Detective's affair exposed during wife's murder investigation

It was 1 p.m. connected May 8, 2018, erstwhile Massachusetts State Police detectives arrived astatine a farmhouse successful Westfield. 51-year-old Amy Fanion laic dormant successful nan eating room from a azygous gunshot coiled to nan head.

Amy Fanion's husband, Brian Fanion, a detective successful nan Westfield Police Department, had called 911 minutes earlier, reporting that his woman had changeable herself.

Det. Mike McNally: Amy was fundamentally … successful a heap of humor that was opening to congeal nether her near side.  

The eating room, rearranged to accommodate aesculapian personnel, was successful disarray arsenic detectives worked to place clues of what whitethorn person happened.

Det. Mike McNally: There was a … humor spatter astir that model framework from that eating room into nan breezeway. … There was a brace of glasses that looked for illustration it had immoderate benignant of red-brown spatter connected it.

A spent slug casing connected nan eating room level of nan Fanion home. Hampden County District Attorney's Office

And past location was nan bullet.

Det. Mike Blanchette: The existent projectile … was successful that beforehand … enclosed structure area. … The spent ammunition casing was still successful nan eating room. 

Det. Mike McNally: We could spot nan guidance that it traveled, done Amy's caput … that information impacted that dresser, came to a remainder correct astir location successful nan breezeway.

Det. Brendan O'Toole: Brian was sitting successful a chair pinch his backmost to nan wall and … he's pinch nan main of constabulary from nan Westfield constabulary department, who's talking pinch him. … Everyone was successful a authorities of shock.

Everyone, including Amy Fanion's brother, Eric Hansen, who told detectives that he had conscionable vanished playing disc play down nan location erstwhile he heard Brian Fanion's outcry for help. 

And that's erstwhile he walked into nan house, saw Amy Fanion connected nan floor, a weapon adjacent to her, and Brian Fanion holding Amy's hand. 

Det. Mike Blanchette: So he picked up nan weapon himself and moved it, uh, retired of Brian's reach. 

Nikki Battiste:  — because he was worried astir Brian's authorities of mind having conscionable mislaid his wife.

Det. Mike Blanchette: Yes. 

Nikki Battiste: What benignant of weapon was used? 

Det. Brendan O'Toole: A Smith & Wesson, uh, M&P 45. … Brian Fanion's work weapon.

Nikki Battiste: That springiness you immoderate region that it was Brian Fanion's weapon?

Det. Brendan O'Toole: Yes. It gave maine region … astatine this constituent I cognize that I'm going to really do a elaborate investigation. 

THE INVESTIGATION BEGINS

To debar conflict of interest, O'Toole said he decided that his unit, nan Massachusetts State Police, would beryllium nan sole investigators, and he wanted to get Brian Fanion distant from nan location to get a statement.

Det. Brendan O'Toole: I asked if he would travel maine to nan Massachusetts State Police barracks successful Russell. … And … I took a uh, portion recorded connection from him. 

DET. BRENDAN O'TOOLE (police statement): Tuesday May 8th. It's 2:41 p.m. … I'm pinch Brian Fanion. Brian, um, do you understand I sewage a recorder connected correct now? 

BRIAN FANION: Yes. 

Brian Fanion told O'Toole that he near his agency astatine nan Westfield Police Station astir 11:45 a.m. and drove to North Road to meet his woman who was connected her measurement location to hole their lunch.

DET. BRENDAN O'TOOLE (police statement): What was she making? 

BRIAN FANION: Peanut food and jelly sandwiches. 

Brian Fanion said that erstwhile he arrived, they continued an statement from nan nighttime anterior — an statement that had gotten beautiful heated that evening.

DET. BRENDAN O'TOOLE (police statement): When you opportunity heated, I conjecture what — 

BRIAN FANION: Just, uh, I don't cognize ... She just, uh, was very angry. 

DET. BRENDAN O'TOOLE: What was nan statement about? 

BRIAN FANION: Um, I'm retiring soon … We were discussing what each of america expects status to be. 

Brian Fanion said he told Amy that he didn't want to walk his status maintaining their 200-year-old home, which Amy still loved. They besides discussed their aging dog, and his reluctance to get different one.

BRIAN FANION (police statement): I don't want to beryllium tied down by a dog. … Yeah. … She ever wants to person a dog. … I want to recreation much than she does. 

According to Brian Fanion, that afternoon, during lunch, Amy Fanion told him she had scheduled them to be a family member's play connected nan time Brian wanted to be a disc play tournament. 

BRIAN FANION (police statement): I conscionable said, "oh I don't for illustration that stuff. Why would you perpetrate maine erstwhile — aliases without asking?"

That's when, according to Brian Fanion, things soon took a move for nan worse. 

BRIAN FANION (police statement): I took my weapon retired of nan holster and put it connected our hutch because I had to usage nan bathroom.

DET. BRENDAN O'TOOLE: Where is nan hutch located?

BRIAN FANION: In nan eating room. 

Brian Fanion said he closed nan bath door, and erstwhile he came out, Amy Fanion had nan weapon successful her hand. 

BRIAN FANION (police statement): She has nan — nan weapon pointed up to nan correct broadside of her head.

DET. BRENDAN O'TOOLE: What did you perceive her say?

BRIAN FANION: I — I deliberation she said, I conjecture you don't want  — you don't want maine astir aliases you don't want to beryllium astir me. 

DET. BRENDAN O'TOOLE: Was she seated aliases —

BRIAN FANION: No. She stood up.

BRENDAN O'TOOLE: She was standing. OK.

According to Brian Fanion, he was 4 to 5 feet distant erstwhile he tried to extremity his woman from pulling nan trigger.

BRIAN FANION (police statement): I tried to get to her. I almost did. … The weapon conscionable exploded. … It was conscionable truthful quick. She didn't hesitate astatine all. … I conscionable went over, and I conscionable held her hands. Tried to  — conscionable held her hands (crying). 

Brian Fanion called 911 and yelled retired to Amy's brother, Eric Hansen, for help. 

Hansen told detectives that Brian Fanion said he and Amy had been having a tense argument. 

ERIC HANSEN (police interview): And she grabbed nan weapon … he conscionable was truthful distraught. 

DET. MIKE BLANCHETTE: Did he opportunity what they were arguing about? 

ERIC HANSEN: No. I was conscionable trying to console him, say, it's not your fault, it's not your fault. 

Amy's Fanion's decease had shocked nan Westfield community.

Stephanie Barry is simply a newsman for The Republican successful Springfield, Massachusetts. 

Stephanie Barry: Amy's maiden sanction was Hansen. She came from a reasonably ample family … She and her sisters … were each known arsenic immoderate of nan prettiest girls successful school, immoderate of nan smartest, and immoderate of nan nicest. 

It was 1983 erstwhile 16-year-old Amy Hansen met 19-year-old Brian Fanion. Fanion came from a agelong statement of constabulary officers and politicians, and successful Westfield, nan Fanion sanction was a root of pride.

Stephanie Barry: The Fanions were benignant of for illustration nan Kennedys of Westfield. They were good regarded.

Brian and Amy Fanion Firtion Adams Funeral Home

Brian and Amy tied nan knot successful 1985, and nan mates yet had 2 children, Travis and Victoria. Amy Fanion's adjacent friend, Teri Licciardi says Amy loved being a stay-at-home mom. 

Teri Licciardi: Amy's attraction was raising her children. … she thought that being a genitor was nan champion occupation successful nan full world. 

The Fanions, profoundly committed to their faith, dedicated their lives to God and organization service, pinch Brian Fanion serving arsenic a religion deacon and moving arsenic a missionary to build wells successful Mexico. 

After 30 years of marriage, nan Fanions were readying their adjacent shape of life erstwhile those plans derailed. 

Nikki Battiste: Is location immoderate knowledge that Amy Fanion had immoderate intelligence wellness issues aliases suffered from depression?

Brendan O'Toole: So, I — I asked Brian … And, um, he mentioned, um, galore years earlier … she was having immoderate psychological issues, successful which she was connected medicine for a play of clip … different than that, thing — thing recent.

But what Brian Fanion did accent was that his woman had bouts pinch anger. 

BRIAN FANION (police statement): She had a temper, but she hid it good from everyone but me. She only sewage that angry erstwhile we were alone. 

Midway into nan interview, O'Toole asked Brian Fanion if location were immoderate female friends successful his life. 

BRIAN FANION (police statement): I person a female who lives successful Pittsfield that I met recently, I did a ngo travel to Mexico, and we go bully friends. 

DET. BRENDAN O'TOOLE: What's that lady's name?

BRIAN FANION: Cori.

DET. BRENDAN O'TOOLE: Does she person a past sanction aliases —?

BRIAN FANION: Cori Knowles, K-N-O-W-L-E-S. You guys aren't going to interaction her. Are you? 

BRIAN FANION'S DELETED TEXTS RAISE SUSPICION

For Detective O'Toole, Brian Fanion's admitted relationship pinch different female raised questions. 

Fanion had told detectives that Corrine Knowles, known arsenic Cori, was a chap missionary astatine a adjacent church. The 2 met successful November 2017 connected a ngo travel successful Mexico, and a relationship developed, but it had ne'er gone beyond that.

Cori Knowles and Brian Fanion Hampden County Superior Court

Nikki Battiste: An affectional affair?

Det. Brendan O'Toole: He said location was immoderate flirting, but he qualified it, that it wasn't —

Nikki Battiste: Sexual?

Det. Brendan O'Toole: — a sexual. It was not a — his word was it was not a friends pinch benefits.

At nan extremity of nan interview, O'Toole asked Fanion to move complete his individual phone.

Det. Brendan O'Toole: I turned disconnected nan recorder and that's erstwhile Brian told maine … He's like, you're going to spot immoderate things connected location and it's not what it appears to be.

Nikki Battiste: Red emblem for you?

Det. Brendan O'Toole: Yeah. … There's respective reddish flags … arsenic a — an interrogator … you person to support an unfastened mind.

Within a week of Brian Fanion's interview, connected May 14, 2018, Amy Fanion's aftermath was held.

Brian Fanion planted a character successful adjacent Stanley Park successful his wife's memory, but nan investigation into her abrupt decease was conscionable beginning.

Detectives recovered a wealth trove of deleted matter messages from Brian Fanion's telephone including these exchanges connected May 4 and 5:

MAY 4, 2018:

CORI KNOWLES | 9:42 AM: Mmmmm … To consciousness your basking activity connected my skin!!!

CORI KNOWLES | 9:48 AM: Have I told you that I emotion being your Angel? ...

BRIAN FANION | 9:59 AM: I committedness God made you for maine ...

CORI KNOWLES | 1:11 PM: I truthful request to perceive your sound … I emotion you!!!

BRIAN FANION | 1:19 PM: Amy is still being attentive and clingy ...

BRIAN FANION | 9:08 PM: Thank You for being you, nan astir astonishing female that I person ever known.

---

MAY 5, 2018:

CORI KNOWLES | 4:31 PM: My bosom belongs to you...

BRIAN FANION | 4:26 PM: ... I would beryllium mislaid without you :):):):) I americium eternally yours.

BRIAN FANION | 7:39 PM: I emotion you Cori!!!

CORI KNOWLES | 7:43 PM: I emotion you truthful overmuch Brian!!!!!

Det. Mike Blanchette: There were conscionable hundreds of texts that expanded connected nan narration that he was having pinch Cori.

On May 7, nan time earlier Amy Fanion died, Brian Fanion and Knowles exchanged 72 matter messages until 9:47 p.m. that evening.

In 1 speech astatine 9:23 p.m., Brian Fanion writes, "Good nighttime my love!!! I dream you person awesome dreams of astonishing days and nights to come:):):):)."

At 10:33 p.m. Knowles responds, "Good nighttime My emotion … I will dream of you and each that they (sic) early holds for us!"  

The adjacent greeting astatine 10:30 a.m., Knowles texts, "When tin I clasp you again?????"

To which Brian Fanion responds, "… not soon enough. Turning into a very agelong morning.

Nikki Battiste: And wrong an hr aliases two, Amy Fanion is dead.

Det. Mike Blanchette: Yes.

At 12:47 p.m. connected May 8, Brian Fanion texts Knowles, "Please don't telephone aliases matter for a while. I'll telephone erstwhile I tin really bad believe for my family please."

Det. Brendan O'Toole: Brian has not been wholly truthful to america astatine this point. And truthful we want to speak pinch him again.

Brian Fanion is questioned successful a 2nd question and reply pinch detectives from nan Massachusetts State Police connected May 17, 2018. Hampden County Superior Court

On May 17, 2018, 3 days aft Amy Fanion's wake, Brian Fanion arrived astatine nan District Attorney's State Police Office for different information of questioning.

DET. BRENDAN O'TOOLE (police interview):  So we conscionable needed to, you know, uh, explain immoderate things. … you cognize your Miranda rights, but I — I'm going to publication them disconnected this form.

BRIAN FANION: Now — nan different time you didn't do this. Has thing changed?...

DET. BRENDAN O'TOOLE: You're not, you're not nether apprehension aliases anything.

BRIAN FANION: Well, I cognize that.

And connected that aforesaid day, crossed town, detectives met pinch Cori Knowles to study much astir her engagement pinch Brian Fanion.

DET. MIKE MCNALLY (police interview): If personification was to say, who's Cori, who are you?

Cori Knowles, a 48-year-old wife, grandmother, and personnel of her church's choir, told detectives that Brian Fanion's relationship helped her activity done a troubled 2nd marriage.

CORI KNOWLES: Brian is very easy to talk to. … thing but affirmation and love, and I'm present for you.

But complete time, their narration moved from relationship to flirtation.

CORI KNOWLES (police interview): Did I consciousness passion for him? Absolutely.

By April 16, 2018, 5 months into Brian Fanion and Knowles' relationship, their texting gave measurement to thing much friendly erstwhile Knowles visited Fanion's location earlier they near for unpaid work.

DET. MIKE MCNALLY (police interview): Was that nan first clip you were friendly that you kissed, at, connected that April day, nan 16th?

CORI KNOWLES: Yeah.

DET. MIKE MCNALLY (police interview): And past wherever was that?

CORI KNOWLES: I wanna opportunity nan kitchen. … 'cause I sewage location earlier Amy sewage home.

Knowles told detectives that by precocious April, she and Brian Fanion were having passionate make-out sessions successful her truck.

At 5:29 p.m. connected April 23, 2018, Knowles texts Brian Fanion, "I tin consciousness your ... lips connected mine!!!! LOVE that Memory!!!:):):)

At 5:34 p. m., Brian Fanion replies, "... I'm reasoning of nan 1 pinch your legs astir my waist ... Oh my ... "

Det. Mike McNally: Brian near activity early, met up pinch Cori successful Westfield astatine Stanley Park and they made retired … location was, immoderate intersexual touching.

But according to Knowles, Brian Fanion could not perform.

CORI KNOWLES (police interview): It was much for illustration because I'm still joined to — to Amy —

DET. BRENDAN O'TOOLE (police interview): We've seen nan matter messages. In each honesty, Brian, it looks for illustration it's a batch much than a friendship. You know.

BRIAN FANION: I cognize it escalated … and I'm wholly embarrassed by it, ashamed of it and shouldn't happen.

Nikki Battiste: But a batch of group person affairs and —

Det. Brendan O'Toole: Correct.

Nikki Battiste: — don't termination their wife.

Det. Brendan O'Toole: Correct.

O'Toole past asks Brian Fanion to spell backmost complete his connection of what happened, opening astatine nan infinitesimal erstwhile Fanion said he placed his weapon connected nan hutch and went wrong nan bathroom.

DET. BRENDAN O'TOOLE (police interview): All right. So, you travel retired of nan bathroom, right, and she's astatine nan table. Where — wherever conscionable bespeak for illustration wherever —

DET. BRENDAN O'TOOLE: Between nan array and nan hutch?

BRIAN FANION: Yeah.

DET. BRENDAN O'TOOLE: In — successful a chair correct there?

BRIAN FANION: I don't cognize if she was sitting aliases standing. I deliberation she was standing. I mean, um, sprout — I deliberation she was sitting.

Det. Mike Blanchette: Now, erstwhile we were trying to get these, step-by-step details, he seemed to beryllium wavering.

DET. BRENDAN O'TOOLE: So, you travel retired of nan bathroom. OK? … And past what's nan first point that happens?

BRIAN FANION: I conscionable retrieve her saying that — that you evidently don't want maine around.

And past O'Toole asks Brian Fanion to show what Amy Fanion did pinch nan gun.

BRIAN FANION: I conscionable retrieve seeing her manus travel up pinch nan gun.

DET. MIKE BLANCHETTE: Towards her head?

BRIAN FANION: Yeah.

DET. BRENDAN O'TOOLE: So, she puts it to nan broadside of her head?

BRIAN FANION: Yes.

DET. BRENDAN O'TOOLE: OK.

DET. BRENDAN O'TOOLE: And — and wherever was nan weapon erstwhile it went off? Was it successful nan aforesaid —

BRIAN FANION: Right to her head.

But location is simply a problem. What Brian Fanion did not cognize was that a CSI study and Amy Fanion's autopsy results had arrived.

Det. Brendan O'Toole: … nan gunshot entranceway coiled was not accordant pinch a self-inflicted wound.

Nikki Battiste: Fair to opportunity it took this lawsuit successful a full caller direction?

Det. Brendan O'Toole: Yes.

QUESTIONING BRIAN FANION'S STORY

During nan 2nd question and reply pinch Brian Fanion,  O'Toole And Blanchette recovered themselves facing a situation that tested their acquisition arsenic investigators.

Det. Brendan O'Toole: This is not a — a normal question and reply for myself and Mike. We've done thousands of interviews. You know, we're beautiful bully astatine it, but it's difficult erstwhile it's a constabulary officer, because he knows precisely really we activity … it was … a difficult interview.

DET. BRENDAN O'TOOLE (police interview): There's a problem. I'll beryllium consecutive up ...

Detectives laid retired pinch what they considered to beryllium important grounds successful their investigation. 

DET. BRENDAN O'TOOLE (police interview): There's nary denotation - whatsoever, truthful acold that she had a weapon adjacent to nan broadside of her head.

BRIAN FANION: Well, past you're incorrect 'cause she did. 'Cause I saw it and it happened.

DET. BRENDAN O'TOOLE: You — you cognize

BRIAN FANION: How do you opportunity there's nary indication?

DET. BRENDAN O'TOOLE: Well, I mean, that's what — that's what, you know, that's what it's showing america correct now.

The aesculapian examiner listed Amy Fanion's mode of decease arsenic undetermined. And mixed pinch CSI findings, investigators did not judge that she died of a self-inflicted wound.

DET. BRENDAN O'TOOLE (police interview): I mean, there's nary uncertainty she — was changeable was, but nan mobility is, from what distance?

BRIAN FANION: It was correct freaking there. I'm telling you. . . good do what you request to but I'm telling you it was correct there.

In Amy's case, region mattered. This is because pinch self-inflicted gunshot wounds, debris, known arsenic gunshot residue, is expelled from nan firearm. It leaves a chopped shape connected and wrong nan coiled known arsenic stippling.

DET. BRENDAN O'TOOLE (police interview): Like, if Brian, you — you understand for illustration guns and stippling and each that stuff?

BRIAN FANION: I do and I can't —

DET. BRENDAN O'TOOLE: There's nary connected her, Brian. There's nary connected her! 

BRIAN FANION: There has to beryllium 'cause nan weapon was nan — correct freaking there!

DET. BRENDAN O'TOOLE: There's nary connected her. 

BRIAN FANION: Then they're wrong. I'm telling you they're — they're level retired wrong, 'cause it was correct freaking there.

DET. BRENDAN O'TOOLE: The different action is you sewage pissed and you're a ft — aliases a fewer feet distant and you changeable her successful nan caput —

BRIAN FANION: No, no.

DET. BRENDAN O'TOOLE: — erstwhile she's sitting eating a peanut food sandwich. 

BRIAN FANION: Didn't happen.

DET. BRENDAN O'TOOLE: Didn't happen?

BRIAN FANION: Did not happen.

DET. BRENDAN O'TOOLE: Alright.

With Brian Fanion's matter exposed and CSI reports successful hand, detectives suspected Fanion had apt changeable his wife, but they still needed much evidence.

On May 24, 2018, detectives obtained a hunt warrant for Fanion's home, and erstwhile detectives arrived —

Det. Brendan O'Toole: Brian … asked if I was location to apprehension him. And I told him I wasn't. And past he asked maine if I thought he did it.

Nikki Battiste: Were you amazed he asked you that?

Det. Brendan O'Toole: I was noting it. I didn't cognize really to consciousness … and I didn't reply his question.

Detectives took further measurements to analyse nan trajectory of nan bullet.

Fanion's location electronics were confiscated. And astatine nan aforesaid time, his desktop machine and laptop astatine nan Westfield Police Station were seized for information extraction. 

Nikki Battiste: Did you spot immoderate signs that Brian Fanion planned to termination his wife? Any grounds that points to that?

Det. Brendan O'Toole: We spot a totality of each nan grounds here. … Um, we're not nan truth finders. Um, we're, we're detectives, truthful we, we cod each this accusation and past … it's going to beryllium presented … and personification other is going to make a determination connected that.

And that someone would beryllium Hampden County Assistant District Attorney Mary Sandstrom. New to nan homicide division, Sandstrom had arrived successful Massachusetts by measurement of New York.

Nikki Battiste: Is it adjacent to opportunity you were a food retired of h2o a bit?

Mary Sandstrom (laughs): It's ever difficult not being from nan area successful which you prosecute. … uh, it's a very small, very intimately connected town. … So, yes, you're ne'er astatine an advantage wherever you don't cognize everybody by name.

Nikki Battiste: Adding to nan difficulty, Brian Fanion is simply a detective. … And respected.

Mary Sandstrom: Very overmuch successful — successful that community.

As outpouring gave measurement to summer, Knowles ended her narration pinch Brian Fanion. By early 2019, Fanion retired from nan constabulary force.

The investigation into Amy Fanion's decease continued.

Mary Sandstrom: We're still trying to get immoderate testing done … because we wanna person a beardown lawsuit arsenic imaginable earlier we spell successful earlier nan expansive jury.

And a complication successful nan shape of a missive was among nan lawsuit files.

Amy Fanion's family members expressed their "unfailing support" of Brian Fanion, saying "we are definite Amy took her ain life."  The missive was signed by Amy's siblings, and moreover her ain mother.

Nikki Battiste: That's gotta beryllium reliable for you.

Mary Sandstrom: It's an awkward position for a prosecutor, wherever your unfortunate family isn't supporting you. … It was an overseas spot to beryllium in.

An overseas spot, perhaps, but not a deterrent. On Nov. 6, 2019, 17 months aft Amy Fanion died, detectives arrived astatine Brian Fanion's door.

Det. Mike McNally: Brian … came to nan eating room doorway … beautiful quickly arsenic I callback it, and he said thing to nan effect of, travel in. … Then Mike Blanchette began to picture to Brian, "Brian, we person an apprehension warrant for you."

NEWS REPORT|WBTZ: Police opportunity Brian Fanion told them that his woman changeable herself pinch his weapon while he was astatine location connected a luncheon break past year.

Det. Mike McNally: I retrieve telling him, put your hands down your back. I took retired my handcuffs.

NEWS REPORT: AUDREY RUSSO | WESTERN MASS NEWS: … done their investigation, they only solidified their suspicion that Brian pulled nan trigger.

Det. Mike McNally: He was eating … type nuts … conscionable popping immoderate successful his rima … And arsenic he put his hands down his back, he fto them driblet to nan floor.

Det. Mike McNally: We transported Brian to nan Russell State Police barracks. … he's processed. Photographed. Fingerprinted.

NEWS REPORT | CHRIS PISANO | WESTERN MASS NEWS: … stands accused of sidesplitting his woman successful what was primitively reported arsenic …

Det. Mike McNally: I assessed a emotion of despair connected Brian's face, for illustration … I can't judge this is happening.

FORMER DETECTIVE GOES ON TRIAL FOR MURDER

Stephanie Barry, a crime newsman astatine The Republican newspaper, recalls nan different segment that played retired 15 miles away, successful Springfield, Massachusetts, wrong nan Hampden County Superior Court successful early November 2019.

Stephanie Barry: There's nary 1 who spent immoderate magnitude of clip successful Westfield who didn't cognize who Brian Fanion was.

Stephanie Barry: It was a beautiful afloat house. And nan benignant of palpable daze remained passim nan full proceeding.

Retired Det. Brian Fanion Hampden District Attorney's Office

Brian Fanion, who appeared for his first arraignment, entered a plea of not guilty. And sitting correct down him were members of some Brian's and Amy Fanion's family.

Stephanie Barry: I can't deliberation of different lawsuit erstwhile I've seen nan family of a unfortunate … sticking up for nan accused murderer of their loved one.

And contempt nan absence of support from members of Amy Fanion's family, ADA Sandstrom continued to build her case.

Amy Fanion Court exhibit

Nikki Battiste: What was Amy Fanion like?

Mary Sandstrom: She sounds for illustration a fairytale. … giving, selfless. … wholly dedicated to her family.

According to Sandstrom, nan nighttime earlier Amy Fanion died, she was making a gift for an upcoming babe ablution that she planned to attend, and was texting her daughter, Victoria.

Nikki Battiste: Did anyone ever opportunity that Amy was ever suicidal?

Mary Sandstrom: She wasn't a personification who was fresh to die. … Amy was healthy. She was happy.

Nikki Battiste: What do you deliberation Brian Fanion's motive was?

Mary Sandstrom: He was fresh to commencement a caller section of his life that did not see Amy Fanion. … He's chosen his life partner successful Cori. Amy is nan only point opinionated successful nan measurement now.

Nikki Battiste: And that's ever nan million-dollar question. Why not divorce?

Mary Sandstrom: He can't divorcement Amy for really he is going … to beryllium seen successful this community. … divorcement is public. But, successful his mind, execution doesn't person to be.

On Feb. 23, 2023 - successful what would beryllium Westfield's astir publicized case, Brian Fanion's proceedings began. He faced a life condemnation for nan first-degree execution of his wife.

"48 Hours" made respective question and reply requests to Brian Fanion, his attorney, Jeffrey Brown, arsenic good arsenic family members of some Amy and Brian, but ne'er received a response.

Nikki Battiste: This is simply a large case, a batch of attention. … How are you feeling?

Mary Sandstrom: For immoderate trial, you're ever nervous. And … this was astir apt nan astir high-profile lawsuit I've ever done.

Opening statements revealed conflicting accounts of nan circumstances surrounding Amy Fanion's death.

MARY SANDSTROM (in court): The suspect was a deacon astatine Wyben Union Church and an serviceman for nan Westfield Police Department … The grounds will show that while nan suspect was repulsed by continuing his matrimony pinch Amy. He couldn't divorcement her either. … Leaving him trapped. … And erstwhile that grounds is earlier you, I will inquire you to find nan suspect blameworthy of execution successful nan first degree. 

Brian Fanion's defense focused connected Amy Fanion's anger issues and claimed she suffered from anxiety. Brown alleged that connected nan time of Amy's death, an statement complete Brian's status plans and his refusal to be a family member's play pushed her complete nan edge.

JEFFREY BROWN (in court): In nan days earlier Amy changeable herself, Amy was very huffy astatine Brian. … You had to tread lightly astir Amy for fearfulness of mounting her off.

JEFFREY BROWN (in court): And astatine nan conclusion of nan grounds successful this case, I'll inquire that we find Brian Fanion not guilty. Thank you.

Anna Hansen, Amy's younger sister, was nan first witnesser for nan prosecution. She was nan only family personnel who signed nan missive of support that willingly testified against Brian Fanion. 

Anna Hansen, Amy Fanion's younger sister, was nan first witnesser for nan prosecution. She was nan only family personnel who signed nan missive of support that willingly testified against Brian Fanion.  Pool

Anna Hansen stated that during nan investigation into Amy's death, her brother-in-law confided that he was worried astir searches he had conducted connected his computer.

ANNA HANSEN (in court): I asked him what that hunt was, and he said, "how to make a execution look for illustration a suicide."

MARY SANDSTROM: He specifically said he searched quote "how to make a execution look for illustration a suicide?"

ANNA HANSEN: Those were his nonstop words.

Anna Hansen told nan assemblage that erstwhile she asked her brother-in-law why he made this search, Brian Fanion told her that Amy asked him to do it aft they watched a "CSI" show. It was a show that Anna Hansen questioned if Amy had ever watched.

MARY SANDSTROM (in court): Did she ever authorities that she liked those shows?

ANNA HANSEN: She ne'er shared that pinch me.

The prosecution's adjacent witnesser was Brian Fanion's erstwhile lover, a divided Cori Knowles, now Cori Hasty, who told nan assemblage that Fanion was concerned astir ending his marriage.

MARY SANDSTROM (in court): Did nan suspect ever talk astir what could hap to him if he were to divorcement Amy?

CORI HASTY: Yes. … If Amy was to ever time off  — excuse me, aliases he divided her, that she would return him for everything that he's got. … because he wouldn't beryllium capable to prolong connected status astatine that point.

The prosecution called Tom Forest from nan Cyber Crime Unit. All of Brian Fanion's devices were examined, but it was Fanion's agency machine that produced immoderate funny results.

Forest said Brian Fanion visited these sites:

DET. TOM FOREST (in court): "Common and vulnerable poisons," …  "Which supplier causes nan astir deaths each year? … Sixteen communal family items that could termination you."

DET. TOM FOREST (in court): "Carbon monoxide nan invisible killer" … "Household poisons" … "Common medicine overdoses" ...

Mary Sandstrom: But it's only erstwhile this matter starts up … that each of these incriminating searches commencement to appear.

And 11 days anterior to Amy Fanion's death, Brian Fanion utilized his agency machine to position a news study connected YouTube called, "What gunshot residue tests show us."  

Mary Sandstrom: He wasn't assigned to immoderate progressive investigations successful April and May of 2018. … that would necessitate looking up gunshot residue. … Nobody successful nan Westfield Police Department does gunshot residue testing.

Stephanie Barry: I was trying to support a very unfastened mind astir what nan grounds was going to show. … but I didn't deliberation that was awesome news for Brian Fanion.

Detective John Schrijn, a ballistics master and a important witnesser for nan prosecution, testified that Amy Fanion's coiled was not self-inflicted.

Citing nan absence of gunshot residue adjacent nan coiled coupled pinch nan trajectory of nan bullet, Schrijn concluded that Amy Fanion was changeable from downward perspective and astatine a region of astatine slightest 18 inches  — not astatine adjacent scope arsenic Brian Fanion had claimed.

MARY SANDSTROM (in court): So, did you shape an sentiment … arsenic to whether aliases not … nan defendant's firearm was discharged astatine a region of 18 inches aliases greater.

DET. JOHN SCHRIJN: Over 18 inches, without thing intervening. That's correct.

After 12 days of grounds and 27 witnesses, nan prosecution rested. But waiting successful nan wings was a defense poised to present a important constituent that could perchance unravel nan DA's case.

Mary Sandstrom: Any charismatic who is not worried astir a defense, astir apt isn't a bully prosecutor.

THE DEFENSE MAKES ITS CASE

Defense lawyer Jeffrey Brown, whose customer faced life successful prison, launched a counterattack. He cross-examined Brian Fanion's erstwhile lover, Cori Hasty.

According to nan state, Brian Fanion's matter was nan superior motive for murdering his wife. But Hasty admitted to nan defense that erstwhile she ended their relationship, Fanion didn't effort to extremity her.

JEFFREY BROWN (in court): When yet you ended it pinch Brian, his consequence was, OK, isn't that right? 

CORI HASTY: To my recollection.

JEFFREY BROWN: He didn't opportunity to you, oh, my God, I killed Amy for you and you're leaving me? He ne'er said that, right?

CORI HASTY: Correct.

And what astir nan websites Det. Forest from nan Cyber Crime Unit said Brian Fanion visited?

The defense based on that immoderate of nan websites he visited were related to an aging house, an aged wood-burning stove, and nan imaginable hazards it mightiness airs to a young family member.

JEFFREY BROWN (in court): Did you cognize that nan Fanions, um, were opening to person a young niece a kid enactment successful their location during that clip frame? 

DET. TOM FOREST: No, I did not. 

But what nan defense couldn't reconcile were Brian Fanion's searches astir gunshot residue days earlier his wife's death.

And location was Amy Fanion's sister, Anna Hansen, nan only family personnel who willingly testified for nan prosecution. She claimed that Brian Fanion told her he searched "how to make a execution look for illustration a suicide" connected his computer.

JEFFREY BROWN (in court): You didn't find immoderate sites that were searched aliases visited relating to nan terms, really to make a execution look for illustration a suicide, isn't that true? 

DET. TOM FOREST: That is true.

The defense narrowed its attraction and scrutinized Amy Fanion's characteristic by cross-examining Amy's ain mother, Patricia Tarrant.

JEFFREY BROWN (in court): Did your girl Amy person a temper? 

PATRICIA TARRANT: Yes.

A temper, according to Amy's sister, Holly Fanion, that would typically beryllium directed toward her husband.

JEFFREY BROWN (in court): Well, did she threat astatine Brian successful beforehand of you?

HOLLY FANION: She would. … I was embarrassed for him. You don't usually talk to your hubby benignant of successful that way. Maybe you reprimand a child, but not a husband.  

But would Amy Fanion's temper lead to an impulsive determination specified arsenic grabbing Brian Fanion's gun? According to Amy's boy Travis Fanion, it would.

TRAVIS FANION (in court): I could easy image aliases envision her, grabbing nan weapon impulsively … to make a constituent … that she picked it up intending to complete a trigger propulsion and — and sprout herself.

But what would explicate nan deficiency of gunshot residue connected Amy Fanion?

Alexander Jason: Her coiled is accordant pinch a close-range gunshot coiled based ...

Alexander Jason, a elder certified crime segment analyst, testified for nan defense.

Alexander Jason: That's nan instauration of nan full prosecution. … And this full thought that it had to beryllium 18 inches because of nan absence of gunshot residue is not valid.

Jason says nan deficiency of gunshot residue was not owed to distance. It was owed to Amy Fanion's hair.

Nikki Battiste: What could Amy Fanion's hairsbreadth person told us?

Alexander Jason: Amy Fanion had very dense, heavy hairsbreadth that will artifact nan gunshot residue.

Jason's investigation "Effect of Hair connected nan Deposition of Gunshot Residue" was published by nan FBI's forensic subject diary successful 2004.

Jason says location could person been gunshot residue, commonly known arsenic GSR, embedded successful Amy Fanion's hair. The crime segment expert did not trial her hair.

Alexander Jason: What they should person done is taken nan hairsbreadth … and past analyse those small specs to spot if they're gunshot residue aliases not. … which was a mistake.

Jason's grounds was constricted astatine trial, but to support his mentation he and his girl Juliana met "48 Hours" astatine a weapon scope successful California to show what whitethorn person happened to Amy Fanion.

Alexander Jason: I'm going to occurrence 2 times.

Using a .45 caliber weapon and ammunition identical to what was recovered astatine nan scene, Jason fired a azygous information into a mound of hair, backed by a ballistic tegument simulant.

Nikki Battiste: So, you conscionable changeable a .45 caliber gun, 3 inches distant done hair.

Alexander Jason: Yes. 

Alexander Jason: Amy Fanion had sizeable hair, possibly much dense than this wherever nan slug entered … and nan hairsbreadth will enactment arsenic a select and forestall nan gunshot residue from reaching her skin.

For comparison, Jason positioned nan weapon astatine nan aforesaid distance, utilizing identical ammunition, and fired into nan tegument simulant without hair.

Alexander Jason: And I propulsion this away.

Nikki Battiste: Wow. 

Alexander Jason and "48 Hours" contributor Nikki Battiste astatine nan weapon range. Jason demonstrated really Amy Fanion's hairsbreadth whitethorn person acted arsenic a filter, preventing gunshot residue from reaching her skin. PapaRead News

Alexander Jason: You tin spot location is simply a large difference. … Now, look astatine that. That's a very cleanable wound. That's a very soiled wound. 

Nikki Battiste: That's incredible, each from nan hair.

Alexander Jason: All from nan hair. The hairsbreadth acted arsenic a filter.

Nikki Battiste: Pretty fascinating. 

While Jason believes this script is what happened to Amy Fanion, he stops short of saying whether aliases not Brian Fanion killed his wife.

Alexander Jason: You spot nan hairsbreadth filtered that worldly out.

But what he does judge is that basing nan lawsuit connected nan absence of gunshot residue is wrong.

Alexander Jason: And he should not beryllium convicted connected that basis. … That's my bottommost line.

After 40 witnesses and 15 days of testimony, closing arguments began.

JEFFREY BROWN (in court) She raised nan weapon up to her caput successful a fresh of rage … and successful effect caused her ain death.

MARY SANDSTROM (in court): This suspect murdered Amy Fanion pinch deliberate premeditation.

On March 21, 2023, nan assemblage sewage nan case. And aft 2 days of deliberations, came nan verdict.

Brian Fanion was recovered blameworthy of nan first-degree execution of his wife, Amy Fanion, and sentenced to life without parole that aforesaid day.

Stephanie Barry: Brian's broadside of nan aisle conscionable collapsed successful sobs. … these group emotion Brian and sincerely thought that he was innocent.

For Assistant District Attorney Mary Sandstrom, Brian Fanion's condemnation was bittersweet and difficult won.

Mary Sandstrom: It's ne'er a victory. … Amy Fanion should beryllium here. … She should beryllium pinch her girl and boy and her now grandchildren … And she's not. … And … it was each for thing … truthful that … Brian Fanion … could … bask his life and extremity hers.

Brian Fanion's condemnation is nether appeal.

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Produced by Marie Hegwood. Morgan Canty is nan subordinate producer. Wini Dini, George Baluzy, Greg Kaplan and Chris Crater are nan editors. Sara Ely Hulse and Elizabeth Caholo are nan improvement producers. Lourdes Aguiar is nan elder producer. Nancy Kramer is nan executive communicative editor. Judy Tygard is nan executive producer.

In:
• 48 Hours
• Murder
• True Crime
• Crime