The Murder of Steve Clayton
For this case I watched an episode of American Monster. It’s season 6 episode 1, titled ‘Everyone’s Favorite Uncle.’
A popular and outgoing man is killed in his home.
Background
Steve Clayton
Steve Clayton was described as a teddy bear. He was a very loud, outgoing and adventurous person.
He was also a very good businessman, and started his own business called Physical Therapy Resources. He was so good in fact, that he was able to retire at the age of 41. He was happy to retire, to be able to spend time with his many siblings and grandchildren.
A New Romance
In late 2009, Steve made the decision to move from Florida to North Carolina. This was a big change because his extended family all lived in Florida, but he was excited to see what else was out there for him.
Steve’s relationships had always been rocky, but his family said he was searching for the right person. He soon announced that he did find someone. Her name was Lana Walsh, and she was a nurse from Oklahoma.
Lana was described as being the opposite of Steve. Steve was loud, and Lana was quiet, but very sweet. Steve’s family approved of her, and they said they had never seen him be so affectionate to anyone.
Steve was sure that Lana was the one for him, so he invited her to move in with him. They soon bought two Italian greyhounds named Guinness and Stella.
In 2013, Steve and Lana got married, and then moved to Lake Wylie, South Carolina. They were closer to some of Steve’s extended family and Lana’s son. The couple seemed happier than ever, but soon things were about to change.
Steve and Lana on their wedding day
A Mysterious Illness
In June 2018, Steve became very sick. It started with an ear ache, and then he became nauseous and dizzy.
Steve’s family thought it could be vertigo, which they knew he struggled from. They didn’t think his vertigo was this bad, though. Steve’s family called Lana, she was a nurse, and she thought that maybe Steve was just exhausted and needed bed rest. However, one day Steve went to sleep and woke up after 36 hours. Steve’s family thought that was super strange, they had never met anyone who could sleep for a full 36 hours.
After this incident, it seemed that Steve was feeling better. On the Fourth of July, Steve and Lana threw a party at their new lakefront home and their extended families came down for the occasion. Steve’s sister, Rosie, said everything was great between the couple. They were affectionate and loving.
No one knew what was about to happen, or that it would be the last time this loving man would be seen alive.
A Heart Attack or Murder?
On July 21, 2018, just weeks after their Fourth of July party, a 911 call came into the York County police. A man said that he was approached by a woman, saying her husband had fallen down the stairs. The police arrived at the Clayton home, and had their body cam footage rolling.
The police walked through the front door, and found Steve at the bottom of the grand staircase, with a sheet over him. Steve was pronounced dead at the scene.
The police can be heard whispering to each other, because Lana was just in the next room, completely distraught. The police needed to speak to her.
They asked Lana what happened. She said she was outside mowing the lawn, and she walked in and found Steve laying there. She said she tried to roll him over, but couldn’t. Lana also said Steve had been feeling dizzy the last few days, and that he hadn’t been downstairs in a several days. She said she heard a motorcycle, and flagged down the driver to call 911.
Steve’s family was notified, and some of his extended family came over to help console Lana.
The Clayton home in Lake Wylie, SC
The Investigation
The police 100% believed that Steve died from a heart attack or natural causes, but they wanted to do some further investigation just to be sure.
They walked throughout the house, and there appeared to be no signs of any struggle.
The coroner also arrived. She said that Steve didn’t have any contusions or bruising, and didn’t believe that he fell down the stairs. However, she did believe the heart attack theory because Steve’s face was very discolored, it was almost blue in color.
While Steve’s family was there, they were trying to clean up other areas of the house to make Lana feel more comfortable, and when they went into the master bedroom, they found some bizarre things. In the bedroom, there was a horrible smell, that Steve’s nephew described as “human filth.” They looked at the mattress, and it was completely soaked with urine.
Steve’s family didn’t know that he was this sick, but they became suspicious because Steve was a neat freak and would never let his home get this way.
A Family’s Suspicion
After Steve’s family spoke to his sister, Rosie, she called Lana. She asked Lana how Steve became so ill, and why she didn’t call them. Lana said she thought Steve was feeling better. Lana also said Steve didn’t call them because he misplaced his phone. Rosie didn’t believe her because Steve always had his phone, and this episode showed several photos of Steve on his phone.
Rosie asked Lana about Steve’s will. Lana said there wasn’t one. Lana also shocked Rosie by saying that Steve was set to be cremated. Rosie knew that Steve had wanted to be buried in a cemetery in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
On August 4, 2018, Lana held a memorial for Steve at their home. It was an emotional day for everyone. Rosie and the rest of Steve’s family discovered that Lana had given away a lot of Steve’s clothes, and other items. There was empty hangers in all of the closets, and his watches and wedding ring were missing.
Steve’s family needed definite proof that Lana had somehow hurt Steve. They contacted the medical examiner, and begged for them to do an autopsy and toxicology report. The medical examiner said they would, and they also notified the police about their suspicions.
The Autopsy
When the autopsy report came back, it still showed that Steve had died from a heart attack. However, when the toxicology came back a few weeks later, the police were shocked.
Steve’s blood showed traces of marijuana, Benadryl and Temazepam. It also found traces of Tetrahydrozoline, which is used in eyedrops, and can be deadly if it’s ingested.
After this discovery, the police went back to the Clayton home to search the home for any medications and cups or glasses that had any residue in it. They did find that the table with the medications on it was far away from where Steve had been laying. With the high does of THZ found, they said there was no way Steve was ingesting this on his own. They wanted to talk to Lana again.
Lana’s Story
Lana was brought into the station for an interview. They confronted her with the results from the toxicology report, but didn’t state what medications were found. Lana said that Steve would take medications because his mood was always changing. She listed all of the medications on the report, except for the THZ. When the police did finally tell her about it, she said Steve put it in his coffee everyday.
The police thought this was odd. They asked her what her relationship with Steve was like. She said she mostly “walked on eggshells around him.” She said he was verbally abusive. Lana was released, but the next day, she contacted Detective Mark Motz, and he recorded the conversation.
She told him that she didn’t tell him everything about how Steve treated her. She said he was not only verbally abusive, but physically. Lana said she had called her friend from work, who told her about THZ. Lana said her friend said THZ would just give someone diarrhea, and she wanted revenge on Steve.
The police asked Lana what she put the THZ in, and she said his water. He asked how much she put in, and Lana said the whole bottle, and that she just kept squeezing it in.
For some unknown reason, Lana was released from the police station.
Arrest, Trial and Conviction
The day after Lana was released, the police received a call from Lana’s neighbor. She had found a note on Lana’s doorstep. The note contained information about suicide.
The police rushed to Lana’s house. They walked upstairs to Lana’s room, and found her unconscious. She had turned the gas on and took a bunch of pills. Lana was rushed to the hospital, and they were able to stabilize her.
Lana was treated, released and arrested for murder and tampering with a food or drug product.
Lana’s trial began on January 16, 2020. Lana accepted a plea deal on charges of voluntary manslaughter and tampering with a food or drug product.
She insisted that she didn’t try to kill Steve, and that she just wanted to give him diarrhea after the way he abused her. However, Steve’s family and the prosecution believe Lana killed Steve over his money.
The toxicology report also showed that Steve had been drugged for three days. He suffered for those three days, and couldn’t even get out of bed to use the bathroom. He also couldn’t call for help, because Lana took his phone.
Lana was described as the nurse from hell, and she was sentenced to 25 years in prison.
Lana’s mug shot and Steve
Other
Steve Clayton was laid to rest in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, just like he wanted.
FINAL THOUGHTS
I can’t even imagine what this man went through. I couldn’t even imagine someone doing this to someone that they claimed to love. She tortured this man for days, was able to walk out of the police station and given a plea deal. This nurse from hell was actually lucky to be given only 25 years. I wonder why she was given a deal because she confessed to murdering him and not helping him. There are too many of these cases where a nurse ends up becoming a murderer, and this is another one of those stories. It might be worse, because this “patient” was her husband. She promised to love and protect him, and she did the complete opposite.
Sources
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/steve-lana-clayton-eyedrop-medication-homicide-48-hours/
