1 00:00:46,480 --> 00:00:51,921 Speaker 1: School of Humans. Helen Got Murder Line actively investigates cold 2 00:00:52,040 --> 00:00:55,361 Speaker 1: case murders in an effort to raise public awareness invite 3 00:00:55,401 --> 00:00:58,761 Speaker 1: witnesses to come forward and present evidence that could potentially 4 00:00:58,840 --> 00:01:02,961 Speaker 1: be further investigated by law enforcement. While we value insights 5 00:01:03,001 --> 00:01:06,160 Speaker 1: from family and community members, their statements should not be 6 00:01:06,200 --> 00:01:09,961 Speaker 1: considered evidence and point to the challenges of verifying facts 7 00:01:10,041 --> 00:01:14,000 Speaker 1: inherent in cold cases. We remind listeners that everyone has 8 00:01:14,080 --> 00:01:17,160 Speaker 1: presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. 9 00:01:17,961 --> 00:01:20,840 Speaker 1: Nothing in the podcast is intended to state or imply 10 00:01:21,041 --> 00:01:23,601 Speaker 1: that anyone who has not been convicted of a crime 11 00:01:24,121 --> 00:01:27,121 Speaker 1: is guilty of any wrongdoing. Thanks for listening. 12 00:01:31,601 --> 00:01:35,440 Speaker 2: On December third, twenty twenty five, forty year old Charity 13 00:01:35,481 --> 00:01:38,481 Speaker 2: Billis and her six year old twins, a daughter and 14 00:01:38,520 --> 00:01:42,481 Speaker 2: a son were fatally shot at their home in Bonanza, 15 00:01:42,520 --> 00:01:43,401 Speaker 2: West Arkansas. 16 00:01:44,241 --> 00:01:45,641 Speaker 3: As we said last. 17 00:01:45,441 --> 00:01:48,320 Speaker 2: Week in Part one, Charity had been going through an 18 00:01:48,481 --> 00:01:51,481 Speaker 2: ugly divorce battle with her husband, a fifty six year 19 00:01:51,520 --> 00:01:55,201 Speaker 2: old local doctor named Randal b Alis. They had been 20 00:01:55,281 --> 00:01:59,401 Speaker 2: battling in court for months, and on December second, Charity 21 00:01:59,441 --> 00:02:01,881 Speaker 2: and Randall went to a divorce hearing in Fort Smith. 22 00:02:02,841 --> 00:02:06,081 Speaker 2: As we've said before, we're not sure what the exact 23 00:02:06,121 --> 00:02:09,041 Speaker 2: status of that divorce is now. What we do know 24 00:02:09,361 --> 00:02:12,601 Speaker 2: is that on December second, Judge Shannon Black gave Charity 25 00:02:12,601 --> 00:02:17,041 Speaker 2: and Randall a ben shorter, finalizing their divorce. However, in 26 00:02:17,121 --> 00:02:19,240 Speaker 2: order for a divorce to become final with the court, 27 00:02:19,680 --> 00:02:21,880 Speaker 2: a written decree has to be filed. 28 00:02:21,561 --> 00:02:22,400 Speaker 3: With the court. 29 00:02:22,921 --> 00:02:26,361 Speaker 2: According to court papers, Charity filed a request for an 30 00:02:26,361 --> 00:02:29,841 Speaker 2: emergency hearing before this could be done. This hearing was 31 00:02:29,841 --> 00:02:33,201 Speaker 2: supposed to take place on December third. When Charity didn't 32 00:02:33,240 --> 00:02:35,841 Speaker 2: show up for that hearing, someone called for a welfare 33 00:02:35,921 --> 00:02:39,400 Speaker 2: check and that's when Charity in the children's bodies were 34 00:02:39,441 --> 00:02:43,921 Speaker 2: found in the home. On December fourth, Randall All us 35 00:02:43,921 --> 00:02:47,321 Speaker 2: his attorney Michael Pierce, filed to dismiss the divorce action 36 00:02:47,520 --> 00:02:52,121 Speaker 2: due to Charity's death. Charity's son, John from a previous relationship, 37 00:02:52,161 --> 00:02:54,241 Speaker 2: has also filed his own legal. 38 00:02:54,001 --> 00:02:56,961 Speaker 3: Motion pertaining to what he claims is his mother's half 39 00:02:56,961 --> 00:02:57,521 Speaker 3: of the estate. 40 00:02:58,561 --> 00:03:01,961 Speaker 2: This is a complicated case and it is still unfolding 41 00:03:03,241 --> 00:03:06,641 Speaker 2: since then. Some of Charity's family members and a lot 42 00:03:06,681 --> 00:03:10,081 Speaker 2: of news stories have commented on the alleged domestic violence 43 00:03:10,161 --> 00:03:14,881 Speaker 2: in the home, allegedly perpetrated by Randall. But this week 44 00:03:15,281 --> 00:03:18,041 Speaker 2: we got the transcript of Charity and Randall's divorce hearing. 45 00:03:18,761 --> 00:03:22,921 Speaker 2: For the first time, we will hear Randall's side. As 46 00:03:22,921 --> 00:03:25,960 Speaker 2: it turns out, there were allegations of domestic violence and 47 00:03:26,001 --> 00:03:27,481 Speaker 2: abuse on both sides. 48 00:03:28,121 --> 00:03:30,881 Speaker 3: Hopefully this new information will help us. 49 00:03:30,881 --> 00:03:35,401 Speaker 2: Figure out what was really happening behind closed doors in 50 00:03:35,481 --> 00:03:41,161 Speaker 2: that house. I'm Catherine Townsend. Over the past seven years 51 00:03:41,161 --> 00:03:44,681 Speaker 2: of making my true crime podcast, Helling Gone, I've learned 52 00:03:44,721 --> 00:03:47,161 Speaker 2: that there is no such thing as a small town 53 00:03:47,321 --> 00:03:51,281 Speaker 2: where murder never happens. I've received hundreds of messages from 54 00:03:51,281 --> 00:03:53,921 Speaker 2: people all around the country asking for help with an 55 00:03:54,001 --> 00:03:58,201 Speaker 2: unsolved murder that's affected them, their families, and their communities. 56 00:03:58,721 --> 00:04:00,481 Speaker 2: If you have a case you'd like me and my 57 00:04:00,521 --> 00:04:02,921 Speaker 2: team to look into, you can reach out to us 58 00:04:02,961 --> 00:04:05,601 Speaker 2: at our Helen Gone Murder Line at six seven eight 59 00:04:05,761 --> 00:04:09,681 Speaker 2: seven four four six one four five. That's six seven 60 00:04:09,721 --> 00:04:13,641 Speaker 2: eight seven four four six one four five, or you 61 00:04:13,641 --> 00:04:17,200 Speaker 2: can send us a message on Instagram at Helen Gonepod. 62 00:04:17,640 --> 00:05:05,601 Speaker 2: This is Helen Gone Murder Line. The Sebastian County Sheriff's 63 00:05:05,641 --> 00:05:08,601 Speaker 2: Office has been putting out information about the case. To 64 00:05:08,641 --> 00:05:11,321 Speaker 2: their credit, they've released quite a bit of detail about 65 00:05:11,321 --> 00:05:14,440 Speaker 2: what's going on, but obviously, as we said last week, 66 00:05:14,841 --> 00:05:18,440 Speaker 2: since it is an ongoing investigation, there is a lot 67 00:05:18,521 --> 00:05:22,401 Speaker 2: that we still don't know. We know that Charity and 68 00:05:22,481 --> 00:05:26,401 Speaker 2: her little son and daughter were all fatally shot. What 69 00:05:26,521 --> 00:05:30,161 Speaker 2: we don't know yet is who shot them or why. 70 00:05:30,801 --> 00:05:34,201 Speaker 2: Charity's family, her father Randy Powell, and her adult son, 71 00:05:34,281 --> 00:05:37,481 Speaker 2: John Powell, have been very outspoken about the fact that 72 00:05:37,561 --> 00:05:41,481 Speaker 2: they believe doctor Randal Billis was involved in the deaths 73 00:05:41,481 --> 00:05:45,001 Speaker 2: of Charity and her six year old twins. While the 74 00:05:45,041 --> 00:05:47,161 Speaker 2: bodies of Charity and the kids were sent to the 75 00:05:47,241 --> 00:05:50,080 Speaker 2: Arkansas Crime Lab in Little Rock and were waiting for 76 00:05:50,121 --> 00:05:53,401 Speaker 2: an autopsy to determine the exact cause of death, it 77 00:05:53,521 --> 00:05:56,921 Speaker 2: didn't take long for police and media to focus on 78 00:05:57,001 --> 00:06:01,201 Speaker 2: Charity and Randall's relationship, which had been unraveling behind closed 79 00:06:01,201 --> 00:06:04,801 Speaker 2: doors for months. The divorce was declared final one day. 80 00:06:05,201 --> 00:06:07,961 Speaker 2: Charity and her children were found dead the next day. 81 00:06:09,041 --> 00:06:12,721 Speaker 2: As we reported last week, Charity was Randall's third and 82 00:06:12,961 --> 00:06:14,321 Speaker 2: fourth wife. 83 00:06:14,361 --> 00:06:15,760 Speaker 3: They originally married. 84 00:06:15,441 --> 00:06:18,721 Speaker 2: In May of twenty twelve, around four months after Randall's 85 00:06:18,721 --> 00:06:22,200 Speaker 2: second wife, thirty four year old licensed practical nurse Shauna, 86 00:06:22,601 --> 00:06:25,321 Speaker 2: died at her and Randall's home of a gunshot wound 87 00:06:25,361 --> 00:06:29,881 Speaker 2: to the head. Shawna's death was ruled a suicide. Randal 88 00:06:29,961 --> 00:06:33,320 Speaker 2: told police his relationship with Shauna had been volatile and 89 00:06:33,441 --> 00:06:36,320 Speaker 2: that he was in the process of divorcing her. In fact, 90 00:06:36,361 --> 00:06:39,401 Speaker 2: at the scene, officers noted boxes in the living room 91 00:06:39,681 --> 00:06:42,601 Speaker 2: that looked as if someone was packing to leave, and 92 00:06:42,721 --> 00:06:45,201 Speaker 2: Randall actually made a comment to one of the officers 93 00:06:45,201 --> 00:06:47,760 Speaker 2: of the crime scene saying he wanted to call his 94 00:06:47,801 --> 00:06:50,200 Speaker 2: attorney from the crime scene and telling me wanted to 95 00:06:50,241 --> 00:06:53,601 Speaker 2: call the divorce off. The officer noted in his report 96 00:06:54,041 --> 00:06:56,640 Speaker 2: he told Randal he couldn't have access to his phone 97 00:06:57,161 --> 00:07:00,280 Speaker 2: and that Randall got irate when detectives wanted to question him, further, 98 00:07:00,841 --> 00:07:05,001 Speaker 2: saying that the case was cut and dried, but there 99 00:07:05,281 --> 00:07:08,401 Speaker 2: was also evidence that Shawna shot for the ammunition that 100 00:07:08,481 --> 00:07:12,761 Speaker 2: killed her herself. She was seen on camera in Walmart 101 00:07:12,801 --> 00:07:17,161 Speaker 2: buying those bullets. In the end, Randal was never arrested 102 00:07:17,281 --> 00:07:21,881 Speaker 2: or charged in connection with shawn His suicide. After marrying 103 00:07:21,921 --> 00:07:25,681 Speaker 2: in twenty twelve, Charity and Randall got divorced in October 104 00:07:25,721 --> 00:07:29,201 Speaker 2: of that same year. It's not clear why they decided 105 00:07:29,201 --> 00:07:32,681 Speaker 2: to divorce, but according to court documents, they had a 106 00:07:32,801 --> 00:07:36,321 Speaker 2: major incident in twenty thirteen that might shed some light 107 00:07:36,481 --> 00:07:39,481 Speaker 2: on why they were futing at that time. According to 108 00:07:39,561 --> 00:07:43,641 Speaker 2: court transcripts from the twenty twenty five divorce hearing, Charity 109 00:07:43,801 --> 00:07:46,481 Speaker 2: admitted that she pulled a gun on Randall during a 110 00:07:46,481 --> 00:07:50,481 Speaker 2: domestic argument in twenty thirteen, though she stated that he 111 00:07:50,601 --> 00:07:53,881 Speaker 2: had also pulled guns on her multiple times in the past. 112 00:07:54,921 --> 00:07:58,001 Speaker 2: So you have these two completely different stories of what 113 00:07:58,121 --> 00:08:01,361 Speaker 2: was actually going on behind the scenes. And then it 114 00:08:01,401 --> 00:08:06,481 Speaker 2: got even stranger because Randall's lawyer, Michael Pierce, asked Charity 115 00:08:06,641 --> 00:08:09,521 Speaker 2: during these divorce proceedings about a book that Charity had 116 00:08:09,561 --> 00:08:13,721 Speaker 2: allegedly written, though Charity insisted Randall also had a lot 117 00:08:13,721 --> 00:08:16,401 Speaker 2: of input into what she wrote in that book, which 118 00:08:16,401 --> 00:08:20,281 Speaker 2: we'll get to in a second. The book described alleged 119 00:08:20,281 --> 00:08:24,441 Speaker 2: abuse that Charity suffered as a child, but according to Charity, 120 00:08:24,641 --> 00:08:28,841 Speaker 2: it was never published. From the transcripts of the twenty 121 00:08:28,921 --> 00:08:32,801 Speaker 2: twenty five divorce court hearing, we actually learned that prior 122 00:08:32,841 --> 00:08:36,761 Speaker 2: to February fifteenth or sixteenth, twenty twenty five, around the 123 00:08:36,800 --> 00:08:39,960 Speaker 2: time of the domestic incident between Charity and Randall, that 124 00:08:40,081 --> 00:08:44,160 Speaker 2: Charity and her father Randy Powell had not spoken, according 125 00:08:44,160 --> 00:08:47,681 Speaker 2: to what she told the court. In ten years after 126 00:08:47,721 --> 00:08:49,961 Speaker 2: the fifteenth she reached out to her father and they 127 00:08:50,001 --> 00:08:55,320 Speaker 2: started texting. Then they began texting hundreds of times. They 128 00:08:55,401 --> 00:08:58,200 Speaker 2: referred to an incident in court where Charity pulled a 129 00:08:58,241 --> 00:09:02,001 Speaker 2: gun on Randall back in twenty thirteen. Randall alleged that 130 00:09:02,081 --> 00:09:04,841 Speaker 2: after that event, Charity went to jail and that it 131 00:09:04,881 --> 00:09:07,641 Speaker 2: was during that time that Randy Powell and his wife 132 00:09:07,800 --> 00:09:12,241 Speaker 2: took custody of John Powell, Charity son. Randall stated that 133 00:09:12,401 --> 00:09:16,040 Speaker 2: Randy Powell had actually insisted on taking custody of John 134 00:09:16,481 --> 00:09:20,241 Speaker 2: in exchange for bailing Charity out of jail. We don't 135 00:09:20,241 --> 00:09:22,441 Speaker 2: have any way of pulling this case in the court 136 00:09:22,561 --> 00:09:26,920 Speaker 2: record because the record has been expunged, but it becomes 137 00:09:27,121 --> 00:09:30,441 Speaker 2: very clear in reading these divorced transcripts from twenty twenty 138 00:09:30,441 --> 00:09:34,601 Speaker 2: five that Charity and Randal by Alice had very different 139 00:09:34,681 --> 00:09:37,601 Speaker 2: narratives regarding what was going on over the time period 140 00:09:37,601 --> 00:09:42,961 Speaker 2: from twenty thirteen to twenty fifteen. Charity admitted that to 141 00:09:43,001 --> 00:09:45,560 Speaker 2: get her out of legal trouble involving the incident where 142 00:09:45,601 --> 00:09:48,521 Speaker 2: she pulled the gun on Randall, that Randall had paid 143 00:09:48,561 --> 00:09:52,280 Speaker 2: lawyers eighty thousand dollars over a period of two years, 144 00:09:52,841 --> 00:09:55,680 Speaker 2: and at some point after the case was expunged from 145 00:09:55,681 --> 00:09:59,881 Speaker 2: the record, Randall and Charity reconciled. They got back together 146 00:10:00,041 --> 00:10:03,401 Speaker 2: and remarried in November of twenty fifteen. According to marriage 147 00:10:03,481 --> 00:10:07,881 Speaker 2: license records, she was thirty, he was forty six. In 148 00:10:07,921 --> 00:10:11,961 Speaker 2: August of twenty fifteen, there was another incident, this time 149 00:10:12,001 --> 00:10:15,761 Speaker 2: between Charity and her stepmother, Sonya Powell. Just a quick 150 00:10:15,841 --> 00:10:20,001 Speaker 2: note here, we're always referring to Randal Billis as Randall 151 00:10:20,241 --> 00:10:23,201 Speaker 2: because Charity's father's name is Randy Powell, and I don't 152 00:10:23,201 --> 00:10:23,521 Speaker 2: want to. 153 00:10:23,441 --> 00:10:24,201 Speaker 3: Confuse the two. 154 00:10:25,280 --> 00:10:29,201 Speaker 2: The backstory to this was that in twenty fifteen, Sonya 155 00:10:29,280 --> 00:10:32,081 Speaker 2: and Randy Powell had been caring for Charity's son John. 156 00:10:33,081 --> 00:10:35,761 Speaker 2: That incident hinged on something that took place on August 157 00:10:35,801 --> 00:10:39,201 Speaker 2: twenty eighth, twenty fifteen. Sonya and Randy were at the 158 00:10:39,201 --> 00:10:42,841 Speaker 2: Sebastian County Fair and they had John with them. Sonia 159 00:10:42,961 --> 00:10:45,161 Speaker 2: claimed she and her her husband, Randy, came to visit 160 00:10:45,201 --> 00:10:49,681 Speaker 2: with John. According to police reports, Sonia stated that she 161 00:10:49,881 --> 00:10:53,280 Speaker 2: had had John in their physical and legal guardianship for 162 00:10:53,321 --> 00:10:56,121 Speaker 2: almost two and a half years, so that would match 163 00:10:56,161 --> 00:11:00,801 Speaker 2: the twenty thirteen timeline. Sonya stated in June of twenty fifteen, 164 00:11:01,321 --> 00:11:04,521 Speaker 2: the court had dissolved that guardianship. John went back to 165 00:11:04,561 --> 00:11:06,681 Speaker 2: live with his mother, Charity and her husband Randall. 166 00:11:07,201 --> 00:11:08,721 Speaker 3: Sonya also said she. 167 00:11:08,961 --> 00:11:11,441 Speaker 2: And Randy had cared for John Powell on and off 168 00:11:11,481 --> 00:11:15,801 Speaker 2: for his entire lifetime. On that night, she claimed she 169 00:11:16,001 --> 00:11:18,481 Speaker 2: and her husband Randy saw Charity and John at the fair. 170 00:11:19,401 --> 00:11:22,241 Speaker 2: She said she was coming toward them to say hi 171 00:11:22,280 --> 00:11:26,001 Speaker 2: to John, and at that moment, Randal b Allis came 172 00:11:26,161 --> 00:11:29,521 Speaker 2: up from behind her, grabbed her by the shoulder and arms, 173 00:11:29,561 --> 00:11:31,881 Speaker 2: and spun her around and threatened to kill her and 174 00:11:31,921 --> 00:11:36,561 Speaker 2: her husband Randy. Sonia said she grabbed his shirt in 175 00:11:36,601 --> 00:11:39,881 Speaker 2: response to that. Then there was a Greenwood police officer 176 00:11:40,081 --> 00:11:43,321 Speaker 2: named Detective Nicholas Driscoll, and they ended up arresting Sonya 177 00:11:43,361 --> 00:11:46,441 Speaker 2: Powell and charged her for a battery offense against Randall. 178 00:11:47,041 --> 00:11:51,241 Speaker 3: She pleaded not guilty. Now. She claimed in her core. 179 00:11:51,161 --> 00:11:53,920 Speaker 2: Papers the detective only showed up at the end of 180 00:11:53,961 --> 00:11:56,721 Speaker 2: the event when she was grabbing Randall's shirt, and that 181 00:11:56,761 --> 00:11:59,241 Speaker 2: the detective didn't see the beginning when she claimed Randall 182 00:11:59,280 --> 00:12:03,561 Speaker 2: put his hands on her first. Eventually, the restraining order 183 00:12:03,561 --> 00:12:06,081 Speaker 2: that was put in place was removed, the case was 184 00:12:06,121 --> 00:12:09,281 Speaker 2: dismissed with prejudice, and there was no further legal action 185 00:12:09,401 --> 00:12:13,001 Speaker 2: taken after that, so by that time Charity and Randall 186 00:12:13,001 --> 00:12:16,881 Speaker 2: were back together. This time before tying the knot, Charity 187 00:12:16,881 --> 00:12:20,281 Speaker 2: and Randall had a prenuptial agreement in place. They signed 188 00:12:20,280 --> 00:12:23,921 Speaker 2: it in October of twenty fifteen, shortly before they married 189 00:12:23,961 --> 00:12:27,561 Speaker 2: for the second time. The prenup stated that each of them, 190 00:12:27,761 --> 00:12:31,081 Speaker 2: Charity and Randall, had property that they had acquired prior 191 00:12:31,121 --> 00:12:34,721 Speaker 2: to the marriage, and they claimed they had each divolved 192 00:12:34,801 --> 00:12:37,280 Speaker 2: the status of those properties and the value of their 193 00:12:37,280 --> 00:12:41,121 Speaker 2: states to each other. The prenup stated that if they divorced, 194 00:12:41,441 --> 00:12:44,121 Speaker 2: they agreed that neither one of them would have any 195 00:12:44,161 --> 00:12:47,241 Speaker 2: claims to the personal property of the other that had 196 00:12:47,280 --> 00:12:52,281 Speaker 2: been individually acquired. Randall agreed to support Charity financially as 197 00:12:52,321 --> 00:12:55,401 Speaker 2: long as the marriage continued, but it was stated that 198 00:12:55,441 --> 00:12:57,961 Speaker 2: in the event of a split, he would pay Charity 199 00:12:58,001 --> 00:13:01,920 Speaker 2: ten thousand dollars and that was it. The prenup also 200 00:13:02,001 --> 00:13:04,641 Speaker 2: stated neither of them would be allowed to inherit the 201 00:13:04,681 --> 00:13:07,201 Speaker 2: other one's personal property in the event of their deaths 202 00:13:07,761 --> 00:13:10,601 Speaker 2: unless they were married for twenty years or more, in 203 00:13:10,641 --> 00:13:12,721 Speaker 2: which case either of them would be allowed to inherit. 204 00:13:13,721 --> 00:13:17,561 Speaker 2: But it's confusing because the prenup is pretty clear. But 205 00:13:17,681 --> 00:13:21,081 Speaker 2: then you have the question of what is individual property 206 00:13:21,201 --> 00:13:24,721 Speaker 2: and what is joint property because at some point they 207 00:13:24,721 --> 00:13:27,800 Speaker 2: did buy a home together, the home that Charity and 208 00:13:27,881 --> 00:13:30,121 Speaker 2: the kids were living in at the time of their death. 209 00:13:31,481 --> 00:13:34,601 Speaker 2: Charity's father, Randy Powell, has told crime Online and other 210 00:13:34,641 --> 00:13:38,121 Speaker 2: media sources he believes Randal wanted to kill Charity for 211 00:13:38,161 --> 00:13:41,441 Speaker 2: what he called financial gain, and that that's why Randall 212 00:13:41,481 --> 00:13:44,601 Speaker 2: had filed for the divorce dismissal after Charity in the 213 00:13:44,641 --> 00:13:45,721 Speaker 2: kid's bodies were found. 214 00:13:46,761 --> 00:13:49,841 Speaker 3: But is there any truth to that? Does that make sense? 215 00:13:50,721 --> 00:13:54,881 Speaker 2: Charity and Randall were fighting about money, perhaps not surprisingly, 216 00:13:55,121 --> 00:13:58,401 Speaker 2: they had very different stories about finances when they testified 217 00:13:58,401 --> 00:14:02,241 Speaker 2: at their divorce hearings. They don't dispute that Randall Powell 218 00:14:02,280 --> 00:14:06,081 Speaker 2: was the sole breadwinner as an independent physician. He estimated 219 00:14:06,081 --> 00:14:08,601 Speaker 2: his salary was around four hundred thousand dollars a year. 220 00:14:09,561 --> 00:14:12,041 Speaker 2: Charity had a nursing degree, but until this point had 221 00:14:12,081 --> 00:14:14,721 Speaker 2: never obtained a nursing license, so she was a homemaker. 222 00:14:15,801 --> 00:14:19,201 Speaker 2: According to County Property records. Charity and Randall bought their 223 00:14:19,201 --> 00:14:22,761 Speaker 2: home together, described by the Sebastian County Assessor as a 224 00:14:22,801 --> 00:14:26,401 Speaker 2: four bedroom, four bathroom just over twenty five hundred square 225 00:14:26,401 --> 00:14:29,241 Speaker 2: foot home, in twenty seventeen for four hundred and thirty 226 00:14:29,241 --> 00:14:33,161 Speaker 2: five thousand dollars. Today that property is worth around seven 227 00:14:33,281 --> 00:14:35,641 Speaker 2: hundred and fifty to seven hundred and sixty thousand dollars. 228 00:14:36,641 --> 00:14:39,721 Speaker 2: We wondered if, since this property was bought together after 229 00:14:39,761 --> 00:14:43,041 Speaker 2: the marriage, if presumably it might not fall under the 230 00:14:43,161 --> 00:14:46,081 Speaker 2: umbrella of the prenup and would be something that could 231 00:14:46,121 --> 00:14:49,241 Speaker 2: possibly be divided up in case of a divorce, And 232 00:14:49,321 --> 00:14:52,601 Speaker 2: it turns out that that was addressed in Randall's court filings. 233 00:14:52,841 --> 00:14:56,121 Speaker 2: He actually asked the judge that when dividing their assets, 234 00:14:56,521 --> 00:14:59,681 Speaker 2: that the court apply the conditions of the prenuptial agreement 235 00:14:59,921 --> 00:15:04,521 Speaker 2: to their real estate and personal property. Randal and Charity 236 00:15:04,641 --> 00:15:09,601 Speaker 2: maintained separate checking accounts. She claimed he controlled all the finances. 237 00:15:10,041 --> 00:15:13,041 Speaker 2: He claimed that due to her spending, she would not 238 00:15:13,281 --> 00:15:16,761 Speaker 2: be a good steward of their money. Randal testified that 239 00:15:16,801 --> 00:15:19,321 Speaker 2: he replenished her bank account to pay off her credit 240 00:15:19,401 --> 00:15:22,761 Speaker 2: card debts, putting in around ten thousand dollars every month 241 00:15:22,841 --> 00:15:26,001 Speaker 2: or two. He admitted they did argue about money. He 242 00:15:26,161 --> 00:15:29,321 Speaker 2: testified that they argued, for example, about how many packages 243 00:15:29,361 --> 00:15:32,921 Speaker 2: that Charity would have delivered, and also about her cosmetic surgery. 244 00:15:33,921 --> 00:15:36,481 Speaker 2: He said in front of the judge, quote, I wasn't 245 00:15:36,481 --> 00:15:39,081 Speaker 2: able to put money into my retirement account for quite 246 00:15:39,081 --> 00:15:42,281 Speaker 2: some time now because of your excesses, having your nails 247 00:15:42,281 --> 00:15:44,761 Speaker 2: done all the time, having your eyebrows done, your eyelash 248 00:15:44,841 --> 00:15:48,321 Speaker 2: is done, laser therapies, your lips done, your breast done twice, 249 00:15:48,841 --> 00:15:51,921 Speaker 2: getting all of these cosmetic things. Every week you would 250 00:15:51,961 --> 00:15:54,921 Speaker 2: go and do a facial, you would do fillers end quote. 251 00:15:55,801 --> 00:15:58,361 Speaker 2: I want to note here the reason Randall speaking directly 252 00:15:58,401 --> 00:16:02,761 Speaker 2: to Charity is because she was representing herself in court. 253 00:16:03,361 --> 00:16:07,081 Speaker 2: He had an attorney, Michael Pierce, but Charity was questioning 254 00:16:07,161 --> 00:16:11,561 Speaker 2: Randal directly. Charity claimed that all of their bank accounts 255 00:16:11,601 --> 00:16:15,441 Speaker 2: were inexplicably empty and that Randall had not shown her 256 00:16:15,481 --> 00:16:19,681 Speaker 2: any tax information in twenty twenty four. She also stated, 257 00:16:19,721 --> 00:16:22,241 Speaker 2: when it came to the home equity line of credit 258 00:16:22,281 --> 00:16:24,961 Speaker 2: that Randall had taken out on their house that he 259 00:16:25,081 --> 00:16:27,321 Speaker 2: said was to build an addition to the home, that 260 00:16:27,401 --> 00:16:29,481 Speaker 2: he never allowed her to know what was going on 261 00:16:29,561 --> 00:16:33,841 Speaker 2: with that money, which he denied. Randall stated in court 262 00:16:33,921 --> 00:16:35,561 Speaker 2: he wanted to stick with what was in the prenup, 263 00:16:35,921 --> 00:16:38,721 Speaker 2: giving Charity ten thousand dollars in the event of a divorce. 264 00:16:39,481 --> 00:16:42,401 Speaker 2: But he also said that by his understanding, she would 265 00:16:42,401 --> 00:16:45,241 Speaker 2: also be entitled to half the value of the marital home. 266 00:16:45,561 --> 00:16:48,481 Speaker 2: She would get her vehicle, a BMWSUV that he had 267 00:16:48,521 --> 00:16:51,401 Speaker 2: gifted her. He would keep his vehicle and be responsible 268 00:16:51,401 --> 00:16:56,961 Speaker 2: for his student loans. So the next question is who 269 00:16:57,161 --> 00:17:01,441 Speaker 2: was really abusing the children. Charity said Randall was abusive. 270 00:17:02,241 --> 00:17:06,001 Speaker 2: He hit back, accusing her in court of lying, coaching 271 00:17:06,001 --> 00:17:09,840 Speaker 2: the children, and alienating him as a parent. Things got 272 00:17:09,961 --> 00:17:26,440 Speaker 2: ugly at that court hearing. We know that Charity and 273 00:17:26,521 --> 00:17:29,561 Speaker 2: Randall got into a huge fight on February sixteenth, twenty 274 00:17:29,600 --> 00:17:33,080 Speaker 2: twenty five. Charity accused Randal of trying to choke her 275 00:17:33,120 --> 00:17:37,761 Speaker 2: and of endangering the children. But again, not surprisingly, they 276 00:17:37,840 --> 00:17:40,281 Speaker 2: have two very different accounts of what went down that 277 00:17:40,360 --> 00:17:44,080 Speaker 2: day and what has happened since then. We know some 278 00:17:44,080 --> 00:17:46,640 Speaker 2: things for sure. We know that Randall was charged with 279 00:17:46,681 --> 00:17:50,080 Speaker 2: aggravated assault, third degree domestic battery, and two counts of 280 00:17:50,121 --> 00:17:53,241 Speaker 2: endangering the welfare of a minor because the children were 281 00:17:53,241 --> 00:17:56,521 Speaker 2: present in the home during the assault. In October of 282 00:17:56,521 --> 00:18:00,641 Speaker 2: twenty twenty five, Randall negotiated a plea deal. He accepted 283 00:18:00,681 --> 00:18:04,360 Speaker 2: a single charge of misdemeanor third degree domestic battery. He 284 00:18:04,481 --> 00:18:06,920 Speaker 2: was sentenced to a one year sentence, suspend it, a 285 00:18:06,961 --> 00:18:10,080 Speaker 2: fifteen hundred dollars fine, and was ordered to attend a 286 00:18:10,121 --> 00:18:13,200 Speaker 2: domestic violence program and to have no contact with Charity. 287 00:18:14,361 --> 00:18:17,001 Speaker 2: Charity told her friends and family she was upset about 288 00:18:17,001 --> 00:18:19,521 Speaker 2: this deal. She did not feel that Randal had gotten 289 00:18:19,521 --> 00:18:21,120 Speaker 2: the punishment that he deserved. 290 00:18:22,121 --> 00:18:23,641 Speaker 3: A side note about choking. 291 00:18:24,241 --> 00:18:27,721 Speaker 2: Choking is a major red flag in domestic violence cases. 292 00:18:27,721 --> 00:18:29,521 Speaker 3: We've talked about this a lot on this podcast. 293 00:18:29,921 --> 00:18:32,920 Speaker 2: In fact, studies show if a woman is choked by 294 00:18:32,921 --> 00:18:36,120 Speaker 2: her partner or a husband, he is much more likely 295 00:18:36,241 --> 00:18:40,241 Speaker 2: to kill her later. Experts say victims who experience what 296 00:18:40,321 --> 00:18:44,041 Speaker 2: they call non fatal strangulation by an intimate partner are 297 00:18:44,161 --> 00:18:47,521 Speaker 2: seven hundred and fifty percent more likely to be murdered 298 00:18:47,521 --> 00:18:53,161 Speaker 2: by that partner in future. After the split and after 299 00:18:53,201 --> 00:18:56,961 Speaker 2: the choking incident, Randall rented a townhouse in Fort Smith 300 00:18:57,001 --> 00:19:00,001 Speaker 2: with two bedrooms. He told the judge he hoped to 301 00:19:00,041 --> 00:19:03,121 Speaker 2: host the children there for visits and eventually possibly moved 302 00:19:03,161 --> 00:19:07,841 Speaker 2: to another home. Charity claimed that Randall was a narcissist, 303 00:19:08,201 --> 00:19:11,681 Speaker 2: one whose coercive control led to her and her children 304 00:19:11,761 --> 00:19:16,081 Speaker 2: living in terror. Meanwhile, Randall claimed Charity was the abusive one. 305 00:19:16,201 --> 00:19:19,081 Speaker 2: He said she alied to the children and coached them. 306 00:19:19,721 --> 00:19:22,441 Speaker 2: Since we don't know what happened inside that house, we 307 00:19:22,521 --> 00:19:25,601 Speaker 2: do have to consider the possibility this could have been 308 00:19:25,681 --> 00:19:30,561 Speaker 2: some type of murder suicide situation. Again, until the autopsy 309 00:19:30,601 --> 00:19:32,321 Speaker 2: in the forensics are back. 310 00:19:32,441 --> 00:19:35,001 Speaker 3: We don't know. We just have no way of knowing 311 00:19:35,041 --> 00:19:35,441 Speaker 3: for sure. 312 00:19:36,601 --> 00:19:39,761 Speaker 2: Again, if Randall is suspected of this crime, we have 313 00:19:39,840 --> 00:19:41,961 Speaker 2: no idea of what his motive would have been. 314 00:19:42,840 --> 00:19:44,521 Speaker 3: On December second, at that. 315 00:19:44,441 --> 00:19:48,241 Speaker 2: Final hearing, Randall was awarded joint custody of his children, 316 00:19:48,601 --> 00:19:51,241 Speaker 2: which would have been an improvement from the situation he 317 00:19:51,241 --> 00:19:54,481 Speaker 2: had been living in since February, where Charity basically had 318 00:19:54,481 --> 00:19:59,161 Speaker 2: full custody of the children. Charity's son, John, has stated 319 00:19:59,721 --> 00:20:04,001 Speaker 2: Randall was the abuser in his relationship with Charity, but 320 00:20:04,321 --> 00:20:08,001 Speaker 2: in twenty twenty, John, who was seventeen years old at 321 00:20:08,041 --> 00:20:11,001 Speaker 2: the time and living with Charity and Randall, filed a 322 00:20:11,001 --> 00:20:15,001 Speaker 2: petition for removal of disability of minority. Basically, he was 323 00:20:15,041 --> 00:20:17,721 Speaker 2: asking the court to emancipate him from his mother and 324 00:20:17,761 --> 00:20:21,840 Speaker 2: his stepfather. When he filed that petition, John was a 325 00:20:21,881 --> 00:20:22,801 Speaker 2: couple of months. 326 00:20:22,521 --> 00:20:23,841 Speaker 3: Away from his eighteenth birthday. 327 00:20:24,561 --> 00:20:27,481 Speaker 2: He had graduated from Greenwood High School that year, and 328 00:20:27,521 --> 00:20:30,321 Speaker 2: he had a job at Atwoods and Fort Smith. The 329 00:20:30,321 --> 00:20:33,080 Speaker 2: court allows anyone who is sixteen or older and meets 330 00:20:33,121 --> 00:20:36,880 Speaker 2: certain criteria to obtain majority to be treated as an adult, 331 00:20:36,881 --> 00:20:40,001 Speaker 2: and that's what John did. The petition talked about an 332 00:20:40,001 --> 00:20:42,161 Speaker 2: incident that happened when John was living at the home 333 00:20:42,201 --> 00:20:45,721 Speaker 2: with Charity and Randall. John alleged that on May fourteenth, 334 00:20:45,761 --> 00:20:49,640 Speaker 2: twenty twenty, that Charity and Randall slashed the tires of 335 00:20:49,681 --> 00:20:52,361 Speaker 2: his two thousand and five Ford fifty one fifty truck 336 00:20:52,840 --> 00:20:56,361 Speaker 2: with a knife or ice pick, deflating them and ruining them. 337 00:20:57,001 --> 00:20:59,281 Speaker 2: John had bought the car himself and had the title 338 00:20:59,321 --> 00:21:03,281 Speaker 2: listed in his name. John also asked for compensation from 339 00:21:03,441 --> 00:21:06,401 Speaker 2: Charity and Randall for the tires. He said they were 340 00:21:06,441 --> 00:21:09,441 Speaker 2: worth eleven to twelve hundred dollars each. He asked the 341 00:21:09,441 --> 00:21:12,601 Speaker 2: court to give him his personal property back, personal property 342 00:21:12,681 --> 00:21:15,401 Speaker 2: he said was at Charity in Randall's home. The court 343 00:21:15,481 --> 00:21:18,160 Speaker 2: awarded him his property and the cost of the tires, 344 00:21:19,840 --> 00:21:24,881 Speaker 2: So which one of them was abusive Randall, Charity or both. 345 00:21:25,961 --> 00:21:29,121 Speaker 2: In the transcripts that we received of Charity in Randall's 346 00:21:29,161 --> 00:21:32,801 Speaker 2: divorce hearing via Foya, we do get some more insight 347 00:21:32,881 --> 00:21:36,321 Speaker 2: into what was going on behind closed doors. The following 348 00:21:36,361 --> 00:21:40,561 Speaker 2: will be a paraphrased account of the court transcripts. Charity 349 00:21:40,641 --> 00:21:43,281 Speaker 2: told the court the children were afraid of Randall, but 350 00:21:43,401 --> 00:21:47,001 Speaker 2: Randall testified he was seeking full custody and that Charity 351 00:21:47,080 --> 00:21:50,880 Speaker 2: had abused the children. Charity, representing herself, was allowed to 352 00:21:50,961 --> 00:21:53,840 Speaker 2: question Randal directly when she asked him in front of 353 00:21:53,840 --> 00:21:56,080 Speaker 2: the judge how it was that he was claiming she 354 00:21:56,121 --> 00:22:00,681 Speaker 2: abused them. He replied, quote, you systematically lied to them, 355 00:22:00,761 --> 00:22:03,881 Speaker 2: and you took six weeks after we separated to instill 356 00:22:04,041 --> 00:22:07,041 Speaker 2: lies into them, and specifically about the abuse they obtained 357 00:22:07,041 --> 00:22:09,801 Speaker 2: supposedly by me while you were in the hospital for 358 00:22:09,840 --> 00:22:14,801 Speaker 2: two days. Randal was asked about his relationship with his older, 359 00:22:15,041 --> 00:22:18,681 Speaker 2: now adult three children that he had with his first wife, Donna. 360 00:22:19,401 --> 00:22:21,721 Speaker 2: He told the court he had no relationship with any 361 00:22:21,761 --> 00:22:24,961 Speaker 2: of those children right now, because he claimed they were 362 00:22:25,001 --> 00:22:29,321 Speaker 2: systematically turned against him by their mother. Randal stated that 363 00:22:29,401 --> 00:22:32,521 Speaker 2: on the date of the big fight with Charity February sixteenth, 364 00:22:32,561 --> 00:22:36,441 Speaker 2: twenty twenty five, that it was Charity who attacked him. 365 00:22:36,801 --> 00:22:39,521 Speaker 2: He said this happened after he grabbed her phone. He 366 00:22:39,601 --> 00:22:43,041 Speaker 2: said she was rageful, hitting me and kicking me. He said, 367 00:22:43,080 --> 00:22:46,200 Speaker 2: to defend him, he set Charity up on the bathroom 368 00:22:46,241 --> 00:22:48,120 Speaker 2: sink so he could have more room to open the 369 00:22:48,161 --> 00:22:52,041 Speaker 2: door and get out. Randal said Charity instigated the fight. 370 00:22:52,521 --> 00:22:55,241 Speaker 2: He claimed what their children have stated about the incident 371 00:22:55,281 --> 00:22:58,921 Speaker 2: since to counselors regarding being afraid of him is due 372 00:22:59,001 --> 00:23:03,041 Speaker 2: to Charity's coaching. He said that Charity had quote poisoned 373 00:23:03,041 --> 00:23:07,401 Speaker 2: them and you have damaged them, severely damaged them end quote. 374 00:23:07,721 --> 00:23:11,441 Speaker 2: Randal testified his and Charity's life together was pretty idyllic. 375 00:23:11,521 --> 00:23:13,641 Speaker 2: He said they would often talk about how blessed they were. 376 00:23:14,401 --> 00:23:17,160 Speaker 2: He questioned her directly about how she could say this 377 00:23:17,321 --> 00:23:21,281 Speaker 2: if he was, as she alleged, abusive. She responded that 378 00:23:21,401 --> 00:23:27,721 Speaker 2: Randal used classic coercive control moves. Then, Randal testified, approximately 379 00:23:27,801 --> 00:23:31,721 Speaker 2: nine months before the February sixteenth incident, that Charity quote 380 00:23:32,161 --> 00:23:33,961 Speaker 2: underwent a drastic transformation. 381 00:23:34,441 --> 00:23:36,721 Speaker 3: You were drinking a bottle of wine every day. 382 00:23:37,041 --> 00:23:42,321 Speaker 2: You were smoking marijuana heavily end quote. Randal testified that 383 00:23:42,401 --> 00:23:45,400 Speaker 2: Charity had stopped drinking and smoking pot, but he claimed 384 00:23:45,441 --> 00:23:46,681 Speaker 2: she continued to lie. 385 00:23:46,521 --> 00:23:48,001 Speaker 3: To him about various things. 386 00:23:48,561 --> 00:23:51,401 Speaker 2: Randal stated that Charity had started to glare at him 387 00:23:51,441 --> 00:23:54,360 Speaker 2: in a hateful way and that he truly began to 388 00:23:54,401 --> 00:23:58,521 Speaker 2: believe she hated him. Randal told the court he wanted 389 00:23:58,561 --> 00:24:02,641 Speaker 2: full custody because he claimed that Charity quote poisoned those children. 390 00:24:03,080 --> 00:24:06,161 Speaker 2: You abuse them in a sick manner. I'm not interested 391 00:24:06,201 --> 00:24:09,681 Speaker 2: in you seeing the children end quote. Randal stated the 392 00:24:09,761 --> 00:24:12,120 Speaker 2: kids were normal and happy and doing well in school. 393 00:24:13,041 --> 00:24:16,081 Speaker 2: He alleged that Charity had told them lies about what 394 00:24:16,201 --> 00:24:19,600 Speaker 2: Randal allegedly did to her. Now, he said, quote, I 395 00:24:19,641 --> 00:24:23,561 Speaker 2: have evidence that they are miserable, absolutely miserable. They live fearful, 396 00:24:23,681 --> 00:24:26,641 Speaker 2: miserable lives now, and that's your doing. One hundred percent 397 00:24:26,840 --> 00:24:32,201 Speaker 2: you're doing end quote. Randal claimed that Charity also lied 398 00:24:32,201 --> 00:24:35,641 Speaker 2: to the medical board about him taking heroin. He said 399 00:24:35,681 --> 00:24:38,041 Speaker 2: as a result of that, she had blown up his life. 400 00:24:38,401 --> 00:24:41,160 Speaker 2: He said he had seen psychiatrists to comply with the 401 00:24:41,201 --> 00:24:45,761 Speaker 2: mandatory court order counseling that he had taken medications, but 402 00:24:45,801 --> 00:24:48,281 Speaker 2: he stated that he was doing very well months down 403 00:24:48,281 --> 00:24:51,241 Speaker 2: the line. So I want to go back to what 404 00:24:51,361 --> 00:24:56,880 Speaker 2: precipitated this February sixteenth incident. Charity claimed in court that 405 00:24:57,041 --> 00:25:00,681 Speaker 2: on February eighth, Randal told Charity that he was leaving her, 406 00:25:01,041 --> 00:25:03,400 Speaker 2: that he wanted to find someone who loved him in 407 00:25:03,441 --> 00:25:06,121 Speaker 2: the way that he needed to be loved. Then, she 408 00:25:06,161 --> 00:25:09,400 Speaker 2: said she visited a divorce attorney, but Randall claimed that 409 00:25:09,481 --> 00:25:12,761 Speaker 2: after that that they reconciled. He said Charity said she 410 00:25:12,881 --> 00:25:14,921 Speaker 2: did love him, which is what he claimed he wanted 411 00:25:14,921 --> 00:25:17,881 Speaker 2: to hear. Randall said, for a little while he thought 412 00:25:17,881 --> 00:25:21,481 Speaker 2: everything would be okay, that maybe Charity didn't actually hate him, 413 00:25:22,201 --> 00:25:25,161 Speaker 2: But he said he now believed she had always hated him, 414 00:25:25,481 --> 00:25:27,641 Speaker 2: and that that's why, for example, he never met any 415 00:25:27,641 --> 00:25:30,521 Speaker 2: of your old friends. He believed she had been talking 416 00:25:30,601 --> 00:25:35,561 Speaker 2: bad about him to people for years. While Charity was 417 00:25:35,681 --> 00:25:38,920 Speaker 2: questioning Randal in front of the judge, Charity said that 418 00:25:39,001 --> 00:25:42,241 Speaker 2: it wasn't her intention to alienate him. She said, quote, 419 00:25:42,601 --> 00:25:45,841 Speaker 2: I truly believe you're capable of love. All you want 420 00:25:45,961 --> 00:25:50,481 Speaker 2: is control and money end quote. Then Randall's witnesses took 421 00:25:50,521 --> 00:25:53,840 Speaker 2: the stand. One of Randall's colleagues from Mercy said he 422 00:25:53,840 --> 00:25:56,880 Speaker 2: had worked with Randall for twelve years. He said he 423 00:25:56,961 --> 00:25:59,400 Speaker 2: also knew Randall on a personal level. He said in 424 00:25:59,441 --> 00:26:02,120 Speaker 2: all that time, Randall was professional and he saw zero 425 00:26:02,241 --> 00:26:06,641 Speaker 2: signs of anger. We learned that Randall is working again. 426 00:26:07,281 --> 00:26:11,160 Speaker 2: According to the divorce court transcripts, Randall testified on December 427 00:26:11,241 --> 00:26:14,201 Speaker 2: second that after he was hit with the felony charges 428 00:26:14,241 --> 00:26:17,841 Speaker 2: following the incident in February, Randall went on voluntary leave, 429 00:26:18,601 --> 00:26:22,041 Speaker 2: but once those charges were pleaded down to the single misdemeanor, 430 00:26:22,761 --> 00:26:25,241 Speaker 2: Randall requested that he'd be allowed to return to work, 431 00:26:26,080 --> 00:26:28,600 Speaker 2: which the hospital team and the board of managers voted 432 00:26:28,641 --> 00:26:32,360 Speaker 2: on and the legal team reviewed. After all that was done, 433 00:26:32,601 --> 00:26:35,721 Speaker 2: Randall was allowed to go back to work. He told 434 00:26:35,721 --> 00:26:38,761 Speaker 2: the judge on December second that he has been working 435 00:26:38,801 --> 00:26:43,681 Speaker 2: again as a doctor since late October. So Michael Pierre, 436 00:26:44,080 --> 00:26:46,721 Speaker 2: Randall's lawyer, brought up the book that she had written again. 437 00:26:47,721 --> 00:26:50,640 Speaker 2: In that book, in a chapter called Lies Always Haunt, 438 00:26:51,401 --> 00:26:54,521 Speaker 2: Charity wrote in the book she lied about Randall abusing 439 00:26:54,561 --> 00:26:57,961 Speaker 2: her and that luckily he had forgiven her. Now this 440 00:26:58,201 --> 00:27:02,481 Speaker 2: was back in twenty thirteen. Charity now claims in twenty 441 00:27:02,561 --> 00:27:04,880 Speaker 2: twenty five that what she wrote in the book was 442 00:27:04,921 --> 00:27:07,961 Speaker 2: a lie. She said she did that so that Randall 443 00:27:08,041 --> 00:27:12,161 Speaker 2: would pay the eighty thousand dollars in lawyer's fees. Charity 444 00:27:12,241 --> 00:27:16,521 Speaker 2: stated she believed Randall had dissipated all marital assets and 445 00:27:16,561 --> 00:27:19,360 Speaker 2: that Randall quote clearly wants to leave me with nothing 446 00:27:19,601 --> 00:27:24,880 Speaker 2: and he wants to take my kids end quote. Randall 447 00:27:24,961 --> 00:27:27,721 Speaker 2: and his attorney asked Charity, if Randal was so abusive, 448 00:27:27,921 --> 00:27:30,961 Speaker 2: why she would return to the marriage. They pointed to 449 00:27:31,001 --> 00:27:34,600 Speaker 2: text messages Charity sent after February sixteenth, in which she 450 00:27:34,641 --> 00:27:38,681 Speaker 2: begged him to come back as evidence. Charity stated Randal 451 00:27:38,840 --> 00:27:42,681 Speaker 2: used coerce of control on her, stating quote, that's also 452 00:27:42,801 --> 00:27:45,121 Speaker 2: a very common tame with not to poke the bear. 453 00:27:45,521 --> 00:27:49,481 Speaker 2: But with this personality, this control in every way, financial control, 454 00:27:49,561 --> 00:27:52,521 Speaker 2: coercive control, when to go to bed, control when to eat, 455 00:27:52,561 --> 00:27:55,321 Speaker 2: control who you can talk to, the friends you can have. 456 00:27:56,041 --> 00:27:58,241 Speaker 2: But I found peace even in that until I saw 457 00:27:58,281 --> 00:28:01,201 Speaker 2: that leaking into my children and they started walking on 458 00:28:01,241 --> 00:28:04,120 Speaker 2: eggshells all the time, and you can see his rage 459 00:28:04,161 --> 00:28:08,921 Speaker 2: coming end quote. The judge finally ruled on this divorce. 460 00:28:09,401 --> 00:28:12,801 Speaker 2: She stated the marital home would be split, the home 461 00:28:12,840 --> 00:28:16,361 Speaker 2: equity line of credit paid off, and then after that 462 00:28:16,921 --> 00:28:20,321 Speaker 2: the home would be auctioned off within sixty days. Randal 463 00:28:20,321 --> 00:28:31,400 Speaker 2: and Charity would split the proceeds of the sale. 464 00:28:36,361 --> 00:28:37,241 Speaker 3: The judge then. 465 00:28:37,121 --> 00:28:40,681 Speaker 2: Addressed the credibility of Charity and Randall. She stated she 466 00:28:40,801 --> 00:28:44,961 Speaker 2: found Randall more credible. She said, quote, the court finds 467 00:28:45,001 --> 00:28:48,561 Speaker 2: that the plainiff has some credibility issues. This is primarily 468 00:28:48,601 --> 00:28:52,201 Speaker 2: based on the investigator's testimony regarding the Hamilton House interviews, 469 00:28:52,681 --> 00:28:55,841 Speaker 2: meaning the interviews with the children that Randall's witnesses had 470 00:28:55,881 --> 00:29:00,281 Speaker 2: claimed seemed coached. The judge ruled Charity and Randall would 471 00:29:00,281 --> 00:29:04,881 Speaker 2: each receive their personal vehicles. The judge ended by saying, quote, 472 00:29:05,041 --> 00:29:07,921 Speaker 2: this court has some very serious concerns with both of you. 473 00:29:08,481 --> 00:29:10,841 Speaker 2: There has been a lot of history, I believe, based 474 00:29:10,881 --> 00:29:13,681 Speaker 2: on the evidence presented to me, of domestic violence. The 475 00:29:13,681 --> 00:29:16,721 Speaker 2: plaintiff has pulled a gun on the defendant. The defendant 476 00:29:16,761 --> 00:29:20,081 Speaker 2: has pled to recklessly endangering the planiff in a misdemeanor 477 00:29:20,081 --> 00:29:23,241 Speaker 2: domestic battery, and the court has to consider as one 478 00:29:23,241 --> 00:29:26,761 Speaker 2: of the factors in determining custody whether or not domestic 479 00:29:26,841 --> 00:29:29,361 Speaker 2: violence is in the home, and I have not heard 480 00:29:29,401 --> 00:29:32,521 Speaker 2: any testimony fortunately of domestic violence as it relates to 481 00:29:32,521 --> 00:29:35,961 Speaker 2: the children, or found any to be credible, and I'm 482 00:29:36,001 --> 00:29:40,081 Speaker 2: not including the children on the order of protection end quote. 483 00:29:40,241 --> 00:29:43,521 Speaker 2: The judge ruled Randall and Charity would have joint custody 484 00:29:43,521 --> 00:29:46,241 Speaker 2: of the children. Randall would have them for two weeks 485 00:29:46,281 --> 00:29:49,241 Speaker 2: at a time, followed by Charity for one week. After 486 00:29:49,321 --> 00:29:53,241 Speaker 2: six months, the situation would be reevaluated. The schedule was 487 00:29:53,321 --> 00:29:57,081 Speaker 2: due to start on December fifth, two days after Charity 488 00:29:57,201 --> 00:30:03,601 Speaker 2: and the twins' bodies were found. The judge stated that 489 00:30:03,641 --> 00:30:07,921 Speaker 2: she was quote concerned about the plaintiffs manipulation and control 490 00:30:08,041 --> 00:30:10,521 Speaker 2: and any future harm to the children end quote. 491 00:30:10,921 --> 00:30:11,961 Speaker 3: She meant Charity. 492 00:30:12,761 --> 00:30:16,521 Speaker 2: The judge wrote that Randall quote has been compliant with treatment. 493 00:30:16,561 --> 00:30:20,081 Speaker 2: He has presented evidence of stability and safety. His risk 494 00:30:20,121 --> 00:30:23,721 Speaker 2: to others is low. He does not demonstrate antisocial or 495 00:30:23,841 --> 00:30:27,801 Speaker 2: narcissistic personality traits that could potentially compromise his judgment or 496 00:30:27,841 --> 00:30:31,201 Speaker 2: put others at risk. He does not have mania, psychosis, 497 00:30:31,241 --> 00:30:35,321 Speaker 2: problems with impulse control or substance use. Neither party shall 498 00:30:35,361 --> 00:30:38,641 Speaker 2: discuss the case or adult issues with the minor children 499 00:30:39,081 --> 00:30:43,081 Speaker 2: outside of a therapeutic setting. Absentth the advice of the 500 00:30:43,121 --> 00:30:47,641 Speaker 2: minor children counselor, Charity had pulled the children out of 501 00:30:47,641 --> 00:30:51,041 Speaker 2: school and been homeschooling them. The judge ruled the children 502 00:30:51,161 --> 00:30:54,801 Speaker 2: be re enrolled in school, and if Charity and Randall disagreed, 503 00:30:54,921 --> 00:30:57,401 Speaker 2: the judge ruled to give Randall final say over their 504 00:30:57,481 --> 00:31:03,121 Speaker 2: educational decision making. The judge ordered child support in the 505 00:31:03,161 --> 00:31:05,921 Speaker 2: amount of two thousand, six hundred and twenty eight dollars 506 00:31:06,001 --> 00:31:09,321 Speaker 2: a month, which Randal was supposed to start paying immediately. 507 00:31:10,441 --> 00:31:12,481 Speaker 2: One question that has come up a lot in this 508 00:31:12,561 --> 00:31:16,561 Speaker 2: confusing and pretty chaotic case is were Charity and Randall 509 00:31:16,641 --> 00:31:19,961 Speaker 2: actually divorced at the time of the murders. From what 510 00:31:20,081 --> 00:31:23,521 Speaker 2: the judge stated in the transcripts, she decided the conditions 511 00:31:23,521 --> 00:31:27,201 Speaker 2: of the divorce on December second. According to my understanding, 512 00:31:27,441 --> 00:31:31,321 Speaker 2: under normal circumstances, the divorce would have been finalized a 513 00:31:31,361 --> 00:31:34,281 Speaker 2: day or two later once it was officially entered into 514 00:31:34,281 --> 00:31:37,601 Speaker 2: the court record. But then Charity's son, John filed a 515 00:31:37,641 --> 00:31:40,641 Speaker 2: motion to get her half of the marital state. He 516 00:31:40,801 --> 00:31:43,601 Speaker 2: stated in his court filing he does not believe Charity 517 00:31:43,601 --> 00:31:47,161 Speaker 2: Lie left a valid last will and testament. He believes 518 00:31:47,201 --> 00:31:50,481 Speaker 2: that because the children she had with Randall are also dead, 519 00:31:50,801 --> 00:31:54,321 Speaker 2: according to the laws of the state of Arkansas, John 520 00:31:54,401 --> 00:31:57,401 Speaker 2: Powell thinks he should be entitled to inherit the estate 521 00:31:57,401 --> 00:32:01,201 Speaker 2: of his mother. John stated in his petition the value 522 00:32:01,201 --> 00:32:04,241 Speaker 2: of the estate was unknown. There have been a lot 523 00:32:04,281 --> 00:32:07,361 Speaker 2: of strange developments in this case, even over the last week. 524 00:32:08,041 --> 00:32:11,041 Speaker 2: As we said last week in Part one, the divorce 525 00:32:11,121 --> 00:32:15,561 Speaker 2: was declared final on December second, but then on December fourth, 526 00:32:15,681 --> 00:32:19,681 Speaker 2: one day after the bodies were found, Randal Biallis's attorney 527 00:32:19,721 --> 00:32:22,681 Speaker 2: followed emotion arguing the divorce should be dismissed because it 528 00:32:22,761 --> 00:32:26,681 Speaker 2: wasn't technically finalized. On December eighth, the judge ruled the 529 00:32:26,721 --> 00:32:30,161 Speaker 2: marriage of Charity and Randall would instead be abated, meaning 530 00:32:30,241 --> 00:32:33,200 Speaker 2: put on pause. Legally, normally, this is something that can 531 00:32:33,241 --> 00:32:35,641 Speaker 2: be used as a tool if couples want to try 532 00:32:35,681 --> 00:32:37,881 Speaker 2: to reconcile or if there are legal issues that need 533 00:32:37,921 --> 00:32:38,521 Speaker 2: to be resolved. 534 00:32:39,121 --> 00:32:42,041 Speaker 3: But if the spouse dies before the final. 535 00:32:41,761 --> 00:32:45,561 Speaker 2: Degree is issued, there's something called abatement by death. It 536 00:32:45,681 --> 00:32:48,401 Speaker 2: means that the divorce action ends and the couple remains 537 00:32:48,481 --> 00:32:51,201 Speaker 2: legally married while the estate claims are being worked out. 538 00:32:52,001 --> 00:32:55,401 Speaker 2: So it's unclear what the legal status is now whether 539 00:32:55,521 --> 00:32:57,961 Speaker 2: Charity and the children's bodies will be released to John 540 00:32:58,121 --> 00:33:01,241 Speaker 2: her Son or Randall, her husband after the crime lab 541 00:33:01,321 --> 00:33:05,241 Speaker 2: is done with its testing. John Powell has also asked 542 00:33:05,241 --> 00:33:08,441 Speaker 2: the court to order when the crime lab is finished, 543 00:33:08,801 --> 00:33:11,321 Speaker 2: that the body of Charity be released to John Powell. 544 00:33:12,001 --> 00:33:15,361 Speaker 2: He also asked in the court order that the bodies 545 00:33:15,361 --> 00:33:17,441 Speaker 2: of his two half siblings be released to his care 546 00:33:17,481 --> 00:33:20,521 Speaker 2: as well. He says that he wants to make funeral 547 00:33:20,601 --> 00:33:23,401 Speaker 2: arrangements for his mother and half brother and half sisters 548 00:33:23,441 --> 00:33:27,161 Speaker 2: so that they can receive a proper burial. Again, a 549 00:33:27,201 --> 00:33:29,921 Speaker 2: lot of news stories have pointed to Randal by Allis 550 00:33:29,961 --> 00:33:33,481 Speaker 2: as the possible killer. But another thing that's very confusing 551 00:33:33,521 --> 00:33:36,641 Speaker 2: to me after reading these divorce documents is if Randall 552 00:33:36,761 --> 00:33:40,041 Speaker 2: did kill Charity and the kids, what was his motive. 553 00:33:40,681 --> 00:33:43,921 Speaker 3: Because we now know that the judge ordered. 554 00:33:43,801 --> 00:33:46,401 Speaker 2: That Randall have more custody of his kids, that the 555 00:33:46,441 --> 00:33:49,521 Speaker 2: divorce stated that Charity would go from having sole custody 556 00:33:49,561 --> 00:33:52,961 Speaker 2: to joint custody. In fact, Randall was going to have 557 00:33:53,001 --> 00:33:56,721 Speaker 2: the kids the majority of the time. Randall's attorney, Michael Pearce, 558 00:33:56,801 --> 00:33:59,841 Speaker 2: has told multiple media outlets. Randal was actually going to 559 00:33:59,881 --> 00:34:02,641 Speaker 2: be able to see his children more going forward. He 560 00:34:02,801 --> 00:34:05,001 Speaker 2: was actually due to pick them up shortly after the 561 00:34:05,041 --> 00:34:08,520 Speaker 2: divorce was finalized. Is there someone else that would have 562 00:34:08,520 --> 00:34:11,600 Speaker 2: had a reason to hurt Charity? Could this have been 563 00:34:11,641 --> 00:34:15,281 Speaker 2: some sort of murder suicide situation. Could she have felt, 564 00:34:15,321 --> 00:34:18,201 Speaker 2: possibly that Randall was a monster and that if her 565 00:34:18,321 --> 00:34:20,601 Speaker 2: children went back to him they would be in danger. 566 00:34:21,601 --> 00:34:23,680 Speaker 2: Could she have irrationally believed. 567 00:34:23,321 --> 00:34:24,800 Speaker 3: She was protecting them? 568 00:34:25,161 --> 00:34:28,120 Speaker 2: Again, we have to wait for information to come out 569 00:34:28,281 --> 00:34:31,321 Speaker 2: via law enforcement, because while we can track down a 570 00:34:31,321 --> 00:34:34,440 Speaker 2: lot of information through court documents and social media commentary, 571 00:34:35,121 --> 00:34:37,281 Speaker 2: there is still a lot that we don't know about 572 00:34:37,281 --> 00:34:40,281 Speaker 2: forensics and that we don't know about these killings. But 573 00:34:40,361 --> 00:34:45,761 Speaker 2: we will keep you posted as more information develops. Investigators 574 00:34:45,761 --> 00:34:49,481 Speaker 2: have not announced any suspects and have not arrested anyone 575 00:34:49,520 --> 00:34:52,561 Speaker 2: in connection with this case. They haven't even officially stated 576 00:34:52,601 --> 00:34:57,641 Speaker 2: this was a homicide once again. Randal Billis's attorney, Michael Pierce, 577 00:34:58,041 --> 00:35:01,001 Speaker 2: has repeatedly stated Randall had nothing to do with Charity 578 00:35:01,001 --> 00:35:04,361 Speaker 2: in the children's death, that Randal was devastated that he 579 00:35:04,440 --> 00:35:07,361 Speaker 2: expected to be taking custody of his children, and he's 580 00:35:07,440 --> 00:35:12,881 Speaker 2: now faced with the reality of planning their funerals. Charity's 581 00:35:12,960 --> 00:35:15,401 Speaker 2: social media posts and the months before her death were 582 00:35:15,401 --> 00:35:20,721 Speaker 2: getting increasingly desperate, she posted on the news website KFSM five. 583 00:35:20,641 --> 00:35:22,121 Speaker 3: News Facebook page. In August. 584 00:35:22,761 --> 00:35:25,281 Speaker 2: She claims she had written a letter to Sebastian County 585 00:35:25,321 --> 00:35:29,241 Speaker 2: prosecuting attorney Daniel Schue. She said Daniel would not accept 586 00:35:29,241 --> 00:35:32,401 Speaker 2: a letter from her regarding alleged domestic violence by Randall. 587 00:35:33,561 --> 00:35:35,520 Speaker 3: The judge, Shannon Blatt. 588 00:35:35,161 --> 00:35:38,561 Speaker 2: Who granted the divorce, finalized the hearing by saying, quote, 589 00:35:39,161 --> 00:35:41,521 Speaker 2: I have a little sticky note that says, don't dislike 590 00:35:41,561 --> 00:35:44,761 Speaker 2: each other more than you love your children. And your 591 00:35:44,881 --> 00:35:47,200 Speaker 2: children deserve love, and they deserve that from. 592 00:35:47,121 --> 00:35:47,561 Speaker 3: Both of you. 593 00:35:48,161 --> 00:35:50,480 Speaker 2: I expect you to put your children first and make 594 00:35:50,521 --> 00:35:53,161 Speaker 2: them your priority and make sure they are raised in 595 00:35:53,161 --> 00:35:55,401 Speaker 2: a happy, healthy and loving environment. 596 00:35:55,801 --> 00:35:57,200 Speaker 3: End quote. 597 00:35:57,241 --> 00:35:59,440 Speaker 2: We said, this case continues to have a lot of 598 00:35:59,440 --> 00:36:03,241 Speaker 2: twists and turns. Even the judge, Shannon Blatt, has been 599 00:36:03,241 --> 00:36:07,281 Speaker 2: the target of alleged threats. On December twelfth, twenty twenty five, 600 00:36:07,721 --> 00:36:11,120 Speaker 2: forty twenty nine News reported that Shannon Blatt, the judge 601 00:36:11,121 --> 00:36:14,601 Speaker 2: who ruled on the divorce, told police that Charity's father 602 00:36:14,921 --> 00:36:18,761 Speaker 2: Randy Powell called her on the day Charity and her 603 00:36:18,841 --> 00:36:22,281 Speaker 2: children were found dead at their home. She said Randy 604 00:36:22,440 --> 00:36:25,440 Speaker 2: was in a rage. Judge Blatt wrote a letter to 605 00:36:25,481 --> 00:36:29,480 Speaker 2: both attorneys Charity's and Randall's, discussing the phone calls she 606 00:36:29,521 --> 00:36:32,641 Speaker 2: received on December third. In that letter, which was dated 607 00:36:32,641 --> 00:36:37,161 Speaker 2: December eleventh, she wrote that Randy Powell, Charity's father, accused 608 00:36:37,241 --> 00:36:38,601 Speaker 2: her the judge. 609 00:36:38,201 --> 00:36:39,801 Speaker 3: Of being responsible for Charity's death. 610 00:36:40,561 --> 00:36:43,480 Speaker 2: The letters stated that quote specifically, mister Powell stated the 611 00:36:43,561 --> 00:36:46,241 Speaker 2: judge might as well have pulled the trigger herself, and 612 00:36:46,440 --> 00:36:51,121 Speaker 2: that the judge essentially killed his daughter and grandchildren. Randy 613 00:36:51,201 --> 00:36:54,040 Speaker 2: also stated the court has blood on her hands and 614 00:36:54,081 --> 00:36:56,241 Speaker 2: asked if the court was still going to keep him 615 00:36:56,281 --> 00:37:00,721 Speaker 2: from his grandchildren end quote. The judge was so disturbed 616 00:37:00,761 --> 00:37:03,520 Speaker 2: by this call that, according to court records, someone at 617 00:37:03,521 --> 00:37:06,121 Speaker 2: the court reported the call to the Fort Smith Police Department, 618 00:37:06,681 --> 00:37:09,961 Speaker 2: and they apparently took this seriously because the police chief, 619 00:37:09,960 --> 00:37:13,041 Speaker 2: according to news reports that cite the police department call logs, 620 00:37:13,561 --> 00:37:15,881 Speaker 2: ordered extra security for Judge Powell. 621 00:37:18,841 --> 00:37:21,801 Speaker 3: Forty twenty nine. Knews spoke to Judge Powell about her reaction. 622 00:37:22,601 --> 00:37:25,641 Speaker 2: What did she think when she heard about what happened 623 00:37:25,801 --> 00:37:29,761 Speaker 2: inside that home. The judge told the news station. Quote, 624 00:37:30,161 --> 00:37:34,681 Speaker 2: I don't know how to describe it, Sir tears, heart broken, unbelievable, 625 00:37:34,721 --> 00:37:38,040 Speaker 2: and anger thinking maybe I was dreaming of somebody having 626 00:37:38,081 --> 00:37:41,081 Speaker 2: a nightmare in that way. Maybe somebody will wake me 627 00:37:41,201 --> 00:37:46,161 Speaker 2: up and this wouldn't be true. End quote. I'm Katherine Townsend. 628 00:37:47,161 --> 00:37:51,681 Speaker 2: This is Helen Gone Murder Line. Helen Gone Murder Line 629 00:37:51,761 --> 00:37:54,601 Speaker 2: is a production of School of Humans and iHeart Podcasts. 630 00:37:54,921 --> 00:37:58,241 Speaker 2: It's written and narrated by me Catherine Townsend and produced 631 00:37:58,241 --> 00:38:01,681 Speaker 2: by Etaly Perez. Special thanks to Amy Tubbs for her 632 00:38:01,721 --> 00:38:05,521 Speaker 2: research assistance and to James Wheaton for legal review. Noah 633 00:38:05,561 --> 00:38:08,601 Speaker 2: camer mixed and scored this episode. Our theme song is 634 00:38:08,641 --> 00:38:12,961 Speaker 2: by Ben Sale. Executive producers are Virginia Prescott, Brandon Barr, 635 00:38:12,960 --> 00:38:16,201 Speaker 2: and LC Crowley. Listen to Helen Gone ad free by 636 00:38:16,201 --> 00:38:20,081 Speaker 2: subscribing to the iHeart True Crime Plus channel on Apple Podcasts. 637 00:38:20,641 --> 00:38:23,361 Speaker 2: If you are interested in seeing documents and materials from 638 00:38:23,401 --> 00:38:26,520 Speaker 2: the case, you can follow the show on Instagram at 639 00:38:26,761 --> 00:38:29,761 Speaker 2: Helen Gone Pod. If you have a case you'd like 640 00:38:29,801 --> 00:38:32,000 Speaker 2: me and my team to look into, you can reach 641 00:38:32,041 --> 00:38:34,040 Speaker 2: out to us at our Helen Gone Murder line at 642 00:38:34,081 --> 00:38:37,401 Speaker 2: six seven eight seven four four six' one four. Five 643 00:38:37,921 --> 00:38:41,041 Speaker 2: that's six seven eight seven four four six' one. 644 00:38:41,161 --> 00:38:41,680 Speaker 3: Four five 645 00:38:48,681 --> 00:38:49,601 Speaker 1: School of humans