Willa Blanc

Summary

Snapped: Women Who Murder – Episode Summary: Willa Blanc

Introduction

In this gripping episode of Snapped: Women Who Murder, Oxygen delves into the chilling case of Willa Blanc, a woman whose manipulative schemes and insatiable greed led to the tragic demise of Walter Sartore. Released on December 22, 2024, this episode meticulously unravels the series of events, motivations, and psychological intricacies that culminated in murder.

Background of Walter Sartore

Walter Sartore, a 73-year-old retired mathematician and millionaire, was known for his brilliance and reclusive nature. Diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia, Walter meticulously managed his condition through medication, which he never neglected. His life's work included a classified position at Oak Ridge National Laboratory, where he devoted 30 years before retiring. Despite his professional success, Walter struggled with everyday social interactions and lived a solitary life without family ties.

Willa Blanc's Manipulation and Entrance

Willa Blanc entered Walter Sartore's life under the guise of a helpful neighbor. Her initial interaction occurred on February 17, 2009, after a severe snowstorm. Walter, returning from a trip to New York amid the storm, found his driveway uniquely cleared of snow. Shortly after, Willa knocked on his door, offering to clean his home. Detectives later discovered Willa had "forced her way into the house" and exhibited aggressive behavior, raising immediate red flags.

Deputy (14:27): "She was very aggressive and continued to say, hey, I'd like to clean your house. I can help you. I can do this. I can do that." (14:27)

The Disappearance of Walter Sartore

On March 2, 2009, Walter went missing. His friend, Ann Carty, reported his absence after being unable to contact him since mid-February. Initially, authorities considered Walter’s paranoia and possible incapacitation due to his mental health. When deputies arrived at his residence, they found an eerily organized home, filled with desktop computers and Post-it notes detailing daily routines and reminders.

Forensic Expert (05:30): "We found some medications that would be consistent with a mental illness, schizophrenia... when you suffer from schizophrenia, it's very important that you have your medication." (05:30)

Investigation Unfolds

As the investigation progressed, detectives uncovered that Walter had been meticulously organized, yet his home suggested potential neglect or distress. They discovered Walter was a millionaire with substantial investments, raising questions about possible financial motives behind his disappearance.

Detective (19:17): "He is now a mark. He has something that makes it worth my while to take the risk of doing bad things." (19:17)

Discovery of Willa Blanc's Deceptive Tactics

Investigators identified Willa Blanc as the primary suspect when they learned she had secured power of attorney over Walter's finances. Financial records revealed significant transfers from Walter's accounts to Willa's, including a $10,000 wire transfer on February 27 and a $200,000 transfer on March 3. This financial exploitation suggested a calculated plan to seize Walter's wealth.

Deputy (15:12): "Another reason why alarms went off for Ann and her husband Robert, is that they actually received monthly checks from Walter Sartore." (15:12)

The Chilling Encounter and Evidence of Murder

The investigation took a dark turn when Willa Blanc was implicated in a series of suspicious activities, including a car accident where she rudely mentioned a trash can containing firewood—a possible reference to hiding Walter. Further interrogation and evidence led to the discovery that Willa had forcibly detained Walter, leading to his untimely death. Remains identified as Walter's were found in a burned trash can at Duane Lively's property.

Detective Cox (29:35): "And Mr. Sartore was in that trash can. This woman was cold enough to be in a casino for hours gambling this man's money while he was folded up in a trash can in the back of her vehicle." (29:35)

Arrest and Trial

On March 14, 2009, Willa Blanc and her son, Lewis Wilkinson, were arrested. Lewis, under immense pressure, confessed his involvement, detailing how his mother isolated Walter in their basement, ultimately leading to his death through suspected poisoning. The trial revealed Willa's long history of manipulation and financial deceit, motivated purely by greed.

Detective (43:07): "She had opened documents which demonstrated that he had accounts and very large sums of money." (43:07)

Conclusion and Aftermath

Willa Blanc pled guilty to all charges, receiving a life sentence without the possibility of parole in December 2011. Her son, Lewis Wilkinson, also pled guilty and was sentenced to 30 years, with eligibility for parole in 2029. The case concluded with the recovery of Walter Sartore’s remains and a thorough examination of Willa's manipulative tactics to exploit vulnerable individuals for financial gain.

Forensic Expert (46:25): "The saddest part of this entire case is that Walter had to live his worst fear... He was a very kind man." (46:25)

Legacy and Reflection

The episode highlights the tragic consequences of greed and manipulation, showcasing how Willa Blanc exploited Walter Sartore's vulnerabilities and financial assets. Walter's legacy, however, remains tied to his contributions as a scientist and his inherent kindness, overshadowed only by the betrayal he endured.

Notable Quotes Summary

• Deputy (14:27): "She was very aggressive and continued to say, hey, I'd like to clean your house." (14:27)
• Forensic Expert (05:30): "When you suffer from schizophrenia, it's very important that you have your medication." (05:30)
• Detective (19:17): "He is now a mark... to take the risk of doing bad things." (19:17)
• Deputy (15:12): "They actually received monthly checks from Walter Sartore." (15:12)
• Detective Cox (29:35): "This woman was cold enough to be in a casino for hours gambling this man's money..." (29:35)
• Detective (43:07): "She had opened documents which demonstrated that he had accounts and very large sums of money." (43:07)
• Forensic Expert (46:25): "Walter had to live his worst fear... He was a very kind man." (46:25)

Final Thoughts

Snapped: Women Who Murder offers a profound exploration into the dark facets of human nature, emphasizing how charisma and deceit can culminate in heinous crimes. The Willa Blanc case serves as a stark reminder of the importance of vigilance and the devastating impact of manipulation fueled by greed.

Transcript

[Narrator]

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[Investigator]

A brilliant mathematician goes missing.

[Deputy]

If he had gone somewhere, he went without his medication.

[Psychologist]

He was known among his colleagues as the person that you went to for the toughest questions.

[Investigator]

But his genius came at a price.

[Deputy]

He was a paranoid person.

[Psychologist]

He was so worried that he had all the locks changed.

[Detective]

No one knew that he essentially was a millionaire.

[Investigator]

How did a recluse who trusts no one let the devil inside?

[Detective]

His was the only sidewalk and driveway on the entire street that was cleared of snow.

[Deputy]

He articulated that I am very suspicious of this person. She said. I have power of attorney, but I've never used it, which we knew was a lie.

[Neighbor]

There was an older gentleman in the backseat. She said, tell him to stay in the car or he'll pay for it later.

[Deputy]

The police officer told me she had the trash can in the back with the firewood in it. I'm like, did you look in the garbage can?

[Investigator]

On March 2, 2009, Ann Carty contacts the Boone County Sheriff's Department in Hebron, Kentucky. Ann says she and her husband are concerned about the whereabouts of their 73 year old friend, Walter Sartore.

[Deputy]

She calls in and simply requests, hey, would someone go by and check on Walter? We usually speak to him, you know, pretty much every day. And we've been unable to get ahold of him since the middle part of February.

[Investigator]

A sheriff's deputy stopped by Walt's home, but there's no sign of him.

[Detective]

One of the things he would do would be to open the mailbox to see if there was mail.

[Deputy]

We don't see any movement in the house. The mail is stacking up in the mailbox.

[Detective]

He actually went to the residence multiple times, trying to catch Mr. Sartore at different times of the day, and would leave a card each time with a Note asking that Mr. Sartore get in contact with him.

[Investigator]

It has now been two days since Ann Carty's initial phone call, and the deputy's concern is mounting.

[Detective]

He didn't need to get a warrant at that time because he had developed probable cause that there was actually the potential that Walter Sartore was in the residence and was injured or incapacitated in some way.

[Deputy]

So he finds the garage door just a little ajar, so he does make entry.

[Detective]

Mr. Sartori owned and had registered to his name a Toyota Prius, and he checked the garage just to see if a vehicle was there. There was no vehicle in the garage.

[Investigator]

When the deputy enters the home, what he finds strikes him as a bit odd.

[Detective]

It was not like what a normal residence would look like. The furniture was actually piles of books.

[Deputy]

In the living room on a folding table were five or six desktop computers.

[Detective]

And there was just this field of Post it notes all over everything. It was his own address and his own name, you know, on a Post it note on one of the computers. But then there was also things that say, brush your teeth and get dressed.

[Investigator]

While there's no indication of foul play, there is something that could be cause for concern.

[Forensic Expert]

We found some medications that would be consistent with a mental illness, schizophrenia. At that point, we have a deeper concern for their personal safety. When you suffer from schizophrenia, it's very important that you have your medication.

[Psychologist]

What became clear very quickly was that Walter Sartore was without his antipsychotic medication, which would have led to severe psychotic episodes.

[Forensic Expert]

When we see all of those Post IT notes to be that structured when you get ready for your day, when to take your medication, and then for the medication to still be there was a problem.

[Investigator]

The scene inside the home doesn't just have the deputy concerned about Walt's whereabouts. It also has him asking, who is Walter Sartore? Walter Sartore was born in. In Pittsburgh. In 1935.

[Detective]

He grew up, was a Boy Scout, had a love for all things space related. And he wound up going to Carnegie Mellon for college there in Pittsburgh and graduated actually with a PhD in chemical engineering.

[Investigator]

In the early 60s, Walt took a job working for Oak Ridge National Laboratory in Tennessee.

[Forensic Expert]

The original goal of Oak Ridge National Laboratory was to produce uranium for nuclear weapons.

[Detective]

It's next to impossible to tell you exactly what Walter Sartore did there, because the work that he did was classified.

[Investigator]

But outside the lab, Walt struggled with everyday life.

[Detective]

He was very much a creature of habit, and he lived a very private life. He never married, never had children.

[Psychologist]

He didn't have family to speak of. He had a pain relationship with his mother. It seemed like his genius came with a price. Walter Sartore was troubled psychologically. He was a diagnosed paranoid schizophrenic. He had acute social anxiety.

[Deputy]

Mr. Sartore was paranoid about going out in public and being around people and speaking to people.

[Psychologist]

He was able to manage these conditions through the use of medication, which he was meticulous about.

[Investigator]

After 30 years in the Oak Ridge lab, Walt retired. But he didn't exactly settle into the life of a typical retiree.

[Detective]

He is not the kind of person who could sit still and not do anything. And so he began dabbling with developing algorithms for investment of stocks. Also, Walter had these computers set up, and he was operating through a program trying to detect any sort of radio signals or other signals from outer space because he was looking for signs of extraterrestrial life.

[Forensic Expert]

Walter had a lot of questions about the existence of God and the universe as a whole. And I think that his looking at radio signals from other parts of the galaxy was part of his quest for understanding.

[Investigator]

Still, Walt longed for something more.

[Deputy]

Walter had been counseled by psychiatrists, and one of the things that they encouraged was for him to try to develop human relationships with people, to get out, to meet people, to do different things.

[Investigator]

In 2008, Walt moved to Hebron, Kentucky, just outside Cincinnati. He hoped the move would help him expand his horizons.

[Deputy]

He believed that he could manage his paranoia. He chose to be close to the airport. He wanted to actually travel some places and fly occasionally. Rather than driving.

[Psychologist]

He spent a lot of time alone in his house. But when he did travel, it was often to secular think tank conventions, where he would stay for days at a time.

[Deputy]

He would attend conferences that would maybe expand his mind or challenge his mind to think about new things and different things.

[Investigator]

Walt also widened his social circle in a way that felt most comfortable to him online.

[Detective]

Walter Sartore's main circle of friends were people that he met through the Internet, basically through online chat rooms. And that was a perfect medium for Walter Sartore because he didn't have to be in the awkward social settings which are what made him so very nervous.

[Investigator]

Walt developed a particularly close friendship with Ann Carty.

[Psychologist]

They met in an online forum about mental health. Walter became very good friends with Ann. He would visit Anne and her husband in Virginia, talk to them on the phone nearly every day.

[Investigator]

But it's been nearly a month since Ann Cartes spoke to Walt. And with each passing day, police are growing more concerned. After searching Walt's home, the sheriff's deputy steps outside to check the mailbox again.

[Detective]

The first couple of times that he was there, there was mail in the mailbox. But on that day, the mail was no longer in the mailbox.

[Investigator]

He checks with Walt's neighbors, but no one knows anything about Walt's mail or Walt.

[Deputy]

We found out very quickly from talking to neighbors that he would wave at you in the driveway, but he really wouldn't speak much.

[Investigator]

In fact, only one neighbor recalls ever seeing anyone else at Walt's house.

[Deputy]

The neighbor mentioned the fact that she had seen the local cleaning service coming to Mr. Sartore's house pretty much every day. It was really interesting because he really kind of keeps to himself. So that was our first clue. Well, who is this person that cleaned your house?

[Investigator]

Coming up, investigators learn of a bizarre encounter.

[Detective]

She forced her way into the house.

[Deputy]

She was very aggressive.

[Psychologist]

This woman was uninvited and he could not get her to leave.

[Investigator]

In March 2009, investigators in Boone County, Kentucky, are trying to locate 73 year old Walt Sartore after a friend reports him missing. Walt's neighbors described the retired mathematician as a recluse who rarely has visitors. With one exception, one of the ladies.

[Deputy]

Who lived in the neighborhood had seen a cleaning service car pull up in front of the house several times in recent weeks.

[Investigator]

Before detectives reach out to the cleaning service, they place a call to the woman who reported Walt missing, Ann Cartee of Virginia.

[Detective]

The impetus behind Ann Cartee's concern was that Walter had been in Chicago the week before for a conference, and he was due to be back in town the 17th of February. And she had not been able to communicate with him at all since he had returned from Chicago. So we're talking about a good two week period of time before she actually called the sheriff's department.

[Investigator]

The fact that Ann waited so long to report her friend missing raises some suspicion, but authorities keep that to themselves for Now, Ann reveals that the last time she spoke with Walt, he was obsessing over a recent run in with a stranger.

[Detective]

Ann car t explained Walter had traveled to New York in January. When Walter returned from his trip to New York, we had one of the largest snowstorms that we've had in modern times. And when he made his way home, he pulled onto a street to find that his was the only sidewalk and driveway on the entire street that was cleared of snow.

[Deputy]

Shortly after he arrived home, a lady approached the house, knocked on the door, and stated that, you know, hey, we cleaned your driveway, you know, so it would be good and clean when you came back.

[Detective]

He thanked her and actually tried to pay her, but she would not take any money. But she forced her way into the house.

[Deputy]

She was very aggressive and continued to say, hey, I'd like to clean your house. I can help you. I can do this. I can do that.

[Psychologist]

He feared that this woman wants to case his house. He was worried that she might have made a wax copy of a key that was sitting on one of his computer tables.

[Investigator]

At the time. Ann says she chalked the incident up to Walt's typical paranoia. While the mystery woman sounds intriguing, investigators wonder if Anne might just be trying to deflect suspicion from herself.

[Detective]

Another reason why alarms went off for Ann and her husband Robert, is that they actually received monthly checks from Walter Sartore.

[Investigator]

And Walt wasn't just lending the cartees pocket change. According to financial records, Walt sent about $5,000 each month.

[Detective]

That obviously raised red flags because, you know, why is he paying these people who are his friends?

[Investigator]

Detectives are still unsure if Walt is actually missing. Going off information from the Cartees, they search for Walter's car at the airport and the local mall, where he often liked to walk, but come up empty. They circle back to the earlier tip about a cleaning service vehicle spotted by Walt's neighbors in his driveway.

[Deputy]

The man who ran the business explained that he had been contacted to have the cleaning service pick up all of the mail matter out of the mailboxes while Mr. Sartore was traveling.

[Detective]

The owner told the deputies that the relationship that they had with the property was not initiated by Walter Sartore, but by a woman known as Willa, and they have a cell phone number for her.

[Investigator]

On March 9, detectives track down Willa Blanc and her husband Paul at their home in Union, Kentucky, about 30 minutes away from Walt's residence.

[Deputy]

We initiated a conversation with them. They stated, in fact, that they were Paul and Willa Blanc and that they were just getting ready to go to the doctor. And they really needed to get there kind of in a hurry. I said, well, actually, Willow, we wanted to talk to you because we have been told that you had contacted someone to go and pick up the mail matter at Mr. Sartore's residence. And she said, oh, yeah, Walter's out of town, and he just wanted me to pick up the mail.

[Detective]

Will LeBlanc says that she met Walter Sartore because she cleaned for a family on the same street where Walter Sartore lived.

[Deputy]

We said, when did you last see him? And she said, well, I saw him at the Hebron corner mark, and he told me that he was going to Kroger's. She said, that was March 7th.

[Investigator]

Willa offers to give Walt a call.

[Deputy]

I said, okay, go ahead. He didn't answer. And she goes, well, he's probably doing something. He'll give me a call back. And she said, I'll contact you if he does. So we said, okay.

[Investigator]

With that, Willa says she and Paul must rush to a doctor's appointment, leaving investigators without much to go on. But Detective Cox is unable to shake the feeling that something is amiss. So he returns to Walt's house.

[Deputy]

I took a look in the mailbox, and inside the mailbox, there was a envelope from Fidelity Investments. It's like a lot of us. You get a statement every month, and it's not something that's really going to excite anyone.

[Detective]

So he called me, we generated the subpoena, and he got it to Fidelity immediately.

[Deputy]

What we found out at that point in time was the fact that Walter Sartore was very wealthy.

[Detective]

He essentially was a millionaire. All of his money basically was in investments. And the investments grew because of his mathematical background and his ability to actually make very wise decisions about how he was moving his money around.

[Investigator]

Detective Cox believes that if Walt's disappearance is the result of foul play, he may have just uncovered the motive.

[Deputy]

He is now a mark. He has something that makes it worth my while to take the risk of doing bad things.

[Investigator]

When investigators subpoena Walt's investment records, they find something extremely troubling.

[Deputy]

We had discovered that Will LeBlanc had executed a power of attorney. A lot of people don't understand power of attorneys. As long as someone is living and an individual has power of attorney for them, that individual, Will LeBlanc, can act just as if they are that person.

[Detective]

The power of attorney was executed on February 18th.

[Deputy]

No one else had really seen Walter Chartore since February 17th.

[Investigator]

What's more, the records indicate that on 50 on February 27th, 10 days after Walt was last seen, money started leaving his accounts.

[Detective]

First a $10,000 wire transfer and then a $200,000 wire transfer had been caused to occur between Walter Sartore's main investment accounts and Will LeBlanc's checking account.

[Investigator]

Come Coming up, detectives take a closer look at Willa Blanc.

[Neighbor]

She liked being treated as if she.

[Investigator]

Was a queen and discover a ruthless plan.

[Detective]

She was trying to liquidate the remainder of the $1.4 million.

[Deputy]

She said, I have power of attorney, but I've never used it.

[Interrogator]

The things that you have told me here today, they're not too.

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[Investigator]

March 10, 200973 year old Walt Sartore has been missing for several weeks and investigators have just discovered that not only did Willa Blanc obtain power of attorney, she transferred large sums of money from Walt's checking account to her own $10,000 on February 27 and $200,000 on March 3. And she didn't stop there.

[Detective]

She was trying to liquidate the remainder of the $1.4 million that were held in one investment account. She had ordered those funds through her power of attorney to be liquidated with Fidelity Investments.

[Investigator]

Investigators returned to the Blanc home for an explanation.

[Deputy]

Willa Blanc was not at the residence. Paul Blanc was and we spoke with him.

[Investigator]

Investigators press Paul for information about his wife. Paul explains that before he met her, Willa's life had been one hardship after another.

[Psychologist]

Willa Blanc was born in Cincinnati in 1961. During her childhood, she had some tragedy in her life. Her older brother died when he was very young and that was followed closely after by the death of her mother when Willa was 13 years old. @ that point, Willa raised herself largely.

[Investigator]

At 19, she gave birth to a son, Louis.

[Detective]

Apparently he was abandoned by his father and she was his sole caregiver.

[Investigator]

When Paul Met Willa in 2001, she was working for a cleaning company.

[Psychologist]

Paul was a networking engineer with Cincinnati Bell. He had a very nice house in Union, Kentucky. It's my understanding that Willa was employed as his housekeeper.

[Investigator]

Paul was drawn to Willa's poise and personality.

[Psychologist]

Willa Blanc had a very flashy style. She often wore rhinestone encrusted fake nails. She drove a late model ZR1 Corvette.

[Investigator]

Just months after meeting, the two married and Willa and her son Louis moved into Paul's home. Paul says he enjoyed indulging Willa in her favorite extravagance, new cars.

[Neighbor]

She bought multiple, multiple high end vehicles from U.S. 50, 60, $70,000 vehicles. And we took care of her like she was literally the only person in the dealership. And she loved that. She actually thrived on it.

[Investigator]

Paul confesses that while Willa once brought excitement to his life, lately she mostly brought debt.

[Deputy]

He told us that he had just received paperwork, that his house was going to be repossessed. So we asked him how that would be possible. He seemed to have a great job, and he said that Willa actually handled all of the bills and paid all the bills. And he was. He was shocked to find this out.

[Interrogator]

Does it concern you that you have given her complete control of your money and you really don't know what the status is? Do you think that she has exported you financial advice? She has done some things that were probably questionable.

[Psychologist]

She had a pretty serious gambling problem. Within a few years, she had drained all of the money from their account.

[Investigator]

Making matters worse, he says on February 22, Willa wrecked his SUV.

[Detective]

Willa had actually had a car accident on the interstate in Indiana and had totaled his Trailblazer.

[Interrogator]

Oh, yeah, what happened?

[Deputy]

What the hell? Was she in an accident?

[Interrogator]

Apparently she got sideswiped by one car, and then another car came in the action. There's like, three cars involved.

[Detective]

Detective Cox made calls to the Ripley County Sheriff's Department in Indiana to inquire about any accidents. Through records, we were able to ascertain that on February 21, Willa Blanc shows up at the Argosy Casino, which is located on the Ohio river on the Indiana side, and starts gambling and gambles until 3 o'clock in the morning on February 22nd. She is then in the wreck that morning at 4:15am the deputies that responded encountered Willa Blanc.

[Investigator]

Deputies questioned her at the scene.

[Deputy]

She states her car was hit, the other people took off, and that she was on her way to Indianapolis to take some firewood to a friend. His name was Duane Lively. And that she had the trash can in the back with the firewood in it.

[Investigator]

A wave of dread moves over Detective Cox.

[Deputy]

When the police officer told me, I'm like, did you look in the garbage can? And he said, no. In my mind at that moment, it's like Walter Sartore was in that trash can. I don't know why that I felt that way, but I did.

[Detective]

And Mr. Sartore was in that trash can. This woman was cold enough to be in a casino for hours gambling this man's money while he was folded up in a trash can in the back of her vehicle.

[Investigator]

The officer says after the accident, Willa called Her son Louis, and he rented a minivan to pick her up while the SUV was towed back to a dealership in Kentucky.

[Deputy]

Her son, Lewis Wilkinson, got this garbage can, purportedly filled with firewood, and loaded it into the Dodge minivan.

[Investigator]

When detectives follow up with the dealership, they hear the most chilling tale yet.

[Neighbor]

Around February 17, Willa came to the dealership and was interested in purchasing a new 2009 Corvette ZR1. And she told me, she said, john, I'm coming into a lot of money real soon. When Will and I were speaking, Lewis came in, and he whispered something in her ear, which I happened to be able to hear. He said to her, mom, the old man wants to get out of the car. So when I said that, I looked outside, and their car was parked straight out there, and there was an older gentleman in the backseat that I could see with glasses on. Willow's response to Lewis was, tell him to stay in the car or he'll pay for it later.

[Investigator]

Investigators believe the disturbing encounter at the dealership may have been the last time anyone saw Walt alive. The following day, they return to Willa's home.

[Interrogator]

I want you to know that my first and foremost concern at this very moment is to figure out exactly where he is.

[Deputy]

Of course, in the interview, the question had came up about power of attorney. She denied that at first, but then she changed her answer to, I have power of attorney, but I've never used it, which we knew was a lie.

[Investigator]

Investigators question Willa about the trash can in her car at the time of the accident.

[Detective]

Detective Cox asked her where the trash can was, and she said that she couldn't explain what happened to the trash can. It must have gotten stolen.

[Deputy]

Her story started crumbling a lot at that point in time.

[Interrogator]

I'm gonna be really honest with you. I only want you to tell me one thing, okay? The truth. Okay. And the things that you have told me here today, they're not the truth.

[Detective]

Detective Cox said, I know you know where Walter is and that you're not telling us something, and I'm going to find out.

[Investigator]

Coming up, a son's undying devotion is put to the test.

[Interrogator]

My city needs medical attention. She says she's getting what he needs and you believe in. At that point, my mind is slipped.

[Investigator]

And the dark truth finally comes to light.

[Psychologist]

She offers him $1,000 to take the trash bin out to a field and burn it.

[Investigator]

Detectives in Boone County, Kentucky, are desperate to find missing mathematician and millionaire Walt Sartore. However, they face nothing but lies from their main suspect. 47 year old Willa Blanc, we could.

[Deputy]

Show that she had used that power of attorney. The investigation at that point in time was now. What is our next move? To figure out where Walter Chartore is.

[Investigator]

On March 13, 2009, investigators tracked down Duane Lively, the friend who Willa claims asked her to deliver firewood. On February 22nd.

[Deputy]

We asked him how he came about meeting Willa. Duane Lively said, she's someone I met at the casino back in January of 2009, and we usually go play bingo.

[Investigator]

Duane confirms that Willa and her son Louis did come to see him, but it wasn't to bring him firewood.

[Psychologist]

Will LeBlanc and Lewis arrive, and they tell Duane that in the back of the car is a large trash bin that contains the remains of a dog.

[Deputy]

She said she had a dog that her son had hit that belonged to an elderly gentleman. And Dwayne said, oh, well, you can bury the dog at my house. She goes, no, no, no, we need to. We need to burn the dog.

[Psychologist]

And she offers Duane $1,000 to take the trash bin out to a field and burn it.

[Detective]

That same night, for a four to five hour period of time, Lewis, Willa, and Duane burned this trash can.

[Investigator]

Duane takes investigators to the field where the burn took place.

[Detective]

As they were kicking around some of the ashes, one of the Indiana state police detectives saw what he believed to be a human bone.

[Investigator]

Indiana and Ohio forensic experts are called to the scene and sift through the ash.

[Forensic Expert]

They recovered an immense amount of bone. So we loaded up large garbage bags, probably about five or six of them.

[Investigator]

The forensic team sends the remains to a lab for analysis.

[Forensic Expert]

At this point, it moves from hope for Walter into a homicide investigation.

[Investigator]

The trip to Indiana gives investigators what they need to arrest Willa Blanc and her son Louis.

[Detective]

In the early morning hours of Saturday the 14th, Lewis and his mother were both arrested without incident, and they were taken back to the local police department.

[Interrogator]

I know that you're an intelligent, but I want you to understand. All I know is my attorney told me not to talk to you at all. Well, I feel sad that I have to leave out of here and you don't get to tell me what happened.

[Investigator]

Investigators turn their attention to Lewis, hoping he'll talk.

[Interrogator]

I think she did use you. And just like she's done her whole life, from the day you were born till this very day, this is your.

[Deputy]

Maybe your first opportunity in your whole.

[Interrogator]

Life to say, this is about me. This time.

[Investigator]

Detectives find Lewis at a breaking point.

[Interrogator]

I had no control. I had no control.

[Forensic Expert]

I was a weak person.

[Interrogator]

I hope I need help. She know I need psychiatry. Help was a stronger apologizing. Family. You're okay. You're okay. What did she do? What did you do?

[Investigator]

According to Lewis, it all began when his mom called him to her home one afternoon in mid February.

[Detective]

When he arrived home, he found Walter Sartore sitting in a chair in their basement. And his hands were duct taped to the chair, his feet were duct taped, and he had duct taped over his mouth.

[Interrogator]

I was panicking and I was shaking, not trying to figure out what the heck's going on here.

[Detective]

She told him that she needed him to stay in the basement and care for Mr. Sartore. She then went upstairs and deadbolted the door to the basement.

[Interrogator]

And I took him and asked him, like Sartori, are you okay? Are you right? Need anything, help? And he said he's okay. Are they after him or something to that nature?

[Psychologist]

Keep in mind that Walter Sartore is a diagnosed paranoid schizophrenic who has been forcibly removed from his medication.

[Investigator]

Lewis says he followed his mother's orders and proceeded to care for Walt.

[Detective]

He indicated that his mother would come downstairs with food and drink for Mr. Sartore.

[Forensic Expert]

Lewis had indicated that Mr. Sartore would throw up right after being fed. It could have potentially been because he was being poisoned.

[Interrogator]

I said, he needs medical attention. She says she's getting what he needs. Did you believe that at that point? My mind has said.

[Investigator]

In the end, Walt was overcome by the ordeal.

[Deputy]

He couldn't do anything other than when tape was taken from his mouth and he was fed what we believe was a poisonous substance, and he succumbed to what was going on to his body and died.

[Interrogator]

When did he die? That and something that she knows.

[Investigator]

Lewis insists that Willa's husband Paul, had no knowledge of the horrors that unfolded in his basement.

[Interrogator]

You don't think he knew about it? I don't think he knew a damn thing was going on. I think she fooled him when she fooled all the men in her life. How do you know he cared about it?

[Deputy]

I believe him in that. Paul didn't know what was actually going on. He had just had amputation surgery, and he really couldn't move. He was confined to a couch.

[Detective]

Given that he was much older than Willa and that he seemed to be not in real good health, Detective Cox's concern was that Paul himself was being financially exploited by Will LeBlanc.

[Investigator]

Lewis detrimental relationship with his mother leaves investigators questioning his involvement.

[Detective]

He said she was essentially a puppeteer and that she pulled the strings and made Lewis do whatever it Was that she needed done.

[Psychologist]

Lewis was a grown man. He never called 911. He never called the police. Maybe he didn't have access to the phone. Maybe he was locked in the basement. I don't know.

[Investigator]

Coming up, prosecutors prepare for trial.

[Detective]

We filed notice of intent to seek the death penalty.

[Forensic Expert]

While we were searching the home, we did locate a book, how to choose youe Next Prey. When I executed the search warrant on the vehicle of Ms. Blanc, we found a black semi automatic handgun.

[Investigator]

On March 14, 2009, 27 year old Lewis Wilkinson finally confesses to investigators that his mother Willa held 73 year old Walt Sartore prisoner in her basement, Killing him and burning his remains. As her trial approaches, prosecutors execute several search warrants to gather more details of Willa's maniacal plan.

[Forensic Expert]

While we were searching the home, we did locate a book, how to choose youe Next Prey.

[Investigator]

Authorities believe that Willa was the mystery woman Walt had complained about Just weeks before he went missing.

[Psychologist]

She was in his neighborhood cleaning his neighbor's house. He was advanced in years. She was very quickly able to assess that here is someone who is vulnerable.

[Deputy]

It was very obvious that Willa had been doing her own surveillance on Walter Chartore and paying attention to when he comes, when he goes.

[Psychologist]

She and her son let Walter know that it was them who had shoveled the driveway. At that time, Willa handed Walter a stack of mail that she had collected without him asking. That included some financial documents.

[Investigator]

Under the guise of trying to help, Willa was scoping Walt out.

[Forensic Expert]

When I executed the search warrant on the vehicle of Ms. Blanc, we found a picture of Walter as well as financial statements from Fidelity and a black semi automatic handgun.

[Detective]

She had opened documents which demonstrated that he had accounts and very large sums of money.

[Investigator]

Employees at Walt bank tell prosecutors how Willis scammed her way into getting power of attorney using a stand in to pose as Walt.

[Detective]

An imposter was being used for the purpose of signing these legal documents all identified a man who seemed to be in his 70s who was frail and had an oxygen mask on and was carrying an oxygen tank with them. During that period of time is when Walter Sartore was restrained in her basement. The imposter was never identified.

[Investigator]

As far as how Willa got Walt into her basement, Investigators can only speculate.

[Psychologist]

Detectives were not willing to say exactly how Walter Sartore ended up in Willa Blanc's house. It was widely insinuated that he did not go there by his own choosing.

[Investigator]

On April 13, nearly two months after his disappearance, forensics finally confirms the remains found On Duane Lively's property in Indiana are Walter's.

[Detective]

Because of the condition that Walter Sartore's body was found in, which was basically a handful of bone fragments, the medical examiner obviously was never able to determine a cause of death.

[Investigator]

On May 12, 2009, a Kentucky grand jury indicts the mother and son.

[Detective]

Willa and Lewis were indicted on multiple charges, including kidnapping, murder, theft by deception, tampering with evidence, and then a whole host of charges relating to the finances, including exploitation of an adult. We filed notice of intent to seek the death penalty against Willa Blanc.

[Investigator]

Facing the threat of Death Row in December 2011, Willa takes a plea deal.

[Forensic Expert]

She pled guilty to all charges and received life without the possibility of parole.

[Investigator]

The following September. Lewis also pleads guilty to kidnapping, abuse of a corpse, and exploitation of an adult. He receives a 30 year sentence. Those close to the case believe Willa's ability to carry out such a callous murder was fueled by one thing. Greed.

[Detective]

She would do just about anything to get her hands on the funds to save the lifestyle that she had created for herself.

[Neighbor]

Money drove Willa Blanc to do the things that she did. She was just very good at playing and acting as she was a good person. But at the end of the day, she was a master manipulator who knew how to get what she wanted. I believe wholeheartedly that she did this to Walter for money. And that's the only reason.

[Forensic Expert]

The saddest part of this entire case is that Walter had to live his worst fear. He was afraid that people were out to get him. And he was right. They were. I think that Walter's legacy is that of his time as a scientist and the kindness that he gave to other people that were not his close family. He was a very kind man.

[Narrator]

The remainder of Walt Sartore's estate went to friends and organizations as specified in his will. Duane Lively fully cooperated with authorities and was never charged in connection to the homicide. Willa Blanc is currently serving her life sentence at the Kentucky Correctional Institute for Women. Lewis will be eligible for parole in 2029. He will be 47 years old.

[Podcast Host]

I'm Jake Warren, and in our first season of Finding, I set out on a very personal quest to find the woman who saved my mum's life. You can listen to finding Natasha right now. Exclusively on Wondery. In season two, I found myself caught up in a new journey to help someone I've never even met. But a couple of years ago, I came across a social media post by a person named Loti. It read in part three years ago.

[Interrogator]

Today that I attempted to jump off this bridge, but this wasn't my time to go. A gentleman named Andy saved my life. I still haven't found him.

[Podcast Host]

This is a story that I came across purely by chance, but it instantly moved me, and it's taken me to a place where I've had to consider some deeper issues around mental health. This is season two of Finding, and this time, if all goes to plan, we'll be finding Andy. You can listen to Finding Andy and Finding Natasha exclusively and ad free on Wondery plus. Join Wondery plus in the Wondery app, Apple Podcasts, or Spotify.