Fatal Charm: The Shocking True Story of Serial Wife Killer Randy Roth

Randy Roth appeared to be an ideal husband: handsome, hardworking, kind, and physically fit. Yet his marriages repeatedly failed. His first ended in divorce before five years; his second wife died in a fall during a hike; his third wife left after less than five months. When Roth's fourth wife, Cynthia, drowned in what seemed to be a speedboating accident on Lake Sammamish in Washington State shortly after their first anniversary, authorities detected a pattern. As Roth pursued a substantial insurance claim, investigators recognized inconsistencies in his account. Though Roth had been cautious in covering his tracks, his deceptions eventually unraveled. This account by Seattle Times reporter Carlton Smith documents how Roth's carefully constructed story ultimately collapsed under scrutiny.