Forensic Files

Season 4

Episode 7: 'Til Death Do Us Part

In 1991, Robert Curley was diagnosed with Guillain-Barre syndrome when he arrived at the hospital with excruciating leg pains. However, doctors became suspicious during Robert's second admission and tested him for Thallium poisoning, which proved positive and Robert died shortly thereafter. Autopsy showed that Robert ingested more poison a few days before his death. Investigators also discovered that Robert's wife Joann was waiting to collect her previous husband's life insurance (from his accidental death) and disagreed with the way Robert wanted to spend it. Joann would then collect additional life insurance if Robert suffered from an accidental death. Joann was convicted of Robert's murder six years later.