Carolyn Warmus (born January 8, 1964) is an American former elementary schoolteacher who was convicted at age 28 of the 1989 murder of her lover's wife, 40-year-old Betty Jeanne Solomon.
That same year, Warmus, claiming her innocence, asked that glove evidence discovered by her ex-lover Paul Solomon, the victim's husband, between the first and second trials be tested for DNA.
In 1989, Thomas's assets were estimated at $150 million; he owned eight jets, two yachts, estates in Michigan, Florida, Arizona, and New York, and fifteen cars.
There, she met soon-to-be lover Paul Solomon, a fifth-grade teacher, along with his family, wife Betty Jeanne and daughter Kristan.
[12] The investigation initially focused on Solomon, whose alibi was that he had stopped briefly at a local bowling alley to see friends and then spent the evening with Warmus in Yonkers at the Holiday Inn's Treetops Lounge.
When investigators gained information that Warmus had obtained a .25 caliber Beretta pistol with a silencer shortly before the murder,[14][15] Detective Richard Constantino checked calls made from her home phone on January 15.
'"[13] During the first trial, the defense asserted that Solomon and the gun seller (a private investigator) tied heavily to the case should have been tried for the murder instead of Warmus.
After twelve days of deliberations, the jury came back deadlocked at 8–4 in favor of conviction, but unable to arrive at the required unanimous verdict.
[2][16][17] In January 1992, a second trial began in which prosecutors presented new evidence: a bloody cashmere glove allegedly belonging to Warmus that was photographed and recovered from the crime scene.
[23][24][25][26] In 2004, Warmus filed a federal lawsuit against the New York State Department of Correctional Services, claiming to have been sexually abused by prison guards.
[27][28][29] One corrections officer, Lt. Glenn Looney, was arraigned in the town of Bedford court on April 15, 2004, on a charge of second-degree sexual abuse, a misdemeanor.
[7] On the day of Warmus's sentencing, her attorney, William I. Aronwald, announced a reward of $250,000 from her family for any information leading to the arrest of the person(s) responsible for Betty Jeanne's murder.
[39] Warmus entered court on November 17, 2016, to argue about legal fees with her former appeals lawyer, Julia Heit, whom she is suing for malpractice.
Warmus claims Heit falsely managed her appeal, in part, by not testing DNA, and is seeking a return of $80,000 in fees and hand over an additional $320,000 in total compensation.
The report detailed Warmus's belief that DNA on the cashmere glove evidence presented at the second trial could exonerate her if the court were to allow its retesting.
[56] Investigation Discovery network aired multiple depictions of the Warmus case on the following documentary drama programs: The Oxygen Network crime documentary series that focuses on female criminals Snapped released the episode Carolyn Warmus, season 1; episode 13, aired: 22 October 2004.
The episode delves into the evidence gathering against Warmus, focused on how she acquired the firearm and ammunition leading to Betty Jeanne's murder.
The short-lived (1993–1995) ABC television news magazine series Day One aired Warmus's first public interview, premiered August 2, 1993.