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Dateline: Secrets Uncovered has covered some of the most mysterious cases of all time, and John "JJ" Rush's death is no exception. Rush was a police officer in St. Petersburg who met a tragic end on a random night.
Yes, you read that right. This case follows Cara Ryan, a former school teacher who found herself at the center of the murder of her ex-husband, John "J.J." Rush. As revealed on Dateline: Secrets Uncovered, this dates back to 2015 when Cara was accused of killing JJ, and the news about her trial made headlines.
Per the true-crime show, the episode synopsis reads:
"What happened in Cara Ryan's bedroom was a mystery. She admitted she shot her ex-husband, but investigators needed to know if it was murder or self-defense. Detectives heard several versions of the story, but for a jury, there was only one truth."
While Cara was blamed for shooting JJ in the night in 2015, she was declared innocent after two years. This means that in 2017, Cara Ryan was cleared of all the charges against her. She shocked many by revealing to the court that she acted to protect herself after Rush attacked and threatened her during a violent encounter.
Keep reading to learn more about this case.
Dateline: Secrets Uncovered tracks down Cara Ryan and JJ Rush's relationship
The Dateline: Secrets Uncovered Season 7 Episode 9 "A Shot in the Dark" extensively covers JJ Rush's murder, which begins with exploring his relationship with Cara Ryan. As explained in the true-crime TV show, Cara and JJ had a long complicated history.
The former couple was married for almost nine years until they finalized a divorce in 2006. Unlike many who prefer to stay away from their exes, Cara and JJ kept seeing each other now and then over the years.
As mentioned earlier, Cara was known as a kind teacher, while JJ was a retired police officer from St. Petersburg. In the Dateline episode, Cara Ryan also appears to share her side of the story and admits that she and JJ rekindled their relationship in 2007, but it didn't last.
By February 2015, they had broken things off again. And just weeks later in March, Ryan reached out and asked Rush to come over to her home.
What happened between Cara and JJ on the night of the murder?
As the Dateline episode proceeds, more details come forward about what happened between Cara Ryan and JJ Rush, and how the evening turned tragic. Cara explained to investigators and even shared in the true-crime episode that JJ came to her apartment and noticed she had been exchanging sexual messages with another man.
Per Cara Ryan, this discovery triggered a violent reaction as JJ held her down so she couldn't move, sexually assaulted her, and made serious threats. She also claimed that JJ Rush told her that he would kill the man who sent her messages and then left the apartment, but soon returned in a rage.
In fear for her life, Cara Ryan said she shut her eyes and fired a gun that had once belonged to JJ Rush himself. The bullet killed him. However, the prosecution didn’t buy her version of the story.
They argued that if Rush had truly attacked her, it wouldn't make sense for her to have invited him over in the first place. During the trial, Assistant State Attorney Liz Jack stated:
"On March 7, 2015, she invited him over for s*x. He accepted her invitation and, by the end of the night, he was dead."
In response, Ryan's team claimed that JJ Rush was someone who became aggressive while drinking. Similarly, Cara also mentioned in the Dateline episode that she fired a shot at her ex-husband to save herself.
Also Read: Dateline: Who was Christopher Sutton and what did he do? Details of Florida man's crimes, explored
The trial and verdict: Did Cara Ryan kill her ex-husband?
Following the death of JJ Rush, his ex-wife, Cara Ryan, was arrested and charged with second-degree murder. Prosecutors then claimed that she had changed parts of her story, leading to doubts and suspicion.
"The story is evolving. It's evolving because she's trying to protect herself."
On the other side, Cara's defense team painted JJ Rush as a man with serious anger issues. They explained that Rush also struggled with gambling problems and possible drug withdrawal from oxycodone. Cara also stood by her claim that she acted in self-defence.
After reviewing all the evidence, the jury needed only about two hours to come to a decision. As revealed in the Dateline: Secrets Uncovered episode, they found Ryan not guilty. Following the final verdict, attorney Roger Futerman said:
"We never doubted her innocence, from moment one. It was a very quick verdict. I think they made their minds up early on that, that this woman should never have been arrested."
The attorney further said that Cara Ryan has lost almost everything, including her reputation. She will have to rebuild her life after being accused of brutally shooting JJ Rush.
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