(L-R) Brian and Amy Fanion

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On May 8, 2018, detective Brian Fanion dialed 911. When Massachusetts State Police detectives Brendan O’Toole and Mike Blanchette arrived at the scene, they found 51-year-old Amy Fanion dead on the dining room floor. According to Brian Fanion, the couple had been arguing about his retirement plans, and at some point, Amy Fanion picked up his service weapon and shot herself. Investigators did not believe his story. Contributor Nikki Battiste reports in 48 HOURS: “The Detective’s Wife,” to be broadcast Saturday, May 4 (10:00-11:00 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network and streaming on Paramount+.

“The gunshot wound was not consistent with a self-inflicted wound,” detective O’Toole told 48 HOURS. He told Fanion during his police interview, “I mean, there’s no doubt she was shot ... but the question is, from what distance?”

Distance mattered because in self-inflicted gunshot wounds, gunshot residue is expelled from the firearm leaving a distinct pattern called stippling on the wound. There was none on Amy.

Brian Fanion was later arrested and charged with murder. At trial, Alexander Jason, a crime scene analyst called by the defense, testified that the lack of gunshot residue was not due to distance but rather Amy Fanion’s hair.

“Amy Fanion had very dense, thick hair that will block the gunshot residue,” Jason said.

Amy Fanion’s hair was not tested by crime scene analysts. To prove Jason’s theory, he met 48 HOURS at a gun range. Using a .45 caliber gun and ammunition identical to what was found at the scene, Jason fired a single round into a mound of hair, backed by a ballistic skin simulant. For comparison, Jason positioned the gun at the same distance, using identical ammunition, and fired into the skin simulant without hair.

“You can see there is a big difference,” Jason told Battiste.

Battiste responded, “That’s incredible, all from the hair.”

“All from the hair. The hair acted as a filter,” said Jason.

Judy Tygard is the executive producer of 48 HOURS, which is broadcast Saturdays at 10:00 PM, ET/PT on CBS, and streams anytime on Paramount+. You can also watch 48 HOURS on the CBS News Streaming Network Wednesdays at 8:00 PM, ET. 48 HOURS is also available on CBSNews.com, Fave TV, Pop TV, Pluto US, Pluto UK, Pluto Nordics, Pluto Canada and Pluto South Africa. Download the CBS News app on your phone or connected TV. Follow 48 HOURS on X, Facebook and Instagram. Listen to podcasts at CBS Audio.

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