Dateline: Deadly Devotion - 5 harrowing details about Capt. Lynn Armstrong Reister's murder, revisited 

The murder of Captain Lynn Reister, featured in one of the episodes of Dateline, titled Deadly Devotion, leaves the entire military community and the nation in shock. A 30-year-old U.S. Army Captain, stationed at Fort Bliss in El Paso, Texas, was found murdered in her bedroom with her throat slashed.

Lynn was also six months pregnant at the time of the incident and was a mother to a 4-year-old son. According to the Dateline interviews, her family and friends remember her as a strong, inspiring lady who had also served overseas, including in Saudi Arabia, in air defense artillery. They remember her as a warm and deeply dedicated woman; therefore, the incident was a complete shock and compelled them to think: who could dare to do such an act?

Eventually, it came out as an orchestrated crime committed by her husband, Roger Reister, most likely for Lynn’s insurance money. Read on to know 5 harrowing details about the case as shown on Dateline.

---

Here are the 5 harrowing details about Capt. Lynn Armstrong Reister's murder, as per Dateline

On the day of the murder, Lynn's farewell party was scheduled as she was set to begin a new Army position. But she never showed up at the party and was eventually found murdered in her room. Her husband, Roger, discovered the body and called 911 in a panicked state, as per the Dateline episode.

“I just got home. My wife is dead,” Roger said to the 911 dispatcher.

While Lynn had fought enemies abroad, investigators quickly suspected her killer was someone close to home. Here are the 5 harrowing details of the case.

---

Lynn and Roger had a broken marriage

One crucial piece of information that surfaced was their broken marriage. Some cited Lynn's challenging job, which caused the couple to live apart for months, as one reason. Lynn had discovered her husband's affair with another woman and had even visited her to discuss the situation.

She remained committed to the family for her kids. When Roger insisted on letting his problematic brother, Rodney, live with them, she also wrote to a Florida court and took on Rodney's legal responsibility. This is how Rodney started to live with them in Texas.

The murder was a contract killing — orchestrated by her husband

While Lynn was deployed in Saudi Arabia, her husband, Roger Reister, was seen partying with teenagers, hosting alcohol-fueled gatherings, and engaging in behavior far removed from the family man he pretended to be. The woman with whom Roger was having an affair was 19 and also got pregnant with his child. Roger also believed that Lynn was having an affair overseas.

Rodney’s bloody palm print on her arm sealed the case

The killer entered the home using a key, suggesting that it was not the work of an outsider but of someone close to Lynn. The turning point in the investigation came when forensic investigators found Rodney’s bloody palm print on Lynn’s arm. Rodney, when confronted, confessed to the crime.

Roger presented a strong alibi for his absence during the day and time, but the evidence showed he had orchestrated the murder. He provided the weapon, set aside a change of clothes for his brother, and coerced him into committing the killing of someone who had stood for him in court and helped him.

Roger had Lynn killed for her insurance money

The investigating authorities, as per the evidence, speculated that Roger decided to kill Lynn for her insurance money. He would easily get full custody of their son and the freedom to continue partying and start a new relationship with the teenage woman he was having an affair with.

He also feared military punishment and jail if his affair was exposed — all of which fueled his premeditated plan to have Lynn killed. Instead of facing divorce or consequences, he chose murder as a way out. Six people from Roger’s social circle told police they knew he wanted Lynn dead and that he had also asked them to kill her, as shown in Dateline.

The punishment

Rodney Reister was tried as a civilian, found guilty of capital murder, and sentenced to life in prison. Roger was found guilty of soliciting murder and received four life sentences, as per Dateline.

However, Rodney never agreed to testify against his brother, even after confessing his crime to the police. Why Rodney chose to do the same adds another layer of complexity to the case. It could be out of manipulation or loyalty toward the family.

Roger still claims that he is innocent:

“I love my wife. We were trying to build a future together.”

But the forensic evidence, multiple witness testimonies, and even his own brother’s statement paint a very different picture, as explored in Dateline.

---

Follow SoapCentral for more such stories.