Dateline Originals - The Thing About Pam - Bonus: Return to Lincoln County

Episode Date: December 18, 2023

Pam Hupp is charged with the murder of Betsy Faria.This episode was originally published on July 28, 2021. 

We knew we'd be back. It was only a matter of time. Some stories are like that. Especially the one about Pam Hupp. Last time we told the story, Russ Faria was fully vindicated and watching events in something like astonishment. Pam Hupp, who'd pointed the finger at Russ in the killing of his wife Betsy, had just been sent to prison.

Her crime? Murdering a man just for the purpose of removing suspicion from herself. Her victim an innocent, who never saw what was coming for him. That man was Louis Gumpenberger, whom she'd lured into a bizarre scheme to make Russ Faria look like a violent man.

So, prosecutors alleged. Pam took an Alford plea, got light behind bars. But it wasn't the end of the story. There was still no justice for Betsy Faria. Stabbed some 55 times, horribly murdered, the case that started this whole thing. And Russ? He'd been convicted of her murder, also sentenced to life, then finally acquitted in a second trial after nearly three and a half years behind bars. But even after that, then Lincoln County Prosecuting Attorney Leah Askey continued to maintain that Russ was guilty, that he killed Betsy.

He filed a lawsuit over his case and received a $2 million settlement from Lincoln County, though no one admitted any wrongdoing. In 2018, a new prosecutor was elected on a vow to reopen Betsy's case, and a new sheriff took over, too, at the beginning of 2021. In fact, an entirely new team of investigators was brought in to take a fresh look at the murder case. Which brings us to Monday, July 12, 2021. I'm pleased to announce that we have some significant information to give in the investigation into the death of Betsy Faria. Prosecuting attorney Mike Wood held a press conference at Lincoln County's historic courthouse.

Russ sat near the front, surrounded by family and supporters. His defense attorney Joel Schwartz stood in the back, all eager to hear the news. I'm here to announce that we have filed murder charges in the first degree against Pamela Hupp and the stabbing death of Betsy Faria. There it was. Pam Hupp, charged with the killing authority, says she tried to pin on Betsy's husband, Russ. Prosecuting attorney Wood said the circumstantial case is very strong. The facts in this case are quite simply indisputable. Pamela Hupp was the last person to see Betsy alive. Cell phone records indicate that she was at or near the home at the time of the death. She knew that Betsy's husband would not be home that night. She lied about her

whereabouts. She lied about the details. And lastly, she murdered an innocent man in cold blood to prevent herself from being considered a suspect. The motive? Simple, he said. Greed. In the form of Betsy's $150,000 life insurance policy, which had been changed to make Pam sole beneficiary four days before the murder. Lincoln County will be seeking the death penalty. I do not take lightly the decision to pursue the

death penalty, but this case stands alone in its heinousness and depravity, such that it shocks the conscience. But that wasn't the only news, said Prosecutor Wood. As they reviewed the original investigation, he said, something troubling became quite clear. Sadly, all of these facts were available to prosecutors at the beginning. Even while Betsy's husband was twice prosecuted for her death, this was one of the poorest examples of investigative work that I, as well as my team, have ever encountered. Driven largely by ego, working toward an agenda rather than truth. And because of this, I'm also announcing today that we are launching an investigation into the potential prosecutorial and police misconduct in the Faria investigation. Mike Wood did not mince words. It's clear to me that investigators

made up their minds early into Betsy's death and that they never once considered Pamela Hupp as a suspect despite overwhelming evidence. The prosecutor jumped to an initial rush to judgment and came to their conclusion too early. That investigation was mismanaged from the beginning. Most concerning, however, is that information came to my attention from three separate and independent sources that witnesses were asked to lie on the stand by the prosecutor in that case. What's more, their investigation uncovered something else. A destruction order had been drafted by the sheriff's office shortly after the acquittal of Ruffaria, which would have destroyed all of the physical evidence in this case. This is very troubling to me.

I believe in transparency, and the citizens of Lincoln County need to know that no one here is above the law. Not prosecutors, not police officers. Former prosecutor Leah Askey, who's now remarried, by the way, and goes by Leah Cheney, did not respond to our request for comment, but she did speak to our St. Louis affiliate, KSDK, and said she did nothing wrong. She said she prosecuted Russ Faria twice because, as far as she could see, the evidence pointed only at him. Do you still think Russ Faria is guilty of this crime? I've never been brought anything that suggests that anyone else committed this crime. I'm not saying that there isn't information there.

I'm saying that I've never reviewed it and I've never seen it. She also said the allegation that she asked witnesses to lie is untrue. I have never, will never and would never tell a person to lie. And as for the destruction order, Mike Wood said the sheriff's office drafted. Did you order the evidence in this case to be destroyed? Absolutely not. And I wouldn't. Prosecutor Wood said he expects to complete his internal investigation by the end of the year. And meanwhile, he told us Pam Hupp has already had a long chat with investigators. Detectives from the Lincoln County Sheriff's Office went down to Chillicothe, Department of Corrections,

to meet with Pam Hupp, to interview with her. Wasn't sure whether or not she'd be willing to speak with us. I think obviously she must have known that we were working this investigation. But she did. She sat down, spoke with detectives, spent about four hours with them, and probably would have spent more time if they didn't have to leave. The detectives also asked Pam about Louis Gumpenberger, the man she's doing life for killing. She said, I unloaded the gun on him in self-defense, and I would do it again. And one more thing, said Pam. She did tell us that she had been framed on the death of Louis Kupenberger, which I found curious.

After Wood's announcement, we caught up with Joel Schwartz, the attorney who defended Russ in both murder trials. All along, Joel had been telling us the evidence leads to Pam. And frankly, there's never been a question as to who was involved in this, and it wasn't Russ. As far as the acknowledgement by finally bringing charges is a bit of a relief, and I feel much more relief for Betsy Faria's mother and Russell Faria and the rest of her family. And hopefully we'll get to a conclusion here, and I'm sure it will be satisfactory in the end. As for the investigators and the prosecutor who worked on the original murder investigation... I've always had the belief that there were behind-the-scenes inner workings going on between the prosecutors and the police.

The fact that that has been mentioned today is a bit of a surprise that it's now public. And the fact that they're investigating prosecutorial as well as police misconduct confirms, frankly, unfortunately, my worst fears, but it also confirms my beliefs in this case. We asked Betsy's family what they thought about all that. And here's the gist of a statement from her mom and sisters. Quote, For nine and a half years, we have been praying for the truth to come out about Betsy's murder. It is impossible to move on, to live in peace, knowing Betsy never received justice. They were sickened, they told us, when they heard Mike Wood say that there might have been misconduct in the original investigation, but grateful that his investigators are finally getting to the truth. So now, quote,

we await the upcoming trial of Pam Hopp and true justice for Betsy will hopefully prevail once and for all. And Russ, Russ told us he is relieved, at the very least, after all these years. Very emotional, kind of up and down, but more joyed than anything. It's been 10 years now, this year, and it's kind of unbelievable. I knew it would be a long ride, but it's finally coming to an end, seeing some light at the tunnel, so I'm very happy that this day has made it here. Russ keeps some of Betsy's ashes in a small urn. And on the day of the press conference, he carried it in his pocket.

Because this is all about her. It's not about me. It's not about Pam Hubb. It's not about crooked police. It's about getting justice for her. And then, July 27th, under a baking sun, a shackled Pam Huff was led past a waiting gaggle of reporters to the Lincoln County Justice Center. One of them shouted a question. Pam, would you like to say anything to Betsy Perea's family?

She did not look or answer. And inside the courtroom, she sat in the appointed place, gray hair hanging straight to the shoulders of an orange jumpsuit, her only accessories, a pair of pink handcuffs and glasses and a mask. And we'll call the case of State of Missouri v. Pamela Hupp. Ms. Hupp, this is your initial appearance. The judge read the charges. Murder by stabbing. Murder with intent. Her not guilty plea was entered, though she herself said not a word, but waited for the procedure to be done and then was let out again to resume her life in prison.

We reached out to her attorney for comment, but did not hear back. And so the story goes on, collecting rumors and hearsay, innuendo, as few other cases do. As Prosecutor Wood told us, Pam is the only person charged in Betsy's murder. So far. We will go wherever any evidence leads us. Information will continue to flow. If any evidence whatsoever comes up that we have any thought whatsoever that anybody could possibly be involved, obviously we will aggressively pursue that.

Because I know that had been a theory that had been talked about for quite some time. I just don't have any evidence showing that, unless Pam says she knows somebody who helped, but she hasn't told us that yet. But of course, that's the thing about Pam. You just never know what's coming next.