This is a pretty, upscale, classy town that was quiet and peaceful until the fall of 1991 when a terrifying crime "shattered this idyllic town," as narrator Paul Winfield says in the introduction. This is the kind of town Winfield and the City Confidential writers like to discuss: a place that looks almost Eden-eque until the dark side of human nature tears it apart. They love it, when that happens.
This area in Rhode Island, debated by many if it is really a town or a suburb, is located between Providence and Newport. It has been home to many Italians. It features nice people, great schools, good beach front property and, most of all, safety for its families. The upscale Yuppies discovered this place in the '70s and '80s and in 1989, the Brendel family became the latest family to flee big-city life for the peace-and-quiet of Barrington. They - Ernest, Alice and young daughter Emily - had come from New York City.
Meanwhile, Christopher Hightower had a become a fixture in town, respected even though he himself hadn't much. He had been more of a "pie-in-the-sky kind of guy," according to CC. He was an investor, however, and Brendel had money to invest. The two met and hit it off right away.
However, a financial feud began when Hightower blew anywhere form $11,000 to $18,000 that belonged to Mr. Brendel. The latter then demanded his money and wrote a letter to the Trade Commission. The next thing people knew was that the Brendel family - all three of them were missing.
Here's where it really gets bizarre, and makes this episode very interesting. Hightower announced that he had gotten a phone call from the Mafia and that they had kidnapped the family and wanted $250,000. Hightower contacted Brendel's sister and told her they wanted $75,000 by tomorrow. She called the FBI.
It was weeks before the family's dead remains would be discovered, accidentally by a dog, after police dogs and half the town couldn't find them. When Hightower wound up being arrested and the trial started, it got even more weird. All of it unfolded on TV, too.
I don't want to spoil anything so I'll leave it there. Suffice to say this was an interesting case.
This area in Rhode Island, debated by many if it is really a town or a suburb, is located between Providence and Newport. It has been home to many Italians. It features nice people, great schools, good beach front property and, most of all, safety for its families. The upscale Yuppies discovered this place in the '70s and '80s and in 1989, the Brendel family became the latest family to flee big-city life for the peace-and-quiet of Barrington. They - Ernest, Alice and young daughter Emily - had come from New York City.
Meanwhile, Christopher Hightower had a become a fixture in town, respected even though he himself hadn't much. He had been more of a "pie-in-the-sky kind of guy," according to CC. He was an investor, however, and Brendel had money to invest. The two met and hit it off right away.
However, a financial feud began when Hightower blew anywhere form $11,000 to $18,000 that belonged to Mr. Brendel. The latter then demanded his money and wrote a letter to the Trade Commission. The next thing people knew was that the Brendel family - all three of them were missing.
Here's where it really gets bizarre, and makes this episode very interesting. Hightower announced that he had gotten a phone call from the Mafia and that they had kidnapped the family and wanted $250,000. Hightower contacted Brendel's sister and told her they wanted $75,000 by tomorrow. She called the FBI.
It was weeks before the family's dead remains would be discovered, accidentally by a dog, after police dogs and half the town couldn't find them. When Hightower wound up being arrested and the trial started, it got even more weird. All of it unfolded on TV, too.
I don't want to spoil anything so I'll leave it there. Suffice to say this was an interesting case.