Martha Beatty

Summary

Snapped: Women Who Murder – Episode Summary: Martha Beatty

Release Date: May 4, 2025
Host/Author: Oxygen
Podcast Title: Snapped: Women Who Murder

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Introduction

In this gripping episode of Snapped: Women Who Murder, Oxygen delves deep into the mysterious disappearance and subsequent murder of Bill Beatty, a beloved family man from Mascot, Florida. Overlaid with suspenseful narration and detailed investigative insights, the episode unravels the complex dynamics within the Beatty family, leading to the shocking revelation of betrayal and murder.

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Background of Bill Beatty

Bill Beatty, a 57-year-old district manager for a local gas station in Mascot, Florida, was known for his impeccable work ethic, having never missed a day in over a decade. Born on December 21, 1944, in Ohio's Amish country, Bill transitioned from a truck driver to a driving instructor in 1973 after divorcing his first wife. In 1982, he met Martha Lance, a family-oriented woman from West Virginia, whom he married a year later. Together, they navigated the challenges of blended family life, raising Martha’s son Andy and grandfathering her granddaughter, Tabby.

Notable Quote:
Martha Beatty reflects on Bill's character:

"He always looked like he had something up his sleeve, like he wanted a little trick or a little prank and he was just fun." ([07:47])

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Disappearance on August 28, 2001

On the morning of August 28, 2001, Bill failed to show up for work, prompting concern from his employer and coworkers. Martha reported his disappearance, noting that his truck and clothing were missing. The authorities found Bill’s Ford Ranger abandoned on State Road 50 with the keys left in the ignition and his wedding ring in the glove compartment—signs that suggested he might have left intentionally.

Notable Quote:
A co-worker recalls Bill’s reliability:

"Bill was always 10, 15 minutes early. He was conscientious. When you needed him, he was there." ([03:55])

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Initial Investigation and Family Dynamics

As investigators probed deeper, they discovered underlying tensions within the Beatty household. Financial discrepancies arose when Martha's spending habits clashed with Bill’s strict budgeting. Joe, Bill’s son, revealed that Andy was involved in a heated custody battle and had financial instability, often resorting to drug sales and theft to sustain himself.

Notable Quote:
Bill's son discusses Andy’s behavior:

"Andy worked occasionally. He made money by selling drugs and he unfortunately also stole from people." ([18:30])

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Jeanette Sanchez’s Involvement

Jeanette Sanchez, Andy’s girlfriend, became a pivotal witness. Initially granted immunity, she provided conflicting accounts of the night Bill disappeared. Her testimonies evolved from suggesting an accidental shooting by Martha to implicating Andy directly. Jeanette detailed how Andy, under Martha’s influence, shot Bill and attempted to cover it up by burying the body on the Beatty property.

Notable Quote:
Jeanette describes the events leading to the murder:

"She said that Andy asked her if he should do it. She told him that she didn't want any part of it, that she felt it was her fault because she didn't talk him out of it." ([37:30])

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Discovery of the Body and Arrests

Nearly three years after Bill’s disappearance, an anonymous tip led investigators to conduct a forensic search of the Beatty property. They unearthed Bill’s remains buried under the driveway, confirming his death as a homicide. Both Martha and Andy were indicted for conspiracy to commit first-degree murder. The evidence pointed to a meticulously planned murder motivated by financial desperation and familial control.

Notable Quote:
Bill's son shares his disbelief:

"I didn't believe it at first because you don't think that something like this could happen to your family. So it was like disbelief, like shock." ([34:32])

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Legal Proceedings and Aftermath

Martha Beatty pled guilty to conspiracy to commit first-degree murder in May 2005, followed by Andy's guilty plea in April 2006. Both received 25-year prison sentences. Jeanette’s immunity remained intact, and she was never charged. Martha succumbed to COVID-19 in prison in 2020, while Andy was released in July 2024. Bill Beatty was laid to rest in Hinkley, Ohio, allowing the family to finally find closure after years of uncertainty and pain.

Notable Quote:
Bill's son reflects on justice being served:

"She got what she deserved, he got what he deserved, and, you know, we were all able to move on from the what ifs." ([45:43])

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Key Takeaways and Conclusions

The episode underscores the devastating impact of financial stress and familial pressure, leading to desperate actions that destroy lives. It highlights the intricate web of relationships and deceit that can exist beneath the surface of seemingly perfect families. The meticulous investigation process, combined with the courage of witnesses like Jeanette, ultimately brought justice for Bill Beatty, providing a somber reminder of the lengths individuals might go to protect their interests.

Notable Quote:
Investigators summarize their theory:

"Fate shapes a killer. They knew that they had to get the money back in the bank." ([33:03])

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Notable Quotes Overview

• Martha Beatty:
  "He had been raised by Bill since he was about 4 years old. Bill was an excellent father and role model for Andy." ([10:57])

• Investigator:
  "The medical examiner was able to determine that he quite likely was asleep when he was shot. This did not align at all with the story that Jeanette told. This didn't look like an accident." ([34:17])

• Jeanette Sanchez:
  "She finally said, well, I may have been lying." ([36:41])

• Bill Beatty's Son:
  "He loved his family. We carry his name, we carry his blood. So we are his legacy and we pass it on to our kids." ([46:08])

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Conclusion

This episode of Snapped: Women Who Murder masterfully weaves together personal histories, familial conflicts, and investigative prowess to present a compelling true crime story. It serves as a poignant exploration of how hidden tensions and unresolved issues can culminate in tragic outcomes, leaving lasting scars on all involved.

Transcript

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[Bill Beatty's Son]

A.

[Investigator]

Hard working family man beloved by his employees, suddenly vanishes from an Orlando subur.

[Martha Beatty]

He had been there for more than 10 years and never missed a day.

[Narrator]

He hadn't shown up for work.

[Investigator]

On the surface, he seemed to have it all.

[Co-worker]

They seemed like they were happy in their little nest with each other.

[Martha Beatty]

They'd been married for 20 years. He referred to him as dad. He was the only father he'd ever known.

[Investigator]

But no one really knows what goes on behind closed doors.

[Co-worker]

He was a spoiled little twit and she'd stick up for him.

[Narrator]

They said. It was a rocky relationship and they weren't getting along very well. She told the detective that he had been having affairs.

[Bill Beatty's Son]

He will be back.

[Narrator]

Oh, he will be.

[Bill Beatty's Son]

He'll Be back.

[Investigator]

Amid the lies and rumors, investigators finally uncovered the twisted truth.

[Narrator]

The investigators would get anonymous phone calls stating he was dead.

[Bill Beatty's Son]

And she asked me if I knew anybody. I said no, I don't knew anybody could kill him. That's right.

[Investigator]

August 28, 2001. Mascot, Florida. It's just after 6 in the morning when Gail gets a frantic call from the gas station where she works. A co worker is trying to track down the store's district manager, 57 year old Bill Beatty, who is an hour late for his shift.

[Co-worker]

On that morning I was off work. I got a phone call telling me that Bill never showed up for work, that I needed to come open the station. Bill was never late. Bill was always 10, 15 minutes early. He was conscientious. When you needed him, he was there.

[Investigator]

Bill's employer also reaches out to his wife, 57 year old Martha Beatty.

[Co-worker]

Martha said he had left for work when they called her.

[Investigator]

But at 7:35am three hours after Bill seemingly left for work, Martha calls the police for help.

[Narrator]

Martha Beatty called and told the dispatcher that her husband Bill hadn't shown up for work that morning. He was missing as well as his truck and his clothing.

[Investigator]

Within 15 minutes, an officer arrives at the Beatty home.

[Narrator]

A Mascot police officer responded to the residence located on Park Road in the city of Mascot.

[Investigator]

Martha tells the officer that the last time she saw Bill was as they were preparing for bed around 11 o'clock the night before. And everything seemed normal.

[Martha Beatty]

Martha shared a bedroom with her granddaughter, a five year old little girl named Tabby. And Bill slept at the other end of the hall in his own bedroom.

[Witness]

He would be up really early and getting ready while Martha and her granddaughter Tabby were still asleep.

[Martha Beatty]

He had been working at this convenience store for more than 10 years and never missed a day.

[Investigator]

Martha says it wasn't until she got the phone call from his employer that she suspected anything might be wrong.

[Narrator]

His clothes were missing and his truck and him. You would think that maybe he just left her, that maybe he had wanted to get out of the relationship and just left. But the normal procedure would be to put a BOLO out on the radio for the area where he's missing it.

[Investigator]

Gail is eager to help and agrees to come into work on her day off.

[Co-worker]

So I left the house and went the way that I knew he would be coming if he was heading for work.

[Investigator]

It's about a 15 minute drive along Highway 15 between Bill's home and the gas station. Gail is halfway to the station when she suddenly spots Bill's Truck on the side of the road.

[Co-worker]

I knew it was his truck, so I pulled up. The car keys were laying on the front seat. I looked around. No sign of Bill.

[Narrator]

The mascot. Police department was notified that Bill Beatty's pickup truck had been on State Road 50 just outside of the city limits of Claremont.

[Investigator]

It's now been over three hours since Bill was reported missing and his friends and family fear he may be in real danger.

[Co-worker]

Everybody was worried that something else had happened to him. We were worried that, well, maybe he had fallen and had a heart attack. Maybe he was laying in the high grass along the road. So we went looking, but we couldn't find him anywhere.

[Investigator]

Bradford Bill Beatty was born on December 21, 1944 and raised in Ohio's Amish country.

[Bill Beatty's Son]

My father was born to Bill Buster and a woman named Grace. They were both young, so my father was pretty much raised by my grandfather. He always had a smile, my father. He always looked like he had something up his sleeve, like he wanted a little trick or a little prank and he was just fun.

[Investigator]

In high school, Bill's fun personality quickly caught the eye of a classmate, Sandra Tucker.

[Bill Beatty's Son]

My mom had a huge crush on my and so he asked her out and it's history from there.

[Investigator]

The pair got married in 1964 and Bill followed in his father's footsteps, making a living as a truck driver.

[Bill Beatty's Son]

Bill was a long haul truck driver.

[Narrator]

To support his family.

[Bill Beatty's Son]

He worked hard because, you know, he supported his family and his car habit because he was a car guy. Bill loved classic cars and he had two that were absolutely gorgeous. I mean, he took exemplary care of these cars.

[Investigator]

But Bill's time away from home took its toll and his marriage eventually ended in divorce in 1973.

[Bill Beatty's Son]

My mom and my dad, they were married such a young age, fresh out of high school. You're young, you're trying to find yourself. Even after the divorce, he would still come over on Sundays and sit down and we would have family dinners. He loved his family.

[Witness]

When Bill left his career as a truck driver, he decided to still make use of those driving skills and he pursued a career as a driving instructor.

[Investigator]

It was in 1982, while working in his new position, that Bill first met 37 year old Martha Lance.

[Bill Beatty's Son]

Martha was born in West Virginia. She was married. As far as a relationship with her previous husband, we don't really know anything.

[Witness]

Martha's daughter was taking driving lessons from Bill.

[Investigator]

Martha's daughter introduced Bill to her mother and her four year old brother Andy.

[Witness]

Martha was attracted to Bill. Bill was a gentleman. He Had a charm about him. He was stable.

[Bill Beatty's Son]

Martha had a great personality. She was very family oriented. So I believe that's what drew my dad to her.

[Investigator]

One year later, Bill and Martha married. Martha's daughter no longer lived at home, but Bill happily took over the role of father to Andy.

[Martha Beatty]

He'd been raised by Bill since he was about 4 years old. Bill was an excellent father and role model for Andy. He was the only father he'd ever known.

[Bill Beatty's Son]

My dad would treat Andy like he was his own.

[Investigator]

In 1989, the family moved to a spacious property in Mascot, Florida.

[Bill Beatty's Son]

They moved to Florida for work. My father liked the warm weather. We would go there for holidays or visits.

[Investigator]

Bill eventually took a job as manager of a convenience store in nearby Claremont.

[Co-worker]

Bill was always very helpful and he'd take the time to explain something, not just tell you, this is what you do. He'd explain why it was done that way.

[Bill Beatty's Son]

I met Bill when I was looking for a job. Bill was almost like a big brother. We used to talk a lot and, you know, swap stories. He would help you however you needed help.

[Investigator]

While Martha focused on running the house, she occasionally picked up shifts alongside Bill at the store.

[Co-worker]

Martha and I worked together for a couple of years. Martha was pleasant. She struck you as a country girl. She could be loud and funny and she could be moody and quiet.

[Investigator]

By 1996, at the age of 18, the couple's son Andy moved out and started building his own life.

[Bill Beatty's Son]

Andy got married to a girl whose name was Jennifer, and they had Tabby. Bill was very attached. He would talk about Tabitha and things that she did and show pictures of her. Martha was a great grandmother. She loved Tabby. Spoiled her, too.

[Investigator]

Got her anything she wanted. And when Andy's marriage ended a few years later, Bill and Martha agreed to take Andy and Tabby in.

[Bill Beatty's Son]

Jennifer left and Andy kept Tabby. Andy wasn't working.

[Co-worker]

Martha and Bill seemed like they were happy in their little nest with each other and Tabby.

[Investigator]

But on the morning of August 28, 2001, for the first time in over 10 years, Bill Beatty doesn't show up for work.

[Martha Beatty]

By 8:00 or so, the police had found Bill's Ford Ranger parked on the side of the highway, pointed in the direction that he would have gone that morning.

[Investigator]

Authorities find the truck unlocked, the keys on the front seat. And something else surprising.

[Narrator]

Mascot officers found a wedding ring in the glove compartment.

[Investigator]

Coming up. Did Bill Beatty want to disappear?

[Martha Beatty]

She said he was very much alive and had no intention of coming back.

[Investigator]

And disturbing rumors encircled the small town.

[Narrator]

The investigators would get anonymous phone calls stating that Bill Beatty was dead.

[Investigator]

Officers in mascot, Florida, investigating the disappearance of Bill Beatty have just discovered his abandoned truck along with his wedding ring, leading officers to believe Bill may simply have left his wife.

[Narrator]

There was absolutely no signs of foul play in the vehicle. The adult missing person is is not a crime. Martha came and picked the vehicle up and took it back to her house. They have no further leads at that time. To follow up on, the investigator put a flag on Mr. Beatty's Social Security number to see if he showed up, you know, seeking employment elsewhere, anything like that.

[Bill Beatty's Son]

All we did was just kind of wait to see if he showed up, if the investigators found anything.

[Investigator]

Two weeks later, Martha calls mascot police again with some news.

[Narrator]

Martha Beatty called the police department, stated that she had spoken with Bill Beatty on the phone and that he had told her that he was not coming back, that he was leaving her.

[Martha Beatty]

Martha kind of reinforced the fact that they didn't need to look for Bill anymore. He was very much alive and living up in Georgia and had no intention of coming back.

[Investigator]

Investigators reach out to Bill's children in Ohio to corroborate Martha's story. They say they still haven't heard from their father, but they do confirm that Martha and Bill faced their fair share of troubles as a married couple.

[Bill Beatty's Son]

When I talked to the investigators, I did ask questions like, was it money related?

[Narrator]

Bill Beatty's family told the investigators Martha and Bill Beatty it had issues with finances. Martha spent too much money. Bill didn't like that.

[Investigator]

According to Bill's co workers, whenever Martha pulled shifts at the gas station, Bill noticed that certain things weren't adding up.

[Co-worker]

At the end of the day, when the money's taken and counted all up, some days it didn't come near. I can't say where the money went or how it disappeared. I just know it wasn't there. Things didn't balance out. People started complaining that their credit cards were showing gas purchases when they hadn't been to the station.

[Investigator]

As a result, Bill no longer gave Martha shift, and he kept a close eye on every penny.

[Narrator]

They had gotten to the point where he had given Martha an allowance, and once the allowance was gone, he wouldn't give her any more money.

[Investigator]

And money wasn't the only source of tension in the Beatty marriage.

[Narrator]

There was a very powerful dynamic going.

[Bill Beatty's Son]

On in Bill and Martha's household.

[Jeanette Sanchez]

With Andy, she was unable to set any firm limits.

[Bill Beatty's Son]

Andy wasn't hanging out with the best of crowds. My dad was essentially raising his child because he couldn't do it. So it caused a lot of friction between him and Martha.

[Co-worker]

He was a spoiled little twit and she'd stick up for him.

[Investigator]

And most recently, 23 year old Andy had become involved in a heated custody battle with his ex wife, sticking Bill with the attorney's fees.

[Bill Beatty's Son]

Bill did mention that Martha was expecting him to pay for Andy's lawyer for the custody battle. It wasn't that she asked him to, she expected him to.

[Narrator]

Bill made it known to Martha and Andrew that he wanted Tabby to live there, but he felt that Andrew should be paying for the legal fees. The family stated that Andrew was change jobs constantly or not work for long periods of time. And Bill expressed anger to his family about this.

[Martha Beatty]

Andy worked occasionally. He made money by selling drugs and he unfortunately also stole from people.

[Investigator]

Bill's friends say when the tension in the home got to be too much, Andy went to live with his girlfriend Jeanette.

[Co-worker]

Tabby lived with Bill and Martha because Andy used Tabby as leverage to get his way for anything he really wanted.

[Investigator]

While Bill and Martha's family history causes investigators some concern, there's no evidence of foul play. As months pass without Bill contacting his children or his friends, however, suspicion grows.

[Co-worker]

I went to one of the local cops that I knew and asked him what they were doing about Bill. Was anybody looking for him? And he told me that they didn't have to look for him, that he had just run off. But I didn't believe it.

[Bill Beatty's Son]

My dad loved Andy's daughter. He would never abandon her because that's the way my dad was. It was probably three to four months before I started hearing rumors about Martha and Andy spending Bill's money and driving Bill's cars.

[Co-worker]

I knew Bill would not have left without saying something to someone and he would definitely not have left his cars.

[Narrator]

Every now and again, the police would get anonymous phone calls stating that Bill Beatty was dead. The officers at the time would go out and look into whatever was alleged, but there was nothing really to follow up on. And again, the case lay dormant.

[Investigator]

Despite there being no signs of foul play, authorities ask Martha if they can search her property.

[Martha Beatty]

She told them flat out that they would not be allowed to go onto her property. That is her right to refuse consent. But police, of course, wonder why, when they're looking for her husband, wouldn't she want to help them to look for her husband? But she maintained that he was fine and that he'd left her.

[Investigator]

Convinced Martha knows more than she's saying, investigators continue to press her for answers. And eight Months after Bill's disappearance, Martha finally agrees to a second interview.

[Bill Beatty's Son]

So, 16 years ago, something like that. He took off in July, and then he didn't come back until February, March.

[Investigator]

She also tells them more about the phone call Bill made to her after police found his truck.

[Bill Beatty's Son]

I said, where you at? And he said, never mind. And I said, well, what about me and your job and act? He said, I don't need none of that crap no more.

[Narrator]

That's when she told the detective that Bill had been having affairs.

[Bill Beatty's Son]

You think that he went to.

[Narrator]

Ran off with someone to Georgia?

[Bill Beatty's Son]

That's where he called me from. He called me from Georgia. It was this western motel. Pick him up on my caller ID box.

[Narrator]

We didn't have any names. We didn't have anyone that we could go interview to find out who these women were.

[Investigator]

But Martha says she believes Bill's dalliance will run its course just like it did 16 years before.

[Bill Beatty's Son]

He will be back. Oh, he will be. He'll be back.

[Investigator]

Martha is released after her interview, and investigators are left with zero leads and more questions for the next three years. Rumors circulate, but with nothing concrete to go on, the investigation stalls. All of that changes in February of 2004.

[Narrator]

I was contacted one evening by the lieutenant who received another anonymous tip that Bill Beatty's body was buried on the Beatty's property. That on Park Road.

[Investigator]

Authorities have been blocked from searching the Beatty property before, but this time may prove to be different.

[Narrator]

The lieutenant said the property on Park Road, there's a for sale sign on it.

[Investigator]

Coming up. This new tip threatens to unearth more than just rumors.

[Narrator]

Asked them if we could have permission to take cadaver dogs on the property. And they said yes.

[Investigator]

And a witness finally feels the heat.

[Witness]

Where's the mom?

[Bill Beatty's Son]

In the house.

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[Investigator]

Ah, the beauty of a great mystery. It all begins with the perfect plot, where secrets are planted and clues spread like weeds until they can no longer be hidden. NBC invites you to a world where wealth and power are in full bloom and some secrets are too big to bury. Grosse Pointe Garden Society Sunday on NBC. It's been nearly three years since Bill Beatty was first reported missing. When investigators finally received their first break in the case.

[Narrator]

We had received a anonymous tip that the body of the missing person was located on the property on Park Road. I am familiar with the property from Patrollingtown, and now there's a for sale sign on it.

[Witness]

With Bill gone, it became a hardship for Martha to keep up, and eventually the money came close to running out.

[Investigator]

Eventually, Andy's daughter Tabby went to live with her maternal grandparents in North Carolina.

[Narrator]

The house was foreclosed upon, and Martha moved out.

[Martha Beatty]

It was decided that we should approach the new owner and see if they would give us consent to search.

[Narrator]

I asked them if we could have permission to take cadaver dogs on the property, and they said yes.

[Investigator]

Three years after Bill was reported missing, they are finally able to conduct a search of the Beatty property.

[Narrator]

We were looking not only to do a forensic search of the property, but we also wanted to shock anyone that was involved that might come by. The dogs alerted on several different locations on the property. Further investigation didn't give us enough reason to dig at any of those locations, but we marked them.

[Investigator]

While the search doesn't produce a body, investigators do draw someone of interest to the scene.

[Narrator]

While we were doing the search, we were also watching the road that goes by the house, and I observed Jeanette drive by. Jeanette Sanchez, at the time of this incident, was living with Andy in an apartment in Groveland, Florida.

[Investigator]

The day after the search, Jeanette's sister Wendy Batten, contacts the mascot police department.

[Narrator]

Jeanette's family knew that Jeanette knew more about the disappearance than she was telling.

[Martha Beatty]

Everyone kept telling her they had to.

[Co-worker]

Have something in the house to be.

[Witness]

This aggressive Again, they found something.

[Martha Beatty]

Wendy heard Jeanette say that. And no, they won't find any evidence because we cleaned it very thoroughly.

[Bill Beatty's Son]

She said they ripped the carpet up, the tile nail, and they repaneled the walls.

[Witness]

I did ask her who killed Bill.

[Martha Beatty]

And she didn't tell me.

[Bill Beatty's Son]

She just said it was an accident.

[Martha Beatty]

Obviously, once the police heard that, talking to Jeanette was very high priority.

[Investigator]

But investigators don't need to track her down.

[Narrator]

I received a call from Jeanette's aunt, who wanted to bring Jeanette in to speak with us. One of the things that Jeanette wanted before she would come in and speak with us is she wanted to be granted immunity. The local state attorney's office allowed us to. To grant her immunity during the interview.

[Martha Beatty]

The state would provide her with immunity as long as she told the truth.

[Investigator]

On March 2, 2004, Jeanette Sanchez sits down with investigators.

[Narrator]

I asked Jeanette what had happened on the night of the incident. She stated that early in the morning, Andrew had received a call from his mother, the woman.

[Bill Beatty's Son]

The person called the house, and she said she needed Andy come over to.

[Investigator]

Her and Bill Mario.

[Bill Beatty's Son]

And he went over there and about kind of felt like asleep. 30 minutes, they called and said Tabby was upset. I needed to come over to bring Tabby back to the house. When I got there, I see Tabby. He had to go back to bed. I left him back home. Later on that afternoon, I asked, and he will, you know what had happened? And he told me that his mom had an accidental shot Bill.

[Jeanette Sanchez]

She was telling them that this wasn't anything that was planned, that it was an accident, that Martha accidentally shot Bill.

[Bill Beatty's Son]

He told me he moved the body at first, that it was hidden underneath the steps, the front steps. He said he was put there first. So he was there underneath the front.

[Narrator]

Steps when officer Terry came in.

[Bill Beatty's Son]

I'm a sir.

[Investigator]

Jeanette says after the officer left, Andy moved the body.

[Narrator]

Andrew told Jeanette that he had cut a hole in the floor of the garage and put Bill Beatty's body wrapped in a tarp and then covered it with lime and then refilled the hole and put the wood back into place in the floor of the garage.

[Investigator]

With Jeanette's help, investigators draw a map of the baby home.

[Martha Beatty]

The police immediately sketched out a rough diagram of the buildings and asked her if she would point to exactly where she thought the body might be found.

[Narrator]

When Jeanette marked the spot on the map, I knew that we were on the road to getting this case finished.

[Investigator]

On March 3, 2004, nearly three years after Bill Beatty went missing, investigators return to the home where he once lived with his wife, Martha. They find that the freestanding Garage has since been torn down. With the crudely drawn map in hand, they begin digging in the spot where the garage once was.

[Narrator]

About four hours into the dig, we detected an odor of decaying flesh. The upper portion of the body was covered in a blue canvas tarp. Around the waist of the body, we observed a white cake like substance. Lime is a mineral substance that would assist in the decomposition, but it basically preserved the body from the waist up.

[Investigator]

The body is transported to the medical examiner in Leesburg, Florida, who confirms what law enforcement suspects they looked for a.

[Martha Beatty]

Unique tattoo that Bill had on his arm. They were able to to say with high degree of confidence that that was in fact Bill baby.

[Investigator]

Coming up, investigators work to finally uncover the truth.

[Witness]

This didn't look like an accident.

[Investigator]

And desperation shapes a killer.

[Narrator]

They knew that they had to get the money back in the bank.

[Jeanette Sanchez]

Andy asked Jeanette if you should do it.

[Investigator]

Almost three years after Bill Beatty went missing in Mascot, Florida, investigators have pulled his body from a six foot grave on his property.

[Martha Beatty]

They determined that in fact he had been the victim of a homicide. He had two bullet entry wounds in the back of his head, small caliber. And one of the bullets was still in his head.

[Narrator]

It appeared that Mr. Beatty had been laying on his stomach and that he had been shot from close range and from behind.

[Witness]

The medical examiner was able to to determine that he quite likely was asleep when he was shot. This did not align at all with the story that Jeanette told. This didn't look like an accident.

[Bill Beatty's Son]

I didn't believe it at first because you don't think that something like this could happen to your family. So it was like disbelief, like shock.

[Investigator]

On March 8, police bring Jeanette in for a second interview.

[Narrator]

We basically told her that we knew she was still being untruthful with us and that she was putting her immunity agreement in jeopardy.

[Investigator]

Slowly, Jeanette starts to reveal more details.

[Bill Beatty's Son]

I take Martha and I dropped her back off at the house.

[Narrator]

At this point, did you know what had happened?

[Bill Beatty's Son]

They just told me that it was an accident.

[Investigator]

Eventually, Jeanette admits she was more involved than she previously let on.

[Narrator]

The day after the murder, Martha gave her one of Bill's credit cards and told her to drive to Georgia and stay in a hotel to make it look like Bill had left and gone to Georgia.

[Bill Beatty's Son]

Martha told him, I got there to register Bill's name.

[Investigator]

While Jeanette is being more forthcoming, police still don't believe they're getting the whole truth.

[Witness]

Police confronted her with the evidence that they had about the two gunshot wounds being to the Back of Bill's head.

[Bill Beatty's Son]

He shot twice outside.

[Martha Beatty]

You could see that she was uncomfortable continuing with the story that she had been telling about Andy's involvement.

[Investigator]

Investigators need more information from Jeannette and decide to change gears. They request she participate in a voice stress analysis.

[Jeanette Sanchez]

Detective Warshall asked me if I could assist them with conducting a voice stress analysis on one of their potential witnesses. During the testing, we asked, you know, did Martha shoot Bill Beatty? Did Andy shoot Bill Beatty? Based on those questions, we could tell that she had knowledge of who did this. When we came back in and we started the interview with the test results, I told her that she was not being 100% honest.

[Martha Beatty]

She finally said, well, I may have been lying.

[Jeanette Sanchez]

Jeanette became very, very emotional. She was reminded that she was still under immunity, that no matter what she said, it wasn't going to change the fact that she still had immunity.

[Investigator]

With the floodgates open, Jeannette continues.

[Martha Beatty]

Jeannette said about two weeks before Bill died, Andy had gone to his mom and asked her for some money. This was money that came out of a bank account that Bill had control of.

[Narrator]

Martha removed $1,500 from the bank account. The money was given to Andy.

[Witness]

She said that he wanted the money for that custody battle, but Andy used the money largely to buy a truck and, according to police, to buy drugs.

[Martha Beatty]

Martha had no authority to take money out of their joint bank account without Bill's knowledge.

[Narrator]

She went on to say that they knew that Bill Beatty, every two weeks, like clockwork on his payday, made a deposit at the bank, and if they didn't get the fifteen hundred dollars back in the bank before he went again, that he was going to find out.

[Martha Beatty]

And you couldn't come up with a way of returning the money. And Martha became more anxious. About two or three days beforehand, she started telling Andy that we have to do something soon because Tuesday he's going to find out when he gets his next paycheck that we've taken that money out.

[Investigator]

According to Jeanette, Andy knew exactly what his mother meant by do something.

[Jeanette Sanchez]

She said that Andy asked her if he should do it. She told him that she didn't want any part of it, that she felt that it was her fault because she didn't talk him out of it. She just thought he wouldn't really do anything.

[Martha Beatty]

That brings us to the night of the 27th. Leading into the early morning of the 28th. The last thing that Jeanette said to Andy as he was going out the door to do what mom said was don't do something Stupid.

[Witness]

Jeanette tells them that about 5am she's instructed to go and pick up Martha.

[Jeanette Sanchez]

She said that she just dropped Martha off in the driveway and then she went home and Andy came home. Approximately 45 minutes or so later, Andy.

[Witness]

Gets there and he just starts to break down. And he tells Jeanette, I'll never kill another being.

[Jeanette Sanchez]

That's when she came out with the truth that Andy had shot Bill.

[Bill Beatty's Son]

Baby.

[Investigator]

Jeanette's interview gives investigators what they need to finally make arrests.

[Narrator]

A grand jury indicted both Martha and Andrew, and warrants were issued.

[Investigator]

On April 14, 2004, Andrew is served with his warrant in a Florida prison where he is already serving time on an unrelated charge. And a day later, Martha Beatty is arrested in West Virginia.

[Narrator]

Martha. Martha was arrested at her home on the Florida warrant. She was then transported back to Florida. After being arrested, Martha continued to state that Bill Beatty's death was an accident.

[Investigator]

Coming up, will investigators finally learn the truth?

[Bill Beatty's Son]

It was over with and down when I got there. I was all clean up.

[Investigator]

Or will the evidence tell a different story?

[Narrator]

It would be impossible for him to fall and trip and shoot himself in the back of the head.

[Investigator]

After almost three years, Martha Beatty and her son Andy have finally been charged in the murder of Martha's husband Bill. When investigators sit down with Martha, they get yet another version of what happened at the beatty home on August 28, 2001.

[Narrator]

She said that they were arguing Bill was chasing her through the house with a handgun and that he tripped and the gun went off and hit him. She stated then that she picked the gun up and shot him again in fear that he was going to get up and get her. The problem with that story was both of the bullet holes were in the back of Bill Beatty's head and it would be impossible for him to fall and trip and shoot himself in the back of the head.

[Investigator]

Investigators switch their focus to Andy. He admits that Martha had been feeling pressure to get the money back into Bill's account before he noticed.

[Bill Beatty's Son]

What did you think about the money? You had to pay it back, right? Oh, yeah, I had to pay.

[Investigator]

According to Andy, a few days before Bill went missing, Martha was no longer asking him about money.

[Narrator]

He stated before the the incident occurred, Martha told him that she wanted Bill gone.

[Bill Beatty's Son]

She asked me if I knew anybody, knew anybody to kill him. That's right. So what did you say? I said, no. I don't know.

[Narrator]

People like Andrew said that he just kind of took that with a grain of salt. He just said, you know, you're upset, you're emotional and left it at that.

[Investigator]

The next thing he knew, Andy got a desperate call from his mother on the morning of August 28th.

[Bill Beatty's Son]

She told me she saw his truck while he was sleeping, while he's away. I don't know if she had died yet. She didn't go into details. It was over with him done when I got there. Help him off any of them. Okay. Did she say how she disposed of the body? She says very.

[Narrator]

Jeannette stated during her interview that Andrew had admitted to killing his father and he had disposed of the body.

[Witness]

Now authorities are looking at two different stories. Andy and Martha, on the one hand, are saying that the shooting was an accident, that Martha fired in self defense. Jeanette, on the other hand, is saying that everything was all planned out and that Andy actually came in and that he fired the shots.

[Investigator]

While prosecutors and investigators can't prove to a jury who pulled the trigger, they have a theory about what went down on August 28, 2001.

[Martha Beatty]

Martha was under extreme stress because of this deadline that was about to come due. And she just did not want to contend with that. And so she came up with this other solution.

[Narrator]

I believe that Martha had control over Andy. I think she knew the buttons to push. She knew she could use him.

[Martha Beatty]

It's my strong opinion that it was Andy who squeezed the trigger. He was angry that Bill had money and wouldn't share it with him. He also was motivated out of an allegiance to his mom.

[Witness]

Prosecutors believe they then worked together to bury the body, to clean up the room, and to keep this a secret for as long as they did.

[Investigator]

On May 26, 2005, Martha pleads guilty to conspiracy to commit first degree murder. Almost a year later, on April 3, 2006, Andy pleads guilty to the same charges. They are sentenced to 25 years in prison.

[Narrator]

When the verdicts came out, I was very happy. Foreclosure for the Beatty family that we were able to get two very bad people off the street.

[Bill Beatty's Son]

She got what she deserved, he got what he deserved, and, you know, we were all able to move on from the what ifs.

[Co-worker]

I'll remember Bill as my friend and a funny guy. There are less and less of us around to remember it. I think they cheated the community out of it. Good person.

[Bill Beatty's Son]

He loved his family. We carry his name, we carry his blood. So we are his legacy and we pass it on to our kids.

[Advertiser]

Jeannette's immunity was upheld and she was never charged. Martha Beatty died in prison after contracting COVID 19 in 2020, Andy Norman was released from prison on July 8, 2024. Bill Beatty was laid to rest in Hinkley, Ohio on June 4, 2004.

[Martha Beatty]

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