The Suspicious Death of AR Squire

Jul 13, 2024

The Suspicious Death of AR Squire

Introduction

  • Presenter: Mike
  • Date: February 23, 2008
  • Begins with AR Squire's tragic death, transitioning to mystery and investigation.
  • Focus on strange events and findings leading up to and following his death.

Background on AR Squire

  • 39-year-old co-founder of a small construction company in Chicago.
  • Passionate about diesel trucks; well-regarded in both local community and diesel community.
  • Married to Denise for 14 years without children; lived different lives even sleeping in separate bedrooms.

The Incident

  • Morning of February 23, 2008: Ari goes to his garage to work on his white truck.
  • Denise wakes up later, notices unusually thick black smoke from the garage.
  • Calls 911 after being unable to contact Ari.
  • Firefighters discover Ari's body under his truck, burnt severely - identified by his clothing and wallet.

Initial Investigation

  • Cause of Death: Appears to be a freak accident - truck slipped off jack, crushing Ari and sparking a fire.
  • Suspicions: Ari was a skilled and safety-conscious mechanic; odd for him to die this way.

Strange Findings

  • Marriage: Seemed more like business partners; no photos of them together in the house.
  • Financial Troubles: AR was in deep debt due to failed business ventures and legal troubles.
  • Denise's reaction to Ari's death seemed indifferent.
  • Life Insurance: AR had a $5 million policy with Denise as sole beneficiary.

Further Investigation

  • Scene Evidence: Details at the scene contradict the accident story:
    • No scratches or damages indicating truck slip.
    • No power in garage (circuit breaker off) which contradicts fire origin from a light bulb.
    • AR's body doused in some kind of fuel; cardboard found on top of him.
  • Suspicion of Murder: Police suspect Ari was already dead before the staged accident.

Justin Newman's Involvement

  • 20-year-old Justin goes missing the same morning as an AR regular.
  • Last seen heading for work with AR.
  • His disappearance leads to new leads in Ari's death.
  • A text message later received from Justin seemed out of character.

Breakthrough in the Case

  • Medical Examiner's Findings: Body found under the truck didn't match AR's medical history (e.g., no broken arm evidence).
  • Investigator's Insight: AR had once mentioned staging a death for a fresh start.

Conclusion

  • Police discovered AR hiding in a hotel room in St. Louis, under Justin Newman's identity.
  • Final Confrontation: In a standoff, AR commits suicide.
  • Evidence: Wearing contact lenses to match Justin's eyes; email exchanges between AR and Denise revealed premeditated plans.
  • Denise's Fate: Never charged, but later ordered to pay $6 million to Justin's family in a civil suit.

Summary

  • A tragic and convoluted plot entailing murder, deception, and failed plans.
  • Justin Newman, an innocent victim, lost his life due to Ari's escape plan from financial ruin.
  • Highlighted as one of the most tragic and stupid plots covered by Mike.

Conclusion by Mike

  • Encourages audience to check out more stories on "That Chapter Podcast" available on all platforms.
  • Signing off with a reminder to care for each other.