[116], St. Louis station KTVI broke the Betsy Faria story, reporting continuously on the case from December 28, 2011, through 2022, generating more than fifty reports and investigations. She saw a bigger picture. They did not interview Hupp. [63] He further suggested that, by the time of Russ' second trial, Lincoln County prosecutors were acting to protect their own civil liability rather than seeking justice. Earlier that year, prior to her mother's death, Hupp had been videotaped saying, "My mom's worth half a million that I get when she dies [] if I really wanted money, there was an easier way than trying to combat somebody that's physically stronger than me". Schwartz argued that Russ had four people who could testify to his whereabouts that night, as well as receipts and surveillance footage, which confirmed his location around the time Betsy was killed. Faria, who was 11 years Hupps junior, was known for being sweet and bubbly, with a reputation for being scatterbrained and often short on cash. [110][111] Burch's attorney, Gary Burger, subsequently filed to garnish Hupp's prison trust account, into which her $1,200 COVID-19 CARES Act relief stimulus was paid. She may have also been looking to take attention away from her own involvement in the case. S26 E25 02/09/20. This brutal crime set off a chain of events that would expose a diabolical scheme deeply involving Pam Hupp. Boschert claims he never sent the note, which was written on his official stationary. ET): The article was updated to clarify Hupps account of the Gumpenberger shooting, and updated to reflect Dateline's extensive coverage of Hupp. She always told me she was involved somewhere like the FBI, something with security clearance, kind of in the past but maybe still, he said. "The Thing About Pam," an NBC limited series starring Rene Zellweger, is the latest in a series of projects that center on the story of convicted murderer Pam Hupp. Make it look like Russ' wife. The series will also be made available to . If it's details you're after, then details you shall find in this true crime book. You may find the call disturbing, as it includes the victim's final moments of life, as well as the sound of gunshots. One of them, Kathleen Meyer, said, "This was going to be a legacy for her, to leave something like this behind in her memory. [58] Court documents filed by Wood asserted that Hupp murdered Betsy for financial gain. The killer will be the focus of a new TV series based on her crimes and her connection to the unsolved murder of Betsy Faria. Stars Rene Zellweger Josh Duhamel Judy Greer See production, box office & company info Watch on Bravo Now S1 Go to bravotv.com More watch options Add to Watchlist 162 User reviews 10 Critic reviews Awards 3 wins & 5 nominations Episodes 6 [62][64] In response to Wood's announcement, Leah Wommack Chaney gave an interview in which she denied any misconduct and stated she had never seen the destruction order. The next month, the Post-Dispatch reported that Hupp had kept the $150,000 rather than put it into a trust for Betsy's daughters. [69] A preliminary hearing was scheduled for February 2022, but was delayed indefinitely after Hupp's public defender died of a heart attack;[16] in August 2022, Hupp waived her right to a preliminary hearing. The real Pamela Hupp testifying in court. Meet Storm Reid. [113] The series began airing on NBC[137] in March 2022. 2,250, This story has been shared 2,140 times. [6] Unable to make $250,000 bail (equivalent to $295,000 in 2021), he was held in the county jail until his trial began on November 18, 2013. [129][130] Other cast members included Josh Duhamel as Schwartz,[131] Judy Greer as Askey, and Katy Mixon as Betsy. [14], Five days later, on December 27, 2011, Betsy underwent chemotherapy at the Alvin J. Siteman Cancer Center in St. Louis, then visited her mother's house. She had also contradicted herself during police interviews, such as initially claiming she had not entered the Faria house after driving Betsy home but later revising this account twice. This is one of the poorest examples of investigative work that I as well as my team have ever encountered, Wood said then. Hupp had been named the sole beneficiary on a $150,000 life insurance policy held by Betsy days before the murder; following her death, she did not give any of the money from the policy to Betsy's daughters despite her reported wishes. [80][81] $900 (equivalent to $1,016 in 2021) was found on Gumpenberger's body along with a note bearing instructions to "kidnap Hupp, get Russ's money from Hupp at her bank, and kill Hupp" and to, "Take Hupp back to house and get rid of her. Shortly after 12:00 noon on August 16, 2016, Louis Gumpenberger died after Hupp shot him five times in the hallway of her home at 1260 Little Brave Drive in O'Fallon. [52][53] In October 2019, Wood requested a case review by the Major Case Squad of Greater St. She went on to say she blamed Hayes' reporting for attracting threatening people. Details. [7][23], During the trial, Detective Mike Merkel of the Lincoln County Sheriff's Office reported that a crime scene camera had broken and photographs had failed to develop; Schwartz later obtained copies of the photographs in question. [21] Her time of death was later reported as being between 7:20 p.m. and 9:41 p.m..[18], Russ was arrested the day after his wife's death. Pamela Hupp was once a star witness, taking center stage at the trial for her best friend's murder. Boschert said that there was an incident in which a customer called saying they had received a signed letter from him with information that only he, Hupp, and another employee were privy to. Farias father, Ken Meyer, told St. Louis Magazine that Faria had been worrying about her two teenage daughters spending the [inheritance] money foolishly, and she was afraid that her husband, too, would piss it away. On Dec. 22, 2011, Faria named Hupp the sole beneficiary of her $150,000 life insurance policy. She was also the one who pushed the narrative that Russ was an abusive husband who was out to get Betsys life insurance money when she died. [62] He suggested that the actions by investigators and prosecutors concerned could constitute gross negligence or "calculated criminal behavior". [28] In January 2014, KTVI partnered with the St. Louis Post-Dispatch newspaper to review the case. Nope. [45], The decision not to investigate Hupp had been widely criticized; a former employee of the prosecutor's office said, "There were several of us that kept thinking, why are we not pursuing Pam Hupp? Oscar winner Renee Zellweger will make her broadcast television debut in a new true crime limited series retracing the shocking twists and turns in the case of Pamela Hupp. During the trial, Schwartz wasnt allowed to talk about Hupps possible motives in Betsys murder because the prosecution had successfully argued that she had no direct connection to the case. A former neighbor of Pams will provide insight into her experience living in the same neighborhood as the Hupps in OFallon, Missouri. [55] In February 2021, Wood stated that the COVID-19 pandemic had slowed the investigation, but that he expected "significant announcements" in the summer or fall. It's twisty and I can see why a show would have been warranted. Pamela Hupp was once a star witness, taking center stage at the trial for her best friend's murder. The article alleged that Askey, the prosecutor, had been in a relationship with Mike Lang, the then-captain of investigations for the Lincoln County Sheriff's Office and one of the investigating officers in the Faria murder case, as well as a prosecution witness. [40][41] The following month, Askey and the sheriff's office issued a press release stating that they were cooperating with the United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Missouri in a review of the case. Pam Hupp was the one who told the authorities about this suspicious note. Based on the 2011 murder of Betsy Faria that resulted in the conviction of her husband, Russ, but he insisted he did not kill her. When interviewed by police, Hupp claimed that Russ had a "violent temper"; that he was a heavy drinker; and that he had threatened Betsy, who had considered leaving him. And so all of that investigation, including the one in Lincoln County and the one in St. Charles, became pertinent information [] I was no longer willing to say it could be an accident." "Pam Hupp: Death 'Insured'" by true crime writer Rebecca F. Pittman is packed with exclusive interviews from prosecuting attorneys; law enforcement agencies; members of the press; and members of Faria's family. Prosecutors in Lincoln County decided to revisit Betsys case following Hupps conviction in the Gumpenberger murder. St. Louis station KTVI discovered several years later that the family did not know about the collection; information was presented to Lincoln County authorities in 2014, but was not investigated further. A woman who lured an innocent man to his death. Maybe you watched one of the original reports on Dateline. There was no evidence to suggest Faria knew the fundraiser was questionable, with her friends recalling that she said she was excited to be helping a struggling family, even though she herself was dying. Published in 2022, "Bone Deep: Untangling the Twisted True Story of the Tragic Betsy Faria Murder Case" is a thorough analysis of Faria's murder from the perspective of someone who knows it better than most. For an optimal experience visit our site on another browser. The 9-1-1 operator who had taken Russ' call believed he had been genuinely shocked and upset. Hupp (ne Neumann) was born in Dellwood, Missouri, in 1958 to a strict Catholic family. Datelines The Real Thing About Pam airs tonight (April 15) from 9:00-11:00 p.m. To think I was supposed to be laying in that yard dead? Everything you need to know about NBC's new true-crime docuseries, The Thing About Pam, starring Renee Zellweger as Pam Hupp, what happened to Betsy Faria and who was wrongly convicted. This episodic series presents a compelling look at the allegations against Hupp while touching on the broader implications for the criminal justice system. [78][90] On December 16, a grand jury indicted Hupp on the charges. Simpson and JonBent Ramsay have earned more coverage by the investigative series, a sign of just how complicated this story is. It stars Rene Zellweger, Josh Duhamel, Judy Greer, Gideon Adlon, Sean Bridgers, Suanne Spoke, Mac Brandt, Katy Mixon, and Glenn Fleshler. [123][124] It spent several weeks as one of the most popular Apple podcasts. Make sure knife sticking out of neck" in return for a reward of $10,000 (equivalent to $11,291 in 2021). When her husband Russell Russ Faria found her on the floor he believed his terminally ill wife, whose breast cancer had metastasized to her liver, had taken her own life. [108], In October 2019, Gumpenberger's mother Margaret Burch filed a lawsuit for wrongful death, fraud, and misrepresentation against the incarcerated Hupp. Pamela Marie Neumann ("Pam") was born on October 10, 1958,[1] and grew up in Dellwood, Missouri, a suburb of St. Louis, and attended Riverview Gardens High School. Zellweger told Keith Morrison of Hupp's tactics on "The Thing About Pam. [54] In August 2020, newly elected Lincoln County Sheriff Rick Harrell said that the Faria case had inspired him to run for the job. 889, Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window), Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window), 2023 NYP Holdings, Inc. All rights reserved, What Time Is 'The Thing About Pam' on Tonight? But today the 63-year-old has become the suspected killer in the shocking case at the center of NBC's limited series "The Thing About Pam," airing Tuesdays at 10/9c.. Huppwho is already behind bars for murdering a mentally disabled manis now awaiting trial for the murder of Betsy . The police reopened their investigation, but after interviewing the housekeeper who had found Neumann's body and Neumann's son Michael both of whom said that Neumann was "unsteady" again concluded that her death was accidental. A Monkey Peed in Chase Stokes's Eye While Filming 'Outer Banks', 'Outer Banks' Season 3: That Kiss Between Jonathan Daviss and Carlacia Grant Wasn't in the Original Script, 'Outer Banks' Stars Rudy Pankow and Madison Bailey Break Down JJ and Kiaras "Overdue" Kiss: "I Love That Moment", 'Outer Banks' Stars Chase Stokes and Madelyn Cline Break Down That Cheating Plot: "I Was Really, Really Nervous", '1923' Season 1 Finale Recap: "Nothing Left To Lose". The night Betsy died, Russ had originally planned to pick up his wife from her mothers house following his weekly Tuesday game night. In her young adulthood she held several jobs in the life insurance industry; on two occasions, she was fired for forging signatures. Magazines, investigating possible police and prosecutor misconduct, civil suit that Betsys daughters had brought against Hupp, 2013 death of Hupps mother, Shirley Neumann, Or create a free account to access more articles, Rene Zellweger Stars In The NBC Docudrama. 919, This story has been shared 889 times. A mother is found dead, another woman targeted at home, two mysterious crimes tied together with a shocking common ground. Madeline Merinuk is a writer and newsletter editor at TODAY.com where she reports on pop culture, lifestyle and trending news. 2,140, This story has been shared 2,005 times. The thing about Pam is that shes not who you think she is and too many people learned that the hard way. [104] She was sentenced to life without parole in August 2019. [15] Hupp claimed that she dropped Betsy off at home at approximately 7 p.m.[14] At approximately 7:21 p.m., a call to Betsy from one of her daughters went unanswered. [26], In September 2020, Hupp's husband Mark filed for divorce, describing their marriage as "irretrievably broken";[114] by March 2022, the couple were divorced. Cellphone records showed that Hupp had been in Gumpenberger's neighborhood "right at the supposed attackers front door" less than one hour before the shooting, casting doubt on her claim that she had never met him before. [37] In July 2016, Russ filed a civil rights lawsuit against Askey and three deputy sheriffs on the grounds that they had "fabricated evidence, ignored exonerating evidence and failed to investigate the other obvious suspect. Police investigators were skeptical that Gumpenberger would have been capable of carrying out the acts Hupp said he had given his mental and physical disabilities. "Over and over again, I just kept asking the question: 'How?'" In August 2019, Pam was sentenced to life in prison without parole. Hupp is currently serving life in prison for the 2016 murder of Louis Gumpenberger a man she claimed that she had shot in self-defense after he followed her into her house. [14][33] During the retrial, Schwartz was allowed to introduce evidence implicating Hupp as the perpetrator. [7], On December 22, 2011, days before her death and unbeknownst to her family, Betsy changed the sole beneficiary of her $150,000 (equivalent to $181,000 in 2021) State Farm life insurance policy from her husband to Hupp, who originally said that Betsy had asked her to give the money to her daughters when they were older. Pamela Hupp is a strange woman. What We Know About Her Continued 'Today Show' Absence, Hoda Kotb's 'Today Show' Absence Finally Explained, but Her Return Is Still Unclear, Savannah Guthrie Rushed Out Of 'Today' After Testing Positive For COVID-19 During Live Broadcast, What Time Does 'The Mandalorian' Come Out on Disney+? There were no traces of blood on his body or clothes. [72] An autopsy found that she had .84 mcg of the sedative Zolpidem in her blood, over eight times the expected concentration for someone having taken a normal dose. [135][136] In February 2022, it was reported that Blumhouse and NBC News Studios had declined to share profits from The Thing About Pam with the family of Louis Gumpenberger. It was important to Zellweger, who is also an executive producer on the series, that they stuck as close to the bizarre, and often infuriating, details of the case as possible. Despite Hupps new claims, Faria was acquitted in November 2015 with the judge calling Lincoln Countys investigation into the case rather disturbing. In 2020, Lincoln County settled a civil lawsuit with Russ Faria over his wrongful conviction for more than $2 million. The investigation into Neumann's death was not reopened. Hupp later said that Betsy had wanted her to keep the money for herself. [27] The sentence was welcomed by Betsy's family; in an interview given following the sentencing, her sister Julie made claims unheard during the trial: that Russ had been angered by the removal of his name from a separate insurance policy, and that he had on one occasion held a pillow on Betsy's face and said "this is what it feels like to die". Hupp soon became a trusted confidante and advisor to Faria, who worried that her daughters would not be financially taken care of after her death. 2023 TIME USA, LLC. Zellweger, however, said she felt that in the case of telling this story, it was really important to as closely resemble Pam Hupp as we possibly could, because she seems so familiar. Betsy Faria's real-life slaying serves because the inspiration for this dramatisation. a Love Story' on Netflix, an Endearing Documentary Portrait of . Additionally, authorities found a blood stained slipper belonging to Russ at the scene, as well as a handwritten note, said to be penned by Betsy, which detailed her fears that her husband would hurt her. A tip-off to police accused Hupp of killing Neumann for financial gain. CLARIFICATION (March 15, 2022 at 10:20 p.m. 2,005, This story has been shared 1,979 times. ", Where to listen: Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen to podcasts. Rene Zellweger as Pam Hupp in 'The Thing About Pam', Rene Zellweger as Pam Hupp and Katy Mixon as Betsy Faria in 'The Thing About Pam', Glenn Fleshler as Russ Faria in 'The Thing About Pam', Underwater Noise Pollution Is Disrupting Ocean LifeBut We Can Fix It. When she dropped Betsy off at home at approximately 7 p.m. the two called Pams husband, Mark Hupp, to check in. In 2016 she lured a homeless man to her house under the guise of being an NBC Dateline producer. She is by far an unobvious choice but is absolutely excellent as the fascinatingly unlikeable- but seemingly mundane and harmless- Pam. Excessive pride proves to be the downfall of one sinful perpetrator trying to preserve their reputation.A mother is found dead, another woman targeted at home, two mysterious crimes tied together with a shocking common ground. When A Murderer Calls 911 | jcs inspired interrogation analysisIn today's true crime documentary we'll cover the disturbing case of Pam Hupp, who killed her . Hupp has pled not guilty. Case stated, "since [Neumann's] death, many things have happened that involved the daughter. The creative angle here of Pam slurping her drink and the Desperate Housewives style narrative just work in bringing to story to life as a sort of disturbing caricature as opposed to a dark and miserable crime retelling. The series will be a joint venture between NBC and Blumhouse Television. An investigation into Neumann's death by the St. Louis County Police Department was inconclusive. When 42-year-old Betsy Faria was brutally murdered in her Missouri home in 2011, suspicion immediately fell on her husband Russ Faria. Listen to the entire 911 call from that incident. The slippers, Schwartz claimed, were placed in the back of his closet to frame him. Hupp became the prosecutions star witness in the 2013 murder trial despite pleas from Russ attorney Joel Schwartz that police take a closer look at her as a possible suspect. Watch Pamela Hupp (Season 26, Episode 25) of Snapped or get episode details on NBC.com. The new episode will be available for next-day streaming on both Peacock and NBC.com. A police search of the house unearthed a bloodstained pair of slippers in his closet. The former coworkers lost touch for years, but when Faria was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2010, Hupp swooped in to help, often driving Faria to her chemotherapy treatments. ET on NBC. Its why she chose to wear prosthetics and a fat suit for the role, a decision that has led to some controversy online. "[14][21][38][39] Meanwhile, KTVI found other problematic cases involving Mennemeyer. A mother is found dead, another woman targeted at home, two mysterious crimes tied together with a shocking common ground. [102] In August 2018, Hupp's trial date was set for June 2019. [72][76][77], Louis Royse Gumpenberger was a resident of Union, Missouri. The idea is accuracy, she told Entertainment Tonight before the shows premiere. In response to the claims, Schwartz noted that the pillow story had originally been told by Hupp. She was already in. This was original and interesting, particularly as I had a vested interest in the case already. [122][126], In October 2019, the Riverfront Times dubbed Hupp St Louis' "best local girl gone bad" of that year, observing that "few stories are quite so made-for-TV" and "the tale of Pam Hupp screams for serialization". In November 2013, Russ Faria was convicted of first degree murder and sentenced to life in prison with parole. Her first words in the recorded interview were, "Is this going to be filmed? However, the police reported that Betsy had been stabbed 55 times and her wounds were not self-inflicted. Chris Hayes of KTVI was the only reporter to attend Russ' first trial in November 2013, and the first to report questions about Hupp that same month; upon his release from prison, Russ thanked Hayes for his coverage. [2] At Hupp's behest, police searched Betsy's laptop and found a document in which she purportedly expressed fears that her husband would kill her. A 'normal' upbringing The Truth About Convicted Killer Pam Hupp Grunge 2.14M subscribers Subscribe 4.3K 440K views 11 months ago #Criminal #Killer Betsy Faria, a wife and mother of two, was. Or listened to our hit podcast, The Thing About Pam. St. Charles County. This was to frame Pam Hupp's friend's husband. The third of four children, Hupp was described by friends as a boy crazy cheerleader with a big personality and an even bigger laugh, according to St. Louis Magazine. 932, This story has been shared 919 times. [78][86] Gumpenberger was believed to have been selected at random. "[46] In a 2021 interview, Leah Wommack Chaney (ne Askey) noted that she had believed Hupp would have been physically incapable of inflicting the wounds found on Betsy's body. [2] A housekeeper found Neumann dead beneath the balcony of her home at 2:30 p.m. the next day. She lived in Troy, Missouri, with her husband, Russell Scott Faria ("Russ"), and two daughters from a previous relationship. Excessive pride proves to be the downfall of one sinful perpetrator trying to preserve their reputation. [87] In May 2018, 11th Circuit Court judge Jon Cunningham ruled that prosecutors could not present evidence relating to the death of Hupp's mother;[101] the following month, Cunningham ruled that prosecutors could present evidence relating to the killing of Betsy Faria. The third of four children, Hupp was described by friends as a "boy crazy". Fans Fuming Over Mayim Bialik and Ken Jennings' Hosting Schedules: "I Want Ken Full-Time", 'Below Deck's Captain Sandy Hasn't Spoken to Captain Lee Since Public Feud: "I Tried To Call Him", Where Is Hoda Kotb? The cops pointed to Russ 911 call, which they said sounded performatively distraught. [17] His initial assertion that Betsy had killed herself was considered "ludicrous" by first responders who saw her body. In this new episode, youll see what has happened since Pams friend Betsy Faria was murdered back in 2011 in Troy, Missouri. 'The Thing About Pam' Episode 5 Hulu Release Date, ABC Staff Go "Zero Contact" With Amy Robach and T.J. Holmes, Encouraged to "Never Mention Their Names Again", 'Jeopardy!' Prosecutors allege Hupp killed Betsy in a bid to collect a $150,000 life insurance payout and tried to frame Betsys husband, Russ Faria, for the crime. This brutal crime set off a chain of events that would expo Based on the 2011 murder of Betsy Faria that resulted in the conviction of her husband, Russ, but he insisted he did not kill her. You may find the call disturbing, as it includes the victims final moments of life, as well as the sound of gunshots. [5] Although a central premise of the prosecution's case was that his four friends had been complicit in the murder, no charges were ever brought against them;[15] they were not aware they had been implicated by Askey in her closing arguments until the media informed them. Hupp has also been investigated in connection with the death of her mother, Shirley Neumann, who died in 2013 from injuries sustained in a fall from the balcony of her third-floor apartment in Fenton, Missouri. The following year, Lincoln County Prosecutor Mike Wood said that his office was investigating possible police and prosecutor misconduct in the original Betsy Faria murder investigation. Following a police investigation, assistant medical examiner Raj Nanduri concluded that Neumann had died from blunt trauma to the chest resulting from an accidental fall. When Will The 1923 Season Finale Premiere on Paramount+? For the latest twists and turns, watch our full episode, The Real Thing About Pam, now. While it is unclear who mailed the letter, Pam had previously been fired twice for forging signaturesa detail she didnt disclose on her State Farm job application. [128] In February 2021, they disclosed that the six-episode series would be called The Thing About Pam. But thats not where it ends. (The jury ruled in favor of Hupp keeping the money.). You can also stream the show live with an active subscription to an over-the-top streaming service that offers NBC, including YouTube TV,Hulu + Live TV,fuboTV,Sling TV (in select markets), andDIRECTV STREAM. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our, Digital Since convincing Betsy Faria to change the beneficiary on her life insurance policy, Hupp had tracked Betsy's every move, according to NBC News. In August 2016, she fatally shot Louis Gumpenberger, a mentally and physically disabled man, in her home. She was already in prison when she wascharged with Farias murderin 2021. Hupp is currently serving a life sentence for the carefully orchestrated killing of Louis Gumpenberger, a man with mental disabilities, in 2016, allegedly to misdirect authorities in another murder case, that of her close . 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