Trained to Kill: The Dog Trainer, the Heiress, and the Bodyguard

Episode: The Aftermath | Blood is Thicker: The Hargan Family Killings

Release Date: June 12, 2024

Host/Author: CBS News

Introduction

In the gripping finale of the six-episode podcast series Trained to Kill: The Dog Trainer, the Heiress, and the Bodyguard, CBS News' 48 Hours correspondent Peter Van Sant delves into the harrowing case of Megan Hargan. Convicted of murdering her mother and youngest sister, Megan's journey through the American justice system uncovers deep-seated family turmoil, legal battles, and the profound emotional impact on those left behind.

The First Trial and Conviction

The episode begins with Detective Brian Byerson awaiting the jury's verdict in the Fairfax County courthouse. As the tension mounts, Byerson reflects on the uncertainty surrounding a jury's deliberations:

• Detective Brian Byerson [01:03]: “We’re sitting and awaiting a verdict from a jury is a little bit nerve-wracking.”

Byerson shares his limited insight into the trial's progress, constrained by his role as a witness prohibited from hearing other testimonies until closing arguments.

Despite his anxieties, the first verdict is delivered:

• Peter Van Sant [02:39]: Megan Hargan was found guilty of first-degree murder for killing her mother and youngest sister.

Byerson describes the emotional relief felt upon the conviction:

• Detective Brian Byerson [02:55]: “It's like an emotional rush. I mean, you feel good.”

Juror Misconduct and Vacating the Verdict

However, the triumph is short-lived. Shortly after the conviction, allegations of juror misconduct emerge, shaking the foundation of the initial verdict.

• Detective Brian Byerson [03:42]: “One of the jurors had volunteered that they had done an experiment.”

The misconduct involved a juror conducting unauthorized experiments to test defense theories, violating court protocols. Consequently, the judge vacates Megan's verdict, necessitating a retrial.

• Peter Van Sant [03:55]: “The judge made a decision to vacate the jury verdict and told us that we would have to retry Megan Hargan.”

Byerson recounts the difficult conversation with the surviving sister, Ashley Hargan, about the overturned verdict:

• Detective Brian Byerson [08:04]: “As difficult as that was to explain to the surviving sister that we would have to do this whole thing over again.”

The Second Trial

Megan's second trial commenced in September 2023, a year after the first verdict was nullified. This trial proceeded more swiftly, omitting key witnesses to streamline the prosecution's case.

• Peter Van Sant [12:43]: “Summer was nearing its end in 2023, when the second trial against Megan Hargan began. It went a bit quicker because this time they left one key witness out.”

Byerson explains strategic changes made for the retrial:

• Detective Brian Byerson [10:30]: “We did not call Ashley to testify, which was different than the first trial.”

The defense opted not to call Megan to testify, eliminating the need for Ashley to endure another rigorous cross-examination.

• Detective Brian Byerson [15:27]: “She’s a sociopath. I think she’s always thought that she could talk her way out of anything.”

Carlos Gutierrez, Helen Hargan’s boyfriend, played a pivotal role as a crucial witness, recounting conversations and unusual activities on the morning of the murders.

Despite the absence of Megan's testimony, the second jury reached the same guilty verdict, reinforcing the initial findings.

• Peter Van Sant [18:21]: “The second jury agreed with the first. Megan Hargan was found guilty again of killing her sister Helen and her mother Pamela.”

Impact on the Hargan Family

The convictions, though legally complete, left lingering emotional scars on the Hargan family. Byerson emphasizes the enduring pain and lack of closure experienced by the victims' loved ones:

• Detective Brian Byerson [30:08]: “This family violence is sort of the worst of the worst of this because I think when it’s a stranger, you can still in your mind kind of put out a bunch of scenarios as to why this happened, right? But when this person is a part of your immediate family that does this to another person in your immediate family with no explanation offered by them other than this money, there’s no closure for them.”

Molly, Megan’s eight-year-old daughter, faced significant upheaval following the murders. Initially living with her grandmother, she was moved out of state but later returned to live with her father after Megan’s arrest.

• Peter Van Sant [23:06]: “More than six years later, this case finally comes to a close.”

Ashley and her father, Steve Hargan, grapple with estrangement caused by Megan and her husband Frank's actions. Attempts by Ashley to gain custody of Molly were unsuccessful, leading to further familial disintegration.

• Detective Brian Byerson [25:22]: “For Ashley, not only does she lose her mom and her sister, but effectively she loses her other sister as well in the process.”

Frank Hargan, Megan's husband, remains a mysterious figure, having cut off all communication with the family post-arrest. Byerson speculates on Frank's potential involvement, noting the lack of transparency in his actions.

• Detective Brian Byerson [26:06]: “He answered some questions that we had in the beginning of this stuff, and then he, you know, he just. He sort of just disappeared.”

Final Reflections and Sentencing

The culmination of the legal battle saw Megan Hargan receiving two consecutive life sentences at the start of 2024. Both Ashley and Carlos attended the sentencing, symbolizing a united front in their shared grief.

• Detective Brian Byerson [22:02]: “A Fairfax county woman was hit with two consecutive life sentences after she was convicted of killing her mother and her younger sister and then telling police it was a murder suicide.”

Byerson underscores that while the court has delivered justice, true closure remains elusive for the Hargan family. The absence of an explanation from Megan exacerbates their inability to fully heal from the tragedy.

• Peter Van Sant [29:05]: “Helen Hargan will never marry Carlos or finish grad school. Pamela will never be surrounded by loving children and grandchildren.”

Detective Byerson reflects on the profound and lasting impact of the case:

• Detective Brian Byerson [31:00]: “From a fair point of view would probably have those same questions that we have. Like, did you think it was. You just thought it was a gift and you never talked to, like, your mother in law about this, this huge gift of a. You know, it just. It doesn't make any sense.”

Conclusion

Trained to Kill: The Dog Trainer, the Heiress, and the Bodyguard shines a light on the complexities of a familial murder case, the intricacies of the legal system, and the profound emotional toll on those left to pick up the pieces. Through Detective Brian Byerson's unwavering dedication and heartfelt insights, listeners gain a comprehensive understanding of the events surrounding Megan Hargan's crimes and the enduring pain inflicted on the Hargan family.

Notable Quotes

• Detective Brian Byerson [01:03]: “We’re sitting and awaiting a verdict from a jury is a little bit nerve-wracking.”
• Detective Brian Byerson [02:55]: “It's like an emotional rush. I mean, you feel good.”
• Detective Brian Byerson [03:42]: “One of the jurors had volunteered that they had done an experiment.”
• Detective Brian Byerson [15:27]: “She’s a sociopath. I think she’s always thought that she could talk her way out of anything.”
• Detective Brian Byerson [30:08]: “This family violence is sort of the worst of the worst of this because I think when it’s a stranger, you can still in your mind kind of put out a bunch of scenarios as to why this happened, right? But when this person is a part of your immediate family that does this to another person in your immediate family with no explanation offered by them other than this money, there’s no closure for them.”

Produced by:
Judy Tygard, 48 Hours
Executive Producer: Kathryn St. Louis and Jonathan Hirsch
Written and Produced by Alex Schuman
Sound Design by Hansdale Shih

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