The Attempted Murder of Chief Warrant Officer, James Glass
For this case, I watched an episode of Cold Hearted. It’s season 1 episode 1, titled ‘Collateral Damage.’ There is also a 48 Hours episode about the case.
An officer in the Marine Corps is betrayed by someone he trusted.
Background
James Glass grew up in West Lake, Louisiana. He had a rough upbringing, his dad passed away when he was very young and his mom struggled to be a single mom. James said his mom’s new boyfriend abused her and him and his brother, Robert.
One day at school, a teacher noticed that James hadn’t been fed for awhile and she called CPS (Child Protective Services). James and his brother were taken from their home and put into a foster home. James said they got really lucky, and their foster parents adopted James and Robert.
A young James
Boy Meets Girl
When James was 24, he joined the Marines, and went after a career in aviation. He wanted to become a pilot, but said he didn’t have 20/20 vision, so he became an air traffic controller instead.
One day, in 1989, James went with his grandpa to look for a truck. While he was there, he met 18 year old Wendy. They fell hard for each other and got married just a month later.
James was interviewed in this episode. He said he was so happy, and became even happier when they had two daughters, Nicole and Andrea. However, they would struggle throughout their marriage with moving around the world with two young daughters, and James’ work schedule.
Wendy and James
The Couple’s Struggles
In 1994, James was relocated to Okinawa, Japan. Wendy and their daughters, who were one and two years old came too.
James said Wendy struggled to adapt to the culture, and James was never home. Wendy wanted to be out working, but became a stay at home mom. Their stay in Japan didn’t last long, and they moved again, this time to Yuma, Arizona.
I actually lived in Yuma for two years, because my husband was in the Marines. Yuma is about three hours from Phoenix, and it’s a huge training center for the Marines and Air Force.
James thought that living in the United States was going to be better for Wendy and the girls. They even made friends with their neighbors, including Larry and Sherry Framness. The couple also had two daughters, who were close in age with Nicole and Andrea.
James’ new work schedule didn’t let up, and he was now a warrant officer. James was shipped out to the Middle East to Kuwait, after 9/11 happened.
Rumors
While James was gone, Wendy started spending a lot more time with Larry. Larry’s wife took notice, and filed a complaint to the command. Adultery is a punishable crime in the military, so a investigation was started.
Wendy and Larry both denied the affair, and there was no evidence of an affair, so the case was dropped. James was even told about Wendy’s possible involvement with Larry, and he said there was no way Wendy would do that to him. He was wrong.
In March 2002, after James returned home from Kuwait, he left the office and decided to come home early and surprised Wendy. James said he heard a noise from upstairs and thought Wendy was probably getting ready or something. When James tried opening their bedroom door, Wendy walked out naked and tried to distract him. When he walked in, he found Larry trying to hide. James was pissed and heartbroken. He left and drove around, and was thinking of going to the command, until Wendy told him to come home.
Wendy said she was lonely and sad, especially after her mom died. Wendy blamed James for not being there for her, and said she would end the affair.
A Little Getaway
James decided he believed Wendy when she told him that she had ended things with Larry. James wanted to work on their relationship, and didn’t want to lose their daughters if Wendy wanted to divorce him.
In November 2002, Wendy and James decided to go on a getaway to San Diego. James had some time off, and they found a cabin to stay at. However, it was not as romantic as they had hoped. James was jet lagged, stressed and couldn’t sleep. Wendy tried to give him something to help him sleep, and they ended up leaving the next day.
Three months later, James was deployed back to Kuwait. He was sent to Camp Snake Pit at the Al Salem Air Base.
The Attempted Murder
Two weeks into his employment, James ran into Larry. Larry was in the same aviation command as James, and he tried to apologize. James said he stayed clear of Larry, and didn’t trust him.
On May 14, 2003, Larry told James that there was suspicious activity. James said he had a strange feeling about it, but around 11pm, he went with Larry to a bunker to check it out. James said there were in the bunker for about 5 minutes, when there was an explosion.
James said he was thrown against the building. He couldn’t see or hear anything, and he was bleeding. James said Larry had a shocked look on his face, and he helped James into the medical tent.
James was airlifted to a hospital in Spain. He had to undergo surgery to remove shrapnel from his arms, legs and neck. James was told he was lucky to be alive, but the hand grenade that was found had fell behind some water coolers and saved his life.
A photo from the investigation
Investigation and Arrests
An investigation was started into this incident. Larry was detained and questioned. Larry denied any involvement, and said it must have been an attack by a terrorist, an Al Qaeda operative. The NCIS officers said they couldn’t be possible, and Larry broke down and confessed.
Larry said he threw the hand grenade, and he did it to be with Wendy Glass. Their plan had been to murder him and collect on his $500,000 life insurance policy.
After Larry’s confession, Larry’s things were searched. The officers found a handwritten note. Larry and Wendy had itemized everything they would be gaining. Larry was immediately taken into military police custody.
Meanwhile, in Yuma, police arrived at Wendy’s. Wendy denied it, of course, and the police searched Wendy’s home after getting her permission. The police found emails between Larry and Wendy, confessing their love to each other, and making future plans. Some of Larry’s items were also found in the house.
Wendy also confessed after being confronted by the evidence. Wendy said if she divorced James, he would take their daughters and Larry had convinced her. This was not the first time that they tried to kill James, it was actually the third. One of the times that they tried was when James and Wendy went to California. The pill she had given James was the date rape drug. Larry had been nearby, and they planned to get him drunk, put him in a car, and have him drive off a cliff.
A week later, Wendy was charged with conspiracy to commit murder. She showed emotion, but the police said she felt more sorry for herself than she did about trying to kill James.
Larry Framness
Wendy Glass mugshot
Article 32 Hearing and Convictions
An article 32 hearing is the same as a preliminary hearing in civilian law.
At the hearing, the previous attempts to murder James came out. They even tried to drown him a bathtub once, after Wendy gave him a drug.
Larry Framness was sentenced to 25 years in prison. Wendy took a plea deal and was sentenced to 7 years in prison.
Other
After James found out about the murder attempt, he filed for divorce and the divorce was finalized in January 2005. James remarried in 2009.
Wendy was released from prison in 2010, and is still close with her daughters.
James Glass in the 48 Hours episode
FINAL THOUGHTS
THREE ATTEMPTS TO MURDER SOMEONE AND YOU GET 7 YEARS IN PRISON??? I was so confused by Wendy’s sentence. She also seemed like she cared more about herself than the fact that she tried to kill her husband. She got off too easy!
I also got the sense that James and Wendy’s daughters were closer to their mom than their dad, and they did mention that a little in the episode. They said their dad was always at work. I wonder if they still talk to their dad, and how they got over what their mom did.
I think Larry should be in prison for a long time and I think Wendy should have received the same sentence, but that’s just my opinion.
Sources
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/marine-love-triangle-blows-up/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Article_32_hearing
https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2003-jun-13-me-marine13-story.html
