My 8-year-old Daughter Overheard My “Perfect” New Husband Planning Our Fatal Car Crash. Then I Realized He Was The One Who Killed My First Husband Too. How Do I Act Normal Until The Police Arrive?

He’d complained of nausea, fatigue, and blurred vision. I’d assumed it was stress from work, but those symptoms, with my pharmacology background, they nagged at me now.

They could also indicate something else: Digoxin poisoning. Digoxin is a heart medication derived from foxglove.

In therapeutic doses, it helps regulate heartbeat. In toxic doses, it causes nausea, vision changes, fatigue, and ultimately fatal cardiac arrhythmia that looks exactly like a heart attack.

Marcus worked in pharmaceutical sales. He had access to medication samples.

David had been healthy and young with no risk factors. But a slow poisoning with Digoxin would have mimicked a natural heart attack perfectly, especially if no one was looking for it.

I sat on the cold bathroom floor, my phone clutched in my hand, and felt something shift inside me. Fear turned to fury.

If Marcus had killed David to clear the path to me and to my money, and now planned to kill Emily and me for even more money, I wasn’t going to let him get away with it.

First, I needed to protect Emily. I called my sister Beth, who lived two hours away in Denver.

It was 2:00 in the morning, but she answered on the third ring.

She asked: “Sarah, what’s wrong?”

I kept my voice low: “I need you to pick up Emily tomorrow morning.” “Tell her it’s a surprise sleepover.” “Don’t tell Marcus where you’re taking her.” “I’ll explain everything, but right now I need her safe.”

Beth knew me well enough not to argue with that tone.

She said: “I’ll be there at 9.”

Next, I needed evidence. I opened my laptop and started researching.

Colorado law allows for exhumation of a body if there’s reasonable suspicion of foul play. I’d need a court order, which meant I’d need to convince the police.

The Blueprint of a Murderer and the Fight for Justice

But the sabotaged brake line would help. I took more photos, careful not to disturb anything.

At dawn, I called the Boulder Police Department’s non-emergency line and asked to speak to a detective. They transferred me to Detective Sarah Martinez.

I explained everything: Emily’s warning, the brake line, and my suspicions about David’s death. To her credit, Detective Martinez didn’t dismiss me as paranoid.

She asked: “Can you bring your vehicle to the station?” “Don’t drive it.” “Have it towed.” “And Mrs. Chen, do you have somewhere safe to go?”

I replied: “My daughter will be with my sister.” “I’m going to act normal until you tell me otherwise.”

She said: “Be very careful.” “If your suspicions are correct, he’s already tried to kill you once.” “He might escalate if he thinks you know.”

Beth picked up Emily at 9:00 as planned. I told Marcus that Emily had been begging for a sleepover with her cousins and Beth had surprised her.

Marcus smiled, but it didn’t reach his eyes.

He said: “Guess it’s just us this weekend.”

The tow truck came for the SUV an hour later. I told Marcus it had been making a strange noise and I wanted the mechanic to check it before our trip.

He offered to look at it himself, but I insisted: “You’re always so busy with work, honey.” “Let the professionals handle it.”

That afternoon, Detective Martinez called.

She said: “The brake line was definitely tampered with.” “We’re getting a warrant for your husband’s financial records and phone records.” “In the meantime, I’d strongly suggest you stay somewhere else.”

I said: “Not yet.” “I want to find out about David.” “Can we exume his body?”

There was a pause.

She said: “That’s a complicated process, Mrs. Chen.” “We’d need the DA’s office involved and a court order.” “It could take weeks.”

I replied: “Then start the process.” “Please.” “I need to know if my husband killed my first husband.”

Detective Martinez said: “I’ll talk to the DA.” “In the meantime, please be safe.”

I spent the next few days playing the role of the loving wife while the police built their case. It was excruciating.

Marcus was on edge, asking repeatedly when the car would be fixed and when we could reschedule the trip.

I made excuses, saying the mechanic needed to order parts. I said I was still feeling unwell and maybe we should wait until the weather was better.

On the fourth day, Detective Martinez called again.

She said: “We got the warrant for the exhumation.” “The DA fast-tracked it given the evidence of attempted murder.” “We’re doing the autopsy next week.”

She continued: “Also, we’ve been monitoring your husband’s communications.” “He’s been in contact with someone at a casino in Blackhawk.” “He owes them $800,000.”

My blood ran cold. $800,000 in gambling debts and 3 million in life insurance on me.

It was all about money. It had always been about money.

Martinez continued: “There’s something else.” “We checked your first husband’s medical records.” “Three weeks before he died, he filled a prescription for Digoxin at a pharmacy in Denver, but according to his doctor, he never prescribed it.”

She added: “The prescription was called in by someone claiming to be his cardiologist.” “Your first husband didn’t have a cardiologist.”

I whispered: “Marcus.”

She replied: “We’re still verifying, but yes, we believe so.” “Mrs. Chen, we’re going to arrest your husband tomorrow morning.” “I need you to not be there when we do it, for your safety.”

I wanted to be there. I wanted to see his face when they arrested him.

But I knew Martinez was right. So, the next morning, I told Marcus I was going into work early for inventory.