Turn on desktop notifications for breaking stories about interest? Prior to that, she worked at the Advanced Animal Care clinic on Sherwood Way as a veterinarian. Their reasoning was that if Davidson was claiming Severance may be a deserter, then there would be a possibility she was helping him hide out. Watch Wendi Mae Davidson (Season 27, Episode 9) of Snapped or get episode details on NBC.com. She was a new young veterinarian with her own clinic. window.googletag.pubads().addEventListener('slotRenderEnded', function(event) { However, he was also the victim of a brutal murder not too long after shifting base there. Eventually Mike's body turned up in a stock pond on a private ranch. In January 2005, Davidson reported her husband, Air Force Staff Sgt. It does seem as though justice was not done.. Perhaps it is not too late for the two boys to have great lives. According to reports, she had made quite a name for herself as a veterinary doctor and even started her own clinic shortly before the tragedy. I was born in Baltimore, Maryland, lived more than two decades in Virginia, lived in New Braunfels, Texas, for another two and am now back in the shadow of the Blue Ridge mountains in Bedford, Virginia, with my husband and a sheltie named Emmitt Otter. However, Michael allegedly feared that bad things might happen to him in Canada, and Wendi insisted that she spotted him using caffeine pills. Instead, our system considers things like how recent a review is and if the reviewer bought the item on Amazon. Diane Fanning is one of my best authors. Michael Severance, missing. After denying the charges for a year, she pleaded no contest to the charges in October 2006 and was sentenced 25 years to prison, but has continued to maintain her innocence. She wassentenced to 25 years in prison, according to Texas CBS affiliateKBTX-TV. eventCategory: event.slot.getSlotElementId(), Full content visible, double tap to read brief content. 25, 2022 at 8 p.m. on ABC. During an interview, she "got kind of defensive," according to court documents, raising suspicions further. The San Angelo Police Department, the Texas Rangers and the Air Force Office of Special Investigations (OSI) began investigating Severance's disappearance. Just shaking my head the whole time. When confronted by police, Davidson called her brother, who was a game warden at the time, and told him that she had found Severance dead in the living room and moved his body to the remote ranch but did not kill him. Wendi told police that Mike had been acting erraticallyvisiting local clubs, staying out late, sometimes not coming home at all. Davidson denied killing him but said she moved his remains to a remote Texas pond. Performance & security by Cloudflare. Very enjoyable. When the police confronted Davidson with the information, she said she had researched it because during that time volunteer searchers were searching for Severance. Wendi Mae Davidson was a typical Texan woman from a typical Texan town. So, tell me about crime in Virginia. This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks. Former Texas veterinarian and mother of two Wendi Mae Davidson is currently serving 25 years in prison for murdering her husband in 2005. A break came in the case in February 2005. The same evening, her brother contacted the police and told them she had confessed to dumping the body. Excuse me??? When Severance didn't show up for work, he became AWOL, and the OSI was able to take the lead in a deserter investigation. I want people to know what did and didn't happen.". It comes to the brink of it several times, such as Wendi's parents' seemingly odd behaviors and then drops off short of solutions--every time. Davidson said that she moved Severance's body to the pond, stabbed the body and weighed it down with cinderblocks. Never will, she is heard saying in interview footage obtained by Snapped.. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. , Enhanced typesetting Greg calls me back, he saidto me, verymatter-of-factly, I think somethings up, Leslie told Snapped.. Hence, without wasting time, detectives arrested Wendi and charged her with first-degree murder and two counts of tampering with evidence. ", "I think my husband was a victim, I think my children were victims," she said. Severancewas on leave at the time, however,and an official OSI inquiry couldnotbegin until he was due back on base. "My parents drove up, and me and my brother were telling them everything that happened, which was that I had found him dead and dumped his body in the pond.". But alas, in January 2005, when he was around 3-years-old, and his younger brother Shane 5 months, they both lost him for good Michael went missing, only to be found dead in a pond in March. Scary to think those two innocent children are left behind to be raised by them. Davidson was subsequently charged with first-degree murder and two counts of tampering with evidence, according to theAssociated Press. They were due to arrive on Jan.16, 2005, butDavidson calledSeverances family and said hehad disappeared. : This book is terrible. Following the police interview, Davidson called her brother Marshall Davidson, who was a game warden at the time, and told him that she had found Severance dead in the living room and that she dumped his body in a pond on the Four Sevens Ranch, but she swore she hadn't killed him. Nevertheless, the search for Michael Severance stretched for two months, and once he was considered AWOL, the Air Force Office of Special Investigations took over the case and started tracking Wendis car. ABC Wendi Mae Davidson details what she did after discovering husband's body By Matt Lombardi, Cari Strassberg, Haley Yamada Share Former Texas veterinarian and mother of two Wendi Mae Davidson is currently serving 25 years in prison for murdering her husband in 2005. Email us [email protected] call212 416 4552. , St. Martin's True Crime; 1st edition (August 12, 2009), Publication date hitType: 'event', Their reasoning was that if Davidson was claiming Severance may be a deserter, then there would be a possibility she was helping him hide out. There was an error retrieving your Wish Lists. "I did what I did, I think it was horrible, I think that I made a bad choice, there were better choices to be made. Diane Fanning's A Poisioned Passion is the true, shocking story of a war hero and a marriage that ended in cold-blooded murder. All Rights Reserved. They were planning a trip back east to Maine and were due to arrive at Severance's home on January 16, 2005, but never showed. : Then, Wendis search history on the computer at her clinic showed that she looked up decomposition of a body in water and polygraph tests. ga('ads.send', { The 24-year-old met Wendi in 2003, and the couple quickly had a son together. There is a story here and I wish someone with insight had been allowed to tell it, with all of the story because this mystery was never solved. Does this item contain quality or formatting issues? The show will air Friday, Mar. After Davidson was charged, her defense team quickly filed a motion to suppress the evidence gained from the tracking device in her car -- claiming it was illegally obtained -- since, by law, officers need to get a court order to allow them to attach a tracker to a person's vehicle. A few weeks later, the results from the hard drive revealed suspicious searches on the computer, including "decomposition of a body in water.". He had been stabbed 41 times and was weighed down with more than 140 pounds of car parts, tires, and cinder blocks so his body wound not float to the surface. In that capacity, I served three terms by appointment of the Governor of Texas on the State Advisory Committee and received the 2002 NACG Freedom Fighter Award. Michael Agerter's Mother Looks Back on His Life. "I think Mike's family are victims.". Now she said she is ready to tell her side of the story. They married in September 2004 and settled into a life together in San Angelo, Texas, close to Wendi's veterinary clinic. "I knew air made bodies float, so I decided to make holes in the body, vent holes, like, so that air could escape.". , Print length Davidson was quickly taken into custody, but she refused to be interviewed and requested an attorney. She all but confirmed she was behind his disappearance when, after the interview, she drove straight to the ranch. Reviewed in the United States on May 4, 2015. Despite the shock, they were excited to have a child together, especiallySeverancewho was definitely excited to be adad, according to his brother. let gads_event; . Shewas denied parole in 2019, and her next eligible parole date is in May 2024. It also analyzed reviews to verify trustworthiness. Powered by WordPress.com VIP. Prosecutors argued that since officers thought Severance was AWOL at the time, OSI gained the necessary permissions and approval to utilize tracking devices. Davidson said she does not think she is a "victim. In 2019, Davidson was denied parole and is scheduled to be released from Gatesville Correctional Facility in 2031. Former Texas veterinarian and mother of two Wendi Mae Davidson is currently serving 25 years in prison for murdering her husband in 2005. Watch Snapped highlight 'Wendi Mae Davidson' on NBC.com . In October 2006, Davidson pleaded no contest to first-degree murder and two counts of tampering with evidence. The next morning,Severance's body was found in the bottom of the pond. Severance's toxicology report revealed that he had been poisoned with animal tranquilizers and then stabbed 41 times posthumously. Now she said she is ready to tell her side of the story. After spending a significant amount of time overseas, he was assigned to the Dyess Air Force base in Abilene, Texas, where he would have an ultimately fatal meeting with his future wife Wendi Mae Davidson. ga('ads.send', { ga('ads.send', { She was sentenced to 25 years in prison. After Davidson was released from jail on bond, a toxicology report revealed that Severance had been poisoned by animal tranquilizers that Davidson would have had access to in her clinic. We aren't any worse than the other small towns dotting this entire continent. Wendi told the police that she had last seen her husband the day before, sometime during the afternoon. During one visit, she stoppednear a pond on the property. Wendi was arrested for the murder of Mike Severance and after 32 days behind bars, her parents raised the $500,000 bond to get her released. No one should write a book EVER if you can't answer any more questions than this. Additional gift options are available when buying one eBook at a time. They did learn, however, that there was tension between Severance and his mother-in-law Judy Davidson, who worked as an office manager in her daughters veterinary practice and said she "didn't like him. Nothing Here! The only thing that I noticed that changed with Mike was he was having a very hard time driving back and forth to Abilene every day. The San Angelo Police Department, the Texas Rangers and the Air Force Office of Special Investigations (OSI) began investigating Severance's disappearance. } Davidson then tried to paint her husband as an alcoholic, ABC reports, however, there was never any evidence to suggest that Severance had a problem with drugs or alcohol. However, when officers got warrants for Wendis computer, they saw she had googled how to decompose a body in water. Severance and Davidson were planning a trip back east to Maine in early 2005. : I am an experienced non-fiction, fiction and commercial writer. hitType: 'event', But Davidson has continued to adamantly maintain her innocence. Despite what Davidson said, there was never any evidence to suggest that her husband had a problem with drugs or alcohol. The victim is made to be a pure, faceless war hero. And, Ms Fanning, the polygamists are gone too, fyi. Unable to add item to List. For the first time, she's speaking about the murder and her life in prison. The only thing that I noticed that changed with Mike was he was having a very hard time driving back and forth to Abilene every day. Great job Diane Fanning. James Harden surprises fan paralyzed in MSU shooting with FaceTime call and donation, 2 million air fryers recalled due to fire and burn hazards, Students speak out about bullying after fellow student dies by suicide, 'GMA' Deals & Steals on women-owned businesses, MORE: Mother convicted of poisoning her family maintains her innocence, MORE: Lead prosecutor shares courtroom strategy that took down Robert Durst. I'm a cop, you can't be telling me this,'" Davidson said. Powered by WordPress.com VIP. I want at least one why. "I had to take these weights, and I'm trying to tie them onto this body, and of course it's the middle of the night, you know, can't hardly see," said Davidson, who said she stabbed the body because she was afraid it would float to the surface. ga('ads.send', { His wife, veterinarian Wendi Mae Davidson, was arrested and eventually found guilty of murder. The story is incredible and well explained by the author. No one got away with murder here. , Word Wise Severance's murder has been chronicled in the latest episode of Oxygen's 'Snapped,' which airs on Sundays at 6/5c. "I had to take these weights, and I'm trying to tie them onto this body, and of course it's the middle of the night, you know, can't hardly see," said Davidson, who said she stabbed the body because she was afraid it would float to the surface. Severance quicklylearned how to line dance and two-step after realizing it was a great way to meetwomen. Never did. Hes a minor, meaning hes still under the guardianship of his maternal grandparents, but both Leslie and Frank Severances Facebook accounts make it clear that he often visits them in Maine as well. Cloudflare Ray ID: 7a2b1453acc99e4a You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked. Reviewed in the United States on September 22, 2016. Notifications can be turned off anytime from browser settings. eventAction: 'click_adunit' People who knew Wendi described her as a helpful woman who had a high standing in society and loved participating in community events. Davidson said that her brother said he'd call an attorney, but instead he called investigators and told them what Davidson had told him. window.googletag.cmd.push(function() { She was sentenced to 25 years in prison in 2006. He was then weighed down with car parts, tires,and cinder blocks. Grandmother with dementia died from face wound neglected by staff for days. pg.acq.push(function() { eventAction: 'view' 103.30.145.169 I don't know you just have to read it. Wendi gave birth to her first child in October 2001. As a result, the judge sentenced her to a total of 25 years in prison in 2006. Create a free profile to get unlimited access to exclusive videos, breaking news, sweepstakes, and more! On the upside, it's a fast read and the case has some interesting elements on its own. Severance's toxicology report revealed that he had been poisoned with animal tranquilizers and then stabbed 41 times posthumously. After all, their son was only a few weeks old when they tied the knot at a Texas courthouse before moving into an apartment behind Wendis veterinary clinic in San Angelo. Michaels father, Leslie, wanted full custody of Shane Michael Severance, but in the end, not only did a judge grant joint custody to the two families, but they also mandated supervised visits between Shane and his mother. Oxygen Insider is your all-access pass to never-before-seen content, free digital evidence kits, and much more. pg.acq.push(function() { A First Look at . Wendi Mae Davidson continues to maintain her innocence. They married in September 2004 and settled into a life together in San Angelo, Texas, close to Wendis veterinary clinic. Woman convicted in 2005 murder of her husband speaks from prison. "I want my side of the story, what happened. hitType: 'event', When he was a few weeks old, his parents Wendi Mae Davidson and Michael Severance tied the knot at a Texas courthouse and eventually moved to an apartment behind Wendi's veterinary clinic. Davidson is known as a San Angelo, Texas, native who was accused of murdering her husband in 2005. And we actually have government. While such an explanation seemed quite far-fetched, authorities even found animal tranquilizers in the victims system; a drug Wendi could have easily availed from her clinic. Davidson loved working with animals and attended Texas A&M University with the intention of becoming a veterinarian. By the age of twenty-four, Air Force Staff Sergeant Mike Severance had already survived a series of missions in Afghanistan and Iraq. Wendi Mae Davidson on moving husband's body: 20/20 'Dead Man Talking' Preview ABC News 14M subscribers Subscribe 9.6K views 9 months ago #2020 Davidson said that she moved Michael. Lesliethenreached out to the Air Force Office of SpecialInvestigations(OSI), which he likens to a mini-CIA. Davidson had a son from a previous relationship. Read instantly on your browser with Kindle for Web. The plea agreement stipulated that Davidson would be sentenced to 25 years on a murder charge and 10 years each on two evidence . Although Wendi was adamant about her innocence, she decided to plead no contest to the charges when produced in court. Her ex-fiance is facing a murder charge. Eventually Mike's body turned up in a stock pond on a private ranch. The action you just performed triggered the security solution. Reviewed in the United States on May 8, 2020. Former Texas veterinarian and mother of two Wendi Mae Davidson is currently serving 25 years in prison for murdering her husband in 2005. Later, an autopsy determined that while the victim was stabbed 41 times, he also had a lethal amount of animal tranquilizers in his system. Click to reveal As an arm of the U.S. military, the OSIisunconstrained by the same laws as local police and put a GPS tracker on Davidsons car. The OSI became involved because in addition to Michael Severance being a missing person, he also didnt show up for work in the Air Force, Texas Ranger Shawn Palmer toldSnapped. It made him AWOL and ultimately a deserter investigation for them.. Watch the full story on "20/20" TONIGHT at 8 p.m. It had also been stabbed forty-one times with a knife. But I still didn't kill him," Davidson said. The Severance family was granted temporary guardianship of Shane at one point, while Tristan was given to Wendis parents once her legal troubles began, leading to a bitter and lengthy battle for the formers custody. Davidson has maintained her innocence, later telling ABC's Matt Gutman in 2021 that she did not kill her husband. Maine Man Vanished 4 Months After Wedding. However, Wendi had access to phenobarbital and pentobarbital, the tranquilizers found in Michaels system. However, sources mention that she soon called up her brother, a game warden, and revealed how she discovered her husband dead in the living room. }) He was an accomplished skier and good at anything on wheels, according to hisbrother,Frank Severance. So, if youre curious to find out what exactly happened in this case, weve got you covered. In a last-ditch attempt, Severance's father, Leslie, reached out to the Air Force Office of Special Investigations (OSI) for help. Wendi Mae Davidson's son Shane Michael Severance was under the joint custody of her paternal family and mother. Ironically, thats when it all went wrong. There is no reason for his murder in this account and the writer arrogantly asks the reader to just "believe me because I'm an author". Everybodywas excited and happy, Frank told Snapped., We were just waiting for the oldestboy because he had never seen snow, Leslie told Snapped.. Like us on Facebook atwww.facebook.com/TheSunUSand follow us from our main Twitter account at@TheSunUS, Daughter of murdered couple linked to Delphi case reveals paranoia, Serena Williams stepmom's debts continue to spiral amid crumbling home battle, 'Glaring error' left 'habitual liar' Alex Murdaugh 'boxed in' during trial, Alex Murdaugh jailed for life after disgraced lawyer guilty of murder, 2020 THE SUN, US, INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED | TERMS OF USE | PRIVACY | YOUR AD CHOICES | SITEMAP, Wendi Mae Davidson was accused of killing her husband in 2005, Wendi was sentenced to 25 years in prison but maintains her innocence. : Crime News is your destination for true crime stories from around the world, breaking crime news, and information about Oxygen's original true crime shows and documentaries. The couple had given birth to their first child. Now she said she is ready to tell her side of the story. At the time of Michael's disappearance, Wendi resided with her husband and their son in San Angelo, Texas. Except in this book. Pro se appellant Wendi Mae Davidson complains of the trial court's order in her suit to modify parent-child relationship (SAPCR) seeking increased contact with her son, S.S., who was fifteen years old when the order was signed. Wendi and her mother insisted that Mike had . Wendi Mae Davidson claimed, two months after his 2005 disappearance, that she found her husband dead at home. However, nothing tied her to Michaels disappearance, bringing the case to a halt. Michael Severance was reported missing by his wife, Wendi Mae Davidson, in January 2005; law enforcement officers hoped for his safe return. Halfway through, Chapters 25-56, there is almost no more writing, but instead typed, rambling, verbatim conversations and letters which I assume are public record. Despite her statement, in October 2006, Davidson pleaded no contest to first-degree murder and two counts of tampering with evidence. Shane thus grew up with both sides of the family, from where he seemingly learned that his parents are much more than just this tragedy. The couple subsequently moved into an apartment in the back of a San Angelo veterinary clinic that Davidson had recently purchased, where it all went wrong. WheninvestigatorsinterviewedJudy,she was frank about her opinion ofSeverance. Davidson said she does not think she is a "victim. In the winter of 2005, Mike's wife, a veterinarian named Wendi Mae Davidson, reported him missing. Now she said she is ready to tell her side of the story. She pleaded no contest to murder and two evidence tampering charges, and was sentenced to 25. To calculate the overall star rating and percentage breakdown by star, we dont use a simple average. Well, lets delve into the details surrounding the murder and find out where Wendi is at present, shall we? Inside final days of Wendi Mae Davidson's husband before she 'poisoned him with tranquillizer & stabbed him 41 times',AIR Force Sergeant Michael Severance disappeared with a trace in 2005 without his car or cell phone, leaving his loved ones looking for answers. Before becoming a nonfiction writer, Fanning worked in advertising, and she earned more than 70 Addy Awards. reporters on a platform technologically tailored to meet the needs of the modern reader. They found she repeatedly visited asprawlinglivestock ranch outside town that belonged to a friend of the family. At the time of his disappearance, Severance had already deployed five times to the Middle East and was preparing for his sixth tour. Michael's father, Leslie, wanted full custody of Shane Michael Severance, but in the end, not only did a judge grant joint custody to the two families, but they also mandated supervised visits between Shane and his mother. Never did. WENDI Mae Davidson is serving a 25-year sentence for murdering her husband in 2005. "What I did was horrible, there's no excuse. Michael absolutely loved Texas, Leslie told Snapped.. A break came in the case in February 2005. https://t.co/QF6pYZcsqt ABC News (@ABC) March 25, 2022 Shane is by all accounts a cryptic individual avoiding the spotlight. window.googletag.pubads().addEventListener('impressionViewable', function(event) { }); The couple was supposed to fly out to Maine on January 16, 2005, but Wendi called Michael's parents to say she couldn't find him anywhere. However, Michaels phone and wallet were still at home, and his family thought it was uncharacteristic of him to leave abruptly. 40.6K subscribers Wendi Mae Davidson excelled in school and succeeded in her career, but her personal life was always a mess. My biggest gripe is that it was injected with so much of the author's random opining (stuff like [though this is paraphrased]: "she must not have been thinking about her children as she dragged his corpse "). Main Content. Into the Water: An Astonishing True Story of Abduction, Murder, and the Nice Guy Next Door (St. Martin's True Crime Library), Written in Blood: A True Story of Murder and a Deadly 16-Year-Old Secret that Tore a Family Apart (St. Martin's True Crime Library), Gone Forever: A True Story of Marriage, Betrayal, and Murder (True Crime (St. Martin's Paperbacks)), Under Cover of the Night: A True Story of Sex, Greed and Murder, Her Deadly Web: The True Story of a Former Nurse and the Strange and Suspicious Deaths of Her Two Husbands (St. Martin's True Crime Library), Bitter Remains: A Custody Battle, A Gruesome Crime, and the Mother Who Paid the Ultimate Price. Also, the book starts out incredibly choppy. 2023 Cinemaholic Inc. All rights reserved. In 2019, Davidson was denied parole and is scheduled to be released from Gatesville Correctional Facility in 2031. Former Texas veterinarian and mother of two Wendi Mae Davidson is currently serving 25 years in prison for murdering her husband in 2005. But his life back at home, in Texas, would prove a lot more dangerousIn the winter of 2005, Mike's wife, a veterinarian named Wendi Mae Davidson, reported him missing. It revealed that she had performed Internet searches on polygraph tests and the phrase "decomposition of a body in water," according tocourt documents. In September2004, mere weeks after the birth of their son,Severanceand Davidson were married at a Texas courthouse. She claimed he had been drinking a lot because he was being deployed to Afghanistan once again and might have run away. She was no dummy but when you read all the transcripts of her phone call, the complete lack of consideration for anyone but herself. For the work I began with THROUGH THE WINDOW, I received the "Defender of Innocence" award from the Downstate Illinois Innocence Project. Her other works of true crime include the best-selling. How climate change and forest management make wildfires harder to contain, Disparity in police response: Black Lives Matter protests and Capitol riot. I want people to know what did and didn't happen.". }); "Rage is hitting (stabbing or poking) one spot. . Your recently viewed items and featured recommendations, By purchasing this title, you agree to Audible's, Update your device or payment method, cancel individual pre-orders or your subscription at. Copyright 2023 ABC News Internet Ventures. I couldn't figure out who was who until the second or third chapters, which almost made me put it down altogether. Michael Severances body was foundat the bottom of pond weighted downwithcar parts, tires, and cinder blocks. For details, please see the Terms & Conditions associated with these promotions. So, if youre curious to find out what exactly happened in this case, weve got you covered. Follow authors to get new release updates, plus improved recommendations. : Investigation Discoverys Tranquilized By Love delves into Michael Severances brutal slaying and how a lengthy investigation led the authorities to his wife, Wendi Mae Davidson. After several years overseas, he was assigned to Dyess Air Force Base in Abilene, Texas. When Severance didn't show up for work, he became AWOL, and the OSI was able to take the lead in a deserter investigation. During surveillance, they saw that she had been visiting a remote ranch called Four Sevens Ranch, about 20 miles outside of San Angelo.