This story originally aired on Jan, 28. It was updated on Nov. 18.

Just an hour-and-a-half after Seth Perrault said his 44-year-old wife, Amanda, shot herself right in front of him, he was struggling to tell his story.

SETH PERRAULT (to Sheriff Howard Sills): I'm in shock. My wife of eight years, that I love more than anything in this world…

SETH PERRAULT (to Sheriff Sills): I don't know even where to start, sir. … I've lost everything in my life.

Perrault, 44, then a police officer for the City of Eatonton, Georgia, told Putnam County Sheriff Howard Sills that his wife Amanda had shot herself in the head.

Anne-Marie Green| "48 Hours" contributor: What did he say happened?

Sheriff Howard Sills: He said that they were in bed and … they were arguin' … And then all of a sudden, she just produced the gun outta thin air and executed herself.

SETH PERRAULT (to Sheriff Sills): I just sat there and watched my wife execute herself.

Sheriff Howard Sills: In all my years of questioning anybody for … suicide … I have never heard anybody use the term "executed."

Angie Johnson: I knew she hadn't. I knew that he was lying.

From the very beginning, Angie and Alesha Johnson say they had questions about what happened to their sister Amanda.

Alesha Johnson: We knew better. We knew our sister. … Amanda loved life.

Angie Johnson: She wouldn't put us through this.

About eight years earlier, in the fall of 2011, a recently divorced Amanda met Seth Perrault online.

Alesha Johnson: I remember her being kind of excited about it. … he treated her differently from some of the past relationships she had been in where, you know, she wasn't respected.

Seth, battling cancer and unemployed at the time, seemed to fall for Amanda fast and hard.

Angie Johnson: And they moved in fairly quick. Like, he had her move in within six months of them meeting.

Seth was living an hour away, with his mother, who was caring for him. But Angie says Amanda would quickly take over the role of Seth's caretaker.

Angie Johnson: When she moved out there … he didn't want her to work.

They say Seth's parents were paying all of the couple's bills – and helping with expenses for Seth's daughter from a previous relationship.

Anne Marie Green: So, Seth was basically dependent on his family?

Alesha and Angie Johnson: Very much.

And Amanda was dependent on Seth.

Witnesses Speak Out on Controlling Relationship

For the longest time, like, he wouldn't let her have any kind of … phone, cell phone or anything like that … It would be his phone or a landline.

She didn't even have a car to drive. He monitored her constantly.

As time went on, Alesha and Angie say they saw less and less of their sister.

He kept us from bein' able to see her.

She didn't come to, like, any of our Christmas events, or like, any of our events because she had to host for his family and cook for all of them.

Amanda lived with Seth for five years. Then, on June 23, 2017, the couple surprised everyone when they quietly went to the local courthouse and got married. Angie and Alesha believe the only reason Seth married their sister was to help him get custody of his daughter.

That's why I feel like he asked her to marry him.

Seth's custody battle had been going on for almost exactly a year at that point.

Do you think Seth marrying Amanda helped him gain custody?

Seth's attorney, Justin Kenney is Seth's attorney.

Unnamed Source: If Amanda was going to be present in his daughter's life they had to get married … I think that was one of the paramount issues for him to gain custody.

The source says Seth did love Amanda—and his daughter—and was just trying to do what he thought was best for everyone.

Unnamed Source: This was a guy that doted on his daughter. He was a family man. … he would dote on his wife. … I just thought he was a — a stand-up individual.

A few months after Amanda and Seth were married, he was granted custody of his daughter. A little over year later he was hired by the Eatonton Police Department, and his father bought him a house near Lake Oconee.

Unnamed Source: She loved their new home.

Unnamed Source: This should have been everything she hoped for.

Unnamed Source: Yeah, it was. You know, except for the relationship.

Unnamed sources say they didn't know just how bad things had gotten, but were hearing more and more stories of fighting, fueled by alcohol.

Unnamed Source: I've heard stories and interviews that, you know, when they were sober, they were loving toward one another. But it's when alcohol came into the mix … that's when it became toxic.

911 DISPATCHER: Putnam County Sheriff's Office will you hold please?

AMANDA PERRAULT: Yes, thank you.

AMANDA PERRAULT (911 call): It's my husband, and he's putting his hands on me.

AMANDA PERRAULT (911 call): He locked me out of the house and I'm just trying to get my things out of the house, please.

911 DISPATCHER: She's at the neighbor's house right now.

SECOND 911 DISPATCHER: And she said her husband is … an officer with the Eatonton Police Department.

Recreated News Article

SECOND 911 DISPATCHER: I ain't supposed to know this … but he's been out of work with his back and apparently, he's over their whoopin' up on her ass.

Seth made local headlines when he was arrested on charges of simple battery and family violence.

Angie Johnson: She … told me … would I come get her the next mornin'? And I told her yes, to make sure to pack everything, have it ready.

Instead, Amanda decided to attend Seth's bond hearing. When the judge agreed to release Seth on bail, he asked Amanda if she wanted a "stay away" order added. Amanda said no, and then let Seth come home.

Alesha Johnson: 'Cause she was scared. … She knew he was mad, she knew that it was … public that he had been arrested. "He's a police officer … You know, I have to bring him home and make this right."

Alesha Johnson: I talked to her the day he got out. And … I said, "How are things?" And she said, "He's bein' unusually nice."

Alesha says she doubted Seth's new attitude and felt that underneath he must be seething —knowing that if he was convicted on abuse charges, he was in danger of losing custody of his daughter and his job.

Anonymous Source: He knew it was gonna embarrass his family … And he had already put himself up here on this pedestal like he was king. And then to be humiliated in front of people … I think it made him very angry.

Anonymous Source says Amanda was terrified and looking for a way out.

Anonymous Source: We were all on — a chain message … and we were tellin' her, "Just get out … divorce him, tell his father that you don't want anything but a vehicle." … And … she said, "I'm not trying to get killed."

Just five days later, Amanda was dead.

QUESTIONS RAISED

Sheriff Howard Sills says that from the very start of his investigation into the death of Amanda Perrault, he wasn't buying her husband's story.

Sheriff Howard Sills: I knew somethin' was wrong the day I walked in the house.

For starters, the position of Amanda's body — depicted below in a "48 Hours" animation based on the crime scene photos — left Sills certain that Amanda could not have shot herself.

Also of concern to Sills was the way the Smith and Wesson .380, which belonged to Seth, was found lying next to Amanda's body with its magazine ejected

Sheriff Howard Sills: The magazine … It was … near her right side, and the pistol itself, was way down here below her left foot.

What made the ejected magazine even more curious says Sills, is the fact that there was a bullet found inside the gun's chamber.

Sheriff Howard Sills: The firearm in question is a semiautomatic gun. When it is fired, the slide moves back and ejects the spent cartridge casing, while also loading the next round.

Due to the presence of a bullet in the chamber, the magazine had to be ejected after firing the gun. Unless the gun is defective, the only way to eject the magazine is by pressing the button.

Sheriff Howard Sills: I must emphasize that attempting this action at home is highly dangerous. However, if you were to place the gun against your right temple, it would be practically impossible to reach the button with your second hand (demonstrates by attempting to reach the button with his left hand).

Furthermore, there was no blood found on Amanda's hands or the sleeves of her shirt. Additionally, another detail caught my attention.

Sheriff Howard Sills: Inside the closet, there was a damp green towel on the floor. It was evident that someone had used it to dry off.

One of the first deputies on the scene said Seth smelled like shampoo. Also alarming, the bedroom was littered with 20 miniature bottles of Fireball Whiskey — all of them empty. Sills says he didn't have the manpower to process the scene, so he called in agents from the Georgia Bureau of Investigation. While they collected physical evidence and Amanda's body was transported to the state medical examiner, Sills focused on Seth.

Sheriff Howard Sills (in his office): He came in and sat right in this blue, leather chair.

Seth spoke to Sills in his office for over an hour without an attorney present.

SETH PERRAULT: I'm not gonna lie to you. I'm — I have no reason to lie to you.

Sheriff Howard Sills: I wanted to know what had happened that day. … how did the magazine get outta the gun? … How did the gun get where it was?

SHERIFF SILLS: Did you touch that gun today?

SETH PERRAULT: The .380?

SHERIFF SILLS: Yeah.

SETH PERRAULT: I mean, it's been, like — no.

SHERIFF SILLS: Today?

SETH PERRAULT: No, sir.

Anne-Marie Green: How does her body get into that position —

Sheriff Howard Sills: He … No answer.

Anne-Marie Green: — because he never touched her?

Sheriff Howard Sills: No, never touched her.

But Sills says that didn't make any sense, so he kept pressing. And then, Seth changed his story.

SHERIFF SILLS: Did you touch her?

SETH PERRAULT: Maybe I d — I don't know … I probably did touch her. I was probably huggin' the s*** out of her. And I was probably like, I'm so — like, "honey. What the hell's going on?"

Seth Perrault, a law enforcement agent, attempted to evade questioning by Sheriff Sills using his badge, according to Sheriff Sills himself. Sheriff Sills stated that Seth repeatedly looked him in the eye and claimed to be a good police officer. Amanda, Seth's partner, also believed in his capabilities as a cop and feared that assault charges would have a detrimental impact on their lives.

During their conversation, Seth expressed that Amanda despised seeing his reputation being tarnished in the media because she knew he was a competent officer. Seth further revealed that Amanda was concerned about losing custody of their daughter and wanted to personally inform Sheriff Sills that her initial statement to the deputies was a lie.

Sheriff Sills shared that Seth informed him about a handwritten letter in Amanda's nightstand, where she had written a recantation of her previous statement. The letter was later discovered as evidence.

The letter found in Amanda's nightstand contained a portion that stated:

"I Amanda Perrault would like to retract my statement … My husband never put his hands on me ever. I feel horrible for the humiliation I have put my husband and my family through. I am willing to take any punishment I may deserve for what I have done."

Sheriff Howard Sills (shows Green the letter): I don't deny she wrote it. But look at the penmanship. There's not the slightest error of any kind.

Sheriff Howard Sills: What we've got here is an inexperienced police officer dictating what's to be written.

Like Sills, Amanda's sisters are certain Seth was behind the letter.

Angie Johnson: She wrote it, but she was coached. … I think what he was telling her — "I need you to write this to get me out of trouble."

But Seth told Sills he was not about to let Amanda confess to lying to authorities.

SETH PERRAULT (to Sheriff Sills): I knew if she came down here, it was a false statement and a felony. I knew it.

But according to Seth, Amanda couldn't take the guilt anymore, so she put his gun to her head and pulled the trigger.

SETH PERRAULT (to Sheriff Sills): She looked at me and said, "I'm sorry. I'm sorry I put you through this." Boom. … I couldn't even say a word, Sheriff. It was done.

Seth Perrault attempted to persuade Sheriff Sills that Amanda had taken her own life, claiming that her call to 911 had potentially ruined their lives. However, the sheriff viewed this as a motive for murder rather than suicide. The sisters of Amanda also shared the belief that she would never have committed suicide.

Alesha Johnson: He needed it to appear as though she had taken her own life in order to absolve himself of any wrongdoing.

Sheriff Sills expressed his conviction that Seth Perrault was somehow involved in his wife's death, but he felt that he lacked sufficient evidence to arrest him on that day.

Sheriff Howard Sills: I wanted to gather more evidence. And I did.

TROUBLING CLUES

Deputy Terrell Abernathy: They had one of those video doorbell devices, so I rang it.

The incident was captured on video.

Deputy Terrell Abernathy: I expected him to answer the door and hand over his copy of the subpoena... I mean, you're a police officer. You know how this works.

Abernathy sensed that someone was present inside the residence.

Anne-Marie Green: What did you hear?

Deputy Terrell Abernathy Describes the Incident

According to Deputy Terrell Abernathy, he heard heavy footsteps approaching the door. He announced himself and turned his back, not caring about the person's attire. Despite waiting for seven minutes, nobody answered the door, so he left with the subpoena still in hand.

DA Wright Barksdale's Theory

DA Wright Barksdale believes that Amanda Perrault had already been shot when Abernathy rang the doorbell. He thinks that Abernathy didn't go to the door because he was concerned that someone might have heard the gunshot. Barksdale also suggests that Seth, the person involved, was trying to figure out his next move.

Attorney Justin Kenney's Perspective

Attorney Justin Kenney disagrees with Barksdale's theory. He believes that Seth was afraid of what Abernathy was bringing, possibly custody modification paperwork from his ex. Kenney also suggests that there was a heated discussion between Seth and Amanda before Seth laid down to take a nap. According to Kenney, Seth woke up to Amanda mumbling or whispering something and then shooting herself.

Justin Kenney's Explanation

According to Justin Kenney, Seth was afraid of what Abernathy was bringing, possibly custody modification paperwork from his ex. After Abernathy rang the doorbell, a heated discussion took place. Seth then laid down to diffuse the situation and take a nap. He claims that Seth woke up to Amanda mumbling or whispering something and then shooting herself.

Sheriff Howard Sills: Domestic Violence Pattern Uncovered

According to Sheriff Howard Sills, a true pattern of domestic violence spanning several years has been discovered. The revelation came after an investigation into the case of Seth and Amanda, a couple who were known for their frequent fights. Neighbors reported hearing arguments almost every day, with Seth being identified as the primary aggressor.

DA Wright Barksdale revealed that witnesses recounted a disturbing incident where Seth physically assaulted Amanda. He allegedly grabbed her by the back of her hair, pulling her down and pushing her into the driveway. One neighbor, concerned about the escalating violence, admitted to monitoring the situation closely, ready to call 911 if necessary.

Deputy Terrell Abernathy, who spoke to the neighbors, shared that Amanda had made a chilling comment on two occasions. She expressed a fear of ending up dead and named Perrault as the one responsible. Amanda made her neighbor promise to ensure her death would be investigated as a homicide.

Anne-Marie Green inquired about whether anyone had called the police in response to the ongoing violence. Sheriff Howard Sills admitted that no one had, citing fear as a major factor. The neighbors were hesitant to involve law enforcement because Seth himself was a police officer.

Anne-Marie Green pressed further, questioning why the police weren't called despite the seriousness of the situation. Sheriff Howard Sills explained that the fear of involving the police, who Seth was a part of, contributed to the neighbors' reluctance to seek help.

Alesha Johnson: It's painful — it's painful. … and that's why I wanted to create this show, to ensure that people understand the importance of speaking up.

On the day Amanda passed away, the neighbors claimed they heard nothing. The only person who witnessed what happened was Seth Perrault — and Sills was certain he couldn't rely on him after their interview in his office.

Sheriff Howard Sills: According to Seth … they take the child to school, they return home, and they don't go anywhere else except to the convenience store down the street. Well, that didn't happen. He lied.

Sills states that the evidence was found on surveillance camera footage of the couple, located 12 miles away at a drive-through liquor store, where Amanda purchased those 20 small bottles of Fireball whiskey.

Sheriff Howard Sills (outside the liquor store): She drives up to this drive-in window. Right there's the camera that captures the truck [points to the camera].

Simultaneously, Seth was caught on camera at a neighboring convenience store.

Da Wright Barksdale (in the convenience store with Green): You can see him walking, and he actually comes down this aisle and gets something to drink.

The video, according to Seth's attorney Justin Kenney, would become a crucial piece of evidence not because of what was purchased, but because of what Seth was wearing: a Pink Floyd T-shirt and black athletic pants. Nearly four hours later, when sheriff's deputies arrived at the Perrault home to investigate Amanda's death, Seth was wearing something else.

Sheriff Howard Sills: When we get there he is dressed in shorts and a dark T-shirt.

And the clothing Seth was wearing in the video?

DA Wright Barksdale: We found those … in the washing machine.

Justin Kenney: Seth says … he took a bath.

Seth's attorney Justin Kenney says Seth did wash up at some point.

Justin Kenney: If you take a bath — you're gonna change clothes.  …. there was no evidence that the washing machine had actually been turned on. … it looked like the washing machine …  was being used as a — a laundry basket.

Only a tiny speck of blood was found on the backside of Perrault's pants, and a trace amount of gun powder residue was found on his left hand when tested.

Justin Kenney: They did it three hours later after … potential contamination from being … at the police station.

DA Wright Barksdale: Absolutely not. … We're gonna take every bit of the evidence and try to piece this thing together.

Justin Kenney: I mean, it was — it seemed pretty open-and-shut to me.

THE TRIAL OF SETH PERRAULT

It was Nov. 3, 2020, and Seth Perrault, still unindicted, had been in jail for nearly nine months. When COVID restrictions finally eased, a grand jury was set to decide if there was enough evidence against him, to go to trial.

Sheriff Howard Sills: And you know the first thing I put up for that grand jury to see?

Anne-Marie Green: The crime scene pictures.

Sheriff Howard Sills

Anne Marie Green: What were the charges?

DA Wright Barksdale: Malice murder … felony murder … and aggravated assault.

Perrault pleaded not guilty to all charges. At his trial in February 2022, he decided not to testify, leaving defense attorney Justin Kenney to tell his story.

Justin Kenney: I think there was a complete absence of sufficient evidence that Seth killed his wife. 

The prosecution showed a jury of eight women and four men the crime scene photos, including the way Amanda's body and the gun were found. They also heard testimony from that sheriff's deputy who thought Seth smelled freshly showered. They watched the footage of Deputy Abernathy at the Perrault's front door and listened to all 60 minutes of Perrault's interview with Sheriff Sills.

SETH PERRAULT (to Sheriff Sills): I don't know how this happened.

District Attorney Barksdale says that some of the most compelling evidence was found on Amanda's cell phone. Like this video she recorded seven months prior to her death.

SETH PERRAULT: It's sad. It's sad because you know what, I married you and I'm — I'm not gonna — I'm — dude, you're done.

AMANDA PERRAULT: I'm done?

Amanda's sisters were seeing the video for the first time.

Alesha Johnson: It made me angry.

AMANDA PERRAULT: I wanna have a good weekend.

SETH PERRAULT: You burned that up when you tried to put that phone in my face.

AMANDA PERRAULT: What phone in your face?

SETH PERRAULT: Oh, right there. Oh, you're videotaping.

AMANDA: Yeah, because you're being a d*** and I'm gonna show you tomorrow.

SETH PERRAULT (yelling): Oh, so you didn't videotape all the s*** when you hit me and smacked me –

AMANDA PERRAULT (yelling): Hit you? You f****** choked me eight f****** times!

Justin Kenney: The video … was problematic. … But it — it doesn't show everything that took place … Seth also states that she had acted violently toward him as well.

There was no evidence of Seth having been abused introduced at trial. But Amanda's phone also contained photos of her with bruises, a black eye and a split lip along with texts like this one to her sisters: "Seth just choked me till I nearly passed out, busted my lip wide open."

Seth's then-8-year-old-daughter was interviewed by a forensic child psychologist. Remember, she was a witness to what happened the day Amanda called 911.

PERRAULT'S DAUGHTER: I was scared that, um, one of them might get hurt.

PERRAULT'S DAUGHTER: They were cussing at each other. … Miss Amanda was cussing too, but she didn't touch daddy at all. … Daddy was, like, touching her nose like this (demonstrates by pointing to her nose). Like, "Get out of my house right now."

The jury was shown most of the videotaped interview.

PERRAULT'S DAUGHTER: She was on the floor like this (gets on her knees) … tryin' to get her stuff. … then, all of a sudden, Daddy just started grabbing her arms. … and Daddy just pushed her over the laundry table. And then, um — opened the door … and pushed her out the door.

While her father spent the night in jail, she said Amanda begged her not to tell anyone what happened, or there could be deadly consequences.

DA Wright Barksdale: Amanda tells her that night, "If your daddy loses custody of you, he's going to shoot me dead."

PERRAULT'S DAUGHTER: "Your daddy would come shoot me dead."

But when Barksdale called the now-10-year-old to the witness stand, she said she couldn't recall what happened that day, or what she said in the interview.

Alesha Johnson: She, I think, felt really torn. I seen her look at her dad a couple times … And I felt like … she was more careful about what she was saying — like somebody had been coaching her.

In cross examination, the defense asked if anyone had coached her on what to say. She said no. But Justin Kenney says he believes another prosecution witness may have been coached: a jailhouse informant named Jack Faulk, who had shared a dorm block with Seth Perrault.

Justin Kenney: Jack Faulk has a criminal history, I believe 28 pages long. … numerous contacts with the police, and he had every incentive to lie, make up a story.

Unnamed Sheriff: He possessed information that only Seth Perrault could have shared with him.

In a pair of handwritten letters, Faulk asserted that Seth confided in him, saying, "His primary concern was being caught on camera with the clothes." Faulk also alleged that Seth admitted, "He had been administering painkillers to (Amanda) throughout the day" and that "she was unconscious" during the time of her demise.

Unnamed Sheriff: I believe he was in bed with her after she had lost consciousness... and held the firearm against her head.

Anne-Marie Green: Was he positioned behind her?

Unnamed Sheriff: Behind her or slightly to the side.

The defense contended that Amanda shot herself due to the potential devastation caused by her false accusations against Seth. Additionally, only a minuscule amount of gunshot residue was discovered on Perrault's left hand, and there was only one speck of blood found on his garments.

Justin Kenney expressed that the most challenging aspect for the defense to explain was the manner in which Amanda's body was discovered.

Justin Kenney: We were aware that this would be problematic... the body must have been repositioned in some way. It had to have been touched in some way.

According to Justin Kenney, there is one particular statement made by Seth Perrault during his interview with Sheriff Sills that seems to make sense. Perrault admitted, "I probably did touch her. I was probably huggin' the s*** out of her."

Kenney believes that Perrault's statement could potentially explain why Amanda's arms were found by her sides.

In regards to the positioning of Seth's gun next to Amanda's body with the ejected magazine nearby, the defense brought in an expert who testified that the gun fired six times and during one of those firings, the magazine spontaneously ejected.

Kenney states, "It shows that the firearm can drop the magazine when it's fired."

Another key witness in the trial was the medical examiner, Dr. Lora Darrisaw. District Attorney Wright Barksdale called her to the stand and questioned her about how she determined suicide as the manner of death.

Barksdale argued that Dr. Darrisaw did not consider all the evidence, including Seth's daughter's interview, the cell phone data, and prior domestic abuse.

SETH PERRAULT (cell phone video): Oh, so you didn't — you didn't video tape all the s*** …

But Dr. Darrisaw defended her conclusion. And in this statement to "48 Hours," the Georgia Bureau of Investigation backed her up: "Our agency stands behind the original expert opinion of Perrault's death."

Anne-Marie Green: Were you worried at all about the verdict?

DA Wright Barksdale: What I try … and remind myself, it is my job to pursue justice and to present a case for the jury to consider. … And if they were to walk him out the door, I would be able to look to Amanda Perrault's family and say, "We did everything we could."

THE VERDICT

It had been just under two-and-a-half-hours, when the jury in the murder trial of Seth Perrault announced that they had reached a verdict.

Alesha Johnson: When they called us all back in, we all just held hands … And … dropped our head. I just remember praying, sayin', "God, you know, just please — you know, please do this for our family. … Let us have justice for our sister."

And justice is what they feel they got. The verdict: guilty of murder.

Alesha Johnson (emotional): It was bittersweet, because we got justice, but it didn't bring her back. It didn't bring our best friend back.

On the same day, Perrault received a life sentence with no chance of parole.

Anonymous Source: I want him to suffer for many years, praying to God and wishing he had taken his own life instead of my sister's.

Justin Kenney, a close friend of Perrault, believes that an innocent man is now serving a life sentence.

Justin Kenney: My heart sank. ... I've known Seth for almost ten years now, and ... I don't think he is guilty.

Every year in August, on Amanda's birthday, her sisters honor her memory by releasing love letters attached to purple balloons.

Angie Johnson: "I love you Amanda, and I hope you are having a beautiful birthday in heaven."

In 2022, the notes also included the National Domestic Abuse Hotline number.

Angie Johnson: And hopefully this will reach someone who really needs it.

Anonymous Source: We just want to raise awareness about domestic abuse and encourage people to not stand by and let it happen, no matter what the victim is saying. Fight for them, help them in any way you can. There are so many things I wish I could have done differently. I wish I could go back and save her.

Anne-Marie Green: You will save someone with this.

Anonymous Source: I hope so.

If you or someone you know is a victim of domestic abuse, call 1-800-799-SAFE or visit thehotline.org.

Seth Perrault's daughter is living with her mother, who has custody; his sister is petitioning to take custody. 

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This news was produced by Judy Rybak. Michelle Sigona and Anthony Venditti are the development producers. Shaheen Tokhi is the field producer. Lauren Turner Dunn is the associate producer. Jud Johnston, Marcus Balsam, Marlon Disla and Wini Dini are the editors. Anthony Batson is the senior broadcast producer. Nancy Kramer is the executive story editor. Judy Tygard is the executive producer.