Music teacher Kristine Fitzhugh (born 1947)[1] was murdered on May 5, 2000 in her home in Palo Alto, California by her husband Kenneth Carroll Fitzhugh Jr. (1943–2012).[1][2]
After Kenneth Fitzhugh received a call from Kristine's workplace saying that she had failed to meet her classes, he and two coworkers went to the family house, where they found Kristine dead at the bottom of the basement stairs.
Kenneth suggested Kristine fell on the stairs because she was wearing a pair of dangerously unsteady shoes, but water-diluted blood in the kitchen showed that she had been killed there – hit on the head seven times and strangled – then placed at the bottom of the stairs.[3]
Kenneth, a real estate agent, claimed he was miles away inspecting property at the time of the murder, but cell phone records showed that he received a call around the time of the murder while in the Fitzhughs' neighborhood.[4] A search of Kenneth's car found clothing, shoes and other items stained with Kristine's blood.[5][6]
Sentenceedit
In 2001, Kenneth Fitzhugh was convicted of second-degree murder and sentenced to 15 years to life.[1] The motive for the murder is uncertain. Kenneth may have been angry that Kristine was about to reveal to her eldest son that his biological father was not Kenneth;[7][8] a DNA test conducted after the murder confirmed this.[5] In addition, had he not been convicted, Kenneth would have collected $96,000 from Kristine's life insurance and some or all of her $900,000 estate.[9]
Aftermathedit
Fitzhugh was paroled on compassionate grounds in February 2012 due to Parkinson's disease, and died in Palo Alto on October 27, 2012, at age 69.[2][3]
Referencesedit
^ abcStannard, Matthew B. (October 11, 2001). "Fitzhugh gets 15 years to life / Palo Alto man lacks remorse in wife's death". The San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved December 7, 2013.
^ abDremann, Sue (December 2, 2013). "Palo Alto murderer dies after 'compassionate' parole". Palo Alto Online. Retrieved December 7, 2013.
^ abHerhold, Scott (4 December 2013). "Herhold: Murder in Palo Alto -- the coda to the Kenneth Fitzhugh case". San Jose Mercury News. Retrieved 2016-03-21.
^D'Agostino, Bill (July 11, 2001). "Prosecution tries to crack Fitzhugh alibi". Palo Alto Weekly News. Retrieved 2018-04-11.
^ abSmith, Carlton (2003). Blood Will Tell: A Shocking True Story of Marriage, Murder, and Fatal Family Secrets. New York: St. Martin's Paperbacks. p. 204. ISBN0-312-97795-6 – via Google Books.
^Bailey, F. Lee; Rabe, Jean (March 4, 2008). When the Husband is the Suspect. Macmillan. pp. 179, 184. ISBN978-0765316134 – via Google Books.
^Walsh, Diana; Finz, Stacy (24 June 2001). "Death betrayed secret life of the 'perfect wife' / Palo Alto teacher raised a love child". SFGate. Retrieved 7 January 2015.
^"Man convicted of killing wife; motive not clear". The Berkeley Daily Planet. The Associated Press. August 3, 2001. Retrieved 2018-04-11.
^Gathright, Alan (29 June 2000). "Money a Motive in Slaying? / Fitzhugh could inherit $900,000 if exonerated". SFGate. Retrieved 2016-03-21.
External linksedit
Kristine Fitzhugh murder story archive, from Palo Alto Weekly News
April 09, 2024
murder, kristine, fitzhugh, music, teacher, kristine, fitzhugh, born, 1947, murdered, 2000, home, palo, alto, california, husband, kenneth, carroll, fitzhugh, 1943, 2012, after, kenneth, fitzhugh, received, call, from, kristine, workplace, saying, that, failed. Music teacher Kristine Fitzhugh born 1947 1 was murdered on May 5 2000 in her home in Palo Alto California by her husband Kenneth Carroll Fitzhugh Jr 1943 2012 1 2 After Kenneth Fitzhugh received a call from Kristine s workplace saying that she had failed to meet her classes he and two coworkers went to the family house where they found Kristine dead at the bottom of the basement stairs Contents 1 Crime 2 Sentence 3 Aftermath 4 References 5 External linksCrime editKenneth suggested Kristine fell on the stairs because she was wearing a pair of dangerously unsteady shoes but water diluted blood in the kitchen showed that she had been killed there hit on the head seven times and strangled then placed at the bottom of the stairs 3 Kenneth a real estate agent claimed he was miles away inspecting property at the time of the murder but cell phone records showed that he received a call around the time of the murder while in the Fitzhughs neighborhood 4 A search of Kenneth s car found clothing shoes and other items stained with Kristine s blood 5 6 Sentence editIn 2001 Kenneth Fitzhugh was convicted of second degree murder and sentenced to 15 years to life 1 The motive for the murder is uncertain Kenneth may have been angry that Kristine was about to reveal to her eldest son that his biological father was not Kenneth 7 8 a DNA test conducted after the murder confirmed this 5 In addition had he not been convicted Kenneth would have collected 96 000 from Kristine s life insurance and some or all of her 900 000 estate 9 Aftermath editFitzhugh was paroled on compassionate grounds in February 2012 due to Parkinson s disease and died in Palo Alto on October 27 2012 at age 69 2 3 References edit a b c Stannard Matthew B October 11 2001 Fitzhugh gets 15 years to life Palo Alto man lacks remorse in wife s death The San Francisco Chronicle Retrieved December 7 2013 a b Dremann Sue December 2 2013 Palo Alto murderer dies after compassionate parole Palo Alto Online Retrieved December 7 2013 a b Herhold Scott 4 December 2013 Herhold Murder in Palo Alto the coda to the Kenneth Fitzhugh case San Jose Mercury News Retrieved 2016 03 21 D Agostino Bill July 11 2001 Prosecution tries to crack Fitzhugh alibi Palo Alto Weekly News Retrieved 2018 04 11 a b Smith Carlton 2003 Blood Will Tell A Shocking True Story of Marriage Murder and Fatal Family Secrets New York St Martin s Paperbacks p 204 ISBN 0 312 97795 6 via Google Books Bailey F Lee Rabe Jean March 4 2008 When the Husband is the Suspect Macmillan pp 179 184 ISBN 978 0765316134 via Google Books Walsh Diana Finz Stacy 24 June 2001 Death betrayed secret life of the perfect wife Palo Alto teacher raised a love child SFGate Retrieved 7 January 2015 Man convicted of killing wife motive not clear The Berkeley Daily Planet The Associated Press August 3 2001 Retrieved 2018 04 11 Gathright Alan 29 June 2000 Money a Motive in Slaying Fitzhugh could inherit 900 000 if exonerated SFGate Retrieved 2016 03 21 External links editKristine Fitzhugh murder story archive from Palo Alto Weekly News Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Murder of Kristine Fitzhugh amp oldid 1179883274, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
