Richard and Joanne's Marriage

Dr. Death

This flow traces a marriage shaped by intimacy, illness, secrecy, and a final act that Richard experiences as rejection.

increasing

Bearing strength in each event

decreasing

An Active Couple An Active Couple from "Dr. Death". A Shared Life Early Partnership Richard and Joanne meet young and build a family around education, work, and activity.

An Active Couple from "Dr. Death". A Shared Life Early Partnership Richard and Joanne meet young and build a family around education, work, and activity.

A Shared Life Early Partnership Richard and Joanne meet young and build a family around education, work, and activity. A Strong Public Image They exercise and travel together, appearing close to friends and neighbors.

The Illness Changes Her The Illness Changes Her from "Dr. Death". A Household Reorganized Withdrawal and Weight Gain Joanne retreats from family and work, spends much of her time in bed, and gains substantial weight.

The Illness Changes Her from "Dr. Death". A Household Reorganized Withdrawal and Weight Gain Joanne retreats from family and work, spends much of her time in bed, and gains substantial weight.

A Household Reorganized Withdrawal and Weight Gain Joanne retreats from family and work, spends much of her time in bed, and gains substantial weight. Richard's Alienation Richard tries to explain the symptoms medically but admits that his feelings and attraction change.

Death Without Goodbye Death Without Goodbye from "Dr. Death". A Secret Final Choice Joanne Leaves Home She arranges her death without telling Richard or the children.

Death Without Goodbye from "Dr. Death". A Secret Final Choice Joanne Leaves Home She arranges her death without telling Richard or the children.

A Secret Final Choice Joanne Leaves Home She arranges her death without telling Richard or the children. A Wound That Remains Richard experiences the secrecy as a rejection and fixates on Mate as the person who enabled it.

The Lancaster Revelation The Lancaster Revelation from "Dr. Death". The Place She Chose A Rejected Invitation Richard remembers repeatedly asking Joanne to visit his work in Lancaster, which she always refused.

The Lancaster Revelation from "Dr. Death". The Place She Chose A Rejected Invitation Richard remembers repeatedly asking Joanne to visit his work in Lancaster, which she always refused.

The Place She Chose A Rejected Invitation Richard remembers repeatedly asking Joanne to visit his work in Lancaster, which she always refused. A Final Insult Her death there makes him believe she deliberately chose a place associated with his life to wound him.

A Confession in Grief A Confession in Grief from "Dr. Death". Anger Gives Way The Unforgiven Past Richard breaks down and says Joanne may have hated him for not forgiving her.

A Confession in Grief from "Dr. Death". Anger Gives Way The Unforgiven Past Richard breaks down and says Joanne may have hated him for not forgiving her.

Anger Gives Way The Unforgiven Past Richard breaks down and says Joanne may have hated him for not forgiving her. The Limits of Disclosure He refuses to explain what she did, leaving the marriage's central secret to be revealed later by Judy.

Before Joanne's illness

About two years before her death

About one year before the main investigation

During Alex's private conversation with Richard

After Richard is released