By LARRY BALLWAHN | Wilton
The subtitle for “Bone Deep” is “An inside look into the case that inspired the podcast and tv mini-series “The Thing About Pam: Untangling the Betsy Faria Murder Case.” It’s billed as a true story.
Russ Faria was involved in a role-playing board game that he shared with friends every Tuesday night. When he arrived home, he found his wife, Betsy Faria, sprawled on the floor with knife wounds and with a knife still in her throat. His immediate reaction, in addition to shock and grief, was that she had committed suicide. She was taking chemotherapy for cancer and had threatened to kill herself in the past. He called 911 and shared his suicide belief.
Upon their arrival, the police immediately knew it was not suicide. They suspected Russ, and he was questioned as a suspect, although he did not immediately realize this. Even so, he soon found himself in jail.
Russ’s cousin, Mary Anderson, was determined to get Russ a defense attorney because she knew that Russ didn’t/couldn’t kill his wife. Many years ago, she had worked with Joel Schwartz, and now he was considered one of the best defense attorneys in the area. He agreed to take the case. When Schwartz talked to Russ, he repeated what he had said repeatedly to the police, “I did not kill my wife. I did not do this. I could not do this. I loved my wife.” Joel Schwartz would wait for the evidence.
Russ spent several weeks in the county jail, waiting for the June 26, 2012, trial. The most damning testimony against him, besides the police officers, came from Pam Hupp, a friend of Betsy’s and former co-worker. She claimed that Betsy was so afraid of Russ that she had changed a life-insurance policy from Russ as the beneficiary to her. And that Betsy had also sent her a letter asking her to explain her fears to the police if something happened to her. Despite Joel Schwartz’s best efforts, Pam’s testimony and that provided by the police convinced the jury, and Russ was found guilty.
Joel Schwartz did not believe Russ was guilty, and further, he didn’t understand why others had not been investigated as thoroughly as Russ had, especially Pam Hupp. Schwartz had attempted to force a mistrial based on statements made by the prosecuting attorney and by decisions made by the judge. His attempts were denied. NBC’s “Dateline” did a broadcast regarding the Betsy Faria murder and Russ’s conviction on Feb. 14, 2014. Russ had been sentenced to life in prison for the 2011 murder of his wife.
As an experienced defense attorney, Joel Schwartz did not believe that Russ Faria had received a fair trial. Having acquired additional information regarding Pam Hupp. he filed an appeal: “… if evidence discovered after the trial could have resulted in an acquittal.” The result was a new trial for Russ after 14 months in state prison following two years in the Lincoln County Jail.
“Bone Deep” details the second trial, the results, and some surprising details involved in the story. It also offers more concerning “Dateline.”