Suvechha Sarkar
Investigation Discovery’s ‘Fatal Vows: My Way or the Dead Way’ turns the focus to the sudden disappearance of 35-year-old Jodie Lynne LaMare Whitney in May 2004 from her Vermont home. After an intensive search and an unexpected lead, officials discovered her remains a few days later. The investigation gradually shed light on a troubled relationship and a string of betrayals. Moreover, the episode provides in-depth interviews with her loved ones, the law enforcement officials who solved the case, and psychological experts.
Jodie LaMare Found Fulfillment in Her Career and Motherhood
On January 28, 1969, Cheryl Anne Peters and Raymond Willard LaMare Jr. welcomed their daughter, Jodie Lynne LaMare, into their lives. She grew up in a loving household in Morristown, Vermont, where she received immense support from her parents. She had always shared an unbreakable bond with her siblings, Tina, Raemarie, Nicole, Howard, Raymond, and Amanda. Jodie’s family and friends often described her as someone who loved joking and had an outgoing personality. In 1987, she graduated from Lamoille Union High School, laying the foundation for her career. She began her professional journey as a Clerk at Aubuchon Hardware before joining Genesis Eldercare in Morristown as a Licensed Practical Nurse.
Eventually, Jodie entered the hospitality industry as a Reservations Manager at the Stoweflake Mountain Resort & Spa in Stowe. As an adult, she crossed paths with Larry Thompson, and it wasn’t long before their relationship led to their marriage. They soon welcomed their daughter, Rebecca Thompson, into the world. Sadly, cracks formed in the union, resulting in Jodie and Larry’s divorce. Following that, she and Rebecca settled in Lamoille County. There, the single mother expected she had found love again when she met Edgar G. Whitney. They had attended the same high school, which helped them bond quickly.
Jodie’s Remains Were Found in a Wooded Area a Few Days After She Disappeared
On July 4, 1998, Jodie and Edgar exchanged their vows during a small ceremony. In 2000, they gave birth to their daughter, Monica Whitney. However, marital issues had begun to arise between them, and they decided to separate. By May 2004, they decided to give their marriage another chance. Rebecca, who was then temporarily living with her biological father, also decided to return to Vermont. Everything appeared to be going well until 10 pm on May 27, 2004, when Edgar reported Jodie missing. Reports state that he claimed he last saw her that morning, when he was leaving for work and dropped Monica off at daycare.
Edgar also informed officials that Jodie had not attended work that day. When authorities searched the house, they found Jodie’s belongings, but noted nothing unusual. Shortly after, they found her vehicle a few miles away from the couple’s home. Although they searched the nearby area, the 35-year-old was nowhere to be found. On June 2, 2004, an unexpected tip led officials off a dirt road in Johnson, Vermont, where they uncovered Jodie’s remains in a wooded location. Forensic experts observed that she was face down. It was later determined that her cause of death was strangulation.
Investigators Cracked the Case After Jodie’s Killer Confessed to the Crime
During the initial missing-person investigation, Edgar claimed he didn’t know about Jodie’s whereabouts. According to officials on the show, he later claimed that there was a man his wife was dating when they were briefly separated. However, the lead turned out to be a dead end. When authorities spoke with her friends, they learned that Jodie and her husband’s first separation stemmed from frequent arguments, as per the officials’ statements. He eventually agreed to undergo a polygraph test in front of the officials. A breakthrough came in the case on June 2, 2004, when Edgar’s brother went to his house to pick him up for the test.
Edgar’s brother discovered that Edgar had overdosed on Tylenol PM pills as an attempt to die by suicide. He was reportedly rushed to the hospital, where his condition became stable after a few hours. According to reports, he confessed to his brother and later to the officials that he killed Jodie. Edgar then told the authorities the location where he had disposed of his wife’s remains, which led to the discovery of the remains on June 2. Reports state that after his recovery, he confessed that on the night of the murder, he had argued with Jodie regarding Rebecca’s return to Vermont from her biological father’s home.
In his statements, Edgar confessed to first striking Jodie on the head before strangling her. Further records suggest that he also confessed that after killing Jodie, he wrapped her remains in a sheet, put the 35-year-old in her vehicle, and drove to the wooded area, where he disposed of her remains. In his statements, he admitted to abandoning her car a few miles from their home and hiding her keys before walking back. Edgar was taken into custody immediately and charged with first-degree murder.
Edgar Whitney is Incarcerated at an Out-of-State Prison Facility Today
Following Edgar Whitney’s arrest, the prosecution built a strong case against him based on his confession that he had strangled Jodie and later concealed her remains. They also emphasized that he lied to the authorities during the search for the missing person. In October 2005, during a preliminary hearing, the defense argued that the defendant’s confessions shouldn’t be introduced as evidence. They claimed that the defendant wasn’t mentally competent when he spoke to the law enforcement officials at the hospital while he was recovering from a suicide attempt.
However, a judge ruled that Edgar’s confession could be used as evidence at his jury trial and that he was mentally competent at the time of the confession. In May 2006, he finally reached a plea agreement with the prosecution and avoided a trial. He pleaded guilty to one felony count each of second-degree murder and unauthorized removal of a body. He was sentenced to 20 years to life in prison for the murder on May 23, 2006. Edgar was also sentenced to an additional 5-year prison term for the second charge.
Furthermore, Edgar received credit for the time he had already served while awaiting a trial, bringing his sentence to 23 years to life in prison. According to prison records, he is currently serving his sentence at an out-of-state correctional facility under the Supplemental Facility Housing Contracts. It is essential to note that his precise whereabouts are not disclosed in publicly available reports. Edgar’s estimated minimum release date is scheduled for July 8, 2027, and his early release date is set on May 3, 2029.
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