Michael Ratley News Today

Cells. >> michael ratleys dna was recovered from the latex gloves. it was just a logical assumption that michael ratley had worn the latex gloves and then put the larger heavier rubber gloves on and then wielded the murder weapon in killing his wife. >> prosecutors believe michael ratley had planned his wifes murder for months. and had made more than one attempt on her life. the first could have been the incident in the car with the mouse which almost caused her to crash on the interstate highwa...

>> it looked as if effies killer entered and exited through her ground floor bedroom window while everyone else in the house was asleep in other rooms. >> outside the window, they found the screen that had been cut. it was laying directly beneath the window. >> once i stepped in the room you could see the blood spatter on the wall behind effies bed. >> michael ratleys parents stated that they never heard any noise coming from the bedroom during the attack. >> effie ratleys murder was a concern t...

Her, then fled the scene without leaving any trace evidence. he also claimed the killer hid the murder weapon and gloves in the hidden compartment of his truck. >> he talked about the fact that he loved his wife, that he would not do this to her, that she had just given birth to his child so there was no reason whatsoever. >> his story was difficult to believe, but would forensic science provide the answers? >> the bloody hammer found in mikes truck was the first thing analysts tested. >> and th...

The next day, prosecutors believe he cut out the bedroom screen, waited for his wife to go to bed, took off his clothes, put on two pairs of gloves, and used a hammer to beat his wife to death. blood spattered onto the walls and all over him. he used the paper towels to clean himself, then put on his robe. which explains why there was no blood on him when interviewed by police. michael hid the evidence in. the hidden compartment of his truck. then ran to his parents bedroom and reported the atta...

And the couple lived in a mobile home next door to michaels parents in bryceville, florida. but just weeks after coming home from the hospital with their new baby, tragedy struck. a fire broke out in michael and effies home. michael managed to get the baby out unharmed. but effie was trapped inside. instead of waiting pore fire fights, he used a satellite dish to break a window. michaels actions were hailed by the local media. michaels wife says she was asleep and had no idea what was going on b...

>> my son came home. when he was at the barn, somebody hit him in the back of his head. >> does he know who did it? >> no idea. he dont know if he blacked out or what. >> nothing had been stolen. which led police to believe michael had surprised his attacker before he could steal anything. >> it created a lot of concern with the family. it was common in this area to at night leave a garage door open or even a window open or what have you. that was not the case after the barn incident. >> before ...

>> up next, a suspicious house fire nearly kills an entire family. had she been in there much longer, she certainly wouldnt have survived. >> a month later, the husband is assaulted and the wife is dead. >> who did this? who would have possibly want wanted to hurt her. >> everyone was in lockdown move. new lights, new sensors had been purchased. everyone was on edge. >> police have no witnesses, no motive and no suspects. >> this was a savage brutal attack. >> until science uncovers an elaborate...

The whole house was searched, anything for weapons, the whole house was fingerprinted. dna swabs, any kind of blood or anything for touch dna was swabbed in that house. >> but investigators found nothing, no murder weapon, bloody clothing or any other evidence of the crime. inside michaels truck, however, investigators found a hidden compartment under the back seat. there they found a treasure trove of forensic evidence. >> michael ratleys truck turned out to be the jackpot, if you will, for our...

>> as a reporter im hearing him say this and im thinking this guy is an absolute hero. when you saw the damage inside this home you realized had she been in there much longer, she certainly wont have survived. >> fire investigators determined the cause of the fire was faulty wiring and there was no functioning fire detector. >> the fire was ruled to have been an accidental fire. >> michael, effie and their baby moved in with michaels parents, but a month later, tragedy struck the ratleys again. ...

>> and robbery didnt appear to be a motive. >> there was a purse by the window that was not taken. there was a wallet on the nightstand that was not taken. and she was not sexually assaulted in any way. >> investigators also found some personal items in michael ratleys possession that raised questions about the couples marriage. >> there was a portable dvd player, a bottle of personal lubricant, and several dvd movies that contained adult male gay porn graphic material on it. >> it did lead to t...