Periodically bloggers get ‘tips’ or notice of an interesting article or crime situation and when I can I like to write on stories that others have found interesting. Every once in a while we get notice from a TV station or a print publisher. If they are appropriate to this blog, I do sometimes write those up also. Today I got an email from “48 Hrs. Mystery” about their show tomorrow night. They cover a crime from the crime to the trial and frequently the crimes they cover are related to domestic situations. Tomorrow’s broadcast is just such a situation. I didn’t cover this one and I haven’t followed it so it will be especially interesting to me.
Here is the press release for the show that gives the details for Tues. Jan. 28. Check your local listings for the time.
Photo courtesy of “48 Hrs. Mystery”
Caption: Jenny Eisenman (R) claims she killed her husband Drew (L) in self defense.
A SWEET, SOFT-SPOKEN WIFE AND TEACHER KILLS HER HUSBAND –
WAS IT SELF DEFENSE OR MURDER?
“48 HOURS MYSTERY” ON TUESDAY, JAN. 29, 2008
In May 2004, Jenny Eisenman shot her husband Drew six times, killing him instantly, an act she claimed was self-defense. Drew was handsome, athletic and fun, while Jenny was slender, pretty and sweet. Living in Houston , both shared an interest in children and education – Jenny was an elementary school teacher, while Drew was a high school basketball coach. But behind the scenes, their fairytale relationship was quickly deteriorating. Jenny discovered that Drew was having an affair while she was pregnant with their first child. Worse, when their son was born, Drew brought his mistress to Jenny’s hospital room to hold the baby. Jenny and Drew separated a few months later.
Both Drew and Jenny attempted to maintain a civil relationship for the sake of their son, but all that changed one night in May 2004 when police were summoned to Jenny’s apartment after a frantic 911 call in which she admitted to shooting Drew. Expecting to find a homicide scene, police were in for two surprises – a pristine apartment with no sign of struggle or blood and the discovery of Drew’s body outside on the curb stuffed into a storage tub, the same one used to store the family Christmas tree.
Jenny claimed the shooting was an act of self defense against a brutal beating, and told police that Drew had abused her repeatedly in the past. Despite numerous bruises on her legs, police were convinced otherwise. They discovered there was something Jenny didn’t tell them: about an hour after the shooting she had gone to Wal-Mart to pick up spackle and paint to hide the bullet holes. But it was a series of provocative and sexual emails that Jenny sent Drew during the time that he was allegedly abusing her that helped convince a jury that this was not an act of self defense.
Although it would seem that this would be the end of the story, it is far from it. Did Jenny kill Drew in self defense or was it a calculated murder? Jenny Eisenman speaks on camera for the first time and tells her story to 48 HOURS MYSTERY.
Richard Schlesinger reports 48 HOURS MYSTERY: “Trigger Point,” on Tuesday, Jan. 29 (10:00-11:00 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network. This broadcast is produced by Marcelena Spencer and Jenna Jackson. Judy Tygard is the senior producer and Al Briganti is the executive editor. Susan Zirinsky is the executive producer.
Editors’ Note: Click here for a preview of the broadcast. CBS News 48 HOURS MYSTERY broadcasts are now available on iTunes.com.
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In the Eisenman show one thing really stood out for me. It isn’t uncommon for persons who have been abused to try to hide that abuse. Whether it is not talking to anyone about it, outright denial that abuse is occurring or making excuses for the bruises. Allegedly this happened in the Eisenman marriage, abuse occurred and she didn’t tell anyone. She didn’t make a report and did not in any way document any abuse. Allegedly abuse happened that night and her claim in court was that she was defending herself. Very little was said in the trial about any abuse because there was reportedly no documentation.
Now it only stands to reason that if you are in an abusive relationship and planning to remain in that relationship that you may not want to make an official report or file charges (I don’t agree with it, but can understand it if you are remaining in the relationship.) But there are ways to document the abuse. Keep a diary. Make sure to record your thoughts and fears as well as any abuse. Take pictures of any bruises. And if possible talk to a friend or relative and tell them what is happening. This may be a safety problem so you want to make sure it is well hidden or try to keep the documentation at a trusted friend or relative’s home. Make sure that one trusted friend or relative knows where to find that documentation. Also if you use a computer to save the documentation remember that most computer activities can be tracked. Hopefully you will never need the documentation. But if you do need it, you will regret it if you don’t have it.