her dog.

[Narrator]

Less than an hour after officials responded to the scene, Judith is transported to the hospital while detectives head back inside.

[Detective]

Once we got to the bedroom, we found him. The gun was laying next to him, and initially, you know, it looked like a suicide.

[Narrator]

The medical examiner joins detectives, and they take a closer look at Ken's injuries.

[Detective]

The blood on the side of his head was dry, and I could see lividity. Lividity is the pooling of blood. It takes hours to develop.

We were able to deduct that he had been there quite a while, but we had a general idea that it had been early in the morning that he supposedly had shot himself.

[Narrator]

The medical examiner determines ken died around 7:30am approximately 14 hours before Judith called 911.

[Detective]

We knew that there had been a delay in the call to 911, and that could have been just because there was no one there to find him.

[Narrator]

But then the medical examiner makes a startling discovery.

[Detective]

He was able to move the body and clean off some of the blood and found that there were two bullet holes approximately an inch apart.

[Narrator]

Investigators are immediately suspicious of Judith's story.

[Detective]

Who commits suicide in his able to shoot themselves twice in the head.

[Narrator]

And upon closer inspection of Ken's body, investigator Jackie Smithson catches a new clue.

[Detective]

I saw that the blood stain on the shirt that Mr. Nix was wearing at the time didn't align with the injury and the position in which he was in. Blood flows with gravity, the laws of physics. So the injury was to his left temple, and the blood should have ran straight down. But the shirt was in a position in which the blood ran at an angle from his left side to his navel instead of straight down. So there was movement after he was shot. At that point, we realized that we have a homicide.

[Narrator]

After the suicide theory falls apart, the homicide investigation goes into full swing. The Team starts to comb the house for.

[Detective]

There was nothing knocked over. There were no signs of a struggle. The house was just normal. No signs of forced entry.

[Narrator]

In the kitchen, investigators spot the dinner Judith reported bringing for her ex husband.

[Detective]

On the kitchen island there was a container that was holding fried chicken.

[Narrator]

And they find something else of interest.

[Detective]

We did observe that there was a security type camera that was pointing toward the master bedroom.

We went ahead and seized the camera system, security system. We sent that away to a lab to look at it.

[Narrator]

As investigators continue processing the scene, they get word that Judith's youngest daughter Shelly has just arrived at Ken's to pick up her dog.

[Family Member]

When Nix's daughter Shelly came to recover the dog, she made a passing comment that caused some of the officers to perk up.

[Investigator]

Shelly is talking to officers and says, oh yes, I was here earlier this morning when my mom was here.

[Detective]

Judith told us that she hadn't been at that house since the 20th, the day before.

[Investigator]

Could there be an explanation? Sure. Lady just found her ex husband's dead body. That could make anybody distraught, but it's going to give them things they need to follow up on.

[Family Member]

Her statements, timeline wise, are not linked with Judith. They ask Shelly to come back to the police station and give a more thorough statement.

[Narrator]

Judith is held at the hospital overnight for observation. The following morning on March 22, detectives sit down with 47 year old Shelly Davis. Investigators question Shelly about her mother's relationship with Ken.

[Detective]

We started getting a lot more information on the relationship between Kenneth and Judith, that it wasn't a great relationship.

[Narrator]

Shelly claims that Ken was hostile towards Judith.

[Detective]

Shelly, she made accusations that he had abused her, pushed her around, threatened her and stuff like that.

[Investigator]

You got very quickly a sense of they did not like Kenneth Nix and Kenneth Nix did not like Shelly or her sister Angela. They viewed him to be somebody who was mean, somebody who was abusive. They absolutely did not have a good relationship with.

[Narrator]

Next detectives ask Shelly for her whereabouts the day prior. She tells police she went to ken's house around 11 o' clock that morning.

[Detective]

She said she went to the house and she was met at the front door by Judith and they exchanged money there. She never went inside the residence.

[Narrator]

With the estimated time of death at 7:30am Investigators now suspect Ken was already dead when Shelly stopped by the house.

[Family Member]

Now we have a problem because if Judith's been there all morning, then it's clear she's known about his death for a lot longer.

[Narrator]

At this point, they don't think that Judith or Shelly are being completely honest here. They already know Judith lied.

[Detective]

It's a homicide, and if you have information, you need to release that information. They were trying to be secretive about it.

[Narrator]

In an effort to pin down the truth, investigators make a bold move.

[Detective]

We charged her with accessory to murder. We're not looking to, you know, put everybody in jail. We just want to find the right person. We thought that we could put pressure a little bit on Judith, that, hey, we arrested your daughter Shelly. We're coming after you. You're next.

[Narrator]

But before they get a chance to pay Judith a visit, a call comes in to the Broken Arrow police department from Todd Moore, her daughter Angela's ex, claiming he has information on Ken's murder.

[Investigator]

Todd Moore makes his own phone call to the police to say, hey, there's more going on here that you need.

[Family Member]

To be aware of.

[Investigator]

What's happening is not the way that it's being port.

[Narrator]

Coming up, a family insider brings forth a shocking claim.

[Family Member]

He's thinking, oh, my goodness, are you coming to me with this and telling me this?

[Narrator]

Leaving investigators with more questions than answers.

[Investigator]

There's nothing really to tell us who did or didn't actually pull that trigger.

[Narrator]

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Is happening right now at designer shoe warehouse. Score up to 25% off. Big deal brands like Adidas, Crocs, Converse, Reebok and more. And just in time for mother's day. Find the perfect gift for her or for you, because mama needs a new pair of shoes. And hurry. This mother Lovin deal ends Sunday. Save up to 25% at your DSW store or DSW.com today. Authorities in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, investigating the shooting death of Ken Nix are getting ready to question his estranged wife Judith, when they receive a call from her former son in law, Todd Moore, Angela's ex husband.

[Investigator]

Todd winds up calling police himself, trying to give them the information about what he had at least heard or seen about what actually took place inside the home.

[Narrator]

Todd tells detectives that around noon on the day of the murder, his ex Angela and her sister Shelly showed up with quite a story to tell.

[Family Member]

Shelly and her sister Angela actually end up going to Angela's estranged husband's house where they tell him that Judith has shot Kenneth. He's thinking, well, my goodness, why are you coming to me with this and telling me this?

[Narrator]

Todd says Angela and Shelly were desperately trying to figure out how to help their mother cover up the crime.

[Family Member]

According to Todd, they had discovered discussed her fleeing to the Philippines. At one point, they had discussed staging the scene as a robbery.

[Narrator]

Refusing to participate in their brainstorming session, Todd urged the women to take a different course of action.

[Family Member]

Todd actually encouraged them to self report, which caused Angela, I believe, to leave. She just up walked away, obviously distraught.

[Narrator]

Todd tells authorities he has not seen or heard from Angela since.

[Family Member]

Todd's crucial because he's the first person who doesn't have a vested interest in seeing her get away with it necessarily.

[Narrator]

Todd makes it clear to detectives that Judith and her daughters are unwavering in their loyalty to one another.

[Family Member]

It actually puts the picture together completely because you have to understand people lie for reasons. It's very clear this family, these women are very close to each other in the case.

[Investigator]

In regards to motive for why this happened, investigators start looking at the animosity between both Shelly and Angela and Kenneth Nix and Judith. But there's nothing really to tell us one way or the other who did or didn't actually pull that trigger.

[Narrator]

Before detectives make their next move, they hear back about the security cameras found in Kent's home.

[Investigator]

They found there was no memory to recover. There was no videos to recover. Unfortunately, they were never able to determine what exactly happened to the security footage. But again, this is another red flag, something else that adds to the pile of this doesn't make sense.

[Narrator]

Still hoping to get to the bottom of what happened inside the Nix home that morning, investigators head to the hospital to speak with Judith.

[Investigator]

Once Shelly was arrested, Judith Nix in the hospital, tells One of the officers. I'm ready to talk to the detectives now. Judith starts to describe Kendall's deteriorating physical health and his mental health again, that he was angry and uncomfortable.

[Narrator]

But then Judith admits that she hasn't been completely honest with police. She presents them with a very different chain of events leading up to Ken's death.

[Judith Nix]

He was lonely and he had somebody there, but he's just impossible. Impossible to live with. Cause of all those health issues, plus the money situation. Ken's been on a binge 10 years about me owing him money or what he spent on my kids. We don't have any kids together.

[Narrator]

From what I understand of him, from.

[Family Member]

What I know of him from previous.

[Detective]

He'S got plenty of money.

[Judith Nix]

He always has money. There never seemed to be enough for him.

[Narrator]

Judith also tells investigators what Shelly already reported, that she had long suffered domestic violence at the hands of her ex husband.

[Judith Nix]

He's threatened me all the time. He's hit me. Verbal abuse has been absolutely out of this world. You know, it's easy to say, you just leave, but I love the guy.

[Narrator]

You said he'd been violent in the past. Perhaps he threatened you, his friend?

[Judith Nix]

Yes, and he wants me to give him money that he spent on my kids. He said, well, I'll take 21,000. And I said, well, I don't have $21,000, Ken, to give you.

[Narrator]

The morning of Ken's murder, Judith says Ken confronted her in the bedroom, this time with his gun in hand.

[Judith Nix]

He said, if you do not give me the money, he said, I will kill you and hide your body.

[Narrator]

Fearing for her life and acting on instinct, Judith lunged at him, and a scuffle ensued.

[Judith Nix]

I grabbed the gun because I was trying to turn it wrestler away from me, but I didn't know what I was planning on doing. And I managed to get it away from him. Somehow, some way twisted it, and then the gun went off.

[Narrator]

How many times did the gun go off?

[Judith Nix]

Twice, I believe.

[Detective]

Judith Nix said she panicked after what occurred, went to her daughters for support and direction as to what she should do, and created a worse situation.

[Narrator]

There's only one problem. Judith's account doesn't match up with the evidence found at the scene.

[Investigator]

There does not appear to be really any evidence of a struggle, signs of a fight, a physical or verbal altercation that led to somebody losing it. And we have a man with two bullet holes in his head where she said I had to shoot him. Those facts don't line up whatsoever.

[Narrator]

The investigation is far from over, but they aren't letting Judith leave the hospital a free woman.

[Family Member]

Judith Nix was charged with murder, so she was arrested there and transported immediately from the hospital to the jail for booking.

[Narrator]

There is one person alleged to be involved who police haven't talked to yet. Judith's daughter, Angela.

[Investigator]

Shelly and Angela may have been involved either in planting it or the very least and helping clean it up and conceal it after the fact.

[Detective]

We went looking for Angela. We knew where she lived in Tulsa, and we went to her residence a couple of times and couldn't find her.

[Narrator]

In the meantime, detectives put in a request for phone records for Angela, Shelly, and Judith.

[Investigator]

Police are talking to Shelly. They're starting to get some statements from Judith, but they haven't heard from Angela yet. They were leaving voicemails like, you need to come in.

[Narrator]

When they have no luck finding Angela, they issue a material witness warrant for her arrest.

Coming up, investigators reach for a bluff.

[Investigator]

In confronting her with the camera or the possible footage. She got a little spook.

[Narrator]

And a well hidden motive emerges.

[Family Member]

He was always getting his pills taken. I believe it was to fuel her drug habit.

[Narrator]

It's been 48 hours since the murder of Ken Nix, and investigators have his ex wife Judith and her daughter Shelly in police custody while they work to track down her other daughter Angela.

[Detective]

We needed to find her because we're trying to get the three pieces together just to get the right story.

[Narrator]

Finally, three days after Ken's murder, Angela Moore turns up.

[Investigator]

It takes days of trying to communicate with her to get her to come in to her, where the police almost have to issue a warrant to get her to come in. She finally comes in and provides a statement.

[Narrator]

Despite her ex husband Todd's claims, Angela says that she knows nothing about Ken's murder.

[Investigator]

Angela made statements of, I was in the house, but I didn't go into the bedroom. I just kind of stayed in the front area.

[Narrator]

Angela told police she didn't help cover anything up and she didn't help stage this suicide.

Investigators don't believe they reach for a bluff, telling Angela that the security camera in the kitchen was in working order.

[Detective]

There was no memory on that camera, so we had no access to anything that happened inside that residence.

[Narrator]

But instead of getting her to talk when investigators bring up the camera, Angela shuts down.

[Investigator]

In confronting Angela with a camera or the possible footage, Angela got a little spooked.

[Detective]

She lawyered up on us, and we really didn't get any information from her.

[Investigator]

And looking at Angela Shelley's and Judith's statements, none of them appeared really to match one with the other at the.

[Narrator]

Very least, investigators believe Judith's daughters tried to help her stage the suicide.

[Investigator]

When looking at Kenneth's closed, you know, they appear to be bunched somewhat under the armpits, like his body had attempted to be moved. The blood trail doesn't add up or make sense. And there's no other reason for her daughter to go into that house unless she's going to help her mother try to set the scene up and make it look different.

[Narrator]

To get to the truth, investigators take a deep dive into Judith and Ken's marriage, starting with Judith's claims that Ken was abusive.

[Family Member]

When Judith Nix raises the flag that I'm a victim of violence, we want to make sure I'm not further victimizing her by prosecuting her for defending herself. So we take it very seriously.

[Narrator]

Investigators do uncover a few domestic disturbance calls to the broken arrow police department over the last six years.

[Investigator]

In looking at Judith and Kenneth's relationship, we could tell things started to deteriorate more towards the end to where there were a couple of 911 calls placed between them.

[Family Member]

There had been several incidents, but ironically, some of those calls actually involved Kenneth calling the police and saying that Judith was threatening to kill him.

[Detective]

We had been out there, but nobody had ever been arrested. Nobody wanted to arrest anybody.

[Narrator]

Investigators gain more insight when they receive phone records for Judith, Shelly, and Angela.

[Family Member]

Once we get into her phones, we get into some heart stopping communications that Judith was having with her own daughters for weeks prior and days prior, she's texting about how much she dislikes and loathes Kenneth. When you look at these texts, there's a lot of bitterness. There's a lot of ingrained rage.

[Narrator]

As Judith's hatred for Ken comes into focus. Focus. So does a complicated financial dynamic.

[Investigator]

There appeared to be a weird and very close nexus between Judith Nix and her daughters and their financial status.

[Family Member]

Judy and my father would talk, and they would agree, we can't keep supporting our adult kids. But Jesus kept feeding money to them.

[Narrator]

In a disturbing turn. On March 15, just five days before the murder, Judith texts her daughter Angela about a gun.

[Family Member]

There's a lot of discussion with her and her daughters. One of the conversations that comes up involves a gun he discusses. At 22, the murder weapon in this case was a.22 caliber Ruger. And here she is days before the homicide, talking about about a.22 caliber gun to detectives.

[Detective]

That comes out as intent. You know, that she's thinking about getting a gun and shooting Ken.

[Narrator]

Investigators reach out to Ken's sons, Keith and Kevin. They confirm that the relationship between Judith and Ken was marred by distrust.

Judith stole money from Ken at every turn. Ken was onto her and was fed up with the stealing.

[Family Member]

The stealing with his money was prior to their divorce, and it was even after she was coming back over my father's house. The stealing was just a constant thing.

[Narrator]

But ken's sons tell investigators that wasn't the only thing she stole.

[Family Member]

He had neuropathy, and he was always getting his pills taken by Judy. And when he would confront her about the stealing, she would say that he was crazy and that he. That he just took too many pills and forgot. But she still would steal. I believe it was to fuel her drug habit.

[Narrator]

Kevin explains. That's what led his father to install the camera in the kitchen.

[Family Member]

He caught her on camera, and she'd say, sorry, sorry, sorry. And he's like, I need that for my neuropathy. The weekend prior to his murder, Judy was there and talked to my dad. He was like, things aren't good. He's like, she needs to leave. My father was telling my wife, it ain't good. Kind of said the same to him and me, but he's a man. It's his house, so we can't say anything.

[Narrator]

Following the interviews, investigators look into Judith's finances, and they find she was under a mountain of debt.

[Investigator]

Not only is she in financial distress, but you have some very specific statements from Kenneth of get me this money by this day. Get out. So you have that clock that's slowly ticking down to where she feels like she has no other choice but to kill Kenneth niggs.

[Narrator]

But investigators wonder, if Ken was Judith's gravy train, Wouldn't he be worth more to her alive than dead? Investigators discover that a condition of their divorce agreement may hold the answer to that question.

[Investigator]

After their divorce, at that point in time, Judith nix owned her own home. And there was the marital home of Kenneth and Judith, where she had a partial interest.

[Narrator]

At the time of their divorce, Ken nix was the sole tenant of the house. However, according to financial records, Judith maintained the right of survivorship.

[Investigator]

It's kind of a perfect storm to where, if Kenneth is gone, Judith receives the house in its entirety.

[Family Member]

So her deal was, I kill him, I get the whole house. So she would sell that be out of debt easily. But you can't kill somebody and gain. So she tried to make it look like a suicide.

[Narrator]

Coming up, Judith maintains her defense.

[Investigator]

They hired an expert to try to come in and talk about battered woman syndrome.

[Narrator]

But who will a jury believe?

[Family Member]

Judith nix did not seem like she would hurt a fly.

[Narrator]

Judith Nix remains in custody for her alleged involvement in the murder of Ken Nix. Investigators believe they have uncovered her true motive.

[Investigator]

The house and the property that would have gone to her. That appeared to be, to us, a driving motivating factor for Judith committing this homicide.

[Narrator]

With the evidence against Judith getting stronger by the day, prosecutors and investigators are ready to move forward with their case.

[Family Member]

The only narrative we have left is one of the premeditated, cold blooded, calculated murder. The decision was made to ultimately bring a murder first degree charge against Judith Nix.

[Narrator]

As prosecutors prepare for trial, they attempt to bring two unlikely witnesses on board. Judith's daughters, Angela and Shelly.

[Investigator]

Judith's daughters, as far as we can tell, we didn't find any evidence they were involved with trying to plan this or set it up.

[Family Member]

In this case, Priority number one, if somebody is shot, is making sure that the shooter, if they've committed a crime, is held accountable. Oftentimes that means that people who are ancillary to or in some ways after the fact, assisting their testimony is so necessary that we use that testimony as part of our prosecution. When you charge a defendant, they can't testify.

[Narrator]

In the end, Angela and Shelly are not charged in Ken's murder.

[Investigator]

While we might have our personal opinions about what happened without some of that actual evidence to be able to charge, we felt that it was far better to use their testimony in the light of witnesses.

[Narrator]

Judith Nix stands trial in March of 2017.

[Family Member]

The defense was trying to establish that Judith was a victim, that she was defending herself, that she had been consistently assaulted and battered by him. Judith Nix was a very sympathetic defendant in the sense that she did not seem like she would hurt a fly. She doesn't seem to be a threat to the community. These are all pinpoints to the defense focused on.

[Narrator]

Prosecutors argue that it was Judith who terrorized Ken. And on the morning of March 21, 2016, motivated by a mix of anger and greed, she snuck into his bedroom as he slept.

[Family Member]

The evidence was not consistent with Judith's story about a struggle over a gun, but it is consistent with her having approached him while he was asleep, pressing the gun to his face at very close range. The first shot was non lethal, would have been very painful, and then the evidence would have been consistent with Judith then taking the second time to press the gun closer to his head in firing. The lethal shot was the second shot.

[Narrator]

Prosecutors call Angela and Shelly to the the stand. The women testify about the panic that ensued in the aftermath of the murder.

[Family Member]

Judith's daughters said what we needed them to say in the sense of they told the bare minimum facts to line up the case. They helped us establish a timeline. They help us establish when things were said and what things were observed. Their testimony helped us knock out a bunch of different alternative possibilities. They did testify against their mother, and I know that wasn't easy. And they knew what they were saying. The parts that were true were going to be hurtful for her.

[Narrator]

On March 10, 2017, it takes the jury less than two hours to reach a verdict.

[Family Member]

Jury deliberated about an hour and a half and returned with a verdict and sentenced her to life in prison. No matter how sympathetic she was, no jury was going to side with her. Her decision to murder him in his sleep.

[Narrator]

Today, Ken's children and grandchildren are a living legacy of the man Ken was.

[Family Member]

I want everybody to know he was a great dad. He built three great kids that could stand on their own and take care of themselves.

The legacy Kenneth left behind was of a family that loved him deeply, of sons that miss him very much, of great grandkids who were never going to get to meet him. His sons essentially give him credit for everything that makes them who they are today.

[Narrator]

In 2018, Judith Nix filed an appeal and the judge upheld her conviction and her sentence. Judith Nix is eligible for parole, but would be 108 years old before she would qualify for release. Angela Moore and Michael Davis, initial charges were dropped and they have never been convicted of any crime related to Ken Nix's murder.

In the early hours of December 4, 2024, CEO Brian Thompson stepped out onto the streets of Midtown Manhattan. This assailant pulls out a weapon and.

[Detective]

Starts firing at him.

[Narrator]

We're talking about the CEO of the biggest private health insurance corporation in the world. And the suspect he has been identified.

[Family Member]

As Luigi Nicholas Mangione became one of.

[Narrator]

The most divisive figures in modern criminal history. I was targeted, premeditated. Admit to sow terror. I'm Jesse Weber, host of Luigi, produced by Law and Crime and Twist. This is more than a true crime investigation. We explore a uniquely American moment that could change the country forever.

He's awoken the people to a true issue. Finally, maybe this would lead rich and powerful people to acknowledge the barbaric nature.

Of our healthcare system. Listen to Law and Crime's Luigi exclusively on Wondery. Plus, you can join Wondery on the Wondery app, Spotify or Apple podcasts.