Reuschel vs. Reuschel: Was a Florida man’s violent confrontation together with his spouse prompted by his daughter’s high-end marriage ceremony?

[This story originally aired on April 4, 2020. It was updated on February 20, 2021.]

When police have been known as to the upscale Gainesville, Florida, house of Mike and Sue Reuschel within the early morning hours of February 3, 2018, they discovered the couple stabbed and bleeding.

Mike instructed cops an intruder had crept into their home and attacked them. However when Sue awoke from surgical procedure for her life-threatening in juries, she gave police a special story—saying Mike was her true attacker.

The motive? Prosecutors say Sue instructed Mike that evening that she wished a divorce, and he tried to kill her to keep away from having to separate his multimillion greenback fortune along with her.

“This case is about … the facility of cash,” says prosecutor David Byron. “It is concerning the energy of want for management.”

Mike and his protection declare Sue was an abusive spouse who was usually in battle with Mike over his daughter Caroline — and Caroline’s costly marriage ceremony solely made issues worse.

“There isn’t any manner on God’s inexperienced earth that my father would … stab anybody,” says Caroline Reuschel. “By no means in a single million years would I believe that my marriage ceremony could be the catalyst for all of this.”

So, what actually occurred that evening?

AN ATTACK

Peter Van Sant: The place have been you and the way did you be taught that your father on February third, 2018, had been arrested?

Caroline Reuschel: I used to be in Chicago with my husband. And I acquired … an incoming name on my cellular phone and it was a recording that mentioned, “An inmate from the Alachua County Jail has known as you.”

Minutes later, the cellphone rang once more. Caroline Reuschel shortly answered and heard the voice she’d recognized her whole life.  

Caroline Reuschel: And he mentioned, “Caroline …it’s a must to get me out of right here … You want to name my lawyer.” And I dropped to the sidewalk [crying] and I simply sat on the sidewalk.

The occasions resulting in the arrest of Mike Reuschel started to unwind very early that morning after he known as police.

911 OPERATOR: Inform me precisely what occurred?

MIKE REUSCHEL: I do not know. Somebody’s in the home and the following factor I do know I get up subsequent to my spouse and I am bleeding.

Mike reported that he and his spouse Sue had been stabbed by an intruder inside their house in an upscale part of Gainesville.

OFFICER: So, you are combating with the topic after which he simply ran off, you managed to scare him off.

MIKE REUSCHEL: Yeah, I assume.

Sue’s accidents have been life threatening and, as medics rushed to save lots of her, Detective David Visconti was known as to the scene.

Det. David Visconti | Alachua County Sheriff’s Workplace: [driving with Peter Van Sant]: There was no pressured entry initially noticed by any of our deputies.

Peter Van Sant: No damaged window, no knocked down door. Nothing like that in any respect?

Det. David Visconti: No, sir.

Nonetheless, Visconti had little doubt that one thing horrible had occurred inside that home.

 Det. David Visconti: There was most actually a battle … There was an enormous quantity of blood across the mattress that was situated on the wall of the bed room …

However general, the scene was lacking one thing, Visconti mentioned, and he didn’t imagine a violent intruder had been there. 

Det. David Visconti: Usually, we’ll see many issues — knocked over, furnishings, objects damaged, indentations within the partitions, within the drywall.

Peter Van Sant: Did you see any of that?

Det. David Visconti: None of these issues have been current.

What’s extra, the Reuschels had safety cameras overlaying the skin the home.

Det. David Visconti: The intruder allegedly fleeing the home from that course is one thing that may have been captured on video.

The veteran detective was changing into suspicious. Then, hours later, Sue awoke from surgical procedure and broke this case broad open — telling detectives that the story about an intruder attacking them was a lie. She claimed that Mike concocted the entire thing, and that he was her true assailant. Mike was arrested and charged with tried homicide.

Didi Hoffman: … he might by no means have completed something like this.

Mike’s ex-wife Didi Hoffman was incredulous.

Didi Hoffman: I’ve recognized Michael James Reuschel since I used to be 19 … and I would not be right here immediately if I believed Mike was probably able to harming one other particular person.

Didi met Mike in faculty; they married and had two daughters, Caroline and Kate.

Peter Van Sant: Throughout your a few years with Mike, was he ever bodily abusive to you?

Didi Hoffman: He by no means touched me. Not ever. By no means.

However, like in lots of marriages, there have been issues. Mike made tens of millions within the expertise enterprise; his job required him to journey all around the world. 

Didi Hoffman: Honestly, he wasn’t round a lot, so it was — it was onerous.

In 2005, after 25 years of marriage, Didi requested for a divorce. Didi mentioned she moved out of the household house so their youngsters, away at school, might at all times return to the home the place they have been raised. However quickly, one other girl unexpectedly joined the household.

Didi Hoffman: I moved out in July … However then, impulsively … Susan strikes into our home.

Sue was then 38 years previous and a hospice nurse. She and Mike, 49, met on Match.com and Didi says Sue shortly grew to become the girl of the manor. Didi says every thing she left behind—together with her canine—grew to become Sue’s.

Didi Hoffman: Mike and I have been actually opposites. He was participating and outgoing and …And I used to be actually — and I believe I nonetheless am — extra reserved and … not fairly so exuberant. And I believe he was on the lookout for exuberance.

Caroline remembers the primary time she met Sue at a dinner.

Caroline Reuschel: And my dad appeared to be laughing and having an excellent time.

However Caroline says she could not assist however discover how a lot Sue was ingesting.

Caroline Reuschel: We have by no means seen anybody take down 5 to 6 martinis and be capable to stand and communicate.

Some two years after they met, Mike married Sue in August 2007. Mike stopped touring and acquired a neighborhood enterprise. The couple’s happier occasions are mirrored in among the hundreds of textual content messages that surfaced throughout authorized proceedings. Mike refers to Sue as his “trophy bride,” and writes that their lives collectively are merely “superb.”

However Caroline says Sue grew to become jealous of the shut relationship she had along with her father and tried to maintain them aside. 

Caroline Reuschel: She had such partitions round him … He would not name me until he was in a automobile alone. He wasn’t allowed to take my name in entrance [voice breaks] of her.

However surprisingly when Caroline introduced in 2016 that she was getting married, Sue was completely satisfied to assist. However, Caroline says, Sue wished to do it her manner.

Caroline Reuschel: Sue was fairly adamant about throwing me a bathe … My mom was invited, however none of my mom’s pals have been invited. So, the vast majority of the friends have been Sue’s family and friends

However Caroline admits the bathe was quite a lot of enjoyable and he or she was trying ahead to the marriage. Sue helped her pick a gown.

Caroline Reuschel: I attempted on a gown and I appreciated it … and Sue saved telling me like, “that is your gown. That is your gown. It is so stunning. You must have this.”

Sue handed over her bank card and it was completed.                          

Peter Van Sant: Do you thoughts me asking how a lot the gown was price?

Caroline Reuschel: Ugh. That is so gauche — I believe it was 11.

Peter Van Sant: $11,000?

Caroline Reuschel: Sure.

The marriage itself in November 2017 could be a royal-like affair. The setting was the splendid Oheka Fort on Lengthy Island. 160 individuals attended the marriage and Caroline says the day was “magical.”

Caroline Reuschel: My husband and I understand how fortunate we’re to have had that weekend … it was past stunning.

Caroline says it was practically good aside from one thing that caught her eye — an uncommon mark on her father’s face.

Caroline Reuschel: The very last thing I noticed earlier than strolling down the aisle at my marriage ceremony was … this white scar from right here to right here [left cheek to chin]. And in my thoughts, I used to be, like, “What’s that?”

Weeks later, she came upon. Michael revealed to Caroline a darkish, disturbing secret: Sue, he mentioned, had been bodily abusing him for years.

A TOXIC MARRIAGE

Caroline Reuschel: I known as him on his birthday…. And I mentioned … “How are you doing?” And he simply began crying.

It was late November 2017, simply three weeks after her fairy-tale marriage ceremony, when Caroline says her father shared a disturbing secret about Sue that he had promised to not inform.

Caroline Reuschel: And he mentioned … “Sue was arrested” … And he mentioned … ‘she began attacking me.” … and I believe he was so victimized … that he was actually scared to inform anybody.

Sue had been charged with home battery, however the particulars of what occurred that day wouldn’t turn out to be public till two years later at Mike’s trial for tried homicide, after they each testified concerning the final tumultuous months of their marriage.  

Peter Van Sant: What was the state of their marriage?

David Byron | Prosecutor: I believe it was within the lowest place that it might probably be earlier than divorce

SUE REUSCHEL [in court]: I used to be upset.

Sue instructed prosecutor David Byron that shortly after Caroline’s marriage ceremony, Mike instructed her it had gone practically $150,000 over price range:

DAVID BYRON: Was it truthful to say that you simply have been partially upset with the defendant, however principally at Caroline?

SUE REUSCHEL: Sure.

Mike says Sue attacked him when the battle escalated:

MIKE REUSCHEL: She throws the cellphone at me and costs across the mattress, pushes and begins her typical beating like this [bangs his fists]. 

However Mike did not name 911 that day — Sue did:

SUE REUSCHEL: I simply felt as if issues have been just a little uncontrolled.

When police arrived, Sue admitted to pushing Mike and agreed to go to their seashore rental to defuse the scenario. However she was arrested a half an hour later when she hadn’t but left the home:

SUE REUSCHEL: He mentioned, “Please place your arms behind your again.  You are below arrest.”

Sue instructed the jury that she was ordered to avoid Mike. She moved to their seashore rental and acquired counseling for alcohol and anger administration. Weeks later, Mike declined to pursue the battery cost and it was dropped.  

Peter Van Sant: Did she have an issue with alcohol?

Sean Brewer |  Prosecutor: Susan Reuschel has testified … that at occasions when she would drink, she would lose her mood.

However Mike says Sue’s actions went manner past a nasty mood. He instructed the jury she had tormented him for years:

MIKE REUSCHEL: She lunged at me once more, punched within the face, scratched my face, punched me within the arms and bent my glasses, truly.

Caroline Reuschel: She would throw issues at him. Very heavy issues like vases and really heavy espresso mugs.

Sue denies abusing Mike and Mike by no means reported any of the alleged incidents to police. 

Peter Van Sant: Is it true that you’ve seen your father with a black eye?

Caroline Reuschel: He is despatched me a number of footage of him with a black eye.

Mike did take pictures of some accidents which he shared with Caroline and later, the jury.

Caroline Reuschel:  He has an image … that he confirmed me …of his face gushing blood. And there was one mark from right here to right here [moving her finger from her right cheek to her chin].

The prosecution admits this harm might have been attributable to Sue, however they are saying the proof exhibits Sue was combating for her life after Mike attacked her. 

David Byron: There are textual content messages the place she accuses him of smothering her with a pillow, which the truth is is identical occasion that she ended up scratching him within the face.

Regardless of the alleged abuse and Sue’s arrest, Mike says he nonetheless liked his spouse and wished to remain married.  In February 2018 he requested Sue to come back to Gainesville for the weekend.

SUE REUSCHEL: Mike had requested me to come back in. …He wished us to work on the wedding.

They determined to go to their favourite steak home. Sue is seen on house safety video preparing and having fun with a glass of wine.  Mike arrives house, and the 2 share a kiss earlier than heading out. However over steaks and extra wine, previous wounds reopened.

SUE REUSCHEL:  He had simply obtained a textual content message from Caroline.

Sue says that is when Mike admitted he had betrayed her belief by telling Caroline about Sue’s arrest.

SUE REUSCHEL: He and I each agreed that we weren’t going to debate that.

Mike drove house alone. Sue adopted in an Uber, her anger spilling right into a sequence textual content messages about Caroline: “Good luck along with your bitch” … “She is going to wreck any relationship you’ve gotten”

As soon as house, they went to separate elements of the home.  Sue continued her offended texts: “I’m submitting for divorce.”  “I’ll go away within the morning.”  The final textual content from Sue is shipped at 10:13 p.m.  “You have got critical boundary points along with your daughter.”

Later, Sue says she was alone within the visitor room when Mike entered. There aren’t any cameras inside that room:

SUE REUSCHEL: And he simply hopped on prime of me … and I felt, like, this stress … proper right here [leans back and gestures to her stomach].  After which all of the sudden I noticed a knife coming. … I mentioned,” Oh, my God Mike, did you simply stab me?” And he mentioned sure.

DAVID BYRON: In some unspecified time in the future does he say one thing to you?

SUE REUSCHEL: He mentioned, “uh, Sue, we’re not getting a divorce.”

Sue says Mike was on prime of her, pinning her arms together with his legs.  Within the battle, her left thumb was sliced.  Then, she says, Mike stabbed her once more:

SUE REUSCHEL: In my neck. Proper right here.

Sue says Mike then began slashing her wrist:

SUE REUSCHEL:  I felt like he was mutilating me. … My hand, it was like this [showing her scars]. I could not really feel something, and I might see into my arm

Dropping blood, her life at risk, Sue says she vomited and misplaced management of her bodily capabilities. She says she tried to wriggle out from below Mike, and so they ended up mendacity sideways throughout the mattress:

SUE REUSCHEL:  He simply mentioned to me, “Sue, we’re simply going to put right here till you die.”

Sue says as she was mendacity there, struggling to remain awake, she noticed Mike elevate the knife but once more. Determined, she provided him a manner out.

SUE REUSCHEL: I mentioned, “Michael we do not have to divorce. … I will not divorce you” … he simply put the knife down.

Sue says after Mike put the knife down, she begged him to name for assist — however he would solely try this if she agreed to say an intruder had stabbed her.

Sean Brewer: When she agrees … to go together with his story of the intruders, she saved her life.

A poisonous marriage, texts brimming with hate, and a bloody room. Mike Reuschel’s future will now depend upon whether or not he can persuade jurors that he is the true sufferer.

MIKE’S CLAIMS OF ABUSE

When first responders entered the bloody scene within the early morning hours of February 3, 2018, they’d been instructed by Mike Reuschel {that a} stranger had damaged into their house and assaulted his spouse — after which him — with a knife.

However in court docket, now together with his protection attorneys Patrick McGuinness and Ann Finnell, Mike admits that story was a lie, and says he is lastly prepared to inform the reality. He says, regardless of Sue’s ingesting and violent outbursts, he hoped to reconcile that evening.

MIKE REUSCHEL: I do not care if she’s a mellow drunk the remainder of her life. Simply the anger’s acquired to go.

However at dinner, as soon as once more, they fought about Caroline and that battle continued again on the home. After that, Mike and Sue’s tales diverge. Mike says he got here into the visitor room just a little after 10 p.m. and was startled to see Sue kneeling on the mattress, holding a knife.

MIKE REUSCHEL: I mentioned Sue, give me the knife. After which subsequent factor I do know … I felt searing warmth, that is — that is all I keep in mind and I am simply attempting to get my arms on it. And I am on the mattress along with her now, we’re all on our knees.

Mike would not say how he acquired his arms on the knife, however he says as they struggled and fell over on the mattress, he felt the blade go into Sue’s abdomen.

MIKE REUSCHEL: She’s falling backwards and I am falling in entrance and on prime.  I felt the knife penetrate right here [pointing to his stomach] and I rolled off as quick as I might as a result of I used to be afraid that if it went in her it might kill her.

Mike presents no rationalization for the way Sue was stabbed within the neck or thumb, however he does say about one minute into the battle, he by some means calmed her down and put the knife out of attain.

PATRICK MCGUINESS | Protection lawyer: Now, you are each bleeding throughout this cut-off date, proper?

MIKE REUSCHEL: Yeah, nevertheless it’s not spurting, and there is not any blood in any respect you may see on Sue by means of the — by means of right here [points towards his upper torso, where Sue was first stabbed].

MIKE REUSCHEL: I mentioned, “Sue, we have to go to the hospital.” And she or he mentioned, “Then make up a narrative so I do not get arrested.”

Mike says they argued a couple of doable cowl story, however then, as weird because it sounds, they only lay collectively — bleeding — for a number of hours, having what Mike says was the most effective conversations of their lives about future holidays to Europe:

MIKE REUSCHEL: We talked about … going to Germany on the Rhine and Moselle River cruise. … perhaps we would do Burgundy subsequent.

If Mike is talking the reality, this completely satisfied dialog occurred on a mattress soaked with blood and human waste. Mike by no means mentions that, and prosecutor David Byron suspects why.

Peter Van Sant: Is that this plausible?

David Byron | Prosecutor: I do not assume it is plausible in any respect. … He held her there and he cannot admit that.

David Byron: Michael Reuschel had months and months to go over the proof and assemble a narrative that match with issues that he could not admit.

Based on Mike, at about 3 a.m., their canine, Susie, wandered into this bloody scene, the place violence was about to erupt once more.

MIKE REUSCHEL: I rise up out of the mattress to take care of the canine, and — and behind me was the knife. And subsequent factor I do know … She sliced her proper wrist along with her left hand.

PAT MCGUINNESS Did you speak to her about why she had reduce herself?

MIKE REUSCHEL: Yeah, she mentioned she would not wish to go to jail. …I mentioned, “Sue, I am not going to ship you to jail. I am not going to get you arrested. Relax.” She goes, “You promise? You promise?” I mentioned, “Sure.”

As Mike tells it, Sue cooked up the entire concept to mislead police, and he reluctantly agreed with the intention to shield her.  

MIKE REUSCHEL: I mentioned then the one likelihood I’ve is to show the cameras off to provide a window of alternative to say somebody broke in and did this to us.

Mike says after Sue reduce her personal wrist, he left the room to show off safety cameras and stage a break-in. Twenty-five minutes handed earlier than he known as 911 and turned the cameras on once more.

David Byron: And he is doing that with the data that with each beat of her coronary heart, extra of her blood is pouring into that mattress.

However the protection thinks the blood on the crime scene helps to show their case.

Michael Berkland: Individuals lie. The forensics do not lie. And that is why the blood spatter was so necessary on this case.

Michael Berkland is a former physician and blood stain sample analyst who testified for the protection.

Peter Van Sant: What do you take into account an important blood proof inside that bed room?

Michael Berkland: The arterial spurt patterns.

Berkland says he reviewed data which said a small artery in Sue’s wrist was reduce that evening. And he believes the blood on the pillowcase and on the nightstand got here from that artery.

Michael Berkland: The necessary factor about arteries although is that you simply get blood popping out of that with each beat of the center.

Berkland makes use of stage blood and a small syringe to show the best way Sue’s blood might have travelled, making a line or nice spray of drops.

Peter Van Sant: So, the blood, in your opinion, provides us a timeline as to when Sue’s wrist was truly reduce.

Michael Berkland: Appropriate… as a result of arteries do not shut up on their very own.

Keep in mind, Sue says the assault, together with the cuts to her wrist, began someday after 10:13 p.m. However Mike says Sue reduce her personal wrist at round 3 a.m. — hours later. Berkland says if Sue’s wrist was reduce earlier than 11 p.m., she would have died lengthy earlier than assist arrived.

Peter Van Sant: How a lot time did she should reside, in your opinion?

Michael Berkland: If the injuries occurred no later than 11:00, she’s lifeless earlier than it ever hits midnight.

Peter Van Sant: Which leads you to imagine what?

Michael Berkland: In relation to this harm to the wrist, Michael’s story makes extra sense.

The protection crew says if we will not belief Sue’s account about what time issues occurred, then her whole story is suspect.

ANN FINNELL | Protection lawyer: It’s completely unattainable to have occurred the best way she claims it did.

WHO WAS THE TRUE AGGRESSOR?  

Inside a field, encased in protecting plastic, are the remnants of the vicious confrontation inside that bed room that prosecutor Sean Brewer is definite comprise proof of an tried homicide.

Sean Brewer | Prosecutor: That is the knife that was used to stab Susan.

Peter Van Sant: The bending on this knife you imagine is a results of it … hitting bone, and … it bent the blade?

Sean Brewer That is right.

Peter Van Sant: It is a lot of blood. Brewer: This is quite a lot of blood

Peter Van Sant: That is Mike Reuschel’s pajamas?

Sean Brewer: Sure, and they’re soaked in blood.

Peter Van Sant: And whose blood is that? 

Sean Brewer: Effectively, Susan is the one who had the accidents that offered the mass quantity of bleeding.

Peter Van Sant: So, if blood might speak, this blood is telling you what?

Sean Brewer: This blood is telling me that Michael … was on prime of her whereas he was stabbing her, and he or she was bleeding fairly a bit with none support.

Prosecutors say this proof backs up Sue’s testimony that Mike attacked her. Additionally they say the objects on that bedside desk assist show this was not a dynamic battle between two individuals. David Byron says that just one particular person had management of the scenario: Mike Reuschel.

David Byron | Prosecutor:: There is a full glass of wine, there’s some glasses, there is a lamp. And its proof of the truth that Michael Reuschel was so bodily able to constraining her that none of these issues are disturbed.

And the prosecution disputes protection professional Michael Berkland’s declare that these stains on the nightstand got here from spurting blood from Sue’s wrist.  As an alternative, their professional says the blood was probably castoff— flung from the knife and never from Sue reducing her personal wrist:

David Byron: The castoff exhibits that he was swinging that knife as he is plunging it into her abdomen and into her neck.

Prosecutor Brewer not solely assaults Berkland’s conclusions, he additionally challenges his credibility, letting jurors know that his medical license was suspended, and he was later arrested for storing physique elements from autopsies in Tupperware containers — in an uncommon place:

SEAN BREWER: You have been storing them at Uncle Bob’s storage shed, weren’t you?

MICHAEL BERKLAND:  In a climate-controlled room.

SEAN BREWER: Have been you storing them at Uncle Bob’s Storage shed?

MICHAEL BERKLAND:  Yeah.

SEAN BREWER: and the precise organs that you simply have been storing included brains and hearts?

MICHAEL BERKLAND:  I did have some hearts and brains, sure.

Berkland says the organs have been preserved for personal instances he was engaged on whereas he was nonetheless a licensed physician.

MICHAEL BERKLAND:  I used the storage locker as a result of they have been secure and secured … both that or I put them in my home. This was safer than my home.

The costs have been later dropped. Prosecutors additionally need the jury to know that the severity of Sue’s wrist wound suggests she didn’t do it herself:

David Byron: The one which was actually life-threatening was the cuts that the defendant made to her wrist.

Sean Brewer: She was reduce all the best way all the way down to the bone.

Mike’s accidents have been so much much less critical. He had some small cuts on his fingers and abdomen.  And Sue says the bigger cuts to his forearms have been, the truth is, self-inflicted.

SUE REUSCHEL: He put the knife in my hand … and he stabbed himself within the arm.

And what about that story Mike instructed investigators that an intruder did all this?  The prosecution says it was all his concept to cowl up what he had completed.

Sean Brewer: He turned off the cameras and did issues to make the police imagine that there had been a burglar.

And the motive for this alleged assault? The prosecution believes it was all about cash … that Mike did not wish to quit half his fortune — tens of millions of {dollars} — in a divorce.

DAVID BYRON: You did not inform this jury … that in any case you have been by means of, it did not appear truthful for Susan to take half your cash?

MICHAEL REUSCHEL: Yeah, that’s true. It did not appear truthful.

The prosecution refutes Mike’s claims that he nonetheless wished to reconcile the troubled marriage by mentioning that he had visited three courting websites:

DAVID BYRON: Ukrainian single woman, Irina. She’s 18 years previous, proper?

MIKE REUSCHEL: I checked out footage of girls with garments on, sure, sir.

DAVID BYRON: I perceive they’ve garments on, sir. The query I am asking is, you have been on the lookout for your subsequent girlfriend, proper?

MIKE REUSCHEL: No, I will inform you precisely what I used to be on the lookout for.

DAVID BYRON: Positive.

MIKE REUSCHEL: All I would like out of a girl in my life is somebody to be variety and good to me. That is all I care about. … I checked out footage and descriptions of … how they’d deal with their male. And Sue and I checked out these collectively many occasions in our relationship and say “Sue that is all I would like from anyone. Please be good to me, please.”

The protection counters that Mike’s different web searches show that he was being abused by Sue:

PAT MCGUINNESS: Did you go to quite a few websites associated to battered husbands?

MIKE REUSCHEL: Sure, I did.

However the prosecution would not assume it is credible that Mike was a battered partner.

David Byron: He has the entire financial assets.  He isn’t reduce off from any members of the family. … Michael Reuschel would not meet any of the factors for what a battered partner is.

The protection additionally tries to counter Sue’s declare that Mike’s assault got here after she threatened divorce. They produced dozens of textual content messages going again to 2015 that present Sue had made that menace many, many occasions:

ANN FINNELL: You truly say, “for the fiftieth time, I desire a divorce.”

SUE REUSCHEL: It is simply an expression, like saying for the, you recognize, one hundredth time.

ANN FINNELL: However it’s about 50 occasions, is not it?

SUE REUSCHEL: I do not know. I did not rely.

And protection lawyer Ann Finnell suggests these texts additionally reveal Sue’s damaging intentions:

ANN FINNELL: Have you ever instructed him “I hate you?”

SUE REUSCHEL: Sure.

ANN FINNELL: OK. You’ve got mentioned, “I’ll destroy you.”

SUE REUSCHEL: Sure.

ANN FINNELL: And in your anniversary in 2017, “hate u … Joyful tenth anniversary. I am divorcing u … U d—okay.” You mentioned that?

SUE REUSCHEL: Sure.

In her closing argument, Finnell insists Mike would by no means attempt to kill for cash. She says Sue was the aggressor that evening, and Mike was simply defending himself:

ANN FINNELL: She hates all people. She hates his daughters; she hates his former partner … That is how hateful this girl was and is.

However the prosecution says there isn’t a query Mike wished Sue lifeless.

DAVID BYRON: This isn’t a frenzied battle between two adults. It is a blood bathtub dedicated by one one who has imprisoned the opposite on that mattress.

Within the battle of the Reuschels, jurors will quickly resolve which one they imagine. 

THE VERDICT

Peter Van Sant: Because the jury goes out to deliberate — what are these minutes and hours like for you?

Caroline Reuschel: [Crying] I simply, like, could not speak to anybody. I spent the previous year-and-a-half, like, mentally making ready myself for the worst and hoping for the very best.

Caroline doesn’t have lengthy to attend. After a 9-day trial, it took little greater than 4 hours for the jury to achieve a verdict.

Peter Van Sant: They are saying a fast verdict is commonly a prosecutor’s verdict.

David Byron: It is a thought that creeps into your head … however you by no means actually know what a jury goes to do.

JUDGE: Members of the jury, I perceive you’ve gotten reached a verdict?

JURY FOREPERSON: We’ve got your honor.

JUDGE: Would you please cross it to my bailiff?

FOREPERSON: We the jury unanimously discover as follows defendant Michael James Reuschel on this case, as to rely 1 the defendant is responsible of tried first-degree homicide as charged.

Responsible. Mike Reuschel is convicted of probably the most critical rely towards him.

Caroline Reuschel: We have been all so shocked.

FOREPERSON: As to rely two, the defendant is responsible of false imprisonment …

In fast succession, the jury additionally finds Reuschel responsible of 4 extra crimes together with false imprisonment and tampering with proof.

Jurors totally reject Mike’s story of a knife battle together with his spouse. Prosecutor Sean Brewer says justice was served to a person who lied to investigators and to the jury.

Sean Brewer | Prosecutor: Michael went by means of nice lengths to try to kill Susan. He simply wasn’t excellent at it.

And what’s extra, Brewer says, Mike Reuschel tried to kill Sue not as soon as however twice. Whereas he was in jail awaiting trial, an informant got here ahead to assert Mike tried to rent successful man to kill Sue — a cost Mike strongly denies.

Peter Van Sant: Do you imagine that your father, in jail, plotted to rent somebody to homicide his spouse?

Caroline Reuschel: No … truthfully, I do not imply to chortle. However it’s past laughable.

As we have been interviewing Caroline, she acquired a cellphone name that stunned us.

Caroline Reuschel: Dad? Hello! I am good. I am — with “48 Hours” proper now, actually — with cameras.

Mike Reuschel allowed Van Sant to ask just a few questions.

Peter Van Sant: Mike … I simply wanna hear you inform me…. Did you … take a knife into the room that evening on February 2nd, 2018, and assault your spouse?

Mike Reuschel: Completely not.

Peter Van Sant: And also you’re telling me the reality?

Mike Reuschel: Completely. On my youngsters’s lives … all I did was defend myself … after I acquired attacked.

In December 2019,, everybody returns to Choose William Davis’ courtroom for sentencing. The sufferer on this crime, Sue Reuschel, doesn’t seem in particular person.

When it is Caroline’s flip to talk, the second is charged with emotion:

CAROLINE REUSCHEL: [Crying]: Nobody is as optimistic, beneficiant and caring as this man… I’ll say I’m and can at all times be a proud daughter.

MATT F.: He is likely one of the most caring, variety light individuals I’ve ever met.

A number of colleagues and pals communicate of Mike in glowing phrases:

JENIFER L: He is an excellent particular person. 

CLAYTON C.: The Mike Reuschel I do know is a stand-up gentleman.

Then, Choose William Davis took middle stage. Mike was about to be taught his destiny.

JUDGE WILLIAM DAVIS: The particular person I heard by means of the proof and the witnesses was somebody who was chilly, they have been brutal … On rely one, the tried first-degree premeditated homicide, I will sentence you to 30 years imprisonment.

All instructed, the choose provides Reuschel 30 years, not the 50 years requested by prosecutors. However for Mike, who’s 64 years previous, it’s, in essence, a life sentence.

Peter Van Sant:  Listed below are two refined individuals, very rich, dwelling in paradise, one among most stunning elements of Florida and but they could not work this out … It is an actual tragedy, is not it?

David Byron: Completely. I imply, whenever you hear who Michael and Susan Reuschel have been earlier than this all occurred, they lived exemplary and principally regular lives. And to see it get thus far … actually is a tragedy.

The battle of the Reuschels isn’t over. Mike and Sue are divorcing and proceed to battle over the marital property, together with the home the place Sue was practically stabbed to demise.

The murder-for-hire costs towards Mike Reuschel have been dropped.

Produced by Sarah Prior, Paul LaRosa and Dena Goldstein. Ryan N. Smith is the event producer. Marlon Disla, Michelle Harris, Mike Baluzy and Ken Blum are the editors. Lourdes Aguiar is the senior producer. Nancy Kramer is the manager story editor. Judy Tygard is the manager producer.