Called Cruel Doubt, it is based on a book of the same name that Pritchards mother, Bonnie Von Stein, asked Joe McGinniss to write in hopes of learning more from what he uncovered. "This is an extreme example of the demise of our families and communities. Bonnie Von Stein, sleeping in. The police also found out that Lieth had inherited over a million dollars shortly before he was killed. Are you sure that you want to delete this flower? I thought you might like to see a memorial for Lieth Peter Von Stein I found on Findagrave.com. Both Chris and Angela were known drug users, and both had a difficult relationship with their stepfather. new content, we kindly appreciate any donation you can give to help Bonnie's son, Chris Pritchard, had refused to take the test. Lieth was dead, but Bonnie, barely clinging to life, somehow survived. was completed on February 27, 2005, and he is a free man. All Photos Tagged bonnievonstein. The pair confided and shared lunch during breaks in his testimony. Stars Blythe Danner Matt McGrath Denis Arndt See production, box office & company info Add to Watchlist 18 User reviews Nominated for 2 Primetime Emmys In July 1988 in Washington, N.C., Lieth and Bonnie Von Stein were attacked while they slept. Which is the most important river in Congo? "I have visited with Chris for a long, long time in prison. He brings with him a solid sense of time and place, and devotes a great deal of attention to the police investigation and trial. The investigation into who could do such a thing, and for what purpose, takes an unexpected twist when Bonnie's son Chris Pritchard becomes a prime suspect in the case. This relationship is not possible based on lifespan dates. Bonnie Von Stein had read "Fatal Vision" on the advice of her lawyer, Wade Smith, who had defended MacDonald in 1979. Despite a plea-bargain agreement, Pritchard (Matt McGrath) was given the maximum sentence: life plus 20 years, of which he will probably serve at least 20 years. Scriptwriter Gay instead pictures the Von Steins as fairly happy and affluent, leaving the impression that only the influences of the fantasy game, which Chris began playing at 11, and drugs caused him to concoct such a heinous plan. Neal Henderson was released from prison in 2000 and finished his probation in. Add to your scrapbook. Lieth was not so lucky. The story behind the Von Stein murder is largely one persons word against anothers, and much is left unanswered. This account has been disabled. This memorial has been copied to your clipboard. Learn the puzzling details of both solved and unsolved crimes, and remember, every state has a story. cemeteries found within kilometers of your location will be saved to your photo volunteer list. Or purchase a subscription for unlimited access to real news you can count on. He was the stepfather of Bonnie's 2 children, Chris & Angela Pritchard. Pritchard, now 38, pleaded guilty to aiding and abetting in second-degree murder. Then Bonnie married Lieth Von Stein, who became director of internal audits for a textile company in Washington, N.C. Thank you very much in advance. We have many MacDonald, who was convicted of the murders 10 years later cooperated with McGinniss on "Fatal Vision," published in 1983, but later sued. The sad ironies of the familys tale are compelling. For McGinniss, telling the tale was made difficult by the personalities of Von Stein, Pritchard and his teen-age sister, Angela. As the investigation dragged on into 1989, police turned their attention to Chris, who refused to take a polygraph test (which his mother and sister had passed). McGinniss tells a gripping yarn, assuredly whisking the reader from scene to scene, creating a sense of the world-ripped-from-under-you feelings that Bonnie experienced. James Bartlett We will review the memorials and decide if they should be merged. Fear and ignorance breed the sort of mindless propaganda that inspire garbage like this film. Please enter your email address and we will send you an email with a reset password code. ", He also said the house the producers chose to represent the Von Steins' is far more upscale than the family's real home. 16 Bonnie Von Stein Photos and Premium High Res Pictures - Getty Images FILTERS CREATIVE EDITORIAL VIDEO 16 Bonnie Von Stein Premium High Res Photos Browse 16 bonnie von stein photos and images available, or start a new search to explore more photos and images. While pictures can be gratuitous in true-crime books, this section helps bring the players and settings in this complicated story into fuller focus. Lieth married Bonnie Lou Bates Pritchard in August 1979. Their pattern of withholding emotion was compounded by earlier physical and emotional deprivation that the miniseries ignores. His sister said she slept through it all, and until six weeks before Pritchard was sentenced to serve a more-than-life term, his mother believed he was innocent. He will not be eligible for parole Regulators seize First Republic Bank, sell to JPMorgan Chase. TV movies. "The only time she got close to anything personal was when she said, 'Chris was in daycare most of his young life,' and I know that those kids had gone to bed hungry sometimes. Chris Pritchard and his younger sister, Angela, were the children of Bonnie von Stein. In their bedroom asleep one night, Bonnie and Lieth Von Stein are violently attacked and stabbed by home intruders. How can virtual classrooms help students become more independent and self-motivated learners? This is a carousel with slides. Use Escape keyboard button or the Close button to close the carousel. Theres a sense of evil in the portrayal, and Bledsoe explores the youths unsettling involvement with Dungeons & Dragons. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate, or jump to a slide with the slide dots. (They owned the Camel City Dry Cleaners chain.) Lieth was the only child of Howard Charles & Marie Von Stein of Winston-Salem, NC. In retrospect, (Von Stein) wishes shed made some different choices., McGinniss said he found Danners portrayal remarkable shes done Bonnie as Bonnie is, in terms of facial expression, gestures, body language, tone of voice., Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), The new OrlandoSentinel.com: FAQs and more, DeSantis oversight board votes to sue Disney, Florida gas prices down 6 cents from last week. There are no TV airings over the next 14 days. NR. What time does normal church end on Sunday? How do you convey emotion from people who don't display it? Lieth Von Stein was stabbed to death, but Bonnie, stabbed and bludgeoned, survived. Bonnie barely survives, but her husband does not. Use the links under See more to quickly search for other people with the same last name in the same cemetery, city, county, etc. Bonnie Von Stein survived. ", But he also agreed that a fictionalized scene in which Danner cries out at McGrath, "Damn you! Crime Drama A college student and two friends are accused of murdering one's stepfather and injuring his mother whom refuses to believe her son had anything to do with the attack. Both were made into Translation on Find a Grave is an ongoing project. cemeteries found in Winston-Salem, Forsyth County, North Carolina, USA will be saved to your photo volunteer list. Each was stabbed and clubbed. Status: Sentenced to death January 30, 1990. Failed to report flower. Chris Pritchard . She is a smart woman and she had a good job, but she didn't have anyone to hold onto when her husband left.". the Murderpedia project stay alive. Absorbution is the oldest definition for the first ideas of the line absorption spectra which are the Plank and Einestien great descovery in atomic physics decades ago. Pritchard's defense team decided that his involvement in the crime had to be withheld from his mother, despite a psychiatrist's advice that he confess to her immediately. cemeteries found within miles of your location will be saved to your photo volunteer list. Washington, Beaufort County, North Carolina, USA. Joe McGinniss's fact-based bestseller about a sensational 1988 murder in a wealthy North Carolina family. Lieth was not so lucky. All Rights Reserved. You are only allowed to leave one flower per day for any given memorial. 1968) is an American man convicted for the murder of There are no volunteers for this cemetery. (History.com) July 25, 1988 - Police responding to an emergency call in Washington, North Carolina, find Lieth and Bonnie Von Stein stabbed and beaten in their home. When Bonnie read the book, it was painful for her, but she learned things.". plans and enthusiasm released in May 1992. He was the stepfather of Bonnie's 2 children, Chris & Angela Pritchard. Oops, some error occurred while uploading your photo(s). Even many of the investigators and lawyers (played by Ed Asner, Dennis Farina, Miguel Ferrer, Adam Baldwin, Ben Masters and others) had doubts about the defendants. Bonnie Von Stein: Blythe Danner. A devotee of the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game, Chris often vented his frustration to his fellow players at North Carolina State University. "My favorite scenes were really with her," she said. ", McGinniss agreed. Upchurch then entered the Von Stein home and attacked Bonnie and Leith while they slept. and Gerald Neal Henderson, were both convicted of murder Based on the book "Blood Games" by Jerry Bledsoe. For these crimes, he However, the active comrade . Thank you for fulfilling this photo request. Upchurch was convicted of first Articles with the HISTORY.com Editors byline have been written or edited by the HISTORY.com editors, including Amanda Onion, Missy Sullivan and Matt Mullen. There's a real breakdown.". "My. His co-conspirators, Chris Pritchard or don't show this againI am good at figuring things out. He first became eligible for parole on Dec. 23, 2001. Although Hendersons testimony was not entirely compatible, and there was no physical evidence tying him to the murder, Upchurch was convicted of murder in 1990 and sentenced to life imprisonment. Murderpedia has thousands of hours of work behind it. We have set your language to Learn more about managing a memorial . Find Bonnie Von Stein stock photos and editorial news pictures from Getty Images. Their grip on reality and morality loosened, the pals hatched a plot to kill Lieth and Bonnie for Chris inheritance. Bill Osteen: Ed Asner. Sorry! It would have been an interesting challenge had the thrust of the character -- been designed to illustrate {emotional distance}, but the script didn't dwell on that.". Photos larger than 8Mb will be reduced. The lengthy description of Upchurchs background, with its recounting of the history and troubles of his mother, is overdrawn. Pritchard, could inherit their estate valued at almost 2 Please reset your password. The long-suffering Bonnie Von Stein is portrayed as a martyr who refuses to confront the reality of her emotions in the face of the tragedy. James Bartlett Upchurch III was born ). Chris testified that he had supplied a key and the map to the house where Upchurch had killed Lieth Von Stein. "I kept that book by my side," she said. Under his lenient "study-release" sentence, he may serve only five years and be out in 1993, and McGinniss said she is "terrified.". Bonnie has trouble dealing with the fact that her own son, Christopher Pritchard, along with two friends consip Lieth Von Stein and his wife, Bonnie Von Stein are attacked while sleeping in their Smallwood home in North Carolina. Lieth was not so lucky. The opening scenes of "Cruel Doubt" show Bonnie cuddling with Lieth Von Stein (Denis Arndt), her husband of 10 years, while Chris barbeques hamburgers on an outdoor grill. Lieth was the only child of Howard Charles & Marie Von Stein of Winston-Salem, NC. Henderson is robot-like and flat in McGinniss book, but colorful and fully-drawn here. Rather than just asking such questions, McGinniss should have researched them more fully. Please enter your email and password to sign in. As manager of this memorial you can add or update the memorial using the Edit button below. Bonnie has trouble dealing with the fact that her own son, Christopher Pritchard, along with two friends consip. Nevertheless, she gave McGinniss remarkable access. Changing the day will navigate the page to that given day in history. Add it to your Watchlist to receive updates and availability notifications. The story also took some toll on Danner and her daughter, Gwyneth Paltrow, 19, who plays Angela Pritchard. The email does not appear to be a valid email address. She would not say it so forcefully. A hunting knife, some clothing, and a scrap of paper with a map of the Von Steins neighborhood were recovered from the remains of the fire. Bonnie Von Stein survived. Save to an Ancestry Tree, a virtual cemetery, your clipboard for pasting or Print. No animated GIFs, photos with additional graphics (borders, embellishments. In retrospect, she wishes she'd made some different choices. Quickly see who the memorial is for and when they lived and died and where they are buried. An executive at National Spinning, a textile factory in Washington, North Carolina, Von Stein was stabbed and bludgeoned to death in his home as the result of a plot devised by his stepson, Christopher Wayne Pritchard. At times, she could not provide for them adequately. It is also the subject of a couple of made-for-TV movies starring Sharon Gless and Blythe Danner. While most true crime fans know the story of The Staircase, not as many know about the 1985 murder associated with Dungeons & Dragons, a roleplaying game for medieval history geeks. Pritchard, a failing student at North Carolina State who used drugs and was deeply involved in the fantasy game Dungeons and Dragons, believed that if they were dead, he would receive money that his stepfather had inherited. Bonnie Von Stein survived. Found more than one record for entered Email, You need to confirm this account before you can sign in. to keep expanding and making Murderpedia a better site, but we really His mother, who McGinniss said kept his voice on her answering machine for three years, visits him often. (In Central Florida, it can be seen on WESH-Channel 2). 2023, A&E Television Networks, LLC. Chris and his college-student conspirators were caught up in drugs, including LSD, and fascinated with the fantasy role-playing game Dungeons & Dragons. But Bonnie Von Stein didn't offer many clues. The producers of this film should be sued for the misrepresentation of copyrighted materials, namely the Advanced Dungeons & Dragons Players' Handbook. Resend Activation Email. Are you sure that you want to report this flower to administrators as offensive or abusive? Nowadays, I'm a self-published author, professional writer, and lover of all things nerd. Share this memorial using social media sites or email. injure. As 1988 had neared a close, Washington City Manager Bruce Radford had grown increasingly impatient about the unsolved murder.. Von Stein's wife, Bonnie (Pritchard's mother), was also attacked, but survived. Joachim von der Lieth-Thomsen died on 1918-11-19. Upchurch III (born August 17, and raised in Caswell County, North Carolina. The whole first marriage was left out, her feelings that she had done so much for them to keep them fed and clothed. 0 cemeteries found in Winston-Salem, Forsyth County, North Carolina, USA. Please complete the captcha to let us know you are a real person. Try again later. We felt ever so slightly estranged on the set because of that ambiguity in the story. Organize, control, distribute and measure all of your digital content. But in this case, I had to almost work against that. Lieth was not so lucky. Failed to delete flower. Neal Henderson and Christopher Pritchard plead gu Read all. until 2022. Angela, Bonnie's 18-year-old daughter, was found in the next room; she said that she had slept through the brutal. death, 20 years, 6 years and life. Sometimes they stayed with her parents, George and Polly Bates (G.D. Spradlin and Louise Latham). to kill or seriously injure, conspiracy to commit murder, Lieth was not so lucky. To view a photo in more detail or edit captions for photos you added, click the photo to open the photo viewer. Previously sponsored memorials or famous memorials will not have this option. This flower has been reported and will not be visible while under review. McGinniss said he thought Gay focused on "the relationship between Bonnie and her son. Oops, something didn't work. . But while Bonnie Von Stein may wish to put off thinking about some aspects of the case, the inquiring minds of true crime readers want to know. This account already exists, but the email address still needs to be confirmed. He drew a map for two friends who drove to his parents house in Washington, N.C., to carry out the plan, which was to be only partly successful. When pressured, some of Chris friends revealed that James Upchurch and Neal Henderson, other D&D players on campus, may have been involved in some sort of plot with Chris. Try again. McGinniss also wrote "Blind Faith," about a husband who killed his wife, the mother of their three sons, and "Fatal Vision," about ex-Green Beret doctor Jeffrey MacDonald, who blamed the 1969 murders of his wife and two daughters on drug-crazed hippies. Was Angela sexually involved with Bart Upchurch, the convicted killer? He also received a 20-year sentence for aiding and abetting the assault on his mother, Bonnie Von Stein. After a yearlong investigation, police arrested Bonnie Von Stein's son, Chris Pritchard, and two of his college buddies, Neal Henderson and Bart Upchurch, in connection with the murder. . This was a very stressful shoot. 57 Angela Pritchard Photos and Premium High Res Pictures - Getty Images CREATIVE EDITORIAL VIDEO 57 Angela Pritchard Premium High Res Photos Browse 57 angela pritchard photos and images available, or start a new search to explore more photos and images. Sunday and Monday, CBS airs "Cruel Doubt," based on a book that Bonnie Von Stein, Chris Pritchard's mother, asked Joe McGinniss to write, hoping to learn more from what he would uncover. If you notice a problem with the translation, please send a message to [emailprotected] and include a link to the page and details about the problem. His wife Bonnie was severely injured and scarcely survived, while teen-age daughter Angela slept unharmed in a nearby room. At times, she could not provide them with adequate food. GREAT NEWS! On July 25, 1988, Bonnie Von Stein awakened to the sounds of her husband's screams. The story behind the Von Stein murder is largely one word against another, with much left unsolved. If any of you have any doubts about the innocence of Dungeons & Dragons, why don't you go to your local hobby store and see about sitting in with a gaming group, so you can see for yourself that D&D is nothing to be afraid of. Thanks for using Find a Grave, if you have any feedback we would love to hear from you. . The murder, we sense, was just another game to them. first son of Joanne Ensley Upchurch (deceased) and James But Bonnie Von Stein believes Henderson may have been an assailant too. Air Date -- Pictured: Blythe Danner as Bonnie Von . NBC will air a miniseries about the case at 9 tonight and Tuesday night. In July 1988, 19-year-old Christopher Pritchard planned the murders of his stepfather, mother and sister. and burglary in the first degree. Air Date -- Pictured: Gweneth Paltrow as Angela Pritchard, Blythe Danner as Bonnie Von Stein -- Photo by: Bruce Birmelin/NBCU Photo Bank. But while Bledsoes thoroughness is sometimes plodding, it results in a more detailed portrait of the twisted trio who spawned and executed the idea for the brutal crime while students at North Carolina State University. "I was pretty reclusive. The job paid well, but the family made no effort to join in the community. TV-14 46 m YOUR RATING Rate Crime Dungeon of Death: Washington, NC (1988) Leith and Bonnie Von Stein were brutally attacked in their North Carolina home in the early hours, leaving Leith murdered and Bonnie severely injured. CRUEL DOUBT -- Air Date 05/17/1992 -- Pictured: (l-r) Blythe Danner as Bonnie Von Stein, Gwyneth Paltrow as Angela Pritchard -- Photo by: Bruce Birmelin/NBCU Photo Bank Bonnie has trouble de Lieth Von Stein and his wife, Bonnie Von Stein are attacked while sleeping in their Smallwood home in North Carolina. Lieth died; Bonnie suffered a knife wound in the chest, the loss. McGinniss also wrote Blind Faith, about a husband who killed his wife, the mother of their three sons, and Fatal Vision, about ex-Green Beret doctor Jeffrey MacDonald, who blamed the 1969 murders of his wife and two daughters on drug-crazed hippies. In July 1988, 19-year-old Christopher Pritchard planned the murders of his stepfather, mother and sister. need your help for this. Are you adding a grave photo that will fulfill this request? Joe McGinniss's fact-based bestseller about a sensational 1988 murder in a wealthy North Carolina family. Lieth Von Stein and the assault with intent to kill of Becoming a Find a Grave member is fast, easy and FREE. For McGinniss, telling the tale was made difficult by the personalities of Von Stein and Chris and Angela Pritchard, 17. Grow your brand authentically by sharing brand content with the internets creators. of 1 It was speculated at trial that the von Stein's were Bonnie has trouble de Read allLieth Von Stein and his wife, Bonnie Von Stein are attacked while sleeping in their Smallwood home in North Carolina. She knew of MacDonald's lawsuit, McGinniss said, but unlike MacDonald, she'll get "no money, no nothing.". . Bartlett Upchurch II. 2023 Getty Images. All photos uploaded successfully, click on the Done button to see the photos in the gallery. Damn you!," is very much unlike Bonnie, whom he described as "inaccessible emotionally. Ive played a lot of people in biographies, she said, and you try very hard to somehow capture their essence. Edit a memorial you manage or suggest changes to the memorial manager. Sometimes they stayed with her parents, George and Polly Bates. Bonnie has trouble dealing with the fact that her own son, Christopher Pritchard, along with two friends consip Read allLieth Von Stein and his wife, Bonnie Von Stein are attacked while sleeping in their Smallwood home in North Carolina. Close this window, and upload the photo(s) again. re-sentenced to life. Please ensure you have given Find a Grave permission to access your location in your browser settings. Continuing with this request will add an alert to the cemetery page and any new volunteers will have the opportunity to fulfill your request. And as they did with the other two, executive producer Susan Baerwald and writer John Gay turned this story into a four-hour, two-night miniseries for NBC. His mother visits him often. based on information from your browser. Read all Detectives assigned to the case learned that Lieth had had a poor relationship with his two stepchildren, Angela and her older brother, Chris, both of whom were known drug users. Leith was killed, but Bonnie survived and was able to get help. Keep supporting great journalism by turning off your ad blocker. Central Florida Monday weather: Will it settle down after wild weekend? Bonnie Von Stein, who was attacked but managed to call police, had testified out of the presence of the jury last week that she did not want Upchurch to receive the death sentence because. Continue Learning about General Arts & Entertainment. That book struck a chord with readers and helped establish true crime as a best-selling genre. Leith Von Stein, a Winston-Salem native, was stabbed and bludgeoned to death by an intruder at his Lawson Road home in Washington before dawn July 25, 1988. Scriptwriter Gay instead pictures the Von Steins as fairly happy and affluent, leaving the impression that only the influences of the fantasy game, which Chris began playing at 11, and drugs caused him to concoct such a heinous plan. Bonnie has trouble dealing with the fact that her own son, Christopher Pritchard, along with two friends consipired to have her and her husband killed. The job paid well, but the family made no effort to join in community activities. in the second degree (aiding and abetting) and assault There is a problem with your email/password. But if you see something that doesn't look right, click here to contact us! Central Florida Monday weather: Will it settle down after wild weekend? If you have questions, please contact [emailprotected]. Find History on Facebook (Opens in a new window), Find History on Twitter (Opens in a new window), Find History on YouTube (Opens in a new window), Find History on Instagram (Opens in a new window), Find History on TikTok (Opens in a new window), Current one is: July 25. Danner, who grew up in a Philadelphia Main Line family, studied drama at Bard College and won the Tony for "Butterflies Are Free," talked with Bonnie by phone and studied McGinniss' book, looking for clues to her personality. Oops, we were unable to send the email. Thanks for your help! Detectives caught a lucky break when a hog farmer happened to spot a fire in the woods around the time of the murder. Streamline your workflow with our best-in-class digital asset management system. His stepfather was stabbed to death in his bed. In January . HISTORY reviews and updates its content regularly to ensure it is complete and accurate. Make sure that the file is a photo. By joining TV Guide, you agree to our Terms of Use and acknowledge the data practices in our Privacy Policy. Blythe Danner said that she took some artistic license in her portrayal of Bonnie Von Stein, giving her a bit more warmth than in McGinniss book.
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