Killer's 'Dramatic' Cover-Up Couldn't Fool Detectives

Did you have something to do with his. death? >> No. >> We're past that point. This is called. damage control. Okay. We know that you. were involved. You shot him with the 22. >> I didn't. >> Yes, you did. Right in the top of the. head. >> I didn't. >> Okay. I've talked to killers before. I've talked to straight up people that. shot several people. They at least have. the balls to own it. And you you don't. you don't. An Ohio woman thought she'd. plotted the perfect cover up to the. gruesome murder of her lover. She shot.

herself in the leg. She frantically. called 911. She claimed she'd walked in. on two men burglarizing their apartment, insisting it must have been them who. murdered her boyfriend and wrapped up. his body. But a masterful interrogation. quickly revealed the disturbing truth. We are showing you the moment Deborah. Frasier realized she was caught. Welcome. to Sidebar, presented by Law and Crime. I'm Jesse Weber. Now, 37year-old Deborah Lynn Frasier of.

Zanesville, Ohio, is spending the rest. of her life in prison after admitting to. charges of murder with a firearm. specification, tampering with evidence, and gross abuse of a corpse. And. according to Muskingham County. prosecutors, she tried to cover up her. crimes by faking an armed home invasion, even shooting herself in the leg. Now, the prosecutor's office called her crime. dramatic but unsuccessful. I think. that's a appropriate characterization as. we go through what happened here. So,

Zaynesville police, they were suspicious. from the very start when Frraasier. called 911 on August 10th, 2023 to. report that she'd come home to check on. her on again off-again boyfriend, Tom. Wadell. And instead, she said she found. two unknown men inside the apartment. >> What's going on? They're saying someone me apartment. It. was unlocked and there's stuff. everywhere and I can't find my boyfriend. and his trucks here and Okay. I Okay,

ma'am. Are you inside the apartment? Are you inside the apartment? I need you. to back out of the apartment if you are. Come back out of the apartment if you're. in there. >> Okay. All right. Come on back out of the apartment. Are. you in the hallway now? >> I'm trying to quietly get there. I don't. know if someone's still here. >> Okay, just Okay, I'm going to stay on. the phone with you, but I need you to.

back out of that apartment right now. Oh, no. I see someone. Are you out? All units, I have an active home. invasion. 3231 Sandhurst Drive. 3231.

Sandhurst Drive. >> Active home invasion. >> Oh my god. >> Okay. Ma'am, what? He's what? >> I've been shot. >> Okay. You have or he has? >> I have. I haven't even been able to find. him yet. >> Okay. Did you get shot? >> Okay. All right. Miam, who shot you?

>> Someone. I don't know. I'm in a lot of. pain right now. >> Units. I have shots fired. Shots fired. One person shot. >> So, EMTs, they rush to the scene and. they find Frasier with that gunshot. wound. They take her to the hospital. And according to a news release from. prosecutors, quote, "All officers on. shift with the Zanesville Police. Department responded and that is when. they found Tom's body." By the way, we. definitely wanted to bring you this. story. There are so many important. points to address here and I want to. thank our sponsor, Upsite, because it's.

with their support that we're able to. produce an episode like this. Now, if. you don't know what it is, it's awesome. Upsite is great. It is a free app that. gets you cash back when you buy daily. essentials. I pump my gas, I can use. Upsite. Go out to lunch, I can use. Upside. get something at a convenience. store, I can use upside. And why not get. cash back when I do all these things, right? This is real actual cash back. It's money that appears in your Upside. app that you transfer right into your. bank account. So, once you have the free. upside app, you claim an offer for. whatever you're buying on Upside. You. pay as usual using a debit or credit. card. You follow the steps on the app,

you get paid. So, to find out how much. you can earn, click the link in the. description to download Upside or scan. the QR code on screen, but make sure to. use our promo code sidebar because. you'll get an extra 25 cents back on. every gallon on your first tank of gas. The statement of facts of the crime says. officers cleared the house to ensure. there were no additional asalants inside. where patrolman Logan Miller discovered. the body of Thomas Wadell in the bedroom. wrapped in trash bags, duct tape, and a. comforter. At the scene, parts of the. story immediately brought questions.

Wadell's apartment was wellkept and. orderly. There were no indicators of. drug use or drug sales, which accompany. home invasions in almost all. circumstances. The ransacking described. by Frraasier was closer to superficial. messmaking. Officers found photographs. of Frraasier and Wadell on the floor. torn up. Nothing of value appeared to be. missing, including numerous firearms, all items likely to be stolen in a home. invasion. See the problem immediately. And when officers reviewed security. video from multiple nearby homes and.

businesses, they didn't see anyone. fleeing from Tom's apartment. Authorities would eventually learn that. the day before August 9th, Frasier stood. behind Tom as he sat in his recliner, aimed a 22 caliber pistol at the back of. his head, and fired, executing him in. his own living room. And it wouldn't be. until the next afternoon that she called. 911 to report this fictitious home. invasion. During their investigation, officers who searched Frasier's iPhone. uncovered something quite shocking, to.

say the least. She had another long-term. on-again off-again boyfriend, a man. named John Anderson. According to the. statement of facts, quote, "Upon. learning that Frraasier had another. boyfriend, detectives Mitchell and Dval. located Anderson, who was shocked to. discover that his on-again off-again. girlfriend of 10 years was living with. another man. Anderson had been told by. Frraasier that she was a living nurse. and that she was caring for Wadell, whom. she had falsely told Anderson was a. dementia patient.

What? Now, as we often see in these. criminal cases, this might not be a. shock to you, the internet searches, right? Frasier's internet search history. came back and it came back to bite her. Court documents indicate that these are. just some of her searches, like worst. place to get hit in the head, what does. 22 ammo look like, how to unlock the. hammer on a revolver, how to know what. ammo your gun uses, gun safety, how to. load a revolver pistol, and crucially,

she also looked up how long does GSR. stay on skin, you know, gunshot residue. So Frraasier's hands, they did test. positive for GSR gunshot residue. So. detectives say she ended up changing her. story. Detectives interviewed Frraasier. from her hospital bed and let her paint. herself into a corner by telling them. again what had happened. So then she. recounts that she wanted some space from. Tom. So she called up John Anderson to. pick her up, telling detectives he was a. friend. >> So I just walked down that way just.

because sometimes walking helps clear my. head. Well, I definitely understand. that. Going for a nice walk always helps. out. How far did you walk and where did. you walk to that day? >> Let's see. I walked. kind of past the nursing home thing that. >> by the oaks. I think that's what it's. called. >> I think so. Okay. >> And then I walked through I cut through. the field and then I went right down.

like a little alleyway type. >> road. >> Mhm. And then it wasn't until later that I. called Johnny Anderson. >> Frasier spent several minutes winding. her way through a story about where she. and John drove over the next few hours, naming a popular hiking trail they. visited. Anderson, as well as phone GPS. information would confirm the locations, but Anderson said Frraasier was acting. off, claiming she seemed very upset, but. refused to talk about what was going on.

and went off by herself several times as. they were out walking. I had tried to. contact Tom. I texted him. I called him. And I never heard back, which was weird. cuz normally he's pretty good about. getting up to me. >> Okay. >> And so. Johnny and I took a walk at Blackhan. Gorge. >> Okay. >> And um I decided to just I want to go.

back to the apartment. I was getting a. little worried about Tom. I hadn't heard. back from him. So, I got out and I. noticed trucks Tom's truck was still in. the parking lot. >> That red one. >> Yeah. >> Okay. >> And Tom never really goes anywhere. without his truck. He's always one of. those. He drives himself or he doesn't. really go. >> Mhm. >> So, I w I walked in. I saw the cleaning. lady. She was just wrapping up.

>> Okay. Um, and I walked to the door and I. noticed it was unlocked. >> Okay. >> And. >> yeah, I think I might have I thought you. before you said that you had to unlock. the door, >> but I I could have been mistaken. >> And so I just figured Tom forgot to lock. it. Okay. >> At some point. So, I went in and that's when I noticed.

that the whole apartment was tossed. upside down. >> Okay. >> And. I wasn't really sure what was going on. My mind was going in just a million. different directions. >> Okay. >> Um I saw that the light in the spare. bedroom was on. I saw the light in the. bedroom was on. And I decided to call 911. >> Okay. because I was worried that someone. had tried to rob us or what whatever was. going on. And I didn't see Tom right.

away. >> Okay. >> And so I was making my way back to. the bedroom, but I glanced where Tom's. phone normally lays. It wasn't there. I. glanced. in the uh spare bedroom where he usually. puts all his stuff like his wallet, his. everything, >> and it wasn't there. And I was kind of. like I was thinking maybe he stepped. out. Maybe he went with family or. something. >> Okay. Does he have family up here.

>> in Cincinnati? >> Okay. >> And so. I hadn't even made it to the bedroom. yet. And. there was two guys mask who came out. And at that time, the 911 operator was. telling me to back into the hall. >> But I was so scared. I bet I kept backing up and eventually.

the one asalent. pulled out a gun and got close enough to. me and fired it off and they both. bolted. Mhm. >> Where they went to after they bolted out. the door. I don't know where they went. to cuz at that point I was shot and I. was in pain. >> Where where did they come out of? >> The back bedroom. >> And when the detectives brought up the. GSR Frasier told them that, you know, wait, actually, you know what? She'd. reached for the gun as the man.

threatened her with it. Yeah. >> I just tried to keep the gun away from. me. I'm. >> How did you do that? I grabbed a hold of. it and I was trying to put point it away. from me. cuz I didn't want to get shot and I was. scared. >> How did you grab a hold of it? >> From what I remember, I grabbed it at. the bottom and I grabbed around the. whatever he called the long piece. >> Did you do it with each hand?

So, which hand of yours touched the guy? Both. Yeah. This one touched where you. hold it. >> Mhm. So you touched the handle. >> Yeah. >> What about your left hand? >> It touched whatever that long piece is. >> The barrel. >> where the thing spins. >> Oh, the cylinder. >> I I don't know how.

>> like you're saying the thing. I know. what you're talking about. the the round. part where the bullets are at, >> right? >> And at this point in the interview, Frasier started to trip up on her own. timeline. At one point, she claimed she. hadn't returned to the apartment between. the time she left and the time she. returned to find the intruders inside. But then she said that actually she had. gone back to get her PlayStation. >> He asked me if he did if I just want to. be dropped off at the apartment. And I. told him, you know, I just asked him,

can we just go back to his place and. just like play some games? And. >> why didn't you want to go back to the. apartment? >> I just figured a night away was, you know, cuz I like to play video games. and Tom doesn't. So, I like to play. video games with Johnny and other people. who are kind of into that kind of thing. Did you have your own video games you. took or does he have the games or how'd. that work out? >> I have a PlayStation 4 and he has an.

Xbox. >> Did you take your PlayStation over. there? >> Yeah. >> Okay. But where's it at now? >> It's still at his place. >> Okay. >> And then yesterday, um, I got him up around noon. >> Okay. Um, and then we went to Blackhand. Gorge and we walked for a little while. and I decided I wanted to go back to the. apartment cuz like I said,

>> whose idea was it to do to Blackhand. Gorge? >> I had asked them either Dylan Dam or. Blackhand Gorge because I knew they had. a good walking path. >> Okay. So, when you left on Wednesday at. around 400 p.m. to take a walk, did you. ever go back to the apartment until you. got shot? I popped in briefly to get my backpack. just so I could put the PlayStation in. it, but that was. >> When was that?

>> Uh, it was before 4:30. >> Oh, on Wednesday. >> Yeah. >> So, you left at 4 to take a little walk. You came back and then before 4:30 you. grabbed your backpack. Okay, that makes sense. But you and then you never returned. after that. >> So no, you didn't. >> No, I didn't. >> How was the apartment when you went back. to get your uh backpack? >> Everything was fine. There was nothing.

out of place. Everything seemed to be in. order. >> Okay. >> So, as you can imagine, the detective is. starting to get visibly frustrated with. the story that Frasier is trying to. sell. So. whenever we catch these people, what do. you think should happen to them? >> I think they should pay for the crime. I. mean, I didn't do anything to anyone to get. deserve to be shot. And. >> and I don't know why anyone would.

tear up another person's place like. that. >> I mean, what what's the what punishment. do you think that they should receive? I mean, that's what we try to gauge. So, when we let the prosecutor's office know. on how you feel and what uh what do you. think should happen, you know, that lets. them know up front. >> what they need to aim for. I mean, you. think they should spend life in prison? You think they should be sentenced to. death? I mean, anything like that? >> Well, I don't know how Tom feels about.

it, but I feel that they should at least. go to jail for a long time. shooting. someone, I could have been killed. >> When was the last time you ever fired a. gun? >> Last time I a fired a gun. >> When I was wrestling, trying to get the. gun pointed away from me, I had a hold. of it when it went off. >> Now, Frasier supposedly doesn't know at. this point that Tom is dead. So, I want. you to take a look at her reaction when.

they break the news. >> What do you think happened to Tom? >> I honestly don't know. I even tried. calling today. Does Tom have a cell. phone? >> Yes. >> What kind of phone does he have? >> Um, it's like an Android. >> Do you know his phone number? >> 7406071. 1160. >> Okay. Uh, did you walk in the back bedroom? >> No, they came out before I could even. make it back there. Why? Okay. Well, Tom.

was shot and killed. Sorry, you can take a minute. >> So, the detective leading the interview. lets Frasier cry into her hospital. blanket for a little while longer and. then cuts to the chase. >> All right, Debbie, let's talk. Let's.

talk about this. Okay. Sorry. Look at look at me. Who do you. Who do you think killed him? I. >> don't know. >> Let me ask you this. And I'm going to ask you to be 100%. honest with me. Did you have something. to do with his death? >> No. I would. >> Okay. So, let me let let me explain this. to you, Deborah, and I'm going to be as.

straight as possible. I've probably been a cop now for about. 20 years. This isn't the first murder. investigation that I've ever handled. It's not going to be the last. When we start our investigation, we look. at every angle. We look into every. possible situation, possible scenario, and everything that you tell us, we go. and follow up with. Okay. Would you have. an issue if we looked inside of your.

phone? Okay. Do you have a password on it? What's your password? And it's all right. I can tell you what. it is. It's 6813. We did a search warrant on your phone. Okay. So, that means we knew what what. you searched for and what you did and. where you've been. So, on the night of. Wednesday, something happened.

I don't know exactly what happened in. that apartment between you and Tom, but. I know that you're the one that's. responsible for his death. >> I'm not. >> Why are you searching? How long does. gunshot residue stay on my hands? Yesterday morning at 8:00 in the. morning. >> Listen, you did. >> I did.

Debbie search records. How long does GSR. stay on skin? Yesterday morning at 8:16. in the morning. Lake County, Florida court records. Skinium County court records. I'm. telling you, we already know the. questions today or the answers to the. questions we're asking you. Here's your. chance to get your side of the story. out. If there was something going on. that. caused this, you need to tell us right. now. But you have more knowledge than.

what you're saying. There was no home. invasion robbery. Okay? There was. absolutely none. So, you've already locked yourself into the. biggest lie. Here's your chance to. unwind it and tell the truth because you. only have one shot at this. And here's. your shot to tell us what really. happened so that we can look into it. Was there something going on between you. and him? I mean, listen, the no stuff is out the window.

Like, we already know. We're past that. point. This is called damage control. Okay? We know that you were involved. You shot him with the 22. >> I didn't. >> Yes, you did. Right in the top of the. head. >> I didn't. >> Okay. Is any of your DNA going to be on. that duct tape that wrapped him up? on. the plastic bags. >> I've handled it on tape, but I didn't. wrap. >> No, I'm talking about the ones that. wrapped him up. >> Listen, listen, listen, listen, listen. We're We're beyond I don't know. Right. now, another detective uh is looking.

into some other stuff right now. So, what is old boy going to say? What's. Johnny Anderson going to say? Is his. story going to match yours? >> It should. >> Because it should. That's not a very. good answer. I didn't do it. >> Who did it then? >> I love Tom. >> You have knowledge of it. >> I love Tom. >> If you didn't shoot him, who did? Because you know. >> I don't know. >> Why? Why are you searching? Why do is. there GS? How do I get GSR off my hands? How long does it stay on my skin? Why.

did you search that? Why did you search it? Tell me. Give me. a good explanation on why you searched 5. hours before this robbery ever happened. When you never shot a gun before, why. are you searching? How long does GSR. stay on my skin? You tell me that. And. an I don't know answer is not good. enough. Listen, >> you know, when you call 911, we record. the calls. You're the only person in that. apartment. The audio gets enhanced. We.

can tell if people are running out and. struggling. We look at cameras in the. neighborhood. There's nothing. Your. story is so far bogus. If something. happened in that apartment, you need to. tell us now because listen, you already. know what happened. If you're going to. sit here and lie, how how do you think. that makes you look? That doesn't make. you look good at all, honey. Like you're. like you're making it sound like you're. a bad person. Like if something happened. or if somebody else did something and. you're trying to cover for him, then now. would be the time to say it because the.

only thing you're doing is making. yourself look like a monster by not. telling the truth. >> I didn't do it. >> Who did it then? >> I don't know. >> Listen. I don't know isn't isn't going. to fly. You know this. You know this. Like I'm not trying to give you a hard. time. I'm not trying to to bully you. Uh. I'm just telling you know from how I. know how these things work, what we. found out. what's what we're going to find out. We. got multiple storage horns out right now.

for different things. Uh different type. of stuff that's going to just it's going. to the news is going to get tighter. Okay. and you and the only thing that. you can explain is I don't know. Okay. And that that doesn't look good. So, here's your chance to say. what happened and why it happened. >> And where do we go from here? Well, Frasier then changes her story again. Realizing that the police have her. search history, she tries to claim that. any research she did on guns was related.

to thoughts of selfharm, not harming. anyone else. Anything I looked up in. regards to that. was so. I was setting up for my suicide. >> Do you really think that anybody would. believe that? Honestly, >> that. >> like you're trying to you're just. digging your hole deeper, girl. You. really are. You have a one chance to. come clean and act like you're a little.

bit remorseful. I don't see any remorse. Do you? >> Why would you care if you your hands. have GSR on them if you're dead? >> It was just a curious question. >> So, here's the fact of the matter. There's nobody that runs out of that. apartment building. >> All right, we know that your DNA is on. the gun. The gun that was used to kill. him. Okay? And the gun that you shot.

yourself in the leg with to try to cover. this up. You said that you grabbed it. with both hands. How the fuck you still. holding your phone? >> On the floor. >> No, you come on. Listen, >> we we've all heard the 911, too. >> You You've been You've been thinking. what what you're telling me now is how. this came out. This must have been. something you've been planning. >> No, >> this must have been something that you. you did with a little bit of thinking to. try to get out of this mess. You thought. about it. What's he done to piss you off. that so bad that you want to kill him?

>> I did. I never thought about killing. him. >> Okay. But the fact of the matter is the. evidence. will show that you did. Whether whether. you ever want to be accountable for your. actions, that's up to you. Like I'm trying to. tell you that. remorse goes a long way in trying to. start the healing process for people's. families, for.

people that might have cared about him. and also for you inside. >> because ultimately. >> there's one person that you're going to. have to answer to in the end and ain't. nobody here on earth. >> I care about him. >> No, you don't sit here and tell me you. care about him. >> I do. you you don't care about him. If. you can do what you did to him and then. cover it up and then try to wrap him up. and then sit here and not not be. accountable for what you know about what.

happened. It's like that's like. pretty pretty bad. Like I'm not going to. sit here and lie to you. Like I've. talked to killers before. I've talked to. straight up people that's shot several. people. They at least have the balls to. own it. You You don't You don't. >> I didn't kill him. >> If that's the case, then why'd you try. to clean it up? >> I didn't try to clean anything up. >> There's hair in the trash bag that you.

covered his feet up that you put his. feet in. >> Hair. >> Okay. Your hair is inside of this. They. went to the autopsy today. It's your. It's going to come back. Your hair. >> I mean, we can wait. We can wait until. the DNA comes out and or you can just. try to clear it up right now. It is what. it is. It's you're putting yourself so. far behind the eightball as far as why. this happened. Like. you're deny deny and lying that you. wouldn't do anything. So when it comes. to the time you're going to be like I. need a better story because I am really. screwed because they do have the.

evidence. They weren't with me and. you're you've painted yourself into this. corner right now. That's why I'm telling. you you only have one chance to be 100%. honest with us. And I can tell you, you. ain't been honest. Not even the closest. All right. So, your hair is in the duct. tape. Okay. From where he was wrapped. up. I mean, it doesn't. >> How does that happen? And then and then. uh I mean, did you put the bag over his face.

because you couldn't look at him anymore. and see what you done? >> I didn't cover him up. >> Okay. So, >> you're going to say that you you don't. think that hair is going to come back to. you? I don't know. I've been around those. trash bags that duct tape. >> Listen, >> not out of a roll. >> Yeah. >> We don't When. >> Not inside the bag. You got to open the. bag. >> Yeah. >> You don't get hair on duct tape at. Walmart. I mean, I I bought a lot of. duct tape in my life, but I've never.

bought any comes preacked with hair, especially your hair. So, >> I didn't do it. Well, the I didn't do it. story. That ain't going to work. Charging you. with murder, which is a. unclassified felony where you spend life. in prison. Felonious assault, which is. F2, tampering with evidence, gun specs, which is mandatory time on top of any.

conviction. So, you'll get life plus. whatever gun spec time. domestic. violence. Uh, and your bond's going to. be $2 million. Any other questions for us? All right. Enjoy your stay here. >> March 18th, 2024, Frasier pleaded. guilty. She pleaded guilty to murder. with a firearm specification, tampering. with evidence, gross abuse of a corpse, and she was sentenced to spend the rest. of her life behind bars. And in a.

statement after her guilty plea, Muskingham County Assistant Prosecuting. attorney John Little praised the. investigation, saying, quote, "I think. the public would be surprised to know. the horsepower we have in terms of. investigating crimes in this county. This is a rockolid investigation by a. seasoned detective and a detective. bureau that is firing on all cylinders. I'm proud to be a part of this. prosecution and I know assistant. prosecuting attorney Anderson would say. the same." What a story. That's all we. have for you right now here on Sidebar. Everybody, thank you so much for joining.

us. And as always, please subscribe on. YouTube, Apple Podcast, Spotify, wherever you should get your podcasts. I'm Jesse Weber. I'll speak to you next. time. [Music].