Anson Bannell "Buzz" Clinton, a 28-year-old White/Caucasian male from East Lyme, Connecticut, was found deceased on March 10, 1994. His body was discovered near an off-ramp of Interstate 95, the victim of multiple gunshot wounds. The events leading to his death began with what appeared to be a legitimate business transaction. Clinton had placed an advertisement to sell his tow truck, and a supposed potential buyer contacted him. This meeting, however, was a ruse that lured him to the secluded location where his life was tragically cut short.
The investigation into Clinton's murder unraveled a complex murder-for-hire scheme rooted in a bitter family dispute. The plot was orchestrated by his sister-in-law, Beth Carpenter, a local attorney. At the heart of the conflict was a contentious custody battle over Carpenter's niece, who was Clinton's stepdaughter. Carpenter, along with her parents, was concerned about the well-being of the child and alleged that Clinton was abusive. Their fears intensified when they learned of Clinton's plans to move his family, which would have severed their connection to the child.
Motivated by a desire to gain custody, Beth Carpenter enlisted the help of her boss and lover, attorney Haiman Clein. Clein, in turn, hired one of his clients, Mark Despres, to carry out the murder for a sum of money. Despres, posing as the interested truck buyer, was the one who met with Clinton on that fateful day. Following the murder, both Clein and Despres were arrested and eventually agreed to testify against Carpenter in exchange for reduced sentences. Carpenter herself fled to Ireland but was apprehended in 1997 and extradited back to the United States to face justice. In 2002, she was convicted of capital felony murder and conspiracy to commit murder and was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. Haiman Clein received a 35-year prison sentence, and Mark Despres was sentenced to 45 years for his role in the killing.
