Crime Junkie
Crime Junkie
"We sincerely hope we are wrong in our suspicions but we need some answers. Please help us sort this all out." — Jane Newman's Mother (Patricia)
"The jury said that Jim lacked credibility and they thought it was odd that Jane had no marks on the hand that she would have needed to pull the fishing line with." — Narrator summarizing jury findings.
"Although the appellate court did reduce his punitive and compensatory damages to $482,903, which is ultra specific." — Narrator highlighting specific details of the legal outcome.
The episode chronicles the perplexing case of Jane Newman, who was found deceased in her Wisconsin home in 1993. Initially reported as a homicide with signs of a forced entry and a violent death, the investigation quickly became complicated by the shifting statements of her husband, Jim Newman. He first presented the scene as a home invasion but later claimed Jane had committed suicide and he had staged the scene to protect her reputation. This change in narrative, coupled with questionable handling of evidence by initial investigators, led to an inconclusive criminal investigation at the time.
Despite the lack of criminal charges, Jane Newman's family pursued a civil suit. During the trial, new details emerged, including testimony from Jim's former boss that suggested inconsistencies in Jim's timeline and alibi. A jury ultimately found Jim Newman liable for Jane's death, concluding it was a homicide and that he was responsible. This civil verdict led to a significant financial judgment against him and a change in Jane's death certificate to reflect homicide.
However, the episode emphasizes that the burden of proof for criminal charges is substantially higher, and despite the civil findings, criminal homicide charges were never filed due to insufficient evidence in the eyes of the District Attorney. The case remains officially closed but with many lingering questions about the initial investigation, the whereabouts of key evidence like the murder weapon, and the true events of that day, leaving Jane's family and the podcast hosts seeking further clarity.