Titled “Web of Lies,” Episode 2 of Season 2 of Investigation Discovery’s “Motives and Murders: Cracking the Case” chronicles the shocking murder of West Virginia businessman Tod McQuaid in 1990. When the bizarre details of his murder surfaced in front of the police, it puzzled them as to why someone would have targeted a regular person like Tod. What resulted was a long and winding investigation that led them to his employee, Tammy Wilson. In case you’re wondering about the details of this horrible case, we’ve got you covered. Let’s start!
How did Tod McQuaid die?
Tod McQuaid, 35, was the owner of a successful security company named TEMAC Inc. in Lewisburg, West Virginia. He had two young daughters named Elizabeth and Heather with his ex-wife Rose. Additionally, he was highly respected in the community and shared a great relationship with his parents Roger and Janet McQuaid.
On October 15, 1990, West Virginia State Police Trooper Bruce Sloan received a call at 8:40 p.m. from Harry Joe Johnson, an employee of TEMAC Inc. He reported that his employer Tod McQuaid had called the office and informed everyone that it had been shot on the mountain behind Meadow Bridge. Questioning at the TEMAC office revealed that Tammy, the operations manager, received the call. She further stated that Tod went to Meadow Bridge to issue a warrant for the arrest of his former girlfriend Edie Grimes for felony and burglary.
Additionally, Tammy shared that he went looking for Edie on October 10, 1990 and Edie could have shot him. However, on October 23, 1990, police received a call from Roger Cline, a Tod’s employee who confessed to shooting him. He then directed police to Tod’s body in Belmont County, Ohio. The body was found wrapped in a tarp, with a single .40 caliber pistol shot to the back of the head. When the police thought the culprit had been arrested, they discovered something that changed the course of the investigation.
Who Killed Todd McQuaid?
Tammy Wilson had directed the police to Edie, but after detailed questioning it was revealed that she had not seen Tod at any time on the day he was shot. Additionally, the police discovered that Tammy and Tod were lovers who had been together for two months, and he had also made her a business partner in a new venture he was planning to start. This made her a suspect in the case, but she has yet to show any signs of involvement. When Roger turned himself in for the murder, he said he accidentally shot Tod during a physical altercation over his work performance.
But when the medical examiner concluded the shooting took place from a close range of 3ft, police found inconsistencies in Roger’s alibi. Additionally, the post-mortem report stated that the murder took place around October 6, 1990, which is inconsistent with the date Tammy and Harry claimed he called the office. During questioning, Harry revealed that Tod was killed on the night of October 6, 1990 at Tammy’s home in Ronceverte, West Virginia. She had concocted a plan to kill Tod to become the owner of the new business and offered Harry a partnership, as well as a promise of romance to Roger.
So, Tammy spiked Tod’s drink with Valium when he came to meet her that unfortunate night, and he became incapacitated. Roger then arrived and shot him four times, the fourth bullet hit him in the back of the head and killed him. Harry was assigned to clean up the crime scene and help hide the body. On the other hand, Tammy shared another story with the police which depicted Tod allegedly molesting her daughter and when Roger learned of this, he and Harry killed him in a fit of rage. This brought the investigation to a crossroads, as although the crime scene had multiple bullet marks as Harry claimed, no trace of Valium was found in his body.
A breakthrough came in June 1991, when a prescription from a local pharmacy confirmed that Tammy had indeed purchased 12 units of Valium on the day of the murder. This allowed for a second autopsy, which confirmed the presence of the drug in Tod’s body which had gone undetected the first time due to severe decomposition. Therefore, it was ultimately concluded that Harry’s version of events was correct and that Tammy was indeed the mastermind behind Tod’s merciless murder. It was also established that the first three shots Roger fired that missed Tod were fired from a .45 caliber pistol, and then Tammy provided him with the .40 caliber that was used for the murder.
The trio then wrapped the body in bin bags, mats and a tarp, and Roger took it in the back of a company vehicle to dispose of it. Meanwhile, Harry and Tammy stayed behind to clean the house, and she visited Tod’s solicitor two days later to claim ownership of the new business. To his surprise, it was revealed that Tod had not signed the deed that finalized his partnership in the business. Thus, it was abundantly clear that she had plotted the entire murder to get rid of Tod and acquire the business, coercing Harry and Roger into becoming accomplices.
Where is Tammy Wilson today?
In February 1992, Harry was sentenced to nine years in prison without trial after pleading guilty to second degree murder. Roger was convicted of first degree murder and sentenced to life imprisonment with the possibility of parole after examiners found he had developmental issues. On the other hand, Tammy was sentenced to life without mercy. Later, a new trial was conducted under a plea deal and she pleaded guilty to first degree murder, thus making her eligible for parole.
However, despite several petitions and hearings since 2004, Tammy has been repeatedly denied parole by the court on the grounds that the circumstances of her crime were extremely “negative”. She is currently incarcerated at Lakin Correctional Center in Lakin, Mason County, West Virginia.
Read more: Kelly Wharen and Jonathon Vuick murders: Where is Patrick Wharen now?
