Photos: The Russel Douglas murder investigation
On Dec. 27, 2003, Island County Sheriff's detectives arrived to the scene of a brutal crime on Whidbey Island, Washington: a man is found in his car, dead from a bullet wound in between the eyes.
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An Unlikely Victim
Detectives learned that the man in the car was Russel Douglas, a 32-year-old father of two. They informed Russel's wife, Brenna, about his death around 10 p.m. that night.
Video: Remembering Russel Douglas
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An Unusual Reaction
When told about about Russel's death, Brenna Douglas asked few questions. The new widow even put down Russel, complaining that he sometimes made nasty remarks that upset her. Detectives found her reaction to the news unusual, but with no evidence to link Brenna to the crime, they turned their attention to other people in Russel's life.
Video: Remembering Russel Douglas
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Peggy Sue Thomas
After running a search of Russel Douglas' phone records, detectives noticed that several calls were exchanged three days before his death with a woman named Peggy Sue Thomas. They called her and the former beauty queen answered all of their questions. She admitted to being friends with Russel's wife, Brenna, but seemed to know nothing about the crime.
Mysterious Caller
Seven months after Russel's death, an anonymous caller told investigators that he knew who the killer was -- a friend of his who admitted to the crime. After some more digging, investigators discovered that the caller was a Floridian named Bill Hill (right). He was a bandmate of Jim Huden (left) -- the alleged gunman.
A Possible Motive
Detectives discovered a web that connects Jim Huden to murder victim Russel Douglas: Jim's girlfriend was Peggy Sue Thomas. Peggy Sue Thomas was good friends with Brenna Douglas. According to Jim Huden's friend Bill Hill, Jim said he was the trigger man, but Peggy Sue and Brenna were in on the plan. The motive: insurance money.
Not Enough Evidence
In August 2004, investigators interrogated both Jim Huden and Peggy Sue Thomas, who denied the crime. Without enough evidence to make an arrest, they had to let them go.
Jean and Jim Huden
Jim Huden's life was complicated. Besides being a suspect in a murder along with his girlfriend, Peggy Sue Thomas, Jim also had a wife, Jean Huden, in Punta Gorda, Fla.
On The Run
After his interrogation, Jim Huden decided to split town. Leaving both his wife and girlfriend behind in the states, Jim fled to Mexico. To the dismay of investigators, he remained a fugitive for over six years.
Tracing a fugitive's footsteps in Mexico
Video: Band mates open up about rocker, murder suspect
aka Jim Martin
Jim Huden remained a guitarist in Mexico, even playing locally under a different name: Jim Martin. Locals told "48 Hours" they had no idea their new friend was a suspect in a murder.
Tracing a fugitive's footsteps in Mexico
Video: Who is Jim Huden?
Peggy Sue Thomas
Peggy Sue Thomas went on with her life, driving a limo for high rollers in Las Vegas.
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The Arrests
Finally a tip came in that uncovered Jim Huden's whereabouts in Veracruz, Mexico. Jim was arrested on June 9, 2011, and flown back to Whidbey Island, Wash. One month later, Peggy Sue Thomas was arrested in New Mexico.
Video: Jim Huden, Peggy Sue Thomas questioned
Justice for Russel Douglas
Jim Huden stood trial in July 2012. Key evidence against him was a gun that police recovered. The gun once belonged to Jim and matched the bullet that killed Russel Douglas. Jim was found guilty of first-degree murder and sentenced to 80 years.
Peggy Sue's Plea Deal
Next up was Peggy Sue Thomas. Just a week before her trial was about to start, she accepted a plea deal: four years in prison on a reduced charge of rendering criminal assistance.
Brenna Douglas, the victim's wife, was never charged but Island County Prosecutor Greg Banks says she is still on their radar.
The Hardest Part
Peggy Sue Thomas told "48 Hours" she accepted the plea deal because she was fearful she wouldn't get a fair trial, but still denies involvement in the murder of Russel Douglas. She said the hardest part of this experience is being separated from her two daughters.
On the Trail of a Killer
While reporting on this story, "48 Hours" correspondent Peter Van Sant visited some of Jim Huden's old hideouts in Mexico to see if he left behind any clues about his life on the run.
Starting Over
While out in Mexico, "48 Hours" discovered Jim Huden's birth certificate, driver's license and border crossing paperwork.
This notebook page appears to contain handwritten notes from Jim learning Spanish. He seemed like a man who was starting a new life.
Blues Man
Most of the notebook contained musical notes. Jim Huden was known as a "blues man."
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Looking Ahead
Jim Huden won't be eligible for parole until 2085. Peggy Sue Thomas, only has to wait until Aug. 12, 2016, to be eligible.
She told "48 Hours", "There's something wonderful on the other side of this and I don't know what the lesson is yet, but there's gotta be one."
Video: Best-selling author Ann Rule on why this case was so intriguing