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Dateline covered a case where a retired firefighter was brutally murdered in his own garage. His ex-wife's new spouse committed the crime. The tragedy took place in late 2016. This case shocked everyone around him. Don Fluitt was a beloved citizen of his town. He often helped feed the homeless every week. His life tragically ended in unimaginable ways.
The murder investigation, according to Dateline, drew the attention of the nation. Dateline covered this tragic case extensively. The case involved custody disputes and family drama. People were seeking answers about what had actually happened.
The investigation revealed hidden secrets about family connections. Cops worked hard to bring justice for Fluitt. His murder left several questions unanswered. The community mourned the loss of a hero.
Dateline: Who was Don Fluitt?
Don Fluitt was born in 1962. He worked as a firefighter in Bernalillo County. He was just 54 years old when he died. Fluitt had three children named Siena, Josh, and Tiffany.
He formally came from Los Angeles, California. His life revolved around supporting and helping those in need. He volunteered every Sunday to feed the homeless.
His youngest daughter joined him at these events. They called it Spaghetti Sunday. The community admired and respected him for his kindness. His obituary mentioned that he had a positive impact on everyone around him.
What happened to Don Fluitt?
Fluitt was found dead on December 29, 2016. His body was found in his garage in Albuquerque, New Mexico. His daughter tried to call him, but he didn't answer. She grew stressed about him. Two of his co-workers went to check on him.
They discovered him dead at his house. The discovery shocked everyone who knew him. The sequence was violent and disturbing..
Police intervention
A close neighbor had surveillance cameras installed near Fluitt's home. The footage displayed a man knocking over Fluitt's garbage can. The man infiltrated the garage. This became very important evidence for investigators as cops collected DNA evidence from the crime scene. The DNA matched Terry White, the present husband of Fluitt's ex-wife, Christine White. The video footage helped to identify the killer immediately.
Who was Terry White?
Terry White was Christine's new husband. Cops arrested him after the murder. He tried to kill himself in Arizona with his car. The authorities stopped him before he succeeded. He was kept in detention in the Metropolitan Detention Center. While he was locked up, he spoke to another inmate. The inmate Terry White admitted to tripping the garage door and
“ended up getting underneath theuy’s f-cking truck.”
Terry also confessed to this cellmate that the reason behind his crime was Fluitt's intervention in the case of custody of their daughter, Siena.
“The motherf-cker just wouldn’t go away,”
He confessed that his wife encouraged him to kill Fluitt. An informant told the investigators the following.
“[Terry White] told me several times, several occasions, that he did it for [Christine White]... That she’s the one that told him, ‘We’ve gotta do this now. You gotta do this for your family.’”
He claimed it was to protect his family. The inmate reported that White twisted Fluitt's trachea. He then utilized a steak knife to slit his throat. The details were brutal and horrifying. Terry was later convicted and sentenced to prison for 42 years.
Was Christine White involved?
The cops, according to Dateline, issued a warrant for Christine White on June 14, 2017. She encountered charges for conspiracy to commit the killing. The police believed she helped plan her ex-husband's killing. Don and Christine were fighting over custody of their 11-year-old daughter.
The custody battle turned bitter and intense. However, the charges against Christine were dropped around April 2018. Many people questioned this decision. Some felt that justice was not fully served. The dropped charges left the community frustrated.
Why did Dateline cover this story?
The show featured The Figure in the Garage on March 19, 2022. The episode aired as part of Dateline Weekend Mystery. The series explored the disturbing details of the case. Audiences learned about the custody battle between Christine and Don.
Dateline revealed how a neighbor's surveillance footage helped crack the case. The program displayed how The Figure in the Garage became a crucial piece of evidence. Dateline also interviewed people who knew Fluitt personally. The series brought national attention to this tale.
What was the impact on the community?
Fluitt's murder shocked those who knew him. His firefighter colleagues mourned their friend. The homeless people he fed lost a supporter. His kids lost their loving father.
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The Spaghetti Sunday events continued to pay him homage. People wanted to honor his legacy of kindness. The case served as a poignant reminder of the fragility of life.
Also See: Dateline: 5 harrowing details about Dr. Steven Schwartz's murder, revisited
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