Summary
**One-Sentence Summary**
Paul DeWise was convicted of murdering his estranged wife, Lauren, and shooting her roommate, Ashley, after a obsessive and abusive relationship spiraled into violence, with his own self-recorded videos providing the damning evidence that led to his 220-year prison sentence.
**One-Paragraph Summary**
In January 2018, the Gallatin County Sheriff’s Office responded to a 911 call reporting a shooting at a home in Bozeman, Montana, where Lauren DeWise was found dead and her roommate, Ashley VanHammer, was critically injured. The primary suspect was Lauren’s estranged husband, Paul DeWise, who initially presented a strong alibi supported by surveillance footage from a convenience store. However, investigators uncovered a disturbing trail of self-recorded videos Paul had made, which documented his escalating paranoia, stalking behavior, and violent outbursts against Lauren. These recordings revealed that Paul had been mentally unraveling due to Lauren’s decision to leave him and pursue a divorce. Under pressure, Paul’s teenage son, Joe, eventually confessed to being present during the crime, revealing that Paul had forced him to accompany him to the house, where Paul shot Lauren multiple times and wounded Ashley. Paul was subsequently arrested, tried, and sentenced to 220 years in prison for deliberate homicide and attempted murder.
**Key Takeaways**
* **Self-Incriminating Evidence:** Paul DeWise’s habit of recording his interactions with his wife provided investigators with crucial audio and video evidence of his obsession, threats, and mental instability, which contradicted his claims of innocence.
* **Pattern of Abuse and Stalking:** The case highlighted a long history of domestic abuse, including physical violence, emotional manipulation, and stalking (using GPS trackers and following Lauren), which Lauren had confided in friends about.
* **Coercion of Minors:** Paul coerced his teenage son, Joe, into participating in the crime by threatening him, demonstrating the extreme lengths he would go to maintain control and commit violence.
* **The "Twist" of the Alibi:** Paul’s alibi was initially solid due to video footage of him buying beer, but this footage actually placed him at the scene immediately after the murders, as he had killed Lauren and Ashley before making the stop.
* **Legal Outcome:** Paul DeWise was found guilty of deliberate homicide for Lauren’s death and attempted deliberate homicide for Ashley’s survival, receiving a combined sentence of 220 years in prison.
**Important People/Entities**
* **Paul DeWise:** The perpetrator, estranged husband of Lauren, and father to three children.
* **Lauren DeWise:** The victim, Paul’s estranged wife, who was murdered.
* **Ashley VanHammer:** The survivor, Lauren’s roommate, who was shot and critically injured.
* **Audrea "Audi" Butler:** Lauren’s friend and roommate who discovered the crime scene and provided key testimony.
* **Joe DeWise:** Paul’s 15-year-old son, who was coerced into accompanying his father to the crime scene.
* **Natalie DeWise:** Paul’s 17-year-old daughter, who testified about her father’s controlling behavior.
* **Gallatin County Sheriff’s Office / Belgrade Police Department:** The law enforcement agencies that investigated the case.
**Notable Timestamps**
* **00:41:** Introduction of the 911 call reporting the shooting in January 2018.
* **01:14:** Discovery of the crime scene by Lauren’s friend, Audi.
* **05:09:** Confirmation that Lauren DeWise is dead and Ashley VanHammer is alive but critically injured.
* **07:10:** Paul DeWise is detained by police while returning home from church with his children.
* **17:30:** Video evidence of a prior altercation where Paul stabbed a man in self-defense, showing his history of violence.
* **30:56:** Joe DeWise recounts witnessing his father catching Lauren with another man, a key trigger for Paul’s jealousy.
* **54:05:** Joe DeWise cracks under police pressure and admits to being involved in the events of the night.
* **58:40:** Joe describes hearing Paul shoot Lauren multiple times in her bedroom.
* **01:01:14:** Paul DeWise is arrested and charged with deliberate homicide.
* **01:02:07:** Paul DeWise is sentenced to 220 years in prison.