Kids Lead Police To Mom’s Murder Secret

“Female not breathing. She’s got no pulse. She has, uh, they think a broken jaw. Her teeth are all broken. Her eye is all cut up. This eye is all bruised, swollen shut.”

These officers have just found 34-year-old Nicole Booth unresponsive on her living room floor. Her body is covered with bruises and cigarette burns. But even more suspicious than her injuries are the reactions of her psychopath husband, whose behavior points at a far darker truth.

“Can I take down—” “Sir? What do you want me to do for you?” “My face is going up. I can’t even get my hands above my head so I can expand my lungs.”

Caught up in this disturbing scene, investigators are unaware that they are just moments away from uncovering the most chilling secret, which will be revealed by the couple’s two little kids.

“Did your daddy cause the bruises?” “Yes.” “Did he hit her with something or did he hit—What did he hit her with?” “Part of the BB gun.” “Part of a BB gun?” “Part of a BB gun.” “Where is that BB gun?”

The 911 Call

It’s 4:44 p.m. on November 15th, 2021, in Dorset, Ohio, when the police department is informed of a frantic 911 call.

“911. What is the address of the emergency?” “Yep. I need an ambulance. 3028 No Road.” “Tell me exactly what happened.” “My girlfriend’s not breathing.” “Okay, stand on the line with me. Okay, we’ve got help on the way.” “Nicole!” “Okay, listen carefully. Pump the chest hard and fast at least twice per second and two inches deep. Start now. Count out loud so I can count with you. 1, 2, 3, 4… 1, 2, 3, 4…” “Keep going. Don’t stop.” “1, 2, 3, 4…”

Paramedics and officers rush to the crime scene and find a woman lying on the floor in her living room in a worrying state.

“Female not breathing. She’s got no pulse. We have someone take the bag for him and Chris is going to get on the chest here.” “I’m okay. They’re still giving CPR.” “Affirmative. 410. Anyone know what happened to her recently?” “I have no idea.” “Okay. I didn’t know if you guys had a phone call or something.” “Who… Who is this?” “I don’t know where they—” “What’s her name?” “What’s your… What’s your name, sir?” “Mom. What happened? How did you guys—” “We were arguing. She said she wasn’t feeling good. She fell over on the floor.”

The Scene and Uncooperative Behavior

Officers identify the woman as 34-year-old Nicole Booth. Apart from her, her boyfriend, 37-year-old Thomas Gley, also known as Tom, and their two kids, a 9-year-old daughter and a 7-year-old son, are also in the house. As eerie as the situation sounds, it is Tom’s behavior that truly leaves investigators shocked when they ask him more questions.

“I need you outside with me, okay?” “I want to be with my kids.” “I understand that, but I need you outside of my kids, sir.” “Sir, I… I need… Listen, I—” “Come on. Come on.” “It’s… It’s going to be okay. I just… I need to talk to you. Okay. I need to figure out what’s going on. Look, I… can you wait? Can I be with my kids for a—” “Sir? I need… Listen, I’m trying to figure out what is going on so I can help.” “I told you as much as I can. Can I please have a moment with my kids and try to get a hold of somebody for my kid?” “Okay. Okay.”

Tom appears to be in a state of panic and is seen running from one room to another, sweating and out of breath, trying to avoid the detectives. They wonder if his concern for his kids is genuine or merely a facade. His attempts to avoid interacting with the detectives hint that he may be hiding a sinister secret.

“I need your help with this so we can help her.” “Can you give me a minute? Can you leave me alone, please?” “Janelle, he’s being completely uncooperative. They were arguing and he said she just fell over.” “Where is he?” “Right here. Sir, we need to talk to you. Sir, hey, I know you’re going through a lot, but we have to talk to you to get some ideas of what’s going on. Okay, sir.” “Can you leave me alone, please?” “I need to understand.” “I got to get a hold of somebody for my kids.” “Okay. I need to know what’s going on.” “Go find out what’s going on. I don’t know what’s going on.”

Soon, officers lose their cool and the questioning takes a heated turn, offering a glimpse into Tom’s troubled mind.

“Did you guys see anything?” “You leave them alone.” “No.” “Sir.” “Ma’am, we need to understand.” “Can you please stop that? I asked… I asked to give me a minute. Please.” “Listen, I’m trying to figure out what’s going on.” “I just asked for you to give me a minute! I just asked for you to give me a minute! That’s the first thing I asked him.” “Okay.” “I didn’t have a chance to call nobody. I was trying to get my kids! I… You guys here. I’ve been trying to get—” “Shut your mouth. We’re trying.” “Would you please not talk to me like that?” “How about listen to me?” “I have been listening to you. Will you please listen to me?” “I’m trying to talk to you and I’m trying to be nice about it. I’m trying to figure out so we can help the EMTs so they can understand what’s going on. What does she use?” “I told you what’s going on! She said she wasn’t feeling good and she fell over.” “410. Are you still en route here? This male is completely uncooperative.”

Medical Efforts and Escalation

Despite multiple attempts to get him to talk, Tom continues to be uncooperative. And back in the living room, the medical team has been tending to Nicole, giving her CPR for almost 15 minutes. However, she lacks a pulse. Acknowledging the urgency of the situation, officers decide to take action as they’ve had enough of Tom’s tantrums and him obstructing their investigation. But even after this, Tom’s erratic behavior only escalates.

“What do you want here? Okay, sir. I need you to come with me now.” “Stand up. Police, sir. Stand up.” “Please, sir. Outside. Outside.” “You need to take a seat.” “Okay. Listen.” “You don’t do this.” “Listen.” “Let me talk to my… You need to calm down.” “I’m trying to calm down.” “I’m trying to help the EMTs so they could save Nicole. Okay. What happened? How did she end up on the floor?” “We took a shower. She wasn’t feeling good. We took a shower. We went out to the couch. She said she wasn’t feeling good. She got down on the floor and she fell over. I tried getting her up. I got some water. I threw some water on her. She didn’t wake up.” “Okay, you need to stand up. Stand up.” “Can you take these off so I can—” “No, absolutely not. Please. Absolutely not.” “I need to get my hands over my head and get breath.” “What’s a phone number we can call for someone to be here?” “I don’t know phone numbers, sweetie. They’re all—” “Give me a name. I—” “She knows how to work your phone. Give me a name.” “I was calling my sister.” “Okay, you have to understand. We’re trying to figure out what’s going on as well.” “You have to be cooperative.” “Man, I am being cooperative.” “Well, you weren’t. Give me a name.” “You’re not telling us anything ’cause you’re here to help your kids.”

He is trying his best to hide all the secrets he can, to the point where he even refuses to disclose his sister’s name when officers ask him about her.

“Sir, I’m not trying to sit down, man.” “Have a seat right there. We’re not going to deal with this nonsense. I’m not dealing with nonsense. So, you’re telling me you guys were in an argument and she magically just fell and passed out right there?”

Tom even claims that Nicole had been taking drugs. But when officers ask him what she took, Tom doesn’t give them a clear answer. His actions and lies are only causing trouble, and he will soon pay for it.

“What does she use?” Returns to the female. “What does she use? You need to tell me so I can help her. We need to know what she used.” “You’re not going to tell us? Then you’ll go to jail ’cause you’re uncooperative.” “Sit up.” “Stop. You’re going to breathe.”

What makes the whole situation even more disturbing is the presence of Tom’s kids at the scene. And it is only a matter of time before they reveal a chilling secret that would change everything.

“Anything true?” “Right there. But Tom won’t let that happen so easily.”

Even amidst his frantic state, Tom sticks to his story. However, first responders know Tom is lying because Nicole’s injuries are inconsistent with a fall and point towards a darker truth.

“Okay.” “She has, uh, they think a broken jaw. Her teeth are all broken. Um, her eye is all cut up. This eye is all bruised, swollen shut. Um, her legs are covered in bruises. Her arms.” “You just have her old skin.” “The face is brand new.” “Okay.” “Um, so I didn’t see where she was laying.” “Oh, okay.” “I tried to… There’s no like skin or anything under her nails. I tried looking at that.” “Okay.” “Um, but these are… these kind of look a little old, but it’s kind of hard to tell with all that on.” “This stuff on the face looks pretty puffy.” “Yeah.”

Despite her fragile condition, the medical team is finally able to restore Nicole’s pulse after 20 minutes of CPR. Though her life still hangs in the balance, she is rushed to the hospital and there’s now hope of finding out the sinister truth behind her horrific condition and her extremely brutal injuries.

“SF4. Also, they’re transporting her to the hospital. They’re still working on her with the machine.” “Do you think it’s a drug overdose or—” “Can I step in the back to look at it or… We had a full arrest. It’s a 30-year-old female. We had a return of pulse. She’s at 95 for pulse right now. She’s still unresponsive.”

Family Arrives and the Truth Unfolds

While Nicole is being transported, Tom is escorted into a police SUV. And as he awaits being taken to the Ashtabula County Sheriff’s Office, detectives call his parents, Tanya and Patrick Campbell, to take custody of the kids. Soon, Tom’s sister, Juanita, also arrives at the scene. She claims to have more information about what might have happened here. That is when some chilling secrets and the reality behind this horrifying crime begins to surface.

“How bad is Nikki? Can you guys tell me that? Like…” “No.” “No. Where did you guys take her?” “Geauga.” “Geauga.” “Yes.” “That’s why… was that… Have they gotten a hold of her parents at all?” “Everything’s in the very early stages. So, you guys are pretty much the first people other than… familiar with a lot of things that go on here. Is that right? Okay.” “I come out here a lot. The kids will tell you that.” “Yeah.” “I’ve, uh, I’ve been to check on Nikki a few times.” “Okay.” “Maybe, uh, Griggy, you want to speak to her just outside so everybody in the whole world doesn’t have to hear everything.” “Nice to meet you.” “Uh, yeah, I’ve been out here to check on Nikki a couple times.” “Okay.” “Um, I know that my brother has been physically abusive… abusive to her in the past. Um, last time I was out here was probably about 2 weeks ago and Nikki was unrecognizable. Honestly, I’ve been in fear to contact you guys. She’s asked me not to contact you guys.” “What’s his name?” “Uh, Tom.” “Tom, what’s his name?” “Gley. Okay.” “Um, is he in jail? Is that… I’m guessing?” “No.” “He’s in someone’s car.” “Yeah, he’s in the back of one of the cars.” “Oh, he’s here. Okay. Okay.” “Yeah. Um, yeah.” “What do you mean unrecognizable?” “Like, you didn’t… she didn’t look like my sister-in-law. Like cuts, bruises, scrapes.” “That was two weeks ago.” “About two weeks ago, I would say.” “Did she have any bruising or anything on her legs or arms?” “Uh, she was covered up.” “Okay.” “So, I don’t know, but I know that she couldn’t move very easily, so I… I would have to say so.” “Okay. The kids did say she has some trouble walking. Um, but they… they didn’t say why she couldn’t breathe, like…” “No, they said they didn’t really see anything. So, but I think it’s in fear that he has told them… probably… not to talk… probably.” “This is… Is that usually what happened?” “Um, I just… he doesn’t say a lot to them in front of me.” “Okay.” “Um, I just know that he… he doesn’t like the cops and that he’s kind of trained the kids the same way, if you will.” “Yeah. Yeah.” “Um, okay.” “Yeah. I don’t… I don’t know what happened.” “When’s the last time you talked to her?” “To her?” “Mhm.” “They were actually just at my house two nights ago, I believe.” “And she have any marks on her then?” “Uh, her face was still swelled and stuff. Like her eyes were bruised or anything.” “I know her nose looked like a little wide.” “Okay.” “Um, like I said, I… I didn’t see her very clearly. It was… it was night time when they… when they were there.” “Okay. I’m gonna come up here so I don’t have to look up at you. Sorry.” “But, um, yeah, she… um, her lips looked a little… a little swelled too, you know. Um, like I said, I couldn’t see her face real clearly.” “Is it typical just arguments or is it like the same thing? You think…” “I know that they fight a lot. Um, I think Tom needs help. Um, Tom is like a conspiracy theorist. He… he kind of… he’s up in… I love him, but he’s my brother and he… he’s up.”

Now officers know why Tom didn’t want to share his sister’s name with them. She knows too much about him. Right after speaking with Juanita, officers confront Tom with what they’ve just learned about Nicole’s injuries. However, Tom’s psychotic behavior doesn’t seem to be fading away anytime soon. So much so that he even tries to bribe the officer driving him to the police station.

“Tom, look at me. You guys ever get physical?” “Can you do me a favor?” “What’s up? One favor and I’ll talk to you for hours if you want.” “What do you need?” “Let me go in and sit with my kids and hold my kids ’cause I’m going to need to give you things anyway.” “You’re going to need to give me things.” “I want to give you things. I have tons of things to give you.” “Like what?” “Boxes of stuff.” “Look. Boxes. Boxes.” “Boxes of stuff.” “Like what?” “Of tons of stuff. I don’t—” “That doesn’t help me. I’m interested in what happened tonight. Okay, Thomas.” “We’ve been arguing good.” “Okay.” “And we were in the living room. We started arguing again and she said that she didn’t feel good and fell.” “She fell. Thomas, listen to me. Hey, Nicole didn’t sustain those injuries from falling and you know that.” “I know.” “I’m not saying you’re a bad guy. I think things just got a little carried away tonight. Wouldn’t you agree? Would you agree with that?” “I’m not agreeing with that. You’re trying to put me in a position I don’t want to be in and that’s making me—” “I… I don’t want to… I wouldn’t want to be in that position either. I… I get that. I understand.” “As for one thing, please just let me put my arms around my kids and give you whatever you need.” “I’m… I’m not uncuffing you and having you put your arms around your children. It’s not going to happen. I can’t do it. Those handcuffs aren’t coming off until you get to jail.”

The Children Speak

With Tom not budging from his story, the detectives have no option but to turn to the kids for more information. But they’re once again taken by surprise as Tom’s calculated plan and manipulative mind gets the best of them.

“Don’t be afraid to talk to these guys, okay? They’re here to help. They’re here to help you, okay? And your mom. And your mom. That’s the important thing. We need to help your mom, okay? Because she’s… she’s not doing well in the hospital and the doctors need… need to help, okay? Listen, they need to know what happens and what goes on here. Okay. Talking to the kids. You good?” “Yeah.” “All right.” “You want to help your mommy? Do you want to get out of this situation so your mommy’s safe? I know that daddy told you guys not to talk to people, but sometimes you have to. Have they been fighting the past couple days like they do when Aunt Juanita comes out to visit to check on you guys?” “Yes. I think they had the… there was a gray bucket and hair.” “Okay. So, in the shower, I did see a clump of hair in the shower.” “Okay. Okay. Yeah, there’s a bucket with some hair in the shower.” “Just whatever you guys can remember. We need to talk to these guys. Okay. That way they can… This will help your mom. And this will help your mom and this will help your dad get the help that he needs hopefully.”

It turns out that Tom has already carefully told his children not to speak with the detectives about anything. Luckily, the presence of their aunt Juanita shifts things into the detective’s favor as the kids finally begin to reveal some chilling information in bits and pieces.

“I also saw like the black and blue marks. What happened? Did your daddy cause the bruises?” “Yes.” “Did he hit her with something or did he hit… What did he hit her with?” “Part of a BB gun.” “Part of a BB gun.” “Part of a BB gun. Where is that BB gun?” “Do you know where that is?” “I think it’s either in… Don’t touch it. I think it’s either over there in the, um…” “Well, we’ll leave it for the detective. Don’t touch, baby. Don’t touch. Anita over here. Right there.” “Okay. Just don’t touch it.” “When… When did that… was that today?” “I think it was last night.” “Last night. Did you hear mommy fall today, too?” “I think so. Making sure to be on the floor right there. Right here by the couch.” “So there’s a BB gun in there. He hit her in the face with the BB gun. Is that what we said? The kid, the daughter.”

While the kids are able to tell officers a few details, the most horrific revelation comes from Tom’s sister, Juanita herself.

“I know. Last time I was out here, no, it wasn’t two weeks ago. Um, when I was out here, the time before that that I was out here, I gave her a hug. I was getting ready to leave and she did. She whispered in my ear, ‘Please don’t leave. He’s going to kill me.'”

Transport and Confrontation

As detectives wrap up the interview with the kids, they get news of Nicole’s current condition at the hospital. She is in a coma and barely clinging to life. Tests confirm that there are no drugs in her system, directly countering Tom’s earlier claims. Consistent with her brutal injuries, doctors find severe burn marks, multiple fractures throughout her body, and even internal bleeding. Despite the fight she’s putting up, her situation isn’t getting any better.

With this, officers decide to finally take Tom down to the sheriff’s office for a formal interrogation. However, just the car ride there would turn this investigation even more disturbing than it already is.

“You won’t listen to me. Nobody will.” “I am listening. Listen, we have the ride to the county jail and I will listen to you.” “Yeah, but all the things that I’m telling you I need for my… my evidence, you’re going to destroy because people are going to be in my house. You’re not going to get it all. I’ve offered to give it to you and I’ve tried to talk to you and you guys just make a mockery of me. Is it not good enough that I’m trying to talk to you? Is it not good enough that I called for services? Is it not good enough that I tried to give you information?” “It’s honestly nobody.” “I didn’t do nothing! I didn’t create no problems. The only thing I asked for was to give me a moment so I could come down and counsel my kids and get some—” “When someone needs help and you want to give us a box of papers, that’s no good.” “You know, there’s nothing in my house that’s going to save her. There’s nothing in my house that’s going to save her.” “What happened to her? You were there and we weren’t. And if someone could tell me what happened in your house before I got there and I could pass it on to the doctors, it might make the difference between her living and dying. So, I don’t want to talk about boxes of papers. So, why don’t we talk about what happened to her so we can help the doctors understand what’s going on so they can develop a plan to help treat her and try to get her to live?” “I’m not a doctor. What do you want me to tell you?” “Well, what happened in the house before we got there?” “I’m not a doctor. What do you want me to tell you that’s going to save her life?” “What caused her injuries?” “Tell me to save her life.” “What caused her injuries? You can tell me what caused her… what… what caused her injuries is a great start.” “Me and her.” “What does that mean?” “That means just what I said. It needs me and her.” “She hurt herself.” “Yes, she’s hurt herself.” “Okay.” “I told the 911 dispatch. She said she wasn’t feeling good and she passed out. She quit breathing.” “So, how did her face get all like that?” “Change the subject on me.” “No, I’m… I’m saying she… You said—” “Change the subject on me.” “Okay.”

There is a continuous back and forth in Tom’s concerning behavior. One moment he’s calm and begging for help. The other he’s cunning and eager to fight. There’s no doubt that something is very wrong with him. The officer even shows Tom some concern and emotion, trying to get a confession out of him, but nothing works on him. And his behavior from here on in will only get worse.

“The police are we miss.” “I’m not going to pull over. I can hear you just fine. There’s no reason I have to stop to be able to listen. I can listen and drive.” “But you’re going to miss the most important things for me.” “But yet… but yet you said nothing yet. I’m trying to tell you, but you won’t listen.” “How am I not listening? My ears are wide open. You just ain’t saying nothing.” “You asked me what was in the boxes, and I sold you lots of things, and then you turn around and mock me like, ‘Oh, well, that’s how that saved her.'” “Right. ‘Cause that’s what’s most important.” “Yeah, right.” “You don’t… You don’t… You don’t care one bit about her. You could… you could care less.” “No, I don’t… I don’t care a thing about you ’cause you don’t treat me like a human.” “You haven’t told us one thing that would… The doctors want to know about her injuries. They’re seeing injuries and they want to know what caused the injuries and they don’t know.” “I tried to tell you what caused her injuries.” “Tell me again.” “I don’t listen. Good. Tell me again. My ears are open.” “No.” “Tell me again what caused the injuries.” “The mother of your children is in the hospital fighting for her life. She needs somebody.” “Not a doctor.” “Okay. And you won’t even help. You won’t even say what—” “Not a cop.” “You won’t even say what happened.” “Saying what happened ain’t going to change nothing and ain’t going to save her life. I told you. Check her lungs and check her head. What more do you want from me? I’m not a doctor. I’m a criminal. It’s how you treat me anyway. A worthless piece of—” “Oh, you’ve been treated far from that, Tom.” “I’m done talking to you ’cause you don’t do nothing but treat me like a—” “Well… well, what?” “You’ll have to think about that.” “Well, what? I’ll have to think about it. You guys have the burden of proof. No, I didn’t tell you nothing. I did not tell you nothing.” “You’ll have a chance to talk to the detective, Tom. You should at least keep drugs out.”

Gathering Evidence and the Interrogation

Before interrogating Tom, the detective decides to gather some more evidence against him. They call in his parents, Sonia and Patrick, and friend Paul, for questioning. What they have to say further exposes Tom’s dark side.

“I mean, I’ve never seen him hit her.” “I… We both know that he has smacked her. He’s told never again. Don’t let us see it. Don’t let us hear about it. But anything like this, God, we had no clue.” “He’s a control freak. He has to be in control of everybody’s life.” “I mean, it sounds like you were probably closer to anybody than anybody else… than anybody else. I mean, in all… in all reality, which is, I guess, why… why I feel so guilty. He called me on the 25th in the morning and I went out there and Nikki was beat up.” “And you said that was the 25th of October.” “Yeah. Yeah. It looked like she had been punched in the nose is what it looked like ’cause right here was all black and blue and then I was like what the f*** is going on, you know. Then we went outside because I wasn’t going to stand there and talk in front of the kids.” “He told me he punched her. He told me he punched her. He told me he did that.”

After these interviews, detectives know one thing for sure. Tom is not only violent, but also pure evil.

“I teach Nicole hard lessons out of love.”

The next morning on November 16th, 2021, Tom’s interrogation begins and it is going to go exactly how the detective has been expecting it to.

“I tried to be as honest with you as I could yesterday and you just pretty much took me for a joke.” “No, I didn’t take you for a joke. You took me for a joke. I asked you to take me in the house and I would give you everything I could to help you out in… in exchange for hugging your kids. You either want to discuss how Nicole sustained her injuries and how… how she has bruising all over her body that’s in various stages of healing. How she ended up with a… a lacerated spleen.” “Sir, I don’t want to argue with you and I don’t want to give you a hard time.” “Okay. Well, my question to you directly is how did Nicole sustain injuries this year?” “And I’m not talking to you about the question.” “Okay. Here’s… here’s my problem. This interview detective, can you listen to me?” “No, I’m not going to. You’re… you’re talking circles. I’m going to get a search warrant to collect your DNA.” “That’s your copy.” “Everything that I say or do will be used against me in a court of law. And it doesn’t matter what I say or do. Uh, my words are… are… are twisted around and—” “I don’t need to say anything. Nicole’s… Nicole’s injuries speak volumes. Okay, sir.” “I tried to help you. I told my children.” “You didn’t try nothing.” “No, I didn’t try nothing. That’s why I tried to give you boxes of paperwork. Right.” “I’m tired of hearing about paperwork. Unless the… the boxes of paperwork has to do with the confession, I’m not overly concerned about the box of paperwork.” “Can I get some water? Please, pop.” “Please.” “What’s that?” “In a cup. I can’t drink another bottle. I’m not this. You can have this bottle. I’m not going to run out and get you a cup. Okay.”

A complete sense of remorse covers Tom’s face. He even begins to cry. But it is a mystery what he regrets: the fear of not being able to see his children ever again or the absolute brutality he unleashed upon Nicole.

“I asked you specifically how did Nicole sustain the injuries that she had? Your response was nothing for a moment and then you said we’ve been fighting since June. We got into a fight tonight. We showered and then she fell down. That’s what you told me last night. Unless they’re falling from a 10-story building, somebody’s not going to get a lacerated spleen or liver and fractures and broken ribs. If I stand up and fall down right now, I’m not going to sustain those types of injuries. You provided no assistance whatsoever in trying to clarify what happened with Nicole. Okay. You say you love her, but your actions say something different.”

Going into this interrogation, the detective knows how Tom will try to deflect the questions and avoid giving any real answers. But he has come prepared this time. He simply confronts Tom with all the evidence they’ve gathered while keeping his responses cold and short. The strategy seems to be working as Tom clearly looks defeated and on the verge of breaking down soon. Beneath the surface, his rage is simmering. And not long from now, one crucial piece of evidence is about to bring it to light.

“I’m trying to get some information.” “Can we keep it simple, please?” “What… What was… What was difficult to understand?” “A lot of things are difficult to understand.” “All right. I’m not going to keep going. Are you bouncing around?” “I’m not bouncing around. I’m confused.” “Can you get your piece of paper and write something for me?” “No.” “Here, let me get your piece of paper and write something, please.” “Nope.” “I want you to think about it, please.” “What do you want me to write?” “I don’t know. I was going to have to take a second to think about it.” “Okay. Why can’t you make sense of what’s going on?” “Because Nicole has lied to me and manipulated me and, uh, and made me forget portions of my life. I was going to try to help you.” “You’re saying that she manipulated you and lied to you. Is that when you kick her ass?” “Why did she kick her? I think your…” “Why did she kick her ass? Because I will be asking.” “You can say whatever you want to say. Her injuries tell a different story. Her injuries speak volumes.” “What do you mean? But I don’t understand what she meant by that.” “You don’t seem to understand much of anything. You’re not going to… You’re not going to control this. You’re not going to control this interview like you control… like you’ve controlled Nicole over here.” “Sir, I have stung you as I can.” “Yes, I have. I told you I can’t even understand 10 years of my life. How do I make you understand it in 5 minutes?” “I don’t understand 10 years of my life. How do I make you understand?” “I’m done talking to you. I’m done. I’m done.”

The Tragic End and Video Evidence

Sadly, Tom’s questioning comes to an abrupt end without any real confession. While he still remains in custody, investigators hear back from the hospital. In a tragic turn of events, after spending three days on life support, Nicole succumbs to her brutal injuries. Later, Tom is charged with aggravated murder.

As Tom’s court proceedings begin, detectives keep a close eye on him, monitoring all his moves in prison as they look to build an airtight case against him. And soon, they hit the jackpot, listening in on one of Tom and his mother’s calls.

“How are you? They offered me 30 to life.” “Oh, did they?” “I’d be 68 years old after 30 years.” “So, you’re going to trial then, right?” “That’s why some of the investigators starting to investigate.” “All I’m going to say is you don’t want them digging through your stuff.” “I don’t know what you’re talking about.” “There’s some things in there that nobody should see.” “Like what?” “Stuff that you wrote. Just not good stuff. Everybody clearly knows that if I put my hands on me, but nothing says that I beat the s*** out of her.” “You’re not stupid.” “Okay. Well, they’re going there. Like it or not, they’re going there. So, I guess you need to clean. They only claim a certain amount of time to prosecute, bring me to trial. But they’re going there. So, whatever you’re so worried about, everybody can’t get it gone.” “Yeah. Well, there’s a burn pile there. We’ll have a big fire.”

Right after this call, detectives rush to secure all evidence before it can be destroyed. The most crucial piece they seize is a phone, which is hiding one of the most chilling videos officers have ever seen.

“You see, I touched Nicole a little bit with some cigarettes because I was trying to get Nicole to answer some basic questions about what’s going on here. And she wouldn’t say nothing to me. And I try to talk to her and I try to love her and I try to explain it. I just want to be 100% transparent because I think she’s trying to set me the f*** up. That even though she looks like she does, I’m trying to explain to her that there’s a judgment coming. And if she thinks this is bad, wait until she gets the judgment, because I want to make it very clear: This is my boat and I run this. And I just want to make it clear that I don’t beat on Nicole. I don’t beat on Nicole at all. I teach Nicole hard lessons out of love.”

Just days before Tom murdered Nicole, he filmed himself abusing Nicole. This extremely graphic video showcases Tom’s sick mind and the brutality Nicole faced every single day. This video marks a major break in the case and Tom’s fate appears to be sealed.

After Tom is confronted with this disturbing video, he pleads guilty to aggravated murder. On October 26th, 2022, he is sentenced to 25 years to life in prison.