Dateline: 5 harrowing details about the Brittany Eldridge murder case, revisited

NBC’s Dateline Secrets Uncovered episode titled ‘Deadly Circumstances’ brought forth the harrowing case of the murder of pregnant Brittany Eldridge in Tennessee in December 2011. Her boyfriend, Norman Eugene Clark, was charged with the murder but was later acquitted after the prosecution failed to gather enough evidence against him.

The Dateline episode revisits the murder case with interviews from the Eldridge’s acquaintances, investigators on the case, and also Clark himself.

---

5 harrowing details about the Brittany Eldridge murder case from the Dateline episode

1) Brittany Eldridge is found murdered in her apartment

In the Dateline episode, we learn that in December 2011, Eldridge was strangled and stabbed to death. She was residing in her Knoxville apartment complex. Brittany Eldridge was 25 years old at the time and was eight and a half months pregnant with her unborn son.

As per the evidence, Eldridge was attacked from behind while she was preparing for a bath. The murderer had choked her from behind and stabbed her neck twice with a pair of scissors. Baby Ezekiel suffocated to death inside her womb. Eldridge’s mother, Robin Owens, found her daughter’s body.

2) Eldridge’s boyfriend was charged with murder

Brittany Eldridge’s boyfriend, Norman Eugene Clark, was first on the suspect list. Clark met Eldridge while working at a finance company. He was her boyfriend, with whom she had a long-term relationship. She was married at the time she met him and would later divorce her husband to pursue a relationship with Clark.

After Eldridge was found murdered, all the spotlight was on Clark. But there was not enough evidence against him, and he also had a partial alibi. However, Prosecutor Leslie Nassios asserted that he was the only one with a motive to kill Eldridge. Clark was charged with the murder of his girlfriend.

3) Clark’s philandering ways

Clark was known to have had multiple romantic relationships and would proudly admit to it as well during the investigation. As per Knox News, he told the Knoxville Police Department,

“Yes, I lie to females… I spend the night with different girls. Is that bad? My family knows all about my females. My mother and my sister would both say I’m a dog … You’re telling me because I tell females different things … I’m a murderer?”

During the Dateline episode, he shared that during the time he was seeing about 15 to 20 women. He said,

“I was single and I’m very friendly person. They knew that I was not looking for a relationship. So friends with benefit.”

4) Clark undergoes two mistrials

The Dateline episode focuses on Clark’s trial in August 2015. Prosecutor Leslie Nassios argued that he was in between many relationships, and the women were not aware of his misdeeds, including his financial problems. She alleged that he decided to kill Eldridge as he did not want to provide child support. However, Clark’s defense team asserted that the killer could have been a burglar.

At the crime scene, the drawers were open, and the contents of the bag were scattered, but nothing was missing. Knoxville Police Department crime scene investigators stated that they believe the entire scene appeared staged.

On the day of the murder, Clark’s alibi was confirmed by one of his girlfriends, who shared that he was in her bedroom. While Clark was supposed to go to Eldridge’s place, he did not, as he was busy with his other girlfriend. Her house was only a short drive from where Eldridge resided.

The prosecutors did not have a confession or direct forensic evidence against Clark. Defense Attorney Kit Rogers argued that Clark’s charges were entirely made up and that the police never looked into other possibilities.

The Dateline episode also brings forth the mistrials. The jury failed to reach a verdict during the trial in August 2015, with 11 jurors voting not guilty and one voting guilty for Clark. Clark had a second trial in September 2017, during which approximately 10 jurors voted to convict him. However, two Knox County juries were unable to come to a decision. After much deliberation, the prosecutors decided to quit.

The prosecutors from the Knox County District Attorney’s General Charme Allen’s office announced that they would be moving ahead with a third trial.

5) Eldridge’s murder case remains unsolved

As the trial was halted and Clark walked free, the case remains unsolved. Clark’s defense attorney Kit Rodgers shared,

“I am relieved for Norman and relieved for everyone who was involved. This was a long and hard case for everyone. I’m glad he’s able to get on with his life.”

After the mistrials, Eldridge’s family was left disheartened. As per Your Side News, their family friend, Cheryle Johnston, in September 2017 shared,

“She was a sweet girl and she was looking forward to having that baby. She deserved much better. It’s just cruel what happened to her.”

Watch Dateline on NBC to learn more about the case.

ALSO READ: Dateline: Secrets of the Sliding Door - Who was Simeonette Mapes-Crupi and what happened to her? Disturbing details of a 2012 homicide, revealed

---

For more stories on shows, follow SoapCentral