“48 HOURS: THE ACCIDENTAL HUSBAND”

SATURDAY, APRIL 4, 2015 

Captions (L-R) Lynn Henthorn, Harold Henthorn and Toni Henthorn.

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Harold Henthorn has lost two wives in unusual accidents. Does Henthorn have horrible luck, or is there something more going on behind the deaths? Peter Van Sant and 48 HOURS investigate Henthorn’s story “The Accidental Husband” to be broadcast April 4 (10:00 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network.

It’s a case that exposes what family members say is a controlling husband, a double life and a past that is not what it seems.

“This is either the unluckiest guy in the world whose two wives have died under freakish, unusual circumstances,” says Brian Maass, an investigative reporter at CBS station KCNC-TV and a 48 HOURS consultant. “Or, perhaps, it’s something far more sinister. It could be murder.”

In September 2012, Henthorn surprised his wife, Dr. Toni Henthorn, with a weekend hike in Rocky Mountain National Park to celebrate their 12th wedding anniversary. Office workers even captured the romantic gesture on cell phone video.

However, something went terribly wrong when, according to Harold Henthorn, Toni fell to her death.

Toni’s family says Henthorn’s version of what happened in the mountains changed  several times. First Henthorn said she was lagging behind and then he lost sight of her. Then he said he looked down to check his phone and in an instant she was gone. What is known for sure is Toni Henthorn fell 140 feet to her death. Exactly how she fell is a mystery.

“Hiking wasn’t a big thing for her,” says co-worker Tammi Abbruscato. “Would she go for a walk or go sightseeing? Absolutely, she loved to get exercise. But by no means would she go rock climbing or anything vigorous.”

            Harold broke the news of the accident via a text message to Toni’s brother, Barry Bertolet, who then told their parents. All along, Barry had some questions. Harold’s stories didn’t add up, he says. “Warning buzzers are going off,” Bertolet tells Van Sant.

            While Toni’s family struggled to come to terms with the death, reporter Brian Maass got an anonymous email tip that would make everyone reconsider Harold Henthorn’s version of what he said happened to Toni. “It was very cryptic,” Maass says. “It just said, Harold Henthorn, his first wife died in a freak accident as well.”   

Maass learned her name was Lynn, and that she had died 17 years earlier. Maass looked into the accident that claimed Lynn’s life and he soon discovered a bizarre story.

Henthorn told investigators that while the couple was out to dinner, he pulled over to the side of the road with a soft tire. He also told them that while he was in the process of changing the tire, Lynn dropped a lug nut under the car. As she reached in the dark to grab it, the jack slipped and she was crushed by their Jeep. She died hours later. The Douglas County Sheriff’s Office ruled the death an accident.

            “There are so many similarities and so many patterns in these two deaths,” says Maass. “Both occurred in very remote locations in Colorado. In both cases, Harold Henthorn is the only witness. In both cases, the accidents are freakish or bizarre, extremely unusual. He tells lots of different stories. Both wives had a lot of insurance money on them and that he was the only one who was going to benefit from that.”

           Two years after investigating Toni’s tragic fall – and looking into the mysterious death of Lynn – federal authorities arrested and charged Henthorn with Toni’s murder.

Van Sant and 48 HOURS investigate the deaths of Toni and Lynn through interviews with family members, co-workers, friends of Lynn and Toni’s, a former coroner and an accident reconstruction specialist. 48 HOURS: “The Accidental Husband” is produced by Ruth Chenetz and Lindsey Gutterman. Peter Shaw is the field producer. Anthony Batson is the senior broadcast producer. Susan Zirinsky is the senior executive producer.

Chat with members of the 48 HOURS team during the broadcast on Twitter and Facebook. Follow 48 HOURS on Instagram. Listen to 48HOURS podcasts at Play.it.

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Press Contact:  Richard Huff      212-975-3328    huffr@cbsnews.com