Member-only story
Was It Murder in the Mansion? “I shot my wife. She’s dead. She’s done.”
A story chillingly similar to Alex Murdaugh, a wealthy, prominent real estate developer shoots his wife just before facing trial for fraud and misusing funds.

The daughter of a wealthy Florida businessman witnessed her father being convicted of manslaughter for the shooting death of her mother in 2009. Overcome with grief and anger, she let out a blood-curdling scream before storming out of the courtroom.
Her father, James Robert “Bob” Ward, was found guilty in 2018 of fatally shooting his wife, Diane, in the head at their luxurious $2.8 million Windermere residence. This was Bob’s second trial, having already been convicted of his wife’s murder, only for the verdict to be overturned on a legal technicality in 2016.
During his 2011 trial, they aired the disturbing 911 call where Bob calmly admitted to shooting his wife in the face and requested assistance.
Full 911 Call:
“I just shot my wife. I shot my wife, yes. Please send somebody over.”
On the 21st of September 2009, police received the distressing call from the Isleworth mansion of Bob and Diane Ward. Upon entering the home, they were met with a tragic scene — Diane lay lifeless on the floor of her bedroom, dead from a gunshot wound to her head.
Bob Ward had shot his wife after a heated argument at their Windermere, Florida home. Bob didn’t deny shooting Diane at all. In fact, he called the police himself to report the incident. He claimed that she was attempting to take her own life and that he accidentally pulled the trigger while trying to disarm her.