![The shade in the photo accuses the friend of being emotionally unavailable 2 The shade in the photo accuses the friend of being emotionally unavailable 7](https://vanhoaphuongdong.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/vanhoaphuongdong.com-the-shade-in-the-photo-accuses-the-friend-of-being-emotionally-unavailable-1.jpg)
The shade in the photo accuses the friend of being emotionally unavailable 7
When police arrived, on April 7, 1987, Hartman was dead under the cliff.
When the McGinnis husband and wife went to their car to prepare to leave, Hartman tried to stay a little longer.
The McGinnis said Hartman had recently separated and was living at their home.
Thinking that this was a simple accident, the police performed an autopsy and concluded that Hartman died from traumatic brain injury.
Unsatisfied with the investigation’s conclusion, the Hartman family hired their own lawyer to seek justice.
Looking at Hartman’s photo, the lawyer noticed something unusual.
The last photo Hartman appears in shows BJ McGinnis supporting Hartman, the two standing close to the cliff.
Three photos made the police suspicious.
The McGinnis couple became the number one suspects.
On the contract, the beneficiary of the insurance money was Virginia’s son, who was in prison, and was declared as Hartman’s fiancé even though in reality they were both married to other people.
At this time, the police believe they are facing a murder, not a simple accident.
At the laboratory, scientists discovered that Hartman’s blood contained Amitriptyline (an ingredient in the antidepressant Elavil).
Because witnesses said Hartman and the McGinnis family had lunch together that day, and Hartman asked for a carbonated drink, police speculated that the McGinnis may have put drugs in Hartman’s drink.
With no other choice, the investigator turned back to look for clues in the photos taken during the autopsy.
Investigating further into Virginia’s private life, the police were shocked to discover that she was involved in many unimaginable `accidents`.
Virginia ensures that all family members including husband and children can buy life insurance, and the value of each policy is 35,000 USD.
According to information in the insurance policy that Virginia bought for Hartman, the witness was Alice Kessane, Virginia’s neighbor, but this person said she was not involved.
Thinking there was enough evidence to convict, police arrested the McGinnis couple, two years after Hartman died.
![The shade in the photo accuses the friend of being emotionally unavailable 3 The shade in the photo accuses the friend of being emotionally unavailable](https://vanhoaphuongdong.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/vanhoaphuongdong.com-the-shade-in-the-photo-accuses-the-friend-of-being-emotionally-unavailable-2.jpg)
Apply mathematical knowledge to measure the photographer’s height.
In a photo taken of Hartman, police discovered a shadow of a person taking photos on the ground.
Because Virginia was the one who called 911 to report the emergency, the police had accurate information about the date and time the photo was taken, thereby determining the exact position of the sun at that time.
In court, the prosecutor accused McGinnis and his wife of taking advantage of the fact that Hartman had recently separated, was far from family, and was vulnerable to befriend her, then drugged her and pushed her down the Big Sur cliff.
During a three-day circuit trial held at the crime scene, Virginia denied involvement in the death, claiming that Hartman fell off the cliff by accident.
After four days of deliberation, the jury rejected Virginia’s argument, sentencing her to First Degree Murder and life imprisonment.
Virginia died in prison at the age of 74. Due to lack of sufficient evidence, Virginia was not held responsible for the deaths of her daughter and two previous husbands.