Man Found Guilty Of Pushing Wife Off Cliff For Insurance Money

The jury Monday said Harold Henthorn, 59, had indeed murdered his wife Toni, when her body hit the ground after falling 130 feet from a rocky cliff on September 29, 2012. Henthorn had a hard time keep his story straight, however, and the inconsistencies proved to be his downfall.

Prosecutors said Harold Henthorn had visited the park nine times before his wife’s death, alleging that he was scouting for a location “perfect for murder”.

In addition, one acquaintance said Harold had confided that he had “taken six different hikes at Rocky Mountain National Park, about two weeks before [Toni’s death], trying to find the hike to take Toni on their anniversary weekend. This is another accident in which Harold Henthorn was the only other witness”.

Calls to Henthorn’s attorney were not immediately returned. In 1995, Harold got $500,000 after his wife’s death, whereas in 2012, the insurance company gave him $4.7 million.

Henthorn faces a mandatory life term when he is sentenced on December 8, reported CNN. The auto allegedly came off the jack as he was throwing the tire in the trunk, crushing his wife, who was under the vehicle for unknown reasons.

Harold and Toni Henthorn with their daughter, who’s identity is obscured in this photo. The special administrator of the estate noted that a claim was made for one of those policies just two days after she died – on the same morning that her autopsy was being performed – though no payment was ever made on the claim.

What’s more, a park ranger responding to the scene showed the court a picture that indicated Toni’s lipstick had not been smudged, which the ranger said would have been expected if she had received CPR, according to KMGH.

Both wives died after their 12-year wedding anniversary.

Prosecutors say there are questions to be answered, including why Henthorn “oddly turned away another auto that offered to shine its lights on the scene”.

When authorities realized the man pushed his second wife off a cliff, they reopened the investigation into death of his first wife – which was also unusual.

After the jury was dismissed, applause erupted in the courtroom.

Defense attorneys did not speak with reporters after the verdict Monday. Bringing Haley back to Mississippi will be a solace to the entire family, including his parents, Yvonne and Bob Bertolet, and brother Todd and his family, Barry Bertolet said. “Instead, he will likely spend the rest of his natural life in a prison cell”.