Cathie Grigsby is enjoying herself with friends while her husband, Jack Grigsby, is shot dead at their home. From scant clues, the police piece together the puzzle and uncover the sinister plot orchestrated by the mastermind behind it all.
Murder at Home
Just before 9 p.m. on Sunday, May 17, 2009, Cathie Grigsby called 911, frantically screaming that her husband, Jack Grigsby, was dead at their home in Sargent, Matagorda County, Texas, USA.
She told the dispatcher that she found Jack unresponsive, his chair overturned, and blood spattered across his head.
The autopsy report revealed a gunshot wound to the head as the cause of death. Jack was shot execution-style while seated in his chair, his body was discovered the same day.
Examining the crime scene, police found no signs of forced entry or theft. Only a single bullet casing was found near the body.
According to Cathie’s statement, she had left town for the weekend as planned, to spend time with friends. Therefore, Jack was looking after her dog. Upon returning to pick up the dog, Cathie discovered her husband dead on the floor.
Cathie informed the police that despite living separately and going through divorce proceedings, her relationship with Jack remained amicable.
They met at a party in 1991, with Jack aged 54, and Cathie 41. Both had endured unhappy marriages before. Jack had been divorced once, while Cathie had twice. Despite the 13-year age gap, they found compatibility and quickly developed feelings for each other.
Conflicting Marriage
They married in 1996. Initially, their marriage was happy, but Jack’s retirement in 2001 brought age-related tensions.
Friends noted stark differences in Jack and Cathie’s lifestyles. Cathie enjoyed socializing and had a wide circle of friends, often meeting them even at a distance. She also demanded more from her husband than he was willing to give.
By 2009, Jack’s health was declining, requiring more care. This further strained their relationship. Cathie moved to a separate apartment, and they planned to divorce.
Cathie told the police she owned a gun purchased from her boss, but it was missing from her apartment when the police arrived. She insisted that the gun had been stolen.
A day after Jack Grigsby’s murder, a man named Joe Zamora provided information to the police. According to Joe, he was fishing near Jack’s house on Sunday when he noticed a car pass by. Joe paid attention because it veered toward Jack’s driveway several times before leaving, only to return later. The driver seemed not to be interested in fishing but kept circling the area.
Joe informed the police that eventually, he saw the driver get out, knock on Jack’s door, then enter. Later, the man drove past Jack’s place again, asking about fishing.
Joe helped the police sketch the unidentified man’s likeness, which was then widely circulated.
Revelation from Surveillance Camera
This was a significant breakthrough for investigators. Police believed the man’s actions were linked to the murder.
At the same time, law enforcement discovered that Jack’s wife, Cathie Grigsby’s missing gun, matched the caliber and manufacturer of the bullet casing found at the crime scene. At that point, police knew Cathie didn’t directly fire the gun, but they were certain she was deceiving them.
The town had only one gas station. Thinking the suspect or his vehicle might have passed through, police decided to check the gas station’s surveillance camera system. As predicted, they found both the suspect and his car—a Ford Taurus.
Surveillance footage showed the suspect using a card to purchase bread and beer at the gas station. Tracking down the cardholder led investigators to a woman named Suzanne Matz and her boyfriend, Daniel Ray Harrison. Interestingly, the photo on Daniel’s driver’s license matched the suspect sketch.
The Wife’s Conspiracy
Not certain of Daniel’s connection to the victim, Jack Grigsby, police went to his house for inquiries. However, only Daniel’s girlfriend was home.
Suzanne Matz revealed to police that she had known the victim’s wife, Cathie Grigsby, for 8 years, having met through a mail-order catalog center.
Suzanne further disclosed that she was aware of the difficult relationship between Cathie and her husband. In fact, in 2003, Cathie had attempted to poison her husband. According to Suzanne, six years prior, Cathie had asked her if she knew anyone who could help her kill her husband. However, Suzanne thought Cathie was joking at the time.
Feeling they were on the right track, police waited for Daniel to return. Upon his arrival, they immediately took him to the police station for questioning.
Daniel confessed that Cathie had indeed attempted to poison Jack several times before with anticoagulant substances, once spiking his coffee, making him ill.
Murder Plot Before Divorce
Aware that he was under police scrutiny, Daniel Ray Harrison began confessing to investigators. He revealed that Cathie Grigsby had contacted him in March 2009. During their conversation, Cathie proposed that Daniel help her kill her husband in exchange for a sum of money. Daniel stated that he was in desperate need of money at the time, so he agreed.
At this point, police learned that the victim, Jack Grigsby, had a life insurance policy worth $200,000. Cathie inherited half of that amount. This was identified as her motive.
Daniel told the police that Cathie Grigsby wanted her husband killed before June 2009, when they were due to start divorce proceedings.
According to the plan, while in Dallas attending a conference, Cathie asked Daniel to go to the hotel room where she was staying to retrieve a spare key to her apartment. Daniel would go there to get the gun and use it to murder Jack.
Daniel followed these instructions and went to Jack Grigsby’s house, knocking on the door. When Jack opened it, Daniel pretended to be fishing nearby and asked if he could use the restroom. Upon getting permission from the homeowner, Daniel entered.
Daniel admitted that he then emerged from the bathroom with the gun in hand. At this point, Jack was seated in a recliner. Daniel used the gun to strike Jack, causing him to fall to the ground, then executed him with a gunshot to the head.
Afterward, Daniel called Cathie to report Jack’s death. The woman asked, “How’s my dog?” “Cold,” Daniel replied.
Unexpected Truth
Daniel stated that afterward, he disposed of the gun in a pond. Suzanne Matz, Daniel’s girlfriend, was determined to be unaware of and not involved in her boyfriend’s crime.
Police found evidence corroborating Daniel’s confession. This included a receipt showing Cathie had duplicated a spare key at a convenience store and surveillance footage at the hotel where Cathie stayed, showing her leaving the key on the desk, which Daniel then took.
Cathie was accused as the mastermind who orchestrated the entire crime, while Daniel carried it out directly.
As per the agreement, Daniel accepted a 40-year prison sentence in exchange for testifying against Cathie Grigsby in court. He would be eligible for parole in June 2029.
In October 2010, Cathie stood trial for the murder of her husband. Here, prosecutors revealed a shocking detail: Jack had actually changed the beneficiary in his life insurance policy before his death. Cathie was no longer the beneficiary. This woman had no idea she would not receive a penny from her husband.
The jury concluded that Cathie was guilty of murder and sentenced her to life imprisonment.
