Dateline: Suspicion in Silver City – 5 harrowing details about Cassy Farrington’s murder explored

Dateline's "Suspicion in Silver City" from 2018 reports on the 2014 murder of 23-year-old Cassy Farrington, a nurse and single mother, who was discovered in the bathtub of her home in Silver City, New Mexico. The show provides step-by-step accounts of the case, including the discovery of the body, trial, and sentencing of her estranged husband, Bradley Farrington, a retired police officer in Silver City.

Dateline, through interviews with investigators, lawyers, and the victim's family, presents the facts of a tragic case marked by domestic violence and a custody battle before the crime. The series focuses on formal investigation and trial, using court transcripts and police files while limiting sensationalism.

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Here are 5 harrowing details about Cassy Farrington’s murder as shown in Dateline

1. Cassy Farrington was dead in her bathtub

Cassy Farrington was discovered on March 24, 2014, face-down and dressed from head to toe, in the bathtub of her family home. Her family was concerned because she had failed to come to work, as attested in police records and reported on Dateline.

Her father and co-worker found the body when they entered the family home. Forced entry was not observed initially. Manual strangulation was found to be the cause of death.

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2. The main suspect was her estranged husband.

Bradley Farrington, Cassy's estranged husband and ex-Silver City Police Department officer, was arrested and charged with her murder. The two had a bitter divorce and custody fight over their young son at the time of her murder.

Dateline explored their stormy relationship and featured testimony from friends and relatives who had complained about Bradley in the past.

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3. Domestic violence was the issue at the forefront of the case

The case of Cassy's murder produced a documented case of domestic violence. Dateline had witnesses present testimony that Cassy complained about her safety during the months before her murder.

The testimony provided was of controlling and explosive behavior from Bradley during their marriage. The abuse history was an integral issue during the trial hearings.

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4. There were no indications of struggle at the scene

Dateline and court documents released the information that Cassy's house did not seem to have been entered through a break-in, and there were no signs of a robbery or break-in. Prosecutors indicated this as evidence that the attacker must have known Cassy and may have even been trusted enough to be welcomed in.

Autopsy also showed a lack of defensive wounds, which supported the prosecution's theory that Cassy was attacked unexpectedly.

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5. Bradley Farrington was convicted and sentenced to life

In 2017, three years later, Bradley Farrington was found guilty of first-degree murder. The jury deliberated on a combination of witness accounts, prior threats, and a timeline built on the investigation. His guilt was later affirmed by the New Mexico Supreme Court.

Dateline quotes reveal that the family of Cassy was relieved that justice had finally been served, but the emotional impact of the case was evident throughout the series.

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Dateline "Suspicion in Silver City" examines the murder of Cassy Farrington in a sobering and educational manner. The show gives viewers a factual and respectable account of a young woman's life lost and the way the legal system handled a difficult case of domestic abuse by methodically retelling the events, the investigation, and the conviction.

Also read: Dateline: Suspicion in Silver City – Who was Cassy Farrington and what happened to her? Details of the 2014 incident, explored