1 00:00:08,285 --> 00:00:10,205 Speaker 1: School of Humans. 2 00:00:11,045 --> 00:00:14,685 Speaker 2: On January seventeenth, twenty twenty three, fifty three year old 3 00:00:14,725 --> 00:00:21,685 Speaker 2: William Vick was recovering at home in Clarksville, Arkansas. William 4 00:00:21,725 --> 00:00:24,925 Speaker 2: was in good health. He loved making videos for his 5 00:00:25,045 --> 00:00:28,885 Speaker 2: YouTube channel. I've been watching them, and obviously William got 6 00:00:28,885 --> 00:00:31,125 Speaker 2: a lot of joy from making short films with his 7 00:00:31,205 --> 00:00:36,645 Speaker 2: granddaughter and also riffing on everything from insomnia to pillar reviews, 8 00:00:37,125 --> 00:00:41,365 Speaker 2: and even interviewing members of law enforcement about infamous Arkansas 9 00:00:41,485 --> 00:00:44,245 Speaker 2: murder cases. It seems like William may have been a 10 00:00:44,245 --> 00:00:48,645 Speaker 2: true crime fan. In these videos, William looks fit, healthy, 11 00:00:48,885 --> 00:00:51,165 Speaker 2: and younger than his fifty three years. I feel like 12 00:00:51,205 --> 00:00:53,205 Speaker 2: if I had known him in life, we would have 13 00:00:53,245 --> 00:00:56,965 Speaker 2: been friends. William had gone in for a ton selectomy 14 00:00:56,965 --> 00:01:02,165 Speaker 2: operation the week before. Apparently he had been experiencing some complications. 15 00:01:02,725 --> 00:01:05,525 Speaker 2: He had texted his daughter Ashley to say that he 16 00:01:05,645 --> 00:01:09,045 Speaker 2: believed that something inside him was broken and that he 17 00:01:09,085 --> 00:01:11,485 Speaker 2: was throwing up a large amount of blood in the sink. 18 00:01:12,405 --> 00:01:14,965 Speaker 2: Ashley was worried. She told her dad this did not 19 00:01:15,005 --> 00:01:17,845 Speaker 2: seem normal to her. She encouraged him to go see 20 00:01:17,845 --> 00:01:21,805 Speaker 2: the doctor, but William's wife, Lareinda, had worked as an 21 00:01:21,805 --> 00:01:25,165 Speaker 2: ear nurse, and Ashley believed that her stepmother was taking 22 00:01:25,165 --> 00:01:29,405 Speaker 2: care of her father. Lrenda's mother, Martha MacLean, was also around. 23 00:01:29,885 --> 00:01:33,125 Speaker 2: She lived in a separate structure on William and Lorenda's property, 24 00:01:33,525 --> 00:01:36,365 Speaker 2: right behind their house. A lot of what we know 25 00:01:36,685 --> 00:01:40,045 Speaker 2: is pieced together after the fact from coroner's reports and 26 00:01:40,125 --> 00:01:43,365 Speaker 2: case notes. We do know that at eleven twenty two, 27 00:01:43,925 --> 00:01:48,085 Speaker 2: the Johnson County Deputy Coroner, Dave Cogan, arrived at nineteen 28 00:01:48,165 --> 00:01:52,325 Speaker 2: fifty four County Road responding to an unexpected death. He 29 00:01:52,445 --> 00:01:56,685 Speaker 2: spoke to Lorenda. According to the coroner's report, she told 30 00:01:56,725 --> 00:01:58,805 Speaker 2: the deputy corner that she had been staying in a 31 00:01:58,845 --> 00:02:01,325 Speaker 2: separate room from her husband because she had been sick 32 00:02:01,365 --> 00:02:05,805 Speaker 2: recently and was worried about COVID. The deputy coroner noted 33 00:02:05,965 --> 00:02:09,845 Speaker 2: that William was already in full rigor mortis, meaning that 34 00:02:09,925 --> 00:02:12,605 Speaker 2: he had been dead and lying on that floor for 35 00:02:12,645 --> 00:02:16,325 Speaker 2: a long time. William Vick was fifty three years old. 36 00:02:16,765 --> 00:02:18,485 Speaker 2: He went in for what was supposed to be a 37 00:02:18,565 --> 00:02:22,125 Speaker 2: routine operation, and a few days later he was dead. 38 00:02:22,965 --> 00:02:25,565 Speaker 2: And this was just the beginning of an investigation that 39 00:02:25,645 --> 00:02:30,085 Speaker 2: involves charges of insurance fraud. Two mysterious deaths and a 40 00:02:30,165 --> 00:02:34,685 Speaker 2: family torn apart. I'm Catherine Townsend. Over the past five 41 00:02:34,765 --> 00:02:38,165 Speaker 2: years of making my true crime podcast, Helen Gone, I've 42 00:02:38,245 --> 00:02:40,805 Speaker 2: learned that there's no such thing as a small town 43 00:02:40,885 --> 00:02:44,765 Speaker 2: where murder never happens. I have received hundreds of messages 44 00:02:44,805 --> 00:02:47,565 Speaker 2: from people all around the country asking for help with 45 00:02:47,605 --> 00:02:51,845 Speaker 2: an unsolved murder that's affected them, their families, and their communities. 46 00:02:52,405 --> 00:02:54,245 Speaker 2: If you have a case you'd like me and my 47 00:02:54,285 --> 00:02:56,605 Speaker 2: team to look into, you can reach out to us 48 00:02:56,685 --> 00:02:59,245 Speaker 2: at our Helen Gone Murder Line at six seven eight 49 00:02:59,645 --> 00:03:02,645 Speaker 2: seven four four six ' one four or five. That's 50 00:03:02,645 --> 00:03:06,285 Speaker 2: six seven eight seven four four six one four or five, 51 00:03:07,045 --> 00:03:09,645 Speaker 2: or you can send us a message on Instagram at 52 00:03:10,005 --> 00:04:02,645 Speaker 2: Helen gonepod. This is Helen Gone Murder Line. The crime 53 00:04:02,725 --> 00:04:06,325 Speaker 2: scene was not investigated by law enforcement, just the corner, 54 00:04:06,885 --> 00:04:09,845 Speaker 2: and the report reads that the reason for reporting is 55 00:04:09,965 --> 00:04:14,925 Speaker 2: natural or sudden death. The coroner's investigator noted that Lorenda 56 00:04:15,005 --> 00:04:18,405 Speaker 2: had not called nine to one one or the police. Instead, 57 00:04:18,805 --> 00:04:22,725 Speaker 2: she called the coroner's office directly. Pamela is the corner, 58 00:04:23,205 --> 00:04:27,165 Speaker 2: Pamela wrote, and I'm quoting the report directly here she 59 00:04:27,605 --> 00:04:30,845 Speaker 2: meaning Lrenda was an er nurse here in Clarksville at 60 00:04:30,885 --> 00:04:33,365 Speaker 2: one time, and I believe her to be a nurse 61 00:04:33,405 --> 00:04:36,685 Speaker 2: at a facility in Pope or Yale County. Now this 62 00:04:36,805 --> 00:04:39,605 Speaker 2: fact might mean that she is familiar with us as coroners, 63 00:04:40,245 --> 00:04:43,765 Speaker 2: but she would also know from working IRIR that our 64 00:04:43,805 --> 00:04:46,005 Speaker 2: protocol is to call nine to one one or the 65 00:04:46,045 --> 00:04:50,165 Speaker 2: Sheriff's office or a dispatch. The coroner number is not 66 00:04:50,325 --> 00:04:53,485 Speaker 2: easily found for the normal citizen, but it is not 67 00:04:53,565 --> 00:04:56,525 Speaker 2: impossible to get. It is not given out to the 68 00:04:56,525 --> 00:05:00,125 Speaker 2: public by law enforcement or medical personnel. It would not 69 00:05:00,445 --> 00:05:03,445 Speaker 2: be the obvious or easiest action to take when you 70 00:05:03,485 --> 00:05:06,885 Speaker 2: find your spouse prone on the bedroom floor. It would, however, 71 00:05:06,965 --> 00:05:10,565 Speaker 2: be something the average citizen might do to avoid having 72 00:05:10,605 --> 00:05:14,645 Speaker 2: law enforcement in their home. The report indicates that the 73 00:05:14,645 --> 00:05:19,245 Speaker 2: deputy coroner found Larinda reaching out to the coroner directly 74 00:05:19,405 --> 00:05:23,005 Speaker 2: a bit odd because Lrenda was a nurse. The report 75 00:05:23,085 --> 00:05:26,085 Speaker 2: said they felt that her normal reaction should be to 76 00:05:26,125 --> 00:05:29,045 Speaker 2: call nine one one, even if it was obvious that 77 00:05:29,125 --> 00:05:33,605 Speaker 2: her husband was dead. The sheriff's investigators in Johnson County 78 00:05:33,965 --> 00:05:37,925 Speaker 2: began looking into William Vick's life and asking questions about 79 00:05:37,925 --> 00:05:42,445 Speaker 2: his relationships, and they were asking about other things, including 80 00:05:42,725 --> 00:05:46,525 Speaker 2: life insurance policies that William's brother Ted and his daughter 81 00:05:46,605 --> 00:05:49,245 Speaker 2: Ashley say had been taken out in the year before 82 00:05:49,245 --> 00:05:53,525 Speaker 2: his death, and the policies totaled eight hundred and fifty 83 00:05:53,845 --> 00:06:04,205 Speaker 2: thousand dollars. William Earl Vick was born on August eighth, 84 00:06:04,365 --> 00:06:08,165 Speaker 2: nineteen sixty nine, in Russellville, Arkansas. He had one son, 85 00:06:08,325 --> 00:06:11,885 Speaker 2: also named William, who will refer to as will and 86 00:06:12,005 --> 00:06:15,125 Speaker 2: a daughter, Ashley. He also had two step sons who 87 00:06:15,205 --> 00:06:19,565 Speaker 2: were Larenda's sons from a previous relationship. According to his obituary, 88 00:06:20,045 --> 00:06:24,085 Speaker 2: Lorenda's sons live in Mississippi, while William's daughter, Ashley lives 89 00:06:24,085 --> 00:06:28,365 Speaker 2: in Russellville. Will also lives in Arkansas. William was married 90 00:06:28,405 --> 00:06:32,445 Speaker 2: to Jacinda, Ashley and Will's mother, for eighteen years. They 91 00:06:32,485 --> 00:06:35,845 Speaker 2: divorced around two thousand and nine. William met Lareinda in 92 00:06:35,885 --> 00:06:38,525 Speaker 2: the early part of twenty eleven, and then a few 93 00:06:38,565 --> 00:06:42,325 Speaker 2: months later they were married. As an adult, William worked 94 00:06:42,365 --> 00:06:46,045 Speaker 2: several different jobs. According to his brother Ted, William was 95 00:06:46,085 --> 00:06:48,885 Speaker 2: a personal trainer in Jim's for a while. He also 96 00:06:48,965 --> 00:06:51,765 Speaker 2: did some work in law enforcement. We talked to Ted 97 00:06:51,845 --> 00:06:52,645 Speaker 2: on the phone. 98 00:06:53,125 --> 00:06:55,685 Speaker 3: So he was the personal trainer for a long time 99 00:06:56,245 --> 00:06:58,405 Speaker 3: on gyms and stuff like that, and then he was 100 00:06:58,805 --> 00:07:02,725 Speaker 3: a deputy or the Johnson County Sheriff's Department for a 101 00:07:02,765 --> 00:07:06,245 Speaker 3: little while, and then he went over to the university 102 00:07:06,365 --> 00:07:09,285 Speaker 3: in Clarksville. I think he was actually working for an attorney, 103 00:07:09,965 --> 00:07:11,765 Speaker 3: and they never really said what he did. I think 104 00:07:11,805 --> 00:07:15,485 Speaker 3: he did like private investigator stuff for him and kind 105 00:07:15,485 --> 00:07:17,605 Speaker 3: of ran down leads for him and stuff like that. 106 00:07:18,165 --> 00:07:22,525 Speaker 3: But he was going back to work for the Jonathan 107 00:07:22,605 --> 00:07:26,445 Speaker 3: County Sheriff's Department just in about a week a week, 108 00:07:26,885 --> 00:07:30,205 Speaker 3: you know, after he murdered. He had already put his 109 00:07:30,245 --> 00:07:32,445 Speaker 3: application in, it was accepted, and he was going to 110 00:07:32,485 --> 00:07:35,325 Speaker 3: go up and be a bailiff in the courthouse. 111 00:07:36,365 --> 00:07:41,325 Speaker 2: Since William married Larinda, both Ted and William's daughter Ashley 112 00:07:41,685 --> 00:07:45,965 Speaker 2: say that their relationship with William suffered. Four years before 113 00:07:46,045 --> 00:07:50,245 Speaker 2: William's death, Ted said that he discovered that money was 114 00:07:50,325 --> 00:07:54,165 Speaker 2: missing from their parents' bank account, an account that Ted 115 00:07:54,325 --> 00:07:58,725 Speaker 2: claimed William had access to. Ted is very transparent about 116 00:07:58,725 --> 00:08:01,685 Speaker 2: the fact that, due to this rift over their parents' 117 00:08:01,685 --> 00:08:04,885 Speaker 2: money and William's alleged access to it, that they had 118 00:08:04,885 --> 00:08:07,485 Speaker 2: not spoken in about four years. At the time of 119 00:08:07,525 --> 00:08:12,445 Speaker 2: William's death, Ted said that he found bank records, records 120 00:08:12,485 --> 00:08:16,165 Speaker 2: that showed that Lrenda was allegedly using a debit card 121 00:08:16,285 --> 00:08:19,445 Speaker 2: that was linked to his parents' account. According to Ted, 122 00:08:20,205 --> 00:08:23,165 Speaker 2: she appeared to be using it to buy gas and clothing. 123 00:08:24,165 --> 00:08:28,685 Speaker 2: This turned into a family confrontation, but despite this, Ted 124 00:08:28,805 --> 00:08:32,285 Speaker 2: said that he loved William. We also talked to Ashley, 125 00:08:32,405 --> 00:08:35,845 Speaker 2: William's daughter, and she said that she was always close 126 00:08:35,885 --> 00:08:37,085 Speaker 2: to her dad growing up. 127 00:08:37,565 --> 00:08:39,725 Speaker 1: He got me how to time my shoes. My parents 128 00:08:39,845 --> 00:08:43,405 Speaker 1: worked all the time, so they worked opposite shifts a lot. 129 00:08:43,285 --> 00:08:43,685 Speaker 3: Of the time. 130 00:08:44,245 --> 00:08:47,005 Speaker 1: I think he worked nice when I was learning that stuff, 131 00:08:47,085 --> 00:08:48,765 Speaker 1: so he taught me that during the day. 132 00:08:49,445 --> 00:08:53,205 Speaker 2: William was with Ashley and William Junior's mother for eighteen years, 133 00:08:53,685 --> 00:08:56,485 Speaker 2: and Ashley said that their divorce was tough and they 134 00:08:56,525 --> 00:08:58,805 Speaker 2: went through a lot, but that they loved each other 135 00:08:58,965 --> 00:09:01,725 Speaker 2: and always had love for each other even after they 136 00:09:01,765 --> 00:09:05,325 Speaker 2: split up. But after Larenda came into the picture, ash 137 00:09:05,685 --> 00:09:08,845 Speaker 2: said that there was tension between her and her stepmother. 138 00:09:09,525 --> 00:09:12,965 Speaker 2: Ashley said that Lareinda did not like her. She said 139 00:09:12,965 --> 00:09:16,085 Speaker 2: that because of that, she saw her father less and. 140 00:09:16,125 --> 00:09:19,445 Speaker 1: Less unless she was at work, then he would call 141 00:09:19,525 --> 00:09:22,085 Speaker 1: me or if he was going to the store for 142 00:09:22,165 --> 00:09:24,885 Speaker 1: whatever reason. You know, he would talk to me then 143 00:09:26,005 --> 00:09:28,245 Speaker 1: and we would text back and forth occasionally, of course, 144 00:09:28,325 --> 00:09:30,765 Speaker 1: but she said I was a full brat, even though 145 00:09:30,885 --> 00:09:34,285 Speaker 1: my parents did not have money. They are not rich people. 146 00:09:34,405 --> 00:09:36,165 Speaker 1: But she would tell me that I was a bull brat, 147 00:09:37,325 --> 00:09:39,925 Speaker 1: I was a bitch, and all kinds of things she 148 00:09:39,965 --> 00:09:42,645 Speaker 1: would say to my face end behind my back. Most 149 00:09:42,925 --> 00:09:44,645 Speaker 1: all of it was behind my back, but you know, 150 00:09:46,005 --> 00:09:46,925 Speaker 1: family member's shock. 151 00:09:47,765 --> 00:09:51,165 Speaker 2: During the last year of William's life, Ashley said that 152 00:09:51,245 --> 00:09:55,205 Speaker 2: they started to get closer again. It seemed like listening 153 00:09:55,205 --> 00:09:58,205 Speaker 2: to her talk that she finally felt like she had 154 00:09:58,205 --> 00:09:59,005 Speaker 2: her father back. 155 00:09:59,765 --> 00:10:03,285 Speaker 1: We would go to lunch together every week. I don't know, 156 00:10:03,485 --> 00:10:06,085 Speaker 1: he just got a different job. I guess where he 157 00:10:06,205 --> 00:10:07,805 Speaker 1: was able to do that. He was coming to rest 158 00:10:07,805 --> 00:10:09,445 Speaker 1: of Ville once a week where I lived, and so 159 00:10:09,485 --> 00:10:12,485 Speaker 1: he was able to go to lunch with me every week. 160 00:10:12,765 --> 00:10:15,285 Speaker 1: But she would always call all we were at lunch 161 00:10:15,325 --> 00:10:17,925 Speaker 1: together and it was good. I mean, I felt like 162 00:10:18,285 --> 00:10:20,365 Speaker 1: the last two year of his life as an adult, 163 00:10:20,525 --> 00:10:23,045 Speaker 1: we were closest and I would go over there. She 164 00:10:23,125 --> 00:10:25,125 Speaker 1: worked a lot, she traveled. He's a traveling nurse, so 165 00:10:25,445 --> 00:10:27,205 Speaker 1: when she was out of town, me and my three 166 00:10:27,245 --> 00:10:30,085 Speaker 1: kids would go over there a lot and go hiking, 167 00:10:30,165 --> 00:10:33,245 Speaker 1: and you know, he had some land and a pond 168 00:10:33,325 --> 00:10:35,005 Speaker 1: that we'd go over there and fish and just just 169 00:10:35,005 --> 00:10:36,285 Speaker 1: hang out with him generally. 170 00:10:36,965 --> 00:10:40,125 Speaker 2: Ashley said that her brother Will was living with Lrenda 171 00:10:40,165 --> 00:10:43,845 Speaker 2: and their father, but just a few days before her 172 00:10:43,845 --> 00:10:48,085 Speaker 2: father died, she said Lreinda pressured her father to get 173 00:10:48,125 --> 00:10:50,045 Speaker 2: Will to move out. 174 00:10:49,525 --> 00:10:52,045 Speaker 1: And then she was very adamant about getting him to 175 00:10:52,125 --> 00:10:54,165 Speaker 1: move out. She wanted him to move out. She was 176 00:10:54,205 --> 00:10:57,885 Speaker 1: pressuring him, pressuring my dad to kick my brother out, 177 00:10:58,125 --> 00:11:00,405 Speaker 1: and my brother just finally hadn't said in us, and 178 00:11:01,285 --> 00:11:04,845 Speaker 1: he just moved out. And my dad after that happened 179 00:11:04,845 --> 00:11:08,325 Speaker 1: and called me. I never heard of fan cry, and 180 00:11:08,405 --> 00:11:11,645 Speaker 1: he cried and said how he should not have let 181 00:11:11,805 --> 00:11:13,605 Speaker 1: Lareinda treat my brother that way. 182 00:11:14,325 --> 00:11:14,965 Speaker 3: I'm sorry. 183 00:11:15,365 --> 00:11:17,805 Speaker 1: My dad was like such a strong person. 184 00:11:18,965 --> 00:11:22,565 Speaker 2: Now I should say that we have contacted Larinda for comment. 185 00:11:23,245 --> 00:11:25,725 Speaker 2: She said she had no comment, and she referred us 186 00:11:25,725 --> 00:11:29,045 Speaker 2: to her lawyer, who we have reached out to. My 187 00:11:29,165 --> 00:11:32,125 Speaker 2: point is we are only hearing one side of the 188 00:11:32,125 --> 00:11:35,405 Speaker 2: story here, and it's not abnormal for new wives to 189 00:11:35,445 --> 00:11:38,725 Speaker 2: have conflicts with children, and even in some cases for 190 00:11:38,765 --> 00:11:41,965 Speaker 2: adult children to blame their stepmother for conflicts with their father, 191 00:11:43,125 --> 00:11:46,365 Speaker 2: but Ashley claims that Lorenda has tried to paint a 192 00:11:46,405 --> 00:11:49,525 Speaker 2: picture of her father William, as being abusive in some way, 193 00:11:50,285 --> 00:11:53,245 Speaker 2: something that she says is absolutely not true. 194 00:11:53,605 --> 00:11:57,645 Speaker 1: My parents had up and downs. But Arenda, he's trying 195 00:11:57,685 --> 00:12:00,125 Speaker 1: to put this narrative out there now, like my dad 196 00:12:00,165 --> 00:12:04,365 Speaker 1: was this terrible person. But she hasn't been screaming at 197 00:12:04,405 --> 00:12:07,405 Speaker 1: the past year and a half. If anything, I saw 198 00:12:07,765 --> 00:12:11,085 Speaker 1: the emotional abuse from her end because of how she 199 00:12:11,125 --> 00:12:14,405 Speaker 1: treated me and how he wasn't allowed to talk to 200 00:12:14,445 --> 00:12:18,365 Speaker 1: me when she was around. What kind of woman doesn't 201 00:12:18,445 --> 00:12:21,325 Speaker 1: want a man talking to his children. I thinks it's 202 00:12:21,405 --> 00:12:23,965 Speaker 1: weird to talk to your daughter, that you were too close. 203 00:12:25,125 --> 00:12:26,085 Speaker 4: It's true, child. 204 00:12:26,645 --> 00:12:30,285 Speaker 1: I feel like I don't know she did. I feel 205 00:12:30,325 --> 00:12:33,205 Speaker 1: like she was trying to control him and he finally 206 00:12:33,285 --> 00:12:36,085 Speaker 1: had an as and she isn't that That is my 207 00:12:36,165 --> 00:12:37,005 Speaker 1: personal opinion. 208 00:12:38,165 --> 00:12:41,325 Speaker 2: Ashley said she was surprised when, just a few weeks 209 00:12:41,365 --> 00:12:44,605 Speaker 2: before her father died, he talked to her about having 210 00:12:44,605 --> 00:12:47,685 Speaker 2: a life insurance policy. It turned out that he had 211 00:12:47,685 --> 00:12:50,285 Speaker 2: taken out a policy with Farmers for five hundred thousand 212 00:12:50,325 --> 00:12:53,365 Speaker 2: dollars and that in the event of his death, Lareinda 213 00:12:53,445 --> 00:12:56,165 Speaker 2: would receive fifty percent and each of his children would 214 00:12:56,205 --> 00:12:59,285 Speaker 2: receive twenty five percent. Now we're going to get a 215 00:12:59,325 --> 00:13:02,245 Speaker 2: lot more into the intricacies of the insurance policies in 216 00:13:02,325 --> 00:13:05,285 Speaker 2: next week's episode, but for now, I'll say this is 217 00:13:05,285 --> 00:13:08,605 Speaker 2: all only one insurance policy. It turns out that there 218 00:13:08,845 --> 00:13:09,885 Speaker 2: was more than one. 219 00:13:10,765 --> 00:13:13,925 Speaker 1: So two weeks before he passed, he was talking to 220 00:13:13,965 --> 00:13:17,965 Speaker 1: me about it, saying, jokingly saying, he's worth more dead 221 00:13:18,005 --> 00:13:21,365 Speaker 1: than he is alive because his life insurance policy is 222 00:13:21,365 --> 00:13:25,365 Speaker 1: so much, and he mentioned it. He was very adamant. 223 00:13:25,565 --> 00:13:29,605 Speaker 1: You know when that gets half fifty percent, but you 224 00:13:30,005 --> 00:13:32,525 Speaker 1: and your brother each get twenty five percent. I think 225 00:13:32,565 --> 00:13:35,045 Speaker 1: the most of my dad ever said on me for 226 00:13:35,085 --> 00:13:36,885 Speaker 1: a holiday was he bought me tennis shoes. 227 00:13:37,765 --> 00:13:40,045 Speaker 2: But William was only fifty three years old and for 228 00:13:40,085 --> 00:13:43,445 Speaker 2: the most part in great health. Ted brought this up 229 00:13:43,485 --> 00:13:45,885 Speaker 2: when we talked to him as well. He said that 230 00:13:46,045 --> 00:13:49,005 Speaker 2: even though he was not involved in his brother's life 231 00:13:49,085 --> 00:13:52,245 Speaker 2: at the time, when William took out this latest insurance policy, 232 00:13:52,845 --> 00:13:55,845 Speaker 2: he felt that the amount was excessive given William's job 233 00:13:55,965 --> 00:13:57,245 Speaker 2: history and earning potential. 234 00:13:58,005 --> 00:14:00,885 Speaker 3: My brother had a life insurance policy through the state 235 00:14:00,925 --> 00:14:04,125 Speaker 3: farm and they couldn't even afford to pay that, And 236 00:14:04,165 --> 00:14:06,725 Speaker 3: he had had it for five or six years, and 237 00:14:06,765 --> 00:14:10,405 Speaker 3: they couldn't afford to pay that monthly payment, so they 238 00:14:10,485 --> 00:14:13,165 Speaker 3: canceled it. And then all of a sudden, you know, 239 00:14:13,325 --> 00:14:16,085 Speaker 3: a couple of years later, nothing really changes. They didn't 240 00:14:16,085 --> 00:14:19,645 Speaker 3: come into any money. She still had the same job, 241 00:14:20,605 --> 00:14:24,085 Speaker 3: he was still doing the same stuff, and then all 242 00:14:24,125 --> 00:14:26,125 Speaker 3: of a sudden they can afford to post to a million. 243 00:14:27,005 --> 00:14:30,645 Speaker 2: William's ton selectomy wasn't an emergency. It was something he 244 00:14:30,685 --> 00:14:33,325 Speaker 2: had scheduled ahead of time. It was a routine operation, 245 00:14:34,125 --> 00:14:36,645 Speaker 2: and he was sent home afterwards to recover with a 246 00:14:36,645 --> 00:14:41,085 Speaker 2: prescription drug called tramadol. Now we don't know exactly when 247 00:14:41,205 --> 00:14:44,405 Speaker 2: he was prescribed that tramadol. We're assuming he was sent 248 00:14:44,485 --> 00:14:47,765 Speaker 2: home with it after his operation, but we don't have 249 00:14:47,845 --> 00:14:51,365 Speaker 2: William's medical records, and we do not have a record 250 00:14:51,405 --> 00:14:54,885 Speaker 2: of exactly when he got that prescription. So far, we 251 00:14:54,965 --> 00:14:57,325 Speaker 2: have also been unable to confirm the name of the 252 00:14:57,365 --> 00:15:01,525 Speaker 2: doctor who performed the ton selectomy. The coroner's report noted 253 00:15:01,805 --> 00:15:04,005 Speaker 2: that they were still attempting to get in touch with 254 00:15:04,005 --> 00:15:06,765 Speaker 2: the surgeon who performed the tonsol ectomy, but we don't 255 00:15:06,805 --> 00:15:09,645 Speaker 2: know if they did. They were also trying to get 256 00:15:09,645 --> 00:15:13,645 Speaker 2: William's medical records. The report noted that they were provided 257 00:15:13,765 --> 00:15:16,885 Speaker 2: with some records by Laurinda, but that the records they 258 00:15:16,885 --> 00:15:19,485 Speaker 2: got were several years old and they were trying to 259 00:15:19,485 --> 00:15:23,485 Speaker 2: get more recent information. Ashley had lunch with William just 260 00:15:23,525 --> 00:15:27,405 Speaker 2: a day before his operation on Friday, which again was 261 00:15:27,445 --> 00:15:30,925 Speaker 2: meant to be totally routine. He called her right before 262 00:15:30,965 --> 00:15:34,165 Speaker 2: he went into surgery on Friday. She never heard her 263 00:15:34,165 --> 00:15:35,445 Speaker 2: father's voice again. 264 00:15:36,005 --> 00:15:39,045 Speaker 1: I was Wednesday, and then Thursday, him and Laurenda went 265 00:15:39,045 --> 00:15:41,325 Speaker 1: out to eat together for his last meal. He called 266 00:15:41,325 --> 00:15:44,525 Speaker 1: it before surgery, and then he had surgery on Friday. 267 00:15:44,605 --> 00:15:46,885 Speaker 1: So that Wednesday, yeah, I mean have passed. 268 00:15:47,445 --> 00:15:51,285 Speaker 2: After having the operation on Friday, William was sent home. 269 00:15:51,885 --> 00:15:55,445 Speaker 2: But then her father texted her and told her that 270 00:15:55,525 --> 00:15:58,845 Speaker 2: he was throwing up blood. Then he sent Ashley a 271 00:15:58,885 --> 00:16:08,125 Speaker 2: picture of a sink full of blood. Ashley was concerned 272 00:16:08,285 --> 00:16:12,085 Speaker 2: about her dad. William had just had tom selectomy surgery, 273 00:16:12,645 --> 00:16:16,245 Speaker 2: and he sent her a photo in it his sink 274 00:16:16,605 --> 00:16:17,365 Speaker 2: was full of blood. 275 00:16:17,965 --> 00:16:21,085 Speaker 1: I mean, he had sent me a picture of him 276 00:16:21,125 --> 00:16:23,085 Speaker 1: throwing up blood. In the sink. It was a lot 277 00:16:23,125 --> 00:16:25,565 Speaker 1: of blood and I was begging him to take you 278 00:16:25,765 --> 00:16:29,605 Speaker 1: to the hospital. I even reached out to Lorenda and said, 279 00:16:29,805 --> 00:16:31,565 Speaker 1: don't you know you're a nurse, don't She didn't you 280 00:16:31,965 --> 00:16:33,765 Speaker 1: need to go to the hospital, And she said, oh, well, 281 00:16:33,805 --> 00:16:35,805 Speaker 1: you know how stubborn your dad is. He doesn't want 282 00:16:35,805 --> 00:16:39,245 Speaker 1: to go. And I said, you're a nurse, You're his wife. 283 00:16:39,325 --> 00:16:41,485 Speaker 1: Forced him to go to the hospital. He should not 284 00:16:41,525 --> 00:16:42,565 Speaker 1: be puking blood. 285 00:16:43,605 --> 00:16:47,405 Speaker 2: Ashley said that she begged Laurinda to take her father 286 00:16:47,485 --> 00:16:51,565 Speaker 2: to the hospital. The text messages that ashley next exchange 287 00:16:51,565 --> 00:16:53,925 Speaker 2: with her father haunt her to this day. 288 00:16:54,525 --> 00:16:57,365 Speaker 1: I said, don't die on me or I'll be traumatized, 289 00:16:57,685 --> 00:17:00,205 Speaker 1: and he said, loll okay, I'm well. That was one 290 00:17:00,205 --> 00:17:01,525 Speaker 1: of her last conversations. 291 00:17:02,005 --> 00:17:04,765 Speaker 2: Ashley assumed that her dad was getting better that weekend. 292 00:17:05,565 --> 00:17:09,165 Speaker 2: Next week, Ashley said she got a call the completely 293 00:17:09,205 --> 00:17:12,645 Speaker 2: shocked her. Someone told her that her father was dead 294 00:17:13,805 --> 00:17:18,085 Speaker 2: William and Dad on Tuesday. Ashley didn't find out until Thursday, 295 00:17:18,725 --> 00:17:22,125 Speaker 2: and she said that that call did not come from Lorenda. 296 00:17:22,805 --> 00:17:25,925 Speaker 1: She did not inform me at all. Actually, she did 297 00:17:25,965 --> 00:17:28,605 Speaker 1: not tell me he passed. I had to find out 298 00:17:29,085 --> 00:17:33,085 Speaker 1: from somebody else who called me and said, I'm so 299 00:17:33,125 --> 00:17:36,125 Speaker 1: sorry to hear about your dad, and I said, I've 300 00:17:36,165 --> 00:17:41,245 Speaker 1: know ide you were talking about. And they were obviously confused, 301 00:17:42,405 --> 00:17:45,245 Speaker 1: and so I tried to call my dad and of 302 00:17:45,245 --> 00:17:47,485 Speaker 1: course he didn't answer his phone, and then I called 303 00:17:47,525 --> 00:17:50,925 Speaker 1: Lorenda and I was like, what's going on? She said, 304 00:17:50,925 --> 00:17:54,325 Speaker 1: I'm sorry, I just didn't know how to tell you. Yeah, 305 00:17:54,645 --> 00:17:56,485 Speaker 1: And I was like, what do you mean what You 306 00:17:56,525 --> 00:17:59,005 Speaker 1: didn't know how to tell me what? And she was like, 307 00:17:59,045 --> 00:18:00,965 Speaker 1: he didn't make it. And I was like, what what 308 00:18:00,965 --> 00:18:03,765 Speaker 1: do you talk about? What do you mean he didn't 309 00:18:03,765 --> 00:18:06,325 Speaker 1: make it? And then I just hung up on her 310 00:18:06,325 --> 00:18:08,125 Speaker 1: because I was like, my first instinct was that she 311 00:18:08,205 --> 00:18:11,205 Speaker 1: did something to him, But then you think, that's crazy. 312 00:18:11,365 --> 00:18:15,005 Speaker 1: That doesn't happen to me, That doesn't happen to normal people. 313 00:18:15,365 --> 00:18:18,365 Speaker 4: I thought, why would that happen? Things like this don't 314 00:18:18,365 --> 00:18:19,565 Speaker 4: happen in real life. 315 00:18:19,565 --> 00:18:22,085 Speaker 1: This is things you see on TV, And then of 316 00:18:22,125 --> 00:18:22,925 Speaker 1: course I did. 317 00:18:24,965 --> 00:18:27,605 Speaker 2: Ashley said that a few days later, she mentioned the 318 00:18:27,605 --> 00:18:30,445 Speaker 2: life insurance policy, the one that she said her father 319 00:18:30,525 --> 00:18:33,325 Speaker 2: had been talking to her about. She said that Lorenda 320 00:18:33,405 --> 00:18:37,205 Speaker 2: told her she hadn't even started thinking about life insurance policies, 321 00:18:37,765 --> 00:18:40,605 Speaker 2: but Ashley insists that she later found out that that 322 00:18:40,725 --> 00:18:41,405 Speaker 2: wasn't the case. 323 00:18:41,885 --> 00:18:43,805 Speaker 1: She said, well, let's just thought something I'm even thinking 324 00:18:43,845 --> 00:18:47,045 Speaker 1: about or worrying about, and then come to find out 325 00:18:47,085 --> 00:18:50,485 Speaker 1: she asked about it the next I mean the next 326 00:18:50,565 --> 00:18:54,405 Speaker 1: day after him passing, before she even I knew he passed, 327 00:18:54,405 --> 00:18:57,285 Speaker 1: she was already asking about the life insurance. So that 328 00:18:57,405 --> 00:18:58,925 Speaker 1: was just something she whied about. 329 00:18:59,725 --> 00:19:03,485 Speaker 2: William Vick was cremated, which Ashley said she knew her 330 00:19:03,485 --> 00:19:07,405 Speaker 2: father wanted. But Ashley said that she was hurt when 331 00:19:07,485 --> 00:19:11,805 Speaker 2: Lorenda and her children spread her father's ashes without her. 332 00:19:12,405 --> 00:19:15,685 Speaker 1: He was only cremated, He never had services. He said 333 00:19:15,725 --> 00:19:18,205 Speaker 1: that was not something he wanted. I'm sure he would 334 00:19:18,245 --> 00:19:20,685 Speaker 1: have had a visitation, but she said, you know, it 335 00:19:20,805 --> 00:19:23,085 Speaker 1: was not something he wanted. He wanted to be cremated, 336 00:19:23,085 --> 00:19:25,125 Speaker 1: which I didn't know that he didn't want to be cremated. 337 00:19:25,685 --> 00:19:29,125 Speaker 1: We got his ashes A while later. I said, I'm 338 00:19:29,125 --> 00:19:31,005 Speaker 1: not ready for that yet, can we can? We just 339 00:19:31,005 --> 00:19:32,565 Speaker 1: pulled off and she just did. 340 00:19:32,365 --> 00:19:34,925 Speaker 4: It with her kids. She and her kids spread his 341 00:19:35,005 --> 00:19:38,245 Speaker 4: ashes without me or my brothers. So all I have 342 00:19:38,485 --> 00:19:41,645 Speaker 4: is the little jar, the heart shaped jar. She'd given me, 343 00:19:42,805 --> 00:19:45,045 Speaker 4: and so I ended up giving my brothers some of 344 00:19:45,045 --> 00:19:45,725 Speaker 4: those ashes. 345 00:19:47,125 --> 00:19:52,445 Speaker 1: I'm sorry she didn't want to wait, he didn't. 346 00:19:52,605 --> 00:19:55,605 Speaker 4: She just wanted to get rid of dashes. Yeah, she could, 347 00:19:57,165 --> 00:20:01,685 Speaker 4: but it was not very long after we got his ashes. 348 00:20:01,685 --> 00:20:04,445 Speaker 4: But I just wasn't ready to spreads with yours, but 349 00:20:04,685 --> 00:20:07,645 Speaker 4: she was. They're legally hers. 350 00:20:07,725 --> 00:20:14,565 Speaker 2: So Ashley talked about her father's sense of humor. William 351 00:20:14,645 --> 00:20:18,005 Speaker 2: Vick had a YouTube channel, and in one of those videos, 352 00:20:18,005 --> 00:20:20,565 Speaker 2: the one I mentioned earlier and actually the last one 353 00:20:20,605 --> 00:20:24,445 Speaker 2: he posted, he was talking about true crime the Ronald 354 00:20:24,485 --> 00:20:28,165 Speaker 2: Gene Simmons case. For the thirty fifth anniversary of the murders, 355 00:20:28,485 --> 00:20:32,285 Speaker 2: William interviewed the lead investigator on the case, named Ray Caldwell. 356 00:20:32,925 --> 00:20:37,205 Speaker 2: William also made short films about a dystopian future, and 357 00:20:37,285 --> 00:20:39,845 Speaker 2: in some of his videos he talked about his insomnia 358 00:20:40,245 --> 00:20:43,285 Speaker 2: and crack jokes. A lot of his riffs are straight 359 00:20:43,365 --> 00:20:47,085 Speaker 2: to camera, wearing an Arkansas baseball cap and smiling. 360 00:20:47,765 --> 00:20:51,445 Speaker 1: Everybody that's seen his videos and have heard my tackling 361 00:20:51,525 --> 00:20:54,925 Speaker 1: laugh think we laughed just alike, which is not I'm 362 00:20:54,965 --> 00:20:56,685 Speaker 1: getting used to laugh that way. I don't know what, 363 00:20:57,525 --> 00:20:59,085 Speaker 1: I don't know my laugh, but it's just when my 364 00:20:59,165 --> 00:21:01,485 Speaker 1: laugh really hard at some chef like his funny hyena 365 00:21:01,565 --> 00:21:04,925 Speaker 1: laugh that he has, but a man who would crack 366 00:21:04,965 --> 00:21:05,485 Speaker 1: each other up. 367 00:21:07,005 --> 00:21:10,285 Speaker 2: At first, Ashley said she was somewhat numb after her 368 00:21:10,285 --> 00:21:13,725 Speaker 2: father passed away, but it wasn't long before she began 369 00:21:13,805 --> 00:21:16,325 Speaker 2: to notice things that she believed did not add up. 370 00:21:17,325 --> 00:21:19,925 Speaker 2: One of the things that bothered her the most was 371 00:21:19,965 --> 00:21:23,725 Speaker 2: realizing that Lorenda had not called nine one one, but 372 00:21:23,845 --> 00:21:25,525 Speaker 2: instead called the coroner directly. 373 00:21:26,005 --> 00:21:27,285 Speaker 1: She was like, well, I'm a nurse. I knew he 374 00:21:27,405 --> 00:21:29,125 Speaker 1: was dead, okay, but you were a nurse and you 375 00:21:29,125 --> 00:21:31,085 Speaker 1: didn't take up to the hospital when he was kicking blood. 376 00:21:31,725 --> 00:21:33,965 Speaker 1: But you're a nurse enough to know that he was dead. 377 00:21:34,765 --> 00:21:37,165 Speaker 1: I mean, in my panic, if even if I was 378 00:21:37,205 --> 00:21:40,565 Speaker 1: a nurse and my bouse was dead on the ground, 379 00:21:40,605 --> 00:21:42,565 Speaker 1: my first thought would be nine to one one, not 380 00:21:42,845 --> 00:21:45,845 Speaker 1: let me google the coroner and call them directly. 381 00:21:46,885 --> 00:21:49,245 Speaker 2: Then there was the fact that her father's body was 382 00:21:49,325 --> 00:21:52,845 Speaker 2: already in full rigor mortis. Lorenda said she had not 383 00:21:52,885 --> 00:21:55,165 Speaker 2: come in to check on William in over ten hours. 384 00:21:55,685 --> 00:21:58,485 Speaker 2: Ashley wondered why, if he was sick, if he had 385 00:21:58,485 --> 00:22:02,165 Speaker 2: been coughing up blood, why Lorenda would not take him 386 00:22:02,165 --> 00:22:06,605 Speaker 2: to the hospital. Lorenda told the coroners investigator that William 387 00:22:06,645 --> 00:22:09,885 Speaker 2: had high cholesterol and may have heart disease, but according 388 00:22:09,885 --> 00:22:12,725 Speaker 2: to the medical examiner's report, there was no sign of 389 00:22:12,765 --> 00:22:16,205 Speaker 2: heart disease. The coroner also noted there was no blood 390 00:22:16,285 --> 00:22:19,445 Speaker 2: on William's bedroom floor, which they looked for because he 391 00:22:19,525 --> 00:22:23,045 Speaker 2: had been vomiting blood days earlier. When they began a 392 00:22:23,085 --> 00:22:27,325 Speaker 2: toxicology screen, they did find traces of drugs in William's system. 393 00:22:27,885 --> 00:22:31,805 Speaker 2: Post mortan blood testing showed positive for tramadol, the prescription medicine, 394 00:22:31,845 --> 00:22:37,125 Speaker 2: but also for lethal levels of lurazapam and massive quantities 395 00:22:37,165 --> 00:22:40,645 Speaker 2: of morphine and codeine. The cause of death was listed 396 00:22:40,645 --> 00:22:46,045 Speaker 2: as combined mixed prescription and illicit drug toxicity. William Vick 397 00:22:46,165 --> 00:22:48,925 Speaker 2: was not suicidal. He was in good spirits. He was 398 00:22:48,965 --> 00:22:52,165 Speaker 2: happy about life, and other than a routine operation, he 399 00:22:52,285 --> 00:22:56,965 Speaker 2: really had absolutely nothing physically wrong with him. William's family 400 00:22:57,045 --> 00:22:59,005 Speaker 2: did not believe that he had died of some sort 401 00:22:59,005 --> 00:23:03,005 Speaker 2: of accident. They believed that someone killed him, and it 402 00:23:03,045 --> 00:23:06,485 Speaker 2: seems like they were right because on jam Anyuary twenty third, 403 00:23:06,485 --> 00:23:10,165 Speaker 2: twenty twenty three, six days after William was found dead 404 00:23:10,205 --> 00:23:15,005 Speaker 2: on the bedroom floor police found a murder confession. Someone 405 00:23:15,125 --> 00:23:18,805 Speaker 2: claimed that they tampered with William's medication and injected him 406 00:23:18,885 --> 00:23:22,525 Speaker 2: with another drug. But the confession didn't come from Mirenda. 407 00:23:23,125 --> 00:23:27,605 Speaker 2: It was written by her mother, Martha MacLean, who everyone 408 00:23:27,725 --> 00:23:30,805 Speaker 2: believed was incredibly frail, and he was living in a 409 00:23:30,845 --> 00:23:35,125 Speaker 2: separate structure on their property. Officers had been doing a 410 00:23:35,125 --> 00:23:38,725 Speaker 2: welfare check on Martha when they found her struggling to 411 00:23:38,845 --> 00:23:42,285 Speaker 2: breathe with morphine and la razepan bottles scattered around her. 412 00:23:43,085 --> 00:23:45,365 Speaker 2: She had a handwritten note next to the bed. 413 00:23:46,205 --> 00:23:49,645 Speaker 1: I want to bust this for my dad. Obviously who 414 00:23:49,645 --> 00:23:52,485 Speaker 1: would have But it takes a lot out of me. 415 00:23:52,845 --> 00:23:53,085 Speaker 3: I have. 416 00:23:53,525 --> 00:23:56,765 Speaker 1: I get panic attacks. I just know I I just 417 00:23:56,805 --> 00:24:00,965 Speaker 1: get panic attacks. Sometimes I random and then sometimes you 418 00:24:01,005 --> 00:24:03,805 Speaker 1: know it's fard. Some days I'm okay. Like some days 419 00:24:03,805 --> 00:24:06,965 Speaker 1: I can talk about it and just find like it's 420 00:24:07,005 --> 00:24:09,565 Speaker 1: not me, like it's not my life. I can detach 421 00:24:09,605 --> 00:24:13,365 Speaker 1: from it, associate from it. Yet another time, Sorry can't 422 00:24:14,165 --> 00:24:15,005 Speaker 1: because it is my last. 423 00:24:16,445 --> 00:24:21,085 Speaker 2: I'm Catherine Townsend. This is Helen Gone Murder Line. Helen 424 00:24:21,085 --> 00:24:23,245 Speaker 2: Gone Murder Line is a production of School of Humans 425 00:24:23,245 --> 00:24:26,605 Speaker 2: and iHeart Podcasts. It's written and narrated by me Catherine 426 00:24:26,605 --> 00:24:30,605 Speaker 2: Townsend and produced by Gabby Watts and Miranda Hawkins. Special 427 00:24:30,645 --> 00:24:33,965 Speaker 2: thanks to Amy Tubbs for her research assistance. Noah Camera 428 00:24:34,085 --> 00:24:37,125 Speaker 2: mixed and scored this episode. Our theme song is by 429 00:24:37,125 --> 00:24:41,485 Speaker 2: Ben Sale, Executive producers of Virginia Prescott, Brandon Barr, and 430 00:24:41,525 --> 00:24:45,245 Speaker 2: Else Crowley. Listen to Helen Gone ad free by subscribing 431 00:24:45,285 --> 00:24:48,325 Speaker 2: to the iHeart True Crime Plus channel on Apple Podcasts. 432 00:24:48,525 --> 00:24:51,125 Speaker 2: If you are interested in seeing documents and materials from 433 00:24:51,165 --> 00:24:54,365 Speaker 2: the case, you can follow the show on Instagram at 434 00:24:54,525 --> 00:24:57,445 Speaker 2: Helen Gone Pott. 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