A popular crime documentary series has exposed the chilling true story of a 14-year-old girl and her 19-year-old boyfriend who brutally slaughtered her mother because they disapproved of their relationship.
Joanne Witt was stabbed at least 20 times in June 2009 while she slept in her home in El Dorado Hills, California.
Before her murder, the 47-year-old, who worked as a mechanical engineer, had reported that daughter Tylar had been the victim of statutory rape by older lover Steven Colver – setting off a harrowing chain of events.
Here, FEMAIL has exposed the disturbing reality in the latest episode of People Magazine investigates explores the case of the couple who considered themselves a real-life Romeo and Juliet.
Joanne Witt was stabbed at least 20 times in June 2009 while she slept in her home in El Dorado Hills, California.
Prior to her murder, the 47-year-old, who worked as a mechanical engineer, had reported that daughter Tylar (left) had been the victim of statutory rape by older lover Steven Colver (right)
The horrific true story began in December 2008 when Joanne’s daughter Tylar met Steven at a local coffee shop shortly after she entered ninth grade and he went off to college.
The single mother, who was concerned about the age difference, was initially told that their bond was just a friendship and that Steven was gay.
And Tylar soon convinced her mother to let Steven rent a room in the family home.
Joanna reportedly told friends that she thought the older boy could help her daughter with homework and that she could put the extra income toward the mortgage.
But Joanne’s father Norb told her 48 hours: ‘No one – every friend she had, everyone in the family – didn’t want him there. But Joanne had a very strong will.”
However, she later learned that the relationship had turned sexual after she walked in on the young couple in a compromising position.
Joanne called two co-workers to help evict Steven and warned him to stay away from her daughter.
But he seemed unfazed and would reportedly sneak back to visit when Tylar’s mother was at work or late at night when she was sleeping.
Joanna let Steven rent out a room in the family home (photo) because she thought the older boy could help her daughter with homework and that she could spend the extra income on the mortgage
The single mother later learned that Tylar and Steven’s relationship had turned sexual after she walked in on the young couple in a compromising position.
El Dorado County Sheriff Jeff Leikauf said officers conducting a welfare check “immediately discovered a female partially lying on the bed. She was covered with a blanket, there was no movement, but there was a lot of blood’
The pair had also started using drugs together, including marijuana, cocaine and ecstasy, according to reports.
The situation proved too much for Joanne, who went to the police to report Steven for statutory rape after his sexual relationship with her underage daughter.
She also turned over Tylar’s diary, which was full of “very explicit writings about different sexual positions,” as evidence of the encounters with Steven, prosecutor Lisette Suder said.
Suder previously told CBS News, “She wanted (Steven) away from her daughter, but they couldn’t bear the thought of not being together and so the plot began.”
Tylar was said to be angry with Joanne and devastated at the thought of her boyfriend possibly being sent to prison – and that’s when the pair decided to take action.
The investigation into the sordid relationship was still ongoing when Joanne’s own parents received a call from her boss asking where she was after she failed to show up for work.
The call immediately set off alarm bells for the retired couple and Joanne’s boss revealed that he had already called the sheriffs to request a welfare check because it was so strange for the dedicated employee.
El Dorado County Sheriff Jeff Leikauf said, “Officers were able to enter through the side of the home. They walked up the stairs to the master bedroom.
‘They immediately discovered a female partially lying on the bed. She was covered with a blanket, there was no movement, but there was a lot of blood.”
Joannes had been stabbed at least 20 times with what police said was a 10-inch chef’s knife, but the weapon was never recovered.
In 2011, as a result of her testimony, the then 16-year-old was convicted of manslaughter and received a reduced sentence of 15 years to life.
Steven, then 21, was convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to life in prison without parole
Suder, who described the attack as ‘very violent’, revealed: ‘It was a very, very, very horrific scene. There was a wound that almost decapitated her.”
Tylar herself was nowhere to be found in the house and authorities soon realized she had fled with Steven, leading to a manhunt.
The couple planned to commit suicide with rat poison on their four-month anniversary in the belief that Steven would go to prison, and had both written incriminating suicide notes.
It is thought that they regarded themselves as Shakespeare’s doomed lovers Romeo and Juliet, who died for their love – but their first attempt had only given Tylar a stomach ache.
Before attempting the plan again, the teens were discovered by local officers behind a dumpster in a shopping center 100 miles after stopping to change.
The pair eventually turned on each other during separate interrogations and the case later went to trial.
Steven – who had once described to friends how he had stabbed his girlfriend’s mother with a butcher knife – changed his story.
He claimed Joanne was already dead when he arrived at the house and claimed it was Tylar who stabbed her to death.
Tylar’s own story is that she had fallen to the floor before entering her mother’s room and sat with her hands over her ears, humming while Steven slaughtered Joanne.
The jury rejected Steven’s defense claims and Tylar agreed to testify against him in court.
In 2011, as a result of her testimony, the then 16-year-old was convicted of manslaughter and given a reduced sentence of 15 years to life.
She will be eligible for parole in 2024 at the age of 29.
Steven, then 21, was convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to life in prison without parole.