Murder of Michael Bryan by Kimberly Fletcher Groh examined on Snapped

Snapped is investigating the murder of Michael Bryan, who was gunned down in his sleep by his wife, Kimberly Fletcher Groh, at their home in Lexington, South Carolina.

In the early hours of November 30, 2016, Groh dialed 911 and told the dispatcher that her husband had shot himself. The police found that Bryan had been shot through the heart with a .223 Winchester rifle.

Groh soon changed her story, claiming the gun had accidentally fired as she was trying to remove it from the bed.

However, forensic detectives disputed her version of events, stating that Bryan’s wound could not have happened in the way Groh described it, and the gun had to have been fired from the foot of the bed.

The cops also noted that Groh’s DNA was on the trigger, but Bryan’s DNA was not found on the firearm.

The detectives further learned that Groh was in financial difficulties, and she was the sole beneficiary of Bryan’s life insurance policy worth $500,000. The killer had entered a claim for the money on the day after the murder.

Kimberly Groh researched for ways to kill Michael Bryan

Groh had seemingly been looking for ways to kill her husband for several months. Her internet history revealed searches for information on how to kill someone using poison. The searches included “Ways to poison spouse without detection,” “Top Ten Most Deadly Poisons Known to Mankind,” and “How much arsenic will kill a human?”

A search of the premises found two small plastic bags containing Tamazepam, a prescription medication used in the treatment of insomnia. The cops found residue of the drug in a container used by Groh to prepare a meal for Bryan on the night of the murder. Tamazepan was also found in the victim’s toxicology report.

In the days leading up to the shooting, Groh also searched the internet for instructions on how to use a .223 Winchester rifle.

Kimberly Groh sentenced to 30 years for Michael Bryan murder

In July 2021, Kimberly Fletcher Groh finally pleaded guilty to murder and was sentenced to 30 years. She is not eligible for parole. The killer is currently incarcerated at the Camille Graham Correctional Center in Columbia, SC.

After sentencing, Eleventh Circuit Solicitor Rick Hubbard stated, “This was a premeditated and callous crime. We hope this sentence affords some measure of closure for the family.”

Michael’s son, John Bryan, told the sentencing court, “Not a day goes by that I don’t think about working with my hero.”

Snapped airs Sundays at 6/5c on Oxygen.