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Submerged: Ryan Widmer, his drowned bride and the justice system
A young bride drowns in her bathtub. Her husband of four months is accused of murder. What happened in their tiny suburban bathroom--and why--was never resolved. A gripping true-crime drama, based on exclusive new information, SUBMERGED exposes hidden angles of a case that divided an American community, tore apart two families and tested the criminal justice system. Compelled by conscience and curiosity, former Cincinnati Enquirer reporter Janice Hisle--who covered the saga of Ryan and Sarah Widmer from the start--dug deep to tell the untold story. Ten years later, new questions and answers surfaced in dozens of interviews, 6,000 pages of trial transcripts and previously unrevealed records such as:*Ryan's first statement about Sarah's death *attorneys' notes and trial-preparation documents *Ryan's personal journal, notes and correspondence *More than a thousand pages of police records SUBMERGED will draw you into the depths of a stranger-than-fiction story that you will ponder long after turning the final page.
315 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2018
356 people are currently reading
175 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 58 reviews
October 27, 2018
This was an unexpected buy at @booksonthebank l, but it quickly caught my attention!
This #truecrime story took place not far from where I live. Although I remember hearing of the case on #dateline, I just didn’t realize how close to home it really was!
Back in 2008, Ryan Widmer’s wife, Sarah, drowned in her own bathtub. Despite having unusual sleeping habits and complaints of not feeling well earlier that same day, Ryan was charged and convicted of her murder. Many felt that a fairly dry bathroom and only her hair being wet when responders arrived, was evidence enough to convict him.
Janice Hisle was able to gather first hand accounts while being a reporter on the case. She attended trials, performed interviews and eventually wrote this book that shares all of her knowledge about the case.
I really enjoyed this one and couldn’t wait to read it each night! It read like a novel and was fascinating to hear unknown details that the media didn’t share to the public. After finishing, I am anxious to go back and rewatch the episode of #dateline.
If you enjoy #dateline or 48 hours, this is right up your alley! If you have heard of this case, or read the book, I’d love to hear your thoughts!
This #truecrime story took place not far from where I live. Although I remember hearing of the case on #dateline, I just didn’t realize how close to home it really was!
Back in 2008, Ryan Widmer’s wife, Sarah, drowned in her own bathtub. Despite having unusual sleeping habits and complaints of not feeling well earlier that same day, Ryan was charged and convicted of her murder. Many felt that a fairly dry bathroom and only her hair being wet when responders arrived, was evidence enough to convict him.
Janice Hisle was able to gather first hand accounts while being a reporter on the case. She attended trials, performed interviews and eventually wrote this book that shares all of her knowledge about the case.
I really enjoyed this one and couldn’t wait to read it each night! It read like a novel and was fascinating to hear unknown details that the media didn’t share to the public. After finishing, I am anxious to go back and rewatch the episode of #dateline.
If you enjoy #dateline or 48 hours, this is right up your alley! If you have heard of this case, or read the book, I’d love to hear your thoughts!
August 6, 2018
Even though I no longer lived in Cincinnati, I followed this case though one of my sister's as it was happening. Right from the start, I believed it to be a rush to judgement. Interestingly enough, I had just watched an ID show where a detective and lawyer try to prove whether a loved one who is incarcerated is guilty or not guilty, including reasonable doubt. Their conclusion was based on one fact. After reading this book, which included actual testimony from the trials and the unprofessional and almost immediate arrest of the "suspect," I don't how the final trial ended without considering reasonable doubt.
The book was well-written and well-researched. The author had observed all three trials and started "digging" after the last trial. This is a true journalist.
The book was well-written and well-researched. The author had observed all three trials and started "digging" after the last trial. This is a true journalist.
November 18, 2018
A fascinating, riveting, objective first-hand account of a most unusual death of a young woman and subsequent murder trials of her husband of 4 months. This true story is more intriguing than any fictional crime story - one that will haunt you for days after you finish it. I used to trust that one could get a fair trial by a jury of peers but now I have serious concerns if this is the case. I just know I never want to be in a position to encounter the criminal court system!!!
September 9, 2018
Ryan is innocent... "Change my mind"
This case was local and consumed people here and across the nation. The author of this book was probably the best person to write this as she reported it from day one and followed it for a decade. I'm not going to go into all the reasons I 100% believe in Ryan Widmer's innocence but I will say that there is an egregious error of justice continuing here in Ohio. When it takes you three trials to put someone behind bars, and you offer a five year plea deal that the defendant refuses, you know something is wrong. I can only hope that an innocence project will take this case and free Ryan. Then I hope he cripples Warren County with a lawsuit.
This case was local and consumed people here and across the nation. The author of this book was probably the best person to write this as she reported it from day one and followed it for a decade. I'm not going to go into all the reasons I 100% believe in Ryan Widmer's innocence but I will say that there is an egregious error of justice continuing here in Ohio. When it takes you three trials to put someone behind bars, and you offer a five year plea deal that the defendant refuses, you know something is wrong. I can only hope that an innocence project will take this case and free Ryan. Then I hope he cripples Warren County with a lawsuit.
August 1, 2019
Justice Gone Wrong
I’m not a huge fan of True Crime because I usually don’t learn anything new, but I’ve been hooked on this story ever since I first heard of it so I kind of HAD to check it out...
Submerged actually filled in many holes but only further proved to me that Ryan Widmer is an innocent man living a hell on earth. I cannot even fathom how this case even got to the trial level never mind THREE of them. “The Bathtub Mystery” is the perfect storm of ambition, the refusal to right a wrong, guilty until proven innocent & justice gone horribly awry.
I don’t testify to Widmer’s character (although that appears to be above reproach as well) but if after reading “Submerged” you DON’T think this could happen to you, think again...
I’m not a huge fan of True Crime because I usually don’t learn anything new, but I’ve been hooked on this story ever since I first heard of it so I kind of HAD to check it out...
Submerged actually filled in many holes but only further proved to me that Ryan Widmer is an innocent man living a hell on earth. I cannot even fathom how this case even got to the trial level never mind THREE of them. “The Bathtub Mystery” is the perfect storm of ambition, the refusal to right a wrong, guilty until proven innocent & justice gone horribly awry.
I don’t testify to Widmer’s character (although that appears to be above reproach as well) but if after reading “Submerged” you DON’T think this could happen to you, think again...
August 2, 2018
This book is about a grave miscarriage of justice!
This is so well written, you really get dragged into the story. Breaks my heart that things did not turn out as they should have. Misconduct of investigators, of a coroner who literally rushed to judgement. Three horrifying trials, and still no justice.
This is so well written, you really get dragged into the story. Breaks my heart that things did not turn out as they should have. Misconduct of investigators, of a coroner who literally rushed to judgement. Three horrifying trials, and still no justice.
August 20, 2018
#freeryan
Ryan should be free. I don't believe for a minute he is guilty. I learned a lot I didn't know before from this book. The book is well written and unbiased. I've always supported Ryan, and pray that his conviction will be overturned one day.
Ryan should be free. I don't believe for a minute he is guilty. I learned a lot I didn't know before from this book. The book is well written and unbiased. I've always supported Ryan, and pray that his conviction will be overturned one day.
October 28, 2018
Ryan is innocent
I believe even more so now that Ryan is innocent. This was great investigative work and made me feel even more confident in my decision to believe Ryan Widmer did not kill his wife.
I believe even more so now that Ryan is innocent. This was great investigative work and made me feel even more confident in my decision to believe Ryan Widmer did not kill his wife.
September 11, 2018
Well written... a scary look into how the justice system functions.
December 20, 2021
SUBMERGED by Janice Hisle details the known events leading to, during, and after the drowning of newlywed Sarah Widmer.
Usually when I write a review I include comments about the author’s writing style and fluidity of the story. In this case, author Janice Hisle had me so captivated by the facts pertaining to this death investigation that I didn’t interrupt my train of thought long enough to develop a critique of the author’s style.
Frankly, this book scared the hell out of me. I’m a man and a husband. I often find myself rooting that the husband is innocent. That be told, I’m convinced there was a rush to judgment in this case. The wife drowns and the husband is arrested forty-eight hours later. Seriously? On circumstantial evidence? How can anyone perform a thorough investigation in forty-eight hours? I would have thought an investigation of this type would take at least two months. It would take that long alone to perform the appropriate post-mortem medical analyses.
I won’t give my opinion as to the guilt or innocence of Mr. Widmer. The reader should come to their own conclusion. But, if I had been one of the jurors, there is no way I would’ve voted to convict Mr. Widmer on the evidentiary chicken-feed that was presented in this case.
The story had me hooked from the very beginning. Ms. Hisle clearly presented both sides of the investigation. It is a privilege to give this book my highest recommendation.
Usually when I write a review I include comments about the author’s writing style and fluidity of the story. In this case, author Janice Hisle had me so captivated by the facts pertaining to this death investigation that I didn’t interrupt my train of thought long enough to develop a critique of the author’s style.
Frankly, this book scared the hell out of me. I’m a man and a husband. I often find myself rooting that the husband is innocent. That be told, I’m convinced there was a rush to judgment in this case. The wife drowns and the husband is arrested forty-eight hours later. Seriously? On circumstantial evidence? How can anyone perform a thorough investigation in forty-eight hours? I would have thought an investigation of this type would take at least two months. It would take that long alone to perform the appropriate post-mortem medical analyses.
I won’t give my opinion as to the guilt or innocence of Mr. Widmer. The reader should come to their own conclusion. But, if I had been one of the jurors, there is no way I would’ve voted to convict Mr. Widmer on the evidentiary chicken-feed that was presented in this case.
The story had me hooked from the very beginning. Ms. Hisle clearly presented both sides of the investigation. It is a privilege to give this book my highest recommendation.
December 8, 2023
Did Sarah Widmer die tragically young in a bathtub because of a medical malady, or was she killed by her husband of only four-ish months, Ryan Widmer? Spoiler: Legally, Ryan Widmer was convicted of killing his wife and has been serving his time in prison for it, with his first availability at parole coming up in 2025. But Janice Hisle, a former Cincinnati Enquirer journalist, makes a compelling argument that maybe Ryan didn’t do it and was wrongfully convicted in her 2018 book in time for the 10-year anniversary of Sarah’s death, Submerged: Ryan Widmer, his drowned bridge, and the justice system. Hisle as the author of the book is of note for for two reasons in addition to Hisle her writing for the local newspaper and covering the case in real time: a.) I interned at the Enquirer and am familiar with the colleagues she mentions; and b.) most significantly, in the time since the case occurred, Hisle left journalism because of the threat of buy-outs and layoffs. What a sad reflection on the state of journalism.
The Widmer case is a local one for me, out of Warren County, Ohio, which is mostly known for Kings Island, an amusement park, and being one of the suburbs of Cincinnati. Warren County rarely sees murders. However, on August 11, 2008, Ryan, then 27, called 9-1-1 to report that his wife, Sarah, then 24, “fell asleep in the tub.” That phone call, perhaps more than anything else in the case, is what set in motion Ryan’s own “submersion” into the criminal justice system and being found culpable for the death of his wife.
A few things of note stemming from the call:
- Ryan said he found her face-down even though he later said he actually found her face-up and misspoke in the heat of the moment. Obviously, finding her face-down seems more nefarious than face-up.
- He found Sarah’s head by the spigot, which to be fair, is opposite of where you might expect someone who is taking a bath to be found.
- There is much debate about what he did during the 9-1-1 call itself:
- Did he already pull her out of the tub, and by that, did he pull her all the way out, as a coroner’s investigator thought, or that he merely pulled her head above water and then drained the tub?
- Because of the latter, is that why Sarah wasn’t more wet?
- How much time actually elapsed before the 9-1-1 call?
- Did Ryan truly give her CPR? Some think he was pretending on the 9-1-1 call.
- And when the responding officer came to the house, did he encourage Ryan to move Sarah’s body further out into the bedroom so medics could perform life-saving measures, as Ryan claimed, or not, as the responding officer later claimed?
All of these are important and pivotal questions to the case. Almost from the outset it seems, Lieutenant Jeff Braley with the Hamilton Township Police Department figured Ryan killed Sarah because of two factors: Ryan and Sarah were home together alone, and Sarah died, and a seemingly healthy 24-year-old doesn’t drop dead in the bathtub; ergo, Ryan killed her. I’m skeptical of police as a baseline. I’m even more skeptical of police investigating a homicide. And I’m especially on high alert when inexperienced homicide detectives, like Braley, investigate potential homicides. In other words, I didn’t trust Braley’s investigative prowess when it came to the Widmer case, and that’s before learning about the botched raid (it occurred prior to the Widmer case) he was sued over and him likely fabricating his credentials.
Additionally, I’m skeptical of county coroners, not just because of a similar lack of experience in investigating homicides and forming theories about manners of death in potential homicides and because there’s not much oversight of their competencies, but also because of their close relationship with prosecutors and police, including it seemed like, between Braley and then-Warren County Coroner Dr. Russell Uptegrove.
Braley’s steadfast tunnel vision on Ryan and whether he influenced him or not, Uptegrove determining the manner of death in Sarah’s case to be homicide, were the catalyst for charging Ryan with aggravated murder and murder. Aggravated murder was especially odd because that would involve premeditation, which no evidence indicated. In fact, while prosecutors don’t need to prove or establish a motive, juries like it, so prosecutors usually try to, and it helps shape their “theory of the crime.” Yet, in the Widmer case, there was no clear motive established about why Ryan would kill his new bride. They tried to hint at a few things, most notably when Sarah’s mother, Ruth Ann, took the stand in the third trial (spoiler alert!) and said Ryan was “hateful” to Sarah. Or that Ryan controlled her spending and monitored her credit cards, even though she made more money than him, which Ryan claimed was a one-time joking thing.
Something of note that would be discussed throughout the Widmer case was Sarah’s health. Ryan, friends of Sarah’s, and her own family, said she suffered migraines and rather abnormal sleepiness to the point of falling asleep at odd times and settings, like a Cincinnati Bengals game. Hisle talks about whether she had a form of narcolepsy called cataplexy, or Long QT-7, a heart disorder. She also had a heart murmur as an infant. If she had a condition like one of those conditions, maybe that caused her sudden, but untraceable death (well, untraceable to some extent, but arguably, the coroner should have tested the brain, as the defense argued). Ryan convinced Sarah to see a doctor about her abnormal sleepiness, but Hisle says the doctor “brushed it aside.” I’m going to return to that point later.
Right before Ryan was charged with the crime, he was going to talk to Braley. Fortunately, one item I was pleasantly surprised by was Ryan’s family and friends encouraging him to get a lawyer to protect himself. He obtained local defense attorney Charles Rittgers. Good, always get a lawyer. The police are not your friends. Unfortunately, Rittgers couldn’t stop what was coming. One aspect that didn’t help the defense’s case was that the judge in the case wouldn’t allow any castigation of Braley, his personnel records, or his competency in the case. That is rather odd, in my estimation, because it would speak to the quality of the investigation!
Times have certainly changed, though. While 2008-2009 doesn’t feel that long ago, consider that when Ryan appeared in court after being charged wearing a suicide vest — which Hisle makes a compelling argument police and prosecutors did that to prejudice Ryan — his arm tattoos were showing, which earned him the negative moniker, “Scary Ryan.” Scary tattoos! If that happened in 2023, aside from truly obnoxious or odious tattoos, nobody cares about tattoos anymore. However, something much more persistent and pernicious is the way the public, and juries, view 9-1-1 calls. We project what we want to project on 9-1-1 calls based on preconceived notions about the guilt or innocence of the person. If they seem calm, but you think they’re guilty, then they’re a cold-hearted killer. If they’re calm, but you think they’re innocent, then they’re rightly experiencing shock at the abrupt tragedy that has befallen them. So it goes. And the same applies, again, to the appearance of the accused. As Rittgers pointed out to Ryan, he was basically in a damned-if-you-damned-if-you-don’t situation when it came to sitting in the courtroom: the public and the jury were going to overanalyze anything he does or doesn’t do, which isn’t evidence or fair, but is what happens. Likewise, even though we have a constitutional right to not testify as a defendant (the Fifth Amendment), the public and the jury often see that as a sign of guilt. Basically, if you’ve been charged with a crime, the public and the jury presume you must have done something to be charged. It’s circular reasoning.
The first trial and jury found Ryan guilty of murder (but not aggravated murder), but shortly thereafter, the judge tossed out the conviction because members of the jury were testing to see how quickly they dried after stepping out of the shower and that “experiment” influenced the vote for guilty. Much of the impression of the case hinged on whether people thought Sarah, Ryan, and the scene were too dry to make sense if it was a drowning, whereas if it was a murder, then everyone and everything being dry makes more sense. Also, like I mentioned, jurors place a lot of emphasis on appearance; one of the jurors after the conviction said — and it was the first thing they said — Ryan was “expressionless” during the trial. Of course, that shouldn’t matter, and yet. The first trial also involved the testimony of criminalist William Hillard with the Cincinnati Police, who testified to fingertip streaks on the bathtub — and it should be noted the prosecution literally brought in the bathtub at question — which to me was all junk science. But it didn’t matter. It was all about painting the picture of Sarah fighting for her life in the tub, clawing at the sides, while Ryan drowned her.
Of course, prosecutors went for round two with a second trial and that jury couldn’t come to a decision. It was a hung jury. By trial three, prosecutors introduced a mystery witness, who was later named as Jennifer Jean Crew. She watched the NBC’s Dateline episode about the Widmer case, contacted Ryan, and they formed a relationship, so much so that she claims Ryan drunkenly called her and confessed to killing Sarah. That’s tantamount to jailhouse snitch BS as far as I’m concerned. In other words, not believable. That said, I am curious about Jennifer and Ryan’s relationship and I didn’t come away from Hisle’s book fully understanding it. Finally, as previously mentioned, Ruth Ann changed her testimony compared to the first two trials to testify Ryan was “hateful” to Sarah, which her changing testimony doesn’t matter because nobody in the jury was going to overly scrutinize the mother of the deceased.
Just before we learn the fate of Ryan with the third jury in the third trial, Hisle gives us a big reveal that is something rather … bewildering. Ryan apparently struck up a relationship with a different woman who he came into contact due to the national publicity surrounding the case, a woman named Sarah. Yes, Sarah. Bigger news yet: they had a baby boy together. How do you have a baby boy while facing a murder charge?! I digress …
Ryan was found guilty by the third jury. One of the jurors went on local talk radio to explain his decision-making thereafter, and well, if what he said makes you feel confident the jury deliberated with seriousness and the evidence in mind and came to the correct and just decision, I’m not sure what to tell you.
As I always say when it comes to the criminal justice system, any amount of interaction with it is life-altering and the ripple effects are enormous for not just the person ensnared, but their family, the dead person’s family, and arguably, as the subheading of the book indicates, the entire community with respect to their lessening faith in the criminal justice system. In the Widmer case, Hisle runs through the “curse” attached to the case — those ripple effects — but most notable is Ryan’s divorced parents, Jill and Gary. The latter of whom is an estranged father to Ryan up until he’s charged with murder. Good on him for coming back into the picture with support, I guess. Both parents were entering retirement financially comfortable until the overwhelming expenses of a defense and bonding Ryan came into play. Additionally, brought upon by the stress of Ryan’s situation, Jill drank herself to death and Ryan’s twin brother had to find her like that. It’s sad. (One weird wrinkle in the case is Jill drunkenly telling people Ryan killed Sarah.)
So, what do I think happened to Sarah Widmer? I think she likely had an undiagnosed condition, which led to her death in the bathtub. Ryan Widmer had nothing to do with it. He’s clumsy with his words, as Hisle convincingly argues, but that doesn’t make him a killer. There’s not enough evidence to support Ryan killing Sarah, even if you feel like he did. There were no defensive wounds on Sarah, nor markings on Ryan to indicate she fought back, and the injuries to her body seemed consistent with life-saving measures by medics and doctors. But most significant was the anecdotal evidence of her sleepiness and migraines. Finally, I said I would return to her doctor visit and how he brushed it off. That seems apiece with what happens to women when they visit the doctor: they’re not taken seriously, and as a result, perhaps Sarah didn’t take her medical condition seriously. Unfortunately, it killed her.
With all of that said, I do have one lingering question not answered by Hisle’s book. I need a definitive timeline and explanation of what happened on August 11, 2008, in the Widmer home. Ryan claimed he was watching the Bengals game downstairs and drinking beer. At some point, he heard a noise upstairs, but figured Sarah dropped something. For some reason I don’t recall being stated, Ryan then went upstairs and turned on the TV. He then, for some reason not stated, went into the bathroom and found Sarah in the condition she was in. Why? How much time likely elapsed between something happening and him noticing? And I do have to say, it is rather odd that your first reaction is to pull her head above the water and then drain the tub, as Ryan did, rather than pulling her fully from the tub. However, I’m also judging from afar rather than in the heat of the moment. And I still don’t think he did it.
Hisle teases us at the end of the book in the Epilogue that she was in contact with an “unnamed witness.” This person “witnessed some things the night Sarah died.” What? How? What could that possibly be? Hisle doesn’t answer. In fact, Hisle says the witness told her something that “shocked her,” but she won’t divulge what that was!
If you’re into true crime and getting into the nitty-gritty about these cases, then I’d recommend Hisle’s book. It has the depth you’d expect from a seasoned journalist like her, and she makes a compelling argument that Ryan was wrongfully convicted for killing his wife. I have a hard time wrapping my brain around that first night in prison knowing you’ve just been convicted to potentially life in prison for something you didn’t do. But it happens in the United States, and it may have happened to Ryan.
The Widmer case is a local one for me, out of Warren County, Ohio, which is mostly known for Kings Island, an amusement park, and being one of the suburbs of Cincinnati. Warren County rarely sees murders. However, on August 11, 2008, Ryan, then 27, called 9-1-1 to report that his wife, Sarah, then 24, “fell asleep in the tub.” That phone call, perhaps more than anything else in the case, is what set in motion Ryan’s own “submersion” into the criminal justice system and being found culpable for the death of his wife.
A few things of note stemming from the call:
- Ryan said he found her face-down even though he later said he actually found her face-up and misspoke in the heat of the moment. Obviously, finding her face-down seems more nefarious than face-up.
- He found Sarah’s head by the spigot, which to be fair, is opposite of where you might expect someone who is taking a bath to be found.
- There is much debate about what he did during the 9-1-1 call itself:
- Did he already pull her out of the tub, and by that, did he pull her all the way out, as a coroner’s investigator thought, or that he merely pulled her head above water and then drained the tub?
- Because of the latter, is that why Sarah wasn’t more wet?
- How much time actually elapsed before the 9-1-1 call?
- Did Ryan truly give her CPR? Some think he was pretending on the 9-1-1 call.
- And when the responding officer came to the house, did he encourage Ryan to move Sarah’s body further out into the bedroom so medics could perform life-saving measures, as Ryan claimed, or not, as the responding officer later claimed?
All of these are important and pivotal questions to the case. Almost from the outset it seems, Lieutenant Jeff Braley with the Hamilton Township Police Department figured Ryan killed Sarah because of two factors: Ryan and Sarah were home together alone, and Sarah died, and a seemingly healthy 24-year-old doesn’t drop dead in the bathtub; ergo, Ryan killed her. I’m skeptical of police as a baseline. I’m even more skeptical of police investigating a homicide. And I’m especially on high alert when inexperienced homicide detectives, like Braley, investigate potential homicides. In other words, I didn’t trust Braley’s investigative prowess when it came to the Widmer case, and that’s before learning about the botched raid (it occurred prior to the Widmer case) he was sued over and him likely fabricating his credentials.
Additionally, I’m skeptical of county coroners, not just because of a similar lack of experience in investigating homicides and forming theories about manners of death in potential homicides and because there’s not much oversight of their competencies, but also because of their close relationship with prosecutors and police, including it seemed like, between Braley and then-Warren County Coroner Dr. Russell Uptegrove.
Braley’s steadfast tunnel vision on Ryan and whether he influenced him or not, Uptegrove determining the manner of death in Sarah’s case to be homicide, were the catalyst for charging Ryan with aggravated murder and murder. Aggravated murder was especially odd because that would involve premeditation, which no evidence indicated. In fact, while prosecutors don’t need to prove or establish a motive, juries like it, so prosecutors usually try to, and it helps shape their “theory of the crime.” Yet, in the Widmer case, there was no clear motive established about why Ryan would kill his new bride. They tried to hint at a few things, most notably when Sarah’s mother, Ruth Ann, took the stand in the third trial (spoiler alert!) and said Ryan was “hateful” to Sarah. Or that Ryan controlled her spending and monitored her credit cards, even though she made more money than him, which Ryan claimed was a one-time joking thing.
Something of note that would be discussed throughout the Widmer case was Sarah’s health. Ryan, friends of Sarah’s, and her own family, said she suffered migraines and rather abnormal sleepiness to the point of falling asleep at odd times and settings, like a Cincinnati Bengals game. Hisle talks about whether she had a form of narcolepsy called cataplexy, or Long QT-7, a heart disorder. She also had a heart murmur as an infant. If she had a condition like one of those conditions, maybe that caused her sudden, but untraceable death (well, untraceable to some extent, but arguably, the coroner should have tested the brain, as the defense argued). Ryan convinced Sarah to see a doctor about her abnormal sleepiness, but Hisle says the doctor “brushed it aside.” I’m going to return to that point later.
Right before Ryan was charged with the crime, he was going to talk to Braley. Fortunately, one item I was pleasantly surprised by was Ryan’s family and friends encouraging him to get a lawyer to protect himself. He obtained local defense attorney Charles Rittgers. Good, always get a lawyer. The police are not your friends. Unfortunately, Rittgers couldn’t stop what was coming. One aspect that didn’t help the defense’s case was that the judge in the case wouldn’t allow any castigation of Braley, his personnel records, or his competency in the case. That is rather odd, in my estimation, because it would speak to the quality of the investigation!
Times have certainly changed, though. While 2008-2009 doesn’t feel that long ago, consider that when Ryan appeared in court after being charged wearing a suicide vest — which Hisle makes a compelling argument police and prosecutors did that to prejudice Ryan — his arm tattoos were showing, which earned him the negative moniker, “Scary Ryan.” Scary tattoos! If that happened in 2023, aside from truly obnoxious or odious tattoos, nobody cares about tattoos anymore. However, something much more persistent and pernicious is the way the public, and juries, view 9-1-1 calls. We project what we want to project on 9-1-1 calls based on preconceived notions about the guilt or innocence of the person. If they seem calm, but you think they’re guilty, then they’re a cold-hearted killer. If they’re calm, but you think they’re innocent, then they’re rightly experiencing shock at the abrupt tragedy that has befallen them. So it goes. And the same applies, again, to the appearance of the accused. As Rittgers pointed out to Ryan, he was basically in a damned-if-you-damned-if-you-don’t situation when it came to sitting in the courtroom: the public and the jury were going to overanalyze anything he does or doesn’t do, which isn’t evidence or fair, but is what happens. Likewise, even though we have a constitutional right to not testify as a defendant (the Fifth Amendment), the public and the jury often see that as a sign of guilt. Basically, if you’ve been charged with a crime, the public and the jury presume you must have done something to be charged. It’s circular reasoning.
The first trial and jury found Ryan guilty of murder (but not aggravated murder), but shortly thereafter, the judge tossed out the conviction because members of the jury were testing to see how quickly they dried after stepping out of the shower and that “experiment” influenced the vote for guilty. Much of the impression of the case hinged on whether people thought Sarah, Ryan, and the scene were too dry to make sense if it was a drowning, whereas if it was a murder, then everyone and everything being dry makes more sense. Also, like I mentioned, jurors place a lot of emphasis on appearance; one of the jurors after the conviction said — and it was the first thing they said — Ryan was “expressionless” during the trial. Of course, that shouldn’t matter, and yet. The first trial also involved the testimony of criminalist William Hillard with the Cincinnati Police, who testified to fingertip streaks on the bathtub — and it should be noted the prosecution literally brought in the bathtub at question — which to me was all junk science. But it didn’t matter. It was all about painting the picture of Sarah fighting for her life in the tub, clawing at the sides, while Ryan drowned her.
Of course, prosecutors went for round two with a second trial and that jury couldn’t come to a decision. It was a hung jury. By trial three, prosecutors introduced a mystery witness, who was later named as Jennifer Jean Crew. She watched the NBC’s Dateline episode about the Widmer case, contacted Ryan, and they formed a relationship, so much so that she claims Ryan drunkenly called her and confessed to killing Sarah. That’s tantamount to jailhouse snitch BS as far as I’m concerned. In other words, not believable. That said, I am curious about Jennifer and Ryan’s relationship and I didn’t come away from Hisle’s book fully understanding it. Finally, as previously mentioned, Ruth Ann changed her testimony compared to the first two trials to testify Ryan was “hateful” to Sarah, which her changing testimony doesn’t matter because nobody in the jury was going to overly scrutinize the mother of the deceased.
Just before we learn the fate of Ryan with the third jury in the third trial, Hisle gives us a big reveal that is something rather … bewildering. Ryan apparently struck up a relationship with a different woman who he came into contact due to the national publicity surrounding the case, a woman named Sarah. Yes, Sarah. Bigger news yet: they had a baby boy together. How do you have a baby boy while facing a murder charge?! I digress …
Ryan was found guilty by the third jury. One of the jurors went on local talk radio to explain his decision-making thereafter, and well, if what he said makes you feel confident the jury deliberated with seriousness and the evidence in mind and came to the correct and just decision, I’m not sure what to tell you.
As I always say when it comes to the criminal justice system, any amount of interaction with it is life-altering and the ripple effects are enormous for not just the person ensnared, but their family, the dead person’s family, and arguably, as the subheading of the book indicates, the entire community with respect to their lessening faith in the criminal justice system. In the Widmer case, Hisle runs through the “curse” attached to the case — those ripple effects — but most notable is Ryan’s divorced parents, Jill and Gary. The latter of whom is an estranged father to Ryan up until he’s charged with murder. Good on him for coming back into the picture with support, I guess. Both parents were entering retirement financially comfortable until the overwhelming expenses of a defense and bonding Ryan came into play. Additionally, brought upon by the stress of Ryan’s situation, Jill drank herself to death and Ryan’s twin brother had to find her like that. It’s sad. (One weird wrinkle in the case is Jill drunkenly telling people Ryan killed Sarah.)
So, what do I think happened to Sarah Widmer? I think she likely had an undiagnosed condition, which led to her death in the bathtub. Ryan Widmer had nothing to do with it. He’s clumsy with his words, as Hisle convincingly argues, but that doesn’t make him a killer. There’s not enough evidence to support Ryan killing Sarah, even if you feel like he did. There were no defensive wounds on Sarah, nor markings on Ryan to indicate she fought back, and the injuries to her body seemed consistent with life-saving measures by medics and doctors. But most significant was the anecdotal evidence of her sleepiness and migraines. Finally, I said I would return to her doctor visit and how he brushed it off. That seems apiece with what happens to women when they visit the doctor: they’re not taken seriously, and as a result, perhaps Sarah didn’t take her medical condition seriously. Unfortunately, it killed her.
With all of that said, I do have one lingering question not answered by Hisle’s book. I need a definitive timeline and explanation of what happened on August 11, 2008, in the Widmer home. Ryan claimed he was watching the Bengals game downstairs and drinking beer. At some point, he heard a noise upstairs, but figured Sarah dropped something. For some reason I don’t recall being stated, Ryan then went upstairs and turned on the TV. He then, for some reason not stated, went into the bathroom and found Sarah in the condition she was in. Why? How much time likely elapsed between something happening and him noticing? And I do have to say, it is rather odd that your first reaction is to pull her head above the water and then drain the tub, as Ryan did, rather than pulling her fully from the tub. However, I’m also judging from afar rather than in the heat of the moment. And I still don’t think he did it.
Hisle teases us at the end of the book in the Epilogue that she was in contact with an “unnamed witness.” This person “witnessed some things the night Sarah died.” What? How? What could that possibly be? Hisle doesn’t answer. In fact, Hisle says the witness told her something that “shocked her,” but she won’t divulge what that was!
If you’re into true crime and getting into the nitty-gritty about these cases, then I’d recommend Hisle’s book. It has the depth you’d expect from a seasoned journalist like her, and she makes a compelling argument that Ryan was wrongfully convicted for killing his wife. I have a hard time wrapping my brain around that first night in prison knowing you’ve just been convicted to potentially life in prison for something you didn’t do. But it happens in the United States, and it may have happened to Ryan.
July 29, 2019
Very interesting story. I had a hard time putting this one down. Obviously well researched. And quite likely a huge miscarriage of justice. It suggests some scary things about our justice system.
February 19, 2020
Amazing book. Tons of research. Highly recommended!
July 22, 2019
Interesting book that details a fascinating Cincinnati area case. Local author, Janice Hisle, is a great public speaker!
September 16, 2020
I tried my best to struggle thru because this was my hometown. I wanted to capture her investigative and factual findings that may have a new perspective for why he got 3 trials (and at the expense of the hard earned tax payers no less) but could not tolerate her impertinent droning on and on and on and on of insignificant logistical content. I felt like I was reading a geography novel instead of investigative reporting.
July 4, 2019
So many ifs!
A very sad story, no matter the truth! Two young people whose lives held such promise, taken buy death and confusion long before their time.
A truly sad story about two young people whose lives held so much promise and tragically were lost due to human error by first not insisting on this young lady not having medical intervention to check on what caused unnatural conditions being observed by many others. Secondly, a flawed investigation by many trusted law personnel and some not so trusted. It will take me time to forget such a miscarriage by our justice system.
A very sad story, no matter the truth! Two young people whose lives held such promise, taken buy death and confusion long before their time.
A truly sad story about two young people whose lives held so much promise and tragically were lost due to human error by first not insisting on this young lady not having medical intervention to check on what caused unnatural conditions being observed by many others. Secondly, a flawed investigation by many trusted law personnel and some not so trusted. It will take me time to forget such a miscarriage by our justice system.
November 10, 2018
This was not as thought provoking as it was tragic- so many unknowns and not enough evidence.
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June 18, 2019Fascinating book! I didnt follow much about this case when it was on the news. I just thought he was guilty. After reading the book and seeing the facts laid out by Janice, I'm not so sure about his guilt. I'm looking forward to your next book,I couldn't put Submerged down.
September 7, 2019
To be fair, this applies to the audio book, not the book book.
Someone needs to tell the, quote, narrator, unquote, not to read quote, punctuation marks, unquote! I could not stand it after an hour of this. If you think I am being picky, take a look at what the audible reviews on this title say. I think I deserve a quote, medal, unquote, for getting to the one hour mark before I quote, pulled the pin, unquote. It might have been tolerable if much of the story was NOT dialog, but since it was, this seemed to happen several times every paragraph!
This was actually the author doing this! The fact that she read it as you might expect chick lit to be read, didn't help much either.
Did someone actually listen to this before it was released? Diabolically bad narration spoiled what otherwise may have been a good book. :(
Someone needs to tell the, quote, narrator, unquote, not to read quote, punctuation marks, unquote! I could not stand it after an hour of this. If you think I am being picky, take a look at what the audible reviews on this title say. I think I deserve a quote, medal, unquote, for getting to the one hour mark before I quote, pulled the pin, unquote. It might have been tolerable if much of the story was NOT dialog, but since it was, this seemed to happen several times every paragraph!
This was actually the author doing this! The fact that she read it as you might expect chick lit to be read, didn't help much either.
Did someone actually listen to this before it was released? Diabolically bad narration spoiled what otherwise may have been a good book. :(
November 3, 2018
Doubts and Seeking the Truth in an Imperfect System
Will the truth ever be revealed? Perception became reality and is an innocent man in prison? One thing most troubling, why did Sarah's mother at the third trial change her tone of statement that in my opinion was devastating to Ryan's case. What does she know or what motivated her to use a terrible adjective to describe her daughter and Ryan's relationship when this same mother adored him? Who or what poisoned her thoughts ? In my opinion, her word "hateful" was extreme, unjustified and devastating to the defense. Great investigative work by the author.
Will the truth ever be revealed? Perception became reality and is an innocent man in prison? One thing most troubling, why did Sarah's mother at the third trial change her tone of statement that in my opinion was devastating to Ryan's case. What does she know or what motivated her to use a terrible adjective to describe her daughter and Ryan's relationship when this same mother adored him? Who or what poisoned her thoughts ? In my opinion, her word "hateful" was extreme, unjustified and devastating to the defense. Great investigative work by the author.
January 7, 2019
Made me a believer in the innocence of a wrongly convicted younv man
A very sell-researched and documented book describing the truly sad, inexplicable death of a lovely, educated, successful young wife. This book offers the reader a first-hand lookat our judicial system, and forever changes a person's belief in fairness. I was convinced beyond a shadow of a doubt that Ryan did not kill his wife. Thanks
A very sell-researched and documented book describing the truly sad, inexplicable death of a lovely, educated, successful young wife. This book offers the reader a first-hand lookat our judicial system, and forever changes a person's belief in fairness. I was convinced beyond a shadow of a doubt that Ryan did not kill his wife. Thanks
January 31, 2019
Perhaps Not Enough to Prove Innocence but Ample ReasonableDobt
Well written, objective and intriguing. I did not come away convinced of Ryan's innocence but there wasn't close to sufficient evidence to convict. There account leaves many unanswered questions which adds suspense despite knowing the outcome.
Well written, objective and intriguing. I did not come away convinced of Ryan's innocence but there wasn't close to sufficient evidence to convict. There account leaves many unanswered questions which adds suspense despite knowing the outcome.
May 19, 2019
I knew very little about the Ryan Widmer case even though I live less than 50 miles from where it took place.
After reading I so strongly feel that he has been unjustly accused. How could ANYONE find him guilty beyond a reasonable doubt?
I like the fact that the author includes all the things she does, leaving you to draw your own conclusions. Great book, but so sad for everyone involved.
After reading I so strongly feel that he has been unjustly accused. How could ANYONE find him guilty beyond a reasonable doubt?
I like the fact that the author includes all the things she does, leaving you to draw your own conclusions. Great book, but so sad for everyone involved.
September 14, 2018
Interesting and horrifying story
It was horrifying to see the lack of oversight of juries. They take it upon themselves to solve the crime rather than evaluate the evidence. Of which there is night but conjecture. Writing bit choppy and unfocused delving into first person
It was horrifying to see the lack of oversight of juries. They take it upon themselves to solve the crime rather than evaluate the evidence. Of which there is night but conjecture. Writing bit choppy and unfocused delving into first person
September 20, 2018
I followed all three trials, but this book disclosed things I didn't know. I found it very informative. I hope writing this book brings someone to the surface that can make a difference in the outcome. Answers to many questions are needed.
October 30, 2018
Couldn't stop reading; this happened near my city and I had followed the trial each time. This is written by the reporter who covered the case and it is very interesting to read a very objective view. Nice Holiday gift for $20!
August 24, 2019
Well researched but a bit biased
The author placed her disclaimer at the beginning of the book that the case was one of wrongful conviction, so it was obviously going to have some degree of bias. While she did attempt to give the whole unbiased picture, you are aware of the side for which you’re fighting. Despite her in depth research and coverage of the trial much of it painted in the opinion of the author, it’s hard to believe that 36 jurors could get it wrong (give or take 6). If her argument and research is valid then this is a serious indictment on the education system in America. 30 something odd people in this county need to go back to school, and that is where my issue lies. I may need to research this on my own because that’s a fairly large number of people that deem this person guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. I can’t blame all of that on illiteracy. Having never heard about this case I think another look with a reduced bias is imperative.
The author placed her disclaimer at the beginning of the book that the case was one of wrongful conviction, so it was obviously going to have some degree of bias. While she did attempt to give the whole unbiased picture, you are aware of the side for which you’re fighting. Despite her in depth research and coverage of the trial much of it painted in the opinion of the author, it’s hard to believe that 36 jurors could get it wrong (give or take 6). If her argument and research is valid then this is a serious indictment on the education system in America. 30 something odd people in this county need to go back to school, and that is where my issue lies. I may need to research this on my own because that’s a fairly large number of people that deem this person guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. I can’t blame all of that on illiteracy. Having never heard about this case I think another look with a reduced bias is imperative.
August 4, 2025
I was obsessed with this case when I worked in Cincinnati local news. I always thought he was innocent but then thought, "I must be missing something." But this book confirms that I wasn't missing anything. The reasonable doubt in this case is staggering. While I know being a juror is hard, they tried to fill in gaps instead of looking at the prosecution's actual evidence. Widmer was never PROVEN guilty, but jurors assumed opinions as fact.
The Mystery Night-of Witness tease at the very end of the book is intriguing, but we'll never know the truth that person holds evidently. That's incredibly sad.
The book lays out all the inconsistencies and circumstantial "proof" well. Honestly, Widmer's conviction is a miscarriage of justice.
The Mystery Night-of Witness tease at the very end of the book is intriguing, but we'll never know the truth that person holds evidently. That's incredibly sad.
The book lays out all the inconsistencies and circumstantial "proof" well. Honestly, Widmer's conviction is a miscarriage of justice.
April 13, 2021
A local true crime case, Submerged is an excellent audio for true crime fans in Cincinnati. The Widmers were married for four short months when something happened in their suburban home. Ryan claims to be downstairs while Sarah drowned in the upstairs bathroom. The author reported on the case when it happened and now gathers all the evidence from the three trials, documents, additional interviews, and new evidence. This is a great example of laying all the evidence on the table and letting the reader draw their own conclusions.
November 27, 2021
Captivating andwrongfully judged.
I remember when this story aired. After reading this book I see how short-sided my viewpoint was. Such a sad story for all. I can't imagine the difficulty of being convicted of hurting someone you love. It is very clear to me after reading this book that authorities jumped to conclusions and willed the law in their favor to syit their own political agenda.
I remember when this story aired. After reading this book I see how short-sided my viewpoint was. Such a sad story for all. I can't imagine the difficulty of being convicted of hurting someone you love. It is very clear to me after reading this book that authorities jumped to conclusions and willed the law in their favor to syit their own political agenda.
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