PD True on Paramount+: What happened to Kelley Clayton?

Season one episodes four and five of PD True aired on August 6, 2024, on Paramount + and threw light on the brutal homicide of Kelley Clayton. The fourth and fifth episodes are titled The Killer Looked Like Daddy (Parts 1 and 2). The official synopsis of the same as per Rotten Tomatoes reads as -

"Local authorities find two young children sheltering upstairs and their mom, Kelley Clayton's body in the kitchen; Kelley's husband Thomas has a solid alibi, but the oldest daughter says the attacker had "daddy's eyes."

Kelley Klayton was murdered on September 29, 2015, in her own house, following which the authorities arrested Klayton’s husband Thomas, and his former employee Michael Beard for the murder.

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What happened to Kelley Clayton?

Kelley Clayton was murdered in her New York residence on 29th September 2015. Her husband Thomas was the first person to inform the authorities as he called 911, terrified and panicked. According to Thomas, he was at his friend Greg Miller’s house for a poker night when she was killed. Later that night when he entered the house, he found Kelley, beaten to death and lying in a pool of blood.

There were drops of blood everywhere on the crime scene, which made it clear to the investigators of a possible fightback from Kelley to save her life.

As reported by ABC News, Kelley Clayton died from blunt force trauma. She was killed using a blunt object. Her body was possibly dragged after or while the killing took place because of which there was a trail of blood throughout the house. There were no signs of a break-in or theft, however, in the upstairs room and hallway, there were broken items, drops of blood, and a dented wall.

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Who killed Kelley Klayton?

As reported by ABC News, Charlie, Thomas, and Kelley’s daughter was an eyewitness to this homicide. She revealed to the officers how she had seen a masked person, who resembled her father. The intruder hurt Kelley and later beat her to death.

After Kelley’s daughter’s statement, Thomas Clayton, Kelley’s husband was charged with murder. However, he had an alibi to prove his innocence. But on the same night Kelley was killed, Clayton had used Linda Miller’s phone to call Beard (his ex-employee), even though he had his phone on him, which struck a chord in the detectives.

As reported by ABC News, Michael Beard, Thomas’s ex-employee was called for interrogation. He confessed to being guilty after the second interview and a failed polygraph test. In an unrecorded interrogation, Michael revealed how he had extra keys to enter the house and that he killed Kelley. He was going to set the home on fire however he hurried his way out.

Michael also helped the police find the murder weapon. His DNA was also found at the crime scene. A bloodied bag of his clothes was also recovered later on. Michael told the authorities how he was hired by Kelley’s husband to do the killing in exchange for $10,000.

However, Michael later changed his statement saying when he had arrived at the house, Kelley was already dead and he had nothing to do with this homicide.

Upon further investigation, the detectives found out how Kelley Clayton's life insurance was doubled by Thomas before her death. Several women also claimed that Thomas had se*ual relations with them and also defamed Kelley and their relationship in front of others.

The police first arrested Thomas for murder for hire based on circumstantial evidence and a possible motive. Thomas was convicted of first-degree murder without parole. Michael Beard was also arrested alongside Thomas as his DNA matched the ones found at the scene. He was also sentenced to life without chances of parole.

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To know more about Kelley Clayton's murder, watch Season One episode Four of PD True on Paramount +.