10 Husbands Charged in Shocking Murder Cases
10 Husbands Charged in Shocking Murder Cases
Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we’ll be discussing infamous cases of marital discord that resulted in accusations of murder.
Neil Entwistle
It was a case that made headlines all over the New England area. That of a man named Neil Entwistle, who was both accused and convicted of murdering his wife, Rachel, and their young daughter, Lillian. This unfathomable crime of familicide was levied against Entwistle, who had emigrated from the United Kingdom before settling into Hopkinton, Massachusetts. The killer actually escaped the U.S. after what authorities believed to be a failed act of murder and self-destruction, returning to London on a one-way ticket. Entwistle would be extradited back to the States, however, where he is currently serving a life sentence for his crimes.
Michael David McKee
It’s the most recent case we’ll be discussing today, an example of somebody in a high-profile position charged with a terrible crime. Michael David McKee took an oath to help people as a vascular surgeon, but this promise to “do no harm” allegedly didn’t extend to his wife, Monique. McKee has been accused of murdering not only his ex-wife, but also her new husband, with the bodies being found in the home on December 30th, 2025. What’s even worse is how the slayings of Monique and Spencer Tepe allegedly occurred. Their young children were sleeping in nearby rooms, although they fortunately weren’t harmed.
Scott Peterson
Few true crimes captured the zeitgeist in the early 2000s quite like the horrific murder of Laci Peterson. Her husband, Scott Lee Peterson, was tried and convicted of both first and second degree murder. These charges stemmed from the fact that Laci was pregnant at the time of her death, her due date just around the corner. Peterson was initially sentenced to death, but this would later be reduced to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole. Then, in even more shocking news, 2024 saw Scott Peterson receive a new status hearing after the LA Innocence Project claimed new evidence that might exonerate the accused. None of this alleged evidence has resulted in any verdict being overturned at the time of writing.
Michael Jace
Hollywood has certainly had its own fair share of high-profile murder cases, including those involving a husband and wife. Michael Jace is probably best known for his performances on “The Shield” as Officer Julien Lowe, but he made headlines for a different reason back in 2014. Jace was accused, tried, and convicted of murdering his wife, April, ending a decade-long-plus marriage with shocking violence. The actor called 9-1-1 after committing the crime, and fully cooperated with police by delivering a confession that same evening. The resulting trial in 2016 saw Jace sentenced to prison with a 40-year-to-life sentence.
Chris Watts
It sounds so inconceivable. How could someone, anyone, harm a child? Nevermind one’s own. And in a manner so brutal and heartless as what was detailed during the trial of Chris Watts back in 2018. The marriage between Watts and his pregnant wife, Shannan, wasn’t going well when details arose of how he had strangled his wife before smothering his children and disposing of the bodies. After being arrested, Watts didn’t attempt to hide his guilt. To avoid a potential death penalty, he entered a guilty plea, receiving multiple life sentences without parole. While one could argue that justice was served, it’s hard to find any true justice when a crime is this heinous.
Drew Peterson
Some people just aren’t built for the personal ebbs and flows of a marriage. People like Drew Peterson, a former Illinois police sergeant who had been married twice prior to being convicted for murdering his third wife, Kathleen Savio, shortly after their divorce. But the story doesn’t end there, since Peterson’s fourth wife, Stacy Ann Cales, remains missing at the time of this writing, with the latter’s family suspecting Peterson of the crime. The disgraced police officer was also convicted of attempting to hire a hit person to take the life of James Glasgow, who was persecuting Peterson for the murder.
Robert Durst
It isn’t every day that a television documentary series results in such a high-profile and memorable admission of guilt. Yet, that’s where we were back in 2015 with “The Jinx,” an HBO program that made small-screen history when Robert Durst admitted on camera his role in the murder of a friend, Susan Berman. Durst was also charged with the second-degree murder of his first wife, Kathie McCormack, whose body was never found. This son of old NYC real estate developer Seymour Durst wouldn’t be convicted of this crime, but Durst would notably take a plea deal in the separate murder and dismemberment of a neighbor named Morris Black.
Claus von Bülow
Did Claus von Bülow get away with murder? Or did issues with evidence and a second trial result in one of history’s most high-profile miscarriages of justice? This British lawyer certainly knew the legal system inside and out, yet there are many out there who feel that von Bülow’s original conviction for intentionally injecting his wife with insulin was the right call. Still, although von Bülow would be acquitted during his second trial, he would eventually be forced to formally divorce the deceased Sunny von Bülow without any claims to his ex-wife’s finances.
Robert Blake
He was TV's “Baretta,” a tough small-screen cop played by Robert Blake. Yet, this successful child star and character actor will probably be better known for the real-life drama of his later years. Blake wasn’t found guilty of murdering his wife, Bonny Lee Bakley, in 2001, but a court would find the “Busting” and “Electra Glide in Blue” actor liable in a 2005 civil suit. Blake’s third wife, Pamela Hudak, testified on the actor’s behalf during his trial, which levied accusations against Bakley as a serial spouse with ten ex-husbands and a history of financial extortion. Robert Blake died of heart disease on March 9th, 2023.
O.J. Simpson
It was a trial that captured the attention of multiple generations, from those who watched O.J. Simpson’s career in the NFL, to fans who might’ve watched any of “The Juice’s” movies. Simpson’s arrest and trial for the murder of his ex-wife, Nicole Brown, and her friend, Ron Goldman, was a media circus for the ages, “water cooler television” where new details and personalities seemed to emerge on a daily basis. Sensationalized personalities like Judge Lance Ito, Hollywood witness Kato Kaelin, and even lawyers Marcia Clark, Johnnie Cochran, and Robert Kardashian. While we all know the verdict, the legacy of O.J. Simpson would never recover from its association with crime, murder, and the dark side of fame.
What are your thoughts on some of these high-profile court cases? Let us know in the comments.
