Unable to find a clear motive for the murder, detectives immediately delve into investigating the victim’s background.
After Harry Wham was shot dead in the garage, his wife mentioned that her husband had been a victim of a previous shooting just a few weeks earlier. However, the more they investigate, the more complex the truth appears.
Murder in the Garage
On February 13, 1983, a 911 dispatcher received an emergency call from the Greenbriar Condominium complex located about 11km from the Las Vegas Strip in Nevada, USA.
At the scene, police discovered the body of renowned artist and club owner Harry Wham shot dead in his car still parked in his garage. Blood flowed profusely from the victim’s face and head.
Despite medical efforts, Harry ultimately succumbed to severe gunshot wounds to the head, and neck, and died shortly afterward.
Witnesses told police they heard gunshots and saw a black man wearing all black fleeing the scene of the murder.
In addition to some shell casings, investigators found the victim’s intact wallet, ring, and watch.
Harry lived in a mansion with his wife, singer Peggy Wham. The woman seemed distraught at the time, prompting investigators to interrogate her further. Meanwhile, the forensic team collected fingerprints and relevant evidence.
Mysterious Motive
With no apparent motive for the murder, detectives delved into the victim’s background. Harry had enjoyed a decades-long career as a singer and keyboard artist, performing in various venues across Las Vegas and earning the admiration of audiences.
While Harry’s career flourished, his personal life was fraught with difficulties. He had been through five divorces. On January 1, 1978, at over 50 years old, he married 36-year-old singer Peggy.
They both had children from previous marriages but had no children together. They jointly operated a dining and bar establishment named Keyboard Lounge, a favorite spot among locals.
Staff at Keyboard Lounge were unaware of any enemies who might want to harm their boss. Focusing on financial motives, investigators learned that Harry never carried cash from his business dealings and his assets were not stolen upon his murder.
Detectives interviewed Harry’s neighbors once again. They revealed that Harry had expressed fears for his safety previously and had plans to leave town.
At this point, police began hearing rumors about a prominent figure in the underworld possibly being behind the artist’s murder, but no evidence was found.
About 24 hours after the incident, detectives had a conversation with Peggy. She disclosed noteworthy information.
Hidden Motive
About 24 hours after Harry Wham was murdered, detectives had a conversation with his wife – Peggy Wham. This woman revealed noteworthy information. According to her, just a few weeks before his death, Harry had been a victim of another shooting incident.
The incident that occurred in the same parking area, is considered a “replay” of the shooting that claimed Harry’s life.
The detective previously in charge of the investigation stated that Harry reported being approached by an unfamiliar black man holding a handgun. The attacker declared it a robbery and then pointed the gun at Harry.
When asked if he truly believed it was a targeted robbery, Harry shrugged, appearing uncertain. This time, when Harry was murdered similarly, investigators believed that the robber’s previous claim was actually concealing the true motive behind the attacks.
The autopsy results confirmed that the 63-year-old victim had been shot by a .22 caliber handgun, matching the shell casings found at the scene. A bullet was also recovered from Harry’s body.
Three days after the incident, detectives received valuable information from a security guard. He asserted knowing about Harry’s murder because his girlfriend, Sally Cook, had disclosed the plan. Sally happened to be Peggy Wham’s sister.
Revelation from the Girlfriend
The security guard agreed to cooperate with the police, wearing a recording device to help gather more information from Sally. In this conversation, Sally affirmed that Peggy was an integral part of the scheme. Additionally, the police also learned that Peggy was having an affair with the drug dealer Doug Parker.
Along with Peggy’s own daughter, John – Doug’s brother, and his girlfriend – Kathy Faltinowski, were all involved in the murder plot. Doug’s family had a history of drug-related offenses and intended to sell cocaine at Harry’s business establishment.
According to Sally, this group had attempted the unsuccessful shooting incident targeting Harry before. She also revealed that the shooter was John Oliver Snow, a criminal from New Jersey.
Police quickly organized a manhunt for the murderer to substantiate the claim that Peggy was behind her husband’s murder. They also learned that two years prior, Peggy had shot Harry in a domestic disturbance incident but was not charged.
Working with the Newark Police Department in New Jersey, detectives obtained photos of the suspect John Oliver Snow. However, witnesses from the February 13, 1983 shooting were not definitively able to identify John as the person they saw at the crime scene.
Continuing to gather information from Sally, detectives determined that John had been hiding at a motel a few kilometers from the crime scene from February 11 to February 17, 1983.
Conspiracy Unraveled
Identifying John Oliver Snow – the direct perpetrator of Harry Wham’s murder – hiding in a motel a few kilometers from the crime scene during the time of the crime, detectives quickly moved there to search for leads.
Through fingerprints left on the heater in the room that John was believed to have rented and potential eyewitness identifications, the police were certain that John had been there.
Sally Cook – the victim’s sister-in-law – confessed to the police that her sister Peggy Wham had stolen money from the house and handed it to her lover, Doug Parker. Doug then passed it on to John.
Investigators concluded that Peggy was behind both shooting incidents targeting her husband to end his life.
Through money transfer orders, the police could link Peggy to John. She was arrested on February 17 at the Keyboard Lounge, four days after her husband was shot dead. Doug Parker, John Parker – Doug’s brother, and his girlfriend Kathy Faltinowski were also arrested on the same day for their involvement in the crime.
At the police station, Kathy completely broke down and confessed to the entire murder plot.
Death Penalty for the Murderer
At this point, the Las Vegas police needed to swiftly apprehend the direct perpetrator, John. They found John was already being charged in New Jersey for a separate crime. Upon searching his belongings, authorities found a piece of paper with the name and phone number of one of the Parker brothers.
After many initial hurdles due to fake alibis John had created and extradition issues, the Vegas police finally apprehended all the suspects.
As the mastermind behind her husband’s death, Peggy was convicted of first-degree murder and conspiracy to commit murder. She initially faced the death penalty but ultimately, the jury sentenced Peggy to two consecutive life terms without the possibility of parole.
In the following years, Peggy was diagnosed with cancer, and in 1998, the Nevada Pardon Board approved Peggy’s request, allowing her to leave prison when her condition became critical and she was not expected to live much longer.
Meanwhile, in April 1984, John Oliver Snow was sentenced to death. Doug Parker received two consecutive life sentences with the possibility of parole after 20 years. Acting as accomplices in the murder, John Parker and Kathy Faltinowski received life sentences.
