“Down the Basement Stairs”: Dateline Reports on Cara Rintala Case December 15 2023

The case of Cara Rintala has captivated the public for over a decade, marked by a series of trials and a final conviction in a story rife with tragedy, controversy, and legal complexities. This intricate saga is now the subject of a new Dateline NBC episode titled “Down the Basement Stairs,” reported by Dennis Murphy, set to air on Friday, December 15, 2023, at 10/9c.

Background of the Case

The case of Cara Rintala, a Massachusetts woman sentenced to 12-14 years for the voluntary manslaughter of her wife, Annamarie Cochrane Rintala, has captivated public attention and the legal community for over a decade. The complexity of the case, marked by multiple trials, appeals, and a final conviction, shedded light on the intricacies of the American judicial system.

In a small town in Massachusetts, the Cara Rintala case has been a subject of intense scrutiny and legal battles. The story unfolds in Granby, where on March 29, 2010, a grim scene was discovered. Annamarie Cochrane Rintala, a 37-year-old paramedic, lay beaten and strangled in the basement of her home. Beside her was her wife, Cara Rintala, sobbing and cradling the bloodied body, both covered in white paint. This marked the beginning of a decade-long legal saga.

The Trials

The first trial commenced in 2013. The prosecution presented a narrative of a tumultuous relationship, marred by domestic disputes, custody battles, and restraining orders. Cara Rintala stood accused of murdering her wife during a culmination of years of escalating arguments.

In 2014, Cara faced the court again. Like the first, this trial ended in a hung jury, unable to reach a unanimous decision. The defense highlighted the lack of direct evidence linking Cara to the crime and suggested alternative suspects.

The third trial in 2016 resulted in a conviction for first-degree murder, leading to a life sentence without parole for Cara. However, this conviction was later overturned due to concerns over the admissibility and reliability of expert testimony regarding the paint evidence found at the crime scene.

The fourth trial, starting September 13, 2023, was unprecedented in Massachusetts’ legal history. The prosecution painted a picture of a tumultuous relationship marked by explosive arguments, custody disputes, restraining orders, and police involvement. They alleged that Cara strangled Annamarie and staged the scene to look like an accident, even sending unanswered texts to Annamarie to establish an alibi.

The defense, however, argued that the investigation was narrow and failed to consider other potential suspects, suggesting that the police department prematurely concluded Cara was the perpetrator. They pointed to Cara’s consistent claim of finding her wife dead after running errands with their daughter.

The Verdict and Sentencing

On October 5, 2023, the jury, after deliberating for two days, found Cara Rintala guilty of voluntary manslaughter. This conviction, a lesser-included offense of first-degree murder, marked a significant turn in the legal narrative.

Judge Francis Flannery, while acknowledging the emotional pleas from Cara’s daughter Brianna and recognizing the brutal nature of the crime, sentenced Cara to 12-14 years in prison. The sentence took into consideration the 7.5 years Cara had already served. The prosecutors’ request for a 15-17 year sentence was based on the violent nature of the crime and the subsequent efforts to alter the crime scene.