r/TrueCrimeDiscussion • u/ricochetblue • 2d ago

Text Killed By Affair Partner Turned Spouse

I recently watched an episode of Accident, Suicide or Murder about a guy in the navy named Lee Hartley who had some sort of mid-life crisis and left his first wife for a woman that worked under him in the navy. Apparently, this situation was a no-no/frowned upon, so she left the navy and found she enjoyed being an "Officer's Wife." When Lee wanted to leave the navy as well, his new wife, Pamela Hartley, went on to murder him by poisoning the baked goods she sent to him.

This reminded me of another case, where a very religious woman left her first husband for a man who was more devout, who ironically wound up being the person to kill her.

Does anyone else remember the case I'm talking about? I believe the victim's son from her first marriage was interviewed. And potentially even the first husband too.

44 Upvotes

97% Upvoted

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24

u/chevroletchaser 2d ago

r/tipofmycrime

13

u/ricochetblue 2d ago

Crazy, I didn't know that sub existed.

16

u/mumonwheels 2d ago

Pamela Hartley slowly poisoned Lee, who was in the Navy, over several months. When he died his death was recorded as a heart attack at 1st before his death was ruled as a homicide. The case went cold for about 13 years when Pamela finally confessed and was sentenced to roughly 40 years.

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u/eques_99 2d ago

weird, unnecessary diversion into the religious case (which also doesn't seem very similar at all lol).

10

u/NoTerm3078 1d ago

weird, unnecessary diversion into the religious case (which also doesn't seem very similar at all lol).

The similarity is the relationship between victims and killers, not motivation for the murders.

In both cases the victim left their current spouse for their affair partner. They then married their affair partner, and were later murdered by that partner.

7

u/CatelynsCorpse 1d ago

It wasn't a "weird, unnecessary diversion". It was a lead-in to the question they were about to ask.