The Murder of Fred McClure
For this case, I watched an episode of Snapped. It’s season 12 episode 9.
A woman claims that she shot a man, thinking he was an intruder.
Background
Fred McClure was originally from Chambersburg, Pennsylvania, but later moved to the town of York, about an hour away.
Fred had spent some time in prison for various charges, but by 2007, he was changing his life around. He spent a woman named Joann Helfrich in 2008, and by 2009, they were in love.
Joann helped Fred reconnect with his children, and grandchildren. Fred was described as a motorcycle enthusiast, and as a kind and loving person.
Fred McClure
Joann and Fred
The 911 Call
On October 12, 2010, Joann called the police around 3:49pm. She was hysterical, and said she needed an ambulance. She told the dispatcher that she had shot her boyfriend Fred, because she thought he was an intruder.
The dispatcher asked Joann if Fred was moving. Joann said she didn't know, and wasn't able to roll him over to start CPR.
When the police arrived, they found Fred lying on the living room floor. He had been shot, and was bleeding from his wounds, mouth, and nose. He was pronounced dead at the scene. Joann was taking the police station for an interview.
The Intruder Story
Joann was visibly upset, but cooperative. She told the police that Fred had woken her up around 11:30pm the previous evening, and had been having health issues. Fred had already had a heart surgery, and had needed another one before his death.
Joann said that Fred had left for a doctors appointment the next morning, and she went back to sleep until around 3:45pm. She said a noise downstairs had woken her up.
Joann said she didn’t think it had been Fred coming home. He usually announced himself, by saying he was home. Joann said she grabbed her gun from her nightstand, and slowly walked down the stairs.
Joann said she called out to the intruder, and asked “who the fuck are you?” She said she could see a foot and pant leg, and that’s when she pulled the trigger. Joann had admitted on the 911 call that she continued shooting, and had emptied the clip.
Joann said the hallway was dark. She walked downstairs, turned the light on, and screamed when she realized it was Fred.
The Evidence
The police didn’t believe Joann’s story. The crime scene investigators had already reported back that they had no issues seeing inside the home. There had been plenty of natural light coming in through the windows.
The police started to ask Joann about her relationship with Fred. They asked if he had ever been violent, and Joann said no.
Joann told the police that Fred had been part of a motorcycle gang, and that his gang had been having issues with the Hell’s Angels. Joann said that the gang’s hangout spot was Hooters, which was near their apartment.
Joann also told the police that their apartment had been broken into just weeks before Fred’s death. Some money had been taken, as well as Joann’s jewelry. Joann had wanted to call the police, but Fred said not to. Joann purchased a gun after the incident, and she said Fred was pissed about that.
The crime scene investigators had found a .22 shell casing at the scene, as well as several other casings in the trash can that were also .22 caliber. It was obvious that Joann wasn’t telling the truth.
Sticking to Her Story
The autopsy report also showed that Fred had been shot 8 times. Many of the shots could’ve been fatal, but the shot to Fred’s upper right chest had gone through his heart.
The police had spoken to some nearby neighbors, who claimed to have seen both Joann and Fred at 3:30pm on the day of the murder. The neighbors had told Fred that his car lights were still on. Fred had been outside speaking to them, and Joann had stuck her head out the door, meaning she had been awake and with Fred.
The neighbors had left to get some food. When they returned, the first responders had arrived.
The police confronted Joann, but she claimed she had thought that Fred was an intruder. Joann then became angry and confrontational. She ended the interview, but the police had enough evidence to charge her.
The Trial
On November 5, 2012, Joann went on trial.
The prosecution said that Joann had been done with the relationship, and that she was unhappy because Fred had been in a motorcycle gang. Joann had been very outspoken about how the gang treated women.
The prosecution said that they didn’t know Joann’s exact motive. They said Joann was honest about one thing, that she did start shooting Fred on the stairs. She then walked down to execute him.
The pathologist that performed Fred’s autopsy testified that if Joann had shot Fred from the stairs, then all of the trajectories would be similar. He said some were upward, meaning Fred was already on the ground, and she most likely stood over him for the last few shots.
The defense claimed that it was imperfect self defense. They said Joann didn't kill Fred intentionally, but she was negligent. The defense said that Joann hadn’t wanted to leave Fred. They had sent several loving messages to each other on the day of the murder. The defense wanted the jury to hear Joann’s 911 call, because she sounded so distraught.
The defense had even asked for a deal, saying Joann would plead guilty to third degree murder, but it was rejected.
On November 8, the jury deliberated for an hour. They found Joann Helfrich guilty of first degree murder. She was sentenced to life in prison.
Joann Helfrich
FINAL THOUGHTS
Joann truly did seem believable, until the bullets were recovered from the trash can. It’s just hard to determine what her actual motive was. I believe Joann and Fred got into an argument that day, and that she decided to take his life. Fred had just been starting to turn his life around, and it was tragically taken away.
Sources
https://www.pennlive.com/midstate/2014/10/life_prison_sentence_stands_fo.html
https://www.pennlive.com/midstate/2012/11/york_county_woman_convicted_of.html
https://6abc.com/archive/8879765/
