# Wife Wakes Up Covered In Blood After Husband Is Shot In His Sleep — Is She A Suspect Or Victim?

Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/murder-files-unsealed-6698983/wife-wakes-up-covered-in-blood-after-husband-is-shot-in-his-sleep-is-she-a-suspect-or-victim
Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/murder-files-unsealed-6698983/wife-wakes-up-covered-in-blood-after-husband-is-shot-in-his-sleep-is-she-a-suspect-or-victim.md
Podcast: [Murder Files Unsealed](https://stenobird.com/podcast/murder-files-unsealed-6698983)
Published: 2026-07-09T19:36:43+00:00
Episode link: https://www.spreaker.com/episode/wife-wakes-up-covered-in-blood-after-husband-is-shot-in-his-sleep-is-she-a-suspect-or-victim--72897443
Audio file: https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/api.spreaker.com/download/episode/72897443/waking_up_in_your_husband_s_blood.mp3
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JSON: https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/murder-files-unsealed-6698983/episodes/wife-wakes-up-covered-in-blood-after-husband-is-shot-in-his-sleep-is-she-a-suspect-or-victim
Duration seconds: 2642

## Resource

The episode explores the brutal 2008 murder of Ben Oxley, a Nevada man shot while sleeping beside his wife, Melissa. Initially, investigators heavily scrutinized Melissa because she claimed to have slept through the deafening shotgun blast despite being covered in her husband's blood. The narrative shifts as the investigation reveals a lethal plot orchestrated by Ben’s ex-wife, Dawn, and executed by her boyfriend, James Matlean. Driven by bitter custody disputes and resentment, the pair collaborated to infiltrate the home and commit the crime. This overview examines the complex forensic evidence and psychological dynamics that eventually cleared the grieving widow of suspicion. Ultimately, the account highlights how deep-seated domestic grievances can escalate into a tragic, cold-blooded assassination. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/murder-files-unsealed--6017387/support . This episode includes AI-generated content.

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## Transcript

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