The Tim McClure case - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

justins5256 · 01-20-2008, 01:21 PM

I just watched the NBC version, but it was from 1989 and didn't have the update so I was wondering if anyone can fill me in on the specifics. Does anyone recall the update from Lifetime? I think it was something along the lines of his case being presented to a grand jury, but there not being enough evidence to get an indictment. This was in the mid-nineties, I believe.

I really don't know what to think, but I lean more towards his guilt. There just seem to be too many independent factors working against McClure. For one thing, the credit card company said that McClure had called to cancel his mother's credit cards because he said she was deceased - this was a couple days before her body was found. In addition, his alibi for the night of her a murder - a period of about six hours - was never corroborated by anyone despite the fact that he claims he was partying it up with his wife at various bars, casinos and dance halls. Both McClure and his wife failed polygraph tests. He failed entirely while his wife missed the question "do you know who killed Terry McClure?" Finally, he was the beneficiary of his mother's life insurance valued at 5K.

Hardly a clincher, but enough to make the authorities strongly suspect he was involved in his mother's death.

Todd Mueller · 01-20-2008, 01:52 PM

I remember the update on Lifetime. It was one of those "text only over creepy music" updates that said he had been arrested and charged with murder or arrested and case sent to grand jury (something like that).

I think he is 100% guilty. His case is so bad and so full of holes.

- He canceled the credit cards early.

- He found his mom's purse on some remote road.

- He searched for her in every casino lot except the one she was found in. He said he "had a bad feeling" about that lot, yet he was looking for her body?

I think he is absolutely guilty. I was happy to hear he was arrested but I only saw the update once and then never saw it after that.

DarkDante · 01-20-2008, 03:17 PM

The update is just as you describe it JS.

I don't know if he's guilty or not, I really don't have a definitive opinion on it. But there was someone three or four years ago who came on these forums who used to work with McClure and said that Tim was one strange dude. I think he mentioned that McClure was very high strung.

justins5256 · 01-20-2008, 07:46 PM

One thing that might point toward him being innocent: Stack did mention that McClure contacted UM and asked that the case be profiled. Pretty ballsy if he was guilty since he had, for all intents and purposes, gotten away with the murder for years and really had nothing to gain and everything to lose by thrusting the case back into the public eye for scrutiny.

wiseguy182 · 01-20-2008, 08:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by justins5256

One thing that might point toward him being innocent: Stack did mention that McClure contacted UM and asked that the case be profiled. Pretty ballsy if he was guilty since he had, for all intents and purposes, gotten away with the murder for years and really had nothing to gain and everything to lose by thrusting the case back into the public eye for scrutiny.

true, but, McClure never says he wants to search for the "real killer". Stack says that he only came on the show to clear his name. Pretty ballsy since I think he's the guiltiest person ever profiled on UM.

there's nothing I can say on this case that I haven't already said. If you do a search, there's a fairly recent thread where I outline about 15 points that all point towards McClure's guilt, and nothing that points towards his innocence. Although one thing I don't think I've mentioned before is that he pulled a Donnie Hansen of sorts by saying it was preposterous that the authorities were considering him as a suspect.

I know that they don't have any physical evidence tying him to the crime, but gah, it's an overwhelming circumstantiave case.

Todd Mueller · 01-20-2008, 08:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wiseguy182

true, but, McClure never says he wants to search for the "real killer". Stack says that he only came on the show to clear his name. Pretty ballsy since I think he's the guiltiest person ever profiled on UM.

Yep. Don't let his crazy attempt to clear his name distract you from his guilt.

A couple of other things I forgot. . .

Tim and his wife both failed lie detector tests! Tim admitted in the segment that he failed. In fact, he said something like he bombed the test. His wife failed on the question "Do you know who murdered Mrs. McClure." I realize lie detectors are somewhat of an inexact science, but please... Tim showed major deception.

The other thing, Tim said someone should have been able to recognize him in the casino because of his height. I agree. A 6'5" guy with long hair wearing jeans and a tuxedo top and NO ONE remembers seeing him during the time of the murder??? Hard to believe. Hell, if anything he should get locked up for felony abuse of good taste and fashion.

If you have the segment or get the chance to see it, watch it again. Like Wiseguy said, there is so much evidence against him and next to none to clear him.

Maybe he should team up with OJ so they can look for the "real killers" together.

wiseguy182 · 01-20-2008, 09:18 PM

sorry I couldn't resist posting again, Tim McClure is so guilty that I enjoy picking on him.

Here's something I don't recall mentioning before: How exactly does Tim McClure know to just check casinos to find his mother and nowhere else? She could have been anywhere, perhaps she went to a motel and got a room, perhaps she was hungry and went to a restaurant, perhaps she went to a grocery store for milk and eggs. Maybe she stopped at a rest stop, well you get the point.

and why on Earth would Terri McClure go to another casino, when she can just be at the one her son is at and be with him on his wedding night?

yeah that is a long gap of time, as someone else had mentioned. I thought an hour and a half gap was a long time for Wayne Hecker in the Tara Breckinridge case, but this guy has all night.

Todd Mueller · 01-20-2008, 09:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wiseguy182

sorry I couldn't resist posting again, Tim McClure is so guilty that I enjoy picking on him.

I feel you on that one...

Maybe one of these days old Timmy McClure will write a book called "If I Did It."

crystaldawn · 01-20-2008, 11:05 PM

Okay I know I'm in the minority here but I have never thought Tim McClure was guilty. Just because the guy came across as a bit strange doesn't mean he killed his mother. I even sent a copy of this segment to someone who used to work with him. They did say he was a strange guy but also said he was a nice guy and didn't seem to think he killed his mother. Was there any proof that he did it? The lady at the credit card company could have definitely been mistaken so that comment by her really does nothing for me. Everyone said he was genuinely devoted to his mother and her life insurance policy was quite small and Tim was even to share it with his sister. I think the most logical explanation was that she was robbed and murdered. She was in a casino parking lot and was shot at night in her car. Her purse was even missing from the crime scene, correct? Which is another point in the favor of it being a robbery. I'm glad he was never tried because I don't think there's enough evidence against him and think he's innocent.

Todd Mueller · 01-20-2008, 11:59 PM

Oh, crystaldawn... and I used to like you!

I realize most of the evidence against Tim is circumstantial and there is no smoking gun. However, how do you explain:

- He and his wife failing lie detector tests (by his own admission)

- Him looking in every casino lot but the one she was found in

- Him miraculously finding her purse along the road

- Him canceling the credit cards early

- No one remembers seeing him in the casino that night

I know you explained some of that and there is no physical evidence. But all of the above is too much to be just a coincidence. Some of it you could explain away but all of it???

There are some cases that are just too tough to tell (like Cindy James). But this one, to me, is very clear cut. What was his motive? Maybe the insurance, maybe they had a fight... I don't know. But I do know there is too much pointing at him to say he's innocent.

So why did Tim call UM to display his story if he is guilty? Tim doesn't strike me as being that bright. He is either dim or arrogant or both.

We all have are own opinions but on this one it is almost impossible for me to see it other than Tim being guilty.

CD... are you just attracted to really tall men in tuxedo jackets and jeans??? Come on, you can admit it!

wiseguy182 · 01-21-2008, 12:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by crystaldawn

Her purse was even missing from the crime scene, correct? Which is another point in the favor of it being a robbery.

but the thing is, Tim went looking for the purse even before he knew it was stolen.

justins5256 · 01-21-2008, 12:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wiseguy182

but the thing is, Tim went looking for the purse even before he knew it was stolen.

He tried to back paddle in the interview and said that the police misunderstood him. There are an awful lot of "misunderstandings" going on here if you believe he was innocent.

wiseguy182 · 01-21-2008, 12:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by crystaldawn

The lady at the credit card company could have definitely been mistaken so that comment by her really does nothing for me. .

the way I remember it, The lady claims Tim called on a Friday, Tim insists it was a Monday. Terri went missing Friday and was discovered on Monday. I could see the clerk being a day off, maybe two, but to be three days off? She must have had a very rough weekend in order to miss it by three days.

wiseguy182 · 01-21-2008, 12:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by justins5256

He tried to back paddle in the interview and said that the police misunderstood him. There are an awful lot of "misunderstandings" going on here if you believe he was innocent.

I agree. At least with the final appealants, they have reasonable, rational scenarios/answers to questions, even if some of them turn out to be guilty. They at least do a convincing job of making you believe they might be innocent. But with McClure, his answers to all of the questions are like "I don't know, I'm not sure how that could have happened."

Todd Mueller · 01-21-2008, 01:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wiseguy182

I agree. At least with the final appealants, they have reasonable, rational scenarios/answers to questions, even if some of them turn out to be guilty. They at least do a convincing job of making you believe they might be innocent. But with McClure, his answers to all of the questions are like "I don't know, I'm not sure how that could have happened."

Exactly!

He never says, "I got a drink in the casino... ask the waitress!" Or "I heard from the cops the purse was missing." It was all "Well... you know... I really don't know how that happened" like you said, wiseguy.

He is just riding the fact that they don't have the weapon to tie him to it. He had the motive (arguably, but it's there) and the opportunity. The fact they never found the weapon is surprising considering how bumbling he was with everything else.

01-20-2008, 01:21 PM	#1
justins5256 Member Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Aug 08, 2002 Posts: 3,866	The Tim McClure case I just watched the NBC version, but it was from 1989 and didn't have the update so I was wondering if anyone can fill me in on the specifics. Does anyone recall the update from Lifetime? I think it was something along the lines of his case being presented to a grand jury, but there not being enough evidence to get an indictment. This was in the mid-nineties, I believe. I really don't know what to think, but I lean more towards his guilt. There just seem to be too many independent factors working against McClure. For one thing, the credit card company said that McClure had called to cancel his mother's credit cards because he said she was deceased - this was a couple days before her body was found. In addition, his alibi for the night of her a murder - a period of about six hours - was never corroborated by anyone despite the fact that he claims he was partying it up with his wife at various bars, casinos and dance halls. Both McClure and his wife failed polygraph tests. He failed entirely while his wife missed the question "do you know who killed Terry McClure?" Finally, he was the beneficiary of his mother's life insurance valued at 5K. Hardly a clincher, but enough to make the authorities strongly suspect he was involved in his mother's death.

01-20-2008, 11:05 PM	#9
crystaldawn Member Forum 4000 Club Member Join Date: Dec 17, 2002 Location: Illinois Posts: 4,261	Okay I know I'm in the minority here but I have never thought Tim McClure was guilty. Just because the guy came across as a bit strange doesn't mean he killed his mother. I even sent a copy of this segment to someone who used to work with him. They did say he was a strange guy but also said he was a nice guy and didn't seem to think he killed his mother. Was there any proof that he did it? The lady at the credit card company could have definitely been mistaken so that comment by her really does nothing for me. Everyone said he was genuinely devoted to his mother and her life insurance policy was quite small and Tim was even to share it with his sister. I think the most logical explanation was that she was robbed and murdered. She was in a casino parking lot and was shot at night in her car. Her purse was even missing from the crime scene, correct? Which is another point in the favor of it being a robbery. I'm glad he was never tried because I don't think there's enough evidence against him and think he's innocent.
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01-20-2008, 01:52 PM	#2
Todd Mueller Member Senior Member Join Date: Feb 11, 2005 Posts: 1,626	I remember the update on Lifetime. It was one of those "text only over creepy music" updates that said he had been arrested and charged with murder or arrested and case sent to grand jury (something like that). I think he is 100% guilty. His case is so bad and so full of holes. - He canceled the credit cards early. - He found his mom's purse on some remote road. - He searched for her in every casino lot except the one she was found in. He said he "had a bad feeling" about that lot, yet he was looking for her body? I think he is absolutely guilty. I was happy to hear he was arrested but I only saw the update once and then never saw it after that.

01-20-2008, 03:17 PM	#3
DarkDante Member Senior Member Join Date: Jul 27, 2002 Posts: 1,569	The update is just as you describe it JS. I don't know if he's guilty or not, I really don't have a definitive opinion on it. But there was someone three or four years ago who came on these forums who used to work with McClure and said that Tim was one strange dude. I think he mentioned that McClure was very high strung.

01-20-2008, 07:46 PM	#4
justins5256 Member Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Aug 08, 2002 Posts: 3,866	One thing that might point toward him being innocent: Stack did mention that McClure contacted UM and asked that the case be profiled. Pretty ballsy if he was guilty since he had, for all intents and purposes, gotten away with the murder for years and really had nothing to gain and everything to lose by thrusting the case back into the public eye for scrutiny.

01-20-2008, 09:18 PM	#7
wiseguy182 Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Apr 11, 2006 Location: Wendy's salad bar Posts: 7,030	sorry I couldn't resist posting again, Tim McClure is so guilty that I enjoy picking on him. Here's something I don't recall mentioning before: How exactly does Tim McClure know to just check casinos to find his mother and nowhere else? She could have been anywhere, perhaps she went to a motel and got a room, perhaps she was hungry and went to a restaurant, perhaps she went to a grocery store for milk and eggs. Maybe she stopped at a rest stop, well you get the point. and why on Earth would Terri McClure go to another casino, when she can just be at the one her son is at and be with him on his wedding night? yeah that is a long gap of time, as someone else had mentioned. I thought an hour and a half gap was a long time for Wayne Hecker in the Tara Breckinridge case, but this guy has all night.

01-20-2008, 11:59 PM	#10
Todd Mueller Member Senior Member Join Date: Feb 11, 2005 Posts: 1,626	Oh, crystaldawn... and I used to like you! I realize most of the evidence against Tim is circumstantial and there is no smoking gun. However, how do you explain: - He and his wife failing lie detector tests (by his own admission) - Him looking in every casino lot but the one she was found in - Him miraculously finding her purse along the road - Him canceling the credit cards early - No one remembers seeing him in the casino that night I know you explained some of that and there is no physical evidence. But all of the above is too much to be just a coincidence. Some of it you could explain away but all of it??? There are some cases that are just too tough to tell (like Cindy James). But this one, to me, is very clear cut. What was his motive? Maybe the insurance, maybe they had a fight... I don't know. But I do know there is too much pointing at him to say he's innocent. So why did Tim call UM to display his story if he is guilty? Tim doesn't strike me as being that bright. He is either dim or arrogant or both. We all have are own opinions but on this one it is almost impossible for me to see it other than Tim being guilty. CD... are you just attracted to really tall men in tuxedo jackets and jeans??? Come on, you can admit it!