5 chilling details about Gloria Aiken's crime

Gloria Aiken, the common-law wife of George Frazier, murdered him in February 2008. This disturbing case, full of deceit and sheer brutality, was profiled in Snapped (series 30, episode 19).

Frazier, a former New Yorker looking for tranquility in a sleepy Texas town, went missing on a chilly night in February 2008. His remains, once recovered, were found in various locations, and initial suspicion quickly turned to Aiken.

She was the one to report him missing. Although she denied her involvement initially, an extensive investigation brought several pieces of incriminating evidence to light, including a life insurance policy, a clandestine romantic relationship, and blood evidence.

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5 chilling details about Gloria Aiken's crime

1. The victim's body was dismembered and scattered across two lakes

On March 1, 2008, a couple discovered a human leg enclosed in plastic on the shore of Bardwell Lake in Ellis County, Texas. In the days after, Frazier's head, chest, and torso were located in Richland Chambers Lake.

George Frazier's body was found in a lake. (Representative image via Unsplash)

The forensic examination revealed that the cuts had been made with precision, using a sharp object rather than an accident or animal activity. The body was cut up with intent, and the parts were disposed of in different areas to create an investigatory and identification delay.

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2. Aiken spoke of her partner in the past tense before his body was found

When Gloria Aiken called in George Frazier as a missing person, she spoke about him in the past tense during her police interview. Investigators did pick up on this unusual behavior from the very beginning of the investigation.

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3. She started disposing of his belongings within days of his disappearance

Aiken disposed of Fraizer's belongings days after his disappearance. (Representative image via Unsplash)

During a preliminary search of the couple's home, the police discovered large trash bags containing Frazier's clothing items in an upstairs closet. Aiken relayed that she was throwing away his clothing because she could not stomach looking at it.

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4. The crime scene was poorly cleaned, with blood found in multiple areas

After investigators obtained a search warrant, they returned to Gloria Aiken's home and discovered blood in the bathroom, blood on a chair and ottoman, blood on one of the walls inside the house, and blood in Aiken's Jeep. They also located a baseball bat with hair and blood present.

It was evident there had been some kind of cleanup attempt, but it was poorly done. DNA tests ultimately confirmed that the blood was Frazier's and that he was likely killed inside the house. By comparing the valuables in the house to the locations of the blood, investigators formed the hypothesis that someone killed Frazier immediately after he arrived home.

Blood was found at multiple spots in Gloria Aiken's home. (Representative image via Unsplash)

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5. She collected a $250,000 life insurance payout after the murder

One of the most concerning pieces of evidence indicating motive was a life insurance policy taken out in Frazier's name for $250,000, and Gloria Aiken was the sole beneficiary. The financial records indicated that Frazier did not contribute much of anything to the household and that Aiken paid for most expenses for the household.

Investigators believed the better financial motivation to kill Frazier was ultimately to eliminate him from their household as long as his death occurred within two years of the insurance application.

Gloria Aiken was arrested in 2014, six years after the murder, and in 2017 pleaded guilty to manslaughter. She is currently serving a 12-year sentence and is expected to be released in 2026.

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Interested viewers can watch the Snapped episode about Gloria Aiken on platforms like Peacock, Apple TV, and Amazon Prime Video.