48 Hours

Scared to Death (19x6)

Air date: Oct 29, 2005

Police Lt. Jim Barton found his wife, Vickie, murdered execution-style on their farm in Warren County, Ohio, in 1995. With limited physical evidence and no suspects, the investigation lay dormant for nine years until a tip opened up the case. Jim Barton soon found himself under arrest with charges related to the slaying. Prosecutors had a troubling theory: did Jim Barton's ambition to become police chief lead to his wife's murder? Correspondent Peter Van Sant reports.