Snapped: Women Who Murder – Episode Summary: Judy Naylor Release Date: March 2, 2025
In this gripping episode of Snapped: Women Who Murder, Oxygen delves into the harrowing true story of Judy Naylor, a woman whose descent into desperation and addiction led to a series of heinous crimes. This detailed summary captures the key events, investigations, and courtroom drama that unfolded in Judy’s life, providing listeners with an in-depth understanding of her motivations and the consequences of her actions.
1. Introduction
The episode begins by setting the stage for a dramatic tale of betrayal and criminality in rural North Carolina. Judy Naylor, an office manager and bookkeeper, becomes the focal point of an attempted murder and subsequent investigations that unravel dark family secrets and financial deceit.
2. Background: Judy's Early Life and Relationships
Judy Naylor’s upbringing was marred by familial instability. Raised in Cumberland and Robeson Counties, Judy was the elder of two siblings, with a younger brother, Kenneth. Her parents' separation during her teens introduced her to a tumultuous household environment.
Key Quotes:
- Katherine Croxton (Judy’s stepmother):
“She didn't graduate high school. She dropped out at 17. She had me at 19... I wanted to do better for me than what she had.”
(08:03)
Judy’s relationship with her mother, Catherine, was fraught with tension, exacerbated by Catherine’s mental health issues and Judy’s own struggles with addiction.
3. The Attempted Murder: January 12, 2004
On a late afternoon in Robeson County, Judy’s boss and a successful business owner returned from vacation only to be targeted in a drive-by shooting. The attack left the boss’s vehicle riddled with bullets, with limited physical injury to his hand.
Key Quotes:
-
Investigator:
"A successful business owner returns from a dream vacation only to be met with a hail of gunfire."
(01:05) -
James Croxton (Judy’s stepfather):
“Last thing in his mind is that somebody's attempting to kill him.”
(01:13)
The victim, bewildered and injured, couldn’t identify the shooter, leading investigators to consider personal motives rather than random violence.
4. Investigation: Embezzlement and Disappearance
As investigators delved into the case, they discovered unusual financial activities. The bus company owner found that numerous checks had been written to Judy and her husband, Donald McPhail, totaling $19,000 during his absence.
Key Quotes:
- Donald McPhail (Judy’s husband):
“He finds his shotgun missing, and the weapon used to shoot at him is a shotgun.”
(12:15)
The absence of forced entry suggested that the perpetrator had trusted access to Judy’s household, pointing suspicion toward individuals within the victim’s inner circle.
5. Arrest and Interrogation
Two weeks post-incident, Judy and Donald were located at an Area Motel following a disturbance report. At the motel, Judy was found severely ill from consuming antifreeze, an apparent suicide attempt.
Key Quotes:
- Donald McPhail:
“She was extremely sick... trying to harm herself, kill herself, you know, by drinking antifreeze.”
(18:12)
Donald provided a candid statement, admitting their involvement in the attempted murder and the fraudulent checks, citing financial desperation as the primary motive.
6. James Croxton's Death
In a tragic turn, Judy called 911 to report the sudden death of her stepfather, James Croxton, alleging he was unresponsive and died of natural causes. However, suspicions arose when Judy’s stepmother, Donna Naylor, accused her of being responsible for James’s death.
Key Quotes:
- Katherine Croxton (Judy’s son):
“She showed it to me, and I said, chloroform. She's like, do you know what this is?... I left the house scared.”
(35:13)
Subsequent autopsy results revealed the presence of chloroform and minor puncture wounds, leading authorities to rule James’s death as a homicide.
7. Further Investigation: Evidence and Motive
The investigation uncovered that Judy had premeditated James Croxton’s murder to gain access to life insurance proceeds. Financial records showed purchases of chloroform and succinylcholine, a paralytic, weeks before James's death.
Key Quotes:
- Donald McPhail:
“They stole a shotgun... followed him back to Lumberton. Donald fired the shotgun from the backseat of their car.”
(22:43)
Documents found indicated Judy’s intent to eliminate James, facilitating her financial gains through a forged will and insurance policies favoring her.
8. Legal Proceedings: Trial and Sentencing
Judy initially pleaded not guilty to the attempted murder charges but was later convicted of conspiracy to commit murder and forgery. She was sentenced to 16 to 20 years in prison. Further charges were brought against her for the murder of James Croxton, leading to a life sentence without the possibility of parole.
Key Quotes:
- Judy Naylor (in her own words):
“I have a lot of regret and a lot of remorse for both of my crimes. Do I think that the time that I got was just? Of course it was. I took another man's life.”
(45:43)
Despite Judy’s claims of being under the influence of drugs and lacking clear judgment, the court found sufficient evidence of her premeditated actions.
9. Aftermath and Current Status
Judy Naylor is currently serving a life sentence at the North Carolina Correctional Institution for Women in Raleigh. Her husband, Donald McPhail, served over thirteen years in prison and was released in July 2014. The case remains a poignant example of how addiction and financial desperation can lead to tragic outcomes.
Key Quotes:
- Katherine Croxton:
“I didn’t think my mother was capable of that, of doing something like that. Sorry things happened the way they did. Wish things would have been different.”
(45:59)
The episode concludes by reflecting on Judy’s regret and the irreparable damage caused by her actions, highlighting the complexities of familial relationships and personal downfall.
Notable Moments:
- Judy’s early financial prowess contrasts sharply with her later criminal activities, showcasing a complex character driven by addiction.
- The use of chloroform and a paralytic indicates a calculated approach to murder, challenging Judy’s claims of impaired judgment.
- Family testimonies reveal deep-seated issues and betrayal, adding emotional weight to the narrative.
Conclusion:
Judy Naylor’s story is a chilling exploration of how personal struggles and moral corruption can culminate in violence and deceit. Snapped: Women Who Murder effectively unravels the layers of Judy’s life, offering listeners a comprehensive view of the events that led to her life imprisonment. This episode serves as a stark reminder of the devastating impact of addiction and the lengths to which individuals might go when desperation takes hold.