Our house. I saw a lot of police cars. That woman was a fighter. She would never leave her daughters. She would never do it. Michelle around the home, she was very proud about that, she was able to ends meet good they are wonderful girls, they were amazing. S, the end came a much too soon. Shes madison motionless, and im concerned. There appeared to be a body hanging from the banister. At first look, it appeared to be a suicide. But then they looked closer. There appeared to be a struggle, they were telling me, there is something wrong here. Expected someone want michelle that . A bond forged in blood. Could you cry . I. We called the conversation. Betrayed by blood. What are you hoping for . Some conversation between the two of of them about the death. We looked at video surveillance, and he goes to my dont like what i am saying. Your theorizing the darkest scenario . Yes i am. Evil. Hello, and welcome to dateline. Michelle and lloyd were High School Sweethearts who tied the knot three years later. But michelle and lloyd remained devoted to their girls, then michelle was found dead in her home. At first Police Suspected suicide, but soon the case tooko a chilling turn. At the heart of this mystery was a betrayal too twisted to be true. Except that it is. Here is Dennis Murphy, with the ultimatum. The long road to prima ballerina, the dreams of thunderous bravos, the cascade of roses, begins with the youngest of dancers in a school of two dude 10yearolds. It is very disciplined. An athletic discipline of concentration and body control, Learning Poise under pressure. It took a lot, especially when we were young, to stick with it, but it was worth it a Ballet Academy in Upstate New York, is where nina got to know her friend, terry neurauter. I got to know carrie when she was eight, she was very sweet, very bubbly personality. Both of them were girly girls, but wanted to grow up to be like their dads. Our debts were both engineers, so we were both going to become engineers. Professional ballerinas on the side. Everyone could see that kerrys was very close to her dad, Lloyd Neurauter. Not only would he drive his ld order to class, he would stay and help out. Y he was the only father there that was bringing the kids in the morning at that time. Ninas mom, cynthia would see him on those saturdays, but rarely his wife. He would always sort of bring them there and brush in their hair out and put these funds together. Yes, and he definitely enjoyed the admiration of the jo other mothers around him. As their daughters rehearsed for the annual nutcracker, cynthia and another friend, rose, became friendly with lloyd. Lloyd was, i would say, eccentric. Always the center of attention. Of course, we eventually asked about his wife, and he said that saturdays were her only days off. Lloyds wife, michele, had a full plate of her own. She had a Masters Degree in literature, but chose to be a fulltime mob, homeschooling their kids, and taking an active role in charity work. Here she is, making Thanksgiving Dinner for the needy at their local church. It would be really odd to have thanksgiving at home, just us, and not be here. Thanksgiving is celebrating with the community, giving back. Michele had met lloyd in high school. Her mom, jeannie, remember a teenage boy, who was smitten from the first date. I think she thought he was intelligent and she could have intelligent conversations with him. So, maybe a peg above the kids at school in her circle . Yes. Yes. The High School Sweethearts married when michele was just 20. They were letter single into a farmhouse and have three girls,a carrie, the middle child. Micheles younger sister also named carrie, admired her so much. She always wanted the best for her girls. She was always very supportive, because, of course, b when i had children i asked her all my questions and looked up to her. I always looked up to her. Though they lived coasts apart, micheles sister and her husband were close to their nieces. The oldest one really bonded with kevin, and karrie and i rr very much bonded. But as with so many people, the nitrite her family ran into lean times, diminished prospects, during the great recession. Lloyd moved out of state to find work about an engineer. What happened is lloyd it was a tough time in courtney, new york. And he took a job in new jersey. Michele stayed behind, with the girls come out in the country , but the separation put a strain on the marriage, ra and in time, michele and lloyd divorced. She was always positive, going to make the most of everything, and then one day Out Of The Blue she called me and said, we are divorced. Okay. It was very random. After the divorce, michele sold the farm and the kids split up. The oldest wants to live with their dad in new jersey, carry on the youngest Daughter State with mom in a new house. But the divorce was hard on everyone. Karrie and her mom sometimes butted heads, the arguments could get heated. She was living with her mother, and finishing high school, but it got more and more strained as the years as she approached her senior year. By late august, 2017, karrie, the one time ballerina, had left home and was a sophomore at rit in rochester. Her younger sister still lived with her mom. It seemed like a typical monday afternoon,al a Family Friend ca by the house to pick up the youngest for swim practice. But something looked very wrong. He g called 911. She is motionless and im concerned. The friend said he called Glimpse A Shadowy Senior female figure on the stairway. She is standing there, not moving. It is kind of dark in there. Something very dark had happened in that house, and when the curtain was pulled back it would reveal a monstrous story, like something out of a greek tragedy, with ank ending no one could fathom. This is absolutely ghoulish. Yeah. Coming up. There appeared to be a body hanging inside the door about 1520 feet, hanging from the banister. This is, as they say, a house known to Law Enforcement. And something was missing. No 14yearold was discovered. Where is this child . That is one of the concerns. When dateline continues. Nue new Herbal Essences sulfate free. Packed with pure aloe and camellia flower oil your hair will love. And none of the things it wont. Hair that feels deeply nourished, soft and lightweight. New Herbal Essences. Sometimes your work shirt needs to be for more than just work. Like when it needs to be a big, soft shoulder to cry on. Which is why downy does more to make clothes softer, fresher, and better. Downy. Breathe life into your laundry. Some people just know theres a better way to do things. Like bundling your home and Auto Insurance with allstate. Yeah, she knows. And some people. Dont. Like. Come on. Yikes ughh. No. You know, theres a better way. Save time and money by bundling your home and auto with allstate. Youre in good hands with allstate. I dont want you to move. And auto with allstate. Im gonna miss you so much. You realize well have Internet Waiting for us at the new place, right . Oh, we know. We just like making a scene. Transferring your services has never been easier. Get connected on the day of your move with the xfinity app. Can i sleep over at your new place . Can katie sleep over tonight . Sure, honey this generation is so dramatic move with xfinity. Dennis murphy voiceover august 28, 2017, Police Officers responded to the home of divorced mom Michele Neurauter. August 20th, 2017, Police Officers responded to the home of divorced mom, michele. A friend of hers and called 911 to report a disturbing site. There appeared to be a body, hanging inside the door about 15, 20 feet, hanging from the banister. Police chief, jeff spaulding, said his officers got in and found the body. A woman with a rope tied around her neck. It was michele. Apparently a suicide . From first look at appeared a suicide. No reason to think not . No. Officer searched the home. They found no suicide note. Daughter, karrie was away at college. But the youngest who lived with michele was nowhere to be found. No 14yearold was discovered. Where is this child . That was one of the concerns. It turns out the youngest was with Karrie At School In Rochester 100 miles away. Police learned that when karrie called them herself when a friend gave her the shocking news. We are looking into it. Can you give me any insight into what might have happened . I dont know. I decided to go home. Karrie told police she had stopped by the house that night. When i got there we were freaking out. In karries words, they had a fight, her mom went yelling and screaming. Karrie told investigators she stormed out of the house, taking her teenage sister with her. Not all that unusual. Police learned that raised voices in that household were sent. A bad divorce, with kids caught in the middle. This is, as they say, a house known to Law Enforcement . Yes. Over the years, there have been what . 911 call to the location . Probably in the course of three years, a dozen, a little over a dozen years. Even with that fragmented history, mother and daughter inside the house, something is going on, it does maybe give you an explanation of why it is death by suicide . Exactly. Investigators also got in touch with micheles ex husband, lloyd, who lived in new jersey. He was rushing to Upstate New York to be with his daughters. The last time i spoke with her, i couldnt even say. Lloyd told the detective, by phone, he wasnt completely surprised to hear the news. He said that, despite her cheery demeanor, michele had actually contemplated suicide in the past. From before we were married, she made she made Suicide Plans with high school friends, and there was something that alarmed me way back then. Police continue to process the scene. While micheles body was taken to the medical examiner for autopsy. What is she finding . The words again, consistent with suicide, are used. In a round of phone calls, micheles sister out in california got the news about the suicide. When you first heard that, didnt make sense in any kind of way to you . Maybe she had gotten in a better place . I mean, i knew that she had been fighting, with the girls. I i really thought like, maybe she had a bad moment. Then she had to relay the awful news to their boy. They said michele died. And i said, no she didnt. I said, no, she didnt, that they like, dont say that. I said, dont tell me, dont say that. The friends, back in corning, could hardly take it in. Michele, gone, and by her home own hand. My mom told me, she didnt want me to see it online or social media before i heard it from her. And you went to see her . I did. I went home. It was so shocking. s funeral arrangements began, micheles friends were haunted by a question made just months before her death. She said, well, promise me that if anything ever happens to me that you will look out for my daughters. And then i reassured her, naovely perhaps, that she was going to live a long life, but she was pretty persistent, and so i said, okay. And we left it like that. Sorry, she got me with that story. But even in their grief there was confusion and doubt. The french thought the michele they saw in their final days was anything but suicidal. What were her plans . Was she forwardlooking . Constantly. We were always working on what was next. That wasnt where she was in her life . I would say she was a fighter, that woman was a fighter. On saturday morning, with the rest of us were lounging around in our sweatpants, she would say, is a good day, we are going to get up, we are going to get dressed and make the best of it. Even if michele were suicidal, they could not see their friend hanging herself like that, in a way that her daughters could find her. I thought of the means that females use for suicide, and i could find around 9 of females that actually hang themselves. The most popular option, by far, is pills. But micheles mood and statistics aside, they kept coming back to that lack of a suicide note. Michele had a masters in english, as well as an mba. She was a prolific writer. Michele would have written a note of explanation. So, once there was no note, i think agree. Something is wrong. Little did they know how wrong exactly this would turn out to be. Coming up. Maybe it wasnt suicide. Apparent suicide, did that make any sense to you . No. My gut is telling me there is something wrong here. Maybe it was murder. What she had on her chin didnt seem consistent with her hanging. It looks like scratch marks. Maybe she is pulling out whatever is around her neck, trying to get it off. You can see where her bed is pushed out of place. It appeared there was a struggle. When dateline continues. Co with five ultrasharp blades and wateractivated serums for incredible glide. I feel the difference with every stroke. Feel the power of smooth. [sneezes] can a can of lysol take care of my snotty sofa . Cando Mildewy Tiles . Cando these . Yup, its the cando can. Nothing kills more germs on more surfaces than lysol disinfectant spray. psst psst ahhh with flonase, allergies dont have to be scary. Spraying Flonase Daily gives you long lasting nondrowsy relief. Flonase all good. Also, try our Allergy Headache and nighttime pills. To 50 years with my best friend. [sfx gasp] [sfx spilling sound] nooo. Aya. Quick, the quicker picker upper bounty absorbs spills like a sponge. And is 2x more absorbent so you can use less. Bounty, the quicker picker upper. And is 2x more absorbent so you can use less. Dennis murphy voiceover police were investigating the Hanging Death of Michele Neurauter as a possible suicide, but they still needed to know more about her final weeks police were investigating the Hanging Death of Michele Neurauter as a possible suicide, but they still needed to know more about her final weeks and days. Hey, how are you. Good, just cautious about how i approach a car. The deceased exhusband, lloyd, who settled in new jersey, had rushed to Upstate New York, after micheles body was found. Now, sitting in a police car, he seemed eager to talk. How long has michele lived at the residence . About five years. Okay. She bought that after we divorced. You told him about his early relationship with michele. We went to school together, we did everything together. So, i never thought like that, like oh, under some circumstance i will just walk away. What did you get divorced . We divorced august, 2012. So, actually that is help me he explained that while the divorce has been finalized years earlier, their custody issues were far from settled. They were still fighting over their youngest daughter. She wanted to live with me, a tantrum. Lloyd suggested his exwife was unstable, an emotional wreck. Michele was screaming and furious. I know of that, from passive behaviors that there was an occasion where michele is having a tantrum, that she would open the door and scream things down the stairs and then slam her bedroom door and did that so many times she actually broke the door frame. From doing that. She was just completely out of control. But lloyd admitted his information was secondhand. He had heard the stories from his children. I dont even know if she was seeing anybody, well she was doing things with. She really pushed me out of her life. Lloyd spoke with police for over an hour. As the interview ended, he had a question. When could the kids retrieve their stuff. Is there any idea when the kids could get into the house to look at their stuff . If it were a simple suicide, the investigation wouldnt take long. But new york state investigator, eric hurd, who was among the first on the scene of a thought, not so fast. My gut was telling me, there is something wrong here. It wasnt just cop intuition, there was physical evidence, in his experience, inconsistent with a suicide. Starting with the position of the thin nylon rope on micheles body. On her chin, it did not seem consistent with a hanging. He noticed blooms on micheles had too. On her face you can see scratch marks, like maybe she is pulling out whatever is around her neck, trying to get it off. And then there was micheles friend, rose, she rushed up to the scene with something urgent to say. Apparent suicide, does that make any sense to you . No. She told me, i know she is friends with me, she would never do this to herself. I was with her just the other night, we were having a great done, she would never do this. It is and evidence, it is a peace. It is not evidence at that point. When police formally interviewed the friends they got a different picture of michele and their divorce. They said lloyd was the crazy one, relentless with badgering his exwife with driedup custody fights. It was at their house and i think lloyd had just served a petition for Child Custody of the younger child. And she was frustrated, her life was looking very positive, and then this came up again. Objective appraisal, or france taking sides. Either way, they insisted michele wasnt a frazzled, out ofcontrol single mom. She was making the best of a bad situation. And dealing with an x, who demeaned her for years. Basically everything she did was criticized. He made her feel she was really ugly. He made her feel that she couldnt make any right decisions, she was a lousy mother. That she couldnt do anything right. So, homicide versus suicide. On the one hand, the nasty divorce may have given Michele Plenty of reasons to be depressed and want her way out. But it was a video of micheles bedroom that caused director heard to think otherwise. You can see where her bed was pushed out of place. He spent hours poring over the pictures. Looking at the wall, kind of zooming in, you can see things that are maybe not visible didnt jump out at you. Did jump out at first, but it looks like we see something that looks like what on the wall, so that was concerning to