Suvechha Sarkar
Robert Lee Breininger started his day on November 3, 2003, like any other in Mark Center, Ohio. However, he never expected that he would suddenly pass away when he was shot at his home. It initially appeared to be a heartbreaking accident, but it turned into one of the most disturbing cases almost 9 years later. Investigation Discovery’s ‘Mother, May I Murder?: Groomed to Kill’ takes a deeper look into the investigation and sheds light on an emotional manipulation that spanned years. It also features interviews with his loved ones and the officials who worked closely on the case.
Robert Breininger Was Shot Dead in His Home in Ohio
Lee and Anna Breininger welcomed their son, Robert Lee Breininger, into their lives on January 11, 1969. He resided in Hicksville, Ohio, and grew up in a household filled with love and affection. As Robert grew into adulthood, he crossed paths with Wendy Bell, and they soon got closer to each other. Eventually, they tied the knot and welcomed their son, Corey, into the world. Corey was still very young when Robert and Wendy got a divorce. Shortly after, Robert met Judith Fouty (later known as Judith Hawkey), and after just a few years of togetherness, they got married on November 22, 1998. Judith had a daughter, Emily, from her previous marriage and a son, Garrett.
Robert then bought a house for the family, and they moved to Mark Center, Ohio. There, Robert took a job at a steel mill and began working overtime to support his family. Corey remembers that in his free time, his father loved working on his car. Unfortunately, since Robert spent much of his day at work, Judith was responsible for caring for the kids. On November 3, 2003, she went with Emily and Garrett to her mother’s home after 10-year-old Corey came back from school. In the late afternoon, Corey called 911 in an emotional state to report that his father had been shot. When the officials and paramedics arrived, they found Corey sitting outside the house.
As detectives entered the residence, they discovered Robert dead in the bedroom. They noted that the rifle the 34-year-old was shot with was lying on the other side of the bed from where he was shot. There was reportedly a lot of blood on the bed and on the adjacent side of the floor. Investigators also found that Robert had earplugs on and multiple gun-related pamphlets were lying on the bed, one of which was under his arm. Upon closer inspection, experts discovered stippling from the close-range shot. The autopsy determined his cause of death to be from a single gunshot wound to the head. Robert’s death was reportedly classified as an accidental shooting.
The Confession From Someone Close to Robert Led to the Arrest of the Killer
When officials arrived, they first spoke with Corey, who claimed that his father was teaching him about hunting. According to his statements, he was handing over the firearm to Robert, but its safety was off, and Corey had his finger on the trigger. He claimed that when his father reached for the gun, it accidentally went off. Corey allegedly dropped the weapon as soon as it went off. However, detectives found inconsistencies since the rifle was found on the opposite side from where Robert was shot. Initially, the coroner declared Robert’s manner of death to be accidental. Following that, Judith didn’t allow the investigators to speak to Corey. However, in 2012, he revealed during a school project that he had intentionally shot Robert at Judith’s request.
When the sheriff’s office was informed about the incident, they questioned 19-year-old Corey. As per reports, he admitted that about a month before the murder, Judith had allegedly told him that Robert had a brain tumor, and it was allegedly his idea to end his own life. Furthermore, Corey claimed that on November 3, 2003, after he came home from school, Judith had told him that the rifle was kept in the laundry room. He alleged that she had asked him to wait for a few minutes before she, Garrett, and Emily left. Corey claimed that Judith also asked him to call 911 immediately after the incident and report it as an accident. He informed the officers that Judith had also been abusing him since he was a child and allegedly controlled his actions. Detectives then questioned their neighbors, who described Judith as a private person.
Police records state that Corey’s school teachers reported that he used to wear unnaturally long-sleeved clothes, which raised concerns. Moreover, they learned that Judith had gone to Robert’s workplace the next day after the murder. She had reportedly collected approximately $333,864 from his life insurance policy. Officials also spoke to Judith’s past partners, who claimed that she had isolated them from their other family members. In January 2013, the coroner changed Robert’s manner of death from an accident to homicide. Ultimately, she was arrested in March 2013. During questioning, she denied abusing Corey and killing Robert. Judith was formally charged with one count of aggravated murder, four counts of endangering a child, and one count of insurance fraud on March 7, 2013.
Judith Hawkey is Seemingly Leading a Quiet Life Today After Her Supervised Release
Judith initially pleaded not guilty to all charges following her arrest. Her jury trial commenced on October 28, 2013, during which the prosecution claimed that she had psychologically controlled Corey to commit the crime. Furthermore, they alleged that she killed Robert to receive his life insurance money. They asserted the abuse that Corey went through for years, through several witness testimonies. On the other hand, the defense claimed that it was an accidental shooting that led to the death of Robert. Moreover, they contended that there was no evidence linking Judith to the crime scene. The trial went on until November 8, 2013, and the jury found her guilty on all counts.
On December 19, 2013, Judith was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole for murder. While Judith received a 3-year prison term for insurance fraud, she got 8 years in prison for the first two counts of child endangerment and 3 years each for the other three counts. However, in March 2016, she appealed her conviction because certain testimonies should not have been admitted, and the evidence was not overwhelming, as it relied primarily on the statements of one witness, Corey. On March 28, 2016, the Appellate Court reversed the conviction in part and vacated her aggravated murder and child endangerment convictions.
The court reportedly ordered a retrial on the reversed counts. In March 2019, Judith entered a plea deal to the lesser charges of involuntary manslaughter and child endangerment. Right after that, she was sentenced to 10 years in prison for manslaughter and 3 years for the second charge. Additionally, Judith received credit for more than five years she had already served. Her reported supervised release date was August 31, 2022. Prison records indicate that her sentence expiration date was February 27, 2023. As of writing, it appears that she has been released from prison and is under Adult Parole Authority (APA) Supervision. It seems that Judith is leading a quiet life away from the spotlight.
Corey Honors His Father’s Memory While Living a Happy Life With His Family
Corey has kept Robert’s memory close to his heart. While speaking about his father, he emotionally expressed, “Every day before I go to sleep, I pray again, I mention my father, think about him throughout the day. If I were to live in a negative life, it would only be hurting his legacy. So, I try to be the best person that I can be to honor him.” Corey refuses to let the pain of his past and the profound loss he endured define his future, and has instead chosen to embrace happiness. He is currently surrounded by the love of his soulmate, his son, and his daughter. In May 2025, Corey visited the stadium with his partner and daughter.
Corey expressed his affection for them by writing, “Three of the most important ladies in my life.” Furthermore, he never misses a chance to spend time with his furry pup, Ruby. In August, he provided a sneak peek of his new project, teasing everyone by stating, “Coming soon.” From celebrating Ruby’s birthday to spending quality time on the beach with his family, he makes sure to immerse himself in every little joy. He has also gained several meaningful friendships with people who always support him. However, he has chosen to keep details about his professional life under wraps. Currently, Corey has taken another step towards healing, surrounded by his loved ones.
