The Murder of Dustin Wehde
For this case I watched an episode of American Monster. It’s season 6 episode 3, titled ‘Out Of His Shell.’
A 20 year old is killed in a small Iowa town.
Background
Dustin Wehde
Dustin Wehde was the son of Brett and Mona Wehde, a loving couple that moved to a small town of Early, Iowa. This small town was described as a place where everyone knew everyone, and where families move to raise their families.
Dustin was the oldest child, but their only son. He had two sisters Ashley and Briana, and they really looked up to their older brother. Dustin was quiet and kept to himself. He loved to spend time alone playing video games, but he was also able to bond with his family when they found hobbies they had in common.
The Wehde family
The New Neighbors
In 1998, a couple moved in a few houses down from the Wehde’s. The couple was Michael and Tracey Roberts. They had just moved here from Chicago, and had two sons, Burt and Noah.
At the time, Dustin’s mom Mona, was a realtor. The Roberts’ had asked her to be their realtor, and she accepted. Mona said she bonded with Tracey after talking to her, and Tracey would tell her personal things from before they moved. She also said Tracey had always been pleasant and nice to her.
Tracey told Mona about her ex-husband, a plastic surgeon from Virginia, named John Pitman. Her son Burt was actually from her first marriage, and she had divorced John two years prior.
Tracey and Michael met soon after their divorce, and got married just 18 days after they met. Mona said every time she was around the Roberts’, they seemed happy and loving.
Dustin had just lost his job, and Michael told Mona that he wanted to offer Dustin to help around his IT company. Mona said Dustin would love that. Michael said he would take Dustin paint balling, so that they could bond before that. Dustin was extremely excited.
After this, the Wehde’s saw less and less of Michael and Tracey.
The Murder
Mona was interviewed in this episode, and she said on the day of the murder, she was out doing some Christmas shopping. She called her home to see if Dustin was awake, because he had an appointment for that day. When she called, her daughter answered, and she asked if Dustin was there. Her daughter said no he left, and Mona thought that was a good sign that he had gotten out of bed and left for the day.
A little while later, Mona received a call from her nephew, Brandon, he said that something had happened at their friend’s house. Mona realized he meant Michael and Tracey’s house. Mona said she thought that Tracey and Michael had killed one or the other, but what she was about to discover was way worse.
On December 13, 2001, around 7pm, a 911 call came into the police. The caller was 11 year old Bert, and he said there were two intruders that came in, tied his mom up and one of them left.
The police arrived right away, and when they walked up the house, a frantic Tracey was on the porch. She kept screaming he’s upstairs, and motioned up the stairs to them. The police walked up to the second floor, and found a young man laying in a pool of blood.
The news that there had been a shooting spread through this small town.
Tracey’s Story
Brett, Dustin’s dad, came home looking for his son. He told Mona that he thought he saw Dustin’s car at the Roberts’ home. The Wehde family raced down the street, and asked the police if the victim was their son. The police told them yes, it was. Mona said she dropped to her knees and started screaming.
Dustin Wehde was pronounced dead and had been shot 9 times.
The police questioned Tracey, and asked her what happened. She said her husband was on his way home from a business trip in Minneapolis. She said she had been giving her infant daughter a bath, when she heard noises. At first, she thought Michael had come home, but when she went out into the hall, she tried to run away. She said the two attackers grabbed her by the hair, and tried to choke her.
Tracey did have ligature marks around her neck, and a pair of pantyhose were found in the kitchen. Tracey said she blacked out, and when she came to, she heard the attackers talking. She said she crawled into her bedroom to grab her gun out of her safe. She said the attackers heard her, and tried to stop her from grabbing her gun. She said she was able to open the safe, grabbed her pistol and started shooting over and over. She said the other attacker ran away.
Tracey said she didn’t know how many times she fired, but that somehow the attacker was able to get up. She said she fired a few more times and he was finally dead.
Investigation
The police told Tracey that she had shot and killed Dustin Wehde. After this Tracey said that Dustin had actually come over earlier in the day, looking for Michael. Tracey said Dustin stood on the porch, was acting weird and wouldn’t leave.
Tracey Roberts and Dustin Wehde
The police wanted to search Dustin’s car for clues. In the front seat, they found a pink spiral notebook. It was a journal, and in the journal, there was an outline of a murder for hire plot to kill Tracey. The mastermind of the plot was named: John Pitman, Tracey’s ex.
The pink notebook in Dustin’s car
Tracey was also asked to give a description of the second attacker, and she told them he was 5’11-6’0, dark brown hair and mid-late 30’s. A manhunt began for the second attacker.
Meanwhile, the police arranged to question Dr. John Pitman in Virginia. John said he only knew the Wehde family because their daughters had babysat Burt before. The police also weren’t able to find any connection between Dustin and Dr. Pitman.
Dr. Pitman was ruled out, he had been worked at a hospital in Virginia on the day of the murder. The police were confused as to what really happened to Dustin.
Another Devastating Blow
Dustin had no history of violence, and Brett and Mona said he would never hurt anyone. This case became a media sensation. Tracey was called a hero, whereas Dustin was called everything from an attempted murderer to a burglar.
Tracey even went on the Montel Williams Show, and shared her story. Michael was right by her side, supporting her.
On Thanksgiving Day 2002, the Wehde family received some more awful news. Brett Wehde had killed himself on his son’s grave. He was destroyed and heartbroken over Dustin’s death.
A “Hero” No More
In 2010, a new prosecutor named Benjamin Smith, decided to re-examine the Dustin Wehde case. He was very suspicious, especially because Dustin was shot 9 times.
The wounds to Dustin’s head also raised some red flags. The wounds were examined, and the evidence showed that Dustin had gotten those wounds while he was already on the ground. Remember, Tracey said the attacker had gotten up and tried to attack her again. This proved that Dustin wasn’t able to get up, and Tracey was shooting him while he was on the ground.
Prosecutor Smith also called several witnesses to come back in and speak with him. One witness, who was Tracey’s friend named Mary Higgins, didn’t say anything at first. However, after Prosecutor Smith told her they had new evidence, Mary said “you mean that stupid notebook.”
The police had never released any information to anyone about the pink notebook that was found in Dustin’s car. Mary said that Tracey had told her about the notebook, and that John Pitman would be arrested because Dustin had written it down.
It turns out, Tracey was in the middle of a custody battle. If she lost, she would’ve lost custody of her son and the payments she was receiving from the divorce.
Prosecutor Smith now believed that Tracey had lured Dustin to her home, and Dustin went thinking he was friends with them. Somehow, Tracey was able to get Dustin to write in that journal about Dr. Pitman, and then pulled out a gun and shot him.
She then staged her “attack,” and put the notebook in Dustin’s car. Prosecutor Smith had a medical examiner look at pictures of Tracey’s injuries, and the medical examiner said she wouldn’t have blacked out. The injuries weren’t even in the right place to cause a black out.
Trial and Conviction
On July 27, 2011, Tracey Roberts, now Tracey Richter was charged with first degree murder.
Mary Higgins was one of the star witnesses. She said Tracey knew about the pink notebook and was trying to frame Dr. Pitman.
The only person who took Tracey’s side, was her son Bert.
Tracey was found guilty of first degree murder and was sentenced to life in prison, without the possibility of parole.
Tracey at trial
Mona said Tracey is sick, psychotic and evil, and that they are happy the truth finally came out. They are slowing healing from both of their losses.
FINAL THOUGHTS
I agree with Mona, Tracey is a sick and evil person. They showed some footage of her trial at the end of the episode, and when she was found guilty, they showed her “crying.” The emotion was so fake, and I don’t think she has any remorse for what she did.
Dustin was completely innocent, and trusting. He went over to his friend’s house, and was put in the middle of the sick woman’s twisted plot. She used him and shot him excessively. She deserves to rot in prison forever.
I’m so heartbroken for Dustin’s family. Brett Wehde died from a broken heart. They tried so hard to get the truth out their about their son, and no one listened. The only person that seemed to care was Prosecutor Smith, and without him, Tracey would still be called a hero.
Sources
https://thecinemaholic.com/dustin-wehde-murder/
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/hero-claim-rejected-iowa-mom-guilty-of-murder/
