'48 hours' Did a kind 'Widow' murder her 2 husbands?

48 HOURS (CBS) can be seen each Saturday evening at 10/9 p.m. It aired at 9 p.m. (central time) on the Albuquerque TV station KRQE 13. Last night’s episode on Sept. 30, 2017 was called, “The Widow on Solway Road.” In the overnight TV ratings it garnered 4.18 million TV viewers overall. It reached 0.6 million TV viewers in the all important 18 to 49 adult demographic. “Saturday Night Football” (ABC) grabbed 4.62 overall & 1.5 with adults (8-11 p.m.). “SNL Vintage” (NBC) nabbed 2.54 overall & 0.6 with adults. 

“48 Hours” is a news program that covers crime and murder in the United States. Last night’s episode was reported and narrated by Erin Moriarty. 

“The Widow on Solway Road.” The state of Tennessee 2003.  Raynella Leath found her husband David Leath shot dead in his bed. There were 3 gunshots. The first shot was in the bed. The second shot was in his forehead. The third shot was in the bed head-board behind him. Raynella says he committed suicide. The police believed it was murder. Raynella’s finger prints weren’t on the gun. She also claimed that David was suicidal and withdrew from life. She was arrested and charged with murder in 2009. That first trial became a “mis-trial.” Prosecutor’s re-charged her in 2010 and she was convicted, but only served 6 years behind bars. That case was thrown out because the judge at the time had a drug addiction during the trial. The third trial began in 2017. 

Raynella’s first husband Ed Dossett supposedly died from an agricultural accident in 1992. He was trampled to death by cows on his farm. She became known in the small community as “The Black Widow.” Ed had cancer, but if his death was an accident. His wife and kids would gain a huge life insurance payout. His autopsy showed that Ed died of a massive overdose of morphine. Prosecutors charged her in the death of Ed, but dropped it when she went to prison after being convicted in David’s death. 

Did Raynella murder her two husbands? Or was she just an unlucky woman?      

Click photos for 48 HOURS for full episode at CBS.

(CBS photo. Raynella Leath, center, is labeled a "black widow.")

CBS photo. The 30th TV season premiere was a "doozy.")