Detective's affair exposed during wife's murder investigation

9 hours ago 7

This communicative primitively aired connected May 4, 2024.

It was 1 p.m. connected May 8, 2018, erstwhile Massachusetts State Police detectives arrived astatine a farmhouse successful Westfield. 51-year-old Amy Fanion laic dormant successful the eating country from a azygous gunshot coiled to the head.

Amy Fanion's husband, Brian Fanion, a detective successful the Westfield Police Department, had called 911 minutes earlier, reporting that his woman had changeable herself.

Det. Mike McNally: Amy was fundamentally … successful a heap of humor that was opening to congeal nether her near side.

The eating room, rearranged to accommodate aesculapian personnel, was successful disarray arsenic detectives worked to place clues of what whitethorn person happened.

Det. Mike McNally: There was a … humor spatter astir that model framework from that eating country into the breezeway. … There was a brace of glasses that looked similar it had immoderate benignant of red-brown spatter connected it.

And past determination was the bullet.

Det. Mike Blanchette: The existent projectile … was successful that beforehand … enclosed structure area. … The spent ammunition casing was inactive successful the eating room.

Det. Mike McNally: We could spot the absorption that it traveled, done Amy's caput … that circular impacted that dresser, came to a remainder close astir determination successful the breezeway.

Det. Brendan O'Toole: Brian was sitting successful a seat with his backmost to the partition and … he's with the main of constabulary from the Westfield constabulary department, who's talking with him. … Everyone was successful a authorities of shock.

Everyone, including Amy Fanion's brother, Eric Hansen, who told detectives that helium had conscionable finished playing disc play down the location erstwhile helium heard Brian Fanion's outcry for help.

And that's erstwhile helium walked into the house, saw Amy Fanion connected the floor, a weapon adjacent to her, and Brian Fanion holding Amy's hand.

Det. Mike Blanchette: So helium picked up the weapon himself and moved it, uh, retired of Brian's reach.

Nikki Battiste: — due to the fact that helium was disquieted astir Brian's authorities of caput having conscionable mislaid his wife.

Det. Mike Blanchette: Yes.

Nikki Battiste: What benignant of weapon was used?

Det. Brendan O'Toole: A Smith & Wesson, uh, M&P 45. … Brian Fanion's work weapon.

Nikki Battiste: That springiness you immoderate intermission that it was Brian Fanion's weapon?

Det. Brendan O'Toole: Yes. It gave maine intermission … astatine this constituent I cognize that I'm going to truly bash a elaborate investigation.

THE INVESTIGATION BEGINS

To debar struggle of interest, O'Toole said helium decided that his unit, the Massachusetts State Police, would beryllium the sole investigators, and helium wanted to get Brian Fanion distant from the location to get a statement.

Det. Brendan O'Toole: I asked if helium would travel maine to the Massachusetts State Police barracks successful Russell. … And … I took a uh, portion recorded connection from him.

DET. BRENDAN O'TOOLE (police statement): Tuesday May 8th. It's 2:41 p.m. … I'm with Brian Fanion. Brian, um, bash you recognize I got a recorder connected close now?

BRIAN FANION: Yes.

Brian Fanion told O'Toole that helium near his bureau astatine the Westfield Police Station astir 11:45 a.m. and drove to North Road to conscionable his woman who was connected her mode location to hole their lunch.

DET. BRENDAN O'TOOLE (police statement): What was she making?

BRIAN FANION: Peanut food and jelly sandwiches.

Brian Fanion said that erstwhile helium arrived, they continued an statement from the nighttime anterior — an statement that had gotten beauteous heated that evening.

DET. BRENDAN O'TOOLE (police statement): When you accidental heated, I conjecture what —

BRIAN FANION: Just, uh, I don't cognize ... She just, uh, was precise angry.

DET. BRENDAN O'TOOLE: What was the statement about?

BRIAN FANION: Um, I'm retiring soon … We were discussing what each of america expects status to be.

Brian Fanion said helium told Amy that helium didn't privation to walk his status maintaining their 200-year-old home, which Amy inactive loved. They besides discussed their aging dog, and his reluctance to get different one.

BRIAN FANION (police statement): I don't privation to beryllium tied down by a dog. … Yeah. … She ever wants to person a dog. … I privation to question much than she does.

According to Brian Fanion, that afternoon, during lunch, Amy Fanion told him she had scheduled them to be a household member's play connected the time Brian wanted to be a disc play tournament.

BRIAN FANION (police statement): I conscionable said, "oh I don't similar that stuff. Why would you perpetrate maine erstwhile — oregon without asking?"

That's when, according to Brian Fanion, things soon took a crook for the worse.

BRIAN FANION (police statement): I took my weapon retired of the holster and enactment it connected our hutch due to the fact that I had to usage the bathroom.

DET. BRENDAN O'TOOLE: Where is the hutch located?

BRIAN FANION: In the eating room.

Brian Fanion said helium closed the bath door, and erstwhile helium came out, Amy Fanion had the weapon successful her hand.

BRIAN FANION (police statement): She has the — the weapon pointed up to the close broadside of her head.

DET. BRENDAN O'TOOLE: What did you perceive her say?

BRIAN FANION: I — I deliberation she said, I conjecture you don't privation — you don't privation maine astir oregon you don't privation to beryllium astir me.

DET. BRENDAN O'TOOLE: Was she seated oregon —

BRIAN FANION: No. She stood up.

BRENDAN O'TOOLE: She was standing. OK.

According to Brian Fanion, helium was 4 to 5 feet distant erstwhile helium tried to halt his woman from pulling the trigger.

BRIAN FANION (police statement): I tried to get to her. I astir did. … The weapon conscionable exploded. … It was conscionable truthful quick. She didn't hesitate astatine all. … I conscionable went over, and I conscionable held her hands. Tried to — conscionable held her hands (crying).

Brian Fanion called 911 and yelled retired to Amy's brother, Eric Hansen, for help.

Hansen told detectives that Brian Fanion said helium and Amy had been having a tense argument.

ERIC HANSEN (police interview): And she grabbed the weapon … helium conscionable was truthful distraught.

DET. MIKE BLANCHETTE: Did helium accidental what they were arguing about?

ERIC HANSEN: No. I was conscionable trying to console him, say, it's not your fault, it's not your fault.

Amy's Fanion's decease had shocked the Westfield community.

Stephanie Barry is simply a newsman for The Republican successful Springfield, Massachusetts.

Stephanie Barry: Amy's maiden sanction was Hansen. She came from a reasonably ample household … She and her sisters … were each known arsenic immoderate of the prettiest girls successful school, immoderate of the smartest, and immoderate of the nicest.

It was 1983 erstwhile 16-year-old Amy Hansen met 19-year-old Brian Fanion. Fanion came from a agelong enactment of constabulary officers and politicians, and successful Westfield, the Fanion sanction was a root of pride.

Stephanie Barry: The Fanions were benignant of similar the Kennedys of Westfield. They were good regarded.

Brian and Amy tied the knot successful 1985, and the mates yet had 2 children, Travis and Victoria. Amy Fanion's adjacent friend, Teri Licciardi says Amy loved being a stay-at-home mom.

Teri Licciardi: Amy's absorption was raising her children. … she thought that being a genitor was the champion occupation successful the full world.

The Fanions, profoundly committed to their faith, dedicated their lives to God and assemblage service, with Brian Fanion serving arsenic a religion deacon and moving arsenic a missionary to physique wells successful Mexico.

After 30 years of marriage, the Fanions were readying their adjacent signifier of beingness erstwhile those plans derailed.

Nikki Battiste: Is determination immoderate cognition that Amy Fanion had immoderate intelligence wellness issues oregon suffered from depression?

Brendan O'Toole: So, I — I asked Brian … And, um, helium mentioned, um, galore years earlier … she was having immoderate intelligence issues, successful which she was connected medicine for a play of clip … different than that, thing — thing recent.

But what Brian Fanion did accent was that his woman had bouts with anger.

BRIAN FANION (police statement): She had a temper, but she hid it good from everyone but me. She lone got that aggravated erstwhile we were alone.

Midway into the interview, O'Toole asked Brian Fanion if determination were immoderate pistillate friends successful his life.

BRIAN FANION (police statement): I person a pistillate who lives successful Pittsfield that I met recently, I did a ngo travel to Mexico, and we go bully friends.

DET. BRENDAN O'TOOLE: What's that lady's name?

BRIAN FANION: Cori.

DET. BRENDAN O'TOOLE: Does she person a past sanction oregon —?

BRIAN FANION: Cori Knowles, K-N-O-W-L-E-S. You guys aren't going to interaction her. Are you?

BRIAN FANION'S DELETED TEXTS RAISE SUSPICION

For Detective O'Toole, Brian Fanion's admitted relationship with different pistillate raised questions.

Fanion had told detectives that Corrine Knowles, known arsenic Cori, was a chap missionary astatine a adjacent church. The 2 met successful November 2017 connected a ngo travel successful Mexico, and a relationship developed, but it had ne'er gone beyond that.

Nikki Battiste: An affectional affair?

Det. Brendan O'Toole: He said determination was immoderate flirting, but helium qualified it, that it wasn't —

Nikki Battiste: Sexual?

Det. Brendan O'Toole: — a sexual. It was not a — his word was it was not a friends with benefits.

At the extremity of the interview, O'Toole asked Fanion to crook implicit his idiosyncratic phone.

Det. Brendan O'Toole: I turned disconnected the recorder and that's erstwhile Brian told maine … He's like, you're going to spot immoderate things connected determination and it's not what it appears to be.

Nikki Battiste: Red emblem for you?

Det. Brendan O'Toole: Yeah. … There's respective reddish flags … arsenic a — an researcher … you person to support an unfastened mind.

Within a week of Brian Fanion's interview, connected May 14, 2018, Amy Fanion's aftermath was held.

Brian Fanion planted a histrion successful adjacent Stanley Park successful his wife's memory, but the probe into her abrupt decease was conscionable beginning.

Detectives recovered a treasure trove of deleted substance messages from Brian Fanion's telephone including these exchanges connected May 4 and 5:

MAY 4, 2018:

CORI KNOWLES | 9:42 AM: Mmmmm … To consciousness your blistery enactment connected my skin!!!

CORI KNOWLES | 9:48 AM: Have I told you that I emotion being your Angel? ...

BRIAN FANION | 9:59 AM: I curse God made you for maine ...

CORI KNOWLES | 1:11 PM: I truthful request to perceive your dependable … I emotion you!!!

BRIAN FANION | 1:19 PM: Amy is inactive being attentive and clingy ...

BRIAN FANION | 9:08 PM: Thank You for being you, the astir astonishing pistillate that I person ever known.

MAY 5, 2018:

CORI KNOWLES | 4:31 PM: My bosom belongs to you...

BRIAN FANION | 4:26 PM: ... I would beryllium mislaid without you :):):):) I americium eternally yours.

BRIAN FANION | 7:39 PM: I emotion you Cori!!!

CORI KNOWLES | 7:43 PM: I emotion you truthful overmuch Brian!!!!!

Det. Mike Blanchette: There were conscionable hundreds of texts that expanded connected the narration that helium was having with Cori.

On May 7, the time earlier Amy Fanion died, Brian Fanion and Knowles exchanged 72 substance messages until 9:47 p.m. that evening.

In 1 speech astatine 9:23 p.m., Brian Fanion writes, "Good nighttime my love!!! I anticipation you person fantastic dreams of astonishing days and nights to come:):):):)."

At 10:33 p.m. Knowles responds, "Good nighttime My emotion … I volition imagination of you and each that they (sic) aboriginal holds for us!"

The adjacent greeting astatine 10:30 a.m., Knowles texts, "When tin I clasp you again?????"

To which Brian Fanion responds, "… not soon enough. Turning into a precise agelong morning.

Nikki Battiste: And wrong an hr oregon two, Amy Fanion is dead.

Det. Mike Blanchette: Yes.

At 12:47 p.m. connected May 8, Brian Fanion texts Knowles, "Please don't telephone oregon substance for a while. I'll telephone erstwhile I tin truly atrocious commune for my household please."

Det. Brendan O'Toole: Brian has not been wholly truthful to america astatine this point. And truthful we privation to talk with him again.

On May 17, 2018, 3 days aft Amy Fanion's wake, Brian Fanion arrived astatine the District Attorney's State Police Office for different circular of questioning.

DET. BRENDAN O'TOOLE (police interview): So we conscionable needed to, you know, uh, clarify immoderate things. … you cognize your Miranda rights, but I — I'm going to work them disconnected this form.

BRIAN FANION: Now — the different time you didn't bash this. Has thing changed?...

DET. BRENDAN O'TOOLE: You're not, you're not nether apprehension oregon anything.

BRIAN FANION: Well, I cognize that.

And connected that aforesaid day, crossed town, detectives met with Cori Knowles to larn much astir her engagement with Brian Fanion.

DET. MIKE MCNALLY (police interview): If idiosyncratic was to say, who's Cori, who are you?

Cori Knowles, a 48-year-old wife, grandmother, and subordinate of her church's choir, told detectives that Brian Fanion's relationship helped her enactment done a troubled 2nd marriage.

CORI KNOWLES: Brian is precise casual to speech to. … thing but affirmation and love, and I'm present for you.

But implicit time, their narration moved from relationship to flirtation.

CORI KNOWLES (police interview): Did I consciousness passionateness for him? Absolutely.

By April 16, 2018, 5 months into Brian Fanion and Knowles' relationship, their texting gave mode to thing much intimate erstwhile Knowles visited Fanion's location earlier they near for unpaid work.

DET. MIKE MCNALLY (police interview): Was that the archetypal clip you were intimate that you kissed, at, connected that April day, the 16th?

CORI KNOWLES: Yeah.

DET. MIKE MCNALLY (police interview): And past wherever was that?

CORI KNOWLES: I wanna accidental the kitchen. … 'cause I got determination earlier Amy got home.

Knowles told detectives that by precocious April, she and Brian Fanion were having passionate make-out sessions successful her truck.

At 5:29 p.m. connected April 23, 2018, Knowles texts Brian Fanion, "I tin consciousness your ... lips connected mine!!!! LOVE that Memory!!!:):):)

At 5:34 p. m., Brian Fanion replies, "... I'm reasoning of the 1 with your legs astir my waist ... Oh my ... "

Det. Mike McNally: Brian near enactment early, met up with Cori successful Westfield astatine Stanley Park and they made retired … determination was, immoderate intersexual touching.

But according to Knowles, Brian Fanion could not perform.

CORI KNOWLES (police interview): It was much similar due to the fact that I'm inactive joined to — to Amy —

DET. BRENDAN O'TOOLE (police interview): We've seen the substance messages. In each honesty, Brian, it looks similar it's a batch much than a friendship. You know.

BRIAN FANION: I cognize it escalated … and I'm wholly embarrassed by it, ashamed of it and shouldn't happen.

Nikki Battiste: But a batch of radical person affairs and —

Det. Brendan O'Toole: Correct.

Nikki Battiste: — don't termination their wife.

Det. Brendan O'Toole: Correct.

O'Toole past asks Brian Fanion to spell backmost implicit his connection of what happened, opening astatine the infinitesimal erstwhile Fanion said helium placed his weapon connected the hutch and went wrong the bathroom.

DET. BRENDAN O'TOOLE (police interview): All right. So, you travel retired of the bathroom, right, and she's astatine the table. Where — wherever conscionable bespeak similar wherever —

DET. BRENDAN O'TOOLE: Between the array and the hutch?

BRIAN FANION: Yeah.

DET. BRENDAN O'TOOLE: In — successful a seat close there?

BRIAN FANION: I don't cognize if she was sitting oregon standing. I deliberation she was standing. I mean, um, sprout — I deliberation she was sitting.

Det. Mike Blanchette: Now, erstwhile we were trying to get these, step-by-step details, helium seemed to beryllium wavering.

DET. BRENDAN O'TOOLE: So, you travel retired of the bathroom. OK? … And past what's the archetypal happening that happens?

BRIAN FANION: I conscionable retrieve her saying that — that you evidently don't privation maine around.

And past O'Toole asks Brian Fanion to show what Amy Fanion did with the gun.

BRIAN FANION: I conscionable retrieve seeing her manus travel up with the gun.

DET. MIKE BLANCHETTE: Towards her head?

BRIAN FANION: Yeah.

DET. BRENDAN O'TOOLE: So, she puts it to the broadside of her head?

BRIAN FANION: Yes.

DET. BRENDAN O'TOOLE: OK.

DET. BRENDAN O'TOOLE: And — and wherever was the weapon erstwhile it went off? Was it successful the aforesaid —

BRIAN FANION: Right to her head.

But determination is simply a problem. What Brian Fanion did not cognize was that a CSI study and Amy Fanion's autopsy results had arrived.

Det. Brendan O'Toole: … the gunshot entranceway coiled was not accordant with a self-inflicted wound.

Nikki Battiste: Fair to accidental it took this lawsuit successful a full caller direction?

Det. Brendan O'Toole: Yes.

QUESTIONING BRIAN FANION'S STORY

During the 2nd interrogation with Brian Fanion, O'Toole And Blanchette recovered themselves facing a situation that tested their acquisition arsenic investigators.

Det. Brendan O'Toole: This is not a — a mean interrogation for myself and Mike. We've done thousands of interviews. You know, we're beauteous bully astatine it, but it's hard erstwhile it's a constabulary officer, due to the fact that helium knows precisely however we enactment … it was … a hard interview.

DET. BRENDAN O'TOOLE (police interview): There's a problem. I'll beryllium consecutive up ...

Detectives laid retired with what they considered to beryllium important grounds successful their investigation.

DET. BRENDAN O'TOOLE (police interview): There's nary denotation - whatsoever, truthful acold that she had a weapon adjacent to the broadside of her head.

BRIAN FANION: Well, past you're incorrect 'cause she did. 'Cause I saw it and it happened.

DET. BRENDAN O'TOOLE: You — you cognize

BRIAN FANION: How bash you accidental there's nary indication?

DET. BRENDAN O'TOOLE: Well, I mean, that's what — that's what, you know, that's what it's showing america close now.

The aesculapian examiner listed Amy Fanion's mode of decease arsenic undetermined. And combined with CSI findings, investigators did not judge that she died of a self-inflicted wound.

DET. BRENDAN O'TOOLE (police interview): I mean, there's nary uncertainty she — was changeable was, but the question is, from what distance?

BRIAN FANION: It was close freaking there. I'm telling you. . . good bash what you request to but I'm telling you it was close there.

In Amy's case, region mattered. This is due to the fact that with self-inflicted gunshot wounds, debris, known arsenic gunshot residue, is expelled from the firearm. It leaves a chiseled signifier connected and wrong the coiled known arsenic stippling.

DET. BRENDAN O'TOOLE (police interview): Like, if Brian, you — you recognize similar guns and stippling and each that stuff?

BRIAN FANION: I bash and I can't —

DET. BRENDAN O'TOOLE: There's nary connected her, Brian. There's nary connected her!

BRIAN FANION: There has to beryllium 'cause the weapon was the — close freaking there!

DET. BRENDAN O'TOOLE: There's nary connected her.

BRIAN FANION: Then they're wrong. I'm telling you they're — they're level retired wrong, 'cause it was close freaking there.

DET. BRENDAN O'TOOLE: The different enactment is you got pissed and you're a ft — oregon a fewer feet distant and you changeable her successful the caput —

BRIAN FANION: No, no.

DET. BRENDAN O'TOOLE: — erstwhile she's sitting eating a peanut food sandwich.

BRIAN FANION: Didn't happen.

DET. BRENDAN O'TOOLE: Didn't happen?

BRIAN FANION: Did not happen.

DET. BRENDAN O'TOOLE: Alright.

With Brian Fanion's matter exposed and CSI reports successful hand, detectives suspected Fanion had apt changeable his wife, but they inactive needed much evidence.

On May 24, 2018, detectives obtained a hunt warrant for Fanion's home, and erstwhile detectives arrived —

Det. Brendan O'Toole: Brian … asked if I was determination to apprehension him. And I told him I wasn't. And past helium asked maine if I thought helium did it.

Nikki Battiste: Were you amazed helium asked you that?

Det. Brendan O'Toole: I was noting it. I didn't cognize however to consciousness … and I didn't reply his question.

Detectives took further measurements to analyse the trajectory of the bullet.

Fanion's location electronics were confiscated. And astatine the aforesaid time, his desktop machine and laptop astatine the Westfield Police Station were seized for information extraction.

Nikki Battiste: Did you spot immoderate signs that Brian Fanion planned to termination his wife? Any grounds that points to that?

Det. Brendan O'Toole: We spot a totality of each the grounds here. … Um, we're not the information finders. Um, we're, we're detectives, truthful we, we cod each this accusation and past … it's going to beryllium presented … and idiosyncratic other is going to marque a determination connected that.

And that someone would beryllium Hampden County Assistant District Attorney Mary Sandstrom. New to the homicide division, Sandstrom had arrived successful Massachusetts by mode of New York.

Nikki Battiste: Is it just to accidental you were a food retired of h2o a bit?

Mary Sandstrom (laughs): It's ever hard not being from the country successful which you prosecute. … uh, it's a precise small, precise intimately connected town. … So, yes, you're ne'er astatine an vantage wherever you don't cognize everybody by name.

Nikki Battiste: Adding to the difficulty, Brian Fanion is simply a detective. … And respected.

Mary Sandstrom: Very overmuch successful — successful that community.

As outpouring gave mode to summer, Knowles ended her narration with Brian Fanion. By aboriginal 2019, Fanion retired from the constabulary force.

The probe into Amy Fanion's decease continued.

Mary Sandstrom: We're inactive trying to get immoderate investigating done … due to the fact that we wanna person a beardown lawsuit arsenic imaginable earlier we spell successful earlier the expansive jury.

And a complication successful the signifier of a missive was among the lawsuit files.

Amy Fanion's household members expressed their "unfailing support" of Brian Fanion, saying "we are definite Amy took her ain life." The missive was signed by Amy's siblings, and adjacent her ain mother.

Nikki Battiste: That's gotta beryllium pugnacious for you.

Mary Sandstrom: It's an awkward presumption for a prosecutor, wherever your unfortunate household isn't supporting you. … It was an unusual spot to beryllium in.

An unusual spot, perhaps, but not a deterrent. On Nov. 6, 2019, 17 months aft Amy Fanion died, detectives arrived astatine Brian Fanion's door.

Det. Mike McNally: Brian … came to the eating country doorway … beauteous rapidly arsenic I callback it, and helium said thing to the effect of, travel in. … Then Mike Blanchette began to picture to Brian, "Brian, we person an apprehension warrant for you."

NEWS REPORT|WBTZ: Police accidental Brian Fanion told them that his woman changeable herself with his weapon portion helium was astatine location connected a luncheon interruption past year.

Det. Mike McNally: I retrieve telling him, enactment your hands down your back. I took retired my handcuffs.

NEWS REPORT: AUDREY RUSSO | WESTERN MASS NEWS: … done their investigation, they lone solidified their suspicion that Brian pulled the trigger.

Det. Mike McNally: He was eating … assorted nuts … conscionable popping immoderate successful his rima … And arsenic helium enactment his hands down his back, helium fto them driblet to the floor.

Det. Mike McNally: We transported Brian to the Russell State Police barracks. … he's processed. Photographed. Fingerprinted.

NEWS REPORT | CHRIS PISANO | WESTERN MASS NEWS: … stands accused of sidesplitting his woman successful what was primitively reported arsenic …

Det. Mike McNally: I assessed a feeling of despair connected Brian's face, similar … I can't judge this is happening.

FORMER DETECTIVE GOES ON TRIAL FOR MURDER

Stephanie Barry, a transgression newsman astatine The Republican newspaper, recalls the antithetic country that played retired 15 miles away, successful Springfield, Massachusetts, wrong the Hampden County Superior Court successful aboriginal November 2019.

Stephanie Barry: There's nary 1 who spent immoderate magnitude of clip successful Westfield who didn't cognize who Brian Fanion was.

Stephanie Barry: It was a beauteous afloat house. And the benignant of palpable daze remained passim the full proceeding.

Brian Fanion, who appeared for his archetypal arraignment, entered a plea of not guilty. And sitting close down him were members of some Brian's and Amy Fanion's family.

Stephanie Barry: I can't deliberation of different lawsuit erstwhile I've seen the household of a unfortunate … sticking up for the accused murderer of their loved one.

And contempt the lack of enactment from members of Amy Fanion's family, ADA Sandstrom continued to physique her case.

Nikki Battiste: What was Amy Fanion like?

Mary Sandstrom: She sounds similar a fairytale. … giving, selfless. … wholly dedicated to her family.

According to Sandstrom, the nighttime earlier Amy Fanion died, she was making a acquisition for an upcoming babe ablution that she planned to attend, and was texting her daughter, Victoria.

Nikki Battiste: Did anyone ever accidental that Amy was ever suicidal?

Mary Sandstrom: She wasn't a idiosyncratic who was acceptable to die. … Amy was healthy. She was happy.

Nikki Battiste: What bash you deliberation Brian Fanion's motive was?

Mary Sandstrom: He was acceptable to commencement a caller section of his beingness that did not see Amy Fanion. … He's chosen his beingness spouse successful Cori. Amy is the lone happening lasting successful the mode now.

Nikki Battiste: And that's ever the million-dollar question. Why not divorce?

Mary Sandstrom: He can't divorcement Amy for however helium is going … to beryllium seen successful this community. … divorcement is public. But, successful his mind, execution doesn't person to be.

On Feb. 23, 2023 - successful what would beryllium Westfield's astir publicized case, Brian Fanion's proceedings began. He faced a beingness condemnation for the first-degree execution of his wife.

"48 Hours" made respective interrogation requests to Brian Fanion, his attorney, Jeffrey Brown, arsenic good arsenic household members of some Amy and Brian, but ne'er received a response.

Nikki Battiste: This is simply a large case, a batch of attention. … How are you feeling?

Mary Sandstrom: For immoderate trial, you're ever nervous. And … this was astir apt the astir high-profile lawsuit I've ever done.

Opening statements revealed conflicting accounts of the circumstances surrounding Amy Fanion's death.

MARY SANDSTROM (in court): The suspect was a deacon astatine Wyben Union Church and an serviceman for the Westfield Police Department … The grounds volition amusement that portion the suspect was repulsed by continuing his matrimony with Amy. He couldn't divorcement her either. … Leaving him trapped. … And erstwhile that grounds is earlier you, I volition inquire you to find the suspect blameworthy of execution successful the archetypal degree.

Brian Fanion's defence focused connected Amy Fanion's choler issues and claimed she suffered from anxiety. Brown alleged that connected the time of Amy's death, an statement implicit Brian's status plans and his refusal to be a household member's play pushed her implicit the edge.

JEFFREY BROWN (in court): In the days earlier Amy changeable herself, Amy was precise huffy astatine Brian. … You had to tread lightly astir Amy for fearfulness of mounting her off.

JEFFREY BROWN (in court): And astatine the decision of the grounds successful this case, I'll inquire that we find Brian Fanion not guilty. Thank you.

Anna Hansen, Amy's younger sister, was the archetypal witnesser for the prosecution. She was the lone household subordinate who signed the missive of enactment that willingly testified against Brian Fanion.

Anna Hansen stated that during the probe into Amy's death, her brother-in-law confided that helium was disquieted astir searches helium had conducted connected his computer.

ANNA HANSEN (in court): I asked him what that hunt was, and helium said, "how to marque a execution look similar a suicide."

MARY SANDSTROM: He specifically said helium searched punctuation "how to marque a execution look similar a suicide?"

ANNA HANSEN: Those were his nonstop words.

Anna Hansen told the assemblage that erstwhile she asked her brother-in-law wherefore helium made this search, Brian Fanion told her that Amy asked him to bash it aft they watched a "CSI" show. It was a amusement that Anna Hansen questioned if Amy had ever watched.

MARY SANDSTROM (in court): Did she ever authorities that she liked those shows?

ANNA HANSEN: She ne'er shared that with me.

The prosecution's adjacent witnesser was Brian Fanion's erstwhile lover, a divorced Cori Knowles, present Cori Hasty, who told the assemblage that Fanion was acrophobic astir ending his marriage.

MARY SANDSTROM (in court): Did the suspect ever speech astir what could hap to him if helium were to divorcement Amy?

CORI HASTY: Yes. … If Amy was to ever permission — excuse me, oregon helium divorced her, that she would instrumentality him for everything that he's got. … due to the fact that helium wouldn't beryllium capable to prolong connected status astatine that point.

The prosecution called Tom Forest from the Cyber Crime Unit. All of Brian Fanion's devices were examined, but it was Fanion's bureau machine that produced immoderate funny results.

Forest said Brian Fanion visited these sites:

DET. TOM FOREST (in court): "Common and unsafe poisons," … "Which cause causes the astir deaths each year? … Sixteen communal household items that could termination you."

DET. TOM FOREST (in court): "Carbon monoxide the invisible killer" … "Household poisons" … "Common medicine overdoses" ...

Mary Sandstrom: But it's lone erstwhile this matter starts up … that each of these incriminating searches commencement to appear.

And 11 days anterior to Amy Fanion's death, Brian Fanion utilized his bureau machine to presumption a quality study connected YouTube called, "What gunshot residue tests archer us."

Mary Sandstrom: He wasn't assigned to immoderate progressive investigations successful April and May of 2018. … that would necessitate looking up gunshot residue. … Nobody successful the Westfield Police Department does gunshot residue testing.

Stephanie Barry: I was trying to support a precise unfastened caput astir what the grounds was going to show. … but I didn't deliberation that was large quality for Brian Fanion.

Detective John Schrijn, a ballistics adept and a important witnesser for the prosecution, testified that Amy Fanion's coiled was not self-inflicted.

Citing the lack of gunshot residue adjacent the coiled coupled with the trajectory of the bullet, Schrijn concluded that Amy Fanion was changeable from downward space and astatine a region of astatine slightest 18 inches — not astatine adjacent scope arsenic Brian Fanion had claimed.

MARY SANDSTROM (in court): So, did you signifier an sentiment … arsenic to whether oregon not … the defendant's firearm was discharged astatine a region of 18 inches oregon greater.

DET. JOHN SCHRIJN: Over 18 inches, without thing intervening. That's correct.

After 12 days of grounds and 27 witnesses, the prosecution rested. But waiting successful the wings was a defence poised to present a important constituent that could perchance unravel the DA's case.

Mary Sandstrom: Any authoritative who is not disquieted astir a defense, astir apt isn't a bully prosecutor.

THE DEFENSE MAKES ITS CASE

Defense lawyer Jeffrey Brown, whose lawsuit faced beingness successful prison, launched a counterattack. He cross-examined Brian Fanion's erstwhile lover, Cori Hasty.

According to the state, Brian Fanion's matter was the superior motive for murdering his wife. But Hasty admitted to the defence that erstwhile she ended their relationship, Fanion didn't effort to halt her.

JEFFREY BROWN (in court): When yet you ended it with Brian, his effect was, OK, isn't that right?

CORI HASTY: To my recollection.

JEFFREY BROWN: He didn't accidental to you, oh, my God, I killed Amy for you and you're leaving me? He ne'er said that, right?

CORI HASTY: Correct.

And what astir the websites Det. Forest from the Cyber Crime Unit said Brian Fanion visited?

The defence argued that immoderate of the websites helium visited were related to an aging house, an aged wood-burning stove, and the imaginable hazards it mightiness airs to a young household member.

JEFFREY BROWN (in court): Did you cognize that the Fanions, um, were opening to person a young niece a kid enactment successful their location during that clip frame?

DET. TOM FOREST: No, I did not.

But what the defence couldn't reconcile were Brian Fanion's searches astir gunshot residue days earlier his wife's death.

And determination was Amy Fanion's sister, Anna Hansen, the lone household subordinate who willingly testified for the prosecution. She claimed that Brian Fanion told her helium searched "how to marque a execution look similar a suicide" connected his computer.

JEFFREY BROWN (in court): You didn't find immoderate sites that were searched oregon visited relating to the terms, however to marque a execution look similar a suicide, isn't that true?

DET. TOM FOREST: That is true.

The defence narrowed its absorption and scrutinized Amy Fanion's property by cross-examining Amy's ain mother, Patricia Tarrant.

JEFFREY BROWN (in court): Did your girl Amy person a temper?

PATRICIA TARRANT: Yes.

A temper, according to Amy's sister, Holly Fanion, that would typically beryllium directed toward her husband.

JEFFREY BROWN (in court): Well, did she drawback astatine Brian successful beforehand of you?

HOLLY FANION: She would. … I was embarrassed for him. You don't usually speech to your hubby benignant of successful that way. Maybe you reprimand a child, but not a husband.

But would Amy Fanion's temper pb to an impulsive determination specified arsenic grabbing Brian Fanion's gun? According to Amy's lad Travis Fanion, it would.

TRAVIS FANION (in court): I could easy representation oregon envision her, grabbing the weapon impulsively … to marque a constituent … that she picked it up intending to implicit a trigger propulsion and — and sprout herself.

But what would explicate the deficiency of gunshot residue connected Amy Fanion?

Alexander Jason: Her coiled is accordant with a close-range gunshot coiled based ...

Alexander Jason, a elder certified transgression country analyst, testified for the defense.

Alexander Jason: That's the instauration of the full prosecution. … And this full thought that it had to beryllium 18 inches due to the fact that of the lack of gunshot residue is not valid.

Jason says the deficiency of gunshot residue was not owed to distance. It was owed to Amy Fanion's hair.

Nikki Battiste: What could Amy Fanion's hairsbreadth person told us?

Alexander Jason: Amy Fanion had precise dense, heavy hairsbreadth that volition artifact the gunshot residue.

Jason's probe "Effect of Hair connected the Deposition of Gunshot Residue" was published by the FBI's forensic subject diary successful 2004.

Jason says determination could person been gunshot residue, commonly known arsenic GSR, embedded successful Amy Fanion's hair. The transgression country expert did not trial her hair.

Alexander Jason: What they should person done is taken the hairsbreadth … and past analyse those small specs to spot if they're gunshot residue oregon not. … which was a mistake.

Jason's grounds was constricted astatine trial, but to enactment his mentation helium and his girl Juliana met "48 Hours" astatine a weapon scope successful California to show what whitethorn person happened to Amy Fanion.

Alexander Jason: I'm going to occurrence 2 times.

Using a .45 caliber weapon and ammunition identical to what was recovered astatine the scene, Jason fired a azygous circular into a mound of hair, backed by a ballistic tegument simulant.

Nikki Battiste: So, you conscionable changeable a .45 caliber gun, 3 inches distant done hair.

Alexander Jason: Yes.

Alexander Jason: Amy Fanion had sizeable hair, possibly much dense than this wherever the slug entered … and the hairsbreadth volition enactment arsenic a filter and forestall the gunshot residue from reaching her skin.

For comparison, Jason positioned the weapon astatine the aforesaid distance, utilizing identical ammunition, and fired into the tegument simulant without hair.

Alexander Jason: And I propulsion this away.

Nikki Battiste: Wow.

Alexander Jason: You tin spot determination is simply a large difference. … Now, look astatine that. That's a precise cleanable wound. That's a precise soiled wound.

Nikki Battiste: That's incredible, each from the hair.

Alexander Jason: All from the hair. The hairsbreadth acted arsenic a filter.

Nikki Battiste: Pretty fascinating.

While Jason believes this script is what happened to Amy Fanion, helium stops abbreviated of saying whether oregon not Brian Fanion killed his wife.

Alexander Jason: You spot the hairsbreadth filtered that worldly out.

But what helium does judge is that basing the lawsuit connected the lack of gunshot residue is wrong.

Alexander Jason: And helium should not beryllium convicted connected that basis. … That's my bottommost line.

After 40 witnesses and 15 days of testimony, closing arguments began.

JEFFREY BROWN (in court) She raised the weapon up to her caput successful a acceptable of rage … and successful effect caused her ain death.

MARY SANDSTROM (in court): This suspect murdered Amy Fanion with deliberate premeditation.

On March 21, 2023, the assemblage got the case. And aft 2 days of deliberations, came the verdict.

Brian Fanion was recovered blameworthy of the first-degree execution of his wife, Amy Fanion, and sentenced to beingness without parole that aforesaid day.

Stephanie Barry: Brian's broadside of the aisle conscionable collapsed successful sobs. … these radical emotion Brian and sincerely thought that helium was innocent.

For Assistant District Attorney Mary Sandstrom, Brian Fanion's condemnation was bittersweet and hard won.

Mary Sandstrom: It's ne'er a victory. … Amy Fanion should beryllium here. … She should beryllium with her girl and lad and her present grandchildren … And she's not. … And … it was each for thing … truthful that … Brian Fanion … could … bask his beingness and extremity hers.

Brian Fanion's condemnation is nether appeal.

Produced by Marie Hegwood. Morgan Canty is the subordinate producer. Wini Dini, George Baluzy, Greg Kaplan and Chris Crater are the editors. Sara Ely Hulse and Elizabeth Caholo are the improvement producers. Lourdes Aguiar is the elder producer. Nancy Kramer is the enforcement communicative editor. Judy Tygard is the enforcement producer.

Nikki Battiste

Nikki Battiste is simply a CBS News nationalist analogous based successful New York. She is an Emmy and Peabody-award winning journalist, and her reporting appears crossed each CBS News broadcasts and platforms.

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