Dateline: Secrets Uncovered - Who is Tom Foley and what do we know about his crimes? Disturbing details of a 2009 homicide, revealed

When Dateline turns its investigative eyes onto a homicide, it often unravels more than just surface-level facts—it exposes the deep ruptures within families, communities, and even the overall system.

In 2009, Coldwater, Michigan, was shocked by the ruthless killing of Darlene “Dar” Foley. Found shot and dead in her own shower, the 41-year-old mother’s death speedily escalated into a legal and emotional rollercoaster ride that engrossed an entire nation.

At the heart of this homicide stood Tom Foley—her husband—who would go from grief-stricken husband to a murder suspect in no time, then from inmate to a man found not guilty.

But even years later, as Dateline looks back at this unsolved mystery, the question remains: Did justice truly prevail, or will the case always remain unsolved?

Hometown hero to murder suspect: The fall of Tom Foley

The Dateline episode draws on a spine-chilling picture of the man once seen as a loyal spouse and a father. Tom Foley was not just Dar’s husband—he was a well-known face in Coldwater, a man whom a lot many looked up to and respected.

However, this status symbol changed the moment he dialled 911 on that February day in 2009. According to Foley, he came back home to find Dar lying dead and cold in the bathroom.

The graphic scene was perplexing—blood all over the place, a shattered window signifying forced entry. Yet soon, the story shifted.

Police swiftly turned their attention and eyes towards Tom. Scepticism increased when discrepancies rose, and investigators narrowed it down to one possible motivation: a life insurance policy and an unsteady marriage known only behind closed doors.

Investigators came across shotgun shells in the basement—strangely akin to what was thought to have killed Dar. But what Dateline underlines isn’t just the case itself—it’s how quickly someone can fall from grace, and how the justice system can shape a case from a mix of purpose and speculation.

The second trial: Evidence, doubt, and acquittal

Tom Foley’s first trial concluded with a conviction. He was sentenced to life in prison, successfully condemned by both the courtroom as well as the public opinion. But Dateline delves deeper, looking at the cracks in the case that led to an intense legal U-turn.

A witness who saw a white car hurrying away from the Foley house—one that wasn’t Tom’s—became a curving bend to the case. The defense also mounted evidence of credit card fraud linked to their home shortly after Dar’s death. Could this have been a home-based invasion that took a dark and deadly turn?

In 2011, Foley was found not guilty in a second trial, after new verification and evidence. Yet, as Dateline unveils, a release doesn’t necessarily mean a clean slate…or does it?

Despite the legal verdict, Dateline highlights that Dar’s family remains resolute in their trust that Tom is guilty. The courtroom may have let go of him, but Dar’s family hasn’t.

Life after the verdict: A man still chased by shadows

Though Tom Foley is by law a free man, the phantom of his wife’s homicide still wanders around and above his head. Dateline catches on to the emotional stress this case has on him and his son, Heath.

Now bringing up his son alone, Tom has co-authored a book—The Ultimate Sacrifice—to bring out his side of the story and to appeal for a reinvestigation of the case. He maintains that the real killer is still out there and has faith in the credit card fraud and murder being linked and connected.

But the public stance remains split into two parts. The Michigan State Police have closed the case, self-assured in their answers. Dar’s relatives, on the other hand, disapprove of Tom’s book as they believe it serves only to manipulate the public. Her family also believes that Tom exploits her death through his book.

And yet, Dateline gives Tom a platform to regain his voice and encourage the public to think about the possibility that the truth is still buried under years of doubt and silence.

Dateline doesn’t offer well-ordered endings—it revives cuts and questions that many would favour left buried.

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Tom Foley’s story is more than just a homicide mystery; it’s a multifaceted look at how misfortune, justice, and doubt interconnect.

Though not guilty, Tom still lives under a dark cloud, and Dar’s murder remains a wound that time has yet to make better.

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