Naman Shrestha
The episode titled ‘Blood in the Water’ of Investigation Discovery’s ‘Betrayed’ chronicles the horrific killing of Catherine “Cathy” Stroup in her California residence in the spring of 1983. As the news broke out, the entire community was left shell-shocked, with grief taking over her loved ones. The detectives investigated the case and uncovered some dark familial conflicts that led them to the perpetrators responsible for the gruesome crime. Featuring exclusive interviews with Cathy’s loved ones and the officials who helped solve the case, the documentary provides a detailed account of the entire case and the investigation that ensued.
Catherine Stroup Was Found Dead in Her California Home
Born on January 4, 1937, in Pennsylvania, Catherine “Cathy” Elizabeth Horn Stroup was a devoted wife to James Stroup Sr. They had been married since the 1950s and shared three children — James “Jimmy” Stroup Jr., Mark Stroup, and Cheryl. Residing in Hawthorne, California, Cathy ran a water business called S & S Water Company in the Twentynine Palms area. She was a doting mother who loved spending quality time with her children.
The 46-year-old businesswoman’s life abruptly ended on April 5, 1983, in her home. The police received a 911 call from the Hawthorne area after her husband, James, found Cathy lying on top of a puddle of blood. After the police arrived at the scene, they pronounced her dead on site, determining that she had died of multiple gunshot wounds. The detectives inspected the scene of the crime and gathered all the evidence they could. Thus, a homicide investigation was launched to get to the bottom of the case.
Catherine Stroup’s Perpetrators Were Employed in Her Water Company
In the initial phase of investigation, suspicion fell on Catherine Stroup’s husband, James Stroup Sr., who was arrested at the scene and charged with her murder. During his interview, he claimed that he arrived home on the fateful morning after completing his night shift at the graveyard and found his wife dead on the floor. The detectives also brought her son, Jimmy, in for questioning, as he had a fractured relationship with Cathy and James and was the last person to see her alive. Since he had an alibi, he was eliminated as a suspect. After spending seven months in jail, James was acquitted of all charges in November 1983.
Soon, they caught a break in the case when a man in possession of the gun that matched the shell casings at the crime scene led them to two employees of the S & S Water Company — Peter and Paul Leach. As they were questioned about the homicide, they admitted to being involved in the crime, but claimed that they were hired by one of Cathy’s family members — her son-in-law, Michael Seawright. It turned out that Michael, who oversaw the operations of the water company, had been siphoning money from the company, for which he was confronted by Cathy. After gathering enough evidence against him, the police ultimately arrested Michael for his involvement in the gruesome homicide.
While Michael is Behind Bars at a California Prison, Peter and Paul Are in Undisclosed Locations
A few years later, in November 1988, Peter Leach was found guilty of first-degree murder and burglary for his involvement in the killing of Catherine “Cathy” Stroup. He was ultimately sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. On the other hand, his brother, Paul Leach, agreed to a plea deal and agreed to testify against Michael Seawright. In exchange, he received a lesser sentence of 16 years to life in prison. As for Michael Seawright, his first trial ended in a mistrial as the jury couldn’t reach a unanimous verdict. During his trial, the Leach brothers testified that the defendant had hired them to kill both Cathy and her husband, James, who was not at the house at the time.
His second trial finally led to the jury finding him guilty of first-degree murder in August 1993. In February 1994, he was finally sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. As of today, 73-year-old Michael is serving his sentence at California State Prison in Los Angeles County, California. As for 65-year-old Peter Leach, his current location is undisclosed. On the other hand, Paul is seemingly out on parole, after being eligible for parole after serving his minimum term.
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