In 2011, Betsy Faria, 42, of O’Fallon, Missouri, was found lifeless inside their home. At the time of her death, she was suffering from terminal cancer. But her family didn’t lose her from the debilitating disease. Betsy’s best friend, Pamela Hupp, stood on the witness stand at her murder trial, which convicted Betsy’s husband, Russell Faria, of his wife’s murder. But after two years, Russell was acquitted, leaving Betsy’s case unsolved.

On August 16, 2016, at 12:10 p.m., O’Fallon police received a frantic rescue call, which was followed by another 911 call from Hupp. When responders arrived at Hupp’s home, she said that a man had followed her inside her house and became extremely violent. She ran up to her room, retrieved a handgun from the nightstand, and shot the intruder at least twice. The man was identified as Louis Gumpenberger.

The following reveals the chain of events that unraveled the real story behind the events leading up to the night Gumpenberger- a disabled man- was found in Hupp’s home.

Pamela Hupp – like most girls during her time

Pamela Hupp was born in a devout Catholic household in Dellwood, Missouri. She was the third of four kids. Her father worked at the Union Electric for a few decades, while her mother was a schoolteacher. Pam was like most girls during her time; she went caroling with her friends on Christmas, rode bikes with them, and sometimes skipped Sunday school. She attended Riverview Gardens High School where she became a cheerleader and was described as a happy person who was always ready for fun. Pam didn’t engage in the drama and she didn’t show moodiness. She even avoided talking behind people’s backs. And because she was “boy-crazy,” according to one of her friends, her grades were only average.