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The Bathtub Mystery, or NBC Dateline’s season 19, episode 59, covered the mysterious death of Sarah, Ryan Widmer’s 24-year-old wife. The case and all related details were featured by Dateline. This story captivated true crime fans around the world.
The case started when Sarah's lifeless body was found in the couple's bathtub. Ryan Widmer, then 27, called 911 quickly to report his wife. Although it seemed straightforward at first, the case gradually became more complicated. It also drew significant public attention.
The Dateline: Bathtub Mystery episode, released in 2011, still remains an intriguing puzzle even after a decade. Here's the timeline of the case.
Dateline: The Bathtub Mystery - A complete timeline of the Ryan Widmer case
April 2008
Sarah and Ryan Widmer married and moved into their house in Ohio. They appeared to be the perfect, happy couple. Ryan, then 27, worked as a sports marketer, while Sarah, 24, was a dental hygienist.
August 11, 2008
A typical day turned into a catastrophe when Ryan discovered Sarah’s unresponsive body in the bathtub of their house. Ryan dialed 911 and said,
"my wife...she fell asleep in the bathtub, I think. I was downstairs, I just came up here and she was laying face down in the bathtub.”
However, when the police arrived at the scene, they found that Sarah’s hair was only wet. Her body was dry, and even the floor was dry. This immediately raised concern, and Ryan Widmer became the main suspect in the case. In the Dateline episode, the autopsy confirmed that Sarah had indeed drowned.
March 2009
2009 marked Ryan Widmer’s first trial. However, the conviction was later overturned amid suspicions of juror tampering. Additionally, Sarah’s health issues were cited as a factor in her death during the trial.
May 2010
Ryan Widmer's second trial took place. During this trial, the jury was unable to reach a verdict. Despite extended hours of deliberation, they could not agree on a decision.
January 2011
The case of Dateline: The Bathtub Mystery took a new turn in 2011 when a new witness testified against Ryan Widmer. This witness, Jennifer Crew, claimed that Ryan called her on October 26, 2009. During the call, Ryan was distraught and crying. He reportedly confessed to killing his wife.
Crew also said she emailed Ryan after the Dateline episode aired. However, the defense dismissed all her claims. The trial continued for another fourteen days, and ultimately, Ryan was sentenced to a prison term of fifteen years to life.
July 30, 2025
After ten years in prison, Ryan Widmer was denied parole. In an interview with The Enquirer, Ryan Widmer’s lawyer, Michele Berry-Godsey, states,
“We’re very disappointed in the parole board’s decision. Justice isn’t being served. If anyone should ever be paroled, it’s Ryan Widmer. The board takes the position that everyone is guilty if they’re in prison. If an inmate says he’s innocent it backfires. They want you to say, 'I’m sorry. I did it.' But because Ryan is innocent, he’s a sitting duck to get bounced by the parole board. It’s a sad day.”
Widmer will have another chance for parole in 2030.
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