'Dateline NBC': Where is Scott Purk now? Ohio father escapes for 24 years after killing wife and unborn child
CALIFORNIA, OHIO: Scott Purk is currently serving his sentence at the Pickaway Correctional Institution in Ohio. Following his conviction for the murder of his wife in 1985, Purk was sentenced to life in prison. Despite already serving a lengthy sentence for other crimes, he faced additional charges for the murder, resulting in an extended period of incarceration.
The case of Scott Purk captivated public attention as a chilling tale of betrayal and deception unfolded. In 1985, the streets of Akron, Ohio, became the backdrop for a tragedy that would haunt the community for decades. It began with the supposed suicide of Scott's pregnant wife, Margaret 'Meg' Purk, whose death was initially ruled as self-inflicted.
However, suspicions lingered, and over the years, new revelations emerged, painting a starkly different picture of events. From staged scenes to financial motives, Purk's true intentions were revealed after a staggering 24 years. 'Dateline NBC' will give an in-depth look at the brutal case this Sunday.
Who is Scott Purk?
Scott Purk is a central figure in the tragic case surrounding the death of Margaret "Meg" Purk, his wife. Described as the perpetrator of a heinous crime, Scott Purk was born into a life that would later become entangled in a web of deceit and violence.
Scott Purk's life gained notoriety in March 1985 when his pregnant wife, Meg Purk, was found dead under suspicious circumstances in their Akron, Ohio, home. Initially reported as a suicide, further investigation into Meg's death revealed inconsistencies and raised doubts about the veracity of Scott's account. Subsequent revelations and forensic analysis led to the conclusion that Meg had been murdered, prompting Scott's arrest and eventual conviction.
Scott Purk was involved in many criminal activities, including robbery
Scott Purk's involvement in criminal activities extended beyond the tragic murder of his wife, Meg Purk. Among the various offenses attributed to him was robbery, which added to his already extensive criminal record.
In addition to robbery, Purk was also implicated in fraud, which involves deliberate deception for financial gain. His fraudulent activities ranged from insurance fraud to other forms of financial deception.
Despite his attempts to evade justice, Purk's criminal activities did not go unnoticed. Meg Purk's friend, Dawn Kracker, played a crucial role in exposing Scott's wrongdoing and assisting law enforcement in apprehending him. Kracker's suspicions were raised when she noticed similarities between Purk's behavior and the description of a suspect in a series of burglaries occurring in the area.
How did Scott Purk plot Meg Purk's murder as a suicide?
Scott Purk plotted Meg Purk's murder as a suicide by staging the scene to make it look like she had taken her own life. One crucial aspect of his plan involved a letter purportedly written by Meg. In the letter, Meg supposedly expressed suicidal thoughts, providing a false narrative to support Scott's claim that she had taken her own life.
However, this letter was later revealed to be a fabrication. It was discovered that the letter was not genuine and had been written by Meg several years ago. Scott Purk told police that on the morning of March 18, 1985, he was in the bathtub when he saw his wife, Meg, walking past. Minutes later, he claimed to have found her hanging from a rope inside their Akron, Ohio apartment.
He stated that he immediately tried to save her by cutting her down and performing CPR until paramedics arrived. Scott asserted that Meg had been struggling with depression during her pregnancy and that he had discovered her attempting suicide.
Scott Purk sets his house on fire for insurance money
Scott Purk set his house on fire in a bid to claim insurance money. On a fateful day in March 2009, a fire broke out at Scott's residence in Stow, Ohio. When firefighters arrived at the scene, they found the house engulfed in flames, indicating that the fire had been deliberately set. Suspicion fell on Scott, especially when he made statements that raised doubts about his involvement in the fire.
Investigations into the incident revealed that Scott had financial difficulties and was facing significant debts. Setting fire to his own house seemed like a way to solve his financial woes by collecting insurance money. This suspicion was further strengthened when it was discovered that Scott had a history of criminal behavior, including previous convictions for burglary.
Police found it 'challenging' to prove Scott Purk as a killer
Proving Scott Purk as a killer was challenging for the police due to several factors. Initially, when Meg Purk's death occurred in 1985, the scene was staged to appear as a suicide, and Scott Purk provided a narrative that supported this claim. He stated that he found his wife hanging from a rope in their Akron, Ohio apartment and attempted to save her. Despite suspicions from investigators at the time, there was not enough concrete evidence to refute Scott's account.
One key challenge was the lack of physical evidence directly implicating Scott in Meg's murder. The original investigation had failed to gather sufficient forensic evidence, and crucial evidence may have been lost or overlooked over the years. Additionally, Scott's manipulation of the crime scene and his efforts to present a false narrative further complicated the investigation.
Despite these obstacles, advancements in forensic technology and renewed investigative efforts eventually uncovered inconsistencies in Scott's account. Forensic analysis of Meg's body, including a second autopsy conducted after her exhumation, revealed evidence inconsistent with suicide and pointed towards homicide. Detectives pieced together the evidence, including Scott's financial difficulties and suspicious behavior, to build a case against him.
"If we had not exhumed Meg Purk's body, we never could have proved it was a strangulation and not a hanging," an investigator told Oxygen.
Scott Purk was called a 'coward' while being sentenced 28 years in prison
During Scott Purk's sentencing, the judge delivered a scathing rebuke, referring to him as a "coward" for his actions. Scott, who had been found guilty of the murder of his wife, Margaret 'Meg' Purk, was given 28 years in prison.
"It takes a special type of coward to murder your pregnant wife and make everybody believe it was suicide," investigator Mifflin said.
