The Puppet Master

A Woman Is Targeted For Execution. Who Pulled The Strings?

(CBS)  Questioned by prosecutor Al Johnson, Roger Runyon admitted that he was the triggerman on Oct. 14, 1997 and that the primary target was Samuels' ex-wife.

Runyon's testimony made Samuels explode. "I'll meet you in hell, you son of a bitch! I’ll find you one way or the other!!!" he shouted.

After order in the court was restored, one by one, the other alleged co-conspirators take the stand to testify. Eddie "Slim" Stafford, the drug dealer and pimp who was driving the car, says Samuels talked often of killing Heather.

And Geoff Pollock, who worked odd jobs for Samuels, says he was at a meeting where Samuels gave the orders to kill Heather.

"When Ron mentioned he wants his ex-wife taken care of, he made a motion of a gun in his hand," Pollock testifies.

Hugh Estess, the old friend of Samuels, also took the stand.

"Did there come a time when you provided him someone who might do this for him?" the prosecution asks.

"Yes," Estess replies, who says he arranged it all.

The testimony seems to put all the elements of the conspiracy in place.

But Samuels is skeptical. "I think that you could get anybody to say anything if they think they’re not going to go to jail for whatever it is they have pending," he says.

But there’s no getting around phone records the prosecution says link Samuels to Estess and Stafford. "The lynchpin of our case was corroboration through the phone records," says prosecutor Al Johnson.

"And the phone calls ceased after the shooting?" Roberts asks.

"Pretty much," Johnson says.

"After our marriage, Ron changed immediately. He became angry, resentful, moody," says Debbie Love, Samuels' second wife, who tells jurors she was afraid of him. "I was fearful of Ron. He’s very forceful. He’s very domineering, dominating and controlling," she testifies.

And then, Debbie Love makes the prosecution's day.

"What terms would he use when he was describing Heather?" Johnson asks Love.

"That she was a gold digger. That she took his money," Love testifies.

"Did the defendant ever indicate he wished ill of Heather?" Johnson asks.

"Yes, he did," Love replies.

Asked what words he would use, Love testifies, "That bitch should be dead. I wish she was dead. She needs to be dead. Somebody should kill the bitch. We need to get rid of her."

But Samuels says Debbie is lying.

Everyone is telling the same story of rage and revenge and murder for hire. Everyone, that is, except Ron Samuels.

[roscoezzz]

Ron Samuels really is a PUPPET MASTER. It seems that he wanted to control everything, his wives, kids, money and even what people think of him. He convinced his third wife of he is innocence. He even convinces himself that HE CHOSE THE WRONG WOMEN. But, those women loved him, bore his children etc.,
This sounds cliche, but real life and real people aren''t puppets. All because he lost control, didn''t want to be wrong, didn''t want to lose. He ruined so many lives. For 9 years he caused such grief and pain. He deserves to rot in that jail cell.
I admire his ex-wife who says she is happy after all that''s happened to her. She deserves so much more.

[carolcape]

I remember this matter being on before, but it is good to know this man will never get out of jail. He had everything including money. What happens to these people is unreal. Nobody wins in this case. What a tragedy for these people, especially the wife. How can so many people be so evil to do harm to one defenseless person. You think one of them would have had an ounce of goodness in them to turn him in before they killed this woman. God be with her to help her in the future.

[shoyt_2001]

Truth is in the actions, not the words. If the husband really wanted his ex-wife to be okay, then he would have paid child support rather than spending over half a million to deny it. Then he would have paid for her health care needs rather than fighting them.

He does not care about her, but says he does in the hope that people, including his children, will think well of him.

Idiot. He obviously failed in kindergarten when they teach you to play nice and tell the truth. He was probably selling spitballs in the classroom. His thinking has not moved on from those days.

[bickityboo]

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